Tube bundle support structure

Claim 2

A support structure for a bundle of tubes, comprising: a plurality of parallel strips having a plurality of indentations and a plurality of flat sections, the strips being arranged in pairs, with the indentations in each strip of a pair projecting toward and being secured to the flat sections of the other strip of the pair, the indentations in each strip being in alignment with and projecting away from the indentations in the adjacent strip of an adjacent pair of strips, and fasteners connecting the flat sections of each strip of a pair of strips to flat sections of the adjacent strip of an adjacent pair of strips to define a support grid for a bundle of tubes.

Claim 3

The support structure of claim 1 wherein the fasteners are clips.

Claim 4

The support structure of claim 1 wherein the bundle comprises a plurality of sections each having a tube support grid, and at least one keeper bar is positioned between adjacent sections, said keeper bar extending across the facing surfaces of the adjacent sections and having flanges engaging tubes in each of the adjacent sections to prevent relative movement between the adjacent sections.

Claim 5

A support structure for a bundle of tubes, comprising: a plurality of parallel strips having a plurality of indentations and a plurality of flat sections, the strips being arranged in pairs, with the indentations in each strip of a pair projecting toward and being secured to the other strip of the pair, the indentations in each strip being in alignment with and projecting away from the indentations in the adjacent strip of an adjacent pair of strips, and fasteners connecting the flat sections of each strip of a pair of strips to flat sections of the adjacent strip of an adjacent pair of strips to define a support grid for a bundle of tubes, wherein the bundle comprises a plurality of sections each having a tube support grid, and at least one keeper bar is positioned between adjacent sections, said keeper bar extending across the facing surfaces of the adjacent sections and having flanges engaging tubes in each of the adjacent sections to prevent relative movement between the adjacent sections.

Claim 6

A support structure for a bundle of tubes, comprising: a plurality of parallel strips having a plurality of indentations and a plurality of flat sections, the strips being arranged in pairs, with the indentations in each strip of a pair projecting toward and being secured to the other strip of the pair, the indentations in each strip being in alignment with and projecting away from the indentations in the adjacent strip of an adjacent pair of strips, and fasteners connecting the flat sections of each strip of a pair of strips to flat sections of the adjacent strip of an adjacent pair of strips to define a support grid for a bundle of tubes, wherein the bundle comprises a plurality of sections each having a tube support grid, and at least one keeper bar is positioned between adjacent sections, said keeper bar extending across the facing surfaces of the adjacent sections and having flanges engaging tubes in each of the adjacent sections to prevent relative movement between the adjacent sections.

Claim 7

The support structure of claim 4 wherein a plurality of keeper bars are positioned between adjacent sections.

Claim 8

A support structure for a bundle of tubes, comprising: a plurality of parallel strips having a plurality of indentations and a plurality of flat sections, the strips being arranged in pairs, with the indentations in each strip of a pair projecting toward and being secured to the other strip of the pair, the indentations in each strip being in alignment with and projecting away from the indentations in the adjacent strip of an adjacent pair of strips, wherein each indentation includes curved portions for engaging one of the tubes of the bundle of tubes and a crown portion connecting the curved portions and engaging the other strip of a pair of strips; and fasteners connecting the flat sections of each strip of a pair of strips to flat sections of the adjacent strip of an adjacent pair of strips to define a support grid for a bundle of tubes.

Claim 9

A support structure for a bundle of tubes, comprising: a plurality of parallel strips having a plurality of indentations and a plurality of flat sections, the strips being arranged in pairs, with the indentations in each strip of a pair projecting toward and being secured to the other strip of the pair, the indentations in each strip being in alignment with and projecting away from the indentations in the adjacent strip of an adjacent pair of strips, wherein each indentation includes curved portions for engaging one of the tubes of the bundle of tubes and a crown portion connecting the curved portions and engaging the other strip of a pair of strips; and fasteners connecting the flat sections of each strip of a pair of strips to flat sections of the adjacent strip of an adjacent pair of strips to define a support grid for a bundle of tubes.

Claim 10

The support structure of claim 6 wherein the crown portion is secured to said other strip.

Claim 11

A support structure for a bundle of tubes, comprising: a plurality of parallel strips having a plurality of indentations and a plurality of flat sections, the strips being arranged in pairs, with the indentations in each strip of a pair projecting toward and being secured to the other strip of the pair, the indentations in each strip being in alignment with and projecting away from the indentations in the adjacent strip of an adjacent pair of strips, fasteners connecting the flat sections of each strip of a pair of strips to flat sections of the adjacent strip of an adjacent pair of strips to define a support grid for a bundle of tubes, and at least one key strip positioned along each side of the tube support grid, engaging each grid strip, the key strip on one side of the support grid being connected to the key strip on the other side of the support grid to maintain the grid strips in their relative positions.

Claim 12

A support structure for a bundle of tubes, comprising: a plurality of parallel strips having a plurality of indentations and a plurality of flat sections, the strips being arranged in pairs, with the indentations in each strip of a pair projecting toward and being secured to the other strip of the pair, the indentations in each strip being in alignment with and projecting away from the indentations in the adjacent strip of an adjacent pair of strips, fasteners connecting the flat sections of each strip of a pair of strips to flat sections of the adjacent strip of an adjacent pair of strips to define a support grid for a bundle of tubes, and at least one key strip positioned along each side of the tube support grid, engaging each grid strip, the key strip on one side of the support grid being connected to the key strip on the other side of the support grid to maintain the grid strips in their relative positions.

Claim 13

The support structure of claim 8 wherein the ends of the key strips are connected to one another.

Claim 14

In combination, a bundle of tubes and a support structure therefor, comprising: a plurality of parallel strips having a plurality of indentations and a plurality of flat sections, the strips being arranged in pairs, with the indentations in each strip of a pair projecting toward and being secured to the flat sections of the other strip of the pair, the indentations in each strip being in alignment with and projecting away from the indentations in the adjacent strip of an adjacent pair of strips, fasteners connecting the flat sections of each strip of a pair of strips to flat sections of the adjacent strip of an adjacent pair of strips to define a support grid for a bundle of tubes, and means fixed adjacent to the support grid on selected tubes in the bundle for preventing movement of the tube support grid along the length of the tubes.

Claim 15

In combination, a bundle of tubes and a support structure therefor, comprising: a plurality of parallel strips having a plurality of indentations and a plurality of flat sections, the strips being arranged in pairs, with the indentations in each strip of a pair projecting toward and being secured to the flat sections of the other strip of the pair, the indentations in each strip being in alignment with and projecting away from the indentations in the adjacent strip of an adjacent pair of strips, fasteners connecting the flat sections of each strip of a pair of strips to flat sections of the adjacent strip of an adjacent pair of strips to define a support grid for a bundle of tubes, and means fixed adjacent to the support grid on selected tubes in the bundle for preventing movement of the tube support grid along the length of the tubes.

Claim 16

The support structure of claim 10 wherein the movement preventing means comprise tube collars.

Claim 17

In combination, a bundle of tubes and a support structure therefor, comprising: a plurality of parallel strips having a plurality of indentations and a plurality of flat sections, the strips being arranged in pairs, with the indentations in each strip of a pair projecting toward and being secured to the other strip of the pair, the indentations in each strip being in alignment with and projecting away from the indentations in the adjacent strip of an adjacent pair of strips, and fasteners connecting the flat sections of each strip of a pair of strips to flat sections of the adjacent strip of an adjacent pair of strips to define a support grid for a bundle of tubes, wherein the bundle comprises a plurality of sections each having a tube support grid, and at least one keeper bar is positioned between adjacent sections, said keeper bar extending across the facing surfaces of the adjacent sections and having flanges engaging tubes in each of the adjacent sections to prevent relative movement between the adjacent sections, and the tube support grids of adjacent sections are in alignment with one another and extend beyond the tubes of the sections toward one another, the keeper bar engaging the tubes of the adjacent sections and having a thickness greater than twice the extension of the tube support grids beyond the tubes of their respective sections, whereby the keeper bar supports the adjacent sections with respect to one another and protects the ends of the grids.

Claim 18

In combination, a bundle of tubes and a support structure therefor, comprising: a plurality of parallel strips having a plurality of indentations and a plurality of flat sections, the strips being arranged in pairs, with the indentations in each strip of a pair projecting toward and being secured to the other strip of the pair, the indentations in each strip being in alignment with and projecting away from the indentations in the adjacent strip of an adjacent pair of strips, and fasteners connecting the flat sections of each strip of a pair of strips to flat sections of the adjacent strip of an adjacent pair of strips to define a support grid for a bundle of tubes, wherein the bundle comprises a plurality of sections each having a tube support grid, and at least one keeper bar is positioned between adjacent sections, said keeper bar extending across the facing surfaces of the adjacent sections and having flanges engaging tubes in each of the adjacent sections to prevent relative movement between the adjacent sections, and the tube support grids of adjacent sections are in alignment with one another and extend beyond the tubes of the sections toward one another, the keeper bar engaging the tubes of the adjacent sections and having a thickness greater than twice the extension of the tube support grids beyond the tubes of their respective sections, whereby the keeper bar supports the adjacent sections with respect to one another and protects the ends of the grids.