Thermal wheel

Abstract

A rotary thermal wheel assembly for heat transfer, mass transfer or a combination of heat and mass transfer has a hub, a number of rigid spokes which are connectable to the hub, and a heat and/or mass transferring media pack. The media pack is arranged in the space defined by the hub and the spokes. The hub is a tubular element provided with connection means, and the spokes are connectable to the hub by connection parts which match the correspondingly shaped connection means of the hub.

1 . A rotary thermal wheel for heat transfer, mass transfer or a combination of heat and mass transfer, said wheel comprising:
 a hub;   a number of radial spokes connected to the hub; and   a heat or mass transferring media pack in a space defined by the hub and the spokes;   wherein the hub comprises a tubular element provided with a hub connection; and   wherein the spokes are connected to the hub by connection parts matching the hub connection that is correspondingly shaped, a spoke connection of the spokes being complementary shaped.   
     
     
         2 . The thermal wheel according to  claim 1 , wherein the hub connection includes recesses formed on an inside of the hub, and
 wherein the connection recesses are of a substantially rectangular shape.   
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The thermal wheel according to  claim 2 , wherein the rectangular connection recesses comprise wall elements so as to provide grooves. 
     
     
         5 . The thermal wheel according to  claim 1 , wherein the spokes are attachable to the hub by the connection parts fastened to one end of the spoke and inserted into the hub connection including a rectangular shape. 
     
     
         6 . The thermal wheel according to  claim 1 , wherein the hub connection is equidistantly arranged around the inside of the hub. 
     
     
         7 . The thermal wheel according to  claim 1 , further comprising a peripheral member extending around the outer periphery of the thermal wheel and being connected to the spokes by a fastening member, said peripheral member enclosing the media pack. 
     
     
         8 . The thermal wheel according to  claim 1 , wherein the spokes extend radially from the hub to the peripheral member. 
     
     
         9 . The thermal wheel according to  claim 1 , wherein the peripheral member extends along the entire rim of the wheel. 
     
     
         10 . The thermal wheel according to  claim 1 , wherein the tubular hub includes at least one of an integral cylinder or two or more cylinder segments which together form a cylinder, and
 wherein at least one of the cylinder or cylinder segments include extruded profiles.   
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The thermal wheel according to  claim 1 , wherein the cylinder segments are attached to each other by connection parts inserted into a holding member of the hub. 
     
     
         13 . The thermal wheel according to  claim 12 , wherein the connection parts are substantially rectangular in cross section. 
     
     
         14 . The thermal wheel according to  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the connection parts comprises a recess in which an elongate elevation including the holding member of two adjacent cylinder segments is fittable. 
     
     
         15 . The thermal wheel according to  claim 12 , wherein the spokes are connectable to the connection parts by a fastening member. 
     
     
         16 . The thermal wheel according to  claim 1 , wherein a cover plate is connectable to the hub by a fastening member that is engageable with a circular connection on the inside of the hub. 
     
     
         17 . The thermal wheel according to  claim 1 , wherein radial grooves are provided in the media pack, into which grooves the spokes are to be placed. 
     
     
         18 . The thermal wheel according to  claim 1 , wherein glue is provided in the radial grooves to fix said spokes. 
     
     
         19 . A rotary thermal wheel for heat transfer, mass transfer or a combination of heat and mass transfer, said wheel comprising:
 a cylindrical hub which includes two or more cylinder segments;   a number of radial spokes connected to the cylinder-segment hub; and   a heat or mass transferring media pack in a space defined by the cylinder-segment hub and the spokes;   wherein the cylinder-segment hub comprises a hub connection; and   wherein the spokes are connected to the cylinder-segment hub by connection parts matching the hub connection that is correspondingly shaped, a spoke connection of the spokes being complementary shaped.   
     
     
         20 . A kit for forming a thermal wheel, comprising:
 a hub; and   spokes connectable to the hub, thereby forming a structure which supports a media pack enclosed by a peripheral member.   
     
     
         21 . The thermal wheel according to  claim 1 , wherein the thermal wheel is configured as an apparatus for heat transfer, mass transfer or a combination of heat and mass transfer. 
     
     
         22 . The thermal wheel according to  claim 1 , wherein the spokes are connected to the hub by the connection parts being inserted into the hub connection. 
     
     
         23 . (canceled)