Method of assembling a plate-fin heat exchanger

Claim 1

A method of assembling a plate-fin heat exchanger comprising the steps of providing a plurality of like substantially straight elongate plate fins with spaced holes therein, bowing said plate-fins to increase their stability and accumulating a plurality of said plate fins in a stacked contiguous relationship to provide a bundle, providing a plurality of elongated substantially parallel tubes spaced from each other substantially the same distance as said spaced holes and oriented substantially perpendicularly to said stacked plate fins, and mounting said plurality of plate fins in said stacked contiguous relationship onto said plurality of elongated substantially parallel tubes by inserting said substantially parallel tubes into said spaced holes, transferring said bundle of bowed plate-fins to a carriage, and transferring said bundle of plate-fins from said carriage onto said plurality of elongated substantially parallel tubes.

Claim 2

A method of assembling a plate-fin heat exchanger comprising the steps of providing a plurality of like substantially straight elongate plate fins with spaced holes therein, bowing said plate-fins to increase their stability and accumulating a plurality of said plate fins in a stacked contiguous relationship to provide a bundle, providing a plurality of elongated substantially parallel tubes spaced from each other substantially the same distance as said spaced holes and oriented substantially perpendicularly to said stacked plate fins, and mounting said plurality of plate fins in said stacked contiguous relationship onto said plurality of elongated substantially parallel tubes by inserting said substantially parallel tubes into said spaced holes, transferring said bundle of bowed plate-fins to a carriage, and transferring said bundle of plate-fins from said carriage onto said plurality of elongated substantially parallel tubes.

Claim 5

A method of assembling a plate-fin heat exchanger comprising the steps of providing a plurality of like substantially straight elongated plate fins with spaced holes therein, bowing said plate-fins to increase their stability and accumulating a plurality of said plate fins in a stacked contiguous relationship to provide a bundle, providing a plurality of elongate substantially parallel tubes spaced from each other substantially the same distance as said spaced holes and oriented substantially perpendicularly to said stacked plate fins, and mounting said plurality of plate fins in said stacked contiguous relationship onto said plurality of elongated substantially parallel tubes by inserting said substantially parallel tubes into said spaced holes, said step of accumulating said plurality of plate fins in said bowed condition being effected by moving said plate fins into a space between rails which are spaced apart a distance which is less than the length of said elongated plate fins to thereby force said elongated plate fins to assume said bowed condition, said bowing being convex in the direction of travel of said elongated plate fins into said space between said rails, causing said elongate plate fins to be held in said stacked contiguous relationship by causing the outer ends of said bowed elongate plate fins to frictionally engage said rails, said bowing creating an outward force at the ends of said plate fins which creates said frictional engagement, said step of mounting said stacked contiguous plate fins including the step of transferring said stacked contiguous plate fins in said bowed condition to a carriage, straightening said stacked contiguous plate fins in said carriage, and and causing said carriage to move said straightened stacked plate fins onto said substantially parallel tubes.

Claim 6

A method of assembling a plate-fin heat exchanger comprising the steps of providing a plurality of like substantially straight elongated plate fins with spaced holes therein, bowing said plate-fins to increase their stability and accumulating a plurality of said plate fins in a stacked contiguous relationship to provide a bundle, providing a plurality of elongate substantially parallel tubes spaced from each other substantially the same distance as said spaced holes and oriented substantially perpendicularly to said stacked plate fins, and mounting said plurality of plate fins in said stacked contiguous relationship onto said plurality of elongated substantially parallel tubes by inserting said substantially parallel tubes into said spaced holes, said step of accumulating said plurality of plate fins in said bowed condition being effected by moving said plate fins into a space between rails which are spaced apart a distance which is less than the length of said elongated plate fins to thereby force said elongated plate fins to assume said bowed condition, said bowing being convex in the direction of travel of said elongated plate fins into said space between said rails, causing said elongate plate fins to be held in said stacked contiguous relationship by causing the outer ends of said bowed elongate plate fins to frictionally engage said rails, said bowing creating an outward force at the ends of said plate fins which creates said frictional engagement, said step of mounting said stacked contiguous plate fins including the step of transferring said stacked contiguous plate fins in said bowed condition to a carriage, straightening said stacked contiguous plate fins in said carriage, and and causing said carriage to move said straightened stacked plate fins onto said substantially parallel tubes.

Claim 8

A method of assembling a plate-fin heat exchanger comprising the steps of providing a plurality of like substantially straight elongated plate-fins with spaced holes therein, moving said elongated plate-fins into a space between rails which are spaced apart a distance which is less than the length of said elongated plate-fins to thereby produce a stack of said elongated plate-fins in a bowed condition having a convex bowed side and a concave bowed side and wherein said moving of said plate-fins into said space between said rails is effected by applying forces to said plate-fins on said concave bowed side, moving said rails apart, applying opposing forces to central portions of a plurality of stacked plate-fins on said convex bowed side and on said concave bowed side to straighten said plate-fins from said bowed condition, providing a plurality of elongated substantially parallel tubes spaced from each other substantially the same distance as said spaced holes and oriented substantially perpendicularly to said stacked plate-fins, and moving said plurality of said stacked plate-fins in a straightened condition and said plurality of substantially parallel tubes relative to each other to insert said stacked tubes into said spaced holes in said plate-fins.

Claim 9

A method of assembling a plate-fin heat exchanger comprising the steps of providing a plurality of like substantially straight elongated plate-fins with spaced holes therein, moving said elongated plate-fins into a space between rails which are spaced apart a distance which is less than the length of said elongated plate-fins to thereby produce a stack of said elongated plate-fins in a bowed condition having a convex bowed side and a concave bowed side and wherein said moving of said plate-fins into said space between said rails is effected by applying forces to said plate-fins on said concave bowed side, moving said rails apart, applying opposing forces to central portions of a plurality of stacked plate-fins on said convex bowed side and on said concave bowed side to straighten said plate-fins from said bowed condition, providing a plurality of elongated substantially parallel tubes spaced from each other substantially the same distance as said spaced holes and oriented substantially perpendicularly to said stacked plate-fins, and moving said plurality of said stacked plate-fins in a straightened condition and said plurality of substantially parallel tubes relative to each other to insert said stacked tubes into said spaced holes in said plate-fins.

Claim 10

A method of assembling a plate-fin heat exchanger comprising the steps of providing a plurality of like substantially straight elongated plate fins with spaced holes therein, bowing said plate-fins to increase their stability and accumulating a plurality of said plate fins in a stacked contiguous relationship to provide a bundle, providing a plurality of elongated substantially parallel tubes spaced from each other substantially the same distance as said spaced holes and oriented substantially perpendicularly to said stacked plate fins, and mounting said plurality of plate fins in said stacked contiguous relationship onto said plurality of elongated substantially parallel tubes by inserting said substantially parallel tubes into said spaced holes, said step of accumulating said plurality of plate fins in said bowed condition being effected by moving said plate fins into a space between rails which are spaced apart a distance which is less than the length of said elongated plate fins to thereby force said elongated plate fins to assume said bowed condition, said bowing being convex in the direction of travel of said elongated plate fins into said space between said rails, causing said elongated plate fins to be held in said stacked contiguous relationship by causing the outer ends of said bowed elongated plate fins to frictionally engage said rails, said bowing creating an outward force at the ends of said plate fins which creates said frictional engagement, said plate-fins having upper and lower edges, and the step of guiding said upper and lower edges to maintain said upper and lower edges and said spaced holes in alignment while said plate-fins are being accumulated between said rails.

