Pipe connection structure

Abstract

A pipe connection structure (100, 300, 400) comprises one or more pipes (30). Each of the one or more pipes has a first pipe part (31), a second pipe part (32), and a cover member (33). The ionization tendency of the material that constitutes the first pipe part is greater than the ionization tendency of the material that constitutes the second pipe part. The first pipe part: has a first end (31a) and a second end (31b) that is the opposite end from the first end; and is arranged such that the position of the second end is higher than the position of the first end in the vertical direction. The second pipe part: has a third end (32a) and a fourth end (32b) that is the opposite end from the third end; and is arranged such that the position of the fourth end is higher than the position of the third end in the vertical direction. The second end and the third end are connected to each other. The first pipe part has a trap part (34). The trap part has a fifth end (34a) and a sixth end (34b) that is the opposite end from the fifth end. The second end forms the sixth end.

Description

Piping connection structure

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a pipe connection structure.

[0002] Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2012-643 (Patent Document 1) describes a pipe connection structure. The pipe connection structure described in Patent Document 1 has a pipe including an aluminum pipe and a copper pipe. The aluminum pipe has a first end. The copper pipe has a second end. The copper pipe is reduced in diameter at the second end. The second end is inserted into the first end. As a result, the pipe connection structure described in Patent Document 1 suppresses corrosion at the connection between the aluminum pipe and the copper pipe.

[0003] JP 2012-643 A

[0004] However, the pipe connection structure described in Patent Document 1 does not take into consideration the routing of the pipes to prevent corrosion. The present disclosure has been made in view of the problems of the prior art. More specifically, the present disclosure provides a pipe connection structure having pipes routed in a way that prevents corrosion.

[0005] The piping connection structure of the present disclosure includes one or more pipes. Each of the one or more pipes has a first piping section, a second piping section, and a covering member. The ionization tendency of the constituent material of the first piping section is greater than the ionization tendency of the constituent material of the second piping section. The first piping section has a first end and a second end opposite the first end, and is arranged so that the second end is higher in the vertical direction than the first end. The second piping section has a third end and a fourth end opposite the third end, and is arranged so that the fourth end is higher in the vertical direction than the third end. The second end and the third end are connected to each other. The first piping section has a trap section. The trap section has a fifth end and a sixth end opposite the fifth end. The second end forms the sixth end. The position of the trap section in the vertical direction increases from the lowest point between the fifth end and the sixth end toward the fifth end, and also increases from the lowest point toward the sixth end. The covering member has a seventh end and an eighth end opposite the seventh end. The seventh end is closer to the first end than the lowest point. The eighth end is closer to the fourth end than the second end. The covering member covers the first piping section and the second piping section between the seventh end and the eighth end.

[0006] According to the pipe connection structure of the present disclosure, it is possible to realize pipe routing that can suppress corrosion.

[0007] 1 is a perspective view of a heat exchanger 100; FIG. 2 is a front view of the heat exchanger 100; FIG. 3 is a front view of a pipe 30 with the covering member 33 omitted; FIG. 4 is a front view of a pipe 30 used in a heat exchanger 200; FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a heat exchanger 300; FIG. 6 is a front view of a heat exchanger 300; FIG. 7 is a side view of a heat exchanger 300; FIG. 8 is a front view of a pipe 30 used in a heat exchanger 400; FIG. 9 is a front view of a pipe 30 used in a heat exchanger 400 according to a modified example;

[0008] The details of the embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following drawings, the same or corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions will not be repeated.

[0009] Embodiment 1 A heat exchanger according to embodiment 1 will be described. The heat exchanger according to embodiment 1 is designated as heat exchanger 100.

[0010] (Configuration of Heat Exchanger 100) The configuration of the heat exchanger 100 will be described below.

[0011] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a heat exchanger 100. Fig. 2 is a front view of the heat exchanger 100. Fig. 3 is a front view of the piping 30, with the covering member 33 not shown. As shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the heat exchanger 100 has a distributor 10, a plurality of heat transfer tubes 20, and two pipings 30. The heat exchanger 100 is, for example, a heat exchanger for an air conditioner.

[0012] The distributor 10 has an inlet 10a and an outlet 10b. The longitudinal direction of the distributor 10 is aligned horizontally. The plurality of heat transfer tubes 20 are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the distributor 10 and connected to the distributor 10. The heat transfer tubes 20 extend linearly. The heat transfer tubes 20 are arranged, for example, so that their extension direction is aligned vertically. Air from a blower (not shown) flows around the plurality of heat transfer tubes 20. The blowing direction of this air intersects both the vertical direction and the longitudinal direction of the distributor 10. That is, the air from the blower flows from the back side of the paper in FIG. 2 to the front side of the paper. Although not shown, fins are arranged between two adjacent heat transfer tubes 20.

[0013] Each of the two pipes 30 is connected to an inlet 10a and an outlet 10b. Refrigerant gas flowing through one of the two pipes 30 is supplied from the inlet 10a to the distributor 10. The refrigerant gas supplied to the distributor 10 is distributed to each of the heat transfer tubes 20. As the refrigerant gas flows through the heat transfer tubes 20, it exchanges heat with the air flowing around the heat transfer tubes 20. The refrigerant gas that has flowed through the heat transfer tubes 20 passes through the distributor 10 and returns from the outlet 10b to the other of the two pipes 30. This is how the heat exchanger 100 operates.

[0014] The two pipes 30 are located downstream in the direction of air blown from the blower. Each of the two pipes 30 includes a first pipe section 31, a second pipe section 32, and a covering member 33.

[0015] The first piping section 31 has a first end 31a and a second end 31b. The second end 31b is the end opposite to the first end 31a. The first end 31a is connected to the distributor 10. More specifically, the first end 31a is connected to the inlet 10a or the outlet 10b. The first piping section 31 is arranged so that the position of the second end 31b in the vertical direction is higher than the position of the first end 31a in the vertical direction. The shape of the first piping section 31 between the first end 31a and the second end 31b is not particularly limited.

[0016] The second piping section 32 has a third end 32a and a fourth end 32b. The fourth end 32b is the end opposite the third end 32a. The third end 32a is connected to the first piping section 31. More specifically, the third end 32a is connected to the second end 31b. The first piping section 31 and the second piping section 32 are connected, for example, by inserting the reduced-diameter end of the second piping section 32 located on the third end 32a side into the end of the first piping section 31 located on the second end 31b. The second piping section 32 is positioned so that the fourth end 32b is higher in the vertical direction than the third end 32a in the vertical direction. The shape of the second piping section 32 between the third end 32a and the fourth end 32b is not particularly limited.

[0017] The ionization tendency of the constituent material of the first piping section 31 is greater than the ionization tendency of the constituent material of the second piping section 32. From another perspective, when water containing ions of the constituent material of the second piping section 32 comes into contact with the first piping section 31, the constituent material of the first piping section 31 will dissolve in the water. The main component of the constituent material of the first piping section 31 is aluminum, for example. The constituent material of the second piping section 32 is copper, for example. When a certain component is contained in a certain component material at 50 mass percent or more, the component becomes the main component of the component material. However, the constituent materials of the first piping section 31 and the second piping section 32 are not limited to these.

[0018] The first piping section 31 has a trap section 34. The trap section 34 has a fifth end 34a and a sixth end 34b. The sixth end 34b is the end opposite the fifth end 34a. The second end 31b forms the sixth end 34b. That is, the trap section 34 is located on the second end 31b side of the first piping section 31.

[0019] The trap portion 34 is positioned vertically at its lowest point 34c between the fifth end 34a and the sixth end 34b. That is, the position of the trap portion 34 in the vertical direction increases from the lowest point 34c toward the fifth end 34a, and increases from the lowest point 34c toward the sixth end 34b.

[0020] The covering member 33 has a seventh end 33a and an eighth end 33b. The eighth end 33b is the end opposite the seventh end 33a. The seventh end 33a is closer to the first end 31a than the lowest point 34c. The eighth end 33b is closer to the fourth end 32b than the second end 31b. The covering member 33 covers the outer surfaces of the first piping section 31 and the second piping section 32 between the seventh end 33a and the eighth end 33b. Therefore, the portion of the first piping section 31 (trap section 34) at the lowest point 34c, the connection between the first piping section 31 and the second piping section 32, and the portion of the piping 30 between them are covered by the covering member 33.

[0021] The covering member 33 is, for example, a heat-shrinkable tube. A heat-shrinkable tube is a tubular member whose diameter is reduced by heating. When the covering member 33 is a heat-shrinkable tube, the first piping portion 31 and the second piping portion 32 are passed through the heat-shrinkable tube, and heating is performed, so that the covering member 33 adheres closely to the outer peripheral surfaces of the first piping portion 31 and the second piping portion 32. However, the covering member 33 is not limited to a heat-shrinkable tube.

[0022] One of the pipes 30 is referred to as the first pipe 30A, and the other of the pipes 30 is referred to as the second pipe 30B. In the vertical direction, the lowest point 34c of the second pipe 30B is preferably higher than the lowest point 34c of the first pipe 30A. In addition, in the vertical direction, the seventh end 33a of the first pipe 30A is preferably higher than the lowest point 34c of the second pipe 30B.

[0023] (Effects of Heat Exchanger 100) The effects of the heat exchanger 100 will be described below.

[0024] Moisture in the air may condense on the outer peripheral surface of the second piping section 32. Water that comes into contact with the second piping section 32 contains ions of the constituent materials of the second piping section 32. The water that comes into contact with the second piping section 32 flows to the lowest point 34c due to gravity. Because the portion of the piping 30 at the lowest point 34c is made up of the first piping section 31, the water containing ions of the constituent materials of the second piping section 32 will corrode the first piping section 31.

[0025] However, in the heat exchanger 100, the piping 30 has the covering member 33, and the seventh end 33a reaches closer to the first end 31a than the lowest point 34c, and the eighth end 33b reaches closer to the fourth end 32b than the second end 31b, so that water that has come into contact with the second piping section 32 is prevented from coming into contact with the first piping section 31. In this way, in the heat exchanger 100, a layout of the piping 30 that can prevent corrosion of the first piping section 31 is achieved.

[0026] When water reaches the lowest point 34c of the second pipe 30B and falls from the second pipe 30B, it may adhere to the first pipe 30A. However, if the seventh end 33a of the first pipe 30A is vertically higher than the lowest point 34c of the second pipe 30B, the water that falls from the lowest point 34c of the second pipe 30B is less likely to adhere to the part of the first pipe section 31 of the first pipe 30A that is not covered with the covering member 33. Therefore, in this case, corrosion of the first pipe section 31 can be further suppressed.

[0027] Embodiment 2 A heat exchanger according to embodiment 2 will be described. The heat exchanger according to embodiment 2 is referred to as heat exchanger 200. Here, differences from heat exchanger 100 will be mainly described, and overlapping descriptions will not be repeated.

[0028] (Configuration of Heat Exchanger 200) The configuration of the heat exchanger 200 will be described below.

[0029] The heat exchanger 200 includes a distributor 10, a plurality of heat transfer tubes 20, and two pipes 30. In this respect, the configuration of the heat exchanger 200 is common to the configuration of the heat exchanger 100.

[0030] 4 is a front view of the piping 30 used in the heat exchanger 200. As shown in FIG. 4, the piping 30 in the heat exchanger 200 does not have a covering member 33. In the heat exchanger 200, the second piping section 32, not the first piping section 31, has the trap section 34. Therefore, in the heat exchanger 200, the third end 32a forms the fifth end 34a, and the trap section 34 is located on the third end 32a side of the second piping section 32. In these respects, the configuration of the heat exchanger 200 differs from the configuration of the heat exchanger 100.

[0031] Although the example in which the pipes 30 of the heat exchanger 200 do not have the covering member 33 has been described above, the pipes 30 of the heat exchanger 200 may have the covering member 33 .

[0032] (Effects of Heat Exchanger 200) The effects of the heat exchanger 200 will be described below.

[0033] In the heat exchanger 200, water that comes into contact with the second piping section 32 also flows to the lowest point 34c due to gravity. In the heat exchanger 200, the portion of the piping 30 at the lowest point 34c is made up of the second piping section 32. Furthermore, the water that has flowed to the lowest point 34c does not flow against gravity to a position higher than the lowest point 34c and does not come into contact with the first piping section 31. Therefore, with the heat exchanger 200, even if the piping 30 does not have a covering member 33, it is possible to achieve a layout of the piping 30 that can suppress corrosion of the first piping section 31.

[0034] Embodiment 3 A heat exchanger according to embodiment 3 will be described. The heat exchanger according to embodiment 3 is referred to as heat exchanger 300. Here, differences from heat exchanger 100 will be mainly described, and overlapping descriptions will not be repeated.

[0035] (Configuration of Heat Exchanger 300) The configuration of the heat exchanger 300 will be described below.

[0036] Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the heat exchanger 300. Fig. 6 is a front view of the heat exchanger 300. Fig. 7 is a side view of the heat exchanger 300. As shown in Figs. 5 to 7, the heat exchanger 300 has a distributor 10, a plurality of heat transfer tubes 20, and two pipes 30. In this respect, the configuration of the heat exchanger 300 is common to the configuration of the heat exchanger 100.

