FR2827347A1 - Connector for container and contents, e.g. for plate heat exchanger comprises strip with lengthwise fold and transverse cuts forming tongues - Google Patents

Abstract

The connector consists of a strip of material (6) with a single (7) or double (7, 8) lengthwise fold along the middle forming two parallel flat surfaces (11, 12). These are cut transversely (13, 14) to make two rows of tongues (15, 16), one row of which can be bent alternately up and down to hold the edge of an inner component, which the other row acts as a spacer holding the component at a given distance from the inner surface of an outer container, with the tongues able to adapt to its shape.

Description

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 The present invention relates to the general field of the physical connection to be established between an envelope and an internal structure which the latter contains or shelters and which should be maintained in the best conditions while allowing possible relative displacement.

 In many areas, organized systems involve a container and a materially separate content which should be kept in close contact for reasons of materiality or functionality.

 The container can be of any kind and constitute a casing, an envelope, a box of all possible shapes and in which is located a structure of generally conjugate shape which, most often, must be centered and maintained inside the container. by a reliable and durable mechanical connection.

 In certain fields, such a connection must also be able to establish a relative seal for the passage, for example, of a flow, generally but not necessarily liquid, between the container and the internal device.

 Among the applications envisaged, attention should be paid more particularly to the difficulty of solving the objective sought when, for example, the internal device is characterized by the existence of one or more perimeter edges from which the connection of maintenance must be established.

 The problem mentioned above can be considered as already known and the prior art has made, for its resolution, a certain number of proposals.

 By way of example, mention may be made of the interposition of spacers which can be considered to provide a suitable mechanical connection, without however being able to establish an acceptable relative seal.

 Means of clamping by belt, hoop or the like can also be cited, but these solutions all work out by a difficulty of internal production, a sometimes delicate implementation and an increase in the overall cost.

 The object of the invention is to overcome the drawbacks of known solutions by proposing a new element for constituting a connection joint between a casing and the perimeter edge of a structure internal to said casing, such an element being remarkable for its simplicity, its relatively low cost and its simple and effective implementation for the establishment of a mechanical connection, but also for

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 the establishment, if necessary, of a relative seal on either side of the barrier that such a connection joint establishes between the container and the content.

 As a preferred application, mention should be made of the use of the element according to the invention for the connection between a ferrule and a baffle of a plate-type heat exchanger, in which it is known that the implementation of baffles for the purpose of establishing a preferential circulation path for the exchange fluid traversing the interval between the bundle of plates and the ferrule.

 To achieve the above objectives, the element for constituting a connection joint according to the invention is characterized in that it is constituted by at least one strip of finished length having: - in its substantially middle part , a folding zone delimiting, with the two longitudinal edges, two parallel areas, - cutouts formed from the folding area, parallel to each other, to extend in each area to the longitudinal edges being, moreover , alternated from one range to another, so as to delimit in the first range of the legs and in the second of the tongues, - and a line of counter-folding marked parallel and at a distance from the folding zone in a tongue on of them.

 Various other characteristics will emerge from the description given below with reference to the appended drawings which show, by way of nonlimiting examples, embodiments and implementation of the subject of the invention.

 The freeze 1 is a partial plan view of one of the means constituting the element.

 Fig. 2 is a partial perspective showing, on a different scale, a phase of conformation of the means according to fig. 1.

 The freeze 3 is a partial cross section illustrating the application of the means according to the freeze 1 after its constitution in the state according to FIG. 2.

 The freeze 4 is a plan view corresponding substantially to the line IV-IV of FIG. 3 showing in plan one of the structural and functional characteristics.

 Fig. 5 is a partial plan view similar to FIG. 1 showing, on a different scale, a second means constituting the element according to the invention.

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 The freeze 6 is a partial perspective similar to FIG. 2 but illustrating a specific shaping of the technical means according to fig. 5.

 FIG. 7 is a cross section, on a larger scale, similar to FIG. 3 but illustrating the application of the two technical means constituting the element according to the invention.

 The object of the invention, as it appears in FIG. 3, is to allow the constitution of a connection joint between a container 1 and an internal structure 2 forming or comprising a perimeter rim 3. It must be considered , within the meaning of the invention, but in a nonlimiting manner, that the shape relation between the container 1 and the internal structure 2 involves, if not a homothety, at least a conjugated form so that once the structure 2 disposed inside the container 1 a constant interval 4 is established relative to the perimeter edge 3.

Preferably, the structure 2 is centered inside the container 1 and, more preferably still, although in a nonlimiting manner, the container 1 is in the shape of a revolution, as is the perimeter rim 3. In such an application, the container 1 then advantageously has the shape of a cylindrical shell.

 The object of the invention is to provide a mechanical connection between the structure 2 and the internal face 1a of the container 1 despite the interval 4 to ensure mechanical maintenance of this structure in the internal volume that the container 1 defines. In addition, the connecting joint is also intended to ensure centering of the structure 2 and additionally, as will be seen later, such a connecting joint has the function of establishing, where appropriate, a relative seal between two media such that 5a and 5b that delimits inside the container 1 the perimeter rim 3.

 The element for constituting a connecting joint comprises at least one strip, such as 6 shown in fig. 1, in partial plan view. The strip 6 is formed from any suitable material but, more particularly, from a metal strip chosen from a material capable of exhibiting a capacity for elastic deformation and permanent folding.

 The strip 6, which is of finite length corresponding to the developed of the joint to be established, has, in its substantially middle part and according to the example of FIG. 1

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 a folding zone formed, preferably, by a first and a second fold line 7 and 8 which are established parallel to each other and to two longitudinal edges 9 and 10 of the strip 6. The lines 7 and 8 are marked, executed, formed or otherwise established to be spaced from each other by a measurement d which is substantially equal to the thickness of the strip 6, and to delimit areas 11 and 12 respectively. The invention can also be implemented work by providing that lines 7 and 8 are merged.

 From the fold lines 7 and 8, the strip 6 has cutouts 13 and 14, respectively, which are executed in parallel with each other to extend in each range, up to the longitudinal edges, respectively 9 and 10, being, in addition, alternated from one beach to another. The cutouts 13 thus delimit, in the range 11, tabs 15, while the cutouts 14 delimit, in the range 12, tabs 16. The cutouts 13 and 14 are preferably made at constant interval. The cutouts 13 and 14 can be of constant or variable spacing and be formed by simple lines or by removal of material in the form of a "V". According to a constructive characteristic of the invention, the cutouts 13 and 14 have the particularity of being provided to extend beyond the respective fold lines 7 and 8 as illustrated in FIG. 1, or even beyond the single existing line respectively when lines 7 and 8 are combined.

 According to a constructive characteristic, the strip 6 has, moreover, a counter-folding line 17 which is marked parallel to the lines 7 and 8 separated or merged and at a distance from the latter in the width of one tongue out of two.

The fold lines 17 are executed at the same spacing relative to the line 8, such a spacing e being chosen to be substantially equal to the thickness of the rim 3.

 It must be considered that the lugs 15 and the tongues 16 can have equal or different lengths and that, in all cases, that of the tongues 16 is chosen at most equal to the extent of the transverse rim 3.

 The first strip of finished length thus formed undergoes a shaping operation which, for example, can be expressed as involving the folding of the tongues 161 having the counter-folding line 17. The tongues 161 are folded, relative to the line segment of folding 8, for example to extend at right angles to the tabs 16, then the tabs 161 are folded against the

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long de leur propre ligne de contre pliage 17, de manière à être ramenées dans un plan parallèle aux languettes 16, comme cela est illustré par la fige 2. Les languettes 16 occupent ainsi un plan déterminé et les languettes 161 un autre également déterminé, qui est distant du premier de la mesure d'écartement e.

along their own counter-folding line 17, so as to be brought back in a plane parallel to the tongues 16, as illustrated by fig. 2. The tongues 16 thus occupy a determined plane and the tongues 161 another also determined, which is distant from the first of the distance measurement e.

 To facilitate understanding, the plane of the tongues 16 is shown in phantom in line 3 where it is designated by the reference P, while the plane corresponding to the tongues 16i is designated, in the same figure, by the reference Pl.

 A subsequent shaping step consists in bending the tabs 15 in the direction of the arrow fi (fig. 2) relative to their alignment with the tongues 16, so as to give them an inclined position, oriented opposite to these last, with the plane P of which each leg 15 defines an angle a greater than 90. Such an angle a can, for example, be between 95 and 1300.

