US3847213A

US3847213A - Finned-tube heat exchanger

Info

Publication number: US3847213A
Application number: US00332438A
Authority: US
Inventors: E Stich
Original assignee: URS DREIER SANER
Current assignee: URS DREIER SANER
Priority date: 1972-02-15
Filing date: 1973-02-14
Publication date: 1974-11-12
Anticipated expiration: 1991-11-12
Also published as: NL7302133A; CA991168A; FR2183297B1; FR2172234A1; IT977791B; FR2172234B3; BE795445A; DE2306559A1; IL41523A0; FR2188128A1; FR2183297A1; FR2188128B1; JPS4893137A; GB1399998A; DD106467A5; ES411594A1; AU5213173A

Abstract

The present invention is related to an improved convector having a plurality of blades for heating, cooling as climatisation purposes and used with a thermal installation. This convector comprises a set of parallel blades fixed either on a covering pannel or on side plates and each blade comprises a central aperture intended to receive the pipe of a thermal installation. Important is the fact that each said aperture has a passage opening on one of the free edges of the blade, these passages being aligned, so that the convector, i.e. the assembly of blades and covering pannel or side plates can be assembled to the pipe by a movement perpendicular to the said pipe covering the passing of said pipe through the passages and its location within the central aperture of each blade. In order to obtain a good contact between the pipe and the blades, these blades are so formed that their central portion, in contact with the pipe have a built in self-resiliency tending to apply a portion of said blade against the pipe.

Description

United States Patent [191 Stich 1 Nov. 12, 1974 1 1 FlNNED-TUBE HEAT EXCHANGER [75] lnventor: Ernest Stich, Grand Laney-Geneva,

Switzerland [22] Filed: Feb. 14, 1973 [21} Appl. No.: 332,438

[301 Foreign Application Priority Data Feb. 15, 1972 Switzerland 2250/72 Apr. 6, 1972 Switzerland 5080/72 July 27, 1972 Switzerland 11236/72 [52] US. Cl. 165/181, 29/157.3 B, 165/53, 165/55, 165/76, 165/129 [51] Int. Cl F281 l/3O [58] Field of Search 165/181, 182, 76, 53; 29/1573 A, 157.3 B

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 672,412 4/1901 Birdsall 165/181 1,925,720 9/1933 Haupt.... 165/182 2,089,340 8/1937 Cobb 165/182 2,453,567 11/1948 Bronander 165/182 X 2,620,171 12/1952 Dubin et a1. 165/182 3,249,156 5/1966 McGrew 165/181 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLlCATIONS 316,887 4/1953 Switzerland 165/181 1,457,587 ll/l966 France 165/181 Primary Examiner-Albert W. Davis, Jr. Assistant E.\aminerS. J. Richter Almrney, Agent, or Firm-Young & Thompson [57] ABSTRACT The present invention is related to an improved convector having a plurality of blades for heating, cooling as climatisation purposes and used with a thermal installation. This convector comprises a set of parallel blades fixed either on a covering pannel or on side plates and each blade comprises a central aperture intended to receive the pipe of a thermal installation. Important is the fact that each said aperture has a passage opening on one of the free edges of the blade. these passages being aligned, so that the convector. i.e. the assembly of blades and covering pannel or side plates can be assembled to the pipe by a movement perpendicular to the said pipe covering the passing of said pipe through the passages and its location within the central aperture of each blade. in order to obtain a good contact between the pipe and the blades, these blades are so formed that their central portion, in contact with the pipe have a built in self-resiliency tending to apply a portion of said blade against the pipe.

5 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures ATENTEDXUV 12 IBM SHEET 1 OF 4 FINNED-TUBE HEAT EXCHANGER The present invention has for its object a convector comprising a finned-tube heat exchanger having blades mounted on a pipe intended to be connected to a thermal installation, either a heating or climatisation installation or in a cooling circuit.

Such a heating or climatisation installation may equip for example an office building, a family house or even a vehicle. In the case of a cooling circuit this can equip a car, the convector constituting a radiator to evacuate the calories.

The blades of the traditional convectors comprise a central aperture the periphery of which present a cylindrical surface intended to enter in contact with the outside wall of the pipe which is passed through the aperture.

The conduction of the heat from the pipe towards the I mation of said aperture, which causes a reduction of the contact surface of the blade with the pipe and ,reduces the transmission of the calories towards the blade what causes a reduction in the efficiency of the convector.

One aim of the present invention is to remedy to this inconvience and to provide for a convector comprising blades which remains in optimum contact with the pipe on which they are mounted.

There exist blade convectors constituted by a tube on which blades are slid, generally ondulated blades, disposed parallely the ones with the other at some millimeter distance. These convectors are intended to be placed in housings which are open on their top and on their bottom to constitute a chimney permitting the circulation of air through convexion. Each convector has to be connected through nipples and a valve to the heating installation.

One of the object of the present invention is a convector certain blades of which at least comprise means giving to the blade a resiliency on its own tending to apply at least a portion of it against the outside surface of a pipe.

The invention has also for object a convector element to carry out the process described which distinguishes itself by the fact that it comprises a covering pannel provided with a plurality of blades disposed parallely the ones with the others. Each blade has a cutting intended to receive the piping of a heating installation.

The present invention has at least for its object a convector element able to be fixed on a piping of the heating installation already set in place which comprises a plurality of blades and which distinguishes itself by the fact that at least a part of these blades are embedded in a synthetical resine body so that these blades be maintained together approximately parallel the one to the other and by the fact that each blade comprises a cutting which opens on one of its free edges, the cuttings of all the blades being aligned and intended to receive a piping of a heating installation.

The attached drawing shows schematically and by way of example several embodiments of the convector elements according to the invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of theconvector.

FIG. 2 is a transversal cross-section along line II-II of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of a second embodi ment of the convector.

FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of a third embodiment of the convector.

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-section seen in perspective of an other embodiment of the convector.

FIG. 6 shows a detail of the convector shown on FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 shows in front view a convector of FIG. 5. FIG. 8 shows in perspective an other embodiment of the convector element which is set in'place on a piping of a heating.

FIG. 9 shows similar to FIG. 1, a further embodiment of the convector element.

FIG. 10 shows a front elevation of a last embodiment of the convector.

FIG. 11 shows in perspective and in longitudinal cross-section two blades according to FIGS which are juxtaposed before being fixed together to the lateral plate.

FIG. 12 shows a cross-section along line VV of FIG. 8.

FIG. 13 is a view from above of the embodiment of the convector element shown at FIG. 8.

In the drawing only the mounting of one or two blades on the piping of the convector has been shown at FIG. 1 to 4. It is evident that a complete convector comprises a plurality of blades mounted on a same piping and distant the one from the other of a few millimeters or of a few centimeters.

In the embodiment shown at FIG. 1 a blade 1 is in a heat conducting material such as for example steel or aluminium plate.

This blade 1 comprises an upper plane 2 and a lower plane 3 making an angle a between them. These two planes are of general rectangular shape and present same dimensions.

The blade 1 comprises further a cylindrical part 4 the axis of which is located at the intersection point of the axis of symmetry of the blade 1. This cylindrical part 4 present an internal diameter which corresponds to the outside diameter of a piping 5 on which the blade 1 is mounted by the sliding of this pipe through the cylindrical part 4.

One intends by corresponding diameter a diameter which is such that the pipe 5 may be introduced in the cylindrical portion 4 with slight friction.

The blade 1 comprises further means which give to it a self resiliency tending to apply the internal surface of the cylindrical portion 4 against the outside surface of the piping 5.

These means comprise a formation 6 either in recess or in projection, for example a rib formed in the other plane 2 which is obtained for example by embossing and which extends along the vertical symmetry axis of the plane 2 from the upper edge of the blade (FIG. 1) up to the cylindrical part 4.

These means comprise further a notch 7 provided in the cylindrical part 4, located in front of the formation 6 and a slot 8 provided in the lower plane 3 and which extends along this vertical symmetry axis of the plane 3 from the lower edge of the blade (FIG. 1) up to the cylindrical portion 4.

Referring to FIG. 2, one knows the flow of air represented by the arrows which passes through the convector and is influenced by the

planes

2, 3 of the blades and enters several times in contact with these planes. Due to this fact, the efficiency of the blade is increased with respect to the efficiency of a conventional blade which is disposed in a plane perpendicular to the piping 5. In fact, the air flowing thus through the convector is heated at several times before it leaves the convector.

In a variant of this first embodiment, the upper plane 2 and the lower plane 3 comprise each a formation 6 extending along the vertical symmetry axis of the blade 1. The cylindrical portion 4 comprises two notches 7, each of them being provided in front of a formation 6.

The two formations 6 and the two notches 7 give to the blade a self resiliency tending to apply the cylindrical portion 4 against the outside surface of the piping 5.

In a second variant, the means giving to the blade a self-resiliency comprises a notch 7 provided in the cylindrical portion 4 and a formation 6 provided in the upper plane. 2 such as described previously. These means comprise further a slot provided in the lower plane 3 which extends along the vertical symmetry axis of the plane 3 from the cylindrical portion 4 in direction of the lower edge of the plane, on a part of the vertical symmetry axis.

In a second embodiment shown at FIG. 3, a blade 9 comprises only one plane and has a general square shape. This blade 9 comprises a cylindrical portion 10 the axis of which is perpendicular to the plane of the blade 9 which presents an inside diameter corresponding to the outside diameter of the piping on which the blade is mounted.

Means giving to the blade a self resiliency tending to apply the internal surface on the cylindrical portion against the outside surfaceof the piping 5 comprise a circular groove 11 concentrical to the cylindrical portion 10 and connected to its through four radial ribs 12 disposed for example each along one of the diagonal of the blade 9. v

These means comprise further four notches 13 provided in the cylindrical portion 10 at the jonction of each radial rib 12 with said cylindrical portion 10.

In variants of this second embodiment the number of radial ribs 12 may be different for example 2, 3 or greater than 4. In an other variant the means giving a self resiliency to the blade could comprise only the circular groove 11 and a certain number of notches 13 at least one.

In a third embodiment shown at FIG. 4 a blade 14 comprises only one plane of general square shape and provided with a cylindrical portion 15 perpendicular to the plane of the blade 14.

The inside diameter of this cylindrical portion 15 corresponds to the outside diameter of the piping 5 on which the blade is mounted.

The means giving to the blade a self resiliency tending to apply the inside surface of the cylindrical portion 15 against the outside surface of the piping 5 comprises four rectilinear ribs 16 extending each along one of the diagonals of the blade 14 in connecting a corner of the blade to the cylindrical portion 15.

These means comprise further four notches 17 provided on the cylindrical portion R5 at the junction of a rectilinear rib 16 with this cylindrical portion 15.

In a variant, a plurality of notches 17 is provided on the cylindrical portion 15 around the periphery in order to constitute a plurality of adjacent cylindrical portions.

One cylindrical portion is fold out of the plane of the blade on one side of it whereas the other adjacent cylindrical portions are folded outside of the plane of the blade on the other side of it. In this variant the adjacent cylindrical portions extend on either side of the plane of the blade.

Finally in an other variant the means giving to the blade it self-resiliency tending to ensure a good thermal contact between the blade and the piping on which it is mounted may be constituted only by a plurality of cylindrical portions such as 15, separated by notches such as 17. In this case however it may be necessary to give at the folding or the embossing of these cylindrical portions a certain inclinasion of them in direction of the axis of the piping 5. In this manner when the blades are sliped on the piping 5 these cylindrical portions are elastically deformed against their self-resiliency.

It is evident that in a variant of the embodiment shown at FIGS. 3 and 4 one may use a blade presenting two planes making an angle between them such as described in the first embodiment.

It is the same for the first embodiment shown at FIG. 1 which in a variant could comprise blades presenting only one plane perpendicular to the piping 5 or inclined with respect to this piping.

Thanks to the different means used to givea selfresiliency to the blades one obtains always the same result, a stress of the cylindrical portion of the blade, surrounding the pipe against its self-resiliency tending to apply it against this piping. In this way one always realizes, whatever the temperature or the difference of the thermal dilatation coefficients between the blades and the piping are an excellent thermal conduction between these elements which garanties an optimal efficiency of the convector.

According to the present invention it is possible to suppress all the mounting work, of connecting and so on of the classic convectors. As a matter of fact, with reference to the FIGS. 5 to 7, during the frame work of a building the pipes 1a (FIGS. 5 to 7) of a heating installation are laid.

To be noted however that these pipings are not interrupted at the places where it will be necessary to provide convectors. One obtains thus a minimum of fittings which enables a much quicker work and suppresses the leak possibilities.

On the other hand one prepare on the workshop the convector elements constituted by a covering pannel 2a on which the blades 3a are fixed. These blades are glued, soldered or fixed in any other way to the rear face of this covering plates 2a. The blades are disposed parallely the ones to the other at some millimeter distance. The plates occupy the lower portion of the rear face of the plate 2a.

The pannels 20 may be provided with perforations (not shown) and/or with an insulating layer 4a in their upper portion in order to act as phonic insulating element.

Each blade is provided with a cutting 5a opening in the example shown on the lower edge of the blade. This 1 portion of the heating piping la, already laid, in the cuttings of the blades 3a.

This method is extremely flexible since it is possible to dispose side by side as many convector elements as is necessary to obtain the desired calories for a given volume.

In the examples shown at FIGS. 5 to 7 the upper portion of the convector is terminated by a combined board fastened into the wall. This board comprises a window flange 6a and a board 7a provided with openings 8a to give passage to the hot air. A joint 9a connect the forward edge of this board 7a to the upper edge of the pannel 2a. Of course the lateral ends of the convector thus realized may be obtained by prefabricated walls to increase the efficiency of the convector.

For aesthetic reasons one may provide pannels 2a which do not comprise blades.

The console shown comprises further an obturation plate a forming a closed housing Ila in which electrical ducts may be laid.

It is evident that the openings 8a of the board 7a may be obturated more or less in order to regulate the hot air quantity delivered to the volume in which the convector is mounted.

It is possible, to provide for a good fitting of the blade 3a against the pipe la, and to give a good thermal conduction to provide for a member 12a the ends of which are introduced in slots of the blades and tenting to close the cutting 5a and to clamp the pipe 1a. One may provide one element for each blade or on the contrary one element for a complete convector. In this later case the element would be provided with openings in order to oppose only a low resistance to the air flow.

FIG. 6 shows a variant in which the edge of the cutting of the blades 3a entering in contact with the piping la is actually off set. It is thus possible to apply this edge 13a through its self-resiliency strongly against the piping la.

' In a variant, a movable flap is fixed to the element 12 in order to be able to regulate the air circulation in order to control the ambiant temperature of the room.

In the embodiment shown at FIGS. 8 and 11 to 13, the convector element comprises a plurality of blades lb two opposed edges of which are embedded in lateral plates 2b in synthetic material. The blades extend approximatively parallel the one to the other and are rigidly maintained together by the lateral plates. As shown at FIG. 11, the edge of the blades lb which is embedded in the lateral plates 2b shows an anchoring formation 3b to provide for a good anchoring of the blade into the plates 3b.

Each of the blades lb presents a cutting 4b intended to give passage to a tubing 5b, of a heating installation. These cuttings are aligned and present all an opening towards a free edge 6b of their blade lb. Thus it is possible once the convector element is terminated, that is the blades assembled by the lateral plates to introduce a heating piping through a displacement of the element perpendicularly to this heating piping, into the cutting of each blade of the element and to constitute thus a heating body or convector.

Taking reference to FIGS. 11 and 12 more particularly one sees that the cutting 4b is constituted by a deformation of the central portion of the blade. This deformation is such said a skirt 7b surrounds a portion of the cutting and is connected to the rest of the blade through a fold 8b. Slots 9b are provided in this skirt 7b.

In this manner, one ensures a good heat transmission from the piping 5b towards the blades 1b. In fact, the contact surface between this blades and the piping is greatly increased and the self-resiliency of the skirt applies in service position this skirt firmly against the said pipe. In order to obtain this, one provides during the manufacture for the inside diameter of the skirt 7b to be slightly less than the outside diameter of the piping 5b on which the convector element has to be fixed.

Finally, in order to permit an identical distance between the blades, each of them comprises a flap 10b folded in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the convector element. This flap has two functions. Firstly a spacing function, the frontal edge of the flap of one blade coming in abutment against the face of the adjacent blade. Then an aerodynamic function when the convector element is in service. In fact, the convector obtained by the piping 5b and the element described is generally located against a wall, so that the air crossing the convector is sucked by only one of its side according to the arrow f. In order to obtain a good repartition of the air flowing in the convector, it is necessary to reject towards the front a part of this currentfwhich otherwise would circulate mainly in the rear part of the convector. Thanks to the flaps 10b, this effect is obtained.

In the embodiment shown at FIG. 9, the convector is composed of the piping 5b of the heating installation and of two convector elements maintained in place on the piping 5b, by fixing members, screws 11b in the example shown.

Each convector element comprises blades 12b one edge of which, provided with anchoring members, is embedded in a lateral plate 13b in moulded synthetic material.

The cutting provided in each blade opens on the edge of the blade opposed to the one which is embedded in the plate 13b and presents a general semi-circular shape. As in the preceding embodiment, this cutting may be defined by a skirt obtained through a fold 14b provided in the blade 12]).

Each convector element of this embodiment constitute in fact half a convector.

Each blade 12b may also comprise a spacing flap as in the embodiment shown at FIGS. 8 and 11' to 13.

The embodiment shown at FIG. 10 comprises also elements constituting half a convector, the blades 15b presenting a general triangular shape. Each of these blades 15b is also fastended with a lateral plate 16b and present a fold 17b constituting a skirt defining the cutting which opens on the edge of the blade forming an angle with the blade 16b.

In order to fix two convector elements around a piping 5b springs 18b are provided. These springs may be fixed either as illustrated on the blades or on the plates 16b.

In a variant which is not shown, the covering plates of a convector may be constituted by a

lateral plate

2b, 13b or 16b.

I claim:

l. A finned-tube heat exchanger comprising a cylindrical conduit and a plurality of thin metal fins spaced apart along the conduit in heat exchange relation therewith, each said fin having a cylindrical collar that bears resiliently against the conduit, each fin being in the form of a dihedral disposed in two planes, the fin having a corrugation therein extending from said cylindrical collar to the edge of the fin, the fin also having a slot therein extending from said cylindrical collar to the edge of said fin, said slot and said corrugation being perpendicular to the intersection of said planes.

LII

notch in said collar at the base of said corrugation.

Claims

1. A finned-tube heat exchanger comprising a cylindrical conduit and a plurality of thin metal fins spaced apart along the conduit in heat exchange relation therewith, each said fin having a cylindrical collar that bears resiliently against the conduit, each fin being in the form of a dihedral disposed in two planes, the fin having a corrugation therein extending from said cylindrical collar to the edge of the fin, the fin also having a slot therein extending from said cylindrical collar to the edge of said fin, said slot and said corrugation being perpendicular to the intersection of said planes.

2. A heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1, the cylindrical collar having a notch therein.

3. A heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1, said corrugation and slot being straight.

4. A heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1, said corrugation and slot being disposed on opposite sides of said collar.

5. A heat exchanger as claimed in claim 4, and a notch in said collar at the base of said corrugation.