Ambient air vaporizer

Claim 2

A heat exchanger for warming low temperature fluids comprising a conduit capable of containing high internal pressures, at least one extended surface section coupled to the conduit whereby as fluid passes through said conduit it is progressively warmed, each extended surface section comprising a pair of extrusions of a material having a high thermal conductivity; each extrusion having a hub adapted to closely conform to a substantial portion of the external surface of the conduit, each extrusion having a plurality oF fins to provide a large surface area per unit of length of the extrusion, means to resiliently connect said extrusions together about said conduit comprising a deformable locking member on each extrusion extending for substantially the full length of the extrusion, a fixed locking member projecting outward from said hub on each extrusion and extending for substantially the full length of the extrusion, a deformable member on one extrusion lying adjacent to a fixed member on an adjacent extrusion when said extrusions are in assembled relationship about said conduit, a portion of each fixed locking member facing said adjacent extrusion and a proximate portion of each adjacent extrusion defining therebetween a gap,each deformable member having been resiliently deformed about and engaging an other portion of the adjacent fixed locking member to exert a force on said fixed member tending to close said gap, the resilient connections between the deformable members and the fixed members causing said extrusions to conform to the conduit and maintain said conformation during dimensional changes, including expansions and contractions, caused by temperature changes.

Claim 3

A heat exchanger for warming low temperature fluids comprising a conduit capable of containing high internal pressures, a plurality of extended surface sections coupled to the conduit in a series relationship whereby as fluid passes through said conduit it is progressively warmed, each extended surface section comprising a pair of extrusions of a material having a high thermal conductivity; each extrusion having a portion adapted to closely conform to a substantial portion of the external surface of the conduit, each extrusion having a plurality of fins to provide a large surface area per unit of length of the extrusion, means to connect said extrusions together about said conduit comprising a deformable locking member on one extrusion extending for substantially the full length of the extrusion, a substantially radially projecting fixed locking member on one extrusion extending for substantially the full length of the extrusion, a deformable member on one extrusion lying adjacent to a fixed member on an adjacent extrusion when said extrusions are in assembled relationship about said conduit, a portion of each fixed locking member facing said adjacent extrusion and a proximate portion of each adjacent extrusion defining therebetween a gap, each deformable member having been resiliently deformed about an other portion of the adjacent fixed locking member to exert a force on said fixed member tending to close said gap, said deformation causing a part of said deformable member to conform to a part of said other portion of the adjacent fixed locking member, the resilient deformation of each deformable member about its adjacent fixed member creating a resilient clamping force which causes the portions of the extrusions to conform to the conduit and maintain said conformation during dimensional changes, including expansions and contractions, caused by temperature changes.

Claim 4

A heat exchanger for warming low temperature fluids comprising a conduit capable of containing high internal pressures, a plurality of extended surface sections coupled to the conduit in a series relationship whereby as fluid passes through said conduit it is progressively warmed, each extended surface section comprising a pair of extrusions of a material having a high thermal conductivity; each extrusion having a portion adapted to closely conform to a substantial portion of the external surface of the conduit, each extrusion having a plurality of fins to provide a large surface area per unit of length of the extrusion, means to connect said extrusions together about said conduit comprising a deformable locking member on one extrusion extending for substantially the full length of the extrusion, a substantially radially projecting fixed locking member on one extrusion extending for substantially the full length of the extrusion, a deformable member on one extrusion lying adjacent to a fixed member on an adjacent extrusion when said extrusions are in assembled relationship about said conduit, a portion of each fixed locking member facing said adjacent extrusion and a proximate portion of each adjacent extrusion defining therebetween a gap, each deformable member having been resiliently deformed about an other portion of the adjacent fixed locking member to exert a force on said fixed member tending to close said gap, said deformation causing a part of said deformable member to conform to a part of said other portion of the adjacent fixed locking member, the resilient deformation of each deformable member about its adjacent fixed member creating a resilient clamping force which causes the portions of the extrusions to conform to the conduit and maintain said conformation during dimensional changes, including expansions and contractions, caused by temperature changes.

Claim 5

The heat exchanger of claim 1 in which each fixed locking member has an arcuate surface about which an adjacent deformable locking member is deformed.

Claim 6

The heat exchanger of claim 1 in which the portion of each extrusion which conforms to the conduit comprises a part of a cylindrical surface having an arc of less than 180*.

Claim 7

The heat exchanger of claim 1 in which each deformable locking member comprises a base portion formed from an extension of its extrusion and a deformable portion adapted to be bent inwardly toward the conduit.

Claim 8

The heat exchanger of claim 5 in which the extremities of the deformable portion are rounded off to prevent failures.

