Plate and frame heat exchanger

Abstract

A plate and frame heat exchanger includes a plate package having individually removable plates positioned between opposed end frame portions synchronously movable toward each other for forming a compressed plate package by a drive linkage of the plate and frame heat exchanger in response to the drive linkage being drivingly actuated in one direction by a drive unit selectively connected to the drive linkage. The end frame portions are synchronously movable away from each other for forming an uncompressed plate package such that individual plates from the plate package are removable from the plate and frame heat exchanger in response to the drive linkage of the plate and frame heat exchanger being drivingly actuated in a direction opposite the one direction by the drive unit. The drive unit is selectively separable from the plate and frame heat exchanger without disassembly of the drive linkage.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A plate and frame heat exchanger comprising:
 a plate package having individually removable plates positioned between opposed end frame portions synchronously movable toward each other for forming a compressed plate package by a drive linkage of the plate and frame heat exchanger in response to the drive linkage being drivingly actuated in one direction by a drive unit selectively connected to the drive linkage;   the end frame portions synchronously movable away from each other for forming an uncompressed plate package such that individual plates from the plate package are removable from the plate and frame heat exchanger in response to the drive linkage of the plate and frame heat exchanger being drivingly actuated in a direction opposite the one direction by the drive unit;   wherein the drive unit being selectively separable from the plate and frame heat exchanger without disassembly of the drive linkage.   
     
     
         2 . The plate and frame heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein sensory indicia is generated upon achieving the selective connection between the drive unit and the plate and frame heat exchanger. 
     
     
         3 . The plate and frame heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein sensory indicia is selected from the group consisting of at least one of visual, auditory, tactile and olfactory indicia. 
     
     
         4 . The plate and frame heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein while the drive unit is selectively connected to the plate and frame heat exchanger, forces generated by the drive unit during operation of the drive unit are reacted by the plate and frame heat exchanger. 
     
     
         5 . The plate and frame heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the drive unit is manually selectively connectable to the plate and frame heat exchanger. 
     
     
         6 . The plate and frame heat exchanger of  claim 5 , wherein sensory indicia is selected from the group consisting of at least one of visual, auditory, tactile and olfactory indicia. 
     
     
         7 . The plate and frame heat exchanger of  claim 5 , wherein while the drive unit is selectively connected to the plate and frame heat exchanger, forces generated during operation of the drive unit are reacted by the plate and frame heat exchanger. 
     
     
         8 . The plate and frame heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein a drive member of the drive unit rotates about a first axis in a first direction for synchronously rotatably driving threaded rods of a threaded rod assembly via the drive linkage relative to the end frame portions for forming the compressed plate package,
 the drive member of the drive unit rotates about the first axis in a second direction opposite the first direction for synchronously rotatably driving threaded rods of the threaded rod assembly via the drive linkage relative to the end frame portions for forming the uncompressed plate package.   
     
     
         9 . The plate and frame heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the drive unit and a corresponding portion of the plate and frame heat exchanger includes a guide feature for guiding a drive member of the drive unit into a selective connection with the plate and frame heat exchanger. 
     
     
         10 . A method for operating a plate and frame heat exchanger comprising:
 providing a plate package having individually removable plates positioned between opposed end frame portions;   selectively connecting a drive unit to a drive linkage of the plate and frame heat exchanger for synchronously moving the end plate portions toward and away from each other by the drive unit for respectively forming a compressed plate package and an uncompressed plate package, and   selectively disconnecting the drive unit from the plate and frame heat exchanger without disassembly of the drive linkage.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein selectively connecting the drive unit includes at least one of the drive unit and a corresponding portion of the plate and frame heat exchanger having a guide feature for guiding the drive member into the selective connection with the plate and frame heat exchanger. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein selectively connecting the drive unit includes generating sensory indicia upon achieving the selective connection between the drive unit and the plate and frame heat exchanger. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein sensory indicia is selected from the group consisting of at least one of visual, auditory, tactile and olfactory indicia. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein upon selectively connecting the drive unit to the plate and frame heat exchanger, forces generated by the drive unit during operation of the drive unit are reacted by the plate and frame heat exchanger. 
     
     
         15 . A drive unit for use with a plate and frame heat exchanger having individually removable plates positioned between opposed end frame portions, the drive unit comprising:
 a drive source having a drive member for drivingly engaging a drive linkage of the plate and frame heat exchanger, wherein actuation of the drive source in one direction results in the drive linkage selectively moving the end plate portions toward each other for forming a compressed plate package, and wherein actuation of the drive source in another direction results in the drive linkage selectively moving the end plate portions away from each other for forming an uncompressed plate package, and   wherein the drive unit is selectively connectable with the plate and frame heat exchanger, the drive unit being selectively separable from the plate and frame heat exchanger without disassembly of the drive linkage.