Multiple limiting and guiding sliding device for air cooler tube bundle

Abstract

A kind of multiple limiting guide sliding device for air cooler tube bundle, it is related to air cooler technical field, including air cooler tube box, side beam and sliding assembly.Side beam is groove-shaped structure and is located at the both sides of tube box, sliding assembly is located between tube box and the inside bending structure of side beam, so that tube box can adaptively slide when thermal expansion and contraction.Sliding assembly is composed of right-angle bending sliding plate and guide stud, and their cooperation ensures that surface contact reduces wear, strip-shaped guide hole limits lateral displacement, and realizes one-way guide.Elastic limiting device is installed on the outside of side beam, including elastic limiting plate, locking stud and locking nut, which provides buffering and limiting functions, is beneficial to reset and improves transportation safety.The utility model is not only suitable for conventional rectangular tube box, but also suitable for bottomless or special-shaped cross-section tube box, which expands the application range and improves the operation safety and structural reliability;Simple adjustment can meet the transportation and operation requirements, and simplify the structure.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of air cooler technology, and in particular to a multi-limiting guide sliding device for air cooler tube bundles. Background Technology

[0002] During the operation of an air cooler, the tube bundle experiences significant thermal expansion and contraction due to changes in medium temperature. If the resulting thermal stress cannot be effectively released, the tube box, tube sheet, or connecting welds will bear excessive mechanical loads, leading to leaks, deformation, or even structural failure. To address this issue, existing technologies typically incorporate a sliding support structure at the bottom of the air cooler tube box, allowing it to slide freely along the direction of thermal expansion on the foundation or support. This approach is primarily suitable for rectangular tube boxes with a flat, continuous bottom surface, such as plug-type or removable cover tube boxes, where the bottom can directly contact the sliding support for stable movement. However, for tube boxes with irregular cross-sections, bottomless structures, or discontinuous structures with openings or reinforcing ribs at the bottom, the traditional bottom sliding method is difficult to implement due to the lack of a complete and reliable support surface. This can easily lead to problems such as sliding jamming, uneven loading, or even localized suspension, failing to effectively release thermal stress.

[0003] Furthermore, some existing designs use mechanical guiding elements such as pins, guide rails, or guide keys to achieve the limiting sliding of the tube box. While these structures can control the movement trajectory of the tube box to a certain extent, they require extremely high machining precision and assembly tolerances for the components. This not only increases manufacturing costs but also, under long-term high-temperature and vibration conditions, the metal contact surfaces are prone to wear, oxidation, or fretting corrosion, leading to a gradual increase in the mating clearance, which weakens the guiding accuracy and may even result in the loss of the limiting function. More seriously, once the guiding components fail, the tube box may shift laterally or twist, causing uneven stress on the tube bundle and threatening the safe operation of the equipment. At the same time, existing sliding devices generally do not take into account both transportation and operation conditions: during transportation, temporary fixings are often required to prevent the tube box from shaking, and the installation and removal process is cumbersome; while during operation, complete free sliding is required. These two functions conflict, often requiring the design of two separate structures, increasing system complexity and maintenance workload. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a sliding device with a simple structure, strong adaptability, and both reliable guiding and convenient locking functions to overcome the limitations of the existing technologies mentioned above. Utility Model Content

[0004] In order to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art, this utility model discloses a multi-limiting guide sliding device for air cooler tube bundles.

[0005] To achieve the above-mentioned objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0006] A multi-position limiting guide sliding device for air cooler tube bundles includes:

[0007] Air cooler tube box;

[0008] There are two side beams, which are installed on both sides of the air cooler tube box respectively. The side beams are in the form of a trough.

[0009] Multiple sliding components are installed between the air cooler tube box and the inner bending structure of the side beam, which are used to enable the air cooler tube box to slide adaptively relative to the side beam during thermal expansion and contraction.

[0010] Preferably, the sliding component includes:

[0011] The sliding plate is fastened to the air cooler tube box. The sliding plate has a right-angle bent structure and is adapted to the inner bent structure of the side beam.

[0012] The guide stud is fastened to the sliding plate at one end and moves through the side beam at the other end; the side beam has a strip-shaped guide hole at the position corresponding to the guide stud.

[0013] Preferably, sliding components are installed on both the top and bottom of the same side of the air cooler tube box.

[0014] Preferably, the sliding plates at the top and bottom of the air cooler tube box on the same side are connected by a connecting plate.

[0015] Preferably, elastic limiting devices are installed on both sides of the side beam corresponding to the guide studs; the elastic limiting devices include:

[0016] The elastic limiting plate has an arc-shaped or rolled structure at one end and two mounting holes at the other end.

[0017] Locking studs, which are two that are fastened to the side beam;

[0018] The lock nut, threaded to the locking stud, is used to press the elastic limit plate;

[0019] The two mounting holes of the elastic limiting plate are used to fix the elastic limiting plate when they are fitted with two locking studs; one of the two mounting holes of the elastic limiting plate is fitted with a locking stud and the other is fitted with a guide stud when it is fitted with a guide stud to limit the air cooler tube box.

[0020] Preferably, a graphite gasket is provided between the sliding plate and the side beam.

[0021] By adopting the technical solution described above, this utility model has the following beneficial effects:

[0022] (1) This utility model has a simple structure. By setting groove-shaped side beams on both sides of the pipe box and arranging the sliding component in the lateral space between the side beams and the pipe box, it effectively utilizes the existing structural features and avoids dependence on the bottom support surface of the pipe box. This lateral sliding method is not only suitable for conventional rectangular pipe boxes, but also for pipe box structures that lack a bottom plate or irregular cross-sections and lack a continuous bottom support surface, significantly expanding the scope of application. At the same time, the bending structure on the inner side of the side beam provides a stable mating surface for sliding, enhances the overall rigidity, and reduces the risk of deformation caused by local stress concentration.

[0023] (2) The sliding assembly of this utility model adopts a guide stud structure with a right-angle bent sliding plate and a strip guide hole, which changes the sliding contact from point or line contact to surface contact, effectively dispersing contact stress, reducing wear, and improving sliding stability. The guide stud passes through the strip guide hole on the side beam, allowing free movement only in the direction of thermal expansion, restricting lateral displacement, and realizing a reliable unidirectional guiding function. While releasing thermal stress, it prevents the pipe box from shifting or twisting, improving operational safety and structural reliability.

[0024] (3) Under transportation conditions, this utility model can temporarily lock the pipe box and the side beam by adding a nut to the exposed end of the guide stud, without the need for an additional special fixing device; the sliding function can be restored by removing the nut before operation. This design takes into account both transportation safety and operational needs, simplifies the structure, and reduces maintenance complexity. Furthermore, sliding components are set at the top and bottom on the same side of the pipe box, and the upper and lower sliding plates are connected into one by a connecting plate to form a double-point guiding structure, which effectively suppresses the tilting, warping, or off-center loading problems that may occur in long or thermally deformable pipe boxes during the sliding process, and improves the stability and synchronization of the movement trajectory.

[0025] (4) The introduction of the elastic limiting device of this utility model further enhances the functionality of the device. Its arc-shaped or curled end provides a buffer limit when the pipe box is displaced to the limit position, and has a certain rebound capability, which helps the pipe box to reset after the temperature drops. In the transportation state, by simultaneously sleeved on the guide stud and the locking stud and pressed, the rigid locking of the pipe box can be achieved. The existing components are used to complete the double fixation, which not only improves the transportation safety, but also avoids the use of additional parts.

[0026] (5) The present invention further provides a graphite gasket between the contact surface of the sliding plate and the side beam. By utilizing its self-lubricating and high-temperature resistance properties, the sliding resistance under high-temperature conditions is effectively reduced, and the metal surfaces are prevented from seizing or jamming. The compression resilience of the graphite gasket can also compensate for the assembly gap, improve the contact uniformity, and extend the service life of the sliding components, thereby significantly improving the operational reliability and durability of the device without changing the main structure. Attached Figure Description

[0027] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the installation structure of this utility model;

[0028] Figure 2 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the side beam;

[0029] Figure 3 This is a top view of the side beam;

[0030] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the locked state structure of the air cooler tube box;

[0031] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the installation structure of a graphite gasket.

[0032] In the diagram: 1. Air cooler tube box; 2. Side beam; 3. Sliding plate; 4. Guide stud; 5. Connecting plate; 6. Elastic limiting device; 6-1. Elastic limiting plate; 6-2. Locking stud; 6-3. Locking nut; 7. Graphite gasket. Detailed Implementation

[0033] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present utility model without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present utility model.

[0034] In the description of this utility model, it should be noted that the terms "upper" and "lower" indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, or the orientation or positional relationship in which the utility model product is usually placed during use. They are only used to facilitate the description of this utility model and to simplify the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this utility model.

[0035] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "joining," "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0036] Example 1:

[0037] Combined with appendix Figure 1 and 5A multi-position limiting and guiding sliding device for air cooler tube bundles includes an air cooler tube box 1, side beams 2, and a sliding assembly. The air cooler tube box 1 and side beams 2 are existing components of air coolers and are widely used in various types of air cooler equipment. Side beams 2 are installed on both sides of the air cooler tube box 1. The side beams 2 have a channel-shaped structure with an inwardly bent support surface. This bending structure not only enhances the overall rigidity of the side beams 2 but also provides a stable sliding contact surface for the sliding assembly, avoiding deformation or failure caused by localized stress concentration. Compared to traditional sliding methods that rely solely on bottom support, this channel-shaped structure allows the sliding assembly to achieve lateral constraint and guidance, improving the overall structural stability and reliability.

[0038] A sliding assembly is installed between the air cooler tube box 1 and the inner bending structure of the side beam 2. This sliding assembly allows the air cooler tube box 1 to adaptively slide relative to the side beam 2 when it expands and contracts due to temperature changes during operation, thereby effectively releasing thermal stress and preventing leakage or damage to the tube bundle due to excessive force. This design effectively solves two types of problems existing in the prior art: First, for plug-type tube boxes and removable cover-type tube box air coolers, a support structure is usually set below the tube box, allowing the rectangular tube box to slide along the support surface. However, this solution relies on the existence of a continuous and flat support surface at the bottom of the tube box. For other structural forms of tube boxes, such as irregular cross-sections or bottomless structures, it is difficult to achieve stable sliding due to the lack of an effective support surface. Second, although some sliding devices using pin shaft guidance can provide a certain guiding function, they require high processing and assembly precision, increasing manufacturing costs. Moreover, during long-term operation, wear can easily lead to increased clearance, affecting the guiding effect. This embodiment makes full use of existing structural features by arranging the sliding component in the lateral space between the side beam 2 and the air cooler tube box 1, without the need for additional support surfaces, and at the same time reduces the dependence on machining accuracy.

[0039] Specifically, the sliding assembly includes a sliding plate 3 and a guide stud 4. The sliding plate 3 is reliably connected to the air cooler tube box 1 via fasteners, ensuring synchronous movement of both during operation. The sliding plate 3 has a right-angle bend structure, and its bending angle matches the inner bending structure of the side beam 2, allowing the sliding plate 3 to slide against the inner wall of the side beam 2, forming surface contact rather than point or line contact, thereby dispersing contact stress, reducing local wear, and improving the smoothness of the sliding process. One end of the guide stud 4 is fastened to the sliding plate 3, and the other end movably passes through the side beam 2; the side beam 2 has a strip-shaped guide hole corresponding to the position of the guide stud 4. This strip-shaped guide hole extends along the expected thermal expansion direction of the air cooler tube box 1, allowing the guide stud 4 to move freely along its length within the hole, while restricting its displacement perpendicular to this direction, thus achieving a unidirectional guiding function. This structure ensures the free expansion and contraction of the tube box during thermal expansion and contraction, and effectively prevents lateral displacement or torsion, improving the overall operational reliability.

[0040] During the transportation of the air cooler, to prevent relative displacement of the air cooler tube box 1 under transportation vibration or impact, a nut can be installed at one end of the guide stud 4 extending from the side beam 2 to temporarily fix the guide stud 4 to the side beam 2, thereby locking the relative position between the air cooler tube box 1 and the side beam 2. Once the air cooler is transported to the site, installed, and ready for normal operation, the nut can be removed to restore the free sliding function of the sliding assembly. This design balances transportation safety and operational functionality, eliminating the need for additional dedicated transportation fixing devices, simplifying the structure, and reducing maintenance complexity.

[0041] Example 2:

[0042] Combined with appendix Figure 1 and 5 A multi-limiting guide sliding device for air cooler tube bundles differs from Embodiment 1 in that, based on Embodiment 1, sliding components are installed at both the top and bottom of the same side of the air cooler tube box 1. This arrangement subjects the air cooler tube box 1 to sliding constraints at both the top and bottom in the height direction, forming a dual-point guiding structure. This effectively suppresses tilting, warping, or torsion that may occur during thermal expansion of the tube box, making it particularly suitable for tube bundle structures with large lengths or large thermal deformations. Through the synergistic effect of the upper and lower sliding components, the movement trajectory of the air cooler tube box 1 is more stable, avoiding jamming or off-center loading problems that may occur with single-point sliding.

[0043] Furthermore, the sliding plates 3 at the top and bottom of the air cooler tube box 1 on the same side are connected by connecting plates 5. The connecting plate 5 is a rigid component, with its two ends fixedly connected to the upper and lower sliding plates 3 respectively, forming an integral sliding unit. Alternatively, the sliding plates 3 and the connecting plate 5 are an integral structure. This structure not only enhances the synchronization between the upper and lower sliding components, ensuring consistent displacement during sliding, but also improves the overall rigidity of the sliding components, preventing deformation of the sliding plates 3 due to uneven local stress. In addition, the connecting plate 5 also helps to more effectively transmit locking force during transportation, improving the transportation fixation effect.

[0044] Example 3:

[0045] Combined with appendix Figures 1-5A multi-positioning guide sliding device for air cooler tube bundles, based on Embodiment 1 or 2, has elastic limiting devices 6 installed on both sides of the side beam 2 corresponding to the guide studs 4. The elastic limiting device 6 includes an elastic limiting plate 6-1, locking studs 6-2, and locking nuts 6-3. One end of the elastic limiting plate 6-1 has an arc-shaped or coiled structure, which has a certain elastic deformation capacity and can generate a restoring force after being compressed; the other end has two mounting holes for engaging with the locking studs 6-2 and the guide studs 4. There are two locking studs 6-2, both of which are fastened to the side beam 2 by welding or threaded connection, and are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the guide studs 4.

[0046] During normal operation of the air cooler, the arc-shaped or curled end of the elastic limiting plate 6-1 faces the guide stud 4 and maintains slight contact or a small gap with its outer surface. When the air cooler tube box 1 is pushed to its limit position by thermal expansion, the guide stud 4 will contact the arc-shaped end of the elastic limiting plate 6-1 and compress its elastic structure, thereby providing a buffering and limiting effect. At the same time, it helps the air cooler tube box 1 to return to its original position. The two mounting holes of the elastic limiting plate 6-1 are adapted to the two locking studs 6-2 for installation, and the elastic limiting plate 6-1 is pressed by two locking nuts 6-3 that are threaded to the two locking studs 6-2 respectively, so that it is firmly fixed to the outside of the side beam 2. This pressing structure ensures that the elastic limiting plate 6-1 will not loosen or fall off due to vibration during operation, ensuring the long-term effectiveness of the limiting function.

[0047] When transporting air coolers, if attached Figure 4 As shown, one mounting hole of the elastic limiting plate 6-1 is fitted into one of the locking studs 6-2, and the other mounting hole is fitted into the exposed end of the guide stud 4. Then, the corresponding locking nut 6-3 is tightened, thus rigidly connecting the guide stud 4 to the side beam 2 via the elastic limiting plate 6-1, thereby locking all degrees of freedom of the air cooler tube box 1. This method utilizes existing components to achieve double locking during transportation, improving transportation safety, and eliminating the need for additional dedicated transportation fasteners. The structure is simple and the operation is convenient.

[0048] Example 4:

[0049] Combined with appendix Figure 1 and 5A multi-position limiting guide sliding device for air cooler tube bundles, based on any of the embodiments one to three, includes a graphite gasket 7 between the sliding plate 3 and the side beam 2. The graphite gasket 7 is made of flexible graphite material, possessing excellent self-lubricating properties and high-temperature resistance, enabling the formation of a low-friction interface between the contact surfaces of the sliding plate 3 and the side beam 2. During air cooler operation, as the temperature rises, the metal surface may oxidize or develop micro-welds. The graphite gasket 7 effectively reduces sliding resistance, preventing seizing or jamming, and ensuring smooth sliding of the sliding assembly under high-temperature conditions. Simultaneously, the graphite gasket 7 has a certain degree of compressive resilience, compensating for local gaps caused by manufacturing tolerances or assembly errors, improving contact uniformity, and extending the service life of the sliding assembly. This design significantly improves sliding performance and operational reliability without altering the main structure.

[0050] The parts of this utility model not described in detail are prior art. It is obvious to those skilled in the art that this utility model is not limited to the details of the above exemplary embodiments, and that this utility model can be implemented in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or basic characteristics of this utility model. Therefore, the embodiments should be regarded as exemplary and non-limiting in all respects, and are intended to include all changes that fall within the meaning and scope of equivalents within this utility model.

Claims

1. A multi-position limiting guide sliding device for air cooler tube bundles, characterized in that, include: Air cooler tube box (1); There are two side beams (2), which are installed on both sides of the air cooler tube box (1) respectively. The side beams (2) are in the shape of a trough. Multiple sliding components are installed between the air cooler tube box (1) and the inner bending structure of the side beam (2) to enable the air cooler tube box (1) to slide adaptively relative to the side beam (2) during thermal expansion and contraction.

2. The multi-position limiting guide sliding device for air cooler tube bundles as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The sliding component includes: The sliding plate (3) is fastened to the air cooler tube box (1). The sliding plate (3) has a right-angle bent structure, and the sliding plate (3) is adapted to the inner bent structure of the side beam (2). The guide stud (4) is fastened to the sliding plate (3) at one end and moves through the side beam (2) at the other end; the side beam (2) has a strip-shaped guide hole at the position corresponding to the guide stud (4).

3. The multi-positioning guide sliding device for air cooler tube bundles as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The air cooler tube box (1) has sliding components installed on the top and bottom of the same side.

4. The multi-position limiting guide sliding device for air cooler tube bundles as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The sliding plates (3) on the top and bottom of the air cooler tube box (1) on the same side are connected by a connecting plate (5).

5. The multi-position limiting guide sliding device for air cooler tube bundles as described in claim 2, characterized in that, Both sides of the side beam (2) corresponding to the guide stud (4) are equipped with elastic limiting devices (6); the elastic limiting devices (6) include: The elastic limiting plate (6-1) has an arc-shaped or rolled structure at one end and two mounting holes at the other end. Locking studs (6-2) are two that are fastened to the side beam (2); The locking nut (6-3) is threaded to the locking stud (6-2) and is used to press the elastic limit plate (6-1). When the two mounting holes of the elastic limiting plate (6-1) are fitted with the two locking studs (6-2), they are used to fix the elastic limiting plate (6-1); when one of the two mounting holes of the elastic limiting plate (6-1) is fitted with the locking stud (6-2) and the other is fitted with the guide stud (4), it is used to limit the air cooler tube box (1).

6. The multi-position limiting guide sliding device for air cooler tube bundles as described in claim 2, characterized in that, A graphite gasket (7) is provided between the sliding plate (3) and the side beam (2).

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