JP2013217594A - Fixing structure of temperature transducer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress an increase of cost associated with fitting of a temperature transducer to a header collection pipe of a heat exchanger made of aluminum or aluminum alloy.SOLUTION: A fixing member 60 fixes a temperature transducer of a temperature sensor 50 to a header collection pipe 35 of an outdoor heat exchanger made of aluminum. The temperature transducer of the temperature sensor 50 is housed in a housing 54 made of aluminum. The housing 54 of the temperature sensor 50 is fixed in thermal contact with the header collection pipe 35 with the fixing member 60. The fixing member 60 has: a housing portion 63 made of rubber and designed to house the housing 54; and holding portions 62a, 62b holding the header collection pipe 35 therebetween and made of rubber.

Description

  The present invention relates to a temperature sensing element fixing structure, and more particularly to a temperature sensing element fixing structure for detecting the temperature of a heat exchanger.

  In recent years, in order to reduce the weight of a heat exchanger, aluminum or an aluminum alloy is sometimes used not only for the fins of the heat exchanger but also for the heat transfer tubes and header collecting tubes of the heat exchanger. Generally, a temperature sensitive element such as a thermistor is attached to the heat exchanger for the purpose of temperature detection for control.

  For example, as described in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2011-69543), conventionally, a dedicated holding member is used to attach a temperature sensor to a heat exchanger made of aluminum or aluminum alloy.

  By the way, since the direct contact of the non-aluminum metal with the heat exchanger made of aluminum or aluminum alloy causes corrosion of the heat exchanger, it is necessary that such a dedicated holding member is also made of aluminum. When a dedicated holding member made of aluminum or aluminum alloy is prepared and the header collecting pipe is processed to attach the holding member to the header collecting pipe of the heat exchanger, the cost of the air conditioner equipped with the heat exchanger increases. Will do.

  The subject of this invention is suppressing the raise of the cost accompanying the attachment of the temperature sensing element to the header collecting pipe of the heat exchanger made from aluminum or aluminum alloy.

  A temperature sensing element fixing structure according to a first aspect of the present invention is a temperature sensing element fixing structure for fixing a temperature sensing element to a header collecting pipe of a heat exchanger made of aluminum or aluminum alloy. A housing made of aluminum or aluminum alloy for housing the element, a housing portion made of an elastic polymer material for housing the housing, and a sandwiching portion made of an elastic polymer material for sandwiching the header collecting pipe; And a fixing member that fixes the header in a state of being in thermal contact with the header collecting pipe.

  In the temperature sensing element fixing structure according to the first aspect, the aluminum or aluminum alloy header collecting pipe can be prevented from corroding due to the housing being made of aluminum or aluminum alloy. At the same time, the housing can be firmly pressed against the header collecting pipe by using the rubber elasticity of the storage part and the clamping part, and the fixing member is attached to the header collecting pipe while keeping the thermal contact between the housing and the header collecting pipe. It becomes easy to fix to.

  The fixing structure of the temperature sensing element according to the second aspect of the present invention is the fixing structure of the temperature sensing element according to the first aspect, wherein the holding portion of the fixing member has a C-shaped cross section that can be fitted from the side surface of the header collecting pipe. Molded.

  In the fixing structure of the temperature sensing element according to the second aspect, since the holding part is formed in a C-shaped cross section, when the fitting part is fitted from the side surface of the header collecting pipe, the holding part is pulled out from the header collecting pipe. It becomes difficult to come off even if force is applied.

  The temperature sensitive element fixing structure according to the third aspect of the present invention is the temperature sensitive element fixing structure according to the first aspect or the second aspect, wherein the holding portion of the fixing member has an inner peripheral surface in which a recess is formed. The housing portion for the fixing member is provided in a recess on the inner peripheral surface, and has a structure that keeps the state where the fixing member is elastically deformed by being pushed by the housing while being fixed to the header collecting pipe.

  In the fixing structure of the temperature sensitive element according to the third aspect, the housing structure is configured to be kept elastically deformed by being pushed by the housing, so that the housing can be firmly pressed against the header collecting pipe. In addition, due to the heat retaining effect of the inner peripheral surface of the sandwiching portion that wraps the housing and the header collecting pipe, heat is hardly taken away from the housing by air passing through the heat exchanger.

  The temperature sensing element fixing structure according to the fourth aspect of the present invention is the temperature sensing element fixing structure according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the housing extends along the longitudinal direction of the header collecting pipe. The storage portion of the fixing member that is disposed has a first elastic wall and a second elastic wall that abut against one end and the other end of the housing in the longitudinal direction to support the housing.

  In the temperature sensing element fixing structure according to the fourth aspect, when the housing is attached to the housing portion, the elastically deformed first elastic wall and the second elastic wall are brought into contact with one end and the other end of the housing so that the housing is firmly Therefore, the fixing member can be handled in a state where the housing is held by the fixing member.

  The fixing structure of the temperature sensing element according to the fifth aspect of the present invention is the fastening structure for tightening the periphery of the fixing member attached to the header collecting pipe in the temperature sensing element fixing structure according to any one of the first to fourth aspects. A member is further provided.

  In the fixing structure of the temperature sensing element according to the fifth aspect, by tightening the periphery of the fixing member with the fastening member, the elastic deformation of the sandwiching portion and the storage portion made of a polymer material having elasticity of the fixing member is further increased, The housing can be securely fixed to the header collecting pipe by the fixing member.

  In the temperature sensor fixing structure according to the first aspect, since the fixing structure is simplified, not only can the fixing structure be provided at a low cost, but also the fixing structure can be easily fixed to the header collecting pipe, thereby improving work efficiency. Thus, the operation cost can be suppressed, and the increase in cost associated with the attachment of the temperature sensitive element can be suppressed.

  In the temperature sensing element fixing structure according to the second aspect, the fixing member can be reliably fixed to the header collecting pipe, and the efficiency of the temperature sensing element mounting operation is improved.

  In the temperature sensing element fixing structure according to the third aspect, the accuracy of temperature detection can be improved.

  In the fixing structure of the temperature sensitive element according to the fourth aspect, the fixing member can be easily attached to the header collecting pipe.

  In the temperature sensing element fixing structure according to the fifth aspect, the temperature sensing element can be reliably fixed, and an increase in cost due to the attachment of the temperature sensing element can be suppressed.

The circuit diagram for demonstrating the outline | summary of a structure of the air conditioning apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment. The perspective view which shows the external appearance of an outdoor unit. The typical top view which shows the outdoor unit of the state which removed the top plate. The typical rear view which shows schematic structure of an outdoor heat exchanger. The fragmentary sectional view for demonstrating the structure of an outdoor heat exchanger. The expanded sectional view for demonstrating the structure of the heat exchange part of an outdoor heat exchanger. (A) The perspective view which shows the external appearance of a temperature sensor, (b) Typical sectional drawing which shows the outline | summary of a structure of a temperature sensor. The expanded sectional side view which shows an example of the fixing structure of a temperature sensing element. The perspective view which shows an example of the form of a fixing member. FIG. 10 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing a state in which the fixing member is cut along line II in FIG. 9. The expanded sectional side view which shows the other example of the fixing structure of a temperature sensing element. The perspective view which shows the other example of the form of a fixing member.

(1) Overall Configuration of Air Conditioner As a temperature sensitive element fixing structure according to an embodiment of the present invention, a temperature sensitive element fixing structure for detecting the temperature of the heat exchanger of the air conditioner will be described. FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing an outline of an air conditioner. The air conditioner 1 includes, for example, an indoor unit 3 installed indoors as a usage-side unit, and an outdoor unit 2 installed outdoor, for example, as a heat source side unit. This air conditioner 1 is an apparatus used for air conditioning of each room in a building by performing a vapor compression refrigeration cycle operation.

  An air conditioner 1 including an outdoor unit 2 and an indoor unit 3 includes a compressor 11, a four-way switching valve 12, an outdoor heat exchanger 13, an expansion valve 14, an indoor heat exchanger 4, and an accumulator 15. , 7 are connected to the refrigeration circuit. A refrigerant is sealed in the refrigerant circuit 10, and a refrigeration cycle operation is performed in which the refrigerant is compressed, cooled, decompressed, heated and evaporated, and then compressed again. During operation, the liquid refrigerant side closing valve 17 and the gas refrigerant side closing valve 18 of the outdoor unit 2 connected to the refrigerant communication pipes 6 and 7 are opened.

  During the cooling operation, the four-way switching valve 12 is in the state indicated by the solid line in FIG. 1, that is, the discharge side of the compressor 11 is connected to the gas side of the outdoor heat exchanger 13 and the suction side of the compressor 11 is the accumulator 15. The gas refrigerant side closing valve 18 and the refrigerant communication pipe 7 are connected to the gas side of the indoor heat exchanger 4. In the cooling operation, the air conditioner 1 uses the outdoor heat exchanger 13 as a refrigerant condenser compressed in the compressor 11 and the indoor heat exchanger 4 as a refrigerant evaporator condensed in the outdoor heat exchanger 13. To function as.

  During heating operation, the four-way switching valve 12 is in the state indicated by the broken line in FIG. 1, that is, the discharge side of the compressor 11 is on the gas side of the indoor heat exchanger 4 via the gas refrigerant side closing valve 18 and the refrigerant communication pipe 7. And the suction side of the compressor 11 is connected to the gas side of the outdoor heat exchanger 13. In the heating operation, the air conditioner 1 uses the indoor heat exchanger 4 as a refrigerant condenser compressed in the compressor 11 and the outdoor heat exchanger 13 as a refrigerant evaporator condensed in the indoor heat exchanger 4. To function as.

  In the cooling operation and the heating operation described above, the control of the refrigerant circuit 10 is performed by detecting the temperature and pressure of the refrigerant at various points in the refrigerant circuit 10. As shown in FIG. 1, the outdoor heat exchanger 13 is provided with a temperature sensor 50 for detecting the temperature of the refrigerant flowing inside the outdoor heat exchanger 13. The temperature sensor 50 is connected to the control unit 90 by an electric wire 53. In addition to the temperature sensor 50, the compressor 11, the four-way switching valve 12, the expansion valve 14, and the outdoor fan 16 are connected to the control unit 90.

(2) Detailed configuration of air conditioner (2-1) Indoor unit The indoor unit 3 is installed on a wall surface of the room by wall hanging or the like, or embedded or suspended in a ceiling of a room such as a building. The indoor unit 3 has an indoor heat exchanger 4 and an indoor fan 5. The indoor heat exchanger 4 is, for example, a cross fin type fin-and-tube heat exchanger composed of heat transfer tubes and a large number of fins, and functions as a refrigerant evaporator during cooling operation to cool indoor air. In the heating operation, the heat exchanger functions as a refrigerant condenser and heats indoor air.

(2-2) Outdoor unit The outdoor unit 2 is installed outside a building or the like, and is connected to the indoor unit 3 installed indoors via the refrigerant communication pipes 6 and 7. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the outdoor unit 2 includes a substantially rectangular parallelepiped unit casing 20. As shown in FIG. 3, the outdoor unit 2 has a structure in which the blower chamber S <b> 1 and the machine chamber S <b> 2 are formed by dividing the internal space of the unit casing 20 into two by a partition plate 28 extending in the vertical direction. It is what you have. As shown in FIG. 3, an outdoor heat exchanger 13 and an outdoor fan 16 are disposed in the blower room S1. Further, in the machine room S2, the compressor 11, the accumulator 15, the electrical component box 19 shown in FIG. 3, the four-way switching valve 12, the expansion valve 14 and the liquid refrigerant side which are not shown in FIG. A closing valve 17 and a gas refrigerant side closing valve 18 are arranged.

  The unit casing 20 includes a top plate 21, a bottom plate 22, a blower room side plate 23, a machine room side plate 24, a blower room side front plate 25, and a machine room side front plate 26. The outdoor unit 2 is configured to suck outdoor air into the blower chamber S <b> 1 in the unit casing 20 from a part of the back surface and side surface of the unit casing 20 and blow out the sucked outdoor air from the front surface of the unit casing 20. Therefore, the outdoor fan 16 provided in the blower chamber S1 has a configuration in which the blades 16a are directly attached to the fan motor 16b in order to blow the blades 16a by the fan motor 16b. An outdoor air suction port 20a sucked into the blower chamber S1 in the unit casing 20 is formed between an end portion on the back side of the blower chamber side plate 23 and an end portion of the machine chamber side plate 24 on the blower chamber S1 side. An outdoor air inlet 20 b is formed in the blower chamber side plate 23. Further, a blower chamber side front plate 25 is provided with an outlet 20c for blowing the outdoor air sucked into the blower chamber S1 to the outside. The front side of the air outlet 20c is covered with a fan grill 25a.

  The outdoor heat exchanger 13 is arranged in a vertical direction (vertical direction) in the blower chamber S1 which is a space covered by the blower chamber side plate 23, the blower chamber side front plate 25, the partition plate 28, and a part of the machine room side plate 24. It is placed upright. The outdoor heat exchanger 13 has an L shape in plan view, and faces the suction ports 20a and 20b. The outdoor heat exchanger 13 is an aluminum heat exchanger. In order to prevent corrosion, the aluminum-made outdoor heat exchanger 13 should not be in direct contact with the steel plate top plate 21, bottom plate 22, fan chamber side plate 23, machine room side plate 24, partition plate 28, etc. The unit casing 20 is attached with an aluminum bracket or the like.

(2-2-1) Outdoor Heat Exchanger Next, the configuration of the outdoor heat exchanger 13 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 4, 5, and 6. The aluminum heat exchanger includes an aluminum heat transfer fin 32, an aluminum flat multi-hole pipe 33, and aluminum header collecting pipes 34 and 35. The outdoor heat exchanger 13 includes a heat exchanging portion 31 that exchanges heat between the outdoor air and the refrigerant. The heat exchanging portion 31 includes a large number of aluminum heat transfer fins 32 and a large number of flat aluminum plates. It consists of a hole tube 33. When the heat exchanging unit 31 functions as a condenser, a gas refrigerant flat multi-hole tube 33a for flowing a gas refrigerant or a gas-liquid two-layer refrigerant out of the many flat multi-hole tubes 33 is disposed. An upper heat exchanging portion 31a and a lower heat exchanging portion 31b to which a liquid refrigerant flat multi-hole tube 33b for flowing a gas-liquid two-layer refrigerant or liquid refrigerant out of a number of flat multi-hole tubes 33 are connected. doing.

  The flat multi-hole tube 33 functions as a heat transfer tube, and exchanges heat moving between the heat transfer fins 32 and the outdoor air between the refrigerant flowing inside and the heat transfer fins 32.

  The outdoor heat exchanger 13 includes aluminum header collecting pipes 34 and 35, one on each end of the heat exchanging section 31. The header collecting pipe 34 has an aluminum cylindrical pipe structure, and has internal spaces 34a and 34b partitioned from each other by an aluminum baffle 34c. An aluminum heat exchanger side gas pipe 38 is connected to the upper internal space 34a, and an aluminum heat exchanger side liquid pipe 39 is connected to the lower internal space 34b.

  The header collecting pipe 35 has an aluminum cylindrical pipe structure, and is partitioned by aluminum baffles 35f, 35g, 35h, and 35i to form internal spaces 35a, 35b, 35c, 35d, and 35e. A number of flat multi-hole pipes 33a for gas refrigerant connected to the internal space 34a above the header collecting pipe 34 are connected to the three internal spaces 35a, 35b, 35c of the header collecting pipe 35. A number of flat multi-hole pipes 33 b for liquid refrigerant connected to the internal space 34 b below the header collecting pipe 34 are connected to the three internal spaces 35 c, 35 d, and 35 e of the header collecting pipe 35.

  Further, the internal space 35a and the internal space 35e of the header collecting pipe 35 are connected by an aluminum connecting pipe 36, and the internal space 35b and the internal space 35d are connected by an aluminum connecting pipe 37. The internal space 35c also has a function of connecting a part of the upper internal space (part connected to the internal space 34a) and a part of the lower internal space (part connected to the internal space 34b) of the heat exchange unit 31. Plays. With these configurations, for example, during cooling operation (when functioning as a condenser), the gas refrigerant supplied to the internal space 35a above the header collecting pipe 35 by the heat exchanger-side gas pipe 38 made of aluminum is subjected to heat exchange. Heat exchange is performed at the upper part of the part 31, and a part is liquefied to form a gas-liquid two-layer state, folded back at the header collecting pipe 35, and the remaining gas refrigerant is liquefied through the lower part of the heat exchange part 31 to form aluminum. It goes out from the heat exchanger side liquid pipe 39 made of the product.

  In order to measure the saturation temperature of the refrigerant flowing through the outdoor heat exchanger 13, the temperature sensor 50 is attached around an internal space 35a that is an upper internal space of the header collecting pipe 35 where the refrigerant flow is turned back. The attachment positions are preferably the internal spaces 35a and 35b rather than the internal space 35c in which the upper internal space and the lower internal space are connected and integrated. Further, the temperature sensor 50 is preferably attached to the vicinity of the upper end portion of the inner spaces 35a and 35b because the gas refrigerant is accumulated on the upper side and the liquid refrigerant is accumulated on the lower side.

  FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged view showing a cross-sectional structure when cut along a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the flat multi-hole tube 33 of the heat exchange section 31 of the outdoor heat exchanger 13. The heat transfer fins 32 are thin aluminum flat plates, and each heat transfer fin 32 has a plurality of cutouts 32a extending in the horizontal direction. The flat multi-hole tube 33 has upper and lower flat portions serving as heat transfer surfaces and a plurality of internal flow paths 331 through which the refrigerant flows. The flat multi-hole tubes 33 that are slightly thicker than the upper and lower widths of the cutouts 32a are spaced apart in a state where the flat portions are directed upward and downward (a state in which the side surfaces of the flat multi-hole tubes 33 face each other). Are arranged in a plurality of stages and temporarily fixed in a state of being fitted into the notches 32a. Thus, the heat transfer fin 32 and the flat multi-hole tube 33 are brazed in a state where the flat multi-hole tube 33 is fitted in the notch 32 a of the heat transfer fin 32. Further, both ends of each flat multi-hole pipe 33 are fitted into the header collecting pipes 34 and 35 and brazed.

  The internal spaces 34a and 34b of the header collecting pipe 34 and the internal spaces 35a, 35b, 35c, 35d and 35e of the header collecting pipe 35 and the internal flow path 331 of the flat multi-hole pipe 33 are connected. The internal spaces 34a, 34b of the header collecting pipe 34 and the internal spaces 35a, 35b, 35c, 35d, 35e of the header collecting pipe 35 are provided with a rectifying plate for adjusting the flow of the refrigerant. The detailed description is omitted.

(2-2-2) Temperature Sensor FIG. 7 shows a temperature sensor 50, FIG. 7 (a) is a perspective view showing the appearance of the temperature sensor, and FIG. 7 (b) is a diagram of the configuration of the temperature sensor. It is a typical sectional view showing an outline. The temperature sensor 50 mainly includes a temperature sensing element 51 such as a thermistor, a lead wire 52, an electric wire 53 such as a harness, an aluminum housing 54, and a mold resin 55. A lead wire 52 is connected to the temperature sensing element 51, and a signal to be converted according to temperature is transmitted to the lead wire 52. The lead wire 52 is connected to the electric wire 53, and a signal corresponding to the temperature is transmitted to the control unit 90 of the outdoor unit 2 through the electric wire 53. The temperature sensing element 51, the lead wire 52, and the electric wire 53 are enclosed in a cylindrical aluminum housing 54 with a mold resin 55 such as epoxy.

(2-2-3) Temperature Sensor Fixing Structure FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a temperature sensor fixing structure. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the fixing member, and FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II of FIG. The fixing member 60 fixes the temperature sensor 50 to the header collecting pipe 35 of the aluminum outdoor heat exchanger 13. Since the temperature sensor 50 is fixed by the fixing member 60, that is, the temperature sensing element 51 is fixed by the fixing member 60, the fixing of the temperature sensor 50 by the fixing member 60 will be described below.

  The fixing member 60 is made of rubber which is a polymer material having elasticity. The rubber has heat resistance and cold resistance that can be used in a wider range than the temperature range that the outdoor heat exchanger 13 can take. For example, as the rubber constituting the fixing member 60, ethylene propylene (EPDM) rubber, silicone rubber, fluorine rubber, hydrogenated nitrile rubber, or the like is used.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the fixing member 60 has a shape in which a horizontal cross-sectional shape is substantially circular and a hole extending in the longitudinal direction (bus line direction) is formed in a rubber mass processed into a cylinder. . A substantially rectangular parallelepiped opening 64 reaching the hole from the side surface of the cylinder is formed. Therefore, the shape obtained by horizontally cutting the fixing member 60 is a C-shape as shown in FIG. When the fixing member 60 having such a shape is viewed from the viewpoint of function, the base portion 61 is connected to the two palm-shaped holding portions 62a and 62b and the holding portions 62a and 62b. Therefore, the above-described header collecting pipe 35 can be sandwiched between these sandwiching portions 62a and 62b. In order to sandwich and fix the header collecting pipe 35 by the sandwiching portions 62a and 62b, the radius of curvature of the horizontal section of the inner peripheral surface 60b of the fixing member 60 is set to be substantially equal to the radius of the outer peripheral surface of the header collecting pipe 35. Has been.

  A housing portion 63 for housing the temperature sensor 50 is formed in the base portion 61 of the fixing member 60. The storage portion 63 is provided in a recess 60 c formed on the inner peripheral surface 60 b of the fixing member 60. A convex portion 60c1 for pressing the upper surface side of the housing 54 of the temperature sensor 50 is formed above the concave portion 60c, and a convex portion for pressing the lower surface side of the housing 54 of the temperature sensor 50 is formed below the concave portion 60c. 60c2 is formed. When the temperature sensor 50 is housed in the concave portion 60c, the temperature sensor 50 is sandwiched between the convex portions 60c1 and 60c2, and the convex portions 60c1 and 60c2 are elastically deformed. Therefore, even if the fixing member 60 is handled in a state where the temperature sensor 50 is accommodated in the accommodating portion 63 in the recess 60c, the temperature sensor 50 can be maintained in the state accommodated in the fixing member 60. That is, in the normal handling of the fixing member 60, an external force that takes out the temperature sensor 50 is not applied, so that the temperature sensor 50 is not detached from the storage portion 63.

  Further, the length from the position where the side surface 60c3 of the concave portion 60c is formed to the inner peripheral surface 60b of the fixing member 60, that is, the depth of the concave portion 60c is smaller than the diameter of the outer peripheral surface of the housing 54 of the temperature sensor 50. . Therefore, when the temperature sensor is stored in the storage portion 63, the housing 54 protrudes inward from the inner peripheral surface 60 b of the fixing member 60 as shown in FIG. 10.

  The fixing member 60 is fitted and fixed to the header collecting pipe 35 exposed from between the flat multi-hole pipes 33 in a state where the temperature sensor 50 is housed in the housing portion 63. Therefore, the fixing member 60 is fitted from the side surface of the header collecting pipe 35. At this time, the fixing member 60 is placed on the side surface of the header collecting pipe 35 by placing a portion around the opening 64 in the sandwiching portions 62a and 62b. It is pushed toward 35. When the header collecting pipe 35 is pushed into the opening 64 of the fixing member 60, the holding portions 62a and 62b are elastically deformed, and the opening 64 is pushed and expanded. Further, when the header collecting pipe 35 is pushed into the fixing member 60, the inner peripheral surface 60b of the fixing member 60 comes into close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the header collecting pipe 35, and the elastic deformation of the holding parts 62a and 62b is alleviated, thereby holding the holding parts 62a, The shape of 62b is restored. At this time, in order to grip the header collecting pipe 35 by the sandwiching portions 62a and 62b, it is preferable that a slight elastic deformation remains in the sandwiching portions 62a and 62b. In order to generate such a state, for example, the radius of curvature of the inner peripheral surface 60 b of the fixing member 60 is formed to be smaller than the radius of the outer peripheral surface of the header collecting pipe 35. Since the width of the opening 64 (the distance between the holding portions 62a and 62b) is smaller than the diameter of the header collecting pipe 35, once the fixing member 60 is fitted into the header fusion interval 35, the fixing member 60 is not subjected to any external force. It does not come off the header collecting pipe 35.

(3) Modification (3-1) Modification A
In the above-described embodiment, the case where the housing 54 of the header collecting pipe 35 and the temperature sensor 50 is made of aluminum has been described. However, the housing 54 of the header collecting pipe 35 and the temperature sensor 50 may be made of an aluminum alloy or made of aluminum. The same effect can be obtained by using an aluminum alloy header collecting pipe or housing instead of the header collecting pipe 35 or the housing 54 of the temperature sensor 50.

(3-2) Modification B
In the above-described embodiment, the case where rubber is used as the polymer material having elasticity for constituting the fixing member 60 has been described. However, it is less likely to be elastically deformed than rubber, but resins such as polyethylene and polypropylene can also be used. Also, the fixing member 60 can be configured by bonding rubber and resin. Alternatively, rubber or resin and other materials may be combined. In this case, the other material is selected from materials that may come into contact with the header collecting pipe 35 and the housing 54 made of aluminum, such as aluminum, and is used for portions other than the holding portions 62a and 62b and the storage portion 63. It is done. However, when the fixing member 60 is formed of only a polymer material as in the above embodiment, the fixing member 60 can be formed by molding using a mold or the like, so that the fixing member 60 can be manufactured at low cost. . Note that an additive such as carbon may be added to the rubber or resin, for example, in order to improve its durability. In addition, when using an additive, an important point is to select an additive having a chemical composition that does not corrode aluminum header collecting pipe 35, aluminum temperature sensor 50 housing 54, or aluminum alloy. is there.

(3-3) Modification C
In the said embodiment, although the case where the heat exchanger made from aluminum or aluminum alloy which fixes the temperature sensing element 51 was the outdoor heat exchanger 13 was demonstrated, for example, the indoor heat exchanger 4 is made from aluminum or an aluminum alloy If it is a heat exchanger, the fixing structure of the temperature sensitive element of this invention is applicable. Thus, the heat exchanger which cuts by applying the fixing structure of the temperature sensitive element of the present invention is not limited to the outdoor heat exchanger 13.

(3-4) Modification D
In the above-described embodiment, the case where the header collecting pipe 35 is fixed only by elastic deformation of the fixing member 60 has been described. However, the tie wrap (registered trademark) and the insulation lock (registered trademark) shown in FIGS. The band 70 is attached to the outer peripheral surface 60 a of the fixing member 60. The binding band 70 is tightened to such an extent that the fixing member 60 is elastically deformed. As a result, the force with which the fixing member 60 tightens the header collecting pipe 35 becomes strong, and the force with which the fixing member 60 presses the temperature sensor 50 against the header collecting pipe 35 becomes strong.

(4) Features of fixed structure (4-1)
The housing 54 that houses the temperature sensing element 51 is made of aluminum. Therefore, even if the housing 54 is fixed by the fixing member 60 in a state of being in thermal contact with the header collecting pipe 35, it is generated between the header collecting pipe 35 and the housing 54 between aluminum and a different metal. Corrosion is prevented. Further, even when the storage portion and the sandwiching portion made of a polymer material come into contact with the header collecting pipe 35 and the housing 54, corrosion that occurs between different kinds of metals is prevented. Therefore, the occurrence of corrosion in the header collecting pipe 35 and the housing 54 due to fixing by the fixing member 60 is suppressed. Furthermore, the portion of the fixing member that contacts the housing and the header collecting pipe is made of a water-repellent polymer material, so that the header collecting pipe and the housing can be prevented from being corroded due to the fixing member. . As in the above-described embodiment, the portion of the fixing member 60 that contacts the housing 54 and the header collecting pipe 35 is made of water-repellent rubber, so that condensed water or the like accumulates in the fixing member 60 and the header collecting pipe 35 and the housing. It can suppress that 54 corrodes.

  On the other hand, the housing 54 can be firmly pressed against the header collecting pipe 35 by using the rubber elasticity of the storage part 63 and the holding parts 62a and 62b, and the thermal contact between the housing 54 and the header collecting pipe 35 is maintained. It becomes easy to fix the fixing member 60 to the header collecting pipe 35 in the state. As a result, since the structure of the fixing member 60 is simplified, not only the fixing structure of the temperature sensing element 51 can be provided at low cost, but also the fixing efficiency of the fixing structure to the header collecting pipe 35 can be easily improved. Thus, the operation cost can be suppressed, and the increase in cost associated with the attachment of the temperature sensitive element can be suppressed.

(4-2)
Since the holding portions 62 a and 62 b of the fixing member 60 are formed in a C-shaped cross section that can be fitted from the side surface of the header collecting pipe 35, the flat multi-hole tube 33 does not get in the way when the fixing member 60 is fixed. Therefore, the fixing member 60 can be reliably fixed to the header collecting pipe 35, and the efficiency of attaching the temperature sensing element 51 is improved. Since the width of the opening 64 is smaller than the diameter of the header collecting pipe 35, a force in the direction of pulling out the holding parts 62 a and 62 b from the header collecting pipe 35 is applied when fitted from the side surface of the header collecting pipe 35. It becomes difficult to come off.

(4-3)
A concave portion 60c whose inner surface is covered with rubber is formed on the inner peripheral surface 60b of the fixing member 60, that is, the sandwiching portions 62a and 62b. The storage portion 63 of the fixing member 60 is provided in the recess 60c of the inner peripheral surface 60b, and the storage portion 63 is pushed by the housing 54 and elastically deformed in a state where the fixing member 60 is fixed to the header collecting pipe 35. Has a structure that keeps the state. Here, since the depth of the storage portion 62 (recess 60c) is set to be smaller than the diameter of the housing 54, the housing 54 can be firmly pressed against the header collecting pipe 35. Further, the heat retaining effect of the inner peripheral surfaces 60b of the holding portions 62a and 62b that wrap the housing 54 and the header collecting pipe 35 makes it difficult for heat to be taken away from the housing 54 by air passing through the outdoor heat exchanger 13, and the like. The accuracy of temperature detection by 51 can be improved.

(4-4)
The housing 54 is disposed so as to extend along the longitudinal direction of the header collecting pipe 35, and the housing portion 63 of the fixing member 60 is provided on the upper surface side (one end) and the lower surface side (in the longitudinal direction) to support the housing 54. It has a lower surface (first elastic wall) of the convex portion 60c1 that contacts the other end) and an upper surface (second elastic wall) of the convex portion 60c2. Therefore, when the housing 54 is attached to the storage portion 63, the lower surface (first elastic wall) of the convex portion 60c1 and the upper surface (second elastic wall) of the convex portion 60c2 are in contact with the upper surface side and the lower surface side of the housing 54. It will be elastically deformed and held firmly. Thus, the fixing member 60 can be handled in a state where the housing 54 is held on the fixing member 60, and the fixing member 60 can be easily attached to the header collecting pipe 35.

(4-5)
By tightening the periphery of the fixing member 60 with a binding band 70 (fastening member), elastic deformation of the holding portions 62a and 62b made of rubber and the storage portion of the fixing member 60 is further strengthened, and the housing 54 is headerd by the fixing member 60. It can be reliably fixed to the collecting pipe 35, and an increase in cost associated with the attachment of the temperature sensing element 51 can be suppressed.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Air conditioning apparatus 13 Outdoor heat exchanger 34,35 Header collecting pipe 40 Bracket 50 Temperature sensor 51 Temperature sensing element 53 Electric wire 54 Housing 60 Fixing member 61 Base part 62a, 62b Holding part 63 Recessed part 64 Opening part 70 Binding band

JP 2011-69543 A

Claims (5)

A temperature sensitive element fixing structure for fixing the temperature sensitive element (51) to the header collecting pipe (35) of the heat exchanger (13) made of aluminum or aluminum alloy,
A housing (54) made of aluminum or aluminum alloy for housing the temperature sensing element;
A housing part (63) made of a polymer material having elasticity for housing the housing, and a sandwiching part (62a, 62b) made of a polymer material having elasticity for sandwiching the header collecting pipe. A fixing structure for a temperature sensing element, comprising: a fixing member (60) that is fixed in a state of being in thermal contact with the header collecting pipe. The clamping portion of the fixing member is formed into a C-shaped cross section that can be fitted from a side surface of the header collecting pipe.
The fixing structure of the temperature sensitive element according to claim 1. The clamping portion of the fixing member has an inner peripheral surface (60b) in which a recess (60c) is formed,
The storage portion of the fixing member is provided in the concave portion of the inner peripheral surface, and has a structure that maintains a state in which the fixing member is elastically deformed by being pushed by the housing while being fixed to the header collecting pipe. Have
The fixing structure of the temperature sensing element according to claim 1 or 2. The housing is arranged to extend along the longitudinal direction of the header collecting pipe,
The storage portion of the fixing member has a first elastic wall and a second elastic wall that come into contact with one end and the other end of the housing in the longitudinal direction to support the housing.
The fixing structure of the temperature sensitive element according to any one of claims 1 to 3. A fastening member (70) for tightening the periphery of the fixing member attached to the header collecting pipe;
The fixing structure of the temperature sensitive element according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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