Metal working – Method of mechanical manufacture – Accumulator making
Reexamination Certificate
1998-04-16
2001-10-09
Cuda, I (Department: 3726)
Metal working
Method of mechanical manufacture
Accumulator making
C029S890030, C264S220000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06298553
ABSTRACT:
This invention relates to heat exchangers and, more particularly, to a seamless pressure vessel which encapsulates a heat exchanger unit.
Containers surrounding heat exchanger units are typically assembled around the heat exchanger unit to encapsulate the same. A relatively large access opening must be provided in the container to accommodate the insertion of the heat exchanger. Since many heat exchangers, such as hot water heaters, require small access openings for the heat exchanger fluid piping and piping for the main body of fluid, additional seaming on the container results in potential areas of weld corrosion in the case of metallic containers or areas of stress concentration which may result in the rupture of adhesively bonded plastic containers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention provides a seamless plastic pressure vessel which encapsulates a heat exchanger unit. According to this invention the pressure vessel may be manufactured by a rotational casting technique of the type set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,705,468 or a blow molding technique of the type set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,589,563.
In general, the manufacturing technique involves encapsulating a heat exchanger unit such as a helically coiled tube in a hollow, seamless plastic casing. The heat exchanger unit is positioned within a mold which defines a mold cavity having a wall which is adapted to define and form a seamless plastic envelope around the heat exchanger unit. A thermoplastic molding composition is provided on the wall to encapsulate the unit and provide the seamless pressure vessel.
One technique involves rotationally casting the seamless plastic envelope around the heat exchanger unit by mounting an inlet tube portion and an outlet tube portion of the heat exchanger unit in mounting fittings so that a heat exchanger coil is within the mold cavity during the molding operation and remains within the molded plastic envelope after the molding operation.
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patent: 5487423 (1996-01-01), Romero
patent: 5568878 (1996-10-01), LeBreton
Cuda I
Essef Corporation
Pearne & Gordon LLP
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