Abstract: This invention relates to a flood barrier and method of flood protection. According to the invention there is provided a flood barrier comprising a plurality of pillars adapted to be secured adjacent to a doorway of a building. Each pillar has a first sealing member for its bottom surface, and a second sealing member for its longitudinal surface. The pillars can be separable, or they can be interconnected to form a unitary structure by a flexible and resilient securing beam.

Abstract: This invention relates to a tube finning machine, i.e. to a machine adapted to fit one or more fins onto one or more tubes. The tube finning machine has a base with a primary axis and a mounting part upon which a plurality of tubes can be mounted in a desired array. The tubes are aligned with the primary axis. A carrier locates a number of fins and a drive means, suitably hydraulic, moves the carrier relative to the mounting part in the direction of the primary axis in order to drive the fins onto the tubes. The machine can be adjusted to fit a variable number of fins to a variable array of tubes. The mounting part and the carrier are both movable relative to the base in the direction of the primary axis, and the mounting part is movable relative to the base between a number of predetermined mounting positions. The length of the tubes to which fins can be fitted is therefore also variable, and may for example be up to 12 metres.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and machine for manufacturing a heat exchanger block, to fins for manufacturing a heat exchanger block, and to a heat exchanger block. There is provided a method of manufacturing a heat exchanger block(12) comprising a number of tubes (16) and a number of fins (14; 214a, 214b; 314a,314b), neighbouring fins being separated by a predetermined spacing by way of spacer means (52; 52a, 52b), the method including the steps of: locating a predetermined number of tubes in a chosen array; locating a number of fins adjacent an end of the tubes; fitting the fins onto the tubes; and vibrating the tubes and/or the fins during the step of fitting the fins onto the tubes.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of manufacturing a heat exchanger block, to a spacer means for use in the method, and to a heat exchanger block. The heat exchanger block comprises a number of tubes and a number of fins, the fins having a predetermined spacing determined by the spacer means. The method includes the steps of locating the fins in a carrier and pressing the fins onto the tubes, and providing spacer means for the fins, whereby the spacer means supports a fin during the pressing step and determines the spacing between the fins in the assembled heat exchanger. Each of the fins has apertures for the tubes, the apertures engaging the tubes. Each of the spacer means has openings for the tubes, the openings being larger than the apertures.

Abstract: This invention relates to a heat exchanger and to a method of manufacturing a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger has a number of tubes and at least one tube plate. The ends of each tube are located in a respective opening in the tube plate(s). The ends of each tube contain a respective insert, the insert acting to expand the end of the tube into sealing engagement with the tube plate.

Abstract: A turbulator for a heat exchanger tube, and a method of manufacturing the heat exchanger tube. The turbulator comprises a mesh, ideally a woven mesh, of material, ideally metallic wires. The mesh is formed into corrugations of a size substantially to fill the heat exchanger tube. The method comprises the steps of: making a mesh of material; forming the mesh into corrugations; and fitting the corrugated mesh into the heat exchanger tube so that the corrugated mesh substantially fills the heat exchanger tube for some or all of its length. The turbulator and method are particularly suited to flat heat exchanger tubes.

Abstract: This invention relates to a tube finning machine (10), and in particular to a machine capable of fitting several fins (26) to one or more tubes (26) at the same time, the assembled finned tube being suitable for heat exchange applications. According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a tube finning machine for mounting extended surface members (96) upon one or more tubes, the machine having a base (10), carrier means movable relative to the base, drive means (20) for moving the carrier means (18) in a longitudinal direction, and cartridge means (24) for locating a plurality of extended surface members (26), the cartridge means having respective support means (30) for each extended surface member, and at least some of the support means being movable relative to the cartridge. There is also provided a method of using a machine as herein defined for finning a tube.

Abstract: This invention relates to a tube finning machine (10), and in particular to a machine capable of fitting several fins (26) to one or more tubes (26) at the same time, the assembled finned tube being suitable for heat exchange applications. According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a tube finning machine for mounting extended surface members (96) upon one or more tubes, the machine having a base (10), carrier means movable relative to the base, drive means (20) for moving the carrier means (18) in a longitudinal direction, and cartridge means (24) for locating a plurality of extended surface members (26), the cartridge means having respective support means (30) for each extended surface member, and at least some of the support means being movable relative to the cartridge. There is also provided a method of using a machine as herein defined for finning a tube.

Abstract: This invention relates to a tube finning machine, and in particular to improvements to such a machine. The invention relates to the field of heat exchangers, and in particular to the fitment of extended surface members (or fins) to the tubes of a heat exchanger so as to enhance the heat exchange. The tube finning machine has a rigid base, a clamping means for clamping a number of tubes, a carrier means movably mounted to the base, and a drive means by which the carrier means may be moved to a predetermined position relative to the base, and therefore relative to the tubes clamped thereupon. The improvements disclosed include those relating to support means for the tubes, clamping means for the tubes, and guide means for the fins as they are delivered to the carrier means.

Abstract: This invention relates to a facade plate, method of assembly, assembled heat exchanger, and kit of parts therefor. The facade plate is adapted for securement to at least part of the tube plate of a heat exchanger, the facade plate having apertures conforming to openings in the said part of the tube plate, the facade plate being of a plastic material. The method of mounting the facade plate to the tube plate includes the steps of {i} securing a locking member within the end of each one of many or all of the heat exchanger tubes; {ii} placing the facade plate against the tube plate with the apertures aligned with respective tube plate openings; {iii} selecting a set of tubular inserts which have a part adapted for engagement with a locking member; {iv} passing a respective tubular insert through all or many of the apertures and into the corresponding tube so that the said part engages the locking member.

Abstract: A heat exchange unit for a heat exchanger which includes a first tube with an outer surface and extended surface members located axially along the outer surface. Each member has a tube engagement surface and are axially Positioned. There is also taught a heat exchange fin block having a heat exchange unit with a second tube interconnected to the first tube by the extended surface members, wherein the extended surface members being tube fins at predetermined axial spacings. A tube finning machine is disclosed which includes a base with clamping means mounted thereon, carrier means movable relative to the base, and drive means for moving the carrier means. The clamping means clamps a portion of the first tube, and the carrier means transports at least one fin to an axially predetermined position adjacent the portion.

Abstract: This invention relates to a bore plug and to a bore plugging method, usually but not necessarily for tubes, and has particular (but not exclusive) application for the isolation of defective heat exchanger tubes. The bore plug comprises a sealing member and a holding member, the sealing member being adapted to span the bore, the sealing member having a longitudinal axis and an axial opening to receive the holding member, the holding member being insertable into the opening solely by axial movement. The method includes the steps of {i} pushing the sealing member axially into the bore, and {ii} pushing a holding member axially into the opening so as to urge part of the sealing member into sealing engagement with an inner surface of the bore.