Patent ID: 7699093

Claim:
A tube support device for a tube bundle having a plurality of elongated tubes, wherein the plurality of elongated tubes are arranged in rows of elongated members, and an anchor assembly, the tube support device comprising: an elongated longitudinally extending generally planar strip having a pair of opposing faces; a plurality of tube engaging members extending from the pair of opposing faces, wherein the tube support device is sized such that the support device is located between adjacent rows of elongated tubes, wherein the plurality of tube engaging members includes a plurality of successive transverse tube support rows located at successive longitudinal locations along the strip, wherein each tube support row having a plurality of raised, tube-engaging zones, wherein at least two of the plurality of raised, tube-engaging zones extend laterally outwards from one of the pair of opposing faces and at least one of the plurality of raised, tube-engaging zones extends laterally outwards from another one of the pair of opposing faces, wherein the plurality of raised, tube-engaging zones extend laterally outwards to engage with tubes in the tube bundle on opposite sides of a tube lane, wherein at least one tube in the tube bundle is engaged by at least one raised tube engaging zone of each of at least two tube support rows of the tube support device, wherein only the raised, tube-engaging zones of the tube engaging members engage the tubes; and an engagement assembly formed on one end of the tube support device, wherein the engagement assembly is adapted to selectively engage the anchor assembly within the tube bundle.