JP2004182076A - Heat exchanger fixing structure - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the slip-out of a heater core from a unit case, to maintain performance such as heating performance, and to prevent the generation of an abnormal sound. <P>SOLUTION: A stopper claw 21 is elastically deformed when inserting the heater core 7 and guides the heater core 7 toward a heater core receiving part 30 of the unit case 1 while contacting with the inserting directional side surface 7a of the heater core 7. A damper 31 is elastically displaced in the inserting direction A by receiving a pressing force from the inserting directional front face 7b of the heater core 7 when inserting the heater core 7. A locking part 21b of the stopper claw 21 separates from the inserting directional side surface 7a of the heater core 7, and elastically restores the stopper claw 21 so as to abut on the inserting directional rear surface 7c of the heater core 7 by elastic displacement. The heater core 7 is sandwiched between the locking part 21b of the stopper claw 21 and the damper 31 by the elastic restoring force of the damper 31. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a heat exchanger fixing structure for fixing a heat exchanger such as a heater core to a unit case in a vehicle air conditioner or the like.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a fixing structure for fixing a heat exchanger such as a heater core to a unit case in a vehicle air conditioner or the like, the unit is used to prevent air flowing in the unit case from flowing around the heater core and flowing downstream without using packing. A rib is projected from a concave portion of the case, and the rib seals a bottom portion of the heater core, and a triangular rib is provided on an upstream side or a downstream side of the air flow path. The rib forms a tank portion (side portion) of the heater core. There has been disclosed a configuration in which a tank portion is sealed by pressing against a wall surface on the opposite side (see JP-A-10-58957).
[0003]
However, according to the related art, since the triangular ribs are provided to extend in a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction of the heater core, the mold removing direction when molding the unit case is the same as the insertion direction of the heater core. However, there is a problem that the above-mentioned triangular rib cannot be formed, and since the above-mentioned triangular rib is crushed to insert the heater core into the unit case, it is necessary to apply a large insertion force to the heater core. However, there is a problem that the cost of the automatic assembling equipment increases, and the triangular rib locking portion is cut off when the heater core is inserted to form a gap, resulting in poor sealing performance.
[0004]
Therefore, the present inventor can form the sealing ribs even if the die removing direction during molding of the unit case is the same direction as the insertion direction of the heater core, and furthermore, the insertion force of the heater core into the unit case can be increased. Has been proposed in Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-163962 for the purpose of providing a unit case capable of reducing the noise. That is, as shown in FIG. 9, a sealing rib 100 which can be brought into contact with the side surfaces of the tank portions 72 and 77 of the heater core 7 is protruded from the unit case 1, and the sealing rib 100 is formed at the time of molding the unit. The sealing rib 100 is formed so as to be capable of being cut out in the same direction as the direction A in which the heater core 7 is inserted into the case 1, and the sealing rib 100 is constituted by a pair of ribs sandwiching the tank portions 72 and 77. Proposed a unit case 1 in which the ribs are brought into contact with the side surfaces of the tank portions 72 and 77 by a spring force. Reference numeral 78 denotes a packing (seal) adhered to the outer peripheral surface 7a of the heater core 7 in order to secure the sealing property at the heater core insertion port 20 and prevent air in the unit case 1 from leaking from the heater core insertion port 20. Material).
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-described prerequisite invention, if the tightening force of the plurality of sealing ribs 100 varies, the holding force of the sealing ribs 100 with respect to the heater core 7 becomes insufficient, and the heater core 7 is caused by vibration of the vehicle or the like. When the heater core 7 escapes from the unit case 1 and the heater core 7 escapes from the unit case 1, air in the unit case 1 leaks from the heater core insertion opening 20 of the unit case 1 and the heating performance is significantly reduced or abnormal noise is generated. It is considered that such a trouble occurs.
[0006]
The present invention is an invention applicable not only to the heater core but also to the entire heat exchanger. In view of the above-described problems in the above-described prerequisite invention, the heat exchanger is securely fixed in the unit case. An object of the present invention is to provide a heat exchanger fixing structure that can prevent the exchanger from coming off the unit case, maintain performance such as heating performance, and prevent generation of abnormal noise.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The fixing structure for a heat exchanger according to claim 1, comprising one or more stopper claws provided at a heat exchanger insertion opening of the unit case, and a damper provided at a heat exchanger receiving portion of the unit case. The stopper claw elastically deforms when the heat exchanger is inserted, guides the heat exchanger toward the heat exchanger receiving portion of the unit case while being in contact with the insertion direction side surface of the heat exchanger, and the damper includes: When the heat exchanger is inserted, it is elastically displaced in the insertion direction by receiving a pressing force from the front side in the insertion direction of the heat exchanger, and the elastic displacement causes the locking portion of the stopper claw to face the insertion side of the heat exchanger. The stopper claw is elastically returned so as to be away from the heat exchanger and comes into contact with the rear surface in the insertion direction, and the heat exchanger is moved between the engagement portion of the stopper claw and the damper by the elastic return force of the damper. Pinch And wherein the Rukoto.
[0008]
According to the fixing structure of the heat exchanger according to the first aspect, when the heat exchanger is fixed to the unit case, the heat exchanger is sandwiched between the locking portion of the stopper claw and the damper. Even when a force is applied in the direction of pull-out, the locking portion of the stopper claw exerts an effect of stopping the heat exchanger at the fixed position. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the heat exchanger from falling off, thereby maintaining performance such as heating performance and preventing generation of abnormal noise.
[0009]
In the fixing structure for a heat exchanger according to claim 2, in claim 1, packing is provided on the insertion direction side surface of the heat exchanger along a direction orthogonal to the insertion direction of the heat exchanger, The locking portion of the stopper claw is formed in a shape that reduces contact resistance with the packing when the heat exchanger is inserted.
[0010]
According to the fixing structure of the heat exchanger according to the second aspect, since the stopper of the stopper claw is formed in a shape that reduces the contact resistance with the packing when the heat exchanger is inserted, the stopper claw gets over the packing. Sometimes, the packing does not easily come off, and the sealing performance of the packing can be maintained.
[0011]
As described in claims 3 and 4, the damper has a shape that is bulged in a direction opposite to the insertion direction of the heat exchanger and is formed to be thin, or a flat thin plate portion, A simple configuration is provided by a projection projecting from the thin plate in a direction opposite to the insertion direction of the heat exchanger.
[0012]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0013]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an automotive air conditioner incorporating a heat exchanger fixing structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a heater core is fixedly arranged in a unit case. 3 is a sectional view of the fixing structure, FIG. 4 is a plan view of the stopper claw when the state shown in FIG. 3 is viewed from the insertion direction of the heater core, and FIGS. 8 is a plan view of a stopper claw according to a modification, and FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a fixing structure according to the modification.
[0014]
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a unit case made of resin, for example, PP (polypropylene). Inside the unit case 1, a motor 2 with a blower for sucking air into the unit case 1 and blowing out the air after heat exchange into the vehicle is arranged. In the unit case portion on the upstream side of the blower-equipped motor 2, an inside air intake 3 for taking in the vehicle air into the case 1 and an outside air intake 4 for taking the outside air into the unit case 1 are formed. These air intakes 3 and 4 are selectively opened and closed by an inside / outside air switching door 5, and the inside air or outside air selected by the inside / outside air switching door 5 is taken into the unit case 1. An evaporator 6 that forms a part of a refrigeration cycle, cools air by exchanging heat with refrigerant, and produces cool air is disposed downstream of the blower-equipped motor 2. A heater core 7 that heats cold air by heat exchange with engine cooling water to generate hot air is disposed in a part of the air passage downstream of the evaporator 6. An air mixing door 8 is disposed at an intermediate portion between the heater core 7 and the evaporator 6. The air mixing door 8 is configured to separate the cold air guided from the evaporator 6 to the heater core 7 and the cold air guided to the heater core 7 by the opening degree. It is a door for adjusting the ratio of the cool air guided to the detour passage 9 to be detoured. A foot outlet 10, a face outlet 11, and a defroster outlet 12 are formed in a unit case portion on the downstream side of the heater core 7. The foot outlet 10 and the face outlet 11 are air outlets for blowing air after heat exchange toward the vicinity of the feet and the face of the occupant, respectively, and the defroster outlet 12 uses the air after heat exchange for the windshield. This is the air outlet that blows out toward. At the foot outlet 10, the face outlet 11, and the defroster outlet 12, a foot door 13, a face door 14, and a defroster door 15 for adjusting the amount of air to be blown out are arranged, respectively.
[0015]
The heater core 7 is inserted into the unit case 1 through a heater core insertion opening 20 (FIGS. 2 and 3) formed on a side surface (a surface located on the front side or the back side of the paper surface in FIG. 1) of the unit case 1. 1 are fixedly arranged. As is well known, the heater core 7 exchanges heat between the engine cooling water of the warm water and the air passing through the inside of the unit case 1. The heater core 7 is configured similarly to the heater core 7 shown in FIG. From a plurality of flat tubes 73 and a plurality of flat tubes 73 and a plurality of flat tubes 73 having radiation fins 74 for distributing and flowing cooling water in the introduction tank portion 72. An outlet tank 77 is provided for collecting the cooling water and flowing out to the radiator side via the pipe 76. Each of the introduction tank portion 72 and the discharge tank portion 77 is formed in a square tubular shape. A packing (seal material) 78 is adhered to the outer peripheral surface (side surface in the insertion direction of the heater core 7) 7a of the heater core 7 along a direction orthogonal to the insertion direction A. Sealability is ensured.
[0016]
The heater core insertion opening 20 has a square hole corresponding to the square cross-sectional shape of the heater core 7, and a peripheral portion forming the hole has a square hole as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4. One or more stopper claws 21 are formed so as to protrude in a direction opposite to the insertion direction A of the heater core 7. The stopper claw 21 is formed integrally with the main body 1a of the unit case 1, extends from the main body 1a in a direction opposite to the insertion direction A of the heater core 7, and has an elastically deformable leg 21a and a free leg 21a. And a locking portion 21b extending from the end in the direction of the hole. The locking portion 21b has an inclined surface 21c as shown in FIG. 3, and when the heater core 7 is inserted, the front surface (bottom surface of the heater core) 7b in the insertion direction of the heater core 7 presses the inclined surface 21c, so that the leg portion is formed. 21a is elastically deformed as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 3, and the heater core 7 can be inserted into the unit case 1. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the locking portion 21 b has a tapered planar shape, and when the heater core 7 is inserted, the locking portion 21 b can get over the packing 78 without damaging the packing 78. I have to.
[0017]
In the unit case 1, a portion facing the insertion direction A from the heater core insertion opening 20 has a heater core receiving portion 30 for receiving the front surface (bottom surface of the heater core) 7b of the heater core 7 in the insertion direction, as shown in FIG. A damper 31 is formed in the heater core receiving portion 30. The damper 31 has a bulged shape in a direction opposite to the insertion direction A of the heater core 7 and is formed to be thin, and when the heater core 7 is inserted, when receiving a pressing force from the front surface 7b in the insertion direction of the heater core 7, FIG. 3. As shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG.
[0018]
Next, the operation of the fixing structure when the heater core 7 is inserted into the unit case 1 will be described.
[0019]
When the front surface 7b of the heater core 7 in the insertion direction is brought into contact with the stopper claw 21 of the heater core insertion opening 20 and the inclined surface 21c of the locking portion 21b of the stopper claw 21 is pressed, the leg 21a of the stopper claw 21 is indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. It becomes elastically deformed as shown. For this reason, the heater core 7 can move toward the damper 31, and the tip of the locking portion 21b of the stopper claw 21 starts to contact the side surface (outer peripheral surface) 7a of the heater core 7 in the insertion direction. 7 is guided toward the damper 31 while the insertion side surface 7a is in contact with the tip of the locking portion 21b. When the packing 78 comes into contact with the tip of the locking portion 21b, the locking portion 21b gets over the packing 78. When the damper 31 receives a pressing force from the front face 7b in the insertion direction of the heater core 7 immediately before the completion of the insertion of the heater core 7, the damper 31 is elastically displaced in the insertion direction A as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. The engagement portion 21b of the heater core 21 is separated from the packing 78 on the side surface 7a in the insertion direction of the heater core 7 and elastically returns to come into contact with the rear surface 7c of the heater core 7 in the insertion direction. Then, the front surface 7b in the insertion direction of the heater core 7 tries to move in the direction opposite to the insertion direction A by receiving the elastic restoring force of the damper 31, but this movement is prevented by the locking portion 21b of the stopper claw 21. Therefore, the heater core 7 is sandwiched between the locking portion 21 b of the stopper claw 21 and the damper 31, and is firmly fixed in the unit case 1.
[0020]
The planar shape of the locking portion 21b of the stopper claw 21 is not limited to a tapered triangular shape as shown in FIG. 4, and the contact resistance with the packing 78 can be reduced when the heater core 7 is inserted, so that the shape of the packing 78 can be reduced. Any shape may be used as long as damage can be prevented, and may be a semicircular shape as shown in FIG. 5, a thin plate shape as shown in FIG. 6, or a bifurcated shape as shown in FIG.
[0021]
As shown in FIG. 8, the damper 31 has a flat thin plate portion 31 a and a protrusion 31 b protruding from the thin plate portion 31 a in a direction opposite to a direction in which the heater core 7 is inserted. When receiving a pressing force from the front surface 7b in the insertion direction of the heater core 7, the heater core 7 may be configured to be elastically displaced as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG.
