The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 11, 1997
Filed:
Mar. 15, 1996
Matthew K Harris, Lewisville, TX (US);
Zexel USA Corporation, Decatur, IL (US);
Abstract
A parallel flow heat exchanger is provided having two spaced apart header tubes and a plurality of parallel flow tubes which extend between the header tubes. Prior to passing assembled components of the heat exchanger through a brazing furnace, various external components such as flow fittings and mounting brackets are secured to one of the header tubes by a snap-on brackets which are integrally formed into the external components. Each of the snap-on brackets has a central body portion with a brazing clad, concave contact surface for fitting flush against a side of one of the header tubes. A pair of arms extend from one side of the central body portion, symmetrically spaced apart about a central axis of the snap-on connector for fitting around ribs formed by the edges of the header tubes. Tips are formed on the ends of the arms. The tips have tapered side surfaces which face inward, toward the other arms, for spreading the arms apart as the arms are pressed onto the ribs of the header tube. Continuous shoulders extend along the inward sides of the tips, parallel to the central axis and facing towards the concave contact surface of the central body portion. The continuous shoulders of the tips are spaced apart from the concave contact surface for engaging the ribs of one of the header tubes and holding the central body portion flush against the side of the header tubes for passing through a brazing furnace.