US2001085A - Heat exchange device - Google Patents

Description

May 14, 1935. c. T. WALTER 2,001,085

HEAT EXCHANGE DEVICE Filed July 25, 1934 INVENTOR Wz'fness- B c mw MQM ATTORNEY Patented May 14, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT FFHCE HEAT EXCHANGE DEVICE Application July 25, 1934, Serial No. 736,828

21 Claims.

The invention relates vice.

The object of the present invention is to provide a simple, practical and comparatively inexpensive heat exchange device of strong, durable construction, designed particularly for chilling fluid products, such as hot lard, and adapted to distribute the fluid product to be chilled in a thin sheet and subject the same internally and externally to a refrigeration medium whereby the velocity of the fluid product through the machine may becompartively rapid and at the same time enabling the heat exchange device to be built compartively short, thereby greatly facilitatingaccurate machining of the parts of the heat exchanger.

A further object of the invention is to provide a heat exchange device of this character equipped with means for agitating the liquid and for cleaning and maintaining a maximum efficiency of the refrigeration surfaces by rolling contact and without scraping the refrigeration surfaces, thereby providing a heat exchange machine of extremely long life and with its performance both uniform and dependable.

Another object of the invention is to enable the rolling contact members or rolls of the:

cleaning and agitating means to support a rotor for rotative movement and thereby eliminate bearings ordinarily employed for mounting such a rotor.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accom panying drawing and pointed out in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction, within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a heat exchange device constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a view of one end of the heat exchange device partly in section and partly in elevation.

Fig. 3 is a transver line 3-3 of Fig. l.

In the accompanying drawing in which is illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention the heat exchange device which is designed primarily for chilling fluid products, such as hot lard, may, of course, be employed for e sectional view on the to a heat exchange deheating fluid products by circulating a heating medium through the machine instead of a cooling medium, and it comprises in its construction a main shell I of cylindrical form constituting a tubular casing and provided with inlet and outlet pipes 2 and 3 for. the introduction and removal of the liquid product to be chilled, suitable pumping means (not shown) being in practice employed for circulating the fluid product through the machine. The main shell has its inner face machined to form a straight smooth cylinder and it is surrounded exteriorly by an outer jacket forming shell 4 extending from one end portion of the main shell to the other and having an inlet 5 and an outlet 6 for enabling the cooling or refrigeration medium to be circulated by pumping through the jacket space 1 formed by the outer shell 4. The outer shell 4 is provided at its ends with closure rings 8 constituting the end walls of the jacket space 'I and forming annular flanges extending inwardly from the outer shell 4 to the main shell I, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawing. These annular flanges may be formed in any other desired manner and when the rings 8 are employed for this purpose they are suitably secured to the ends of the jacket 4 and to the exterior of the main shell I.

The outer shell forming jacket which extends substantially the length of the main shell terminates slightly short of the ends thereof to provide spaces at the 'ends of the main shell for the inlet and outlet pipes 2 and 3 which communicate with the interior of the main shell I.

The main shell I is provided at its ends with heads 9 which are bolted to annular flanges in extending outwardly from the ends of the main shell. The heads 9 which are circular are provided with central openings II for the passage 40 of tubular shanks or extensions I2 of a rotor I3 arranged within the main shell in spaced relation with the same to provide an intervening space between the rotor and the main shell for the circulation of the fluid product to be chilled and also for cleaning and agitating means hereinafter described. The rotor is hollow and cylindrical and its outer face is machined to form a straight smooth cylindrical surface and the said rotor is of a diameter to 56 provide a relatively narrow intervening space between it and the main shell, as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing.

The tubular shanks are provided at their inner ends with enlargements l4 forming outwardly extending annular flanges which are suitably secured within the ends of the rotor and which constitute reduced extensions of the same.

The heads 9 of the main shell I are provided at their inner faces at the openings II .with annular recesses I5 receiving oil sealing rings I1 which form a tight joint between the heads of the main shell I and the tubular shanks I2 to prevent leakage of liquid from the main shell. The rotor which is adapted to receive a chilling or refrigeration medium is driven by suitable driving mechanism preferably including a gear wheel I8 keyed or otherwise secured to one of the tubular shanks I2, and as any suitable driving mechanism may be employed for rotating the rotor, further description and illustration of the same is deemed unnecessary. The chilling or refrigeration medium is pumped through the rotor which is connected at the said tubular shanks with inlet and outlet pipes I9 and 20 by suitable stufling boxes 2|.

Instead of employing a cooling or refrigeration medium a heating medium may, of course, be circulated through both the jacket space and the rotor and by circulating a heat exchange medium through the jacket space 7 and the rotor I3 the fluid product to be chilled is subjected both internally and externally to the action of the temperature changing medium while it is distributed throughout the machine in a relatively thin sheet and the velocity of the fluid product through the machine is comparatively rapid and the heat exchange device may be built comparatively short so that the interior of the main shell I and the exterior of therotor may be accurately machined.

In order to maintain the heat exchange surface of the main shell I and the outer heat exchange surface of a rotor I3 clean and free from any frozen product which may tend to insulate either of the refrigerating surfaces and reduce the efiiciency of the heat exchange device, cleaning means is provided and is located in the intervening space between the rotor and the main shell I. The cleaning means comprises an annular series of rolls 22 of a diameter corresponding tothe depth of the intervening space and having a rolling contact with both the inner surface of the main shell I and the outer surface of the rotor I3 and adapted to contact with such surfaces substantially throughout the entire length of the rotor. The contact between the rolls and the adjacent surfaces of the main shell and the rotor is firm and will squeeze out any thin film of material that may be frozen against such refrigeration surfaces. The contact of the rolls with the refrigeration surfaces eliminates any insulating effect which may be brought about by a tendency for the hot fluid to freeze to the refrigeration surfaces and the latter are maintained in a clean condition and at maximum efliciency without any scraping effect and the life of the machine will be materially increased and a comparatively long life assured by such rolling contact between the cleaning means and the refrigeration surfaces, and at the same time the cleaning means will be uniform and dependable in the performance of its function of maintaining the refrigeration surfaces free from frozen material and at maximum efliciency. The rollers are spaced apart and maintained in proper spaced relation by an annular series of longitudinal spacer bars 23 interposed between the rollers and rigidly secured at their ends to rings 24 which have an easy running fit on the rotor I3. The ends 25 of the spacer bars are preferably reduced and rigidly secured in openings 26 in the rings 24, but any other suitable means may, of course, be provided for rigidly securing the annular series of spacer bars to the end rings. The spacer bars 23 are arranged in spaced relation with the inner refrigeration surface of the main shell and the outer refrigeration surface of the rotor to provide passages for the fluid product which is agitated by the rollers and the spacer bars. This agitation of the fluid product by the rollers and the spacer bars subjects the fluid product more thoroughly to the action of the refrigeration surfaces. The crimping and agitating means occupies the greater portion of the intervening space between the inner surface of the main shell and the outer surface of the rotor so'that the fluid product is distributed or separated into a relatively thin sheet during its passage through the heat exchange device so that the velocity of the fluid product through the device is comparatively rapid.

The annular series of cleaning rollers which contact with both the main shell I and the rotor I3 support the rotor for rotary movement and obviate the necessity of employing bearings for the hollow tubular shanks or any other form of bearing for journaling or mounting the rotor. The rollers may be pre-loaded, if desired. The heat exchange device is particularly adapted for chilling fluid material such as hot lard, and cold brine .or any other suitable refrigerant may be circulated through the jacket space and through the rotor while the hot lard or other product is pumped through the inlet 2 and through the intervening space between the main shell and the rotor and along the rollers and spacer bars. As the rollers and spacer bars occupy the major portion of the space between the rotor and the main shell the quantity of fluid within the intervening space and subjected to the cooling action of the refrigeration surfaces of the main shell and the rotor is comparatively small and as the movement of the fluid product may be comparatively rapid it will be clear that the heat exchange device is highly eflicient. The rotor may be caused.- to turn by applying power to the driving means and the rollers will also be caused to revolve around the rotor in the annular space between the same and the main shell. As the rollers revolve in the said intervening space they will contact with each refrigeration surface substantially the full length of the surface of the shell and will completely contact with substantially the full area of the surface of the rotor in their cleaning action.

The heat exchange device is designed to be provided with suitable supporting legs 29 which may be of any desired construction and which are preferably located at the end portions of the heat exchange device.

What is claimed is:- I

1. A heat exchange device including a main cylindrical shell having an inlet and outlet for the introduction and removal of a fluid product to be chilled or heated and a hollow cylindrical rotor arranged within the main shell and spaced therefrom to provide an intervening space for the said fluid product, said rotor being provided with an inlet and an outlet for the passage of a chilling or heating medium, and cleaning means located in the intervening space between the main shell and the rotor and having a rolling contact with the shell and the rotor for cleaning the surfaces thereof without scraping the same, said cleaning means also supporting the rotor for rotative movement.

2. A heat exchange device including a main cylindrical shell having an inlet and outlet for the introduction and removal of a fluid product to be chilled or heated and a hollow cylindrical rotor arranged within the main shell and spaced also supporting the rotor for rotative movement.

3. A heat exchange device including a main cylindrical shell having an inlet and outlet for the introduction and removal of a fluid product to be chilled or heated and a hollow cylindrical rotor arranged within the main shell and spaced therefrom to provide an intervening space for the said fluid product, said rotor being provided with an inlet and an outlet for the passage of a chilling or heating medium, and cleaning means located in the intervening space between the main shell and the rotor and having an annular series of rollers extending substantially the length of the rotor and having rolling contact with the shell and the rotor for cleaning the surfaces thereof without scraping the same, said rollers supporting the rotor for rotative movement.

4. A heat exchange device including a main cylindrical shell having an inlet and outlet for the introduction and removal of a fluid product to be chilled or heated and a hollow cylindrical rotor arranged within the main shell and spaced therefrom ,to provide an intervening space for the said fluid product, said rotor being provided with an inlet and an outlet for the passage of a chilling or heating medium, combined cleaning and agitating means located in the intervening space between the shell and the rotor and comprising an annular series of spaced longitudinal rollers having a rolling contact with the shell and the rotor for cleaning the surfaces thereof without scraping the same and supporting the rotor for rotative movement, and spacing means located between the rollers and maintaining the same in proper spaced relation.

5. A heat exchange device including a main cylindrical shell having an inlet andputlet for the introduction and removal of a fluid product to be chilled or heated and a hollow cylindrical rotor arranged within the main shell and spaced therefrom to provide an intervening space for the said fluid product, said rotor being provided with an inlet and an outlet for the passage of a chilling or heating medium, combined cleaning and agitating means located in the intervening space between the shell and the rotor and comprising an annular series of spaced longitudinal rollers having a rolling contact with the shell and the rotor for cleaning the surfaces thereof without scraping the same and supporting the rotor for rotative movement,

, and longitudinal spacer bars arranged between the rollers and maintaining the same in proper spaced relation. I

6. A heat exchange device including a main cylindrical shell having an inlet and outlet for the introduction and removal of a fluid product to bechilled or heated and a hollow cylindrical rotor arranged within the main shell and spaced therefrom to provide an intervening space for the said fluid product, said rotor being provided with an inlet and an outlet for the passage of a chilling or heating medium, combined cleaning and agitating means located in the intervening space between the shell and the rotor and comprising an annular series of spaced longitudinal rollers having a rolling contact with the shell and the rotor for cleaning the surfaces thereof without scraping the same and supporting the rotor for rotative movement, longitudinal spacer bars arranged between the rollers and maintaining the same in proper spaced relation, and means for supporting the spacer bars in spaced relation to the shell and the rotor to provide passages for the fluid product.

7. A heat exchange device including a main cylindrical shell having an inlet and outlet for the introduction and removal of a fluid product to be chilled or heated and a hollow cylindrical rotor arranged within the main shell and spaced therefrom to provide an intervening space for the said fluid product, said rotor being provided with an inlet and an outlet for the passage of a chilling or heating medium, combined cleaning and agitating means located in the intervening space between the shell and the rotor and comprising an annular series of spaced longitudinal rollers having a rolling contact with the shell and the rotor for cleaning the surfaces thereof. without scraping the same and supporting the rotor for rotative movement, longitudinal spacer bars arranged between the rollers and maintaining the same in proper spaced relation, and rings having a running fit on the rotor and connected with the ends of the spacer bars and supporting the same in spaced relation with the shell and the rotor to provide passages for the fluid product.

8. A heat exchange device including a main cylindrical shell having an inlet and outlet for l space for the said fluid product, said rotor being provided with an inlet and an outlet for the passage of a chilling or heating medium, and cleaning and agitating means arranged in the intervening space between the shell and the rotor and comprising an annular series of rollers having a rolling contact with the shell and the rotor for cleaning the surfaces thereof and supporting the rotor for rotative movement,

and an annular series of longitudinal cylindrical spacer bars arranged between the rollers in spaced relation with the shell and the rotor.

9. A heat exchange device including a main cylindrical shell having an inlet and outlet for the introduction and removal of a fluid product to be chilled or heated and a hollow cylindrical rotor arranged within the main shell and spaced therefrom to provide an intervening space for the said fluid product, said rotor being provided with an inlet and an outlet for the passage of a chilling or heating medium, cleaning and agitating means arranged in the intervening space between the shell and the rotor prising an annular series of rollers having a rolling contact with the shell and the rotor for cleaning the surfaces thereof and supporting and comthe rotor for rotative movement, an annular series of longitudinal cylindrical spacer bars arranged between the rollers and rings having a running fit on the rotor and rigidly connected with the ends of the spacer bars and supporting the same in spaced relation with the shell and the rotor to provide passages around the spacer bars for the fluid product.

10. A heat exchange device including a main cylindrical shell having an inlet and outlet for the introduction and removal of a fluid product to be chilled or heated and a hollow cylindrical rotor arranged within the main shell and spaced therefrom to provide an intervening space for the said fluid product, said rotor being provided with an inlet and an outlet for the passage of a chilling or heating medium, an outer shell mounted on the main shell and forming a jacket spaced for a chilling or heating medium and having an inlet and outlet for the introduction and removal of the same, and cleaning means operating in the intervening space between the main shell and the rotor.

11. A heat exchange device including a main cylindrical shell having an inlet and an outlet for the, introduction and removal of a fluid product to be chilled or heated and provided at its ends with heads having central openings, a hollow cylindrical rotor arranged within the main shell in spaced relation with the same to'provide an intervening space for the fluid product, said rotor being provided at its ends with tubular shanks extending through the openings of the heads of the main shell and forming an inlet and outlet for a chilling or heating medium, and cleaning and agitating means arranged in the intervening space between the shell and the rotor and provided with rotating elements having a rolling contact'with the shell and the rotor and supporting the rotor for rotative movement.

12. A heat exchange device including a main cylindrical shell having an inlet and an outlet for the introduction and removal of a fluid product to be chilled or heated and provided at its ends with heads having central openings, a hollow cylindrical rotor arranged within the main shell in spaced relation with the same to provide an intervening space for the fluid product, said rotor being provided at its ends with tubular shanks extending through the openings of the heads of the main shell and forming an inlet and outlet for a chilling or heating medium, cleaning and agitating means arranged in the intervening space between the shell and the rotor and provided with rotating elements having a rolling contact with the shell and the rotor and supporting the rotor for rotative movement, and sealing rings mounted in the heads of the main shell and surrounding the tubular shanks and forming a liquid tight joint to prevent the escape of liq- .uid from the main shell.

13. A heat exchange device including a main cylindrical shell having an inlet and an outlet for the introduction and removal of a fluid product to be chilled or heated and provided at its ends with heads having central openings, a hollow cylindrical rotor arranged within the main shell in spaced relation with the same to provide an intervening space for the fluid product, said rotor being provided at its ends with tubular shanks extending through the openings of the heads of the main shell and forming an inlet and outlet for a chilling or heating medium, cleaning and agitating means arranged in the intervening space between the shell and the rotor and provided with rotating elements having a rolling contact with the shell and the rotor and supporting the rotor for rotative movement, and an outer jacket forming shell mounted on the main shell and forming an intervening jacket space and provided with an inlet and an outlet to permit the circulation of a chilling or heating medium through the jacket space.

14. A heat exchange device including a main cylindrical shell having an inlet and an outlet for the introduction and removal of a fluid product to be chilled or heated and provided at its ends with heads having central openings, a hollow cylindrical rotor arranged within the main shell in spaced relation with the same to provide an intervening space for the fluid product, said rotor being provided at its ends with tubular shanks extending through the openings of the heads of the main shell and forming an inlet and outlet for a chilling or heating medium, cleaning and agitating means arranged in the intervening space between the shell and the rotor and provided with rotating elements having a rolling contact with the shell and the rotor and supporting the rotor for rotative movement, sealing, rings mounted in the heads of the main shell and surrounding the tubular shanks and forming a liquid tight joint to prevent the escape of liquid from the main shell, and an outer shell mounted on the main shell and forming an intervening jacket space and provided with an inlet and an outlet to permit the circulation of a chilling or heating medium through the jacket space.

15. A heat exchange device including a main cylindrical shell having an inlet and outlet for the introduction and removal of a fluid product to be chilled or heated and a hollow cylindrical rotor arranged within the main shell and spaced therefrom to provide an intervening space for the said fluid product, said rotor being provided with an inlet and an outlet for the passage of a temperature changing medium, and cleaning means located in the intervening space between the main shell and the rotor and having a rolling contact with the shell and the rotor for cleaning the surfaces thereof without scraping the same.

16. A heat exchange device including a main cylindrical shell having an inlet and an outlet for the introduction and removal of a fluid product to be chilled or heated and a hollow cylindrical rotor arranged within the main shell and spaced therefrom to provide an intervening space for the said fluid product, said rotor being provided with an inlet and an outlet for the passage of a temperature changing medium, and

cleaning means having an annular series of rollers arranged in the intervening space between the rotor and the main shell and having a rolling contact with the shell and the rotor for cleaning the surfaces thereof without scraping the same.

17. A heat exchange device including an outer cylindrical shell and an inner cylinder and' rotatable rollers in contact with and between the inner surface of said outer cylindrical shell and the outer surface of said inner cylinder for cleaning the said surfaces without scraping.

18. A heat exchange device including an outer cylindrical shell and an inner cylinder and rotatable rollers in contact with and between the inner surface of said outer cylindrical shell and the outer surface of said inner cylinder for cleaning the said surfaces without scraping, said rollers being rotatable on fixed axes.

19. A heat exchange device including an outer cylindrical shell and an inner cylinder and spaced rotatable rollers in contact with and between' the inner surface of said outer cylindrical shell and theouter surface of said inner cylinder for cleaning the said surfaces without scraping, said rollers being rotatable on fixed axes, and spacing means located between the rollers and maintaining the same in proper spaced relationship.

20. A heat exchange device including an outer cylindrical shell and an inner cylinder and spaced rotatable rollers in contact with and between the inner surface of said outer cylindrical shell and the outer surface of said inner cylinder for cleaning the said surfaces without scraping, the surface of said inner cylinder being rotative relative to the axes of said rollers.

21. A heat exchange device including an outer cylindrical shell and an inner cylinderand spaced rotatable rollers in contact with and between the inner surface of said outer cylindrical shell and the outer surface of said inner cylinder for cleaning the said surfaces without scraping, said outer cylindrical shell and said inner cylinder being rotative relative to each other.

CHARLES T. WALTER.

Images