# US 11,079,185 B2 · Heat exchanger closure assemblies and methods of using and installing the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,079,185 B2 - Document ID: US11079185B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/358,932 - Filed: 2019-03-20 - Published: 2019-09-26 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2018-03-20 - Assignees: Lummus Technology Inc. - Applicants: Lummus Technology Inc. - Inventors: Richard Jibb; David Thomas Creech; Randy Lee Eberly; Elizabeth MacLean Meacham; Henk Boekhouder; Roberto Groppi; Vincenzo Marco Brignone; Trevor Jaye - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11079185B2 ## CPC - F16J 13/08: attached by one or more members actuated to project behind a part or parts of the frame (similar constructions for doors or windows E05C9/00) - F28F 9/0219: {Arrangements for sealing end plates into casing or header box; Header box sub-elements (F28F9/0236 takes precedence)} - F28D 7/0041: {the conduits for only one medium being tubes having parts touching each other or tubes assembled in panel form (F28D7/0008, F28D7/0058 take precedence)} - F28F 9/005: {Other auxiliary members within casings, e.g. internal filling means or sealing means} - F28F 9/013: for tubes or tube-assemblies - F28F 9/0202: {Header boxes having their inner space divided by partitions} - F28F 9/10: by screw-type connections, e.g. gland - F28F 21/00: Constructions of heat-exchange apparatus characterised by the selection of particular materials {(coatings for modifying heat-transfer F28F13/18; coatings for preventing the formation of deposits or corrosion F28F19/02)} - F28D 7/16: the conduits being arranged in parallel spaced relation ({F28D7/0008 - F28D7/0058 take precedence}; F28D7/02 - F28D7/10 take precedence) - F28D 2021/0059: {for petrochemical plants} - F28F 9/0212: {the partitions being separate elements attached to header boxes} - F28F 9/0224: {Header boxes formed by sealing end plates into covers (F28F9/0221 takes precedence)} - F28F 9/0226: {with resilient gaskets} - F28F 9/0231: {Header boxes having an expansion chamber} - F28F 2220/00: Closure means, e.g. end caps on header boxes or plugs on conduits - F28F 2230/00: Sealing means - F28F 2265/16: for preventing leakage - F28F 2265/26: for allowing differential expansion between elements - F28F 2280/02: Removable elements - F16J: PISTONS {(specially adapted for dampers F16F9/32)}; CYLINDERS; SEALINGS - F28F: DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION (water and air traps, air venting F16) - F28D: HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT (fluid heaters having heat generating means and heat transferring means F24H; furnaces F27; details of heat-exchange apparatus of general) ## Abstract A heat exchanger assembly including an elongated tubular heat exchanger enclosure defining an interior chamber. A tube sheet is positioned within the interior chamber of the heat exchanger enclosure separating the interior chamber into a shell side and a channel side. The interior portion is configured to removably receive a tube bundle positioned within the shell side of the interior chamber. An annular sleeve member is positioned within the channel side of the interior chamber of the heat exchanger enclosure. An annular elastic torsion member is positioned within the channel side of the interior chamber of the heat exchanger such that the sleeve member is positioned between the tube sheet and the elastic torsion member. The elastic torsion member has an inner circumference deflectable relative to its outer circumference for torsioning the elastic torsion member. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A heat exchanger assembly comprising: an elongated tubular heat exchanger enclosure defining an interior chamber; a tube sheet positioned within the interior chamber of the heat exchanger enclosure and separating the interior chamber into a shell side and a channel side wherein the interior chamber is configured to removably receive a tube bundle positioned within the shell side of the interior chamber; a sleeve member having an annular configuration positioned within the channel side of the interior chamber of the heat exchanger enclosure; an elastic torsion member having an annular configuration positioned within the channel side of the interior chamber of the heat exchanger with the sleeve member positioned between the tube sheet and the elastic torsion member, the elastic torsion member having an inner circumference deflectable relative to its outer circumference for torsioning the elastic torsion member; and a partition assembly comprising the sleeve member positioned within the channel side of the interior chamber of the heat exchanger enclosure to direct fluid from a port extending through the enclosure to at least two or more tubes in a tube bundle; a tube sheet gasket positioned between the tube sheet and a shoulder formed within the interior chamber of the heat exchanger enclosure; and a bearing ring positioned within the interior chamber of the heat exchanger enclosure with the elastic torsion member positioned between the sleeve member and the bearing ring. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The heat exchanger as recited in claim 1, further including at least two ports extending through the enclosure for allowing fluid to enter and exit the channel side of the interior chamber of the heat exchanger enclosure. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The heat exchanger assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein the elastic torsion member is configured to deflect elastically up to an elastic deflection limit and deflect plastically above the elastic deflection limit such that the elastic torsion member deflects elastically to accommodate differential thermal expansion and avoid damage to components of the heat exchanger when the heat exchanger is under preload and expected pressure and thermal loads. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The heat exchanger assembly as recited in claim 3, wherein the elastic torsion member is configured to pivot at a first contact area where the elastic torsion member contacts the sleeve member and at a second contact area where the elastic torsion member contacts the bearing ring. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The heat exchanger assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the elastic torsion member has a quadrilateral cross-section having rounded corners. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The heat exchanger assembly as recited in claim 1, further including a plurality of elastic torsion members stacked in series relative to one another. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The heat exchanger assembly as recited in claim 5, wherein the elastic torsion member is configured to have an outer radius “A” and an inner radius “B”, wherein the outer radius is less than an inner radius of a channel of the interior chamber configured to receive a tube bundle, wherein the ratio of “A” to “B” is less than 3. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The heat exchanger assembly as recited in claim 7, wherein the elastic torsion member is configured to have a height “H” that is approximately 50% of its elastic deflection limit, and has a thickness “T” such that the elastic torsion member deforms plastically above its elastic deflection limit. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The heat exchanger assembly as recited in claim 5, further including a closure assembly for sealing the channel side of the interior chamber of the heat exchanger enclosure, wherein the closure assembly includes a lock ring member and a cover member which are removably secured to the heat exchanger enclosure with a locking assembly. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The heat exchanger assembly as recited in claim 9, wherein the locking assembly includes a plurality of spaced-apart lock ring hub sections configured to interdigitate with corresponding channel hub sections formed on a cylindrical inner surface portion of the heat exchanger enclosure. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The heat exchanger assembly as recited in claim 9, further including: a diaphragm positioned with the channel side of the interior chamber adjacent to the lock ring and cover members; and a diaphragm gasket compressed against the diaphragm when the lock ring member is removably secured to the heat exchanger enclosure. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The heat exchanger assembly as recited in claim 11, the closure assembly further including: a plurality of first elongate compression members provided along an outer radius portion of the closure assembly so as to transmit a force to a first compression ring, which transmits a force to a rim portion of the diaphragm and the diaphragm gasket; and a plurality of second elongate compression members provided along an inner radius portion of the closure assembly so as to transmit a force to a second compression ring, which transmits a force against a portion of the diaphragm causing a portion of the diaphragm to deflect distal from the cover member and towards the elastic torsion member when the closure assembly is removably secured to the heat exchanger enclosure. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The heat exchanger assembly as recited in claim 12, wherein the tube sheet, sleeve member, bearing ring, first and second compression rings, lock ring, and first and second compression members are configured to remain elastic up to or above a total axial load from preload, thermal and pressure loads when the closure assembly is secured to the heat exchanger enclosure. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The heat exchanger assembly as recited in claim 13, wherein when the elongate compression members are preloaded, the compression members impart the preload through a first axial load path to a first contact area of the elastic torsion member, which transmits the preload through a torsional load path through the elastic torsion member to a second contact area of the elastic torsion member, which transmits the preload through a second axial load path to a tube sheet gasket. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The heat exchanger assembly as recited in claim 14, wherein: pressure loads from process fluids in the heat exchanger are within a normal prescribed threshold range, the elastic torsion member is configured to deform elastically enabling its outer circumference to axially move towards the closure assembly; pressure loads from process fluids in the heat exchanger enclosure reduce load on the elastic torsion member by deforming the closure assembly distal from the tube sheet; and the elastic torsion member is configured to deflect elastically up to an elastic deflection limit and deflect plastically above the elastic deflection limit such that the elastic torsion member accommodates differential thermal expansion to avoid damage to components of the heat exchanger when the heat exchanger is under preload and expected pressure and thermal loads.