Heat exchanger plenum apparatus
View Patent ↗A heat exchanger plenum apparatus comprising structure to support, among other components, an engine silencer substantially incorporated therein.
1. A heat exchanger plenum for incorporating an engine silencer and a heat exchanger therein, the heat exchanger plenum comprising:
an interior volume defined by said heat exchanger plenum;
a plenum frame structure comprising
an upper horizontal strut;
a midheight horizontal strut;
two upper vertical intermediate struts each comprising an upper intermediate end, an intermediate midspan and a lower intermediate end, wherein each said upper intermediate end is joined to said upper horizontal strut, and each said lower intermediate end is joined to said midheight horizontal strut;
a horizontal intermediate strut joined to and between said two vertical intermediate struts about their midspan;
one or more short vertical intermediate strut joined to and between said horizontal intermediate strut and said midheight horizontal strut;
a first opening defined by said upper horizontal strut, said midheight horizontal strut and said two upper vertical intermediate struts, configured to provide routing of exhaust gases from an exhaust gas source, external to said heat exchanger plenum, into said engine silencer;
a second opening, defined by said midheight horizontal strut, said two upper vertical intermediate struts, and said horizontal intermediate strut, for an externally driven fan shaft, wherein said fan shaft is arranged perpendicular to said midheight horizontal strut; and
a silencer support frame assembly, joined to said horizontal intermediate strut of said plenum frame structure, comprising
an inner horizontal silencer support strut,
two or more silencer support crossmember struts and
an outer horizontal silencer support strut,
said two or more silencer support crossmember struts joined between said inner horizontal silencer support strut and said outer horizontal silencer support strut,
two or more upwardly diagonal trusses disposed within said interior volume of said heat exchanger plenum and each comprising a lower truss end and an upper truss end, wherein each said lower truss end is joined to said midheight horizontal strut and each said upper truss end is joined to a corresponding one of said two or more silencer support crossmember struts for supporting said engine silencer above said fan shaft.
2. The heat exchanger plenum of claim 1 further comprising a heat exchanger disposed substantially within said interior volume dividing said interior volume into a first part and a second part, said silencer support frame assembly for supporting said engine silencer located within said second part.
3. The heat exchanger plenum of claim 2 wherein said second part of said interior volume is associated with an output of said heat exchanger.
4. The heat exchanger plenum of claim 3 , wherein said heat exchanger output has an upwardly directed flow.
5. The heat exchanger plenum of claim 1 , wherein said heat exchanger plenum is portable.
6. The heat exchanger plenum of claim 1 , further comprising openings for connection of said engine silencer to an exhaust gas inlet pipe, external to said heat exchanger plenum, and an exhaust gas outlet pipe, external to said heat exchanger plenum.
7. The heat exchanger plenum of claim 1 , further comprising a heat exchanger substantially disposed within said interior volume and comprising an angular position relative to a horizontal axis traversing through said heat exchanger.
8. The heat exchanger plenum of claim 1 , further comprising at least one exterior panel having one or more of the following:
a cutout for connecting peripheral equipment; and
an access door for gaining access to said interior volume.
9. The heat exchanger plenum of claim 1 , further comprising access doors attached thereto for gaining access to said engine silencer.
10. A heat exchanger plenum comprising:
an interior volume defined by said heat exchanger plenum;
an engine silencer;
a plenum frame structure comprising
an upper horizontal strut;
a midheight horizontal strut;
two upper vertical intermediate struts each comprising an upper intermediate end, an intermediate midspan and a lower intermediate end, wherein each said upper intermediate end is joined to said upper horizontal strut, and each said lower intermediate end is joined to said midheight horizontal strut;
a horizontal intermediate strut joined to and between said two vertical intermediate struts about their midspan;
one or more short vertical intermediate strut joined to and between said horizontal intermediate strut and said midheight horizontal strut;
a first opening defined by said upper horizontal strut, said midheight horizontal strut and said two upper vertical intermediate struts, configured to provide routing of exhaust gases from an exhaust gas source, external to said heat exchanger plenum, into said engine silencer;
a second opening, defined by said midheight horizontal strut, said two upper vertical intermediate struts, and said horizontal intermediate strut, for an externally driven fan shaft, wherein said fan shaft is arranged perpendicular to said midheight horizontal strut; and
a silencer support frame assembly, joined to said horizontal intermediate strut of said plenum frame structure, comprising
an inner horizontal silencer support strut,
two or more silencer support crossmember struts and
an outer horizontal silencer support strut,
said two or more silencer support crossmember struts joined between said inner horizontal silencer support strut and said outer horizontal silencer support strut;
two or more upwardly diagonal trusses disposed within said interior volume of said heat exchanger plenum and each comprising a lower truss end and an upper truss end, wherein each said lower truss end is joined to said midheight horizontal strut and each said upper truss end is joined to a corresponding one of said two or more silencer support crossmember struts for supporting said engine silencer above said fan shaft.
11. The heat exchanger plenum of claim 10 , wherein said engine silencer is substantially within said interior volume.
12. The heat exchanger plenum of claim 11 , further comprising a heat exchanger disposed substantially within said interior volume dividing said interior volume into a first part and a second part, said silencer support frame assembly for supporting said engine silencer located within said second part.
13. The heat exchanger plenum of claim 12 , wherein said second part of said interior volume is associated with an output of said heat exchanger.
14. The heat exchanger plenum of claim 13 , wherein said heat exchanger output is has an upwardly directed flow.
15. The heat exchanger plenum of claim 10 , wherein said heat exchanger plenum is portable.
16. The heat exchanger plenum of claim 12 , wherein said first opening is provided for connection of said engine silencer to an exhaust gas inlet pipe, external to said heat exchanger plenum, and said fan shaft passes from said first part to said second part.
17. The heat exchanger plenum of claim 10 , further comprising a heat exchanger substantially disposed within said interior volume and comprising an angular position relative to a horizontal axis traversing through said heat exchanger.
18. A heat exchanger plenum for incorporating an engine silencer therein, the heat exchanger plenum comprising:
an interior volume defined by said heat exchanger plenum;
a plenum frame structure comprising
an upper horizontal strut;
a midheight horizontal strut;
two upper vertical intermediate struts each comprising an upper intermediate end, an intermediate midspan and a lower intermediate end, wherein each said upper intermediate end is joined to said upper horizontal strut, and each said lower intermediate end is joined to said midheight horizontal strut;
a horizontal intermediate strut joined to and between said two vertical intermediate struts about their midspan;
one or more short vertical intermediate strut joined to and between said horizontal intermediate strut and said midheight horizontal strut;
a first opening defined by said upper horizontal strut, said midheight horizontal strut and said two upper vertical intermediate struts, configured to provide routing of exhaust gases from an exhaust gas source, external to said heat exchanger plenum, into said engine silencer;
a second opening, defined by said midheight horizontal strut, said two upper vertical intermediate struts, and said horizontal intermediate strut, for an externally driven fan shaft, wherein said fan shaft is arranged perpendicularly to said midheight horizontal strut; and
a silencer support frame assembly, joined to said horizontal intermediate strut of said plenum structure, comprising
an inner horizontal silencer support strut,
two or more silencer support crossmember struts and
an outer horizontal silencer support strut,
said two or more silencer support crossmember struts joined between said inner horizontal silencer support strut and said outer horizontal silencer support strut;
two or more upwardly diagonal trusses disposed within said interior volume of said heat exchanger plenum and each comprising a lower truss end and an upper truss end, wherein each said lower truss end is joined to said midheight horizontal strut and each said upper truss end is joined to a corresponding one of said two or more silencer support crossmember struts for supporting said engine silencer above said fan shaft;
a surge tank hingedly mounted externally to said heat exchanger plenum.
19. The heat exchanger plenum of claim 18 , further comprising an arced slotted hinge bracket mounted externally to said heat exchanger plenum and fastened to a corresponding surge tank bracket affixed to said surge tank, wherein said arced slotted hinge bracket and said corresponding surge tank bracket join to form an interface to provide movement of said surge tank about said interface.
20. The heat exchanger plenum of claim 18 , wherein said heat exchanger is portable.