JP2010139208A - Heat exchanger - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a heat exchanger with superior fluidity of a heat carrier capable of substantially evenly passing the heat carrier through each heat exchange tube while corresponding to requests of miniaturization and weight reduction of a tank part, and as a result, miniaturization and weight reduction of a whole of the heat exchanger. <P>SOLUTION: The heat exchanger includes tank parts in an inlet side and an outlet side of the heat carrier, both tank parts are mutually communicated by a plurality of the heat exchange tubes arranged in parallel with each other, an inlet side pipe joint connected to external piping is joined to a longitudinal one end of the heat carrier inlet side tank part, and an outlet side pipe joint connected to the external piping is joined to a longitudinal one end of the heat carrier outlet side tank part. In the heat exchanger, an outward swelling part is provided on a tank width direction center part in a pipe joint junction of at least one tank part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a heat exchanger in which a pipe joint for connecting a pipe into which a heat medium is introduced and connected is joined.

For example, a heat exchanger used in a heater core of a vehicle air conditioner is known in which a pipe as an external pipe for introducing and removing cooling water is connected to a tank unit (for example, Patent Document 1). . In this heat exchanger, a communication member (pipe joint) for connecting a pipe having a diameter larger than the height of the tank section in cross section is provided at the engine coolant (warm water) outlet of the tank section.
JP 2002-62084 A

  In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for smaller and lighter heater cores for vehicle air conditioners (in addition to reducing the weight of the heat exchanger itself, including the weight of the heat medium when it is full), and reducing the size of the tank. By doing so, attempts have been made to respond to such requests. However, when trying to reduce the size of the tank part in the heat exchanger having a structure as described in Patent Document 1, the diameter of the pipe as the external pipe is almost determined in relation to other equipment. The gap of the caliber becomes too large between the upstream side and the downstream side, and it is difficult to absorb the gap of the caliber with only the communication member. Further, in the heat exchanger having the structure as described in Patent Document 1, particularly on the cooling water introduction side, the flow of the cooling water introduced from the pipe connection portion to the tank portion is caused to flow in the tank portion longitudinal direction in the tank portion. Due to the directivity of the straight line, there was a problem that the cooling water did not easily flow through the tube connected to the tank part near the pipe connection part.

  Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to allow the heat medium to be distributed almost evenly through each heat exchange tube while responding to the demand for downsizing and weight reduction of the tank part, and hence downsizing and weight reduction of the entire heat exchanger. Another object is to provide a heat exchanger excellent in fluidity of the heat medium.

  In order to solve the above problems, a heat exchanger according to the present invention includes tank portions on the inlet side and the outlet side of a heat medium, and communicates between the tank portions with a plurality of heat exchange tubes arranged in parallel. In addition, an inlet side pipe joint connected to an external pipe is joined to one end portion in the longitudinal direction of the heat medium inlet side tank portion, and an outlet side pipe connected to the external pipe at one end portion in the longitudinal direction of the heat medium outlet side tank portion In the heat exchanger in which the joints are joined, an outwardly bulging portion is provided in the pipe joint joining portion of at least one tank portion. In the heat exchanger of the present invention, since the bulging portion is provided at the pipe joint joint portion of at least one tank portion of the heat medium inlet side or outlet side, the tank portion is connected to the pipe joint joint portion. And other portions can be formed in different diameters, and the degree of freedom in designing the tank portion can be increased. And a tank part is reduced in size by forming a tank part so that an outer diameter may become small in a site | part other than a pipe joint junction part. Furthermore, by forming the tank part so that the inner diameter of the other part is smaller than the pipe joint joint part, the weight of the tank part when the heat medium is filled therein is reduced.

  In the heat exchanger according to the present invention, it is preferable that the bulging portion is formed so that the end surface crosses a part of the cross section of the pipe joint. By forming the bulging portion in this way, the tank portion can be reduced in size and weight even at the pipe joint joint portion.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the said bulging part is formed so that it may consist of a curved bulging part which has the end surface of the curved bulging shape. In particular, it is preferable that the bulging portion is provided at a central portion in the tank width direction. By forming the bulging portion in this manner, the flow of the heat medium in the heat exchange tube disposed in the vicinity of the pipe joint joint portion of the tank portion and the flow of the heat medium in the pipe connected to the pipe joint are reduced. Are connected smoothly and continuously through the bulging portion. In particular, when the bulging portion is provided in the inlet side tank portion, the flow directionality toward the heat exchange tube near the pipe joint joint is imparted to the heat medium introduced from the inlet side pipe. Therefore, the fluidity of the heat medium in the heat exchange tube near the pipe joint joint is improved. Furthermore, since the bulging part is also provided in the outlet side tank part, flow directivity from the heat exchange tube in the vicinity of the pipe joint joint to the outlet side pipe is provided, and the heat exchange tube in the vicinity of the pipe joint joint is provided. The fluidity of the internal heat medium is further improved.

  The bulging portion may be formed of a rectangular bulging portion having a substantially rectangular end surface. That is, the end face of the bulging portion can be formed in a shape that bulges uniformly in a certain amount in the tank width direction, not in a shape that protrudes in part in the tank width direction as described above. By forming the bulging portion in this manner, the cross section of the pipe joint can be enlarged in the tank width direction, and the cross sectional area of the internal flow path of the pipe joint can be increased. In this case, the cross-sectional shape of the internal flow path of the pipe joint is circular for external piping with respect to the pipe joint portion on the external piping connection side, and for the connection side portion to the tank portion, for example, in the tank width direction An ellipse or an ellipse having a major axis of By doing so, even when the diameter of the pipe (external piping) connected to the pipe joint is relatively large, it is not necessary to enlarge the cross section of the tank joint connection side portion of the pipe joint in the tank height direction. As a result, an increase in the height of the tank portion can be suppressed.

  In the present invention, it is preferable that the tank portion includes a constant cross-sectional portion having a substantially constant cross-sectional shape in a portion other than the bulging portion in the longitudinal direction. In particular, it is preferable that the bulging portion is formed in a tapered shape and connected to the constant cross section. By making the tank part a relatively simple structure composed of such a constant cross-sectional part and a bulging part, the processing of the heat exchanger component can be facilitated. For example, the bulging portion can be formed by deep drawing.

  The present invention can be suitably applied to a heat exchanger in which the flow path of the heat medium has a one-pass structure. In heat exchangers with a one-pass structure for the flow path of the heat medium, there is no partition inside the tank part, so the flow of each heat exchange tube is not sufficiently uniform, and there is a risk that a single flow is likely to occur. In particular, the fluidity of the heat exchange tube in the vicinity of the joint portion of the pipe joint tends to deteriorate. By applying the present invention to such a one-pass heat exchanger, the flow of each heat exchange tube is made uniform, and the performance of the heat exchanger is improved.

  The heat exchanger of the present invention can be suitably used for a heater core of a vehicle air conditioner that is particularly required to be reduced in size and weight.

  According to the heat exchanger according to the present invention, since the bulging portion is provided in the pipe joint joint portion of the tank portion on the inlet side or the outlet side of the heat medium, the outer diameter at the other portion than the pipe joint joint portion. By forming the tank portion so as to be small, the tank portion can be reduced in size and weight. Moreover, it becomes possible to improve the fluidity | liquidity of the heat medium in the heat exchange tube of a pipe joint junction vicinity by curving a bulging part. Furthermore, by bulging the bulging part in a rectangular shape, even when the diameter of the pipe (external piping) is relatively large, the section of the pipe joint tank part connection side portion is not enlarged in the tank height direction. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the size around the tank.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a heat exchanger 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which (A) is a perspective view of a state before a pipe is connected to pipe joints 2 and 3, and (B) is a pipe joint 2. 3 is a perspective view of a state in which pipes 4 and 5 are connected to 3 respectively. In FIG. 1B, the flow of the heat medium is introduced into the heat exchanger 1 through the inlet side pipe 4 connected to the inlet side pipe joint 2 of the heat exchanger 1 and discharged through the outlet side pipe 5. It has become a trend. First, the heat medium flows into the inlet side tank unit 6 through the inlet side pipe 4. A plurality of heat exchange tubes 8 are arranged in parallel between the inlet side tank unit 6 and the outlet side tank unit 7, and the tank units 6 and 7 communicate with each other by the heat exchange tube 8. When the heat medium in the inlet side tank unit 6 is transferred to the outlet side tank unit 7 through the heat exchange tube 8, heat is exchanged with the external fluid. The heat medium in the outlet side tank unit 7 is discharged to the outside of the heat exchanger 1 through the outlet side pipe 5 connected to the outlet side pipe joint 3.

  FIG. 2 shows the heat exchanger 1 of FIG. 1, (A) is a front view, (B) is a left side view, and (C) is a right side view. As shown in FIG. 2 (A), a plurality of heat exchange tubes 8 communicating with each other of the tanks 6 and 7 are arranged in the tank longitudinal direction and alternately stacked with a plurality of heat exchange fins 9, End plates 10 are provided at both ends in the stacking direction. In the pipe joints 2 and 3 of the tank parts 6 and 7, bulging parts 11 and 12 to the outside of the tank are formed in a tapered shape, and partially cross the cross section of the pipe joints 2 and 3 respectively. Yes. 2A to 2C, the tank portions 6 and 7 are formed so as to have a substantially constant cross-sectional shape in portions other than the bulging portions 11 and 12. Yes.

  FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a state in which the heat exchanger 1 of FIG. 1 is disassembled. In FIG. 3, the pipe joints 2 and 3 are joined to one end of the tank members 6a and 7a in the tank longitudinal direction, and the tank members 6b and 7b are joined to the other ends, respectively. The tank members 6c and 7c are formed with bulging portions 11 and 12, respectively. The bulging portions 11 and 12 are curved and bulged in a direction in which the cross-sectional areas of the tank portions 6 and 7 are enlarged, and are fitted to the outer surfaces of the pipe joints 2 and 3, respectively. Thus, the tank member 6a, 6b, 6c and the pipe joint 2 form the inner wall of the tank portion 6. FIG. 3 shows an example of a heat exchanger having a one-pass structure in which the flow direction of the heat medium in all the heat exchange tubes 8 is the same direction, but a predetermined position between the tank members 6a and 6c. It is also possible to form a heat exchanger having a structure other than the one-pass structure in which the flow direction of the heat medium in the heat exchange tube 8 is not uniform by partitioning the tank unit 6 into a plurality of chambers. Further, the inner wall of the tank portion 7 is formed by the tank members 7 a, 7 b, 7 c and the pipe joint 3 on the outlet side as well as the inlet side.

  4 is a partially enlarged view of the disassembled state of the heat exchanger 1 shown in FIG. 3, (A) is a partially enlarged perspective view in the vicinity of the pipe joint 3, and (B) is in the vicinity of the tank member 7b. (C) is the partial expansion perspective view of the intermediate vicinity of (A) and (B). 4A, the bulging portion 12 formed at one end in the tank longitudinal direction of the tank member 7c is formed in a curved shape that bulges in the direction in which the cross-sectional area of the tank portion 7 is enlarged. By forming such a bulging portion 12, it is possible to reduce the size of the tank portion 7 while securing a joint portion between the bulging portion 12 and the pipe joint 3. Furthermore, by forming the bulging portion 12 into a curved bulging shape, directivity toward the pipe 5 connected to the pipe joint 3 is given to the heat medium flow in the heat exchange tube 8. In addition, the fluidity of the heat medium is improved.

  4B, the tank member 7b is provided with an engagement protrusion 14 that can be engaged with the engagement hole 13 on the tank member 7c, and the engagement protrusion 14 is engaged with the engagement hole 13. The inner wall of the tank portion 7 on the side opposite to the pipe joint joint is formed by brazing in the state where the tank portion 7 is brazed. Further, in FIG. 4C, a flat heat exchange tube 8 formed by bending a flat plate is connected to the tank members 6c and 7c by brazing. In this way, the tank portions 6 and 7 are communicated with the heat exchange tube 8.

  5 is a partially enlarged view of the tank member 7c of FIG. 3, in which (A) is a partially enlarged perspective view of the vicinity of the bulging portion 12 as viewed obliquely from above, and (B) is the vicinity of the bulging portion 12. Is a partially enlarged perspective view of the engagement hole 13 viewed from obliquely below, and (C) is a partially enlarged perspective view of the vicinity of the engagement hole 13 as viewed obliquely from above. As shown in FIGS. 5 (A) and 5 (B), the bulging portion 12 has a curved and bulging shape at the center in the tank width direction of the tank member 7c forming the outlet side tank portion 7. Is formed. Such a bulging portion 12 can be formed by, for example, deep drawing. Also, the tank member 6c forming the inlet side tank portion 6 can be formed in the same manner as the tank member 7c.

  6A and 6B show a heat exchanger 20 according to another embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 6A is a perspective view before a pipe is connected to the pipe joints 2 and 3, and FIG. 6B is a pipe joint. It is a perspective view of the state where pipes 4 and 5 are connected to 2 and 3, respectively. In FIG. 6B, the flow of the heat medium is introduced into the heat exchanger 20 through the inlet side pipe 4 connected to the inlet side pipe joint 2 of the heat exchanger 20 and discharged through the outlet side pipe 5. It has become a trend. First, the heat medium flows into the inlet side tank portion 16 through the inlet side pipe 4. A plurality of heat exchange tubes 8 are arranged in parallel between the inlet side tank unit 16 and the outlet side tank unit 17, and the tank units 16 and 17 are communicated with each other by the heat exchange tube 8. When the heat medium in the inlet side tank unit 16 is transferred to the outlet side tank unit 17 through the heat exchange tube 8, heat is exchanged with the external fluid. The heat medium in the outlet side tank unit 17 is discharged to the outside of the heat exchanger 20 through the outlet side pipe 5 connected to the outlet side pipe joint 3.

  FIG. 7 shows the heat exchanger 20 of FIG. 6, (A) is a front view, (B) is a left side view, and (C) is a right side view. As shown in FIG. 7A, a plurality of heat exchange tubes 8 communicating with each other of the tanks 16 and 17 are arranged in the tank longitudinal direction, and are stacked alternately with the plurality of heat exchange fins 9, End plates 10 are provided at both ends in the stacking direction. The pipe joints 2 and 3 joints of the tank parts 16 and 17 are formed with tapered portions 21 and 22 outwardly from the tank, and partially cross the cross sections of the pipe joints 2 and 3 respectively. Yes. 2A to 2C, the tank portions 16 and 17 are formed so as to have a substantially constant cross-sectional shape at portions other than the bulging portions 21 and 22. Yes. 6 and 7 are provided in the center in the tank direction, and have the curved bulging portions 11 and 12 having end surfaces with curved bulging shapes. , 7, there are rectangular bulging portions 21, 22 having a substantially rectangular end surface bulging uniformly in the tank width direction at the pipe joint joint portion. In other respects, FIGS. 6 to 10 are the same as FIGS. 1 to 5, and therefore, the parts having the same description are denoted by the same component numbers and the description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing a state in which the heat exchanger 20 of FIG. 6 is disassembled. In FIG. 8, pipe joints 2 and 3 are joined to one end of the tank members 16 a and 17 a in the tank longitudinal direction, and tank members 16 b and 17 b are joined to the other ends, respectively. The tank members 16c and 17c are formed with bulging portions 21 and 22, respectively. The bulging portions 21 and 22 bulge in directions in which the cross-sectional areas of the tank portions 16 and 17 are enlarged, and are fitted to the outer surfaces of the pipe joints 2 and 3, respectively. Thus, the tank member 16a, 16b, 16c and the pipe joint 2 form the inner wall of the tank portion 16. FIG. 8 shows an example of a heat exchanger having a one-pass structure in which the heat medium flows in all the heat exchange tubes 8 in the same direction. On the outlet side, the inner wall of the tank portion 17 is formed by the tank members 17a, 17b, 17c and the pipe joint 3 in the same manner as the inlet side.

  9 is a partially enlarged view of the disassembled state of the heat exchanger 20 shown in FIG. 8, (A) is a partially enlarged perspective view in the vicinity of the pipe joint 3, and (B) is in the vicinity of the tank member 17b. (C) is the partial expansion perspective view of the intermediate vicinity of (A) and (B). In FIG. 4A, the bulging portion 22 formed at one end in the tank longitudinal direction of the tank member 17c is formed in a shape bulging in a direction in which the cross-sectional area of the tank portion 17 is enlarged. By forming such a bulging portion 22, it is possible to reduce the size of the tank portion 17 while securing a joint portion between the bulging portion 22 and the pipe joint 3. Furthermore, when the diameter of the pipe connected to the pipe joint is relatively large by forming the bulging portion 22 into a shape having a substantially rectangular end surface that is uniformly bulged by a certain amount in the tank width direction. However, the section of the pipe joint 3 to which the tank portion 17 is connected need not be enlarged in the tank height direction, and as a result, an increase in the height of the tank portion 17 can be suppressed. It becomes.

  9B, the tank member 17b is provided with an engagement protrusion 14 that can be engaged with the engagement hole 13 on the tank member 17c, and the engagement protrusion 14 is engaged with the engagement hole 13. The inner wall of the tank portion 17 on the side opposite to the pipe joint joint portion is formed by brazing in the state where the tank portion 17 is brazed. In FIG. 9C, a flat heat exchange tube 8 formed by bending a flat plate is connected to the tank members 16c and 17c by brazing. In this way, the tank portions 16 and 17 are communicated with the heat exchange tube 8.

