Patent GB-1214563-A (GB)
Title: Rotary regenerator matrices
IPC: F28D19/04
Filed: 1968-09-19
Abstract: 1,214,563. Rotary thermal regenerators. GENERAL MOTORS CORP. 19 Sept., 1968 [9 Oct., 1967], No. 44576/68. Heading F4K. In a rotary thermal regenerator matrix comprising two spaced-apart annular end rims 15 interconnected by circumferentially spaced radial stiffeners 17 defining a rigid framework within which packs of heat transfer material in the form of thin corrugated stainless steel plates are mounted, spacers (25, Fig. 15, not shown) mounting labyrinth seal elements 19 are disposed between adjacent packs of heat transfer material and at each side of the stiffeners 17. The stiffeners 17 are connected to the rims with a tongue-and-groove type arrangement, as shown in Figs. 2 and 6. Each stiffener has tongues 39 and 42 engaging grooves 30 and 35 respectively in the rim 15. Radial slots 34 provided in each rim correctly locate each stiffener which is held in position by a key 43 inserted into an arcuate keyway 45 and key slot 46 (see also Figs. 3-5, not shown). The radially extending labyrinth seal elements 19 are held in tension by arcuate support members 50 which extend, as shown in Fig. 8, in abutment with the rim between two adjacent stiffeners 17. Each support member 50, Fig. 7, comprises two parts 53 and 55 bolted together and is formed with a groove 58 which fits over the ridge 31 on rim 15. An l-shaped connector 61 couples in tension the tab 65 of the labyrinth seal 19 to the support member 50; arcuate rectangular keys 66 extend through a hole in the tub and bear against the flange of the connector. The arcuate member 50 is positively locked to the rim 15 by means of a releasable key 71 spring biased by a leaf spring 75, as shown in Fig. 8. Each labyrinth seal 19 includes an outer sealing strip 21 coupled to a segmented inner peripheral sealing strip 22 by struts 23 (see Fig. 19) and is mounted between two plates 26, 27 which together form the spacer (25). Adjacent labyrinth seals are coupled at the outer periphery of the matrix by a follower 29, Fig. 12, which in turn co-operates with parts of the main regenerator seals (7, Fig. 1, not shown). To positively couple the stiffeners 17 to the abutting spacers (25) a slot 80, Fig. 12, is cut in each stiffener midway between its ends and a turn button arrangement 82 is mounted therein, the turn button being adapted to rotatably engage slots (86, Fig. 15, not shown) formed in the spacers (25) adjacent the stiffeners; the button is held in an engaged position by a wire lock (88, Figs. 14, 15, 16, not shown). An arrangement of circumferentially extending keepers 96, as shown in Figs. 17 and 19, interconnects the packs of heat transfer material 18 to prevent relative radial shifting of the matrix. Two arcuate strip keepers 96 are passed between adjacent stiffeners through aligned slots 94 in the transfer material and spacers (25). Each keeper has a bent-over head (97, Fig. 18, not shown) which is received in a larger slot 95 in the spacer plate 26 adjacent the stiffeners. Each segment of the regenerator matrix between adjacent stiffeners 17 may be assembled as a unit which is then incorporated into the regenerator assembly. Reference has been directed by the Comptroller to Specification 1,118,893.