US3739443A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of forming a shell-and-tube heat exchanger
Assignee: Trane US Inc
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Filing: 1972-02-09
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Granted: 1973-06-19
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Expires: 1992-02-09
Abstract
Abstract This specification discloses a series of steps useful in manufacturing a shell-and-tube heat exchanger in which one or more baffles are disposed. Particular emphasis is given to those steps which are used to provide a good seal between the baffle and the internal wall of the shell.
Inventors
- 👤 I Friedman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 12:50
CPC Classifications
B; B21; B21D; B21D53/00; B21D53/02; B21D53/06; F; F28; F28F; F28F9/00; F28F9/22; F28F2009/222; F28F2009/226; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S29/00; Y10S29/048; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/4935; Y10T29/49377; Y10T29/49378; Y10T29/4938; Y10T29/49393; Y10T29/49826; Y10T29/49863; Y10T29/49865
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
226 words
A method of constructing a shell-and-tube heat exchanger comprising the steps of: providing an elongated tube-and-baffle assembly; providing said tube-and-baffle assembly with a longitudinally extending weld backup strip extending substantially the full length of said assembly; providing a plurality of generally cylindrically-shaped elongated metallic shells having generally straight longitudinally extending edges; subsequently positioning said shells circumferentially about said tube-and-baffle assembly with said tube-and-baffle assembly being disposed within the bight of each of said shells and a pair of said longitudinally extending edges extending along and overlying said weld backup strip; pressing said shells against said tubeand-baffle assembly while maintaining adjacent longitudinal edges of adjacent shells in spaced abutting relationship; temporarily securing together said pair of longitudinal edges by tack welding at spaced intervals; terminating said pressing step subsequent to the tack welding step; removing portions of the material from the tack welds to reduce the heat required to replasticize the tack welds; and shrinking said shells about said tube-and-baffle assembly to produce sufficient hoop tension in said shells to draw said shells into sealing engagement with and along a major portion of the peripheral edges of the baffles of said tube-andbaffle assembly by successively plasticizing the tack welds and simultaneously longitudinally progRessively welding together said pair of longitudinal edges along substantially their full length while said tube-and-baffle assembly is disposed within the bights of said shells.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
226 words
A method of constructing a shell-and-tube heat exchanger comprising the steps of: providing an elongated tube-and-baffle assembly; providing said tube-and-baffle assembly with a longitudinally extending weld backup strip extending substantially the full length of said assembly; providing a plurality of generally cylindrically-shaped elongated metallic shells having generally straight longitudinally extending edges; subsequently positioning said shells circumferentially about said tube-and-baffle assembly with said tube-and-baffle assembly being disposed within the bight of each of said shells and a pair of said longitudinally extending edges extending along and overlying said weld backup strip; pressing said shells against said tubeand-baffle assembly while maintaining adjacent longitudinal edges of adjacent shells in spaced abutting relationship; temporarily securing together said pair of longitudinal edges by tack welding at spaced intervals; terminating said pressing step subsequent to the tack welding step; removing portions of the material from the tack welds to reduce the heat required to replasticize the tack welds; and shrinking said shells about said tube-and-baffle assembly to produce sufficient hoop tension in said shells to draw said shells into sealing engagement with and along a major portion of the peripheral edges of the baffles of said tube-andbaffle assembly by successively plasticizing the tack welds and simultaneously longitudinally progRessively welding together said pair of longitudinal edges along substantially their full length while said tube-and-baffle assembly is disposed within the bights of said shells.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
141 words
A method of constructing a shell-and-tube heat exchanger comprising the steps of: providing an elongated tube-and-baffle assembly; providing a plurality of generally cylindrically-shaped elongated metallic arcuate shells having generally straight longitudinally extending edges; subsequently positioning said shells circumferentially about said tube-and-baffle assembly with said tube-and-baffle assembly being disposed within the bight of each of said shells; tightening said shells against said tube-and-baffle assembly while maintaining adjacent longitudinal edges of adjacent shells in spaced abutting relationship; and shrinking said shells about said tube-and-baffle assembly to produce sufficient hoop tension in said shells to draw said shells into sealing engagement with and along a major portion of the edges of the baffles of said tube-and-baffle assembly by longitudinally progressively welding adjacent longitudinal edges of adjacent shells along substantially their full lengths while said tube-and-baffle assembly is disposed within the bights of said shells.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
141 words
