JP2008116079A - Heat exchanger - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To comparatively easily perform a fitting process of header tanks 5a, 5b in a radiator. <P>SOLUTION: The header tanks 5a, 5b are fitted by locking each of tank locking claws 71 of a tank main body 50b to a core plate 50a in a state of penetrating through holes 57 for the tank locking claws, of the core plate 50a. Accordingly, as it is different from conventional technology, it is unnecessary to crimp each claw portion of the core plate, and the fitting process of the header tanks 5a, 5b can be comparatively easily performed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a heat exchanger.

  In the conventional heat exchanger, a plurality of tubes through which fluid flows, heat exchange fins joined to the outer surface of the tubes, and a first fluid that communicates with each of the plurality of tubes and divides the fluid into the plurality of tubes. And a second header tank that communicates with each of the plurality of tubes and collects fluid from the plurality of tubes.

  In this structure, each of the first and second header tanks includes a core plate to which a tube is joined, and a tank body that forms a tank internal space together with the core plate.

  Here, a plurality of claw portions are provided on the core plate, and the tank body and the core plate are fastened by crimping the plurality of claw portions in a state where the packing is sandwiched between the tank body and the core plate.

  In the above heat exchanger, it is necessary to sequentially caulk the plurality of claws of the tank body against the core plate in order to fasten the tank body and the core plate. Invite.

  An object of this invention is to provide the heat exchanger which made it possible to assemble | attach a header tank comparatively easily in view of the said point.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, the tank body is provided with a locking claw portion for locking to the core plate, and the locking claw portion is inserted into the core plate. A locking hole is provided, and the locking claw is locked to the core plate in a state of being inserted into the locking hole.

  This allows the header tank to be assembled without caulking the claw by simply inserting the locking claw into the locking hole and locking it to the core plate. Assembly can be performed relatively easily.

(First embodiment)
1 to 4 show a first embodiment in which a heat exchanger according to the present invention is applied to a radiator 1 of a vehicle air conditioner. FIG. 1 is a front view of the radiator 1 of the present embodiment as viewed from the air flow direction.

  The radiator 1 of the present embodiment is a heat exchanger that is disposed in an engine room of an automobile and cools engine cooling water with blown air blown from a blower.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the radiator 1 includes a plurality of tubes 2, fins 3, side plates 4a and 4b, and header tanks 5a and 5b.

  The plurality of tubes 2 are arranged in a line in a fixed direction (vertical direction in the figure), and are flat tubes through which engine cooling water flowing out from the engine flows. These tubes 2 are heat conducting materials such as an aluminum alloy. It is made of light metal with a high rate. In the present embodiment, as a member constituting the tube 2, a clad material whose front surface (or back surface) is coated with a filler material is used.

  The fins 3 are joined to the outer surface of the tube 2 to increase the heat transfer area with the cooling air and promote heat exchange between the air and the engine coolant. As the fin 3 according to the present embodiment, a corrugated fin that is roller-shaped in a wave shape as viewed from the flow direction with the cooling air is employed. The fins 3 together with the plurality of tubes 2 constitute a substantially rectangular core portion 4 that cools the engine coolant.

  The side plates 4 a and 4 b are arranged so as to sandwich the core portion 4 from the up and down direction in FIG. 1 and extend in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the tube 2 to reinforce the core portion 4. The side plates 4a and 4b are made of a light metal such as an aluminum alloy.

  The header tanks 5a and 5b are located on both ends of the tube 2 in the longitudinal direction, extend in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the tube 2 and communicate with each tube 2. In this embodiment, the header tank on the right side in the figure 5a distributes the high-temperature engine cooling water flowing out from the engine to each tube 2, and the header tank 5b on the left side in FIG. 1 receives the engine cooling water cooled (that is, heat exchanged) by the core portion 4. It is recovered from each tube 2 and returned to the engine.

  Here, the introduction pipe 6a is connected to the engine cooling water outflow side of the engine, and the outlet pipe 6b is connected to the engine cooling water inflow side of the engine.

  The header tanks 5a and 5b have substantially the same shape (excluding the pipes 6a and 6b). Hereinafter, the structure of the header tank 5a will be described as a representative example. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the header tank 5a has a core plate 50a and a tank body 50b that constitutes a tank internal space 50c together with the core plate 50a.

  The core plate 50a is a substantially rectangular plate member made of an aluminum alloy, and the core plate 50a is formed to have a convex cross section toward the inside of the tank space 50c.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of through holes 56 (showing thirteen through holes 56 in FIG. 3) are provided on the center side of the core plate 50a. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a single core plate 50a. The plurality of through holes 56 of the core plate 50 a are arranged in a line, and one end portions of the plurality of tubes 2 are penetrated through the plurality of through holes 56.

  As shown in FIG. 4, an annular flat surface portion 51 that is formed in an annular shape along the outer periphery is provided on the outer peripheral portion side of the core plate 50 a. FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a part of the core plate 50a.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of tank locking claw holes 57 (12 tank locking claw holes 57 in FIG. 3 are formed in the annular flat portion 51. The plurality of tank locking claw holes 57 are formed in a rectangular shape and are arranged in an annular shape so as to surround the tank internal space 50c. The tank locking claw hole 57 corresponds to a “locking claw portion” recited in the claims.

  Two through holes 59 through which the side plates 4a and 4b pass are provided in the annular flat surface portion 51 of the core plate 50a. One through hole 59 is disposed between two tank locking claw holes 57 on one end side in the arrangement direction of the tubes 2 among the plurality of tank locking claw holes 57, and the other through hole 59 is Of the plurality of tank locking claw holes 57, the two tank locking claw holes 57 on the other end side in the arrangement direction of the tubes 2 are disposed.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a seal surface 60 is provided inside the tank locking claw hole 57 in the annular flat surface portion 51 of the core plate 50 a. The seal surface 60 is formed to extend in an annular shape so as to surround the tank internal space 50 c, and a seal material 70 is applied to the seal surface 60. The sealing material 70 is applied so as to extend in an annular shape so as to surround the tank internal space 50c.

  The seal surface 60 is provided with a groove portion 61 having a semicircular cross section, and the groove portion 61 is formed to extend in an annular shape so as to surround the tank internal space 50c. That is, the groove 61 is arranged so as to be curved along the seal surface 60. As will be described later, a part of the sealing material 70 protrudes into the groove 61 to stabilize the position of the sealing material 70.

  The groove 61 of the seal surface 60 is not limited to a semicircular cross section, and may be formed in a V-shaped cross section. Further, as the plate material constituting the core plate 50a and the side plates 4a and 4b, a clad material in which at least one surface is coated with a filler material is used.

  Sealing material 70 seals between core plate 50a and tank body 50b to prevent engine coolant from leaking from tank internal space 50c. As the sealing material 70 of this embodiment, an ultraviolet curable resin such as an acrylic resin is used, and as the sealing material 70, a resin material that is particularly less deteriorated than the antifreeze contained in the engine cooling water is preferable. In addition, as the sealing material 70, not only an ultraviolet curable resin but the thermosetting resin hardened | cured with a heat | fever can be used.

  The tank main body 50b is made of a resin material, and is formed into a U-shaped cross section having a recess that forms the tank internal space 50c together with the core plate 50a. A seal surface 53 is formed at the end 52 of the tank body 50b. The seal surface 53 is formed in an annular shape so as to surround the tank internal space 50 c, and the seal surface 53 is in contact with the seal material 70 and sandwiches the seal material 70 together with the seal surface 60.

  Specifically, wall portions 53a and 53b and a projecting portion 53c having a semicircular cross section are provided on the seal surface 53 of the tank body 50b. As shown in FIG. 2, the walls 53 a and 53 b protrude toward the sealing material 70 and are held from an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the sealing material 70. That is, the wall parts 53a and 53b stabilize the position of the sealing material 70 from the side.

  The protruding portion 53 c protrudes toward the sealing material 70 and is located at the center of the sealing surface 53 in the direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the sealing material 70. The projecting portion 53c stabilizes the position by pressing the sealing material 70 and compressing it by elastic deformation, and ensures an appropriate compression rate.

  The protrusion 53c corresponds to a “protrusion that protrudes toward the seal portion and compresses the seal portion by elastic deformation” described in the claims.

  A plurality of locking claws 71 are provided on the outer peripheral portion side of the seal surface 53 in the end portion 52 of the tank main body 50b. As shown in FIG. 5, the plurality of locking claws 71 penetrate through the tank locking claw holes 57 of the core plate 50a. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a part of the tank body 50b and the core plate 50a.

  As shown in FIG. 6, two tank locking claws 71 are inserted into the tank locking claw holes 57 of the core plate 50a. A protrusion 71a is provided at the tip of the tank locking claw hole 57 and is formed in a key shape. FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of only the portion C in FIG.

  The protrusion 71a corresponds to a “protrusion that protrudes in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the force is applied and engages with the core plate” described in the claims.

  Here, the protrusions 71a of the two tank locking claws 71 inserted into one tank locking claw hole 57 are opposite to each other, and the internal pressure of the tank internal space 50c described later is reduced. It protrudes in a direction (arrow Y direction in FIG. 6) perpendicular to the operation direction (front side in FIG. 5).

The operating direction of the internal pressure is a direction of force applied to the tank locking claw 71 of the tank main body 50b when the internal pressure increases, and specifically, the internal pressure of the tank internal space 50c. When the pressure is high, a force is applied to press the tank locking claw 71 toward the outer peripheral end in the direction of arrow g in FIG.
Next, a method for manufacturing the radiator 1 according to this embodiment will be described.

  First, a plurality of tubes 2, a core plate 50a, fins 3, and side plates 4a and 4b are prepared.

  Next, after the fins 3 are loaded between the plurality of tubes 2 arranged at predetermined intervals and the core portion 4 is temporarily assembled, as shown in FIG. 7, each core plate 50a of the header tank 5a is penetrated. The tubes 2 and the side plates 4a and 4b are inserted into the holes 56 and 59, respectively.

  Next, the inner diameter of one end portion of the tube 2 in the longitudinal direction (that is, a portion of the tube 2 that reaches the portion corresponding to the tank internal space 50c through the core plate 50a) is enlarged, and the tube 2 is The tube 2 and the core plate 50a are temporarily fixed by expanding the tube.

  Next, the tubes 2 and the side plates 4a and 4b are inserted into the through holes 56 of the core plate 50a of the header tank 5b. Accordingly, the inner diameter of the other end portion in the longitudinal direction of the tube 2 is enlarged, and the tube 2 is expanded to temporarily fix each tube 2 and the core plate 50a of the header tank 5b.

  As a result, the temporary fixing (temporary assembly) of the core plates 50a, the tubes 2, the fins 3, and the side plates 4a and 4b of the header tanks 5a and 5b is completed, and this state is held by the jig and is kept in the furnace. The core portion 4 (that is, the tube 2 and the fin 3), the side plates 4a and 4b, and the core plate 50a are integrally joined by brazing.

Next, a liquid (or gel) sealing material 70 is applied so as to extend annularly on the sealing surface 60 of the core plate 50a of the header tank 5a. In this specification, the direction in which the sealing material 70 is applied is referred to as the “extending direction of the sealing material 70”.
In addition, when the sealing material 70 is applied, the gel-like sealing material 70 has a cross-sectional shape that is convex upward (opposite to the sealing surface 53). In other words, the sealing material 70 is applied to the sealing surface 53 so that the cross-sectional shape of the gel-like sealing material 70 protrudes upward.

  Next, the liquid sealing material 70 is applied to the core plate 50a of the header tank 5b as in the case of the header tank 5a. Thereafter, the sealing material 70 applied to each core plate 50a of the header tanks 5a and 5b is irradiated with ultraviolet rays and cured.

  Next, each tank locking claw 71 of the tank body 50b is inserted into the tank locking claw hole 57 of the core plate 50a of the header tank 5a. At this time, each tank locking claw 71 comes into contact with the core plate 50 a and elastically deforms in the direction of arrow P in FIG. 6 and penetrates the tank locking claw hole 57. Thereafter, the protruding portion 71a of the tank locking claw 71 is locked to the core plate 50a with the tank locking claw hole 57 penetrating.

  At this time, the above-described cured sealing material 70 is sandwiched and compressed between the sealing surface 60 of the core plate 50a and the sealing surface 53 of the tank body 50b.

  Specifically, with the wall portions 53a and 53b of the tank body 50b holding the sealing material 70 from the side, the protruding portion 53c of the tank body 50b presses and compresses the sealing material 70. Thereby, the assembly of the header tank 5a is completed.

  Similarly, the tank body 50b is locked to the core plate 50a of the header tank 5b, and the seal material 70 is elastically deformed between the seal surface 60 of the core plate 50a and the seal surface 53 of the tank body 50b. The header tank 5b is assembled.

  In the present embodiment described above, each tank locking claw 71 of the tank main body 50b is inserted into the tank locking claw hole 57 of the core plate 50a and locked to the core plate 50a. The tanks 5a and 5b are assembled. Therefore, unlike the prior art, it is not necessary to caulk each claw portion of the core plate, and the assembly process of the header tanks 5a and 5b can be performed relatively easily.

  In the present embodiment, a plurality of tank locking claw holes 57 and a sealing surface 60 are provided in one annular flat surface portion 51 of the core plate 50a. That is, the plurality of tank locking claw holes 57 and the seal surface 60 are formed on the same plane.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8, it is also conceivable that a groove portion M having a U-shaped cross section is formed in the core plate 50 a, and the U-shaped inner surface of the groove portion M is used as the seal surface 60. In this case, the positional deviation can be prevented by disposing the sealing material 70 in the groove M. However, since the size of the core part 4 in the height direction (arrow H) (that is, the dimension in the longitudinal direction of the tube 2) is limited by the groove part M, the size of the core part 4 cannot be increased, and the core part The efficiency of heat exchange by 4 cannot be increased.

  On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the plurality of tank locking claw holes 57 and the seal surface 60 are provided in one annular flat surface portion 51 of the core plate 50a, and the groove portion M is not provided. For this reason, since it does not receive the restriction | limiting of the dimension of the height direction of the core part 4, it becomes possible to enlarge the physique of the core part 4, and the efficiency of the heat exchange by the core part 4 can be raised.

  In the present embodiment, the liquid sealing material 70 is applied and cured to the sealing surface 60 of the core plate 50a, and the cured sealing material 50 is in close contact with the sealing surface 53 of the core plate 50a due to adhesiveness. The core plate 50a and the tank body 50b are assembled in a state in which the material 70 is elastically deformed and the space between the seal surface 60 of the core plate 50a and the seal surface 53 of the tank body 50b is sealed.

  For this reason, since the sealing material 70 is in close contact with the sealing surface 60 of the core plate 50a due to adhesiveness, the sealing material 70 is twisted or misaligned when the core plate 50a and the tank body 50b are assembled. Can be avoided. This makes it difficult for a minute gap to be formed between the seal surface 53 of the tank body 50b and the seal surface 60 of the core plate 50a, thereby preventing fluid leakage.

  In the present embodiment, the core plate 50a is formed to have a convex cross-section toward the inside of the tank space 50c. For example, when the core plate 50a is simply planar (see FIG. 9 (a)), when the internal pressure of the tank internal space 50c increases, the core plate 50a has an internal pressure as shown in FIG. 9 (b). Deforms with the rise of.

