With Support In Casing Patents (Class 165/162)
  • Patent number: 12062461
    Abstract: Supports with integrated sensors for nuclear reactor steam generators, and associated systems and methods, are disclosed. A representative method for forming a nuclear-powered steam generator includes forming an instrumented support, the instrumented support including a carrier portion and a retainer portion, with at least one of the carrier portion or the retainer portion being integrally formed with a sensor via an additive manufacturing process. The method can further include coupling the sensor to a communication link, supporting a helical steam conduit on the instrumented support, and installing the helical steam conduit and the instrumented support in a nuclear reactor. The helical steam conduit is positioned along a primary flow path, which is in turn positioned to circulate a heated primary flow in thermal communication with the helical steam conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: NuScale Power, LLC
    Inventor: Kent Welter
  • Patent number: 12031501
    Abstract: A cooling system includes a conduit extending from an upstream end to a downstream end and retains a gas. A heat exchanger is fluidly coupled with and disposed within a surface of the conduit. A portion of the gas is directed into the heat exchanger via one or more passages extending between the conduit and the heat exchanger, and a portion of the gas is directed out of the heat exchanger via the one or more passages. The heat exchanger directs cooling fluid in one or more directions within the heat exchanger along one or more passageways of plural passageways. The heat exchanger directs the portion of the gas in one or more directions within the heat exchanger along one or more other passageways of the plural passageways. The heat exchanger cools the gas by exchanging heat from the gas to the cooling fluid within the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Nicholas William Rathay, Corey Bourassa, Brian Magann Rush, William Dwight Gerstler
  • Patent number: 11892250
    Abstract: A heat exchanger for heat exchange between a first fluid and a second fluid has a plurality of tube sections, each comprising; an interior for passing the first fluid; an exterior for exposure to the second fluid; a first leg; a second leg; a turn joining the first leg to the second leg; and a first face and a second face. A support has at least one carbon member engaging the plurality of tube sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: RTX Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph B. Staubach, Marc J. Muldoon, James F. Wiedenhoefer
  • Patent number: 11859910
    Abstract: A heat exchanger for heat exchange between a first fluid and a second fluid has a plurality of tube sections, each having; an interior for passing the first fluid; an exterior for exposure to the second fluid; a first leg; a second leg; and a turn joining the first leg to the second leg. A has: fiber members passing between legs of the tube sections; and an end plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: RTX Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph B. Staubach, Marc J. Muldoon, James F. Wiedenhoefer
  • Patent number: 11841194
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for use in the production of a tube bundle (3) of a wound heat exchanger (100), wherein tubes (30) are wound in a plurality of tube layers (4) onto a core tube (300) running in an axial direction (z), webs (10) which run in the axial direction (z) being arranged between the tube layers (4). The invention further relates to a method for producing a tube bundle using said device (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Linde GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Schönberger, Roland Hiller, Christian Michael Herwerth
  • Patent number: 11466905
    Abstract: In some embodiments, an air-cooled ammonia refrigeration system comprises: an air-cooled condenser comprising a heat exchanger and at least one axial fan; an evaporator coupled to the air-cooled condenser; a subcooler positioned between the air-cooled condenser and the evaporator; a compressor coupled to the evaporator; an oil cooler coupled to the compressor; a water system coupled to the air-cooled condenser, the water system comprising a water source, a water pump, and a plurality of spray nozzles positioned below the air-cooled condenser; and a control circuit coupled to the air-cooled condenser and the water system, the control circuit configured to pulse atomized water through the plurality of spray nozzles to a surface of the air-cooled condenser when a head pressure of the air-cooled condenser is higher than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
    Inventors: Steven Kent Baker, Marcos Rente Braz
  • Patent number: 11448393
    Abstract: Apparatus for a steam generator that employs tube support plates within a shroud that is in turn disposed within a shell. The tube support plates are made of a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion lower than that of the shroud. The tube support plates are aligned during fabrication, with minimal clearances between components. Using a tube support displacement system, a controlled misalignment is then imposed on one or more tube support plates, as the steam generator heats up. The tube support plate displacement system has only one part, a push rod, which is internal to the steam generator shroud, thereby minimizing the potential of loose parts. The tube support plate displacement system can be used to provide controlled misalignments on one or more tube support plates, in the same or varying amounts and directions, and with one or more apparatus for each individual tube support plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: BWXT Canada Ltd.
