Heat exchanger with removable core

Abstract

There is provided a heat exchanger, such as an exhaust gas cooler, that has a removable core at least partially disposed in a shell. Tubes extending through the shell fluidly connect tanks at both ends of the shell so that thermal energy can be transferred between a first fluid in the shell and a second fluid in the tubes. At least one of the tanks is defined partially by a tube sheet, and the tank is structured to be moved axially through the shell in a direction toward the opposite tank and removed from the shell with the tubes. A sealing member is disposed between the movable tank and the shell to prevent fluid from flowing therebetween.

That which is claimed:  
     
         1 . A heat exchanger with a removable core, the heat exchanger comprising: 
 a tubular shell extending between first and second ends and defining an interior space for receiving a first fluid;    a core comprising: 
 a first tank at the first end of the shell;  
 a second tank at the second end of the shell, the second tank and shell defining a junction therebetween; and  
 a plurality of fluid-conducting members extending between the first and second tanks and fluidly connecting the first and second tanks such that a second fluid disposed in the tanks is fluidly disconnected from the interior space of the shell; and  
   a sealing member disposed between the shell and the core such that the core is free to adjust axially relative to the shell and the sealing member prevents fluid from flowing through the junction between the core and the shell,    wherein the core is structured to be axially moved through the shell in a direction from the second end toward the first end of the shell and removed therefrom as a unit.    
     
     
         2 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 1  wherein the shell defines inlet and outlet ports for circulating the first fluid.  
     
     
         3 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 1  wherein the second tank comprises a second tank member fixedly attached to a tube sheet, the tube sheet defining a plurality of holes corresponding to the tubes.  
     
     
         4 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 3  wherein the second tank member is attached to the second tube sheet by at least one of the group that includes a weld joint, a braze joint, and a solder joint.  
     
     
         5 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 1  wherein the sealing member comprises at least one elastic o-ring.  
     
     
         6 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 1  wherein at least one of an inner surface of the shell and an outer surface of the second tank defines at least one groove for receiving the sealing member.  
     
     
         7 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 1  wherein the sealing member fluidly disconnects the interior space of the shell from an exterior of the shell and the sealing member is fluidly disconnected from the second fluid in the second tank.  
     
     
         8 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 7  wherein the sealing member is adjacent a portion of the second tank that is fluidly disconnected from the second fluid.  
     
     
         9 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 1  wherein the first tank is removably connected to the shell.  
     
     
         10 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 1  further comprising a resilient member disposed between the shell and the first tank such that the first tank is flexibly connected to the shell.  
     
     
         11 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 1  wherein the shell defines a tapered inner surface having an inner surface portion proximate the second end with a diameter that corresponds in size to an outer surface of the second tank such that the sealing member forms a fluid seal therebetween.  
     
     
         12 . An exhaust gas cooler with a removable core, the exhaust gas cooler comprising: 
 a tubular shell extending between first and second ends, the shell defining an interior space and at least one port for receiving a coolant;    a first tank at the first end of the shell, the first tank being defined at least partially by a first tube sheet, the first tank defining at least one port for receiving a hot exhaust gas;    a second tank at the second end of the shell, the second tank being defined at least partially by a second tube sheet and a second tank member fixedly attached to the second tube sheet, the second tank and shell defining an annular junction therebetween;    a plurality of tubes extending between the first and second tube sheets and fluidly connecting the first and second tanks such that the exhaust gas flows therebetween;    a sealing member disposed between the shell and the second tank such that the second tank is configured to adjust axially relative to the shell and the sealing member prevents the coolant fluid from flowing through the junction between the second tank and the shell,    wherein the second tank is structured to be axially moved through the shell in a direction from the second end toward the first end of the shell and removed therefrom.    
     
     
         13 . An exhaust gas cooler according to  claim 12  wherein the second tank member is attached to the second tube sheet by at least one of the group that includes a weld joint, a braze joint, a solder joint, a bolt, a clamp, an interference fit, and a mechanical interlock.  
     
     
         14 . An exhaust gas cooler according to  claim 12  wherein the sealing member comprises at least one elastic o-ring.  
     
     
         15 . An exhaust gas cooler according to  claim 12  wherein at least one of an inner surface of the shell and an outer surface of the second tank defines at least one groove for receiving the sealing member.  
     
     
         16 . An exhaust gas cooler according to  claim 12  wherein the sealing member fluidly disconnects the interior space in the shell from an exterior of the shell and the sealing member is fluidly disconnected from the second fluid in the second tank.  
     
     
         17 . An exhaust gas cooler according to  claim 16  wherein the sealing member is adjacent a portion of the second tank that is fluidly disconnected from the second fluid.  
     
     
         18 . An exhaust gas cooler according to  claim 12  wherein the tube sheets, the tubes, and the second tank are removable from the shell as a unitary structure.  
     
     
         19 . An exhaust gas cooler according to  claim 12  wherein the first tube sheet is bolted to the shell.  
     
     
         20 . An exhaust gas cooler according to  claim 12  further comprising a resilient member disposed between the shell and the first tube sheet such that the first tube sheet is flexibly connected to the shell.  
     
     
         21 . An exhaust gas cooler according to  claim 12  wherein the shell defines an inner surface portion proximate the second end having a diameter that corresponds in size to an outer surface of the second tank, the inner surface portion flaring radially outward in a direction toward the first end of the shell.  
     
     
         22 . A heat exchanger with a removable core, the heat exchanger comprising: 
 a shell means for receiving a first fluid;    first and second tank means for receiving a second fluid, the first and second tank means being configured proximate to first and second ends of the shell means respectively, and the shell means and second tank means defining a junction therebetween;    a connection means for fluidly connecting the first and second tank means; and    sealing means for preventing the first fluid from flowing through the junction between the shell means and the second tank means,    wherein the connection means and the second tank means are configured to adjust axially relative to the shell means and to be removed through the first end of the shell means.