Patent ID: 6899163

Claim:
A plate heat exchanger comprising: a) first and second plates; b) a package of heat transfer plates arranged between the first and second plates; and c) a closure system including a plurality of tie bar assemblies, each tie bar assembly including: a tie bar extending between the first and second plates; and a threaded member threadedly engaging the tie bar; wherein the closure system and the first and second plates are relatively arranged and configured such that relative rotation between the tie bar and the threaded member of each tie bar assembly is operative to move the first plate towards and away from the second plate to close and open, respectively, the plate heat exchanger; d) wherein the plate heat exchanger is arranged and configured such that the heat transfer plates can be removed from the plate heat exchanger without relocating any of the tie bars; and e) wherein each of the threaded members is secured to one of the first and second plates.