US2044069A - Finned evaporator - Google Patents

Description

June'l 6, 1936- F. R. ERBACH FINNED EVAPORATOR Filed July 25, 1935 Patented June 16, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FINNED EVAPORATOR Fred R. Erbach, Beloit, Wis., assignor to General Refrigeration Corporation, Beloit, Wis., a corporation of Delaware Application July 25,- 1935, Serial No. 32,995

6 Claims.

paratus is being installed, and of a size to suitthe particular requirements of the installation.

The general object of the invention resides in the provision of evaporator units of several standard sizes which can be secured together and connected by return bends to form a complete evaporator of the desired size.

A more specific object is to provide individual standard size units having flanged end fins with uniformly spaced bolt openings for receiving securing bolts whereby the end fin of one unit can be readily secured to the end fin of another unit, requiring only several return bends to connect the coils of the several units and complete the evaporator.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention a plurality of evaporator. units of different sizes are disclosed, each unit comprising a finned coil having flanged end flns by which oneunit may be bolted to other units. The assembling of various standard size units in accordance with the invention has been made possible by the comvmercial acceptance of the sweat fitting as the tubes are joined to the return bends in this manher to comprise the cooling coil of the unit. With this type of fitting and'by bolting the end fins of the unit it is very easy to assemble directly at the installation any size of evaporator that may be desired.

With these and other objects in view the invention may consist of certain novel features of construction and operation, as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the specification, drawing and claims appended hereto. I

In the drawing which illustrates an embodiment of the invention and wherein like reference characters are used to designate like parts Figure 1 is an elevational view, parts being shown in section, of an evaporator unit constructed in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is an end view of the smallest standard sized unit contemplated by the invention and which is constructed similar to Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an end view showing several units of the size of Figure 2 bolted together and joined accoording to the invention;

Figure 4 is an .end view of the evaporator of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is an end view showing a plurality of units of the size of Figure 1' bolted together and connected in accordance with the invention;

Figures 6 and 7 are views similar to Figures 4 and 5 but showing larger units illustrating a further adaptation of the invention; 5

Figure 8 is an end view of the largest of the standard size units contemplated by the invention;

Figure 9 is a detail sectional view showing the manner of securing the end fin to the evaporator 10 tubes; and

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a flanged end Each of the evaporator units shown in the drawing is constructed similar to Figure 1, which shows a unit consisting of four horizontal tubes I 0 of metal such as copper or other heat conducting metal and which are spaced an equal distance apart, forming the corners of a square. The tubes between their ends are provided with a plurality of fins [2 equally spaced and of any suitable metal such as copper. The fins'materially add to the surface of the tubes and aid in the refrigeration of the air or other medium brought into contact with said tubes and fins. The fins are apertured for receiving the tubes l0 which have a tight fit on the tubes, thus securely joining the fins to the tubes. In order to insure efiicient heat transfer from the tubes to the fins. the latter can be soldered in place or the material of the openings in the fins can be bent outwardly so as to have contact with the tubes and which additionally comprise spacing means therefor. The above described construction of fin does not form any part of the present invention and for a further and more complete understanding of the same reference is made te applicants prior Patent No. 1,998,664, dated April 23, 1935.

The plurality of tubes going to make up the unit of Figure 1 are provided at each end with a fin 14 which is flanged along the sides, providing the portions iii. In accordance with the invention the flanges are formed with bolt openings I 8, the openings being preferably grouped in pairs with the spacing between pairs as well as the spacing between openings of anypair being uniform in all the end fins of the diiferentisize evaporator units. The fin is also provided with a plurality of openings 20 in the body portion thereof for passage of the tubes I 0. The ends of each tube are formed with a portion 22 of larger diameter than the tube for receiving a return bend 24. The return bends are forced into the ends 22 of the tubes to connect certain tubes forming the tubes of each unit into a continuous coil. The

' connection between the bends and tubes can be loldered to insure a gas-tight fitting and a com mercially acceptable joint. A return bend is also .used to connect the coil of one unit with the coils 01' adjacent units to comprise the complete evaporator.

The various units shown in Figures 2, 4, 6 and I 8 range from the smallest size evaporator unit to thelargest size unit contemplated by the invention but it is understood thatthe showing is .not

to be considered as limiting the invention since units of larger size may be constructed as well as units 0! asize intermediate those shown. In the smallest unit, Figure 2, indicated in its entirety by 28, only two horizontal tubes are included, joined at one end by a.return bend. The unit of Figure 4, indicatedby numeral 30, is an end view of that shown in Figure 1 and includes twice the number of tubes shown in Figure 2.

The evaporator unit 32 shown in Figure 6 is still larger, including six horizontal tubes, while the largest unit 34 of Figure 8 consists of fourteen horizontal tubes. The above described units are representative oi. the standard size units from which the complete evaporator will be constructed. In accordance with the invention the various units are standardized as to length and as to size of the end flns, all of which are provided with flange portions i6 having bolt openings 18 uniformly spaced. When it is desired to construct a larger evaporator to suit the requirements of a particular installation any number of units can be connected by securing the end fins ofadjacent units by means of bolts 26 which are passed through the bolt openings 3. For example, the assembled evaporator shown in Figure 3 consists of two of the units 28 of the standardized size shown in Figure 2, while the evaporator of Figure 5 is formed by securing together three units 30 such as shown in Figure 4.

It is also within the present invention to assemble several standard units of different size which is illustrated. for example, in the evaporator 01 Figure '7. This consists in joining two of the units 32 and one unit 30 of the next smaller size. An assembly of this type is possible since the spacing of the tubes in each standard unit is the same so that the coil oi! one unit can be joined to the coil of an adjacent unit by a return bend 24 since the bolt openings l8 are uniform, permitting the end fins to be secured together.

The invention is not to be limited to or by details oi. construction of the particular embodiment thereof illustrated by the drawing, as various other forms or the device will of course be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the inventionor the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An evaporator comprising a plurality of small cooling units, each unit consistingoi! a coil having flanged end fins, and means joining the flanges of adjacent flns at the respective ends of the units.

2. An evaporator comprising a plurality of cooling units 01' standardized size, each unit consisting of a coil having flanged end fins, means joining the flanges of adjacent fins at the respective ends of the units, and connections joining the coils of adjacent units to form a continuous length of tubing.

3. An evaporator comprising a plurality of cooling units of standardized size, each unit consisting of a coil having end fins provided with flanges on the sides thereof, said flanges having openings, means passing through the openings for joining the flanges of adjacent fins at the respective ends of the units, and connections joining the coils of the adjacent units to form a continuous length of tubing.

4. An evaporator unit comprising a plurality of finned tubes, return bends connecting certain of the tubes at their ends to form a continuous length of tubing, and flanges formed on the end fins at the respective ends of the unit, whereby said units may be joined by joining the flanges of the end fins.

5. An evaporator unit comprising a plurality of finned tubes, return bends connecting certain of the tubes at their ends to form a continuous length of tubing, and flanges formed on the end fins at the respective ends of the unit for joining the unit to other units, said evaporator unit being standardized as to-length and as to size of end flns.

6. An evaporator unit comprising a plurality of finned tubes, return bends connecting certain of the tubes at their ends to form a continuous length of tubing, flanges formed on the sides of the end fins at the respective ends of the unit, said flanges having openings for receiving securing means whereby the end fins of adjacent units may be joined.

FRED R. ERBACH.

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