Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

David W Beddome

Peter A Lyon

Gary Scott Vreeland

Warren L Gawve

John P Papin

Jayesh B Patel

An automotive air conditioning system evaporator of laminated construction has tube plates, which, in brazed pairs, make up the individual flow tubes, that have an additional feature to assure regular, evenly spaced stacking of the tube plates prior to final assembly. Integrally stamped cups on one end of the plates nest to hold the cup end of the plates apart a defined distance when the plates are stacked. Spacer flanges on the opposite end of the plates interfit to keep the completed tubes spaced apart sufficiently to accommodate cooling fins in the final evaporator, but, without more, do nothing to keep the flange end of the plates evenly stacked. Special projections added to the spacer flanges contact edges of the spacer flanges of consecutive plates in the stack to keep the plates evenly spaced at both ends.

Laminated heat exchanger with stackable tube plates

A conveyor assembly for a braze furnace includes a plurality of first chain links pivotally interconnected to form a continuous loop chain and a plurality of second chain links pivotally interconnected to form a continuous loop chain identical to the first chain links. The first and second chain links are interconnected by rod-like cross members which also integrally form the pintles for the respective first and second chain links. First and second rollers are rollably supported from each cross member adjacent the respective first and second chain links. First and second workpart support members are pivotally connected between adjacent pairs of cross members and disposed equidistantly between the first and second rollers. The first and second workpart support members may be either cast or stamped structures having a flat upper surface for supporting workparts above the first and second chain links and above the first and second rollers. The entire conveyor assembly is fabricated from stainless steel or similar corrosion resistant material.

Conveyor belt for braze furnace

Plates for forming heat exchanger tubes are assembled into pairs by an assembly machine having two cooperating rotors, each having a plate input, and a feed mechanism transfers plates of different types from stacks of plates to the machine in a desired order. A conveyor belt for each rotor carries plates from a number of magazines above the conveyor to the rotor. Escapements on the magazines drop plates onto the conveyors. A controller actuates the escapements in a sequence to arrange the plate types on the conveyor in the correct order, and also controls indexing of the conveyor and the assembly machine. Rollers associated with each rotor affords a conveyor return which does not interfere with the assembly operation.

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Amherst, NY, United States of America

David W Beddome