US3318503A

US3318503A - Equipment for soldering heat exchanger nests, more particularly for cooling radiators and radiators obtained

Info

Publication number: US3318503A
Application number: US301791A
Authority: US
Inventors: Plegat Alain Edouard
Original assignee: Chausson Usines SA
Current assignee: Chausson Usines SA
Priority date: 1962-08-21
Filing date: 1963-08-13
Publication date: 1967-05-09
Anticipated expiration: 1984-05-09
Also published as: DE1527406A1; GB1058612A; DE1527406B2; DE1527406C3; FR1345595A

Description

May 9, 1967 A. E. PLEGAT 3,318,503

EQUIPMENT FOR SOLDERING HEAT EXCHANGER NESTS, MORE PRTICULARLY-FOR COOLING RADIATORS AND RADIATORS OBTAINED Filed Aug. 13, 1965 9 Sheets-Sheet l Fiel.

May 9, 1967 A. E; PLEGAT 3,318,503

EQUIPMENT FOR SOLDERING HEAT EXCHANGER NESTS, MORE PARTICULARLY FOR COOLING RADIATORS AND RADIATORS OBTAINED Filed Aug. 13, 1965 9 sheets-Sheet 2 EQ. uri-Ela @i ul1 g 3 7/7 /4 f ,I 11;' L r-l T Ed E g 1 La@ @i l w |4 f 1f N 5 E Il V 7521 s A 75a? 74 735 u i 7551 Ii g May 9, 1967 A. E. PLEGAT' 3,318,503

EQUIPMENT FOR SOLDERING HEAT EXCHANGER NESTS, lMORE PARTICULARLY FOR COOLING RADIATORS AND RADIATORS OBTAINED 9 SheetsSheet 3 Filed Aug. 13, 1963 12 Xsr May 9, 1967 Filed Aug. 13, 1965 A. E. PLEGAT EQUIPMENT FOR SOLDERING HEAT EXCHANGER NESTS, MORE PARTICULARLY FOR COOLING RADIATORS AND RADIATORS OBTAINED 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 May 9, 1967 Filed Aug. 13, 1965 A. E. PLEGAT EQUIPMENT FOR SOLDERING HEAT EXCHANGER NESTS, MORE PARTICULARLY FOR COOLING HADIATORS AND RADIATORS OBTAINED Fi e6.

9 Sheets-Sheet 5 May 9, 1967 Filed Aug. 15, 1963 A.E.PLEGAT EQUIPMENT FOR SOLDERING HEAT EXCHANGER NESTS, MORE PARTICULAHLY FOR COOLING RADIATORS AND RADIATORS OBTAINED 9 Sheets-Sheet G May 9, 1967 A. E. PLEGAT 3,318,503

EQUIPMENT FOR SOLDERING HEAT EXCHANGER NESTS MORE PARTICULARLY FOR COOLING RADIATORS AND RADIATORS OBTAINED Filed Aug. 13, 1963 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 May 9, 1967 v A. E. PL AT 3,318,503 EQUIPMENT FOR SOLDER HEAT EXCHANGER NESTS, MORE PARTICULARLY FOR COOLING RADIATORS AND RAD-IATORS OBTAINED 9 Sheets-Shee'c l8 Filed Aug. l5, 1963 May 9, 1967 A. E. PLEGAT 3,318,503

EQUIPMENT FOR SO RING HEAT EXCHAN N S, MORE PAR ULARLY FOR COOLI DIATORS AND RADIATORS OBTAINED Filed Aug. 13, 1965 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 F1612. m15. Flr-:.14 H615. frime. lli-@.12 mi. /37 (la /MW/ E United States Patent 3 318 503 EQUIPMENT FOR SOLERING HEAT EXCHANGER NESTS, MORE PARTICULARLY FOR COOLING RADIATORS AND RADIATORS OBTAINED Alain Edouard Plegat, Asnieres, France, assignor to Societe Anonyme des Usines Chausson, Asnieres,

France, a company of France Filed Aug. 13, 1963, Ser. No. 301,791 Claims priority, application France, Aug. 21, 1962, 907,391, Patent 1,345,595 7 Claims. (Cl. 228-18) The nests of heat exchangers, more particularly of cooling radiators are at present assembled and soldered in several successive operations carried out by various machines. The method of manufacturing consequently calls for numerous handlings which increases the cost price of the nests made and diminishesA the possibilities of production of equipments.

The present invention seeks to obviate these disadvantages by creating a new equipment especially enabling the simultaneous effecting of the soldering of the various elements forming the nests.

The equipment according to the invention also has the advantage of fbeing devised so that it enables soldering operations on nests of various types without necessitating supplementary handlings.

According to the invention, the equipment comprises a conveyor determining a line and progress direction for mobile cells that it supports and guides from a loading point, where they receive the constitutive elements assembled of heat exchanger nests, then towards a turning device provided for directing them before passing to the interior of a picking point, by immersion in va ux bath, these cells being then directed towards aV drainage area after which a second turning device again directs them so that they are brought facing a blower point placed at the entrance of a rst soldering oven on leaving which the cells are again engaged in a third turning device provided to turn then for 180 on themselves so as to enable them to enter a second soldering oven after which said cells are directed towards a discharging point.

