Heat exchanger

Abstract

A passage is provided in a heat exchanger water compartment to permit extension of a tube therethrough and at the same time assist in sealing the tube and passage interface. The distance between the intersection of the lower bottom edge of the water compartment bottom part with the inner edge of the passage and the intersection of the horizontal extension of the upper edge of the bottom part in the direction of the passage extension has a positive value.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. In a solderless heat exchanger including a water compartment, having a substantially planar bottom having upper and lower surfaces, and a top, and a block of finned tubes passing through the water compartment bottom, in which the tubes are seated therein by expansion of the tubes, the improvement by which the interconnections of the tubes with the water compartment bottom are made tight with respect to water and air, without additional sealing elements, wherein the tubes are surrounded by passages comprising a portion of the bottom in which the entire thickness of the bottom is bent to surround said tubes and wherein, for each said tube, the line of intersection of (1) the curved portion of that surface of said water compartment bottom which contacts said tube, with   (2) the internal cylindrical portion of said surface which is in contact with said tube lies between planar extensions, at said tube, of said upper and lower surfaces of said water compartment bottom.   
     
     
       2. A heat exchanger in accordance with claim 1, wherein said passages are formed such that they extend in the direction away from the water compartment top. 
     
     
       3. A heat exchanger in accordance with claim 1 wherein said passages are formed such that they extend in the direction toward the water compartment top. 
     
     
       4. A heat exchanger .[.is.]. .Iadd.in .Iaddend.accordance with claim 3, wherein the end of each said tube passing into the water compartment extends beyond the end of the respective passage thereof. .Iadd.5. A heat exchanger according to claim 1, further comprising a seal at one contact edge between each of said passages and each of said tubes. .Iaddend. 
     
     
        .Iadd..  In a solderless heat exchanger including a water compartment, having a substantially planar bottom having upper and lower surfaces, and a top, and a block of finned tubes passing through the water compartment bottom, in which the tubes are seated therein by expansion of the tubes, the improvement by which the interconnections of the tubes with the water compartment bottom are made sufficiently tight with respect to water and air to form a seal without additional sealing elements in the seat between the tubes and the bottom, wherein the tubes are surrounded by passages comprising a portion of the bottom in which the entire thickness of the bottom is curved to define (a) a curved portion and (b) an internal cylindrical portion which contacts and surrounds each tube of said block of tubes, and wherein, for each tube of said block of tubes, the line of intersection of (1) the curved portion of that surface of said water compartment bottom which contacts said tube with (2) the internal cylindrical portion of that surface of said water compartment bottom which contacts said tube lies between planar extensions, at said tube, of said upper and lower surfaces of said water compartment bottom. .Iaddend. .Iadd.7. In a solderless heat exchanger including a water compartment, having a substantially planar bottom having upper and lower surfaces, and a top, and a block of finned tubes passing through the water compartment bottom, in which the tubes are seated therein by expansion of the tubes, the improvement by which the interconnections of the tubes with the water compartment bottom are made sufficiently tight with respect to water and air to form a seal, wherein the tubes are surrounded by passages comprising a portion of the bottom in which the entire thickness of the bottom is curved to define (a) a curved portion and (b) an internal cylindrical portion which contacts and surrounds each tube of said block of tubes, and wherein, for each tube of said block of tubes, the line of intersection of (1) the curved portion of that surface of said water compartment bottom which contacts said tube with (2) the internal cylindrical portion of that surface of said water compartment bottom which contacts said tube lies between planar extensions, at said tube, of said upper and lower surfaces of said water compartment bottom. .Iaddend. .Iadd.8. A solderless heat exchanger comprising: a header compartment having a substantially planar wall having upper and lower surfaces, wherein at least one passage is formed in said wall comprising a portion of said wall in which the entire thickness of the wall is bent to define a curved portion and an internal cylindrical portion of said wall, said curved portion merging into said internal cylindrical portion along a line of intersection extending about said passage;   a finned tube passing through said wall and being seated in said passsage by expansion of said tube such that said tube is surrounded by and contacts said internal cylindrical portion of said wall, and wherein the line of intersection of said curved portion with said internal cylindrical portion occurs at a point B lying between planar extensions, at said tube, of said upper and lower surfaces of said header compartment wall. .Iaddend. .Iadd.9. A heat exchanger according to claim 8, wherein said passage has an inner surface which curves to meet one of said upper and lower surfaces, and has an outer surface which curves to meet the other of said upper and lower surfaces, and wherein the radius of curvature of said outer surface curve is less than the thickness of said header compartment wall. .Iaddend. .Iadd.10. A heat exchanger according to claim 8, wherein said passage has an inner surface which curves to meet one of the said upper and lower surfaces, and has an outer surface which curves to meet the other of said upper and lower surfaces, and wherein the radius of curvature of said inner surface curve is greater than the radius of curvature of said outer surface curve. .Iaddend. .Iadd.11. A heat exchanger according to claim 8, wherein said tube is surrounded by and contacts a portion of the header compartment wall which forms said passage along a distance L between said point B and another point C representing the farthest point of contact, and wherein distance L is approximately equal to three times the distance x which is defined as the distance between said point B and a point A defined by the planar extension, at said tube, of said upper or lower surface which lies between points B and C. .Iaddend. .Iadd.12. A heat exchanger according to claim 8, further comprising a seal at one contact edge between said passage and said tube. .Iaddend.