Port Connection for a Heat Exchanger

Abstract

A port connection includes a first element, a second element, and a seal. The first element has a first sleeve and a first flange. The first sleeve is configured to slide into a port disposed through a pressure plate of the plate heat exchanger and the first flange having a first bearing surface to bear upon a first face of the pressure plate. The second element has a second sleeve and a second flange. The second sleeve is configured to slide into the port and the second flange having a second bearing surface to bear upon a second face of the pressure plate. The seal is generated in response to the first sleeve telescoping into the second sleeve.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A port connection for a plate heat exchanger, the port connection comprising:
 a first element having a first sleeve and a first flange, the first sleeve being configured to slide into a port disposed through a pressure plate of the plate heat exchanger and the first flange having a first bearing surface to bear upon a first face of the pressure plate;   a second element having a second sleeve and a second flange, the second sleeve being configured to slide into the port and the second flange having a second bearing surface to bear upon a second face of the pressure plate; and   a seal generated in response to the first sleeve telescoping into the second sleeve.   
     
     
         2 . The port connection according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an annular groove disposed about the first sleeve to provide a seat for an O-ring, the O-ring being configured to form the seal between the seat and an inner surface of the second sleeve.   
     
     
         3 . The port connection according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a pair of annular grooves disposed about the first sleeve to provide a pair of seats for a pair of O-rings, the O-rings being configured to form the seal between the pair of seats and an inner surface of the second sleeve.   
     
     
         4 . The port connection according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first sealing surface disposed annularly about the first flange and configured to form a seal with a first heat exchange plate in a plate pack of the plate heat exchanger.   
     
     
         5 . The port connection according to  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a first gasket disposed between the first sealing surface and the first heat exchange plate.   
     
     
         6 . The port connection according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second sealing surface disposed annularly about the second flange and configured to form a seal with a supply/output conduit.   
     
     
         7 . The port connection according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a second gasket disposed between the second sealing surface and the supply/output conduit.   
     
     
         8 . A pressure plate for a plate heat exchanger, the pressure plate comprising:
 a first face configured to bear upon a plate pack;   a second face; and   a plurality of port connections disposed in a respective plurality of ports through the pressure plate to fluidly access the plate pack, each port connection comprising:
 a first element having a first sleeve and a first flange, the first sleeve being configured to slide into the respective port and the first flange having a first bearing surface to bear upon the first face; 
 a second element having a second sleeve and a second flange, the second sleeve being configured to slide into the respective port and the second flange having a second bearing surface to bear upon the second face; and 
 a seal generated in response to the first sleeve telescoping into the second sleeve. 
   
     
     
         9 . The pressure plate according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 an annular groove disposed about the first sleeve to provide a seat for an O-ring, the O-ring being configured to form the seal between the seat and an inner surface of the second sleeve.   
     
     
         10 . The pressure plate according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a pair of annular grooves disposed about the first sleeve to provide a pair of seats for a pair of O-rings, the O-rings being configured to form the seal between the pair of seats and an inner surface of the second sleeve.   
     
     
         11 . The pressure plate according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a first sealing surface disposed annularly about the first flange and configured to form a seal with a first heat exchange plate in a plate pack of the plate heat exchanger.   
     
     
         12 . The pressure plate according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a first gasket disposed between the first sealing surface and the first heat exchange plate.   
     
     
         13 . The pressure plate according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a second sealing surface disposed annularly about the second flange and configured to form a seal with a supply/output conduit.   
     
     
         14 . The pressure plate according to  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a second gasket disposed between the second sealing surface and the supply/output conduit.   
     
     
         15 . A plate heat exchanger comprising:
 a plate pack having a first inlet for a first fluid, a first outlet for the first fluid, a second inlet for a second fluid, and a second outlet for the second fluid, wherein the plate pack is configured to direct a flow of the first fluid in thermal contact with a flow of the second fluid;   a pair of pressure plates, one or both of the pair of pressure plates includes:
 a first face configured to bear upon the plate pack; 
 a second face; 
 a plurality of ports, each port being disposed in cooperative alignment with respective ones of the first inlet, the first outlet, the second inlet, and the second outlet; 
 a plurality of port connections, each port connection being disposed in a respective port of the plurality of ports, each port connection comprising:
 a first element having a first sleeve and a first flange, the first sleeve being configured to slide into the respective port and the first flange having a first bearing surface to bear upon the first face; 
 a second element having a second sleeve and a second flange, the second sleeve being configured to slide into the respective port and the second flange having a second bearing surface to bear upon the second face; and 
 a seal generated in response to the first sleeve telescoping into the second sleeve; and 
 
   a frame to compress the plate pack between the pressure plates.   
     
     
         16 . The plate heat exchanger according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 an annular groove disposed about the first sleeve to provide a seat for an O-ring, the O-ring being configured to form the seal between the seat and an inner surface of the second sleeve.   
     
     
         17 . The plate heat exchanger according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a pair of annular grooves disposed about the first sleeve to provide a pair of seats for a pair of O-rings, the O-rings being configured to form the seal between the pair of seats and an inner surface of the second sleeve.   
     
     
         18 . The plate heat exchanger according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a first sealing surface disposed annularly about the first flange and configured to form a seal with a first heat exchange plate in a plate pack of the plate heat exchanger.   
     
     
         19 . The plate heat exchanger according to  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a first gasket disposed between the first sealing surface and the first heat exchange plate.   
     
     
         20 . The plate heat exchanger according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a second sealing surface disposed annularly about the second flange and configured to form a seal with a supply/output conduit.   
     
     
         21 . The plate heat exchanger according to  claim 20 , further comprising:
 a second gasket disposed between the second sealing surface and the supply/output conduit.