Various other characteristics of the invention will moreover be revealed by the detailed description which follows.

A form of embodiment of the object of the invention is shown, by way of non-restrictive example, in the attached drawings.

FIGURE 1 is a synoptical view of the equipment according to the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation, on a larger scale, of one 'of the components of the equipment.

FIG. 3 is a section taken substantially along the line III-III of FIG. 2.

FIGURE 4 is a section taken substantially along the line IV-IV of FIG. 2.

FIGURE 5 is a section, on a larger scale, taken substantially along the line V-V of FIG. 1, showing a constitutive component of the equipment,

FIGURE 6 is a section taken substantially along the line VI-VI of FIG, 1, showing another component of the equipment.

FIGURE 7 is a section taken substantially along the line VII-VII of FIG. 1, showing another element of the equipment.

FIGURE 8 is a section on a larger scale, taken substantially along the line VIII-VIII of FIG. 1.

FIGURE 9 is a partial longitudinal section, on a larger scale, taken along the line IX-IX of FIG. l.

FIGURE 1() is a cross section, in a larger scale, taken substantially along the line X-X of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a partial cross section, on a larger scale, taken substantially along the line XI-XI of FIG. 9.

3,318,503 Patented May 9, 1967 FIGURES 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 are diagrammatical section, on a smaller scale, taken along the lines XII-XII, XIII-XIII, XIV-XIV, XV-XV, XV I-XV I and XVII- XVII of FIG. 9.

FIGURES 18, 19 and 20 are diagrammatical views showing the particular position of certain components of the equipment.

The equipment comprises a conveyor 1 determining a line or direction for advancing mobile cells 2 intended to contain in each one a radiator core to be soldered. The conveyor 1 conveys the cells towards a loading point 3 then towards a turning point A provided for guiding them before they pass inside a pickling point 4. These cells are then directed towards a draining area 5 after which a second turning device B directs them afresh before they are brought facing a blowing point 6 placed at the entrance to a first soldering oven 7. A third turning point C places them, after this oven, in a definite position for their entry into a second soldering oven 7 on leaving which the cells are directed towards a discharging point 8. Transfer components 9 are provided at each turning point A, B and C for ensuring the movement of the cells, These transfer components are described in detail hereinafter.

As will be easily understood, the various components forming the equipment are mounted on a metal support stand 10 advantageously devised for enabling good accessibility during operations for maintenance, cleaning or repairing.

The conveyor 1, made in any suitable manner, may be formed by slides, by one or more rails or by a succession of wheels or by a succession of rollers or also by a combination of these various means. It is obvious that in any case, it is chosen in relation to the shape of the cells 2 which it carries and guides and in which the Various constitutive elements of the heat exchanger more particularly a radiator core are held, Le., tubes, gills or other secondary exchanger elements and collectors for assembling by soldering.

These cells 2, intended to ensure the llatness, squaring and holding in a definite position, of the various elements of the radiator core whatever their position during the successive operations, comprise a metal surround 11, of standardized size, whose two opposite edges each have turned-back wings 12, brackets for example, extending at right angles and the inverse of each other (FIG. 2, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4).

Each cell is provided for holding -a mounting gauge 13 which is removable, formed by four

uprights

13a and 13a, provided-at each end with parts 13b and 13b1 for longitudinal, lateral and cross centering of the radiator core. The parts 13b and 13b1 are shaped to correspond to the dimensional characteristics of the types of radiator core that it is intended to hold. These uprights also comprise four strips 14 having protruding portions 141 which are protruding respectively on both sides from the cell to form sealing partitions as this is described hereinafter in relation with FIG. 10.

The two uprights 13a1 are pivotally mounted in order to allow the parts 13b1 to be pivoted for the position of the radiator core inside the mounting gauge 13. To this end, the two strips 14 carried by the upright 13a, are respectively formed by two guillotines 14a. The terminal parts of the superimposed guillotines are connected by small uprights 14b also provided for forming pivoting and hooking elements of a rapid operating locking and tightening component 15.

This form of embodiment aifords the advantage of being able to position heat exchanger cores of various types in identical cells by interchanging the mounting gauges easily dismountable thus reducing handlings at the loading point 3 comprising several work point.

After their loading, the cells are directed towards the turning device A whose embodiment is similar to that of the devices B and C.

According to FIG. 5, the device A comprises a hexagonal turnstile 16 formed by six prismatic sectors 17 produced by the assembling of metal bars 18 and held by two lateral side plates 19 mounted on a spindle 20. The two ends of this spindle rest in two bearings 21 which support two frame-members 22 extendingA between the uprights 23 of the stand 10, reinforced in the supporting area by a crossbar 24 on which struts are also fixed. The six prismatic sectors confine six longitudinal passages 26 between them, diametrically opposed to each other and whose dimensions correspond to the size of two cells placed end`to end. The sides of these sectors, confining each passage, have four slides 27, extended, projecting and extending facing and parallel to each other, according to a separation corresponding to the distance separating the wings of the cells, to form guiding components at the moment when the latter engage and holding components during the rotation of the turnstile on the spindle 20.

The turning device also comprises a control jack 28, pivotally mounted by a spindle 29 on aV cap 30 integral with a horizontal crossbar 31, fixed, on the one hand,

Vto the stand, and on the other, to an upright extending downwards from a shoulder-bracket 33 onone of the frame-members 22. The piston rod 34 of this control jack is connected to a crank 35 pivotally mounted on the spindle 20 and comprising a mobile abutment 36 cooperating with a notched disc 38 integral with the internal face of one of the side-plates 19 and having six notches 39 evenly spaced out provided to act successively as a housing for it. The movable abutment 36 may be actuated by all suitable means generally designed by 37, these means being for instance a jack, an electromagnet or the like.

In addition to the control jack 28, the device comprises a locking jack 40 xed on two struts 41 mounted obliquely between an upright of the stand and a sloping joist 42; this joist and this upright'being connected at their top part by a separation bar 43 in order to form a rigid crutch 44. The locking jack is devised so that a bolt 45 can project so as to be housed in a cavity 46 which has a heel-piece 47 mounted on the flat external face of each prismatic segment of the turnstile.

The turning device A is provided for rotating the cells 2 from position 2a to position 2b (FIG. 5) so that'the cells are successively brought in alignment with a corridor 65 provided in a pivoting support 58 placed at the pickling point 4. When the cells are in position 2b the control jack V2 (FIGS. 5 and 6) is actuated and engages by means of a protruding member V6, it carries the cells locatedA in the passage 26 to bring these cells by sliding from position 2b to position 2c in the corridor 65 of the pivoting support 58.

The pickling point 4 is shown in FIG. 6 Where the stand 10 comprises, between the middle frame-member 48 and an upper frame-member 49, two vertical girders 50 between which half way up there is a crossbar 51 kformed by assembling two sections 52 held and fixed at theirV ends by reinforcement plates 53. This crossbar supports, on the horizontal wings of two corner. stiifeners 54, two bearings 55 in which revolves a spindle 56 of which the terminal parts, projecting beyond said bearings, are intended to receive two bushings 57 of a pivoting support 58. This support comprises two vertical side-plates 59 from which one of the bushings 57 projects at each end. The side-plates have respectively the shape of an arm 60 extended by two parallel curved arms 61. These two arms are made integral ywith each other by a plate 62 fixed in the horizontal middle part and having on its edge opposite to the spindle 20, an

oblique plate 63 welded into the connection area of the arms and branches and from which extend at rightl angles, two surfaces 64 bordering the internal edges of the branches. The surfaces 64 of the plate 63 confine a corridor 65 of the same dimensions as a passage 26 of the turnstile.

Like that passage, each corridor comprises four slides 66 extended on the internal faces of the surfaces and extending parallel and facing each other.

The pivoting of the mobile support is obtained by a control jack 67 hinged on a spindle 68 engaged in a cap 69 supported by a seating 70 held in elevation by four feet 71. The piston rod 72 of this jack is connected to a strap 73 integral with a reinforcement plate 74 fixed on the lower face of the plate 62.

The pickling point 4 also comprises a locking jack Y 75 mounted on a sloping plate 76 supported by a small girder 77 extending from one of the uprights of the stand and being fixed to a strut 78 connecting the same upright to the upper frame-member.

The jack is made so that its actuating causes the ex-k tension of a bolt 79 provided to tit into a notch 80 in a heel-piece 81 rigidly attached to a small plate 82 integral with the oblique plate 63 and placed parallel to the upper surface 64 on which it bears by a small bar 83.

Under the action of this control jack, the pivoting i support 58 can thus be moved in the direction of the arrow F1 for placing in an appreciably vertical position, as shown by mixed lines, inside of a bath 84Y containing a flux of given nature. Although not shown, the level of this bath is kept constant by one or more automatic pumps connected up to a ilux tank.

After immersion in the ilux bath, the cells, supported by the pivoting support, are removed and brought back to the initial sloping position 2c as shown in FIG. 6. This position is chosen to enable the cells to be engaged by a second protruding member V,z (FIG. 7) also carried by the control jack V2 so that two cells 2 are displaced by sliding from position 2c (FIG. 6) to position 2e (FIG. 7) simultaneously to the sliding of other cells from position 2b to position 2c as above related. During sliding from-position 2c to position 2e the cells are supported by the conveyor 1 which has, for a given distance, forming the draining zone 5, the same slope which is shown in FIG. 7. This slope is advantageously chosen to obtain a good ow of the ux by gravity and avoid any retaining by the gills or tubes of the nest. To this end, an inclined plane 85 is provided in the stand over its whole length of the draining zone 5 to direct the flux flowing towards a spout (not shown) intended to channel the flux towards a recuperation bath.

At the end of the draining zone, the cells are engaged in the turning device B devised and produced in a similar manner to the device A and diagrammatized in FIG. 7 by its rotation spindle. This device B rotates the cells for placing them in a vertical position so as to enable them to be picked up again by sliding by the conveyor 1 in the section 1a thereof (FIGS. 8 and 13).

The cells -are then conveyed facing the blowing point 6 still further eliminating the excess flux in the radiator core.

