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A manifold structure is defined by a pair of stacked plates which define a void: one of these plates has three or more aperture-surrounding bosses which project into the void; the other of these plates has a plurality of protuberances. Each of the protuberances engages between a respective pair of t

A manifold structure is defined by a pair of stacked plates which define a void: one of these plates has three or more aperture-surrounding bosses which project into the void; the other of these plates has a plurality of protuberances. Each of the protuberances engages between a respective pair of the bosses. A heat exchange element is formed of a plurality of stacked plates, these plates defining a stack of tubes. The tube stack interiorly defines a plurality of U-shaped passages, these passages being distinct from one another. Each tube defines a respective one of the U-shaped passages and is received in plug-fit relation by a respective one of the bosses. The tubes, bosses and protuberances separate the void into a pair of manifolds. Each of the U-shaped passages leads from one of the manifolds to the other of the manifolds.

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1. A heat exchanger comprising: a manifold structure (26) defined by a pair of stacked plates (70,72) which define a void, one of the pair of stacked plates (70) having three or more aperture-surrounding bosses (84) which project into the void and the other (72) of the pair of stacked plates having

1. A heat exchanger comprising: a manifold structure (26) defined by a pair of stacked plates (70,72) which define a void, one of the pair of stacked plates (70) having three or more aperture-surrounding bosses (84) which project into the void and the other (72) of the pair of stacked plates having a plurality of protuberances each of said protuberances engaging between a respective pair of the three or more aperture-surrounding bosses (84), the bosses in said respective pair being adjacent to one another; anda heat exchange element (12) formed of a plurality of stacked plates (22,24), the plurality of stacked plates (22,24) defining a stack of tubes (16) which stack interiorly defines a first plurality of U-shaped passages (18), the passages of said plurality of U-shaped passages (18) being distinct from one another, each of said tubes defining a respective one of the U-shaped passages, each tube (16) being received in plug-fit relation by a respective one of the aperture-defining bosses (84) so that the tubes, the bosses and the protuberances separate the void into a pair of manifolds and so that each of the first plurality of U-shaped passages (18) leads from one of the manifolds (32) of the pair of manifolds to the other (34) of the manifolds of the pair of manifolds. 2. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger is an exhaust gas cooler. 3. The heat exchanger according to claim 2, further comprising a housing element (200) having a first portion (202) defining an open socket (201), the pair of manifolds (32,34) being disposed outside the open socket (201) and the heat exchange element (12) being fitted within the open socket (201). 4. The heat exchanger according to claim 3, wherein: the housing element (200) has a second portion (204) defining a valve housing having an inlet (206) and an outlet (208) and a pair of ports (210,212); and,the plurality of stacked plates (22,24) define, in combination with the first portion (202) of the housing element, a plurality of U-shaped exhaust gas passages (20) interleaved between the plurality of U-shaped coolant passages (18), each of the plurality of U-shaped exhaust gas passages (20) leading from the one of the ports (210), into the open socket (201), and back to the other (212) of the ports. 5. The heat exchanger according to claim 4, further comprising a valve body (216) movable between a bypass position, wherein exhaust gas introduced into the inlet (206) pass directly to the outlet (208), and an active position, wherein exhaust gas introduced is directed past the heat exchange element (12). 6. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein a tank defines the pair of manifolds, the tank having a plurality of wall portions each having a first side facing at least one of manifolds of the pair of manifolds and an opposite side facing a respective one of the U-shaped passages. 7. A heat exchange assembly including: a heat exchanger, the heat exchanger including a manifold structure (26) defined by a pair of stacked plates (70,72) which define a void, one of the pair of stacked plates (70) having a plurality of aperture-surrounding bosses (84) which project into the void and the other (72) of the pair of stacked plates having a plurality of protuberances each engaging between a respective pair of adjacent bosses (84); anda heat exchange element (12) formed of a plurality of stacked plates (22,24), the plurality of stacked plates (22,24) defining a stack of tubes (16) which stack interiorly defines a first plurality of U-shaped passages (18), each of said tubes defining a respective one of the U-shaped passages, each tube (16) being received in plug-fit relation by a respective one of the aperture-defining bosses (84) so that the tubes, the bosses and the protuberances separate the void into a pair of manifolds and so that each of the first plurality of U-shaped passages (18) leads from one of the manifolds (32) of the pair of manifolds to the other (34) of the manifolds of the pair of manifolds; anda housing element (200) having a first portion (202) defining an open socket (201), the pair of manifolds (32,34) being disposed outside the open socket (201) and the heat exchange element (12) being fitted within the open socket (201). 8. The heat exchange assembly according to claim 7, wherein: the one (70) of the pair of stacked plates has a pair of outer bosses (88) which bosses project from the void, each of the bosses of the pair of outer bosses leading into a respective one of the manifolds (32,34);the pair of stacked plates and the plurality of stacked plates have peripheral planar sections (74,78) which can be stacked together to define a flange for mounting to the housing element (200); andthe other (72) of the pair of stacked plates has a central hollow in which the protuberances (100) are formed. 9. The heat exchange assembly according to claim 7, wherein: the housing element (200) has a second portion (204) defining a valve housing having an inlet (206) and an outlet (208) and a pair of ports (210,212); andthe plurality of stacked plates (22,24) define, in combination with the first portion (202) of the housing element, a second plurality of U-shaped passages (20) interleaved between the first plurality of U-shaped passages (18), each of the second plurality of U-shaped passages (20) leading from the one of the ports (210), into the open socket (201), and back to the other (212) of the ports. 10. The heat exchange assembly according to claim 9, further comprising a valve body (216) movable between a bypass position, wherein fluids introduced into the inlet pass (206) directly to the outlet (208), and an active position, wherein fluids introduced are directed past the heat exchange element (12).