JP2023535837A - Heat exchanger plate and sealing gasket that can be locked to this - Google Patents

Abstract

A heat exchanger plate and sealing gasket, and combinations thereof, wherein the heat exchanger plate has a plurality of locking clips integrally formed with the specially formed sealing gasket in connecting engagement therewith. It has a plurality of integrally formed locking clip housings for receiving at separate locations. Each locking clip housing has one or more windows defined by the locking rim, each window oriented with respect to the plane of the heat exchanger plate to mechanically engage the locking rim. in a defined spatial orientation to mechanically receive one or more portions of one or more locking clips to prevent inadvertent disengagement of the locking clips from the housing. [Selection drawing] Fig. 6

Description

The present disclosure relates to heat exchanger plates and sealing gaskets therefor for use in heat exchanger stacks.

The gasket in a gasketed plate heat exchanger is placed on the plate in an elongated groove, the depth of which is the plate draw depth, and is flush with the "plate peak" plane from its two sides 2 two shoulders. A placed gasket is easily moved from its position. When this happens, not only does the gasket not seal properly, but the presence of the gasket outside the sealing groove prevents the plates from properly closing, resulting in significant leakage between the plates.

Traditionally, gaskets have been glued into grooves to ensure that they remain in place. This solution is expensive and time consuming and makes ongoing maintenance of the heat exchanger difficult because the adhesive must also be removed each time the gaskets in the plates are replaced due to wear and tear. To overcome the drawbacks of adhesion, the use of mechanical clips to hold the gasket in place was invented.

The art does not know of gaskets in the form of finger tabs that utilize the (not high) hardness of the rubber to hold the gasket in place and firmly grip the sheet metal plate edge within a specially designed space. Some rubber grip clips are known. However, rubber is inherently elastic and when a non-directed moderate random force is applied to a rubber grip clip, the grip is released and the rubber gasket moves out of position.

Exemplary solutions are described in the following publications: US Pat. No. 6,186,224 entitled Heat exchanger plates and sealing gaskets there; US Pat. No. 10,663,235 entitled Gasket retention system; U.S. Pat. No. 10,544,998 entitled arrangement and assembly; U.S. Pat. No. 10,451,361 entitled Attachment means, gasket arrangement, heat exchanger plate and assembly; of heat transfer plate and gasket U.S. Pat. No. 7,490,660, entitled of plate type heat exchanger, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,935,415, entitled Heat exchanger plate and such a plate with a gasket.

Definitions The following terms are used throughout this disclosure unless otherwise stated.

"Locking clip housing" or "clip housing" is used to refer to an integrally formed portion of a heat exchanger plate. The housing has an upper "strike" portion and a lower "bearing plate" portion and is configured to receive the associated wedges of the bolt and gasket locking clip in interlocking engagement.

A "gasket locking clip" or "locking clip" is integrally formed in and extends laterally from the sealing gasket to secure the sealing gasket to the heat exchanger plate, and the sealing gasket Used to refer to the portion for insertion into the locking clip housing that interlocks with the locking clip housing.

"Window" or "locking window" is used to refer to the opening between the strike portion and the bearing plate portion of the housing, and "locking rim" refers to each flat portion of these plate portions defining the window. Used to point to a surface, each window is formed between several limbs.

A "locking rim" means that after insertion of the locking clip into the clip housing and subsequent extension of the wedge through the window, corresponding flat surfaces of the wedge of the locking clip abut to form the clip housing and locking clip. is a rim that provides interlocking engagement with the

The "containment rim" is the aforementioned flat surface of the wedge.

Accordingly, the present invention discloses plates and gaskets for a gasketed plate heat exchanger (GPHE). The plate is characterized by a length X (hereinafter "major longitudinal axis" facing north), a width Y (transverse axis) and a height Z, an upward facing side (top) and an opposite side (bottom). The plate is corrugated with an array of protruding peaks and recessed valleys. The peaks and valleys of the upper plate are hereinafter denoted as P', V', and the peaks and valleys of the lower plate are hereinafter denoted as P" and V". P' lies substantially on a single plane denoted as the (upper) peak plane. V″ lies substantially in a single plane denoted as the (lower) valley plane and the height is measured from the valley plane. Between P′ and V′ and between P″ and V″ are indicated as draw depths b' and b'', respectively. All sheet metal thicknesses between the P' planes P'' or between V' and V'' are denoted as t. The plate thickness is equal to t+b'=b=t+b'' (FIG. 4).

When stacked, the peak P' of plate (n-1) abuts (supports) the valley V'' of plate (<<), and the peak P' of plate (<<) rests on the valley V'' of plate (n+1). abut. Again, spaces (channels) for fluid flow are provided between two adjacent plates when stacked. The channel is sealed with a gasket. Each channel has at least one inlet and at least one outlet port provided by holes in the corners of the plate. Two or more holes in the two other corners of the plate are for transferring other fluid streams to the upper and lower channels. Furthermore, when stacked, fluid 1 flows above plate n and fluid 2 flows below plate n. Fluid 2 flows above plate (n-1), fluid 1 flows below plates (n+1) and (n-1 y), and the heat transfer zone or area is such that fluid 1 flows indirectly with fluid 2. Includes all plate areas that contact the

Two pairs of ports in each plate, each having inlet and outlet openings for Fluid 1 and Fluid 2, are provided along the long sides of the plate along the major longitudinal axis.

Heat exchanger plates are usually made by cold-stretch forming using a dedicated die for a specific purpose, the lower die forming a molded protrusion with a height equal to the depth of the plate draw depth (b″). and the depth of the depressions formed between the protrusions, as well as the plate withdrawal depth, is (b″). The upper mold is also made from molded protrusions and recesses of the same height (b'). The molded protrusions in the lower die enter the space between the protrusions of the upper die such that a gap with a width of about 1.2t to about 2t remains between the upper and lower protrusions. Similarly, the protrusions in the upper and lower mold cavities of the die are close to the sheet metal plate over the entire length of the geometry in that part, but with a draw radius (r) of magnitude of about t>r>3t. Rounded when in range. During the process of plate drawing, a sheet metal plate of thickness (t) is placed between the top and bottom of the die, and the top of the die is pressed onto the sheet metal plate under thousands of tons of water pressure, and onto the bottom of the die. descends towards The space and radius of the die allow the sheet metal to flow up and down, stretch, and accommodate the shape of the protrusion without damaging or tearing.

A continuous sealing gasket groove extends along the UP side of the plate. The groove has a narrow planar base in the valley V face and two sloping open shoulders extending upward from its two sides to the peak face P' (Fig. 6). The grooves, as shown in FIG. 7, surround the four openings all the way around, connecting each of them to the main heat transfer area in the plate.

The gasket groove has three main parts. The first part continuously surrounds the inlet opening for fluid 1 on the plate edge side, the heat exchange area and the outlet opening for fluid 1 on the plate edge side, hereinafter referred to as the "main gasket part". . The second part is a circular gasket part that surrounds the inlet port for fluid 2 . The third part is a circular gasket part surrounding the exit port for fluid 2 . Outside the gasket groove, an area called the outlet gasket area extends towards the plate edge. This region is shown in FIG. The area between the opening edge and the circular gasket groove around it is called the exit opening area, as shown in FIG. The outlet gasket area and outlet opening area may also be referred to herein as plate edge portions or simply "edge portions." The upper P' and lower V'' plate surfaces in the exit gasket area are exposed to atmospheric pressure. Perforation or shearing of the plate in this area is possible because it cannot compromise the performance and safety of the plate. This is also true for the four outlet opening areas, which are exposed to one fluid only from both sides of the plate.The holes in the plate in these four areas (plate edge portions) affect the operation of the heat exchanger. This understanding is key to the single-sided shear window, which is a metal housing for the locking clip, as described herein.

In this application, a lockable mechanical clip that is easy to place in a locked position but difficult to remove from this position to the extent that a tool such as a screwdriver is required to release the lock. (called a locking clip) is disclosed. Alternatively, a lever can be incorporated into the clip to unlock and thereby release the gasket.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION The locking clip 30 (eg, FIGS. 6, 9, 13A-14C, 16A-17C) described in this application is one clip within the sheet metal plate 10 (FIG. 7, for example). or made for use with a plurality of specially-shaped dedicated housings 60 (eg, FIGS. 4, 6, 8, 11B, 12B, 13A-17C), each metal, locking clip Housing, or simply "housing". Each metal clip housing 60 has one or more windows 1, called vertical windows, which are substantially perpendicular to the plane of the plate (XY plane) as seen in FIG. Each window is defined by one or more contours, described in detail below in connection with the figures, and one or more locking rims, described in detail below in connection with FIGS. 4, 19A and 20A. Defined and together with the windows form a three-dimensional surface (XYZ) created by a plate drawing process or other process described in detail below in connection with FIGS. 11A-12B. This includes an extended surface called a protective plate or bearing plate portion having at least one connection directly to a bolt groove or gasket groove or to another protective plate at approximately its center at the bottom and valley plane V' of the housing; and at least one continuous surface connecting the portion of the clip housing lying in the V plane to the portion on the P' plane called the peak side (Fig. 8).

The present invention also provides one or more molded dedicated gasket locking clips 30 (FIGS. 6, 9, 14A-14C) made with the gasket spine by hot rubber molding or any other manufacturing means. , FIGS. 16A-17C). Each gasket clip 30 includes two main parts, a bolt 106 and one or more insertion and containment units, each indicated at 108, called a wedge.

For example as seen in the figure. As shown in FIGS. 6, 9, 13A and 13B, the bolts 106 are arms or bridges extending generally in the XY plane and directed toward the exit plate edge 14' or exit opening 14'' (FIG. 7). The height of the valley plane, called the bolt groove, which emerges as a straight, curved or any other shaped line from the gasket spine 22 at a right angle or other lateral angle to the plate and is continuously connected to the gasket groove 16 of the plate. The insertion and containment units or wedges 108 are positioned according to the vertical window 1, the contour of the vertical housing each wedge engages and the position of the locking rim, and the intended method of engagement. and as predetermined by the technician or the like, are arranged in a three-dimensional spatial distribution along the bolt 106 at its ends or sides.All gasket parts described: gasket, one or A plurality of gasket bolts and one or more wedges are manufactured together in a single mold with precise configurations designed to fit their function.

Referring generally to Figures 6, 9, 10, 13A and 13B, each wedge 108 is typically shaped as a right triangle. In the figure, it is easy to identify the hypotenuse of the triangle 109 (see FIG. 10), known as the beveled edge or latch, and the leg of the triangle, called the confinement rim 115 . The beveled edge and the confining rim are connected by a junction apex located at the widest point of the beveled edge. The other vertex of the containment rim forming the right angle vertex of the triangle is bounded by the line forming the second leg of the triangle indicating the direction of the wedge arrow from the right angle vertex to the narrowest point of the beveled edge. The second vertex located at the narrowest point is connected together.

The containment rim is the locking area of the wedge 108 facing one or more locking rims of the vertical metal window so as to be confined therein. Examples of confinement rims are shown and described in detail below in connection with FIGS. 19B and 20B.

The beveled edge 109 is an edge that slides back against the contour of the metal vertical window when the wedge is pushed through the window and automatically extends back to its wide natural state as it passes the contour. be. Thus, the wedge confinement rim or rims face the window locking rim or rims which create a locking condition.

The gasket wedge 108 with its containment rim, when combined with the locking rim of the plate window, is stable and does not open easily when handled in an unskilled manner by persons not adequately trained in servicing the unit. Forms a strong gasket/plate locking clip. This increases the reliability of the heat exchanger and allows untrained personnel to replace the gaskets, or open and close them for testing, without fear of malfunctioning, as often occurs in the prior art. It becomes possible to handle and maintain them, including

Referring now to FIG. 10, the wedge 108 mates the metal clip housing with the gasket clip, thus locking them together so that its polar orientation, indicated by arrow 116 in the figure, is perpendicular to the gasket clip. It is shaped to align with the direction of pressing into the window or any combination of windows as described below.

Referring now to FIG. 8, the metal clip housing 60 described has one upper rim (P') in the upper peak plane of the plate and a lower second rim (V') in the valley plane. It contains one vertical window 1 . A vertical window extends between the two limbs P' and V'. The PV designation designates a vertical window extending between the left upper rim and the right lower rim as shown.

The VP also or alternatively designates a vertical window extending between its left lower rim and its right upper rim to allow the formation of a very strong planar or surface locking clip. For example, PV-VP has a lower protective plate VV in the center, two vertical windows on each side extending to upper horizontal rims P and P, and a new horizontal window extending between the two rims P and P. , describes a clip housing that allows a gasket clip with two wedges to be inserted.

Similarly, PV-VP-PV-VP represents the central peak PP, which has a surrounding circular valley and an outer peak between which there are four vertical windows, namely , there are two vertical windows between the central peak and the surrounding valleys and two between the valleys and the outer peaks.

The metal vertical window described includes at least one element parallel to the Z-axis (Fig. 7). The bottom of the window in the plate with width (b) starts at a minimum height V', but can also start higher than V' if the bottom rim of the window is bent upwards, thus any desired height. Allows starting height. When the upper rim of the window bends downward to the desired height, the maximum peak of the window in the plate with width (b) reaches height P″ or less. Maximum height of the window in the plate with width (b) is (P″−V′), which is equal to h(win)max=b−2t, as seen in FIG.

For simplicity, a single vertical metal window will be referred to herein as a partially perforated window with no stretch or bend, with an upper valley plane (V') and a lower peak plane (V') as in FIG. P″). However, this specification also applies equally to partially perforated, stretched or bent windows, respectively. Although only the top and bottom surfaces of the window are described, the description and claims also include surfaces oriented transversely to the sides of the window Continuous vertical upper and lower rim surfaces shown in FIG. , and parallel surfaces above and below the vertical surface shown in FIG. A locking rim provided by the structure, it is possible to use part or all of the surface as desired to achieve optimum containment and clip locking.

11A-12B, in the present disclosure, in certain portions 14 (FIG. 7) of the plate 10, the upper die and the lower protrusion of the lower die and the upper protrusion of the upper die, as predetermined. The space between the modify it while adding a one-sided shear shoulder. By reducing the gap between the protrusions to a predetermined shape at predetermined locations, the sheet metal is partially perforated (one-sided shear) in these regions, for example as shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B, and XY Depending on the form of projection of the shear line onto the plane, a curved line or straight or any other continuous or discontinuous shape of the shear line molded on a plane or any curved shape is received and stretched. With the process (lowering the top of the die to the bottom of the die), a partial hole (one-sided shear) formed in the metal transforms into a forming window, a given portion of which is either from the bottom or top to the top or bottom. or bent downward from above, or simply sheared by a window between them.

As shown in Figures 11A-12B, the two symmetrical windows 1 are formed in a single motion when the central upper die protrusion is pushed down between the two shoulders to its left and right. , all of which have sharp edges and narrow spaces (d) as described above. This creates a pair of unilateral shears parallel to each other or at an arbitrary angle. Further descent of the central die protrusion extends the central metal plate to face downward against the valley plane, leaving the plate above the two shoulders in place and sheared from this central plate. (referred to as the upper horizontal rim), thus forming two vertical windows 1, between their bottoms V'-V' extending a protective plate 8, which passes through the bolt groove or through the gasket groove 16 directly connected to the rest of the main plate by at least one connection. It also forms a new guiding horizontal opening extending between the upper horizontal rims P'-P', called horizontal windows, with at least two upper horizontal rims parallel or inclined to each other. An example of a horizontal opening can be seen in Figures 49A and 49B. A protective plate or bearing plate portion 8 is parallel to and below the horizontal window and has substantially similar dimensions. The gasket locking clip can be pushed through the horizontal window, retracted as it passes the horizontal window rim, and then return to its natural configuration when pushed. Protective plate 8 prevents the application of opposing forces pushing gasket locking clip 30 out of housing 60 . The vertical and horizontal windows, the window rim and profile, the peak side(s) and the protective plate(s) and their connection(s) all together form a metal clip housing. This structure can be described as PV-VP.

In the case of a single vertical window made by a single one-sided shear with horizontal engagement, as seen in FIG. It is provided by the addition of extension troughs 8' to protect the locking clip from unintentional removal, called protective troughs.

Similarly, multiple vertical windows of any spatial arrangement can be made, eg PV-VP-PV-PV-PV.

Figures 14A-14C show a rectangular locking clip 30 at an angle of about 45 degrees to the gasket groove (alpha and beta angles) 16, which has four vertical windows and a central protective plate between the gasket and the gasket. It includes a clip housing 60 with one bolt slot 37 that connects to the spine slot 16 . A mating gasket clip (FIG. 14B) has a central bolt 82 with four wedges 108 with downward arrow directions. Cross section AA seen in FIG. 14C shows a cross section of a locking clip including vertical and horizontal windows and a wedge in place with a containment rim relative to the locking rim of the clip housing. The arrows labeled " _Pin " seen in Figure 14C indicate the direction of force required to force the gasket clip into the metal clip housing. The counterbalanced arrows designated "P _out " show the direction of opposing force that is completely prevented by the presence of the protective plate on the bottom of the metal clip housing. Full locking between the locking clip and the housing can be seen in FIG. 14C.

The resulting vertical window of height h (superior) has a molded rim (contour) that is either flat or of any curved form, the shape of which is shown in Figures 15A-15L. Additionally, it can be square, rectangular, diamond-shaped, triangular with an upper or lower base, circular or semi-circular, or any other predetermined shape. The upper horizontal rim may be parallel to the plane of the plate, but need not be, and likewise the remaining rims of the vertical windows may be closed or closed, as shown in FIG. , may have openings in one of its portions in any direction.

The edge of each vertical or horizontal window rim defines three surfaces: a window surface, a continuous surface aligned with the window surface, or a surface perpendicular to the window surface, all of which can act as locking rims. have. For example, a triangular window has 9 potential locking rims and a rectangular window has 12 potential locking rims.

The maximum height of the window obtained from partial drilling only, without stretching and bending the metal upwards or downwards respectively, is the thickness of plate (b) minus twice the thickness of the sheet metal plate (t). It is a thing.

As shown in FIG. 4, the maximum height of the window=(b−2t)=(d−t).

The height of the vertical metal window increases the height of the window beyond the peak plane height of the plate according to the compact design of the plate, for example as shown and described below in connection with FIG. 13A. By adding local protrusions, the width of the plate can be locally increased over width (b) by greater than (b−2t), thereby increasing the function of the plate. be unhindered. Similarly, the bottom rim of the window can be made lower than the height of V″ by adding recesses below the valley plane V″ at appropriate locations according to the precise design of the plate. Elevated window, maximum height of Fl(win) is standard window. higher than the maximum height of h(win), so Fl(win)max>=h(win)max=b-2t.

Increasing the window height allows the use of higher gasket bolts. This is important as the width of the plates can be very small, in some cases only 1.5 mm. By increasing the width of the gasket clip and the width of the gasket clip bolts and wedges therewith, the strength and functionality of the locking clip are increased, improving its performance.

The height of the windows can also be reduced as previously described in FIG.

Vertical metal locking windows can be engaged in two ways: vertical engagement and horizontal engagement. Each type of engagement requires a different type of dedicated gasket clip.

In horizontal engagement, the wedges are located at the ends of the bolts and their arrow directions, the pushing directions, are approximately parallel to the XY plane, a single vertical metal window perpendicular to the wedges. The wedges are horizontal to engage locking rims formed by either side of the window (side rims) or several of the continuous rims of the window (see Figure 13) arranged in horizontal continuous rims above and below the window. directionally (downward bending is required to form a proper upper continuous rim).

In vertical engagement, the wedge is placed at the end of the bolt pointing downwards, generally in the Z direction. Pushing vertically, the wedge engages a locking rim formed by the upper horizontal vertical rim of the vertical window, which is the higher horizontal plane perpendicular to the window (P″), as illustrated in FIG. form a stable and strong vertical locking engagement.

The shearing process used to fabricate the windows, contours and surrounding surfaces can be performed precisely to spatial tolerances that leave no burrs around. However, burrs can be used when manufactured in a controlled manner, thus improving the grip and locking force by jamming within the gasket clip, thus improving the locking engagement between them. Strengthen. It is within the scope of the invention to use the presence of flash in forming the windows to increase the grip between the housings.

17A-17D, there are shown locking clip housings and gasket locking clips according to further embodiments of the present invention, described herein only with respect to differences from other embodiments of the present invention. It is

In this embodiment, as a variation of the molded wedge described above, as seen in FIG. 17B, a grip pin 300 is provided, as shown and described in detail below in connection with FIG. . In this embodiment, one or more pins extend at the ends of the bolt, each of which is slightly larger at its base than the at least two windows or windows in its opposing planes and at its tip 302 . Chamfered to form the pin insert. The dimensions of the chamfered tip 302 are slightly narrower than the dimensions of the window or windows (FIG. 17A) in the metal clip housing 30 to guide the pin 300 therein. The shape of the pin resembles the shape of the window or windows to which it is oriented substantially perpendicular to and forced against the sharp edge of the window or windows by may be inserted therein such that the surface of the pin is shrunk and distorted when inserted, both sharp edges and burrs that may be located along the contour of one or more windows. exert an opposing force. Thus, the window burrs and sharp contoured edges penetrate the surface of the pin and resist forces tending to pull the pin 300 out of the window 1, thus providing a strong grip mechanical grip or purchase according to this embodiment. Form.

The linear grip pin 300 and associated housing described above are shown in enlarged view in FIG. The locking window 1 has left and right locking rims 215 that are roughened, sharpened or deburred. As can be seen, the width Wt of the chamfer of the end 302 is less than the width Wo of the window opening, while the width Wp of the pin 300 is greater than Wo. Therefore, once easily inserted into the window 1 via the first chamfered tip, force is required to complete the insertion. As noted above, once the pin is fully inserted past locking rim 215 and compressed therebetween, a force much greater than the insertion force is required to pull the pin out of the window, causing the pin to become unusable. The chances of being pulled into attention are very low, if not impossible.

The present disclosure will be more fully understood and appreciated from the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings.

(omission) (omission) (omission) FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view of a locking clip housing having a pair of locking windows formed along the peaks of the plate edge portion; (omission) FIG. 4 is an isometric schematic view of a window formed in the side wall of the gasket channel and a transverse locking clip for vertically engaging it; 1 is a generalized schematic diagram of a heat exchanger plate; FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of a locking clip housing showing a single locking window and four locking rims; 7 is an enlarged, rotated view of the locking clip seen in FIG. 6; FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the force components acting on the wedge during insertion through the window; 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a metal plate positioned between an exemplary pair of dies prior to cold stretch forming of the plate with locking clip housings according to the present invention; FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a metal plate positioned between an exemplary pair of dies prior to cold stretch forming of the plate with locking clip housings according to the present invention; FIG. 11B is a view similar to FIG. 11A but showing formation of a locking clip, according to an alternative embodiment; FIG. FIG. 11C is similar to FIG. 11B, but shows formation of a locking clip, according to an alternative embodiment; Fig. 3 shows a lateral locking clip for engaging a vertical window projecting above the XY plane of the plate; Similar to FIG. 13A, but the vertical windows do not project above the XY plane of the plate. FIG. 10 is a detailed plan view of a plate edge portion having a 45 degree locking clip housing with four locking windows and one bolt groove; 14B is a detailed plan view and partial cross-sectional view of a gasket locking clip for locking engagement with the locking clip housing of FIG. 14A; FIG. 14B is a detailed plan and partial cross-sectional view of the gasket locking clip of FIG. 14B when fully assembled within the locking clip housing of FIG. 14A; FIG. FIG. 4 is a front cross-sectional view of a locking window with an upper rim portion formed at the peak level of the plate; FIG. 10 is a side cross-sectional view of a locking window with an upper rim portion formed at the peak level of the plate; FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional front view of a locking window with an upper rim portion formed above the peak of the plate; FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view of a locking window with an upper rim portion formed above the peak of the plate; Fig. 10 is a front cross-sectional view of a locking window with an upper rim portion formed with a high peak level; FIG. 10 is a side cross-sectional view of a locking window with an upper rim portion formed with a high peak level; Fig. 10 is a front view of a locking window shown as a triangle; Fig. 10 is a front view of a locking window shown as a triangle; FIG. 10 is a front view of a locking window shown as circular; FIG. 10 is a front view of a locking window shown as irregular/non-geometric. Fig. 10 is a front view of a locking window shown as a rectangle; Fig. 10 is a front view of a locking window shown as a semi-circle; A locking clip housing having a molded window formed in the side of a peak portion of a plate edge adapted for inward lateral engagement of an inwardly facing, internally mounted locking clip loop. 12 shows a locking clip housing. FIG. 10 illustrates the locking clip after it has been locked within the locking clip housing; 16B is a front view of the locking clip housing of FIGS. 16A and 16B showing the locking clip seen in FIG. 16B; FIG. FIG. 10 is a detailed plan view of a plate edge portion having a plurality of differently shaped single vertical windows for engaging with various types of horizontally engaging gasket clips; 17B is a detailed plan view of a gasket locking clip illustrating various types of horizontally engaging gasket clips for locking engagement with the locking clip housing of FIG. 17A; FIG. 39B is a detailed plan view of the gasket locking clip of FIG. 17B when fully assembled within the locking clip housing of FIG. 39A; FIG. FIG. 17D is a cross-sectional view of a portion of FIG. 17C showing a single vertical window with upper and lower horizontal locking rims, wherein engagement of the locking clip requires a horizontal driving direction; Indicates the basic height dimension of the window. Indicates the basic height dimension of the window. Indicates the basic height dimension of the window. Fig. 3 shows windows with a variety of different shapes; Fig. 3 shows windows with a variety of different shapes; Fig. 3 shows windows with a variety of different shapes; Fig. 3 shows windows with a variety of different shapes; Fig. 3 shows windows with a variety of different shapes; Fig. 3 shows windows with a variety of different shapes; Fig. 3 shows windows with a variety of different shapes; Fig. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a locking clip housing having a single locking window; FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a locking clip housing with locking clip bolts and wedges for locking therein. FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a locking clip housing having two locking windows and locking clip bolts and wedges for locking therein; FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a locking clip housing having two locking windows and locking clip bolts and wedges for locking therein; Figures 20A and 20B each show a plurality of housings similar to that shown in Figure 20A and a corresponding plurality of locking clips for locking therein, each in side cross-sectional profile; FIG. 10 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of a locking clip with two confinement limbs; Figure 23 shows the housing of Figure 8 with the gasket of Figure 22 seated therein; FIG. 23 is similar to FIG. 22 but shows a gasket with four confining rims; FIG. 10 is a plate edge portion and a groove, including a cross-sectional view of the gasket spine showing locking windows parallel to the groove. 25B is a cross-sectional view of the locking window along line AA of FIG. 25A, according to various variations; FIG. 25B is a cross-sectional view of the locking window along line AA of FIG. 25A, according to various variations; FIG. 25B is a cross-sectional view of the locking window along line AA of FIG. 25A, according to various variations; FIG. 25B is a cross-sectional view of the locking window along line AA of FIG. 25A, according to various variations; FIG. Fig. 3 shows insertion of a locking clip into a locking clip housing with two opposing locking windows and shows locking with six locking rims; Fig. 3 shows a gasket for insertion into a housing having a pair of angled windows; Fig. 3 shows a gasket for insertion into a housing having a pair of obliquely formed windows; FIG. 28C is a schematic plan view (not to scale) of a plate edge portion including a gasket groove, showing lateral locking windows formed in the peak portion of the plate edge (seen in FIGS. 28B and 28C); FIG. 11 shows locking windows formed in the peaks of the inwardly facing plate edge of the gasket groove, adjacent to the valleys and peaks. FIG. 11 shows locking windows formed in the peaks of the inwardly facing plate edge of the gasket groove, adjacent to the valleys and peaks. Figure 28B and 28C show stacked plate packs including lateral windows as seen in Figures 28B and 28C. FIG. 10 is a schematic plan view of lateral locking windows formed in raised geometric supports formed in the valleys of the plate; FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of a gasket having a loop supporting an inward locking clip with a release lever formed thereon; (i)-(iii) are side sectional views showing (i) locking clip housing along section BB, (i) gasket and locking clip along section AA, fully assembled; 10A shows a cross-sectional view of the assembled gasket and locking clip housing. FIG. Fig. 10 is a schematic plan view of a gasket with locking clips; FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of a plate edge having a locking clip housing configured to lockably engage a locking clip, the housing having a pair of opposing windows; Figure 3OB is a cross-sectional view along CC of the housing of Figure 30B; FIG. 30B is a cross-sectional view of the locking clip in the form of a truncated arrow before engagement along line BB of FIG. 30B; FIG. 30B is a cross-sectional view after engagement of the locking clip in the form of a truncated arrow along line BB of FIG. 30B; FIG. 31B is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 31A, but with the locking windows converging downwardly toward one another and the locking clip having an additional containment surface for engaging the lower locking rim of the window; FIG. 31B is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 31B, but with locking windows converging downward toward each other and the locking clip having additional containment surfaces for engaging the lower locking rim of the window; FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of an edge portion of the plate containing the gasket groove and a valley formed with a ridge or peak portion to form a double locking window, the peak portion of the plate edge being formed; 4 shows a laterally formed locking window. 34B shows a gasket with loops and double clips for locking with the locking window of FIG. 34A. FIG. FIG. 10 is a detailed plan view of a plate edge portion having a locking clip housing with three locking windows; FIG. 10 is a detailed plan view of a plate edge portion having a 45 degree locking clip housing with three locking windows and one bolt groove; FIG. 10 is a detailed plan view of a plate edge portion having a locking clip housing with four locking windows; FIG. 10 is a detailed plan view of a plate edge portion having a ring-shaped locking clip housing with two inwardly facing or internal locking windows; 38B is a detailed plan view of a gasket locking clip for locking engagement with the locking clip housing of FIG. 38A; FIG. 38B is a detailed plan view and partial cross-sectional view AA of the gasket locking clip of FIG. 38B when fully assembled within the locking clip housing of FIG. 38A; FIG. FIG. 10 is a detailed plan view of a plate edge portion having a ring-shaped locking clip housing with two inwardly facing or inner locking windows and two outwardly facing or outer windows; 39B is a detailed plan view of a gasket locking clip for locking engagement with the locking clip housing of FIG. 39A; FIG. 39B is a detailed plan view and partial cross-sectional view AA of the gasket locking clip of FIG. 39B when fully assembled within the locking clip housing of FIG. 39A; FIG. FIG. 10 is a detailed plan view of a plate edge portion having a locking clip housing with two round windows and one bolt groove; FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of a locking clip housing with two round windows and one bolt groove; FIG. 10 is a detailed plan view of a plate edge portion having a locking clip housing with a single long round window and a single bolt groove; FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a round window formed in the peak portion of the plate edge portion; FIG. 4 is a plan view of a round window formed in the peak portion of the plate edge portion; Figure 42B is an enlarged cross-sectional view along AA of Figure 42B; FIG. 4 is a plan view of a series of adjacent plate edge portions of a locking window; 43B is a plan and side view of a series of similar locking clips configured to engage a series of adjacent pairs of locking windows of FIG. 43A; FIG. 43B is an enlarged view of the single locking clip seen in FIG. 43B with an integrated squeezeable top portion to facilitate insertion into the locking clip housing; FIG. FIG. 3 is a detailed top isometric view of an edge of a heat exchanger plate having locking clip housings formed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3 is a detailed top isometric view of an edge of a heat exchanger plate having locking clip housings formed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 45B is a bottom view similar to Figure 45A; Figure 45B is a bottom view similar to Figure 45B; 1 is a detailed view of a portion of a sealing gasket having a locking clip formed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a detailed view of a portion of a sealing gasket having a locking clip formed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a detailed view of a portion of a sealing gasket having a locking clip formed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a detailed view of a portion of a sealing gasket having a locking clip formed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. FIG. 47D is a detailed view of the locking clip housing and locking clip of FIGS. 45A-47D from above just prior to inserting the locking clip into the locking clip housing; 48B is a detailed view of the locking clip housing and locking clip of FIGS. 45A-47D in interlocked engagement when viewed from below, corresponding to the view of FIG. 48A; FIG. 8B is a partial cross-sectional view from a different angle of the locking clip housing and locking clip shown in FIGS. 8A-8B; FIG. 8B is a partial cross-sectional view from a different angle of the locking clip housing and locking clip shown in FIGS. 8A-8B; FIG. FIG. 41B is a schematic view of a locking clip prior to locking engagement with a gasket locking clip housing as viewed in section AA of FIG. 41A, according to one embodiment of the present invention; 48E is a further view of the locking clip and locking clip housing of FIG. 48E; FIG. FIG. 10 is a detailed plan view of the plate edge portion with a single vertical window of the clip housing opening directly into the gasket groove; FIG. 10 is a detailed plan view of a horizontal locking clip with wedges for use with the horizontal locking clip; Fig. 10 is a plan view of the complete assembly of the locking clip with the housing; 17B is an isometric view of the linear locking pin and associated locking clip housing seen in FIG. 17B, according to a further embodiment of the present invention; FIG.

The present specification relates to further aspects of the invention as illustrated in some of the drawings not described above in the general description.

6, 13A and 13B, an inwardly facing vertical window formed in the outer gasket or plate edge portion 14' whose bolt groove 67 is continuous and coplanar with the gasket groove 16. Two different types of engagement between 1 and locking clip 30 can be seen. Note that in one embodiment, the upper vertical locking rim 6 defining the upper portion of the window may be formed at the height of the peak plane P', as seen in Figures 6 and 13B. On the other hand, in FIG. 13A, projections 62 are provided that extend above the height of the peak plane P', thereby advantageously increasing the height of the window and locking clip bolts of correspondingly greater height or thickness. 106 and wedges 108 can be used.

The main difference between the two illustrated configurations is that while the locking clip extends laterally from the gasket spine 22, the direction of engagement is vertical in FIG. 6 and horizontal in FIGS. 13A and 13B. There is something.

In the embodiment of FIG. 6, the exemplary truncated arrow shape provided by the wedges also seen in FIG. It is aligned so as to face the downward vertical direction at right angles and at right angles to the direction of entry into the window 1 . As the locking clip is forced into the Z direction or vertical direction as shown, the beveled edge 109 of each wedge 108 contracts into engagement with the vertical locking rim 4 as shown. After removing the locking rim 4, the wedges expand to their original shape such that the upwardly pointing horizontal wedge confining rim 103 engages the continuous locking rim 6, thereby becoming connected to the .

However, with respect to FIGS. 13A and 13B, gasket bolt 106 is formed with the truncated arrow pointing horizontally in the XY plane indicated by horizontal arrow 99 and is formed to engage housing 60. .

In the embodiment of FIG. 13A, the vertical window 1 is provided with a pair of left and right vertical locking rim portions 150 in the form of right triangles defining a front locking rim 214 and rear, left and right locking rims 215 . . Wedge 6 , both coplanar with bolt 106 extending horizontally from spine 22 , has vertical, left and right containment rims 115 .

As the locking clip is forced into the indicated Y or horizontal direction, the beveled edges 109 of each wedge 108 contract into engagement with the indicated front locking rim 214 . After removing the rear locking rim 215, the wedges expand to their original shape so that the vertical wedge confinement rim 115 engages the rear continuous locking rim 215, thereby interlocking with the locking clip housing. become.

Referring briefly to FIG. 9, there is shown a locking clip formed with a downward truncated arrow profile. However, unlike the locking clip of FIG. 6, it has a rearward facing vertical containment rim 117 .

Referring now also to Figures 18A-18I, windows formed in accordance with the present invention have molded contoured rims of flat or arbitrarily curved configuration, the shapes of which may be square, rectangular, diamond-shaped, as shown. , triangular, or any other shape. The upper line UL of the window (eg FIGS. 18D and 18EI) may be parallel to the XY plane of the plate, as other contours of the window are possible, but need not be. . Further, the shape of the window may be closed in one of its portions in any direction, or open in any direction, as predetermined or as seen in FIGS. 18D-18I. may have.

19A, which is a schematic side cross-sectional view of a locking clip housing 60 having a single window 1. FIG. The window 1 is bounded on all sides by a window rim surface having an upper rim 2 and a lower rim 3, and side rims (not shown), all of which are substantially parallel to the plane of the window 1. The rim is essentially the outward continuation of the window and is sometimes referred to as the "continuous planar rim surface" of the window. They include an upper continuous locking rim 4 and a lower continuous locking rim 5 in this figure. A rim surface perpendicular to the planar rim surface is the rim surface perpendicular thereto and includes an upper vertical side or rim 6 and a lower vertical side or rim 7 . It will be appreciated that the profiled windows described are arranged along the connecting lines between the continuous rim surfaces 4 and 5 and the vertical rim surfaces 6 and 7 .

For simplicity, the windows shown in FIG. 19A are shown as having a maximum height with no stretching or bending. However, the above descriptions and features also apply to partially perforated, stretched or bent windows, with portions shown and described below similar to those shown and described above. Components are indicated by like reference numerals. Although only the upper and lower rims of the single window 1 of the single locking clip housing 60 are illustrated, lateral rims and other features not seen in FIG. 19A are additional implementations of the invention. It will also be appreciated that what has been shown and described in terms of forms.

The continuous vertical upper and lower rim surfaces shown and described with respect to the single window example of FIG. 19A and the parallel top, bottom, left, and right pairs of vertical locking rims are illustrated in FIG. As shown by one embodiment, a partially perforated (and stretched) window structure (or window) is available to provide support and locking rims for the corresponding wedge containment rims. A locking rim.

Referring now briefly to FIG. 19B, gasket locking clip 30 includes a bolt 106 having, in this example, two containment wedges 108, each formed with a pair of containment rims and corresponding When forced into abutting engagement with the locking rim, it functions to trap the bolt 106 within the housing 60 and is locked therein.

Specifically, the illustrated wedge 108 has the following containment rims.
a. Upper continuous closing rim 102 for abutting upper continuous locking rim 4
b. an upper vertical closing rim 103 for abutting the upper vertical locking rim 6;
c. Lower continuous closing rim 104 abutting lower continuous locking rim 5
d. Lower vertical closing rim 105 abutting lower vertical locking rim 7

Part or all of the containment rim can be used to achieve optimum containment and clip locking.

The gasket bolt 106 and its wedge 108 can extend and connect to a window or windows in the plate as shown in various examples below. The windows may be perpendicular to the XY plane of the plate or may lie at an angle to the XY plane and the X and Y axes.

The gasket forms a wedge with a containment rim when combined with the locking surface of the plate window, and those who are not well trained in servicing heat exchangers using the plates and gaskets described herein Forms a stable and strong gasket-to-plate connection that does not easily open when handled in an unskilled manner by a person. This increases the reliability of such heat exchangers and, like the prior art, allows untrained personnel to replace the gaskets, or open and close them for testing, without causing possible malfunctions. make it possible to handle and maintain them, including

For brevity and ease of reference, unless otherwise indicated, the following reference numbers apply throughout the specification to constrain the containment surface of the locking clip when referring to the locking window, its rim. be done.
1 - Window 2 - (generally) upper rim 3 - (generally) lower rim 4 - upper continuous (locking) rim 5 - lower continuous (locking) rim 6 - upper vertical (locking) rim 7 - lower vertical (locking) rim 102 - upper continuous confinement rim 103 - upper vertical confinement rim 104 - lower continuous confinement rim 105 - lower vertical confinement rim,
The left and right sides that correspond to each other are indicated with the same reference numerals, but with an apostrophe ('). For example, the left lower continuous (locking) rim of the window is designated 5 and the corresponding rim on the right is designated 5'.

Referring now to Figure 20, there is shown a locking clip housing 60 having two locking windows 1 and 1'. These windows are similar to those shown and described in connection with FIG. 19A above, which are not specifically described again here. 21 configured to be forced into housing 60 (FIG. 20) is shown and described in FIG. 3B, except the full profile is shown here. , the left side of the bolt and its wedge 108 is configured to enter into the left side window 1 and abut its various locking rims, and the right side of the bolt and its wedge 108' is in the left side window G. and is shaped to abut with its various locking rims.

Referring now again to FIG. 8, a schematic cross-sectional side view of locking clip housing 60 showing a single locking window 1 and four locking rims 4, 5, 6 and 7 as shown in FIG. 3A. can be seen. As shown in Figures 19A, 22 and 23, the housing 60 can be variously configured to have an upper continuous containment rim 102, an upper vertical containment rim 103, and a lower continuous containment rim. A clip bolt 106 can be locked. The flow bar, bolt 106 can be modified as shown and described in connection with FIG. 19B to have an additional bottom wedge 108''.

Referring now to FIG. 25A, there is shown a plate edge portion having a locking clip housing 60 which includes a single window 1 having a profile extending along the groove 16, as seen in the plan view shown. . This can be seen more clearly in FIG. 25B, which clearly shows the XY plane offset between the upper continuous locking rim 4 and lower and 5 respectively. In FIG. 25E the profile is as seen in FIG. 3A and in FIG. 25D there is an overhang, with the upper window edge overhanging the lower edge.

26, locking clip housing 60 having two windows 1 and G as described above in connection with FIG. 20 and its bolt 106 has a cross-sectional profile of a truncated arrow when viewed. A locking clip 30 is shown. This combination is shown and described in detail below in connection with FIGS. 45A-48F and is therefore not described again here.

As described herein, locking clip 30 and locking clip housing 60 are distributed along the Z axis, ie, as long as the window opening has a separate component perpendicular to the XY plane of the plate. Provided that the requisite number of locking and confining rims are provided, they can be provided in any number and many different orientations relative to the XYZ system of axes described above in connection with FIG. good too. For example, referring now to Figures 27A and 27B, there is seen a gasket with a diagonal wedge for insertion into a dual locking clip having a pair of correspondingly formed diagonally oriented windows.

Figures 28A-28C show a window 1 formed in the edge portion 14' of the plate including its gasket groove, the window being located at the peak portion labeled "Peak" of the plate edge 14'. It is formed along the edge of the groove 16 . FIG. 28D shows a plurality of stacked plates, each having a housing shown in FIGS. 28B and 28C in which gaskets are locked.

Referring now to Figures 29A and 29C(i), there is seen a plate edge with outwardly facing locking windows 1 formed in raised geometric supports 203 formed in plate valleys 202. . A suitably formed locking clip is shown in FIG. 29B as being spaced from the spine 22 of the gasket 20 by the loop 206 on which the locking clip 30 is formed. The wedge portion 8 of the locking clip appears to face inwardly towards the spine so that it can be lockingly inserted into the outward facing window 1 . The wedge portion has suitable upward and downward containment rims for abutting containment by corresponding locking rims. A grippable handle that can be used to insert the wedge portion 8 into the window 1 to bring the locking clip into locking engagement with the housing 60, as seen in FIGS. 29C(ii) and (iii). Alternatively, a lever 208 may be provided. A similar solution can be seen in Figures 33A and 33B, with a pair of opposing windows 1, G formed between two raised surfaces 203 parallel to the gasket grooves, and a locking clip (Figure 33B). has a pair of wedge portions 8, 8' for insertion through windows 1, 1' as described herein.

As shown in FIG. 30B, window 1 may be formed to extend in a direction perpendicular to gasket groove 16 . In this example, a pair of inwardly facing windows 1' and 1'' are formed in the recessed portion 202 of the plate edge portion 14'. Their upper continuous locking rim extends along a line parallel to the axis (FIG. 1) or along a slight inclination to it as seen in FIG. 32A also seen in detail in FIG. 4 and lower continuous locking rim 5. The shape of the bolt and wedge portions of the locking clip shown in FIGS. 32A and 32B are as shown and described with respect to FIG. 21 .

Regardless of the configuration, however, referring briefly again to Figures 31A-31B, the distance between the upper and lower vertical containment rims of the locking clip and the distance between the upper and lower vertical locking rims of the locking clip. The distances between the vertical locking rims are equal and are indicated by the letter "a" in the drawings.

Referring now briefly to Figures 15A-15L, examples are provided showing various shapes in which the windows of the gasket locking clip housing of the present invention may be implemented. These examples also clearly demonstrate the various heights at which windows can be formed with respect to the XY plane of the plate (FIG. 1), being coplanar, raised, and shown. Irregular like an irregularly shaped window.

As will be appreciated from the foregoing description, the clip housing 60 of the present invention may be formed with multiple locking windows in various orientations and formed to be connected together by single or multiple bolts. and correspondingly varying orientations of gasket locking clips, all of which embody the basic structure and mode of operation of the present invention shown and described above.

Thus, by way of example only, referring to FIGS. 35-41 and 49-51:
locking clip housing with three locking windows (Fig. 35);
45 degree locking clip housing with 3 locking windows and 1 bolt groove (Fig. 36);
a locking clip housing with four locking windows (Fig. 37);
Two inward or internal locking windows (FIG. 38A) having locking clips configured for locking engagement with locking clips (FIG. 348) shown fully assembled in FIG. 38C ), a ring-shaped locking clip housing having
Two ring-shaped locking clip housings with two inward or internal locking windows and two outward or external windows (Fig. 39A), wherein the locking clip two ring-shaped locking clip housings configured to engage a locking clip and shown fully assembled in FIG. 39C;
locking clip housing with two round windows and one bolt groove (FIGS. 40A and 40B);
a plate edge portion having a locking clip housing with a single long round window and one bolt groove (FIG. 41);
vertical single window with different types of horizontal engagement clips (Fig. 49);
A clip housing may be provided that opens directly into the gasket groove (Fig. 50).

Further examples of embodiments of the present invention are shown in the figures. A round window 1 is shown in FIGS. 42A-42C. It can be clearly seen that in this embodiment the windows formed as partial perforations in the ridges or peaks 203 of the plate edge portion 14' are open in three directions. The top or strike portion of the housing 60 is the peripheral portion of the plate edge and defines the top continuous locking rim 4 and the top vertical locking rim 6, while the bottom or bearing portion of the housing forms the bottom of the window. , a lower continuous locking rim 5 and a lower vertical locking rim 7 .

43A and 43B, multiple windows may be formed in the plate edge, such as the series of pairs of inward facing windows 1, 1' seen in FIG. 43A. In this example, a series of 6 pairs is shown. Also seen is a gasket 20 (FIG. 43B) suitable for interlocking engagement with a series of pairs of windows. The exemplary series of four locking clips 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d may be of any suitable configuration embodying the present invention, as shown by way of example. As seen in the enlarged view of FIG. 44, locking clip 30a, which is a variation of the locking clip described above in connection with FIG. 20B, also has a recess 310 formed in its upper portion. This provides additional flexibility to the locking clip which may aid in inserting the locking clip into the housing.

45A-48D, further embodiments of the present invention are shown and described herein. As seen in Figures 45A-46B, edge portion 14 appears to be formed from a series of alternating hills 112 and valleys 114, typically as is known in the art. This pattern is imprinted into the sheet metal along with other functional features of the plate.

During the stamping process, locking clip housings 60 are formed at each of the locations 14 (FIG. 7) within the edge portion 14 of the plate 10 . The locking clip housing 60 is essentially a partial drilling of the edge portion 14 so as to form an opening 62 (FIGS. 48E and 48F), as described in detail below. , resulting in locking clip housing parts with different heights. Typically, as noted above, the locking clip housing 60 is formed by modifying the die used in the stamping process, particularly with respect to die tolerances, thereby selecting sheet metal that would otherwise be drawn. mechanical shear, thereby obtaining a continuous wavy pattern of hills and valleys in which the locking clip housing 60 is formed, as described above.

As can be seen, locking clip housing 60 is integrally formed with plate edge portion 14 for interlocking engagement with gasket locking clip 30 . Locking clip housing 60 has locking openings 62 (FIG. 48E) for receiving sealing gasket bolts 106 (shown and described below) in interlocking engagement. The orifice 62 also seen in FIG. 48C has a width Wo sized to accommodate the bolt width Wb and a depth Do sized to accommodate the bolt height Hb. 64.

The locking clip housing 60 is formed from planar strike portions 66 that are part of the edge portion 14 of the plate 10 configured to form an orifice 64 and are therefore coplanar. As can be seen, orifice 64 is typically bounded on three sides and typically opens into groove 16 on the fourth side, as indicated by reference number 65 .

A protective bearing plate portion 68, spaced a depth Do from the strike portion 66, is connected between the plate edge portion 14 and the groove 16 and is a bolt wedge shown and described in connection with FIGS. 47A-48D below. Defining a side window 1 for accommodating 108 .

As shown, the planar strike portion 66 has a pair of upper continuous locking rims 4, 4' and upper vertical locking rims 6, 6' which together define the width Wo of the orifice 64 (Figs. 46A and 46A). 46B).

The bearing plate portion 68 has a pair of lower continuous locking rims 5, 5' and a lower vertical locking rim 7 parallel to the upper vertical locking rim 6 of the planar strike portion.

45A-46B, the protective bearing plate portion 68 has a first end 82 and a second end 84, respectively, with the first end 82 extending in the region of the groove 16. The second end 84 is connected adjacent to the plate edge portion 14 by a transition bearing portion 69 having a predetermined slope.

47A-48D, a locking clip 30 of the present invention has a bolt 106 formed with and extending laterally from the gasket spine. The width Wb of the bolt 106 and the height Fib of the bolt 106 taken in a direction parallel to the spine 22 are predetermined for insertion into the opening 62 of the locking clip housing, Wb being the width of the orifice 64. The width Wo is equal to or slightly greater than the height Fib so that, upon full insertion of the bolt 106 into the opening 62, the lower confinement rim 105 extends into the protective bearing plate portion 68, as seen in FIG. 44D. is equal to the depth Do of the opening 62 so as to engage . The presence of the bearing plate portion 68 not only helps to lock the bolt 106 and thus the locking clip 30, but it could otherwise push the bolt 30 upward through the locking clip housing 60 directly. By preventing excessive force from being applied to the lower containment rim 105, inadvertent release of the locking clip 106 is also prevented.

As shown, the bolt 106 typically has a pair of laterally disposed elastically deformable wedges 108 . In this example, each wedge 108 has an upper vertical containment rim 103 and the width Wf of wedge 108 measured from tip 35 of one wedge 108 to tip 35 of the other wedge 108 is It is larger than the width Wb and larger than the width Wo of the orifice 64 . As shown schematically in FIGS. 5A and 5B, bolts 106 and elastically deformable wedges 108 are forced through orifices 64 and into openings 62, resulting in substantially flat lower confinement rims 105 from the bearing plate. The wedge 108 is elastically deformed through the orifice 64 and into the opening 62 until it directly abuts the lower vertical locking rim 7 of the portion 68 .

Once the wedge 108 clears the upper continuous locking rim 4 of the molded edge of the strike portion 66, the wedge elastically recovers to extend laterally through the window 1 (FIGS. 5A and 5B), Upper vertical containment rim 103 of each wedge 108 then engages upper vertical locking rim 6 of strike portion 66 to resist withdrawal of bolt 106 from opening 62 through orifice 64 .

Further, the engagement of the lower containment rim 105 with the lower vertical locking rim 7 of the protective bearing plate portion 68 is similar to the engagement of the upper vertical locking rim 103 of the wedge 108 with the upper vertical locking rim 6 of the downward facing surface of the strike portion 66. It will be appreciated that in combination with the coupling, it is combined to resist the rotational unlocking force applied to the locking clip 30 .

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited by what is specifically shown and described above, by way of example only. Rather, the invention is defined only by the following claims.

Claims (19)

