Patent ID: 11971229
Assignee: LUMMUS TECHNOLOGY LLC
Field: Thermal processes and apparatus (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC F | IPC F

Claim 0:
1. A process for assembling a tube heat exchanger assembly comprising:
providing an elongated heat exchanger enclosure having an interior chamber and an open cylindrical end, including the heat exchanger enclosure defining a longitudinal axis;
providing a closure assembly having a locking assembly configured to secure to the open cylindrical channel end of the elongated heat exchanger enclosure, the locking assembly including:
a cylindrical shaped lock ring member defining a cylindrical outer surface portion and a cylindrical shaped interior portion wherein the cylindrical outer surface portion is provided with a plurality of spaced-apart lock ring hub sections separated in a circumferential direction around the cylindrical shaped lock ring member by non-hub sections, the plurality of spaced-apart lock ring hub sections configured to interdigitate with corresponding channel hub sections formed on a cylindrical inner surface portion of the elongated heat exchanger enclosure; and
a cylindrical shaped cover member secured concentric with the cylindrical shaped interior portion of the cylindrical shaped lock ring member;

inserting the locking assembly of the closure assembly into the open cylindrical channel end axially along the longitudinal axis of the interior chamber of the heat exchanger such that the plurality of spaced-apart lock ring hub sections of the cylindrical shaped lock ring member and corresponding channel hub sections on the cylindrical inner surface portion of the elongated heat exchanger enclosure do not contact one another; and
turning the locking assembly about the longitudinal axis of the elongated heat exchanger enclosure less than 360 degrees relative to the elongated heat exchanger enclosure to cause the locking assembly to removably secure to the elongated heat exchanger enclosure with the plurality of spaced-apart hub sections on the cylindrical shaped locking member interdigitating with the corresponding channel hub sections on the elongated heat exchanger enclosure such that a load is transferred between the closure assembly and the elongated heat exchanger enclosure.