Patent ID: 7556085

Claim:
A heat exchanger heat transfer element basket assembly for receiving a plurality of heat transfer element plates in supported relation therein and having an inboard end, an outboard end positioned so as to be located opposite to said inboard end, a first side through which fluid may flow, a second side through which fluid may flow that is positioned so as to be located opposite to said first side, a third side, and a fourth side positioned so as to be located opposite to said third side, said heat exchanger heat transfer element basket assembly comprising: a first one-piece side strap having a center portion disposed along said inboard end of said heat exchanger heat transfer element basket assembly, a first extension disposed along said third side of said heat exchanger heat transfer element basket assembly and having a flange extending inwardly over said first side of said heat exchanger heat transfer element basket assembly operative to retain the plurality of heat transfer element plates when emplaced in said heat exchanger heat transfer element basket assembly, and a second extension disposed along said fourth side of said heat exchanger heat transfer element basket assembly and having a flange extending inwardly over said first side of said heat exchanger heat transfer element basket assembly operative to retain the plurality of heat transfer element plates when emplaced in said heat exchanger heat transfer element basket assembly; a second one-piece side strap having a center position disposed along said inboard end of said heat exchanger heat transfer element basket assembly, a first extension disposed along said third side of said heat exchanger heat transfer element basket assembly and having a flange extending inwardly over said second side of said heat exchanger heat transfer element basket assembly operative to retain the plurality of heat transfer element plates when emplaced in said heat exchanger heat transfer element basket assembly, and a second extension disposed along said fourth side of said heat exchanger heat transfer element basket assembly and having a flange extending inwardly over said second side of said heat exchanger heat transfer element basket assembly operative to retain the plurality of heat transfer plates when emplaced in said heat exchanger heat transfer element basket assembly; a pair of spaced corner flanges at said inboard end of said heat exchanger heat transfer element basket assembly connecting said first one-piece side strap of said heat exchanger heat transfer element basket assembly to said second one-piece side strap of said heat exchanger heat transfer element basket assembly; and an I-shaped splitter plate disposed within the plurality of heat transfer element plates emplaced within said heat exchanger heat transfer element basket assembly and interconnecting said first one-piece side strap of said heat exchanger heat transfer element basket assembly and said second one-piece side strap of said heat exchanger heat transfer element basket assembly with one another.