heat exchanger

The heat exchanger design with a slit and through-hole in the duct section simplifies the joining of partition plates, addressing the challenge of applying brazing material from the inside, thereby improving assembly and bonding integrity.

JP2026063004APending Publication Date: 2026-04-10TOKYO RADIATOR MFG CO LTD
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
TOKYO RADIATOR MFG CO LTD
Filing Date
2026-01-08
Publication Date
2026-04-10

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

In U-turn type heat exchangers, joining a partition plate to the inner surface of the inlet/outlet header is difficult due to the challenge of applying brazing material to the gap between the partition plate and the inner surface from the inside.

Method used

A heat exchanger design with a duct section containing a housing and a partition plate that divides the passage, featuring a slit and a through-hole for easier application of brazing material from the outside, allowing for secure joining of the partition plate to the housing.

Benefits of technology

Facilitates easy and secure joining of the partition plate, enhancing the assembly process and improving the integrity of the heat exchanger by ensuring proper bonding between the partition plate and the housing.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

To provide a heat exchanger in which partition plates can be easily joined together. [Solution] The heat exchanger comprises a shell surrounding a heat exchanger having a first section through which fluid flows in a first direction and a second section through which fluid flows in a second direction opposite to the first direction, a plurality of flat tubes extending longitudinally inside the shell, and a partition plate 142 that separates a first passage through which fluid flows in a first direction toward the first section and a second passage through which fluid from the second section flows in the second direction, each of the plurality of tubes having two opposing plate-like members, one of the plate-like members 1532 of the tube to which the partition plate is attached having a flat surface portion 15324 that is superimposed and connected to the plate-like member of the adjacent tube, and an inclined surface portion 15323 that extends from the flat surface portion and forms a gap between it and the plate-like member of the adjacent tube, and the partition plate is brazed to both the flat surface portion and the inclined surface portion.
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Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a U-turn type EGR cooler including a shell surrounding a heat exchange section, an inlet / outlet header joined to one end of the shell and having an exhaust gas inlet and an outlet provided in parallel, and an arc header closing the other end of the shell. The exhaust gas flowing in from the inlet of the inlet / outlet header passes through the tubes in the forward path section of the heat exchange section, makes a U-turn in the arc header, passes through the tubes in the return path section of the heat exchange section, and flows out from the outlet of the inlet / outlet header. Inside the inlet / outlet header, a partition plate is provided at an intermediate position between the inlet and the outlet to divide the inside of the inlet / outlet header into left and right parts.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, in such a U-turn type heat exchanger, when joining the partition plate to the inner surface of the inlet / outlet header, the partition plate is joined from the inside of the inlet / outlet header. However, it is difficult to apply a brazing material to the gap between the partition plate and the inner surface of the inlet / outlet header from the inside of the inlet / outlet header.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a heat exchanger capable of easily joining a partition plate.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A heat exchanger according to one aspect for achieving the above object is A shell surrounding a heat exchange section having a first section in which the fluid flows in a first direction and a second section in which the fluid flows in a second direction opposite to the first direction, An inlet / outlet header having a first opening through which the fluid flows in and a second opening through which the fluid flows out, A duct section connecting one end of the shell and the entrance / exit header, A connecting header that closes the other end of the shell and connects the first part and the second part, It is equipped with, The duct section comprises a housing and a partition plate provided inside the housing. The partition plate divides the inside of the housing into a first passage connecting the first opening and the first part and a second passage connecting the second opening and the second part. A slit is formed in the joint portion of the housing where the partition plate is joined. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to this disclosure, a heat exchanger is provided in which partition plates can be easily joined together. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a front perspective view illustrating the configuration of the EGR cooler according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a rear perspective view of the EGR cooler. [Figure 3] Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the horizontally extending cross-sectional line from the direction of the arrow III-III. [Figure 4] Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the cross-sectional line extending in the front-to-back direction, viewed from the direction of the arrow IV-IV. [Figure 5] This is a partial cross-sectional view of the cross-sectional line extending horizontally in Figure 2, viewed from the direction of the VV arrow. [Figure 6] This is an exploded perspective view illustrating the structure of the tube. [Figure 7] Figure 5 is a magnified view of the area enclosed by line VII. [Figure 8] This is a partial cross-sectional view showing another example of the mounting structure between the partition plate and the tube. [Figure 9] This is a partial cross-sectional view showing another example of the mounting structure between the partition plate and the tube. [Figure 10] This is a partial cross-sectional view showing another example of the mounting structure between the partition plate and the tube. [Figure 11] This is a partial cross-sectional view of the cross-sectional line extending horizontally in Figure 3, viewed from the direction of the arrow X1-X1. [Figure 12] This is a magnified view of a section of Figure 11. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The embodiments will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings. In the drawings used in the following description, the scale has been appropriately changed to make each element recognizable. In the drawings, arrow U indicates the upward direction of the illustrated structure. Arrow D indicates the downward direction of the illustrated structure. Arrow F indicates the forward direction of the illustrated structure. Arrow B indicates the backward direction of the illustrated structure. Arrow R indicates the rightward direction of the illustrated structure. Arrow L indicates the leftward direction of the illustrated structure. These directions are relative directions set for the EGR cooler 10 shown in Figure 1.

[0010] Figures 1 and 2 illustrate an EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) system used in this embodiment, specifically an EGR cooler 10. The EGR cooler 10 is a device for cooling exhaust gas. The EGR cooler 10 has passages through which exhaust gas and coolant flow. The exhaust gas is cooled by heat exchange between the exhaust gas and coolant flowing through these passages within the EGR cooler 10. The EGR cooler 10 is an example of a heat exchanger. Exhaust gas is an example of a fluid.

[0011] Specifically, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the EGR cooler 10 includes an inlet / outlet header 11, a shell 12, a connection header 13, and a duct portion 14.

[0012] The inlet / outlet header 11 is configured to have a first opening 111 and a second opening 112. The first opening 111 is an opening through which exhaust gas flows in. The second opening 112 is an opening through which the exhaust gas cooled inside the EGR cooler 10 flows out. In this example, the inlet / outlet header 11 is a plate-like member in which a circular first opening 111 and a circular second opening 112 are formed, and has an intervening member 115 between the first opening 111 and the second opening 112.

[0013] The shell 12 is formed in a rectangular tube shape. The inlet / outlet header 11 is connected to one end 121 via the duct portion 14, and the connection header 13 is connected to the other end 122. The shell 12 is configured to surround a heat exchange portion 15 that performs heat exchange between the exhaust gas and the coolant. The heat exchange portion 15 has a first part 151 and a second part 152.

[0014] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken in the direction of the arrow III-III of the cross-sectional line extending in the left-right direction in FIG. 2. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the first part 151 forms a passage through which the exhaust gas flows in the first direction D1. In this example, the first direction D1 is the right direction from the inlet / outlet header 11 toward the connection header 13. Specifically, a plurality of flat tubes 153 are arranged in the first part 151. Each tube 153 extends in the longitudinal direction (the left-right direction in this example). In this example, four tubes 153 are stacked in the vertical direction. For example, both ends in the short direction (the front-rear direction in this example) of the tube 153 are joined to the shell 12. Inner fins (not shown) are inserted into each tube 153. The exhaust gas flowing in from the inlet / outlet header 11, passing through the duct portion 14, and supplied to the shell 12 from one end 121 is branched into a plurality of tubes 153 in the first part 151 of the heat exchange portion 15 and passes through the inside of each tube 153.

[0015] The second section 152 forms a passage through which exhaust gas flows in the second direction D2. The second direction D2 is the opposite direction to the first direction D1. In this example, the second direction D2 is the leftward direction from the connecting header 13 toward the inlet / outlet header 11. Specifically, the second section 152 has a plurality of flat tubes 153 arranged therein. Each tube 153 extends in the longitudinal direction (left-right direction in this example). In this example, four tubes 153 are stacked vertically. For example, both ends of the tubes 153 in the short direction are joined to the shell 12. An inner fin (not shown) is inserted inside each tube 153. The exhaust gas that has passed through the connecting header 13 and is supplied to the shell 12 from the other end 122 is branched into the plurality of tubes 153 of the second section 152 of the heat exchange section 15 and passes inside each tube 153.

[0016] As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, an inlet pipe 161 into which coolant flows is connected to the second part 152 side of the shell 12. An outlet pipe 162 into which coolant flows out is connected to the first part 151 side of the shell 12. The coolant supplied to the inside of the shell 12 from the inlet pipe 161 flows through the heat exchange section 15 and is discharged from the outlet pipe 162. Inside the heat exchange section 15, the coolant flows between the outside of the tube 153 and the shell 12.

[0017] The connecting header 13 is configured to close the other end 122 of the shell 12 and connect the first part 151 and the second part 152 of the heat exchange section 15. In this example, the connecting header 13 has a front part 131 formed in a substantially semicircular shape, a rear part 132 formed in a substantially semicircular shape, and a side wall 133 connecting the front part 131 and the rear part 132. The side wall 133 connects the arc-shaped portion of the front part 131 and the arc-shaped portion of the rear part 132. The portions corresponding to the diameters of the front part 131 and the rear part 132 are open and joined to the other end 122 of the shell 12.

[0018] The duct section 14 is configured to connect one end 121 of the shell 12 to the inlet / outlet header 11. The shell 12, the inlet / outlet header 11, and the duct section 14 are each formed separately and then joined together. For example, the shell 12, the inlet / outlet header 11, and the duct section 14 are made of stainless steel or steel.

[0019] The duct section 14 has a housing 141 and a partition plate 142. As illustrated in Figure 2, one end 1411 of the housing 141 of the duct section 14 is joined to the entrance / exit header 11, and the other end 1412 of the housing 141 of the duct section 14 is joined to one end 121 of the shell 12. In this example, since the shell 12 is positioned at a 90-degree angle to the entrance / exit header 11, the one end 1411 and the other end 1412 of the housing 141 are oriented at a 90-degree angle to each other.

[0020] In this example, the duct section 14 is formed in a roughly quadrant shape (a sector with a central angle of 90 degrees) when viewed from above. Specifically, the duct section 14 has a roughly quadrant-shaped upper surface 1413, a roughly quadrant-shaped lower surface 1414, and a side wall 1415 connecting the upper surface 1413 and the lower surface 1414. The side wall 1415 connects the arc-shaped portion of the upper surface 1413 and the arc-shaped portion of the lower surface 1414. The portion corresponding to the radius of the upper surface 1413 and the lower surface 1414 is open and is joined to one end 121 of the entrance / exit header 11 or shell 12.

[0021] As illustrated in Figure 3, the partition plate 142 is provided inside the housing 141. The partition plate 142 divides the inside of the housing 141 into a first passage 143 and a second passage 144. The first passage 143 connects the first opening 111 of the inlet / outlet header 11 to the first part 151 of the heat exchange section 15. The second passage 144 connects the second opening 112 of the inlet / outlet header 11 to the second part 152 of the heat exchange section 15.

[0022] The partition plate 142 has a partition portion 1421 and a bent portion 1422. The partition portion 1421 is positioned inside the housing 141 to separate the first passage 143 and the second passage 144. The partition portion 1421 extends along the longitudinal direction of the tube 153 and is attached to the lowest tube 153 within the first part 151 of the heat exchange section 15. In this example, the partition portion 1421 extends substantially parallel (horizontally in this example) to the upper surface 1413 and lower surface 1414 of the housing 141, and its top view is formed in the shape of a substantially quadrant (a sector with a central angle of 90 degrees).

[0023] The bent portion 1422 extends from the partition portion 1421 in a direction different from the planar direction of the partition portion 1421. The bent portion 1422 functions as a joint that is joined to the inner surface of the housing 141. In this example, the bent portion 1422 extends upward from the arc-shaped portion of the partition portion 1421 so as to follow the side wall 1415 of the housing 141. The bent portion 1422 is joined to the inner surface of the housing 141 by a joining material while in contact with it. As the joining material, for example, a paste-like brazing material is used.

[0024] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the cross-sectional line extending in the front-rear direction in Figure 2, viewed from the direction of the arrow IV-IV. As illustrated in Figures 2 and 4, a slit 1417 is formed in the joint 1416 of the side wall 1415 of the housing 141. The joint 1416 is the part to which the partition plate 142 is joined. More specifically, the bent portion 1422 of the partition plate 142 abuts against the inner surface of the joint 1416 and is joined thereto.

[0025] The slit 1417 is an opening for applying a joining material from the outside of the duct portion 14. The slit 1417 is formed along the joint portion 1416 of the housing 141, that is, along the bent portion 1422 of the partition plate 142. In this example, as shown in Figure 4, the slit 1417 is located approximately in the center in the height direction (up and down direction in this example) of the joint portion 1416 of the housing 141, that is, along the bent portion 1422 of the partition plate 142.

[0026] Furthermore, in this example, as shown in Figure 2, the slit 1417 has a length of approximately half the length of the joint portion 1416 of the housing 141, that is, the bent portion 1422 of the partition plate 142.

[0027] Note that the width and length of the slit 1417 are not limited to this example and can be set as appropriate.

[0028] The adhesive applied through the slit 1417 is applied to the gap between the inner surface of the joint 1416 of the housing 141 and the bent portion 1422 of the partition plate 142. Although not shown in the figures, in reality, the applied adhesive fills at least a portion of the slit 1417.

[0029] In the EGR cooler 10 configured in this way, as illustrated in Figure 3, exhaust gas flowing in from the first opening 111 of the inlet / outlet header 11 passes through the first passage 143 of the duct section 14, flows into a tube 153 located in the first part 151 of the heat exchange section 15 of the shell 12, makes a U-turn at the connecting header 13, flows through a tube 153 located in the second part 152 of the heat exchange section 15, passes through the second passage 144 of the duct section 14, and flows out from the second opening 112 of the inlet / outlet header 11. As this exhaust gas passes through the first part 151 and the second part 152 of the heat exchange section 15, it is cooled by the cooling water flowing around the tube 153 inside the shell 12.

[0030] According to the EGR cooler 10 of this embodiment, a slit 1417 is formed in the joint portion 1416 of the housing 141, so that the bonding material can be applied from outside the duct portion 14 through the slit 1417. Therefore, compared to applying the bonding material from inside the housing 141, it is easier to apply the bonding material to the gap between the inner surface of the joint portion 1416 of the housing 141 and the bent portion 1422 of the partition plate 142.

[0031] Figure 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of the cross-sectional line extending in the left-right direction in Figure 2, viewed from the direction of the arrow VV. In this embodiment, as illustrated in Figures 2, 3, and 5, a through hole 1418 is formed in the joint 1416 of the housing 141 in addition to the slit 1417. The through hole 1418 is formed in the joint 1416 where the slit 1417 is not formed. The through hole 1418 is a hole for welding to temporarily fasten the partition plate 142 from the outside of the duct portion 14. Examples of welding include TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas) welding. Although not shown, in reality, the welding material molten by TIG welding fills at least a part of the through hole 1418.

[0032] By providing a through-hole 1418 in the joint 1416 of the housing 141 in this way, welding for temporary fastening of the partition plate 142 can be performed from the outside of the duct portion 14 through the through-hole 1418.

[0033] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, the entrance / exit header 11 has a projection 113 that protrudes from the inner surface of the entrance / exit header 11 toward the interior of the housing 141 of the duct section 14 between the first opening 111 and the second opening 112. Specifically, the projection 113 protrudes toward the interior of the housing 141 of the duct section 14 from the inner surface (rear surface in this example) of the intervening member 115 between the first opening 111 and the second opening 112. The partition plate 142 is positioned so that its lower surface abuts the upper surface of the projection 113. The length in the projection direction (length in the front-to-back direction in this example) and width (length in the left-to-right direction in this example) of the projection 113 are set as appropriate. For example, in this example, the width of the projection 113 is formed to be smaller than the diameter of the first opening 111 and the diameter of the second opening 112. However, the width of the projection 113 may be formed to be longer than the width of the first opening 111 and the width of the second opening 112.

[0034] As the entrance / exit header 11 has a protrusion 113, the partition plate 142 can be positioned by the protrusion 113.

[0035] Next, a detailed explanation will be given of the method for joining the inlet / outlet header 11 to the duct section 14 in the manufacturing method of the EGR cooler 10.

[0036] First, the inlet / outlet header 11 is welded to the housing 141 of the duct section 14. Specifically, the inlet / outlet header 11 is attached to the housing 141 and welded so that the protruding portion 113 of the inlet / outlet header 11 protrudes toward the inside of the housing 141. In this example, the inlet / outlet header 11 has a flange portion 114, and the flange portion 114 and the outer surface of the housing 141 are welded together.

[0037] Next, the partition plate 142 is brought into contact with the inner surface of the joint portion 1416 of the housing 141. Specifically, the partition plate 142 is brought into contact with the protruding portion 113 of the entrance / exit header 11 to position the partition plate 142. Then, with the partition plate 142 in position, the bent portion 1422 of the partition plate 142 is brought into contact with the inner surface of the joint portion 1416 of the housing 141.

[0038] Next, with the partition plate 142 in contact with the inner surface of the joint portion 1416 of the housing 141, the partition plate 142 is welded to the joint portion 1416 of the housing 141 from the outside of the housing 141 through the through hole 1418 formed in the joint portion 1416 of the housing 141.

[0039] Next, the joining material is applied to the inside of the housing 141 through the slit 1417 formed in the joint portion 1416 of the housing 141, thereby joining the inner surface of the joint portion 1416 and the partition plate 142 with the joining material.

[0040] According to the manufacturing method of the EGR cooler 10 of this embodiment, the partition plate 142 can be easily welded to the housing 141 from the outside of the housing 141 through the through hole 1418, and this welding allows the partition plate 142 and the housing 141 to be temporarily fixed when the housing 141 is joined. In addition, since the bonding material can be applied to the inside of the housing 141 from the outside of the housing 141 through the slit 1417, it is easy to apply the bonding material to the gap between the inner surface of the joint portion 1416 of the housing 141 and the partition plate 142.

[0041] Furthermore, the partition plate 142 is positioned by bringing it into contact with the protruding portion 113 of the entrance / exit header 11, making positioning easy.

[0042] In the above embodiment, the joint portion 1416 of the housing 141 is provided with a through hole 1418 along with a slit 1417, but it is also possible to provide only a slit.

