Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
210 words
A heat exchanger comprising a coiled thermoconductive tube for confining a first fluid, a heat exchange matrix comprising a plurality of thermoconductive elements, each having substantially planar and substantially parallel opposed major surfaces, in thermoconductive contact with the outer surface of said tube, each element having a major dimension extending outwardly from said outer tube surface, and a major dimension extending substantially parallel to the axis of said tube, and a smallest dimension, and structure directing a second fluid along the outer surface of said tube in an overall flow direction substantially parallel to the said smallest dimension of said elements, said thermoconductive elements being spaced apart in the axial direction to define open areas therebetween perpendicular to the flow direction, being spaced apart and staggered in the flow direction such that upstream elements overlap downstream elements, and being arranged with all said planar surfaces in parallel in two sets having elements extending in opposite outward directions from said tube with elements extending in the same outward direction from said tube terminating in the same plane, said plane being parallel to the flow direction, and thermoconductive elements of adjacent windings of said coiled tube extending toward and terminating close to one another to define therebetween at most a narrow passage.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
210 words
A heat exchanger comprising a coiled thermoconductive tube for confining a first fluid, a heat exchange matrix comprising a plurality of thermoconductive elements, each having substantially planar and substantially parallel opposed major surfaces, in thermoconductive contact with the outer surface of said tube, each element having a major dimension extending outwardly from said outer tube surface, and a major dimension extending substantially parallel to the axis of said tube, and a smallest dimension, and structure directing a second fluid along the outer surface of said tube in an overall flow direction substantially parallel to the said smallest dimension of said elements, said thermoconductive elements being spaced apart in the axial direction to define open areas therebetween perpendicular to the flow direction, being spaced apart and staggered in the flow direction such that upstream elements overlap downstream elements, and being arranged with all said planar surfaces in parallel in two sets having elements extending in opposite outward directions from said tube with elements extending in the same outward direction from said tube terminating in the same plane, said plane being parallel to the flow direction, and thermoconductive elements of adjacent windings of said coiled tube extending toward and terminating close to one another to define therebetween at most a narrow passage.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said coiled configuration defines a hollow heat exchange member of circular cross section.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The device of claim 2 wherein at least two said hollow heat exchange members are arranged in concentric, nested relationship, with their forming tubes connected to define a continuous flow path for said first fluid through said members.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The device of claim 3 wherein said members are of cylindrical configuration, and said second fluid is directed substantially radially outwardly of said cylinders.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
11 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said tube is helically coiled.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The device of claim 1 in the form of a liquid heater, wherein said second fluid is hot gases, and said first fluid is an entering liquid heated by said second fluid in passage through said tube.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The device of claim 6 in the form of a vapor generator, wherein said coiled tube has a feed liquid inlet at one end and a superheated vapor outlet at the opposite end.