Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Title
V-SHAPED HEAT EXCHANGER APPARATUS
Scope of the Invention
[0001] This invention relates to a heat exchanger apparatus carrying a
plurality of
radiators and, more particularly, to a V-shaped heat exchanger apparatus
preferably for
internal combustion engines as, for example, used with mobile pump units for
hydraulic
fractioning.
[0002] Hydraulic fractioning is a known process which requires heavy duty
pumps on a
mobile frac pump unit driven by an internal combustion engine typically a
diesel motor. The
large horsepower required to drive the pump requires significant cooling
radiators be
provided for the diesel motors. Heat exchanger apparatus including radiators
for cooling of
the diesel motors are required to be operated under difficult dusty
conditions. Prior art heat
exchange apparatus suffer the disadvantage that they have configurations which
render them
difficult to maintain and repair, often with the radiators being difficult to
access for cleaning
and difficult to access for repair and difficult to remove.
Summary of the Invention
[0003] To at least partially overcome these disadvantages of previously
known devices,
the present invention provides a V-shaped heat exchanger apparatus providing a
support
pedestal on which on at least one side thereof a frame assembly is removably
coupled to the
pedestal structure. The frame assembly includes preferably as a unitary
element, a frame and
at least one radiator fixedly secured thereto.
[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide an improved heat
exchanger
apparatus having a configuration which provides for ease of maintenance and
repair.
[0005] In one aspect, the present invention provides a heat exchanger
apparatus including
a pedestal and a frame assembly removably coupled to the pedestal wherein the
frame
assembly comprises an integral unit including a frame and a plurality of heat
exchange units
selected from air to air radiators and air to liquid radiators fixedly coupled
to the frame.
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[0006] In another aspect, the present invention provides a heat exchanger
apparatus
including a pedestal with heat exchange units such as radiators or air coolers
secured
therewith, the pedestal defining an interior divided into two compartments
selectively open to
various of the radiators and coolers and a fan control unit for controlling
atmospheric air
passing though each compartment.
[0007] In another aspect, the present invention provides a heat exchanger
apparatus
comprising:
[0008] a rigid support pedestal structure having a top, a bottom, a right
side a left side, a
front and a back,
[0009] the pedestal structure comprising a plurality of frame members
forming the
pedestal structure with a substantially open interior,
[0010] the frame members defining a top air flow opening through the frame
members
through the top, a right side air flow opening through the frame members
through the right
side and a left side air flow opening through the frame members through the
left side,
[0011] a right frame assembly removably coupled to the pedestal structure
on the right
side of the pedestal structure across the right side air flow opening,
[0012] a left frame assembly, removably coupled to the pedestal structure
on the left side
of the pedestal structure across the left side air flow opening,
[0013] the right frame assembly comprising a rigid right frame with
peripheral right
frame members defining a right opening therebetween from an interior side of
the right frame
to an exterior side of the right frame,
[0014] the right frame assembly further comprising at least one air to
liquid right radiator
each mounted to the right frame across the right opening,
[0015] wherein with the right frame assembly removably coupled to the
pedestal
structure across the right side air flow opening, air flowing through the
right opening of the
right frame exchanges heat with a respective fluid within each right radiator,
[0016] the left frame assembly comprising a rigid left frame with
peripheral left frame
members defining a left frame opening therebetween from an interior side of
the left frame to
an exterior side of the left frame,
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[0017] the left frame assembly further comprising at least air to liquid
left radiator each
mounted to the left frame across the opening for air flow through the left
frame opening to
exchange heat with a respective fluid within each left radiator,
[0018] wherein with the left frame assembly removably coupled to the
pedestal structure
across the left side air flow opening, air flowing through the left opening of
the left frame
exchanges heat with fluid within each left radiator,
[0019] wherein without disassembly of the pedestal structure, the right
frame assembly,
as an integral unit including the right frame with each right radiator fixedly
secured to the
right frame, is removable from and couplable to the pedestal structure,
[0020] wherein without disassembly of the pedestal structure, the left
frame assembly, as
an integral unit including the left frame assembly with each left radiator
fixedly secured to
the left frame assembly, is removable from and couplable to the pedestal
structure.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0021] Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become
apparent
from the following description taken together with the accompanying drawings
in which:
[0022] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a heat exchanger apparatus in
accordance with a
first embodiment of the present invention;
[0023] Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5 are respectively a top view, a left side view,
a front view and
a right side view of the heat exchanger apparatus shown in Figure 1;
[0024] Figure 6 is a schematic exploded pictorial view of the heat
exchanger apparatus of
Figure 1;
[0025] Figure 7 is a perspective view of a support pedestal structure of
the heat
exchanger apparatus of Figure 1;
[0026] Figures 8, 9, 10 and 11 are respectively a top view, a left side
view, a front view
and a right side view of the support pedestal structure of Figure 7;
[0027] Figure 12 is a schematic pictorial view illustrating a heat
exchanger apparatus in
accordance with the present invention as mounted on a frac truck;
[0028] Figure 13 is an enlarged perspective view of a lower rear corner of
the support
pedestal structure in Figure 7;
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[0029] Figures 14 to 20 are schematic front views of the support pedestal
structure of
Figure 7 and a right frame assembly showing the relative movement in coupling
of the right
frame assembly to the support pedestal structure from an uncoupled orientation
as seen in
Figure 14 to a coupled orientation as seen in Figure 20;
[0030] Figure 21 is a schematic exploded pictorial view showing the
exterior right side of
the right frame assembly of Figure 6 enlarged;
[0031] Figure 22 is a schematic exploded pictorial view showing the
interior, left side of
the right interior radiator shown in Figure 21;
[0032] Figure 23 is an enlarged perspective view of a lower front corner of
one core of
the radiator shown in Figure 22;
[0033] Figure 24 is an exploded pictorial view showing the exterior, right
side of a right
exterior radiator mounted to the exterior of the right interior radiator shown
in Figure 21;
[0034] Figure 25 is an enlarged perspective view of a lower rear corner of
the core in
Figure 24;
[0035] Figure 26 is a schematic exploded pictorial view of a heat exchanger
apparatus in
accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; and
[0036] Figure 27 is a schematic exploded pictorial view showing a right
frame assembly
similar to that shown in Figure 21.
Detailed Description of the Drawings
[0037] Reference is made to Figures 7 to 11 which show the support pedestal
structure 12
as having a top 16, a bottom 17, a right side 18, a left side 19, a front 20
and aback 21. The
pedestal structure 12 comprises a plurality of frame members forming the
pedestal structure
with a substantially open interior 22. These frame members are elongate
structural members
and include:
i) a right side top frame member 23;
ii) a right side rear frame member 24;
iii) a right side bottom frame member 25;
iv) a right side front frame member 26;
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v) a right side middle frame member 27;
vi) a left side top frame member 28;
vii) a left side rear frame member 29;
viii) a left side bottom frame member 30;
ix) a left side front frame member 31;
x) a left side middle frame member 32;
xi) a front bottom frame member 33;
xii) a rear bottom frame member 34;
xiii) a right front strut member 35;
xiv) a right rear strut member 36;
xv) a left front strut member 37;
xvi) a left rear strut member 38;
xvii) a top front frame member 39;
xviii) a top rear frame member 40;
xix) a top middle frame member 41;
xx) a top right fan support frame member 42
xxi) a top left fan support frame member 43.
[0038] The frame members 23, 24, 25, 26 and 27 form a rectangular right
side cage 50.
The frame members 28, 29, 30, 31 and 32 form a rectangular left side cage 51.
The right side
cage 50 and left side cage 51 are carried on the support pedestal structure 12
disposed at an
angle to the vertical and joined at their upper ends by the frame members 39,
40 and 41 and
at their bottoms by front and rear bottom plates 44 and 45. Each of the right
side cage 50 and
the left side cage 51 are mounted at their bottom to the horizontally
extending front and rear
bottom frame members 33 and 34. At the front 20, the right side cage 50 and
the left side
cage 51 are rigidly supported with the right and left front strut members 35
and 37 extending
between the front bottom frame member 33 and the respective of the right side
and left side
front frame members 26 and 31. Similarly at the back 21, the right side cage
50 and the left
side cage 51 are rigidly supported with the right and left rear strut members
36 and 38
extending between the rear bottom frame member 34 and the respective of the
right side and
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left side rear frame members 24 and 29. The right and left top fan support
frame members 42
and 43 are bridged together by a front axle horizontal support plate 52 and a
rear axle
horizontal support plate 53 each adapted to support fan motor to drive a
vertically extending
fan drive shaft 62 seen in Figure 6.
[0039] As can be best seen in Figure 7, the pedestal structure 12 as formed
by its various
elongate frame members form an open matrix about the substantially open
interior 22. At the
top 16, the frame members define a top air flow opening 56 defined within of
the top frame
members 23, 39, 28 and 40. On the right side 18 of the support pedestal
structure 12 , there
is defined a right side air flow opening 57 within the right side frame
members 23, 24, 25 and
26. Similarly, on the left side 19 of the pedestal structure 12, there is
defined a left side flow
opening 58 defined within the left side frame members 28, 29, 30 and 31. The
right side air
flow opening 57 is through the right side cage 50. The left side air flow
opening 58 is
through the left side cage 51.
[0040] As can be best seen in Figures 1 and 6, a right frame assembly 14 is
removably
coupled to the pedestal structure 12 on the right side 18 of the pedestal
structure 12 overlying
the right side cage 50 across the right side air flow opening 57. A left frame
assembly 15 is
removably coupled to the pedestal structure 12 on the left side 19 of the
pedestal structure 12
overlying the left side cage 51 across the left side air flow opening 58.
[0041] Referring to Figure 6, a flat planar air vent cover 59 is secured to
the top frame
members 23, 40, 28 and 39 with the air vent cover 59 having two circular fan
duct openings
60 therethrough. A pair of air moving fans 61 is mounted on the vertical drive
axles 62
supported on the front and rear axle support plates 52 and 53.
[0042] The front 20 of the pedestal structure 12 has a front opening 63
defined between
the front frame members 26, 39, 31 and 33. The back 21 of the pedestal
structure 12 has a
rear opening 64 defined between the rear frame members 24, 40, 29 and 34. A
front access
door 65 is removably secured to the front frame members 26, 39, 31 and 33 to
close the front
opening 63 against air flow therethrough. The front access door 65 has a pair
of handles to
assist in removal of the front access door 65 as may be desired to provide
access through the
front opening 63 into the interior 22. Similarly, a rear access door 66 is
removably secured
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to the rear frame members 24, 40, 29 and 34 when in place to close the rear
opening 64
against air flow therethrough and if removed to provide access through the
rear openings 64
into the interior 22. Figure 6 also shows an optional middle panel 301 which
can be secured
to close the opening between the right side middle frame member 27, the left
side middle
frame member 32 and the top middle frame member 41 as in the embodiment of
Figure 25.
[0043] Reference is made to Figure 4 which illustrates as schematically
indicated by
arrows a preferred manner of air flow through the heat exchanger apparatus 10,
that is, with
atmospheric air drawn in on the right side 18 through the right frame assembly
14 and on the
left side 19 through the left frame assembly 15 into the interior and out the
top 16. As seen in
Figure 6 each of the fans 61 are rotated so as to draw air upwardly from the
interior 22
through the top air flow opening 56 by drawing air through the fan duct
openings 60 in the
air vent cover 59.
[0044] In the assembled heat exchanger apparatus 10, the front opening 63
is closed by
the front access door 65, the rear access opening 64 is closed by the rear
access door 66 and
the bottom 17 is closed between the right side cage 50 and the left side cage
51 by the front
and rear bottom plates 44 and 45. The right frame assembly 14 is coupled
across the right
side air flow opening 57 and the left frame assembly 15 is coupled across the
left side air
flow opening 58. With the operation of the fans 61 drawing air upwardly from
the interior 22
through the top air flow opening 56, air is simultaneously drawn from the
atmosphere
through the right frame assembly 14 via the right side air flow opening 57
into the interior 22
and through the left frame assembly 15 via the left side air flow opening 58
into the interior
22.
[0045] As can be seen in Figures 6, the right frame assembly 14 includes a
rigid
rectangular right frame 70 formed from a plurality of elongate frame members
including a
front frame member 71, a bottom frame member 72, a rear frame member 73, a top
frame
member 74 and a middle frame member 75. The front frame member 71 has a front
upper
guide member 76 fixedly secured thereto in the form of a cylindrical rod which
extends
forwardly therefrom along an upper longitudinal axis parallel to the top frame
member 74.
The right frame member 71 also has a front lower guide member 77 fixedly
secured thereto
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also in the form of a cylindrical rod extending forwardly therefrom along a
lower
longitudinal axis parallel to the upper longitudinal axis. Similarly, the rear
frame member 73
has a similar rearwardly extending rear upper guide member 76 in the form of a
cylindrical
rod which extends rcarwardly therefrom along the upper longitudinal axis and a
similar
rearwardly extending rear lower guide member in the form of a cylindrical rod
which extends
rearwardly therefrom along the lower longitudinal axis.
[0046] Reference is made to Figure 13 which shows an enlarged pictorial
view of the rear
of the pedestal structure 12. An upper rear guide arm 112 is secured to the
right side frame
member 24 and presents an upwardly directed camming surface 113 including an
upwardly
opening upper recess 114 with registry surfaces 115 which are complementary to
and are
provided for engagement with the rear upper guide member 78. A lower rear
right guide arm
structure 120 is shown in Figure 13 including a vertically disposed plate 121
and an elongate
guiding member 122 which is L-shaped in cross-section and has, in cross-
section, a
horizontal arm 126 and a vertical arm 128. The lower rear right guide arm
structure 120
presents an upwardly directed camming surface 123 including an upwardly
opening lower
recess 124 with registry surfaces 125 which are complementary to and are
provided for
engagement with the rear lower guide member 77. The lower recess 124 and its
registry
surfaces 125 are provided in the vertically disposed plate 121. The upwardly
directed
camming surface 123 is formed by an upwardly directed surface of a horizontal
arm 126 of
the guiding member 122 which angles downwardly towards the left into the lower
recess
124. A horizontally directed camming surface 127 is formed by a forwardly
directed surface
of a vertically extending arm 128 of the guiding member 122.
[0047] As seen in Figures 6 and 21, the right frame assembly 14 carries
five radiators
namely one interior radiator 100 and four exterior radiators 78, 79, 80 and
81. The right
frame 70 carries the right interior radiator 100. As best seen in Figure 22,
the radiator 100
has a front tank 101, a rear tank 102 and a center tank 103. The radiator 100
has a front core
201 and a rear core 202. The front core 201 extends between the front tank 101
and the
center tank 103. The rear core 202 extends between the center tank 103 and the
rear tank
202. In the Figures, the core 201 and 202 are schematically shown as
rectangular boxes for
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ease of illustration. Figure 23 is an enlarged schematic view of one end of
the core 202. On
Figure 23, the core 202 comprises a bank of horizontally extending spaced
cooling tubes 206
which are sealably coupled near each of their ends to a header plate 208 such
that the bank of
tubes 206 extend between a pair of such header plates 208. Each header plate
208 is to be
sealably removably secured to a respective of the tanks 101, 102 and 103 as
with a sealing
gasket not shown therebetween. Figure 23 schematically illustrates one corner
of the rear
core 202 from which there can be seen a short end section of each of the tubes
206 as
extending through the header plate 208. The particular construction of the
header plate 208
may be analogous to that illustrated in U.S. Patent 5,226,235 to Lesage,
issued July 13, 1993
and U.S. Patent 5,538,079 to Pawlick, issued July 23, 1996 as with resilient
grommets
disposed about each tube sealably engaging each tube 206 in the respective
header plate 208.
While not shown for ease of illustration of each core, preferably a plurality
of cooling fins
may be disposed between the tubes to increase the surface area for heat
exchange with air
passing through the core. While not shown, preferably, each core 201 and 202
includes
cooling fins provided to extend transversely to the cooling tubes.
100481 The front tank 101 is shown as provided with two fluid inlet ports
104 and 105
and a fluid inlet port 106 is provided on the rear header 102. In a known
manner, fluid is
directed into the fluid inlets 104 and 105 and passes from the front tank 101
through the front
core 201 to the middle tank 103 from the middle tank 103 to the rear core 202,
through the
middle tank 103, through the rear core 202 to the rear tank 102 and then exits
the rear tank
from the fluid outlet port. In such a configuration, the right interior
radiator 100 is
configured as a single pass heat exchanger. Of course, that the radiator is a
single pass is not
necessary. The radiator could be a double pass heat exchanger with both the
inlet ports and
the outlet ports being provided on the front header, for example.
100491 The fluid inlet ports 104 and 105 and the fluid outlet port 106 are
adapted to be
removably connected with cooling fluid inlet tubes and a cooling fluid outlet
tube, not
shown, to a circulating pump not shown such that a cooling liquid may be
circulated between
the tanks 101 and 102 through tubes 206 of the cores 201 and 202. In a known
manner, air
passages are provided through the right interior radiator 100 through the
cores 201 and 202
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between the tubes 206 and past the tubes 206 such that with air flow through
the right interior
radiator 100, there may be an exchange of heat between air passing
therethrough and fluid
within the cores 201 and 202 of the right interior radiator 100.
[0050] The right interior radiator 100 is secured to the right frame 70
within the right frame
70 with the front tank 101 comprising the front frame member 71, the rear tank
102 comprising
the rear frame member 73, and the middle tank 103 comprising the middle frame
75 with each
of the front frame member 71, rear frame member 73 and middle frame member 75
secured at
their top to the top frame member 74 and at their bottom to the bottom frame
member 72.
[0051] The right interior radiator 100 which is formed as by the tanks
101, 103 and 102
and the cores 201 and 202, is carried on the right frame 70 disposed on an
interior side of the
right frame 70 as contrasted with the exterior radiators 78, 79, 80 and 81
which are disposed
outwardly on an exterior side of the right frame 70 to the right of the right
interior radiator 100.
Air flow from the atmosphere through the frame assembly 14 into the interior
22 passes
through the exterior radiators 78, 79, 80 and 81 before passing through the
interior radiator
100, at least where the exterior radiators 78, 79, 80 and 81 overlie the
interior radiator 100.
[0052] The external radiator 78 is exemplary of the other radiators 79, 80
and 81. The
external radiator 78 is best seen in Figures 24 and 25. External radiator 78
has a front tank 82
and a rear tank 83 with the core 84 extending between the front tank 82 and
the rear tank 83. The
core 84 is schematically shown as a rectangular box. One corner of the core 84
is schematically
illustrated in Figure 25 as including a plurality of horizontally extending
tubes 184. The front
tank 82 has a front header plate 182 with an array of holes therethrough such
that each of the
tubes 184 of the core 84 is sealably received in a corresponding hole.
Similarly, the rear tank
83 has a rear header plate (not shown) with an array of holes therethrough
such that each tube
184 of the core 84 is sealably received in a respective hole. Preferably, the
sealable connection
of the tubes 184 to the header plates may be the same as that described in
U.S. Patent 5226235
to Lesage, issued July 13, 1995. Preferably, the core 84 includes cooling
fins, not shown,
provided in contact with the tubes 184 to increase the area for heat transfer
with air passing
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through the core. The fins may be, for example, plates extending perpendicular
to the tubes
or otherwise.
[0053] The external radiator 78 includes a top radiator frame member 85 and
a bottom
radiator frame member 86 connected structurally at either end to the tanks 82
and 83 to form
a rigid radiator frame 86 of the external radiator 78 and structurally
assisted by a side rail 87
extending between the middle of the front tank 82 and the middle of the rear
tank 83. The
external radiator 78 is provided with a fluid inlet port 89 on the front tank
82 and a fluid
outlet port 90 on the rear tank 83 adapted to be removably connected with,
respectively, a
cooling fluid inlet tube and a cooling fluid outlet tube, neither of which is
shown, to a
circulating pump not shown such that a cooling liquid may be circulated from
the front tank
82 to the rear tank 83 through tubes 184. In a known manner, air passages are
provided
through the core 84 of the external radiator 78 internal of the radiator frame
86 and past the
tubes 184 such that with air flow through the external radiator 78, there may
be an exchange
of heat between air passing therethrough and fluid within the core 84 of the
external radiator
78.
[0054] The external radiator 78 has carried on its front tank 82 a pair of
vertically spaced
forwardly extending mounting studs 91 and 92 and a similar pair of such
mounting studs 91
and 92 are carried on and extend rearwardly from the rear tank 83.
[0055] As seen in Figure 21, the front frame member 71 carries a front
mounting flange
171 which extends to the right on the exterior side of the front tank 101
forming the front
frame member 72 of the right frame 70. The rear frame 93 carries a rear
mounting flange
173 which extends to the right on the exterior side of the rear tank 102
forming the rear frame
member 73 of the right frame 70. Similarly, the middle frame member 75 carries
two
flanges, namely, a middle front mounting flange 175 and a middle rear mounting
flange 275,
each of which extends to the right on the exterior side of the middle tank 103
forming the
middle frame member 75 of the right frame 70. The front mounting flange 171
and the
middle front mounting flange 175 have complementary mounting slots 93 and 94
provided
therein which extend from a blind end to an opening on the right which slots
93 and 94 are to
receive the studs 91 and 92 to permit the external radiator 78 to be securely
bolted to the right
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frame 70 between the front mounting flange 171 on the front frame member 71
and the
middle front mounting flange 175 on the middle frame member 75. In a similar
manner,
each of the other external radiators 79, 80 and 81 are adapted to be removably
bolted to the
right frame 70 externally to the right side of the internal radiator 100.
Similarly to radiator
78, the exterior radiator 81 spans between the front mounting flange 171 and
the middle
mounting flange 175. Each external radiator 79 and 80 spans between the middle
frame
member 75 and the rear frame member 73 by being mounted between the rear
mounting
flange 173 of the frame member 73 and the middle rear mounting flange 275 of
the middle
frame member 75.
100561 Reference is made to Figure 14 which illustrates the right frame
assembly 14 as
comprising a unitary element and integral unit including as coupled together
the right frame
70 with its interior radiator and exterior radiators. The right frame assembly
14 as such an
integral unit may be separately removed from and coupled to the pedestal
structure 12 in a
manner as now described with reference to Figures 14 to 20. As schematically
illustrated in
Figure 14, a pair of front to rear rigid eyelet support members 109 (of which
only one is
shown in Figure 14) are removably rigidly secured to the top frame member 74
for
engagement by a hook 110 shown in Figure 14 of a schematically illustrated
hoist crane
structure 111 provided for positioning the right frame assembly 14 relative to
the support
pedestal structure 12, as for relative up and down, left to right, and forward
or back
movement of each hook relative to the support pedestal structure 12. The hoist
crane
structure 111 may comprise, for example, a portable crane or a fixed overhead
crane.
Preferably, the eyelet support members 109 are located on the right frame
assembly 14 that
the right frame assembly 14 is disposed vertically when hung from the hooks
110.
100571 For ease of illustration the rigid eyelet support members 109, the
hook 110 and
the hoist crane structure 111 are only shown in Figure 14 and not in Figures
15 to 20,
however, they are to be understood to be utilized towards supporting the
weight of the right
frame assembly 14 and moving it to the relative positions shown in each of
Figures 14 to 20.
From the position of Figure 14, the right frame assembly 14 is moved
downwardly to the
position shown in Figure 15 closer to the support pedestal structure 12.
Figure 16 illustrates
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the right frame assembly 14 as having been moved such that its front and rear
lower guide
members 77 are located vertically above the front and back guiding members 122
of the
front and rear lower guide arms structures 120 which extend laterally from the
right side of
the pedestal structure 12. The right frame assembly 14 is in Figure 16 located
front to rear
relative the pedestal structure 12 such that the front end of the front lower
guide member 77
is rearward of the vertical arm 182 of the front guiding member 122 and the
rear end of the
rear lower guide member 77 is forward of the similar vertical arm 128 of the
rear guiding
member 122. From the position of Figure 16, the right frame assembly 14 is
lowered
vertically to the position of Figure 17 in which each of the front and rear
lower guide
members 77 first engage the camming surface 123 of the front and rear lower
arms of
guiding members 122. Subsequently, from the position of Figure 17 with
subsequent vertical
lowering of the upper end of the right frame assembly 14, each of the front
and rear lower
guide members 77 engages the camming surface 123 of the respective front and
rear lower
arms of angle iron members 170 and each is guided and cammed by such
engagement so as
to slide downwardly and towards the interior, that is, to the left from the
position in Figure 17
to the position in Figure 18 and subsequently to the position of Figure 19.
[0058] As seen in Figure 18, the front and rear upper guide member 78 is
disposed
vertically above the front and rear right upper guide arm 112. With further
lowering of the
upper end of the right frame assembly 14, the front and rear lower guide
members 77
continue to be guided downwardly and towards the interior along the lower
camming
surfaces 123 and the front and rear upper guide members 78 comes to be
proximate to and
first engaged on the camming surface 113 of the front and rear upper guide
arms 112. From
the position of Figure 19, with further downward movement of the upper end of
the right
frame assembly 14, the front and rear lower guide members 77 comes to be
engaged within
the front and rear lower recesses 124 recess in the front and rear plates 120
simultaneously
with the front and rear upper guide members 78 becoming received in the front
and rear
upper recesses 114 of the front and rear upper guide arms 112. It is to be
appreciated that the
right frame assembly 14 as moved downwardly through the positions of Figure 14
to Figure
20 is maintained in an appropriate horizontal position such that the
engagement and camming
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between the lower guide arms 77 and the lower guide arm structures 120 occur
simultaneously at both the front and rear, and such that the engagement and
camming
between the upper guide arms 112 and the upper guide members 78 also occur
simultaneously at both the front and the rear.
100591 In movement from the position of Figure 17 to the position of Figure
19, while
there is engagement and camming between the lower guide arms 77 and the
camming
surfaces 123 on the respective horizontal arms 126 of guiding members 122, the
right frame
assembly 14 is guided to remain centered front to rear relative the pedestal
structure 12 with
the front end of the front lower guide member 77 cammed by the vertical arm
127 of the
front guiding member 122 to be rearward of the vertical arm 127 of the front
guiding
member 122 and the rear end of the rear lower guide member 77 camrned by the
vertical arm
127 of the front guiding member 122 to be forward of the vertical arm 127 of
the rear guiding
member 122.
[0060] In the position as illustrated in Figure 20, the right frame
assembly 14 is stably
supported on the pedestal structure 12 under the weight of the right frame
assembly 14
urging the respective front and rear upper and lower support members into the
respective
upper and lower recesses against removal. Nevertheless, in the position of
Figure 20
preferably the right frame assembly 14 is fixed to the pedestal structure 12
preferably by the
use of various fasteners such as bolts and the like, not shown. In the
position as illustrated in
Figure 20, portions of the right frame 70 closely engage with the frame
members forming the
right side cage 51 and the right frame 70 is to be fixedly secured to the
right side cage 50 as
by the use of bolt members, not shown, for example, securing the top frame
member 74 of
the right frame 70 to the top frame member 23 of the right side cage and the
bottom frame 72
of the right frame 70 to the bottom left side member 25 of the right side cage
50. Rather than
use removable bolts, other fastening devices can be used such as releasable
latching devices
which may become latched merely by entry of a support members into its
respective recess.
[0061] For removal of the right frame assembly 14 from the pedestal
structure 12, the
process may be reversed as, for example, in sequence from the position of
Figure 20 to the
position of Figure 14. Once the right frame assembly 14 is secured to the
pedestal structure
14
12, various hosing connections may be made between each of the radiators 100,
78, 79 80
and 81 carried on the right frame assembly 14 and various hosing via which
fluid is to be
coupled to flow internally through each radiator.
[0062] The left frame assembly 15 is adapted to be fixedly secured to or
removed from
the pedestal structure 12 in an analogous manner to that described with the
right frame
assembly 15.
[0063] While not necessary, as can be seen in Figure 1, an optional
expansion tank 130
may be provided with different separate compartments as to serve as an
expansion tank for
different of the radiators and to be suitably coupled thereto.
[0064] As seen in Figure 12, a heat exchanger apparatus 10 in accordance
with the
present invention is shown as mounted on the trailer bed of a trailer 212 of a
modular mobile
pump unit 210 carrying a diesel motor 215 for driving a pump 214 adapted for
use in
hydraulic fractioning operations to pump high pressure fluid into the ground
in a known
manner as, for example, disclosed in U.S. Patent 7,845,413 to Shamoine, issued
December 7,
2010 and U.S. Patent Publication No. 2014/0056729 to Pawlick, filed August 21,
2012.
[0065] As is known with such arrangements, the different radiators carried
on the heat
exchanger apparatus 10 are desired to be provided for different purposes. For
example, in
the particular configurations, the major interior radiators 100 may act as
primary cooling
radiators for the diesel motor 215. The exterior radiators 78, 79, 80 and 81
may provide
separate oil cooling radiators as, for example, to separately cool various
elements such as
inter coolers and transmissions driving the pump 214.
[0066] Such a mobile pump unit 210 as illustrated in Figure 12 as often
illustrated under
conditions in which dust, dirt and other debris come to adhere to the tubes of
the radiators
reducing their performance and requiring periodic cleaning. Advantageously,
the open
interior 22 of the pedestal structure 12 may be accessed via the front opening
63 or the rear
opening 64 by removal of the front access door 64 and/or the rear access door
66 as can be
useful for entry of air, water and steam cleaning nozzles and personnel to
handle the same.
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CA 02809418 2013-03-12
[0067] Operation of the heat exchanger apparatus 10 under harsh conditions
can require
periodic replacement or repair of each of the individual radiators, or access
to various of
these radiators. In accordance with the present invention, the capability of
removing each of
the right frame assembly 14 and the left frame assembly 15 as an integral unit
provides
substantial advantages for relatively prompt servicing and repair of a heat
exchanger
apparatus 10 with a damaged radiator as by the replacement of either of the
right frame
assembly 14 or the left frame assembly 15 by a complementary replacement
assembly or by
removal of either of the right frame assembly 14 or the left frame assembly
for ease of repair
or changing of any one of the individual radiators with respective assembly
separate from the
support pedestal structure 12.
[0068] The particular arrangement of the guide arms on the support pedestal
structure 12
and the guide members on each of the frame assemblies 14 and 15 provides for
hoisting and
movement of each of the right frame assembly 14 and the left frame assembly 15
relative to
the pedestal structure 12 reducing the need for a person to position
themselves in a hazardous
position near to the heat exchanger apparatus 10. Thus, by mere use of a
mechanized hoist
crane structure 111, the right frame assembly 14 and the left frame assembly
15 can be
supported and moved without personnel in a position where they may come to be
harmed
should support of the right frame assembly 14 or the left frame assembly by
the hoist crane
structure 111 fail. The apparatus 10 provides for safe coupling and uncoupling
of the right
frame assembly 14 and the left frame assembly assemblies 14 and 15.
Preferably, personnel
need not position themselves proximate to the apparatus 10 until such time as
each of the
right frame assembly 14 or the left frame assembly 15 is securely held on the
apparatus 10 by
the guide members on the assemblies 14 and 15 being securely engaged with the
guide arms
on the support pedestal structure 12.
[0069] Reference is made to Figure 26 which illustrates a second embodiment
of a heat
exchanger apparatus 10 in accordance with the present invention. The heat
exchanger
apparatus 10 of Figure 25 has many similarities to the heat exchanger
apparatus 10 of Figure
6 and similar reference numerals are used to refer to similar elements. As
seen in Figure 25,
the heat exchanger apparatus 10 includes a pedestal structure 12 which has
close similarities
16
CA 02809418 2013-03-12
to those shown in Figure 6. One significant difference is that in Figure 25,
the middle panel
301 is attached extending vertically to join the right side middle frame
member 27 and the
left side middle frame 32 with the top middle frame member 41 so as to divide
the interior 22
into a forward compartment 304 and a rear compartment 305. In the embodiment
of Figure
26, on the right side of the pedestal structure 12, there are provided two
separate right frame
assemblies, namely, a front right frame assembly 314 and a rear right frame
assembly 414,
each of which is independently mountable and removable from the pedestal
structure 12.
Similarly, on the left side of the pedestal structure 12, there are provided
two separate left
frame assemblies, namely, a front left frame assembly 315 and a rear left
frame assembly
415. Each of the front left frame assembly 315 and the rear left frame
assembly 415 is
independently mountable and removable from the pedestal structure 12.
[0070] The front right frame assembly 314 carries at its top an expansion
tank 340, below
the expansion tank 340, a charge air cooler 381 and below the cooler 381, a
radiator 378
which may serve as an oil cooler, The front left frame 315 assembly is shown
as carrying a
single radiator 300. Each of the cooler 381 and radiators would have a pair of
headers, a core
and inlet and outlet ports such that they may be connected to respective inlet
and outlet
conduits to receive air or fluid to be cooled and returned to an internal
combustion engine,
not shown. The radiators are adapted for internal liquid flow therethrough as
by the
circulation of a liquid internally therethrough. The charge air cooler 381
receives
compressed air for the engine is to be passed internally between its tanks
through its core to
exchange heat with atmospheric air extending externally through its core.
100711 The embodiment of Figure 26 effectively provides two side by side
heat
exchangers, namely, a front heat exchanger 350 and a rear heat exchanger 450
which can be
operated independently by independent operation of the respective front fan
361 or rear fan
461. The heat exchanger 10 illustrated in Figure 26 is adapted for powering
two diesel
engines with the front heat exchanger 350 to independently cool a first engine
and the rear
heat exchanger 450 to independently cool a second engine. For example, the
first heat
exchanger 350 may be used to provide a radiator 315 and an oil cooler 378 and
a charge air
cooler 381.
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[0072] In the embodiment of Figure 26, each of the frame assemblies 314,
414, 315 and
415 comprises a unitary element and integral unit to be coupled to the
pedestal structure 12.
In Figure 25, for ease of illustration, upper guide arms 112 are shown secured
to the right
side front frame member 26 and the right side middle frame member 27. A
similar pair of
upper guide arms, not shown, are to be provided with one on the right side
rear frame
member 24 and a second also on the right side middle frame member 27 as to
support the
right rear frame assembly 414. In the embodiment of Figure 25, upper guide
members 78 are
provided on either side of the front right frame assembly 314 to engage on the
upper guide
arms 112. Lower guide arm structures are not shown on Figure 25. In a simple
arrangement,
the frame assembly 414 is first hung with the upper guide members 78 engaged
on the upper
guide arms 112 to support the weight of the frame assembly 414 and thereafter
the lower end
of the frame assembly 414 is pivoted towards the interior and secured to the
right interior
frame 70.
[0073] Reference is made to Figure 27 which illustrates a third embodiment
of a right
frame assembly for a heat exchanger apparatus in accordance with another
embodiment of
the present invention. Figure 27 illustrates a perspective view of a right
frame assembly 14
identical to that illustrated in Figure 21, however, with one exception. The
one exception is
that the radiator in Figure 21 has been replaced by a charge air cooler 581.
The right frame
assembly 14 of Figure 27 is to be used in substitution for the right frame
assembly 14 in
Figure 6 in which a center panel 301 is provided to be secured as in the
manner of the
embodiment of Figure 26 to close the interior between the right side middle
frame member
27 and the left side middle frame member 32 so as to divide the interior into
a front
compartment and a rear compartment. In such an arrangement, the charge air
cooler 581
achieves heat exchange as a function of the air being drawn by the rear fan 61
through the
rear air compartment 304. In accordance with the embodiment of Figure 27, a
controller, not
shown, is provided to independently control the relative speeds of operations
of the two fans
61 and 61. By independently controlling the operation of the speed of the two
fans 61 and
61, the extent to which the charge air cooler 581 may cool the charge air for
the engine, to
some extent, be controlled separate from the extent of cooling of fluid in the
radiators, at
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least those radiators which in whole or in part, receive cooling by reason of
atmospheric air
drawn through the front air compartment. Such ability to selectively control
the extent of
that heat exchange may be provided to the charge air cooler 581 separate from
other radiators
or oil coolers can be advantageous under various circumstances which can arise
in the
operation of a diesel engine.
100741 While a preferred use of a heat exchanger apparatus in accordance
with the
present invention is in the context of cooling an engine as, for example, for
driving a pump
used in hydraulic fractioning, the present invention is not so limited. A heat
exchanger
apparatus in accordance with the present invention may be used in any
situation where heat
exchange is desired whether heating or cooling. A heat exchanger apparatus in
accordance
with the present invention wherever used has the advantage of ease of
accessibility for
cleaning and ease of replacement and maintenance of the various radiators by
removing each
of the right frame assembly 14 or the left frame assembly 15 as an integral
unit.
[0075] Many modifications and variations of the invention will now occur to
persons
skilled in the art. For a definition of the invention, reference is made to
the following claims.
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