Appeal 2007-1750
Application 11/057,917
Appellants claim a tube for a heat exchanger wherein the interior of
the tube has been provided with a least two spiral upsets which extend from
the inner diameter of the tube radially inwardly. Claim 20 is directed to
manufacturing such a heat exchanger tube.
Claim 1 reproduced below, is further illustrative of the claimed
subject matter.
1. A heat exchanger tube comprising:
an inner diameter, an outer diameter and a longitudinal axis;
and
at least two spiral upsets separated by a segment of the inner
diameter having a width substantially greater than the width of the spiral
upsets at their widest point, the segment comprising a substantially constant
inner diameter and the spiral upsets protruding from the inner diameter of
the tube and spiraling around the longitudinal axis of a length of the tube,
wherein the at least two spiral upsets comprise:
a first spiral upset having a cross-sectional shape, a depth of
protrusion from the inner diameter, a pitch, and an angle with respect to a
plane radiating from, and parallel to, the longitudinal axis, and
a second spiral upset having a cross-sectional shape, a depth of
protrusion from the inner diameter, a pitch, and an angle with respect to the
plane radiating from, and parallel to, the longitudinal axis, wherein the angle
of the first spiral upset with respect to the plane is approximately equal to
the angle of the second spiral upset with respect to the plane.
2
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 Next
Last modified: September 9, 2013