Heat Exchanger Transfer Tubes

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021018270-A1
Application number	US-201916517176-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 19, 2019
Priority date	Jul 19, 2019
Publication date	Jan 21, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A transfer tube for a thermal transfer device can include at least one wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, where the inner surface forms a cavity, where the at least one wall further has a first end and a second end. The first end can be configured to couple to a terminus of a heat exchanger of the thermal transfer device. The second end can be configured to couple to a collector box of the thermal transfer device. At least a portion of the at least one wall can be disposed in a vestibule of the thermal transfer device. The cavity can be configured to simultaneously receive a first fluid that flows from the first end to the second end and a second fluid that flows from the second end to the first end.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A transfer tube for a thermal transfer device, wherein the transfer tube comprises:
at least one wall comprising an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the inner surface forms a cavity, wherein the at least one wall further has a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is configured to couple to a terminus of a heat exchanger of the thermal transfer device, wherein the second end is configured to couple to a collector box of the thermal transfer device, wherein at least a portion of the at least one wall is disposed in a vestibule of the thermal transfer device, wherein the cavity is configured to receive a first fluid that flows from the first end to the second end, and wherein the cavity is further configured to receive a second fluid that flows from the second end to the first end, and wherein the at least one wall is configured to receive the first fluid and the second fluid simultaneously.

2 . The transfer tube of claim 1 , wherein the first end and the second end are configured to be disposed in a main chamber of the thermal transfer device.

3 . The transfer tube of claim 1 , wherein the at least one wall comprises at least one bent portion disposed between the first end and the second end.

4 . The transfer tube of claim 3 , wherein the at least one wall further comprises at least one linear portion disposed between the first end and the second end.

5 . The transfer tube of claim 1 , wherein the at least one wall comprises a metallic material.

6 . The transfer tube of claim 1 , wherein the at least one wall has a substantially uniform cross-sectional area along its length.

7 . The transfer tube of claim 1 , wherein the at least one wall has a substantially uniform cross-sectional shape along its length.

8 . The transfer tube of claim 1 , wherein the at least one wall is non-planar.

9 . The transfer tube of claim 1 , wherein the at least one wall comprises multiple pieces that are coupled to each other.

10 . A thermal transfer device comprising:
a main chamber comprising:
a plurality of heat exchanger tubes through which a first fluid flows, wherein each heat exchanger tube comprises an entrance and an exit; and
a blower assembly that blows a second fluid across the plurality of heat exchanger tubes; and
a vestibule disposed adjacent to the main chamber, wherein the vestibule comprises:
an inducer;
a burner assembly coupled to the entrance of the plurality of heat exchanger tubes;
a collector box that receives the first fluid and removes condensation from the first fluid; and
a first transfer tube comprising at least one first wall having a first inner surface and a first outer surface, wherein the first inner surface forms a first cavity, wherein the at least one first wall further has a first end and a second end,
wherein the first end of the first transfer tube is coupled to the exit of at least one of the plurality of heat exchanger tubes positioned in the main chamber, wherein the second end of the first transfer tube is coupled to the collector box in the vestibule, wherein the transfer tube provides the first fluid to the collector box, and wherein the transfer tube transports the condensation from the collector box to a drain proximate to the exit of the at least one of the plurality of heat exchanger tubes.

11 . The thermal transfer device of claim 10 , wherein first cavity formed by the at least one wall of the first transfer tube has a negative pressure relative to a pressure of the main chamber and the vestibule.

12 . The thermal transfer device of claim 10 , wherein the at least one first wall of the first transfer tube further has a third end that is coupled to a remainder of the plurality of heat exchanger tubes.

13 . The thermal transfer device of claim 10 , wherein the vestibule further comprises:
a header plate and an additional collector box disposed at the exit of the plurality of heat exchanger tubes, wherein the first end of the transfer tube is coupled to the header plate.

14 . The thermal transfer device of claim 13 , wherein the additional collector box comprises a drain.

15 . The thermal transfer device of claim 10 , wherein the first fluid comprises a fuel, and wherein the second fluid comprises air.

16 . The thermal transfer device of claim 10 , wherein the vestibule further comprises:
a second transfer tube comprising at least one second wall having a second inner surface and a second outer surface, wherein the second inner surface forms a second cavity, wherein the at least one second wall further has a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the second transfer tube is coupled to the exit of a remainder of the plurality of heat exchanger tubes.

17 . The thermal transfer device of claim 16 , wherein the second end of the second transfer tube is coupled to the collector box.

18 . The thermal transfer device of claim 16 , wherein the second end of the second transfer tube is coupled to an additional collector box disposed in the vestibule.

19 . The thermal transfer device of claim 10 , wherein the burner assembly is disposed between the inducer and the exit of the plurality of heat exchanger tubes, and wherein the blower assembly is disposed above the inducer.

20 . The thermal transfer device of claim 10 , wherein the inducer pulls the first fluid through the plurality of heat exchanger tubes, through the first transfer tube, and through the collector box.

Assignees

• Rheem Mfg Co

Inventors

• Farley Darryl
• Reed Shawn

Classifications

• Y02B30/00

  Energy efficient heating, ventilation or air conditioning [HVAC] · CPC title

• F24H3/025

  using fluid fuel · CPC title

• F24H3/02

  with forced circulation · CPC title

• F24H3/00

  Air heaters · CPC title

• F24H9/14

  Arrangements for connecting different sections, e.g. in water heaters  (arrangements for connecting heaters to circulation pipes F24H9/12) · CPC title