JP2004230948A - Heat exchanger fixing structure - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To ensure compatibility of inserting property and sealing performance of a heat exchanger even when a unit case is miniaturized. <P>SOLUTION: A heat exchanger storing section 31 is formed of a pair of tank holding sections 32 for inserting and fixing a pair of tank sections 71. The pair of tank holding sections 32 are projected on a wall surface of the unit case 1 and have a rib 33 for pressing and a sealing rib 34 facedly formed in an air flow direction B in the unit case 1 at a clearance, respectively. The rib 33 for pressing presses the tank sections 71 to the sealing rib 34 at at least two points in the longitudinal direction of the tank sections 71. The sealing rib 34 is formed in the longitudinal direction of the tank sections 71, and prevents an accident where air flowing in the unit case 1 bypasses a core section 75, turns to the outer peripheral surface of the tank section 71, and flows to the downstream side while the tank sections 71 are pressed to the sealing rib 34 by the rib 33 for pressing. <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 heat exchanger accommodating portion of a unit case in a vehicle air conditioner or the like.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In a vehicle air conditioner or the like, as a fixing structure for fixing a heat exchanger, for example, a heater core to a heat exchanger accommodating portion of a unit case, a packing that prevents air that should pass through the heater core from flowing around the heater core to flow downstream (leak). In order to solve the problem without using the heat exchanger, a rib is protruded from the heat exchanger accommodating portion, and the bottom portion of the heater core is sealed with the rib, and a triangular rib is provided on the upstream or downstream side of the air flow path. A configuration is disclosed in which a tank portion (side portion) of a heater core is pressed against an opposite wall surface to seal the tank portion (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. 6, a sealing rib 100 that can be brought into contact with the outer peripheral surfaces of the pair of tank portions 71 of the heater core 7 protrudes from the wall surface of the unit case 1, and the sealing rib 100 is formed at the time of molding. The sealing rib 100 is formed of a pair of ribs sandwiching the tank 71, and is formed so as to be able to be cut out in the same direction as the direction A in which the heater core 7 is inserted into the unit case 1. A unit case has been proposed in which one rib is brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the tank 71 by a spring force. Reference numeral 72 denotes a pipe for connecting the tank unit 71 to the radiator side, 73 denotes a plurality of flat tubes that distributes cooling water in one tank unit 71 and flows the same to the other tank unit 71, and 74 denotes a flat tube. The radiating fins 75 disposed between the flat tubes 73 are core portions of the heater core 7 composed of the flat tubes 73 and the radiating fins 74, and 76 secures sealing performance at the heater core insertion opening 20. In order to prevent air from leaking from the heater core insertion port 20, a packing (seal material) adhered to the outer peripheral surface of the heater core 7 is shown.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-described prerequisite invention, in order to reduce the size of the unit case, there is no space for providing a special sealing rib 100 having a spring force from the wall surface of the main body of the unit case 1, It is necessary to form the sealing rib 100 by the main body of the unit case 1 itself. However, when the sealing rib 100 is formed by the main body of the unit case 1 as described above, it is difficult to make the unit case 1 thinner. For this reason, the spring force is naturally reduced due to the restriction, and there is a problem that it is not possible to achieve both the ease of inserting the heat exchanger into the heat exchanger accommodating portion and the sealing property of the sealing rib.
[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, even when the unit case is downsized, the insertability and the sealing performance are improved. It is an object of the present invention to provide a heat exchanger fixing structure capable of achieving both of the above.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The heat exchanger fixing structure according to claim 1 is a heat exchanger for fixing a heat exchanger including a core portion and a pair of tank portions disposed on both sides of the core portion to a heat exchanger accommodating portion of a unit case. In the fixing structure of the exchanger, the heat exchanger accommodating portion includes a pair of tank holding portions for inserting and fixing the pair of tank portions, and the pair of tank holding portions are respectively provided on a wall surface of the unit case. Each has a pressing rib and a sealing rib formed so as to face each other at an interval in the air flow direction in the unit case, and the pressing rib is provided in the longitudinal direction of the tank portion. At least two points along the tank are configured to act to press the tank against the sealing rib, and the sealing rib is formed along the longitudinal direction of the tank and is formed by the pressing rib. When the tank portion is pressed against the seal rib, the air flowing in the unit case bypasses the core portion, prevents the air from flowing around the outer peripheral surface of the tank portion and flows downstream. It is characterized by being constituted.
[0008]
According to the fixing structure of the heat exchanger according to the first aspect, the sealing rib and the pressing rib are respectively provided to protrude from the wall surface of the unit case, and the pressing rib presses the tank portion against the sealing rib. Therefore, even if the unit case is downsized, the sealing performance can be sufficiently ensured. Further, the pressing rib has a function of pressing the tank portion against the seal rib at at least two points, and does not have a configuration in which the tank portion is pressed against the seal rib over the entire length in the longitudinal direction of the tank portion. When the heat exchanger is inserted into the heat exchanger accommodating portion, the contact resistance (insertion resistance) between the tank portion and the pressing rib is small, and the heat exchanger can be easily inserted into the heat exchanger accommodating portion.
[0009]
The fixing structure of the heat exchanger according to claim 2 is characterized in that, in claim 1, the pressing rib and the sealing rib each have a cross-sectional shape having a small contact area with the tank portion.
[0010]
According to the heat exchanger fixing structure of the second aspect, when the heat exchanger is inserted into the heat exchanger accommodating portion, the contact resistance (insertion resistance) between the tank portion and the pressing rib is further reduced, and the heat exchange is performed. The heat exchanger can be more easily inserted into the heat exchanger accommodating portion.
[0011]
In the fixing structure for a heat exchanger according to claim 3, in the claim 1 or 2, a portion of the pressing rib other than a contact portion with the tank portion is attached to the tank portion so as to exert a sealing action. It is characterized by being formed so as to protrude toward it.
[0012]
According to the heat exchanger fixing structure of the third aspect, since the pressing rib can also exert a sealing action, the sealing property is further improved in combination with the sealing action of the sealing rib.
[0013]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the fixing structure for a heat exchanger according to any one of the first, second, and third aspects, the pressing rib is a portion that is in contact with the tank portion and is attached to the heat exchanger housing portion. The contact portion on the near side in the insertion direction of the heat exchanger has elasticity.
[0014]
According to the heat exchanger fixing structure of the fourth aspect, when the heat exchanger is inserted into the heat exchanger accommodating portion, the contact portion of the pressing rib is elastically deformed, so that the insertion of the heat exchanger is further facilitated. become.
[0015]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0016]
FIG. 1 is a conceptual configuration diagram of an automotive air conditioner incorporating a heat exchanger fixing structure according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a heater core fixedly arranged in a heat exchanger accommodating portion of a unit case. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a diagram III of FIG. 2 when a pressing rib according to another embodiment is used. FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG. 2 when a pressing rib according to still another embodiment is used.
[0017]
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.
[0018]
As shown in FIG. 2, in the unit case 1, the width of the air passages 21 and 22 is reduced on the upstream side and the downstream side of the heater core housing portion (heat exchanger housing portion) 31 in order to reduce the size. (Compare with FIG. 6). In other words, the heat exchanger accommodating portion 31 is formed so as to protrude outward with respect to the air passages 21 and 22 in a direction orthogonal to the air flow direction B. The heat exchanger accommodating portion 31 includes a pair of tank holding portions 32 for inserting and fixing a pair of tank portions 71 of the heater core 7 including a core portion 75 and a pair of tank portions 71 on both sides thereof. Unlike the sealing rib 100 of the above-described prerequisite invention, the pair of tank holding portions 32 is formed as a rigid having almost no spring force, and the strength of the unit case 1 is sufficiently held.
[0019]
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each of the pair of tank holding portions 32 has a pressing rib 33 and a sealing rib 34 protruding from the wall surface of the unit case 1. The pressing ribs 33 and the sealing ribs 34 are formed facing each other at intervals in the air flow direction B in the unit case 1.
[0020]
In the case of the present embodiment, the pressing rib 33 includes a rib 33A on the near side in the insertion direction along the insertion direction A of the heater core 7, that is, the longitudinal direction of the tank portion 71, and a rib 33B on the back side in the insertion direction. Each of the ribs 33A, 33B has a triangular shape in both a vertical section and a horizontal section, and has an inclined portion 33a for guiding the heater core 7 to the back side in the insertion direction. Each of the ribs 33A and 33B has a cross-sectional shape having a small contact area with the tank portion 71. When the heater core 7 is inserted into the heat exchanger accommodating portion 31, the rib 33A and the rib 33B press the ribs 33A. The contact resistance (insertion resistance) is reduced, so that the heater core 7 can be easily inserted into the heat exchanger housing 31.
[0021]
The seal rib 34 is formed along the insertion direction A of the heater core 7, that is, along the longitudinal direction of the tank 71. When the pressing rib 33 presses the tank portion 71 against the sealing rib 34, the sealing rib 34 is in pressure contact with the tank portion 71 over the entire length, and the air flowing through the unit case 1 is indicated by an arrow C in FIG. As shown in the drawing, it bypasses the core portion 75 and acts to prevent the water from flowing around the outer peripheral surface of the tank portion 71 and flowing downstream. The seal rib 34 has a triangular cross section (a cross section perpendicular to the insertion direction A), and has a cross sectional shape having a small contact area with the tank 71, and accommodates the heater core 7 in the heat exchanger. When inserting the heater core 7 into the heat exchanger accommodating portion 31, the contact resistance (insertion resistance) between the tank portion 71 and the pressing rib 33 is reduced.
[0022]
In the fixing structure according to the other embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the pressing rib 33 has a contact portion 33A ′ with the tank portion 71 corresponding to the rib 33A and a contact portion 33A ′ with the tank portion 71 corresponding to the rib 33B. A portion 33C having a portion 33B 'and excluding the contact portions 33A' and 33B 'is formed so as to protrude toward the tank portion 71 so as to exert a sealing action. That is, the portion 33C of the pressing rib 33 except for the contact portions 33A 'and 33B' faces the outer peripheral surface of the tank portion 71 with a small gap, and exhibits a sealing property similar to the sealing property of the sealing rib 34.
[0023]
According to this fixing structure, the pressing ribs 33 can also exert a sealing action, so that the sealing properties are further improved in combination with the sealing action of the sealing ribs 34.
[0024]
In the fixing structure of the heat exchanger according to still another embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the pressing rib 33 is similar to the pressing rib 33 shown in FIG. And the rib 33B on the front side in the insertion direction has elasticity. That is, the rib 33 </ b> A is hollow at the back side in the insertion direction, and is configured to be elastically deformable in the direction of the arrow C in the drawing.
[0025]
According to this fixing structure, when the heater core 7 is inserted into the heat exchanger accommodating portion 31, the rib 33A on the front side in the insertion direction of the pressing rib 33 is elastically deformed, so that the insertion of the heater core 7 is further facilitated.
[0026]
Note that the pressing rib 33 is not limited to the configuration in which it contacts the tank portion 71 only at two points, and may freely adopt a configuration in which it contacts at three or more points.
[0027]
As described above, the heat exchanger fixing structure according to the present embodiment is configured such that the heat exchanger (heater core 7) including the core portion 75 and the pair of tank portions 71 arranged on both sides of the core portion 75 is provided in the unit case. In the fixing structure of the heat exchanger for fixing to the first heat exchanger accommodating portion 31, the heat exchanger accommodating portion 31 includes a pair of tank holding portions 32 for inserting and fixing a pair of tank portions 71, and a pair of tank holding portions 32. The tank holding portions 32 project from the wall surface of the unit case 1, respectively, and are opposed to each other at a distance in the air flow direction B within the unit case 1. The pressing rib 33 is configured to act to press the tank portion 71 against the sealing rib 34 at at least two points along the longitudinal direction of the tank portion 71, and the sealing rib 34 When the tank portion 71 is formed along the longitudinal direction of the tank portion 71 and the tank portion 71 is pressed against the seal rib 34 by the pressing rib 33, air flowing in the unit case 1 bypasses the core portion 75, It is configured to function to prevent it from flowing around the outer peripheral surface of 71 and flowing downstream.
