Heat exchange apparatus

An improved apparatus for indirect exchange of heat between two fluid streams, said apparatus comprising a cylindrical pressure shell enclosing a bundle of straight and parallel exchange tubes through which one of said fluid stream is circulated, an inlet tube sheet to which a first end of each exchange tube is permanently attached, and an outlet tube sheet to which a remaining end of each exchange tube is permanently attached;

• said inlet and outlet tube sheets defining inlet and outlet chambers at opposed ends of said pressure shell, wherein the improvement comprises a flexible joint for carrying the load of said bundle of tubes and for securing said inlet tube sheet to said pressure shell, said flexible joint comprising a flexible cylindrical skirt element having opposed first and second peripheral edges, said first edge continuously and gradually merging with said inlet tube sheet to form a continuous and integral flexible joint therebetween, said cylindrical skirt element being in spaced relationship with the inner surface of said pressure shell;
• and
• a flexible annular sheet extending between an interior surface of said pressure shell and said second edge of said skirt element furthest from said inlet tube sheet, a radially outermost periphery of said annular sheet continuously attached to said interior surface of said pressure shell, a radially innermost periphery of said annular sheet gradually merging with said skirt element second edge to form another continuous and integral flexible joint;
• whereby at least one of said skirt element and said annular sheet joints