Wound layered tube heat exchanger
First Claim
1. A heat exchanger that transfers thermal energy between an internal heat exchange fluid that flows within the exchanger and an external heat exchange fluid in thermal communication with the internal heat exchange fluid, the heat exchanger comprising:
- one or more layers of a tube within which the internal heat exchange fluid passes;
at least some of the one or more layers having an oblong ovate configuration with opposing linear runs connected by opposing curved sections, the internal heat exchange fluid passing sequentially through successive ones of the linear runs;
a planar spacer member that extends perpendicularly in relation to the linear runs, the spacer member having forwardly and rearwardly facing edges, the forwardly and rearwardly facing edges each have detents spaced apart at a center-to-center distance, each detent has a major diameter and the detents are truncated and terminate at the forwardly and rearwardly facing edges at positions that are offset from the major diameters of the detents, andwherein the opposing linear runs are detachably retained by the detents in the forwardly and rearwardly facing edges of the planar spacer member with a snap fit such that each successive ones of the linear runs are spaced apart, in an extension direction of the planar spacer member, by a distance greater than the center-to-center distance of the detents.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A wound tube heat exchanger 10 article that receives a heat exchange fluid and its method of manufacture. The exchanger 10 has one or more layers 12 of a tube 14. In one embodiment, the tube surface is bare. In other embodiments, the outside tube surface is enhanced to produce turbulence. At least some of the layers 12 have an ovate oblong configuration. A pair of opposing linear runs 16,18 is connected by a pair of opposing curved sections 20,22. In some embodiments, the layers are circular, oval or rectangular with radiused corners. An elongate spacer member 24 has forwardly 26 and rearwardly 28 facing edges. Defined within those edges are engagement surfaces 30 that detachably retain the opposing linear runs 16,18.
8 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A heat exchanger that transfers thermal energy between an internal heat exchange fluid that flows within the exchanger and an external heat exchange fluid in thermal communication with the internal heat exchange fluid, the heat exchanger comprising:
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one or more layers of a tube within which the internal heat exchange fluid passes; at least some of the one or more layers having an oblong ovate configuration with opposing linear runs connected by opposing curved sections, the internal heat exchange fluid passing sequentially through successive ones of the linear runs; a planar spacer member that extends perpendicularly in relation to the linear runs, the spacer member having forwardly and rearwardly facing edges, the forwardly and rearwardly facing edges each have detents spaced apart at a center-to-center distance, each detent has a major diameter and the detents are truncated and terminate at the forwardly and rearwardly facing edges at positions that are offset from the major diameters of the detents, and wherein the opposing linear runs are detachably retained by the detents in the forwardly and rearwardly facing edges of the planar spacer member with a snap fit such that each successive ones of the linear runs are spaced apart, in an extension direction of the planar spacer member, by a distance greater than the center-to-center distance of the detents. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A heat exchanger that transfers thermal energy between an internal heat exchange fluid that flows within the exchanger and an external heat exchange fluid in thermal communication with the internal heat exchange fluid, the heat exchanger comprising:
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one or more layers of a tube within which the internal heat exchange fluid passes, each layer including opposing linear runs connected by opposing curved sections, the internal heat exchange fluid passing sequentially through successive ones of the linear runs; at least some of the one or more layers having a uniform bend radius; and a planar spacer member that extends perpendicularly in relation to the one or more layers, the spacer member having forwardly and rearwardly facing edges, the forwardly and rearwardly facing edges each have engagement surfaces defining a center location in which a respective portion of the tube is received, wherein adjacent center locations are spaced apart a first distance and each of the one or more layers is detachably retained by the planar spacer member with a snap fit to the engagement surfaces of the forwardly and rearwardly facing edges, such that each successive ones of the linear runs are spaced apart, in an extension direction of the planar spacer member, by a second distance greater than the first distance between the adjacent center locations.
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Specification