[0043] In the above embodiment, the EGR cooler 10 is configured so that exhaust gas flows from top to bottom inside the EGR cooler 10, but it may also be configured so that it flows from bottom to top.

[0044] In the above embodiment, the duct portion 14 is formed in a substantially quarter-circle shape when viewed from above, with one end 1411 and the other end 1412 intersecting at a substantially right angle. However, the configuration of the duct portion 14 is not limited to this example. For example, the duct portion 14 may be formed such that the angle at which one end 1411 and the other end 1412 intersect is less than 90 degrees. Alternatively, for example, the duct portion 14 may be configured to be a substantially rectangular tube shape that connects the inlet / outlet header 11 and the shell 12 with a substantially straight line.

[0045] (Mounting structure between tube 153 and partition plate 142) Next, the mounting structure between the tube 153 and the partition plate 142 will be described in detail using Figures 6 and 7. Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the configuration of the tube 153.

[0046] As illustrated in Figure 6, each tube 153 has an upper plate-shaped member 1531 and a lower plate-shaped member 1532. The upper plate-shaped member 1531 and the lower plate-shaped member 1532 are formed, for example, by press-forming a metal plate, and then the tube 153 is assembled by arranging them opposite each other.

[0047] In this example, the upper plate-like member 1531 extends in the longitudinal direction (left-right direction in this example), and its cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction is formed in a U-shape. Specifically, the upper plate-like member 1531 has a flat surface portion 15311 and two side walls 15312. The flat surface portion 15311 is a planar member that extends in the longitudinal direction. The two side walls 15312 extend downward from the ends of the flat surface portion 15311 in the short direction (front-back direction in this example).

[0048] The lower plate-like member 1532 extends in the longitudinal direction, and its cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction is formed in a U-shape. Furthermore, the longitudinal end of the lower plate-like member 1532 is formed to spread out in the direction opposite to the upper plate-like member 1531 (in this example, the vertical direction). Specifically, the lower plate-like member 1532 has a first flat surface portion 15321, two side walls 15322, two inclined surface portions 15323, and two second flat surface portions 15324.

[0049] The first flat surface portion 15321 is a planar member extending in the longitudinal direction. The two inclined surface portions 15323 extend diagonally downward from the longitudinal ends of the first flat surface portion 15321. The two second flat surface portions 15324 are planar members extending from the ends of the inclined surface portions 15323 along the planar direction of the first flat surface portion 15321. The two side walls 15322 extend upward from the ends of the first flat surface portion 15321, the inclined surface portions 15323, and the second flat surface portions 15324, respectively.

[0050] For example, the width of the upper plate-shaped member 1531 in the short direction is smaller than the width of the lower plate-shaped member 1532 in the short direction, so when assembling the tube 153, the side wall 15312 of the upper plate-shaped member 1531 is positioned inside the side wall 15322 of the lower plate-shaped member 1532.

[0051] Figure 7 is a magnified view of the area enclosed by line VII in Figure 5. Figure 7 shows how multiple tubes 153 (153A, 153B) are stacked. In Figure 7, the arrows indicate the direction of exhaust gas flow.

[0052] As illustrated in Figure 7, the upper tube 153A (hereinafter also referred to as the upper tube 153A) has an upper plate-shaped member 1531A and a lower plate-shaped member 1532A. The lower tube 153B (hereinafter also referred to as the lower tube 153B) has an upper plate-shaped member 1531B and a lower plate-shaped member 1532B. The lower plate-shaped member 1532A of the upper tube 153A is joined to the upper plate-shaped member 1531B of the lower tube 153B with a gap G between them. Specifically, in the lower plate-shaped member 1532A of the upper tube 153A, the second flat surface portion 15324A is joined to the upper plate-shaped member 1531B of the lower tube 153B by overlapping them, and the inclined surface portion 15323A forms a gap G between it and the upper plate-shaped member 1531B of the lower tube 153B.

[0053] The partition plate 142 is attached to the lower plate-shaped member 1532 of the tube 153 (see Figure 3), which is located at the bottom of the first part 151 of the heat exchange section 15. Specifically, as shown in Figure 7, the partition plate 142 is brazed to both the second flat surface portion 15324 and the inclined surface portion 15323 of the lower plate-shaped member 1532.

[0054] In this example, the partition plate 142 and the second flat surface portion 15324 of the lower plate-like member 1532 are in surface contact after being brazed. The partition plate 142 and the inclined surface portion 15323 are separated from each other, and brazing is performed with the brazing material 17 filled between them. Note that surface contact between the second flat surface portion 15324 of the lower plate-like member 1532 and the partition plate 142 also includes the case where the second flat surface portion 15324 of the lower plate-like member 1532 and the partition plate 142 are arranged parallel to each other, and a thin layer of brazing material is provided between them.

