Heat exchanger

Abstract

To provide a heat exchanger including an outer shell member that is stacked on a battery to perform heat exchange and a connecting pipe that supplies or discharges a heat exchange fluid to a flow path inside the outer shell member, in which the outer shell member can absorb a load applied to the connecting pipe without forming the connecting pipe integrally with the outer shell member.SOLUTION: A heat exchanger is arranged stacked on top of a battery mounted on an electric vehicle and exchanges heat via a heat exchange fluid, and includes an outer shell member that is stacked on the battery to form a fluid flow path, a cylindrical connecting pipe that supplies or discharges fluid to the flow path of the outer shell member, and a joint that joins one open end of the connecting pipe to the outer shell member so as to circle the opening of the outer shell member, and the outer shell member has a deformation region that can be deformed by force applied to the joint from the connecting pipe.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a heat exchanger. [Background technology]

[0002] As described in Patent Document 1, a stacked heat exchanger is known in which heat exchangers are alternately stacked with electronic components. In this stacked heat exchanger, one heat exchanger stacked on the electronic components includes an outer shell member that forms a flow path for a fluid used for heat exchange. The outer shell member has a cylindrical pipe portion that protrudes from the portion where the outer shell member is stacked with the electronic component to an outer region, supplying or discharging the fluid to or from the flow path. Therefore, by connecting the protruding pipe portions of the two outer shell members that sandwich the electronic component, the fluid can be simultaneously supplied to or discharged from the flow paths of the two outer shell members.

[0003] However, when the protruding pipe portions of the outer shell members are connected in this manner, a large load is applied to the base portions of the protruding pipe portions in the outer shell member due to variations in the width of the electronic components in the stacking direction and the load applied during connection, making them susceptible to fatigue failure, etc. Therefore, in the heat exchanger described in Patent Document 1, the area of ​​the base portions of the protruding pipe portions in the outer shell member that receives a compressive load in the stacking direction is inclined at a predetermined angle relative to the protruding pipe portions, thereby forming a diaphragm portion that deforms under the compressive load. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-103736 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the heat exchanger described in Patent Document 1, the load applied to the outer shell member from the protruding pipe portion is reduced by the diaphragm portion, thereby preventing fatigue failure. However, the protruding pipe portion including the diaphragm portion needs to be formed integrally with the outer shell member by press molding.

[0006] In particular, when the electronic component to be heat exchanged is a battery mounted on a vehicle, the width of the battery cells stacked alternately with the outer shell member of the heat exchanger becomes large, so the protruding pipe portion needs to be formed by deep drawing. Therefore, in the heat exchanger described in Patent Document 1, many processes are required to ensure precision and quality during press forming, which poses the problem of high manufacturing costs.

[0007] One aspect of the present disclosure aims to provide a heat exchanger that includes an outer shell member that is stacked with a battery to perform heat exchange, and a connecting pipe that supplies or discharges a heat exchange fluid to a flow path inside the outer shell member, in which the outer shell member can absorb a load applied to the connecting pipe without the connecting pipe being formed integrally with the outer shell member. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a heat exchanger that is stacked with a battery mounted on an electric vehicle and performs heat exchange via a heat exchange fluid, the heat exchanger including an outer shell member, a connecting pipe, and a joint.

[0009] The outer shell member is stacked on the battery to form a fluid flow path. The connecting pipe is cylindrical and supplies or discharges fluid to or from the flow path in the outer shell member. The joint joins one open end of the connecting pipe to the outer shell member so as to surround the opening of the outer shell member. The outer shell member also has a deformation region that can be deformed by force applied to the joint from the connecting pipe.

[0010] Therefore, according to the heat exchanger of the present disclosure, by connecting a pipe for supplying or discharging a fluid to the other open end of the connecting pipe, a heat exchange fluid can be circulated through the flow path of the outer shell member. This allows the fluid to promote heat exchange with the battery and protect the battery from overheating, etc. Furthermore, by sequentially connecting the connecting pipes of the outer shell members alternately stacked on the battery, a fluid can be simultaneously supplied to or discharged from the flow path of multiple outer shell members.

[0011] Furthermore, when a fluid supply / discharge pipe is connected to the connecting pipe of the outer shell member in this manner, a load is applied from the connecting pipe to the joint and ultimately to the outer shell member. This load varies depending on factors such as variations in the thickness of the battery in the stacking direction and vehicle vibration. However, the outer shell member has a deformation region that can deform due to the force applied to the joint from the connecting pipe, and deformation of this deformation region can reduce the load applied from the connecting pipe to the joint and the outer shell member.

[0012] Therefore, with the heat exchanger of the present disclosure, the load on the connecting pipe can be reduced by the deformation area of ​​the shell member, without having to integrally form the connecting pipe and the shell member by press molding, etc. This reduces the number of manufacturing steps for the heat exchanger and reduces manufacturing costs.

[0013] Here, the thickness of the outer shell member may be smaller than that of the connecting pipe, which allows the connecting pipe to be thicker to ensure strength when connected to other pipes, while the thickness of the outer shell member can be thinner than that of the connecting pipe, making it easier for the deformation region to deform.

[0014] In addition, the deformation region of the outer shell member may be curved from the plate surface of the main body portion that is stacked on the battery toward the connecting pipe or toward the opposite side from the connecting pipe. In this way, the deformation region can be bulged outward or inward from the plate surface of the main body portion of the outer shell member, and the base of the bulge can be used as a bending point to facilitate deformation.

[0015] By making the deformation region more easily deformable in this way, the load applied to the joint from the connecting pipe can be more easily absorbed by the deformation region, making it possible to prevent fatigue failure of the outer shell member due to the load.

[0016] On the other hand, if the load applied to the joint from the connecting pipe increases and the deformation amount of the deformation region becomes too large, the fluid passage from the connecting pipe to the flow path in the outer shell member may become narrow. Therefore, the outer shell member may be provided with a restricting member that forms a gap between the joint and the deformation region to restrict deformation of the deformation region. In this way, by restricting deformation of the deformation region with the restricting member, it is possible to prevent narrowing of the fluid passage from the connecting pipe to the flow path in the outer shell member.

[0017] In this case, the restricting member may be a rigid body having a communication passage that connects the connecting pipe to the flow passage in the shell member. This allows the width of the fluid passage from the connecting pipe to the flow passage in the shell member to be constant through the communication passage in the restricting member, thereby maintaining a constant fluid flow within the flow passage in the shell member. This results in uniform heat exchange performance among the multiple heat exchangers stacked with the battery, enabling good heat exchange with the battery.

[0018] The gaps formed between the joints and the deformation region and the restricting member may be open spaces so that the outer shell member can easily deform in the deformation region. An elastic body may be disposed in the gaps. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the overall configuration of a heat exchanger according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a heat exchange unit according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a main body of the heat exchange unit and a connecting pipe are joined together. FIG. [Figure 4] 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of a connecting portion between a first connecting pipe and a second connecting pipe. FIG. [Figure 5]4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a joint portion between an outer shell member of the main body and a connecting pipe shown in FIG. 3. FIG. [Figure 6] 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which the deformation region of the outer shell member shown in FIG. 5 is deformed. FIG. [Figure 7] 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an enlarged view of a joint portion between an outer shell member and a connecting pipe in a first modified example. FIG. [Figure 8] 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an enlarged view of a joint portion between an outer shell member and a connecting pipe in a second modified example. FIG. [Figure 9] 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an enlarged view of a joint portion between an outer shell member and a connecting pipe in a third modified example. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. [Embodiment] The heat exchanger 2 of this embodiment is a stacked heat exchanger that is mounted on an electric vehicle and suppresses the temperature rise of each battery 4 by exchanging heat with multiple batteries 4 that supply power to the motor, which serves as the vehicle's power source.

[0021] An electric vehicle is a vehicle that runs by driving a power source such as a motor using electrical energy stored in a battery 4, and includes electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid vehicles, and hybrid vehicles.

[0022] 1, the heat exchanger 2 includes a plurality of heat exchange units 10 arranged in an alternating stack with a plurality of batteries 4. The plurality of batteries 4 are rechargeable secondary batteries, and are connected to each other in series or in parallel. Therefore, the batteries 4 are arranged at predetermined intervals in the X-axis direction along the surface in contact with the heat exchange units 10 and in the Y-axis direction perpendicular to the X-axis.

[0023] In contrast, the heat exchange unit 10 has a length corresponding to the overall length of the multiple batteries 4 arranged in the X-axis direction, and is arranged between and outside the multiple batteries 4 arranged in the Y-axis direction so as to be in contact with each battery 4.

[0024] 2, the contact surface of the heat exchange unit 10 with the battery 4 has a width in the Z-axis direction, which is orthogonal to the X-axis and Y-axis, substantially the same as the width of the battery 4 in the Z-axis direction, and is an elongated shape that is long in the X-axis direction. Also, the thickness of the heat exchange unit 10 in the Y-axis direction is shorter than the width in the Z-axis direction and corresponds to the spacing of the battery 4 in the Y-axis direction. Therefore, the heat exchange unit 10 has a flat shape.

[0025] As described above, the heat exchange units 10 constituting the heat exchanger 2 are arranged between and outside the batteries 4 arranged in the Y-axis direction, thereby forming a stack with the batteries 4. Then, as shown in FIG. 1, the stack is restrained by a restraining member 40 for each assembled battery 8 made up of the batteries 4 arranged in the Y-axis direction.

[0026] The restraining member 40 is used to apply a pressing force in the stacking direction to each battery pack 8 to hold the battery 4 between the heat exchange units 10, and is provided with a pair of end plates 42, 44 and four restraining bands 46 that connect the end plates 42, 44.

[0027] The pair of end plates 42, 44 are arranged outside the heat exchange units 10 located at both ends of the battery pack 8 in the stacking direction (Y-axis direction). Each end plate 42, 44 is a plate-like member having a plate surface approximately the same size as the opposing surface of the battery 4 arranged opposite it across the heat exchange unit 10, and is made of a metal plate whose plate surface will not deform when restrained. The end plates 42, 44 may also be made of synthetic resin.

[0028] The restraint bands 46 are provided at two locations in the X-axis direction of the battery pack 8, with a predetermined gap between them. The restraint bands 46 are also arranged on both sides in the short direction (Z-axis direction) of the heat exchange unit 10. Therefore, the restraint bands 46 are arranged at four locations around the battery pack 8.

[0029] The restraint bands 46 are elongated in the stacking direction of the battery pack 8, and both ends are bent toward the end plates 42, 44. The bent portions are fixed to the outer surfaces of the end plates 42, 44 on the side opposite the battery pack 8.

[0030] As a result, the battery pack 8 is sandwiched between the end plates 42, 44 on both sides in the stacking direction, and a predetermined pressing force is applied to the heat exchange unit 10 that constitutes the battery pack 8, making surface contact with the battery 4 and enabling efficient heat exchange.

[0031] Next, as shown in FIG. 2, the heat exchange unit 10 includes a main body 12 that is stacked on the battery 4 to perform heat exchange, and a first connecting pipe 14 and a second connecting pipe 16 that protrude from the front and back sides of the main body 12 that are stacked on the battery 4 at both ends in the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) of the main body 12.

[0032] 3, the main body 12 includes a pair of outer shell members 20 on the front and back sides, and a flow path 22 for flowing a heat exchange fluid F between the pair of outer shell members 20. That is, the outer shell members 20 are formed by press-forming a metal plate such as copper, aluminum, or stainless steel, so that the outer surface that contacts the battery 4 bulges outward and the inner surface is recessed. The main body 12 is formed by placing the inner surfaces of the pair of outer shell members 20 opposite each other and joining the entire outer periphery by welding or the like, thereby forming a space inside that serves as the flow path 22 for the fluid F.

[0033] The first connecting pipe 14 and the second connecting pipe 16 are cylindrical pipes made of metal, and are used to supply or discharge the fluid F to or from the flow path 22 inside the heat exchange unit 10. That is, one open end of each of the first connecting pipe 14 and the second connecting pipe 16 is configured as an outwardly expanding flange portion 18. In contrast, the outer shell member 20 of the main body 12 has openings 24 for supplying or discharging the fluid F on the plate surfaces at both ends in the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction).

[0034] The first connecting pipe 14 and the second connecting pipe 16 are inserted from the flow path 22 side of the main body 12, with the open ends opposite the flange portions 18, into the openings 24 of the respective outer shell members 20, so that the flange portions 18 abut against the plate surfaces surrounding the openings 24 of the outer shell members 20. The flange portions 18 and the plate surfaces surrounding the openings 24 of the outer shell members 20 are joined by welding or the like so as to surround the openings 24. Therefore, the flow path 22 for the fluid F within the main body 12 is communicated with the first connecting pipe 14 and the second connecting pipe 16 at both ends of the main body 12 in the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction).

[0035] The first connecting pipe 14 and the second connecting pipe 16 function as a connecting pipe 30 (see Figure 1) that connects the heat exchange units 10 stacked on the front and back sides of the battery 4 by inserting the second connecting pipe 16 into the first connecting pipe 14 from the open end side opposite the flange portion 18.

[0036] The connecting pipes 30 are arranged on both sides of the plurality of heat exchange units 10 in the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction), and are respectively connected to the flow paths 22 inside the outer shell members 20 that constitute each heat exchange unit 10. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1 , one of the pair of connecting pipes 30 is used to supply fluid F from one end side of the flow path 22 of each heat exchange unit 10. The other connecting pipe 30 is used to discharge fluid F from the other end side of the heat exchange unit 10. As a result, the fluid F for heat exchange flows in the same direction within the flow paths 22 of the plurality of heat exchange units 10, and this flow promotes heat exchange with the battery 4.

[0037] The heat exchange fluid F is a substance for cooling or heating the battery 4 so that the temperature of the battery 4 is within a predetermined temperature range, and is composed of a liquid or a gas. Therefore, by causing a liquid or gas serving as a refrigerant to flow through the flow path 22 of the heat exchange unit 10 via the pair of connecting pipes 30, the heat exchanger 2 can function as a cooler. Furthermore, by causing a liquid or gas for heating to flow through the flow path 22 of the heat exchange unit 10 via the pair of connecting pipes 30, the heat exchanger 2 can function as a heater.

[0038] The first connecting pipe 14 and the second connecting pipe 16 are arranged at both longitudinal ends of each heat exchange unit 10 so that their central axes coincide when the heat exchange units 10 are stacked on the battery 4. The second connecting pipe 16 has a smaller diameter than the first connecting pipe 14 so that it can be inserted into the first connecting pipe 14.

[0039] 4, a plurality of annular recesses 34 for mounting annular sealing members 32 are formed on the outer circumferential surface of the second connecting pipe 16. The annular recesses 34 are spaced apart in the direction of the central axis of the second connecting pipe 16, and are portions of the outer circumferential surface of the second connecting pipe 16 that are recessed from the surrounding area.

[0040] The second connecting pipe 16 has a tapered section 36 with a reduced diameter at the tip in the direction of insertion into the first connecting pipe 14. In contrast, the tip of the first connecting pipe 14 on the second connecting pipe 16 side is configured as an expanded diameter section 38 with an expanded diameter.

[0041] As a result, the insertion operation of the second connecting pipe 16 into the first connecting pipe 14 is facilitated, and after insertion, the sealing member 32 can prevent the fluid F from leaking from the mating portion between the second connecting pipe 16 and the first connecting pipe 14.

[0042] Next, a description will be given of the joint portion 50 around the opening 24 to which the flange portion 18 of the first connecting pipe 14 or the second connecting pipe 16 is joined in the outer shell member 20 that constitutes the main body 12 of the heat exchange unit 10.

[0043] As shown in Figures 1 and 5, in the outer shell member 20, the joint portion 50 where the flange portion 18 of the connecting pipe 14 or 16 is joined bulges outward from the plate surface 12A of the main body portion 12 by curving the plate surface of the main body portion 12 stacked on the battery 4 outward.

[0044] 6, when a large force is applied to the joint 50 from the connecting pipe 14 or 16, the curved portion bulging outward from the plate surface 12A of the main body 12 deforms with the bulging portion from the plate surface 12A as a starting point P. The deformation of this deformation region 52 reduces the load applied from the joint 50 to the plate surface 12A of the main body 12.

[0045] 1 and 5, in this embodiment, the thickness of the outer shell member 20 constituting the main body 12 is thinner than the thickness of the outer wall portions of the first connecting pipe 14 and the second connecting pipe 16. This makes it easier for the deformation region 52 to deform due to the force applied to the joint 50 from the connecting pipe 14 or 16, which also reduces the load applied from the joint 50 to the plate surface 12A of the main body 12.

[0046] In this embodiment, a restricting member 60 is provided around the opening 24 of the main body 12 to restrict deformation of the deformation region 52, in other words, displacement of the joint 50. The restricting member 60 is a rigid body made of, for example, synthetic resin that is difficult to deform, and is sandwiched and fixed between the pair of outer shell members 20 that constitute the main body 12, outside the joint 50 and deformation region 52 that surround the opening 24.

[0047] The restricting member 60 also has a reinforcing portion 64 that is stepped and thinner than the fixing portion 62 over a predetermined length extending from the fixing portion 62 sandwiched between the pair of outer shell members 20 through the deformation region 52 and the joint portion 50 to the opening 24. The restricting member 60 also has a hollow portion 66 that has approximately the same inner diameter as the first connecting pipe 14 and the second connecting pipe 16, and a communication passage 68 that connects the hollow portion 66 to the flow path 22 of the main body 12.

[0048] Therefore, when force is applied to the joint portion 50 from the connecting pipe 14 or 16, the reinforcing portion 64 can allow and limit displacement of the joint portion 50, including the flange portion 18, in the X-axis direction by the gap 60A formed by the step relative to the fixing portion 62. Therefore, deformation of the deformation region 52 can prevent the position of the connecting pipe 14 or 16 from shifting significantly.

[0049] Furthermore, deformation of the deformation region 52 narrows the communication passage that connects the first connecting pipe 14 and the second connecting pipe 16 with the flow passage 22 inside the main body 12, thereby preventing a decrease in the flow rate of the fluid F flowing through the flow passage 22 inside the main body 12. This prevents a decrease in the heat exchange performance of the heat exchange unit 10.

[0050] [First Modification] In the above embodiment, the gap 60A formed by the step between the fixing portion 62 and the reinforcing portion 64 in the restricting member 60 is described as an open space. In contrast, in the first modified example, as shown in Fig. 7, an elastic body 70 made of rubber, sponge, metal mesh, or the like is provided in the gap 60A.

[0051] In this way, by providing an elastic body 70 in the gap 60A, the deformation region 52 of the outer shell member 20 deforms, and the impact that occurs when the joint portion 50 including the flange portion 18 abuts against the reinforcing portion 64 of the regulating member 60 can be absorbed.

[0052] The elastic body 70 may be provided in a part of the gap 60A, or may be provided in the entire gap 60A. [Second Modification] 8, in the second modified example, a recess 54 is formed in outer shell member 20 constituting main body 12, recessed toward restricting member 60 along the step between fixing portion 62 and reinforcing portion 64 of restricting member 60. Deformation region 52 is formed by a slope sloping from recess 54 toward joint 50.

[0053] Even in this manner, when a large force is applied to the joint 50 from the connecting pipe 14 or 16, the deformation area 52 will deform from the bottom of the recess 54, and this deformation can reduce the load applied from the joint 50 to the plate surface 12A of the main body 12.

[0054] [Third Modification] In the above embodiment, the flange portion 18, which serves as the joint of the connecting pipe 14 or 16, has been described as being joined by welding or the like to the inside of the joint portion 50 of the outer shell member 20. In contrast, in the third modified example, as shown in Fig. 9, the flange portion 18 of the connecting pipe 14 or 16 is joined by welding or the like to the outside of the joint portion 50 of the outer shell member 20.

[0055] Furthermore, in the third modified example, the flange portion 18 of the connecting pipe 14 or 16 is disposed outside the joint portion 50 of the outer shell member 20, so there is no need to ensure space for disposing the flange portion 18 inside the joint portion 50 of the outer shell member 20. Therefore, the surface of the restricting member 60 facing the joint portion 50 of the outer shell member 20 is flat and stepless.

[0056] Even in this case, when a large force is applied to joint 50 from connecting pipe 14 or 16, outer shell member 20 deforms in deformation region 52, thereby reducing the load applied from joint 50 to plate surface 12A of main body 12. However, in restricting member 60, the surface of outer shell member 20 facing joint 50 does not necessarily have to be flat and step-free; a step may be provided between fixing portion 62 and reinforcing portion 64, as in the above embodiment.

[0057] [Other embodiments] Although exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiments and can take on various forms.

[0058] For example, in the above embodiment and modified examples, it has been described that deformation region 52 of outer shell member 20 is formed by curving the plate surface of outer shell member 20 so that it bulges outward (in other words, toward the connecting pipe). However, deformation region 52 of outer shell member 20 may be formed by curving the plate surface of outer shell member 20 so that it bulges inward (in other words, so that the plate surface is recessed).

[0059] The function of one component in the above embodiments may be distributed among multiple components. The functions of multiple components may be integrated into one component. Part of the configuration of the above embodiments may be omitted. At least part of the configuration of the above embodiments may be added to or substituted for the configuration of another of the above embodiments. All aspects included in the technical concept of the present disclosure are embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0060] [Technical idea disclosed in this specification] [Item 1] A heat exchanger that is stacked with a battery mounted on an electric vehicle and performs heat exchange via a heat exchange fluid, an outer shell member that is stacked on the battery and forms a flow path for the fluid; a cylindrical connecting pipe that supplies or discharges the fluid to or from the flow path of the outer shell member; a joint portion that joins one open end of the connecting pipe to the outer shell member so as to surround the opening of the outer shell member; wherein the outer shell member has a deformation region that is deformable by a force applied to the joint from the connecting pipe.

[0061] [Item 2] Item 2. The heat exchanger according to item 1, wherein the thickness of the outer shell member is smaller than the thickness of the connecting pipe. [Item 3] 3. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the deformation region of the outer shell member is curved from a plate surface of a main body portion that is stacked on the battery toward the connecting pipe or toward an opposite side from the connecting pipe.

[0062] [Item 4] The heat exchanger according to any one of items 1 to 3, wherein the outer shell member is provided with a restricting member that forms a gap between the joint and the deformation region and restricts deformation of the deformation region.

[0063] [Item 5] 5. The heat exchanger according to claim 4, wherein the restricting member is a rigid body having a communication passage that connects the connecting pipe to the flow path of the outer shell member.

[0064] [Item 6] Item 6. The heat exchanger according to item 4 or 5, wherein the gap is an open space. [Item 7] The heat exchanger according to any one of items 4 to 6, wherein an elastic body is disposed in the gap. [Explanation of symbols]

[0065] 2...heat exchanger, 4...battery, 10...heat exchange unit, 14...first connecting pipe, 16...second connecting pipe, 20...outer shell member, 22...flow path, 50...joint, 52...deformation region.

Claims

1. A heat exchanger that is stacked with a battery mounted on an electric vehicle and performs heat exchange via a heat exchange fluid, an outer shell member that is stacked on the battery and forms a flow path for the fluid; a cylindrical connecting pipe that supplies or discharges the fluid to or from the flow path of the outer shell member; a joint portion that joins one open end of the connecting pipe to the outer shell member so as to surround the opening of the outer shell member; wherein the outer shell member has a deformation region that is deformable by a force applied to the joint from the connecting pipe.

2. The heat exchanger according to claim 1 , wherein the outer shell member has a thickness smaller than that of the connecting pipe.

3. 3. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the deformation region of the outer shell member is curved from a plate surface of a main body portion that is stacked on the battery toward the connecting pipe or toward an opposite side to the connecting pipe.

4. 3. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the outer shell member is provided with a restricting member that forms a gap between the joint and the deformation region and restricts deformation of the deformation region.

5. The heat exchanger according to claim 4 , wherein the restricting member is a rigid body having a communication passage that connects the connecting pipe to the flow passage of the outer shell member.

6. The heat exchanger according to claim 4 , wherein the gap is an open space.

7. The heat exchanger according to claim 4 , wherein an elastic body is disposed in the gap.

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