Distributor tube subassembly

Abstract

A heat exchanger assembly includes an outlet header extending along an outlet axis to define an outlet cavity and an inlet header defining an inlet cavity. A plurality of refrigerant tubes extends from the inlet header through the outlet header and into the outlet cavity. A collector conduit is disposed in the outlet header and includes a conduit body portion and at least one conduit end portion interconnected by a conduit transition portion with the conduit body portion being offset from the conduit end portion. The conduit body portion is engaged to an interior surface of the outlet header to space the conduit body portion from the refrigerant tubes extending into the outlet header and the conduit end portion is coaxial with the outlet header axis to provide a central outlet for the refrigerant vapor.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims the benefit of application Ser. No. 61 / 020,040 filed on Jan. 9, 2008.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The subject invention relates generally to a heat exchanger and method of fabricating the same, and, more specifically to a heat exchanger of the type including a plurality of refrigerant tubes extending between an inlet header and an outlet for transferring refrigerant from the inlet header to the outlet header.[0004]2. Description of the Prior Art[0005]Due to their high performance, automotive style brazed heat exchangers are being developed for residential air conditioning and heat pump applications. Automotive heat exchangers typically utilize a pair of headers with refrigerant tubes defining fluid passages to interconnect the headers. Residential heat exchangers are typically larger than automotive heat exchangers and generally require headers that are two to five times longer tha...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011]Accordingly, the present invention provides efficient installation of a refrigerant conduit in a header and provides a heat exchanger which is also compatible with traditional heat exchanger components and systems. The conduit body portion of the refrigerant conduit is spaced from the refrigerant tubes for efficient installation and the conduit end portion is positioned centrally in the first cavity along the first header end portion to provide a central orifice for the refrigerant in accordance with traditional heat exchanger assemblies.

Problems solved by technology

Inserting a refrigerant conduit into a header without damaging the refrigerant tubes or the refrigerant conduit is often difficult in a residential heat exchanger because of the increased length.

However, while such heat exchanger assemblies generally enhance the manufacturability of tube-in-tube heat exchanger assemblies, they generally are not compatible with traditional heat exchanger components and systems.

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