[0028]
According to the heat exchanger fixing structure, the sealing ribs 34 and the pressing ribs 33 project from the wall surface of the unit case 1, and the pressing ribs 33 press the tank portion 71 against the sealing ribs 34. Accordingly, the sealing property of the seal rib 34 can be ensured, so that the sealing property can be sufficiently ensured even when the unit case 1 is downsized. The pressing rib 33 has a function of pressing the tank portion 71 against the seal rib 34 at at least two points, and has a configuration in which the tank portion 71 is pressed against the seal rib 34 over the entire length of the tank portion 71 in the longitudinal direction. Therefore, when the heat exchanger 7 is inserted into the heat exchanger accommodating portion 31, the contact resistance (insertion resistance) between the tank portion 71 and the pressing rib 33 is small, and the heat exchanger 7 is moved into the heat exchanger accommodating portion. 31 can be easily inserted.
[0029]
Further, the fixing structure of the heat exchanger has a configuration in which the pressing rib 33 and the sealing rib 34 each have a cross-sectional shape having a small contact area with the tank portion 71. When inserting the heat exchanger 7 into the heat exchanger housing 31, the contact resistance (insertion resistance) between the tank part 71 and the pressing rib 33 is further reduced. .
[0030]
Further, in the fixing structure of the heat exchanger, in the pressing rib 33, a portion 33C excluding the contact portions 33A and 33B with the tank portion 71 is formed so as to protrude toward the tank portion 71 so as to exert a sealing effect. Therefore, the pressing rib 33 can also exert a sealing action, and the sealing performance is further improved in combination with the sealing action of the sealing rib 34.
[0031]
Further, the fixing structure of the heat exchanger is such that, in the pressing rib 33, a contact portion with the tank portion 71 and a contact portion 33 </ b> A on the near side in the insertion direction of the heat exchanger 7 into the heat exchanger accommodating portion 31 are: Due to the elasticity, when the heat exchanger 7 is inserted into the heat exchanger accommodating portion 31, the contact portion 33A of the pressing rib 33 is elastically deformed, so that the insertion of the heat exchanger 7 is further facilitated.
[0032]
【The invention's effect】
ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to the fixing structure of the heat exchanger of this invention, even if it aims at miniaturization of a unit case, it becomes possible to achieve both the insertion property and the sealing property of a heat exchanger.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a conceptual 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 plan view of a state in which the heater core is fixedly arranged in a heat exchanger accommodating portion of the unit case when viewed from an insertion direction of the heater core.
FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 2 when a pressing rib according to another embodiment is used.
FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 2 when a pressing rib according to still another embodiment is used.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of a fixing structure according to the presupposed invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Unit case 7 Heater core (heat exchanger)
71 tank part 75 core part 31 heat exchanger accommodating part 32 tank holding part 33 pressing ribs 33A, 33A 'rib (contact part on the near side in the insertion direction)
33B, 33B 'rib (contact portion on the back side in the insertion direction)
33C A portion of the pressing rib excluding the contact portions 33A and 33B 34 Seal rib

Claims (4)

In a heat exchanger fixing structure for fixing a heat exchanger including a core portion and a pair of tank portions arranged on both sides of the core portion to a heat exchanger accommodating portion of a unit case,
The heat exchanger housing section includes a pair of tank holding sections for inserting and fixing the pair of tank sections,
The pair of tank holding parts are respectively
Each has a pressing rib and a seal rib formed so as to protrude from the wall surface of the unit case and face each other at an interval in the flow direction of air in the unit case,
The pressing rib is configured to act to press the tank portion against the seal rib at at least two points along the longitudinal direction of the tank portion,
The seal rib is formed along the longitudinal direction of the tank part, and when the tank part is pressed against the seal rib by the pressing rib, air flowing in the unit case bypasses the core part. A fixing structure for the heat exchanger, wherein the fixing structure is configured to prevent the water from flowing around the outer peripheral surface of the tank portion and flowing downstream. The fixing structure for a heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the pressing rib and the sealing rib each have a cross-sectional shape having a small contact area with the tank portion. 3. The heat according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the pressing rib other than a contact portion with the tank portion is formed so as to protrude toward the tank portion so as to exert a sealing action. 4. Fixed structure of exchanger. In the pressing rib, a contact portion with the tank portion, the contact portion on the near side in the insertion direction of the heat exchanger into the heat exchanger accommodating portion, has elasticity. 4. The fixing structure for a heat exchanger according to any one of items 2 and 3.

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