Apparatus and method for securing tube supports in a coil bundle
AssigneeCarrier Corporation
InventorDaniel J. Yarnold
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus and a method for inserting tube supports into a loose coil bundle are disclosed. A tube support insertion machine is disclosed wherein a series of spaced support arms are located within a cylindrical coil bundle. A drive is provided for forcing the support arms outwardly, each support arm having a tube support mounted thereto such that the tube supports are forced through the coil bundle securing each of the loops of the bundle in the appropriate location. A tube support for securing the coil bundle prior to the tube sheet insertion and a drive for co-ordinately driving the various support arms with equal force are further disclosed.
Claims12
Apparatus for forming a secured heat exchanger from a coil bundle of unsecured loops and a tube sheet having loop securing portions which comprises:
- a base defining at least one elongated slot;
- mounting means extending from the base adapted to receive the coil bundle and located to maintain the coil bundle in a position wherein the slot defined by the base is within a cylinder defined by the coil bundle;
- a carriage including guide means mounted for reciprocating movement within the slot;
- a support arm fastened to extend from the carriage, said support arm including means for attaching the tube sheet thereto;
- and
- motive means for displacing the carriage and the attached support arm from a first position where the tube sheet may be attached to the support arm to a second position where the tube sheet engages the coil bundle securing the coil loops in the desired position.
A method of securing a cylindrical bundle of heat exchange tubing including a plurality of loops of tubing by mounting the loops within a tube support having securing portions for guiding each loop, extension portions and a tube secured within openings in the extension portions to affix the loops of tubing between the tube and the securing portions of the tube support, which comprises the steps of:
- placing the bundle of tubing on a support means;
- locating a plurality of tube supports within the interior of the coil bundle;
- forcing the tube supports outwardly simultaneously such that each loop is secured within a securing portion of the tube supports and a final heat exchanger configuration is achieved;
- and
- inserting the tubes through the openings in the extension portions of the tube supports to secure the loops of the coil bundle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.