IP Library Granted Patent US 8,162,039
Granted Patent B2
US 8,162,039 · App. 12/105,445 · Granted Apr 24, 2012

Finned tube for condensation and evaporation

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,162,039
App. No.
12/105,445
Granted
Apr 24, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A finned tube includes channels defined between adjacent fins on the tube body outer surface. Wings extend from side walls of the adjacent fins between the fin top and the fin base such that the wings form a barrier which splits the channel into an upper channel and a lower channel. A plurality of holes penetrate the barrier where the wings meet, so liquids and gases can pass into and out of the enclosed area defined by the lower channel. The wings can include alternating upper wings and lower wings, and there can be depressions formed in the fin top.

Claims (11)

1. A finned tube comprising:

a tube body having an outer surface;

a fin extending from the tube body outer surface, wherein the fin is monolithic with the tube body and the fin includes a fin top, a fin base, and a fin side wall;

a plurality of wings having a wing upper surface, the wings extending from the fin side wall between the fin top and the fin base, wherein the wings further comprise a plurality of alternating upper wings and lower wings and wherein the upper wing upper surface is further from the tube body outer surface than the lower wing upper surface; and

a plurality of peaks on the fin top, wherein adjacent peaks define a depression on the fin top, and wherein a platform extends from the fin top at the depression.

2. The finned tube of claim 1 wherein the fin further comprises adjacent fins, wherein upper wings of adjacent fins are aligned and the lower wings of adjacent fins are aligned.

3. The finned tube of claim 1 wherein the fin further comprises adjacent fins defining a channel between the adjacent fins, wherein the fin side wall further comprises a left fin side wall and a right fin side wall, wherein the wings further comprise left wings extending from the left fin side wall and right wings extending from the right fin side wall, and wherein the left and right wings form a barrier such that the channel is divided into an upper channel and a lower channel.

4. The finned tube of claim 3 wherein the wings define holes penetrating the barrier.

5. The finned tube of claim 4 wherein the holes have a maximum area of 0.2 square millimeters, and wherein the upper channel is open.

6. The finned tube of claim 1 further comprising a channel mark in the channel on the tube body outer surface.

7. The finned tube of claim 1 wherein the tube body further comprises an inner surface, the finned tube further comprising ridges on the tube body inner surface.

Assignments (4)
PATENT ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT Recorded May 7, 2013
From: WOLVERINE TUBE, INC.
To: WIELAND-WERKE AG
Reel/Frame 030361/0918 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 1, 2013
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: WOLVERINE TUBE, INC.
Reel/Frame 030326/0221 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 15, 2011
From: WOLVERINE TUBE, INC.; WOLVERINE JOINING TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 027232/0423 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 18, 2008
From: JIANYING, CAO; ZHONG, LUO; JIAN, WU; YALIN, QIU
To: WOLVERINE TUBE, INC.
Reel/Frame 020823/0832 →