  FIG. 10 is a partially enlarged view of the tank member 17c of FIG. 8, in which (A) is a partially enlarged perspective view of the vicinity of the bulging portion 22 as viewed obliquely from above, and (B) is the vicinity of the bulging portion 22. Is a partially enlarged perspective view of the engaging hole 13 viewed from obliquely below, and (C) is a partially enlarged perspective view of the vicinity of the engaging hole 13 viewed obliquely from above. As shown in FIGS. 10 (A) and 10 (B), the bulging portion 22 is formed in a shape that uniformly bulges by a certain amount in the tank width direction of the tank member 17c forming the outlet side tank portion 17. Has been. Such a bulging portion 22 can be formed by, for example, deep drawing. Further, the tank member 16c forming the inlet side tank portion 16 can be formed in the same manner as the tank member 17c.

  The heat exchanger according to the present invention is often mounted in a narrow space, and the weight of the load affects fuel consumption. Therefore, there is a great demand for downsizing and weight reduction of the vehicle air conditioner. It is suitably used as a heat exchanger used for the heater core.

The heat exchanger which concerns on one embodiment of this invention is shown, (A) is a perspective view of the state before a pipe is connected, (B) is a perspective view of the state where the pipe was connected. The heat exchanger 1 of FIG. 1 is shown, (A) is a front view, (B) is a left view, (C) is a right view. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the decomposition | disassembly state of the heat exchanger 1 of FIG. 3 shows a disassembled state of the heat exchanger 1 in FIG. 3, (A) is a partially enlarged perspective view in the vicinity of the pipe joint, (B) is a partially enlarged perspective view in the vicinity of the tank member 7 b, and (C) is (A) and ( It is a partial expansion perspective view of the middle vicinity of B). 3A is a partial enlarged perspective view of the vicinity of the bulging portion 12 as viewed from above, and FIG. 3B is a partial enlarged perspective view of the vicinity of the bulging portion 12 as viewed from below. FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the vicinity of the engagement hole 13 as viewed from above. The heat exchanger which concerns on the other embodiment of this invention is shown, (A) is a perspective view of the state before a pipe is connected, (B) is a perspective view of the state where the pipe was connected. The heat exchanger 20 of FIG. 6 is shown, (A) is a front view, (B) is a left side view, and (C) is a right side view. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the decomposition | disassembly state of the heat exchanger 20 of FIG. 8 shows a disassembled state of the heat exchanger 20 in FIG. 8, (A) is a partially enlarged perspective view in the vicinity of the pipe joint, (B) is a partially enlarged perspective view in the vicinity of the tank member 17b, (C) is (A) and ( It is a partial expansion perspective view of the middle vicinity of B). 8A is a partial enlarged perspective view of the vicinity of the bulging portion 22 as viewed from above, and FIG. 8B is a partial enlarged perspective view of the vicinity of the bulging portion 22 as viewed from below. FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the vicinity of the engagement hole 13 as viewed from above.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 20 Heat exchanger 2, 3 Pipe joint 4, 5 Pipe 6, 7, 16, 17 Tank part 6a, 6b, 6c, 7a, 7b, 7c, 16a, 16b, 16c, 17a, 17b, 17c Tank member 8 Heat exchange tube 9 Heat exchange fin 10 End plates 11, 12, 21, 22 Swelling portion 13 Engagement hole 14 Engagement protrusion

Claims (12)

  Tank parts are provided on the inlet side and outlet side of the heat medium, and both tank parts are communicated with each other by a plurality of heat exchange tubes arranged in parallel, and external piping is provided at one end in the longitudinal direction of the heat medium inlet side tank part. In the heat exchanger in which the inlet side pipe joint connected to the outer pipe is joined to one end in the longitudinal direction of the heat medium outlet side tank part, the pipe joint of at least one tank part is joined. A heat exchanger characterized in that an outwardly bulging portion is provided at a joint portion.   The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein an end surface of the bulging portion crosses a part of a pipe joint cross section.   The heat exchanger according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the bulging portion includes a curved bulging portion having an end surface having a curved bulging shape.   The heat exchanger according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the bulging portion is provided at a central portion in the tank width direction.   The heat exchanger according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the bulging portion is formed of a rectangular bulging portion having a substantially rectangular end surface.   The heat exchanger according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the bulging portion is provided in an inlet side tank portion.   The heat exchanger according to claim 6, wherein the bulging portion is also provided in the outlet side tank portion.   The heat exchanger according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the tank portion includes a constant cross-sectional portion having a substantially constant cross-sectional shape in a portion other than the bulging portion in the longitudinal direction.   The heat exchanger according to claim 8, wherein the bulging portion is formed in a tapered shape and connected to the constant cross section.   The heat exchanger according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the bulging portion is deep drawn.   The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the flow path of the heat medium has a one-pass structure.   The heat exchanger in any one of Claims 1-11 used for the heater core of a vehicle air conditioner.

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