JP2019095094A - Reinforcement member and reinforcement structure of heat exchanger using the reinforcement member - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a reinforcement member capable of attaining stably a reinforcement strength performed by a reinforcement member while reducing influence applied to its workability by a size error in manufacturing the reinforcement member and to provide a reinforcement structure of a heat exchanger using said reinforcement member.SOLUTION: This invention relates to a reinforcement structure of a heat exchanger 1 that comprises an end plate 4 and a reinforcement member 7 brazed under a state in which it is fitted into an opening part 18 of a flat tube 2. The opening part 18 has a flat surface part and a semi-circular arc-shaped inner surface part. The reinforcement member 7 has a long-length main body part and an overlapping part. The main body part is formed with a beat part for use in reinforcing that the reinforcement member 7 is resiliently deformed in its longitudinal direction. Brazing material is adhered to the surface of the overlapping part, an extremity end of a location that is folded back at the overlapping part has a sharp shape and the brazing is carried out under a state in which the extremity end is abutted against the semi-circular arc-shaped inner surface part while the reinforcement member 7 is fitted to the opening part 18.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a structure for reinforcing a heat exchanger (radiator) for cooling vehicle engine cooling water.

  The heat exchanger for cooling the engine cooling water includes, for example, a plurality of flat tubes arranged in a row, fins disposed between the flat tubes, and both ends of each flat tube, and the insertion portion And a pair of brazed header plates. The engine cooling water is cooled by the heat radiation effect of the fins or the like when passing through the inside of each flat tube.

  In the heat exchanger having such a structure, a crack may occur in the brazed portion between the flat tube and the insertion portion of the header plate due to the influence of thermal strain. In particular, in a cold area or the like, large thermal distortion is likely to occur due to the temperature difference between the outside air temperature and the cooling water flowing in the flat tube transiently at the time of engine start or engine load fluctuation.

  Therefore, for example, it has been proposed to insert a reinforcing member into the opening of a flat tube to reinforce a portion where thermal strain is likely to occur (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2012-97915 A

  However, in the reinforcing structure of Patent Document 1, the cross section of the end portion of the reinforcing member is formed in a semicircular shape, and the semicircular end portion of the reinforcing member is against the semicircular inner surface portion of the opening of the flat tube. Contact without gaps. In such a configuration, the room for allowing dimensional error in manufacturing of the reinforcing member becomes small, and the workability when the worker inserts the reinforcing member into the opening decreases. In addition, when the reinforcing member includes a dimensional error, a gap may be generated between the reinforcing member and the opening of the flat tube even after brazing, and there is a concern that a sufficient reinforcing strength can not be obtained.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to use a reinforcing member capable of stably obtaining the strength of reinforcement by the reinforcing member and reducing the influence of dimensional error in manufacturing of the reinforcing member on workability. To provide a heat exchanger reinforcement structure.

The heat exchanger reinforcing structure according to one aspect of the present invention is
A heat exchanger reinforcing structure comprising: an end plate having an insertion portion through which the flat tube is inserted; and a reinforcing member brazed in a state of being inserted into the opening of the flat tube inserted into the insertion portion. There,
The opening is
A pair of opposing parallel flats,
A semicircular arc inner surface connecting the two edges of the flat surface;
Have
The reinforcing member is
A long main body,
The overlapping portion formed at the end of the main body in the longitudinal direction, which is a flat L-shaped portion in the unfolded state, and the distal end of the L-shaped portion in the longitudinal direction is on the main body side An overlapping portion formed by folding back and overlapping;
Have
The main body portion is provided with a beat portion for assisting the elastic member to be elastically deformed in the longitudinal direction,
A brazing material adheres to the surface of the polymerization portion,
The tip of the portion folded back at the overlapping portion is sharp, and in a state where the reinforcing member is fitted into the opening, brazing is performed in a state where the tip is in contact with the semicircular inner surface. .

In addition, a reinforcing member according to one aspect of the present invention is
A long main body,
The overlapping portion formed at the end of the main body in the longitudinal direction, which is a flat L-shaped portion in the unfolded state, and the distal end of the L-shaped portion in the longitudinal direction is on the main body side An overlapping portion formed by folding back and overlapping;
A reinforcing member comprising
The main body portion is provided with a beat portion for assisting the elastic member to be elastically deformed in the longitudinal direction,
A brazing material adheres to the surface of the polymerization portion,
The tip of the portion folded back at the overlapping portion is sharp, and the tip can contact the semicircular inner surface of the opening in a state where the reinforcing member is fitted into the opening of the flat tube.

  According to the above configuration, the worker inserts the reinforcement member in the longitudinal direction in the state of being contracted, into the opening, and releases the elastic deformation after releasing the hand after the overlapping portion of the reinforcement member is inserted into the opening. The reinforcement member can be fitted into the opening. Thus, by making the reinforcing member elastically deformable, it is possible to reduce the influence of the dimensional error of the reinforcing member on the workability when inserting the reinforcing member into the opening. In addition, when heating is performed with the front end of the overlapping portion of the reinforcing member in contact with the semicircular arc inner surface of the opening, the brazing material is centered on the contact portion between the overlapping portion and the semicircular arc inner surface. The reinforcing member and the flat tube are brazed around the contact portion (gap). Therefore, the reinforcing member and the flat tube are easily brazed without a gap, and the strength of reinforcement by the reinforcing member can be stably obtained.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to stably obtain the strength of reinforcement by the reinforcing member while reducing the influence of the dimensional error in manufacturing of the reinforcing member on the workability, and the heat using the reinforcing member It is possible to provide a reinforcing structure of the exchanger.

It is a perspective view of a reinforcing structure of a heat exchanger concerning a first embodiment. It is a top view of an end plate in the state where a reinforcement member was attached. It is an expanded plan view of a reinforcement member. It is a top view of a reinforcement member in the state where L character-like part was turned back. (A) is a figure which shows the flat tube before brazing a flat tube and a reinforcement member. (B) is a figure which shows the flat tube after brazing a flat tube and a reinforcement member. It is a top view of the end plate in the state where the reinforcement member concerning a second embodiment was attached.

  Hereinafter, the reinforcing structure of the heat exchanger according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  Further, in the description of the present embodiment, for convenience of description, “left and right direction”, “front and back direction”, and “upper and lower direction” will be referred to as appropriate. These directions are relative directions set for the heat exchanger 1 shown in FIG. 1, the end plate 4 shown in FIG. 2, the reinforcing member 7 shown in FIGS. 3 to 4, and the end plate 4A shown in FIG. Here, the “upper and lower direction” is a direction including “upper direction” and “lower direction”. The “front-rear direction” is a direction including the “front direction” and the “rear direction”. The “left-right direction” is a direction including the “left direction” and the “right direction”.

First Embodiment
Hereinafter, an example of the present embodiment will be described using a heat exchanger for cooling engine cooling water, that is, a so-called vehicle radiator. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the reinforcing structure of the heat exchanger 1 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the end plate 4 with the reinforcing member 7 attached. As shown in FIG. 1, the heat exchanger 1 has a flat tube 2, fins 3, an end plate 4, a support member 5, a tank 6, and a reinforcing member 7. Further, in the heat exchanger 1, a large number of flat tubes 2 and fins 3 are alternately arranged in the vertical direction. The fins 3 are, for example, heat dissipating fins.

  As shown in FIG. 2, each flat tube 2 has two openings 18. The opening 18 has a major axis and a minor axis. The length A of the minor axis of the opening 18 (the distance between the facing flat portions 2 a) is approximately 1⁄8 of the length B of the major axis of the opening 18. A columnar portion 17 is formed between the two openings 18 and substantially at the center of the flat tube 2. The columnar part 17 is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped.

  An opening 18 located in front of the flat tube 2 is constituted by a pair of facing parallel flat portions 2a, a semicircular arc inner surface portion 2b, and an inner wall surface 2c of a columnar portion. The semicircular arc inner surface portion 2b is formed so as to respectively connect between the front edges of the plane portions 2a, and a line connecting the connection points is in a semicircular arc shape. Further, the inner wall surface 2c is disposed at a position to be paired with the semicircular arc inner surface portion 2b in the front-rear direction. The inner wall surface 2c is formed so as to connect between the two edges on the rear side of each flat portion 2a, and the line connecting the connection points has a linear shape.

  An opening 18 located at the rear of the flat tube 2 is composed of a pair of opposing parallel flat portions 2a, a semicircular arc inner surface 2b, and an inner wall surface 2c of a columnar portion. The semicircular arc inner surface portion 2b is formed so as to connect between both edges on the rear side of each plane portion 2a, and a line connecting the connection points is in a semicircular arc shape. Further, the inner wall surface 2c is disposed at a position to be paired with the semicircular arc inner surface portion 2b in the front-rear direction. The inner wall surface 2c is formed to connect between the front edges of the flat portions 2a, and a line connecting the connection points has a linear shape.

  Referring back to FIG. A support member 5 is disposed above the flat tube 2 located at the top and below the flat tube 2 located at the bottom. Further, both ends of the support member 5 are fixed to the end plate 4.

  The end plate 4 is a substantially rectangular shape having a rounded corner. In the end plate 4, a plurality of tube insertion holes (insertion portions) 8 are formed in the vertical direction. The tube insertion hole 8 is substantially rectangular, and the major axis of the tube insertion hole 8 is shorter than the short side of the end plate 4. Among the short sides of the tube insertion hole 8, the corner of the short side closer to the outer periphery of the end plate 4 has a rounded corner shape (see FIG. 2). The flat tube 2 is inserted into the insertion portion 8 of the end plate 4.

  The tank 6 has a tank body 9. Further, a cylindrical inlet pipe 12 which is perpendicular to the support member 5 and extends in the rear direction is provided at the upper portion of the tank main body 9 of the tank 6 on the right side. Further, at the lower part of the tank main body 9 of the tank 6 on the left side, a cylindrical outlet pipe 13 which is perpendicular to the support member 5 and extends in the rear direction is provided. The tank body 9 is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped. The tank body 9 also has a small flange 10.

The reinforcing members 7 are at least fitted into the openings 18 at the upper and lower ends of the end plate 4. Although the reinforcement members 7 can be fitted into the other openings 18 as well, it is preferable not to fit the reinforcement members 7 into all the openings 18.

  In the present embodiment, two reinforcing members 7 are inserted in each of the openings 18 of the upper four flat tubes 2 of the end plate 4 in the left-right direction. Further, two reinforcing members 7 are inserted in each of the openings 18 of the lower four flat tubes 2 of the end plate 4 in the lateral direction (see FIG. 2).

  The heat exchanger 1 has a brazing material coated or disposed on at least one side of the parts in contact with each other, and the whole is inserted into a high temperature furnace and integrally brazed and fixed. In the present embodiment, the small flange portion 10 of the tank 6 is fitted into the annular groove 15 of the end plate 4 via an O ring not shown, and the heat exchanger 1 is completed by caulking the caulking claw portion 16. Do.

The high temperature cooling water 14 flows from the inlet pipe 12 to the tank 6 on the right side, and flows in the flat tubes 2 from the right to the left. The cooling water 14 that has reached the tank 6 on the left side flows out of the outlet pipe 13. An air flow by a fan or a traveling wind flows through the outer surfaces of the flat tubes 2 and the fins 3, and heat exchange is performed between the cooling water 14 passing through the flat tubes 2 and the air flow.
In the present embodiment, although the example in which the cooling water flows in the flat tube along the left-right direction shown in FIG. 1 is described, the present invention is not limited to this example. The flat tube may be arranged such that the direction in which the cooling water flows, that is, the longitudinal direction of the flat tube is along the vertical direction or the front-rear direction of FIG. 1. Also, the flat tubes may be arranged obliquely.

  FIG. 3 is a developed plan view of the reinforcing member 7. As shown in FIG. 3, the reinforcing member 7 has an elongated main body 70 long in the left-right direction, and an L-shaped part 71 formed at an end of the main body 70 in the left-right direction (longitudinal direction). ing. The reinforcing member 7 is a metal plate having a thickness slightly smaller than a half of the distance between the flat portions 2 a facing the opening 18 of the flat tube 2. A brazing material is coated on both sides of the metal plate. The length C of the reinforcing member 7 extending in the left-right direction is substantially the same as the length of the major axis of the opening 18.

  In the main body portion 70, two beats 72 extending in the vertical direction (short direction) are formed. Therefore, the reinforcing member 7 is easily elastically deformed in the left-right direction (longitudinal direction). Further, a beat 73 extending in the left-right direction is formed at a substantially central portion of the main body portion 70, and the rigidity of the central portion of the main body portion 70 is reinforced. Further, beats 74 are formed on the left side of the left beat 72 and the right side of the right beat 72, respectively, to reinforce the rigidity of the end of the main body 70.

  Two semicircular holes 75 are provided on each of the long sides substantially at the center of the long side of the main body portion 70.

  The L-shaped portion 71 is flat and L-shaped in the unfolded state. Further, the L-shaped portion 71 can be folded around the fold line l as an axis. That is, the L-shaped portion 71 can be folded back in the left-right direction. A brazing material is attached to the surface of the L-shaped portion 71.

  The side of the L-shaped portion 71 which is parallel to the long side of the main body portion 70 and farthest from the long side of the main body portion 70 is the point D1 and D2 on the side of the L-shaped portion 71. The light is refracted toward the main body 70 toward a point E which is a substantially central portion and which is an intermediate point between the points D1 and D2.

  FIG. 4 is a plan view of the reinforcing member 7 in a state in which the L-shaped portion 71 is folded back. The reinforcing member 7 shown in FIG. 4 is formed as follows.

  First, in the reinforcing member 7 shown in FIG. 3, the distal end portion 76 of the L-shaped portion 71 is folded back in the direction of the arrow F (see FIG. 3). As a result, a polymerized portion 77 (see FIG. 4) is formed. Next, the overlapping portion 77 is bent in the direction of the arrow G (see FIG. 3). Thus, the reinforcing member 7 shown in FIG. 4 is formed.

  After the tip end portion 76 is folded back in the arrow F direction, the overlapping portion 77 is pressed using a predetermined die or the like so that the tip end (point E) of the folded back portion is sharpened. As a result of pressing, the cross section of the folded edge of the overlapping portion 77 becomes an isosceles triangle having an apex angle of approximately 120 degrees. Thereafter, each overlapping portion 77 is bent in an L-shaped cross section toward the main body portion 70 with the folding line m as an axis. The tip end 71 a is an insertion start end of a portion to be inserted into the opening 18 of the flat tube 2.

  When the worker lightly presses both ends of the main body 70 in the left-right direction with fingers, the reinforcing member 7 elastically deforms so as to be slightly contracted in the left-right direction. Since the distance between the points E of the reinforcing members 7 thus contracted is slightly smaller than the opening 18 of the flat tube 2, the operator inserts each overlapping portion 77 into the opening 18 of the flat tube 2. Can. After the insertion, when the worker stops pressing the main body portion 70, the elastic deformation of the reinforcing member 7 is released. Therefore, one end of the end (point E) of the overlapping portion 77 abuts on the semicircular arc inner surface portion 2 b, and the other abuts on the inner wall surface 2 c of the columnar portion 17.

  (A) of FIG. 5 is a figure which shows the flat tube before brazing with a flat tube and a reinforcement member. (B) of FIG. 5 is a figure which shows the flat tube after brazing a flat tube and a reinforcement member.

When each overlapping part 77 is inserted into the opening 18 of the flat tube 2 and the operator stops pressing on the main body part 70, as shown in FIG. 5A, the tip (point E) of the overlapping part 77 is It abuts on the semicircular arc inner surface 2b of the opening 18 of the flat tube 2 (point contact in a front view). In addition, before heating for brazing, a gap is formed around the contact portion (point E).
5A shows the right end portion of the flat tube 2, the point E at the left end of the flat tube 2 is also the same as the right end portion of the semi-circular inner surface of the opening 18 of the flat tube 2 It is in contact with the portion 2b (point contact in front view).

  When heating is performed from the state of (a) of FIG. 5 and brazing between the flat tube 2 and the reinforcing member 7 is performed, as shown in (b) of FIG. The brazing material also wraps around the contact area. For this reason, the flat tube 2 and the overlapping portion 77 are brazed without a gap, and the contact portion between the flat tube 2 and the end plate 4 (see FIG. 1) is also brazed, resulting in a stronger reinforcement structure.

  By the way, in the reinforcing structure of Patent Document 1, the cross section of the end portion of the reinforcing member is formed in a semicircular shape, and the semicircular end portion of this reinforcing member is against the semicircular inner surface portion of the opening of the flat tube. Contact without gaps. In such a configuration, the room for allowing dimensional error in manufacturing of the reinforcing member becomes small, and the workability when the worker inserts the reinforcing member into the opening decreases. In addition, when the reinforcing member includes a dimensional error, a gap may be generated between the reinforcing member and the opening of the flat tube even after brazing, and there is a concern that a sufficient reinforcing strength can not be obtained.

  According to the configuration of the present embodiment, the worker inserts the reinforcing member 7 into the opening 18 in a state of being contracted in the left-right direction (longitudinal direction), and the overlapping portion 77 of the reinforcing member 7 is inserted into the opening 18 The reinforcing member 7 can be fitted into the opening 18 by releasing the hand later to release the elastic deformation. Thus, by making the reinforcing member 7 elastically deformable, it is possible to reduce the influence of the dimensional error of the reinforcing member 7 on the workability when inserting the reinforcing member 7 into the opening 18. Further, when heating is performed in a state in which the end (point E) of the overlapping portion 77 of the reinforcing member 7 abuts on the semicircular arc inner surface 2b of the opening 18, the overlapping portion 77 and the semicircular arc inner surface 2b The brazing material also wraps around the contact portion (point E) around the contact portion (gap), and the reinforcing member 7 and the flat tube 2 are brazed. Therefore, the reinforcing member 7 and the flat tube 2 can be easily brazed without a gap, and the strength of reinforcement by the reinforcing member 7 can be stably obtained.

Second Embodiment
FIG. 6 is a plan view of the end plate 4A in a state where the reinforcing member 7A according to the second embodiment is attached. The length C1 of the reinforcing member 7A shown in FIG. 6 is about twice the length C of the reinforcing member 7 in the first embodiment. None of the front ends of the overlapping portions 77 pertaining to the reinforcing member 7A abut on the columnar portions 17. Therefore, in the end plate 4A in the state where the reinforcing member 7A is attached, the respective tips of the overlapping portions 77 of the reinforcing member 7A are in contact with the semicircular arc inner surface 2b of the opening 18 of the flat tube 2 together. In this point, the end plate 4A in a state in which the reinforcing member 7A is attached is different from the end plate 4 in a state in which the reinforcing member 7 according to the first embodiment is attached. In other words, in the reinforcing member 7A, the semicircular arc inner surface 2b respectively formed in the pair of openings 18 corresponding to the flat tube 2 into which the reinforcing member 7A is inserted, and the tip (point The end plate 4 is different from the end plate 4 in a state in which the reinforcing member 7 according to the first embodiment is attached, in that it is in contact with E).
The second embodiment is also different from the first embodiment in that the reinforcing members 7A are inserted only into the flat tubes 2 located at the top and bottom of the end plate 4A.

  According to the second embodiment, the number of reinforcing members 7A can be reduced compared to the first embodiment. In addition, since the number of reinforcing members 7A can be reduced, the assembly of the heat exchanger becomes easier.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and appropriate modifications, improvements, and the like can be made. In addition, the materials, shapes, dimensions, numerical values, forms, numbers, arrangement places and the like of each component in the above-described embodiment are arbitrary and not limited as long as the present invention can be achieved.

1: Heat exchanger 2: Flat tube 3: Fin 4: End plate 5: Support material 6: Tank 7: Reinforcement member 8: Tube insertion hole (insertion portion) 9: Tank body portion 10: small flange portion, 12: inlet pipe, 13: outlet pipe, 14: cooling water, 15: annular groove, 16: caulking claw portion, 17: columnar portion, 18: opening portion, 71: L-shaped portion, 77: Overlap part

Claims (2)

A heat exchanger reinforcing structure comprising: an end plate having an insertion portion through which the flat tube is inserted; and a reinforcing member brazed in a state of being inserted into the opening of the flat tube inserted into the insertion portion. There,
The opening is
A pair of opposing parallel flats,
A semicircular arc inner surface connecting the two edges of the flat surface;
Have
The reinforcing member is
A long main body,
The overlapping portion formed at the end of the main body in the longitudinal direction, which is a flat L-shaped portion in the unfolded state, and the distal end of the L-shaped portion in the longitudinal direction is on the main body side An overlapping portion formed by folding back and overlapping;
Have
The main body portion is provided with a beat portion for assisting the elastic member to be elastically deformed in the longitudinal direction,
A brazing material adheres to the surface of the polymerization portion,
The tip of the portion folded back at the overlapping portion is sharp, and in a state where the reinforcing member is fitted into the opening, brazing is performed in a state where the tip is in contact with the semicircular inner surface. ,
Heat exchanger reinforcement structure. A long main body,
The overlapping portion formed at the end of the main body in the longitudinal direction, which is a flat L-shaped portion in the unfolded state, and the distal end of the L-shaped portion in the longitudinal direction is on the main body side An overlapping portion formed by folding back and overlapping;
A reinforcing member comprising
The main body portion is provided with a beat portion for assisting the elastic member to be elastically deformed in the longitudinal direction,
A brazing material adheres to the surface of the polymerization portion,
The tip of the portion folded back at the overlapping portion is pointed, and the tip can abut against the semicircular inner surface of the opening when the reinforcing member is fitted into the opening of the flat tube.
Reinforcement member.

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