    Inventors: Richard G. Klarner, Robert S. Horvath, Ghasem V. Asadi, Paul W. Shipp
  • Patent number: 11428421
    Abstract: An outdoor unit of a refrigeration apparatus includes: a fan that generates an upward flow of air passing through a heat exchanger; an electric component box that accommodates a group of electric components; and a casing that includes a panel disposed at a predetermined position opposite to the electric component box. The panel is divided into at least a first panel and a second panel in a lateral direction as viewed from a front view of the panel. The first panel is opposed to at least part of the electric component box. The first panel is detachable from the casing while the second panel remains attached to the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Daiki Hirawa, Fumiaki Koike, Shigeki Kamitani
  • Patent number: 11203975
    Abstract: A heat exchanger which may be used in an engine, such as a vehicle engine for an aircraft or orbital launch vehicle. is provided. The heat exchanger may be configured as generally drum-shaped with a multitude of spiral sections, each containing numerous small diameter tubes. The spiral sections may spiral inside one another. The heat exchanger may include a support structure with a plurality of mutually axially spaced hoop supports, and may incorporate an intermediate header. The heat exchanger may incorporate recycling of methanol or other antifreeze used to prevent blocking of the heat exchanger due to frost or ice formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Reaction Engines Ltd
    Inventors: Alan Bond, Richard Varvill
  • Patent number: 11162709
    Abstract: A baffle for a thermal transfer device can include a body having a multiple first apertures that traverse therethrough, where each first aperture has a first outer perimeter that includes a first base shape and at least one first protrusion extending from the first base shape. Each of the first apertures is configured to receive a tube. The first base shape of each first aperture has a first shape and a first size that is configured to be substantially the same as the first shape and the first size of an end of a tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Bruce Hotton, Amin Monfared, Lee Chambers, Babak Bagheri, Arash Jafari, Tim Shellenberger
  • Patent number: 11162424
    Abstract: A heat exchanger which may be used in an engine, such as a vehicle engine for an aircraft or orbital launch vehicle. is provided. The heat exchanger may be configured as generally drum-shaped with a multitude of spiral sections, each containing numerous small diameter tubes. The spiral sections may spiral inside one another. The heat exchanger may include a support structure with a plurality of mutually axially spaced hoop supports, and may incorporate an intermediate header. The heat exchanger may incorporate recycling of methanol or other antifreeze used to prevent blocking of the heat exchanger due to frost or ice formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Reaction Engines Ltd
    Inventors: Alan Bond, Richard Varvill
  • Patent number: 11125162
    Abstract: A heat exchanger which may be used in an engine, such as a vehicle engine for an aircraft or orbital launch vehicle. is provided. The heat exchanger may be configured as generally drum-shaped with a multitude of spiral sections, each containing numerous small diameter tubes. The spiral sections may spiral inside one another. The heat exchanger may include a support structure with a plurality of mutually axially spaced hoop supports, and may incorporate an intermediate header. The heat exchanger may incorporate recycling of methanol or other antifreeze used to prevent blocking of the heat exchanger due to frost or ice formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Reaction Engines Ltd
    Inventors: Alan Bond, Richard Varvill
  • Patent number: 11054187
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a plurality of members made of aluminum or aluminum alloy, and a bundling component. The bundling component includes a main body portion having an anchoring portion, and a band portion extending from the main body portion and having a section on an opposite side of a main body portion side anchored in the anchoring portion. The bundling component is made of aluminum or aluminum alloy. At least part of the bundling component and at least part of the plurality of members are secured to each other with a brazing material interposed between the parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanori Jindou, Masahiro Tsutsui, Akihisa Sugita, Motofumi Shimizu, Yoshio Oritani, Takuya Kazusa, Junichi Hamadate, Tomohiko Sakamaki
  • Patent number: 11054196
    Abstract: A shell-and-tube heat exchanger has a cylindrical geometry and comprises a first pressure chamber and a second pressure chamber connected to a common tube-sheet on opposite sides. The tube-sheet is connected to a tube bundle housed in the first pressure chamber and comprising a plurality of U-shaped exchanging tubes. Each U-shaped tube is provided with a first portion and with a second portion. The first pressure chamber contains at least one inner guiding jacket having a cylindrical or pseudo-cylindrical geometry and extending along the major longitudinal axis of the first pressure chamber. The inner guiding jacket surrounds the first portion of each U-shaped tube for at least part of the respective length. The inner guiding jacket is sealingly connected, at a first end thereof, to the tube-sheet. The inner guiding jacket is open at a second end thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: ALFA LAVAL OLMI S.P.A.
