Fully floating tube bundle

An air cooled heat exchanger comprising:

• a tube bundle;
• supporting means;
• and connecting means;
• the tube bundle comprising a plurality of first tubes, and return bends connecting the ends of pairs of first tubes, the first tubes being substantially parallel to one another and operatively connected at their ends by the return bends to form a circuit for refrigerant, the circuit for refrigerant defining an inlet end and an outlet end, the supporting means comprising a plurality of support members and two ends plates, the support members being substantially parallel to one another and to the first tubes of the tube bundle, the support members being fixedly attached at their ends to the end plates, a plurality of openings defined in the end plates, the diameter of said openings being substantially greater than the outside diameter of the first tubes and the inlet end and the outlet end of the refrigerant circuit to allow passage of the first tubes and the inlet end and the outlet end of the refrigerant circuit through the openings without any contact to permit floating of the first tubes and the inlet end and the outlet end of the refrigerant circuit relative to the end plates, the connecting means comprising a plurality of fins, said fins extending generally perpendicular to the first tubes and the support members and generally parallel to the end plates, the fins being secured to the first tubes and in heat transfer relationship therewith, the fins also being secured to the support members whereby the tube bundle is in a floating relationship with respect to the end plates to obviate damage to the first tubes during operation of the air cooled heat exchanger.