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:
Mar. 15, 2011
Filed:
Jun. 23, 2003
Homayoun Sanatgar, Alta Loma, CA (US);
Behnam Akbarian, Corona, CA (US);
Gary Johnson, Santa Clarita, CA (US);
Neil Holt, Crestline, CA (US);
Don Smith, Highland, CA (US);
Homayoun Sanatgar, Alta Loma, CA (US);
Behnam Akbarian, Corona, CA (US);
Gary Johnson, Santa Clarita, CA (US);
Neil Holt, Crestline, CA (US);
Don Smith, Highland, CA (US);
Thermal Dynamics Corporation, Ontario, CA (US);
Abstract
A tube support bracket that comprises an aluminum-coated steel support bracket formed having a circular tube-receiving aperture and an annular, castellated collar abutting the aperture. The aperture and collar are sized for receiving therethrough in close-fitting relationship an aluminum alloy heat exchanger tube. The collar, formed by a draw-punching process, has a plurality of spaced-apart, axial tabs sized for swaging against in hoop stress and bite the received tube. An inner surface of each of the collar tabs being has at least one axial groove therein, the groove being configured for receiving exterior regions of the received tube when the collar is swaged tightly against the tube to thereby lock the tube in the collar and thus in the support bracket. A corresponding method for making a tube support is disclosed.