Claim 11

A method of assembling a plate-fin heat exchanger comprising the steps of providing a plurality of like substantially straight elongated plate fins with spaced holes therein, bowing said plate-fins to increase their stability and accumulating a plurality of said plate fins in a stacked contiguous relationship to provide a bundle, providing a plurality of elongated substantially parallel tubes spaced from each other substantially the same distance as said spaced holes and oriented substantially perpendicularly to said stacked plate fins, and mounting said plurality of plate fins in said stacked contiguous relationship onto said plurality of elongated substantially parallel tubes by inserting said substantially parallel tubes into said spaced holes, said step of accumulating said plurality of plate fins in said bowed condition being effected by moving said plate fins into a space between rails which are spaced apart a distance which is less than the length of said elongated plate fins to thereby force said elongated plate fins to assume said bowed condition, said bowing being convex in the direction of travel of said elongated plate fins into said space between said rails, causing said elongated plate fins to be held in said stacked contiguous relationship by causing the outer ends of said bowed elongated plate fins to frictionally engage said rails, said bowing creating an outward force at the ends of said plate fins which creates said frictional engagement, said plate-fins having upper and lower edges, and the step of guiding said upper and lower edges to maintain said upper and lower edges and said spaced holes in alignment while said plate-fins are being accumulated between said rails.

Claim 13

A method of assembling a plate-fin heat exchanger comprising the steps of providing a plurality of like substantially straight elongated plate fins with spaced holes therein, bowing said plate-fins to increase their stability and accumulating a plurality of said plate fins in a stacked contiguous relationship to provide a bundle, providing a plurality of elongated substantially parallel tubes spaced from each other substantially the same distance as said spaced holes and oriented substantially perpendicularly to said stacked plate fins, and mounting said plurality of plate fins in said stacked contiguous relationship onto said plurality of elongated substantially parallel tubes by inserting said substantially parallel tubes into said spaced holes, said step of accumulating said plurality of plate fins in said bowed condition being effected by moving said plate fins into a space between rails which are spaced apart a distance which is less than the length of said elongate plate fins to thereby force said elongated plate fins to assume said bowed condition, said bowing being convex in the direction of travel of said elongated plate fins into said space between said rails, causing said elongated plate fins to be held in said stacked contiguous relationship by causing the outer ends of said bowed elongated plate fins to frictionally engage said rails, said bowing creating an outward force at the ends of said plate fins which creates said frictional engagement, said convex bowing causing said stack to have a convex bowed side and a concave bowed side, said step of mounting said plurality of plate-fins in said stacked contiguous relationship onto said plurality of elongated substantially parallel tubes comprising moving said tubes and said stacked contiguous plate-fins relative to each other with said tubes entering said spaced holes of said stacked contiguous plate-fins from said convex bowed side thereof, said plate-fins having upper and lower edges, providing guide means in contiguous relationship to said upper and lower edges to prevent said bowed plate-fins from moving out of said stacked contiguous relationship while being held within said rails, said moving of said plate-fins into a space between rails being effected by applying forces to said plate-fins on said concave bowed side, and exerting forces onto said concave bowed side during said step of mounting said plurality of plate-fins onto said plurality of tubes.

Claim 14

A method of assembling a plate-fin heat exchanger comprising the steps of providing a plurality of like substantially straight elongated plate fins with spaced holes therein, bowing said plate-fins to increase their stability and accumulating a plurality of said plate fins in a stacked contiguous relationship to provide a bundle, providing a plurality of elongated substantially parallel tubes spaced from each other substantially the same distance as said spaced holes and oriented substantially perpendicularly to said stacked plate fins, and mounting said plurality of plate fins in said stacked contiguous relationship onto said plurality of elongated substantially parallel tubes by inserting said substantially parallel tubes into said spaced holes, said step of accumulating said plurality of plate fins in said bowed condition being effected by moving said plate fins into a space between rails which are spaced apart a distance which is less than the length of said elongate plate fins to thereby force said elongated plate fins to assume said bowed condition, said bowing being convex in the direction of travel of said elongated plate fins into said space between said rails, causing said elongated plate fins to be held in said stacked contiguous relationship by causing the outer ends of said bowed elongated plate fins to frictionally engage said rails, said bowing creating an outward force at the ends of said plate fins which creates said frictional engagement, said convex bowing causing said stack to have a convex bowed side and a concave bowed side, said step of mounting said plurality of plate-fins in said stacked contiguous relationship onto said plurality of elongated substantially parallel tubes comprising moving said tubes and said stacked contiguous plate-fins relative to each other with said tubes entering said spaced holes of said stacked contiguous plate-fins from said convex bowed side thereof, said plate-fins having upper and lower edges, providing guide means in contiguous relationship to said upper and lower edges to prevent said bowed plate-fins from moving out of said stacked contiguous relationship while being held within said rails, said moving of said plate-fins into a space between rails being effected by applying forces to said plate-fins on said concave bowed side, and exerting forces onto said concave bowed side during said step of mounting said plurality of plate-fins onto said plurality of tubes.

Claim 15

A method of assembling a plate-fin heat exchanger comprising the steps of providing a plurality of like substantially straight elongated plate fins with spaced holes therein, bowing said plate-fins to increase their stability and accumulating a plurality of said plate fins in a stacked contiguous relationship to provide a bundle, providing a plurality of elongated substantially parallel tubes spaced from each other substantially the same distance as said spaced holes and oriented substantially perpendicularly to said stacked plate fins, and mounting said plurality of plate fins in said stacked contiguous relationship onto said plurality of elongated substantially parallel tubes by inserting said substantially parallel tubes into said spaced holes, said step of accumulating said plurality of plate fins in said bowed condition being effected by moving said plate fins into a space between rails which are spaced apart a distance which is less than the length of said elongated plate fins to thereby force said elongated plate fins to assume said bowed condition, said bowing being convex in the direction of travel of said elongated plate fins into said space between said rails, causing said elongated plate fins to be held in said stacked contiguous relationship by causing the outer ends of said bowed elongated plate fins to frictionally engage said rails, said bowing creating an outward force at the ends of said plate fins which creates said frictional engagement, said convex bowing causing said stack to have a convex bowed side and a concave bowed side, said step of mounting said plurality of plate-fins in said stacked contiguous relationship onto said plurality of elongated substantially parallel tubes comprising moving said tubes and said stacked contiguous plate-fins relative to each other with said tubes entering said spaced holes of said stacked contiguous plate-fins from said convex bowed side thereof, and exerting forces onto said concave bowed side during said step of mounting said plurality of plate-fins onto said plurality of tubes.

Claim 16

A method of assembling a plate-fin heat exchanger comprising the steps of providing a plurality of like substantially straight elongated plate fins with spaced holes therein, bowing said plate-fins to increase their stability and accumulating a plurality of said plate fins in a stacked contiguous relationship to provide a bundle, providing a plurality of elongated substantially parallel tubes spaced from each other substantially the same distance as said spaced holes and oriented substantially perpendicularly to said stacked plate fins, and mounting said plurality of plate fins in said stacked contiguous relationship onto said plurality of elongated substantially parallel tubes by inserting said substantially parallel tubes into said spaced holes, said step of accumulating said plurality of plate fins in said bowed condition being effected by moving said plate fins into a space between rails which are spaced apart a distance which is less than the length of said elongated plate fins to thereby force said elongated plate fins to assume said bowed condition, said bowing being convex in the direction of travel of said elongated plate fins into said space between said rails, causing said elongated plate fins to be held in said stacked contiguous relationship by causing the outer ends of said bowed elongated plate fins to frictionally engage said rails, said bowing creating an outward force at the ends of said plate fins which creates said frictional engagement, said convex bowing causing said stack to have a convex bowed side and a concave bowed side, said step of mounting said plurality of plate-fins in said stacked contiguous relationship onto said plurality of elongated substantially parallel tubes comprising moving said tubes and said stacked contiguous plate-fins relative to each other with said tubes entering said spaced holes of said stacked contiguous plate-fins from said convex bowed side thereof, and exerting forces onto said concave bowed side during said step of mounting said plurality of plate-fins onto said plurality of tubes.