Adjustable Hose Holding Structure for Compact Heat Exchanger Modules
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hose support structures in heat exchanger modules are limited by their height, which affects the surface area and heat transfer efficiency, necessitating adjustments in medium temperature or flow rate to compensate for space constraints.
Innovation Solution
A hose holding structure with adjustable separating elements that divide recesses into multiple areas, allowing flexible hose sections to be accommodated, increasing surface area without increasing height, and enabling various routing configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the height of the hose support structure is increased to increase the surface area of the hose, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but the device occupies more vertical space and may exceed height limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from vertical hose arrangement (single dimension) to horizontal planar arrangement (two dimensions). The support frame with multiple support posts arranged in a plane allows the hose to be wound horizontally around the posts, converting vertical height requirements into horizontal footprint requirements. This dimensional change enables the same surface area to be achieved without increasing height.
Solution Approach 2:
The hose is wound in a spiral or serpentine pattern around multiple support posts, effectively nesting the hose path through the planar structure. The hose passes through recesses in successive support posts, creating a compact nested arrangement that maximizes surface area within the horizontal plane while maintaining a limited vertical profile.
2Length of stationary object
If the height of the support structure is limited by local conditions, then space constraints are satisfied, but the surface area of the hose is reduced, requiring adjustments in medium temperature or flow rate
Solution Approach 1:
By arranging support posts in a horizontal plane and winding the hose around them, the patent expands the heat exchange surface area in the horizontal dimension rather than being constrained to vertical expansion. This allows the system to achieve large surface area while maintaining a compact vertical height that fits within local space constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure is divided into multiple discrete support posts, each with recesses for the hose. This segmentation allows the hose to be distributed across multiple posts in a planar arrangement, effectively multiplying the surface area within a compact horizontal footprint while maintaining limited height.
3Device complexity
If a single recess is used to accommodate hose coils, then the structure is simple, but the surface area that can be accommodated is limited by the recess size
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using one large recess, the patent divides the hose accommodation into multiple smaller recesses distributed across several support posts. Each recess is simple in design, but the collective arrangement of multiple recesses across the planar structure provides a much larger total surface area for heat exchange.
Solution Approach 2:
Each support post with its recess serves as a universal mounting point for the hose. The standardized recess design can be replicated across multiple posts, allowing the same simple structural element to contribute to the total surface area multiple times through repetition in the planar arrangement.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2b
AI summary
A hose support structure (2) for a heat exchanger module (1) is proposed, comprising a support frame with a plurality of support posts (3), each of which includes at least one profile element (4) and at least one retaining strip (5), wherein the retaining strip (5) is attached to the profile element (4) to form at least a part of the respective support post (3) and the retaining strip has several recesses (8) for receiving at least one flexible hose (9), which are open, in particular, on a side facing away from the profile element (4). It is essential that a separating element (10) is adjustably arranged on at least one of the retaining strips (5) to divide at least one of the recesses (8) into two areas (18, 19) which serve to receive different hose sections of the at least one hose (9).