Patent US3561524A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3561524A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Marine keel cooler
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1969-10-08
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Granted: 1971-02-09
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Expires: 1989-10-08
Abstract
Abstract A marine keel cooler is disclosed which includes two header assemblies each adapted to be mounted on the exterior of a vessel''s hull. Each header assembly includes a stud plate and at least two separable members formed of an elastomeric material. The members are formed with semicylindrical recesses which cooperate with adjacent recesses to form openings which receive and grip the ends of the heat exchanger tubes. Relatively soft heat resistant seals are positioned over the ends of the tubes within the openings and are tightly gripped when the parts of the header assembly are bolted together. When fluted tubes are used, the parts are proportioned so that the tube is radially contracted to a uniform or standard size during the clamping by the headers. The header assemblies are arranged so that separators may be selectively positioned therein. Such separators permit a given header assembly to be used in single pass, multiple pass, and compound heat exchanger installations. When tubes having deep grooves are provided, i.e., tubes having an outside diameter to groove depth of about four to one or less, the cooler may be mounted in a location where forced flow thereover can be provided solely by the slip stream of the propulsion screw.
Inventors
- 👤 James Glenn Satterthwaite
- 👤 James B Macy Jr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 19:56
CPC Classifications
F; F28; F28D; F28D1/00; F28D1/02; F28D1/04; F28D1/053; F28D1/0535; F28D1/05366; F01; F01P; F01P3/00; F01P3/20; F01P3/207; F28D1/0206; F28D1/022; F28F; F28F1/00; F28F1/02; F28F1/06; F28F21/00; F28F21/06; F28F21/067; F28F9/00; F28F9/02; F28F9/0219; F28F9/0221; F28F9/04; F28F9/06; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/33
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
A heat exchanger comprising at least a pair of spaced headers, and a plurality of heat exchanger tubes extending between said headers, said headers each including first and second separable members, said members each being formed with tube gripping surfaces along the joint therebetween which cooperate with associated tube gripping surfaces on the other member to encircle the end of a tube, nd clamp means releasably operable to clamp said members together to form a fluid-tight joint between said members and to cause said tube gripping surfaces to grip the ends of said tubes forming a fluid seal therewith, said members cooperating to define at least part of a header chamber open to said tubes, release of said clamp means permitting relative axial movement between individual tubes and header for removal and replacement of individual tubes without moving said headers toward or away from each other.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
146 words
A heat exchanger comprising at least a pair of spaced headers, and a plurality of heat exchanger tubes extending between said headers, said headers each including first and second separable members, said members each being formed with tube gripping surfaces along the joint therebetween which cooperate with associated tube gripping surfaces on the other member to encircle the end of a tube, nd clamp means releasably operable to clamp said members together to form a fluid-tight joint between said members and to cause said tube gripping surfaces to grip the ends of said tubes forming a fluid seal therewith, said members cooperating to define at least part of a header chamber open to said tubes, release of said clamp means permitting relative axial movement between individual tubes and header for removal and replacement of individual tubes without moving said headers toward or away from each other.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
62 words
A heat exchanger as set forth in claim 1 wherein said headers are adapted to be mounted on the exterior of the hull of a vessel, said headers having openings proportioned to fit against the exterior of the hull and be closed thereby, said members when mounted on said hull cooperating with a portion of said hull to define a header chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A heat exchanger as set forth in claim 1 wherein said associated gripping surfaces are semicylindrical and cooperate to form cylindrical gripping openings when said members are clamped together.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
64 words
A heat exchanger as set forth in claim 3 wherein a resilient seal is positioned on the ends of said tubes within said gripping openings, said clamp means causing said seals to be subjected to compressive stress to provide gripping and sealing between said tubes and header, release of said clamping means releasing said seals and permitting axial movement between said headers and tubes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A heat exchanger as set forth in claim 4 wherein said tube is noncircular and the inner surface of said seal conforms to the exterior surface of said tube.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
A heat exchanger as set forth in claim 5 wherein said tube is axially fluted and is substantially symmetrical with respect to its central axis, and the wall of said tube is radially contracted from its unstressed condition substantially to a standard size when said seal is clamped between said tube gripping surfaces.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
A heat exchanger as set forth in claim 4 wherein the diameter of the exterior surface of said seal is greater than the maximum diameter of said tube adjacent said end whereby release of said clamping means permits axial movement of said tube with respect to said header members in both directions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A keel cooler including a heat exchanger as set forth in claim 7 wherein said seal is formed of electrical insulating material and is adapted to electrically insulate said tube from the hull of a vessel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
A heat exchanger as set forth in claim 8 wherein a separator is adapted to be removably positioned in said header chamber to separate said chamber into at least two separate chambers, and each separate chamber is open to at least one pair of tube gripping surfaces.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
A heat exchanger as set forth in claim 1 wherein said headers each include a third separable member which cooperates with said second member to provide additional opposed pairs of tube gripping surfaces, said additional opposed pairs of tube gripping surfaces being spaced from the joint between said first and second members.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
162 words
A keel cooler comprising a header assembly defining at least part of a header chamber, saId assembly including a substantially rigid first member adapted to be mounted on the hull of a vessel, a substantially rigid second member and an intermediate member formed of material which is softer than the material forming said first and second members, said intermediate member and at least one of said first and second members being formed with mutually engageable surfaces providing a fluid tight seal therebetween when clamped together and opposed tube gripping surfaces, a tube, a resilient seal around the end of said tube adapted to be positioned between said tube gripping surfaces, and releasable clamp means adapted to clamp said intermediate member between said first and second members and tightly clamp said seal causing said seal to provide a fluid-tight joint between said two members and said tube, release of said clamping means permitting axial movement of said tube with respect to said members.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
162 words
A keel cooler comprising a header assembly defining at least part of a header chamber, saId assembly including a substantially rigid first member adapted to be mounted on the hull of a vessel, a substantially rigid second member and an intermediate member formed of material which is softer than the material forming said first and second members, said intermediate member and at least one of said first and second members being formed with mutually engageable surfaces providing a fluid tight seal therebetween when clamped together and opposed tube gripping surfaces, a tube, a resilient seal around the end of said tube adapted to be positioned between said tube gripping surfaces, and releasable clamp means adapted to clamp said intermediate member between said first and second members and tightly clamp said seal causing said seal to provide a fluid-tight joint between said two members and said tube, release of said clamping means permitting axial movement of said tube with respect to said members.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
46 words
A keel cooler as set forth in claim 11 wherein said first member is a metal stud plate, and said second member and said intermediate members are formed of elastomeric material, and said clamp means is a plurality of threaded fasteners connected to said stud plate.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
61 words
A keel cooler as set forth in claim 11 wherein a second intermediate member is provided between the first intermediate member and said first member, said first and second intermediate members being formed with mutually engageable surfaces providing a fluid-tight seal therebetween when clamped together and opposed tube gripping surfaces adapted to grip the seal at an end of said tube.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
144 words
A keel cooler comprising a hull of a vessel, a header assembly cooperating with the exterior surface of said hull to define a header chamber, said hull being formed with an opening therethrough providing flow passage into said header chamber, conduit means secured to the interior of said hull around said opening, said header assembly including at least two separable members formed with mutually engageable surfaces providing a fluid-tight seal therebetween when clamped together and opposed tube gripping surfaces, a tube, a resilient seal around the end of said tube adapted to be positioned between said tube gripping surfaces, and releasable clamp means releasably clamping said members together and tightly clamping said seal causing said seal to provide a fluid-tight joint between said members and said tube, release of said clamping means permitting axial movement of said tube with respect to said two members.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
144 words
A keel cooler comprising a hull of a vessel, a header assembly cooperating with the exterior surface of said hull to define a header chamber, said hull being formed with an opening therethrough providing flow passage into said header chamber, conduit means secured to the interior of said hull around said opening, said header assembly including at least two separable members formed with mutually engageable surfaces providing a fluid-tight seal therebetween when clamped together and opposed tube gripping surfaces, a tube, a resilient seal around the end of said tube adapted to be positioned between said tube gripping surfaces, and releasable clamp means releasably clamping said members together and tightly clamping said seal causing said seal to provide a fluid-tight joint between said members and said tube, release of said clamping means permitting axial movement of said tube with respect to said two members.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
79 words
In combination a hull of a vessel, a stud plate welded to the exterior surface of said hull, a conduit mounted on the inside of said hull in alignment with said stud plate, a header assembly removably mounted on said stud plate cooperating with said hull and plate to define a header chamber, a plurality of heat exchanger tubes mounted on said header assembly, and an opening in said hull providing a flow passage between said conduit and chamber.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
79 words
In combination a hull of a vessel, a stud plate welded to the exterior surface of said hull, a conduit mounted on the inside of said hull in alignment with said stud plate, a header assembly removably mounted on said stud plate cooperating with said hull and plate to define a header chamber, a plurality of heat exchanger tubes mounted on said header assembly, and an opening in said hull providing a flow passage between said conduit and chamber.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
56 words
A combination as set forth in claim 15 wherein said header assembly includes at least two separable members formed of elastomeric material, one of said members being positioned between said stud plate and the other of said members, and said one member being formed of softer elastomeric material than the elastomeric material of said other member.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
126 words
A heat exchanger comprising a pair of spaced headers, a tube extending between said headers formed with axial fluting substantially symmetrical with respect to the central axis thereof, an elastomeric seal at each end of said tube engaging the outer surface of said fluting, said seal when unstressed being formed with an inner surface substantially conforming to the outer surface of the adjacent end of said fluting, said headers being provided with means to releasably clamp said seals into tight engagement with said outer surface of said tube to mount said tube on said headers and to provide a fluid seal between said tube and the adjacent headers, said seals and said clamping means providing substantiAlly no restriction of flow between said headers and said tubes.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
126 words
A heat exchanger comprising a pair of spaced headers, a tube extending between said headers formed with axial fluting substantially symmetrical with respect to the central axis thereof, an elastomeric seal at each end of said tube engaging the outer surface of said fluting, said seal when unstressed being formed with an inner surface substantially conforming to the outer surface of the adjacent end of said fluting, said headers being provided with means to releasably clamp said seals into tight engagement with said outer surface of said tube to mount said tube on said headers and to provide a fluid seal between said tube and the adjacent headers, said seals and said clamping means providing substantiAlly no restriction of flow between said headers and said tubes.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
A heat exchanger as set forth in claim 17 wherein means are provided to force fluid to flow over the exterior surfaces of said tube.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
39 words
A heat exchanger as set forth in claim 18 wherein the ratio of the outside diameter of said tube to the depth of the grooves formed by said fluting is at least as small as about 4 to 1.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
38 words
A heat exchanger as set forth in claim 19 wherein said seals are provided with cylindrical outer surfaces, and said headers are formed of separable members providing semicylindrical clamping surfaces proportioned to engage and grip the associated seals.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
60 words
A heat exchanger as set forth in claim 19 wherein said heat exchanger is mounted on the hull of a ship having a propulsion screw and is located with respect to said screw so that operation of said screw forces sufficient coolant water over the exterior surfaces of said tube without movement of the ship through the water being required.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-02-08 | 1974-08-10 | 1975-02-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-02-08 | 1978-08-10 | 1979-02-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-02-08 | 1982-08-10 | 1983-02-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |