Heat exchanger

Abstract

Provided is a heat exchanger in which the capacity of the heat exchanger is maintained by reducing the flow resistance of a heat medium in a header tank on the side of a heat exchanger having a two-path structure on which an outlet for the heat medium is not provided, and the shape of the header tank on one end side and the header tank on the other end side of a line group can be used in common, whereby an increase in manufacturing cost can be suppressed. In the heat exchanger of a two-way structure, a first flow collecting box is arranged at one end of a first pipeline group and a second pipeline group parallel to the first pipeline group, and a second flow collecting box is arranged at the other end of the first pipeline group and the second pipeline group, the first flow collecting box and the second flow collecting box comprise flow collecting plates connected with pipelines; and a box plate combined with the collector plate, a column component clamped by the collector plate and the box plate is arranged in the second collector box, and the column component enables the heat medium to flow from the first pipeline group to the second pipeline group in the second collector box.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a heat exchanger including a header tank. Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a so-called two-pass heat exchanger is known in which headers are provided at both ends of a stacked tube group so that the heat medium passes through the tubes twice for heat exchange (see Patent Document 1 below).

[0003] In the two-way heat exchanger described in Patent Document 1, a header located at one end of the pipe group is provided with an inlet for allowing the heat medium to flow into one end of the header in the short direction of the header, and an outlet for allowing the heat medium to flow out of the other end of the header in the short direction of the header. Furthermore, a partition surface is provided inside the header along the long direction of the header, separating the areas at one end and the other end of the header in the short direction of the header. The header located at the other end of the pipe group is also provided with a partition surface.

[0004] The heat medium flows from the inlet into one end of the header box at one end of the pipe group in the short direction, and then flows through the pipes into one end of the header box at the other end of the pipe group in the short direction. The inflowing heat medium flows through the space provided at one end of the header box in the long direction toward the other end of the header box in the short direction, and then again flows through the pipes to the other end of the header box at one end of the pipe group in the short direction, and then flows out of the outflow outlet. While passing through the pipes, the heat medium exchanges heat with, for example, air. Prior art literature

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-132920

[0006] In conventional heat exchangers, the heat medium moves in the short-side direction of the collecting box in a collecting box provided at the other end of the pipe group, using a space provided at one end of the long-side direction of the collecting box. Since the moving space in the short-side direction of the box is small relative to the amount of heat medium flowing into the box, the flow resistance is large, resulting in a pressure loss in the entire heat medium circuit, which is the main reason for the reduced capacity of the equipment equipped with the heat exchanger.

[0007] On the other hand, if the dividing surface that separates the area in the short side direction is removed from the collecting box arranged at the other end of the pipeline group, the flow resistance of the heat medium can be reduced. However, since the dividing surface plays the role of strengthening the collecting box, in order to maintain the strength of the collecting box itself, it is necessary to increase the number of ribs arranged on the collecting box or to provide ribs of special shape, so that it needs to be a shape different from that of the collecting box arranged at one end of the pipeline group, which leads to increased manufacturing costs. Summary of the Invention

[0008] The present invention addresses the aforementioned issues. Specifically, it aims to maintain heat exchanger capacity by reducing the heat medium flow resistance in the header tank on the side of a two-way heat exchanger with no heat medium inflow or outflow port, as in Patent Document 1. Furthermore, the header tanks on one end of the pipe group and the other end share the same shape, thereby suppressing increases in manufacturing costs.

[0009] In order to solve this problem, the heat exchanger of the present invention is provided with a first collecting box at one end of a first pipe group composed of stacked pipes and a second pipe group arranged parallel to the first pipe group, and a second collecting box at the other end. The heat exchanger is provided with an inlet and an outlet for the heat medium in the first collecting box. The heat medium flows into the first collecting box from the inlet, flows into the second collecting box with the help of the first pipe group, returns to the first collecting box with the help of the second pipe group, and flows out from the outlet. The first collecting box and the second collecting box include: a collecting plate connected to the first pipe group and the second pipe group; and a box plate combined with the collecting plate. The second collecting box is provided with a column component inside. The column component is clamped by the collecting plate and the box plate and is used to strengthen the second collecting box. The column component is arranged in the second collecting box so that the heat medium can flow from the first pipe group to the second pipe group.

[0010] According to this feature, the present invention reduces the flow resistance of the heat medium in the header on the side of the two-way heat exchanger where the heat medium outflow outlet is not provided, thereby maintaining the capacity of the heat exchanger and making the shape of the headers on one end side and the other end side of the pipe group common, thereby suppressing the increase in manufacturing costs. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] Figure 1 It is an overall perspective view of a heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 This is an exploded perspective view of a first header tank according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 This is an exploded perspective view of a second header tank according to the embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional view of a first header tank according to an embodiment of the present invention, taken along its short side. Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional view of a second header tank in the short-side direction according to the embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6 This is a cross-sectional view in the short side direction of the second header tank without the column member. Figure 7 This is a modified example of the second header tank in the embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0012] Hereinafter, the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, the same reference numerals denote the same functional parts, and repeated descriptions in the drawings will be omitted as appropriate.

[0013] like Figure 1 As shown, the heat exchanger 1 is composed of a first header tank 11 , a second header tank 12 , and a heat exchange core 10 formed between the first header tank 11 and the second header tank 12 .

[0014] The heat exchange core 10 includes a first tube group 100a and a second tube group 100b, each composed of multiple tubes 100 arranged parallel to the air flow direction (the Y-axis in the figure); heat sinks (not shown) disposed between the tubes 100; and a pair of side plates 101 disposed at both ends of the tubes 100 in the stacking direction (the X-axis in the figure). The first tube group 100a and the second tube group 100b are composed of multiple tubes 100 stacked in the X-axis in the figure. In the heat exchanger 1, heat exchange occurs between a heat medium (such as cooling water) flowing through the tubes 100 of the heat exchange core 10 in the Z-axis direction in the figure and a fluid (such as air) passing through the heat exchange core 10 in the Y-axis direction in the figure, via first and second header tanks 11 and 12.

[0015] Figure 1 The heat exchanger 1 shown is a so-called two-way structure heat exchanger. The heat medium flows from the inlet pipe 2 into the first header 11, flows into the second header 12 through the first pipe group 100a of the heat exchange core part 10, returns to the first header through the second pipe group 100b of the heat exchange core part 10, and flows out to the outlet pipe 3.

[0016] The first header tank 11 and the second header tank 12 include: a cylindrical member 13 with openings at both ends in the stacking direction of the pipes 100 (the X-axis direction in the figure); and a tank cover 50 and a pipe cover 60 as cover members for closing the openings of the cylindrical member 13. In addition, the cylindrical member 13 is formed by a U-shaped tank plate 20 and a header plate 30 that are elongated in the air flow direction of the heat exchange core 10 (the Y-axis direction in the figure) (see FIG. Figure 2 In the following description, the short-side direction of the first and second header boxes 11, 12, tubular member 13, box plate 20, and header plate 30 is defined as the direction of air flow in the heat exchange core 10 (the Y-axis direction in the figure), and the long-side direction is defined as the stacking direction of the pipes 100 (the X-axis direction in the figure).

[0017] The cylindrical member 13, formed by combining the tank plate 20 and the header plate 30, is sealed at both ends in the longitudinal direction by a tank cover 50 and a duct cover 60, thereby forming a storage space for the heat medium inside. In the illustrated example, the openings at one end of the cylindrical member of the first and second header tanks 11 and 12 are sealed by the tank cover 50, and the openings at the other end are sealed by the duct cover 60.

[0018] Next, use Figure 2 、 Figure 3 The structures of the first header tank 11 and the second header tank 12 in the present invention will be described. Figure 2 An exploded perspective view showing the first header tank 11, Figure 3 An exploded perspective view of the second header tank 12 is shown. The first header tank 11 and the second header tank 12 include a cylindrical member 13 formed by a tank plate 20 and a header plate 30 , a tank cover 50 , and a duct cover 60 . The first header tank 11 is provided with a partition plate 40 , and the second header tank is provided with a column member 70 .

[0019] The partition plate 40 is provided along the longitudinal direction (the X-axis direction in the figure) of the first header tank 11. The partition plate 40 divides the interior of the first header tank 11 into a region α1 on one end side of the short side direction (the Y-axis direction in the figure) of the first header tank 11 and a region β1 on the other end side of the short side direction (the Y-axis direction in the figure) of the first header tank 11 (see FIG. Figure 4 ), preventing the heat medium residing in area α1 from intruding into the heat medium residing in area β1. Specifically, the heat medium flowing in from the inlet pipe 2 resides in area α1, while the heat medium flowing from the second header tank 12 through the second pipe group 100b of the heat exchange core 10 resides in area β1. Furthermore, the partition 40 improves durability against the internal pressure generated by the heat medium flowing through the first header tank 11.

[0020] The column member 70 is provided along the longitudinal direction of the second header tank 12. The column member 70 is provided inside the second header tank 12 between a region α2 on one end side of the short side direction (the Y-axis direction in the figure) of the second header tank 12 and a region β2 on the other end side of the short side direction (the Y-axis direction in the figure) of the second header tank 12 (see FIG. Figure 5 ) is provided to reinforce the second header tank 12. The column member 70 includes a connecting portion 71 that allows the heat medium to flow from a region α2 on one end of the second header tank 12 in the short-side direction (the Y-axis direction in the figure) to a region β2 on the other end of the second header tank 12 in the short-side direction (the Y-axis direction in the figure); and a wall surface 72 that supports the tank plate 20 and the header plate 30. The specific flow of the heat medium will be described later.

[0021] The inner side of the box plate 20 is provided with a fixing groove 24, which secures the partitions 40 and column members 70 along the longitudinal direction of the box plate 20 to the center of the box plate 20 in the transverse direction (the Y-axis direction in the figure). During assembly, one end of the partitions 40 and column members 70 in the vertical direction (the Z-axis direction in the figure) is fixed in the fixing groove 24 of the box plate 20, while the other end is fixed between the ribs 31 on one transverse end and the ribs 31 on the other end of the current collecting plate 30, thereby being sandwiched between the box plate 20 and the current collecting plate 30. In the following description, the transverse direction of the partitions 40 and column members 70 is the vertical direction (the Z-axis direction in the figure), and the longitudinal direction is the stacking direction of the pipelines 100 (the X-axis direction in the figure).

[0022] To increase the strength of the collecting box, ribs 21 and 31 protruding inward are provided on the box plate 20 and the collecting plate 30, respectively. The rib 31 of the collecting plate 30 is provided with a pipe insertion portion 31D for inserting the pipe 100. Rib grooves 21A, 21B, 31A, and 31B are formed on the outer surface of the portion forming the ribs 21 and 31 on the box plate 20 and the collecting plate 30. The rib grooves 21B and 31B formed at both ends of the box plate 20 and the collecting plate 30 in the longitudinal direction serve as rib grooves specifically for riveting, which will be described later, and have a shape different from the other rib grooves 21A and 31A. Furthermore, the rib grooves 31B formed at both ends of the collecting plate 30 in the longitudinal direction are provided with side plate insertion portions 31C for inserting the side plates 101.

[0023] The current collecting plate 30 has caulking claws 32A extending from the short-side end portions 32 of the current collecting plate 30. The caulking claws 32A are caulked to the rib grooves 21A of the tank plate 20, thereby fixing the tank plate 20 and the current collecting plate 30.

[0024] The tank cover 50 and duct cover 60 are provided with rivet claws 51, 61, which secure the cover member to the cylindrical member 13 by riveting. Each rivet claw 51, 61 secures the cover member to the cylindrical member 13 by riveting to rib grooves 21B, 31B provided at both ends of the tank plate 20 and current collecting plate 30 in the longitudinal direction. In the illustration, the tank plate 20 and current collecting plate 30 have rib grooves 21B, 31B designed specifically for riveting, but rib grooves 21A, 31A of non-dedicated shapes can also be used for riveting.

[0025] The duct cover 60 is provided with a connection port 63 for connecting the inlet duct 2 and the outlet duct 3. The connection port 63 connected to the inlet duct 2 serves as the inlet for the heat medium, while the connection port 63 connected to the outlet duct 3 serves as the outlet for the heat medium. In this embodiment, since the duct cover 60 provided on the second header tank 12 is not connected to the inlet duct 2 and the outlet duct 3, the connection port 63 provided on the duct cover 60 of the second header tank 12 is blocked.

[0026] Furthermore, the tank cover 50 and the duct cover 60 are provided with fixing grooves 52 and 62 for fixing the ends of the partition plate 40 and the column member 70. Specifically, the partition plate 40 and the column member 70 are fixed at one end in the short direction of the tank plate 20 to the fixing groove 24 and at the other end between the ribs 31 on one end and the other end of the current collecting plate 30 in the short direction, thereby being sandwiched between the tank plate 20 and the current collecting plate 30. Furthermore, the partition plate 40 and the column member 70 are fixed at both ends in the long direction of the tank cover 50 and the duct cover 60 to be sandwiched and fixed therebetween.

[0027] Next, the assembly of the first header tank 11 and the second header tank 12 in the present invention will be described. like Figure 4 、 Figure 5 As shown, the cylindrical members 13 of the first and second header tanks 11, 12 are assembled by inserting the short-side ends 22 of the tank plates 20 into the interior of the header plate 30. In the first header tank 11, the partitions 40 are installed as described above when the tank plates 20 and the header plate 30 are assembled. In the second header tank 12, the column members 70 are installed as described above when the tank plates 20 and the header plate 30 are assembled. Although not shown, the first and second header tanks 11, 12 are assembled with the pipes 100 inserted into the pipe insertion portions 31D of the header plate 30.

[0028] Fix the partition 40 and the column member 70 in the fixing groove 24 of the box plate 20 and between the rib 31 on one end side of the short side and the rib 31 on the other end side of the collecting plate 30. After combining the box plate 20 and the collecting plate 30 to form the cylindrical member 13, use the pipe cover 60 to close the opening at one end of the long side of the cylindrical member 13, and use the box cover 50 to close the opening at the other end of the long side of the cylindrical member 13.

[0029] Thereafter, the first and second header tanks 11 and 12 are formed by riveting using the riveting claws 32A provided at the short-side end 32 of the header plate 30 and the riveting claws 51 and 61 provided at the tank cover 50 and the duct cover 60 , and finally brazing.

[0030] The riveting is performed by riveting the rivet claws 32A of the current collecting plate 30 to the rib grooves 21A of the tank plate 20, and riveting the rivet claws 51, 61 of the tank cover 50 and the duct cover 60 to the rib grooves 21B, 31B of the tank plate 20 and the current collecting plate 30. When the rivet claws 51, 61 of the tank cover 50 and the duct cover 60 are riveted to the rib grooves 31B of the current collecting plate 30, they are riveted to the rib grooves 31B with the side plate 101 inserted into the side plate insertion portion 31C.

[0031] Next, the flow of the heat medium will be described. The heat medium flows from the inlet pipe 2 through the connection port 63 of the pipe cover 60 into area α1 of the first header tank 11. The heat medium flowing into area α1 then flows through the first pipe group 100a of the heat exchange core 10 into area α2 of the second header tank 12. From area α2, the heat medium flows through the communication portion 71 provided in the column member 70 to area β2. After that, the heat medium flows through the second pipe group 100b of the heat exchange core 10 into area β1 of the first header tank 11, and then flows out into the outlet pipe 3.

[0032] In a so-called two-way heat exchanger, where heat medium flows through these channels, second header tank 12 serves as a turning point in the flow path. To ensure efficient heat exchange, the heat medium must flow smoothly in the short-side direction (the Y-axis direction in the figure) of second header tank 12, that is, from region α2 to region β2. Therefore, it is preferable that the wall surface 72 of column member 70 be shaped in a manner that minimizes the flow of the heat medium. Figure 3 The communication portion 71 and the wall surface 72 of the column member 70 shown are shaped in consideration of the fluidity of the heat medium, and thus are unlikely to hinder the flow of the heat medium in the second header tank 12 .

[0033] Assuming that the second header tank 12 is configured without the column member 70 , the flow of the heat medium from α2 to β2 is not hindered in the second header tank 12 , and efficient heat exchange can be performed.

[0034] Figure 6 70 is a cross-sectional view of the second header tank 12 in the short side direction without the column member 70. Figure 6 The second header tank 12 shown lacks pillar members 70, allowing the heat medium to flow smoothly from region α2 to region β2. However, without pillar members 70, the second header tank 12 lacks strength against the internal pressure generated by the heat medium flowing within the tank. For example, if a force in the direction of the arrow in the figure is applied, the tank may break. In particular, the center of the tank, along its longitudinal direction (the X-axis in the figure), has the lowest strength. Furthermore, the larger the tank, the greater the risk of damage due to internal pressure.

[0035] In response to the aforementioned problem, the present invention prevents damage to the header tank due to internal pressure by providing a column member 70 in the second header tank 12. By brazing the column member 70 within the second header tank 12, damage to the header tank due to internal pressure is prevented at the brazed portions of the column member 70, the tank plate 20, and the header plate 30. Figure 7 FIG. 1 shows a modified example of the second header tank 12 provided with a column member 70. As described above, since the strength of the header tank is lowest at the center in the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction in the figure), Figure 7 The second header tank 12 shown is provided with a column member 70 near the center in the longitudinal direction of the second header tank 12 .

[0036] Figure 7 The pillar members 70 shown in the figure have a wide wall surface 72 at the center of the longitudinal direction. This reinforces the portion of the second header tank 12 that is most susceptible to bending in the longitudinal direction. Furthermore, the heat medium can flow in the transverse direction of the second header tank 12 through the connecting portions 71 or areas where the pillar members 70 are not provided. This ensures sufficient flow space in the transverse direction of the second header tank 12 relative to the amount of heat medium flowing into the second header tank 12, thus preventing pressure loss due to flow resistance.

[0037] As mentioned above, according to Figure 3 and Figure 7 The second header tank 12 of the column member 70 shown is unlikely to obstruct the flow of the heat medium, and the strength of the second header tank 12 can be ensured even if the shape and number of the ribs are the same as those of the first header tank 11 .

[0038] The column members 70 are preferably formed to have a wall surface 72 at the longitudinal center, with the number and area of ​​the communication portions 71 increasing toward the longitudinal ends of the column members 70. As described above, since the longitudinal center of the header tank is the weakest portion, while the strength increases toward the longitudinal ends, the wall surface 72 of the column members 70 is provided at the longitudinal center of the header tank, and the area of ​​the communication portions 71 increases toward the longitudinal ends of the column members 70, taking into account the strength of the header tank. This ensures the strength of the header tank while minimizing interference with the flow of the heat medium.

[0039] Alternatively, for example, a column member 70 may be provided that is longer in the longitudinal direction than the cylindrical member 13. In this case, the column member 70 is installed in the through-hole so as to penetrate the fixing groove 62 of the duct cover 60. The column member 70 penetrates the duct cover 60 and is exposed to the outside of the second header tank 12. This allows confirmation of the presence of the column member 70 when assembling the second header tank 12, preventing any missing column member 70.

[0040] In the above description, the column members 70 extend along the longitudinal direction of the second header tank 12. However, this is not limiting. For example, the column members 70 may be longer in the vertical direction (the Z-axis direction in the figure) than in the longitudinal direction (the X-axis direction in the figure) of the second header tank 12. Multiple column members 70 may be provided. The second header tank 12 only needs to be provided with the column members 70 at least partially along the longitudinal direction of the second header tank 12, ensuring the necessary strength for the size of the header tank.

[0041] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to the described embodiments, and all design changes that do not depart from the scope of the present invention are encompassed by the present invention. Description of Reference Numerals

[0042] 1: Heat exchanger, 2: Inlet pipe, 3: Outlet pipe, 10: Heat exchange core, 11: First header tank, 12: Second header tank, 13: Cylindrical member, 20: box plate, 30: collecting plate, 21, 31: ribs, 21A, 21B, 31A, 31B: rib grooves, 31C: side panel insert, 31D: pipe insert, 22, 32: short side end, 40: partition, 50: box cover, 60: pipe cover, 32A, 51, 61: Riveting claws, 24, 52, 62: Fixing grooves, 63: Connection port, 70: column member, 71: connecting portion, 72: wall surface, 100: pipeline, 100a: first pipeline group, 100b: second pipeline group, 101: Side panels.

Claims

1. A heat exchanger comprising a first header tank provided at one end of a first pipe group consisting of stacked pipes and a second pipe group arranged parallel to the first pipe group, and a second header tank provided at the other end thereof, wherein: The heat exchanger is provided with an inlet and an outlet for the heat medium in the first header tank. The heat medium flows into the first header tank from the inlet, flows into the second header tank through the first pipe group, returns to the first header tank through the second pipe group, and flows out from the outlet. The first header tank and the second header tank include: a manifold connected to the first pipeline group and the second pipeline group; as well as A box plate combined with the current collecting plate, The second collecting box is provided with a column member inside, the column member is clamped by the collecting plate and the box plate and is used to strengthen the second collecting box. The column member is disposed in the second header tank so as to allow heat medium to flow from the first pipe group to the second pipe group.

2. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that The column member is provided in at least a portion of the second header tank in a stacking direction of the pipes.

3. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that The column member is provided at the center of the stacking direction of the pipes in the second header tank.

4. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that The column member is provided with a communication portion, the communication portion being in communication with the first pipe group and the second pipe group in the second header tank in an arrangement direction. The communication portion increases in size toward an end portion of the column member in a stacking direction of the pipes.

5. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that The column member is longer than the second header tank in the stacking direction of the pipelines, The column member is exposed to the outside of the second header tank from a through-hole provided in a cover member, and the cover member closes one end of a cylindrical member forming the second header tank.

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