Method of producing a very light weight finned tube heat exchanger

Abstract

A method and apparatus for producing a finned tube comprises the step of securing a tube to a tube clamping device. The method also comprises the step of arranging a plurality of cutters within the cutter head, wherein the cutters rotate with the cutter head. The method also comprises a step of moving the cutter heads into position around the tube and rotating the cutters around an outside surface of the tube in order to cut fins, via the removal of material, into the outside surface of the tube. The removal of the material also will allow for a very thin inner wall to be arranged underneath the fins being cut therein. This methodology will allow for a very light weight, thermally efficient finned tube to be used to produce a heat exchanger for use in turbine engines or the like.

1 . A method of making a finned tube, said method comprising the steps of:
 securing a tube to a tube clamping device;   arranging a plurality of cutters within a cutter head, said cutters rotate with said cutter head;   moving said cutters into position around said tube;   rotating said cutters around an outside surface of said tube in order to create fins on said outside surface of said tube.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said tube is stationary. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said plurality of cutters comprises four cutters. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein each of said cutters are offset longitudinally ¼ pitch relative to adjacent said cutters. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said four cutters are arranged at 90° intervals within said cutter head. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said cutters move radially with respect to said cutter head and said tube. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said cutter head moves in an axial direction with respect to said tube. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of securing said tube clamping device to a predetermined position on a ground. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said tube having a thick wall. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said wall of said tube initially before processing is approximately 0.05-0.09 inches thick. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising a step of removing material from an outside surface of said tube to create a light weight finned tube. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said fins having a height of approximately 0.03-0.08 inches. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein an inner wall of said tube after processing having a thickness of approximately 0.012-0.017 inches. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said thin inner wall and said fins result in a lightweight tube with high heat transfer rates. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  wherein each of said cutters has at least three teeth. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said tube is stainless steel. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of adjusting the speed of rotation of said cutter head. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of adjusting a speed of a feed mechanism for said tube. 
     
     
         19 . The product produced by the method of  claim 12 . 
     
     
         20 . The product produced by the method of  claim 1 .