GB2035536A

GB2035536A - Heat Exchanger mounting

Info

Publication number: GB2035536A
Application number: GB7934884A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: PRL SOC
Current assignee: PRL SOC
Priority date: 1978-10-11
Filing date: 1979-10-08
Publication date: 1980-06-18
Also published as: FR2438813A1; FR2438813B1; GB2035536B; DE2940927A1; BE879350A; ES253433U; ES253433Y

Abstract

A mounting for an elongate heat exchanger 15 in a heater has at least two spaced mounts 2,3 at least one of which comprises a bracket 6 having a slot 8 in the direction of movement of the heat exchanger on thermal expansion and contraction, the slot being mounted on a support 7 to allow sliding so that clicking noises are reduced on warm-up and cooling. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Heat exchanger mounting The present invention relates to a mounting for a heat exchanger in a heater.

An electrical heat exchanger for a convector heater, for example, is considerably hotter when energized than when unenergized. If the heat exchanger is a rigid elongate structure, it may undergo a considerable longitudinal expansion and contraction in heating and cooling. Such expansion and contraction can give rise to objectionable clicking noises in conventional mountings for the heat exchanger.

The invention seeks to provide an improvement.

According to the invention there is provided a mounting arrangement for a heat exchanger in a heater, the mounting arrangement comprising at least two spaced mounts for the heat exchanger, at least one of the mounts being a sliding mount comprising a bracket having a slot therein, the slot being aligned with the direction of movement of the heat exchanger on thermal expansion and contraction; and a support on which the bracket is held by means of the slot, the bracket being able to slide with respect to the support in the direction of the slot.

Although it is envisaged that a bracket providing no freedom of movement may be used at one end of the heat exchanger, it is preferred that all the brackets are the same.

To fully locate a horizontal heat exchanger with two mountings one is oriented for permitting longitudinal expansion whilst the other is located to prevent movement in the direction of expansion.

Where three (or more) mounts are desirable, one will usually be a fixed mount and the others will be sliding mounts. The fixed mount may be either at one end of the heat exchanger, or intermediate the two (or more) mountings.

Preferably the fixed mount is a slotted mount similar to the sliding mount, the direction of the slot of the fixed mount being perpendicular to the direction of thermal expansion and contraction of the heat exchanger.

In one embodiment of the invention the said two mounts are situated at respective ends of the heat exchanger and both are sliding mounts having slots aligned with the direction of movement of the heat exchanger, the slots each having one open end and one blind end and the mounts being so arranged that cooperation of the blind end of a slot with its respective support prevents the other support sliding out of the open end of the other slot.

It is preferred that the support should be of heat insulating material and fixed to the body of the heater, whilst the bracket is clipped to the heat exchanger.

To help understanding of the invention, specific embodiments thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front side view of a heat exchanger having a mounting arrangement according to the invention, the heat exchanger being shown cut away to more clearly show the mountings.

Figure 2 is a perspective, exploded view of one of the mounts of Fig. 1, and Figure 3 is the back view of another heat exchanger mounted on a mounting arrangement according to the invention in an arrangement slightly different from that of Fig. 1.

The heat exchanger 1 shown in Figs. 1 and 3 is that described and claimed in co-pending patent (Serial No 1535561) application No 2764/76. It is mounted, as shown in Fig. 1 on two identical mounts 2, 3 which are secured, as by rivets, to the body 4 (see Fig. 2) of a heater (not shown). The heat exchanger has an elongate electrically heated element 5 where-with it is heated and caused to expand longitudinally.

Each mount 2, 3 comprises a slotted bracket 6 and grooved support 7 as best seen in Fig. 2. The bracket is formed from an aluminium stamping with a slot 8 in a base portion 9. Two arms iota, 10extend away from the base and both terminate with two tabs 11 and a cut-out 1 2. The arms are splayed outwardly from the base to give rigidity. With this arrangement the brackets do not readily fold, even if the heater is subjected accidentally to impact during transport, for example.

To secure the brackets to the heat exchanger the tabs extend through and are bent over at holes 1 3 in the spine 14 of the heat exchanger. The thickened portion 1 5 of the spine having the element 5 is accommodated in cut-outs 12. Support 7, of insulating plastics material, has a groove 1 6 extending around all four sides to leave a centre having a width W slightly less than the width W' of the slot 8. Arm 1 Oa is provided with a cut away portion 1 7 as the base 9. Thus the support can be slid onto the bracket for support thereof.

Mounts 2 and 3 are identical, save that mount 2 has its slot verically oriented, whilst the slot in mount 3 is horizontally oriented. By co-operation of the blind end 1 8 of the slot and the support in the mount 2, the latter is able to support the weight of its end of the heat exchanger. However the mount 2 positively locates the heat exchanged in the longitudinal direction thereof. Mount 3 does not do this though it can still carry its portion of the weight of the heat exchanger.

When the heat exchanger is in use, and particularly as it is warming up, it expands.

Mount 3 accommodates this by permitting the bracket to slide on the support. This sliding movement will be quiet especially if the support has a low coefficient of friction. On cooling and contraction the bracket moves back. Care must be taken to ensure that the support does not foul the blind end 18 of the slot, with due allowance being made for distortion of the components in use.

Fig. 3 shows an alternative arrangement.

Right mount 1 9 functions in a similar manner to mount 3 above. Left mount 20 is also arranged with its slot disposed parallel to the length of the heat-exchanger. Location of the latter in the longitudinal direction is effected by co-operation of the supports with the blind ends of the slots. However were the relative dimensions slightly different the co-operation could equally well be with the outer end arms of the mountings. The arrangement shown in Fig. 3 also has a third mount 21 to steady the longer heat exchanger. This mount 21 is essentially the same as the above mentioned mounts save that its slot has no blind ends so that the support can be assembled thereto from either end.

The invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above described embodiments. It is envisaged that the supports may be one piece as described or two piece, being split at the groove. This would facilitate assembly to brackets with slots having both ends blind, as would be convenient in the Fig. 1 arrangement for mount 2 so that the heat exchanger was securely held in the event of the heater being turned upside down.

Claims

1. A mounting arrangement for a heat exchanger in a heater, the mounting arrangement comprising at least two spaced mounts for the heat exchanger, at least one of the mounts being a sliding mount comprising a bracket having a slot therein, the slot being aligned with the direction of movement of the heat exchanger on thermal expansion and contraction; and a support on which the bracket is held, by means of the slot, the bracket being able to slide with respect to the support in the direction of the slot.

2. A mounting arrangement as claimed in Claim 1 wherein one of the mounts is a fixed mount which fixes the heat exchanger to the body of the heater so as to prevent movement of the heat exchanger at that mount in the direction of thermal expansion and contraction.

3. A mounting arrangement as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the fixed mount is a slotted mount similar to the sliding mount, the direction of the slot of the fixed mount being perpendicular to the direction of thermal expansion and contraction of the heat exchanger.

4. A mounting arrangement as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein the heat exchanger is supported by one fixed mount and a plurality of sliding mounts.

5. A mounting arrangement as claimed in Claim I wherein the said two mounts are situated at respective ends of the heat exchanger and both are sliding mounts having slots aligned with the direction of movement of the heat exchanger, the slots each having one open end and one blind end and the amounts being so arranged that co-operation of the blind end of a slot with its respective support prevents the other support sliding out of the open end of the other slot.

6. A mounting arrangement as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the or each slotted bracket is fixed to the heat exchanger and the or each support is fixed to the body of the heater.

7. A mounting arrangement as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the or each bracket has a base which includes the slot and two arms whereby the bracket is mounted, the arms being splayed to give rigidity to the mount.

8. A mounting arrangement for a heat exchanger substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.