JPH0526592A - Refrigerant distributer and manufacture thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a refrigerant distributor, capable of conducting refrigerant uniformly in the distributor, reducing the pressure loss of the refrigerant and, further, reducing the space of a heat exchanger in order to connect directly to the distributor, and obtain a manufacturing method capable of reducing the manufacturing cost as well as the manufacturing man-hours and manufacturing the distributor with a low cost. CONSTITUTION:A refrigerant distributor is constituted of two rows of substantially cylindrical distributing units 2, refrigerant tube connecting ports 3, projected into the distributor in the shape of tubes, and caps, sealing both ends of the two rows of substantially cylindrical distributing units. The tip ends of two rows of a plurality of projected parts, provided by projecting them from a substantially oblong flat plate, are cut to form the refrigerant tube connecting port 3. Both end rims 6a, 6b of the flat plates are connected to the central part 4 between the rows of refrigerant connecting port 3 to form the distributor 2. According to this method, there is no projection in the distributor 2 and the ununiformity of refrigerant is restrained whereby the pressure loss of the refrigerant can be reduced.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a refrigerant distributor such as a header pipe used in a heat exchanger such as a refrigerating machine or an air conditioner, and a manufacturing method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in order to cope with a multi-refrigeration system and a plurality of circuits associated with a heat transfer tube having a smaller diameter in a heat exchanger, a refrigerant such as a header pipe is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-219996. Shunts are often used.

An example of a heat exchanger having a conventional refrigerant flow divider will be described below with reference to FIGS. 10 to 13.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a heat exchanger having a conventional refrigerant shunt, FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along the line BB 'of FIG. 10, FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a conventional refrigerant shunt, and FIG. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a refrigerant flow diverter showing how a refrigerant flows through a conventional refrigerant flow diverter.

In FIG. 10, 40 is a heat exchanger, 41 is a heat transfer fin, 42 is a plurality of refrigerant pipes joined to holes (not shown) provided in the heat transfer fin 41, and 31 is a plurality of refrigerants. It is a refrigerant flow divider joined to the end of the pipe 42. The heat exchanger 40 includes an air flow A passing around the heat transfer fins 41,
The heat exchanger with the refrigerant R flowing inside the refrigerant pipe 42 is performed.

The general structure and manufacturing method of the flow divider 31 will be described. The refrigerant distributor 31 has connection pipe insertion ports 33 provided at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction of the circular pipe, and the connection pipe insertion ports 33
To one end of the connecting pipe 34. The refrigerant distributor 31 has the other end of the connection pipe 34 connected to the refrigerant pipe 42, and constitutes a refrigerant circuit as a heat exchanger. In the connection tube insertion port 33,
The burring 43 is machined so that the joint surface can be enlarged in order to have strength in joining with the connecting pipe 34.

Here, if the height of the burring 43 is large, the connecting pipe 34 is essentially unnecessary, but since the height of the burring 43 is limited in manufacturing, the connecting pipe 34 is used. In addition, the connection end 3 of the connection pipe insertion port 33 of the connection pipe 34
4a is subjected to a contraction process so that the amount of protrusion is not extremely large. The clearance of the connecting pipe 34 into the flow dividing portion 32 is determined by the height of the burring 43 of the connecting pipe insertion port 33 and the length of the contracted pipe portion of the connecting pipe 34.

Next, the operation of this refrigerant distributor will be briefly described. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 13, the refrigerant flow divider 31 distributes the refrigerant R flowing from the refrigerant inflow pipe 39 of the heat exchanger 40 to the plurality of refrigerant pipes 42, and the refrigerant that makes one reciprocation inside the refrigerant pipe 42. R is once collected in the refrigerant flow divider 31 and then distributed to the next plurality of refrigerant pipes 42.

[0009]

In the refrigerant flow divider and the method of manufacturing the same as described above, due to the accuracy of the burring process, variations in the height of the burring 43, and further into the flow dividing portion 32 of the connecting pipe 34. It is difficult to manage variations in the amount of waste.

This variation has a problem that when the refrigerant flows in the flow dividing portion 32, the refrigerant is distributed unevenly to the connecting pipes 34, and the heat exchange capacity is lowered.
Further, there is a problem that the flow pressure loss of the refrigerant R increases due to the connection pipe 34 protruding into the flow dividing portion 32.

When the heat exchanger 40 is attached,
The welds at both ends of the connection pipe 34 are close to each other, and the refrigerant pipe 42
In order to conduct heat when welding the connection pipe 34 and the connection pipe 34, the brazing material 3 of the welded portion between the connection pipe 34 and the flow dividing portion 32 welded in the previous step.
There is also a problem that 7 is reheated and melted, which causes a leakage failure. Therefore, the connection pipe 34 needs to have a predetermined length or more, which has a problem that the space of the connection pipe 34 that does not contribute to the heat exchange performance cannot be downsized in response to the demand for downsizing of the heat exchanger 40. Was there.

Further, if the refrigerant flow divider 31 is used in two rows, the number of parts and the number of burring steps are increased,
There was a problem of high cost.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems by eliminating the connecting pipe between the flow divider and the refrigerant pipe, and suppressing the uneven distribution of the refrigerant due to the outflow when the refrigerant flows in the flow dividing portion. An object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerant flow divider that reduces the flow pressure loss of the refrigerant and does not require a wasted space even when it is attached to a heat exchanger.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for manufacturing a refrigerant flow distributor, which can reduce the number of parts and the number of parts because a connecting pipe is not required and can be manufactured at low cost.

[0015]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the refrigerant flow distributor of the present invention has curved edges of a substantially rectangular flat plate, and both edges are joined to a substantially central portion of the flat plate. Two rows of substantially cylindrical shunts provided by
A plurality of refrigerant pipe connection ports are provided in the longitudinal direction of the two rows of substantially cylindrical flow dividing portions, and caps for sealing both ends of the two rows of substantially cylindrical flow dividing portions. The method of manufacturing the refrigerant flow diverter is such that a plurality of bulging portions are formed in two rows by projecting into a substantially rectangular flat plate, and a refrigerant pipe connection port is provided by cutting the tip of the bulging portion, Both edges of the flat plate are curved so as to abut the center portion between the rows of the connection port of the flat plate, and further, the two edge portions and the center portion between the rows are joined to each other to form two rows of substantially cylindrical flow dividing portions. Is integrally molded.

In order to solve the above problems, the refrigerant distributor of the present invention joins both edges of the flat plate to the slope of a substantially V-shaped projecting groove provided in the substantially central portion of the substantially rectangular flat plate. The two rows of the substantially cylindrical flow dividing parts, the plurality of refrigerant pipe connection ports provided in the longitudinal direction of the two rows of the substantially cylindrical flow dividing parts, and the two rows of the substantially cylindrical flow dividing parts And a cap that seals both ends of the.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the method of manufacturing the refrigerant flow distributor has a substantially V-shaped projecting groove provided at the center of a substantially rectangular flat plate, and the projecting groove is formed on both sides of the projecting groove. A plurality of bulging portions are formed in two rows by projecting on the opposite surface, a refrigerant pipe connecting port is provided by cutting the tip of the bulging portion, and both edge portions of the flat plate are formed into The V-shaped protruding groove is curved so as to abut the sloped surface, and the abutting portions are joined together to integrally form two rows of substantially cylindrical flow dividing portions.

[0018]

The refrigerant distributor according to the present invention is provided with a refrigerant pipe connection port by performing a protruding process in a flat plate state, and a connection pipe is not required. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the uneven distribution of the refrigerant due to the discharge. Therefore, the pressure loss of the refrigerant in the flow dividing section can be reduced.

Further, the method for manufacturing the refrigerant flow divider of the present invention comprises:
Since no connecting pipe is required, the number of parts is reduced, and
Since deep drawing is performed on a flat plate, the refrigerant pipe connection ports can be provided in two rows at the same time, which can lead to a reduction in man-hours.

Furthermore, since the refrigerant flow divider and the refrigerant pipe are directly joined, the space of the heat exchanger can be reduced.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of the refrigerant shunt of the present invention and a method of manufacturing the same will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a heat exchanger equipped with a refrigerant flow divider manufactured according to an embodiment of the present invention. Both ends of the refrigerant distributor 1 in FIG. 1 are sealed with caps 5.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a main part of a refrigerant flow distributor manufactured according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a refrigerant distributor, and the refrigerant distributor 1 is composed of two rows of substantially cylindrical distributors 2 and a refrigerant pipe connection port 3.

3 to 5 show a manufacturing process of the present invention. The refrigerant flow divider 1 described above is manufactured as follows. Deep drawing is sequentially performed in the longitudinal direction on the central portion in the width direction of a substantially rectangular flat plate 6 having a predetermined size, and a plurality of bulging portions 7 are processed in two rows. After that, the tip of the bulging portion 7 is cut to cut the connection port 3
To form. Next, as shown in FIG. 5, both edges 6a, 6b in the longitudinal direction of the flat plate 6 are curved so as to abut the center portion 4 between the rows of the refrigerant pipe connection ports 3 of the flat plate 6, thereby making the flat plate 6 substantially cylindrical. Mold. After that, the edges 6a, 6b and the inter-row central portion 4 are welded to each other to form the flow dividing portion 2, whereby the refrigerant flow divider 1
To produce.

The welding may be carried out by brazing in a furnace, high frequency welding, TIG welding, or the like.

