JP4811087B2 - Heat exchanger - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a heat exchanger provided with a flat tube.

  Conventionally, when an evaporator having fins and flat tubes is used as a heat exchanger, a drainage groove is provided in the flat tubes in order to smoothly discharge the condensed water adhering to the fins to the outside of the heat exchanger. There are some (see, for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2).

In such a flat tube with a groove, the design requirement to reduce the material cost by reducing the plate thickness at the groove as close as possible to the push limit of the tube (for example, 0.3 mm), and the tip of the flat tube, It is necessary to satisfy both the manufacturing requirements for making the hole of the header tank to be fitted, particularly the height of the hole to be fitted with the groove, larger than the production limit by the press.
JP-A-7-190661 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-197173

  That is, when the plate thickness in the groove portion is reduced, it is necessary to reduce the height of the tube insertion hole of the header accordingly. For this reason, the press limit of the header is exceeded, and there is a problem that it becomes impossible to drill holes. Therefore, it is necessary to increase the plate thickness of the groove portion of the flat tube. As a result, the thickness of the flat tube itself is increased, and the material cost of the flat tube is increased.

  In view of the above points, an object of the present invention is to facilitate drilling a header into which a thin tube with a thin plate is inserted.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a flat tube (2) and a header (4) that is arranged so as to be orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the flat tube and that couples with the end of the flat tube and supplies refrigerant to the flat tube. The flat tube (2) has a flat cross section that is long in the horizontal direction and short in the vertical direction, and a plurality of flat shapes in which the refrigerant passage (7) is formed in the flat cross section. passage and (2 1a~21c), when the plurality of flat passages (2 1a~21c) is spaced laterally flattened passage for connecting the flat path portion adjacent (2. 1a- 21c) a plate-like groove ( 22, 23) thinner than the longitudinal thickness,
In the groove portions ( 22, 23), the longitudinal distance from the predetermined position (C ) on the flat tube (2) to the plate end (11) of the groove portion is the end portion of the flat passage portion from the predetermined position (C ). A notch (9) is provided so as to be shorter than the distance in the longitudinal direction up to (10), and the header (4) is inserted into a plurality of tubes in a shape that fits the outer shape of each flat passage portion ( 21a to 21c). provided with holes (2 4A～24c), in connection with the header (4) and the flat tubes (2), the ends of the flat passage (10) is inserted into each tube insertion hole (2 4A～24c) Is supposed to be fixed ,
The groove part is formed by bending thin plates (22, 23) connecting between adjacent flat passage parts (21a, 21b; 21b, 21c) in the vertical direction,
In the thin plates (22, 23), the first plate portions (22a, 23a) that form the same plane as the lateral surface of one of the flat passage portions (21a, 21b; 21b, 21c). ) And the lateral direction of the other flat passage portion among the adjacent flat passage portions (21a, 21b; 21b, 21c) located on the opposite side of the vertical direction with respect to the first plate portion (22a, 23a). A second plate portion (22c, 23c) that forms the same plane as the surface of
Between the 1st board part (22a, 23a) and the 2nd board part (22c, 23c), the bending part (22b, 23b) to the vertical direction is arrange | positioned, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

According to this invention, the groove portions ( 22, 23) connecting the flat passage portions ( 21a to 21c) adjacent to each other in the lateral direction of the flat tube (2) are notched at the distal end portion of the flat tube (2). Since (9) is provided, the header (4) connected to the flat tube (2) does not need to be provided with a hole for inserting a groove ( 22, 23) having a small plate thickness, and the flat passage Since only the tube insertion holes ( 24a to 24c) into which only the portion ( 21a to 21c) is inserted and the hole height can be made relatively large need only be provided, hole processing can be easily performed.

Connection with the above-described flat tube (2) and a header (4) is brazed to the opening of the flat passage portion for preventing leakage of the refrigerant (2 1A～21c) and tube insertion holes (2 4A～24 c) Can be performed.

The end (10) of the flat passage portion is positioned between the tube insertion hole ( 24a to 24c ) and the inner wall (18) of the header (4) in the header (4). A header can be connected. Thereby, the refrigerant | coolant flow in a tank space (17) can be made smooth in the edge part (10) of a flat channel | path part.

When such positioning in the header (4) of the flat end of the passage portion (10) is to be inserted into the tube insertion holes of header flat tubes (2) (4) (2 4a~24 c), flat passage part longitudinal plate end of the notch of (2 1A～21 c) to provided the sheet (2 2, 2 3) (9) (11) by locking on the surface (15) of the header (4) Can be done easily.

Furthermore, the header (4), the tube insertion holes (2 4a~24 c) is provided with plates header (12), the tank space between the plate header (12) and joined to the plate header (12) ( If the tank header (18) forming 17) is provided, the tube insertion holes ( 24a to 24c ) can be easily formed in the plate header (12).

  In addition, the code | symbol in the bracket | parenthesis of each means described in a claim and this column shows the correspondence with the specific means as described in embodiment mentioned later.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig.1 (a) is a whole perspective view of the heat exchanger 1 of 1st Embodiment, FIG.1 (b) is the fragmentary sectional enlarged view. The heat exchanger 1 of the present embodiment is an evaporator used as an outdoor unit of a refrigeration cycle, and a corrugated fin 3 thermally connected to a flat tube between a number of flat tubes 2 arranged in parallel to each other. Is sandwiched. In addition, in FIG. 1, the flat tube 2 and the corrugated fin 3 of the center part of the heat exchanger 1 are abbreviate | omitted for description. Moreover, in each figure, as an arrangement | positioning direction of each site | part of the heat exchanger 1, the longitudinal direction of the flat tube 2, the horizontal direction which is the width direction of the flat tube 2, and the vertical direction orthogonal to a horizontal direction and a longitudinal direction, Each is indicated by an arrow.

  As shown in FIG. 1B, both ends in the longitudinal direction of each flat tube 2 are connected to the header 4. Each header 4 forms an inlet / outlet port for the refrigerant. End plates 5 are provided at both longitudinal ends of the heat exchanger 1, and the corrugated fins 3 are protected by the end plates 5.

  Fig.2 (a) is A arrow directional view in FIG.1 (b) near the edge part of the flat tube 2, FIG.2 (b) is BB sectional drawing of Fig.2 (a). FIG. 2C is a top view of the plate header surface 15 of the header 4, and FIG. 2D is a cross-sectional view of the header 4 as viewed from the arrow A.

  In the flat tube 2, three flat passage portions 6a, 6b, 6c having a flat cross section that is long in the horizontal direction and short in the vertical direction are arranged in a row in the horizontal direction. In these flat passage portions 6a, 6b, 6c, a plurality of refrigerant passages 7 are arranged in the horizontal direction inside. The refrigerant passage 7 is formed so as to communicate between the upper and lower headers 2 along the longitudinal direction of the flat tube 2.

  Adjacent flat passage portions 6a and 6b and 6b and 6c are connected by thin plate-like groove flat plates 8 and 8b, respectively. That is, the plate thickness of the groove flat plates 8a, 8b is smaller than the thickness of the flat passage portions 6a, 6b, 6c in the vertical direction, and the groove flat plate 8a, A gap is formed between 8b and the corrugated fin 3.

  Therefore, by providing the groove flat plates 8a and 8b in the longitudinal direction, it functions as a drainage of condensed water in the longitudinal direction.

  At the ends of the groove flat plates 8a and 8b, as shown in FIG. 2 (a), the end portions 11 of the groove flat plates 8a and 8b from a predetermined position on the flat tube 2, for example, the position of the alternate long and short dash line indicated by B in the figure. A notch 9 is provided so that the distance in the longitudinal direction is shorter than the distance in the longitudinal direction from the predetermined position B to the end 10 of the flat passage portions 6a, 6b, 6c.

  On the other hand, the header 4 is composed of a plate header 12 and a tank header 13 which are members that are long in the vertical direction. The plate header 12 is disposed on the header 4 on the side facing the other header 4. The surface 15 of the plate header has a tube insertion hole 16 a having a shape that fits the outer shape of each of the flat passage portions 6 a, 6 b, 6 c. , 16b, 16c are arranged in a row in the horizontal direction. In the first embodiment, each of the flat passage portions 6a, 6b, and 6c has a hexagonal outer shape, and accordingly, the opening shapes of the plate insertion holes 16a, 16b, and 16c are also hexagonal.

  Here, when the flat tube 2 is formed at the extrusion limit to make it thin, the plate thickness in the longitudinal direction of the groove flat plates 8a and 8b is about 0.3 mm, for example, but the flat passage portions 6a and 6b including the refrigerant passage 7 are The thickness (vertical distance) of 6c is around 1 mm. Accordingly, the hole height (gap in the vertical direction) of the tube insertion holes 16a, 16b, and 16c through which only the flat passage portions 6a, 6b, and 6c pass is not required to be reduced to the pressing limit, and can be easily pressed. it can.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, it is not necessary to provide holes for inserting the groove flat plates 8a and 8b of the flat tube 2, and a simple structure for fitting with the flat passage portions 6a, 6b and 6c having a relatively large hole height. It is only necessary to form tube insertion holes 16a, 16b, and 16c having an appropriate hole shape, and the hole processing of the header 4 can be easily performed.

  Moreover, even if the flat tube 2 is formed to be as thin as possible at the limit of extrusion, the tube insertion holes 16a, 16b, 16c that fit into the flat passage portions 6a, 6b, 6c formed thereby can be easily pressed. Can do. In other words, the material of the flat tube 2 can be reduced and the tube cost can be suppressed.

  Both ends 14 in the width direction (lateral direction) of the plate header 12 and the tank header 13 are brazed, thereby forming a tank space 17 in which the refrigerant flows inside the header 4.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the flat passage portions 6a, 6b, 6c of the flat plate 2 are inserted into the tube insertion holes 16a, 16b, 16c of the header 4 along the longitudinal direction, respectively. The assembled state of the flat plate 2 to the header 4 is shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view seen from the same direction as FIG.

  When the flat tube 2 is inserted into the header 4, the end portions 11 of the groove flat plates 8 a and 8 b are locked to the plate header surface 15, whereby the end portions 10 of the flat passage portions 6 a, 6 b and 6 c are in the tank space 17. It stops at a position between the plate header 12 and the tank header 13. That is, a gap 19 is formed between the end portion 10 of the flat passage portions 6 a, 6 b and 6 c and the inner wall 18 of the tank header 13 at the position of the insertion allowance D from the plate header 12.

  In this state, the outer periphery of each flat channel | path part 6a, 6b, 6c and the opening part of tube insertion hole 16a, 16b, 16c are brazed, and, thereby, the flat tube 2 and the header 4 are joined.

  Due to the gap 19 between the end portion 10 of the flat passage portions 6a, 6b, 6c and the inner wall 18 of the tank header, the refrigerant can smoothly flow between the flat passage portions 6a, 6b, 6c and the header 4. In other words, the size in the longitudinal direction of the notch 9 provided at the distal end of the flat tube 2 is such that the insertion allowance D and the gap 19 in the header 4 of the end portion 10 of the flat passage portions 6a, 6b, 6c are necessary. It can be set according to the size.

  Moreover, the edge part 11 of the groove part flat plates 8a and 8b should just be able to latch with the plate header surface 15, Therefore, it is not necessary to make the shape of the edge part 11 the horizontal direction follow the plate header surface 15 exactly | strictly. That is, it is not necessary to increase the processing accuracy of the notches 9 in the groove flat plates 8a and 8b, and the processing can be easily performed.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment will be described. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the groove shape of the flat tube, and the other parts have the same configuration. Hereinafter, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, description thereof is omitted, and different configurations will be described.

  FIG. 5 shows the second embodiment in the same manner as in FIG. 2 showing the first embodiment, and FIG. 5 (a) is a view in FIG. 1 (b) near the end of the flat tube 2. FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line C-C in FIG. 5A. 5C is a top view of the plate header surface 15 of the header 4, and FIG. 5D is a cross-sectional view of the header 4 as viewed from the arrow A.

  The flat tube 2 of 2nd Embodiment is the groove part 22 which connects between flat channel | path part 21a, 21b and flat channel | path part 21b, 21c which adjoin each flat channel | path part 21a, 21b, 21c arrange | positioned in a line in the horizontal direction. , 23 are provided with vertical bent portions 22b, 23b at the center thereof.

  Accordingly, one thin plate 22a (23a) of the groove 22 (23) is formed to be connected to the lower surface of the flat passage portion 21a (21b), and the other thin plate 22c (23c) is a flat passage portion. It is formed so as to be connected to the upper surface of the paper surface of 21b (21c). And these thin plates 22a and 22c (23a and 23c) are connected by the bending part 22b (23b) of the center.

  As in the first embodiment, corrugated fins (not shown) thermally connected to the flat tubes 2 are provided between the flat tubes 2 and other flat tubes adjacent in the vertical direction. Yes.

  Thereby, as the groove parts 22 and 23 of the flat tube 2 in 2nd Embodiment, groove depth can be enlarged, the trapping effect to the groove parts 22 and 23 of the water which should be discharged | emitted is improved, and drainage efficiency is improved. be able to.

  The grooves 22 and 23 are provided with a notch 9 in the longitudinal direction at the end of the flat tube 2 as in the first embodiment, and the ends 11 of the grooves 22 and 23 are locked to the plate header surface 15. Thereby, the insertion allowance D of the edge part 10 of the flat channel | path part 21a, 21b, 21c can be determined.

  In 2nd Embodiment, the opening shape of tube insertion hole 24a, 24b, 24c provided in the plate header 12 is made into the shape fitted to the external shape of the flat channel | path part 21a, 21b, 21c of the said flat tube 2. FIG. That is, the tube insertion holes 24a and 24c on both sides in the lateral direction have a pentagonal shape, and the central tube insertion hole 24b has a parallelogram shape.

  Also in the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, since it is not necessary to provide notches in the groove portions 22 and 23 and to provide holes for inserting the groove portions 22 and 23 in the plate header 12, the header 4 The hole processing can be performed only with the tube insertion holes 24a, 24b, and 24c having a simple hole shape, and can be easily performed.

  Further, as in the first embodiment, even if the flat tube 2 is formed to be as thin as possible at the push-out limit, the tube insertion holes 24a, 24b, 24c that fit into the flat passage portions 21a, 21b, 21c formed thereby are used. Can be easily pressed. In other words, the material of the flat tube 2 can be reduced and the tube cost can be suppressed.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment will be described. The third embodiment is different from the first and second embodiments in that no groove is provided in the flat tube. Hereinafter, the same components as those in the first and second embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, description thereof is omitted, and different configurations will be described.

  FIG. 6 shows the third embodiment in the same manner as in FIG. 2 showing the first embodiment. FIG. 6 (a) is a view in FIG. 1 (b) near the end of the flat tube 2. FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line C-C in FIG. 6A. FIG. 6C is a top view of the plate header surface 15 of the header 4, and FIG. 6D is a cross-sectional view of the header 4 taken along the arrow A.

  In the third embodiment, two flat tubes 20a and 20b are arranged in a row in the horizontal direction. Each of these flat tubes 20a and 20b includes flat passage portions 25a and 25b each having a hexagonal outer shape in which the refrigerant passage 7 is formed. And each flat channel | path part 25a, 25b is equipped with the thin-plate-like projection part 26a, 26b and 27a, 27b on the both sides of a horizontal direction. Adjacent protrusions 26b and 27a are protrusions provided on different flat tubes 20a and 20b, respectively, and are not connected to each other.

  As in the first and second embodiments, corrugated fins (not shown) that are thermally connected to the flat tubes 20a are provided between the flat tubes 20a and the flat tubes adjacent in the vertical direction. ing. At this time, the corrugated fin can be formed long in the lateral direction to the respective lateral end positions of the protrusions 26a and 27b. The corrugated fins can be protected by the protrusions 26a and 27b.

  The protrusions 26a, 26b, 27a, 27b are provided with notches 9 in the longitudinal direction at the ends of the flat tubes 20a, 20b, as in the first and second embodiments.

  For such flat tubes 20a and 20b, the tube insertion holes 28a and 28b are provided in the plate header 12 as hexagonal openings that fit the outer shapes of the flat passage portions 25a and 25b.

  Therefore, also in the third embodiment, due to the notches 9, the end portions 11 in the longitudinal direction of the protrusions 26a, 26b, 27a, 27b are formed on the plate header surface 15 as in the first and second embodiments. By being locked, it is possible to determine the insertion allowance D of each end portion 10 of the flat passage portions 25a and 25b.

  As described above, in the third embodiment, even in the heat exchanger using two complicated cross-section tubes with thin tips in the lateral direction, the thin plate-like protrusions 26a, 26b, 27a, 27b are inserted into the header 4. It is not necessary to provide a hole for making it, and the opening shapes of the tube insertion holes 28a and 28b for fitting with the flat passage portions 25a and 25b can be simplified, and these can be easily pressed.

  Further, even if the flat tubes 20a and 20b are formed so as to be as thin as possible, the tube insertion holes 28a and 28b fitted to the flat passage portions 25a and 25b formed thereby can be easily pressed. . In other words, the material of the flat tubes 20a and 20b can be reduced, and the tube cost can be suppressed.

(Other embodiments)
(1) In each of the above-described embodiments, the plate header surface 15 provided with the tube insertion holes 16a to 16c, 24a to 24c, 28a, and 28b has been illustrated as an example using a flat plate shape. Any cross-sectional shape such as an M-shaped cross-section may be used. In this case, the shape of the notch 9 provided in the thin plate portions 8a, 8b, 22, 23, and 26a to 27b of the flat tube 2 can also be a straight line or a curve according to the shape of the plate header surface.

  (2) In each of the above embodiments, when the flat tubes 2, 20 a, 20 b are inserted into the header 4, the plate end 11 of the thin plate portion is locked to the plate header surface 15, and the flat passage portion is placed in the tank space 17. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the flat tube and the header are positioned by different fixing tools, and the plate end portion 11 is not brought into contact with the plate header surface 15, so that the plate A gap can be formed between the end 11 and the plate header surface 15.

  (3) In each said embodiment, although the example using the corrugated fin 3 was shown as a fin used for the heat exchanger 1, it is not restricted to this, You may use a plate fin.

(A) is the whole perspective view of the heat exchanger of embodiment, (b) is the fragmentary sectional expanded view of (a). It is a figure which shows 1st Embodiment, (a) is A arrow directional view in FIG.1 (b) near the edge part of a flat tube, (b) is BB sectional drawing of (a), (c) is It is a top view of a plate header surface, (d) A arrow sectional drawing of a header. It is a figure which shows the mode of insertion to the header of a flat tube. It is a figure which shows the assembly | attachment state of a flat tube and a header. It is a figure which shows 2nd Embodiment, (a) is A arrow directional view in FIG.1 (b) near the edge part of a flat tube, (b) is CC sectional drawing of (a), (c) is It is a top view of a plate header surface, (d) A arrow sectional drawing of a header. It is a figure which shows 3rd Embodiment, (a) is A arrow directional view in FIG.1 (b) near the edge part of a flat tube, (b) is EE sectional drawing of (a), (c) is It is a top view of a plate header surface, (d) A arrow sectional drawing of a header.

Explanation of symbols

2 ... flat tube, 4 ... header, 6a, 6b, 6c ... flat passage part, 7 ... refrigerant passage,
8a, 8b ... groove flat plate, 9 ... notch, 10 ... end of flat passage portion,
11 ... End of groove plate, 15 ... Plate header surface,
16a, 16b, 16c ... Tube insertion holes.

Claims (7)

A flat tube (2) and a header (4) which is arranged so as to be orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the flat tube (2) and which supplies the refrigerant to the flat tube (2) by being coupled to the flat tube (2). A heat exchanger (1) comprising:
The flat tube (2) has a flat cross section that is long in the horizontal direction and short in the vertical direction, and a plurality of flat passage portions ( 21a to 21c) in which a refrigerant passage (7) is formed in the flat cross section, and the plurality of the flat tubes (2 ). When the flat passage portions ( 21a to 21c) are spaced apart from each other in the lateral direction, a plate-like groove portion thinner than the vertical thickness of the flat passage portions connecting the adjacent flat passage portions ( 2 23)
The groove ( 22, 23) has a distance in the longitudinal direction from a predetermined position (C ) on the flat tube (2) to a plate end (11) of the groove from the predetermined position (C ). A notch (9) is provided so as to be shorter than the longitudinal distance to the end (10) of the flat passage portion,
The header (4) includes a plurality of tube insertion holes ( 24a-24c) shaped to fit the outer shape of the flat passage portions ( 21a-21c), and the header (4) and the flat tube ( In connection with 2), the end portions (10) of the flat passage portions ( 21a to 21c) are inserted into the tube insertion holes ( 24a to 24c) and fixed .
The groove portion is formed by bending thin plates (22, 23) connecting the adjacent flat passage portions (21a, 21b; 21b, 21c) in the vertical direction,
The thin plate (22, 23) has a first plate portion (15a, 21b; 21b, 21c) that forms the same surface as the lateral surface of one of the flat passage portions (21a, 21b; 21b, 21c). 22a, 23a) and the other of the adjacent flat passage portions (21a, 21b; 21b, 21c) located on the opposite side of the longitudinal direction with respect to the first plate portion (22a, 23a). A second plate portion (22c, 23c) that forms the same plane as the lateral surface of the passage portion;
The vertical bent portions (22b, 23b) are arranged between the first plate portions (22a, 23a) and the second plate portions (22c, 23c). Heat exchanger. The heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein the flat passage portion ( 21a to 21c ) is joined to an opening portion of the tube insertion hole ( 24a to 24c ) by brazing. The end (10) of the flat passage portion is located between the tube insertion hole ( 24a-24c ) and the inner wall (18) of the header (4) in the header (4). The heat exchanger according to claim 1 or 2 . The heat exchanger according to claim 3 , characterized in that the longitudinal plate end (11) of the notch (9) is locked to the surface (15) of the header (4). Said header (4), and the tube insertion holes (2 4a~24 c) it is provided with plates header (12), wherein is joined to the plate header (12), between the plate header (12) The heat exchanger according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , further comprising a tank header (13) forming a tank space (17). The heat exchanger according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein corrugated fins (3) are arranged between the flat tubes (2) adjacent in the longitudinal direction. The heat exchanger according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein a plate fin is disposed between the flat tubes (2) adjacent in the longitudinal direction.

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