    Inventor: Giovanni Manenti
  • Patent number: 11047605
    Abstract: An evaporator includes: a vessel having a refrigerant inlet for receiving a refrigerant at a lower part of the vessel, and a refrigerant outlet for discharging the refrigerant in an evaporated state at an upper part of the vessel; and a plurality of heat-transfer tubes disposed so as to extend inside the vessel along a longitudinal direction of the vessel, and configured to transfer heat received from a fluid flowing inside the heat-transfer tubes to the refrigerant flowing outside the heat-transfer tubes. The plurality of heat-transfer tubes are disposed so that at least one downward flow passage is defined through the plurality of heat-transfer tubes or around the plurality of heat-transfer tubes, the at least one downward flow passage having a width larger than a representative interval between the plurality of heat-transfer tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES THERMAL SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Kondo, Takuo Oda, Yasushi Hasegawa, Naoya Miyoshi
  • Patent number: 10844753
    Abstract: A boiler including one or more evaporators, an economizer, and a low-temperature heat exchanger. The economizer is located on a downstream side of the most downstream evaporator which is an evaporator at the most downstream side among the one or more evaporators. The low-temperature heat exchanger is located on the downstream side of the economizer, has an inlet for receiving water from the outside, and is configured to heat the water introduced from the inlet and sent to the economizer with the combustion gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HITACHI POWER SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Hideyuki Uechi, Hiroyuki Yagita, Kuniaki Aoyama, Hideaki Sugishita, Yukimasa Nakamoto, Yuichi Oka, Naoki Hisada, Tarou Ichihara
  • Patent number: 10823039
    Abstract: A cooling system may include a skeleton frame having a central opening to receive and frame at least one cooling core. The skeleton frame has an interior to contain at least one conduit through which at least one fluid to be cooled may flow to the at least one cooling core. The cooling system may further include a skin wrapping over and about the skeleton frame to seal the interior of the skeleton frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Todd E. Van Hal, Lavern L. Weinschenk, Drew D. Brennan, Cory R. Conner
  • Patent number: 10823508
    Abstract: A heat exchanger for indirect heat exchange between a first and a second medium is provided with a shell space for receiving the first medium, and a tube bundle arranged in the shell space and for receiving the second medium. The tubes are helically wound in a number of tube layers onto a core tube. The tube bundle includes a first tube layer which is positioned further outward in the radial direction of the tube bundle from an adjacent second tube layer. The heat exchanger includes at least one spacer and the first tube bundle is supported against the second tube bundle via the at least one spacer. The at least one spacer has a flow-directing region designed to deflect part of the first medium flowing along a tube of the first tube layer in the direction of the second tube layer situated further inwards in the radical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Linde Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Manfred Steinbauer, Christiane Kerber, Jurgen Spreemann, Konrad Braun, Thomas Acher
  • Patent number: 10808986
    Abstract: A condenser includes an air duct defining an air channel therein; an air supply device fixedly connected to the air duct and a condensation member having a refrigerant inlet and a refrigerant outlet, the condensation member being at least partly disposed within the air channel. The condensation member includes a plurality of first condensation pipe segments consecutively arranged in multiple layers in an axial direction of the air duct and communicated with each other, each of the first condensation pipe segments is spirally formed by a first condensation pipe into a respective torus, a spiral line of said each first condensation pipe segments is located in a surface of the respective torus, and the respective torus formed in a first layer of the multiple layers is stacked above the respective torus formed in a second layer of the multiple layers along the axial direction of the air duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignees: Hefei Hualing Co., Ltd., Midea Group Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xiaochun Guo, Pingchuan Chen, Tao Tang, Haihong Hu, Qun Huang, Xiaojun Li
  • Patent number: 10788273
    Abstract: Shell-and-tube equipment includes baffles supporting the tubes, each baffle having seats for receiving the tubes shaped so as to receive one or more tubes in at least one free play condition and in a locking condition; each baffle is displaceable with respect to the tube bundle between an assembly position and a working position; in the assembly position the tubes can be received by the baffles in the free play condition while in the working position the tubes are locked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Casale SA
    Inventor: Enrico Rizzi
  • Patent number: 10663236
    Abstract: Shell and tube heat exchanger for exchanging heat between a first and second fluid, that comprises a housing in which tubes extend, whereby baffles are affixed in the housing that are provided with passages, whereby the tubes extend through the said passages, whereby the baffles are connected to one another at a distance from one another by means of one or more fastening elements that are affixed in first recesses in the baffles, whereby one or more connections between a baffle and a fastening element are formed by means of one or more lips that are made at an edge of a first recess, whereby the one or more lips form part of the baffle and are bent over, out of the plane defined by the baffle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: ATLAS COPCO AIRPOWER, NAAMLOZE VENNOOTSCHAP
    Inventor: Franky Marc De Roeck
  • Patent number: 10641480
    Abstract: A vibration-inhibiting bar is provided that is interposed between bends of the tubes of two adjacent banks of tubes of a U tube bundle of a steam generator and includes at least one internal element, referred to as a damping element, designed to mechanically damp the vibrations of the tubes; and at least one external element, referred to as percussion element, in contact with the damping element, the percussion element being designed to be in contact with the bends of the tubes of the bundle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: AREVA NP
    Inventor: Claude Crenn
  • Patent number: 10619932
    Abstract: A microchannel evaporator includes a plurality of microchannels. Each of the plurality of microchannels includes a first end and a second end. A first end-tank is coupled to each first end of the plurality of microchannels and a second end-tank is coupled to each second end of the plurality of microchannels. An inlet is coupled to the first end-tank for receiving a fluid into the microchannel evaporator and an outlet is coupled to the second end-tank for expelling the fluid from the microchannel evaporator. Each microchannel of the plurality of microchannels is substantially U-shaped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Hyfra Industriekuhlanlagen GmbH
    Inventor: Berthold Adomat
  • Patent number: 10545000
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a reinforcing clip for a heat exchanger. The reinforcing clip includes a first supporter, a second supporter, and a connecting member. Each of the first supporter and the second supporter includes a first support element and a second support element. The connecting member connects the first support element to the second element while separating the first support element away from the second support element in the vertical direction. The first support element is in contact with the first fin and the one side of the tube when the first support element is inserted into the space between the first fin and the tube. The second support element is in contact with the second fin and the other side of the tube when the second support element is inserted into the space between the second fin and the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignees: DENSO International America, Inc., DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Parker Farlow
  • Patent number: 10428974
    Abstract: A routing and securing system with adjacent components is provided to route and secure hoses, lines, and harnesses of vehicles in a manner that is repeatable and straightforward and can be documented. The routing and securing system uses a base block provided in a first plane and a retainer, or wrap, provided in a second plane. The base block provides concave receptacles, or slots, for seating elongate routed components in the first plane, while the retainer overlaps the elongate routed components in the second plane to secure the elongate routed components to their respective concave receptacles. A mounting bracket may be used to mount the routing and securing system to the vehicle, and may also be used to join a pair of routing and securing systems together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Martin L. Krohn, Stephen Stuhr
  • Patent number: 10415886
    Abstract: A heat exchanger fixing structure, for two or more heat exchangers bent in multiple layers, includes two or more plates respectively fixed to one ends of the two or more heat exchangers, wherein portions of the two or more plates may overlap each other, and the two or more heat exchangers are connected and fixed to each other by fastening a fastening member to the overlapping portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kwang-ho Choi
  • Patent number: 10408544
    Abstract: A system and method to transfer heat energy through a composite structure. The system includes a heat pipe extending through a thickness of the composite material. The method includes extending a heat pipe through the composite material from a first surface exposed to the heat energy to a second surface exposed to airflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Inventors: Doug Mueller, Brian S. Modrzejewski, Brad Ekstrom, Scott Gardner, David Elliott
  • Patent number: 10393447
    Abstract: The invention relates to a heat exchanger, comprising a hollow central body which is received in a housing and defines an inner channel for a first medium, wherein a space surrounding the central body in the housing defines at least one outer channel for a second medium, wherein the central body has on either side parts which protrude from a main plane thereof and are connected to mutually opposite parts of the housing and which bound the outer channel such that the outer channel has a meandering form substantially parallel to the main plane of the central body. The invention further relates to a method for forming such a heat exchanger, and to a method for use thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Intergas Heating Assets B.V.
    Inventor: Peter Jan Cool
  • Patent number: 10371450
    Abstract: A heat exchanger fixing structure, for two or more heat exchangers bent in multiple layers, includes two or more plates respectively fixed to one ends of the two or more heat exchangers, wherein portions of the two or more plates may overlap each other, and the two or more heat exchangers are connected and fixed to each other by fastening a fastening member to the overlapping portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kwang-ho Choi
  • Patent number: 10293769
    Abstract: A routing and securing system with a nested support arrangement is provide that includes a base block and a retainer in a nested relationship with respect to each other. Routed components which may include various ones of hoses, lines, and wire harnesses of vehicles are captured between the base block and retainer at predetermined positions to allow for straightforward and repeatable installation of the routed components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Martin L. Krohn, Glen Gunderson, Jade Abner, Stephen Stuhr
  • Patent number: 10274258
    Abstract: An insert is configured to be inserted into a heat exchanger having a plurality of tubes. The insert includes a base and a multiple blades. The blades are extended from the base. At least one of the blades has a spring portion. The spring portion is resiliently deformable and configured to be resiliently inserted between two of the tubes. The spring portion includes two arms. One of the two arms has one thin portion defining one recess dented in one direction in a thickness direction. The other of the two arms has the other thin portion defining the other recess dented in the other direction in the thickness direction. The one thin portion and the other thin portion are resiliently movable in a width direction within a clearance formed by the recesses, while overlapping one another in the thickness direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO International America, Inc.
    Inventors: William Cochran, James Stander, Kosuke Hayashi
  • Patent number: 10128005
    Abstract: A support grid for a nuclear fuel assembly, the nuclear fuel assembly including a generally cylindrical fuel rod with a diameter, wherein the support grid includes a frame assembly having a plurality of generally circular cells and a plurality of helical frame members. The helical frame members are disposed in the cells and are structured to contact the cell as well as a fuel rod. The helical fuel rod contact portion may have a variable pitch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC
    Inventors: Xiaoyan (Jane) Jiang, Yiban Xu, Zeses E. Karoutas
  • Patent number: 10082348
    Abstract: A tube-to-header sealing system for a heat exchanger comprises a pair of mating header plates, each header plate having a wall with a plurality of openings therein and including a continuous depression along the circumference of each header plate opening which forms one-half of an O-ring groove. Each of a plurality of O-rings is positioned in each O-ring groove and the header plates are secured together such that the header plate plurality of openings are aligned and trap each of the plurality of O-rings in O-ring grooves. A plurality of spaced-apart tubes each having a tube end secured in an opening in the wall of the header to form a tube-to-header joint are expanded outwardly to provide sufficient O-ring deformation to obtain a seal. In service, the resiliency of the O-ring seal allows for expansion and contraction of the tubes without the build-up of high stresses at the tube-to-header joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: ENTEREX AMERICA LLC
    Inventors: Richard F. Crook, John A Kolb
  • Patent number: 9953730
    Abstract: The strip is of the type comprising a wall portion for delimiting a cell with interlaced strips, a spring formed in the strip and provided on the wall portion for biasing a fuel rod extending through the cell away from the wall portion, the spring comprising a cantilevered tab formed in the strip and a contact portion formed at least partially in the tab and protruding from the tab for contacting a fuel rod received in the cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: AREVA NP
    Inventors: Michael Liebler, Bernd Dressel, Kevin Elliott, William D. Bishop, Jeffrey C. Morris
  • Patent number: 9945622
    Abstract: A dry heat exchanger coil having a plurality of straight inner tubes connected by a plurality of return bends. The return bends are located outside of the air flow passing over the coil. The inner tubes are situated within a corresponding outer or “safety” tube. The outer tubes do not contain and are not connected to return bends, but the ends of the outer tubes are located outside of the air flow path. Leaks in the inner tubes are captured by the outer tubes and the leaking fluid will flow in the space between the inner and outer tubes, flow out the end of the outer tube, to be captured in a drip pan at the bottom of the coil housing. Leaks occurring in the return bends will also be captured in drip pan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Evapco, Inc.