Claim 9

The heat exchanger of claim 1 in which the conduit has an external cylindrical surface and the conforming portion of each extrusion comprises a partially cylindrical surface having a radius which slightly exceeds the radius of the said external cylindrical surface of the conduit Whereby the extrusions are better able to conform to the conduit upon assembly.

Claim 10

The heat exchanger of claim 1 in which the conduit is stainless steel and the extrusions are made of aluminum.

Claim 11

A heat exchanger for conveying heat to a fluid comprising a tubular conduit made from material adapted to withstand high internal pressure and temperature variations ranging from cryogenic to ambient, an extended surface means of a material having good heat conducting properties, said extended surface means having a hub portion in close conformity with at least a portion of said tubular conduit, means to resiliently connect the extended surface means to said tubular conduit to allow the hub portion to expand or contract in a radial or axial sense due to temperature variations while allowing the hub to conform itself to the exterior surface of the tubular conduit, said connecting means comprising a broad deformable locking member extending for substantially the full length of the extended surface means, a fixed locking member projecting outward from said hub and extending for substantially the full length of the extended surface means, a deformable member lying adjacent to a fixed member when said extended surface means is in assembled relationship about said conduit, a portion of the fixed locking member and a proximate portion of said adjacent deformable member at least partially defining an air space, said fixed locking member including an arcuate surface, said broad locking member having been resiliently deformed over the arcuate surface of the fixed locking member to apply force to said fixed locking member tending to close said space and thereby cause said hub portion to conform to the exterior of the conduit and maintain said conformity during during dimensional changes caused by said temperature variations.

Claim 12

A heat exchanger for conveying heat to a fluid comprising a tubular conduit made from material adapted to withstand high internal pressure and temperature variations ranging from cryogenic to ambient, an extended surface means of a material having good heat conducting properties, said extended surface means having a hub portion in close conformity with at least a portion of said tubular conduit, means to resiliently connect the extended surface means to said tubular conduit to allow the hub portion to expand or contract in a radial or axial sense due to temperature variations while allowing the hub to conform itself to the exterior surface of the tubular conduit, said connecting means comprising a broad deformable locking member extending for substantially the full length of the extended surface means, a fixed locking member projecting outward from said hub and extending for substantially the full length of the extended surface means, a deformable member lying adjacent to a fixed member when said extended surface means is in assembled relationship about said conduit, a portion of the fixed locking member and a proximate portion of said adjacent deformable member at least partially defining an air space, said fixed locking member including an arcuate surface, said broad locking member having been resiliently deformed over the arcuate surface of the fixed locking member to apply force to said fixed locking member tending to close said space and thereby cause said hub portion to conform to the exterior of the conduit and maintain said conformity during during dimensional changes caused by said temperature variations.

Claim 13

An ambient air vaporizer for vaporizing liquefied gas comprising a stainless steel conduit adapted to convey the gas being heated, at least a portion of said conduit having a substantially cylindrical outer surface, extended surface means assembled about a portion of said conduit to assist in heat transfer to the gas, said extended surface means comprising a pair of identical aluminum extrusions, each of said extrusions having a hub with a partially cylindrical surface adapted to conform to the cylindrical surface of the conduit, the hub of each aluminum extrusion adapted to contact a substantial portion of the cylindrical surface of the conduit when in assembled position, a plurality of fins extending outward from each hub to provide a large surface area per unit of length of the extrusion, means for resiliently connecting the extrusions about the conduit to allow the dissimilar materials to expand and contract due to the extreme temperature changes encountered in the operation of said vaporizer and yet maintain the cylindrical surfaces of the said hubs in close conformity with the cylindrical surface of the conduit, said resilient connecting means including a first locking member on each extrusion extending for substantially the full length of the extrusion, a fixed locking member on each extrusion projecting outward from said hub and extending for substantially the full length of the extrusion, each first locking member including a deformable portion, each fixed locking member lying adjacent to a first locking member on an adjacent extrusion when said extrusions are assembled about said conduit, a portion of each fixed locking member and a proximate portion of the adjacent first locking member at least partially defining an air space, each fixed locking member further including an arcuate surface, the deformable portion of one extrusion having been resiliently arcuately deformed over the arcuate surface on the adjacent fixed locking member on the other extrusion to apply a force to the fixed locking member in the direction of the said one extrusion tending to close said space and thereby cause the softer cylindrical surfaces of the hubs to conform to the eXterior of the harder stainless steel conduit and maintain said conformity during dimensional changes caused by said temperature changes.

