Formed plate tube spacer structure

Claim 2

In a heat exchanger having a tube bundle, the improvement comprising between adjacent tubes in a tube bundle including a plurality of spaced layers of aligned, mutually spaced, parallel tubes, said tube spacer structure comprising: a. a plurality of elongated, flat plate members, each being disposed between the respective tube layers and alignedly arranged in a row that intersects the planes of said tube layers; b. said plate members being each provided with a plurality of tab projections extending from the surface thereof, said tab projections being arranged in rows that are oppositely spaced from, and extend substantially parallel to, the longitudinal axes of the respective plate members; c. the tab projections on each of said plate members being arranged in pairs for engaging said tubes, each of said pairs consisting of two oppositely facing tab projections longitudinally spaced from one another by a distance corresponding substantially to the diameter of the engaged tube, one of the tab projections in each pair emanating from one of said rows and the other of said tab projections emanating from the other row whereby said tubes are each engaged at opposite, axially spaced points; and d. means for retaining said plate members in mutually fixed relation.

Claim 3

Tube spacer structure as recited in claim 1 wherein said flat plate members are disposed with their opposite faces in bearing relation with the tubes of adjacent tube layers.

Claim 4

Tube spacer structure as recited in claim 2 wherein the bearing surfaces presented by said tab projections are in planes substantially normal to said plate members.

Claim 5

Tube spacer structure as recited in claim 3 wherein said plate members are angularly disposed with respect to the axes of the engaged tubes.

Claim 6

Tube spacer structure as recited in claim 4 wherein said tab projections are provided with their free end edges in abutting relation to the adjacent plate member.

Claim 7

Tube spacer structure as recited in claim 4 wherein the bearing surfaces presented by said tab projections are in planes substantially normal to the longitudinal axes of the respective plate members.

Claim 8

Tube spacer structure as recited in claim 4 wherein the bearing surfaces presented by said tab projections are in planes disposed obliquely with respect to the longitudinal axes of the respective plate members.

Claim 9

Tube spacer structure as recited in claim 6 wherein said tab projections are arranged in groups of two, said groups being disposed in oppositely spaced rows on alternate spacing and the tab projections in each group being disposed in side-by-side relation with the bearing surfaces presented thereby being longitudinally spaced from one another by an amount substantially equal to the desired spacing between the tubes in the adjacent tube layers.

Claim 10

Tube spacer structure as recited in claim 8 wherein said groups of tab projections are defined by stamped, generally E-shaped openings

Claim 11

Tube spacer structure as recited in claim 7 wherein the longitudinal side edges of said plate members are formed with tab projections spaced therealong, each of said tab projections on each side edge having a complementary tab projection on the other side edge to define a pair, and the bearing surfaces presented by each of said pairs of tab projections being in opposing, longitudinally spaced relation to one another and mutually laterally spaced by an amount equal to the diameter of the tube to be engaged thereby.

Claim 12

A heat exchanger for the indirect transfer of heat from one fluid medium to another comprising, in combination: a. an elongated pressure shell; b. a tube sheet transversely arranged within said shell and dividing the same into a first chamber and a second chamber; c. a tube bundle including a plurality of spaced layers of aligned, mutually-spaced, parallel tubes disposed within said first chamber with the ends of said tubes connected to said tube sheet and in fluid communication with said second chamber; d. means including said second chamber for circulating one of said fluids through said tubes; e. means for supplying the other of said fluids to said first chamber to flow over said bundle of tubes; and f. tube spacer structure means for maintaining the spacing between adjacent tubes in said tube bundle, including: i. a plurality of elongated, flat plate members, each being disposed between the respective tube layers and alignedly arranged in a row that intersects tHe planes of said tube layers; ii. said plate members being each provided with a plurality of tab projections extending from the surface thereof, said tab projections being arranged in rows that are oppositely spaced from, and extend substantially parallel to, the longitudinal axes of the respective plate members; iii. the tab projections on each of said plate members being arranged in pairs for engaging said tubes, each of said pairs consisting of two oppositely facing tab projections longitudinally spaced from one another by a distance corresponding substantially to the diameter of the engaged tube, one of the tab projections in each pair emanating from one of said rows and the other of said tab projections emanating from the other row whereby said tubes are each engaged at opposite, axially spaced points; and iv. means for retaining said plate members in mutually fixed relation.

Claim 13

A heat exchanger for the indirect transfer of heat from one fluid medium to another comprising, in combination: a. an elongated pressure shell; b. a tube sheet transversely arranged within said shell and dividing the same into a first chamber and a second chamber; c. a tube bundle including a plurality of spaced layers of aligned, mutually-spaced, parallel tubes disposed within said first chamber with the ends of said tubes connected to said tube sheet and in fluid communication with said second chamber; d. means including said second chamber for circulating one of said fluids through said tubes; e. means for supplying the other of said fluids to said first chamber to flow over said bundle of tubes; and f. tube spacer structure means for maintaining the spacing between adjacent tubes in said tube bundle, including: i. a plurality of elongated, flat plate members, each being disposed between the respective tube layers and alignedly arranged in a row that intersects tHe planes of said tube layers; ii. said plate members being each provided with a plurality of tab projections extending from the surface thereof, said tab projections being arranged in rows that are oppositely spaced from, and extend substantially parallel to, the longitudinal axes of the respective plate members; iii. the tab projections on each of said plate members being arranged in pairs for engaging said tubes, each of said pairs consisting of two oppositely facing tab projections longitudinally spaced from one another by a distance corresponding substantially to the diameter of the engaged tube, one of the tab projections in each pair emanating from one of said rows and the other of said tab projections emanating from the other row whereby said tubes are each engaged at opposite, axially spaced points; and iv. means for retaining said plate members in mutually fixed relation.

Claim 14

The combination as recited in claim 11 including tubes in said tube bundle extending substantially parallel to the axis of said pressure shell and a plurality of tube spacer structures axially spaced throughout the length of said tubes, each of said tube spacer structures including plate members extending transversely of the axis of said pressure shell and having tab projections disposed in two oppositely spaced rows along the length of said plate members, said tab projections being substantially normally offset from the surface of said plate members and presenting tube bearing surfaces that are angularly disposed with respect to the longitudinal edges of said plate members, the plate members of the respective tube spacer structures being fixedly secured with respect to said pressure shell and the tab projections engaging said tubes for sliding movement therebetween.

Claim 15

The combination as recited in claim 12 wherein said tube spacer structures each comprise horizontally elongated plate members, each of said plate members having tab projections arranged in groups of two, said groups being disposed in oppositely spaced rows on alternate longitudinal spacing and the tab projections in each group being disposed in side-by-side relation, the bearing surfaces presented by the respective pairs of tab projections being mutually vertically spaced and laterally opposed to engage said tubes on opposite sides thereof, said plate members extending beyond the outer periphery of said tube bundle, an annular band retaining the extended ends of said plate members, and means for fixedly securing said annular band with respect to said pressure shell.

Claim 16

The combination as recited in claim 13 wherein said groups of tab projections are each defined by a stamped, generally E-shaped opening.

Claim 17

The combination as recited in claim 13 wherein the plate members of said tube spacer structures have their inner ends terminating substantially midway through said tube bundle, a diametrally extensive connector rod extending through said tube bundle transversely of the ends of said plate members, means for securing the inner ends of said plate members to said connector rod, and means for fixedly securing the ends of said connector rod with respect to said pressure shell.

Claim 18

The combination as recited in claim 12 wherein said tube spacer structures each comprise elongated plate members, obliquely disposed with respect to the axis of said pressure vessel, the longitudinal side edges of said plate members being formed with tab projections spaced therealong, each of said tab projections on each side edge having a complementary tab projection on the other side edge to define a pair, the bearing surfaces presented by each of said pairs of tab projections being mutually vertically spaced and laterally opposed to engage said tubes on opposite sides thereof, said plate members extending beyond the outer periphery of said tube bundle, and an arcuate band surrounding said tube bundle and retaining the extended ends of said plate members in mutually fixed relation.

Claim 19

The combination as recited in Claim 16 including means for fixedly securing said arcuate band with respect to said pressure shell.

Claim 20

The combination as recited in claim 16 wherein said arcuate band is axially movable with respect to said pressure shell.

Claim 21

The combination as recited in claim 18 wherein the plate members of said tube spacer structures have their inner ends terminating substantially midway through said tube bundle, a diametrally extensive connector rod extending through said tube bundle transversely of the ends of said plate members, means for securing the inner ends of said plate members to said connector rod, and means for vertically moving said connector rod with respect to the axis of said pressure shell.

Claim 22

The combination as recited in claim 11 wherein the tubes of said tube bundle are generally U-shaped having the nexus portions interconnecting the legs of said tubes disposed uppermost in said tube bundle and wherein said tube spacer structures engage the nexus portions of said U-tubes and each comprise vertically extending plate members having the tab projection bearing surfaces of each of said pairs engaging the nexus portion of said tubes at axially spaced points therealong.

Claim 23

The combination as recited in claim 21 wherein said tab projections are arranged in groups of two, disposed in side-by-side relation, said groups being disposed in oppositely spaced rows on alternate longitudinal spacing, the bearing surfaces presented by the respective pairs of tab projections being mutually laterally spaced and vertically opposed to engage the nexus portion of the tubes on opposite sides thereof.

Claim 24

The combination as recited in claim 21 wherein said groups of tab projections are each defined by a stamped, generally E-shaped opening.

Claim 25

The combination as recited in claim 21 including means disposed above the upper end of said tube bundle for suspendedly supporting said plate members in mutually fixed relation, said means comprising a structural member overlying the upper ends of said plate members, means for securing said ends of said plate members to said structural member and means for attaching the ends of said structural member with respect to said pressure shell.

Claim 26

The combination as recited in claim 23 wherein said structural member attaching means provides for vertical movement of said structural member with respect to said pressure shell.

Claim 27

The combination as recited in claim 24 wherein the lower ends of said plate members extend into said tube bundle, terminating below the lowermost of said nexus portions, and including a diametrally extensive connector rod extending through said tube bundle below the nexus portions of the tubes thereof, and means for securing the lower ends of said plate members to said connector rod.

Claim 28

The combination as recited in claim 24 wherein the lower ends of said plate members are disposed adjacent the leg portions of said tubes and include clip connectors for engaging said lower ends to said leg portions.