As shown in FIG. 8, the uprights 23 of the stand 10 comprises, level with the blowing point, two brackets 86 extending internally facing each other and on whose horizontal face the conveyor section 1a is fixed. This section comprises longitudinal iron sections 87 vprovided with wheels or rollers 88 on which the cells 2 are suspended by the wings 12. This form of embodiment enables the passage of each cell through a blowing jet 89 channelled, on the one hand, by a sheath 90 emerging kas near as possible to the cell and connected to the This sheath, channelling the blower air charged with droplets of iux, is extended by a recycling circuit 94 comprising a purier intended to cause the separation of the flux from the air Whose outlet is connected by a duct 96 to the suction opening 97 of the casing 92 of the turbine. A connection sleeve 9S provided at the bottom part of the puriier and an evacuation piping (not shown) enable the separated flux to be directed towards the recuperation bath mentioned above.

This means of recycling, purifying and recuperating, also has the advantage of preventing any giving off of harmful steams inside the work buildings.

After passing by the blowing point, the cells are conveyed to the entrance to the oven 7 shown by FIG. 9. This figure also shows the oven 7 of the same design extending at the top part of the stand, seeing that the equipment is placed, as described previously, in a staged circuit. For this reason only the oven 7 will be described, it being understood that the same reference numerals correspond on the drawing to the identical elements that comprises the oven 7.

The oven 7 comprises a hearth 99 extending in the longitudinal direction of the equipment and resting on a platform 100 supported by the uprights 23 of the stand. This oven connes a tunnel 101 whose upper wall 102 is cut away for providing a cut 102a, parallel to the conveyor, for the passage of the cells 2. The end of the tunnel opening level to the blowing point 6 forms a substantially seal-tight entry screen 103 provided for preventing any wind or change of temperature between the interior of the tunnel and the ambient surroundings. This entry screen 103 emerges in a chamber 104 hereafter called pre-heating collector chamber and more particularly shown in FIG. 10.

According to that figure, the chamber 104 contines between the hearth 99 and the upper wall, an enclosure 105 appreciably corresponding to half the height of a cell 2 suspended on the conveyor and traversed by a heating air current directed in the direction of the arrows f2. This enclosure also comprises, upstream from the passage zone of the cells 2, a deector 106 carried by the lower portion of the wall 102 and intended to deviate this heating air current towards the bottom part of the cells, as is diagrammatized in FIG. 10.

According to that ligure, we see, moreover, that the faces of the upper wall, confining the passage cut, have two middle slides 107 in which two of the strips 14 described are engaged. This results in a certain medium seal-tightness enabling a considerable reduction in the balancing of temperatures between the enclosure 105 and the external part of the oven and also to keep a relatively constant temperature in the enclosure applied solely to the lower half of the mountings.

In certain cases, the projecting parts 108 conned by the slides 107 may advantageously comprise cooling means.

This pre-heating collector chamber is contiguous to a second chamber 109, called the nest pre-heating chamber, formed in a similar manner but not comprising deectors 106. The whole of the lower half of the mounting is placed in the heating current as shovm in FIG. 10.

A third chamber 110 called soldering chamber is contiguous to the chamber 109 and is made in a similar manner. This soldering chamber issues into a blower and outlet compartment 111 shown in detail in FIG. 11 and extended to blow air in the tubes of the radiator cores contained in the successive cells.

At its top part, the compartment 111 comprises a nozzle 112 supplied with compressed air and directed vertically in the direction of the tubes of the radiator cores, i.e., along the middle axis of the cells. The cells are provided for the passage of the nozzle 112 with a longitudinal groove 113 provided on those of the edges which comprise the supporting wings 12. The

6 lower part of the compartment 111 has an opening 114 facing the nozzle 112 under which a movable bath 115 is advantageously placed.

It should be noticed that this nozzle is only supplied during the advancing of the mountings for preventing an exaggerated consumption of compressed air.

The oven 7 also comprises another chamber 116 extending from the blower and outlet compartment and intended to subject the cells to a cooling, preferably directe-d, which is produced, for example, by the intake of the ambient air by means of a turbine; this air traversing the cells, and hence, the nests, being then evacuated outside the buildings.

This cooling chamber 116 emerges in an outlet screen 117 provided to fulll the same function as the inlet screen 103 and placed at the other end of the tunnel 101 forming the oven 7.

After the outlet screen 117, the cells continue their progress on the conveyor 1 towards the third tur-ning device C. The latter places them in a denite position to enable their passage into the upper oven 7 at whose exit the cells are directed towards the discharge point 8 which may comprise, if required, like the loading point 3, several work points.

It will be easily understood that the temperature of the various chambers of the ovens must be able to be regulated independently, so as to determine exactly the thresholds that must be reached in each chamber for obtaining -a uniform rise or cooling, selected in function of the constitutive elements of the nests. It is consequently necessary that each chamber comprises heating or cooling components individually enabling a perfect control of the temperatures to be set up. These components are especially shown by the diagrammatical sections shown by the FIGS. 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17.

FIG. l2 shows the cells yof the lower and upper parts of the conveyor 1 and the cooling device of the chamber 116 of the upper oven 7.

The device comprises a suction jet 118 whose input opening is protected by a grid 119'. This jet is connected to the casing of a turbine 120 discharging the sucked-in air used for cooling the cells traversing it, towards the exterior through a pipe 121.

