Heat exchanger with internal bypass valve

Claim 1

A heat exchanger with an internal bypass valve comprising: a heat exchanger tube; a bypass insert adapted for fixed mounting within the heat exchanger tube including: a substantially unobstructed bypass tube having an open end forming a valve seat, a plurality of turbulating internal radial fins in fixed heat conducting contact with the interior of the heat exchanger tube and the exterior of the bypass tube, and a substantially bypass valve adapted to fit completely within the heat exchanger adjacent to the bypass insert including: a valve body having a diameter equal to the diameter of the bypass insert for insertion into the heat exchanger tube and at least one elongated contact arm extending away from the valve body a predetermined distance, the contact arm being substantially parallel to the heat exchanger tube and having a stop contact surface at an end thereof adapted to contact the stop face formed by the internal fins and the end of the bypass insert, a valve head for sealing against the valve seat and blocking the open end of the bypass tube, a valve head guide means retained by the valve body for guiding the valve head into and out of sealing contact with the valve seat, the valve head being mounted on the valve head guide means, and a valve actuation means for longitudinally moving the valve head and pressing it into sealing contact with the valve seat, the elongated contact arm having a preselected length adapted to function with the valve actuation means to hold the valve body spaced the predetermined distance away from the stop face, said predetermined distance controlling the operation of the bypass valve; and a securement means for holding the stop contact surface on the contact arm in contact with the stop face.