[0055] In the application process of the brazing material 17, for example, with the tube 153 and the partition plate 142 positioned, the brazing material 17 is applied to the upper surface of the end of the partition plate 142 that is attached to the lower plate-shaped member 1532 by a brazing material application device (not shown). The brazing material 17 flows from the upper surface of the partition plate 142 between the tube 153 and the partition plate 142 and is applied between the tube 153 and the partition plate 142. More specifically, the brazing material 17 is first applied to the gap between the partition plate 142 and the inclined surface portion 15323. The brazing material 17 applied to this gap then proceeds further into the tapered gap by capillary action. Eventually, it also enters the space between the second flat surface portion 15324 of the lower plate-shaped member 1532 and the partition plate 142. By applying the brazing material 17 to the gap between the partition plate 142 and the inclined surface portion 15323, which has a relatively large opening, the brazing material can naturally enter the gap between the second flat surface portion 15324 of the plate-like member 1532 and the partition plate 142, thereby ensuring that the partition plate 142 and the plate-like member 1532 are brazed together. Furthermore, during brazing, since it is only necessary to fill the gap between the partition plate 142 and the inclined surface portion 15323, which has a relatively large opening, the workability is high.

[0056] The end of the partition plate 142 attached to the lower plate-shaped member 1532 has a chamfered surface 1423 that follows the surface of the inclined surface portion 15323. In this specification, the expression "following the surface of the inclined surface portion" includes not only directions that are perfectly parallel to the surface of the inclined surface portion 15323, but also directions that are located within a range of less than (±)45 degrees from the surface of the inclined surface portion 15323.

[0057] The thickness T1 of the partition plate 142 is configured to be less than the thickness T2 of the inclined surface portion 15323 of the lower plate-shaped member 1532. Here, thickness refers to the thickness in the direction along which the upper plate-shaped member 1531 and the lower plate-shaped member 1532 that constitute the tube 153 face each other. The thickness T2 of the inclined surface portion 15323 is the thickness from the upper surface of the second flat surface portion 15324 to the upper surface of the inclined surface portion 15323.

[0058] According to the mounting structure of the tube 153 and the partition plate 142 described above, the partition plate 142 is brazed across two surfaces of the tube 153, the second flat surface portion 15324 and the inclined surface portion 15323. Therefore, compared to a configuration in which the partition plate 142 is brazed only to the second flat surface portion 15324 of the tube 153, it is possible to further suppress the flow of exhaust gas from the flow path of the first part 151 to the flow path of the second part 152, or from the flow path of the second part 152 to the flow path of the first part 151, at the mounting point between the tube 153 and the partition plate 142.

[0059] Furthermore, in this example, a portion of the end of the partition plate 142 is chamfered so as to conform to the surface of the inclined surface portion 15323. This allows the partition plate 142 to function as a guide when inserting it into the tube 153, thereby improving assembly workability.

[0060] Furthermore, in this example, the thickness T1 of the partition plate 142 is smaller than the thickness T2 of the inclined surface portion 15323 of the lower plate-shaped member 1532. As a result, the partition plate 142 attached to the tube 153 does not protrude further into the tube 153 than the inclined surface portion 15323, thus preventing obstruction of the flow of exhaust gas inside the tube 153.

[0061] Figure 8 is a partial cross-sectional view showing another example of the mounting structure between the partition plate 142 and the tube 153. In the mounting structure shown in Figure 7, the partition plate 142 and the second flat surface portion 15324 of the tube 153 are in surface contact. However, as illustrated in Figure 8, the partition plate 142 and the second flat surface portion 15324 of the tube 153 may be brazed with the brazing material 17 filled between them while they are separated from each other.

[0062] Alternatively, in the width direction (front-to-back direction in this example) of the tube 153, a portion of the second flat surface portion 15324 of the tube 153 may be in surface contact with the partition plate 142, while a portion of the second flat surface portion 15324 may be separated from the partition plate 142.

[0063] Figures 9 and 10 are partial cross-sectional views showing another example of a mounting structure between a partition plate and a tube. In the mounting structure shown in Figure 7, the upper plate-shaped member 1531 is formed in a planar shape to its longitudinal end, and the lower plate-shaped member 1532 widens at its longitudinal end in a direction opposite to the upper plate-shaped member 1531. However, as illustrated in Figure 9, the upper plate-shaped member 1531 may be formed to widen at its longitudinal end in a direction opposite to the lower plate-shaped member 1532. That is, the upper plate-shaped member 1531 may have an inclined surface portion 15313 and a second flat surface portion 15314.

[0064] Alternatively, as illustrated in Figure 10, the upper plate-shaped member 1531 may widen at its longitudinal end in a direction opposite to the lower plate-shaped member 1532, and the lower plate-shaped member 1532 may be formed in a planar shape up to its longitudinal end. In this case, the partition plate 142 is attached to the upper plate-shaped member 1531 of the uppermost tube 153 in the second part 152 of the heat exchange section 15. That is, the partition plate 142 is brazed across two surfaces of the upper plate-shaped member 1531: the inclined surface portion 15313 and the second flat surface portion 15314.

[0065] Furthermore, the mounting structure of the tube 153 and partition plate 142 described above is also applicable to EGR coolers in which the inlet / outlet header 11 and the shell 12 are directly connected without the intervening duct section 14. In such an EGR cooler in which the inlet / outlet header 11 and the shell 12 are directly connected, the protrusion 113 provided on the inlet / outlet header 11 functions as a partition plate that separates the space between the inlet / outlet header 11 and the tube 153 in the shell 12 into a first passage in which fluid flows in a first direction D1 toward the first section 151, and a second passage in which fluid from the second section 152 flows in a second direction D2.

[0066] (Mounting structure of shell 12, tube 153 and connecting header 13) Next, the mounting structure of the shell 12, tube 153, and connecting header 13 will be described in detail using Figures 11 and 12. Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view of the cross-sectional line in Figure 3, taken from the direction of the arrow XI-XI.

[0067] As illustrated in Figures 3 and 11, the connecting header 13 is mounted to cover the longitudinal end 153E of the tube 153 and the longitudinal end 12E of the shell 12, thereby forming a space S.

[0068] As illustrated in Figure 11, the front portion 131 of the connecting header 13 has an end portion 1311, a main wall portion 1312, and a connecting portion 1313 in a cross-section along the surface direction of the tube 153 along the longitudinal direction. The end portion 1311 is configured to cover the outer surface of the shell 12. The main wall portion 1312 is configured such that its inner wall surface 13121 is located on the inner diameter side of the end portion 1311 and defines a space S. The connecting portion 1313 is configured to connect the end portion 1311 and the main wall portion 1312.

[0069] The rear portion 132 of the connecting header 13 has an end portion 1321, a main wall portion 1322, and a connecting portion 1323 in a cross-section along the surface direction of the tube 153 along the longitudinal direction. The end portion 1321 is configured to cover the outer surface of the shell 12. The main wall portion 1322 is configured such that its inner wall surface 13221 is located on the inner diameter side of the end portion 1321 and defines a space S. The connecting portion 1323 is configured to connect the end portion 1321 and the main wall portion 1322.

[0070] The longitudinal ends 153E of tube 153 and 12E of shell 12 abut against the inner wall surface 13131 of the connection portion 1313 of the front portion 131 of connecting header 133. Similarly, the longitudinal ends 153E of tube 153 and 12E of shell 12 abut against the inner wall surface 13231 of the connection portion 1323 of the rear portion 132 of connecting header 133.

[0071] Figure 12 is a partially enlarged view of Figure 11. As illustrated in Figure 12, in this example, the surface 12E1 of the longitudinal end 12E of the shell 12 and the surface 153E1 of the longitudinal end 153E of the tube 153 are configured to be on the same plane.

[0072] When assembling the tube 153, shell 12, and connecting header 13 configured in this way, first apply brazing material to the tube 153 and insert an inner fin (not shown) into the tube 153.

[0073] Next, multiple tubes 153 are stacked inside the shell 12 to form a laminate of the shell 12 and tubes 153. For example, the shell 12 is composed of two parts, upper and lower. Multiple tubes 153 are stacked on the lower part of the shell 12, and finally the upper part of the shell 12 is placed on top. Brazing material is applied to the joints between adjacent tubes 153. Brazing material is also applied to the joints between the tubes 153 and the shell 12.

[0074] Next, the connecting header 13 is attached to the laminate of the shell 12 and tube 153. The connecting header 13 is attached so as to cover the outer surface of the longitudinal end of the shell 12. Finally, brazing material is applied to the joint between the connecting header 13 and the laminate from the outside.

[0075] Here, when attaching the connecting header 13 to the laminate of the shell 12 and tube 153, the connecting header 13 has no opening, so it is not possible to determine if the tube 153 is misaligned within the shell 12, and if the tube 153 is misaligned within the shell 12, it is difficult to correct it. However, with the mounting structure described above, the end 153E of the tube 153 abuts against the connection parts 1313 and 1323 of the connecting header 13, so the tube 153 can be assembled in the correct position.

[0076] Furthermore, since the connecting header 13 sandwiches the laminate of the shell 12 and tube 153 from the outside, the tube 153 and shell 12 are less likely to fall apart before brazing.

[0077] Furthermore, since the connecting portions 1313 and 1323 of the connecting header 13 cover the gap formed between the tube 153 and the shell 12, it is possible to prevent the brazing material from leaking out of the gap formed between the tube 153 and the shell 12, thereby stabilizing and improving the brazing performance.

[0078] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative examples to facilitate understanding of the present invention. The configurations of the embodiments described above can be modified and improved as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0079] In the embodiments described above, an EGR cooler for cooling exhaust gas was described as an example of a heat exchanger. However, the heat exchanger may also be one that cools a fluid other than exhaust gas, for example.

[0080] The configurations listed below also constitute part of this disclosure. Item 1: A shell surrounding a heat exchange section having a first section in which the fluid flows in a first direction and a second section in which the fluid flows in a second direction opposite to the first direction, Multiple flattened tubes extending longitudinally inside the shell, A partition plate extending along the tube and attached to the tube, the partition plate separating a first passage through which fluid flows in the first direction toward the first part and a second passage through which fluid from the second part flows in the second direction, It is equipped with, Each of the plurality of tubes has two opposing plate-like members, One of the plate-shaped members of the tube to which the partition plate is attached is, A flat surface portion that is superimposed and connected to the plate-shaped members of adjacent tubes, It has an inclined surface portion that extends from the flat surface portion and forms a gap between the adjacent tube and the plate-shaped member, A heat exchanger in which the partition plate is brazed to both the flat surface and the inclined surface. Item 2: The heat exchanger according to item 1, wherein the end of the partition plate attached to the plate-shaped member has a chamfered surface that follows the surface of the inclined surface. Item 3: The heat exchanger according to item 1, wherein the thickness of the partition plate in the direction along which the two plate-like members constituting the tube face each other is smaller than the thickness of the inclined surface portion of the plate-like member. Item 4: A tube extending in the longitudinal direction, A shell covering the aforementioned tube, It has a header that is attached so as to cover the longitudinal end of the tube and the longitudinal end of the shell, forming a space, The header, in a cross-section along the surface direction of the tube along the longitudinal direction, The end portion that covers the outer surface of the shell, The main wall portion, whose inner wall surface is located on the inner diameter side of the end portion and defines the space, It has a connecting portion that connects the end portion and the main wall portion, A heat exchanger in which the ends of the tube and the ends of the shell abut against the inner wall surface of the connection portion of the header. Item 5: The heat exchanger according to item 4, wherein the end surface of the shell and the end surface of the tube, which abut against the inner wall surface of the connection portion of the header, are in the same plane.

[0081] This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-020113, filed on 13 February 2023, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Claims

1. A shell surrounding a heat exchange section having a first section in which the fluid flows in a first direction and a second section in which the fluid flows in a second direction opposite to the first direction, Multiple flattened tubes extending longitudinally inside the shell, A partition plate extending along the tube and attached to the tube, the partition plate separating a first passage through which fluid flows in the first direction toward the first part and a second passage through which fluid from the second part flows in the second direction, It is equipped with, Each of the plurality of tubes has two opposing plate-like members, One of the plate-shaped members of the tube to which the partition plate is attached is, A flat surface portion that is superimposed and connected to the plate-shaped members of adjacent tubes, It has an inclined surface portion that extends from the flat surface portion and forms a gap between the adjacent tube and the plate-shaped member, A heat exchanger in which the partition plate is brazed to both the flat surface and the inclined surface.

2. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the end of the partition plate attached to the plate-shaped member has a chamfered surface that follows the surface of the inclined surface.

3. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the partition plate in the direction along which the two plate-shaped members constituting the tube face each other is smaller than the thickness of the inclined surface portion of the plate-shaped member.

4. A tube extending in the longitudinal direction, A shell covering the aforementioned tube, It has a header that is attached so as to cover the longitudinal end of the tube and the longitudinal end of the shell and to form a space, The header, in a cross-section along the surface direction of the tube along the longitudinal direction, The end portion that covers the outer surface of the shell, The main wall portion, whose inner wall surface is located on the inner diameter side of the end portion and defines the space, It has a connecting portion that connects the end portion and the main wall portion, A heat exchanger in which the ends of the tube and the ends of the shell abut against the inner wall surface of the connection portion of the header.

5. The heat exchanger according to claim 4, wherein the end surface of the shell and the end surface of the tube, which abut against the inner wall surface of the connection portion of the header, are on the same plane.

Citation Information

Patent Citations

  • U-turn EGR cooler

    JP2010127171A