As described above, the refrigerant distributor of the present invention is provided with the refrigerant pipe connection port by performing the protruding processing in the flat plate state, and the connection pipe is not required, and the number of parts is reduced. Further, by forming the mold in two rows, the bulging portions in two rows can be deep-drawn at the same time, which leads to a reduction in the number of steps.

Next, the operation of the refrigerant flow divider of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Since there is no outlet in the flow dividing portion 2 of the refrigerant flow divider 1, uneven distribution of the refrigerant R when flowing from each refrigerant pipe connecting port 3 to the refrigerant pipe can be suppressed, and pressure loss in the flow dividing portion can be reduced.

Further, since the connecting pipe is unnecessary, the space of the heat exchanger can be reduced.

As described above, according to this embodiment, since the refrigerant pipe connection port is provided by performing the protrusion processing in the flat plate state, and the connection pipe is not required, the uneven distribution of the refrigerant due to the discharge is prevented. It is possible to suppress the pressure loss of the refrigerant in the flow dividing portion.

Further, according to this embodiment, since the connecting pipe is not required, the number of parts is reduced, and since deep drawing is performed with a flat plate, the refrigerant pipe connecting ports can be provided in two rows at the same time, and the number of steps is reduced. Can be reduced. Thereby, the cost of the refrigerant flow divider can be reduced. Also, the space of the heat exchanger can be reduced.

In this embodiment, both edge portions of the flat plate are butt-joined to the center portion between the rows of the refrigerant pipe connection ports. However, as shown in FIG. 7, a bent portion obtained by bending both edge portions in an L shape in advance is used. By providing and bending and joining the bent portion to the central portion between the rows of the refrigerant pipe connection ports, the joint portion is large and the strength of the joint portion can be increased. It should be noted that the L-shaped bent portion has the same effect with respect to the flat plate in any of the upper and lower directions.

Next, a refrigerant distributor and a manufacturing method thereof according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a main part of a refrigerant flow distributor manufactured according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 8, the refrigerant flow divider 21 is composed of a substantially cylindrical flow dividing portion 22 and a refrigerant pipe connection port 23.

The above refrigerant shunt is manufactured as follows. Approximately V is provided at the center of a substantially rectangular flat plate 26 of a predetermined size.
A character-shaped protruding groove 25 is provided. Then, centering on the protruding groove 25, deep drawing is sequentially performed on both sides of the flat plate 26 in the longitudinal direction on the surface opposite to the protruding groove 25 in the same manner as the first invention, and a plurality of bulging portions are processed in two rows. The tip of the bulge is cut to form the connection port 23. Next, the flat plate 26 is formed into a substantially cylindrical shape by bending both edges 26a, 26b in the longitudinal direction of the flat plate 26 so as to abut the slope of the projecting groove 25, and then the both edges 26a, 26b are formed on the slope of the projecting groove 25. The refrigerant flow divider 21 is manufactured by welding and to form the flow dividing portion 22.

The welding may be performed by brazing in a furnace, high frequency welding, TIG welding, or the like.

Here, the refrigerant distributor of the present invention is provided with the connection port for the refrigerant pipe by performing the protrusion processing in the flat plate state, and the connection pipe is not required. Therefore, the number of parts is the same as in the first invention. decrease. Further, by forming the mold in two rows, the bulging portions in two rows can be deep-drawn at the same time, which leads to a reduction in the number of steps.

Further, since there is no outlet in the flow dividing portion 22 of the refrigerant flow divider 21, uneven distribution of the refrigerant when flowing from each connection port 33 to the refrigerant pipe is suppressed, and pressure loss in the flow dividing portion is reduced. it can. Further, since the connecting pipe is unnecessary, the space of the heat exchanger can be reduced.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the refrigerant pipe connection port is provided by performing the protrusion processing in the flat plate state,
Since the connecting pipe is not necessary, it is possible to suppress the uneven distribution of the refrigerant due to the discharge and reduce the pressure loss of the refrigerant in the flow dividing portion.

Further, according to the present embodiment, since the connecting pipe is unnecessary, the number of parts is reduced, and since deep drawing is performed with a flat plate, it is possible to provide the refrigerant pipe connecting ports in two rows at the same time. Can be reduced. As a result, the cost of the refrigerant distributor can be reduced, and the space of the heat exchanger can be reduced.

Further, according to the present embodiment, since the joint between the both edges of the flat plate and the slope of the protruding groove can be seen from the outside, the joint condition can be easily determined and the leak failure can be reduced.

[0041]

As described above, the refrigerant distributor of the present invention is formed by projecting a substantially rectangular flat plate to form a plurality of bulging portions in two rows, and cutting the tips of the projecting portions. A refrigerant pipe connection port is provided, and further, both edge portions of the flat plate are curved so as to abut the center portion between rows of the connection port of the flat plate, and the both edge portions and the center portion between rows are respectively joined. 2
Manufactured by integrally molding the roughly cylindrical flow dividing parts of the row, and by forming protrusions in the state of a flat plate, a refrigerant pipe connection port is provided, which eliminates the need for a connection pipe and suppresses uneven distribution of the refrigerant due to discharge. The pressure loss of the refrigerant in the flow dividing portion can be reduced.

Further, since the connecting pipe is not required, the number of parts is reduced, and since the deep drawing is performed on the flat plate, the refrigerant pipe connecting ports can be provided at the same time in two rows, which leads to the reduction of the man-hour and the lowering of the refrigerant distributor. Can be manufactured at a cost. Furthermore, the space of the heat exchanger can be reduced.

Further, the effect of the actual flow of the refrigerant and the effect of the number of steps of the refrigerant distributor of the present invention are the same as those of the refrigerant distributor of the first invention. Furthermore, since the joint between the both edges of the flat plate and the slope of the protruding groove can be seen from the outside, the joint condition can be easily determined, and leak defects can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a heat exchanger is equipped with a refrigerant flow divider according to an embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a main part of the refrigerant flow divider of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a main part showing that a protrusion is formed on a flat plate in the manufacturing process of the refrigerant distributor of FIG.

4 is a perspective view of essential parts showing cutting of a tip of a protrusion in a manufacturing process of the refrigerant distributor of FIG. 1;

5 is a perspective view of a main part showing that a flat plate is curved in a manufacturing process of the refrigerant distributor of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the flow of refrigerant in the refrigerant distributor of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a refrigerant flow divider according to another embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a main part of a refrigerant flow divider according to another embodiment.

9 is a plan view showing a V-shaped protrusion groove provided on a flat plate in the process of manufacturing the refrigerant flow divider shown in FIG. 8, a protrusion is formed on the surface opposite to the V-shaped protrusion groove, and the tip of the protrusion is cut. A perspective view of essential parts showing that

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a state in which a heat exchanger is equipped with a conventional refrigerant flow divider.

11 is a sectional view taken along line BB ′ of FIG.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a main part of a conventional refrigerant flow divider.

13 is a cross-sectional view showing the flow of refrigerant in the refrigerant distributor of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1,11,21 Refrigerant flow divider 2,12,22 Flow divider 3, 13, 23 Refrigerant pipe connection port 4,14 rows center 5 caps 6,26 flat plate 7 Projection 6a, 6b, 16a, 16b, 26a, 26b Both edges 25 protruding groove

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Teruhiko Hira             3-22 Takaidahondori, Higashi-Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture             Within Matsushita Cold Machinery Co., Ltd.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A two-row substantially cylindrical shunting portion provided by bending both edges of a substantially rectangular flat plate and joining both edges to a substantially central portion of the flat plate, and the two rows of substantially circular cylinders. And a plurality of refrigerant pipe connection ports provided in the longitudinal direction of the linear flow dividing portion.
A two-row integrated refrigerant flow divider consisting of caps that seal both ends of a substantially cylindrical flow dividing portion of the row. 2. The two-row substantially cylindrical shunt section is provided by joining the bent portions, which are formed by bending both edges of the flat plate in an L shape in advance, to the substantially central portion of the flat plate. Refrigerant flow divider. 3. A substantially rectangular flat plate is projected to form a plurality of bulging portions in two rows, and a refrigerant pipe connection port is provided by cutting the tip of the bulging portion, and the flat plate is further provided. Both edge portions of the flat plate are curved so as to abut the center portion between rows of the connection port of the flat plate, and the both edge portions and the center portion between rows are joined to form two substantially cylindrical flow dividing portions. Method for manufacturing integrally formed refrigerant flow divider. 4. A two-row substantially cylindrical shape provided by abutting and joining both edges of the flat plate to the slope of a substantially V-shaped projecting groove provided at the substantially central portion of the substantially rectangular flat plate. A flow dividing section, a plurality of refrigerant pipe connection ports provided in the longitudinal direction of the two rows of substantially cylindrical flow dividing sections, and a cap for sealing both edges of the two rows of substantially cylindrical flow dividing sections. Integral refrigerant flow divider. 5. A substantially V-shaped projecting groove is provided at the center of a substantially rectangular flat plate, and the two sides are centered around the projecting groove so as to project on opposite sides of the projecting groove to form a plurality of expanded rows in two rows. A protruding portion is formed, a refrigerant pipe connection port is provided by cutting the tip of the bulging portion, and further, both edges of the flat plate are curved so as to abut the slope of the substantially V-shaped protruding groove. And joining the abutting portions to each other to integrally form the two rows of the substantially cylindrical flow dividing sections.