JPH11132208A - Clamp device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a liquid tube from corning out of a tube of a refrigerant condenser even when external force such as gas charge is added to the liquid tube. SOLUTION: The clamp 4 for fixing a liquid tube 3 to a tube 13 of a refrigerant condenser 1 is composed of a base part 6 set on the front end surface side of the refrigerant condenser 1, a clamp part 7 wrapping and holding a halfway part of a liquid tube 3 inside the base part 6, two extended parts 8 extended from the both sides of the base part 6, and two locking pawls 9 projecting from the tips of the extended parts 8 by the length more than thickness of the tube 13, etc. An inside diameter of a round hole 32 of the clamp part 7 is set smaller than an outside diameter of the liquid tube 3, consequently, when the liquid tube 3 is inserted into the clamp part 7, both the extended parts 8 and the locking pawls 9 are spread outward, then the hooking force of the clamp 4 on the tube 13 is increased.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a clamp device for fixing a functional part of a heat medium cycle to a heat exchanger, and more particularly to a clamp device for fixing a refrigerant pipe of a refrigeration cycle to a refrigerant condenser. Get involved.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a circular pipe-shaped liquid for supplying a liquid refrigerant from an outlet tank of a refrigerant condenser to an inlet of a receiver is provided on a front end face of a refrigerant condenser of a refrigeration cycle of a vehicle air conditioner. A tube is provided. And
In order to prevent the liquid tube from being damaged by vehicle vibration, as shown in FIG.
An intermediate part of the first part 01 is fixed to a tube 102 of a refrigerant condenser using a clamp (first conventional example) 100.

The clamp 100 includes a base 103 disposed on the front of the refrigerant condenser,
And a fitting portion 105 provided so as to protrude more toward the refrigerant condenser side than the base portion 103 and to protrude further from the refrigerant condenser than the base portion 103 with respect to the refrigerant condenser. Is provided. The fitting portion 105 is a substantially U-shaped portion that fits an intermediate portion of the liquid tube 101 using elastic force. In addition, on both surfaces of the sandwiched portion 104, check claws 106 for hooking on the louvers of the fins of the refrigerant condenser are formed.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. Sho 62-25704 proposes a clamp (second conventional example) for attaching a temperature sensor to the rear end face of a refrigerant evaporator of a refrigeration cycle. In this clamp, a non-return claw for hooking on a large number of louvers formed on corrugated fins of the refrigerant evaporator is formed around a bar-shaped portion to be sandwiched between tubes.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION However, the first and second
In the conventional clamp, an external force such as gas charge is applied to the liquid tube 101 or the temperature sensor, or the liquid tube 101 itself bends.
There is a problem that the clamp 100 comes off from the tube 102. Further, in the clamp of the first conventional example, there is a problem that the liquid tube 101 comes off from the fitting portion 105 of the clamp 100 due to an external force, and the liquid tube 101 is damaged by vehicle vibration or the like.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a clamp device which can prevent the heat exchanger from falling off even when an external force or the like is applied. Another object of the present invention is to provide a clamp device that can prevent a functional component from coming off.

[0007]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the functional component is fitted into the fitting portion of the clamp device, and the clamped portion is sandwiched between the tubes of the heat exchanger and locked. By locking the part to the other end face of the heat exchanger,
The functional component is firmly fixed to one end face side of the heat exchanger. Thereby, even if an external force or the like is applied, the clamp device can be prevented from falling out of the heat exchanger.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, by inserting the functional component into the fitting portion having an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the functional component, the pinched portion and the locking portion expand outward.
For this reason, the clamped portion and the locking portion are caught by the tube of the heat exchanger, so that even when an external force or the like is applied, the clamp device does not easily come off from the refrigerant condenser. According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the insertion opening for inserting the functional component into the fitting portion is provided on the heat exchanger side, the functional component can be held by being wrapped by the clamp device. Further, since the functional component is inserted into the fitting portion from the insertion port provided on the heat exchanger side, it is possible to prevent the functional component from falling out of the fitting portion.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the locking claw protrudes from the tip of the pinched portion by a dimension equal to or greater than the thickness of the tube in the tube arrangement direction, the locking claw of the heat exchanger is formed. Even if external force or the like is applied to the tube without fail, the clamp device can be prevented from coming off from the heat exchanger.
According to the invention described in claim 5, a plurality of check claws formed on both surfaces of the pinched portion are hooked on the fins of the heat exchanger.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

1 to 4 show an embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 1 and 2 are views showing an assembled state in which a liquid tube is fixed to a refrigerant condenser using a clamp. is there.

The refrigeration cycle of the vehicle air conditioner according to the present embodiment corresponds to a heat medium cycle, and includes a refrigerant compressor (not shown), a refrigerant condenser 1, a receiver 2, and an expansion valve (not shown). , A refrigerant evaporator (not shown), a refrigerant pipe connecting these in a ring shape, and a clamp device (hereinafter abbreviated as a clamp) 4 for fixing the liquid tube 3 of the refrigerant pipe to the refrigerant condenser 1. I have.

Among these, the refrigerant condenser 1 corresponds to the heat exchanger of the present invention, and is a condenser for exchanging heat of the refrigerant flowing therein with cooling air to condense and liquefy. The refrigerant condenser 1 has two projections 10 that are inserted into two recesses (not shown) provided in a vehicle body (for example, a place where the vehicle travels easily in the engine rule of the vehicle). I have.

The refrigerant condenser 1 has an inlet tank 11 provided at one end in a horizontal direction (horizontal direction) perpendicular to the vertical direction of the vehicle, and an outlet tank 12 provided at the other end in the horizontal direction. A plurality of tubes 13 arranged between the inlet tank 11 and the outlet tank 12;
It is composed of a plurality of corrugated fins 14 provided between two tubes 13. An inlet pipe (entrance pipe) 15 is connected to the inlet tank 11, and an outlet pipe (outlet pipe) 16 is connected to the outlet tank 12.

The receiver 2 is a container for gas-liquid separation of the refrigerant flowing out of the outlet tank 12 of the refrigerant condenser 1 and flowing through the liquid tube 3, and is provided to a refrigerant evaporator (evaporator) corresponding to a cooling heat load. This is a liquid receiver that temporarily stores liquid refrigerant so that it can be supplied. Note that the receiver 2 is attached to the outlet tank 12 by a fastener 18 such as a receiver holder 17 or a bolt, and is located on a front end surface (or a rear end surface) of the refrigerant condenser 1 where heat radiation of the refrigerant condenser 1 is not hindered. It is installed in.

The liquid tube 3 corresponds to a functional component of the present invention, and has an inlet end connected to an outlet pipe 16 of the refrigerant condenser 1 by a nut union 21, and an outlet end connected to an inlet of the receiver 2. Are connected by a block joint 22. A charging valve 23 to which a charging hose (not shown) on the high-pressure side of a gauge manifold used for evacuation work or refrigerant filling work is attached is provided in the middle of the liquid tube 3. And the middle part of the liquid tube 3
In order to prevent the liquid tube 3 from being damaged by vehicle vibration, the liquid tube 3 is fixed between the tubes 13 of the refrigerant condenser 1 by using a clamp 4 as shown in FIGS.

Next, the clamp 4 will be briefly described with reference to FIGS. Here, FIGS. 3 and 4 are views showing the clamp 4. This clamp 4 is, for example, PP
And a substantially U-shaped base portion 6 which is made of a resin material such as the above and is thicker than other portions, a substantially U-shaped clamp portion 7 provided inside the base portion 6, and a base portion 6 , Each having a flat plate-shaped extension portion 8 extending from both ends thereof, and a locking claw 9 provided to protrude outside each extension portion 8. In addition, a protruding piece 31 is formed on the outer surface of the base portion 6 and protrudes outward in a flange shape.

The clamp portion 7 is a portion corresponding to the fitting portion of the present invention, and is a substantially arc-shaped holding portion for holding the liquid tube 3 in a state in which most of the circular cross section is wrapped in the circular hole 32. , Elastic deformation is possible. This clamp part 7
An insertion port (opening) 33 for inserting the liquid tube 3 into the circular hole 32 is formed on the side (inside) of the refrigerant condenser 1. The distal end of the clamp portion 7 is formed as an expanded portion 34 that is expanded outward (both sides) so that the liquid tube 3 can be easily fitted inside (in the circular hole 32). The circular hole 32 of the clamp 7 has an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter (for example, φ8 mm to 10 mm) of the liquid tube 3.

The two extending portions 8 are portions corresponding to the clamped portions of the present invention, and are connecting portions connecting both sides of the clamp portion 7 and the two locking claws 9 to each other. 22m
It is formed slightly longer than m). The interval between the outer edges of the two extension portions 8 is determined so that the two extension portions 8 are sandwiched between the facing surfaces of every other two tubes 13 with one tube 13 interposed therebetween.

When the ridges (or valleys) of the corrugated fins 14 are joined to the facing surface of the tube 13, the two extended portions 8 form the ridges (or valleys) of the corrugated fins 14. And the peak (or valley). A large number of convex check claws 35 are formed on both end surfaces of the two extended portions 8 so as to be hooked on the louvers 19 formed on the corrugated fin 14. The amount of protrusion of the check claw 35 from the surface of the extension 8 is, for example, 1 m.
m.

The two locking claws 9 are portions corresponding to the locking portion of the present invention, and have an acute angle (for example, 60 ° to 80 °) so as to approach the tube 13 near the arrangement direction of the tubes 13.
°) and the claws project in opposite directions. Further, the claw-like portions of the two locking claws 9 are slightly larger than the thickness (for example, 3 mm) of the two tubes 13 in the arrangement direction of the tubes 13 from the outer ends of the two extended portions 8. (In the opposite direction).

[Fixing Method of Embodiment] Next, a fixing method of fixing the liquid tube 3 of the present embodiment to the refrigerant condenser 1 will be briefly described with reference to FIGS.

First, the receiver 2 is assembled to the front end face of the refrigerant condenser 1 integrated by brazing or the like using a receiver holder 17 or a fastener 18, and then the inlet end of the liquid tube 3 is connected to a nut union. 21, the outlet end of the liquid tube 3 is connected to the inlet of the receiver 2 using a block joint 22. As described above, the liquid tube 3 is installed so as to cross the front end face of the refrigerant condenser 1.

Next, the base portion 6 is attached to the intermediate portion of the liquid tube 3 with the insertion port 33 of the clamp 4 so that the base portion 6 is cooled.
By pushing the clamp tube toward the side, the tip portion of the clamp portion 7 is expanded and the middle portion of the liquid tube 3 is fitted into the circular hole 32. At this time, since the inner diameter of the clamp 7 is made smaller than the outer diameter of the liquid tube 3, it is firmly held in the clamp 7.

At the same time as the above-mentioned fitting operation, the base portion 6 of the clamp 4 is pushed into the refrigerant condenser 1 side while narrowing the tip portions of the two extension portions 8 so that the two extension portions 8 are formed. The two locking claws 9 are sandwiched between the opposing surfaces of the tube 13 and protrude toward the rear end surface side of the refrigerant condenser 1. At this time, when the operator releases his hand from the clamp 4, the two extension portions 8 expand and abut on the opposing surfaces of the two tubes 13, and two claw-shaped portions of the two locking claws 9 are further formed. Is located outside the opposed width of the tube 13. Thus, the fixing operation for fixing the middle part of the liquid tube 3 to the tube 13 of the refrigerant condenser 1 is completed.

[Effects of the Embodiment] As described above, in the present embodiment, the inner diameter of the clamp portion 7 is formed smaller than the outer diameter of the liquid tube 3. By inserting the portion, the clamp portion 7 spreads outward, and the two extension portions 8 and the two locking claws 9 also spread toward the facing surface side of the tube 13. For this reason, the tube 1 of two extension parts 8 and two locking claws 9
3, the clamp 4 does not easily come off the tube 13 of the refrigerant condenser 1 even when an external force such as gas charge is applied to the charging valve 23 of the liquid tube 3.

Further, an insertion port 3 for inserting a middle portion of the liquid tube 3 into the clamp portion 7 is provided on the refrigerant condenser 1 side.
3, the middle part of the liquid tube 3 is held by wrapping the middle part of the liquid tube 3 with the clamp 4, so that an external force such as gas charge is applied to the charging valve 23 of the liquid tube 3. Does not fall out of the clamp portion 7, and the liquid tube 3 is not damaged by vehicle vibration.

Further, since the projection angle of the locking claw 9 of the clamp 4 is slightly acute, the claw-shaped portion of the locking claw 9 can be caught on the rear end surface of the tube 13 even if the clamp 4 is slightly swung. Has become. Further, since a large number of convex check claws 35 are formed on both end surfaces of the two extension portions 8, when the two extension portions 8 are inserted between the tubes 13, a large number of the check claws 35 are corrugated. The fins 14 are hooked on a large number of louvers 19 formed on the fins 14. For this reason, the clamp 4 does not easily come off from the tube 13 of the refrigerant condenser 1.

Then, the claw-shaped portion of the locking claw 9 is
Since the clamp 4 is attached to the tube 13 by hooking the rear end surface of the tube 3, even if the fin pitch of the corrugated fins 14 of the refrigerant condenser 1 changes, if the pitch of the tubes 13 does not change, the same shape is used. Clamp 4
The middle part of the liquid tube 3 can be fixed by using.

[Other Embodiments] In this embodiment, an example is shown in which the clamp 4 for fixing the liquid tube 3 of the refrigeration cycle to the tube 13 of the refrigerant condenser 1 is used as a clamping device. The present invention may be applied to a clamp for fixing another refrigerant pipe such as a capillary tube or a functional component such as a temperature sensor to a heat exchanger such as a refrigerant condenser 1 or a refrigerant evaporator. Further, a functional component (a cooling water pipe or the like) used in a cooling water circuit of an engine may be used as a functional component of the heat medium cycle.

In this embodiment, only one portion of the liquid tube 3 is fixed to the tube 13 of the refrigerant condenser 1 using the clamp 4, but a plurality of clamps 4 are used to fix the intermediate portion of the liquid tube 3. Two or more locations may be fixed to the tube 13 of the refrigerant condenser 1.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing an assembled state in which a liquid tube is fixed to a refrigerant condenser by a clamp (embodiment).

FIG. 2 is a front view showing an assembled state in which a liquid tube is fixed to a refrigerant condenser by a clamp (embodiment).

FIG. 3 is a front view showing a clamp (Embodiment).

FIG. 4 is a side view showing a clamp (Embodiment).

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a state where a clamp is assembled to a refrigerant condenser (first conventional example).

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Refrigerant condenser (heat exchanger) 2 Receiver 3 Liquid tube (functional part) 4 Clamp (clamping device) 6 Base part 7 Clamp part (fitting part) 8 Extension part (clamped part) 9 Locking claw (locking) Part) 13 tube 14 corrugated fin 19 louver 33 insertion port 35 check claw

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A clamp device for fixing a functional component to a heat exchanger in which a plurality of tubes are arranged, the clamp device being arranged closer to one end than one end face of the heat exchanger, and fitted with the functional component. A fitting portion, a locking portion arranged on the other end side of the other end surface of the heat exchanger and locked to the other end surface of the heat exchanger, and connecting the fitting portion and the locking portion. And a clamped portion sandwiched between tubes of the heat exchanger. 2. The clamping device according to claim 1, wherein the clamped portions are provided at both ends of the fitting portion, and the fitting portion has an inner diameter smaller than an outer diameter of the functional component. , A clamping device provided so as to face the heat exchanger. 3. The clamp device according to claim 1, wherein the fitting portion has an insertion opening for inserting the functional component into the heat exchanger. . 4. The clamp device according to claim 1, wherein the locking portion protrudes from a tip of the clamped portion by a dimension greater than a thickness of the tube in a direction in which the tubes are arranged. A clamping device comprising: 5. The clamping device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of check claws are formed on both sides of the held portion to be hooked on fins of the heat exchanger. Characteristic clamping device.