US4829780A — Evaporator with improved condensate collection

Claim 1

Independent Claim 107 words

An evaporator comprising: a plurality of heat exchange modules each comprised of an elongated lower header of non rectangular cross section and a plurality of tubes mounted by the header along its length and extending therefrom in side by side relation; said tubes, in the direction transversely of the header, having a lesser dimension than the header; said modules being stacked and assembled together with said lower headers in sealing abutment with each other and defining upwardly open channels at their interfaces, and with the corresponding tubes in the modules in alignment with each other; and sets of serpentine fins extending between adjacent tubes in each module.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 107 words

An evaporator comprising: a plurality of heat exchange modules each comprised of an elongated lower header of non rectangular cross section and a plurality of tubes mounted by the header along its length and extending therefrom in side by side relation; said tubes, in the direction transversely of the header, having a lesser dimension than the header; said modules being stacked and assembled together with said lower headers in sealing abutment with each other and defining upwardly open channels at their interfaces, and with the corresponding tubes in the modules in alignment with each other; and sets of serpentine fins extending between adjacent tubes in each module.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 14 words

The evaporator of claim 1 wherein said serpentine fins are individual to each module.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 18 words

The evaporator of claim 1 wherein said sets of serpentine fins additionally extend between said plurality of modules.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 30 words

The evaporator of claim 1 wherein said headers are defined by header tubes and said sealing abutment is defined by a braze between adjacent header tubes along the length thereof.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 15 words

The evaporator of claim 4 wherein said header tubes are of generally circular cross section.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 152 words

An evaporator comprising: two spaced headers each made up of a plurality of header tubes of non rectangular cross section in side by side abutting relation; means sealing the interfaces of said header tubes; a plurality of substantially identical, spaced rows of flattened tubes, the tubes of each row extending between and being in fluid communication with associated header tubes in each of said headers; and a plurality of rows of serpentine fins extending generally transverse to and between said rows of flattened tubes, each serpentine fin that is interior within its row being in heat exchange relation with two of said flattened tubes in each of the rows thereof; whereby condensate on said flattened tubes may flow toward a lower one of said headers through the spaces between the rows of flattened tubes to be collected at the interfaces of said header tubes and flow therealong to a point of disposal.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 152 words

An evaporator comprising: two spaced headers each made up of a plurality of header tubes of non rectangular cross section in side by side abutting relation; means sealing the interfaces of said header tubes; a plurality of substantially identical, spaced rows of flattened tubes, the tubes of each row extending between and being in fluid communication with associated header tubes in each of said headers; and a plurality of rows of serpentine fins extending generally transverse to and between said rows of flattened tubes, each serpentine fin that is interior within its row being in heat exchange relation with two of said flattened tubes in each of the rows thereof; whereby condensate on said flattened tubes may flow toward a lower one of said headers through the spaces between the rows of flattened tubes to be collected at the interfaces of said header tubes and flow therealong to a point of disposal.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 34 words

The evaporator of claim 6 wherein the plurality of header tubes forming at least one of said headers and said means sealing the interfaces of said header tubes is defined by a single extrusion.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 14 words

The evaporator of claim 6 wherein said header tubes are defined by individual tubes.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 33 words

The evaporator of claim 6 wherein at least some of said flattened tubes are defined by an extrusion with the space between the rows thereof being defined by concave areas in said extrusion.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 14 words

The evaporator of claim 6 wherein said flattened tubes are defined by individual tubes.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 179 words

An evaporator comprising: two spaced headers each made up of a plurality of header tubes of circular cross section in side by side abutting relation; bonding means bonding said header tubes together along their length and sealing the interface of said header tubes; a plurality of substantially identical rows of flattened tubes, the tubes of each row extending between and being in fluid communication with associated header tubes in each of said headers; and each of said rows of flattened tubes being slightly spaced from adjacent ones of said rows of flattened tubes; a plurality of rows of serpentine fins extending generally transverse to and between said rows of flattened tubes, each serpentine fin that is interior within its row being in heat exchange relation with two of said flattened tubes in each of the rows thereof; whereby condensate on said flattened tubes may flow toward a lower one of said headers through the spaces between the rows of flattened tubes to be collected at the interfaces of said header tubes and flow therealong to a point of disposal.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 179 words

An evaporator comprising: two spaced headers each made up of a plurality of header tubes of circular cross section in side by side abutting relation; bonding means bonding said header tubes together along their length and sealing the interface of said header tubes; a plurality of substantially identical rows of flattened tubes, the tubes of each row extending between and being in fluid communication with associated header tubes in each of said headers; and each of said rows of flattened tubes being slightly spaced from adjacent ones of said rows of flattened tubes; a plurality of rows of serpentine fins extending generally transverse to and between said rows of flattened tubes, each serpentine fin that is interior within its row being in heat exchange relation with two of said flattened tubes in each of the rows thereof; whereby condensate on said flattened tubes may flow toward a lower one of said headers through the spaces between the rows of flattened tubes to be collected at the interfaces of said header tubes and flow therealong to a point of disposal.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 12 words

The evaporator of claim 11 wherein said bonding means comprises braze metal.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 168 words

An evaporator comprising: two spaced headers each made up of a plurality of header tubes of non rectangular cross sections in side by side abutting relation; braze metal assembling said header tubes to each other and sealing the interface of said header tubes; a plurality of substantially identical, spaced rows of flattened tubes, the tubes of each row extending transversely between and being in fluid communication with associated header tubes in each of said headers; and a plurality of rows of serpentine fins extending generally transverse to and between said rows of flattened tubes, and transversely to said header tubes, each serpentine fin that is interior within its row being in heat exchange relation with two of said flattened tubes in each of the rows thereof; whereby condensate on said flattened tubes may flow toward a lower one of said headers through the spaces between the rows of flattened tubes to be collected at the interfaces of said header tubes and flow therealong to a point of disposal.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 168 words

An evaporator comprising: two spaced headers each made up of a plurality of header tubes of non rectangular cross sections in side by side abutting relation; braze metal assembling said header tubes to each other and sealing the interface of said header tubes; a plurality of substantially identical, spaced rows of flattened tubes, the tubes of each row extending transversely between and being in fluid communication with associated header tubes in each of said headers; and a plurality of rows of serpentine fins extending generally transverse to and between said rows of flattened tubes, and transversely to said header tubes, each serpentine fin that is interior within its row being in heat exchange relation with two of said flattened tubes in each of the rows thereof; whereby condensate on said flattened tubes may flow toward a lower one of said headers through the spaces between the rows of flattened tubes to be collected at the interfaces of said header tubes and flow therealong to a point of disposal.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 72 words

An evaporator comprising: a lower header comprised of a plurality of elongated side by side, abutting header tubes of non rectangular cross section; a means defining a plurality of fluid passages for a fluid to be evaporated in fluid communication with said header tubes; means sealing the interfaces of said header tubes along the lengths thereof to define upwardly opening condensate receiving channels; and means holding said header tubes in assembled relation.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 72 words

An evaporator comprising: a lower header comprised of a plurality of elongated side by side, abutting header tubes of non rectangular cross section; a means defining a plurality of fluid passages for a fluid to be evaporated in fluid communication with said header tubes; means sealing the interfaces of said header tubes along the lengths thereof to define upwardly opening condensate receiving channels; and means holding said header tubes in assembled relation.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 14 words

The evaporator of claim 14 wherein said sealing means is additionally said holding means.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 13 words

The evaporator of claim 15 wherein said sealing means is a bonding means.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 55 words

The evaporator of claim 14 further including a manifold, said manifold including a tube extending through said plurality of abutting header tubes in generally transverse relation thereto and being sealed thereto, said manifold tube including apertures in its side walls in fluid communication with the interior of at least some of said abutting header tubes.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 26 words

The evaporator of claim 14 wherein said plurality of abutting header tubes, said sealing means and said holding means are all defined by a single extrusion.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1992-05-15	1992-11-14	1993-05-16	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1996-05-15	1996-11-14	1997-05-16	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2000-05-15	2000-11-14	2001-05-16	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Evaporator with improved condensate collection

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