US4697633A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Thermally balanced restraint system for a heat exchanger
Assignee: Solar Turbines Inc
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Filing: 1985-05-22
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Granted: 1987-10-06
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Expires: 2005-05-22
Abstract
Abstract The restraint systems presently used with existing heat exchangers or recuperators have a thermal growth rate different than the thermal growth rate of the core of the recuperator. The present thermally balanced restraint system overcomes the problem of a different growth rates by utilizing tie rods which are individually made of a plurality of small diameter rods has a thermal growth rate very near that of the core of the heat exchanger. As the plates of the core thermally expand and contract in response to the heat from the engine exhaust, the plurality of small diameter rods also expand and contract at a rate very near that of the core.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles T. Darragh
- 👤 Edward L. Parsons, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 11:06
CPC Classifications
F; F28; F28F; F28F9/00; F28F9/007; F28F9/0075; F28D; F28D9/00; F28F2265/00; F28F2265/26
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
In a heat exchanger including a core, a housing surrounding the core and defining a hot fluid flow path through the heat exchanger, a pair of end beams located at opposite ends of the core, and means for interconnecting the end beams so that the core is clamped therebetween, the improvement comprising: said means for interconnecting including a plurality of tie rods extending through the hot fluid flow path and having opposite ends connected to the end beams, each of said tie rods including a socket adjacent each end and a plurality of small diameter rods extending between and connected to the sockets .
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
104 words
In a heat exchanger including a core, a housing surrounding the core and defining a hot fluid flow path through the heat exchanger, a pair of end beams located at opposite ends of the core, and means for interconnecting the end beams so that the core is clamped therebetween, the improvement comprising: said means for interconnecting including a plurality of tie rods extending through the hot fluid flow path and having opposite ends connected to the end beams, each of said tie rods including a socket adjacent each end and a plurality of small diameter rods extending between and connected to the sockets .
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The heat exchanger of claim 1 wherein the tie rods have a thermal expansion characteristic which closely matches the thermal expansion characteristic of the core.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The heat exchanger of claim 2 wherein said core is constructed substantially from stainless steel and the small diameter rods are made from Inconel 718 steel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The heat exchanger of claim 2 wherein each of said small diameter rods is about 0.63 centimeters in diameter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The heat exchanger of claim 1 wherein each socket has a plurality of through bores therein corresponding in number to the plurality of small diameter rods, said rods extending through said bores in the socket.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The heat exchanger of claim 5 wherein each socket has a face, the ends of the plurality of rods extending through the bores past the face and being fixedly retained therein.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The heat exchanger of claim 1 wherein said means for interconnecting includes means for adjustably connecting each of the sockets to the associated end beam.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
69 words
The heat exchanger of claim 7 wherein said end beams have a hole therein, said means for adjustably connecting includes a threaded bore in the socket, a stud having a first threaded end portion threaded into the threaded bore in the socket and a second threaded end portion extending through the hole in the end beam, and a nut threaded onto the second threaded end portion of the stud.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The heat exchanger of claim 1 wherein each of said tie rods further includes a plurality of spacers spaced along the length of the plurality of small diameter rods.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The heat exchanger of claim 1 wherein each of said sockets is sealingly connected to the housing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
122 words
A gas turbine engine having an exhaust pipe, a heat exchanger including a core, a housing surrounding the core and defining a fluid flow path through the heat exchanger, a pair of end beams located at opposite ends of the housing and means for interconnecting the end beams so that the core is clamped therebetween, said exhaust pipe being connected to the fluid flow path of the heat exchanger, the improvement comprising: said means for interconnecting including a plurality of tie rods extending through the fluid flow path and having opposite ends connected to the end beams, each of said tie rods including a socket adjacent each end and a plurality of small diameter rods extending between and connected to the sockets.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
122 words
A gas turbine engine having an exhaust pipe, a heat exchanger including a core, a housing surrounding the core and defining a fluid flow path through the heat exchanger, a pair of end beams located at opposite ends of the housing and means for interconnecting the end beams so that the core is clamped therebetween, said exhaust pipe being connected to the fluid flow path of the heat exchanger, the improvement comprising: said means for interconnecting including a plurality of tie rods extending through the fluid flow path and having opposite ends connected to the end beams, each of said tie rods including a socket adjacent each end and a plurality of small diameter rods extending between and connected to the sockets.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The gas turbine engine of claim 11 wherein the tie rods have a thermal expansion characteristic which closely matches the thermal expansion characteristic of the core.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The gas turbine engine of claim 12 wherein said core is constructed substantially from stainless steel and the small diameter rods are made from Inconel 718 steel.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The gas turbine engine of claim 12 wherein each of said small diameter rods is about 0.63 centimeters in diameter.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
The gas turbine engine of claim 11 wherein each socket has a plurality of through bores therein corresponding in number to the plurality of small diameter rods, said rods extending through said bores in the socket and fixedly retained therein.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
The gas turbine engine of claim 15 wherein said means for interconnecting includes means for adjustably connecting each of the sockets to the associated end beam.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
70 words
The gas turbine engine of claim 16 wherein said end beams have a hole therein, said means for adjustably connecting includes a threaded bore in the socket, a stud having a first threaded end portion threaded into the threaded bore in the socket and a second threaded end portion extending through the hole in the end beam, and a nut threaded onto the second threaded end portion of the stud.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
The gas turbine engine of claim 11 wherein each of said tie rods further includes a plurality of spacers spaced along the length of the plurality of small diameter rods.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
97 words
A tie rod adapted to be used with a heat exchanger including a core, a housing surrounding the core and defining a fluid flow path through the heat exchanger, and a pair of end beams located at opposite ends of the housing, said tie rod comprising: a pair of spaced apart sockets; a plurality of small diameter rods extending between and connected to the sockets, each of said small diameter rods having a length and a diameter, the length of each small diameter rod being substantially greater than the diameter; and a fastener connected to each socket.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
97 words
A tie rod adapted to be used with a heat exchanger including a core, a housing surrounding the core and defining a fluid flow path through the heat exchanger, and a pair of end beams located at opposite ends of the housing, said tie rod comprising: a pair of spaced apart sockets; a plurality of small diameter rods extending between and connected to the sockets, each of said small diameter rods having a length and a diameter, the length of each small diameter rod being substantially greater than the diameter; and a fastener connected to each socket.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
The tie rod of claim 19 wherein each of said sockets has a plurality of bores therein through which the rods extend.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
55 words
The tie rod of claim 19 wherein each of said sockets has a threaded bore threin and said fastener includes a stud having a first threaded end portion threaded into the threaded bore in the socket and a second threaded end portion, and a nut threadable onto the second threaded end portion of the stud.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
The tie rod of claim 19 further including a plurality of spacers equally spaced along the length of the plurality of small diameter rods and connected thereto.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
85 words
In a heat exchanger including a core , a housing surrounding the core and defining a hot fluid flow path through the heat exchanger, a pair of end beams located at opposite ends of the core, and a plurality of means for interconnecting the end beams so that the core is clamped therebetween, the improvement comprising: each of said means for interconnecting including a plurality of small diameter rods extending through the hot fluid flow path and having opposite ends connected to the end beams.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
85 words
In a heat exchanger including a core , a housing surrounding the core and defining a hot fluid flow path through the heat exchanger, a pair of end beams located at opposite ends of the core, and a plurality of means for interconnecting the end beams so that the core is clamped therebetween, the improvement comprising: each of said means for interconnecting including a plurality of small diameter rods extending through the hot fluid flow path and having opposite ends connected to the end beams.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
26 words
The heat exchanger of claim 23 wherein the small diameter rods have a thermal expansion characteristic which closely matches the thermal expansion characteristic of the core.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
26 words
The heat exchanger of claim 24 wherein said core is constructed substantially from stainless steel and the small diameter rods are made from Inconel 718 steel.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
19 words
The heat exchanger of claim 24 wherein each of said small diameter rods is about 0.63 centimeters in diameter.
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) | 1990-10-05 | 1991-04-06 | 1991-10-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-10-05 | 1995-04-06 | 1995-10-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-10-05 | 1999-04-06 | 1999-10-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |