Connection member and heat exchanger

Abstract

[Problem] To provide: a connection member that can inhibit a contraction flow from a pipe toward a heat exchanger when connecting the heat exchanger and the pipe, and can be attached to an existing cap of the heat exchanger in a versatile manner regardless of the state of a brazing material surface in the cap; and a heat exchanger including the connection member. [Solution] A connection member 80 connects a heat exchanger 1 and respective pipe ends PE of an inlet pipe 2 and an outlet pipe 3, and has an inflow-side fixing part 83A, an outflow-side fixing part 83B, and a body 81 integrally supporting the fixing parts. The inflow-side fixing part 83A is configured so as to be capable of covering the outer circumferential surface of the pipe end PE of the inlet pipe 2 and a connection part 67A on the inflow side of a cap 60 blocking an end portion of a header tank 11. The outflow-side fixing part 83B is configured so as to be capable of covering the outer circumferential surface of the pipe end PE of the outlet pipe 3 and a connection part 67B on the outflow side of the cap 60.

Description

Connection member and heat exchanger

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

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

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

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

[0005] Korean Patent No. 102074692 and Korean Patent No. 6483409

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

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

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

[0009] However, the brazing material surface of the cap, which is a component of the heat exchanger, is set in relation to other components of the heat exchanger (such as the tank), and the brazing material surface is not necessarily on the outer surface of the cap. In particular, in the case of a cap with a cover lid shape as described in Patent Document 1, the brazing material surface is often provided on the inner surface due to the complexity of the shape. In this case, when connecting to a pipe, it is necessary to process the outer surface of the cap on the heat exchanger side to form the brazing material surface, or to replace the cap with one whose outer surface is the brazing material surface, which requires a lot of work and increases costs.

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

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

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

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

[0014] FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a connection structure between a heat exchanger and a pipe according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a connecting member according to an embodiment of the present invention, with (A) a perspective view, (B) a front view, and (C) a cross-sectional view. FIG. 4 is an exploded side view showing a connection structure between a heat exchanger and a pipe according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a connection structure between a heat exchanger and a pipe according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing another example of a connection structure between a heat exchanger and a pipe according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing another example of a connection structure between a heat exchanger and a pipe according to an embodiment of the present invention.

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

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

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

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

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

[0020] The insides of the first header tank 11 and the second header tank 12 serve as storage spaces for the heat medium. While the first header tank 11 serves as storage space on the inlet and outlet (flow / outlet) sides of the heat medium, the second header tank 12 serves as storage space on the return side of the heat medium flow path. In the following explanation, the first header tank 11 (simply referred to as the header tank 11) will be explained as the main component of this embodiment, and an explanation of the second header tank 12 will be omitted. The first header tank 11 and the second header tank 12 are not connected to the second header tank 12, but the other components are the same as those of the first header tank 11.

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

[0022] Although the cylindrical member 13 may be a bottomed member in which only the end on the heat transfer medium inlet / outlet side is open, in this example, the cylindrical member 13 is open at both longitudinal ends, and the opening at the other end is also closed by another cap 70. The cylindrical member 13 in this example is formed, for example, by joining a first plate 20 and a second plate 30, which are flat, approximately U-shaped, with one end open and the other end closed and curved, so that the open ends abut each other. Then, by closing one longitudinal end with a cap 60 and the other longitudinal end with another cap 70, a space for the heat transfer medium to accumulate is formed inside.

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

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

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

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

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

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

[0029] The cap 60 is provided with, for example, crimping claws 61. The crimping claws 61 are crimped into rib grooves 21B, 31B provided at the longitudinal ends of the first plate 20 and the second plate 30, thereby fixing the cap 60 and the tubular member 13 together.

[0030] 2 and 3, the connecting member 80 will be described. The connecting member 80 is a pipe joint that connects and secures the pipe P and the cap 60. The connecting member 80 has a main body 81, two, for example, circular communication holes (openings) 82 (82A, 82B) that penetrate the main body 81, and tubular (for example, cylindrical) fixing portions 83 (inlet-side fixing portion 83A and outlet-side fixing portion 83B) that are provided around each of the communication holes 82A and 82B. In this example, the diameters of the inlet-side fixing portion 83A (communication hole 82A) and the outlet-side fixing portion 83B (communication hole 82B) are the same, but they may also be different.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[0042] Then, these components are assembled and brazed in a brazing process. The entire surface of the connecting member 80, including the thick portion 80D, is covered with brazing material. Therefore, regardless of the state of the brazing material in the cap 60 (whether the brazing material is on the outer surface or the inner surface of the cap 60, or whether the brazing material is not provided on the cap 60), the brazing material in the connecting member 80 can connect and fix (braze) the cap 60 and the pipe P.