FIG. 13 shows the blower point 6 placed at right angles to the entrance to the lower oven 7, and the heating components of the soldering chamber 110 of the upper oven 7. This chamber is traversed by a chan-nelled hot air jet, upstream from the conveyor 1, through a blower sheath 122 connected to a turbine 123, whose inta-ke opening 124 comprises a heating component 125, formed, for example, by a gas burner, and downstream from the conveyor 1, by a discharge and recycling sheath 126 emerging in the intake opening 124 of the turbine 123. 127 and 128 denote controlling and regulating pyrometers mounted in the blower sheath upstream from the passage zone of the cells.

FIG. 14 shows the heating means of the pre-heating collector chamber 104 of the lower oven 7 and the nest pre-heating chamber 109 of the upper oven 7. These means comprise a turbine 129 whose intake -opening is provided with a heating component 130` also able to be composed -by a gas burner. vThis turbine is connected to a blower sheath 131 traversing the chamber 104 and is extended by a discharge sheath 132 emerging in the chamber 109 of the oven 7. A recycling Asheath 133 connects this chamber to the intake opening of the turbine 129. As previously, regulating and controlling

pyrometers

134 and 135 are provided upstream from the lower passage zone of the cells.

According to this ligure, we see that the same heating means are provided both for the lower and upper oven. This arrangement, which can be ladvantageously carried out owing to the stage circuit equipment, is made possible seeing that the temperature in the pre-heating collector chamber must be established, as can be easily understood, at a higher threshold than that of the nest pre-heating chamber. This lowering of the temperature threshold is produced, Von the'one hand, by the passage of hot air into the chamber of the first oven, and on the other, by the expansion of this air that occurs in the discharge sheath which extends upstream from the second chamber to be heated, i.e., the nest pre-heating chamber of the upper oven.

For this reason, controlling and regulating pyrometers for lowering the temperature are also provided upstream from the passage zone of the upper cells.

FIG. shows the heati-ng components of the nest pre-heating chamber 109 of the lower oven and the collector pre-heating chamber 104 of the upper oven.

These components are formed, similar to those described in FIG. 14, by a turbine 136 comprising a burner 136a, a blower sheath 13-7 extended by a discharge sheath 138, a recycling sheath 139 and controlling and regulating

pyrometers

140 and 141. These components are nevertheless placed opposite to the preceding components for ensuring firstly the heating of the collector pre-heating chamber of the up-per oven whose threshold is higher than that of the nest pre-heating chamber of the lower oven.

FIG. 16 shows the passage zones of the lower and upper cells and the heating components of the soldering chamber 110 o-f the oven 7.

This chamber is provided with a turbine 142, whose intake opening comprises a burner 143, connected to a blower sheath 144 traversing the chamber 110. This sheath 144 is intended beyond the chamber by a recycling sheath 145 emerging in the intake opening of the turbine 142. 146 and 147 denote controlling and regulating pyrometers placed upstream from the soldering chamber 110.

FIG. 17 shows the cooling device of the chamber 116 of the lower oven 7.

Like that of the chamber 116', this device comprises a suction jet 148 whose inlet opening is protected by a grid 149. This jet is connected to the casing of a turbine 150 discharging the sucked-in air, having acted for cooling the cell traversing it, to the outside throu-gh the piping 151.

Although not shown, it will easily be understood that when the heating components are supplied with gas it is necessary to provide a safety device for each oven to prevent explosions that might occur, for example, in the event of wrong handling of the supply burner cocks.

Likewise, the supply 4circuit advantageously has a connection for installing a meter or flow meter enabling the consumption of the ovens of the equipment to be ascertained.

The equipment described above comprises transfer components 9 provided for ensuring the engaging and disengaging of the cells from the turnstiles andV also their movement on the conveyor. This movement can moreover be provided step by step or continuous in push-push.

These transfer components, six in number, are formed by jacks V1, V2 V6 extending horizontally and whose movable parts have projecting members constituting stopblocks projecting at right angles and being regularly spaced apart for a distance slightly greater than the space occupied by two cells placed end to end.

Certain jacks, more particularly the jacks V3 and V5 only have a single projecting member constituting stopblock yacting on the whole line of cells when they are moved in push-push as explained in that which follows. These jacks are devised for being animated on the one hand, with an axial movement, and on the other, with a limited rotation movement around the longitudinal axis thus allowing the e'facing of the stop-blocks during the return passage. To this end, the jacks are supported by bearings provided with rollers for facilitating limited rotation.

The arrangement of these jacks at each turning point is more particularly shown by FIGS. 18, 19 and 20 and expass plained in the general working of the equipment described in that which follows. After assembling the tubes, gills or other secondary exchanger elements and collectors, the nests formed are positioned in corresponding removable mounting gauges. This operation takes place at the loading point where the cells and gauges that they contain within reach of the personnel working on the top part of the conveyor which has, in this zone, a transversal slope corresponding to that of the turnstile passage A extending in its prolongation.

As can be particularly seen in FIGS. 5 and 18, the transfer Ijack V1, shifts the cells placed on the conveyor and engages the two end cells in the passage of the turnstile A prolonging said conveyor. After this `axial displacement, the jack is actuated for causing the partial rotation around the longitudinal axis by allowing the eifacing of the stop-blocks and the control of the return passage to the initial position.

This return gives rise, for example, automatically, on the one hand, to the actuating of the locking jack 40 of the device A causing the return of the bolt 45 and the unbolting of the turnstile, and on the other, to the actuating of the jack 28 controlling, by the crank 35 and mobile abutment 36 held in a notch -of the disc 38, the partial rotation -of the turnstile A in the direction of the arrow F3 for bringing it to the position shown in FIG. 5. Theend of the stroke of the control jack entails the drive of the locking jack 40 ensuring the locking of the turnstile and also enabling the actuating of the control jack -for the return stroke and the positioning of the mobile abutment in the next notch with a view to another partial rotation.

This rotation, of a value equal to one-sixth of a revolution, has the effect of bringing, facing the upper part of the conveyor, an empty passage enabling the engaging of the two following cells. It also has the effect of bringing passage occupied by the two first lcells opposite to the lower part of the conveyor whose transversal slope is so directed as to oppose that of the upper part.

The two cells are then disengaged from the turnstile by a second transfer jack V2 directed so that its extension takes place in the opposite direction to the jack V1. The successive axial displacements of this jack, similar to those of the jack V1 cause the translation of the cells as far as their engaging in the corridor '83 of the pivoting supports 58 of the pickling device. The return of theV jack V2 after this engaging causes the activating of the locking jack and the withdrawl of the bolt 79 as well as the control of the jack y67 ensuring the pivoting of the support 58 in the direction of the arrow F1 (FIG. 6) for immersing the cells in the ux bath 84. This immersion for a given time is followed by a new control of the jack 67 for the return to an appreciably horizontal position of the support 58 lagain locked by the locking jack 75.

The same jack V2 then disengages thertwo cells from the pivoting support for placing them on the conveyorV whose sloping position facilitates draining (FIG. 7).

The translation of lthe cells on the conveyor 1 is then ensured by the extension of the -jack V2.

At the end of the draining zone 5, the two first cells are then engaged by the same jack V2 in a passage of the turnstile B (FIG. 19). This turnstile is driven in a similar manner to that of the turnstile A to be subjected to a partial rotation of one-sixth of a revolution in the direction of the arrow F2. This rotation consequently brings a new passage opposite to the conveyor of the draining zone and directs the cells already engaged so as to place them in a low vertical position.

Another transfer V3 is then operated for disengaging the `cells from the turnstile =B and place them in a suspended position on rollers or wheels of the lower part of the conveyor. The translation of the preceding cells is then ensured by touch-touch means of the cells leaving the turnstile B under the action -of the -jack V3. The forward step represents two cells. These cells are then directed for passing through the blower jet 89 of point 6 for causing the evacuative of the excess ux in the nests (FIG. 8).

On leaving the blowing point the cells penetrate by the entrance chamber 103 into the pre-heated collector chamber 104 of the lower oven 7, in which Vonly the collectors in the low position are subjected, by a hot air jet, to a rise in temperature. This to allow -for the different thermic inertias of the collectors, tubes and gills.

The cells then penetrate into the nest pre-heating chamber where all the lower half of the nests contained by the cells are subjected to the heat jet.

The regular rise in temperature of the assembly is achieved in the soldering chamber in which the hot air jet brings the various elements up to the threshold for which the fusible material, applied, for example, by atomization before assembling the elements, melts and joins the tubes, gills and lower collector together,

It has been noticed that it was advantageous that the height of the chambers, more particularly the nest preheating and soldering chamber, should be slightly greater than half the height of the nests for obtaining the covering Iof the middle part and a certitude of soldering the gills extending in that Zone.

After the soldering chamber, the cells pass in front of the compartment 111 intended to cause, by blowing, the eventual unstopping of the tubes and the elimination of the run-outs that may occur.

The cells then penetrate into the chamber 116 where they are subjected to a cooling directed, by the intake of the outside air by means of a turbine, to bring the assembly to a slight temperature enabling the following operations to be performed without risks.

After the output chamber 117 of the lower oven 7, the cells are engaged by another transfer jack V4 (FIG. in a lower vertical passage of the turnstile C. As in the previous case, the return stroke of this jack controls the unlocking and rotation of the turnstile in the l direction of the arrow F3. This rotation is also provided to the extent of one-sixth of a revolution so as to return the cells in three stages for bringing the collectors of the upper halves of the nests to the place previously occupied by the collectors of the lower halves, the tubes being again Vertical.

In this position, the cells are disengaged from the turnstile C by another transfer jack V5 which directs them towards the upper part of the conveyor also formed by wheels or rollers (FIG. 20).

In like manner, the displacement of the cells takes pl-ace on the upper part of the conveyor, step by step, by the successive extensions of the jack V5.

This upper part of the conveyor brings the cells in front of the entrance chamber 103' of the oven 7 inside of which the lower half of the nests is soldered in a similar manner to that described above.

On leaving the oven 7', the cells are engaged by another transfer jack V6 in an upper vertical passage of the turnstile B. During the partial rotation of the latter, previously described, the cells are brought to a sloping position similar to the loading position for disengaging from the turnstile by the other end of the jack V1 (FIG. 19). These cells are then placed on the upper sloping part of the conveyor for directing towards the loading point 8 where the nests are extracted from the mounting gauges, then brought by the following extension opposite to the loading point where the mounting gauges can receive other nests requiring to be assembled.

The invention is not restricted to the example of embodiment, shown and described in detail, for various modifications may be applied to it without going outside of its scope. In particular, the loading point can be supplied by several distinct chains bringing the gauges equipped with nests of various types to the various work points. Likewise, provision may be made for placing an automatic distributing device for the various nests controlled by a 10 feeler determining the type of radiator in function of the removable gauge for each cell.

I claim:

1. Equipment for soldering heat exchanger, more particularly cooling radiator cores, comprising a set of cells for surrounding and supporting said radiator cores, protruding members protruding laterally from said cells at both ends thereof to constitute supporting members therefor, a first supporting way having guiding members for said supporting members of said cells extending lengthwise and onto which said cells are positioned, a first rotating device having several passages for said cells rotatably mounted at one end of said first supporting way, sliding actuator means disposed parallel to said first supporting way to slide said cells from said first supporting way to one of said passages of said first rotating device, an oscillatorily mounted pivoting support disposed parallel to said first rotating device, said pivoting support having a sloped corridor arranged to be in alignment with one of said passages of said first rotating device when stopped, a tank filled with a fiux located beneath said pivoting support and into which said pivoting support is bathed when actuated, a second supporting way having guiding members for said supporting members of said cells, said second supporting way being sloped to be aligned with said corridor of said pivoting support when stopped, a driving member provided to rotate said rotating device to bring 'cells in alignment with said corridor of said pivoting support when said support is at rest and driving means to slide said cells from said rotatable device to said corridor of said pivoting support when said support is at rest and then from said pivoting support to said second supporting way after actuation of said pivoting support whereby said cells are successively bathed into said flux and then supported in inclined position by said pivoting support and Isloped second supporting way thus causing draining thereof, a second rotating device having passage for said cells and located in close relationship with said second supporting way from which said cells are inserted into one of said passages of said second rotating device by said driving means, driving members for said second rotating device for the actuation of said device to rotate said cells from the inclined position to a vertical position, a third supporting way having guiding members for said cells provided to support said cells in vertical position, said third supporting way being located adjacent said second rotating device, means to slide said cells from said second rotating device to said third supporting way and then along -said third supporting way, first soldering assembly means associated with said third supporting way whereby a portion of said radiator cores supported by said cells are soldered, second soldering assembly means for soldering the portion of said radiator cores not soldered by said first soldering assembly means, and means for feeding said radiator cores from said first soldering assembly means to s-aid second soldering assembly means.

2. Equipment for soldering heat exchanger, more particularly cooling radiator cores comprising a set of cells for surrounding and supporting said radiator cores, protruding members protruding laterally from said cells at both ends thereof to constitute supporting members therefor, two sets of two strips carried by said cells and projecting laterally therefrom to form heat partitions, a first supporting way have guiding members for said supporting members of said cells extending lengthwise and onto Which said cells are positioned, a first rotating device having several passages or notches for said cells rotatably mounted at one -end of said first supporting way, sliding actuator means disposed parallel to said first supporting Way to slide said cells from said first supporting way to one of said passa-ges or notches of said first rotating device, an oscillatory mounted pivoting support disposed, parallel to said first rotating device, said pivoting support 'having a sloped corridor arranged to :be in alignment with one of said passages of said first rotating device when 1 1 stopped, a tank filled with a flux located beneath said pivoting support and into which said pivoting support is bathed when actuated, a second supporting way having guiding members for said supporting members of said cells, said second .supporting way being sloped to be aligned with said corridor of said pivoting support when said pivoting support is stopped, a driving member provided to rotate said rotating device to bring cells in alignment with said corridor of said pivoting support when said pivoting support is at rest and driving means to slide said cells from said rotatable device to said corridor of said pivoting support when said pivoting support is at rest and then from said pivoting support to said second supporting way after actuation of said pivoting support whereby said cells are successively bathed int-o said fiux and then supi ported in inclined position by said pivoting support and sloped second supporting way thus causing draining thereof, a second rotating device having passages or notches for said cells and located in close relationship with said second supporting way from which said cells are inserted into one of said passages of said second rotating device by said ydriving means, driving members for said second rotating device for the actuation of said device to rotate said cells from the inclined position to a vertical position, a third supporting way having guiding members for said cells provided to support said cells in vertical position, said third supporting way being located adjacent said second rotating device, means to slide said cel-ls from said second rotating device to said third supporting way and then along said third supporting way, =a blowing unit associated with said third supporting way at the beginning thereof whereby air is blown transversally through said cells, a first soldering oven disposed beneath said third supporting way parallel therewith and in alignment with said blowing unit, said first soldering oven having a thick upper wall delimiting a longitudinal passage for said cells, said thick upper wall having the lower face thereof` extending substantially to the middle portion of said cel-ls whereby only one half of said cells projects into said oven, said thick upper wall further comprising grooves for accommodating one set of said strips projecting laterally from said cells whereby said strips -constitute movable partitions into said oven to prevent escaping of heat therefrom, a third rotating device having passages for said cells rotatably mounted at the end of said third supporting way, driving units respectively provided to slide said cells from said third supporting way to said third rotating device and to rotate said third rotating device 180, a fourth supporting way having guiding members for said cells extending from said third rotating device to said second rotating device, a second soldering oven having a structure similar to that of said first soldering oven disposed parallel therewith beneath said fourth supporting way, driving members to slide said cells from said third rotating device to said fourth supporting way and inside said second soldering oven whereby soldering the other half of said radiator cores contained in said cells is achieved, sliding driving components to slide said cel-ls from said fourth supporting way to said second rotating device whereby rotation of said device causes said cells to be sloped and thus brought into alignment with said first supporting way, and members sliding said cells from said second rotating device to said first supporting way where the cells 'are removed.

3. Equipment for soldering heat exchangers as set forth in claim 2 in which further said first and second ovens include successively an entry chamber forming a screen, a first preheating chamber and a second preheating chamber, a soldering chamber for heating said radiator core at a soldering temperature, a cooling chamber into which air is blown to cool the radiator cores and an outlet charnber formingra screen.

4. Equipment for soldering heat exchangers as set forth in claim 3 comprising further `a blowing nozzle arranged between said soldering chamber and said cooling chamber to blow compressed air into tubes of said radiator cores before cooling of said radiator cores.

5. Equipment for soldering heat exchangers as set forth in claim 2 in which said means to slide said cells from said second rotating device to said third supporting way and then along said third supporting way, and said driving members to slide said cells from said third rotating device to said fourth supporting way yand inside said second soldering oven include pushing members engaging said cells at the rear portion thereof whereby said cells are caused to be in a push-push relationship when passing through said first and second soldering ovens with Vsaid sets of strips projecting laterally from said cells delimiting a continuous partition inside said grooves provided in the upper thick .wall of said ovens.

6. Equipment for soldering heat exchangers as set-forth in claim 3 in which further said first preheating chamber of the first oven is connected to said second preheating chamber of the second oven and said first preheating chamber of said second oven is connected to said second preheating chamber of said first oven, and in which the equipment comprises a heating member for each one of said first preheating chambers and blowing component to blow from said first to said second preheating chambers.

7. Equipment as set forth in claim 1 comprising mounting gauges having centering grip members to support a predetermined type of heat exchangers to be soldered, said mounting gauges having further connecting elements for removable `connection with said cells whereby any type of heat exchanger may be mounted inside said cells.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,139,679 7/1964 Saj 29-l57.3 X

JOHN F. CAMPBELL, Primary Examinez.

WHITMORE A. WILTZ, Examiner.

M. L. FAIGUS, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. EQUIPMENT FOR SOLDERING HEAT EXCHANGER, MORE PARTICULARLY COOLING RADIATOR CORES, COMPRISING A SET OF CELLS FOR SURROUNDING AND SUPPORTING SAID RADIATOR CORES, PROTRUDING MEMBERS PROTRUDING LATERALLY FROM SAID CELLS AT BOTH ENDS THEREOF TO CONSTITUTE SUPPORTING MEMBERS THEREFOR, A FIRST SUPPORTING WAY HAVING GUIDING MEMBERS FOR SAID SUPPORTING MEMBERS OF SAID CELLS EXTENDING LENGTHWISE AND ONTO WHICH SAID CELLS ARE POSITIONED, A FIRST ROTATING DEVICE HAVING SEVERAL PASSAGES FOR SAID CELLS ROTATABLY MOUNTED AT ONE END OF SAID FIRST SUPPORTING WAY, SLIDING ACTUATOR MEANS DISPOSED PARALLEL TO SAID FIRST SUPPORTING WAY TO SLIDE SAID CELLS FROM SAID FIRST SUPPORTING WAY TO ONE OF SAID PASSAGES OF SAID FIRST ROTATING DEVICE, AN OSCILLATORILY MOUNTED PIVOTING SUPPORT DISPOSED PARALLEL TO SAID FIRST ROTATING DEVICE, SAID PIVOTING SUPPORT HAVING A SLOPED CORRIDOR ARRANGED TO BE IN ALIGNMENT WITH ONE OF SAID PASSAGES OF SAID FIRST ROTATING DEVICE WHEN STOPPED, A TANK FILLED WITH A FLUX LOCATED BENEATH SAID PIVOTING SUPPORT AND INTO WHICH SAID PIVOTING SUPPORT IS BATHED WHEN ACTUATED, A SECOND SUPPORTING WAY HAVING GUIDING MEMBERS FOR SAID SUPPORTING MEMBERS OF SAID CELLS, SAID SECOND SUPPORTING WAY BEING SLOPED TO BE ALIGNED WITH SAID CORRIDOR OF SAID PIVOTING SUPPORT WHEN STOPPED, A DRIVING MEMBER PROVIDED TO ROTATE SAID ROTATING DEVICE TO BRING CELLS IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAID CORRIDOR OF SAID PIVOTING SUPPORT WHEN SAID SUPPORT IS AT REST AND DRIVING MEANS TO SLIDE SAID CELLS FROM SAID ROTATABLE DEVICE TO SAID CORRIDOR OF SAID PIVOTING SUPPORT WHEN SAID SUPPORT IS AT REST AND