Patent US4771740A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3854529A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3854529A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tube support system for a heat exchanger
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Filing: 1973-09-14
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Granted: 1974-12-17
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Expires: 1993-09-14
Abstract
Abstract A plurality of bars having a plurality of arms extending at right angles thereto and disposed to register with notches in adjacent bars to provide a tube support system, which can be easily and economically applied to serpentine and other configurations of tubes to support the tubes in a heat exchanger.
Inventors
- 👤 S Sagan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 10:09
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21C; G21C3/00; G21C3/30; G21C3/32; G21C3/34; G21C3/356; G21C3/3563; F; F28; F28F; F28F9/00; F28F9/007; F28F9/013; F28F9/0135; F28F9/0136; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30; Y10; Y10S; Y10S165/00; Y10S165/355; Y10S165/40; Y10S165/401; Y10S165/416; Y10S165/423; Y10S165/424
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
127 words
A tube support system for a heat exchanger having a plurality of tubes, said tube support system comprising a plurality of bars, each bar having a plurality of openings and arms disposed along each longitudinal margin thereof, the openings and arms on opposite margins being staggered, the arms of each bar being integral therewith, being longer than the tube''s diameter, extending from said bar in one direction, and being generally normal thereto, the arms disposed along one margin being out of phase one half a pitch with the arms disposed along the opposite margin, and adjacent bars being mirror images, so that tips of the arms fixed to one bar register with openings in an adjacent bar, whereby the bars interlock to form a rigid support system.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
127 words
A tube support system for a heat exchanger having a plurality of tubes, said tube support system comprising a plurality of bars, each bar having a plurality of openings and arms disposed along each longitudinal margin thereof, the openings and arms on opposite margins being staggered, the arms of each bar being integral therewith, being longer than the tube''s diameter, extending from said bar in one direction, and being generally normal thereto, the arms disposed along one margin being out of phase one half a pitch with the arms disposed along the opposite margin, and adjacent bars being mirror images, so that tips of the arms fixed to one bar register with openings in an adjacent bar, whereby the bars interlock to form a rigid support system.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A tube support system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the tips of the arms have a step formed therein and the steps register with openings in an adjacent bar.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
194 words
A tube support system for a heat exchanger having a plurality of tubes, said tube support system comprising a plurality of flat bars each bar having a plurality of cut and bent portions disposed along each longitudinal margin thereof, the cut and bent portions on opposite margins being staggered, the cut and bent portions being bent generally normal to said bar and extending a distance greater than the diameter of the tubes, and each bar having a generally flat center portion extending lengthwise thereof and being disposed between said cut and bent portions, the pitch of the cut and bent portions disposed on one margin being one half a pitch out of phase with the pitch of the cut and bent portions disposed on the other margin, the cut and bent portions of one bar being bent in one direction and the cut and bent portion of an adjacent bar being bent in the opposite direction, and the tip of the cut and bent portions of one bar register with edges of openings formed by the cut and bent portions of an adjacent bar whereby the bars interlock to form a rigid support system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
194 words
A tube support system for a heat exchanger having a plurality of tubes, said tube support system comprising a plurality of flat bars each bar having a plurality of cut and bent portions disposed along each longitudinal margin thereof, the cut and bent portions on opposite margins being staggered, the cut and bent portions being bent generally normal to said bar and extending a distance greater than the diameter of the tubes, and each bar having a generally flat center portion extending lengthwise thereof and being disposed between said cut and bent portions, the pitch of the cut and bent portions disposed on one margin being one half a pitch out of phase with the pitch of the cut and bent portions disposed on the other margin, the cut and bent portions of one bar being bent in one direction and the cut and bent portion of an adjacent bar being bent in the opposite direction, and the tip of the cut and bent portions of one bar register with edges of openings formed by the cut and bent portions of an adjacent bar whereby the bars interlock to form a rigid support system.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
79 words
A tube support system as set forth in claim 3, wherein the cuts extend inward from the longitudinal margins forming a step as they progress inwardly and then extend lengthwise of the bars generally parallel to the longitudinal margins thereof to provide a step in the tips of the cut and bent portions which register with steps in the openings formed by the cut and bent portions to provide equal spacing between adjacent bars and interlocking of the bars.
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) | 1977-12-16 | 1978-06-17 | 1978-12-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-16 | 1982-06-17 | 1982-12-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-16 | 1986-06-17 | 1986-12-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |