Heat exchange – Expansion and contraction relieving or absorbing means – Relieving or absorbing means supports temperature modifier...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-24
2001-05-01
Flanigan, Allen (Department: 3743)
Heat exchange
Expansion and contraction relieving or absorbing means
Relieving or absorbing means supports temperature modifier...
C165S164000, C165S162000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06223808
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a supporting structure for a heat exchanger for supporting, within a cylindrical casing, an annular-shaped heat exchanger having a high-temperature fluid passage inlet and a low-temperature fluid passage inlet at axially opposite ends thereof.
BACKGROUND ART
Such a heat exchanger is already known from Japanese Patent Application No. 8-275051 filed by the assignee of the present invention.
In general, the heat exchanger uses two or more types of fluids having different temperatures as mediums. For this reason, a difference in temperature is generated between members due to a difference in temperature between the fluids, and further, a difference in temperature is also generated between the stoppage and operation of the heat exchanger. Therefore, if the outer periphery of the heat exchanger is supported firmly in the casing, the following problems arise due to a difference in the amount of thermal expansion between the members.
When the heat exchanger is in a state having a temperature higher than that of the casing, there is a possibility that a thermal stress could be produced in the casing in the drawing direction to exert an adverse influence to the durability. On the other hand, when the heat exchanger is in a state having a temperature lower than that of the casing, there is a possibility that a thermal stress could be produced in the heat exchanger in the drawing direction to exert an adverse influence to the durability. Particularly, when the heat exchanger and the casing are formed from different materials, the above-described problems are further significant due to the thermal stress caused by a difference between the intrinsic thermal expansion coefficients of the materials.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been accomplished with the above circumstances in view, and it is an object of the present invention to ensure that a reliable seal is provided between the high-temperature fluid passage inlet and the low-temperature fluid passage inlet in the heat exchanger, while maintaining the thermal stresses generated in the heat exchanger and the casing to the minimum.
To achieve the above object, according to a first aspect and feature of the present invention, there is provided a supporting structure for a heat exchanger for supporting an annular-shaped heat exchanger having a high-temperature fluid passage inlet at one of axially opposite ends thereof and a low-temperature fluid passage inlet at the other end thereof, within a cylindrical casing which is divided axially into portions bonded together through a pair of flanges, characterized in that an inner peripheral surface of one of the flanges and an outer peripheral surface of the heat exchanger are connected to each other by a heat exchanger supporting ring made of a resiliently deformable plate member, whereby the heat exchanger is supported in the casing, and a seal is provided between the high-temperature fluid passage inlet and the low-temperature fluid passage inlet.
With the above arrangement, the heat exchanger is supported in the casing by connecting the inner peripheral surface of one of the flanges in the casing and the outer peripheral surface of the heat exchanger to each other by the heat exchanger supporting ring made of the resiliently deformable plate member. Therefore, the difference in the amount of thermal expansion between the heat exchanger and the one flange can be absorbed by the resilient deformation of the heat exchanger supporting ring to prevent a looseness from being generated in the support of the heat exchanger, while alleviating the thermal stress. Moreover, a seal can be provided between the high-temperature fluid passage inlet and the low-temperature fluid passage inlet by the heat exchanger supporting ring.
According to a second aspect and feature of the present invention, in addition to the first feature, there is provided a supporting structure for a heat exchanger characterized in that the heat exchanger supporting ring includes a first ring portion bonded to the outer peripheral surface of the heat exchanger, a second ring portion formed at a diameter larger than that of the first ring portion and bonded to the inner peripheral surface of the one flange, and a connecting portion for connecting the first and second ring portions to each other.
With the above arrangement, the heat exchanger supporting ring includes a first ring portion bonded to the outer peripheral surface of the heat exchanger, a second ring portion formed at a diameter larger than that of the first ring portion and bonded to the inner peripheral surface of the one flange, and a connecting portion for connecting the first and second ring portions to each other. Therefore, when the temperature of the heat exchanger rises, the heat exchanger supporting ring is easily resiliently deformed to absorb a difference in the amount of thermal expansion between the heat exchanger and the flange.
According to a third aspect and feature of the present invention, there is provided a supporting structure for a heat exchanger for supporting an annular-shaped heat exchanger having a high-temperature fluid passage inlet at one of axially opposite ends thereof and a low-temperature fluid passage inlet at the other end thereof, within a cylindrical casing which is divided axially into portions bonded together through a pair of flanges, characterized in that a heat exchanger supporting ring fixed to an outer peripheral surface of the heat exchanger is fitted in a socket-and-spigot fashion to an inner peripheral surface of one of the flanges, and a seal member is disposed between the heat exchanger supporting ring and the other flange.
With the above arrangement, the heat exchanger supporting ring fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the heat exchanger is fitted in the socket-and-spigot fashion to the inner peripheral surface of one of the flanges. Therefore, when the heat exchanger and the heat exchanger supporting ring are thermally expanded, the heat exchanger supporting ring is brought into abutment against the one flange, whereby the thermal expansion of the heat exchanger can be absorbed by a clearance in the portion fitted in the socket-and-spigot fashion to prevent the generation of a looseness in the support of the heat exchanger, while alleviating the thermal stress. Moreover, since the seal member is disposed between the heat exchanger supporting ring and the other flange, a reliable seal can be provided between the high-temperature fluid passage inlet and the low-temperature fluid passage inlet.
According to a fourth aspect and feature of the present invention, in addition to the third feature, there is provided a supporting structure for a heat exchanger characterized in that a stopper is provided for preventing the slip-off of the socket-and-spigot type fitting.
With the above arrangement, since the stopper is provided for preventing the slip-off of the socket-and-spigot type fitting, it is possible to prevent the axial movement of the heat exchanger relative to the casing.
According to a fifth aspect and feature of the present invention, there is provided a supporting structure for a heat exchanger for supporting an annular-shaped heat exchanger having a high-temperature fluid passage inlet at one of axially opposite ends thereof and a low-temperature fluid passage inlet at the other end thereof, within a cylindrical casing which is divided axially into portions bonded together through a pair of flanges, characterized in that a heat exchanger supporting ring fixed to an outer peripheral surface of the heat exchanger is disposed coaxially on an inner peripheral surface of one of the flanges with a radial clearance left therebetween; a spring is disposed between the heat exchanger supporting ring and the one flange for biasing the heat exchanger supporting ring and the one flange in the direction to increase the clearance; and a seal member is disposed between the heat exchanger supporting ring and the other flange.
With the above arrangemen
Kawamura Toshiki
Tsunoda Tadashi
Arent Fox Kintner & Plotkin & Kahn, PLLC
Flanigan Allen
Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
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