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

[0044] However, at least one of these (any of the closely facing surfaces) may not abut, leaving a clearance. However, if the clearance is too large, there is a risk of the heat transfer medium leaking or the brazing material getting into the heat transfer medium flow path after the brazing process. Therefore, even if at least one of the closely facing surfaces of the connecting member 80, the pipe P, and the connecting portion 67 do not abut, leaving a clearance, the size of each component is set to a degree that the clearance is filled with the brazing material after brazing and no heat transfer medium leaks.

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

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

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

[0048] 4, the inner diameter D6 of the pipe end PE of the pipe P can be made larger than the outer diameter D3 of the connection portions 67 (67A, 67B) of the cap 60, and the connection can be made with the connection portion 67 inserted inside the pipe end PE of the pipe P. This prevents contraction of the heat transfer medium flowing from the pipe P through the cap 60 into the header tank 11, and also suppresses leakage of the heat transfer medium between the pipe P and the connection portion 67.

[0049] The inlet-side fixing portion 83A and the outlet-side fixing portion 83B each have a small diameter portion 85 and a large diameter portion 84, with the small diameter portion 85 being able to cover the outer circumferential surface of the connecting portion 67 and the large diameter portion 84 being able to cover the outer circumferential surface of the pipe end PE. This increases the contact area between the cap 60 and the pipe P, respectively, and the connecting member 80, thereby improving the reliability of the connection.

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

[0051] When the cap 60 has a complex shape (for example, when the cap 60 is formed in a cover shape and configured to cover the opening 11A of the header tank 11 as in this embodiment), a brazing material may be provided on the inner surface of the cap 60 (the surface facing the outer periphery of the header tank 11). Furthermore, on the pipe P side, a brazing material is generally not provided on the inner surface of the pipe P. In such a configuration, brazing is not possible even if the connection portion 67 of the cap 60 is inserted into the pipe P to prevent flow contraction.

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

[0053] In particular, with the connecting portion 67 inserted inside the pipe end PE of the pipe P, the small diameter portion 85 of the connecting member 80 covers the outer peripheral surface of the connecting portion 67 of the cap 60, and the large diameter portion 84 covers the outer peripheral surface of the pipe end PE. Furthermore, because brazing filler metal is provided on the inner surface SI and outer surface SO of the small diameter portion 85 and the large diameter portion 84, as well as on the plate thickness portion 80D, a sufficient amount of brazing filler metal can be supplied to the cap 60 and the pipe P, preventing leakage of the heat transfer medium and enabling a reliable connection.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[0062] The positional relationship between the connecting member 80, the cap 60 and the pipe P, which has been described as "contacting" with reference to FIGS. 6 to 9, may also be "closely facing."

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

[0064] The heat exchanger 1 of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0065] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 heat exchanger 2 inlet pipe 3 outlet pipe 10 heat exchange core portion 11 tank portion (header tank) 13 tubular member 60 cap 61 caulking claws 63A, 63B opening 65 cap body 66 edge portion 67, 67A, 67B connecting portion 80, 90 connecting member 80D plate thickness portion 81 body portion 82, 82A, 82B communication hole 83 fixing portion 83A inlet side fixing portion 83B outlet side fixing portion 84 large diameter portion 85 small diameter portion

Claims

1. A connecting member which connects a heat exchanger and the respective pipe ends of an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe through which a heat medium passes inside the heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanger comprises: a tank portion which is long in one direction; and a cap which covers one longitudinal end of the tank portion, having an opening which serves as an inlet and outlet for the heat medium, and has a connection portion provided around the opening; and the connecting member comprises: an inlet side fixing portion which is formed in a cylindrical shape and which is capable of covering the respective outer peripheral surfaces of the connection portion on the inlet side and the pipe end; and an outlet side fixing portion which is formed in a cylindrical shape and which is capable of covering the respective outer peripheral surfaces of the connection portion on the outlet side and the pipe end.

2. The connection member according to claim 1, characterized in that said connection portion can be connected in a state where it is inserted inside said pipe end.

3. A connection member as described in claim 1, characterized in that a brazing material is provided on the outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface of at least the inlet side fixing portion and the outlet side fixing portion.

4. The connection member described in claim 1, characterized in that the inlet side fixing portion and the outlet side fixing portion each have a small diameter portion and a large diameter portion, the small diameter portion is capable of covering the outer peripheral surface of the connection portion, and the large diameter portion is capable of covering the outer peripheral surface of the pipe end.

5. The connection member according to claim 1, further comprising: a main body portion that integrally supports the inflow side fixing portion and the outflow side fixing portion.

6. A heat exchanger, characterized in that the connection portion is connected to the tube end by a connection member according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. A heat exchanger as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the inner diameter of said connection portion is equal to or smaller than the inner diameter of said tank portion, and the inner diameter of said tube end is equal to or larger than the outer diameter of said connection portion.

Images