Abstract
A heat exchanger plate and a sealing gasket, and a combination thereof, the heat exchanger plate having a plurality of integrally formed locking clip housings for receiving at discrete locations, in interlocking engagement therewith, a plurality of locking clips formed integrally with a specially formed sealing gasket. Each locking clip housing has one or more windows defined by locking rims, the windows each at determined spatial orientation relative to the plane of the heat exchanger plate, for mechanically receiving therethrough in mechanical engagement with the locking rims, one or more portions of one or more locking clips, so as to prevent inadvertent disengagement of the locking clips from the housings.
Claims
1. A heat exchanger plate having a length extending along an X axis and a breadth extending along a Y axis perpendicular to axis X such that said plate resides in an X-Y plane, and having features of topography having at least a Z component parallel to a Z axis, perpendicular to the X-Y plane, said heat exchanger plate comprising: a. upper and lower sides and at least one edge portion; b. a groove formed in said upper side parallel to said edge portion, for seating a spine of a sealing gasket having at least one locking clip including a bolt and at least one bolt wedge protruding laterally from the bolt and having at least one angled confinement rim; and c. at least one locking clip housing formed integrally with said edge portion for locking engagement with the at least one gasket locking clip, each said at least one locking clip housing comprising: a strike portion contiguous with a predetermined edge portion, terminating at at least one upper locking rim portion; a bearing plate portion connected to said edge portion and terminating at at least one lower locking rim portion; and at least one side rim portion disposed between said upper locking rim and said at least one lower locking rim, and together therewith defines a window residing in a plane whose directional components include at least one Z component parallel to the Z axis, said window configured to receive said least one bolt wedge therethrough so as to abut against and in locking confinement with said upper and lower locking rim portions.
2. A heat exchange plate according to claim 1, wherein each said upper locking rim portion comprises an upper continuous locking rim and an upper perpendicular locking rim, and each said lower locking rim portion comprises a continuous locking rim and an upper perpendicular locking rim, wherein each of said upper continuous locking rim and lower continuous locking resides in a plane whose directional components include at least one Z component parallel to the Z axis.
3. A heat exchange plate according to claim 2, wherein said upper continuous locking rim and said lower continuous locking rim are mutually coplanar, and said upper perpendicular locking rim upper perpendicular locking rim are mutually parallel.
4. A heat exchange plate according to claim 1, wherein each said strike portion terminates at at least two upper locking rim portions, said bearing plate portion terminates at at least two said lower rim portions, and said at least one side rim includes a pair of said side rims, and wherein said pair of upper locking rim portions, said pair of lower rim portions and said pair of side rim portions define therebetween a pair of said windows.
5. A heat exchange plate according to claim 1, wherein each said strike portion terminates at a predetermined number of upper locking rim portions, said bearing plate portion terminates at a predetermined number of lower locking rim portions equal to said predetermined number of said upper locking rim portions, wherein each pair comprising a single one of said upper locking rim portions in positional registration with a single one of said lower locking rim portions defines a window, such that the total number of windows equals said predetermined number.
6. A heat exchange plate according to claim 1, wherein said topography includes peaks and valleys and the total height of said plate is the maximum distance between the top of the highest peak and the bottom of the lowest valley when measured parallel to the Z axis, and wherein said window has a height as measured between said upper and lower perpendicular locking rims, which is greater than said total height of said plate.
7. A heat exchange plate according to claim 1, wherein said upper and lower locking rim portions are configured to define a window whose shape is selected from the group which consists of: square, round, rectangular, triangular, rhomboid, a fanciful, non-geometric shape.
8. A heat exchange plate according to claim 2, wherein said locking clip housing has a depth equal to the distance between said upper perpendicular locking rim and said lower perpendicular locking rim, said depth equal to a depth required to accommodate the bolt of the locking clip in a predetermined direction.
9. For use with a heat exchanger plate residing in an X-Y plane and having upper and lower sides, at least one edge portion, a gasket groove, and a locking clip housing integral with the edge portion, the locking clip housing having a strike portion and a bearing plate portion spaced apart in a direction transverse to the X-Y plane so as to form an opening having an insertion axis and a width measured transversely thereto, the strike portion and bearing plate portion also having locking rims between which is defined a locking window transverse to the bearing plate portion, a sealing gasket comprising: a. a spine for seating within the groove; and b. at least one integrally formed locking clip comprising: a bolt extending transversely from said spine, dimensioned for seating within the opening so as to abut one of the locking rims of the bearing plate portion when fully inserted; and at least one compressible wedge extending laterally from said bolt such that combined width of said bolt and said at least one wedge is greater than the width of the opening, said wedge having at least one confinement rim, wherein on full insertion of said bolt and said at least one wedge into said opening, said bolt abuts one of the locking rims of the beating plate, thereby to be protected from a direct unlocking force, and said at least one wedge extends transversely from said bolt through the locking window such that said at least one confinement rim engages at least one of the locking rims of the strike portion and bearing plate portion, thereby to resist withdrawal of said locking clip from the housing.
10. A sealing gasket according to claim 9, wherein the strike portion has an upper continuous locking rim and an upper perpendicular locking rim, and the bearing plate portion has a lower continuous locking rim and a lower perpendicular locking rim which is opposite the upper perpendicular locking rim, and wherein said at least one wedge comprises at least two wedges, each having at least one confinement rim configured for abutting engagement against and confinement by a predetermined one of the locking rims of the strike portion and bearing plate portion.
11. A sealing gasket according to claim 10, wherein said at least two wedges includes an upper wedge having formed thereon: an upward facing, upper continuous confinement rim configured to abut the upper continuous locking rim; an upper perpendicular confinement rim configured to abut the upper perpendicular locking rim; a downward facing lower continuous confinement rim configured to abut the lower continuous locking rim; and a lower perpendicular confinement rim configured to abut the lower perpendicular locking rim.
12. A sealing gasket according to claim 11, wherein the locking window resides in a plane transverse to the X-Y plane, and said upward facing, upper continuous confinement rim and said a downward facing lower continuous confinement rim are coplanar with the plane of the locking window.
13. A sealing gasket according to claim 11, wherein the locking window resides in a plane transverse to the X-Y plane, and said upward facing, upper perpendicular confinement rim and said a downward facing lower perpendicular confinement rim are perpendicular to the plane of the locking window.
14. A sealing gasket according to claim 10, wherein the locking pin housing includes a pair of strike portions whose upper perpendicular locking rims combine with the lower perpendicular locking rims to define a pair of opposing locking windows, and wherein said locking clip has a cross-sectional profile of a truncated arrow having an axis of symmetry, wherein said bolt is positioned along the axis of symmetry, and said at least one wedge includes a pair of wedges formed symmetrically about said bolt, each for extending through one of the pair of opposing locking windows, and each having an upward facing upper perpendicular confinement dm for abutting a corresponding upper perpendicular locking rim of the pair of strike portions.
15. A sealing gasket according to claim 10, wherein the locking clip housing contains a predetermined number of multiple locking windows each of predetermined configuration, arranged in a predetermined spatial arrangement and orientation with respect to the X-Y-Z-axes, and wherein said at least one wedge comprises a number of said wedges extending from said bolt, whose number, spatial arrangement and orientation correspond to those of the locking windows.
16. A heat exchanger plate and sealing gasket locked thereto in combination, said combination comprising: a. a heat exchange plate having a length extending along an X axis and a breadth extending along a Y axis perpendicular to axis X such that said plate resides in an X-Y plane, and having features of topography having at least a Z component parallel to a Z axis, perpendicular to the X-Y plane, having upper and lower sides, a groove for seating a sealing gasket spine, at least one edge portion, and a plurality of locking clip housings formed at predetermined discrete locations therealong each having an opening having a locking clip insertion axis; and b. a sealing gasket having a spine for seating in said groove, and a plurality of integrally formed locking clips at discrete positions along said spine for locking engagement with said plurality of locking clip housings, each said locking clip having a bolt extending transversely from said spine, said bolt dimensioned for seating within the opening so as to abut one of the locking rims of the bearing plate portion when fully inserted, wherein each said locking pin housing is formed integrally with said edge portion for interlocking engagement with a single one of said locking clips, and has an opening for accommodating said bolt, wherein said opening has a width dimensioned to accommodate the width of said bolt, and a depth dimensioned to accommodate the height of said bolt, wherein each said locking clip housing comprises: (i) a strike portion contiguous with a predetermined edge portion, terminating at at least one upper locking rim portion; (ii) a bearing plate portion connected to said edge portion and terminating at at least one lower locking rim portion; and (iii) at least one side rim portion disposed between said upper locking rim portion and said at least one lower locking rim portion, and together therewith defines a window residing in a plane whose directional components include at least one Z component parallel to the Z axis, and wherein each said locking clip comprises: (iv) a bolt extending transversely from said spine, dimensioned for seating within the opening so as to abut one of the locking rims of the bearing plate portion when fully inserted; and (v) at least one compressible wedge extending laterally from said bolt such that combined width of said bolt and said at least one wedge is greater than the width of said opening, said wedge having at least one confinement rim, wherein on full insertion of said bolt and said at least one wedge into said opening, said bolt abuts one of said locking rims of said bearing plate portion, thereby to be protected from a direct unlocking force, and said at least one wedge extends transversely from said bolt through said locking window such that said at least one confinement rim engages at least one of said locking rims of said strike portion and said bearing plate portion, thereby to resist withdrawal of said locking clip from said locking pin housing.
17. A combination according to claim 16, each said locking clip housing according to claim 1, and said locking clip housing according to claim 9.
18. A pre-assembled heat exchanger plate incorporating a sealing gasket, said pre assembled plate comprising: a heat exchanger plate residing in an X-Y plane and having topographical features having a component parallel to a Z axis perpendicular to said X-Y plane; an edge portion; a groove; a plurality of preformed locking clip housings formed at predetermined positions along said edge portion, each said housing comprising an opening formed through said plate and a plurality of locking elements, arranged along a Z axis perpendicular to said X-Y plane, at least one of said elements being spaced apart from said X-Y plane; and a sealing gasket seated in said groove, having a spine and a plurality of integral locking clips formed at positions corresponding to said predetermined positions of said preformed locking clip housings, each said locking clip protruding into the interior of one of said openings formed through said plate, and comprising at least one integrally formed wedge configured for engagement with and confinement by at least one of said locking elements.
19. A pre-assembled heat exchanger plate according to claim 18, each said locking clip housing according to claim 1, and said locking clip housing according to claim 9.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0050] The present disclosure will be more fully understood and appreciated from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:
[0051] FIG. 1 (not provided)
[0052] FIG. 2 (not provided)
[0053] FIG. 3 (not provided)
[0054] FIG. 4 is a side-sectional view of a locking clip housing having a pair of locking windows formed along a peak of the plate edge portion;
[0055] FIG. 5 (not provided)
[0056] FIG. 6 is an isometric schematic view of a window formed in the side wall of the gasket channel, and a sideways oriented locking clip for vertical engagement therewith;
[0057] FIG. 7 is a generalized schematic illustration of a heat exchanger plate;
[0058] FIG. 8 NEW is a schematic side-sectional view of a locking clip housing showing a single locking window and four locking rims;
[0059] FIG. 9 is an enlarged and rotated view of the locking clip seen in FIG. 6;
[0060] FIG. 10 is a schematic representation showing force components acting on a wedge during insertion through a window;
[0061] FIGS. 11A and 11B are a schematic cross-sectional view of a metal plate positioned between an exemplary pair dies prior to cold drawing forming of a plate having a locking clip housing in accordance with the present invention, and a locking clip housing formed thereby;
[0062] FIGS. 12A and 12B are similar to FIGS. 11A and 11B , but show forming of a locking clip in accordance with an alternative embodiment;
[0063] FIG. 13A shows a sideways locking clip for engagement with a vertical window protruding above the XY plane of the plate;
[0064] FIG. 13B is similar to FIG. 13A, but wherein the vertical window does not protrude above the XY plane of the plate;
[0065] FIG. 14A is a detailed plan view of a plate edge portion having a 45 degree locking clip housing with four locking windows and one bolt groove;
[0066] FIG. 14B is a detailed plan view and part sectional views of a gasket locking clip for locking engagement with the locking clip housing of FIG. 14A;
[0067] FIG. 14C is a detailed plan view and part sectional view of the gasket locking clip of FIG. 14B when fully assembled within the locking clip housing of FIG. 14A;
[0068] FIGS. 15A and 15B are front and side-sectional views of a locking window with an upper rim portion formed at plate peak level;
[0069] FIGS. 15C and 15D are front and side-sectional views of a locking window with an upper rim portion formed above in a plate peak;
[0070] FIGS. 15E and 15F are front and side-sectional views of a locking window with an upper rim portion formed at an elevated peak level;
[0071] FIGS. 15G-15L are front views of a locking window respectively shown as triangular (FIGS. 15G and 15H), circular (FIG. 15I), fanciful/non-geometric (FIG. 15J), rectangular (FIG. 15K, and semi-circular (FIG. 15L);
[0072] FIG. 16 shows a locking clip housing having a shaped window formed in the side of a peak portion of a plate edge, adapted for inward lateral engagement of a loop mounted, inward facing locking clip;
[0073] FIG. 16B shows the locking clip once locked within the locking clip housing; FIG. 16C is a front elevational view of the locking clip housing of FIGS. 16A and 16B, showing the locking clip as seen in FIG. 16B;
[0074] FIG. 17 is a detailed plan view of a plate edge portion having a plurality of differently formed single vertical windows for locking with various types of horizontal engagement gasket clips;
[0075] FIG. 17B is a detailed plan view of a gasket locking clip exemplifying various types of horizontal engagement gasket clips for locking engagement with the locking clip housing of FIG. 17A;
[0076] FIG. 17C is a detailed plan view of the gasket locking clips of FIG. 17B when fully assembled within the locking clip housings of FIG. 39A;
[0077] FIG. 17D is a cross-sectional view of a portion of FIG. 17C showing a single vertical window with upper and lower horizontal locking rims, wherein engagement of the locking clip therein requires a horizontal thrusting direction;
[0078] FIGS. 18A-18C shows basic height dimensions of a window;
[0079] FIGS. 18D-18J shown windows having various different shapes;
[0080] FIGS. 19A and 19B is a schematic cross-section of a locking clip housing having a single locking window, and the bolt and wedges of a locking clip for locking therein, respectively;
[0081] FIGS. 20 and 21 are a schematic cross-section of a locking clip housing having two locking windows and the bolt and wedges of a locking clip for locking therein, respectively;
[0082] FIG. 21 shows in side-sectional profile, a plurality of housings similar to those illustrated in FIG. 20A and a corresponding plurality of locking clips for locking therein, respectively;
[0083] FIG. 22 is a schematic side-sectional view of a locking clip having two confinement rims;
[0084] FIG. 23 shows the housing of FIG. 8, having seated therein the gasket of FIG. 22;
[0085] FIG. 24 is a view similar to FIG. 22, but showing a gasket with four confinement rims;
[0086] FIG. 25A is a plate edge portion and groove, including a cross-sectional view of the gasket spine, showing a locking window parallel to the groove;
[0087] FIGS. 25B-25E are cross-sectional views of the locking window of FIG. 25A, taken along line A-A therein, in accordance with various modifications;
[0088] FIG. 26 shows insertion of a locking clip into a locking clip housing having two opposing locking windows, and showing locking by six locking rims;
[0089] FIGS. 27A and 27B show a gasket for insertion into a housing having a pair of diagonally formed windows;
[0090] FIG. 28A is schematic plan view (not to scale) of an edge portion of a plate including its gasket groove, showing laterally formed locking windows formed in peak portions of the plate edge (seen in FIGS. 28B and 28C);
[0091] FIGS. 28B and 28C show locking windows formed in peak portions of the plate edge facing inward into the gasket groove, adjacent to a valley and adjacent to a peak, respectively;
[0092] FIG. 28D shows a pack of stacked plates including lateral windows such as seen in FIGS. 28B and 28C;
[0093] FIG. 29A is a schematic plan view of a lateral locking window formed in a raised geometric support formed in a valley portion of the plate;
[0094] FIG. 29B is a schematic plan view of a gasket having a loop supporting an inward-facing locking clip having a release lever formed therewith;]
[0095] FIG. 29C (i)-(iii) are side sectional views showing (i) the locking clip housing along section B-B and (i) the gasket and locking clip along section A-A; and a sectional view of the fully assembled gasket and locking clip housing;
[0096] FIGS. 30A and 30B are schematic plan views of a gasket with locking clip, and a plate edge portion with locking clip housing configured to lockingly engage the locking clip, respectively, the housing having a pair of opposing windows;
[0097] FIG. 30C is a cross-sectional view of the housing of FIG. 30B taken along C-C therein;
[0098] FIGS. 31A and 31B are sectional views taken along line B-B in FIG. 30B, before and after engagement of a locking clip in the form of a truncated arrowhead;
[0099] FIGS. 32A and 32B are sectional views similar to FIGS. 31A and 31B, but wherein the locking windows converge towards each other in a downward direction, and wherein the locking clip has additional confinement surfaces for engaging the lower locking rims of the windows;
[0100] FIG. 33A is a schematic plan view of an edge portion of a plate including its gasket groove and a valley portion in which raised or peak portions are formed so as to form a double locking window, showing laterally formed locking windows formed in peak portions of the plate edge;
[0101] FIG. 34B shows a gasket having a loop and a double clip for locking with the locking windows of FIG. 34A;
[0102] FIG. 35 is a detailed plan view of a plate edge portion having a locking clip housing with three locking windows;
[0103] FIG. 36 is a detailed plan view of a plate edge portion having a 45 degree locking clip housing with three locking windows and one bolt groove;
[0104] FIG. 37 is a detailed plan view of a plate edge portion having a locking clip housing with four locking windows;
[0105] FIG. 38A is a detailed plan view of a plate edge portion having a ring-like locking clip housing with two inward facing or internal locking windows;
[0106] FIG. 38B is a detailed plan view and of a gasket locking clip for locking engagement with the locking clip housing of FIG. 38A;
[0107] FIG. 38C is a detailed plan view and part sectional view A-A of the gasket locking clip of FIG. 38B when fully assembled within the locking clip housing of FIG. 38A;
[0108] FIG. 39A is a detailed plan view of a plate edge portion having a ring-like locking clip housing with two inward facing or internal locking windows and two outward-facing or external windows;
[0109] FIG. 39B is a detailed plan view and of a gasket locking clip for locking engagement with the locking clip housing of FIG. 39A;
[0110] FIG. 39C is a detailed plan view and part sectional view A-A of the gasket locking clip of FIG. 39B when fully assembled within the locking clip housing of FIG. 39A;
[0111] FIGS. 40A and 40B are is a detailed plan view of a plate edge portion having a locking clip housing with two rounded windows and one bolt groove, and an enlarged view of the locking clip housing, respectively;
[0112] FIG. 41 is a detailed plan view of a plate edge portion having a locking clip housing with a single, long round window and one bolt groove;
[0113] FIGS. 42A-42C are an isometric view of a rounded window formed in a peak portion of a plate edge portion; a plan view thereof, and an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along A-A in FIG. 42B, respectively;
[0114] FIGS. 43A-43B are a plan view of a plate edge portion with a series of adjacent pairs of locking windows, and a plan view and side views of a series of similar locking clips configured for engagement with the series of adjacent pairs of locking windows of FIG. 43A, respectively;
[0115] FIG. 44 is an enlarged view of a single locking clip seen in FIG. 43B, having a built in squeezable upper portion for ease of insertion into a locking clip housing;
[0116] FIGS. 45A and 45B are detailed top isometric views of an edge portion of a heat exchanger plate having a locking clip housing formed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0117] FIGS. 46A and 46B are views similar to those of FIGS. 45A and 45B , as seen from underneath;
[0118] FIGS. 47A-47D are detailed views of a portion of a sealing gasket with a locking clip formed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0119] FIG. 48A is a detailed view of the locking clip housing and locking clip of FIGS. 45A-47D immediately prior to insertion of the locking clip into the locking clip housing, as seen from above;
[0120] FIG. 48B is a detailed view of the locking clip housing and locking clip of FIGS. 45A-47D in mutually locked engagement, corresponding to the view of FIG. 48A, but as seen from below;
[0121] FIGS. 48C and 44D are partial cross-section views of the locking clip housing and locking clip as illustrated in FIGS. 8A-8B, as seen from different angles;
[0122] FIG. 48E is a schematic illustration showing a locking clip prior to locking engagement with a gasket locking clip housing as viewed in cross-section as at A-A in FIG. 41A, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0123] FIG. 48F is a further illustration of the locking clip and locking clip housing of FIG. 48E, in mutually locked engagement;
[0124] FIGS. 49A-49C are a detailed plan view of a plate edge portion having a vertical single window a clip housing which opens out directly into the gasket groove; a horizontal locking clip with wedge for use therewith; and a plan view of full assembly of the locking clips with the housings, respectively; and
[0125] FIG. 50 is an isometric view of a linear locking pin and associated locking clip housing, according to a further embodiment of the invention, and as seen in FIG. 17B.
SUPPLEMENTARY DESCRIPTION
[0126] The present description relates to additional aspects of the invention as exemplified in some of the drawings not described above in the General Description.
[0127] Referring now to FIGS. 6, 13A and 13B, there are seen two different types of engagement of locking clip 30 with the inward-facing vertical window 1, formed in out-gasket or plate edge portion 14′, and whose bolt groove 67 is continuous and coplanar with gasket groove 16. It will be noted that in one embodiment, the upper perpendicular locking rim 6 which defines the top of the window may be formed at the height of peak plane P′, as seen in FIGS. 6 and 13B, whereas in FIG. 13A there is provided a protrusion 62 which extends above the height of the peak plane P′, thereby advantageously increasing the height of the window so as to enable use of a locking clip bolt 106 and wedges 108 whose height or thickness is commensurately greater.
[0128] The main difference between the two illustrated configurations is that, while the locking clip extends transversely from the gasket spine 22, in FIG. 6, the direction of engagement is vertical, while in FIGS. 13A and 13B, it is horizontal.
[0129] In the embodiment of FIG. 6, the exemplary truncated arrowhead form provided by the wedges, seen also in FIG. 9, is aligned so as to be facing in a downwardly vertical direction at approximately right angles, with the upward-facing confinement rim 103 of each wedge 108 in the XY plane, and at right angles to the direction of entry into window 1, as indicated by arrows 9. Forced entry of the locking clip in the indicated Z or vertical direction, causes the angled edge 109 of each wedge 108 to engage the indicated perpendicular locking rims 4 so as to contract. After clearing the locking rims 4, the wedges expand to their original shape such that upward facing horizontal wedge confinement rims 103 engage the continuous locking rims 6, thereby to become interlocked with the locking clip housing.
[0130] With regard to FIGS. 13A and 13B however, as the gasket bolt 106 is formed such that the truncated arrowhead faces in a horizontal direction and is formed for engagement with housing 60 in the XY plane as seen by horizontal arrow 99.
[0131] In the embodiment of FIG. 13A, vertical window 1 is provided with a pair of right and left side, vertical locking rim portions 150 in the form of right-angled triangles, defining front locking rims 214 and rear, right and left locking rims 215. The wedges 6 which are coplanar with bolt 106, both extending horizontally from spine 22, have vertical, right and left confinement rims 115.
[0132] Forced entry of the locking clip in the indicated Y or horizontal direction, causes the angled edge 109 of each wedge 108 to engage the indicated front locking rims 214 so as to contract. After clearing the rear locking rims 215, the wedges expand to their original shape such that vertical wedge confinement rims 115 engage the rear continuous locking rims 215, thereby to become interlocked with the locking clip housing.
[0133] Referring briefly to FIG. 9, there is a seen a locking clip which is formed so as to have a downward-facing truncated arrowhead profile. However, as distinct from the locking clip of FIG. 6, it has rearward facing vertical confinement rims 117.
[0134] Referring now also to FIGS. 18A-18I, a window formed in accordance with the present invention has a shaped contoured rim that is either flat or in any curved form, and its shape can be square, oblong, rhomboid, triangular, or any other shape, as shown. The upper line UL of the window (denoted for example, in FIGS. 18D and 18EI) can, but does need not be, parallel to the X-Y plane of the plate, as can other contours of the window. Furthermore, the shape of the window either can be closed or can have an open section in one of its sections in any direction, as predetermined, and as seen in FIGS. 18D-18I.
[0135] Reference is now made to FIG. 19A which is a schematic side-sectional view of a locking clip housing 60 having a single window 1. Window 1 is bounded on all sides by window rim surfaces, having an upper rim 2 and a lower rim 3, as well as side rims (not shown), all of which are, more or less, parallel to the plane of the window 1. The rims are essentially outward continuations of the window, and may be referred to as ‘continuing planar rim surfaces’ of the window. They include, in the present drawing, an upper continuing locking rim 4 and a lower continuing locking rim 5. Perpendicular to the planar rim surfaces are rim surfaces that are perpendicular thereto, including upper perpendicular side surface or rim 6, and lower perpendicular side surface or rim 7. It will be appreciated that the described contoured window is located along the connecting line between the continuing rim surfaces 4 and 5 and the perpendicular rim surfaces 6 and 7.
[0136] For the sake of simplicity, the window illustrated in FIG. 19A is shown without drawing or bending, and as having a maximum height. However, the above description and features also apply to partially perforated, drawn or bent windows, and portions and components shown and described hereinbelow similar to those shown and described above, are denoted by similar reference numerals. It will also be appreciated that while only the upper and lower rims of a single window 1 of a single locking clip housing 60 has been described, lateral rims and other features not seen in FIG. 19A are shown and described in conjunction with additional embodiments of the invention.
[0137] The continuous and perpendicular upper and lower rim surfaces shown and described in conjunction with the single window example of FIG. 19A, and the parallel, upper and lower, left and right pairs of perpendicular locking rims, are the available locking rims that the partially perforated (and drawn) window structure (or the windows) provide as support and locking rims for the corresponding wedge confinement rims, as shown, by way of one exemplary embodiment, in FIG. 19B.
[0138] Referring now briefly to FIG. 19B, the gasket locking clip 30 includes a bolt 106 having, in the present example, two confinement wedges 108, each formed with formed with a pair of confinement rims which, when forced into abutting engagement with the corresponding locking rims serve to confine the bolt 106 within housing 60, so as to become locked therein. Specifically, the illustrated wedge 108 has the following confinement rims: [0139] a. Upper continuous confinement rim 102 for abutting upper continuous locking rim 4; [0140] b. Upper perpendicular confinement rim 103 for abutting upper perpendicular locking rim 6; [0141] c. Lower continuous confinement rim 104 for abutting lower continuous locking rim 5; and [0142] d. Lower perpendicular confinement rim 105 for abutting lower perpendicular locking rim 7.
[0143] To achieve optimal confinement and clip locking, it is possible to use some or all of the confinement rims.
[0144] A gasket bolt 106 and its wedges 108 can extend and connect to one window 1 or more windows in the plate, as shown in various examples below. Windows can be perpendicular to the X-Y plane of the plate, or can present at an angle relative to the X-Y plane and to the X and Y axes.
[0145] The gasket wedges with their confinement rims, when combined with the locking surfaces of the plate windows, creates a stable and strong gasket to plate connection that does not open easily when handled in an unskilled manner by someone not fully trained in servicing a heat exchanger employing the herein described plate and gasket. This increases the reliability of such heat exchangers, and enables untrained personnel to handle and service them, including replacing gaskets, or opening and closing them for testing, without giving rise to possible malfunction, as with the prior art.
[0146] For conciseness and ease of reference, unless specifically stated otherwise, the following reference numerals apply throughout the description, when making reference to a locking window, its rims, the locking clip confinement surfaces for confinement thereagainst:
[0147] 1—window [0148] 2—upper rim (generally [0149] 3—lower rim (generally) [0150] 4—upper continuing (locking) rim [0151] 5—lower continuing (locking)rim [0152] 6—upper perpendicular (locking)rim [0153] 7—lower perpendicular (locking) rim [0154] 102—upper continuous confinement rim [0155] 103—upper perpendicular confinement rim [0156] 104—lower continuous confinement rim [0157] 105—lower perpendicular confinement rim,
[0158] wherein mutually corresponding left-sided and right-sided surfaces are denoted by the same reference numeral, but with the addition of an apostrophe ('). For example, the left side lower continuing (locking) rim of a window is referenced 5, and the corresponding rim on the right side is referenced 5′.
[0159] Referring now to FIG. 20, there is seen a locking clip housing 60 having two locking windows 1 and 1′. These windows are similar to that shown and described in conjunction with FIG. 19A above, and are this not specifically described again herein. Bolt 106 seen in FIG. 21, configured for forced entry into housing 60 (FIG. 20) is as shown and described in FIG. 3B, except that the complete profile is shown herein, wherein the left side of the bolt and its wedges 108 are formed for entry into left side window 1 and locking abutment with its various locking rims, while the right side of the bolt and its wedges 108′ are formed for entry into left side window 1′ and locking abutment with its various locking rims.
[0160] Referring now again to FIG. 8., there is seen a schematic side-sectional view of a locking clip housing 60 showing a single locking window 1, and four locking rims 4,5,6 and 7, as depicted in FIG. 3A. As demonstrated in FIGS. 19A, 22 and 23, housing 60 is able to lock a locking clip bolt 106 which may variously configured to have upper continuous confinement rim 102, upper perpendicular confinement rim 103, and lower continuous confinement rim. However, bolt 106 may be modified so as to have an additional, lower wedge 108″, and as shown and described in conjunction with FIG. 19B.
[0161] Referring now to FIG. 25A, there is shown a plate edge portion having a locking clip housing 60 including a single window 1, which, as seen in the illustrated plan view, has a profile that runs along groove 16. This is seen more clearly in FIG. 25B, which clearly illustrated an X-Y planar offset between the upper and lower continuous locking rims 4 and 5, respectively. In FIG. 10C this offset is reduced significantly, in FIG. 25E the profile is as seen in FIG. 3A, and in FIG. 25D there is an overhang, wherein the upper window rims overhang the lower rims.
[0162] Referring now to FIG. 26, there are shown a locking clip housing 60 having two windows 1 and 1′ as shown and described above in conjunction with FIG. 20, and a locking clip 30 whose bolt 106 has a cross-sectional profile, as seen, of a truncated arrow. This combination is shown and described in detail below, in conjunction with FIGS. 45A-48F and is thus not described again herein.
[0163] As discussed herein, locking clips 30 and locking clip housings 60 may be provided in any number, and in many different orientations relative to the X-Y-Z system of axes described above in conjunction with FIG. 7, provided that there are provided the requisite number of locking rims and confinement rims, distributed along the Z-axis, i.e. as long as the window opening has a component of separation which is perpendicular to the X-Y plane of the plate. This for example, referring now to FIGS. 27A and 27B, there is seen a gasket with diagonal wedges for insertion into a double locking clip, having a pair of correspondingly formed, diagonally oriented windows.
[0164] FIGS. 28A-28C show a window 1 formed in an edge portion 14′ of a plate including its gasket groove, in which the window is formed along the edge of the gasket groove 16, in a peak portion, labelled “peak”, of the plate edge 14′. FIG. 28D illustrates a plurality of stacked plates, each having a housing as seen in FIGS. 28B and 28C, in which is locked a gasket.
[0165] Referring now to FIG. 29A and 29C(i), there is seen a plate edge having an outward-facing locking window 1 formed in a raised geometric support 203 formed in a valley portion 202 of the plate. An appropriately formed locking clip is seen in FIG. 29B to be positioned away from spine 22 of gasket 20 by a loop 206 having locking clip 30 formed thereon. A wedge portion 8 of the locking clip is seen to be facing inwardly, back towards the spine, so as to be lockingly insertable into the outward-facing window 1. Wedge portion has suitable upward and downward facing confinement rims for abutting confinement by corresponding locking rims. There may also be provided a graspable handle or lever 208 which may be used to insert the wedge portion 8 into the window 1 so as to lockingly engage the locking clip with the housing 60, as seen in FIGS. 29C (ii) and (iii). A similar solution is also seen in FIGS. 33A and 33B, having a pair of facing windows 1, 1′ formed between two raised surfaces 203, parallel to the gasket groove, and wherein the locking clip (FIG. 33B) has a pair of wedge portions 8,8′ for insertion through windows 1,1′, as described herein.
[0166] As seen in FIG. 30B, windows 1 may be formed so as to extend in a direction perpendicular to gasket groove 16. In the present example, a pair of inward facing windows 1′ and 1″ are formed in a depressed portion 202 of the plate edge portion 14′. When seen in cross-section, the windows may be formed such that their upper and lower continuous locking rims 4 and 5 are in full registration, along a line parallel to the Z-axis (FIG. 1) such as seen in FIG. 317A, or so as to extend along a slight incline relative thereto, such as seen in FIG. 32A, also seen in detail in FIG. 4. The shape of the bolt and wedge portions of the locking clip illustrated in FIGS. 317A and 31B are as shown and described above in conjunction with FIG. 26; while that illustrated in FIGS. 32A and 32B is as shown and described in conjunction with FIG. 21.
[0167] Regardless of configuration however, and referring again briefly to FIGS. 31A-31B, the distance between the upper perpendicular confinement rim and lower perpendicular confinement rim of the locking clip, and the distance between the upper perpendicular locking rim and lower perpendicular locking rim of the locking clip is equal, indicated by the letter “a” in the drawings.
[0168] Referring briefly now to FIGS. 15A-15L, there are provided examples showing the variety of shapes that the windows of the gasket locking clip housing of the present invention may be implemented. These examples also clearly illustrate a variety of heights at which the windows may be formed relative to the X-Y plane (FIG. 1) of the plate, being coplanar; raised; and irregular, such as the illustrated fancifully shaped window.
[0169] As will be appreciated from the foregoing description, clip housings 60 of the present invention may be formed so as to have multiple locking windows in a variety of orientations, there being gasket locking clips formed so to interlock therewith, with single or multiple bolts, formed also at correspondingly varying orientations, all of which embody the basic construction and mode of operation of the present invention as shown and described hereinabove.
[0170] Thus, by way of example only, and with reference to FIGS. 35-41 and 49-51, there may be provided:
[0171] a locking clip housing with three locking windows (FIG. 35);
[0172] a 45 degree locking clip housing with three locking windows and one bolt groove (FIG. 36);
[0173] a locking clip housing with four locking windows (FIG. 37);
[0174] a ring-like locking clip housing with two inward facing or internal locking windows (FIG. 38A) with a locking clip (FIG. 348) configured for locking engagement therewith, illustrated in full assembly in FIG. 38C;
[0175] a two ring-like locking clip housing with two inward facing or internal locking windows and two outward-facing or external windows (FIG. 39A) with a locking clip configured for locking engagement therewith, illustrated in full assembly in FIG. 39C;
[0176] a locking clip housing with two rounded windows and one bolt groove (FIGS. 40A and 40B);
[0177] a plate edge portion having a locking clip housing with a single, long round window and one bolt groove (FIG. 41);
[0178] a vertical single window with different types pf horizontal engagement clip (FIG. 49)
[0179] a clip housing which opens out directly into the gasket groove (FIG. 50).
[0180] Yet a further example of an embodiment of the present invention is seen in FIGS. 42A-42C, in which is illustrated a rounded window 1. In this embodiment, it is clearly seen that the window, formed as a partial perforation in a raised or peak portion 203 of the plate edge portion 14′, is open in three directions. The upper or strike portion of the housing 60 is the surrounding portion of the plate edge, defining upper continuous locking rim 4 and upper perpendicular locking rim 6; while the lower or bearing portion of the housing forms the bottom of the window, defining lower continuous locking rim 5 and lower perpendicular locking rim 7.
[0181] Referring now to FIGS. 43A and 43B, multiple windows, such as a series of pairs of inward facing windows 1, 1′ seen in FIG. 43A, may be formed in a plate edge. In the present example a series of 6 pairs is shown. There is also seen a gasket 20 (FIG. 43B), suitable for interlocking engagement with the series of pairs of windows. The exemplary series of 4 locking clips 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d may be of any suitable configuration embodying the present invention, as shown by way of example. It will also be seen that locking clip 30a, which is a variation of the locking clip shown and described above in conjunction with FIG. 20B, is formed with a recess 310 in its upper portion, as seen in the enlarged view of FIG. 44. This provides additional flexibility to the locking clip which may assist in insertion of the locking clip into the housing.
[0182] Referring now to FIGS. 45A-48D, a further embodiment of the invention is shown and described herein. As seen in FIGS. 45A-46B edge portion 14 is seen to be formed of a succession of alternating hills 112 and valleys 114, typically as known in the art. This pattern is stamped into the sheet metal together with the other functional features of the plate.
[0183] During the stamping process, a locking clip housing 60 is formed at each of locations 14 (FIG. 7) within edge portion 14 of plate 10. Locking clip housing 60 is essentially a partial perforation of edge portion 14 which results in height differentiated locking clip housing portions so as to form an opening 62 (FIGS. 48E and 48F), as described hereinbelow in detail. Typically, as described above, locking clip housing 60 is formed by modifications to the dies used in the stamping process, particularly with regard to the die tolerances, thereby to cause selective shearing of the plate metal, which otherwise is drawn, thereby to obtain the continuous undulating pattern of hills and valleys, within which locking clip housings 60 are formed, as described.
[0184] As seen, locking clip housing 60 is formed integrally with the plate edge portion 14 for interlocking engagement with a gasket locking clip 30. Locking clip housing 60 has a locking opening 62 (FIG. 48E) for accommodating the sealing gasket bolt 106 (shown and described below) in mutual locked engagement. Opening 62 has an orifice 64, seen also in FIG. 48C, having a width Wo dimensioned to accommodate the width Wb of the bolt, and a depth Do dimensioned to accommodate the height Hb of the bolt.
[0185] Locking clip housing 60 is formed of a planar strike portion 66 which is a portion of and thus coplanar with the edge portion 14 of the plate 10, configured to so as to form orifice 64. As seen, orifice 64 is typically bounded on three sides, and is typically open to groove 16 on the fourth side, as indicated by reference numeral 65.
[0186] A protective bearing plate portion 68, spaced apart from the strike portion 66 by depth Do, is connected between plate edge portion 14 and groove 16, and defines lateral windows 1 for accommodating bolt wedges 108, shown and described in conjunction with FIGS. 47A-48D below.
[0187] As seen, planar strike portion 66 has a pair of upper continuous locking rims 4, 4′ which together define width Wo of orifice 64, and upper perpendicular locking rims 6,6′ (FIGS. 46A-46B).
[0188] Bearing plate portion 68 has a pair of lower continuous locking rims 5, 5′, and a lower perpendicular locking rim 7, parallel to the upper perpendicular locking rim 6 of the planar strike portion.
[0189] Further, also as seen in FIGS. 45A-46B, the protective bearing plate portion 68 has first and second ends 82 and 84 respectively, wherein first end 82 is connected to the plate in the region of groove 16, and second end 84 is contiguously connected to plate edge portion 14 by means of a transition bearing portion 69 having a predetermined slope.
[0190] Referring now to FIGS. 47A-48D, the locking clip 30 of the invention has a bolt 106 which is formed with and extends transversely from the gasket spine. The width Wb of the bolt 106 as taken in a direction parallel to the spine 22 and the height Hb of the bolt 106, are predetermined for insertion into the opening 62 of the locking clip housing, wherein Wb is equal or just greater than the width Wo of the orifice 64, and the height Hb is equal to the depth Do of the opening 62 such that on full insertion of the bolt 106 into the opening 62, as seen in FIG. 44D, the lower confined rim 105 engages the protective bearing plate portion 68. The presence of the bearing plate portion 68 not only helps to lock the bolt 106 and thus the locking clip 30, but also prevents inadvertent release of the locking clip 30 by preventing application to the lower confined rim 105 of a direct force which might otherwise force bolt 106 upwards through the locking clip housing 60.
[0191] As seen, the bolt 106 has typically a pair of laterally disposed, elastically deformable wedges 108. In the present example, each wedge 108 has an upper perpendicular confinement rim 103, and the width Wf of the wedges 108, as measured from the tip 35 of one wedge 108 to the tip 35 of the other wedge 108, is greater than the width Wb of the bolt 106 and greater than the width Wo of the orifice 64. As illustrated schematically in FIGS. 5A and 5B, upon forcible insertion of the bolt 106 and the elastically deformable wedges 108 into the opening 62, through the orifice 64, until the generally planar lower confined rim 105 bears directly onto the lower perpendicular locking rim 7 of the bearing plate portion 68, the wedges 108 deform elastically so as to pass through the orifice 64 into the opening 62.
[0192] Once the wedges 108 have cleared the shaped edges upper continuous locking rim 4 of the strike portion 66, they recover elastically so as to extend laterally through windows 1 (FIGS. 5A and 5B), after which the upper perpendicular confinement rim 103 of each wedge 108 engages the upper perpendicular locking rim 6 of the strike portion 66 so as to resist withdrawal of the bolt 106 from the opening 62 through the orifice 64.
[0193] Further, it will be appreciated that the engagement of the lower confined rim 105 with the lower perpendicular locking rim 7 of the protective bearing plate portion 68 in combination with the engagement of the upper perpendicular confinement rims 103 of the wedges 108 with the downward facing surface upper perpendicular locking rim 6 of the strike portion 66, combine to resist a rotational unlocking force applied to the locking clip 30.
[0194] It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited by what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove, merely by way of example. Rather, the invention is defined solely by the claims, which follow.
