STRAIN REDUCTION CLAMSHELL HEAT EXCHANGER DESIGN

• US 20140165990A1
• Filed: 12/14/2012
• Published: 06/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lennox Industries Incorporated (Lennox International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Lennox Industries Incorporated (Lennox International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Noman, Shiblee S. M., Whitesitt, John W.
• Granted Patent: US 10,126,017 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 126/110.R
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 5/00 Hot-air central heating systems district heating systems F24D10/00; central heating systems using heat accumulated in storage masses F24D11/00; air conditioning F24F; Exhaust gas central heating systems
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 3/105 using fluid fuel
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 9/0063 in air channels
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 9/0068 in combustion gas channels
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 9/0031 the conduits for one heat-exchange medium being formed by paired plates touching each other F28D9/0012, F28D9/0025, F28D9/0081, F28D9/04 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 3/12 Elements constructed in the shape of a hollow panel, e.g. with channels F28D1/02, F28D1/03 take precedence

Abstract

One aspect of this disclosure provides a heating chamber for a gas furnace that comprises opposing halves joined together. The joined opposing halves form a clamshell panel having at least one truncated corner located adjacent a curve located at a back end of a chamber path of the one or more clamshell heating chambers.

Claims

1. A gas furnace, comprising:

a housing;

a heating zone located in said housing and comprising one or more clamshell heating chambers, said one or more clamshell heating chambers comprising opposing halves joined together, said joined opposing halves forming a clamshell panel having at least one truncated corner located adjacent a curve in a backend of a chamber path of said one or more clamshell heating chambers; and

a blower having an exhaust opening and located adjacent said heating zone and positioned to force air through said heating zone.

2. The gas furnace of claim 1, wherein an angle of said truncated corner as taken from an adjacent edge of said clamshell panel ranges from about 30 degrees to about 75 degrees.

3. The gas furnace of claim 2, wherein said angle is about 60 degrees.

4. The gas furnace of claim 2, wherein a distance from an edge of said truncated corner to an edge of said chamber path ranges from about 0.0 inches to about 0.50 inches.

5. The gas furnace of claim 4, wherein a said distance is about 0.30 inches.

6. The gas furnace of claim 2, wherein said truncated corner is defined by a bent portion of a corner of said clamshell panel, said bent portion being bent toward said second opposing halve.

7. The gas furnace of claim 6, wherein said bent portion is bent along a line that is located a distance from said chamber path that ranges from about 0.0 inches to about 0.30 inches.

8. The gas furnace of claim 7, wherein an angle of said bent portion as taken from a bottom plane of said first opposing halve ranges from about 10 degrees to about 15 degrees.

9. The gas furnace of claim 8, wherein said distance is 0.30 inches and said angle is about 60 degrees.

10. A heating chamber for a gas furnace, comprising:

opposing halves joined together, said joined opposing halves forming a clamshell panel having at least one truncated corner located adjacent a curve located at a back end of a chamber path of said one or more clamshell heating chambers.

11. The heating chamber of claim 10, wherein an angle of said truncated corner as taken from an adjacent edge of said clamshell panel ranges from about 10 degrees to about 75 degrees.

12. The heating chamber of claim 11, wherein said angle is about 60 degrees.

13. The heating chamber of claim 11, wherein a distance from an edge of said truncated corner to an edge of said chamber path ranges from about 0.0 inches to about 0.50 inches.

14. The heating chamber of claim 13, wherein said distance is about 0.30 inches.

15. The heating chamber of claim 10, wherein said truncated corner is defined by a bent portion of a corner of said clamshell panel, said bent portion being bent toward said second opposing halve at an angle as taken from a bottom plane of said first opposing halve ranging from about 10 degrees to about 15 degrees.

16. The heating chamber of claim 14, wherein said bent portion is bent along a line that is located a distance from said chamber path that ranges from about 0.0 inches to about 0.30 inches.

17. The heating chamber of claim 16, wherein said distance is about 0.30 inches and said angle is about 60 degrees.

18. A method of fabricating a gas furnace heating chamber, comprising:

forming opposing halves of a heating chamber;

joining said first and second opposing halves to form a clamshell panel; and

forming at least one truncated corner located adjacent a curve at a backend of a chamber path of said clamshell panel.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein forming said at least one truncated corner includes bending a corner of said clamshell panel.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein an angle of said truncated corner as taken from an adjacent edge of said clamshell panel ranges from about 30 degrees to about 75 degrees.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said angle is about 60 degrees.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein a distance from an edge of said truncated corner to an edge of said chamber path is about 0.30 inches.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein said bending includes bending said corner along a line that is located a distance from said chamber path that ranges from about 0.0 inches to about 0.30 inches.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein an angle of said bending taken from a bottom plane of said first opposing halve ranges from about 10 degrees to about 15 degrees.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said width is 0.30 inches and said angle is about 60 degrees.