US1967961A - Heat exchange apparatus - Google Patents

Description

, July 24, 1934. .1. F. METTEN HEAT EXCHANGE APPARATUS Filed Aug. 2l, '1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 QN 1 /N ww f NNI f 1 Y INN am 1 1 1 1 W11 1.11111 |1111 11 \.\\1 111111111 1 1 111 i1 \\.H 111 1 ,1 1 11111 A Q 1, 1 .wm Nm ///I 1 1 1 1 1111 11 1|111 mm NN sw E1 1 am Nw uw.

July 24, 1934. -.J. F. METTEN HEAT EXCHANGE APPARATUS Filed Aug. 21, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 24, 1934 UNITED STATES MTENT ol-"Flcla:A

HEAT EXCHANGE APPARATUS John F. Metten,' Philadelphia, Pa.

Application `August y21, 1933, ASerial No. .686,101

' c claims. (C1. 257-239) .-This invention relates to heat exchange apparatus such as may be used for feed water heaters, oil heaters and for heating or cooling liquids and gases.

More particularly this invention relates to multipass heat exchange apparatus of the hairpin or U tube type wherein the tubes are each bent to form two parallel legs with their free ends adapted to respectively receive and discharge iiuids at one end of the apparatus. This U tube type of multipass heater or cooler is of great advantage' where there is a progressive temperature gradient along each tube of a group representing a pass, and where there is a corresponding difference in linear expansion of the group of tubes represented in each pass because it enables free and independent expansion for each of the U tubes. ,h

As constructed heretofore, the bent ends of the tubes are usually supported by passing through one or more supporting plates provided with holes, slightly larger in diameter than the outside diameter of the tubes, and corresponding in spacing to the spacing in the first mentioned plate at the free ends of the tubes. Thr` holes in the bent end plate are enlarged slightly to permit expansion of the tubes.

The tubes are usually arranged in nested formation, that is, some tubes lie within others, and it has been found difficult to remove any of the inner system of tubes without'withdrawing the entire nest from the apparatus. Even after such removal, difficulty is encountered since the bent end plate must be moved close to the tube vsheet in order to spread the outer tubes suiciently. The moving of the plate against the resistance of warped tubes is difficult particularly if there is any scale or deposit on the outside of the tubes.

In small sized heat exchange apparatus the vU type tube which can be supported by an open end plate alone has found great favor, and the principal objection to the use of this type of heat exchange apparatus in the larger sized units is the necessity of withdrawing of the entire nest of tubes from the apparatus and disassembling thereof in order to effect the displacement of a single tube.

It is the main object of this invention to provide a support for the tubes so that any tube may be Withdrawn without removing the tube nest from the shell andwithout removing any of the other tubes.

Another object of the invention resides in the novel construction and arrangement of the bent end support for the tubes.

Fig. 2 is' a section of one end taken on the line 65 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinalsection with certain parts removed;

Fig. 4 is an end section taken on the line 4-4 7 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of Fig. 1 with certain parts shown in section and other parts removed; and

Fig. 6 is an end view of the vparts shown in Fig. 5.

Referring to Fig. 1 the apparatus comprises a shell 10 having flanges 11 and 12 suitably secured thereto at each end thereof. The ange 12 cornprises an angle member with its longitudinal leg extending beyond the edge of the shell, and its transverse leg presenting a flange to which is secured a removable cap 13. Inlet and exhaust passages 1.4 and 15 are provided on opposite sides of the shell, for passing the heating or cooling fluid therethrough. A plate 16 is adapted to be secured between the flange 11l and a removable head 1'7. This head is provided with inlet and exhaust passages 18 and 19 for the passage of fluids, to be heated or cooled, into U shaped tubes 20 having their free ends anchored in the plate 16. A suitable partition 20' separates the inlet and exhaust passages 18 and 19 as well as the opposite ends of the tubes so that uid entering the port 18 is directed into the tubes,and upon exit therefrom is directed through the exhaust passage 19.

l The anchoring of the tubes 20 in the platek16 may be accomplished by expanding theends of tubes in holes therein of such diameter as to grip the ends of the tub'es frictionally or by any other Well known means. These .holes are suitably spaced to position the'tubes with respect to each other. The tubes are arranged in parallel planes and are adapted to be nested in each plane. As

shown in Fig.r 2 the tubes are staggered in alter- 105 nate planes for compactnessfand it is to be understood that this is not essential. The staggering of the tubes lis done merely to provide equal spacing surrounding the tubes, and, therefore, the

holes in the plate 16 are in hexagonal or honey- 11n comb formation. The holes may, however, be arranged in square formation if desired.

In order to support the tubes at the bent ends there are provided horizontal bars 21 adapted to span and to be suitably secured to the longitudinal leg of the angle member 12. The horizontal supports are provided under each row of the tube legs. Where space permits the horizontal bars may be of angle bar section. The bars 21 maintain the tubes in horizontal alinement. In order to position the tubes in proper vertical planes and to correspond with the holes in the plate 16 there are provided removable spacer bars 22 which are adapted to lie obliquely in the spaces provided between the legs of the tubes, and are adapted to lspan the space between the longitudinal leg of the member 12. It will be noted that if the legs of the tubes were arranged in square formation these spacer bars would be vertical. Or if any other formation of the tubes is made then the spacer bars may be arranged to suit the purpose intended.` 'I'hese spacer bars may even be bent if necessary.

The cap 13 is provided witha fiange 23 which is adapted to be removably secured to the transverse fiange of the member 12 and is adapted to hold the spacer bars within the periphery of the longitudinal leg of the member 12 against displacement.

It will, therefore, be apparent that any tube may be quickly and easily removed from the apparatus without removing the nest of tubes from the shell. The head and cap are first removed, then the spacer bars are removed, thereby permitting the tubes to be spread or moved horizontally at the bent end. Any tube may be disconnected from the plate 16. If the tubes have been fastened in place by expanding in plate 16, then, of course, the tube to be removed must be relieved at the head end to permit the removal by endwise movement. However, the important object is to spread the tubes so that any of the inner tubes may be withdrawn after loosening of the free ends of the tube. The upright spacing bars 22 keep the tubes 2O properly spaced in the horizontal direction and are next to the flange joint of the head 13 so that when the head is removed these spacing bars 22 can be partially or wholly removed without disturbing the horizontal supporting bars 21. When these spacing bars 22 are removed the U ends of tubes can-be moved horizontally as may be desired to permit removal of any of the inner tubes. The tubes are of relatively great ratios of length to diameter and the horizontal springing of the U end of outer tubes sufficient for withdrawal of inner tubes does not require forces of any magnitude being exerted and does not affect the integrity of the connection of the straight end of tube to tube sheet. Fig. 5 shows in plan view groups of outer U tubes 20a and 20bsprung aside to permit removal of an inner tube 20c/which is shown partly withdrawn. Fig. 6 is an end view of the nest also showing outer tubes 20a and 20h-sprung apart to clear withdrawal of inner tube 20c. t

Itv will be understood that various modifications may be made in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts of the described apparatus without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is not desired to limit the invention to such details except as particularly pointed out in the claims.

I claim:

1. In a heat exchange apparatus having a shelly A mentioned direction.A

and a plurality of tubes contained therein and having a fixed support at one end of the shell for one end of the tubes, a support for the other end of the tubes comprising fixed members and removable members, said fixed members adapted to retainsaid tubes in alinement in one direction and said removable member adapted to retain said tubes in a direction transverse to said first a direction transverse to said first mentioned direction andarranged ina plane parallel to and adjacent the last mentioned plane.

3. In a heat exchange apparatus having a. shell and a plurality of tubes contained therein and having a fixed support at one end of the shell for the free end of the tubes, a support for the other end of the tubes adapted to lie the shell comprising fixed members and removable members, said xed members adapted to retain said tubes in alinement in one direction and arranged in a plane transverse to said shell, and said removable members adapted to retain said' tubes in a direction transverse to said first mentioned direction and arranged in a plane parallel to and adjacent the last mentioned plane, said removable members being remote of the first mentioned fixed support.

4. In a heat exchange apparatus having a shell and a plurality of shaped tubes contained therein and having a fixed support at one end of the shell for the free ends of the tubes, said tubes arranged in'parallel planes and being nested in each plane, a support for the otherend of the tubes to retain the legs of the tubes parallel, said support being arranged to permit movement 01.120 the U ends of the tubes transversely to their planes.

5. In a heat, exchange apparatus having a shell and a plurality of U shaped tubes contained therein and having a fixed support at one en d of the shell for the free ends of the tubes, said bes arranged in parallel planes and being nest in each plane, a support for the other end of the tubes to retain the legs of the tubes parallel, said support having removable members permitting the U ends of the .tubes to be moved transversely to their planes, and a cap adapted to be secured to the shell and adapted to retain said means.

6.' In a heat exchange apparatus the combination with a shell having a header at one end, of a plurality of U shaped tubes of different lengths nested within said shell and having their free ends in said header, means for holding the other ends of said tubes having supporting surfaces for l said tubes maintaining them in alinement while permitting them to move endwise and in a direction transverse to their planes, and releasable positioning means normally retaining said tubes against said transverse movement and arranged to allow said movement so that the tubes may be relatively transversely flexed to permit Vendwise removal of inner .shorter tubes without removing A longer outer tubes in the same planes.

JOHN F. METTEN.

Images