US Patent:
20050109494, May 26, 2005
Inventors:
George Williams - Chalfont PA, US
William Pritz - Roslyn PA, US
Peter Pritz - Jenkintown PA, US
Thomas Pritz - Roslyn PA, US
Dorothy Pritz - Ambler PA, US
International Classification:
F28F009/00
Abstract:
A tube support device is presented. The present invention includes at least two first plates and at least two second plates each having a plurality of slots mutually arranged and aligned so as to allow four or more plates to interlock and form a grid of depth-wise planar extent thereby providing at least one square-shaped opening. Each first plate and each second plate have a plurality of u-shaped nodules. At least one u-shaped nodule along each first plate and along each second plate extends into each square-shaped opening. U-shaped nodules are disposed parallel to and contacting a tube passing through each square-shaped opening. The grid is surrounded by a fluid with a flow field parallel to each tube and may include a secondary flow field crosswise disposed with respect to each tube. In yet another embodiments, the present invention is positioned within a shell and tube heat exchanger so as to support a plurality of tubes passing there through.