US3704748A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Heat transfer structure
Assignee: Raytheon Co
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Filing: 1970-02-11
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Granted: 1972-12-05
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Expires: 1990-02-11
Abstract
Abstract A heat transfer structure and system including a matrix of tubes and spheres bonded together to provide a conduit for a first fluid such as water and a plurality of interconnected paths for a second fluid such as hot flue gas. The paths are made up of the spaces between the spheres such that the walls of the paths are portions of spherical surfaces. The total path length is made less than twenty times the average radius of curvature of the spherical surfaces and the spacing between adjacent tube elements is of the same order of magnitude as the average length of the paths. A water heater or boiler so constructed may be made to transfer substantially all the heat in a flue gas to water in an average path length of one inch or less.
Inventors
- 👤 William H Hapgood
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 05:02
CPC Classifications
F; F28; F28D; F28D7/00; F28D7/16; F28D7/163; F28D7/1669; F22; F22B; F22B37/00; F22B37/02; F22B37/04; F22B37/10; F22B37/107; F24; F24H; F24H1/00; F24H1/10; F24H1/12; F24H1/14; F24H1/145; F24H1/16; F24H1/165; F28D7/02; F28D7/024; F28F; F28F1/00; F28F1/10; F28F13/00; F28F13/003; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S165/00; Y10S165/355; Y10S165/40; Y10S165/401
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
179 words
A heat exhcange system comprising; means for producing a gaseous medium having a temperature in excess of 1,000* F and directing said medium through a heat exchanger; said heat exchanger comprising a matrix providing conduit means for the passage of a fluid through said matrix and a plurality of interconnected passages for the passage of said gaseous medium through said matrix; said conduit means comprising at least a plurality of elongated hollow adjacent portions; portions of said matrix which form the major portion of the walls of said passages rigidly interconnecting said elongated hollow portions of said conduit means; said major portion said walls of said passages having surface areas which are predominantly curved in all directions; the average length of said interconnected passages being between three and twenty times the average radius of curvature of said surface areas; and the shortest conductive paths through said matrix from surface areas of said matrix on which said gaseous medium first impinges to the nearest wall of said conduit means being not greater than six times said average radius of curvature.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
179 words
A heat exhcange system comprising; means for producing a gaseous medium having a temperature in excess of 1,000* F and directing said medium through a heat exchanger; said heat exchanger comprising a matrix providing conduit means for the passage of a fluid through said matrix and a plurality of interconnected passages for the passage of said gaseous medium through said matrix; said conduit means comprising at least a plurality of elongated hollow adjacent portions; portions of said matrix which form the major portion of the walls of said passages rigidly interconnecting said elongated hollow portions of said conduit means; said major portion said walls of said passages having surface areas which are predominantly curved in all directions; the average length of said interconnected passages being between three and twenty times the average radius of curvature of said surface areas; and the shortest conductive paths through said matrix from surface areas of said matrix on which said gaseous medium first impinges to the nearest wall of said conduit means being not greater than six times said average radius of curvature.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein said fluid comprises an organic liquid.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein said means for producing said gaseous medium constitutes a burner for producing the products of combustion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein the structure defining said conduit means and said passages constitutes an integral heat conductive matrix.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system according to claim 4 wherein said conduit means comprises a plurality of tubular members interconnected by a plurality of members having substantially spherical surfaces bonded together and/or to said tubular members and providing said passages.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein said fluid comprises a cooking oil.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
11 words
A system according to claim 5 wherein said members are metallic.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
A system according to claim 7 wherein said gaseous medium is directed through said heat exchanger at a sufficient velocity to produce a heat transfer between said gaseous medium and said fluid in excess of 50,000 BTU''s per square foot of said conduit means in contact with said fluid.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
50 words
A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said gaseous medium is directed through said heat exchanger at a sufficient velocity to produce a heat transfer between said gaseous medium and said fluid in excess of 50,000 BTU''s per square foot of said conduit means in contact with said fluid.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
A heat exchange system according to claim 1 wherein the average maximum transverse dimension of the average minimum cross-sectional area of said passages is substantially less than the average length of said passages.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
121 words
A heat exchange system comprising: a heat exchanger matrix providing a conduit means for a fluid and a plurality of interconnected passages therethrough; the major portion of the total surface area of said passages comprising areas which are predominantly curved in all directions; the average length of said interconnected passages being between 3 and 20 times the average radius of curvature of said surface areas; all points in said matrix being less than 6 times said average radius of curvature from said conduit means; and means for directing a gaseous medium through said passages at velocities producing a heat transfer between said medium and said matrix greater than 100 watts per square inch of the surface area of said conduit means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
121 words
A heat exchange system comprising: a heat exchanger matrix providing a conduit means for a fluid and a plurality of interconnected passages therethrough; the major portion of the total surface area of said passages comprising areas which are predominantly curved in all directions; the average length of said interconnected passages being between 3 and 20 times the average radius of curvature of said surface areas; all points in said matrix being less than 6 times said average radius of curvature from said conduit means; and means for directing a gaseous medium through said passages at velocities producing a heat transfer between said medium and said matrix greater than 100 watts per square inch of the surface area of said conduit means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
A heat exchange system according to claim 11 wherein said gaseous medium comprises the products of combustion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
A heat exchange system according to claim 11 wherein the gaseous medium has been elevated in temperature by combustion.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
A heat exchange system according to claim 11 wherein said heat exchanger passages are interconnected.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
A heat exchange system according to claim 11 wherein said major portion of the total surface area of said passages comprises substantially spherical surface areas.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
A heat exchange system according to claim 11 wherein said conduit comprises a plurality of tubular elements spaced from each other within said matrix.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
A heat exchange system according to claim 16 wherein said tubular elements are formed into a continuous helical coil.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
A heat exchange system according to claim 16 wherein said conduit means surrounds a plenum.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
A heat exchange system according to claim 11 wherein said conduit means comprises a plurality of tubular elements surrounding a central plenum from which said gaseous medium is directed substantially radially outwardly through said matrix.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
47 words
A heat exchange system according to claim 11 wherein said matrix comprises said conduit means and a plurality of spheres interposed between elements of said conduits means and integral therewith and the average radius of said spheres being substantially less than the average radius of said elements.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system according to claim 1 in which said matrix surrounds a central plenum containing means for heating said gaseous medium.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system according to claim 21 in which said means for heating said gaseous medium comprises a burner assembly.
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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) | 1975-12-05 | 1976-06-05 | 1976-12-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-12-05 | 1980-06-05 | 1980-12-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-12-05 | 1984-06-05 | 1984-12-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |