Connection member and heat exchanger

Abstract

To provide a connection member capable of suppressing contraction flow from a pipe toward a heat exchanger in connecting the heat exchanger and the pipe, and being generally attachable to an existing cap regardless of a condition of a brazing material surface of a cap of the heat exchanger, and the heat exchanger including the same.SOLUTION: A connection member 80 connects a heat exchanger 1 and pipe ends PE of each of an inflow port pipe 2 and an outflow port pipe 3, and has an inflow-side fixing portion 83A and an outflow-side fixing portion 83B, and a main body portion 81 for integrally supporting them. The inflow-side fixing portion 83A is constituted to cover an inflow-side connection portion 67A of a cap 60 for closing an end portion of a header tank 11 and an outer peripheral surface of the pipe end PE of the inflow port pipe 2, and the outflow-side fixing portion 83B is constituted so that an outflow-side connection portion 67B of the cap 60 and an outer peripheral surface of the pipe end PE of the outflow port pipe 3 can be covered.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a connecting member for connecting a heat exchanger and a pipe, and to a heat exchanger. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, when connecting a heat exchanger to an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe (hereinafter collectively referred to as "inlet and outlet pipes") connected thereto, there are known methods, for example, of providing caps (connecting caps) at the inlet and outlet of a tank (header tank) and inserting and fixing the inlet and outlet pipes into them (see, for example, Patent Document 1), and of fixing the inlet and outlet pipes with connecting members (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

[0003] The technology described in Patent Document 1 closes the opening of the tank with a connecting cap in the shape of a so-called cover lid. The connecting cap has an opening that communicates with the tank and a connecting part that rises around the opening, and a pipe is inserted into the inner circumference of the connecting part and fixed in place.

[0004] In the technology described in Patent Document 2, a connecting member formed in a disk shape with a through hole in the center with a larger diameter than the refrigerant inlet is fixed to the refrigerant inlet. One end of a cylindrical adapter is inserted into the through hole of the connecting member, and the inserted end is tightened to the connecting member with a jig or the like to fix the adapter. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Korean Patent No. 102074692 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 6483409 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, in the conventional configuration, there was a problem that the flow path from the inlet pipe to the heat exchanger became constricted at the connection part between the inlet pipe and the heat exchanger cap (connecting cap, refrigerant inlet), increasing the water flow resistance.

[0007] The size of the cap (refrigerant inlet) of a heat exchanger is set according to the shape and size of the tank part (header tank) connected to it, and in order to prevent flow contraction at the joint with the inlet / outlet pipe, it is desirable to make the difference between the diameter of the inlet / outlet pipe and the diameter of the opening of the cap small. On the other hand, there is also a demand to secure the diameter of the inlet / outlet pipe as large as possible, especially when a fluid that becomes viscous at low temperatures is used as the refrigerant.

[0008] Therefore, for example, in a configuration in which a cap is provided on a tank, if the inlet / outlet pipes are attached to the outer periphery of the connection part of the cap, the water resistance in the inlet / outlet pipes can be reduced while suppressing flow contraction at the connection part, compared to a case in which the inlet / outlet pipes are inserted into the inner periphery of the connection part. Here, the pipe and the cap are generally fixed by brazing, but when the outer periphery of the connection part of the cap is inserted into the inlet / outlet pipe, the surface exposed to the outside of the cap (the outer surface) needs to be the brazing material surface.

[0009] However, the brazing material surface of the cap, which is a part of the heat exchanger, is set in relation to other parts of the heat exchanger (such as the tank), and the outer surface of the cap is not necessarily the brazing material surface. In particular, in the case of a cap in a cover-lid shape as described in Patent Document 1, the brazing material surface is often provided on the inner surface due to the complexity of the shape, and in that case, when connecting to a pipe, it is necessary to process the outer surface of the cap on the heat exchanger side to make it a brazing material surface, or to replace it with a cap whose outer surface is a brazing material surface, which is a labor-intensive and costly problem.

[0010] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and aims to provide a connecting member that makes it possible to suppress contraction flow from a pipe to a heat exchanger when connecting the heat exchanger and a pipe, and that can be universally attached to existing caps regardless of the condition of the brazing surface of the heat exchanger cap, and a heat exchanger equipped with the same. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] The present invention relates to a connecting member that connects a heat exchanger to the respective pipe ends of an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe that pass a heat medium inside the heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanger comprises a tank portion that is long in one direction, an opening that covers one longitudinal end of the tank portion and serves as an inlet and outlet for the heat medium, and a cap having a connection portion provided around the opening, and is characterized in that the connecting member comprises an inlet side fixing portion that is formed in a cylindrical shape and capable of covering the respective outer peripheral surfaces of the connection portion on the inlet side and the pipe end, an outlet side fixing portion that is formed in a cylindrical shape and capable of covering the respective outer peripheral surfaces of the connection portion on the outlet side and the pipe end, and a main body portion that integrally supports the inlet side fixing portion and the outlet side fixing portion.

[0012] The present invention also relates to a heat exchanger, characterized in that the connection portion is connected to a tube end by the above-mentioned connection member. Effect of the Invention

[0013] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a connecting member that makes it possible to suppress contraction of the flow from the pipe to the heat exchanger when connecting the heat exchanger and the pipe, and that can be universally attached to existing caps regardless of the condition of the brazing surface of the heat exchanger cap, and a heat exchanger equipped with the connecting member. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] 1 is an external perspective view of a heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2]1 is an exploded perspective view showing a connection structure between a heat exchanger and a pipe according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] 1A to 1C are views showing a connection member according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which (A) is a perspective view, (B) is a front view, and (C) is a cross-sectional view. [Figure 4] 1 is an exploded side view showing a connection structure between a heat exchanger and a pipe according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a connection structure between a heat exchanger and a pipe according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing another example of a connection structure between a heat exchanger and a pipe according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing another example of a connection structure between a heat exchanger and a pipe according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing another example of a connection structure between a heat exchanger and a pipe according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing another example of a connection structure between a heat exchanger and a pipe according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figures 1 to 9 show an example of an embodiment of the present invention, in which parts with the same reference numerals indicate parts with the same functions, and duplicated explanations in each figure will be omitted as appropriate.

[0016] <Heat exchanger> 1 is a diagram showing an example of a heat exchanger 1 according to this embodiment. The heat exchanger 1 of this embodiment has a tank section 11 that is long in one direction, and a cap 60 that covers one end of the tank section 11 in the longitudinal direction and has openings that serve as an inlet and an outlet for the heat medium. Pipes (inlet pipe 2 and outlet pipe 3) are connected to the inlet and outlet of the cap 60 via a connecting member 80, respectively.

[0017] The configuration of the heat exchanger 1 will be described in detail below, but the heat exchanger 1 of this embodiment only needs to have a tank portion 11 and a cap 60 provided with an inlet and an outlet for the heat medium, and is not limited to the following configuration.

[0018] The heat exchanger 1 has, for example, a first header tank (tank portion) 11 and a second header tank 12 that are long in the illustrated X-axis direction, and a heat exchange core portion 10 formed between the first header tank 11 and the second header tank 12. The heat exchange core portion 10 has a plurality of tubes 100, fins 102 provided between the tubes 100, and a pair of side plates 101 provided at both ends of the plurality of tubes 100 in the illustrated X-axis direction. The plurality of tubes 100 constitute a first tube group 100a and a second tube group 100b that are stacked in the illustrated X-axis direction. The first tube group 100a and the second tube group 100b are arranged in parallel in the illustrated Y-axis direction.

[0019] The inlet pipe 2 and the outlet pipe 3 are connected to one end of the first header tank 11 in the longitudinal direction via the cap 60 and the connection member 80. In this heat exchanger 1, the heat medium (cooling water, etc.) flows from the inlet pipe 2 into the first header tank 11 and flows in the X-axis direction in the figure, then is diverted to the first tube group 100a of the heat exchange core part 10 and flows downward in the Z-axis direction in the first tube group 100a. The heat medium then flows in the X-axis direction in the figure while merging in the second header tank 12, flows upward in the Z-axis direction in the second tube group 100b of the heat exchange core part 10, returns to the first header tank 11, and flows out to the outlet pipe 3. That is, the heat exchanger 1 in this example has a so-called two-path structure. In the heat exchange core 10, heat exchange takes place between a heat medium (such as cooling water) flowing within the tubes 100 in the Z-axis direction in the figure, and a fluid (e.g., air) moving between the multiple tubes 100 along the Y-axis direction in the figure, from the back side to the front side in the Y-axis direction.

[0020] The inside of the first header tank 11 and the second header tank 12 become a storage space for the heat medium. While the first header tank 11 is a storage space on the inlet and outlet (flow inlet / outlet) sides of the heat medium, the second header tank 12 is a storage space on the return side in the flow path of the heat medium. In the following explanation, the first header tank 11 (simply referred to as the header tank 11) will be explained as the main configuration of this embodiment, and an explanation of the second header tank 12 will be omitted. The first header tank 11 and the second header tank 12 are not connected to the second header tank 12, but the other configuration is similar to that of the first header tank 11.

[0021] The header tank 11 has a cylindrical member 13 that is open at least one end in the longitudinal direction, specifically, the end on the side where the inlet pipe 2 and the outlet pipe 3 are connected (the inlet / outlet side for the heat medium), and a cap 60 that closes the opening.

[0022] The cylindrical member 13 may be a bottomed member in which only the end on the inlet / outlet side of the heat medium is open, but in this example, the cylindrical member 13 is open at both ends in the longitudinal direction, and the opening at the other end is also closed by another cap 70. The cylindrical member 13 in this example is formed, for example, by joining a first plate 20 and a second plate 30, which are flat and substantially U-shaped, with one end being an open end and the other end being a closed curved surface, so that the open end sides are butted together. Then, by closing one end in the longitudinal direction with a cap 60 and closing the other end in the longitudinal direction with another cap 70, a space for storing the heat medium is formed inside.

[0023] A partition plate (not shown) is provided inside the header tank 11. The partition plate is provided along the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction in the figure) of the header tank 11 so as to divide the interior of the header tank 11 into two regions in the short side direction (Y-axis direction in the figure). The heat medium that accumulates in the two regions divided by the partition plate cannot enter the other. One region is connected to the inlet pipe 2 and serves as the inlet side region, and the other region is connected to the outlet pipe 3 and serves as the outlet side region. The second plate 30 is provided with a tube insertion portion (not shown) for inserting the tube 100.

[0024] <Connection structure between heat exchanger and pipe> Next, a description will be given of a connection structure between the heat exchanger 1 in this embodiment and the inlet pipe 2 and outlet pipe 3. In the following description, when there is no need to distinguish between the inlet pipe 2 and the outlet pipe 3, they will be collectively referred to as pipe P.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 1, the inlet and outlet sides of the header tank 11 are closed with caps 60 , and the inlet pipe 2 and the outlet pipe 3 are connected to the caps 60 via connecting members 80 .

[0026] Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the vicinity of the inlet / outlet of the header tank 11 in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view showing the connection member 80, in which Fig. 3(A) is a perspective view seen from the header tank 11 side, Fig. 3(B) is a front view seen from the header tank 11 side, and Fig. 3(C) is a cross-sectional view taken along line xx in Fig. 3(B).

[0027] <Cap> The cap 60 will be described with reference to Fig. 2. The cap 60 has a cap body 65 that covers the opening 11A of the header tank 11 (cylindrical member 13), a rim 66 provided on the outer circumferential end of the cap body 65, and two, for example, circular openings 63A and 63B provided by penetrating the cap body 65. The cap 60 (cap body 65) has a substantially oval (or substantially elliptical) shape when viewed from the front in the X-axis direction in the figure, and has a so-called cover lid structure that is attached to the header tank 11 so that the rim 66 covers the outer periphery of the end of the header tank 11.

[0028] The opening 63A is connected to the inlet pipe 2 via a connecting member 80, and serves as an inlet for the heat medium in the header tank 11. The opening 63B is connected to the outlet pipe 3 via a connecting member 80, and serves as an outlet for the heat medium in the header tank 11. A tubular (e.g., cylindrical) connecting portion 67A rising from the header tank 11 side toward the pipe P side is provided around the opening 63A, and a tubular (e.g., cylindrical) connecting portion 67B rising from the header tank 11 side toward the pipe P side is provided around the opening 63B. In this embodiment, the connecting portion 67A is inserted into the inside of the pipe end PE of the inlet pipe 2, and the connecting portion 67B is inserted into the inside of the pipe end PE of the outlet pipe 3.

[0029] The cap 60 is provided with, for example, a crimping claw 61. The crimping claw 61 is crimped into rib grooves 21B, 31B provided at the ends of the first plate 20 and the second plate 30 in the longitudinal direction, whereby the cap 60 and the cylindrical member 13 are fixed together.

[0030] <Connection parts> The connection member 80 will be described with reference to Figures 2 and 3. The connection member 80 is a pipe joint that connects and fixes the pipe P and the cap 60. The connection member 80 has a main body 81, two, for example, circular communication holes (openings) 82 (82A, 82B) that are provided penetrating the main body 81, and tubular (for example, cylindrical) fixing parts 83 (inflow side fixing part 83A, outflow side fixing part 83B) provided around each of the communication holes 82A, 82B. The diameters of the inflow side fixing part 83A (communication hole 82A) and the outflow side fixing part 83B (communication hole 82B) are the same in this example, but may be different.

[0031] 3, the main body 81 is, for example, flat and has a first surface S1 and a second surface S2. The inflow side fixing part 83A and the outflow side fixing part 83B are provided independently on, for example, the first surface S1 side of the main body 81, and the main body 81 supports them integrally.

[0032] The inlet side fixing part 83A can cover the outer circumferential surface of the inlet side connecting part 67A of the cap 60 and the outer circumferential surface of the pipe end PE of the inlet pipe 2. Also, the outlet side fixing part 83B can cover the outer circumferential surface of the outlet side connecting part 67B of the cap 60 and the outer circumferential surface of the pipe end PE of the outlet pipe 3.

[0033] 3(C), the inflow side fixing portion 83A and the outflow side fixing portion 83B each have a large diameter portion 84 with an inner diameter D1 and a small diameter portion 85 with an inner diameter D2. The large diameter portion 84 is continuous with the main body portion 81 and is a portion that rises from the main body portion 81 as a base point, and the small diameter portion 85 is a portion in which the tip of the large diameter portion 84 is bent toward the axial center of the communicating hole 82 to reduce its diameter.

[0034] Here, in the connection member 80, the outer peripheral surface of the large diameter portion 84 and the outer peripheral surface of the small diameter portion 85 continuing from the first surface S1 of the main body portion 81 are referred to as the outer surface SO of the connection member 80, and the inner peripheral surface of the large diameter portion 84 and the inner peripheral surface of the small diameter portion 85 continuing from the second surface S2 of the main body portion 81 are referred to as the inner surface SI of the connection member 80. The connection member 80 is provided with a brazing material at least on the outer surface SO. The connection member 80 is preferably provided with a brazing material on the outer surface SO and the inner surface SI. Furthermore, the connection member 80 may be provided with a brazing material on the entire surface including the plate thickness portion 80D.

