Patent ID: 7073575

Claim:
A tube bundle device comprising tubes arranged parallel to one another and to a longitudinal axis of the tube bundle in rows with tube lanes separating the tube rows, the tubes being supported by: (i) a first tube support cage comprising elongated parallel tube support members spaced apart from one another and secured to an encircling ring, each of the parallel members extending transversely with respect to the tubes through a tube lane between adjacent rows of tubes, (ii) a second tube support cage comprising elongated parallel tube support members spaced apart from one another and secured to an encircling ring, each of the parallel tube support members extending transversely with respect to the tubes through a tube lane between adjacent rows of tubes, the members being rotated about the tube bundle axis with respect to the tube support members of the first tube support cage, (iii) a first set of tube support stakes inserted at a first location along the axis of the tube bundle in tube lanes between rows of tubes, the stakes comprising elongated members engaging the tubes on each side of the row into which each stake is inserted, (iv) a second set of tube support stakes inserted at a second location along the axis of the tube bundle in tube lanes between rows of tubes, the stakes comprising elongated members engaging the tubes on each side of the row into which each stake is inserted, the stakes being rotated about the tube bundle axis with respect to the stakes of the first set of tube support stakes.