US3889744A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Recuperator structures and method of making same
Assignee: OI Glass Inc
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Filing: 1972-04-20
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Granted: 1975-06-17
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Expires: 1992-04-20
Abstract
Abstract In an embodiment disclosed herein there is illustrated a recuperator structure which includes housing apparatus for yieldingly supporting and protecting from mechanical shock a recuperator body constructed from glass-ceramic material, and for maintaining inlets and outlets of a first and second series of recuperator heat exchange passageways into the recuperator body in an alignment for connection with first and second ductwork means for delivering and collecting first and second fluids to the first and second series of passageways, respectively. The housing may include an outer shell and a plurality of support member means extending inwardly from the outer shell for yieldably contacting and supporting the recuperator body in a relatively stationary position within and with respect to the shell. The ductwork includes means for channeling a fluid to and collecting the fluid from one of the series of passageways, sealing means for disposition around the inlet and outlet openings of that series of passageways, and means for yeidlingly urging inlet and outlet wall portions of the ductwork means into sealing engagement with the sealing means. The entire structure thus enables an expansion and contraction of inlet and outlet wall portions of ductwork and other components while maintaining sealing contact with a glass-ceramic body utilized for effecting heat exchange between two fluids.
Inventors
- 👤 James A Hill
- 👤 George E Keefer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 17:29
CPC Classifications
F; F28; F28F; F28F9/00; C; C03; C03B; C03B23/00; C03B23/20; C03B23/207; C03B32/00; C03B32/02; F28F21/00; F28F21/006; F28F7/00; F28F7/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
350 words
Recuperator apparatus, comprising a. A glass-ceramic heat exchanging body having an internal surface defining an inner chamber formed in said body, a peripheral surface spaced outwardly from said internal surface, and spaced end surfaces connecting said internal and peripheral surfaces; b. said body including a portion in which a first and a second series of passageways are formed therethrough, the passageways of said first series extending and enabling passage of a first fluid between said internal and peripheral surfaces, the passageways of said second series extending and enabling passage of a second fluid between said end surfaces, the walls of said first and second series of passageways being disposed in heat transmitting relationship with each other enabling a heat exchange between first and second fluids passing through the first and second series of passageways; and c. first ductwork means for channeling a first fluid to one of said inner chamber and peripheral surfaces and collecting said fluid as it issues from the other of said inner chamber and peripheral surfaces, d. second ductwork means for channeling a second fluid to one of said end surfaces and collecting said second fluid as it issues from the other of said end surfaces, and e. housing means for surrounding and supporting said heat exchanging body in a relatively stationary position during relative expansion and contraction movements of components of said apparatus to aid in maintaining inlets and outlets of said first and second series of passageways positioned for connection with said first and second ductwork means, f. said housing means, including an outer shell disposed around and spaced from said peripheral surface of said body and a plurality of yieldable means extending between said outer shell and said body, g. said first ductwork means including a first wall portion surrounding an inner chamber opening adjacent an end surface of said heat exchanging body and extending between a perimetrical area adjacent said chamber opening and a continuation of said first ductwork means, and means for maintaining said first wall portion in contact with said perimetrical area during expansion and contraction of said recuperator apparatus.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
350 words
Recuperator apparatus, comprising a. A glass-ceramic heat exchanging body having an internal surface defining an inner chamber formed in said body, a peripheral surface spaced outwardly from said internal surface, and spaced end surfaces connecting said internal and peripheral surfaces; b. said body including a portion in which a first and a second series of passageways are formed therethrough, the passageways of said first series extending and enabling passage of a first fluid between said internal and peripheral surfaces, the passageways of said second series extending and enabling passage of a second fluid between said end surfaces, the walls of said first and second series of passageways being disposed in heat transmitting relationship with each other enabling a heat exchange between first and second fluids passing through the first and second series of passageways; and c. first ductwork means for channeling a first fluid to one of said inner chamber and peripheral surfaces and collecting said fluid as it issues from the other of said inner chamber and peripheral surfaces, d. second ductwork means for channeling a second fluid to one of said end surfaces and collecting said second fluid as it issues from the other of said end surfaces, and e. housing means for surrounding and supporting said heat exchanging body in a relatively stationary position during relative expansion and contraction movements of components of said apparatus to aid in maintaining inlets and outlets of said first and second series of passageways positioned for connection with said first and second ductwork means, f. said housing means, including an outer shell disposed around and spaced from said peripheral surface of said body and a plurality of yieldable means extending between said outer shell and said body, g. said first ductwork means including a first wall portion surrounding an inner chamber opening adjacent an end surface of said heat exchanging body and extending between a perimetrical area adjacent said chamber opening and a continuation of said first ductwork means, and means for maintaining said first wall portion in contact with said perimetrical area during expansion and contraction of said recuperator apparatus.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
75 words
Recuperator apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which each of said yieldable means includes a contact element extending toward and contacting said heat exchanging body, said contact element having a rod portion, a cylinder attached to said outer shell for slidably receiving said rod portion of said contact element, and means associated with said cylinder for yieldingly urging said rod portion and thus said contact element into supporting contact with said heat exchanging body.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
Recuperator apparatus as defined in claim 2 in which said yieldingly urging means comprises spring means disposed in said cylinder.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
Recuperator apparatus as defined in claim 3 in which the portion of said cylinder containing said spring means is located outside of said housing to remove said spring means from the direct influence of temperatures within said housing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
Recuperator apparatus as defined in claim 3 which further includes sealing means disposed between said rod portion and the cylinder slidably receiving said rod portion to prevent penetration of fluids in said housing into the portion of said cylinder containing said spring means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
