Apparatus for reinforcement of thin plate, high pressure fluid heat exchangers
AssigneeThe Garrett Corporation
InventorKarl F. Kretzinger
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Special reinforcing members are provided for high pressure containment in critical portions of a thin plate-and-fin heat exchanger. These comprise a plurality of hoops of U-shaped cross section bridging the juncture lines of the heat exchanger manifolds, together with leading edge straps which provide structural reinforcement in the region between the manifolds and the conventional side bar reinforcing members in the central core section. The ends of the leading edge straps are structurally tied respectively to the side bars and the manifold reinforcing hoops.
Claims21
Apparatus for the reinforcement of thin plate heat exchangers fabricated of stacked tube plates defining fluid passages and having manifold sections integrally formed with the heat exchanging sections thereof comprising:
- a plurality of hoops positioned respectively between pairs of adjacent plates which are joined together in sealing relationship, each hoop being configured to extend from one adjacent plate to the next and overlap a common juncture of said plates, said hoop being joined in structural reinforcing relationship to the adjacent surfaces of said plates;
- the plates being formed with outer flange portions and offset U-shaped ring portions about at least part of the manifold sections of the heat exchanger, each U-shaped ring portion having a base for joining to the base of the ring portion of the adjacent plate to develop a juncture plane for two adjacent plates;
- and
- wherein the associated hoop is generally U-shaped in cross section, extends across the juncture plane and is brazed to the adjacent plates on both sides of the juncture plane and at both the flange and ring portions of the plates.
The method of providing reinforcement for integral manifold sections located at opposite ends of a heat exchanger fabricated of stacked formed plates and fins comprising the steps of:
- forming a plurality of hoops to conform in configuration and dimension to the outer surfaces of offset ring portions surrounding manifold openings in respective plates, each plate being provided with a flange portion extending along a part of the ring portion of the plate and reversely offset therefrom;
- the step of forming the hoops further comprising providing side walls of the hoops configured to contact the ring and flange portions of the plates;
- inserting during the stacking of the plates said plurality of hoops respectively between adjacent pairs of plates on the ring portion sides of the plates in positions surrounding said ring portions and in surface contact with the ring and flange portions;
- and
- brazing the thus-assembled plates and hoops to adhere the contacting surfaces of the hoops and the ring and flange portions.
The method of assembling a heat exchanger core comprised of a plurality of formed plates and fins, wherein each plate includes integral manifold sections at opposite ends thereof, comprising the steps of:
- laying down a first tube plate formed with ring portions offset from the plane of the plate, the ring portions surrounding manifold openings in the plate, and edge flanges extending along opposite ends of the plate;
- placing a plurality of air fins on said plate in positions to define air flow passages between opposite manifold sections;
- placing a second tube plate inverted relative to the first tube plate over the first tube plate and the air fins;
- placing a plurality of reinforcing hoops and gas fins over the second tube plate, the gas fins being positioned to define gas flow passages from one end of the heat exchanger core to the other around the manifold sections, the hoops being positioned to surround the respective manifold openings and surrounding ring portions and in surface contact with adjacent ring portion and flange surfaces;
- repeating the cycle of steps to develop a stacked assembly of heat exchanger core elements;
- and
- brazing the entire assembly to form an integral unit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.