Evaporator

Abstract

In an evaporator, each fin is disposed between adjacent tubes in a tube stacking direction, and each of the tubes includes at least first and second tube parts lined to have a space therebetween in a flow direction of air passing between the adjacent tubes. The first tube part has therein a first refrigerant passage that is completely separately from a second refrigerant passage of the second tube part. Furthermore, the fin has at least one open portion that is opened from an end of the fin in the tube stacking direction to a predetermined portion, and the open portion is provided in the fin except for a position in the air flow direction, corresponding to the space. Therefore, the strength of the evaporator can be increased while condensed water on the evaporator can be effectively drained.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-303660 filed on Oct. 18, 2005, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to an evaporator for a refrigerant cycle device. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] In a refrigerant evaporator for a refrigerant cycle device described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,308,527 (corresponding to JP-A-2000-179988), a fin pitch is set smaller in order to obtain a predetermined heat transferring area when the size of the evaporator is made small. However, when the fin pitch is made small, condensed water generated on the evaporator easily becomes in a water film shape on the outer surface of the evaporator by the surface tension between adjacent fin surfaces, thereby increasing a water amount staying on the outer surface of the evaporator. When the water amou...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007] In view of the foregoing problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide an evaporator which reduces a water flying amount from the surface of an evaporator while increasing the strength of the evaporator.

[0008] According to a first example of the present invention, an evaporator includes a plurality of passage members having therein refrigerant passages in which refrigerant flows, and a fin having a heat exchanging surface extending along the flow direction of air. The passage members are arranged in a flow direction of air flowing outside of the passage members, and the fin is located adjacent to the passage members in a direction perpendicular to the flow direction of air. Furthermore, the fin has an open portion opened at a position adjacent to the one of the refrigerant passages, and a bridge portion joined to the passage members. Therefore, the passage members are connected to each other in the flow direction of air by the bridge portion. Accordingly, water draining performance can be increased, thereby reducing a water flying amount flying toward a downstream air side together with the air flow. Because the passage members are connected to each other by the bridge portion, the strength between the passage members can be increased, thereby increasing the strength of the evaporator.

[0011] According to a second example of the present invention, an evaporator includes: a plurality of tubes stacked in a stacking direction; a plurality of fins each of which is located between adjacent tubes in the stacking direction; and a tank portion extending to the stacking direction to be connected to one longitudinal end of each tube. In the evaporator, each of the tubes includes at least first and second tube parts lined to have a space therebetween in a flow direction of air passing between the adjacent tubes. Here, the flow direction of air is perpendicular to the stacking direction and a tube longitudinal direction. The first tube part has therein a first refrigerant passage through which refrigerant flows, the second tube part has therein a second refrigerant passage through which refrigerant flows, and the second refrigerant passage is separate from the first refrigerant passage. In addition, the fin extends from the first tube part to the second tube part, the fin has at least one open portion that is opened from an end of the fin in the stacking direction to a predetermined portion, and the open portion is provided in the fin except for a position in the air flow direction, corresponding to the space between the first and second tube parts. Accordingly, the water draining performance can be increased using the open portion, and strength of the evaporator can be increased.

Problems solved by technology

Furthermore, in this evaporator, vibration noise due to a refrigerant flow may be easily caused.

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