US 11,852,424 B2
Heat exchanger closure assemblies and methods of using and installing the same
Richard Jibb, Monroe, NY (US); David Thomas Creech, Glen Ellyn, IL (US); Randy Lee Eberly, Plainfield, IL (US); Elizabeth MacLean Meacham, Lombard, IL (US); Henk Boekhouder, Zoetermeer (NL); Roberto Groppi, Hague (NL); Vincenzo Marco Brignone, Leiden (NL); and Trevor Jaye, San Diego, CA (US)
Assigned to Lummus Technology LLC, Bloomfield, NJ (US)
Filed by Lummus Technology LLC, Bloomfield, NJ (US)
Filed on Jul. 8, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/370,718.
Application 17/370,718 is a continuation of application No. 16/358,932, filed on Mar. 20, 2019, granted, now 11,079,185.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/645,662, filed on Mar. 20, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0348849 A1, Nov. 11, 2021
Int. Cl. F28D 7/00 (2006.01); F28F 9/013 (2006.01); F28F 9/00 (2006.01); F28F 21/00 (2006.01); F28F 9/02 (2006.01)
CPC F28F 9/0219 (2013.01) [F28D 7/0041 (2013.01); F28F 9/005 (2013.01); F28F 9/013 (2013.01); F28F 9/0202 (2013.01); F28F 21/00 (2013.01); F28F 9/0212 (2013.01); F28F 9/0224 (2013.01); F28F 9/0226 (2013.01); F28F 9/0231 (2013.01); F28F 2220/00 (2013.01); F28F 2230/00 (2013.01); F28F 2265/26 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A heat exchanger assembly comprising:
an elongated tubular heat exchanger enclosure defining an interior chamber;
a tube sheet positioned within the interior chamber of the heat exchanger enclosure and separating the interior chamber into a shell side and a channel side wherein the interior chamber is configured to removably receive a tube bundle positioned within the shell side of the interior chamber;
a sleeve member having an annular configuration positioned within the channel side of the interior chamber of the heat exchanger enclosure;
an elastic torsion member having an annular configuration positioned within the channel side of the interior chamber of the heat exchanger with the sleeve member positioned between the tube sheet and the elastic torsion member;
a partition assembly comprising the sleeve member positioned within the channel side of the interior chamber of the heat exchanger enclosure to direct fluid from a port extending through the enclosure to at least two or more tubes in a tube bundle; and
a bearing ring positioned within the interior chamber of the heat exchanger enclosure with the elastic torsion member positioned between the sleeve member and the bearing ring,
wherein the elastic torsion member has an inner circumference deflectable relative to an outer circumference of the elastic torsion member for torsioning the elastic torsion member.
 
17. A process for assembling a heat exchanger assembly comprising:
positioning a tube sheet within an interior chamber defined by an elongated heat exchanger;
separating the interior chamber into a shell side and a channel side wherein the interior portion chamber is configured to removably receive a tube bundle positioned within the shell side of the interior chamber;
positioning an annular sleeve member having an annular configuration within the channel side of the interior chamber of the heat exchanger enclosure; and
positioning an annular elastic torsion member having an annular configuration within the channel side of the interior chamber of the heat exchanger with the sleeve member positioned between the tube sheet and the elastic torsion member, the elastic torsion member having an inner circumference deflectable relative to its outer circumference for torsioning the elastic torsion member;
positioning a partition assembly comprising the sleeve member within the channel side of the interior chamber of the heat exchanger enclosure to direct fluid from a port extending through the enclosure to at least two or more tubes in a tube bundle; and
positioning a bearing ring within the interior chamber of the heat exchanger enclosure with the elastic torsion member positioned between the sleeve member and the bearing ring.