Attachment means and heat transfer plate

Abstract

Attachment means (58) for attaching a gasket (48) to a heat transfer plate (4) and a heat transfer plate (4) are provided. The attachment means (58) includes a bridge portion (60), a first connecting member (62), a second connecting member (64), and a finger (66). The first and second connecting members (62, 64) are coupled to the bridge portion (60) and arranged to be coupled to the gasket (48). The finger (66) is coupled to the bridge portion (60) and extends between the first and second connecting members (62, 64). The first connecting member (62) includes first and second portions (78, 80), and the second portion (80) is arranged between the bridge portion (60) and the first portion (78). The attachment means is characterized in that the second part (80) of the first connecting member (62) includes a second body (80a), and the first part (78) of the first connecting member (62) includes a first body (78a) and a first retaining means (78b) protruding from the longitudinal outer side (82) of the first body (78a) in a direction away from the finger (66), and accordingly, a first width (wg11) wider than the second width (wg12) of the second part (80) of the first connecting member (62) is given to the first part (78) of the first connecting member (62).

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an attachment means for fastening a gasket to a heat transfer plate, and a heat transfer plate arranged to cooperate with the attachment means. Background Technology

[0002] A plate heat exchanger (PHE) generally comprises two end plates, and between these end plates, a number of heat transfer plates are arranged in an aligned manner, that is, in a stack or pack. In one well-known type of PHE, the so-called gasketed PHE, gaskets are arranged between the heat transfer plates within gasket grooves that are pressed into the heat transfer plates. Generally, the gasket grooves extend partially along and adjacent to the edges of the heat transfer plates. The end plates, and accordingly the heat transfer plates, are pressed toward each other by a certain type of clamping means, thereby causing the gaskets to seal between the heat transfer plates. Parallel flow channels formed by the gaskets are formed between the heat transfer plates, with one channel between each pair of adjacent heat transfer plates. Two fluids of initially different temperatures supplied from / to the PHE through the inlet / outlet can flow alternately through every-second channel to transfer heat from one fluid to the other, and these fluids enter / exit the channel through inlet / outlet port holes in the heat transfer plate communicating with the inlet / outlet of the PHE. Naturally, it is necessary to properly place gaskets between the plates to prevent the channel from leaking.

[0003] When the plate heat exchanger is closed, the gasket is compressed between the plates and thereby securely held in place. However, when the gasket is not compressed between the plates, for example, when the plate heat exchanger is assembled or opened for maintenance, a certain type of means may be required to secure the gasket to the plates. It is known to use certain types of adhesive means, such as glue or tape, to secure the gasket to the plates. However, attaching the gasket with an adhesive and replacing the gasket secured by the adhesive can be relatively time-consuming and consequently costly. Furthermore, the adhesive may have a negative effect on the gasket and its sealing ability. Additionally, mechanical gasket securing solutions are already known, for example, through U.S. Patent No. 4,635,715 owned by the present applicant. This document discloses different embodiments of gaskets comprising protrusions for securing the gasket to the heat transfer plates. The gasket described herein can provide a relatively unreliable connection to a heat transfer plate in that the connection between the protrusion and the heat transfer plate is relatively weak, so there is a risk that the protrusion will "sliding off" from the heat transfer plate. means of solving the problem

[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide an attachment means for attaching a gasket to a heat transfer plate, which provides a more reliable gasket connection than the prior art, and a heat transfer plate arranged to be coupled with said attachment means. The basic concept of the present invention is to configure the attachment means and the heat transfer plate so that they "interlock" when properly coupled to each other.

[0005] The attachment means and the heat transfer plate are defined in the appended claims and are described below.

[0006] The attachment means according to the present invention is arranged to be coupled to a soft portion of a heat transfer plate in order to fasten a gasket to a first side of the heat transfer plate. It comprises a bridge, a first connecting member, a second connecting member, and a finger. A first connection part of the first connecting member is arranged to be coupled to the gasket, while a second connection part of the first connecting member is coupled to the bridge. A first connection part of the second connecting member is arranged to be coupled to the gasket, while a second connection part of the second connecting member is coupled to the bridge. A connection part of the finger is coupled to the bridge. The finger is arranged to extend between the first and second connecting members and to extend from the bridge toward the gasket. The first connecting member includes a first part and a second part. The second part is arranged between the bridge and the first part. The attachment means is characterized in that a second portion of the first connecting member includes a second body, and the first portion of the first connecting member includes a first body and a first retaining means protruding from the finger and the longitudinal outer side of the first body in a direction away from the second connecting member. Accordingly, the first portion of the first connecting member has a first width that is wider than the second width of the second portion of the first connecting member.

[0007] The longitudinal outer side of the first main body faces away from the finger, while the opposing longitudinal inner side of the first main body is arranged between the longitudinal outer side of the first main body and the finger and faces the finger.

[0008] The width of the first and second connecting members and fingers, as well as the portion thereof, can be measured parallel to the length or longitudinal extension range of the cross-linking portion.

[0009] The first and second widths of the first and second parts of the first connecting member described above may be variable or constant.

[0010] The longitudinal outer side of the first main body can be extended essentially perpendicularly to the longitudinal extension of the bridge section.

[0011] The first main body and the first retaining means may be formed integrally. Similarly, the first and second main bodies may be formed integrally.

[0012] The finger may have a longitudinal axis of symmetry that is essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal extension range of the crosslink and can be extended through the center of the crosslink.

[0013] The first and second connecting members may not have a longitudinal symmetry axis.

[0014] Accordingly, the attachment means according to the present invention achieves a first connecting member having a width that varies along at least a portion of the length of at least the first connecting member, and a first connecting member configured to be mechanically “self-locked” in at least one direction within a heat transfer plate having a suitable design accordingly. Such “self-locking” can firmly fix the attachment means to the heat transfer plate and prevent the attachment means from being displaced relative to the heat transfer plate, particularly in a direction perpendicular to the width extension range of the first connecting member and parallel to the extension plane of the heat transfer plate. Thus, the attachment means of the present invention provides reliable attachment to the heat transfer plate. Furthermore, the attachment means of the present invention can be mounted relatively easily to the heat transfer plate.

[0015] The attachment means may be designed such that a first portion of the first connecting member includes a first connecting portion of the first connecting member. Subsequently, the first portion of the first connecting member will be arranged to be in contact with a gasket. Additionally, a second portion of the first connecting member may include a second connecting portion of the first connecting member. Subsequently, the second portion of the first connecting member will be in contact with a bridge portion.

[0016] The first retaining means of the first portion of the first connecting member may have many different shapes. According to one embodiment of the present invention, it is tapered along at least a portion of its length in a direction away from the bridge portion. This design can enable optimized gasket support.

[0017] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the first retaining means has a triangular shape, as can be identified from the attachment means, and the first retaining means is connected to the first body along one side of the triangle. This configuration can enable well-defined and reliable fixation of the attachment means to a heat transfer plate having a suitable design.

[0018] The attachment means may be designed such that the second body has a narrowest width that is narrower than the widest width of the first body. The widths of the first and / or second bodies may vary or be constant and, accordingly, be equal to the respective widest and narrowest widths. Such a design may enable the attachment means having a first connecting member configured to be mechanically “self-locked” in at least two opposite directions in a heat transfer plate having a suitable design, and may enable the attachment means to be more firmly fixed to the heat transfer plate. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the second body of the first connecting member is tapered along at least a portion of its length toward the bridge. Such a design may enable a smooth transition between the first body and the second body of the first connecting member, thereby enabling an attachment means that is tractable and highly durable.

[0019] The attachment means may be designed such that the longitudinal outer side of the second body is essentially straight and extends essentially perpendicularly to the length extension range of the bridge portion. The longitudinal outer side of the second body faces away from the finger, while the opposing longitudinal inner side of the second body is arranged between the longitudinal outer side of the second body and the finger and faces the finger. This design may enable a mechanically simple (straight-forward) configuration of the attachment means.

[0020] The attachment means may be configured such that the finger comprises a first portion of a first width and a second portion of a second width. The second portion may be arranged closer to the bridge portion than the first portion, and the first width may be narrower than the second width. This design may allow the attachment means to be more easily and properly coupled with the heat transfer plate, while the finger may still provide a relatively large plate contact surface, which subsequently enables optimized plate coupling. Additionally, this design may make the finger more flexible, which also enables optimized plate coupling. Furthermore, this design may result in the finger shape adapting to the shape of the first connecting member, which subsequently enables a compact attachment means.

[0021] The first and second widths of the first and second parts of the aforementioned finger may be variable or constant.

[0022] The attachment means may be designed such that a second part of the finger includes a connecting portion of the finger. Subsequently, the second part of the finger will be in contact with a cross-linking portion.

[0023] The finger may have many different shapes. According to one embodiment of the present invention, it is tapered along at least a portion of its length away from the cross-linking portion. This design may enable a smooth transition between the first and second portions of the finger, thereby enabling an attachment means that is easy to handle and highly durable.

[0024] The attachment means may make the maximum thickness of the first body thicker than the maximum thickness of the first retaining means. The thickness of the first body and / or the thickness of the first retaining means may be constant or variable. This design may ensure that the first retaining means does not have a negative effect on the contact between the attachment means and the two heat transfer plates arranged to be coupled with the attachment means (arranged so that a gasket is placed between them).

[0025] Of course, the second connecting member of the attachment means can be designed in the same way as the first connecting member of the attachment means.

[0026] A heat transfer plate according to the present invention includes a gasket groove extending along the edge of the heat transfer plate on its first side. The edge portion of the heat transfer plate extends between the edge and the gasket groove. The edge portion has corrugations such that, as identified on the first side of the heat transfer plate, it includes ridges comprising each alternately arranged upper portion and valleys comprising each lower portion. The edge portion includes a gasket fastening region arranged to engage with an attachment means as described above to fasten a gasket within the gasket groove. The heat transfer plate is characterized in that the gasket fastening region includes first and second valleys among the valleys and first and second ridges among the ridges. The first and second ridges are arranged on the opposite sides of the first valley, and the first and second valleys are arranged on the opposite sides of the second ridge. The lower portion of the first valley extends within the lower plane. The upper portion of the first ridge extends within a first plane within the first portion of the first ridge bordering the first portion of the first valley, and within an upper plane within the second portion of the first ridge bordering the second portion of the first valley, and accordingly extends between the first portion of the first ridge and the edge of the heat transfer plate. The upper plane and the lower plane are separated by a distance (x). The first plane extends essentially parallel to the upper and lower planes, at a distance (xt) from the upper plane and at a distance (xb) from the lower plane, where xt ≤ x and 0 ≤ xb <x이다.

[0027] The widths of the first and second connecting valleys and the first and second ridges, as well as the parts themselves, can be measured parallel to the edge of the heat transfer plate.

[0028] The lower portion of the first valley section, like the lower portion of the second valley section, may have a longitudinal axis of symmetry that can extend perpendicularly to the edge of the heat transfer plate.

[0029] The upper part of the first ridge may not have a longitudinal axis of symmetry.

[0030] The upper portion of the second ridge may have a longitudinal axis of symmetry that can extend perpendicularly to the edge of the heat transfer plate.

[0031] Accordingly, the heat transfer plate according to the present invention has a gasket fastening region comprising a portion of lower press depth, namely a first protrusion including a recess. The recess is arranged to accommodate a first retaining means of attachment means having a suitable design for mechanically "locking" the attachment means to the heat transfer plate in at least one direction. Such "locking" can firmly secure the attachment means to the heat transfer plate and prevent the attachment means from being displaced relative to the heat transfer plate, particularly in a direction perpendicular to the edge of the heat transfer plate and parallel to the extension plane of the heat transfer plate.

[0032] The heat transfer plate can be designed such that a first portion of the first ridge tapers away from the edge of the heat transfer plate along at least a portion of its length.

[0033] The first part of the first ridge may have an essentially triangular shape as identified from the heat transfer plate described above, and the first part of the first ridge may be adjacent to the first part of the first valley along one side of the triangle.

[0034] A second portion of the first valley, arranged between a first portion of the first valley and the edge of the heat transfer plate, may have a narrowest width that is narrower than the widest width of the first portion of the first valley. The widths of the first and / or second portions may vary or be constant and, accordingly, be equal to each of the widest width and the narrowest width. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the second portion of the first valley is tapered along at least a portion of its length toward the edge of the heat transfer plate.

[0035] The longitudinal outer side of the first valley may be essentially straight within the second part of the first valley and may extend essentially perpendicular to the edge of the heat transfer plate. The longitudinal outer side of the first valley faces the first ridge, while the opposing longitudinal inner side of the first valley faces away from the first ridge.

[0036] The second ridge may include a first portion having a first width and a second portion having a second width, and the second portion is arranged between the first portion and the edge of the heat transfer plate. Additionally, the first width may be narrower than the second width. The first and second widths of the first and second portions of the second ridge may be variable or constant.

[0037] The second ridge may be tapered along at least part of its length away from the edge of the heat transfer plate.

[0038] The first and second valleys may be at least partially open toward the gasket groove. This means that the first and second valleys, or more particularly the space formed between the first and second valleys, are in communication with the gasket groove, or more particularly the space formed by the gasket groove. This design allows the first and second connecting members of the attachment means to be connected to the gasket without affecting the seal between the overlapping heat transfer plate and the gasket. The first and second ridges may be closed toward the gasket groove or separated from the gasket groove. This means that the first and second ridges, or more particularly the space formed between the first and second ridges, are not in communication with the gasket groove, or more particularly the space formed by the gasket groove. This design may enable complete gasket support at the first and second ridges.

[0039] The heat transfer plate and the attachment means according to the present invention are configured to be used together, and the design of the heat transfer plate is configured to match the design of the attachment means, and vice versa. Accordingly, the aforementioned different embodiments of the heat transfer plate according to the present invention correspond to the aforementioned different embodiments of the attachment means according to the present invention. Accordingly, the advantages of the aforementioned different embodiments of the attachment means are transferable to the aforementioned different embodiments of the heat transfer plate, and vice versa. Of course, these advantages first appear when the heat transfer plate and the attachment means cooperate with each other.

[0040] Other objects, features, embodiments, and advantages of the present invention will become clear from the drawings as well as the specific description below. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0041] Now, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the attached schematic drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view of an assembly including a heat transfer plate and a gasket arrangement. Figure 2 is a partial enlarged view of the assembly of Figure 1. Figure 3 is an enlarged view of an additional part of the assembly of Figure 1. Figure 4 schematically illustrates a cross-section taken along line AA of Figure 3. Figure 5 schematically illustrates a cross-section taken along line BB of Figure 3. Figure 6 corresponds to Figure 3, but only shows the heat transfer plate. FIG. 7 shows a plan view of the attachment means of the gasket arrangement of FIG. 1. FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the attachment means of FIG. 7. FIG. 9 schematically illustrates a reliable connection between the gasket array and the heat transfer plate of FIG. 1. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0042] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, an assembly (2) including a heat transfer plate (4) and a gasket array (6) is shown. FIG. 2 shows an enlarged view of the upper part of the assembly (2), while FIG. 3 shows an enlarged view of the area enclosed by the dashed rectangle (C) of FIG. 1.

[0043] A heat transfer plate (4), which is separately illustrated in FIG. 6 and whose first side (8) can be identified in FIG. 1 through 3 and FIG. 6 and whose opposite second side (10) is illustrated in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, is essentially a rectangular sheet of stainless steel having a plurality of port holes (12, 14, 16 and 18) and pressed in a specific pattern within different regions of the heat transfer plate. A gasket groove (20) is also pressed into the first side (8) of the heat transfer plate (4), and this gasket groove extends along the outer plate edge (22) to surround the port holes (12, 14, 16 and 18) and extends along the entire length of two inner plate edges (24 and 26) forming two port holes (14 and 18) respectively to surround them separately. Additionally, the gasket groove (20) extends twice "diagonally" across the heat transfer plate to further surround the port holes (14 and 18). The outer edge portion (28) of the heat transfer plate (4) extending between the outer plate edge (22) and the gasket groove (20), and the inner edge portions (30 and 32) of the heat transfer plate (4) extending between the inner plate edge (24) and the gasket groove (20) and between the inner plate edge (26) and the gasket groove (20), respectively, have creases and include ridges (34) and valleys (36) that are alternately arranged accordingly (see FIG. 2, FIG. 3 and FIG. 6 for the outer edge portion (28)). The ridges and valleys identified from one side of the heat transfer plate (4) are the valleys and ridges identified from the other side of the heat transfer plate (4), respectively. Clearly, the port holes (12 and 16) are also surrounded by the inner soft portions of each similar fold.

[0044] Referring particularly to FIG. 2, the outer edge portion (28) of the heat transfer plate (4) includes a plurality of outer gasket fastening regions (44) distributed along the outer plate edge (22). At least some of the gasket fastening regions (44) are designed according to the present invention. For completeness, the inner edge portion of the heat transfer plate (4) may also include a plurality of inner gasket fastening regions distributed around the port holes (12, 14, 16 and 18). However, these are conventionally designed and will not be described further herein.

[0045] One of the gasket fastening regions (44) designed according to the present invention is illustrated more specifically in FIG. 6. This includes the first and second valley sections (36a and 36b) of the valley section (36) and the first, second, and third ridge sections (34a, 34b and 34c) of the ridge section (34). The first and second ridge sections (34a and 34b) are arranged on the opposite sides of the first valley section (36a), the first and second valley sections (36a and 36b) are arranged on the opposite sides of the second ridge section (34b), and the second and third ridge sections (34b and 34c) are arranged on the opposite sides of the second valley section (36b).

[0046] Referring to FIGS. 4 through 6, most of the ridges (34) within the outer edge portion (28) of the heat transfer plate (4) are designed similarly to the far right ridge (34) of FIG. 6, having each upper portion (38) extending within a virtual upper plane (TP) with essentially a constant width along the longitudinal extension range. Similarly, most of the valleys (36) within the outer edge portion (28) of the heat transfer plate (4) are designed similarly to the far right valley (36) of FIG. 6, having each lower portion (40) extending within a virtual lower plane (BP) arranged at a distance (x) from the upper plane (TP) with essentially a constant width along the longitudinal extension range. However, like the first and second valleys (36a and 36b), the first, second, and third ridges (34a, 34b, and 34c) of the gasket fastening area (44) are configured differently.

[0047] The first ridge (34a) has an upper portion (38a), and this upper portion extends within a virtual first plane (P1) within the first portion (r11) of the first ridge (34a) (its boundary is particularly shown as a dashed line) arranged immediately adjacent to the first portion (v11) of the first valley (36a), and within the upper plane (TP) within the second portion (r12) of the first ridge (34a) arranged partially adjacent to the second portion (v12) of the first valley (36a). The boundary between the first and second portions (v11 and v12) of the first valley (36a) is shown as a dashed line. The second portion (v12) of the first valley (36a) is arranged between the first portion (v11) of the first valley (36a) and the edge (22) of the heat transfer plate (4). Additionally, the second portion (r12) of the first ridge (34a) extends between the first portion (r11) of the first ridge (34a) and the edge (22) of the heat transfer plate (4), and outside the first portion (r11). The first plane (P1) extends parallel to the upper and lower planes (TP and BP) and at a distance (xt) from the upper plane (TP) and at a distance (xb) from the lower plane (BP), where xt ≤ x and 0 ≤ xb <x이다. 여기에서, xb=0 및 xt=x이고, 이는 제1 평면(P1)이 하단 평면(BP)과 일치된다는 것을 의미한다. 그러나, 본 발명의 대안적인 실시형태에서, 제1 평면(P1)은 그 대신 상단 평면(TP)과 하단 평면(BP) 사이에 배열될 수 있다.

[0048] The reduced height of the upper portion (38a) of the first ridge (34a) within the first portion (r11) results in a depression in the first ridge (34a). The inner cross-section of the first portion (r11) of the first ridge (34a) is tapered toward the gasket groove (20), as identified from the edge (22) of the heat transfer plate (4), and accordingly imparts an essentially triangular shape to this depression, as identified from the heat transfer plate (4), and one side of the triangle borders the first portion (v11) of the first valley (36a).

[0049] The second ridge (34b) has a symmetry axis extending perpendicularly to the upper portion (38b) extending within the outer edge (22) and upper plane (TP) of the heat transfer plate (4). The second ridge (34b) includes a first portion (r21) having a first width (wp21) and a second portion (r22) having a second width (wp22). The second portion (r22) is arranged between the first portion (r21) and the edge (22) of the heat transfer plate (4), and the boundary between the first and second portions (r21 and r22) is shown as a dashed line. Additionally, the first width (wp21) of the first portion (r21) is essentially constant along the entire length of the first portion (r21). In contrast, the second part (r22) is tapered away from the edge (22) of the heat transfer plate (4), resulting in a variable second width (wp22) of the second part (r22). The first width (wp21) of the first part (r21) is narrower than the second width (wp22) of the second part (r22).

[0050] As is clear from FIG. 6, the third ridge (34c) is designed in a manner corresponding to the first ridge (34a).

[0051] The first valley (36a) has a lower portion (40a) that extends within the lower plane (BP). The longitudinal outer side (42) of the first valley (36a) is straight and essentially extends perpendicularly to the edge (22) of the heat transfer plate (4) along the entire length of the first valley (36a), and in particular along the length of the second portion (v12) of the first valley (36a). Accordingly, since the second portion (r22) of the second ridge (38b) is tapered away from the edge (22) of the heat transfer plate (4) as described above, the second portion (v12) of the first valley (36a) will be tapered toward the edge (22) of the heat transfer plate (4).

[0052] As is clear from FIG. 6, the second valley section (36b) is designed in a manner corresponding to the first valley section (36a).

[0053] Here, referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the lower portion (46) of the gasket groove (20) extends along most of the gasket groove (20) within a virtual lower plane (BP). However, in another embodiment of the invention, the lower portion (46) of the gasket groove instead extends along most of the gasket groove (20) within a virtual middle plane that extends possibly in the middle between the upper plane (TP) and the lower plane (BP). As is clear from FIGS. 4 through 6, the ridge (34) is closed toward the gasket groove (20) and arranged to provide gasket support, while the valley (36) is open toward the gasket groove (20).

[0054] Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, the gasket array (6) comprises a rubber gasket (48), which subsequently comprises an annular field portion (50), two annular ring portions (52 and 54), and a bridge portion (56) connecting the ring portions (52 and 54) to the field portion (50). The gasket array (6) further comprises a plurality of rubber attachment means (58) formed integrally with the gasket (48). The attachment means (58) are distributed along the outer side of the field portion (50) of the gasket (48). At least some of the attachment means (58) are designed according to the present invention. For completeness, it may be said that the gasket array (6) comprises attachment means along the inner side of the ring portions (52 and 54) and the inner side of the field portion (50). However, these are conventionally designed and will not be described further herein.

[0055] One of the attachment means (58) designed according to the present invention is illustrated more specifically in FIGS. 7 and 8. It comprises an elongated cross-section (60), a first connecting member (62), a second connecting member (64), and a finger (66). The boundary of the cross-section (60) toward the first and second connecting members (62 and 64) and the finger (66) is illustrated by a dashed line in FIG. 7. The cross-section (60) extends longitudinally at a distance from the gasket (48) and is essentially parallel to the gasket (48). The first connecting member (62) extends longitudinally at a right angle to the cross-section (60) and from its end portion, connecting the cross-section (60) to the gasket (48). More specifically, the first connecting portion (68), which is of the end form of the first connecting member (62), is connected to the gasket (48), while the second connecting portion (70), which is of the other end form of the first connecting member (62), is connected to the bridge portion (60). Similarly, the second connecting member (64) essentially extends perpendicularly to the bridge portion (60) and longitudinally from the other opposite end portion to connect the bridge portion (60) to the gasket (48). More specifically, the first connecting portion (72), which is of the end form of the second connecting member (64), is connected to the gasket (48), while the second connecting portion (74), which is of the other end form of the second connecting member (64), is connected to the bridge portion (60). The finger (66) essentially extends longitudinally toward the gasket (48) at a right angle to the bridge (60) and from its center portion, that is, between the first and second connecting members (62 and 64). More specifically, the connecting portion (76) in the form of an end of the finger (66) is connected to the bridge (60), while the other end of the finger (66) is free and arranged at a distance from the gasket (48).

[0056] The first connecting member (62) includes a first part (78) and a second part (80). The second part (80) is adjacent to the bridge portion (60) of the attachment means (58), while the first part (78) is adjacent to the gasket (48). In FIG. 7, the boundary between the first and second parts (78 and 80) is shown as a dashed line. Again, the first part (78) of the first connecting member (62) includes a first body (78a) and a first retaining means (78b), while the second part (80) includes a second body (80a). The first retaining means (78b) protrudes from the longitudinal outer side (82) of the first body (78a) in a direction away from the finger (66) and the second connecting member (64). The inner cross-section of the first retaining means (78b) is tapered toward the gasket (48), as confirmed from the bridge portion (60), and accordingly imparts to the first retaining means (78b) an essentially triangular shape as confirmed from the attachment means (58), and one side of the triangle is adjacent to the first body (78a) of the first part (78) of the first connecting member (62). The thickness of the first body (78a) exceeds the thickness of the first retaining means (78b).

[0057] The first retaining means (78b) provides the first part (78) of the first connecting member (62) with a variable first width (wg11) that is wider than the second width (wg12) of the second part (80) of the first connecting member (62). Additionally, the second width (wg12) of the second part (80), and accordingly the width of the second body (80a), is variable. The second body (80a) includes a recess (84) on the longitudinal inner side (86) in proximity to the bridge part (60), while the longitudinal outer side (88) of the second body (80a) is straight and extends perpendicularly to the bridge part (60).

[0058] As is clear from FIGS. 7 and 8, the second connecting member (64) is designed in a manner corresponding to the first connecting member (62).

[0059] Additionally, a finger (66) having a symmetry axis extending perpendicular to the bridge portion (60) and through the center comprises a first portion (90) and a second portion (92). The second portion (92) is adjacent to the bridge portion (60) of the attachment means (58), and the first portion (90) is arranged between the second portion (92) and the gasket (48). In FIG. 7, the boundary between the first and second portions (90 and 92) is shown as a dashed line. The first and second portions (90 and 92) each have a width (wf1 and wf2), wherein the first width (wf1) is narrower than the second width (wf2). The first width (wf1) is essentially constant along the entire length of the first portion (90). The second part (92) is tapered away from the bridge part (60), which changes the second width (wf2).

[0060] The gasket groove (20) of the heat transfer plate (4) is arranged to receive a gasket (48) as shown in FIG. 1. Additionally, the gasket fastening area of ​​the heat transfer plate (4) is arranged to fasten the gasket (48) to the heat transfer plate (4) in cooperation with the attachment means of the gasket arrangement (6). Cooperation between one of the gasket fastening areas (44) according to the present invention and one of the attachment means (58) according to the present invention is particularly illustrated in FIG. 3 through 5. It may be said that parts of the drawings, and particularly the exemplary heat transfer plate (4) of FIG. 3, are partially transparent.

[0061] In particular, referring to FIG. 3, when the attachment means (58) is properly coupled with the gasket fastening area (44), the first and second connecting members (62 and 64) are coupled with the first side (8) of the heat transfer plate (4), while the finger (66) is coupled with the second side (10) of the heat transfer plate (4) (Figs. 4 and 5). More specifically, the finger (66) is received within the valley formed by the second ridge (34b). Additionally, the first and second bodies (78a and 80a) of the first connecting member (62) are received within the first valley (36a), while the first retaining means (78b) of the first connecting member (62) is received within the first part (r11) of the first ridge (34a). The second connecting member (64) is received in a corresponding manner within the second valley (36b) and the third ridge (34c). Additionally, the bridge portion (60) of the attachment means (58) extends from the outside of the heat transfer plate (4) parallel to the outer edge (22) of the heat transfer plate. The configuration of the first and second connecting members (62 and 64) of the attachment means (58) and the first, second, and third ridges (34a, 34b and 34c), as well as the first and second valleys (36a and 36b) of the gasket fastening area (44), is complementary. Thus, the first connecting member (62) is tightly fitted and essentially fills the first portion (r11) of the entire first valley (36a) and the first ridge (34a). Accordingly, the second connecting member (64) is tightly fitted and essentially fills the first part or depression of the entire second valley (36b) and the third ridge (34c). By doing so, the attachment means (58) cannot slide in a direction parallel to the extension plane of the heat transfer plate (4), particularly perpendicular to the outer edge (22) of the heat transfer plate (4). Consequently, a reliable fastening of the gasket (48) to the heat transfer plate (4) is achieved. Even when the gasket (48) does not come into contact with the gasket groove (20), the gasket arrangement (6) may not slide out of the heat transfer plate (4).This is illustrated in FIG. 9, which shows how the connection between the first and second connecting members (62 and 64) and the first and third ridges (34a and 34c) is maintained even when the gasket array (6) is tilted relative to the heat transfer plate (4).

[0062] The foregoing embodiments of the present invention should be regarded merely as examples. A person skilled in the art will understand that the described embodiments can be modified in many ways without departing from the concept of the invention.

[0063] For example, the first retaining means of the first connecting member does not essentially need to have a triangular shape and can have any suitable shape.

[0064] As another example, only one of the connecting members may include a retaining means, while the other connecting member may not have a retaining means.

[0065] The components of the gasket fastening area and the components of the attachment means having a variable width do not need to be tapered to achieve the variable width. For example, the change in width can be more abrupt and immediate, or instead can be done gradually in steps.

[0066] The finger may be tapered along its entire longitudinal extension instead of being tapered along only a part thereof. Additionally, the finger does not need to be tapered away from the crosslink, but instead may be tapered toward the crosslink along its entire or only part thereof. The heat transfer plate may have a gasketed area designed to cooperate with an attachment means including the finger.

[0067] As another example, the fingers and / or the first and second connecting members do not need to extend parallel to each other and / or perpendicularly to the bridge. Consequently, the first and second valleys and the first, second, and third ridges do not need to extend longitudinally parallel to each other and perpendicularly to the outer plate margin.

[0068] The aforementioned heat transfer plate has a gasket fastening region of the present invention arranged along the outer plate margin of the heat transfer plate and along two opposing long sides. Consequently, the aforementioned gasket arrangement has an attachment means of the present invention arranged along two opposing long sides of the field portion of the gasket and protruding from its outer side. Of course, the gasket fastening region of the present invention may also / alternatively be arranged along two opposing short sides of the heat transfer plate and / or along the inner plate margin, i.e., around the port hole of the heat transfer plate. Consequently, the attachment means of the present invention may also / alternatively be arranged along two opposing short sides of the field portion of the gasket and / or along the ring portion of the gasket and protrude from its inner side.

[0069] The attachment means of the present invention may include one or more fingers arranged to extend between the first and second connecting members and extend from the cross-linking portion of the attachment means toward the gasket. The heat transfer plate may have a gasket fastening region designed to cooperate with such attachment means.

[0070] The attachment means does not need to be designed in such a way that the cross-link portion of the attachment means is arranged to be positioned on the outside of the heat transfer plate when the attachment means is properly coupled with the heat transfer plate. Instead, the cross-link portion may be designed to be positioned at least partially within the heat transfer plate when the attachment means is properly coupled with the heat transfer plate, and possibly coupled with the first and / or second side of the heat transfer plate. The heat transfer plate may have a gasketed connection region designed to cooperate with such attachment means.

[0071] The connecting member of the aforementioned attachment means extends from the bridge portion to the gasket, but this connecting member may instead extend beyond the bridge portion and / or the gasket. Similarly, the finger may extend beyond the bridge portion and / or the gasket. The heat transfer plate may have a gasket fastening region designed to cooperate with this attachment means.

[0072] The gasket and the attachment means do not need to be formed integrally, but instead may be two separate but connectable parts. Additionally, the gasket and the attachment means do not need to be made of rubber and may be manufactured from any suitable material. Furthermore, the gasket and the attachment means do not need to be made of the same material.

[0073] The heat transfer plate does not need to be made of stainless steel and can be made of any suitable material such as titanium or aluminum.

[0074] Finally, the present invention can be used with other types of plate heat exchangers other than the pure gasket type, for example, plate heat exchangers comprising permanently joined heat transfer plates.

[0075] It should be noted that pressing the plate generally results in creases within the plate with a slight radius of curvature instead of sharp edges. Therefore, heat transfer plates will generally contain shapes of various geometric forms, such as triangular creases, rather than precise shapes. A corresponding assumption is also valid for the molding of gasket arrays.

[0076] It should be noted that attributes such as first, second, and third are used merely to distinguish species of the same kind in this document and are not intended to indicate any kind of mutual order among the species.

[0077] It should be noted that detailed descriptions of parts not related to the invention have been omitted, and that the drawings are merely schematic and not drawn to actual scale. It should also be noted that some parts of the drawings may be simplified compared to others. Accordingly, some components may be shown in one drawing but not in another.

Claims

Claim 1 As an attachment means (58) for fastening a gasket (48) to a heat transfer plate (4), the means comprises a bridge portion (60), a first connecting member (62), a second connecting member (64), and a finger (66), wherein a first connecting portion (68) of the first connecting member (62) is arranged to be coupled with the gasket (48), a second connecting portion (70) of the first connecting member (62) is coupled with the bridge portion (60), a first connecting portion (72) of the second connecting member (64) is arranged to be coupled with the gasket (48), a second connecting portion (74) of the second connecting member (64) is coupled with the bridge portion (60), and a connecting portion (76) of the finger (66) is coupled with the bridge portion (60), and the finger (66) extends between the first and second connecting members (62, 64) and the In an attachment means (58) arranged to extend from the bridge portion (60) toward the gasket (48), wherein the first connecting member (62) comprises a first portion and a second portion (78, 80), and the second portion (80) is arranged between the bridge portion (60) and the first portion (78), the second portion (80) of the first connecting member (62) comprises a second body (80a), and the first portion (78) of the first connecting member (62) comprises a first body (78a) and a first retaining means (78b) protruding from the longitudinal outer side (82) of the first body (78a) in a direction away from the finger (66), and accordingly, a first width (wg11) wider than the second width (wg12) of the second portion (80) of the first connecting member (62) is the first Attachment means (58), which is attached to the portion (78), and the first retaining means (78b) of the first portion (78) of the first connecting member (62) is tapered in a direction away from the bridge portion (60) along at least a portion of its length. Claim 2 delete Claim 3 In claim 1, the first holding means (78b) has a triangular shape, and the first holding means (78b) is connected to the first main body (78a) along one side of the triangle, the attachment means (58). Claim 4 In claim 1 or 3, the second body (80a) has a narrowest width, which is smaller than the widest width of the first body (78a), and an attachment means (58). Claim 5 In claim 1 or 3, the attachment means (58) wherein the longitudinal outer side (88) of the second main body is straight and extends perpendicularly to the length range of the bridge portion (60). Claim 6 In claim 1 or 3, the finger (66) comprises a first part (90) having a first width (wf1) and a second part (92) having a second width (wf2), wherein the second part (92) is arranged closer to the bridge portion (60) than the first part (90), and the first width (wf1) is narrower than the second width (wf2), an attachment means (58). Claim 7 In claim 6, the finger (66) is tapered in a direction away from the cross-linking portion (60) along at least a portion of its length, the attachment means (58). Claim 8 In claim 1 or 3, the attachment means (58) wherein the maximum thickness of the first main body (78a) is thicker than the maximum thickness of the first retaining means (78b). Claim 9 A heat transfer plate (4) comprising, on a first side (8), a gasket groove (20) extending along a margin (22) of the heat transfer plate (4), wherein the margin portion (28) of the heat transfer plate (4) extends between the margin (22) and the gasket groove (20) and has corrugations such as raised portions (34) each comprising an alternately arranged upper portion (38) and lower portions (40) each comprising a valley portion (36), wherein the margin portion (28) comprises a gasket fastening region (44) arranged to be coupled with an attachment means (58) to fasten a gasket (48) within the gasket groove (20), wherein the gasket fastening region (44) comprises first and second valley portions (36a, 36b) among the valley portions (36) and first and second raised portions (34). It includes raised portions (34a, 34b), wherein the first and second raised portions (34a, 34b) are arranged on opposite sides of the first valley portion (36a), and the first and second valley portions (36a, 36b) are arranged on opposite sides of the second raised portion (34b), the lower portion (40a) of the first valley portion (36a) extends within a lower plane (BP), and the upper portion (38a) of the first raised portion (34a) extends within a first plane (P1) within a first portion (r11) of the first raised portion (34a) bordering a first portion (v11) of the first valley portion (36a), and within a second portion (r12) of the first raised portion (34a) bordering a second portion (v12) of the first valley portion (36a). Extended within the plane (TP), and accordingly extended between the first portion (r11) of the first ridge (34a) and the edge (22) of the heat transfer plate (4), the upper plane (TP) and the lower plane (BP) are separated by a distance (x), and the first plane (P1) extends parallel to the upper plane (TP) and the lower plane (BP) and at a distance (xt) from the upper plane (TP) and at a distance (xb) from the lower plane (BP).Here, xt≤x and 0≤xb <x인 것을 특징으로 하는, 열 전달 판(4)., Claim 10 In claim 9, the first portion (r11) of the first ridge (34a) is tapered along at least a portion of its length away from the edge (22) of the heat transfer plate (4), the heat transfer plate (4). Claim 11 In claim 9 or 10, the first part (r11) of the first ridge (34a) has a triangular shape, and the first part (r11) of the first ridge (34a) is adjacent to the first part (v11) of the first valley (36a) along one side of the triangle, a heat transfer plate (4). Claim 12 In claim 9 or 10, the second part (v12) of the first valley (36a), which is arranged between the first part (v11) of the first valley (36a) and the edge (22) of the heat transfer plate (4), has a narrowest width that is narrower than the widest width of the first part of the first valley. Claim 13 In claim 9 or 10, the longitudinal outer side (42) of the first valley portion (36a) is straight and extends perpendicularly to the edge (22) of the heat transfer plate (4) within the second portion (v12) of the first valley portion (36a). Claim 14 In claim 9 or 10, the second raised portion (34b) comprises a first portion (r21) having a first width (wp21) and a second portion (r22) having a second width (wp22), wherein the second portion (r22) is arranged between the first portion (r21) and the edge (22) of the heat transfer plate (4), and the first width (wp21) is narrower than the second width (wp22), heat transfer plate (4). Claim 15 In claim 14, the second ridge (34b) is tapered along at least a portion of its length away from the edge (22) of the heat transfer plate (4), the heat transfer plate (4).

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