Claim 14

An ambient air vaporizer for vaporizing liquefied gas comprising a stainless steel conduit adapted to convey the gas being heated, at least a portion of said conduit having a substantially cylindrical outer surface, extended surface means assembled about a portion of said conduit to assist in heat transfer to the gas, said extended surface means comprising a pair of identical aluminum extrusions, each of said extrusions having a hub with a partially cylindrical surface adapted to conform to the cylindrical surface of the conduit, the hub of each aluminum extrusion adapted to contact a substantial portion of the cylindrical surface of the conduit when in assembled position, a plurality of fins extending outward from each hub to provide a large surface area per unit of length of the extrusion, means for resiliently connecting the extrusions about the conduit to allow the dissimilar materials to expand and contract due to the extreme temperature changes encountered in the operation of said vaporizer and yet maintain the cylindrical surfaces of the said hubs in close conformity with the cylindrical surface of the conduit, said resilient connecting means including a first locking member on each extrusion extending for substantially the full length of the extrusion, a fixed locking member on each extrusion projecting outward from said hub and extending for substantially the full length of the extrusion, each first locking member including a deformable portion, each fixed locking member lying adjacent to a first locking member on an adjacent extrusion when said extrusions are assembled about said conduit, a portion of each fixed locking member and a proximate portion of the adjacent first locking member at least partially defining an air space, each fixed locking member further including an arcuate surface, the deformable portion of one extrusion having been resiliently arcuately deformed over the arcuate surface on the adjacent fixed locking member on the other extrusion to apply a force to the fixed locking member in the direction of the said one extrusion tending to close said space and thereby cause the softer cylindrical surfaces of the hubs to conform to the eXterior of the harder stainless steel conduit and maintain said conformity during dimensional changes caused by said temperature changes.

Claim 15

An ambient air vaporizer for vaporizing cryogenic fluids comprising a conduit adapted to convey the fluid being heated, at least a portion of said conduit having a substantially cylindrical outer surface, extended surface means assembled about a portion of said conduit to assist in heat transfer to the fluid, said extended surface means comprising a pair of identical extrusions, each of said extrusions having a hub with a partially cylindrical surface adapted to conform to the cylindrical surface of the conduit, the cylindrical surfaces of said hubs when taken together including an arc less than 360* whereby the cylindrical surfaces of said hubs do not completely surround the conduit when in assembled position, means for resiliently connecting the extrusions about the conduit to allow the conduit and the extended surface means to expand and contract due to the extreme temperature changes encountered in the operation of said vaporizer and yet maintain the cylindrical surfaces of the said hubs in close conformity with the cylindrical surface of the conduit, said resilient connecting means including a broad locking member on each extrusion extending for substantially the full length of the extrusion, a fixed locking member on each extrusion projecting outward from said hub and extending for substantially the full length of the extrusion, each broad locking member including a deformable portion, each fixed locking member lying adjacent to a broad locking member on an adjacent extrusion when said extrusions are assembled about said conduit, a portion of each fixed locking member and a proximate portion of the adjacent broad locking member at least partially defining an air space,the deformable portion of one extrusion having been resiliently deformed over the adjacent fixed locking member on the other extrusion to apply a force to the fixed locking member in the direction of the said one extrusion tending to close said space and create spring back forces in said broad locking member and in said fixed locking member which oppose one another.

Claim 16

An ambient air vaporizer for vaporizing cryogenic fluids comprising a conduit adapted to convey the fluid being heated, at least a portion of said conduit having a substantially cylindrical outer surface, extended surface means assembled about a portion of said conduit to assist in heat transfer to the fluid, said extended surface means comprising a pair of identical extrusions, each of said extrusions having a hub with a partially cylindrical surface adapted to conform to the cylindrical surface of the conduit, the cylindrical surfaces of said hubs when taken together including an arc less than 360* whereby the cylindrical surfaces of said hubs do not completely surround the conduit when in assembled position, means for resiliently connecting the extrusions about the conduit to allow the conduit and the extended surface means to expand and contract due to the extreme temperature changes encountered in the operation of said vaporizer and yet maintain the cylindrical surfaces of the said hubs in close conformity with the cylindrical surface of the conduit, said resilient connecting means including a broad locking member on each extrusion extending for substantially the full length of the extrusion, a fixed locking member on each extrusion projecting outward from said hub and extending for substantially the full length of the extrusion, each broad locking member including a deformable portion, each fixed locking member lying adjacent to a broad locking member on an adjacent extrusion when said extrusions are assembled about said conduit, a portion of each fixed locking member and a proximate portion of the adjacent broad locking member at least partially defining an air space,the deformable portion of one extrusion having been resiliently deformed over the adjacent fixed locking member on the other extrusion to apply a force to the fixed locking member in the direction of the said one extrusion tending to close said space and create spring back forces in said broad locking member and in said fixed locking member which oppose one another.