Heater and heat exchanger retaining clips
AssigneeHenny Penny Corporation
InventorJoseph J. Tiszai
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A clip for securing a plurality of tubes to each other includes a rectangular separator plate and a first concave arm and a second concave arm. The separator plate has a first edge and a second edge. The first concave arm has a first end that is integrally formed with the first edge. A second end of the first concave arm includes a first tip that curls inwardly to grasp a first tube. A second concave arm has a second end that is integrally formed with the second edge. A second end of the second concave arm includes a second tip that curls inwardly to grasp a second tube.
Claims7
A fryer comprising:
- a vat;
- a plurality of substantially parallel heat exchanger tubes housed within said vat;
- at least one apparatus for securing at least a pair of said plurality of tubes to each other, said apparatus comprising:
- a separator plate having a first edge and a second edge, wherein said first edge is substantially parallel to said second edge;
- a first concave arm having a first inner end formed integrally and substantially flush with said first edge and having a first outer end;
- and a second concave arm having a second inner end abutting said second edge and having a second outer end, wherein said first concave arm has a second end comprising a first tip that curls inwardly to grasp a first tube, and said second concave arm has a second end comprising a second tip that curls inwardly to grasp a second tube.
A method for manufacturing a fryer comprising the steps of:
- providing a vat;
- housing a plurality of heat exchanger tubes within said vat;
- securing said plurality of heat exchanger tubes within said vat, wherein the step of securing comprises the steps of:
- forming an apparatus for securing said plurality of heat exchanger tubes within said vat, wherein the step of forming comprises the steps of:
- providing a substantially rectangular plate having a first plate end and a second plate end;
- pressing said plate within a pair of die to form a first concave portion adjacent to said first plate end and to form a second concave portion adjacent to said second plate end, wherein said first concave portion is separated from said second concave portion by a planar portion;
- and
- forming a first tip at said first plate end, which is adapted to curl inwardly to grasp a first of said plurality of heat exchanger tubes, and forming a second tip at said second plate end, which is adapted to curl inwardly to grasp a second of said plurality of heat exchanger tubes;
- positioning said first of said plurality of heat exchanger tubes within said first concave portion;
- and
- positioning said second of said plurality of heat exchanger tubes within said second concave portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.