US4784218A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fluid handling apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1986-08-22
•
Granted: 1988-11-15
•
Expires: 2006-08-22
Abstract
Abstract The invention provides fluid handling apparatus which may be heat exchange apparatus or fluid reaction apparatus. The apparatus is provided with an interrupter structure for disrupting the fluid boundary layers at the walls of the apparatus and promoting mixing of the separated boundary layers with the adjacent core layers. One interrupter structure comprises a plurality of longitudinally-spaced interrupter elements mounted on a core rod, each element comprising a plurality of blade-like members each of at least approximately spherical segment profile in side elevation, the members extending mutually radially outward relative to one another to touch or nearly touch the said surface or surfaces adjacent the elements. The elements are spaced longitudinally from one another the distance required to provide wake intererence flow of the fluid, wherein the vortex upstream of one element cooperates with the vortex downstream of the next element in the fluid path. In a shell and tube type exchanger the bladed type of structure may be provided in the tubes interiors, while a spherical type of interrupter structure is provided in the shell contacting the tube exteriors.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard A. Holl
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 05:59
CPC Classifications
F; F28; F28F; F28F13/00; F28F13/06; F28F13/12; F28F13/02; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S165/00; Y10S165/355; Y10S165/40; Y10S165/401; Y10S165/405
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
161 words
In a fluid handling apparatus an interrupter structure adapted for interruption of the boundary layer of a fluid flow at an apparatus surface or surfaces of the apparatus immediately adjacent to the interrupter structure, the said structure comprising: a multiplicity of bladed interrupter elements disposed longitudinally relative to one another in the direction of flow of the fluid, each interrupter element comprising a common core and at least three blade-like members extending mutually outwardly from the common core so as to separately touch or nearly touch the said apparatus surface or surfaces immediately adjacent to the respective element, each blade-like member being of at least approximately spherical segment profile in side elevation so that the portion thereof most closely adjacent to the respective apparatus surface protrudes into the said fluid flow boundary layer for pointwise interruption in a zone thereof; each element thereby providing a number of adjacent pointwise boundary layer interruption zones corresponding to the number of blade-like members thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
161 words
In a fluid handling apparatus an interrupter structure adapted for interruption of the boundary layer of a fluid flow at an apparatus surface or surfaces of the apparatus immediately adjacent to the interrupter structure, the said structure comprising: a multiplicity of bladed interrupter elements disposed longitudinally relative to one another in the direction of flow of the fluid, each interrupter element comprising a common core and at least three blade-like members extending mutually outwardly from the common core so as to separately touch or nearly touch the said apparatus surface or surfaces immediately adjacent to the respective element, each blade-like member being of at least approximately spherical segment profile in side elevation so that the portion thereof most closely adjacent to the respective apparatus surface protrudes into the said fluid flow boundary layer for pointwise interruption in a zone thereof; each element thereby providing a number of adjacent pointwise boundary layer interruption zones corresponding to the number of blade-like members thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The invention as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spacing between immediately successive interrupter elements is such as to produce wake interference flow in the fluid.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The invention as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said interrupter structure comprises an axial core member constituted by the respective element common cores connected to one another and along which the interrupter elements are longitudinally spaced from one another.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
The invention as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the fluid handling apparatus comprises heat exchange apparatus in which the interrupter elements are disposed adjacent the surface of a wall through which heat exchange takes place.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The invention as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the fluid handling apparatus comprises heat exchange apparatus of the shell and tube type wherein each tube has therein an interrupter structure.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
63 words
The invention as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the fluid handling apparatus comprises heat exchange apparatus of the shell and tube type, wherein each tube has therein an interrupter structure, and wherein each tube has at least one interrupter structure in contact with its external surface through which heat exchange takes place to fluid in the shell thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
97 words
The invention as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the fluid handling apparatus comprises heat exchange apparatus of the shell and tube type, wherein each tube has therein an interrupter structure, and wherein each tube has at least one interrupter structure in contact with its external surface through which heat exchange takes place to fluid in the shell thereof, each last-mentioned interrupter structure comprising: an elongated axial core element extending in the direction of fluid flow of the fluid, and a plurality of spaced spherical interrupter elements extending along the said core element.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
The invention as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the fluid handling apparatus comprises heat exchange apparatus of the shell and tube type wherein each tube has therein an interrupter structure, the interrupter structure being free of interrupter elements at its ends.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
108 words
The invention as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the fluid handling apparatus comprises heat exchange apparatus of the shell and tube type, wherein each tube has therein an interrupter structure, and wherein each tube has at least one interrupter structure in contact with its external surface through which heat exchange takes place to fluid in the shell thereof, each last-mentioned interrupter structure comprising: an elongated axial core element extending in the direction of fluid flow of the fluid, and a plurality of spaced spherical interrupter elements extending along the said core element, the core element being free of interrupter elements at its ends.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
The invention as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the fluid handling apparatus comprises a fluid reactor in which the interrupter structure is coated with a material exhibiting reactive and/or catalytic properties toward the fluid.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention as claimed in claim 1, wherein the roots of the blade-like members meet together and define the respective common core.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention as claimed in claim 3, wherein the roots of the blade-like members meet together and define the respective common core.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
48 words
The invention as claimed in claim 1 or 3, wherein the fluid handling apparatus comprises heat exchange aparatus of the shell and tube type wherein each tube has therein an interrupter structure, and wherein the roots of the blade-like members meet together and define the respective common core.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US155936A
Cited
US172302A
Cited
US1313624A
Cited
FR367584A
Cited
FR446438A
Cited
US1203625A
Cited
US1283550A
Cited
US2034822A
Cited
US2070427A
Cited
US2068477A
Cited
US2081612A
Cited
US2300058A
Cited
US2462838A
Cited
GB730375A
Cited
US2709128A
Cited
US2897838A
Cited
FR1249001A
Cited
SU478992A1
Cited
US4211277A
Cited
GB2069676A
Cited
EP0042613A2
Cited
US4443389A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-11-15 | 1992-05-16 | 1992-11-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-11-15 | 1996-05-16 | 1996-11-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-11-15 | 2000-05-16 | 2000-11-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |