Tubular distributor arrangement for a heat collector vessel

Claim 1

A tubular distributor comprising a hollow collector vessel including a wall defining an internal chamber, a plurality of tubes extending through said wall into communication with said chamber, said wall comprising a plurality of pre-profiled elements of substantially identical plan form mounted in superimposed relation on one another to collectively form said wall, each pre-profiled element having upper and lower surfaces and opposite end surfaces, the elements being superimposed with the lower element to form superimposed surfaces in successive substantially common planes, said elements having first recesses in said upper and lower surfaces which respectively and cooperatively form apertures for said tubes when said elements are superimposed on one another, said recesses in the upper and lower surfaces of each element being respectively offset from one another and respectively receiving one-half of the cross-section of corresponding tubes, and means at the adjoining surfaces of said elements with one another and with said tubes for preventing entry of fluids therebetween, said upper and lower surfaces of said pre-profiled elements being provided with second recesses, said second recesses extending from a first one end surface of each element partially through said element towards the other of said end surfaces such that when said elements are superimposed the second recesses of superimposed elements come into registry and form bling openings which open externally of said wall at said first one end surface of said elements.