JPH0486484A - Heat exchanger - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the unsteadiness of the side of a short header and improve the strength of a heat exchanger as a whole by connecting the corresponding ends of the short headers to each other through a pipe for connection. CONSTITUTION:Tubes 1 includes two kinds of tubes having different lengths and the group 1a of short tubes as well as the group 1b of long tubes are formed. A left header 3 is constituted of one piece of long pipe while right headers 4 are constituted of short headers 4a, 4b and the right upper header 4a is retreated to the inside of a heat exchanger than the right lower header 4b whereby a recess 6 is formed at the right upper corner of the heat exchanger. This recess 6 is formed to avoid an obstacle X. The lower end of the right upper header 4a is connected to the upper end of the right lower header 4b through a pipe P for connection. The obstacle can be avoided by the formation of the recess 6 and, further, the improvement of the strength of the heat exchanger can be contrived by the pipe P for connection in such a manner.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a heat exchanger, particularly a multi-flow heat exchanger suitably used as a condenser for a car cooler.

Conventional technology For example, in a heat exchanger used as a condenser for a car cooler, a multi-hole extruded flat tube called a harmonica tube is bent into a serpentine shape, and fins are placed between the parallel parts to form a core part. Instead of the so-called serpentine type heat exchanger, the use of a so-called multi-flow type heat exchanger has been proposed and put into practical use. This multi-flow heat exchanger connects a large number of flat tubes between a pair of left and right pipe headers, arranges fins between adjacent tubes, and partitions the inside of the header at appropriate positions in the length direction. By partitioning with parts,
A meandering refrigerant circuit is formed from the refrigerant inlet at the upper end of one header to the refrigerant outlet at the lower end of the other header.

By the way, in automobiles, due to the trend of shrinking the engine room due to the recent expansion of living space, the placement of the heat exchanger in the engine room has become more efficient by eliminating wasted space in relation to other equipment, etc. It has been requested that this be deployed. Therefore, if there are obstacles that prevent the placement of the heat exchanger in the engine room, the core part is placed between the fins and It consists of multiple tube groups of different lengths with intervening tubes, and one end of the tubes is aligned and connected to a common long header, while the other end is connected separately for each tube group. It has been proposed to communicate with a short header of the tube and form a recess into which a portion of the header is recessed at one end in the length direction of the tube (see, for example, Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 74989/1989).

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, the heat exchanger described above has the following drawbacks. In other words, one end of each tube group is connected to a common long header to ensure sufficient strength, while the other end is connected to separate short headers to ensure that the adjacent tubes have sufficient strength. The tube groups were simply connected by fins interposed between them, which was insufficient in terms of strength.

In addition, when configuring a refrigerant circuit in which the refrigerant flows in a meandering manner from the refrigerant inlet to the outlet, the refrigerant circuit is divided at the end of the short header, which limits the circuit configuration and causes heat loss. There were also performance problems, such as a decrease in exchange efficiency and an increase in pressure loss on the refrigerant side.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems. It is an object of the present invention to provide a heat exchanger which has sufficient strength and can freely set the refrigerant circuit configuration, although the header has four recessed parts.

As a means for solving the problem, the present invention has a plurality of tube groups of different lengths in which flat tubes and fins are stacked in an alternating arrangement, and one end of each tube is connected to a common tube. One end is connected to a long header, while the other end is connected to a separate short header for each tube group, thereby forming a recess into which the header retracts at one end in the length direction of the tube. The heat exchanger is characterized in that corresponding ends of each of the short headers are connected to each other via a connecting pipe.

Since the corresponding ends of the working short headers are connected by the connecting pipe, the strength of the heat exchanger as a whole is improved.

Since the corresponding ends of the short header are connected via the connecting pipe, even when configuring a refrigerant circuit in which the refrigerant flows in a meandering manner from the refrigerant inlet to the outlet, Since the refrigerant circuit is not separated at the end of the short header, the circuit configuration can be freely set.

EXAMPLE The present invention will be described below based on an example in which the present invention is applied to a condenser for a car air conditioner.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, (1) is a plurality of flat tubes arranged vertically in a horizontal state;
(2) is a corrugated fin interposed between the adjacent tubes (1) (1).

The tube (1) is made of a flat extruded aluminum material. For the purpose of improving pressure resistance, it is desirable to use a porous type tube (1), such as a so-called harmonica tube. However, in order to further reduce the thickness of the tube (1) and improve heat exchange performance, an electric resistance welded tube or the like may be used instead of the extruded material. When using an electric resistance welded pipe, an inner fin material formed into a corrugated shape in the width direction is separately inserted into the pipe and brazed to the inner surface of the pipe wall, so that the fin material functions as a reinforcing member and achieves the required resistance. It is preferable to obtain pressure.

The tubes (1) include two types of different lengths, the short tubes (1) are collected at the top to form a short tube group (1a), and the long tubes (1) are collected at the bottom. and form a long tube group (1b). Each tube (1) is arranged with its left end aligned at the same vertical position.

The corrugated fins (2) include two types of lengths, long and short, corresponding to the length direction of the tube (1).

That is, short fins (2) are interposed between each tube in the short tube group (1a), and the long tube group (1b
), a long fin (2) is interposed between each tube. A short fin (2) is interposed between the short tube group (1a) and the long tube group (1b). Each of these corrugated fins (2) has approximately the same width as the tube (1), and is brazed with a brazing material coated on the surface of the tube (1) or the surface of the fin (2). 1) are joined and integrated. The corrugated fins (2) are also made of aluminum, preferably with louvers cut and raised. In addition, instead of the corrugated fin, a plate-like fin having a notch for fitting the tube on the - side edge is used,
These may be arranged parallel to the header at predetermined intervals.

(3) and (4) are left and right headers. Left header (3
) consists of two long headers, while the right header (4) consists of two short headers (4a) (4b)
). These headers (3) and (4) are made of hollow extruded aluminum members with a circular cross section and have high pressure resistance. In addition, instead of such an extruded material, a molded pipe may be used in which a double-sided or single-sided plating sheet is molded into a cylindrical shape and the abutting portions are electrically welded or soldered (q-jointed).For each header (3) and (4), Tube insertion holes (5) are bored at predetermined intervals along the length.

The left end of each tube (1) of the long and short side tube groups (la) (Ib) is inserted into the insertion hole (5) of the left header (3), and the short tube is inserted into the insertion hole (5) of the short header (4a) on the upper right. The right end of each tube (1) of the group (1a) is inserted into the insertion hole (5) of the short header (4b) on the lower right side of the long tube group (1a).
The right end of each tube (1) of 1b) is inserted,
Strongly joined and connected by brazing. Therefore,
In the connected state of such a header, the tube (1)
At the right end of the tube, the upper right short header ('4a) is retracted inward along the length of the tube (1) than the lower right short header (4b). A recess (6) is formed in the upper right corner.

This recess (6) prevents obstacles (X
). Furthermore, the left header (3
) are respectively closed by lids (7). Furthermore, a refrigerant inlet vibrator (8) is connected to the upper end of the short header (4a) in the upper right, while one end of a refrigerant outlet vibrator (9) is connected in communication to the lower end of the short header (4b) in the lower right. has been done. Also, the short header on the top right (4a
) and the upper end of the lower right short header (4b) are connected to each other by a connecting pipe (P). This pipe (P) has a rectangular cross-section as shown in Figure 3, and a header connection hole (PL) (P2) is formed on the upper surface of one end and the lower surface of the other end. The corresponding ends of the short headers (4a) and (4b) are inserted into the six holes (PI) (P2) and are fixedly connected in a communicating state. The left header (3) and the lower right short header (4b) are either inside or have partition members (1
0), and the refrigerant flowing from the refrigerant inlet vibrator (8) is divided into a short tube group (1a) and a long tube group (1b), as shown by the broken line in Fig. 1. The refrigerant winds through the refrigerant passage and flows out from the refrigerant outlet vibe (9). During this time, tube (1) (1
) The air circulation gap including the corrugated fins (2) formed between the holes exchanges heat with the air flowing in the direction shown by the arrow in FIG. 4, thereby causing condensation.

In FIG. 1, (11) and (12) are side plates placed on the outside of the outermost corrugated fin (2).

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of the invention. In this example, the tube (1°) is a short tube group (la'
) is sandwiched in the middle, and a long tube group (lb') is placed above and below it.
)(lc') are arranged. and each tube (1
') is connected to a common header (3゛), while the right end of each tube (1゛) is divided into each tube group (la') (lb') (lc'). Three short headers (4a') (4b'
) (4c'). Therefore, in this embodiment, the right intermediate header (4a') is retracted inward along the length direction of the tube, so that an obstacle (X
) are formed to avoid four parts (6°). In addition, the lower end of the upper right short header (4b') and the upper end of the right middle short header (4a") are connected to the connecting vibrator (P
), and is also connected via the lower right short header (4c
The upper end of the right intermediate short header (4a') and the lower end of the right intermediate short header (4a') are connected to each other via a connecting vibrator (P).

Furthermore, a refrigerant inlet pipe (8°) and a refrigerant outlet pipe (9°) are attached to the upper and lower ends of the left header (3°), respectively.

Furthermore, left header (3°), right middle short header (4a'
) and the lower right short header (4c') are provided with a partition member (10°) for reversing the flow of refrigerant.
The refrigerant thus flows in a meandering manner through the refrigerant passage constituted by the tube group.

In addition, in the above embodiment, a case was shown in which one concave portion for avoiding obstacles was formed, but depending on the presence of the obstacle, a plurality of four concave portions may be formed, or the concave portion may be formed into a stepped shape. The present invention is also applicable to those formed in the following manner.

Effects of the Invention As described above, in the heat exchanger according to the present invention, one end of a plurality of tube groups having different lengths is communicatively connected to a common long header, while the other end is connected to each tube group. Each of the tubes is connected in communication with a separate short header, and a recess into which the header retracts is formed at one end in the length direction of the tube. Therefore, by changing the formation position, size, etc. of these four parts as appropriate depending on the obstacle, it is possible to avoid unnecessary space while reducing the size of the entire heat exchanger to avoid the obstacle. Heat exchangers can be placed to avoid this.

In addition, since the corresponding ends of each short header are connected via a connecting vibrator, it is possible to prevent wobbling on the short header side, thereby improving the strength of the heat exchanger as a whole. be able to. Moreover, even when configuring a refrigerant circuit in which the refrigerant flows in a meandering manner from the refrigerant inlet to the outlet, the refrigerant circuit is not cut off at the end of the short header, so the circuit configuration can be freely configured. This can improve the heat exchange efficiency or reduce the pressure loss on the refrigerant side.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings show an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is an overall front view of the heat exchanger, FIG. 2 is a plan view, FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway overall perspective view of a connecting vibe, and FIG. The figure is Figure 1 IV
-rV line, FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the header, tubes and fins in a separated state, and FIG. 6 is an overall front view of a heat exchanger showing another embodiment. (1) (1°)...Flat tube, (la)
(Ia')...Short tube group, (lb) (l
b') (lc')...Long tube group, (3)
(3')...Long header (4a) (4b3
(4a') (4b') (4c')
- Short header (6) (8゛)... recess, (P)
...Connection vibe. Above Figure 1 Figure 3 Figure 4

Claims (1)

[Claims] It has a plurality of tube groups of different lengths in which flat tubes and fins are stacked in an alternating arrangement, and one end of each tube is communicatively connected to a common long header. , the same end is connected to a separate short header for each tube group, and a recess into which the header retracts is formed at one end in the length direction of the tube. A heat exchanger characterized in that corresponding ends of a short header are connected to each other via a connecting pipe.