[0022]
As described above, the heat exchanger fixing structure according to the present embodiment includes one or more stopper claws 21 provided at the heat exchanger insertion port (heater core insertion port) 20 of the unit case 1 and the unit case 1. And a damper 31 provided on a heat exchanger receiving portion (heater core receiving portion) 30. The stopper claw 21 is elastically deformed when the heat exchanger (heater core) 7 is inserted and comes into contact with the insertion side surface 7 a of the heat exchanger 7. While the heat exchanger 7 is guided toward the heat exchanger receiving portion 30 of the unit case 1, the damper 31 is inserted by receiving a pressing force from the front face 7 b in the insertion direction of the heat exchanger 7 when the heat exchanger 7 is inserted. The stopper claw 21 is resiliently displaced in the direction A, and the stopper claw 21 is resiliently moved by the elastic displacement so that the locking portion 21b of the stopper claw 21 separates from the insertion side surface 7a of the heat exchanger 7 and abuts on the rear surface 7c of the heat exchanger 7 in the insertion direction. It is restored by the elastic restoring force of the damper 31, to clamp the heat exchanger 7 with the locking portion 21b and the damper 31 of the stopper pawl 21. For this reason, when the heat exchanger 7 is fixed to the unit case 1, the heat exchanger 7 is sandwiched between the locking portion 21 b of the stopper claw 21 and the damper 31, and thus the heat exchanger 7 is removed in the removal direction. Even when a force is applied, the locking portion 21b of the stopper claw 21 functions to stop the heat exchanger 7 at the fixed position, thereby preventing the heat exchanger 7 from coming off, and thus maintaining performance such as heating performance. And noise can be prevented from occurring.
[0023]
A packing 78 is provided on a side surface 7a of the heat exchanger 7 in the insertion direction along a direction orthogonal to the insertion direction A of the heat exchanger 7, and the locking portion 21b of the stopper claw 21 is Is formed in such a shape as to reduce the contact resistance with the packing 78 at the time of insertion of the packing 78. Therefore, when the stopper claw 21 gets over the packing 78, the packing 78 does not easily come off, and the sealing performance of the packing 78 can be maintained.
[0024]
Further, the damper 31 has a shape that is raised in the direction opposite to the insertion direction A of the heat exchanger 7 and is formed to be thin, or a flat thin plate portion 31a and the insertion of the heat exchanger 7 from the thin plate portion 31a. It is composed of a projection 31b protruding in a direction opposite to the direction A, which is a simple configuration.
[0025]
【The invention's effect】
ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to the fixing structure of the heat exchanger of this invention, a heat exchanger can be fixed reliably in a unit case, preventing the heat exchanger from falling out of a unit case, and maintaining performance, such as heating performance, Generation of abnormal noise can be prevented.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an automotive air conditioner in which a heat exchanger fixing structure according to an embodiment of the present invention is incorporated.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a state in which a heater core is fixedly arranged in a unit case when viewed from an insertion direction of the heater core.
FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a fixing structure.
4 is a plan view of the stopper claw when the state shown in FIG. 3 is viewed from the insertion direction of the heater core.
FIG. 5 is a plan view of a stopper claw according to a modification.
FIG. 6 is a plan view of a stopper claw according to another modification.
FIG. 7 is a plan view of a stopper claw according to still another modification.
FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a fixing structure according to a modification.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory view of a fixing structure according to the presupposed invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
7. Heater core (heat exchanger)
7a Insertion side surface 7b Insertion direction front surface 7c Insertion direction rear surface 20 Heater core insertion port (heat exchanger insertion port)
21 Stopper claw 21b Locking portion 30 Heater core receiving portion (heat exchanger receiving portion)
31 Damper 31a Thin plate 31b Projection 78 Packing A Insertion direction

Claims (4)

It is provided with one or more stopper claws provided at a heat exchanger insertion opening of a unit case, and a damper provided at a heat exchanger receiving portion of the unit case,
The stopper claw guides the heat exchanger toward the heat exchanger receiving portion of the unit case while elastically deforming when the heat exchanger is inserted and coming into contact with the insertion direction side surface of the heat exchanger,
The damper is elastically displaced in the insertion direction by receiving a pressing force from the front in the insertion direction of the heat exchanger when the heat exchanger is inserted, and the locking portion of the stopper claw of the heat exchanger is moved by the elastic displacement. The stopper claw is elastically returned so as to be away from the side face in the insertion direction and come into contact with the rear face in the insertion direction of the heat exchanger,
The fixing structure of the heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanger is sandwiched between the engagement portion of the stopper claw and the damper by an elastic return force of the damper. On the side in the insertion direction of the heat exchanger, a packing is provided along a direction orthogonal to the insertion direction of the heat exchanger, and the locking portion of the stopper claw, when inserting the heat exchanger, The fixing structure for a heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the fixing structure is formed in a shape that reduces contact resistance with the packing. The heat exchanger fixing structure according to claim 1, wherein the damper has a shape that is bulged in a direction opposite to a direction in which the heat exchanger is inserted, and is formed to be thin. 3. The heat exchange according to claim 1, wherein the damper includes a flat thin plate portion and a protrusion projecting from the thin plate portion in a direction opposite to a direction in which the heat exchanger is inserted. 4. Container fixing structure.

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