having a length extending along the X-axis and a width extending along the Y-axis perpendicular to the X-axis such that the plate lies in the XY plane, and a Z-axis perpendicular to the XY plane; A heat exchanger plate having topographical features with at least a parallel Z component,
a. upper and lower sides and at least one edge portion;
b. said edge for seating the spine of a sealing gasket having at least one locking clip including a bolt and at least one bolt wedge projecting laterally from said bolt and having at least one slanted confinement rim; a groove formed in the upper side parallel to the portion;
c. at least one locking clip housing integrally formed with said edge portion for locking engagement with said at least one gasket locking clip;
each of the at least one locking clip housing comprising:
a strike portion contiguous with a predetermined edge portion and terminating in at least one upper locking rim portion;
a bearing plate portion connected to said edge portion and terminating in at least one lower locking rim portion;
at least one side rim portion interposed between said upper locking rim and said at least one lower locking rim and together defining a window lying in a plane; The directional component of the plane includes at least one Z-component parallel to the Z-axis, the window abutting the upper locking rim portion and the lower locking rim portion, and the upper locking rim portion and the lower locking rim portion. A heat exchanger plate configured to receive said at least one bolt wedge in locking containment with a stop rim portion. each of said upper locking rim portions comprising an upper continuous locking rim and an upper vertical locking rim; each of said lower locking rim portions comprising a continuous locking rim and an upper vertical locking rim; 2. The heat exchanger plate of claim 1, wherein each of the locking rim and the lower continuous locking rim lies in a plane whose directional component includes at least one Z component parallel to the Z axis. 3. The heat exchanger of claim 2, wherein said upper continuous locking rim and said lower continuous locking rim are coplanar with each other and said upper vertical locking rim and said upper vertical locking rim are parallel to each other. plate. each said strike portion terminating in at least two upper locking rim portions, said bearing plate portion terminating in at least two said side rims, said at least one side rim being joined by a pair of said side rims; including
2. The heat exchanger plate of claim 1, wherein said pair of upper locking rim portions, said pair of lower rim portions, and said pair of side rim portions define a pair of said windows therebetween. each said strike portion terminating in a predetermined number of upper locking rim portions; said bearing plate portion terminating in a predetermined number of lower locking rim portions equal to said predetermined number of said upper locking rim portions; with a single one of said upper locking rim portions aligned with a single one of said lower locking rim portions and opening windows such that the total number of windows equals said predetermined number; 2. The heat exchanger plate of claim 1, defining: The topography includes peaks and valleys, the total height of the plate is the maximum distance between the peak portion of the highest peak and the bottom of the lowest valley, measured parallel to the Z-axis, and the window is 2. A heat exchanger plate according to claim 1, having a height greater than said total height of said plate when measured between the top and bottom of said vertical locking rim. said upper and lower locking rim portions comprising:
2. The heat exchanger plate of claim 1, configured to define windows of shapes selected from the group of squares, circles, rectangles, triangles, rhombuses, irregular non-geometric shapes. The locking clip housing has a depth equal to the distance between the upper vertical locking rim and the lower vertical locking rim, the depth allowing the bolts of the locking clip to move in a predetermined direction. 3. A heat exchanger plate as claimed in claim 2 equal to the depth required to accommodate it. For use with a heat exchanger plate lying in the XY plane and having top and bottom portions, at least one edge portion, a gasket groove and a locking clip housing integral with said edge portion, A locking clip housing has a strike portion and a bearing plate portion spaced apart transversely to the XY plane to form an opening having a width measured transversely to the insertion axis and said strike; A sealing gasket wherein a portion and said bearing plate portion have locking rims, and wherein a locking window is defined between said locking rims across said bearing plate portion;
a. a spine for seating within the groove;
b. at least one integrally formed locking clip, comprising:
a bolt extending laterally from said spine sized to seat within an opening to abut one of the locking rims of the bearing plate portion when fully inserted;
at least one compressible wedge extending laterally from said bolt such that the combined width of said bolt and said at least one wedge is greater than the width of said opening, said wedge providing at least one containment at least one compressible wedge having a rim; and a locking clip having a rim, wherein when said bolt and said at least one wedge are fully inserted into said opening, said bolt engages said locking rim of said bearing plate. and thereby protected from direct unlocking forces, said at least one wedge allowing said at least one containment rim to engage a locking rim of said strike portion and said bearing plate portion. A sealing gasket extending laterally from the bolt through the locking window to engage at least one of the stop rims thereby resisting withdrawal of the locking clip from the housing. The strike portion has an upper continuous locking rim and an upper vertical locking rim, and the bearing plate portion has a lower continuous locking rim and a lower vertical locking rim opposite the upper vertical locking rim. has
said at least one wedge comprising at least two wedges, each of said at least one wedge abuttingly engaging a predetermined one of said locking rims of said strike portion and said bearing plate portion; 10. The sealing gasket of claim 9, having at least one confining rim configured to , and be confined by the locking rim. The at least two wedges comprise an upper wedge, and on the upper wedge:
an upwardly facing upper continuous closure rim configured to abut said upper continuous locking rim;
an upper vertical containment rim configured to abut the upper vertical locking rim;
a downwardly facing lower continuous closure rim configured to abut the lower continuous locking rim;
11. The sealing gasket of claim 10, further comprising a lower vertical containment rim configured to abut said lower vertical locking rim. said locking window lies in a plane transverse to said XY plane and said upwardly facing upper continuous containment rim and said downwardly facing lower continuous containment rim are coplanar with said plane of said locking window; 12. A sealing gasket according to claim 11. wherein the locking window lies in a plane transverse to the XY plane, and wherein the upwardly facing upper vertical containment rim and the downwardly facing lower vertical containment rim are perpendicular to the plane of the locking window; Item 12. The sealing gasket according to item 11. said locking pin housing including a pair of strike portions, an upper vertical locking rim of said strike portion mating with said lower vertical locking rim to define a pair of opposing locking windows;
The locking clip has a truncated arrow cross-sectional profile with an axis of symmetry, the bolt is disposed along the axis of symmetry, and the at least one wedge is symmetrically formed about the bolt. a pair of wedges, each said wedge extending through one of said pair of opposed locking windows, each said wedge abutting a corresponding upper vertical locking rim of said pair of strike portions. 11. The sealing gasket of claim 10, having an upwardly facing upper vertical containment rim for. wherein the locking clip housing includes a plurality of locking windows each of a predetermined number of predetermined configurations arranged in a predetermined spatial arrangement and orientation with respect to the XYZ axes, the at least one wedge comprising: 11. The sealing gasket of claim 10, comprising a number of said wedges extending from said bolt, the number, spatial arrangement and orientation of which correspond to those of said locking windows. A combination of a heat exchanger plate and a sealing gasket secured therewith, said combination comprising:
a. A heat exchanger plate having a length extending along the X axis and a width extending along the Y axis perpendicular to the axis X so as to lie in the XY plane, with at least Z parallel to the Z axis. having a component, perpendicular to the XY plane, an upper and lower portion, a groove for seating the sealing gasket spine, at least one edge portion, and a plurality of formed at predetermined discrete locations. a plurality of locking clip housings formed at discrete predetermined locations each having an opening having a locking clip insertion axis along the predetermined discrete locations; a heat exchanger plate characterized by
b. a spine for seating within said groove and a plurality of integrally formed locking clips at discrete locations along said spine for locking engagement with said plurality of locking clip housings; A sealing gasket, each said locking clip having a bolt extending laterally from said spine, said bolt abutting one of the locking rims of the bearing plate portion when fully inserted. a sealing gasket sized to seat within the opening such that
Each locking pin housing is integrally formed with the edge portion for interlocking engagement with a single one of the locking clips and has an opening for receiving the bolt. ,
the opening having a width sized to accommodate the width of the bolt and a depth sized to accommodate the height of the bolt;
each said locking clip housing;
(i) a strike portion contiguous with a predetermined edge portion and terminating in at least one upper locking rim portion;
(ii) a bearing plate portion connected to said edge portion and terminating in at least one lower locking rim portion;
(iii) at least one side rim portion disposed between said upper locking rim portion and said at least one lower locking rim portion, together defining a window lying in a plane; and at least one side rim portion whose planar directional component includes at least one Z component parallel to the Z axis, each said locking clip comprising:
(iv) a bolt extending laterally from said spine sized to seat within an opening to abut one of the locking rims of the bearing plate portion when fully inserted;
(v) at least one compressible wedge extending laterally from said bolt such that the combined width of said bolt and said at least one wedge is greater than the width of said opening; having at least one closing rim, the bolt abutting one of the locking rims of the bearing plate portion when the bolt and the at least one wedge are fully inserted into the opening; at least one compressible wedge thereby protected from direct unlocking forces;
The at least one wedge causes the at least one containment rim to engage at least one of the locking rim of the strike portion and the locking rim of the bearing plate portion, thereby locking the locking clip. a combination extending laterally from the bolt through the locking window to resist withdrawal from the locking pin housing. Each said locking clip housing is a locking clip housing according to any one of claims 1 to 8 and said locking clip housing is a locking clip housing according to any one of claims 9 to 15. 17. A combination according to claim 16, which is a clip housing. A pre-assembled heat exchanger plate incorporating a sealing gasket, comprising:
a heat exchanger plate having topographic features lying in the XY plane and having a component parallel to the Z-axis perpendicular to the XY plane;
an edge portion;
a groove;
a plurality of pre-formed locking clip housings formed at predetermined locations along said edge portion, each said housing having an opening formed through said plate and said XY a locking clip housing comprising a plurality of locking elements arranged along a Z-axis perpendicular to the plane, at least one of said elements being spaced apart from said XY plane;
Seated in said groove and having a spine and a plurality of integral locking clips formed at positions corresponding to said predetermined positions of said preformed locking clip housing, each said locking clip having a , projecting into one of said openings formed through said plate and configured to engage and be confined by at least one of said locking elements; A pre-assembled heat exchanger plate comprising a sealing gasket comprising a wedge formed in the plate. Each said locking clip housing is a locking clip housing according to any one of claims 1 to 8 and said locking clip housing is a locking clip housing according to any one of claims 9 to 15. 19. A pre-assembled heat exchanger plate according to claim 18, which is a clip housing.

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