  On the other hand, as described above, the core plate 50a is formed so as to have a convex cross-section toward the inside of the tank space 50c. Therefore, even if the internal pressure of the tank space 50c increases (FIG. 9C). The core plate 50a is difficult to deform (see FIG. 9D).

  In the present embodiment, two through holes 59 through which the side plates 4 a and 4 b are penetrated in the annular flat surface portion 51 of the core plate 50 a are disposed outside the seal surface 60. For this reason, compared with the case where the two through-holes 59 are arrange | positioned inside the sealing surface 60, the dimension of the arrangement direction of the tube 2 can be enlarged in the core part 4. FIG. That is, since the number of tubes 2 arranged can be increased, the heat exchange efficiency can be increased.

  In the present embodiment, the protruding portion 71a of the tank locking claw 71 passes through the tank locking claw hole 57 and protrudes in a direction perpendicular to the operating direction of the internal pressure of the tank internal space 50c. It is locked to the core plate 50a. For this reason, compared with the case where the protruding portion 71a of the tank locking claw 71 protrudes in the same direction as the operation direction of the internal pressure of the tank internal space 50c, the locking by the tank locking claw 71 is less likely to be released. Can do.

(Second Embodiment)
In the first embodiment described above, the example in which the single protrusion 53c is provided on the seal surface 53 of the tank body 50b has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and two protrusions 53c are provided as shown in FIG. May be.

  Here, the two protrusions 53c are located on both ends in the orthogonal direction to the extending direction (application direction) of the sealing material 70 in the seal surface 53, and the two protrusions 53c are respectively The sealing material 70 is compressed.

(Third embodiment)
In the above-described first embodiment, the example in which the plurality of tank locking claw holes 57 through which the locking claw 71 of the tank main body 50b passes is provided in the annular flat surface portion 51 of the core plate 50a. Instead, as shown in FIG. 11, a plurality of notches 57 having openings 57 c that open to the outer peripheral side may be provided.

  Here, in order to prevent the locking claw 71 from moving out of the notch 57 by moving to the outer peripheral side in the notch 57, a disengagement prevention part 57a is provided. Projecting toward the portion 57c and facing each other.

Here, the detachment preventing portion 57a may protrude downward as shown in FIG. 12, or may protrude upward as shown in FIG. Further, as shown in FIG. 13, an inclined portion 80 may be provided between the notch portion 57 and the seal surface 60 so that the position of the notch portion 57 in the height direction is shifted with respect to the seal surface 60 ( Other embodiments)
In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the liquid (or gel) sealing material 70 is applied to the core plate 50a has been described. Alternatively, the sealing material 70 may be applied to the tank body 50b.

In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the heat exchanger according to the present invention is applied to a radiator has been described. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and a heater core unit, which is a heat exchanger that forms a header tank with a core plate and a tank body, You may apply to various heat exchangers, such as an evaporator. Here, the fluid flowing in the heat exchanger is not limited to engine cooling water, and a refrigerant or the like can be used.

It is a figure which shows the structure of 1st Embodiment of the radiator which concerns on this invention. It is AA sectional drawing of FIG. It is a figure which shows the core plate in FIG. It is a partial expanded sectional view of the core plate in FIG. It is a figure which shows a part of tank main body and core plate of FIG. It is the elements on larger scale of the tank main body of FIG. It is a fragmentary sectional view of the core plate periphery of FIG. It is a fragmentary sectional view around the conventional core plate. It is a figure for demonstrating the effect of the core plate of FIG. It is a figure which shows a part of tank main body of 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows a part of core plate of 3rd Embodiment in this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the modification of the detachment | blocking prevention part of the header tank of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the modification of the detachment | blocking prevention part of the header tank of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the modification of the detachment | blocking prevention part of the header tank of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

2 ... tube, 3 ... fin, 4a, 4b ... side plate,
5a, 5b ... header tank, 50b ... tank body,
50a ... Core plate, 53, 60 ... Sealing surface, 70 ... Sealing material.

Claims (18)

Multiple tubes through which fluid flows;
A fin joined to the outer surface of the tube to facilitate heat exchange;
A header tank disposed in the longitudinal direction of the tube and communicating with each of the plurality of tubes;
The header tank is a heat exchanger configured to include a core plate to which the tube is joined, and a tank body that forms a space in the tank together with the core plate.
The tank body is provided with a locking claw for locking to the core plate,
The core plate is provided with a locking hole into which the locking claw is inserted,
The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the locking claw is locked to the core plate in a state of being inserted into the locking hole. The locking hole is a notch opening on the outer peripheral side of the core plate,
The said core plate is provided with the removal prevention part which prevents that the said nail | claw part for latching moves to the said outer peripheral part side from the inside of the said notch part, and is removed. Heat exchanger. A seal portion is provided between the core plate and the tank main body so as to extend in an annular shape so as to surround the space inside the tank, and to seal between the core plate and the tank main body. And
3. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein a sealing surface of the core plate with which the sealing portion comes into contact and the locking hole portion are formed on the same plane. The heat exchanger according to claim 3, wherein the tank body is provided with a wall portion that supports the seal portion from at least one side. 5. The projecting portion according to claim 3, wherein a projecting portion that projects toward the seal portion and compresses the seal portion by elastic deformation is provided on a seal surface in contact with the seal portion of the tank body. The described heat exchanger. The heat exchanger according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the protrusion is formed in a semicircular cross section. The heat exchanger according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the protruding portion is provided on a central side in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the seal portion of the seal surface of the tank body. The heat exchanger according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the protrusions are provided on both end sides in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the seal portion of the seal surface of the tank body. The heat exchanger according to any one of claims 3 to 8, wherein the seal portion is obtained by curing a liquid seal material. The seal portion is obtained by applying and curing the liquid seal material to any one member of the tank body and the core plate,
Further, the sealing portion is characterized in that a liquid sealing material is applied so that a cross-section thereof becomes a convex shape toward the other member other than the one member of the tank body and the core plate. The heat exchanger according to claim 9. The seal surface of the core plate is provided with an annular groove formed in an annular shape so as to surround the space in the tank,
The heat exchanger according to any one of claims 3 to 10, wherein the seal portion is disposed so as to protrude into an annular groove portion of the core plate. The heat exchanger according to claim 11, wherein the annular groove has a semicircular cross section. The heat exchanger according to claim 11, wherein the annular groove has a V-shaped cross section. The heat exchanger according to any one of claims 3 to 13, wherein the hooking claw portion is disposed on the outer peripheral portion side of a seal surface in contact with the seal portion in the tank main body. . A force is applied to the locking claw part toward the outer peripheral side of the core plate due to an increase in the internal pressure of the tank internal space,
The locking claw portion includes a protruding portion that protrudes in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the force is applied and locks against the core plate in a state of passing through the locking hole. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger is a heat exchanger. The plurality of tubes are arranged in a line,
Comprising two side plates arranged so as to sandwich the plurality of tubes from the direction in which the tubes are arranged;
The core plate is provided with an insertion hole into which an end of the side plate is inserted,
The end of the side plate is fixed by brazing to the core plate in a state of being inserted into the insertion port,

The heat exchanger according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the insertion hole is provided on an outer peripheral side of the seal surface. The core plate is provided with a plurality of the locking holes,
The plurality of locking holes are arranged in an annular shape so as to surround the space in the tank,
The heat exchange according to claim 16, wherein the insertion hole into which the side plate is inserted is disposed between any two of the plurality of locking holes. vessel. The heat exchanger according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the core plate is formed so as to protrude into the space in the tank.

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