Abstract: Disclosed is a heat exchanger tube bundle design that eliminates the need for tube supports or baffles within a heat exchanger tube bundle. The inventive configuration uses a combination of bare tubes and longitudinally finned tubes positioned such that the longitudinal fins act as spacing and supporting means within the tube bundle. The longitudinal fins provide spacing and support substantially along the entire length of the tubes within the bundle and eliminate the need for internal spacing or supporting means. Taking advantage of this inventive design, one can economically construct a tube bundle requiring only external rings to secure the tube bundle.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device for supporting and spacing the tubes within a heat exchanger comprised of a plurality of V-shaped stiff wire rods. Each of the V-shaped wire rods includes a pair of leg portions and a concave intermediate section. The inside radius of the concave intermediate section is substantially equivalent to one-half of the tube outside diameter. Six of the V-shaped stiff wire rods are affixed to one another to form a spacer having a substantially hexagonal opening wherein each side of the hexagonal opening is one of the concave intermediate sections. At each apex of the substantially hexagonal opening there extends radially outward legs from two of abutting V-shaped stiff wire rods.Thus formed, the spacer of the present invention provides a structurally sound tube supporting device while limiting the obstruction to flow of shell side process fluid.

Abstract: A compound tapered flange assembly for sealing axially aligned flanged tubular members. Opposed annular recesses are formed in each flange. Each recess has a radial shoulder tapered with respect to a transverse plane disposed between the flanges such that the axial distance between the radial plane and the shoulder at a maximum diameter is greater than the axial distance from the plane to the shoulder at a minimum diameter. Each recess also has an inside frustoconical surface tapered with respect to the longitudinal axis with a minimum inside diameter adjacent the shoulder, and a maximum inside diameter adjacent a face of the flange. A bifrustoconical annular seal ring has outside and end surfaces complementarily tapered to engage the shoulder and the inside surface of the recesses.

Abstract: A trapezoidal seal ring connection improved by the inclusion of a crush ring. The trapezoidal seal ring is sealingly engaged between an inwardly tapered frustoconical exterior surface of a male member, and an outwardly tapered frustoconical interior surface of a female member. The seal ring has an outer surface with an angle of taper substantially equal to that of the inner surface of the female member, and an inner surface having an angle of taper that is substantially equal to the angle of the taper of the end of the male member. As the male and female members are urged into mating engagement, the seal ring is wedged tightly therebetween to form a fluid-tight seal. The crush ring is positioned axially between the male and female members to fill the gap therebetween and to present a substantially uniform inside diameter to the flow of fluid through the connection. The crush ring is self-centered radially at an outer peripheral edge having a taper corresponding to that of the inside surface of the seal ring.

Abstract: A swivel flow line connector is disclosed for use in misaligned connections. The connector includes male and female flange tubular members and a seal ring positioned therebetween. The male member and the seal ring have mating annular spherical surfaces which are respectively convex and concave. The female member and the seal ring have mating frustoconical tapered surfaces, but the outside diameter of the seal ring is slightly larger than the inside diameter of the female member frustoconical surface. Prior to drawing the male and female members together by bolting respective flanges thereof, the convex male member surface is pivotably engaged with the concave seal ring surface for alignment of the members in the desired swiveled position. Upon drawing the members together by tightening the flange bolts, the seal ring is radially compressed by axial displacement of the female member frustoconical surface with respect to the corresponding tapered surface of the seal ring.

Abstract: A swivel flow line connector is disclosed for use in misaligned connections. The connector includes male and female flanged tubular members and a seal ring positioned therebetween. The male member and the seal ring have mating annular spherical surfaces which are respectively convex and concave. The female member and the seal ring have mating frustoconical tapered surfaces, but the outside diameter of the seal ring is slightly larger than the inside diameter of the female member frustoconical surface. Prior to drawing the male and female members together by bolting respective flanges thereof, the convex male member surface is pivotably engaged with the concave seal ring surface for alignment of the members in the desired swiveled position. Upon drawing the members together by tightening the flange bolts, the seal ring is radially compressed by axial displacement of the female member frustoconical surface with respect to the corresponding tapered surface of the seal ring.