 The strip, shaped as said above, can undergo another shaping operation consisting in making it conform to the shape of the perimeter edge 3 considered in plan. Such a conformation is made possible for two reasons, whether it is to completely close the strip on itself, so that its ends are or are not contiguous or that they overlap, delimiting a geometric polygonal or curved shape. . The first is due to the presence of the cutouts 13 which make possible a relative spacing in the form of petals of the legs 15 and the second is due to the presence of the cutouts 14 which, in association with the offset existing between the planes P and Pj, allow recovery partial between the tongues 16 and 161, as appears in fig. 2. It should also be noted that this conformation occurring in different planes is also made possible by the fact that the cutouts 13 and 14 extend beyond the lines 7 and 8. When the lines 7 and 8 are distant from each other, the strip naturally has a "nerve, that is to say an elastic reactivity. So that an easy manual conformation can intervene, it is preferable to give to a non-zero positive value, for example of the order of the thickness of the constituent strip.

 In the required state of conformation, the strip can perfectly fit the rim 3 on which it is threaded by means of the tongues 16 and 161, as shown in FIG. 3. It should be considered that the last conformation

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 can intervene before mounting on the rim 3 or during the latter, depending on the geometric plan shape that said edge has.

 When the perimeter rim 3 is equipped with the strip, the structure 2 can be arranged inside the container 1, so that the extreme edges of the lugs 15 come to cooperate in surface contact with the internal face 1a.

 In reality and contrary to what is shown in FIG. 3, this cooperation involves the establishment of a permanent surface contact ensured by stressing the elastic deformation of the legs 15 by bending around the fold line segment 7 who owns them.

 In this situation, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the strip 6 constitutes a connecting joint ensuring the maintenance of the structure 2 inside the container 1 with, however, a possibility of relative displacement admitted by the possible elastic deformation of the tabs 15.

 Preferably, within the meaning of the invention, the element for constituting a connection joint involves a second strip, designated as a whole by the reference 20 and illustrated, diagrammatically, by the freeze 5. The strip 20 responds, preferably, under the same structural conditions as the strip 6, by being made of an appropriate material which, in certain cases, may be identical or different from that constituting the strip 6.

 For reasons which emerge from the following, it may be accepted that the strip 20 is made of a material more capable of having a plastic deformation capacity. The strip 20 has a width which is at most equal to twice the length of the legs 15.

 The strip 20, also of finite length, has, on its median axis, a fold line 21 which is established, marked executed or quite otherwise made to extend parallel to the two longitudinal edges 22 and 23 of the strip 20. The line 21 constitutes a folding axis whose purpose is to allow the strip 20 to be folded back on itself, so that it delimits two wings 24 and 25 which are then in superposition by providing a spacing between them which is preferably slightly less than the thickness of the legs 15.

 The strip 20 is, moreover, produced so as to have slots 26 and 27, respectively marked alternately from one and the other of the edges.

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 longitudinal 22 and 23, so that each extends completely over the entire width of the corresponding wing, ie 24.25 and, in part, on the second wing 25 or 24, beyond the center fold line 21 The slots 26 and 27 are made at constant or variable intervals and can be formed by simple lines or by removal of material in the form of a "V".

 The alternating succession of slots 26 and 27 makes it possible to conform the strip 20 as said above by folding the wings 24 and 25 parallel to each other, then then conforming the strip 20 to make it adopt a geometric shape which is combined with that which define the aligned legs 15, as illustrated in FIG. 6. This possibility of conformation results, precisely, from the particular execution of the slots 26 and 27.

 In the state of adaptation of the connecting joint, as illustrated in FIG. 3, such a seal can be completed by the introduction of the second strip 20 shaped as just described, so that the wings 24 and 25, folded parallel to each other, can be engaged on the lugs 15 raised from the strip 6, as illustrated by fig. 7.

 In such a situation, the strip 20 forms a central fold 30 along the fold line 21, such a fold being responsible for cooperating with the surface la in compliance with the stress conditions imposed on the legs 15, as described above.

