Heat exchanger

A heat exchanger is disclosed comprising a plurality of spaced apart parallel plates having a plurality of apertures therein, a plurality of hollow frusto-conically shaped cone members having a larger base end and a smaller opposite end with the cone members being inserted in the apertures of the plate and being of such relative size to be tightly embraced by the peripheries of the apertures, the opposite ends of the cones in each of the plates being tightly nested and stacked in the base ends of the cones in the next adjacent plate, and means for fixedly securing the plates in parallel relation to bind the cone members in stacked relation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to a heat exchanger and more particularly to a heat 
exchanger that is economically and simply assembled without the necessity 
of welding or the like. Prior heat exchangers required expensive welding 
or bonding techniques to construct and assemble the device. Also, once 
assembled by such welding or bonding techniques, the device could not 
easily be disassembled. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
A heat exchanger is disclosed comprising a plurality of spaced apart 
parallel plates having a plurality of apertures therein, a plurality of 
hollow frusto-conically shaped cone members having a larger base end and a 
smaller opposite end with the cone members being inserted in the apertures 
of the plates and being of such relative size to be tightly embraced by 
the peripheries of the apertures, the opposite ends of the cones in each 
of the plates being tightly nested and stacked in the base ends of the 
cones in the next adjacent plate, and means for fixedly securing the 
plates in parallel relation to bind the cone members in stacked relation. 
The cone members frictionally, retentively engage the peripheries of the 
apertures and frictionally, retentively engage the base ends of the cones 
in the next adjacent plate to cooperate with the means for fixedly 
securing the plates in parallel relationship to form a sturdy, rigid 
structure. 
It is a principal object of this invention to provide an improved heat 
exchanger. 
A still further object of the invention is to provide a heat exchanger that 
can be constructed and assembled without welding or metal bonding. 
A still further object of the invention is to provide a heat exchanger 
wherein the cone shaped members interlock to form a plurality of stacks 
for the removal of combustion byproducts. 
A still further object of the invention is to provide a heat exchanger that 
is economical to construct and assemble, durable in use, and refined in 
appearance.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
The numeral 10 generally refers to the heat exchanger device of this 
invention shown in FIG. 1 mounted within furnace 12. 
Furnace 12 is comprised of housing 14, combustion heat source 16, clean air 
intake duct 18, heated air discharge duct 20, chimney discharge stack 22 
and heat exchanger 10. 
Heat exchanger 10 is comprised of a plurality of spaced apart parallel 
plates 24 interconnected with a plurality of hollow frusto-conically 
shaped cone members 26. Each cone member 26 has a larger base end 28 and a 
smaller opposite end 30. Plates 24 have a plurality of apertures 32 (FIG. 
2) to receive the opposite end portion 30 of cone 26 as shown in FIG. 4. 
The apertures 32 of the plates 24 are aligned such that the cone members 
26 may be stacked as shown in FIG. 3. In this configuration, cone 26 is 
received within aperture 32 so as to be tightly embraced by the 
peripheries of aperture 32 and opposite end 30 of cone 26 is tightly 
nested within the larger base end 28 of the above adjacent cone member as 
shown in FIG. 4. The relative sizes of opposite end 30, aperture 32, and 
base end 28 produces a frictional retentive engagement of opposite end 30 
with both base end 28 and aperture 32. As seen in FIG. 4, base end 28 
abuts the top surface 34 of the adjacent plate 24. 
To fixedly secure the plates 24 in a parallel relationship to bind the cone 
members 26 in the stacked relationship shown in FIG. 3, bolt 36 passes 
through apertures (not shown) in plates 24 and threadably engages nut 38. 
Thus, the cone members are held within the apertures 32 of the plates 24 
and within the base ends 28 of adjacent cone members so as to form a 
plurality of stacks 40 by mechanical means without the use of expensive 
welding or metal bonding techniques. 
As can be seen, the construction and assembly of heat exchanger 10 is 
simple and economical, yet sturdy for the purpose intended. 
In operation, the heat exchanger 10 is securely positioned within housing 
14 of furnace 12. As seen in FIG. 1, the combustion heat source 16 is 
directly below the lower end of stacks 40 with chimney discharge stack 22 
directly above stacks 40. The products of combustion rise up through 
stacks 40 to be discharged out stack 22 as indicated by flow arrows 42 
(FIG. 1). The spaced apart parallel disposition of plates 24 form a 
plurality of horizontally parallel air ways 44 around the cone members 26. 
Clean air is passed into intake duct 18, through air ways 44, thereby 
picking up heat and exiting through discharge duct 20 to be used for 
heating purposes. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, flow arrows 46 depict the 
entering fresh air, flow arrows 48 depict the air flowing through air ways 
44 and being heated and flow arrows 50 depicting the exiting heated clean 
air. 
Should disassembly be desired, the heat exchanger 10 is disassembled by 
disengaging bolt 36 and nut 38 and subsequently disengaging the 
frictionally engaged cone elements and plates 24. 
Thus, it can be seen that this device accomplishes at least all of its 
stated objectives.