US2537678A

US2537678A - Pipe joint for water heaters

Info

Publication number: US2537678A
Application number: US4099A
Authority: US
Inventors: Koetting Fritz
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1948-01-24
Filing date: 1948-01-24
Publication date: 1951-01-09
Anticipated expiration: 1968-01-09

Description

Jan. 9, 1951 v KOETTING 2,537,678

PIPE JOINT FOR WATER HEATERS Filed Jan. 24, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVEN TOR.

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Jan. 9, 1951 Filed Jan. 24, 1948 F. KOETTING 2,537,678

PIPE JOINT FOR WATER HEATERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

' fie/22 KQFZTZ VG BY E Z Z ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 9, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PIPE JOINT FOR WATER HEATERS Fritz Koetting, Brooklyn, N. Y.- Application January 24, 1948, Serial No. 4,099"

6 Claims. (01. 2s5 s)- This invention relates to new and useful improvements in heat exchangers such as a water heater for use with a suitable source of live steam.

More specifically, the present invention proposes the construction of such a water heater or heat exchanger including a shell having a plurality of longitudinal tubes, and bends interconnecting the tubes, the bends and tubes being connected so that any tube may be conveniently removed from the shell for cleaning and repair.

Another object is to provide a boiler as aforesaid which can be readily adapted for either parallel or series flow through the steam tubes, and which may employ one or more steam inlets and one or more steam outlets. The invention contemplates the provision of fittings used in interconnecting the tubes and the bends which are constructed and located for convenience in removing any tube from the boiler shell.

Accordingly, another object of the invention is to provide a boiler as aforesaid equipped with improved fittings for connecting the tubes to the shell.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a mau terial part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a water heater constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a view of the left end of the boiler. Fig. Sis a section on the line 3-3' of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a view'simil-ar to Fig. 2 showing the tubes connected in series.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing the connections between tubes, shell and bends.

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are views similar to Fig. 5 showing other embodiments of the invention.

The water heater, according to the form of the present invention shown in Figs. 1-5, includes; a shell I0, for containing water to be heated, and having end walls and I2. The shell has a water inlet l3 and a water outlet I4. Each end wall is provided with a plurality of threaded orifices l5, see Fig. 5. There is a bank of straight tubes 16 in the shell.

Referring to Fig. 2, it will be seen that, as one exemplification of the present invention, the tubes II; are arranged to two sets on opposite sides of a longitudinal center plane of theshell, the shell being circular in cross section. The two uppermost tubes are horizontall aligned and hav no U-bends, being open for connection with the" steam exhaust. They form the outlet 34 for the bank of tubes. These two outlets 34 a be connected by a forked pipe if desired so that they will both exhaust into a single pipe.

In a similar manner the bottom two pipes form the steam inlets 35. These'inlets may be sup plied from any suitable source of live steam. The inlets are shown at one end of the shell and the outlets at the other, but they may be at the same end if desired. Adjacent tubes are then con- 7 nected in series by'U-bends 30. Thus the two sets of tubes of thebank are in parallel and'the tubes of each set are'in series. The tubes are so spaced that they may be connected by similarbends 30. Also the inlets and outlets are-similarly spaced so that they may beconnected by bands if desired. For example, the outlets 34might be connected by a bend 30. Then the ends 34 of the top tubes would serve one as an inlet and the other as an outlet and all the tubes of the shell would be in series, eliminating any parallel flow.

The tubes may also 'be arranged so that their ,centers are disposed at the apices of a pattern of equal equilateral triangles or equal squares for example, so that-each tube will be equidistant from at least two other; Such an arrangement will permit the bends3ll to be-readily changed to interconnect the tube in a new flow arrangement without changing the span of any bend. One or more tubes may thus be cut out of service, and by suitably plugging the openings in the end walls from which any such tube is removed, the boiler or heat exchanger may be restored to service while the old tube is being repaired or a replacement tube procured. More tubes than those shown may be employed if desired.

The series arrangement described may also be obtained as shown in Fig. 4. A lesser number of by means of the usual tap'eredpipe threads. Tube I6 is similarly threaded into flange 53* and fits freelyin'fitting 5i. Bend 30 is also similarly threaded into flange 54. Gasket 55 are inserted 3 between adjacent flanges as indicated. Bolts 56 pass through clearance holes in

flanges

53 and 54 and gaskets 55 to engage threads tapped in flange 5|.

In assembling a tube IS in the boiler, flanged fittings 5| are first inserted in both end plate I and I2 and are tightened in the usual manner. A tube I6 is then slid through flanges at opposite ends of the boiler and a gasket 55 is placed over each projecting end. A flange member 53 is then screwed over the threaded portion of each end, and tightened. The length of the tube It and the cutting of the end threads thereon is such that thi tightening may be accomplished without interference from the gasket 55 and so that the bolt holes may be brought into alignment. Flange 54 which is threadedly Secured to bend 35 is then 7 placed in position with an additional gasket 55.

Bolts 55 are then threaded into tapped holes in fitting 5|. As bolts 55 are tightened, flanges 53 and54 and gaskets 55 are compressedagainst the face of fitting 5|, providing a joint which is tight against both steam and water.

The tightening of bolts 56 also compresses tube it so that it will bow slightly in the middle, and will thus be able to adjust itself to dimensional changes which accompany hon-uniform.

temperature changes in the boiler or heat exchanger. v

If the bowing of tube It is not desired, a modified form of the invention, as shown in Fig. 6, may be used. In this form, a gland or stufiing box (ii is threaded into end wall |2 of boiler l0. Any desired form of gland or stufiing box may be used and it has been shown as comprising an outer portion 62 shaped to receive packing 63 which is compressed by nut 54 against the exterior surface of tube it to form a water tight joint through which tube |5 may slide. This sliding connection permits the dimensional changes above described to occur without bendmg of the tube l5.

Bend 30 is secured to the end of tube i5 by the usual union 5| which is shown as comprisingtwo flanged

members

65 and 66 which are held together by an internally threaded annular clamping member El, leakage bein prevented by gaskets 68 and 69. The ends of tube l6 and bend 30 are threaded into the union in the usual manner.

Referring to the construction shown in Fig. 'I, a plate or disc i? is secured to the outer face ofeach end wall II and i2 and this disc I! has a threaded orifice It in line with the orifice l5. An externally threaded fitting I9 is screwed into the aligned orifices l5 and slightly into the interior of the shell l0. fitting [9 has a circular flange superposed on the disc with packing therebetween.

The fitting I9 is provided with internally threaded recesses 22, and a fitting 23 having a flange 24 similar to the fiange 25 is connected thereto; flange 25 being superposed on the fiange 20 with the packing 25 therebetween and flange 24 having orifices in line With the recesses 22.

Bolts'21 are passed through the orifices 26 and into the recesses 22 for connecting the two flanges together.

A pipe 28 is Welded to the flange 2:: and forms another part of the fitting and extends outwardly therefrom and is externally threaded and connected to one leg 29 of a U-bend 30 by a union 3|, the connection being sealed by a packing 32.

The fitting I9 is internally threaded at 33, at"

I8 and extends The ' 4 its ends opening into the shell. The tube I6 is externally threaded at each of its ends and screwed into the aligned threads 33 of two opposed fittings |9 disposed in the opposite walls II and I2.

In assembling the tubes in the shell so that they may be removed for cleaning, inspection or repair, a fitting I9 is first secured to one end of each tube and a fitting I9 is screwed into the orifices l5 of one wall only. That is, fittings I9 may be screwed into the holes of the Wall II but not into wall 12. The tubes are then slid through the orifices l5 of the wall |2 until their fittings |9 reach the orifices l5, whereupon their fittings I9 are screwed into the orifices l5 of wall l2 and at the same time the other ends of the tubes are screwed into the threads 33 of the other fittings- H5 in the wall ll.

After the tubes are in place and the flanges 2!) turned tightly against the packing 2|, the fittings 23 can be attached first and then the bends 35 can also-be attached. The tubes may be removed by a reversal of this procedure.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 8, the same advantages are present as in the embodiments of Figs. 5, 6 and 7, but are attained by a somewhat different construction.

Instead of the fittings l9, straight externally threaded pipes l9 are screwed into the orifices l5 and I8 and extend beyond both ends thereof.

against the disc l1 and packing 25' against the pipe i9. Each fitting also has a pipe portion 28' connected to a U-bend 30' by a union 3|.

From the foregoing, it will be seen thatan assembly has been provided permittingthe ready removal of tubes for repair or cleaning', fan'd a fully steam tight packed joint has been provided nevertheless. r

If the bowing of tubes is is desired, then the arrangements of Figs. 5, '7 and B'may be used.

be used.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it 15 to be understood that I do not'limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as: defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I by United claim as new, and desire to secure States Letters Patent is:

l. A heat exchanger of the class described comprising a shell having end walls, aligned threaded orifices in said end walls, fittings screwed in said orifices and having internal threads, tubes in said shell screwed into said internal threads of aligned fittings'so that they can be removed from said shell by unscrewing the fitting at one end thereof from said end wall adjacent thereto, all of said tubes being evenly spaced from adjacent tubes, and necting adjacent tubes.

2. A heat exchanger of the class U-bends con =4 M threads, tubes in said shell screwed into said internal threads of aligned fittings so that they can be removed from said shell by unscrewing the fitting at one end thereof from said end wall adjacent thereto, all of said tubes being evenly spaced from adjacent tubes, and U-bends connecting adjacent tubes for forming of said tubes "and end wall orifices and a flange superposed on said disc, said flange having internally threaded recesses and said neck having internal threads, tubes screwed into opposed neck'threads, a fitting having a flange superposed on said first mentioned flange, bolts securing said flanges together and screwed into said recesses, and a U- bend leg connected to each of said last mentioned fittings.

4. A connection for securing a tube in a shell end wall for permitting removal of said tube from said shell, said shell end wall having a threaded orifice comprising a flanged pip-e adapted to be screwed into said end wall orifice and having internal threads adapted to receive a threaded end of said tube, the outer face of said flange having threaded recesses, a flanged fitting superposed on said flange and secured thereto by bolts screwed into said recesses, said fitting having an externally threaded neck, and a U-bend leg secured to said neck threads by a threaded union.

5. A heat exchanger of the class described 6 comprising a shell having opposed end walls provided with aligned threaded orifices, flanged pipes screwed into said orifices with their flanges engaging the outer faces of said end walls, said flanged pipes having internal threads, externally threaded tubes screwed into aligned pipes whereby when a fitting is unscrewed from its end wall orifice it will carry its tube with it and un screw its said tube from the opposed fitting for removal of the tube fromthe shell.

6. A heat exchanger of the class described comprising a shell having opposed end walls provided with aligned threaded orifices, flanged v pipes screwed into said orifices with their flanges engaging the outer faces of said end walls, said flanged pipes having internal threads, externally threaded tubes screwed into aligned pipes whereby when a fitting is unscrewed from its end wall orifice it will carry its tube with it and unscrew its said tube from the opposed fitting for removal of the tube from the shell, a U-bend, and means for connecting said U-bend to said flanged pipe.

' FRITZ KOETTING.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 646,050 Hirt Mar. 27, 1900 661,506 Fisher Nov. 13, 1900 1,559,998 Shipley Nov. 3, 1925 1,688,921 Dows Oct. 23, 1928 1,703,241 Kendall Feb. 26, 1929 1,710,530 Bell Apr. 23, 1929 1,920,598 Schirmer Aug. 1, 1933 2,463,405 McMaster Mar. 1, 1949