GB1123309A - Rotary thermal-regenerator matrix - Google Patents

Abstract

1,123,309. Rotary thermal regenerator matrix. GENERAL MOTORS CORP. 19 Oct., 1966 [19 Nov., 1965], No. 46745/66 Heading F4K. A cylindrical radial-flow rotary thermal regenerator matrix comprises a stack of arcuate sheet-metal layers, each layer having radially extending corrugations 21, which interengage when the layers are stacked, at least some of the layers having between said corrugations surface relief in the form of projections or ridges or (as shown) minor zig-zag corrugations 19 which cross each other on adjacent layers. The stack may comprise a plurality of individual arcuate or annular elements, or it may be formed as a coil made up of a single strip or two or more interleaved strips. The core shown has two such interleaved strips 17, 18, having identical corrugations 19, but reversed in direction before the radial corrugations 21 are formed. These corrugations 21 are deeper at the inner surface of the matrix than at the outer surface so that the strips form coils. Also they taper to ensure that they telescope within one another when the coils are stacked to allow corrugations 19 to make contact and to ensure strictly radial flow. Teeth 23, 25 on end rings 10, 9, respectively, engage the radial corrugations 21 of the end turns of the core and tie-bolts 13 in sleeves 37 are passed through holes 39 in the strips to connect the end rings. In other embodiments, the corrugations 21 may extend alternately in opposite directions from the strips (Fig. 8, not shown), or the direction of the zig-zag of corrugations 19 is periodically reversed in a single strip (Fig. 9, not shown), so that the corrugations 19 contact, as above, when the coil is stacked.