Heat Exchanger Fin Assembly Using Rotating Inversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing manufacturing methods for plate-fin type heat exchangers face challenges in inserting refrigerant tubes into heat exchange fins due to friction and non-uniform positioning, leading to defects and reduced efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A rotating apparatus with a seating surface and rotating blades is used to reverse the heat exchange fins, allowing for easier alignment and insertion of refrigerant tubes, which are then pressed into the fins using a pressing block to minimize defects and improve assembly efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the plate is inserted into the groove or hole in the stacked fins to make contact, then the heat exchange efficiency is improved, but the friction between the stacked fins and the plate makes it difficult to insert the plate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional insertion sequence by first inserting the refrigerant tube into the groove, and then stacking the fins onto the tube. This reversal eliminates the friction problem that occurred when trying to insert the plate through stacked fins, as the fins are now being stacked onto a fixed tube rather than the plate being forced through them.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary action by pre-positioning the refrigerant tube into the groove before stacking the fins. This preliminary placement of the tube provides a guide and support structure that facilitates the subsequent stacking of fins, ensuring proper alignment and contact without requiring forceful insertion through friction.
2Manufacturing precision
If the plate is forcedly inserted into the groove or hole, then the plate can be positioned, but the fins are modified or non-uniformly positioned
Solution Approach 1:
By inverting the assembly sequence to stack fins onto a pre-positioned tube rather than forcing the tube through stacked fins, the patent eliminates the damaging forceful insertion. This allows the fins to be gently stacked into their correct positions, maintaining their structural integrity and uniformity while achieving precise positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The refrigerant tube serves as an intermediary element that facilitates the assembly process. By inserting the tube first as a mediator, it provides a stable reference structure that guides the subsequent stacking of fins, ensuring they are positioned uniformly without requiring forceful insertion that would deform them.
3Manufacturing precision
If the refrigerant tube is pressed into the heat exchange fins, then the alignment and insertion precision is improved, but the production complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent simplifies the production process by inverting the assembly sequence. Instead of complex operations to press tubes into pre-stacked fins, the process becomes simpler: insert tube into groove, then stack fins onto the tube. This inversion reduces the need for complex pressing equipment and operations while maintaining high alignment precision.
Data Source
AI summary
A heat exchanger may be manufactured using an apparatus which includes a rotating body configured to be disposed at one side of heat exchange fins having an insertion groove having one side formed to be depressed and placed to be downwardly directed to be rotatable. An inner side of the insertion groove of transferred heat exchange fins are seated on the rotating body. The apparatus also include a rotating blade configured to be connected to the rotating body to be rotatable together with the rotating body. The rotating blade supports the other side of the heat exchange fins to prevent the heat exchange fins from being deviated from the rotating body.