US 5,174,371 AGranted

Atmospheric vaporizer heat exchanger

AssigneeCryoquip, Inc.

InventorFrank J. Grillo

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Abstract

An improved atmospheric vaporizer/heat exchanger adapted for vaporizing cryogenic liquids includes a heat exchange element having a tube through which the cryogenic fluid flows and a plurality of fins attached to the tube. At least some of the fins include on their edges a rail or like member which has substantially flat surfaces. Brackets interconnect the fins of the heat exchange elements through channel shaped members disposed on two parallel edges. The channel shaped members of the brackets are configured to be complementary to the rails and have complementary substantially flat surface which mate with the matching flat surfaces of the rails and thereby substantially prevent rotation of the heat exchange elements relative to the brackets. After assembly, the matching rails and channels are deformed in sections by crimping or the like, to prevent sliding of the brackets on the rails and to obtain a finally assembled structure.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A heat exchanger assembly for vaporizing a cryogenic fluid, the heat exchanger assembly comprising a plurality of heat exchanger elements and a plurality of brackets mounting the heat exchanger elements to one another to form a mechanically rigid structure:

each heat exchanger element comprising an elongated tube which forms an internal conduit wherein the cryogenic fluid flows, and a plurality of fins disposed radiating outwardly from the elongated tube, at least two of said fins including along their respective edges, which is remote from and substantially parallel with the tube, first means for slidably engaging complementary second means disposed along an edge of the bracket and for securing the bracket and heat exchange element in a fixed position;
and
each bracket comprising a member having at least two linear edges, the linear edges including the second means for slidably engaging the first means of the heat exchange element, one of the first and second means comprising a rail having a thickness greater than the thickness of the fin or bracket member adjacent the rail, the rail being bounded by a plurality of substantially flat outer surfaces, the other of said first and second means comprising a channel with an elongated opening therein which is smaller than the thickness of the rail and configured to slidingly engage the rail, the channel having substantially flat inner surfaces complementary to the outer rail surfaces for substantially preventing relative rotation between the heat exchange element and the bracket, the channel having a deformed portion that protrudes into the rail laterally of the edges to prevent sliding movement between the heat exchanger element and the bracket in a direction parallel to the edges of the fin and bracket and for mechanically locking the heat exchanger element and bracket together.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 07/825,943Filed 27 Jan 1992
Granted: 29 Dec 1992
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

F28F 1/422
The means being both outside and inside the tubular element: with outside means integral with the tubular element and inside means integral with…
F28F 1/22
And extending longitudinally: the means having portions engaging further tubular elements
F28F 1/42
Tubular elements and assemblies thereof with means for increasing heat-transfer area, e.g. with fins, with projections, with recesses: the means…
F28D 2021/0033
Other heat exchangers for particular applications; Heat exchange systems not otherwise provided for: for cryogenic applications