Patent US3929187A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3929187A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vibration resistant heat exchanger for internal combustion engines
Assignee: The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens
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Filing: 1974-12-23
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Granted: 1975-12-30
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Expires: 1994-12-23
Abstract
Abstract A vibration resistant heat exchanger for preheating viscous fuels prior to burning in a Diesel engine or other internal combustion engine utilizes a fluid-tight coolant tank defined by a cylindrical sidewall with first and second endwalls, the coolant tank being connected to a source of heated coolant which continually flows through the tank. A fuel heating conduit is positioned within the coolant tank and connected between a source of fuel and the engine so that otherwise cold fuel flows through the heat exchanger and is warmed therein before being delivered to the engine for burning. The fuel heating conduit utilizes three generally parallel tubes spaced inwardly from the sidewall of the coolant tank and connected with a pair of U-shaped couplers. Each of the couplers is positioned adjacent an endwall and bears against the sidewall and the adjacent endwall to prevent movement and vibration of the conduit relative to the tank. Each of the endwalls is provided with a fuel port through which a tube of the heating conduit extends. Each endwall is also provided with a coolant port which confronts the coupler adjacent that endwall. Each coupler has a spacer extending from and bearing against the adjacent endwall to space the coupler from the endwall to permit free flow of coolant between the endwall and the coupler to encourage turbulence as coolant enters and leaves the tank, thereby improving heat transfer from coolant to heating conduit.
Inventors
- 👤 Edwin E Hurner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 17:36
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02M; F02M31/00; F02M31/02; F02M31/16; F02B; F02B3/00; F02B3/06; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
316 words
A vibration resistant heat exchanger for internal combustion engines to preheat fuel flowing between a fuel tank and the engine and usable with a supply of flowing, heated coolant comprising: a fluid-tight coolant tank including an elongated cylindrical sidewall and first and second endwalls, an endwall being positioned at each end of said cylindrical sidewall and fixed to said sidewall in sealed relationship therewith; each of said endwalls having a fuel port and a coolant port passing therethrough, said coolant ports connectable with the supply of flowing heated coolant, permitting the heated coolant to flow through said coolant tank; a fuel heating conduit within said coolant tank, extending between said fuel ports and connectable in fluid flow relationship with the fuel tank and the engine, said heating conduit including first, second and third fuel tubes positioned within said coolant tank and spaced from said sidewall; said first tube having an end communicating with one of said fuel ports in sealed relationship therewith and said third tubE having an end communicating with the remaining said fuel port in sealed relationship with the remaining said fuel port; said heating conduit further including a pair of generally Ushaped couplers, a coupler being positioned adjacent each endwall, one of said couplers connecting the remaining end of said first tube in fluid flow relationship with an end of said second tube, and the remaining coupler connecting the remaining end of said second tube in fluid flow relationship with the remaining end of said third tube to permit continuous flow of fuel through said first, second and third tubes; and each said coupler bearing against said sidewall and against said adjacent endwall and cooperating with one another to wedge said heating conduit within said coolant tank to prevent movement of said heating conduit relative to said coolant tank, thereby stopping vibration and loosening of said fuel heating conduit within said coolant tank.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
316 words
A vibration resistant heat exchanger for internal combustion engines to preheat fuel flowing between a fuel tank and the engine and usable with a supply of flowing, heated coolant comprising: a fluid-tight coolant tank including an elongated cylindrical sidewall and first and second endwalls, an endwall being positioned at each end of said cylindrical sidewall and fixed to said sidewall in sealed relationship therewith; each of said endwalls having a fuel port and a coolant port passing therethrough, said coolant ports connectable with the supply of flowing heated coolant, permitting the heated coolant to flow through said coolant tank; a fuel heating conduit within said coolant tank, extending between said fuel ports and connectable in fluid flow relationship with the fuel tank and the engine, said heating conduit including first, second and third fuel tubes positioned within said coolant tank and spaced from said sidewall; said first tube having an end communicating with one of said fuel ports in sealed relationship therewith and said third tubE having an end communicating with the remaining said fuel port in sealed relationship with the remaining said fuel port; said heating conduit further including a pair of generally Ushaped couplers, a coupler being positioned adjacent each endwall, one of said couplers connecting the remaining end of said first tube in fluid flow relationship with an end of said second tube, and the remaining coupler connecting the remaining end of said second tube in fluid flow relationship with the remaining end of said third tube to permit continuous flow of fuel through said first, second and third tubes; and each said coupler bearing against said sidewall and against said adjacent endwall and cooperating with one another to wedge said heating conduit within said coolant tank to prevent movement of said heating conduit relative to said coolant tank, thereby stopping vibration and loosening of said fuel heating conduit within said coolant tank.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
The vibration resistant heat exchanger of claim 1 wherein each said coupler has a spacer fixed thereto and extending outwardly to bear against the adjacent endwall to space each said coupler from its adjacent endwall, thereby permitting flow of the heated coolant between the coupler and the adjacent endwall to improve heat transfer from the coolant to said couplers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
75 words
The vibration resistant heat exchanger of claim 2 wherein each said coupler confronts a said coolant port to cause coolant entering and leaving said coolant tank by said coolant ports to flow about said couplers in entering and leaving said coolant ports, said couplers breaking the direct flow of coolant into and out of said coolant ports and creating turbulence about said couplers, resulting in improved heat transfer between the coolant and said heating conduit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
74 words
The vibration resistant heat exchanger of claim 1 wherein each said U-shaped coupler connecting said tubes is a pair of 90* couplers connected in fluid flow relationship with each other and with said tubes, each said 90* coupler having a lip concentric with the tube to which the 90* coupler is connected, said lip extending radially outward from the concentric tube and bearing against said sidewall to space said concentric tube from said sidewall.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
The vibration resistant heat exchanger of claim 1 wherein said fuel ports and said U-shaped couplers cooperate to retain said first, second and third tubes a predetermined distance from said sidewall and substantially parallel to one another, thereby minimizing strain on said tubes and encouraging free flow of coolant between said tubes and said sidewall.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
124 words
The vibration resistant heat exchanger of claim 1 wherein said first, second and third tubes have central longitudinal axes parallel to one another and said coolant ports have central longitudinal axes parallel to the axes of said tubes, the axis of said coolant port of said first endwall being positioned between the axes of said second and third tubes, and the axis of said coolant port of said second endwall being positioned between the longitudinal axes of said first and said second tubes, thereby assuring that said fuel heating conduit is directly in the flow stream of coolant entering and leaving said coolant tank and that hot coolant entering said coolant tank immediately strikes and flows about a said coupler of said heating conduit.
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) | 1978-12-29 | 1979-06-30 | 1979-12-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-29 | 1983-06-30 | 1983-12-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-29 | 1987-06-30 | 1987-12-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |