Header tank of heat exchanger

Abstract

The present invention relates to a header tank of a heat exchanger and, more specifically, to a header tank of a heat exchanger for which a tank structure that can be used in an extruded state without machining is adopted, and in which a portion communicating fluid between the tank and a tube is configured as a separate plate material. Thus, the header tank is easy to manufacture and can reduce manufacturing costs.

Description

Header tank of heat exchanger

[0001] The present invention relates to a header tank of a heat exchanger, and more specifically, to a header tank of a heat exchanger that adopts a tank structure that can be used in an extruded state without mechanical processing, and that is easy to manufacture and reduces manufacturing costs by forming a portion where fluid is communicated between the tank and the tube with a separate plate.

[0002] In general, a heat exchanger applied to a vehicle cooling and heating system is configured in a form in which a plurality of tubes are connected between a pair of header tanks, and is installed on a flow path of a cooling or heating system, so that a heat exchange fluid supplied through an inlet of the header tank performs heat exchange with outside air as it passes through the tubes, and guides the fluid passing through the tubes to a flow path pipe through an outlet to cool or heat an indoor space.

[0003] Among these heat exchangers, high-pressure heat exchangers use carbon dioxide as the heat exchange fluid, or refrigerant. Because carbon dioxide operates under extremely high pressure, the heat exchanger, especially the header tank, must be designed to withstand this high pressure.

[0004] Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a header tank of a conventional high-pressure heat exchanger. As shown, the header tank of a conventional high-pressure heat exchanger is composed of a tank (1) in which a refrigerant passage (1a) is formed in the center of the longitudinal direction and a plurality of tube insertion holes (1b) are formed in a direction perpendicular to the refrigerant passage (1a), and a header (2) in which a plurality of slots (2a) are formed corresponding to the tube insertion holes (1b) and are coupled to the tube insertion holes (1b) side of the tank (1).

[0005] In the header tank formed in this manner, the tank (1) is extruded using an extruded material and the tube insertion hole (1b) is processed into a straight line, the header (2) is formed using a clad material, and then the header (2) and the tank (1) are joined. Then, in the header tank assembled in this manner, a pair of tubes (3) are positioned in parallel, and the two ends of the tubes are joined through the slot (2a) and the tube insertion hole (1b) of the header tank, respectively, and then a brazing process is performed.

[0006] However, since the tube insertion hole (1b) of the tank (1) is processed into a straight shape, the joint between the header (2) and the tank (1) becomes weak, which reduces the functional pressure resistance. In addition, the header tank has a structure in which the end of the tube (3) comes into contact with the straight tube insertion hole (1b), so that when brazing, the clad material flows into the inside of the tube (3), blocking the tube hole (3a) formed at the end of the tube (3), which causes a problem in that the fluid cannot flow smoothly.

[0007] In addition, the tank (1) is an extruded material, and it is difficult and expensive to machine a hole, which is a tube insertion hole (1b), in the extruded material. Even if the hole is machined through a punching process using press processing, there are problems such as difficulty in chip discharge and difficulty in cleaning. In addition, if the extruded material is thick and the hole is small, there is a problem that pressing is impossible.

[0008] The present invention has been devised to solve the above problems, and the purpose is to provide a header tank structure of a heat exchanger that is easy to manufacture and reduces manufacturing costs by adopting a tank structure that can be used in an extruded state without mechanical processing and configuring a portion where fluid is communicated between the tank and the tube as a separate plate.

[0009] A header tank according to an example of the present invention is a header tank of a heat exchanger, comprising: a header having a plurality of slots formed into which tubes are inserted; and a tank installed on the upper portion of the header and having a flow path formed therein through which a fluid flows; wherein the tank may be configured to have a structure in which the lower portion is long and open along the longitudinal direction.

[0010] If the open lower part of the above tank is referred to as a fluid communication passage, the fluid communication passage may be configured to extend from one end of the tank in the longitudinal direction to the other end.

[0011] It further includes a tube plate interposed between the header and the tank, and having a plurality of tube holes formed into which ends of tubes passing through the slots of the header are inserted; and a communication plate interposed between the tube plate and the tank, and having a plurality of communication holes formed to communicate the flow path of the tank with the tube holes of the tube plate; wherein the flow path of the tank and the communication holes of the communication plate can be configured to communicate with each other through the fluid communication path.

[0012] The width of the above flue plate may be formed to be equal to or greater than the width of the tank, and the tank may be configured to have a structure in which the tank is stacked on top of the flue plate.

[0013] The tank may be configured with a structure in which an insertion groove into which the flue plate is inserted is formed at the bottom of the tank, and the flue plate is inserted and fixed into the insertion groove formed at the bottom of the tank.

[0014] The above-mentioned flue plate is configured to be flat overall, and a plurality of flue holes of the above-mentioned flue plate are formed along the fluid communication path and can be spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction.

[0015] The above-mentioned flue plate may be provided with a bead protruding upward, and the bead may be configured to be inserted into the fluid communication path.

[0016] The above bead may be extended upwards so that the upper end may be joined to the inner upper surface of the tank.

[0017] An insertion groove may be formed on the inner upper surface of the tank, and the upper end of the bead may be inserted into and fixed in the insertion groove formed on the inner upper surface of the tank.

[0018] The above beads may be provided singly or in multiple numbers in the width direction of the fluid communication channel.

[0019] The above bead may be formed by bending one plate constituting the above-mentioned connecting plate into a U shape.

[0020] The slots of the header include first-row slots and second-row slots that are spaced apart from each other in the width direction, the flow path of the tank includes first-row flow paths and second-row flow paths that are spaced apart from each other in the width direction, the fluid communication path of the tank includes first-row fluid communication paths and second-row fluid communication paths that are spaced apart from each other in the width direction, the tube holes of the tube plate include first-row tube holes and second-row tube holes that are spaced apart from each other in the width direction, and the communication holes of the communication plate include first-row communication holes and second-row communication holes that are spaced apart from each other in the width direction, and the first-row flow path, the first-row fluid communication path, the first-row communication hole, the first-row tube hole, and the first-row slot are arranged in parallel in the vertical direction and communicate with each other, and the second-row flow path, the second-row fluid communication path, the second-row communication hole, the second-row tube hole, and the second-row slot are arranged in parallel in the vertical direction and can communicate with each other.

[0021] The above tube plate may be configured with a structure in which the first row tube holes and the second row tube holes are formed in a single plate, and the communication plate may be configured with a structure in which the first row communication holes and the second row communication holes are formed in a single plate, or may be configured with a structure in which the first row communication holes are formed in a first plate and the second row communication holes are formed in a second plate independent of the first plate.

[0022] The first row communication hole and the second row communication hole may be configured independently of each other, and the first row tube hole and the second row tube hole may be configured independently of each other.

[0023] The first row communication hole and the second row communication hole are connected to each other, and the first row tube hole and the second row tube hole are configured to be independent of each other or connected to each other, or the first row tube hole and the second row tube hole are connected to each other, and the first row communication hole and the second row communication hole can be configured to be independent of each other or connected to each other.

[0024] The above header is configured to have a structure in which both sides in the width direction are bent upward to form header wings, and the tube plate, the flue plate, and the lower part of the tank can be accommodated on the inside of the header wings.

[0025] The tank may further include an end cap installed at one longitudinal end of the tank, and the end cap may include a plate-shaped end cap body that closes one longitudinal end of the flow path of the tank, a stopper that protrudes in the width direction from the end cap body, and a flange portion that extends from the end cap body toward the tank and surrounds the tank.

[0026] The header is formed to be longer than the tank, and one longitudinal end of the header is formed to protrude beyond one end of the tank, and a mounting groove for mounting the stopper is formed in a header wing portion of the protruding portion of the header, and a through groove for mounting the end cap body is formed in the central portion, and the end cap body passes through the through groove of the header, and the stopper is mounted in the mounting groove of the header, and the end cap body can be formed to cover one longitudinal end of each of the tank, the flue plate, the tube plate, and the header.

[0027] The above tank is a non-machined extruded material, and the tube plate and the flue plate can each be composed of a single sheet material.

[0028] The fluid flowing inside the above tank may be a high-pressure refrigerant.

[0029] According to the present invention, a tank structure that can be used in an extruded state without mechanical processing is adopted, and a portion where fluid is communicated between the tank and the tube is formed of a separate plate, thereby facilitating manufacturing and reducing manufacturing costs.

[0030] Additionally, the manufacturability and durability of the header tank can be improved by implementing various modifications of the configurations.

[0031] Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a header tank of a conventional high-pressure heat exchanger.

[0032] Figure 2 is a perspective view of a heat exchanger according to an example of the present invention.

[0033] Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the upper header tank.

[0034] Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of one end of the upper header tank of Fig. 3.

[0035] Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of the lower header tank.

[0036] Figure 6 is an enlarged view of one end of the lower header tank of Figure 5.

[0037] Figure 7 is a drawing of the tank viewed from above.

[0038] Figure 8 is a drawing of the tank viewed from below.

[0039] Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing a portion of the longitudinal direction of a header tank according to an example of the present invention.

[0040] Figure 10 is an exploded perspective view of Figure 9.

[0041] Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing a portion of the longitudinal direction of a header tank according to another example of the present invention.

[0042] Figure 12 is an exploded perspective view of Figure 11.

[0043] Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a header tank composed of a first example of a flue plate.

[0044] Fig. 14 is a drawing showing the flue plate of Fig. 13.

[0045] Fig. 15 is a drawing showing various modified embodiments of the header tank of Fig. 13.

[0046] Fig. 16 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a header tank composed of a second example of a flue plate.

[0047] Fig. 17 is a side view of the flue plate of Fig. 16.

[0048] Fig. 18 is a drawing showing various modified embodiments of the header tank of Fig. 16.

[0049] Figure 19 is a drawing showing a header tank with another example bead applied.

[0050] Fig. 20 is a drawing showing the flue plate of Fig. 19.

[0051] Figure 21 is a drawing showing a header tank with another example bead applied.

[0052] Fig. 22 is a drawing showing the flue plate of Fig. 21.

[0053] Figure 23 is an enlarged drawing of the end cap portion of the heat exchanger.

[0054] Figure 24 is a drawing showing the end cap separated from Figure 23.

[0055] Figure 25 is an enlarged drawing showing the inlet and outlet pipe sections of a heat exchanger.

[0056] Figure 26 is a drawing showing the inlet pipe and outlet pipe separated from Figure 25.

[0057] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings.

[0058] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a heat exchanger according to an example of the present invention. As shown, the heat exchanger (10) may include a pair of header tanks (100) and a core (200) disposed therebetween. The core (200) may include a plurality of tubes (210) and fins (not shown) interposed between the tubes (210). A fluid may circulate inside the heat exchanger (10) to exchange heat with an external heat exchange medium, for example, air. The fluid is a cooling medium, and is hereinafter referred to as a refrigerant. The refrigerant of the present invention may be a carbon dioxide high-pressure refrigerant.

[0059] The heat exchanger (10) of the present invention may be configured as a multi-row structure, and for example, as illustrated, may be configured as a two-row structure including first row configurations and second row configurations.

[0060] Referring back to FIG. 2, a pair of header tanks (100) may be spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction. Hereinafter, based on the contents illustrated in the drawing, the header tank (100) positioned on the upper side of the pair of header tanks (100) is referred to as an upper header tank (100U), and the header tank (100) positioned on the lower side is referred to as a lower header tank (100D). When simply referred to as a header tank (100), it may mean either the upper header tank (100U) or the lower header tank (100D).

[0061] As shown in Fig. 2, the upper header tank (100U) may be equipped with an inlet pipe (161) and an outlet pipe (162) through which refrigerant is supplied. More specifically, the inlet pipe (161) may be equipped in the first row of the upper header tank (100U), and the outlet pipe (162) may be equipped in the second row. In addition, the first row and the second row of the upper header tank (100U) may be configured to be independent of each other, and the first row and the second row of the lower header tank (100D) may be configured to be connected to each other. That is, in the case of the upper header tank (100U), an inlet pipe (161) and an outlet pipe (162) are provided at one end of the longitudinal direction of the tank, and the other end is closed by an end cap (150). In the case of the lower header tank (100D), both longitudinal ends of the tank may be closed by an end cap (150).

[0062] In this example, the refrigerant is introduced from the outside into the first row of the upper header tank (100U) through the inlet pipe (161) provided in the first row of the upper header tank (100U), and the refrigerant introduced into the first row of the upper header tank (100U) moves to the first row of the lower header tank (100D) along the first row of the tube (210), i.e., the first row tube (210-1), and the refrigerant moved to the first row of the lower header tank (100D) moves to the second row of the lower header tank (100D), and the refrigerant moved to the second row of the lower header tank (100D) moves to the second row of the upper header tank (100U) along the second row of the tube (210), i.e., the second row tube (210-2), and the refrigerant introduced into the second row of the upper header tank (100U) The refrigerant can be discharged to the outside through the outlet pipe (162) provided in the second row of the upper header tank (100U).

[0063] Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the upper header tank, Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of one end of the upper header tank of Fig. 3, Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the lower header tank, and Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of one end of the lower header tank of Fig. 5. In addition, Fig. 7 is a view of the tank as viewed from above, and Fig. 8 is a view of the tank as viewed from below.

[0064] As illustrated, the header tank (100) of the present invention largely includes a header (110) and a tank (120), and may further include an end cap (150). The end cap (150) will be described later.

[0065] The header (110) is a plate-shaped structure having a plurality of slots (110H) formed into which tubes (210) are inserted, and is installed at a longitudinal end of the tube (210). The header (110) is made of a clad plate, so that the tubes (210) can be inserted into the slots (110H) of the header (110) and fixed by welding. The header (110) may be configured such that a central portion (110C) is flat, a slot (110H) is formed in the central portion (110C), and both widthwise sides of the central portion (110C) are bent upward to form header wings (110W).

[0066] As described above, the heat exchanger (10) of the present invention has a multi-row structure, and the tube (210) includes a first-row tube (210-1) and a second-row tube (210-2), and accordingly, the slot (110H) of the header (110) may also include a first-row slot (110H-1) into which the first-row tube (210-1) is inserted, and a second-row slot (110H-2) into which the second-row tube (210-2) is inserted.

[0067] The tank (120) is a structure having a hollow interior and a flow path (120C) formed therein through which fluid flows, and is installed on the upper portion of the tank (120). The tank (120) is made of an integral extruded material, and the lower portion of the tank (120) can be welded and fixed to a header wing (110W). The flow path (120C) of the tank can include a first-row flow path (120C-1) fluidly connected to a first-row tube (210-1), and a second-row flow path (120C-2) fluidly connected to a second-row tube (210-2).

[0068] At this time, the present invention proposes a method of increasing manufacturing cost and rigidity by configuring the tank (120) with an extruded material that has not been mechanically processed (e.g., cutting or punching), and for this purpose, proposes a structure of the tank (120) that does not require mechanical processing.

[0069] Specifically, referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, the tank (120) of the present invention may be configured to have a structure in which the lower portion is long and open along the longitudinal direction. The open lower portion of the tank (120) is a passage through which fluid enters and exits the tank's flow path (120C), and may be configured to have a structure in which the lower portion of the flow path (120C) is open along the open lower portion of the tank (120) so as to be in communication with the tank's flow path (120C). More specifically, when the open lower portion of the tank (120) is referred to as a fluid communication passage (120S), the fluid communication passage (120S) may be configured to extend from one end of the tank (120) in the longitudinal direction to the other end, as illustrated. That is, the fluid communication passage (120S) may be configured in the form of a single, connected hole.

[0070] The structure of this tank (120) can be manufactured by extrusion molding alone without separate machining, and based on this, the tank (120) of the present invention can be composed of an extruded material that has not been machined. In this way, the present invention configures the lower part of the tank (120) as a long, open structure, thereby configuring the tank (120) in a shape that does not require separate machining, thereby resolving the problems of difficulty in processing, increased costs, and weakened durability of the tank material when manufacturing a conventional tank member by configuring it as an extruded material and then cutting it.

[0071] In addition, the present invention can replace the portion of the tube insertion hole formed in a conventional tank member, i.e., the portion where the tube is inserted and fixed in the header tank, and the portion where the tank and fluid are in communication with each other, by separating and configuring them with separate plates. Since such plates are composed of clad plates and are easier to process and less expensive than tanks made of extruded materials, the configuration of the header tank can be simplified and manufacturing costs can be reduced.

[0072] Referring again to FIGS. 3 to 6, the header tank of the present invention further includes a tube plate (130) and a flue plate (140).

[0073] The tube plate (130) is a plate-shaped structure formed on the upper part of the header (110) and interposed between the header (110) and the tank (120), and has a plurality of tube holes (130H) formed therein into which the ends of tubes (210) passing through the slots (110H) of the header (110) are inserted. The tube plate (130) is made of a clad plate, so that the ends of the tubes (210) can be inserted into the tube holes (130H) of the tube plate (130) and fixed by welding.

[0074] The tube plate (130) is configured as a long plate overall, and a plurality of tube holes (130H) of the tube plate (130) are formed along the fluid communication path (120S), and can be spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction. The tube holes (130H) can include a first-row tube hole (130H-1) connected to the first-row tube (210-1) and a second-row tube hole (130H-2) connected to the second-row tube (210-2), and the first-row tube hole (130H-1) and the second-row tube hole (130H-2) can each be configured with a plurality of tube holes (130H). The tube holes (130H) of the tube plate (130) can be formed by pressing holes into a clad plate constituting the tube plate (130). That is, the tube plate (130) is composed of a single clad plate, and can be manufactured by punching a tube hole (130H) into the clad plate.

[0075] The flue plate (140) is a plate-shaped structure formed on the upper portion of the tube plate (130) and interposed between the tube plate (130) and the tank (120), and has a plurality of flue holes (140H) that connect the tank's flow path (120C) and the tube holes (130H) of the tube plate (130). The flue plate (140) is made of a clad plate and can be welded and fixed to the tank (120) and the header wing (110W), respectively.

[0076] The communication plate (140) is configured as a long plate overall, and depending on the embodiment, a bead (141) may be formed or a separate bead may not be formed and may be configured as a flat overall shape, and the communication hole (140H) may include a first-row communication hole (140H-1) communicating with the first-row tube (210-1) to the first-row tube hole (130H-1) and a second-row communication hole (140H-2) communicating with the second-row tube (210-2) to the second-row tube hole (130H-2). The communication hole (140H) of the communication plate (140) may be formed by pressing a hole in a clad plate constituting the communication plate (140), and the bead (141) of the communication plate (140) may be formed by bending the corresponding clad plate. That is, the flue plate (140) is composed of a single clad plate, and can be manufactured by punching a flue hole (140H) into the clad plate, and simultaneously or separately bending the clad plate to form a bead (141).

[0077] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing a portion of a header tank in the longitudinal direction according to an example of the present invention, FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 9, FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing a portion of a header tank in the longitudinal direction according to another example of the present invention, and FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 11, and as illustrated, the header tank (100) of the present invention is configured to have a structure in which a header (110) is arranged at the lowest portion, and a tube plate (130), a flue plate (140), and a tank (120) are sequentially stacked thereon, and the tube plate (130), the flue plate (140), and the lower end of the tank (120) are accommodated inside header wings (110W) formed by bending both widthwise sides of the header (110) upward.

[0078] In this way, the present invention improves the problem of difficulty and high cost in processing a communication hole that is connected to the space on the tube side of an extruded tank member that is closed to the outside in a conventional heat exchanger, by manufacturing a tank (120) in a form that is long and open at the bottom without requiring other processing such as a communication hole, as it is in an extruded state, and by manufacturing a tube plate (130) and a communication plate (140) with a plate that is easy to produce and easy to form, and configuring them so that they can be directly assembled between the tank (120) and the header (110), thereby having the advantage of greatly improving productivity.

[0079] As described above, the heat exchanger (10) of the present invention is a multi-row heat exchanger (10), wherein the slot (110H) of the header (110) includes a first row slot (110H-1) and a second row slot (110H-2) that are spaced apart from each other in the width direction, the flow path (120C) of the tank includes a first row flow path (120C-1) and a second row flow path (120C-2) that are spaced apart from each other in the width direction, the fluid communication path (120S) of the tank includes a first row fluid communication path (120S-1) and a second row fluid communication path (120S-2) that are spaced apart from each other in the width direction, the tube hole (130H) of the tube plate (130) includes a first row tube hole (130H-1) and a second row tube hole (130H-2) that are spaced apart from each other in the width direction, and the communication plate (140) The communication hole (140H) includes a first-row communication hole (140H-1) and a second-row communication hole (140H-2) that are spaced apart from each other in the width direction, and the first-row flow path (120C-1), the first-row fluid communication path (120S-1), the first-row communication hole (140H-1), the first-row tube hole (130H-1), and the first-row slot (110H-1) are arranged vertically parallel to each other and communicate with each other, and the second-row flow path (120C-2), the second-row fluid communication path (120S-2), the second-row communication hole (140H-2), the second-row tube hole (130H-2), and the second-row slot (110H-2) are arranged vertically parallel to each other and communicate with each other.

[0080] Below, the structure and shape of the communication plate (140) and the tube plate (130) will be examined by example.

[0081] The header tank (100) of Figs. 9 and 10 may be configured in a structure in which the first and second rows are independent, such that the first row tube hole (130H-1) and the second row tube hole (130H-2) are independent from each other, and the first row communication hole (140H-1) and the second row communication hole (140H-2) are independent from each other. This example may be applied to the upper header tank (100U).

[0082] The header tank (100) of FIGS. 10 and 11 has a structure in which the first and second rows are connected or connected, and the first row tube hole (130H-1) and the second row tube hole (130H-2) are connected to each other in the width direction to form a single, long tube hole (130H) in the width direction. Simultaneously or separately, the first row communication hole (140H-1) and the second row communication hole (140H-2) can be connected in the width direction to form a single, long communication hole (140H) in the width direction. In contrast, the first row tube hole (130H-1) and the second row tube hole (130H-2) may be connected to each other, and the first row communication hole (140H-1) and the second row communication hole (140H-2) may be configured as independent structures, or the first row tube hole (130H-1) and the second row tube hole (130H-2) may be independent from each other, and the first row communication hole (140H-1) and the second row communication hole (140H-2) may be configured as connected structures. This example can be applied to the lower header tank (100D).

[0083] Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a header tank configured with a first example of a flue plate, and Fig. 14 is a drawing showing the flue plate of Fig. 13. As shown, the flue plate (140) of the present example can be configured to be flat overall, and a plurality of flue holes (140H) of the flue plate (140) can be formed along a fluid communication path (120S) and spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction. As described below, the flue plate (140) can be configured separately into a first-row flue plate (140-1) and a second-row flue plate (140-2), and can be configured with a structure in which a first-row flue hole (140H-1) is formed in the first-row flue plate (140-1) and a second-row flue hole (140H-2) is formed in the second-row flue plate (140-2). This example has the advantage of being easy to manufacture because the structure of the chimney plate (140) is simple.

[0084] Fig. 15 is a drawing showing various modified embodiments of the header tank of Fig. 13. The header tank (100) shown on the far left may be configured with a structure in which the width of the flue plate (140) is formed to be equal to or greater than the width of the tank (120), and the tank (120) is stacked on top of the flue plate (140). In addition, the header tank (100) shown in the middle and the header tank (100) shown on the far right may be configured with a structure in which the width of the flue plate (140) is formed to be smaller than the width of the tank (120), and at this time, an insertion groove (not shown) into which the flue plate (140) is inserted is formed at the bottom of the tank (120), and the flue plate (140) is inserted into and fixed in the insertion groove.

[0085] The flue plate (140) may be composed of a first-row flue plate (140-1) and a second-row flue plate (140-2). In this case, the first-row flue plate (140-1) and the second-row flue plate (140-2) may be connected to each other and configured as a single plate, such as in the leftmost header tank (100) or the middle header tank (100), or the first-row flue plate (140-1) and the second-row flue plate (140-2) may be independent of each other and configured as separate plates, such as in the rightmost header tank (100). That is, the communication plate (140) may be configured with a structure in which a first row communication hole (140H-1) and a second row communication hole (140H-2) are formed in one plate, or may be configured with a structure in which a first row communication hole (140H-1) is formed in a first plate and a second row communication hole (140H-2) is formed in a second plate independent of the first plate.

[0086] Fig. 16 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a header tank formed with a second example of a flue plate, and Fig. 17 is a side view of the flue plate of Fig. 16. As shown, the flue plate (140) of the present example is provided with a bead (141) protruding upward, and the bead (141) can be configured to be inserted into a fluid communication path (120S) of the tank. This example has the advantage of being able to improve the durability of the header tank (100) by enabling additional fixing using the bead (141).

[0087] Fig. 18 is a drawing showing various modified embodiments of the header tank of Fig. 16, showing the structure of the communication plate (140) and the connection relationship with the tank (120). Since this is the same as the purpose described in Fig. 15, a detailed description will be omitted.

[0088] Fig. 19 is a drawing showing a header tank to which another example bead is applied, and Fig. 20 is a drawing showing a flue plate of Fig. 19. As shown, the bead (141) of this example may be configured to extend upwardly so that its upper end is coupled to the inner upper surface of the tank (120). At the same time, an insertion groove (not shown) into which the upper end of the bead (141) is inserted may be formed on the inner upper surface of the tank (120), and the upper end of the bead (141) may be inserted into and fixed in the insertion groove. This example has the advantage of further improving the durability of the header tank (100) by increasing the fixing portion of the bead (141) and the tank (120).

[0089] Fig. 21 is a drawing showing a header tank to which another example bead is applied, and Fig. 22 is a drawing showing a communication plate of Fig. 21. As illustrated, two beads (141) of the present example may be provided in the width direction of the fluid communication path (120S). That is, a single or multiple beads (141) may be provided in the width direction in one fluid communication path (120S), and specifically, one or multiple first-row beads (141-1) may be inserted and installed in the width direction in a first-row fluid communication path (120S-1), and one or multiple second-row beads (142-2) may be inserted and installed in the width direction in a second-row fluid communication path (120S-2).

[0090] With this configuration, when the size of the tank (120) or the fluid communication channel (120S) increases, high durability can be maintained even when the tank (120) is configured to be large by installing a plurality of beads (141). When a plurality of beads (141) are installed, a plurality of insertion grooves into which the beads (141) are inserted can be formed correspondingly on the inside of the tank (120).

[0091] And, as shown in FIGS. 17, 20, and 22, the bead (141) can be formed by bending a single plate constituting the flue plate (140) into a U shape. That is, as described above, the flue plate (140) is manufactured from a single plate, but by appropriately bending the plate into a U shape and overlapping the plates, the plates can be overlapped to form a bead (141) protruding upward. These beads (141) may be provided in a plurality in a form extended in the longitudinal direction to a predetermined extent, and may be arranged in at least some or all of the spaces between two longitudinally adjacent communication holes (140H) as in FIG. 16, or may be configured in a form in which the beads (141) are arranged on the same line as each communication hole (140H), a hole (141H) is formed in the center of the bead (141), and the hole (141H) is connected to each of the communication holes (140H) as in FIG. 19 or 21.

[0092] Below, the structure and bonding relationship of the end cap (150) will be examined.

[0093] Fig. 23 is an enlarged view of the end cap portion of the heat exchanger, and Fig. 24 is a view showing the end cap separated from Fig. 23. As shown, the end cap (150) is installed at one longitudinal end of the tank (120) and is configured to close one longitudinal end of the tank.

[0094] More specifically, the end cap (150) may include a plate-shaped end cap body (151) that closes one longitudinal end of the tank's flow path (120C), a stopper (152) that protrudes widthwise from the end cap body (151), and a flange portion (153) that extends from the end cap body (151) toward the tank (120) and surrounds the tank (120). The end cap body (151) may be configured in a type of baffle shape, and the flange portion (153) may be formed on an upper portion of the end cap body (151) and configured to surround a periphery of one end of the tank (121).

[0095] In addition, the header (110) is formed to be longer than the tank (120), so that one longitudinal end of the header (110) protrudes beyond one end of the tank (120), and a mounting groove (152G) in which a stopper (152) is mounted is formed in the header wing (110W) portion of the protruding portion of the header (110), and a through groove (151G) through which an end cap body (151) passes is formed in the central portion, which is the central portion (110C) of the header (110), so that the end cap body (151) passes through the through groove (151G) of the header (110), and the stopper (152) is mounted in the mounting groove (152G) of the header (110).

[0096] In addition, the end cap body (151) may be formed to be equal to or larger than one end of the header tank (100), so as to cover one end of the longitudinal direction of each of the tank (120), the flue plate (140), the tube plate (130), and the header (110). That is, the end cap (150) may be welded to one end of the header tank (100), so as to close one end of the flow path (120C) of the tank, and at the same time, block the leak point (L) of the bead (141) formed by bending the plate.

[0097] Fig. 25 is an enlarged view of the inlet pipe and outlet pipe portions of the heat exchanger, and Fig. 26 is a view showing the inlet pipe and outlet pipe in Fig. 25 separately. As shown, the inlet pipe (161) and the outlet pipe (162) can each be fixedly connected to one end cap (150), and correspondingly, an inlet (161G) to which the inlet pipe (161) is connected and an outlet (162G) to which the outlet pipe (162) is connected can be formed through the end cap body (151). The inlet pipe (161) and the outlet pipe (162) can be connected to the end cap body (151) by welding.

[0098] As described above, the present invention has a tank structure that can be used in an extruded state without mechanical processing, and a portion where fluid is communicated between the tank and the tube is formed of a separate plate, thereby facilitating manufacturing and reducing manufacturing costs. Furthermore, by implementing various modifications of the configurations, the manufacturability and durability of the header tank can be improved.

[0099] While the embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the attached drawings, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention can be implemented in other specific forms without altering the technical concept or essential features thereof. Therefore, the embodiments described above should be understood to be illustrative in all respects and not restrictive.

[0100] [Explanation of symbols]

[0101] 10: Heat exchanger

[0102] 100: Header Tank

[0103] 110: Header

[0104] 120(121): Tank

[0105] 120S: Fluid communication channel

[0106] 120S-1: First row fluid communication path, 120S-2: Second row fluid communication path

[0107] 120C: Euro

[0108] 120C-1: 1st row Euro, 120C-2: 2nd row Euro

[0109] 130: Tube plate

[0110] 130H: Tube hole

[0111] 130H-1: 1st row tube hole, 130H-2: 2nd row tube hole

[0112] 140: Chimney plate

[0113] 140H: Chimney hole

[0114] 140H-1: 1st row flue hole, 140H-2: 2nd row flue hole

[0115] 141: Bead

[0116] 150: End cap

[0117] 151: End cap body

[0118] 152: Stopper

[0119] 153: Flange section

[0120] 161: Inlet pipe

[0121] 162: Outlet pipe

[0122] 200: Core

[0123] 210: Tube

Claims

1. As a header tank of a heat exchanger, A header having a plurality of slots formed into which tubes are inserted; and It includes a tank installed on the upper part of the above header and having a flow path formed therein through which fluid flows; The above tank is configured with a structure in which the lower part is long and open along the length. Header tank.

2. In paragraph 1, If the open bottom of the above tank is called a fluid communication channel, The above fluid communication path is configured to extend from one end of the tank to the other end in the longitudinal direction. Header tank.

3. In paragraph 2, A tube plate interposed between the header and the tank, having a plurality of tube holes formed therein into which the ends of tubes passing through the slots of the header are inserted; and It further includes a communication plate interposed between the tube plate and the tank, and having a plurality of communication holes formed to connect the flow path of the tank and the tube holes of the tube plate; The fluid path of the tank and the communication hole of the communication plate are configured to be connected to each other through the fluid communication path. Header tank.

4. In paragraph 3, The width of the above flue plate is formed to be equal to or larger than the width of the tank, The tank is configured in a structure in which the tank is stacked on top of the above-mentioned chimney plate. Header tank.

5. In paragraph 3, An insertion groove into which the chimney plate is inserted is formed at the bottom of the tank, It is composed of a structure in which the above-mentioned chimney plate is inserted and fixed into an insertion groove formed at the bottom of the above-mentioned tank. Header tank.

6. In paragraph 3, The above-mentioned chimney plate is configured to be flat overall, A plurality of communication holes of the above communication plate are formed along the fluid communication path and are spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction. Header tank.

7. In paragraph 3, The above chimney plate is provided with a bead protruding upward, The above bead is configured to be inserted into the fluid communication channel, Header tank.

8. In paragraph 7, The above bead extends upwards so that its upper end is joined to the inner upper surface of the tank. Header tank.

9. In paragraph 8, An insertion groove is formed on the inner upper surface of the above tank, The upper end of the bead is inserted into and fixed in an insertion groove formed on the inner upper surface of the tank. Header tank.

10. In paragraph 7, The above beads are provided singly or in plurality in the width direction of the fluid communication channel. Header tank.

11. In paragraph 7, The above bead is formed by bending one plate constituting the above-mentioned chimney plate into a U shape. Header tank.

12. In paragraph 3, The slots of the above header include a first row slot and a second row slot that are spaced apart from each other in the width direction, The above tank's Euro includes a first row Euro and a second row Euro that are spaced apart from each other in the width direction, The fluid communication path of the above tank includes a first row fluid communication path and a second row fluid communication path spaced apart from each other in the width direction, The tube holes of the above tube plate include first row tube holes and second row tube holes spaced apart from each other in the width direction, The communication holes of the above communication plate include a first row of communication holes and a second row of communication holes spaced apart from each other in the width direction, The first row of the above-mentioned Euro, the first row of the above-mentioned fluid communication path, the first row of the above-mentioned communication hole, the first row of the above-mentioned tube hole, and the first row of the above-mentioned slot are arranged in parallel in the vertical direction and are connected to each other. The second row of the above-mentioned Euro, the second row of the above-mentioned fluid communication path, the second row of the above-mentioned communication hole, the second row of the above-mentioned tube hole, and the second row of the above-mentioned slot are arranged in parallel in the vertical direction and are connected to each other. Header tank.

13. In paragraph 12, The above tube plate is configured with a structure in which the first row of tube holes and the second row of tube holes are formed on one plate, The above-mentioned chimney plate is configured with a structure in which the first row chimney hole and the second row chimney hole are formed in one plate, or a structure in which the first row chimney hole is formed in the first plate and the second row chimney hole is formed in the second plate independent of the first plate. Header tank.

14. In paragraph 12, The first row communication hole and the second row communication hole are configured independently of each other, The first row tube holes and the second row tube holes are configured independently of each other. Header tank.

15. In paragraph 12, The first row communication hole and the second row communication hole are connected to each other, and the first row tube hole and the second row tube hole are configured to be independent of each other or connected to each other. Alternatively, the first row tube hole and the second row tube hole are connected to each other, and the first row communication hole and the second row communication hole are configured to be independent of each other or connected to each other. Header tank.

16. In paragraph 3, The above header is configured with a structure in which both sides in the width direction are bent upward to form header wings. The tube plate, the flue plate, and the lower part of the tank are accommodated on the inner side of the header wing. Header tank.

17. In paragraph 16, Further comprising an end cap installed at one longitudinal end of the above tank, The end cap includes a plate-shaped end cap body that closes one longitudinal end of the tank's flow path, a stopper that protrudes in the width direction from the end cap body, and a flange portion that extends from the end cap body toward the tank and surrounds the tank. Header tank.

18. In paragraph 17, The header is formed to be longer than the tank, and one longitudinal end of the header is formed to protrude beyond one end of the tank. Among the protruding portions of the header, a mounting groove is formed in the header wing portion for mounting the stopper, and a through groove is formed in the central portion for mounting the end cap body. The end cap body penetrates the through groove of the header, and the stopper is seated in the seating groove of the header. The above end cap body is formed to cover one end of the longitudinal direction of each of the tank, the flue plate, the tube plate, and the header. Header tank.

19. In paragraph 3, The above tank is an unmachined extruded material, The above tube plate and the flue plate are each composed of a single plate. Header tank.

20. In paragraph 1, The fluid flowing inside the above tank is a high-pressure refrigerant. Header tank.

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