Valeo Corporation

Stephen J Gunn

Jay Lorentz

Eric Leroy

Nicolas Lelievre

The present invention relates to the field of automotive heat exchanger assemblies, and, in particular, assemblies with cores with headers and end tanks and/or male and female connections. The present invention also relates to a method of making a positive leak path to determine leaks prior to employment of heat exchanger assembles. The present invention further relates to a method of determining whether or not a leak seal is temporary by providing a positive leak path at the point of assembly or initial evaluation or testing a heat exchanger.

Detection system for localizing defective seals in heat exchangers

A heat exchanger assembly includes a core with a header, an end tank and a joint between the header and the end tank. A seal between the header and the end tank is in an area at the joint between the header and the end tank. The seal normally produces a permanent seal except when a misalignment of the seal at the joint between the header and the end tank produces a temporary seal. At least one groove or channel is defined in the header or the end tank at the joint between the header and the end tank, for detecting the temporary seal. The at least one groove or channel extends beyond a highest point at which the temporary seal is formed. The groove or channel functions as a positive leak path between the temporary seal and the header and/or the end tank in the area at the joint between the header and the end tank.

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Indianapolis, IN, United States of America

Stephen J Gunn