A method of constructing a shell-and-tube heat exchanger comprising the steps of: providing an elongated tube-and-baffle assembly; providing a plurality of generally cylindrically-shaped elongated metallic arcuate shells having generally straight longitudinally extending edges; subsequently positioning said shells circumferentially about said tube-and-baffle assembly with said tube-and-baffle assembly being disposed within the bight of each of said shells; tightening said shells against said tube-and-baffle assembly while maintaining adjacent longitudinal edges of adjacent shells in spaced abutting relationship; and shrinking said shells about said tube-and-baffle assembly to produce sufficient hoop tension in said shells to draw said shells into sealing engagement with and along a major portion of the edges of the baffles of said tube-and-baffle assembly by longitudinally progressively welding adjacent longitudinal edges of adjacent shells along substantially their full lengths while said tube-and-baffle assembly is disposed within the bights of said shells.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of constructing a shell-and-tube heat exchanger comprising the steps of: providing an elongated tube-and-baffle assembly; providing a plurality of generally cylindrically-shaped elongated metallic arcuate shells having generally straight longitudinally extending edges; subsequently positioning said shells circumferentially about said tube-and-baffle assembly with said tube-and-baffle assembly being disposed within the bight of each of said shells; and shrinking said shells about said tube-and-baffle assembly to produce sufficient hoop tension in said shells to draw said shells into sealing engagement with and along a major portion of the edges of the baffles of said tube-and-baffle assembly by welding adjacent longitudinal edges of adjacent shells along substantially their full lengths while siad tube-and-baffle assembly is disposed within the bights of said shells.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of constructing a shell-and-tube heat exchanger comprising the steps of: providing an elongated tube-and-baffle assembly; providing a plurality of generally cylindrically-shaped elongated metallic arcuate shells having generally straight longitudinally extending edges; subsequently positioning said shells circumferentially about said tube-and-baffle assembly with said tube-and-baffle assembly being disposed within the bight of each of said shells; and shrinking said shells about said tube-and-baffle assembly to produce sufficient hoop tension in said shells to draw said shells into sealing engagement with and along a major portion of the edges of the baffles of said tube-and-baffle assembly by welding adjacent longitudinal edges of adjacent shells along substantially their full lengths while siad tube-and-baffle assembly is disposed within the bights of said shells.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of constructing a shell-and-tube heat exchanger comprising the steps of: providing a tube-and-baffle assembly; providing a generally cylindrically shaped elongated arcuate shell having generally straight longitudinally extending edges; disposing said tube-and-baffle assembly with the bight of said shell; and while said tube-and-baffle assembly is disposed within the bight of said shell, shrinking said shell about said tube-and-baffle assembly to produce sufficient hoop tension in said shell to draw said shell into sealing engagement with and along a major portion of the edges of the baffles of the tube-and-baffle assembly by fusing the longitudinal edges of said shell substantially along their full length.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of constructing a shell-and-tube heat exchanger comprising the steps of: providing a tube-and-baffle assembly; providing a generally cylindrically shaped elongated arcuate shell having generally straight longitudinally extending edges; disposing said tube-and-baffle assembly with the bight of said shell; and while said tube-and-baffle assembly is disposed within the bight of said shell, shrinking said shell about said tube-and-baffle assembly to produce sufficient hoop tension in said shell to draw said shell into sealing engagement with and along a major portion of the edges of the baffles of the tube-and-baffle assembly by fusing the longitudinal edges of said shell substantially along their full length.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
170 words
A method of constructing a shell-and-tube heat exchanger comprising the steps of: providing an elongated tube-and-baffle assembly; providing a plurality of generally cylindrically shaped elongated metallic arcuate shells having generally straight longitudinally extending edges; subsequently positioning said shells circumferentially about said tube-and-baffle assembly with said tube-and-baffle assembly being disposed within the bight of each of said shells; tightening said shells against said tube-and-baffle assembly while maintaining adjacent longitudinal edges of adjacent shells in spaced abutting relationship; temporarily securing together said adjacent longitudinal edges of said adjacent shells by tack welding at spaced intervals; terminating said tightening step subsequent to the step of tack welding; and shrinking said shells about said tube-and-baffle assembly to produce sufficient hoop tension in said shells to draw said shells into sealing engagement with and along a major portion of the edges of the baffles of said tube-and-baffle assembly by longitudinally progressively welding adjacent longitudinal edges of adjacent shells along Substantially their full lengths while said tube-and-baffle assembly is disposed within the bights of said shells.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
170 words
A method of constructing a shell-and-tube heat exchanger comprising the steps of: providing an elongated tube-and-baffle assembly; providing a plurality of generally cylindrically shaped elongated metallic arcuate shells having generally straight longitudinally extending edges; subsequently positioning said shells circumferentially about said tube-and-baffle assembly with said tube-and-baffle assembly being disposed within the bight of each of said shells; tightening said shells against said tube-and-baffle assembly while maintaining adjacent longitudinal edges of adjacent shells in spaced abutting relationship; temporarily securing together said adjacent longitudinal edges of said adjacent shells by tack welding at spaced intervals; terminating said tightening step subsequent to the step of tack welding; and shrinking said shells about said tube-and-baffle assembly to produce sufficient hoop tension in said shells to draw said shells into sealing engagement with and along a major portion of the edges of the baffles of said tube-and-baffle assembly by longitudinally progressively welding adjacent longitudinal edges of adjacent shells along Substantially their full lengths while said tube-and-baffle assembly is disposed within the bights of said shells.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-06-18 | 1976-12-18 | 1977-06-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-18 | 1980-12-18 | 1981-06-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-18 | 1984-12-18 | 1985-06-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |