Patent US3913667A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3913667A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Heat exchanger
Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute Inc
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Filing: 1973-09-21
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Granted: 1975-10-21
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Expires: 1993-09-21
Abstract
Abstract A heat exchanger for the cooling of water by an airstream comprises a plurality of generally parallel hollow wall members forming vertical passages to be traversed by the cooling air, each wall member consisting of an envelope of thin plastic sheet material provided at the top with an inlet for hot water which is allowed to flow down on the inner shell surfaces in a continuous film of liquid. The envelope opens at the bottom into a pool of water and is sealed against the atmosphere to enable the maintenance therein of air under pressure inflating it against a reinforcing external grid of tensioned cables or the like.
Inventors
- 👤 Jean-Luc Ch Meylan
- 👤 William H Frost
- 👤 John G Meier
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 23:15
CPC Classifications
F; F28; F28F; F28F25/00; F28F25/02; F28C; F28C1/00; F28C1/14; F28D; F28D3/00; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B30/00; Y02B30/70; Y10; Y10S; Y10S165/00; Y10S165/90; Y10S261/00; Y10S261/11
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
173 words
A heat exchanger for establishing thermal contact between a first and a second fluid of different temperatures, at least said first fluid being a liquid, comprising: a plurality of spacedly juxtaposed hollow wall members each including a generally horizontal elevated support and an envelope of plastic sheet material suspended from said support, said envelope comprising a pair of confronting sheets separated by an airspace; conduit means for said first fluid terminating in a channel on said support, the latter being provided with gaps leading from said channel to said airspace and terminating adjacent the inner surfaces of said sheets for distributing said first fluid substantially uniformly along upper edge portions of said sheets and letting said first fluid descend in a continuous film along said inner surfaces; collector means for said first fluid at the bottom of said envelope; and circulation means for driving said second fluid through passages between said wall members in contact with the outer surfaces of their sheets for thermal interaction with the films on the inner surfaces thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
173 words
A heat exchanger for establishing thermal contact between a first and a second fluid of different temperatures, at least said first fluid being a liquid, comprising: a plurality of spacedly juxtaposed hollow wall members each including a generally horizontal elevated support and an envelope of plastic sheet material suspended from said support, said envelope comprising a pair of confronting sheets separated by an airspace; conduit means for said first fluid terminating in a channel on said support, the latter being provided with gaps leading from said channel to said airspace and terminating adjacent the inner surfaces of said sheets for distributing said first fluid substantially uniformly along upper edge portions of said sheets and letting said first fluid descend in a continuous film along said inner surfaces; collector means for said first fluid at the bottom of said envelope; and circulation means for driving said second fluid through passages between said wall members in contact with the outer surfaces of their sheets for thermal interaction with the films on the inner surfaces thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
58 words
A heat exchanger as defined in claim 1 wherein said envelope is sealed against the atmosphere at its top and sides, said collector means comprising a basin filled with said first fluid to a level above the bottom of said envelope, said wall members being filled with a gas under pressure maintaining their envelopes in an inflated state.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A heat exchanger as defined in claim 2 wherein said wall members are further provided with a reinforcing grid along the outer surfaces of said sheets.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A heat exchanger as defined in claim 3 wherein said grid consists of intersecting flexible elements under tension.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A heat exchanger as defined in claim 3, further comprising spacing means between adjacent wall members bearing upon the grids thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
A heat exchanger as defined in claim 1 wherein said wall members form an annular array and extend substantially radially with reference to a vertical axis.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
A heat exchanger as defined in claim 6 wherein said second fluid is air, further comprising a flue centered on said vertical axis, said flue opening at its base onto the passages between said wall members.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
A heat exchanger as defined in claim 1 wherein said first fluid is water, said channel being provided with capillary means at least partly blocking said gaps for helping distribute the water over said upper edge portions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
A heat exchanger as defined in claim 1 wherein said sheets have a thickness of a fraction of a millimeter, said wall members and said passages have widths on the order of centimeters, and said wall members have a height on the order of meters.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
A heat exchanger as defined in claim 9 wherein the width of said passages is several times that of said wall members.
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) | 1978-10-20 | 1979-04-21 | 1979-10-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-10-20 | 1983-04-21 | 1983-10-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-10-20 | 1987-04-21 | 1987-10-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |