Mount bracket for an elongate manifold of a heat exchanger and method of assembling the same

Abstract

A mount bracket (,) is provided for an elongate manifold (,) of a heat exchanger (,). The manifold (,) has a longitudinal axis (,) and a mount bracket receiving exterior surface (,) extending over at least a portion of the longitudinal length of the manifold (,). The mount bracket (,) includes a body (,) formed from a single piece of material. The body (,) includes a mount tab (,), first and second opposed bands (,) each of which have a first end segment (,) spaced from a second-end segment (,), a first bridge segment (,) connecting the first end segments (,) of the first and second bands (,), and a second bridge segment (,) connecting the second end segments (,) of the first and second bands (,). The mount tab (,) is configured to connect the mount bracket (,) to a structure other than the manifold (,). The first and second opposed bands define a manifold receiving opening (,) shaped to nominally conform to the mount bracket receiving exterior surface (,). The first band (,) is spaced longitudinally from the second band (,) with the bracket (,) mounted on the manifold (,). The first band (,) defines a first portion (,) of the opening (,), and the second band (,) defines a second portion (,) of the opening (,) opposite the first portion (,). The body (,) is permanently deformable from a first state wherein the bands (,) will slidably receive the surface (,) in the opening (,) with a slip-fit, and a second state wherein the bands (,) will clamp the surface (,) in the opening (,).