Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Peter G Wolf

Dominic N Dalo

Karl Paul Kroetsch

George K Snyder

A combination radiator and condenser apparatus for a motor vehicle has inlets and outlets adapted to be connected in both a coolant system for a liquid cooled engine and in a refrigerant system of an automobile air conditioning system. The apparatus includes a plurality of axially aligned fluid flow tubes having the same air centers and the tubes each extend between combination radiator and condenser tanks, in one embodiment the axially aligned fluid flow tubes are unitary, integral fluid flow tubes with a separate refrigerant vapor passage and a separate engine coolant passage therein. A method for simultaneously cooling engine coolant and refrigerant vapor in combined radiator and condenser apparatus for a motor vehicle includes the steps directing vehicle inlet airstream through common air centers between the axially aligned refrigerant vapor tubes and vehicle coolant tubes.

Combination radiator and condenser apparatus for motor vehicle

A combination radiator and condenser apparatus for a motor vehicle has inlets and outlets adapted to be connected in both a coolant system for a liquid cooled engine and in a refrigerant system of an automobile air conditioning system. The apparatus includes a plurality of axially aligned fluid flow tubes having the same air centers and the tubes each extend between combination radiator and condenser tanks, in one embodiment the axially aligned fluid flow tubes are unitary, integral fluid flow tubes with a separate refrigerant vapor passage and a separate engine coolant passage therein. A method for simultaneously cooling engine coolant and refrigerant vapor in combined radiator and condenser apparatus for a motor vehicle includes the steps of directing vehicle inlet airstream through common air centers between the axially aligned refrigerant vapor tubes and vehicle coolant tubes.

An end fitting for a serpentine heat exchanger couples an inlet or outlet port to a pair of flat tubes comprising the heat exchanger core. The fitting comprises three laminated plates and a nipple coupled to an opening in the outermost of the plates. The inner plate is a header plate with the slots for receiving the flat tubing. A spacer plate interconnects the outer and inner plates and has an aperture shaped to couple the port to the slots for defining a fluid flow path. The plates are stamped from aluminum sheet stock clad with a brazing alloy. The plates are assembled and secured by a steel rivet and the nipple is attached. The parts are joined by brazing. The fitting can be brazed to the exchanger core at the same time.

Method of manufacturing a laminated fitting for a heat exchanger

An end fitting for a serpentine heat exchanger couples an inlet or outlet port to a pair of flat tubes comprising the heat exchange core. The fitting comprises three laminated plates and a nipple coupled to an opening in the outermost of the plates. The inner plate is a header plate with slots for receiving the flat tubing. A spacer plate interconnects the outer and inner plates and has an aperture shaped to couple the port to the slots for defining a fluid flow path. The plates are stamped from aluminum sheet stock clad with a brazing alloy. The plates are assembled and secured by a steel rivet and the nipple is attached. The parts are joined by brazing. The fitting can be brazed to the exchanger core at the same time.

Laminated fitting for heat exchanger

A tube and center heat exchanger has header and tank assemblies formed of just two plates stacked and bonded together. One plate has apertures for receiving the tube ends, and the second plate is formed with a plurality of tank defining indentations in an interface thereof that interconnect selected ones of the tube ends to thereby connect all the tubes to define a serpentine flow path through the heat exchanger. The header and tank plates are stamped from flat sheet stock of braze clad aluminum, the necessary perforations, clinch tabs and indentations are formed and the plates are stacked and clinched into header and tank assemblies. The tube and center elements are assembled and the tube ends are inserted into the header and tank assemblies. The whole heat exchanger is then brazed to form the bonding between the plates as well as the other elements.

Heat exchanger with laminated header and tank and method of manufacture

A tube and center heat exchanger has headers formed of three flat plates stacked and bonded together. One plate has apertures for receiving the tube ends, the second plate is a spacer and has partitions defining passages for fluid flow from one tube to another, and the third plate is an end cap to enclose the passages and may include inlet and/or outlet ports. The flat plates are stamped from flat sheet stock of braze clad aluminum, the necessary perforations are stamped out and the plates are stacked and riveted into header subassemblies. The tube and center elements are assembled and the tube ends are inserted into the header subassemblies. The whole condenser is brazed to form the bonding between the plates as well as the other elements.

Heat exchanger with laminated header and method of manufacture

A detachable clip is disclosed separately fixturing each of two reinforcements extending along opposite sides of a heat exchanger core to one of two headers at opposite ends of the core during brazing of the core and the reinforcements to the headers at junctures thereof and wherein the reinforcements may be assembled prior to brazing with substantial air space at their junctures with the headers but not exceeding a prescribed limit. The clip is made of a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion substantially less than the reinforcements so as to draw the reinforcements and headers together during brazing through a distance at least equal to the prescribed air space limit to thereby assure contact at all the junctures between the reinforcements and headers during the brazing thereof.

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Tonawanda, NY, United States of America

Peter G Wolf