JP2002333238A - Refrigerant condenser - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a refrigerant condenser capable of reducing a part cost by suppressing the height of a protrusion part to a low value and effecting tacking work other than welding. SOLUTION: A refrigerant condenser is provided with a condensing part and supercooling parts 10 and 12 to effect heat exchange with a refrigerant flowing through tubes 10a and 12a for condensing and supercooling and a pair of first and second headers 18 and 19 situated in a state to be communicated with the two end parts of the tubes 10a and 12a for condensing and supercooling. The first and second headers 18 and 19 have a cylinder body formed through extrusion molding and recessed groove-form protrusion parts 18c and 19c are formed in the outer peripheral surface of the cylinder body integrally with the cylinder body through extrusion molding. The other end of a fixed plate 13 fixing a bracket 15 for mounting at one end is fitted in the recessed groove parts of protrusion parts 18c and 19c and tacked by caulking work.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a refrigerant condenser used in a refrigeration cycle, and more particularly, to a structure of a temporary attachment portion for fixing a mounting bracket of the refrigerant condenser.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a refrigerant condenser mounted on a vehicle of this type, for example, there is a refrigerant condenser described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-159000. In the prior art described in this publication, a plurality of refrigerant passages are arranged in parallel. A core portion that performs heat exchange between the refrigerant flowing through each refrigerant passage and the heat exchange medium, and a pair of headers provided in communication with both end portions of each refrigerant passage, respectively. At least one of the headers has a tubular body formed by extrusion molding, and a fixing portion or a temporary attaching portion for fixing a mounting bracket for the refrigerant condenser is provided integrally with the tubular body by extrusion molding. Have been.

[0003] The former fixing portion is provided with a flange-shaped protruding portion protruding from the one end to the other end over the entire length outside the cylindrical body, and is fixed to the mounting bracket to the flange-shaped protruding portion. Bolts are provided at two locations. Then, one end of the mounting bracket is fixed to the flange-shaped protrusion, and the other end is fixed to the vehicle side.

In the latter temporary fixing portion, a fixing plate for fixing the mounting bracket is formed as a separate component, and the temporary fixing portion for fixing the different component is provided with a flange-shaped protrusion on the outside of the cylindrical body. It is provided by extrusion molding, and this protruding portion is formed to have a lower protruding height than the former. Moreover, these components of the refrigerant condenser are generally obtained by temporarily brazing each component using aluminum or an aluminum alloy whose surface is clad with a brazing material, and then joining the components by integral brazing. ,
In the latter case as well, a fixing portion for fixing the mounting bracket to the integrally provided temporary attachment portion is temporarily attached by spot welding or welding, and then joined by integral brazing.

In the above-mentioned publication, in the other header of the pair of headers, a fixing plate of another component is temporarily attached to a header plate formed into a semicircular shape by press working by spot welding or welding, and then integrated. Joined by brazing.

[0006]

However, according to the latter and the above-mentioned gazettes, when spot welding or welding is performed with the above-mentioned clad material temporarily attached, spatter (fine particles are removed from the base material) by the base material. If the spatter is scattered and welded to the surface to be joined in the subsequent integral brazing process, the airtightness of the brazing may be inferior. When it has, there is a problem that the manufacturing cost is increased because a detailed cleaning step is required in a process before the integral brazing. Therefore, processing steps other than welding are required.

According to the former, the mounting bracket can be fixed after integral brazing without performing spot welding or welding. However, since the flange-shaped protrusion is formed by extrusion, the mounting bracket is not limited to the fixing part. Is also formed, there is a problem such as an increase in parts cost and product weight.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned points, and a refrigerant which can reduce the cost of parts by suppressing the height of a protruding portion and performing temporary attachment processing other than welding. A condenser is provided.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, the technical means described in claims 1 to 3 is adopted. That is, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the plurality of refrigerant passages (10a, 12a) are arranged in parallel, and heat exchange between the refrigerant flowing through each of the refrigerant passages (10a, 12a) and the heat exchange medium is performed. A refrigerant condenser comprising a core (10, 12) and a pair of headers (18, 19) provided in communication with both ends of each of the refrigerant passages (10a, 12a). 19) has a cylindrical body formed by extrusion molding, and a concave groove-shaped projecting portion (18c, 19c) is provided integrally with the cylindrical body by extrusion molding on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical body, and is provided at one end. The other end of the temporary attaching member (13) for fixing the mounting bracket (15) is fitted into the concave groove of the protruding portion (18c, 19c) and is temporarily attached by plastic working.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the outer peripheral surface of the header (18, 19) has a recessed groove-like projection (18c, 1c).
9c) is provided integrally with the cylindrical body by extrusion molding, and a temporary attachment member (1
Since 3) is temporarily attached by plastic working, a cleaning process such as removal of welding jigs and scattering of spatter is not required as compared with the case where temporary attachment is performed by welding, and the cost of parts can be reduced. .

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the projecting portion (18)
c, 19c) are at least two opposing protrusions standing upright on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical body, and are characterized in that their cross-sectional shapes are formed in a concave groove shape.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, specifically, the projecting portions (18c, 19c) are formed in the shape of two opposing projecting concave grooves upright on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical body. ,
It can be formed integrally by extrusion molding, which has a relatively low mold cost. Therefore, the number of parts can be reduced and the cost of parts can be reduced.

Further, the projecting height of the projecting portions (18c, 19c) is suppressed to be low, for example, by forming the projecting portion (13c) so as to fit the thickness of the temporary attaching member (13). be able to. Thereby, an increase in weight can be suppressed low.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the temporary attaching member (13) is characterized in that the projecting portions (18c, 19c) are temporarily attached by crimping.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the temporary attachment member (13) is temporarily attached by the crimping process of the plastic working, the temporary attachment member (13) can be protruded (18c, 19c) by a simple process. And the cost of parts can be reduced.

The reference numerals in parentheses of the above-mentioned means indicate the correspondence with the concrete means described in the embodiments described later.

[0017]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. First, FIG. 1 shows an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a refrigeration cycle in an air conditioner for a vehicle, and shows a refrigerant condenser integrated with a liquid receiver integrated with a condenser and a liquid receiver, and a refrigeration cycle.

The refrigeration cycle 1 has the functions of a refrigerant compressor 2, a receiver-integrated refrigerant condenser 3 (hereinafter referred to as a refrigerant condenser 3), a sight glass 4, an expansion valve 5, and a refrigerant evaporator 6. Each of the components is connected by a refrigerant pipe 7 such as a metal pipe or a rubber hose as shown in FIG.

When rotational power is transmitted from a traveling engine (not shown) of the vehicle via an electromagnetic clutch 8, the refrigerant compressor 2 sucks the gas refrigerant evaporated by the refrigerant evaporator 6 and compresses the gas refrigerant to a high temperature and a high pressure. And discharge.

The refrigerant condenser 3 is a condensing unit 10 for condensing and liquefying the gas refrigerant discharged from the refrigerant compressor 2 by blowing air from a cooling fan (not shown), and a gas-liquid condensed and liquefied by the condensing unit 10. It is composed of a liquid receiving section 11 for separating the phase refrigerant into a gas refrigerant and a liquid refrigerant, and a supercooling section 12 for supercooling the liquid refrigerant separated by the liquid receiving section 11 by receiving air from a cooling fan (not shown). You. The details of the refrigerant condenser 3 will be described later.

Next, the sight glass 4 is connected downstream of the refrigerant flow from the refrigerant condenser 3 and observes the state of the refrigerant circulating in the refrigeration cycle 1. The sight glass 4 is provided in the engine room (not shown) of the vehicle. , For example, the refrigerant pipe 7 on the outlet side adjacent to the refrigerant condenser 3
It is mounted alone in the middle of.

The expansion valve 5 is connected to the refrigerant inlet side of the refrigerant evaporator 6 and adiabatically expands the high-temperature and high-pressure liquid refrigerant passed through the sight glass 4 to convert it into a low-temperature and low-pressure mist-like refrigerant.
In the present embodiment, a temperature-operated expansion valve that automatically adjusts the valve opening so as to maintain the degree of superheat of the refrigerant at the refrigerant outlet of the refrigerant evaporator 6 at a predetermined value is used.

The refrigerant evaporator 6 is disposed in a duct (not shown) for guiding blast air into the vehicle interior, and sends the low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant guided from the expansion valve 5 by operating a blower (not shown). The heat is exchanged with the outdoor air or indoor air to be evaporated and vaporized.

Next, the refrigerant condenser 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. The refrigerant condenser 3 has, for example, a height of 300 to 400 mm and a width of 300 to 600 m.
It is fixed to a mounting bracket 15 (to be described later) on the vehicle side via a fixing plate 14 (to be described later), which is a temporary attaching member, in a place having a size of m and easily receiving traveling wind in the engine room. ing.

The refrigerant condenser 3 includes a core portion including a condensing portion 10 and a supercooling portion 12, side plates 16 disposed at an upper end and a lower end of the core, respectively.
17, a first header 18 disposed on one end side (left end side in FIG. 1) of the core portion, a second header 19 disposed on the other end side of the core portion, and an inlet pipe mounted on the first header 18 Liquid receiving section 1 connected to outlet pipe 21 and second header 19
1 and are manufactured by integral brazing in a furnace.

The condensing section 10 is formed by alternately stacking a plurality of condensing tubes 10a, which are refrigerant passages, and corrugated fins 10b, and is formed on the upper side of the core section. The supercooling section 12 is formed by alternately laminating a plurality of supercooling tubes 12a and corrugated fins 12b, and is formed on the lower side of the core section.

The condensing tube 10a and the supercooling tube 12a are each made of a material such as aluminum or aluminum alloy having excellent corrosion resistance and heat conductivity, and are formed by extrusion molding into a plurality of refrigerant passages (shown in the figure). Is not manufactured). The number of the condensing tubes 10a is larger than the number of the subcooling tubes 12a. According to experimental experience, the number of the subcooling tubes 12a is preferably about 15 to 20% of the entire core.

The corrugated fins 10b, 12b
In order to improve the heat radiation efficiency of the refrigerant, a plate made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy clad on both sides with a brazing material is pressed into a corrugated shape (corrugated shape).

The side plates 16 and 17 are provided in the condensing section 10.
Are disposed above the corrugated fins 10b arranged at the uppermost end of the supercooling section 12 and below the corrugated fins 12b arranged at the lowermost end of the supercooling section 12, and hold the core portion. The processed aluminum or aluminum alloy plate is processed into a predetermined shape by pressing.

Next, the first header 18 forms a cylindrical body that communicates with each of the condensation tubes 10a and each of the subcooling tubes 12a. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first header plate 18a, It is composed of a pair of caps 18d and a first separator 18e, each having corrosion resistance,
It is formed of aluminum or aluminum alloy having excellent thermal conductivity.

The first header plate 18a is formed by extrusion into a cylindrical body having an opening with a substantially elliptical cross section. On the right side of the drawing, in other words, on the inner side, each condensing tube 10a and each subcooling tube 12a
Is inserted, and each side plate 16,
17 are inserted to form the core part side,
In other words, the ends of the inlet pipe 20 are inserted upward and the ends of the outlet pipe 21 are inserted downward, and they are joined by brazing.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, a recessed protruding portion 18c is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the first header plate 18a by two opposed protruding portions 18b standing upright on the outer peripheral surface. ing. The fixing plate 13 is fitted into the projecting portion 18c, and the two projecting portions 18b
Is crimped inward and is temporarily attached.
After tacking, they are joined together by brazing in a furnace. In addition, this protruding portion 18c is the first header plate 18
a is formed over the entire length of the first header plate 18a from one end to the other end.

The fixing plate 13 is formed into a predetermined shape by extruding an aluminum or aluminum alloy plate whose surface is clad with a brazing material.
A through-hole 13a for inserting a through hole 13a is provided, and a nut 14a is fixed to the mounting bracket 15 by tightening a nut 14a to a bolt 14a inserted into the through-hole 13a.

In this embodiment, the fixing plate 13 and the mounting bracket 15 are also provided near the outlet pipe 21. The cap 18d closes both end openings of the cylindrical body of the first header plate 18a, and is formed into a predetermined shape by press working.

The first separator 18e includes a first condensing side communication chamber 18f communicating the inside of the first header 18 with each condensing tube 10a, and a first subcooling side communication chamber communicating with each subcooling tube 12a. 18g, the first
After being inserted into the header plate 18a, they are joined by brazing. The inlet pipe 20 is mounted outside the first header plate 18a forming the first condensation side communication chamber 18f, and the outlet pipe 21 is connected to the first header plate forming the first supercooling side communication chamber 18g. 18a (see FIG. 1).

As shown in FIG. 3, one second header 19 has one cylindrical body communicating with each condensing tube 10a and each subcooling tube 12a, and the other cylindrical body forming the liquid receiving portion 11. And is composed of a second header plate 19a, upper and lower caps 19d and 19h, a second separator 19e, and a liquid receiving part 11, each of which is excellent in corrosion resistance and heat conductivity, such as aluminum or aluminum alloy. More molded.

The second header plate 19a is opposed to the first header plate, and the second header 19 forms a cylinder communicating with each of the condensing tubes 10a and each of the subcooling tubes 12a. As shown in FIG. 3, the second header plate 19a, the upper and lower caps 19
d, 19h, the second separator 19e, and the liquid receiving portion 11, each of which is formed of aluminum or an aluminum alloy having excellent corrosion resistance and thermal conductivity.

The second header plate 19a is formed by extrusion into a cylindrical body having an opening with a substantially elliptical cross section. And on the left side of the figure, in other words, on the inside, each condensing tube 10a and each supercooling tube 12a
Is inserted, and each side plate 16,
17 are inserted to form the core part side,
In other words, on the outside, the first communication pipe 2 is located at a relatively low position above the second separator 19e so as to communicate with the liquid receiving section 11.
A second communication pipe 24 is disposed below and below the second communication pipe 24, communicates with the liquid receiving part 11, and is joined by integral brazing in a furnace. The liquid receiving portion 11 is formed by extrusion into a cylindrical body having an opening having a substantially circular cross section, and is provided such that the cross sectional area is larger than the opening of the cylindrical body of the second header plate 19a. (See FIG. 3).

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 similar to the first header plate 18a, the outer peripheral surface of the second header plate 19a has a concave groove formed by two opposed protruding portions 19b standing upright on the outer peripheral surface. Is formed. The fixing plate 13 is attached to the projecting portion 19c.
Are fitted, and the two protruding portions 19b are crimped inward to be temporarily attached. After tacking, they are joined together by brazing in a furnace. The mounting bracket 15 is fixed to the fixing plate 13. The fixing plate 13 and the mounting bracket 15 are also provided near the second communication pipe 24. The projecting portion 19c is formed from one end to the other end of the second header plate 19a over the entire length of the second header plate 19a.

Here, the cap 18d closes the opening above the second header plate 19a and the cylinder of the liquid receiving part 11, and the second header plate 19a and the liquid receiving part 1
And is formed into a predetermined shape by press working. The cap 19h and the cap 11a close the openings below the second header plate 19a and the cylinder of the liquid receiving unit 11, respectively.

The second separator 19e includes a second condensing side communication chamber 19f that communicates the inside of the second header 19 with each condensing tube 10a, and a second subcooling side communication chamber that communicates with each subcooling tube 12a. 19g and the second
After being inserted into the header plate 19a, they are joined by integral brazing in a furnace.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. When the electromagnetic clutch 8 is energized, the rotational output of the engine is transmitted to the refrigerant compressor 2, and the refrigerant compressor 2 is driven to rotate. The high-temperature and high-pressure gas refrigerant compressed by the refrigerant compressor 2 is
The refrigerant is guided to the refrigerant condenser 3, and flows into the first condensing side communication chamber 18 f of the first header 18 from the inlet pipe 20. The refrigerant that has flowed into the first condensing-side communication chamber 18f is distributed to a plurality of condensing tubes 10a constituting the condensing section 10, and when passing through each condensing tube 10a, the corrugated fin 1
Heat is exchanged with the outdoor air through Ob to condense and liquefy. The almost liquefied refrigerant flows into the second condensation side communication chamber 19f of the second header 19, is once collected, and then passes through the first communication pipe 23 above the second separator 19e to receive the liquid in the liquid receiving portion 1
1 flows into.

The gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant flowing into the liquid receiving part 11 is
Since the cross-sectional area of the liquid receiving portion 11 is large, the speed of the refrigerant is reduced, and the gaseous gas refrigerant rises by buoyancy, so that it is separated into a gas refrigerant and a liquid refrigerant, and the upper portion of the liquid receiving portion 11 Gas refrigerant and liquid refrigerant in the lower part. If the refrigeration cycle 1 is filled with sufficient refrigerant to form a liquid level in the liquid receiving part 11, the liquid refrigerant separated in the liquid receiving part 11 (saturated liquid refrigerant having no supercooling degree)
Flows out to the second supercooling-side communication chamber 19g through the second communication pipe 24 provided below the second separator 19e.

The liquid refrigerant flowing into the second subcooling side communication chamber 19g is distributed to each subcooling tube 12a, and when passing through each subcooling tube 12a, passes through the outdoor air via corrugated fins 12b. Is supercooled due to heat exchange with the first header 18 and becomes a liquid refrigerant having a degree of supercooling and flows into the first subcooling side communication chamber 18g of the first header 18.

The liquid refrigerant flowing into the first subcooling side communication chamber 18 g flows out of the refrigerant condenser 3 through the outlet pipe 21, passes through the sight glass 4, and is guided to the expansion valve 5. Since only the liquid refrigerant containing no gas refrigerant is supplied to the expansion valve 5, the amount of the circulating refrigerant of the liquid refrigerant flowing into the expansion valve 5 does not decrease. It can be supplied to the evaporator 6.

The refrigerant evaporator 6 performs heat exchange between the low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant decompressed and expanded by the expansion valve 5 and the air flowing through the duct. The gas refrigerant evaporated and vaporized by heat exchange with air is sucked again by the refrigerant compressor 2 and circulates through the refrigeration cycle 1. On the other hand, the air cooled by heat exchange with the low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant flows through the duct and is supplied to the vehicle interior.

According to the refrigerant condenser 3 of the above embodiment,
First header plate 18a and second header plate 1
On the outer peripheral surface of 9a, concave groove-shaped protrusions 18c, 19c are provided integrally with the cylindrical body by extrusion molding, and the fixing plate 13 is fitted to the protrusions 19c, and the two protrusions 19b are placed inside. By performing caulking as plastic working and temporarily attaching, compared to when temporarily attaching by welding, there is no need for a cleaning process such as removing welding jigs and scattering of spatters, and simple processing Thus, the fixing plate 13 can be temporarily attached to the protruding portions 18c and 19c, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

Further, since the projecting portions 18c and 19c are formed in the shape of two opposing projecting concave grooves standing upright on the outer peripheral surface, they can be integrally formed by extrusion molding, which has a relatively low mold cost. . Therefore, the number of parts can be reduced and the cost of parts can be reduced.

Further, by forming the projecting heights of the projecting portions 18c and 19c so as to fit, for example, the thickness of the fixing plate 13, the projecting height can be suppressed low. Thereby, an increase in weight can be suppressed low.

(Other Embodiments) In the above embodiment, the fixed plate 1 is formed by extruding an aluminum or aluminum alloy plate whose surface is clad with a brazing material.
3 is temporarily attached to the protruding portions 18c and 19c, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a fixed plate formed by pressing a sheet material of aluminum or an aluminum alloy whose surface is clad with a brazing material or by sheet metal processing may be used. As shown in FIG. 5, the fixing plate 13 is formed by sheet metal processing so as to have a flange 13b at both ends.
The protrusions 18b and 19b are caulked so as to temporarily attach b. A nut 14b is provided in the through hole 13a, and the mounting bracket 15 is fixed.

Thus, the height of the protrusions 18b, 19b can be kept low, so that the weight of the first and second header plates can be reduced.

The screw holes 13c can be formed by forming the fixing plate 13 into a predetermined shape using an aluminum or aluminum alloy block material whose surface is clad with a brazing material, as shown in FIG. Therefore, the nut 14b becomes unnecessary, and the fixing plate 13 can be reduced in size and cost.

In the above embodiment, the second header 1
Although the receiver-integrated type refrigerant condenser in which the liquid receiver 11 is connected to 9 has been described, a refrigerant condenser without the liquid receiver 11 may be used as shown in FIG.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view and a refrigeration cycle diagram showing an entire configuration and a refrigeration cycle of a refrigerant condenser 3 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an assembling relationship between a first header 18 and a mounting bracket 15 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing an assembling relationship between a second header 19 and a mounting bracket 15 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an assembling relationship between first and second headers 18 and 19 and a mounting bracket 15 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows first and second headers 18 according to another embodiment;
It is sectional drawing and a perspective view which show the assembling relationship between 19 and the fixing plate 13.

FIG. 6 shows first and second headers 18 according to another embodiment;
It is sectional drawing and a perspective view which show the assembling relationship between 19 and the fixing plate 13.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the overall configuration of a refrigerant condenser according to another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Condensing part (core part) 10a ... Condensing tube (refrigerant passage) 12 ... Subcooling part (core part) 12a ... Subcooling tube (refrigerant passage) 13 ... Fixing plate (temporary attachment member) 15 ... Mounting Bracket 18: First header (header) 18c, 19c: Protrusion 19: Second header (header)

Claims (3)

[Claims] A plurality of refrigerant passages (10a, 12a) are arranged in parallel, and a core portion (1) for performing heat exchange between a refrigerant flowing through each of the refrigerant passages (10a, 12a) and a heat exchange medium.
0, 12) and a pair of headers (1) provided in communication with both ends of each of the refrigerant passages (10a, 12a).
8 and 19), wherein the header (18, 19) has a cylindrical body formed by extrusion molding, and has a groove-shaped projecting portion on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical body. (18c, 19c) are provided integrally with the cylindrical body by extrusion molding, and the other end of the temporary attaching member (13) for fixing the mounting bracket (15) to one end is connected to the projecting portion (18c, 19c). A refrigerant condenser which is fitted into a concave groove and is temporarily attached by plastic working. 2. The projections (18c, 19c) are at least two opposing projections standing upright on an outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical body, and have a cross-sectional shape formed as a concave groove. The refrigerant condenser according to claim 1, wherein 3. The refrigerant condenser according to claim 1, wherein the temporary attachment member (13) has the projections (18c, 19c) temporarily attached by caulking.