Heat exchanger

Claim 2

A heat exchanger for fluid food products comprising an outer tube having an inner diameter and a concentric inner tube having an outer diameter less than the inner diameter to define an annular product flow space between the two tubes, the outer tube including at its ends means for coupling it to a product pipe line and having an outer diameter only insignificantly larger than the pipe line diameter, the outer tube further including means defining an annular, concentric coolant flow space surrounding the product flow space and extending over a portion of the total length of the outer tube, radially oriented coolant inlet and outlet ports defined by hollow cylindrical members connected to the inner tube, extending to the exterior of the outer tube, and communicating an interior of the inner tube with the exterior of the outer tube, each member including an interior thread extending from the outer end of the member towards the other end thereof for threadably connecting thE members to a coolant circulating system, and generally radially disposed, cylindrical coolant passages disposed upstream and downstream of the inlet and outlet ports, respectively, for flowing a portion of the coolant from the inner tube to the annular space in the outer tube and back to the inner tube before discharge from the heat exchanger through the outlet port.

Claim 3

A heat exchanger for perishable liquid food product comprising a first outer tube having a cylindrical inner wall and ends adapted to be connected to a pipe line for the product for flowing the product through the tube, the outer tube including means defining an annular coolant flow space surrounding the cylindrical inner wall of the tube, a second cylindrical inner tube having a lesser diameter than the diameter of the inner wall and being concentrically disposed within the outer tube to define a continuous, annular flow passage for the product between the inner and the outer tubes, first radially extending conduits adjacent and spaced from ends of the inner tube extending from the inner tube through the outer tube for communicating an interior space of the inner tube with the exterior for circulating a fluid coolant through the inner tube, a second radially oriented conduit adjacent each first conduit communicating the inner space of the first tube with the annular coolant space of the outer tube to define a coolant flow passage from the inner tube to the annular space in the outer tube and back to the inner tube, and means in the inner tube positioned adjacent the second conduit proximate the inlet port for restricting the coolant flow therein and facilitating the diversion of a portion of the coolant flow to the annular coolant space in the outer tube, the flow restricting means including means directing a portion of the coolant flow in the inner tube towards such second conduit.

Claim 4

A heat exchanger for perishable liquid food product comprising a first outer tube having a cylindrical inner wall and ends adapted to be connected to a pipe line for the product for flowing the product through the tube, the outer tube including means defining an annular coolant flow space surrounding the cylindrical inner wall of the tube, a second cylindrical inner tube having a lesser diameter than the diameter of the inner wall and being concentrically disposed within the outer tube to define a continuous, annular flow passage for the product between the inner and the outer tubes, first radially extending conduits adjacent and spaced from ends of the inner tube extending from the inner tube through the outer tube for communicating an interior space of the inner tube with the exterior for circulating a fluid coolant through the inner tube, a second radially oriented conduit adjacent each first conduit communicating the inner space of the first tube with the annular coolant space of the outer tube to define a coolant flow passage from the inner tube to the annular space in the outer tube and back to the inner tube, and means in the inner tube positioned adjacent the second conduit proximate the inlet port for restricting the coolant flow therein and facilitating the diversion of a portion of the coolant flow to the annular coolant space in the outer tube, the flow restricting means including means directing a portion of the coolant flow in the inner tube towards such second conduit.

Claim 5

A heat exchanger according to claim 2 wherein the flow restricting means comprises a disc-shaped member disposed within the inner tube and having an outline less than a cross-section of the tube, and including means resiliently positioning the disc adjacent the proximate second conduit generally transversely with respect to the length of the inner tube.