    Inventor: Tom Byrne
  • Patent number: 9919281
    Abstract: Heat exchanger comprising a tube bundle (1) and a shell (2) which surrounds said tube bundle, said tube bundle comprising tubes (3) arranged with a square or triangular pitch, wherein said shell (2) has a cross-section, in a plane perpendicular to said tubes, having the form of an irregular polygon; said irregular cross-sectional polygon has a number of sides which is a multiple of three or multiple of four for tube bundles with a triangular or square pitch, respectively; the sides of said cross-sectional polygon are parallel to the directional lines of the tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Casale SA
    Inventor: Enrico Rizzi
  • Patent number: 9897385
    Abstract: A heating apparatus comprises an exposed tube formed into an outer coil and an inner coil. The outer coil is formed around the inner coil with a gap separating the outer coil and the inner coil. The tube is supported by a support frame. The heating apparatus also comprises a spacer frame that extends from the top portion of the support frame to the base portion of the support frame. The spacer frame has a plurality of apertures formed therein, each aperture operable to support a corresponding ring of the outer coil. The apparatus also comprises a spacer rod having a first end that couples to the top portion of the support frame and a second end that couples to the base portion of the support frame, wherein the spacer rod is threaded through the spacer frame between the outer coil and the vertex of the spacer frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Therma-Stor LLC
    Inventors: Robert M. Myerholtz, Jr., Larry L. Dancey
  • Patent number: 9683732
    Abstract: A tube and shell steam generator having an anti-clogging heat exchange tube bundle wherein the tube support plates within the tube bundle are designed with varying degrees of porosity thereby regulating local secondary side fluid conditions (velocity, quality, superheat, void fraction, etc.) in a manner to reduce the potential for clogging of the tube support plate lobes that are more prone to clogging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert M. Wepfer, James R. Schwall, Christopher A. Weindorf, John R. Balavage
  • Patent number: 9534529
    Abstract: A heat exchanger is disclosed for the exhaust gas train of a motor vehicle. The heat exchanger includes a bundle of separately formed exhaust gas carrying exchanger tubes that is disposed in a closed housing formed separately, a coolant flowing through the housing and around the outside of the exchanger tubes. A bandage is disposed on the bundle of exchanger tubes mechanically connecting a plurality of the exchanger tubes to militate against an oscillation of the exchanger tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: HANON SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Andreas Capelle, Guillaume Hebert, Andrej Repa
  • Patent number: 9429314
    Abstract: Apparatus for a steam generator that employs tube support plates within a shroud that is in turn disposed within a shell. The tube support plates are made of a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion lower than that of the shroud. The tube support plates are aligned during fabrication, with minimal clearances between components. Using a tube support displacement system, a controlled misalignment is then imposed on one or more tube support plates, as the steam generator heats up. The tube support plate displacement system has only one part, a push rod, which is internal to the steam generator shroud, thereby minimizing the potential of loose parts. The tube support plate displacement system can be used to provide controlled misalignments on one or more tube support plates, in the same or varying amounts and directions, and with one or more apparatus for each individual tube support plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: BWXT Canada Ltd.
    Inventors: Richard G Klarner, Robert S Horvath, Ghasem V Asadi, Paul W Shipp
  • Patent number: 9285118
    Abstract: The present invention is a device that supplies the latent heat for vaporization of L.P. gases. The device for a supply of fuel vapor to a fuel powered device, comprising of a supply tank; a liquid bath having a temperature control system; a LPG flow line immersed inside the liquid bath; a heating system to heat the LPG; and a vaporizer control system comprising a temperature sensor to measure the temperature of the liquid bath, the temperature sensor is connected to a solenoid valve in the vapor supply line, and wherein said temperature sensor shutting off the solenoid valve when the bath temperature drops below a predetermined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Inventors: Allen A. Neufeldt, Ian Widgett
  • Patent number: 9102024
    Abstract: A clearance increasing jig of a heat transfer tube, includes: a jig main body inserted into a clearance between adjacent heat transfer tubes; an inflow hole provided in the jig main body and configured to allow a fluid to flow into the jig main body; and an increasing unit provided in the jig main body and configured to increase the clearance as the fluid flows into the jig main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi Yamamoto, Kenichi Kawanishi, Masahito Matsubara, Yoshihisa Fujiwara, Tomochika Hamamoto, Yukihide Shimazu
  • Patent number: 9080818
