US Patent:
20040256528, Dec 23, 2004
Inventors:
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
International Classification:
A47H001/10
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.