Tubular heat transfer device

Claim 2

A heat transfer device comprising a tubular outer memBer; a fin member disposed within said tubular member comprising a sheet member defining spaced apart and contiguous folds in a generally circular form such that the outer periphery of said fin member is in contact with the inner wall of said tubular member; said spaced apart folds defining axially oriented fluid passages for conducting a first fluid through said tubular member; said contiguous folds sealed along their intermediate length to define individual secondary fluid passages extending substantially along the length of said fin member and means for conducting a second fluid through said tubular member in heat exchange relationship with said first fluid.

Claim 3

A heat transfer device as in claim 1 in which each contiguous fold includes a pair of sidewalls, each of said sidewalls defining a plurality of spaced apart grooves, which when said sidewalls are in mating relationship, cooperate to define said secondary fluid passages.

Claim 4

A heat transfer device as in claim 2 in which each contiguous fold further defines a pair of fluid chambers, each of said chambers in communication with said secondary fluid passage defined by said contiguous fold.

Claim 5

A heat transfer device as in claim 1 in which a cross section of each spaced apart fold resembles a generally triangular configuration.

Claim 6

A heat transfer device as in claim 1 including first and second sets of secondary fluid passages; means adapted to receive fluid from an outside source and to communicate said fluid to said first set of said secondary fluid passages means adapted to place said first set of fluid passages in communication with said second set of secondary fluid passages; and means adapted to receive fluid from said second set of secondary fluid passages and to deliver said fluid from said tubular member.

Claim 7

A heat transfer device comprising a tubular outer member; a fin member disposed within said tubular member comprising a sheet member defining spaced apart and contiguous folds in a generally circular form such that he outer periphery of said fin member is in contact with the inner wall of said tubular member, said spaced apart folds defining a plurality of axially oriented primary fluid passages for conducting a first fluid through said tubular member, and said contiguous folds sealed along their intermediate length to define a plurality of secondary fluid passages; a plurality of fluid entrance chambers, each of said entrance chambers defined by said contiguous folds, each fluid entrance chamber in communication with its respective secondary fluid passage; a plurality of fluid exit chambers, each of said exit chambers defined by said contiguous folds, each of said exit chambers in communication with a respective secondary fluid passage; fluid distributing means adapted to receive fluid from an outside source and to communicate said fluid to a plurality of said fluid entrance chambers; and fluid collection means adapted to receive fluid from a plurality of said fluid exit chambers and to communicate said fluid from said tubular member.

Claim 8

A heat transfer device comprising a tubular outer member; a fin member disposed within said tubular member comprising a sheet member defining spaced apart and contiguous folds in a generally circular form such that he outer periphery of said fin member is in contact with the inner wall of said tubular member, said spaced apart folds defining a plurality of axially oriented primary fluid passages for conducting a first fluid through said tubular member, and said contiguous folds sealed along their intermediate length to define a plurality of secondary fluid passages; a plurality of fluid entrance chambers, each of said entrance chambers defined by said contiguous folds, each fluid entrance chamber in communication with its respective secondary fluid passage; a plurality of fluid exit chambers, each of said exit chambers defined by said contiguous folds, each of said exit chambers in communication with a respective secondary fluid passage; fluid distributing means adapted to receive fluid from an outside source and to communicate said fluid to a plurality of said fluid entrance chambers; and fluid collection means adapted to receive fluid from a plurality of said fluid exit chambers and to communicate said fluid from said tubular member.

Claim 9

A heat transfer device as in claim 6 in which said fluid distributing means includes a raised annular ring defined by said tubular member.

Claim 10

A heat transfer device as in claim 6 in which said fluid distributing means includes depressions defined by said fin member.

Claim 11

A heat transfer device as in claim 6 in which said fluid collection means includes a raised annular ring defined by said tubular member.

Claim 12

A heat transfer device as in claim 6 in which said fluid collection means includes depressions defined by said fin member.

Claim 13

A heat exchanger comprising a tubular shell member; a fin member disposed in said tubular shell member in contact with the inner wall of said tubular shell member folded to define a plurality of primary fluid passages extending axially with respect to said tubular shell member for the passage of a first fluid therethrough and to define a plurality of secondary fluid passages forming a tortuous path extending generally rAdially inwardly and outwardly along a substantial portion of the length of said fin member and means for conducting a second fluid into, through, and out of said tubular shell member; said primary and secondary fluid passages conducting said first and second fluids in heat exchange relationship with each other. 12, A heat exchanger as in claim 11 including a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet defined by a pair of orifices in communication with said tubular member.

Claim 14

A heat exchanger as in claim 12 including fluid distributing means disposed between and in communication with said fluid inlet and said secondary fluid passages whereby said fluid distributing means is adapted to communicate said second fluid from said fluid inlet to said secondary fluid passages.

Claim 15

A heat exchanger as in Claim 13 including fluid distributing means disposed between and in communication with said fluid outlet and said secondary passages whereby said fluid distributing means is adapted to communicate said second fluid from said secondary fluid passages to said fluid outlet.

Claim 16

A heat exchanger as in claim 11 in which said fluid passage defining means includes a fin member defining a plurality of folds, each fold spaced apart from the next fold such that said primary fluid passages are defined between said folds and said secondary fluid passages are sealed along their intermediate lengths and are defined internal to said folds.