Heat exchanger

Abstract

To provide a heat exchanger advantageous in protecting flat tubes 18 positioned at both ends of a core 12, by restraining deformation of swelling the core 12 in a drum shape.SOLUTION: A pair of slits 28 for separating the pair of side plate portions 1404 and the bottom plate portion 1402 from each other are provided at a boundary between the pair of side plate portions 1404 and the bottom plate portion 1402 at an intermediate portion in the length CL direction of the core support 14. The side plate deformation facilitating portions 24 that are more easily deformed in the length CL direction than other parts of the side plates 1404 are respectively provided at parts of the pair of side plates 1404 separated from the bottom plate 1402 by the slits 28, and the bottom plate deformation facilitating portion 26 that is more easily deformed in the length CL direction than other parts of the bottom plate 1402 is provided at a part of the bottom plate 1402 sandwiched between the pair of slits 28. The side plate deformation facilitating portions 24 respectively provided at the pair of side plate portions 1404 are formed in a convex shape in a direction away from each other.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a heat exchanger that is advantageous in preventing deformation due to thermal expansion during operation. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, an automobile radiator constituting the heat exchanger 10 includes, as shown in FIG. 8, a core 12 in which a plurality of flat tubes and a plurality of corrugated fins are arranged alternately with corrugated fins arranged at both ends, a pair of tank sections 16 attached to both ends of the core 12, and a pair of core supports 14 arranged opposite the corrugated fins arranged at both ends of the core 12. The core support 14 includes a bottom plate portion to which the peaks of the corrugated fins are joined, and a pair of side plate portions standing upright on both sides of the bottom plate portion. Cooling water for the engine or the like flows from one tank portion 16 into each flat tube, and exchanges heat with the atmosphere flowing through the corrugated fin portion.

[0003] On the other hand, when high-temperature cooling water flows through the flat tubes, each part of the heat exchanger 10 thermally expands, for example, the flat tubes thermally expand in the longitudinal direction of the flat tubes. However, since the temperature distribution and rigidity are not uniform, the heat exchanger 10 expands like a drum, as shown in Figure 8. As a result, stress is concentrated in the flat tubes located at both ends of the core 12, which may cause cracks in the flat tubes. Therefore, conventionally, as shown in Figure 9, a notch 1402A is provided in the bottom plate portion 1402 of the core support 14 to make it easier to deform the bottom plate portion 1402 in the longitudinal direction of the flattened tube, and easy-to-deform portions 1404A are provided in a pair of side plate portions located above the notch 1402A to make it easier to deform the pair of side plate portions in the longitudinal direction of the flattened tube, thereby reducing the stress acting on the flattened tube and protecting the flattened tubes located at both ends of the core 12. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 1-88183 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-230159 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in the conventional technology, the notch 1402A is provided across the entire width of the bottom plate portion 1402, which reduces the bending rigidity of the core support 14 and is disadvantageous in suppressing deformation of the core 12 that causes the core 12 to bulge like a drum, and also limits the reduction of stress acting on the flat tubes located at both ends of the core 12. Furthermore, since the bending rigidity of the core support 14 is low, the core support 14 must be handled carefully so as not to bend, which is disadvantageous in terms of improving the efficiency of the assembly work. The present invention was devised in consideration of the above circumstances, and the object of the present invention is to provide a heat exchanger that can suppress deformation of the core 12 such that it bulges out like a drum, which is advantageous in protecting the flat tubes located at both ends of the core 12, and which is also advantageous in improving the efficiency of the assembly work of the core support 14. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, one embodiment of the present invention is a heat exchanger including a core 12 in which a plurality of flat tubes 18 and a plurality of corrugated fins 20 are alternately arranged, with the corrugated fins 20 arranged at both ends of the core 12, and a pair of elongated core supports 14 arranged opposite the corrugated fins 20 arranged at both ends of the core 12, the core support 14 having a pair of opposing side plate portions 1404 and a bottom plate portion 1402 connecting the ends of the opposing surfaces of the pair of side plate portions 1404, and the peaks of the corrugations of the corrugated fins 20 arranged at both ends of the core 12 are joined to the bottom plate portion 1402 of the core support 14, A pair of slits 28 are provided at the boundary between the pair of side plate portions 1404 and the bottom plate portion 1402, separating the pair of side plate portions 1404 and the bottom plate portion 1402, and easy-to-deform portions 24 for the side plate portions that deform more easily in the length CL direction than other portions of the side plate portions 1404 are provided at the locations of the pair of side plate portions 1404 that are separated from the bottom plate portion 1402 by the slits 28, and easy-to-deform portions 26 for the bottom plate portion that deform more easily in the length CL direction than other portions of the bottom plate portion 1402 are provided at the location of the bottom plate portion 1402 sandwiched between the pair of slits 28, and the easy-to-deform portions 24 for the side plate portions provided at the locations of the pair of side plate portions 1404 are formed in a convex shape in a direction away from each other. Furthermore, one embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the easily deformable portion 24 for the side plate portion is provided without using a notch by changing the shape of the side plate portion 1404, and the easily deformable portion 26 for the bottom plate portion is provided without using a notch by changing the shape of the bottom plate portion 1402. Furthermore, one embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the side plate portion easily deformable portions 24 and the bottom plate portion easily deformable portions 26 are provided at the same position in the length CL direction of the core support 14. In addition, one embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the pair of side plate portions 24, which are easily deformed, are formed as side plate convex portions 24A that protrude away from each other at the portions of the pair of side plate portions 1404 separated from the bottom plate portion 1402 by the slits 28, and the bottom plate portion 26, which is easily deformed, is formed as bottom plate convex portions 26A that protrude away from the corrugated fin 20 at the portion of the bottom plate portion 1402 sandwiched between the pair of slits 28. Furthermore, one embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the bottom plate protrusion 26A is provided as an elongated bag body whose cross-sectional shape, when cut by an imaginary plane perpendicular to the surface of the bottom plate portion 1402 and extending in the length CL direction of the core support 14, has an opening 2602 in the bottom plate portion 1402, and the longitudinal direction of the bag body is tilted in a direction approaching the bottom plate portion 1402, and when the side plate portion 1404 is viewed from the front, the bottom plate protrusion 26A is located within the outline of the side plate portion 1404. Furthermore, one embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the bottom plate portion 1402 has a width BW perpendicular to the length CL direction of the core support 14, the bottom plate convex portion 26A has a width along the length CL direction of the core support 14, and is provided with a long, narrow cutout 32 cut out from a portion of the bottom plate convex portion 26A located in the middle of the width BW direction of the bottom plate portion 1402 over the entire width direction of the bottom plate convex portion 26A, and the bottom plate portion 1402 is provided with a reinforcing rib 34 extending in the length CL direction of the core support 14 from both ends of the cutout 32 in the length CL direction. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a pair of side plate portions 1404 separated from the bottom plate portion 1402 by slits 28 are each provided with an easily deformable portion 24 for the side plate portion, which deforms more easily in the length CL direction than other portions of the side plate portion 1404, and a portion of the bottom plate portion 1402 sandwiched between the pair of slits 28 is provided with an easily deformable portion 26 for the bottom plate portion, which deforms more easily in the length CL direction than other portions of the bottom plate portion 1402, making the core support 14 more easily deformable (extends) in its length CL direction, which reduces the stress generated in the flat tubes 18 due to the restraint by the core support 14 and is advantageous for protecting the flat tubes 18 located at both ends of the core 12. In addition, since the pair of easy-to-deform portions 24 for the side plate portions are formed with a convex shape in the direction away from each other, interference between the pair of easy-to-deform portions 24 for the side plate portions and the easy-to-deform portions 26 for the bottom plate portion can be avoided, making it possible to design an optimal structure for each of the pair of easy-to-deform portions 24 for the side plate portions and the easy-to-deform portions 26 for the bottom plate portion, which is advantageous in making it easier to deform the core support 14 in its length CL direction. Furthermore, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the pair of easily deformable portions 24 for the side plate portion and the easily deformable portion 26 for the bottom plate portion are provided by changing the shape of a portion of the bottom plate portion 1402 and the side plate portion 1404 without using the conventional cutouts, and the bending rigidity of the entire core support 14 is ensured, which is advantageous in suppressing deformation of the core 12 such that it bulges out like a drum, reducing the stress generated in the flat tubes 18 located at both ends of the core 12, and being advantageous in increasing the durability of the heat exchanger 10. Furthermore, since the bending rigidity of the core support 14 is ensured, there is no need to handle the core support 14 carefully to prevent it from bending, which is advantageous in terms of improving the efficiency of the assembly work. Furthermore, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the easily deformable portion 24 for the side plate portion and the easily deformable portion 26 for the bottom plate portion are arranged at the same position in the length CL direction of the core support 14, so that the length of the slit 28 separating the bottom plate portion 1402 and the pair of side plate portions 1404 can be minimized, which is advantageous in ensuring the bending rigidity of the entire core support 14. Furthermore, if the easily deformable portion 24 for the side plate portion is provided as a side plate convex portion 24A and the easily deformable portion 26 for the bottom plate portion is provided as a bottom plate convex portion 26A, it is advantageous in that the easily deformable portion 24 for the side plate portion and the easily deformable portion 26 for the bottom plate portion can be easily and reliably processed. Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the bottom plate protrusion 26A is provided as an elongated bag having a cross-sectional shape with an opening 2602 in the bottom plate 1402, and the longitudinal direction of the bag is inclined toward the bottom plate 1402. When the side plate 1404 is viewed from the front, the bottom plate protrusion 26A is located within the outline of the side plate 1404. Therefore, the width W1 of the opening 2602 along the length CL of the core support 14 can be reduced, and it is possible to ensure that the bottom plate protrusion 26A is sufficient as a deformation-facilitating portion while suppressing a decrease in the bond between the bottom plate 1402 and the corrugated fin 20 due to the formation of the opening 2602. Furthermore, according to this embodiment, a long and narrow notch 32 is provided in the bottom plate protrusion 26A located in the middle of the width BW direction of the bottom plate portion 1402, cutting the entire width direction of the bottom plate protrusion 26A, and the bottom plate portion 1402 is provided with reinforcing ribs 34 extending from both ends of the notch 32 in the length CL direction of the core support 14. This increases the bending rigidity of the entire core support 14, which is advantageous in suppressing deformation of the core 12 when the heat exchanger 10 is in operation and protecting the flat tubes 18 located at both ends of the core 12. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a front view in which a part of a tank portion of a heat exchanger and a part of a core support are cut away. [Figure 2] 10 is an enlarged perspective view of the core support at a location where an easily deformable portion for a side plate portion and an easily deformable portion for a bottom plate portion are provided. FIG. [Figure 3] (A) is a plan view of a portion of the core support where a pair of slits are provided to separate a pair of side plate portions and a bottom plate portion before the pair of side plate portion easy-to-deform portions and the bottom plate portion easy-to-deform portions are provided, (B) is a plan view of the core support where the side plate portion easy-to-deform portions and the bottom plate portion easy-to-deform portions are provided, and (C) is a view taken along the arrow C in (B). [Figure 4] (D) is a cross-sectional view taken along line DD in FIG. 4(B), (E) is a cross-sectional view taken along line EE in FIG. 4(B), and (F) is a cross-sectional view taken along line FF in FIG. 4(B). [Figure 5]10 is an enlarged perspective view of a core support at a location where an easily deformable portion for a side plate portion and an easily deformable portion for a bottom plate portion are provided in the second embodiment. FIG. [Figure 6] An explanatory diagram of the processing method for the easily deformable portion for the bottom plate portion of the second embodiment, (A) shows the entire widthwise portion of the bottom plate portion located between a pair of slits being press-processed to form an elongated bag body that protrudes at a right angle from the bottom plate portion, and (B) shows the elongated bag body being folded onto the bottom plate portion to form the easily deformable portion for the bottom plate portion. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of the third embodiment, and is an enlarged perspective view of the core support at a location where the side plate portion easily deformable portions, the bottom plate portion easily deformable portions, and the reinforcing ribs are provided. [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a conventional heat exchanger having a core bulging like a drum, illustrating a conventional example. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a core support provided with a conventional easily deformable portion. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. (First embodiment) The first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The heat exchanger 10 of the first embodiment is a radiator for an automobile, and as shown in FIG. 1, the heat exchanger 10 includes a core 12, a pair of core supports 14, and a pair of tank portions 16. The core 12 has a plurality of flat tubes 18 and a plurality of corrugated fins 20 arranged alternately, with the corrugated fins 20 positioned at both ends in the direction in which they are arranged. Both ends of the flat tube 18 in the longitudinal direction are joined within openings of a pair of tube plates 22 . The crests of the waveforms of the remaining corrugated fins 20 , excluding the flat tubes 18 arranged at both ends of the core 12 , are joined to the adjacent flat tubes 18 . Furthermore, the peaks of the waveforms of a pair of corrugated fins 20 arranged at both ends of the core 12 are joined to the core support 14 and the flat tube 18 . A first internal fluid, which is cooling water, flows through the flat tubes 18, and a second internal fluid, which is air, flows through the corrugated fins 20, and heat exchange occurs between them.

[0010] The pair of tank portions 16 are joined to a pair of tube plates 22, respectively. One of the pair of tank sections 16 is an inlet tank into which the internal fluid flows from an inlet pipe 1602 , and the other is an outlet tank into which the internal fluid that has been heat exchanged is discharged from an outlet pipe 1604 . The flat tubes 18, the corrugated fins 20, the tube plates 22, and the core support 14 are made of metal. The core support 14 is made of sheet metal and has an elongated shape, and has a length CL along the longitudinal direction of the flat tubes 18 as shown in FIG. As shown in Figures 2, 3(A), and 4(E), the core support 14 has a pair of side plate portions 1404 facing each other and a bottom plate portion 1402 connecting the ends of the facing surfaces of the pair of side plate portions 1404. The bottom plate portion 1402 and the pair of elongated side plate portions 1404 have an elongated shape, and the bottom plate portion 1402 faces the corrugated fins 20 . The bottom plate portion 1402 has a length along the length CL of the core support 14, and a width BW perpendicular to this length, as shown in FIG. 4(E). The peaks of the corrugated fins 20 are joined to the lower end surfaces of the pair of elongated side plate portions 1404 and the lower surface of the bottom plate portion 1402 of the core support 14 .

[0011] As shown in Figure 2, a pair of side plate portions 1404 located in the middle of the length CL direction of the core support 14 are each provided with a side plate portion easy-to-deform portion 24 that is more easily deformed in the length CL direction than other portions of the side plate portions 1404. That is, a pair of side plate easily deformable portions 24 are provided facing each other, and as shown in FIG. 1, the side plate easily deformable portions 24 are provided at two locations in the middle of the core support 14 in the length CL direction. In this embodiment, the pair of easily deformable portions 24 for the side plate portions are formed in a convex shape in a direction away from each other, and more specifically, as shown in Figure 3(B), are formed in a V-shape in a planar view, and are provided without using a notch by changing the shape of a part of the side plate portion 1404. In addition, a bottom plate portion 1402 located at the middle of the core support 14 in the length CL direction is provided with an easily deformable portion 26 for the bottom plate portion, which is more easily deformed in the length CL direction than other portions of the bottom plate portion 1402. The bottom plate portion easily deformable portion 26 is provided at the same position as the pair of side plate portion easily deformable portions 24 in the length CL direction of the core support 14. In this embodiment, the easily deformable portion 26 for the bottom plate portion is formed in a convex shape in a direction away from the corrugated fin 20, and is provided by changing the shape of a part of the bottom plate portion 1402 without using a notch.

[0012] The pair of easily deformable portions 24 for the side plates will now be described in detail. As shown in Figure 3(A), before providing the pair of easily deformable portions 24 for the side plate portions and the easily deformable portion 26 for the bottom plate portion at the location of the core support 14 where the pair of easily deformable portions 24 for the side plate portions and the easily deformable portion 26 for the bottom plate portion are to be provided, a slit 28 is provided at the boundary between the bottom plate portion 1402 and the pair of side plate portions 1404 to separate the bottom plate portion 1402 from the pair of side plate portions 1404. 3(A) and 3(B), the pair of side plate easily deformable portions 24 are provided as side plate convex portions 24A consisting of two curved pieces of the same shape and size that convex in directions away from each other at portions of the pair of side plate portions 1404 located outside in the width BW direction of the bottom plate portion 1402 of the slit 28. This processing is performed by, for example, press processing. In Figures 3(B) and (C), symbol 2410 indicates the ridge where two curved pieces intersect, and this ridge 2410 forms the vertex of side plate convex portion 24A, which is formed in a shape that is symmetrical about ridge 2410. The slits 28 are provided so that the easily deformable portions 24 for the side plate portions and the easily deformable portions 26 for the bottom plate portions can be processed separately, and so that the easily deformable portions 24 for the side plate portions and the easily deformable portions 26 for the bottom plate portions can be deformed separately without interfering with each other, and there is no need to ensure a gap at the boundary between the bottom plate portion 1402 and the pair of side plate portions 1404. In other words, as long as the slit 28 allows the easily deformable portion 24 for the side plate portion and the easily deformable portion 26 for the bottom plate portion to be processed separately and can be deformed separately without interfering with each other, the bottom plate portion 1402 and the pair of side plate portions 1404 may be in contact, and the slit 28 includes a cut that brings the groove width close to zero. Furthermore, the slits 28 are advantageous in ensuring the rigidity of the core support 14 because they can significantly reduce the amount of core support 14 that needs to be removed compared to the notches conventionally provided in the core support 14.

[0013] Next, the bottom plate easily deformable portion 26 will be described in detail. The bottom plate easily deformable portion 26 is provided as a bottom plate protrusion 26A, which protrudes in a convex shape (V-shape) in the direction away from the corrugated fin 20, over the entire length in the width direction BW of the bottom plate 1402 located between the pair of slits 28, as shown in Figures 3(C) and 4(D). This processing is performed by, for example, pressing. In Figures 3(B) and 4(D), symbol 2610 indicates the ridge line where two curved pieces intersect, and this ridge line 2610 forms the apex of the bottom plate convex portion 26A, which is formed in a shape that is symmetrical about the ridge line 2610. The pair of side plate easily deformable portions 24 and bottom plate easily deformable portion 26 may be provided at different positions in the length CL direction of the core support 14, but in this embodiment they are provided at the same position. In detail, the ridge line 2410 forming the apex of side plate convex portion 24A and the ridge line 2610 forming the apex of bottom plate convex portion 26A are located at the same position in the length CL direction of the core support 14.

[0014] According to this embodiment, the following effects are achieved. At the locations of a pair of side plate portions 1404 separated from the bottom plate portion 1402 by the slits 28, there are provided easily deformable portions 24 for the side plate portions, which deform more easily in the length direction CL than other locations of the side plate portions 1404, and at the location of the bottom plate portion 1402 sandwiched between the pair of slits 28, there are provided easily deformable portions 26 for the bottom plate portion, which deform more easily in the length direction CL than other locations of the bottom plate portion 1402. Therefore, when the heat exchanger 10 is operating, the pair of side plate portions 1404 and the bottom plate portion 1402 are easily deformed (stretched) in the length CL direction of the core support 14; in other words, they are easily deformed in the length CL direction of the flat tubes 18, which is advantageous in reducing the stress generated in the flat tubes 18 due to the restraint by the core support 14 and protecting the flat tubes 18 located at both ends of the core 12. In addition, since the pair of easy-to-deform portions 24 for the side plate portions are formed with a convex shape in the direction away from each other, interference between the pair of easy-to-deform portions 24 for the side plate portions and the easy-to-deform portions 26 for the bottom plate portion can be avoided, and optimal structural design can be made possible for the pair of easy-to-deform portions 24 for the side plate portions and the easy-to-deform portions 26 for the bottom plate portion, which is advantageous in reducing the stress generated in the flat tubes 18 from the core support 14 and protecting the flat tubes 18 located at both ends of the core 12. Furthermore, since the pair of easily deformable portions 24 for the side plate portions are formed in a convex shape in the direction away from each other, it is advantageous in that the easily deformable portions 24 for the side plate portions can be easily and reliably provided as side plate convex portions 24A and the easily deformable portions 26 for the bottom plate portion can be provided as bottom plate convex portions 26A, as in the embodiment, without using notches as in the conventional case.

[0015] Furthermore, since the pair of easily deformable portions 24 for the side plate portions are formed with a convex shape in the direction away from each other, the pair of easily deformable portions 24 for the side plate portions and the easily deformable portion 26 for the bottom plate portion do not interfere with each other, and therefore the pair of easily deformable portions 24 for the side plate portions and the easily deformable portion 26 for the bottom plate portion can be arranged at the same position in the length CL direction of the core support 14. As in the embodiment, by arranging the pair of easily deformable portions 24 for the side plate portions and the easily deformable portion 26 for the bottom plate portion at the same position in the length CL direction of the core support 14, the length of the slit 28 separating the bottom plate portion 1402 and the pair of side plate portions 1404 can be minimized, which is advantageous in ensuring the bending rigidity of the core support 14. This is advantageous in suppressing deformation of the core 12 such that it bulges out like a drum, reducing the stress generated in the flat tubes 18 located at both ends of the core 12, and increasing the durability of the heat exchanger 10. Furthermore, since the bending rigidity of the core support 14 is ensured, there is no need to handle the core support 14 carefully to prevent it from bending, which is advantageous in improving the efficiency of assembly work. In addition, the pair of easily deformable portions 24 for the side plate portion and the easily deformable portion 26 for the bottom plate portion are provided by changing the shape of the bottom plate portion 1402 and the side plate portion 1404, without using the conventional cutouts, and the bending rigidity of the core support 14 is ensured, which is advantageous in suppressing deformation of the core 12 such that it bulges out like a drum, reducing the stress generated in the flat tubes 18 located at both ends of the core 12, and improving the durability of the heat exchanger 10. Furthermore, since the bending rigidity of the core support 14 is ensured, there is no need to handle the core support 14 carefully to prevent it from bending, which is advantageous in terms of improving the efficiency of the assembly work. The easily deformable portion 24 for the side plate portion and the easily deformable portion 26 for the bottom plate portion are not limited to a V-shape as in the embodiment, and various conventionally known structures such as an arc shape can be adopted. However, using the side plate convex portion 24A and the bottom plate convex portion 26A as in the embodiment is advantageous in terms of easy and reliable processing.

[0016] (Second embodiment) Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In the second embodiment, the shape of the easily deformable portion 26 for the bottom plate portion is different from that in the first embodiment. That is, as shown in Figure 6(B), the bottom plate convex portion 26A is provided as an elongated bag body whose cross-sectional shape, when cut by an imaginary plane perpendicular to the surface of the bottom plate portion 1402 and extending in the length CL direction of the core support 14, has an opening 2602 in the bottom plate portion 1402, and the longitudinal direction of the bag body is tilted in a direction approaching the bottom plate portion 1402, and when the side plate portion 1404 is viewed from the front, the bottom plate convex portion 26A is located within the outline of the easily deformable portion 24 for the side plate portion (side plate convex portion 24A). The width W1 of the opening 2602 in the length CL direction of the core support 14 is set to a value smaller than the dimension L1 from the opening 2602 to the top of the bag body.

[0017] The bottom plate protrusion 26A of the second embodiment is processed as follows. First, among the portions of the bottom plate portion 1402 located between the slits 28, the portion of the bottom plate portion 1402 located near the end of the core support 14 in the length CL direction is provided as a bottom plate protrusion 26A, which is an elongated bag body that protrudes at a right angle from the bottom plate portion 1402 in a direction away from the corrugated fin 20 and extends over the entire length of the bottom plate portion 1402 in the width BW direction, as shown in Fig. 6(A). This processing is performed by, for example, pressing. Next, as shown in FIG. 6(B), the elongated bag body protruding at a right angle from the bottom plate portion 1402 is tilted toward the bottom plate portion 1402 to form the bottom plate protrusion 26A. In addition to the same effects as those of the first embodiment, the second embodiment also provides the following effects. When the side plate portion 1404 is viewed from the front, the bottom plate convex portion 26A in the second embodiment is located within the outline of the easily deformable portion 24 for the side plate portion (side plate convex portion 24A) and is a slender bag body that overlaps the bottom plate portion 1402.Therefore, the width W1 of the opening 2602 along the length CL direction of the core support 14 can be reduced, which is advantageous in suppressing deformation of the core 12 such that it bulges out like a drum, reducing the stress generated in the flat tubes 18 located at both ends of the core 12 and being advantageous in increasing the durability of the heat exchanger 10. Furthermore, the width W1 of the opening 2602 of the bag body that constitutes the bottom plate convex portion 26A is formed smaller than in the first embodiment, so the function of suppressing the peak of the waveform of the corrugated fin 20 can be increased compared to the first embodiment.In other words, it is possible to suppress the reduction in the bond between the bottom plate portion 1402 and the corrugated fin 20 that occurs when the opening 2602 is formed, which is advantageous for supporting the corrugated fin 20 in a stable state by the core support 14.

[0018] (Third embodiment) Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The third embodiment is a modified example of the first embodiment, in which the shapes of the easily deformable portion 24 for the side plate portion and the easily deformable portion 26 for the bottom plate portion are different from those of the first embodiment, and further, a reinforcing rib 34 is provided on the bottom plate portion 1402. In the third embodiment, as in the first embodiment, a slit 28 is provided at the boundary between a pair of side plate portions 1404 and a bottom plate portion 1402, and a pair of easily deformable portions 24 for the side plate portions are provided in the portion of the pair of side plate portions 1404 separated from each other by this slit 28, and an easily deformable portion 26 for the bottom plate portion is provided in the portion of the bottom plate portion 1402. In the third embodiment, the pair of easily deformable portions 24 for the side plate portions are formed in an arc shape that convex in the direction away from each other, and the easily deformable portion 26 for the bottom plate portion is formed in an arc shape that convex in the direction away from the corrugated fin 20, and as in the first embodiment, the pair of easily deformable portions 24 for the side plate portions and the easily deformable portion 26 for the bottom plate portion are provided at the same location in the length CL direction of the core support 14. Furthermore, a long, narrow notch 32 is provided by cutting out the bottom plate protrusion 26A located in the middle of the bottom plate portion 1402 in the width BW direction, in this embodiment, the bottom plate protrusion 26A located in the center of the bottom plate portion 1402 in the width BW direction. The bottom plate protrusion 26A has a width along the length CL direction of the core support 14, and the cutout 32 has a width in a direction perpendicular to the length CL direction of the core support 14 and a length along the length CL direction of the core support 14. The cutout 32 has a uniform width from both ends of the cutout 32 in the length CL direction over the entire width of the bottom plate protrusion 26A.

[0019] The reinforcing rib 34 is provided as a convex portion that protrudes in a curved shape from the bottom plate portion 1402 in a direction away from the corrugated fin 20, and that extends over the entire length of the core support 14 in the direction of length CL, excluding the cutout 32. This processing is performed by, for example, press working. In this case, the provision of the notches 32 is advantageous in that the reinforcing ribs 34 can be easily and reliably press-formed. The third embodiment also provides the same effects as the first embodiment, and also provides the following effects. Since the reinforcing ribs 34 are provided on the bottom plate portion 1402, the bending rigidity of the core support 14 can be increased even though the notches 32 are provided, which suppresses deformation of the core 12 when the heat exchanger 10 is in operation and is more advantageous in protecting the flat tubes 18 located at both ends of the core 12.In addition, there is no need to handle the core support 14 carefully to prevent it from bending, which is more advantageous in improving the efficiency of assembly work. [Explanation of symbols]

[0020] 10 Heat exchanger 12 cores 14 Core Support 1402 Bottom plate part 1404 Side plate part 16 Tank section 1602 Inlet pipe 1604 Outlet pipe 18 Flat tube 20 Corrugated Fin 22 Tube Plate 24 Easy-to-deform side panel part 24A Side plate protrusion 2410 Ridgeline 26 Easy-to-deform part for bottom plate 26A Bottom plate protrusion 2602 Aperture 2610 Ridgeline 28 Slit 32 Notch 34 Reinforcing rib L1, L2 dimensions CL Core Support 14 Length BW Width of bottom plate 1402

Claims

1. a core (12) in which a plurality of flat tubes (18) and a plurality of corrugated fins (20) are alternately arranged and the corrugated fins (20) are disposed at both ends; a pair of elongated core supports (14) disposed opposite corrugated fins (20) disposed at both ends of the core (12); The core support (14) has a pair of side plate portions (1404) facing each other and a bottom plate portion (1402) connecting the ends of the opposing surfaces of the pair of side plate portions (1404), A heat exchanger having a core (12) in which the crests of the corrugated fins (20) arranged at both ends of the core (12) are joined to a bottom plate portion (1402) of a core support (14), A pair of slits (28) are provided at the boundary between the pair of side plate portions (1404) and the bottom plate portion (1402) in the intermediate portion in the length CL direction of the core support (14), separating the pair of side plate portions (1404) from the bottom plate portion (1402); A pair of side plate portions (1404) separated from the bottom plate portion (1402) by the slits (28) are provided with easily deformable portions (24) for the side plate portions, which are more easily deformed in the length CL direction than other portions of the side plate portions (1404); A bottom plate portion (1402) having an easily deformable portion (26) is provided at a portion of the bottom plate portion (1402) sandwiched between a pair of slits (28), which is more easily deformed in the length CL direction than other portions of the bottom plate portion (1402); The easily deformable portions (24) for the side plate portions provided at the locations of the pair of side plate portions (1404) are formed in a convex shape in directions away from each other. A heat exchanger characterized by:

2. The easily deformable portion (24) for the side plate portion is provided by changing the shape of the side plate portion (1404) without using a notch, The easily deformable portion (26) for the bottom plate portion is provided by changing the shape of the bottom plate portion (1402) without using a notch.

2. The heat exchanger according to claim 1.

3. The side plate portion easily deformable portion (24) and the bottom plate portion easily deformable portion (26) are provided at the same position in the length CL direction of the core support (14).

2. The heat exchanger according to claim 1.

4. The pair of easily deformable side plate portions (24) are provided as side plate protrusions (24A) that protrude in directions away from each other at the locations of the pair of side plate portions (1404) that are separated from the bottom plate portion (1402) by the slits (28), The easily deformable portion (26) for the bottom plate portion is provided as a bottom plate protrusion (26A) that protrudes in a direction away from the corrugated fin (20) at a portion of the bottom plate portion (1402) sandwiched between a pair of slits (28).

2. The heat exchanger according to claim 1.

5. The bottom plate protrusion (26A) is provided as an elongated bag body having an opening (2602) in the bottom plate portion (1402) in a cross section cut along an imaginary plane perpendicular to the surface of the bottom plate portion (1402) and extending in the length CL direction of the core support (14), and the longitudinal direction of the bag body is inclined in a direction approaching the bottom plate portion (1402); When the side plate portion (1404) is viewed from the front, the bottom plate protrusion (26A) is located within the outline of the side plate portion (1404).

5. The heat exchanger according to claim 4.

6. The bottom plate portion (1402) has a width BW in a direction perpendicular to the length CL direction of the core support (14), The bottom plate protrusion (26A) has a width along the length CL direction of the core support (14), a thin cutout (32) is provided in a portion of the bottom plate protrusion (26A) located at a middle portion in the width direction BW of the bottom plate portion (1402) over the entire width of the bottom plate protrusion (26A); The bottom plate portion (1402) is provided with reinforcing ribs (34) extending in the length CL direction of the core support (14) from both ends of the cutout (32) in the length CL direction.

5. The heat exchanger according to claim 4.

Images