US4030540A — Tube nest for heat exchangers, and modular elemen…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 196 words

A tube nest for heat exchanger which is easily constructed from flexible modular elements spirally windable on a reel comprising: a. a plurality of modular elements forming a rectangular box shaped structure, each module being stackable, flexible and planar; b. each modular element comprising in combination a plurality of flexible thermoplastic tubes in a parallel and spaced apart single layer arrangement, a plurality of rigid spacers each comprising two parts, each part having an inner face with semicircular grooves and an outer flat face such that when said two parts are mated, parallel and spaced apertures are formed to retain said thermoplastic tubes of the modular element, pins and bores adjacent at least some of said semicircular grooves on the inner faces of each part forming a connection means to connect said two parts to form said rigid spacer; c. abutting modular elements being joined at abutting flat surfaces of said rigid spacers by outer pins and bores as coupling means in said flat surfaces, said coupling means aligning the tubes of adjacent modular elements in either staggered or in-line position; and d. a tube head being mounted on the ends of said plurality of tubes.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 196 words

A tube nest for heat exchanger which is easily constructed from flexible modular elements spirally windable on a reel comprising: a. a plurality of modular elements forming a rectangular box shaped structure, each module being stackable, flexible and planar; b. each modular element comprising in combination a plurality of flexible thermoplastic tubes in a parallel and spaced apart single layer arrangement, a plurality of rigid spacers each comprising two parts, each part having an inner face with semicircular grooves and an outer flat face such that when said two parts are mated, parallel and spaced apertures are formed to retain said thermoplastic tubes of the modular element, pins and bores adjacent at least some of said semicircular grooves on the inner faces of each part forming a connection means to connect said two parts to form said rigid spacer; c. abutting modular elements being joined at abutting flat surfaces of said rigid spacers by outer pins and bores as coupling means in said flat surfaces, said coupling means aligning the tubes of adjacent modular elements in either staggered or in-line position; and d. a tube head being mounted on the ends of said plurality of tubes.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 189 words

A tube nest for heat exchangers comprising a plurality of modular elements superimposed over one another and contiguous to one another to form a layered rectangular structure, each modular element being stackable, flexible and planar and capable of being spirally windable on a reel, each modular element comprising in combination a plurality of contiguous flexible thermoplastic tubes in a parallel and spaced apart single layer arrangement, a plurality of rigid spacers each consisting of two parts, each part having on its inner face semicircular groove forming holes when said two parts are joined together for collecting said tubes and to retain them freely movable therein, and pins and bores forming joint means on each part for joining said two parts to one another, and outer pins and bores forming coupling means on outer faces of said two parts for coupling said rigid spacers to one another in a superimposed position and for aligning the tubes of adjacent modular elements in either a staggered or in-line position, a tube head being mounted on the ends of said plurality of tubes, the ends being inserted into holes of said tube heads.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 189 words

A tube nest for heat exchangers comprising a plurality of modular elements superimposed over one another and contiguous to one another to form a layered rectangular structure, each modular element being stackable, flexible and planar and capable of being spirally windable on a reel, each modular element comprising in combination a plurality of contiguous flexible thermoplastic tubes in a parallel and spaced apart single layer arrangement, a plurality of rigid spacers each consisting of two parts, each part having on its inner face semicircular groove forming holes when said two parts are joined together for collecting said tubes and to retain them freely movable therein, and pins and bores forming joint means on each part for joining said two parts to one another, and outer pins and bores forming coupling means on outer faces of said two parts for coupling said rigid spacers to one another in a superimposed position and for aligning the tubes of adjacent modular elements in either a staggered or in-line position, a tube head being mounted on the ends of said plurality of tubes, the ends being inserted into holes of said tube heads.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 33 words

The tube nest of claim 2 wherein a metal form is provided to contain and support the tube heads and plastic tube layers and to allow the composition of the tube nest itself.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1980-06-20	1980-12-20	1981-06-21	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1984-06-20	1984-12-20	1985-06-21	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1988-06-20	1988-12-20	1989-06-21	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Tube nest for heat exchangers, and modular elements for said nest consisting of thermoplastic tubes, and process for manufacturing the modular elements and the tube nests

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