Heat exchanger

Abstract

A heat exchanger for exchanging heat between first and second gases such as for preheating the inlet air to a gas heating unit from exhaust air in which the exchanger comprises a core unit of a stack of generally planar serpentine fins each defining side-by-side gas flow passages between the adjacent side portions of the fins and means for mounting the stack of fins with some of these passages extending in one direction for a first gas and others of the passages extending generally transversely to the first gas passages for flow of the second gas in heat exchange relationship with the first gas, resilient gaskets at the edges of the unit for resiliently mounting the unit for yielding compensation for thermal dimensional changes and for sealing the gases from each other, a frame in which the unit is positioned with the frame comprising edge members engaging and bearing against the edge gaskets to apply pressure thereto and clamps for drawing the frame members together and toward the core unit to provide a rigid frame structure, clamp the frame members to the gaskets and clamp the gaskets to the edges of the core unit. The disclosure also includes a heat exchanger in which a plurality of the core units are mounted in spaced relationship to define the first and second gas flow paths through the unit and removable panels partially defining these flow paths with the panels thereby providing access to the spaces between the plurality of units for cleaning these spaces and the units themselves to keep them clear of foreign material that may be carried or deposited therein by the flowing gases.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.