Patent US3968569A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3968569A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Clearance monitoring probe for rotary regenerative heat exchanger
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1973-08-27
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Granted: 1976-07-13
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Expires: 1993-08-27
Abstract
Abstract A rotary regenerative air heater for the heating of combustion air by hot waste gases is described. In a rotary regenerative heat exchanger having a rotor carrying heat exchange surfaces and arranged to rotate in a casing so that individual parts of the rotor pass alternately through a hot gas pass and a cool gas pass to effect transfer of heat between the two passes, and sealing elements carried by the rotor engage stationary seal plates to effect a substantially gas-tight seal between the hot gas pass and the cool gas pass, each of the stationary seal plates carries a probe which can be moved beyond the seal plate to engage sealing elements as they pass the seal plate, and means are provided by which a measure can be made of, and/or a control can be effected in accordance with, the spacing between the sealing elements and said seal plate.
Inventors
- 👤 Gordon J. Faris
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 08:30
CPC Classifications
F; F28; F28D; F28D19/00; F28D19/04; F28D19/047; G; G01; G01B; G01B5/00; G01B5/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
256 words
A probe for monitoring the clearance between the stationary and rotating parts of a rotary regenerative heat exchanger while in motion, said probe including: a housing suitable for mounting on a stationary part of the heat exchanger, the housing having a bore, a plunger slidable in said bore without rotation, a roller mounted on said plunger so that its curved surface projects beyond the end of said plunger, spring means acting on said plunger in such direction as to retract the roller relative to the housing, and adjustment means for resiliently moving the plunger a measurable distance against the force of said spring means to bring said roller into contact with a movable part of said heat exchanger while permitting slight movement of said roller when contacted by said movable part, and, wherein said adjustment means includes a tube mountable on said stationary part co-axial with said plunger and at the end of said plunger remote from the roller, a rod slidable in said tube and having a threaded portion, and screw threaded means received on said threaded portion and held non-rotatably relative to said tube by resilient means permitting slight movement of said screw threaded means with said rod in a direction away from said plunger, whereby said plunger may be moved towards the rotating part of the heat exchanger by rotation of said rod in said screw threaded means, said resilient means allowing slight movement of said roller when contacted by said rotating part, said slight movement being suitable for detection by sensing means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
256 words
A probe for monitoring the clearance between the stationary and rotating parts of a rotary regenerative heat exchanger while in motion, said probe including: a housing suitable for mounting on a stationary part of the heat exchanger, the housing having a bore, a plunger slidable in said bore without rotation, a roller mounted on said plunger so that its curved surface projects beyond the end of said plunger, spring means acting on said plunger in such direction as to retract the roller relative to the housing, and adjustment means for resiliently moving the plunger a measurable distance against the force of said spring means to bring said roller into contact with a movable part of said heat exchanger while permitting slight movement of said roller when contacted by said movable part, and, wherein said adjustment means includes a tube mountable on said stationary part co-axial with said plunger and at the end of said plunger remote from the roller, a rod slidable in said tube and having a threaded portion, and screw threaded means received on said threaded portion and held non-rotatably relative to said tube by resilient means permitting slight movement of said screw threaded means with said rod in a direction away from said plunger, whereby said plunger may be moved towards the rotating part of the heat exchanger by rotation of said rod in said screw threaded means, said resilient means allowing slight movement of said roller when contacted by said rotating part, said slight movement being suitable for detection by sensing means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A probe according to claim 1, wherein said screw threaded means is a nut non-rotatably held in an extension of said tube at the end thereof remote from the plunger.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
A probe according to claim 1, wherein the end of said tube remote from the plunger carries mounting means for a gauge capable of measuring said measurable distance and of detecting said slight amount of movement caused by said roller contacting said rotating part.
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) | 1979-07-13 | 1980-01-12 | 1980-07-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-07-13 | 1984-01-12 | 1984-07-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-07-13 | 1988-01-12 | 1988-07-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |