JP5706666B2 - Reinforcement structure of heat exchanger - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention mainly relates to a reinforcing structure of a heat exchanger (radiator) for cooling engine coolant of an automobile.

The heat exchanger for cooling the engine coolant has a temperature difference between a large number of tubes arranged in parallel, especially in the four corner tubes of the heat exchanger, between the rigid support material, the front row tube and the last row tube. In this case, large thermal distortion occurs. According to the experiment, particularly, the tube cracks at the front end of the front row tube and the rear end of the rear row tube (semicircular arc surface) near the tube insertion hole of the header plate and the brazed portion of the tube. .
In particular, when the engine is started under the condition that the outside air temperature is minus 40 degrees as an example, such as in a cold district, the thermostud valve opens and hot water of about 50 to 80 degrees flows rapidly into the heat exchanger tube. Large heat distortion occurs between the tubes. That is, a large thermal distortion occurs transiently when the engine is started.

  As a reinforcing structure of a heat exchanger that solves such a problem, each invention described in the following patent documents is known. In the former, reinforcing members formed in a U-shaped cross section are arranged at both ends of the long tube side of the cross section of the flat tube. The latter has a pair of flat legs, and both the legs are inserted into both ends of the long tube side of the cross section of the flat tube.

EP 1562015 A2 JP 2007-163124 A

Any of the above-mentioned known documents is applied to a single-row heat exchanger in which flat tubes are arranged in a row, and a pair of insertion portions of reinforcing members are inserted on both sides of the long axis of the cross section of each tube. There is a disadvantage that the inlet opening of the flat tube is largely blocked at two places.
Further, according to the experiment by the present inventor, in the two-row heat exchanger, it is clear that cracks occur in the front arcuate portion of the flat tube in the front row and the rear arc-shaped portion in the rear row. Therefore, it is necessary to reinforce that part intensively. In the case of three or more rows, the same problem occurs in the flat tubes in the front row and the last row.
Therefore, the present invention has been created based on such knowledge.

In the first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of flat tubes (1) and fins (2) arranged in a plurality of rows are inserted into both ends of each flat tube (1), and the insertion portions are brazed. in the reinforcing structure of the heat exchanger comprising a pair of header plate (4),
The flat tube (1) includes a pair of opposed parallel plane portions (1a) and a pair of semicircular arc-shaped inner surface portions (1b) respectively connecting both edges of each plane portion (1a). And
A reinforcing member (5) comprising a bent body of a metal plate having a thickness w that matches the distance S between the opposed flat surface portions (1a) of the opening of the flat tube (1);
The reinforcing member (5) has a pair of flat T-shaped portions formed at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the elongated connecting portion (6), and is formed into a flat H shape in the expanded state. A protrusion (12a) is integrally provided along the longitudinal direction of each outer side edge of the leg, and a semicircular convex curved surface (5a) in which the outer periphery of the cross section is aligned with the semicircular arc inner surface (1b). )
The four H-shaped legs are bent in an L-shaped cross section perpendicular to the plane of the connecting portion (6), and the four insertion portions (9) have a width less than half of the long axis of the flat tube. And
The four insertion portions (9) of the reinforcing member (5) are inserted into the openings of a pair of flat tubes (1) adjacent to each other only in the front row and the rear row at the corner of the heat exchanger core. The semicircular convex curved surface (5a) is in contact with the semicircular arc-shaped inner surface (1b) of the flat tube (1) without any gap, and the front end and the rearmost end in the major axis direction of the opening of the flat tube (1) The reinforcing structure of the heat exchanger is characterized in that it is fitted only to the portion, and the fitting portion is brazed.

In the present invention according to claim 2, a large number of flat tubes (1) and fins (2) arranged in parallel in one row are inserted into both ends of each flat tube (1), and the insertion portions are brazed. in the reinforcing structure of the heat exchanger comprising a pair of header plate (4),
The flat tube (1) includes a pair of opposed parallel plane portions (1a) and a pair of semicircular arc-shaped inner surface portions (1b) respectively connecting both edges of each plane portion (1a). And
A reinforcing member (5) composed of a bent body of a metal plate having a thickness w that matches the distance S between the opposing flat portions (1a) of the opening of the flat tube (1),
As the reinforcing member (5) is elongated connecting portion (6), generally by a pair of L-shaped portion at both ends in the longitudinal direction is formed in a U-shape, that the side edges of each L-shaped portion The ridges (12a) are integrally provided along the longitudinal direction, and the outer periphery of the cross section is formed into a semicircular convex curved surface (5a) that matches the semicircular arc-shaped inner surface portion (1b),
Each L-shaped portion is bent in a cross-sectional L shape perpendicular to the plane of the connecting portion (6), and the bent portion side has two insertion portions with a width less than 1/4 of the long axis of the flat tube (9)
The two insertion portions (9) of the reinforcing member (5) are inserted into the openings of the outermost flat tubes (1) in the parallel direction of the flat tubes (1), and the semicircular convex curved surface. (5a) is in contact with the semicircular arc-shaped inner surface (1b) of the flat tube (1) without a gap, and is fitted only at both ends in the long axis direction of the opening of the flat tube (1). It is the reinforcement structure of the heat exchanger characterized by being brazed.

The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2,
The reinforcing structure of the heat exchanger is such that the insertion side end edge of the convex curved surface (5a) of each insertion portion (9) of the reinforcing member (5) is formed into a tapered surface (17).
Invention of Claim 4 is set in any one of Claims 1-3,
At the center of the plane of the heat exchanger core, one header plate (4) is provided with a two-pass partition (11), and the above-mentioned reinforcement is applied to the flat tubes (1) on both sides adjacent to the partition (11). The reinforcing structure of the heat exchanger is brazed to the member (5).

The reinforcing member 5 of the reinforcing structure according to claims 1 and 2 of the present invention is inserted only in both outermost rows of the flat tubes 1 in the parallel direction, and the insertion portion 9 is brazed. is there. Therefore, it is possible to effectively reinforce a portion where cracks are likely to occur. At the same time, the obstruction of the opening of the flat tube can be minimized.
The protrusion 12a is provided integrally along the longitudinal side edges of the insertion portion 9, matching the convex curved surface 5a of the outer periphery is formed in a semicircle semicircular inner surface 1b of the flat tube 1 And since it contacts without a gap , the brazing strength with the inner surface of the flat tube 1 is improved. And the brazing structure of the reliable reinforcement member 5 is provided, and it can become a heat exchanger strong against a heat distortion.

In the above-described configuration, as described in claim 3, when the insertion-side tip portion of the convex curved surface 5 a is formed on the tapered surface 17, the insertion portion 9 of the reinforcing member 5 is inserted into the flat tube 1 opening. It is easy and the contact between the convex curved surface 5a and the tube is good, and brazing can be further strengthened.
In the above configuration, in the case where the two-pass partition 11 is provided as described in claim 4, since the reinforcing members 5 are brazed to the flat tubes 1 on both sides adjacent to the two-pass partition 11, particularly in the vicinity of the partition 11. The thermal stress concentrated on the flat tube 1 can be effectively supported and the reinforcing effect can be enhanced.

The perspective view (A) front view (B) of the 1st Example of the reinforcement member 5 of this invention, and its expanded view (C). The principal part enlarged view of FIG.1 (C). An example of the manufacturing process of the convex curved surface 5a in the sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG. The attachment explanatory view of the reinforcing member of the 1st example of the present invention. The principal part top view (A) of the heat exchanger core which has the said reinforcement member, the same enlarged view (B), and the CC sectional drawing (C). VI-VI arrow sectional drawing of FIG. The partial exploded perspective view of the same heat exchanger. The perspective view (A) of the 2nd Example of the reinforcement member 5 of this invention, and its expanded view (B). The principal part enlarged plan view (A) and the same front view (B) of the reinforcing member 5. The top view which shows the attachment state of the reinforcement member of 2nd Example of this invention. The cross-sectional view of the other flat tube to which the reinforcement structure of this invention is applied.

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
The present invention relates to a heat exchanger for cooling engine cooling water, generally referred to as an automobile radiator.
1 and 2 are a perspective view and a developed view of a reinforcing member 5 that is applied to a heat exchanger having two rows of flat tubes, and FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of attaching the reinforcing member of the two-row heat exchanger core. It is. In this heat exchanger core, a number of flat tubes 1 and fins 2 are alternately arranged, and both ends of each flat tube 1 are inserted into a pair of header plates 4. A large number of tube insertion holes are formed in the header plate 4 in advance, and the edge of the hole is subjected to burring on the inner surface side.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the flat tube 1 has a major axis and a minor axis in its opening, and the minor axis length S (distance between the opposed flat portions 1a) of the opening is in this example. 1.6 mm and the long axis of the opening is 12 mm. In other words, the flat tube 1 includes a pair of opposed parallel plane portions 1a, and a pair of semicircular arc-shaped inner surface portions 1b that connect between both edges of each plane portion 1a.
Support members 19 are disposed at both ends of the flat tube and the fin in the parallel direction, and both ends of the support member 19 are fixed to the header plate 4.

  In such a two-row heat exchanger, insertion portions 9 of the reinforcing members 5 are brazed and fixed to the four corners of the heat exchanger core 3 as shown in FIGS. The reinforcing member 5 is formed of a bent metal plate having a thickness w that matches the short axis length S of the opening of the flat tube 1. As shown in FIG. 1C, the reinforcing member 5 has a pair of T-shaped portions formed at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the elongated connecting portion 6 and is formed in a flat H shape in the developed state as a whole. And the protruding item | line 12a is each formed in a part of outer side of four leg parts of H type | mold. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the main part, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view sequentially showing an example of a process of forming the cross section of the ridge 12a into a convex curved surface 5a that matches the semicircular arc inner surface 1b of the flat tube 1. It is.

  In this example, the upper half of the cross section is first ¼ by the first upper mold 13a and the first lower mold 14a as shown in the next step (B) from the state of FIG. Then, as shown in (C), the lower half of the cross section is formed into a quarter circle by the second upper mold 13b and the second lower mold 14b. As a result, the cross section of the ridge 12a is half It is formed in a circular shape, and a convex curved surface 5a is formed on its outer periphery. As shown in FIG. 2, the edge of the convex curved surface 5a on the insertion side is formed with a tapered surface 17 (including a curved surface), which facilitates insertion into the flat tube.

The convex curved surface 5a is aligned with the semicircular arc-shaped inner surface portion 1b of the flat tube 1. In this state, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the four H-shaped leg portions are bent in a cross-sectional L shape perpendicular to the plane of the connecting portion 6 with the mountain fold line 8 as the center. . As a result, they form four inserts 9 with a width that is less than half the major axis of the cross section of the flat tube.
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, when each insertion portion 9 of the reinforcing member 5 is inserted into the opening of each flat tube 1 positioned at the four corners of the header plate 4, the convex curved surface 5 a and the semicircular arc-shaped inner surface of the flat tube 1. In contact with 1b, the insertion part is brazed.

  In this way, the reinforcing member 5 has a thickness w that matches the short axis length S of the opening of the flat tube 1. In this example, the thickness of the insertion portion 9 of the reinforcing member 5 is 1.6 mm and its width is 5 mm. The total length of the connecting part 6 direction is 34.6mm. And the dimension between the outer surfaces of a pair of opposing insertion part 9 can be 9.8 mm as an example. Each of such dimensions is shown in FIG. 2 when the insertion portions 9 are connected to the front end portions of the front row tubes as shown in FIG. 5A when fitted into the openings of the four flat tubes 1 adjacent to each other at the corners of the core. The size is such that it is fitted to the rear end of the rear tube.

As shown in FIGS. 5B and 5C, the cross section of each insertion portion 9 is a semicircular arc-shaped inner surface portion 1b of the inner surface of the end portion of the flat tube 1 on the long axis side. To match.
In the heat exchanger of this example, as shown in FIG. 7, the partition 11 is arranged in one tank body 12, and the cooling water 22 circulates in two passes. For this purpose, the reinforcing members 5 are arranged at positions on both sides adjacent to the upper and lower ends and the partition 11 in the figure.

The heat exchanger core 3 assembled in this manner is such that a brazing material is coated or disposed on at least one side of each component that contacts each other, and the whole is inserted into a high-temperature furnace to be integrally brazed and fixed. is there. Then, as shown in FIG. 5, a braze fillet 25 is formed between the reinforcing member 5 and the flat tube 1.
In this example, the small flange portion 21 of the resin tank body 12 is fitted into the annular groove 24 of the header plate 4 via an O-ring (not shown), and the caulking claw portion 20 is caulked to thereby fix the heat exchanger. Complete.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 7, high-temperature cooling water 22 flows from one inlet pipe 13, flows from right to left in each flat tube 1 positioned above the partition 11, and connects the other tank body 12 to the U The tank body 12 is separated from the header plate 4 for convenience of explanation in FIG. The U-turned fluid flows through the flat tube 1 from the left to the right, and flows out from the other outlet pipe 14. And the airflow by a fan or a driving | running | working wind distribute | circulates on the outer surface of the flat tube 1 and the fin 2, and heat exchange is performed between the cooling water 22 and an airflow.

At this time, in FIGS. 4 to 7, the insertion portions 9 of the reinforcing member 5 are integrally brazed and fixed to the flat tubes 1 at least at the four corners, and the opening of the flat tube 1 is reduced accordingly. .
In addition, the dimension of each part in the said Example can be changed in design as needed.

  Next, FIGS. 8 to 10 are other examples of the reinforcing structure of the present invention, which are different from the first embodiment in that the target heat exchanger core has a single-row flat tube. It is. Therefore, the reinforcing member 5 has two insertion portions 9. Further, the width of the insertion portion 9 is ¼ or less of the major axis of the cross section of the flat tube 1. The rest is the same as the first embodiment of FIG. That is, the plate thickness matches the short axis of the cross section of the flat tube 1. The reinforcing member 5 is formed in a U shape as a whole by the elongated connecting portion 6 and a pair of L-shaped portions at both ends in the longitudinal direction. The cross section of the side edge of each L-shaped part is formed into a convex curved surface (5a) that substantially matches the semicircular arc-shaped inner surface part 1b of the flat tube 1.

Each L-shaped part is bent in an L-shaped cross section perpendicular to the plane of the connecting part 6, and the bent part side has two insertion parts 9 having a width less than 1/4 of the long axis of the flat tube. Is done.
As shown in FIG. 10, the two insertion portions 9 of the reinforcing member 5 are inserted into the openings of the flat tubes 1 in both outermost rows (the lower side is omitted) of the flat tubes 1 in the parallel direction. The curved surface (5a) is in contact with both semicircular arc-shaped inner surface portions 1b of the flat tubes 1 and is fitted only at both ends in the major axis direction of the openings of the flat tubes 1, and the fitting portions are brazed.

The present invention can also be applied to a heat exchanger core in which the flat tubes 1 are arranged in three rows in the thickness direction. In this case, in the first embodiment, the four insertion portions 9 of the reinforcing member 5 are inserted into the flat tubes 1 in the foremost row and the last row in the core thickness direction. The same applies to a heat exchanger having four or more rows of flat tubes.
Further, as shown in FIG. 11, the reinforcing structure of the present invention can be applied to a flat tube 1 having a B-shaped cross section in which a partition portion 1c exists in the middle.
Further, in this description, a heat exchanger using a resin tank main body and an O-ring is taken as an example, but the same applies to a tank main body and a heat exchanger core brazed together.

1 Flat tube
1a Plane section
1b Semicircular inner surface
1c Partition 2 Fin 3 Heat exchanger core 4 Header plate 5 Reinforcement member
5a Convex surface 6 Connection part

8 Mountain fold line 9 Insertion section
11 Partition
12 Tank body
12a ridge
13 Inlet pipe
13a First upper mold
13b Second upper mold
14 Outlet pipe
14a First lower mold
14b Second lower mold

17 Tapered surface
19 Support material
20 Caulking nails
21 Small flange
22 Cooling water
24 annular groove
25 wax fillet

Claims (4)

A plurality of flat tubes (1) and fins (2) arranged in a plurality of rows, and a pair of header plates (4) in which both ends of each flat tube (1) are inserted and brazed. in the reinforcing structure of the heat exchanger,
The flat tube (1) includes a pair of opposed parallel plane portions (1a) and a pair of semicircular arc-shaped inner surface portions (1b) respectively connecting both edges of each plane portion (1a). And
A reinforcing member (5) comprising a bent body of a metal plate having a thickness w that matches the distance S between the opposed flat surface portions (1a) of the opening of the flat tube (1);
The reinforcing member (5) has a pair of flat T-shaped portions formed at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the elongated connecting portion (6), and is formed into a flat H shape in the expanded state. A protrusion (12a) is integrally provided along the longitudinal direction of each outer side edge of the leg, and a semicircular convex curved surface (5a) in which the outer periphery of the cross section is aligned with the semicircular arc inner surface (1b). )
The four H-shaped legs are bent in an L-shaped cross section perpendicular to the plane of the connecting portion (6), and the four insertion portions (9) have a width less than half of the long axis of the flat tube. And
The four insertion portions (9) of the reinforcing member (5) are inserted into the openings of a pair of flat tubes (1) adjacent to each other only in the front row and the rear row at the corner of the heat exchanger core. The semicircular convex curved surface (5a) is in contact with the semicircular arc-shaped inner surface (1b) of the flat tube (1) without any gap, and the front end and the rearmost end in the major axis direction of the opening of the flat tube (1) A reinforcing structure for a heat exchanger, which is fitted only to a portion, and the fitting portion is brazed. A large number of flat tubes (1) and fins (2) arranged in a line, and a pair of header plates (4) in which both ends of each flat tube (1) are inserted and brazed. in the reinforcing structure of the heat exchanger,
The flat tube (1) includes a pair of opposed parallel plane portions (1a) and a pair of semicircular arc-shaped inner surface portions (1b) respectively connecting both edges of each plane portion (1a). And
A reinforcing member (5) composed of a bent body of a metal plate having a thickness w that matches the distance S between the opposing flat portions (1a) of the opening of the flat tube (1),
As the reinforcing member (5) is elongated connecting portion (6), generally by a pair of L-shaped portion at both ends in the longitudinal direction is formed in a U-shape, that the side edges of each L-shaped portion The ridges (12a) are integrally provided along the longitudinal direction, and the outer periphery of the cross section is formed into a semicircular convex curved surface (5a) that matches the semicircular arc-shaped inner surface portion (1b),
Each L-shaped portion is bent in a cross-sectional L shape perpendicular to the plane of the connecting portion (6), and the bent portion side has two insertion portions with a width less than 1/4 of the long axis of the flat tube (9)
The two insertion portions (9) of the reinforcing member (5) are inserted into the openings of the outermost flat tubes (1) in the parallel direction of the flat tubes (1), and the semicircular convex curved surface. (5a) is in contact with the semicircular arc-shaped inner surface (1b) of the flat tube (1) without a gap, and is fitted only at both ends in the long axis direction of the opening of the flat tube (1). A heat exchanger reinforcement structure characterized by being brazed. In claim 1 or claim 2,
A reinforcing structure of a heat exchanger in which the insertion side end edge of the convex curved surface (5a) of each insertion portion (9) of the reinforcing member (5) is formed into a tapered surface (17). In any one of Claims 1-3,
At the center of the plane of the heat exchanger core, one header plate (4) is provided with a two-pass partition (11), and the reinforcement is applied to the flat tubes (1) on both sides adjacent to the partition (11). Reinforcement structure of heat exchanger with brazing member (5).

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