Heat exchanger having means for supporting the tubes in spaced mutually parallel relation and suppressing vibration

In a heat exchanger of the type which includes a substantially closed vessel having opposite end portions, a first fluid inlet and first fluid outlet, and a second fluid inlet and second fluid outlet, the improvement comprising:

• a tube bundle assembly disposed within the vessel, said tube bundle assembly comprising:
• a longitudinally oriented bundle of tubes having opposite ends, said tubes being positioned in transversely spaced mutually parallel relation;
• means for supporting the tubes in spaced mutually parallel relation and suppressing vibration, said means characterized further to include:
• an annular enlargement disposed around and frictionally secured to the outer surface of at least one of the tubes intermediate the opposite end of the bundle of tubes, said annular enlargement peripherally contacting the outer surface of each of the tubes next adjacent the tube carrying said annular enlargement;
• said annular enlargement being in the form of a spirally shaped resilient annular spring clip, said spring clip having, in its relaxed condition, an inside diameter less than the outside diameter of the tube about which it is disposed, whereby said spring clip is stressed and is thereby self-biased into frictional engagement with the outer surface of the tube;
• and
• retaining means extending around said bundle of tubes proximate said annular enlargement for engaging and maintaining said tubes in spaced mutually parallel relation with said annular enlargement contacting the respective next adjacent tubes whereby relative tube position is maintained and tube vibration is suppressed;
• tube sheet means disposed within said vessel for connecting with the tubes;
• and
• tube securing means for securing the ends of said tubes to said tube sheet means.