 The installation of the second strip 20 makes it possible to mask, almost entirely, the various cutouts 13 and thus to establish, between the media 5a and 5b, a relative sealing barrier which is, however, sufficiently effective to delimit, inside the container 1, a preferred circulation circuit between the media 5a and 5b. In a preferred application, the element according to the invention constitutes a relative connection and sealing joint within a plate-type exchanger, comprising a ferrule forming the container 1 and at least one baffle constituting the rim 3, or even in part the structure 2.

 As is apparent from the above, the element according to the invention allows low-cost production, in large series and almost in infinite length, of strips 6 and 20 which can then be cut to the exact measurement of the developed corresponding to type of joint to be established.

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 The strips 6 and 20 can be produced at an attractive price and be shaped, either beforehand or on demand, to be adapted in the best conditions between the container 1 and the structure 2.

 The invention is not limited to the examples described and shown since various modifications can be made without departing from its scope.

Claims (19)

1-Element for constituting a connection joint between a casing (1) and the perimeter flange (3) of a structure (2) internal to said casing, characterized in that it is constituted by at least one strip ( 6) of finite length having: - in its substantially middle part, a folding zone (7) delimiting, with the two longitudinal edges (9,10), two parallel areas (11,12), - cutouts (13,14 ) formed, from the folding zone, parallel to each other to extend in each range to the longitudinal edges, being, moreover, alternated from one range to another, so as to delimit in the first range lugs (15) and in the second tabs (16), - and a line of counter-folding (17) marked parallel and at a distance from the folding zone in one tongue out of two.  2-element according to claim 1, characterized in that the folding zone is constituted by at least one folding line (7).  3-element according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the folding zone consists of two parallel fold lines (7,8).  4-element according to claim 1,2 or 3, characterized in that the cutouts are made to extend in part beyond the folding zone (7,8).  5-element according to claim 3, characterized in that the first and second fold lines are spaced apart by a distance (d) corresponding substantially to the thickness of the strip.  6-element according to claim 1, characterized in that the counter-folding lines (17) are distant from the second folding line (8) by a spacing (e) substantially equal to the thickness of the perimeter edge (3) of the structure (2) internal to the casing.  7-element according to claim 1, characterized in that the tongues (16.) are folded along the fold lines (8) and against-folding (17) so as to be placed, by their alternating succession with the tongues (16), in two substantially parallel planes (P-Pi) spaced by a measure equal to the spacing between said lines. <Desc / Clms Page number 10>  8-element according to claim 1, characterized in that the legs (15) are folded along the first fold line (7) so that each of them is oriented in an inclined manner opposite the tongues making with the general plane of said tongues an angle a of between 95 and 130.  9-element according to claim 1, characterized in that the strip (6) is closed on itself without the ends being contiguous and linked.  10-element according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it consists of a first strip (6) defining the legs (15) and tabs (16) and a second strip (20) of finished length having, in its middle part and parallel to its two longitudinal edges (22,23): - a fold line (21) defining two wings (24,25), - and, from each of said edges, slots (26,27) alternating each extending over the entire width of the corresponding wing and, beyond the fold line, over part of the second wing.  11-element according to claim 10, characterized in that the second strip has a width at most equal to twice the length of the legs.  12-element according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the second strip (20) is folded back on itself along the fold line (21) and forms a fold (30).  13-element according to one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the second strip is closed on itself.  14-element according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the second strip is engaged on the legs (15) of the first strip.  15-Application of the element according to claim 1 to the constitution of a connecting joint, characterized in that the strip (6) is threaded on the flange (3) of the structure (2) and in that the tabs (15) cooperate with the internal surface of the casing (1).  16-Application according to claim 15, characterized in that the cooperation, between the tabs (15) and the internal surface of the housing, involves an elastic stressing of said tabs.  17- Application of the element according to one of claims 10 to 14, to the constitution of a connecting joint, characterized in that: <Desc / Clms Page number 11>  - The second strip (20) is threaded on the tabs (15) of the first strip, - and said second strip cooperates by its fold in surface contact with the internal face (la) of the casing (1).

 - the first strip (6) is threaded on the rim by the folded tabs (16, 161),  18-Application according to claim 17 characterized in that the cooperation between the second strip and the housing involves an elastic stressing of the legs.  19- Application according to claim 17 or 18 to the connection between a ferrule and a baffle of a plate type heat exchanger.