Patent ID: 9488419
Filing Date: 2016-11-08
CPC Classification: F28D,F28F

Claim Text:
1. A tube bundle having internal support means to mitigate flow-induced vibration, comprising a tube bundle formed from a plurality of longitudinally extending, elongated tubes arranged in rows with tube lanes extending substantially perpendicularly to said rows and separating adjacent rows of tubes, and a tube stake having opposed, substantially planar surfaces inserted in one of said lanes, the tube stake having a substantially uniform thickness formed from a strip of material, each of the substantially planar surfaces defining a parallel reference plane along a length of the tube stake, the tube stake comprising one or more protrusions formed or pressed into said strip, said one or more protrusions extending from either parallel reference plane, said one or more protrusions defining a first side that begins to deviate from the reference plane from which it extends at a first angle, the first side rising to a top end at a distal point from said parallel reference plane, the top end connecting to a second side that begins to extend back to said reference plane at an opposite angle from the first angle, said tube stake at the base of the one or more protrusions being thicker than the width of said lane, said one or more protrusions structured so that a first tube is located at said first side of said protrusion and a second, next adjacent tube is located at said second side of said protrusion, said protrusion being sized so that, in tube contacting position, said protrusion exerts a force on said tubes including a component substantially parallel to the reference plane from which it extends, said first tube being contacted by said first side of said protrusion and being moved in a direction away from said second tube by said first side, and said second tube being contacted by said second side of said protrusion and being moved in a direction away from said first tube by said second side, said first and second tubes thereby being stressed by said stake to add to their rigidity and reduce the vibration of said tubes during the flow of fluid thereacross.