US4745966A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Heat exchangers and electrical apparatus having heat exchangers
Assignee: ABB Inc USA
•
Filing: 1986-07-22
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Granted: 1988-05-24
•
Expires: 2006-07-22
Abstract
Abstract A heat exchanger panel suitable for cooling fluid filled electrical apparatus, such as electrical distribution and power transformers, and method of constructing same, which withstands substantially higher pressures without adding significantly to the weight of the heat exchanger. The metallic sheet which is used to construct the heat exchanger panel includes edges which define a substantially rectangular configuration, with predetermined opposite edges therof being folded to increase the edge thickness of the sheet prior to forming the fins. The fins are formed via bend lines which extend from folded edge to folded edge. This provides at least twice the material thickness where the heat exchanger panel is welded to the tank of the associated apparatus, and at least four times the material thickness where the folded fin is welded to form the fin cavity.
Inventors
- 👤 Randall N. Avery
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:34
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01F; H01F27/00; H01F27/08; H01F27/02; H01F27/025; F; F28; F28F; F28F1/00; F28F1/10; F28F1/105; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S165/00; Y10S165/906; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/4935
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
209 words
Electrical apparatus comprising: a tank having a tank wall, fluid dielectric means in said tank, heat producing means in the tank, surrounded by said fluid dielectric means, and heat exchanger means, said heat exchanger means having peripheral edges connected to the tank wall, and a plurality of fins which extend in spaced parallel relation between predetermined peripheral edges, the spaced fins of said heat exchanger means each defining a cavity which is in fluid flow communication with said fluid dielectric means, said heat exchanger means including a metallic sheet member having a predetermined thickness dimension, said metallic sheet member having a plurality of folds, including edge folds which increase the thickness dimension along predetermined peripheral edges of said heat exchanger means beyond said predetermined thickness dimension, and spaced transverse folds arranged to provide: (a) edge fold portions between the spaced fins which function as part of the peripheral edges of said heat exchanger means which are connected to said tank, and (b) edge fold portions in each fin which are adjacent to other edge fold portions, which adjacent edge fold portions are joined together, whereby the connection between the heat exchanger means and the tank wall is strengthened without adding significantly to the weight of the heat exchanger means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
209 words
Electrical apparatus comprising: a tank having a tank wall, fluid dielectric means in said tank, heat producing means in the tank, surrounded by said fluid dielectric means, and heat exchanger means, said heat exchanger means having peripheral edges connected to the tank wall, and a plurality of fins which extend in spaced parallel relation between predetermined peripheral edges, the spaced fins of said heat exchanger means each defining a cavity which is in fluid flow communication with said fluid dielectric means, said heat exchanger means including a metallic sheet member having a predetermined thickness dimension, said metallic sheet member having a plurality of folds, including edge folds which increase the thickness dimension along predetermined peripheral edges of said heat exchanger means beyond said predetermined thickness dimension, and spaced transverse folds arranged to provide: (a) edge fold portions between the spaced fins which function as part of the peripheral edges of said heat exchanger means which are connected to said tank, and (b) edge fold portions in each fin which are adjacent to other edge fold portions, which adjacent edge fold portions are joined together, whereby the connection between the heat exchanger means and the tank wall is strengthened without adding significantly to the weight of the heat exchanger means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The electrical apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tank wall to which the heat exchanger means is connected is a cylindrical surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The electrical apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tank wall includes a cylindrical surface, with the heat exchanger means functioning as part of the tank wall which includes the cylindrical surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The electrical apparatus of claim 3 wherein the heat exchanger means extends completely around the tank.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
The electrical apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tank wall includes a cylindrical surface, with the heat exchanger means being connected to said cylindrical surface, and including openings in said cylindrical surface which are in fluid flow communication with the fins of the heat exchanger means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The electrical apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tank wall to which the heat exchanger means is connected is a flat surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The electrical apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tank wall includes a flat surface, with the heat exchanger means functioning as part of the tank wall which includes the flat surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
The electrical apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tank wall includes a flat surface, with the heat exchanger means being connected to said flat surface, and including openings in said flat surface which are in fluid flow communication with the fins of the heat exchanger means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The electrical apparatus of claim 1 wherein the edge folds are a single fold, effectively doubling the predetermined thickness dimension in the area of the edge folds.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The electrical apparatus of claim 1 wherein the edge folds are a double fold, effectively tripling the predetermined thickness dimension in the area of the edge folds.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
183 words
A method of constructing a heat exchanger suitable for fluid filled electrical apparatus, comprising the steps of: providing a flat metallic sheet having a plurality of edges which define a substantially rectangular configuration, folding the metallic sheet adjacent to predetermined edges thereof which are located on opposite sides of said rectangular configuration, to increase the thickness dimension of the metallic sheet along the resulting folded edges, bending the flat metallic sheet along a bend line which extends from folded edge to folded edge, while maintaining a predetermined spacing between the sheet material in the area of the fold, to form a fin having adjacent folded edges on opposite sides thereof, welding the adjacent folded edges of the fin to one another, on each side of the fin, to provide a heat exchanger panel having a fin which defines a cavity having an opening at one end thereof, providing a tank having a tank wall, and connecting the heat exchanger panel to the tank wall such that the cavity defined by the fin is in fluid flow communication with the inside of said tank.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
183 words
A method of constructing a heat exchanger suitable for fluid filled electrical apparatus, comprising the steps of: providing a flat metallic sheet having a plurality of edges which define a substantially rectangular configuration, folding the metallic sheet adjacent to predetermined edges thereof which are located on opposite sides of said rectangular configuration, to increase the thickness dimension of the metallic sheet along the resulting folded edges, bending the flat metallic sheet along a bend line which extends from folded edge to folded edge, while maintaining a predetermined spacing between the sheet material in the area of the fold, to form a fin having adjacent folded edges on opposite sides thereof, welding the adjacent folded edges of the fin to one another, on each side of the fin, to provide a heat exchanger panel having a fin which defines a cavity having an opening at one end thereof, providing a tank having a tank wall, and connecting the heat exchanger panel to the tank wall such that the cavity defined by the fin is in fluid flow communication with the inside of said tank.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the step of folding the metallic sheet adjacent to the predetermined edges includes forming a single bend line, to effectively double the thickness of the resulting folded edge.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the step of folding the metallic sheet adjacent to the predetermined edges includes successively forming first and second bend lines to effectively triple the thickness of the resulting folded edge.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the directions of folding the metallic sheet from the first and second bend lines are opposite to one another.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the directions of folding the metallic sheet from the first and second bend lines are the same.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the steps of bending and welding are repeated a predetermined number of times to provide a heat exchanger panel having a plurality of fins.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the step of providing a tank having a tank wall includes the step of providing an opening in the tank wall which is only slightly smaller than the heat exchanger panel, such that the heat exchanger panel functions as a part of the tank wall.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
81 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the heat exchanger panel has a circular configuration, and the step of providing a tank having a tank wall provides upper and lower tank sections each having a circular configuration, with the step of connecting the heat exchanger panel to the tank including the step of welding the heat exchanger panel to both the upper and lower tank sections, such that the heat exchanger panel functions as the tank wall between the two tank sections.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the step of providing a tank having a tank wall includes the step of providing two spaced openings in the tank wall which are in fluid flow communication with the fin.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the step of providing a tank having a tank wall includes the step of providing two spaced openings in the tank wall for each of the fins in the heat exchanger panel.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
146 words
A heat exchanger, comprising: a metallic sheet member having a predetermined thickness dimension, peripheral edges adapted for connection to a metallic structure, and a plurality of fins which extend in spaced relation between predetermined peripheral edges, said metallic sheet member having a plurality of folds, including edge folds which increase the thickness dimension along predetermined peripheral edges of said heat exchanger beyond said predetermined thickness dimension, and spaced transverse folds arranged to provide: (a) edge fold portions between the spaced fins which function as part of the peripheral edges of said heat exchanger means which are connected to said tank, and (b) edge fold portions in each fin which are adjacent to other edge fold portions, which adjacent edge fold portions are joined together, whereby a connection between the heat exchanger and metallic structure is strengthened without adding significantly to the weight of the heat exchanger.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
146 words
A heat exchanger, comprising: a metallic sheet member having a predetermined thickness dimension, peripheral edges adapted for connection to a metallic structure, and a plurality of fins which extend in spaced relation between predetermined peripheral edges, said metallic sheet member having a plurality of folds, including edge folds which increase the thickness dimension along predetermined peripheral edges of said heat exchanger beyond said predetermined thickness dimension, and spaced transverse folds arranged to provide: (a) edge fold portions between the spaced fins which function as part of the peripheral edges of said heat exchanger means which are connected to said tank, and (b) edge fold portions in each fin which are adjacent to other edge fold portions, which adjacent edge fold portions are joined together, whereby a connection between the heat exchanger and metallic structure is strengthened without adding significantly to the weight of the heat exchanger.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
The heat exchanger of claim 21 wherein the edge folds are a single fold, effectively doubling the predetermined thickness dimension in the area of the edge folds.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
27 words
The heat exchanger of claim 21 wherein the edge folds are a double fold, effectively tripling the predetermined thickness dimension in the area of the edge folds.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
143 words
A method of constructing a heat exchanger panel, comprising the steps of: providing a flat metallic sheet having a plurality of edges which define a substantially rectangular configuration, folding the metallic sheet adjacent to predetermined edges thereof which are located on opposite sides of said rectangular configuration, to increase the thickness dimension of the metallic sheet along the resulting folded edges, bending the flat metallic sheet along a bend line which extends from folded edge to folded edge, while maintaining a predetermined spacing between the sheet material in the area of the fold, to form a fin having adjacent folded edges on opposite sides thereof, and welding the adjacent folded edges of the fin to one another, on each side of the fin, to provide a heat exchanger panel having a fin which defines a cavity having an opening at one end thereof.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
143 words
A method of constructing a heat exchanger panel, comprising the steps of: providing a flat metallic sheet having a plurality of edges which define a substantially rectangular configuration, folding the metallic sheet adjacent to predetermined edges thereof which are located on opposite sides of said rectangular configuration, to increase the thickness dimension of the metallic sheet along the resulting folded edges, bending the flat metallic sheet along a bend line which extends from folded edge to folded edge, while maintaining a predetermined spacing between the sheet material in the area of the fold, to form a fin having adjacent folded edges on opposite sides thereof, and welding the adjacent folded edges of the fin to one another, on each side of the fin, to provide a heat exchanger panel having a fin which defines a cavity having an opening at one end thereof.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 24 wherein the step of folding the metallic sheet adjacent to the predetermined edges includes forming a single bend line, to effectively double the thickness of the resulting folded edge.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 24 wherein the step of folding the metallic sheet adjacent to the predetermined edges includes successively forming first and second bend lines to effectively triple the thickness of the resulting folded edge.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 26 wherein the directions of folding the metallic sheet from the first and second bend lines are opposite to one another.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 26 wherein the directions of folding the metallic sheet from the first and second bend lines are the same.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 24 wherein the steps of bending and welding are repeated a predetermined number of times to provide a heat exchanger panel having a plurality of fins.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-05-24 | 1991-11-23 | 1992-05-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-05-24 | 1995-11-23 | 1996-05-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-05-24 | 1999-11-23 | 2000-05-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |