GB2071303A - Heat transfer apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

In a heat exchanger of the separable plate type, comprising a pack of plates each having a gasket groove with a base 3 and side walls with one side wall being formed with lateral undulations 6 such that the groove has wider portions extending beyond the side wall of the corresponding groove in the adjacent plates in the pack, and with the gaskets 7 being formed with a series of projections 10 engaging in matching apertures 9 in the base 3 of the gasket groove adjacent the laterial undulations, the gasket projections 10 extend also through matching apertures 11 formed (e.g. in a corrugation 4) in that portion of the underlying plate lying outside the corresponding side wall of the gasket groove. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Heat transfer apparatus This invention relates to plates for heat transfer apparatus, such as heat exchangers or evaporators.

In our co-pending application 7930054, due for publication on 1 2th March 1980, there is described and claimed a heat transfer plate having a gasket groove with a base and side walls, a compressible gasket mounted in the groove, the gasket being formed on its base with a series of spaced projections engaging in matching apertures in the base of the gasket groove.

In a preferred arrangement one side wall of the gasket groove is formed with lateral undulations, so that the groove has wider portions, in which the apertures are formed in the base at the some or all of the wide regions. The aperture in this arrangement may be formed outside a line bounding the narrow portion of the groove.

In such an arrangement the wider portion of the groove is supported on a return bend forming the external edge of the gasket groove in the succeeding plate in the pack so that there is a metal-to-metal contact and the protruding end of the projection of the gasket tends to be damaged as the pack is compressed.

By providing an aperture in the return bend as well, this is avoided.

Accordingly, the present invention consists in a heat transfer apparatus comprising a pack of plates each having a gasket groove with a base and side walls with one side wall being formed with lateral undulations so that the groove has wider portions extending beyond the side wall of the corresponding groove in the adjacent plates in the pack, the gaskets also being formed with a series of spaced projections engaging in matching apertures in the base of the gasket groove adjacent the lateral undulations and in matching apertures formed in the underlying plate outside the corresponding side wall of the gasket groove.

By this means the damage to the projections on compression of the plate pack is avoided and the projections provide a light anchoring together or alignment of the adjacent plates.

The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is an elevation of a portion of a plate showing a gasket groove formation; Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 with a gasket included; and Figure 3 is a somewhat enlarged sectional view on the line Ill-Ill of Figure 2 of two two adjacent plates in a pack.

Figures 1 and 2 show a plate having a flow space zone with corrugations 1 and a gasket groove 2, as shown in Figure 1, between the corrugations 1 and the edge 3 of the plate. The gasket groove 2 consists of lengths, alternating round the plate, of normal width groove bounded by a longitudinal corrugation 4 formed by return bend as shown in the lower of the two plates illustrated in figure 2. The intervening lengths of the gasket groove 2 are bounded by an upstanding wall leading into a somewhat wider corrugation 5, and the wall itself is provided with lateral undulations 6 which lead to intermittent widening of the gasket groove. Figure 2 shows the plate of Figure 1 with a gasket 7 in position. In the pack, the plates are so arranged that the different types of length of gasket alternate through the pack as well as around the periphery of each of the plates.

The gasket is formed with an upstanding ridge 8 which enters the longitudinal corrugation 4.

As so far described, the gasket arrangement is one that is in current commercial use, and according to the teachings of the co-pending application 7930054, the base of the gasket in the region of the lateral undulations 6 is provided with-holes 9 to receive a pip or protuberance 10 formed on the bottom surface of the gasket to provide for some mechanical engagement between the gasket and the piate. In accordance with the present invention, the longitudinal corrugation 4 is also provided with apertures 11 matching the apertures 9 in the superjacent plate, and the pip or protuberance 10 extends also through the holes 1 Thus, the free end of the protuberance 10 is not compressed between the metal surfaces when the plate pack is compressed, and since it engages in both plates, it does provide a degree of interlocking between the plates.

Various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention.

1. A heat transfer apparatus comprising a pack of plates each having a gasket groove with a base and side walls with one side wall being formed with lateral undulations so that the groove has wider portions extending beyond the side wall of the corresponding groove in the adjacent plates in the pack, the gaskets also being formed with a series of spaced projections engaging in matching apertures in the base of the gasket groove adjacent the lateral undulations and in matching apertures formed in the underlying plate outside the corresponding side wall of the gasket groove.

2. A heat transfer apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (2)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Heat transfer apparatus This invention relates to plates for heat transfer apparatus, such as heat exchangers or evaporators. In our co-pending application 7930054, due for publication on 1 2th March 1980, there is described and claimed a heat transfer plate having a gasket groove with a base and side walls, a compressible gasket mounted in the groove, the gasket being formed on its base with a series of spaced projections engaging in matching apertures in the base of the gasket groove. In a preferred arrangement one side wall of the gasket groove is formed with lateral undulations, so that the groove has wider portions, in which the apertures are formed in the base at the some or all of the wide regions. The aperture in this arrangement may be formed outside a line bounding the narrow portion of the groove. In such an arrangement the wider portion of the groove is supported on a return bend forming the external edge of the gasket groove in the succeeding plate in the pack so that there is a metal-to-metal contact and the protruding end of the projection of the gasket tends to be damaged as the pack is compressed. By providing an aperture in the return bend as well, this is avoided. Accordingly, the present invention consists in a heat transfer apparatus comprising a pack of plates each having a gasket groove with a base and side walls with one side wall being formed with lateral undulations so that the groove has wider portions extending beyond the side wall of the corresponding groove in the adjacent plates in the pack, the gaskets also being formed with a series of spaced projections engaging in matching apertures in the base of the gasket groove adjacent the lateral undulations and in matching apertures formed in the underlying plate outside the corresponding side wall of the gasket groove. By this means the damage to the projections on compression of the plate pack is avoided and the projections provide a light anchoring together or alignment of the adjacent plates. The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is an elevation of a portion of a plate showing a gasket groove formation; Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 with a gasket included; and Figure 3 is a somewhat enlarged sectional view on the line Ill-Ill of Figure 2 of two two adjacent plates in a pack. Figures 1 and 2 show a plate having a flow space zone with corrugations 1 and a gasket groove 2, as shown in Figure 1, between the corrugations 1 and the edge 3 of the plate. The gasket groove 2 consists of lengths, alternating round the plate, of normal width groove bounded by a longitudinal corrugation 4 formed by return bend as shown in the lower of the two plates illustrated in figure 2. The intervening lengths of the gasket groove 2 are bounded by an upstanding wall leading into a somewhat wider corrugation 5, and the wall itself is provided with lateral undulations 6 which lead to intermittent widening of the gasket groove. Figure 2 shows the plate of Figure 1 with a gasket 7 in position. In the pack, the plates are so arranged that the different types of length of gasket alternate through the pack as well as around the periphery of each of the plates. The gasket is formed with an upstanding ridge 8 which enters the longitudinal corrugation 4. As so far described, the gasket arrangement is one that is in current commercial use, and according to the teachings of the co-pending application 7930054, the base of the gasket in the region of the lateral undulations 6 is provided with-holes 9 to receive a pip or protuberance 10 formed on the bottom surface of the gasket to provide for some mechanical engagement between the gasket and the piate. In accordance with the present invention, the longitudinal corrugation 4 is also provided with apertures 11 matching the apertures 9 in the superjacent plate, and the pip or protuberance 10 extends also through the holes 1 Thus, the free end of the protuberance 10 is not compressed between the metal surfaces when the plate pack is compressed, and since it engages in both plates, it does provide a degree of interlocking between the plates. Various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention. CLAIMS

1. A heat transfer apparatus comprising a pack of plates each having a gasket groove with a base and side walls with one side wall being formed with lateral undulations so that the groove has wider portions extending beyond the side wall of the corresponding groove in the adjacent plates in the pack, the gaskets also being formed with a series of spaced projections engaging in matching apertures in the base of the gasket groove adjacent the lateral undulations and in matching apertures formed in the underlying plate outside the corresponding side wall of the gasket groove.

2. A heat transfer apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.