Universal Heat Exchanger Cabinet with Adjustable Base Brackets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat exchanger cabinets require custom sizing for different heat exchanger heights, leading to inefficiencies in plumbing and storage, as top fluid connections are not consistently aligned, making it difficult to mount various sized heat exchangers in the same cabinet without re-plumbing.
Innovation Solution
A heat exchanger cabinet system featuring adjustable and fixed height base brackets with interlocking mechanisms and diagonal supports for compact stacking, allowing top fluid inlets and outlets to be aligned at a consistent height regardless of the heat exchanger's height, along with a heat shield to manage radiant heat and protect instrumentation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If custom sized cabinets are made for each heat exchanger type and height, then the heat exchanger can be properly supported and connected, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal cabinet system with adjustable base brackets that can accommodate multiple heat exchanger heights. The base bracket includes an adjustable leg with telescoping sections and locking mechanisms, allowing a single cabinet design to serve multiple heat exchanger types rather than requiring custom cabinets for each model.
Solution Approach 2:
The base bracket incorporates dynamic adjustment capabilities through telescoping legs with extendable sections. The adjustable leg can change its length to match different heat exchanger heights, transforming a static cabinet structure into a dynamically adaptable support system.
2Productivity
If different height heat exchangers are mounted in the same cabinet, then storage efficiency improves, but the top fluid connections become misaligned requiring re-plumbing
Solution Approach 1:
The cabinet is designed as a universal platform that maintains consistent top connection alignment regardless of heat exchanger height variations. The adjustable base brackets compensate for height differences, ensuring that fluid connections from different heat exchanger models align with the same cabinet openings and plumbing fixtures.
Solution Approach 2:
The base bracket's adjustable leg allows changing the mounting height parameter to match different heat exchanger models. By adjusting the leg extension length, the system maintains the top connection alignment parameter constant even when the heat exchanger height parameter varies.
3Adaptability or versatility
If adjustable height base brackets are used, then versatility across heat exchanger sizes improves, but the bracket structure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The base bracket is divided into segmented components including an adjustable leg with telescoping sections, a mounting plate, and locking mechanisms. This segmentation allows independent adjustment of each component to achieve the required height while keeping the overall structure modular and manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustable leg incorporates nested telescoping sections where one leg section fits inside another. This nesting arrangement provides extended adjustment range while minimizing the stored height when the bracket is not in use, reducing space requirements without sacrificing versatility.
4Adaptability or versatility
If heat exchangers of various heights are supported, then the cabinet becomes universally applicable, but maintaining consistent top connection height becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The base bracket incorporates dynamic adjustment capabilities through telescoping legs with extendable sections. The adjustable leg can change its length to match different heat exchanger heights, transforming a static cabinet structure into a dynamically adaptable support system that maintains precise top connection alignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism provides feedback-based adjustment where the user extends the leg to the appropriate length, engages the locking mechanism, and the teeth-on-rake design ensures precise positioning. This mechanical feedback system maintains manufacturing precision by preventing slippage or drift from the set height.
Data Source
AI summary
A heat exchanger cabinet includes a base pallet. A heat exchanger base bracket of a selected fixed height or of an adjustable height bracket provides a support for a bottom of a heat exchanger, such that regardless of a height the heat exchanger, and within a range of different heat exchanger heights, a plurality of top mounted fluid inlets and outlets of the heat exchanger are disposed at about a same height above the base pallet. A set of heat exchanger base brackets, a stackable heat exchanger base bracket, a heat shield for a heat exchanger cabinet, and a heat exchanger cabinet for a vertically mounted heat exchanger are also described.