    Abstract: Heat exchangers are described that employ fins made of a heat conducting foam material to enhance heat transfer. The foam fins can be used in any type of heat exchanger including, but not limited to, a plate-fin heat exchanger, a plate-frame heat exchanger or a shell-and-tube heat exchanger. The heat exchangers employing foam fins described herein are highly efficient, inexpensive to build, and corrosion resistant. The described heat exchangers can be used in a variety of applications, including but not limited to, low thermal driving force applications, power generation applications, and non-power generation applications such as refrigeration and cryogenics. The fins can be made from any thermally conductive foam material including, but not limited to, graphite foam or metal foam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Scott M. Maurer, Nicholas J. Nagurny, Michael R. Eller, James W. Klett
  • Patent number: 9062634
    Abstract: An EGR cooler core has multiple tubes for conveying engine exhaust gas. Tube inlets are joined to a flat inlet header plate at tube/header plate joints in a flat zone of the inlet header plate. An endless groove in the inlet header plate circumscribes the joints while reducing a constant nominal thickness of the header plate in the flat zone along the groove without creating an opening through the header plate. This gives some compliance to the flat zone for mitigation of stresses induced by tube growth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Internaitonal Engine Intellectual Property Company, LLC
    Inventors: Shouhao Wu, Robert Lawrence Rowells
  • Publication number: 20150129166
    Abstract: A tube support in the form of a stake having at least one protrusion mounted on its longitudinal surface. The protrusion contacts adjoining tubes of a tube bundle and exerts a force tending to separate the tubes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventor: Amar Siri Wanni
  • Publication number: 20150090198
    Abstract: A heat exchanger which is used primarily in oil and gas operations to heat tanks of liquids, such as drilling mud, water, heavy oil or other such fluids from freezing or becoming too viscous to pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: ConleyMax, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick G. Bell, William N. Beckie
  • Publication number: 20150086440
    Abstract: The present application relates to a method of manufacturing a tube sheet (7) and heat exchanger assembly for a pool reactor or pool condenser for use in the production of urea from ammonia and carbon dioxide, wherein the method comprises manufacturing of the tube sheet (7) from a carbon steel material grade and providing said tube sheet (7) with corrosion protective layers (8, 9) of an austenitic- ferritic duplex stainless steel grade, wherein the heat exchanger comprises at least one U-shaped tube (13) of an austenitic-ferritic duplex stainless steel grade, the method further comprises inserting at least two sleeves (11) of an austenitic-ferritic duplex stainless steel grade through the tube sheet (7) such that both ends of the sleeve (11) extend in a direction away from the tube sheet (7), the method further comprises connecting the sleeves (11), at least the opposing ends thereof, to at least the protective layers (8,9) of the tube sheet (7) and finally, connecting both ends of the at least one U-shaped t
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventor: Alexander Aleida Antonius Scheerder
  • Publication number: 20150083365
    Abstract: A steam generator includes a tube bundle having a plurality of tubes, arranged in rows and columns. The first column of tubes includes a first tube having a curved center line disposed in a first plane. The second column of tubes includes a second tube having a curved center line disposed in a second plane, the second plane being parallel to and spaced a distance from the first plane. The steam generator further includes a first number of solid anti-vibration bars disposed between the first column of tubes and the second column of tubes; wherein each of the tubes has a tube outer diameter; and wherein each of the first number of anti-vibration bars has a thickness generally transverse to the first and second planes, the thickness being greater than the distance between the first and second planes minus the tube outer diameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC
    Inventors: PADMANABHA J. PRABHU, Robert M. Wepfer
  • Patent number: 8978740
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a bundle of tubes, which can be inserted into a tubular housing. Exhaust gas can flow through the tubes. A coolant duct can be arranged between the tubes. The bundle of tubes can have at least one grid-like securing structure which supports the bundle in the housing. The behavior of the heat exchanger with respect to vibrations is affected by outwardly curved metallic springs attached to the bundle of tubes which may be deformed in the opposite direction to the insertion direction of the bundle into the housing. The spring force is directed against the housing in order to dampen vibrations. The heat exchanger can also include an elastic device for permitting a change in length caused by temperature changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Modine Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Harald Schatz, Stefan Muller-Lufft, Ingo Heitel, Omur Acar, Jorg Soldner, Michael Daniel, Bjorn Volquardsen, Joel T. Casterton, Kevin G. Clabots, Kevin M. Eppers
  • Publication number: 20150060029
    Abstract: A limiter is connected to an accumulator leg near a first header collection pipe in an outdoor unit. The limiter extends from the accumulator leg toward the first header collection pipe to limit movement of the first header collection pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Ono, Satoshi Itou, Takeshi Kitagawa