[0035] The connection member 80 of this embodiment is made of, for example, a clad material in which a brazing material is bonded to a base metal such as aluminum, but is not limited thereto, and may be made of a base metal coated or covered with a brazing material.

[0036] <Connection structure using connection members> 4 and 5, a connection structure between the pipe P and the header tank 11 of the heat exchanger 1 using a connection member 80 will be described. 4 is an exploded side view of the vicinity of the connection between the header tank 11 and the pipe P as viewed from the Y-axis direction in FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the connection state between the pipe P and the cap 60, corresponding to the cross section along line xx shown in FIG. 3(B).

[0037] 4 and 5, in this embodiment, the connection member 80, the cap 60, and the header tank 11 are arranged in this order from the pipe P side. The connection member 80 is arranged so that the main body 81 faces the pipe P side and the fixing portion 83 (the inflow side fixing portion 83A and the outflow side fixing portion 83B) faces the cap 60 side. As described above, the cap 60 covers the opening 11A of the header tank 11 with the connection portion 67 facing the connection member 80 side. Also, as shown in FIG. 5, in this example, the connection portion 67 of the cap 60 is inserted inside the pipe end PE of the pipe P, and the fixing portion 83 of the connection portion 80 covers the outer periphery of both the connection portion 67 of the cap 60 and the pipe end PE of the pipe P.

[0038] 4, the inner diameter D6 of the pipe end PE of the pipe P is set to be larger than the outer diameter (outer diameter) D3 of the connection portion 67 of the cap 60. The inner diameter D1 of the large diameter portion 84 of the connection member 80 is set to be larger than the outer diameter D5 of the pipe P. The inner diameter D2 of the small diameter portion 85 of the connection member 80 is set to be larger than the outer diameter (outer diameter) D3 of the connection portion 67 of the cap 60.

[0039] An example of an assembly method for these components will be described. First, the cap 60 is attached to the opening 11A of the header tank 11. Meanwhile, the connection member 80 is attached to the tube end PE of the pipe P, and these are connected to the connection portion 67 of the cap 60. As a result, as shown in FIG. 5, the connection portion 67 of the opening cap 60 at the tube end PE is inserted into the inside of the small diameter portion 85 of the connection member 80, and is also inserted into the inside of the tube end PE. Furthermore, the tube end PE of the pipe P is sandwiched between the large diameter portion 84 of the connection member 80 and the connection portion 67 of the cap 60. Furthermore, the centers of the opening of the pipe P, the communication hole 82 of the connection member 80, and the opening 63 of the cap 60 are aligned on the same axis C.

[0040] The joining member 80 abuts against a part of the cap 60 and a part of the pipe P. Alternatively, the joining member 80 closely faces a part of the cap 60 and a part of the pipe P with a clearance large enough to allow reliable bonding (fixing) with brazing material. Hereinafter, when the term "closely faces" is used in relation to the positional relationship of the joining member 80, the cap 60, and the pipe P, it means that they closely face each other with a clearance large enough to allow reliable bonding (fixing) with brazing material.

[0041] Specifically, the small diameter portion 85 of the connection member 80 abuts or closely faces the outer circumferential surface of the connection portion 67 of the cap 60. More specifically, in the example shown in FIG. 5, the plate thickness portion 80D of the small diameter portion 85 abuts or closely faces the outer circumferential surface of the connection portion 67 of the cap 60. Also, as an example, the outer periphery of the connection portion 67 of the cap 60 abuts or closely faces the inner periphery of the tube end PE of the pipe P. Also, the outer surface SO (surface intersecting the axis C) of the small diameter portion 85 abuts or closely faces the outer circumferential surface (surface intersecting the axis C) of the shoulder portion extending from the cap body 65 of the cap 60 to the connection portion 67. Also, the inner surface SI of the large diameter portion 84 of the connection member 80 abuts or closely faces the outer circumferential surface of the tube end PE of the pipe P, and the inner surface SI (surface intersecting the axis C) of the small diameter portion 85 abuts or closely faces the tube end PE of the pipe P.

[0042] Then, in a brazing process, these are assembled together and brazed. The brazing material is provided on the entire surface of the connection member 80, including the plate thickness portion 80D. Therefore, regardless of the state of the brazing material in the cap 60 (whether the brazing material surface is on the outer surface or the inner surface of the cap 60, or even if no brazing material is provided on the cap 60), the brazing material of the connection member 80 can be used to connect and fix (braze) the cap 60 and the pipe P.

[0043] It is desirable that the closely opposing surfaces of the connection member 80, the pipe P, and the connection portion 67 all abut, for example, before brazing. For example, it is desirable that the small diameter portion 85 of the connection member 80 abuts against the outer circumferential surface of the connection portion 67 of the cap 60. It is also desirable that the connection portion 67 of the cap 60 abuts against the inner circumference of the pipe P. It is also desirable that the inner surface SI of the large diameter portion 84, a part of the inner surface SI of the main body portion 81, a part of the inner surface SI of the small diameter portion 85, and the outer circumferential surface of the connection portion 67 of the cap 60 abut against each other.

[0044] However, at least one of these (any of the closely facing surfaces described above) may not come into contact with each other, and a clearance may be generated. However, if the clearance is too large, the heat transfer medium may leak, or the brazing material may get mixed into the flow path of the heat transfer medium after the brazing process. Therefore, even if at least one of the closely facing surfaces of the connection member 80, the pipe P, and the connection part 67 do not come into contact with each other and a clearance is generated, the size of each component is set to such an extent that the clearance is filled with the brazing material after brazing and the heat transfer medium does not leak.

[0045] As a result, the inlet pipe 2 communicates with the inlet region of the header tank 11 via the communication hole 82A of the connecting member 80 and the opening 63A of the cap 60. The outlet pipe 3 communicates with the outlet region of the header tank 11 via the communication hole 82B of the connecting member 80 and the opening 63B of the cap 60.

[0046] The connecting member 80 of this embodiment has an inlet side fixing portion 83A formed in a cylindrical shape and capable of covering the outer peripheral surface of the connection portion 67A on the inlet side of the cap 60 and the outer peripheral surface of the pipe end PE of the inlet pipe 2, and an outlet side fixing portion 83B formed in a cylindrical shape and capable of covering the outer peripheral surface of the connection portion 67B on the outlet side of the flow cap 60 and the outer peripheral surface of the pipe end PE of the outlet pipe 3.

[0047] By connecting the pipe P and the cap 60 via this connection member 80, the inner diameter D6 of the pipe end PE of the pipe P can be made equal to or larger than the outer diameter D3 of the connection portion 67 (67A, 67B) of the cap 60. In other words, the cross-sectional area of ​​the heat medium passage at the connection portion between the pipe P and the cap 60 can be prevented from becoming smaller than the opening of the cap 60, and contraction of the heat medium flowing from the pipe P to the header tank 11 via the cap 60 can be avoided. As a result, an increase in water flow resistance at the connection portion between the two can be suppressed.

[0048] 4, the inner diameter D6 of the pipe end PE of the pipe P can be made larger than the outer diameter D3 of the connection portion 67 (67A, 67B) of the cap 60, and the connection can be made in a state where the connection portion 67 is inserted inside the pipe end PE of the pipe P. This makes it possible to avoid contraction of the heat transfer medium flowing from the pipe P through the cap 60 into the header tank 11, and also to suppress leakage of the heat transfer medium between the pipe P and the connection portion 67.

[0049] Furthermore, the inflow side fixing part 83A and the outflow side fixing part 83B each have a small diameter part 85 and a large diameter part 84, and the small diameter part 85 is configured to be able to cover the outer circumferential surface of the connection part 67, and the large diameter part 84 is configured to be able to cover the outer circumferential surface of the pipe end PE. This makes it possible to increase the contact area between the cap 60 and the pipe P, respectively, and the connection member 80, thereby improving the reliability of the connection.

[0050] The inner diameter D4 of the connection portion 67 of the cap 60 is less than or equal to the opening width D7 in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction) of the opening 11A of the header tank 11 (see Figure 4), and is configured so that no contraction occurs from the cap 60 into the header tank 11.

[0051] When the cap 60 has a complex shape (for example, when the cap 60 is formed into a cover shape and configured to cover the opening 11A of the header tank 11 as in this embodiment), a brazing material may be provided on the inner surface of the cap 60 (the surface facing the outer periphery of the header tank 11). Furthermore, on the pipe P side, generally no brazing material is provided on the inner surface of the pipe P. In such a configuration, brazing is not possible even if the connection part 67 of the cap 60 is inserted inside the pipe P to prevent flow contraction.

[0052] According to this embodiment, brazing material is provided on at least the outer peripheral surface (outer surface SO) and inner peripheral surface (inner surface SI) of the inlet side fixing portion 83A and the outlet side fixing portion 83B, so that the pipe P and the cap 60 can be brazed and fixed together regardless of the state of the brazing material in the cap 60.

[0053] In particular, with the connection part 67 inserted inside the tube end PE of the pipe P, the connection member 80 is configured so that the small diameter part 85 covers the outer peripheral surface of the connection part 67 of the cap 60, and the large diameter part 84 covers the outer peripheral surface of the tube end PE. Furthermore, since the brazing material is provided on the inner surface SI and the outer surface SO of the small diameter part 85 and the large diameter part 84, and on the plate thickness part 80D, it is possible to supply a sufficient amount of brazing material to the cap 60 and the pipe P, preventing leakage of the heat transfer medium and enabling a reliable connection.

[0054] In other words, it is possible to generally connect the pipe P and the header tank 11 even in a heat exchanger 1 having an existing cap 60, while preventing contraction of the heat medium flowing from the pipe P into the header tank 11.

[0055] Furthermore, the inlet side fixing portion 83A and the outlet side fixing portion 83B of the connecting member 80 are integrally supported by the main body portion 81, and the heat exchanger 1 can be connected to the inlet pipe 2 and the outlet pipe 3 by a single connecting member 80. Therefore, for example, the ease of assembly can be improved compared to the case where a connecting member having an inlet side fixing portion and an outlet side fixing portion separate from each other is used.

[0056] <Modification> Modifications of this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 6 to 9. Figures 6 to 9 are all cross-sectional views corresponding to Figure 5.

[0057] 6, an expanded diameter portion P1 may be formed upstream of the pipe end PE of the pipe P (in the direction away from the connection member 80). In this case, the inner diameter of the expanded diameter portion P1 is set to be equal to the inner diameter of the pipe P. The expanded diameter portion P1 then abuts against the inner surface SI of the main body 81 of the connection member 80 (the expanded diameter portion P1 is formed at such a position). This makes it possible to increase the contact area between the outer periphery of the pipe P and the inner periphery surface SI of the connection member 80, enabling reliable fixation.

[0058] 7 shows a configuration in which the small diameter portion 85 of the connection member 80 and the outer periphery of the connection portion 67 of the cap 60 do not come into contact with each other, leaving a slight clearance C between them. Even if the small diameter portion 85 and the connection portion 67 do not come into contact with each other in this manner, if a sufficient brazing material is provided on the connection member 80, the brazing material will be embedded in the clearance C in the brazing process, making it possible to fix the cap 60 and the pipe P. In this case, the brazing material may be provided only on the inner surface SI of the connection member 80.

[0059] 8 shows a configuration in which the inner diameter of the pipe P is not constant. The inner diameter D5 of the pipe end PE of the pipe P is larger than the outer diameter D3 of the connection part 67 of the cap 60, and the connection part 67 is inserted into the pipe end PE. The inner diameter D8 of the upstream pipe P is smaller than the inner diameter D5 of the pipe end PE, and is equal to the inner diameter D4 of the connection part 67, for example.

[0060] 9 shows a configuration in which the inner diameter D5 of the pipe end PE of the pipe P is equal to the inner diameter D4 of the connection part 67 of the cap 60. In this embodiment, it is sufficient to suppress the contraction flow from the pipe P toward the cap 60 (opening 63), and the inner diameter D5 of the pipe end PE of the pipe P and the inner diameter D4 of the connection part 67 of the cap 60 may be equal. In this case, the connection member 90 is configured such that the small diameter part 85 is provided so as to rise up continuously from the main body part 81, and the large diameter part 84 is provided at the tip of the small diameter part 85. The inner surfaces SI of the main body part 81 and the small diameter part 85 abut against the outer circumferential surface of the pipe end PE and the outer circumferential surface of the connection part 67 of the cap 60, and the inner surface SI of the large diameter part 84 abuts against the cap main body 65 of the cap 60.

[0061] Any of the configurations shown in Figures 6 to 9 can suppress flow contraction when flowing from the pipe P to the cap 60, and can connect and fix the pipe P and the cap 60 regardless of the brazing state of the cap 60.

[0062] The positional relationship between the connection member 80, the cap 60 and the pipe P described as being "in contact" with reference to Figs. 6 to 9 may be "closely opposed."

[0063] Furthermore, the connection member 80 may be configured such that the inflow side fixing portion 83A and the outflow side fixing portion 83B are separate (separate) bodies.

[0064] Incidentally, the heat exchanger 1 of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0065] 1 heat exchanger 2 Inlet pipe 3 Outlet pipe 10 Heat exchange core 11 Tank section (header tank) 13 Cylindrical member 60 Cap 61 Tightening claw 63A,63B opening 65 Cap body 66 Edge 67,67A,67B Connection 80, 90 Connection member 80D plate thickness part 81 Main body 82, 82A, 82B communication hole 83 Fixed part 83A Inflow side fixed part 83B Outlet side fixed part 84 Large diameter section 85 Small diameter section

Claims

1. A connection member that connects a heat exchanger to each of pipe ends of an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe through which a heat medium passes inside the heat exchanger, The heat exchanger includes: A tank section that is long in one direction, a cap covering one end of the tank in a longitudinal direction, the cap having an opening serving as an inlet and an outlet for the heat medium, and a connection portion provided around the opening; an inlet side fixing part formed in a cylindrical shape and capable of covering the outer circumferential surfaces of the inlet side connecting part and the pipe end; and an outflow side fixing part formed in a cylindrical shape and capable of covering the outer circumferential surfaces of the outflow side connection part and the pipe end. A connecting member characterized by:

2. The connection portion can be connected in a state where it is inserted into the inside of the pipe end. The connection member according to claim 1 .

3. A brazing material is provided on at least the outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface of the inlet side fixing portion and the outlet side fixing portion. The connection member according to claim 1 .

4. the inlet side fixing portion and the outlet side fixing portion each have a small diameter portion and a large diameter portion, The small diameter portion is capable of covering an outer circumferential surface of the connection portion, and the large diameter portion is capable of covering an outer circumferential surface of the pipe end. The connection member according to claim 1 .

5. A main body portion integrally supporting the inlet side fixing portion and the outlet side fixing portion, The connection member according to claim 1 .

6. The connection portion is connected to the tube end by the connection member according to any one of claims 1 to 5. A heat exchanger characterized by:

7. The inner diameter of the connection portion is set to be equal to or smaller than the inner diameter of the tank portion, and the inner diameter of the pipe end is set to be equal to or larger than the outer diameter of the connection portion.

7. The heat exchanger according to claim 6.

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