Recuperator apparatus as defined in claim 2 in which each support member means further includes means for adjusting the force said yieldingly urging means exerts on said rod portion of said contact element.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
75 words
Recuperator apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said yieldable support means includEs a. a plurality of peripheral surface support means extending inwardly from said housing and yieldably contacting said peripheral surface to maintain the transverse position of said heat exchanging body, and b. a plurality of end surface support means extending inwardly from said housing and yieldingly contacting each of said end surfaces to maintain the axial position of said heat exchanging body.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
51 words
Recuperator apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said first ductwork means further includes a. means for providing a sealing means between said first wall portion and said perimetrical area adjacent said inner chamber opening, and b. means for maintaining said first wall portion in contact with said sealing means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
Recuperator apparatus as defined in claim 8 in which said means for maintaining said first wall portion in contact with said sealing means includes means for yieldably biasing said portion into contact with said sealing means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
Recuperator apparatus as defined in claim 8 in which said first wall portion is constructed from spring material and is connected between said first ductwork continuance and said sealing means in a flexed condition to maintain contact therewith.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
77 words
Recuperator apparatus as defined in claim 8 in which said sealing means between said first wall portion of said first ductwork means and said perimetrical area adjacent said chamber opening includes a. a metal seal member having a configuration which covers the perimetrical area adjacent said inner chamber opening, b. said first wall portion forcibly engaging said metal seal at an acute angle enabling a sliding sealing action in response to differential movement during expansion and contraction.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
Recuperator apparatus as defined in claim 11 in which said sealing means further includes high temperature resistant, resilient gasket means interposed between said metal seal and said perimetrical area adjacent said inner chamber opening.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
90 words
Recuperator apparatus as defined in claim 11 in which a. said first wall portion of said first ductwork means also functions as a wall portion for said second ductwork means, b. the angle of engagement of said first wall portion with said metal seal being acute with respect to the one of the ductwork means which is to carry fluid under a lower pressure, thereby enabling fluid under a higher pressure in the other ductwork means to assist in maintaining said first wall portion in contact with said metal seal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
133 words
Recuperator apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said first ductwork means includes a. a second wall portion surrounding a perimetrical area adjacent the junction of one end surface and the peripheral surface of said body and extending therefrom to a continuance of said first ductwork means, b. a third wall portion surrounding a perimetrical area adjacent the junction of the other end surface and the peripheral surface of said body and extending therefrom to said continuance of said first ductwork means, c. means for providing a sealing means between each of said second and third wall portions and the respective perimetrical areas adjacent the junctions of said end surfaces with said peripheral surface, and d. means for maintaining said second and third wall portions in contact with their respective sealing means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
74 words
Recuperator apparatus as defined in claim 14 in which each sealing means for said second and third wall portions includes a. a metal seal having a configuration which covers the perimetrical area adjacent the junction of an end surface and said peripheral surface, b. said second and third wall portions forcibly engaging the respective metal seals at an acute angle enabling a sliding seal action in response to differential movement during expansion and contraction.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
Recuperator apparatus as defined in claim 15 in which said seal means further includes high temperature resistant, resilient gasket means interposed betweEn each of said metal seals and their respectively adjacent perimetrical areas.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
97 words
Recuperator apparatus as defined in claim 15 in which a. said second and third wall portions of said first ductwork means also function as wall portions for said second ductwork means, b. the angle of engagement of said second and third wall portions with their respective metal seals being acute with respect to the one of the ductwork means which is to carry liquid under a lower pressure, thereby enabling fluid under a higher pressure in the other ductwork means to assist in maintaining said second and third wall portions in contact with their respective metal seals.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
119 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said second ductwork means includes a. a plenum for supplying a second fluid to one of said end surfaces of said body, b. means for preventing entry of said second fluid into said inner chamber of said body, c. said plenum including a first wall portion surrounding a perimetrical area adjacent the junction of said one end surface and the peripheral surface of said body, d. a sealing means between said first wall portion and said perimetrical area adjacent the junction of said one end surface and the peripheral surface of said body, and e. means for maintaining said first wall portion of said plenum in contact with said sealing means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
174 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 18 in which said second ductwork means further includes a. a second wall portion surrounding a perimetrical area adjacent the junction of the other of said end surfaces and the peripheral surface of said body and extending therefrom to a continuance of said second ductwork means, b. a sealing means between said second wall portion and said perimetrical area adjacent the junction of said end surface and said peripheral surface, and c. means for maintaining said second wall portion in contact with said second wall sealing means, d. a third wall portion surrounding the perimetrical area adjacent the junction of the other of said end surfaces and the surface of said inner chamber and extending therefrom to a continuance of said second ductwork means, e. a sealing means between said third wall portion and said perimetrical area adjacent the junction of the other end surface and the surface of said inner chamber, and f. means for maintaining said third wall portion in contact with said third wall sealing means.
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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) | 1978-06-16 | 1978-12-16 | 1979-06-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-16 | 1982-12-16 | 1983-06-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-16 | 1986-12-16 | 1987-06-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |