초록 ▼

A heat exchanger (10) having a heat exchanger drain assembly (28) comprising a manifold (12) for storing fluid. A drain port (20) is integrally formed with the manifold (12) and is in selective fluid communication with the reservoir (36) for selectively draining the fluid from the manifold (12). A p

A heat exchanger (10) having a heat exchanger drain assembly (28) comprising a manifold (12) for storing fluid. A drain port (20) is integrally formed with the manifold (12) and is in selective fluid communication with the reservoir (36) for selectively draining the fluid from the manifold (12). A plug (32) is disposed within the drain port (20) for preventing fluid from draining from the manifold (12). The plug (32) is removable from the drain port ((20) for allowing fluid to drain from the manifold (12). A frangible wall (40) is formed between the drain port (20) and the reservoir (36) to close the drain port (20) and create a non-functional drain port (20), thereby preventing fluid communication between the drain port (20) and the reservoir (36). The frangible wall (40) is fracturable to provide the fluid communication between the drain port (20) and the reservoir (36) for draining the fluid from the tank (12).

대표청구항 ▼

1. A heat exchanger (10) comprising; at least one manifold (12) having walls (14) defining a chamber for retaining fluid therein with a reservoir (36) disposed at a bottom of said chamber; a plurality of tubes (16) connected to said manifold (12) and in fluid communication with said chamber; a

1. A heat exchanger (10) comprising; at least one manifold (12) having walls (14) defining a chamber for retaining fluid therein with a reservoir (36) disposed at a bottom of said chamber; a plurality of tubes (16) connected to said manifold (12) and in fluid communication with said chamber; a plurality of corrugated fins (18) interconnecting said tubes (16); a drain port (20) mounted to said manifold (12) and in selective fluid communication with said reservoir (36) for selectively draining the fluid from said manifold (12); and a frangible wall (40) disposed between said drain port (20) and said reservoir (36) to close said drain port (20) and prevent fluid communication between said drain port (20) and said reservoir (36), said frangible wall (40) being fracturable from the manifold to provide said fluid communication between said drain port (20) and said reservoir (36) for draining the fluid from said manifold (12). 2. A heat exchanger (10) as set forth in claim 1 wherein said manifold (12) includes at least one groove (42) defining said frangible wall (40) with said groove (42) providing a weakened section within said manifold (12) to facilitate the said fracturability of said frangible wall (40). 3. A heat exchanger (10) as set forth in claim 2 wherein said groove (42) is substantially continuous and defines a perimeter of said frangible wall (40). 4. A heat exchanger (10) as set forth in claim 1 further including a plug (32) selectively disposed within said drain port (20) for preventing fluid from draining from said manifold (12) and being removable from said drain port (20) for allowing fluid to drain from said manifold (12). 5. A heat exchanger (10) as set forth in claim 4 wherein said plug (32) includes an engagement portion (50) for selectively engaging said frangible wall (40) to fracture said frangible wall (40). 6. A heat exchanger (10) as set forth in claim 2 wherein said manifold (12) includes an exterior wall (14) defining said reservoir (36). 7. A heat exchanger (10) as set forth in claim 6 wherein said exterior wall (14) is continuous across said drain port (20) for closing said drain port (20) from said reservoir (36) to prevent fluid communication between said drain port (20) and said reservoir (36) and said groove (42) is formed within said exterior wall (14) to define said frangible wall (40) aligned with said drain port (20). 8. A heat exchanger (10) as set forth in claim 7 wherein said exterior wall (14) includes inner (46) and outer (48) surfaces and said groove (42) is formed within said outer surface (48) facing said drain port (20) to provide a smooth inner surface (46) facing said reservoir (36). 9. A heat exchanger (10) as set forth in claim 6 wherein said exterior wall (14) and said frangible wall (40) are of substantially the same thickness. 10. A heat exchanger (10) as set forth in claim 6 wherein said exterior wall (14) defines said reservoir (36) and a bottom basin (38) with said bottom basin (38) capturing said frangible all when said frangible wall (40) is fractured from said exterior wall (14). 11. A heat exchanger (10) as set forth in claim 6 wherein said frangible wall (40) includes a projection (56,60) extending into said drain port (20). 12. A heat exchanger (10) as set forth in claim 6 further including a partition (62) extending from said exterior wall (14) into said reservoir (36) to trap said frangible wall (40) between said drain port (20) and said partition (62) when said frangible wall (40) is fractured from said exterior wall (14). 13. A heat exchanger (10) as set forth in claim 6 wherein said drain port (20) is integrally formed with said exterior wall (14). 14. A heat exchanger (10) as set forth in claim 1 wherein said manifold (12) is formed of a nylon material. 15. A heat exchanger (10) as set forth in claim 14 wherein said drain port (20) is integrally formed with said manifold (12).