Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
101 words
A tubular heat exchange conduit which comprises an elongated central tubular core, a plurality of elongated, generally longitudinally arranged, circumferentially spaced heat transfer fins extending generally radially outwardlly from said core, both sides of each of said fins being concavely curved in the general radial direction throughout substantially their entire radial width, with their outer edges being thicker than inner portions thereof and an elongated, tubular shell peripherally engaged about and in heat conducting abutting relationship with the outer edges of said fins, said core, fins and shell defining a plurality of fluid flow channels between adjacent pairs of the fins.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
101 words
A tubular heat exchange conduit which comprises an elongated central tubular core, a plurality of elongated, generally longitudinally arranged, circumferentially spaced heat transfer fins extending generally radially outwardlly from said core, both sides of each of said fins being concavely curved in the general radial direction throughout substantially their entire radial width, with their outer edges being thicker than inner portions thereof and an elongated, tubular shell peripherally engaged about and in heat conducting abutting relationship with the outer edges of said fins, said core, fins and shell defining a plurality of fluid flow channels between adjacent pairs of the fins.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A tubular heat exchange unit as defined in claim 1, wherein said concave fin sides are of generally parabolic curvature.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
A tubular heat exchange unit as defined in claim 1, wherein the rate of curvature of said concave fin sides increases progressively from the root portions to the toe portions of the fins, so that the thickness of the fins increases at greater than a linear rate from said root portions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
A tubular heat exchange unit as defined in claim 1, wherein said tubular core is compsed of a heat conducting metal that is hardest proximate said tubular core and is progressively softer from said core radially outwardly through said fins to the outer edges of the fins.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
A tubular heat exchange unit as defined in claim 4, wherein said shell is composed of heat conducting metal that is harder than the outer edge portions of said fins that are in cOntact therewith.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
A tubular heat exchange unit as defined in claim 1, which includes a series of external fins arranged over said shell with their planes generally normal to the axis of the tubular unit, said shell being generally radially outwardly stressed by said extrusion core and fins against said external fins.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A tubular heat exchange unit as defined in claim 1, wherein said shell has spiral external fin means externally formed thereon.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A tubular heat exchange unit as defined in claim 1, which includes an elongated inner fin structure disposed within said tubular core.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
A tubular heat exchange unit as defined in claim 1, wherein said fins are provided with a twist along at least a portion of the length thereof, and wherein said twist is stepped.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
A tubular heat exchange unit as defined in claim 9, wherein said stepped twist includes a series of alternating, generally longitudinally oriented fin portions and generally helically inclined fin portions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
A tubular heat exchange unit as defined in claim 10, wherein the transitions between successive fin portions are discrete angle bends on the fins.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
A tubular heat exchange unit as defined in claim 1, having grooves segmenting said fins throughout substantially their entire height, said groove means comprising a series of longitudinally spaced, generally circumferentially arranged grooves in the fins.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
A tubular heat exchange unit as defined in claim 12, wherein said groove means comprises a generally spirally arranged groove in the fins.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
47 words
A tubular heat exchange unit as defined in claim 12, wherein said groove means comprises a series of longitudinally spaced, generally transverse grooves in the fins, the widths of said grooves being not substantially greater in the longitudinal direction of the fins than the average fin thickness.