초록 ▼

A tube-type heat exchanger has a low wear support and drive for a whip rod that orbits over the inner surface of the heat transfer tube to spread a process liquid into a thin falling film. The support and drive includes a conical thrust bearing near the upper end of the rod. An edge of the thrust be

A tube-type heat exchanger has a low wear support and drive for a whip rod that orbits over the inner surface of the heat transfer tube to spread a process liquid into a thin falling film. The support and drive includes a conical thrust bearing near the upper end of the rod. An edge of the thrust bearing engages and rolls over a circular rim bearing surface. A stem pin axially aligned with the rod extends upwardly over the rod and through a circular hole in an orbiting drive plate. In one form, the rim bearing surface is formed on the upper edge of the tube, or on the upper edge of a generally cylindrical bearing secured on or over the tube. The thrust bearing is secured between the rod and the stem. A stop disc carried on the stem pin limits the fall of the rod in the tube when the orbiting stops. In another form, the rim surface is formed on a cylindrical collar secured on the upper surface of the drive plate surrounding in the drive hole and the thrust bearing is formed on the lower face of the stop disc fixed on the stem.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] In a heat exchanger having at least one heat transfer tube that exchanges heat radially through the tube wall between hot and cold fluids, one of which is a process fluid that flows through the tube at least along the inner surface of the tube, and an orbitable whip rod d

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] In a heat exchanger having at least one heat transfer tube that exchanges heat radially through the tube wall between hot and cold fluids, one of which is a process fluid that flows through the tube at least along the inner surface of the tube, and an orbitable whip rod disposed in the tube, an improved whip rod support and drive comprising:an orbital drive that propels the whip rod over the inside surface of the heat transfer tube;a circular bearing surface generally coaxial with the heat transfer tube and extending transversely to the central axis of the tube; anda thrust bearing secured at the upper end of the whip rod that engages and rolls with an overhanging edge on said circular bearing surface during said orbiting, said engagement supporting the weight of the rod during said orbiting. [14.] A method of supporting a whip rod within an open-ended, vertically-oriented heat transfer tube, comprising the steps ofdriving said whip rod to orbit within said tube during operation,edge hanging the whip rod in a nonrotating surface when it is orbiting to thereby support its weight,suspending the non-orbiting whip rod at its upper end when its is not orbiting, andlimiting the fall of the whip rod when it is not orbiting to a pre-selected distance. The whip rod support method of claim 14 wherein said orbiting and edge-hanging occur simultaneously with substantially only rolling contacts. The whip rod support method of claim 15 further comprising the step of camming the whip rod from its fallen, non-orbiting position to a raised, edge-hanging position when orbiting, said camming being driven by the centrifugal force on the whip rod produced by said orbiting.