[0037] In the heat exchanger 300, when viewed vertically, the lowest point 34c is located at the position in the piping 30 farthest from the distributor 10. That is, in the heat exchanger 300, the trap section 34 is inclined toward the downstream side in the air blowing direction from the blower (see the direction of the arrow in FIG. 7), and the lowest point 34c is located at the position that protrudes most downstream in the air blowing direction from the blower. In this respect, the configuration of the heat exchanger 300 differs from the configuration of the heat exchanger 100.

[0038] In the above, an example has been described in which the piping 30 of the heat exchanger 300 has the same configuration as the piping 30 of the heat exchanger 100 (i.e., the piping 30 has a covering member 33, and the first piping section 31 has a trap section 34), but the piping 30 of the heat exchanger 300 may also have the same configuration as the piping 30 of the heat exchanger 200 (i.e., the piping 30 does not have to have a covering member 33, and the second piping section 32 has a trap section 34).

[0039] (Effects of Heat Exchanger 300) The effects of the heat exchanger 300 will be described below.

[0040] As described above, water that reaches the lowest point 34c may fall. When this happens, the water falls while moving downstream in the direction of airflow from the blower due to the airflow from the blower. In the heat exchanger 300, the lowest point 34c is located at the position of the piping 30 farthest from the distributor 10 (i.e., the lowest point 34c is located at the position that protrudes most in the direction of airflow from the blower). Therefore, water that falls from the lowest point 34c is unlikely to re-adhere to the portion of the first piping section 31 that is not covered with the covering member 33. In this way, the heat exchanger 300 can further suppress corrosion of the first piping section 31.

[0041] Embodiment 4 A heat exchanger according to embodiment 4 will be described. The heat exchanger according to embodiment 4 is referred to as heat exchanger 400. Here, differences from heat exchanger 100 will be mainly described, and overlapping descriptions will not be repeated.

[0042] (Configuration of Heat Exchanger 400) The configuration of the heat exchanger 400 will be described below.

[0043] The heat exchanger 400 includes a distributor 10, a plurality of heat transfer tubes 20, and two pipes 30. In this respect, the configuration of the heat exchanger 200 is common to the configuration of the heat exchanger 100.

[0044] Figure 8 is a front view of the piping 30 used in the heat exchanger 400. As shown in Figure 8, in the heat exchanger 400, the trap section 34 has a curved section 34d, a first straight section 34e, and a second straight section 34f. The trap section 34 is bent at the curved section 34d. The first straight section 34e extends linearly from one end of the curved section 34d toward the fifth end 34a. The second straight section 34f extends linearly from the other end of the curved section 34d toward the sixth end 34b. The second straight section 34f extends vertically upward from the other end of the curved section 34d, for example.

[0045] The smaller of the angles formed by the extending direction of the first straight portion 34e and the extending direction of the second straight portion 34f is defined as angle θ. The angle θ is less than 90° (an acute angle). That is, while the trap portion 34 in the heat exchanger 100 has a U-shape, the trap portion 34 in the heat exchanger 400 has, for example, an L-shape. In these respects, the configuration of the heat exchanger 400 differs from the configuration of the heat exchanger 100.

[0046] Fig. 9 is a front view of the piping 30 used in a heat exchanger 400 according to a modified example. As shown in Fig. 9, the second straight portion 34f may extend in a direction inclined with respect to the vertical direction. In this case, even if the angle θ is a right angle (90°), the trap portion 34 can have a lowest point 34c and be L-shaped.

[0047] In the above, an example has been described in which the piping 30 of the heat exchanger 400 has the same configuration as the piping 30 of the heat exchanger 100 (i.e., the piping 30 has a covering member 33, and the first piping section 31 has a trap section 34), but the piping 30 of the heat exchanger 400 may also have the same configuration as the piping 30 of the heat exchanger 200 (i.e., the piping 30 does not have to have a covering member 33, and the second piping section 32 has a trap section 34).

[0048] (Effects of Heat Exchanger 400) The effects of the heat exchanger 400 will be described below.

[0049] In the heat exchanger 400, the trap section 34 can be formed in an L-shape, which allows the first piping section 31 (second piping section 32) constituting the trap section 34 to be shortened. Therefore, with the heat exchanger 400, the piping length can be shortened, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost of the piping 30.

[0050] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered to be illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of this application is defined by the claims, not the above description, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims.

[0051] Reference Signs List 10 distributor, 10a inlet, 10b outlet, 20 heat exchanger tube, 30 piping, 30A first piping, 30B second piping, 31 first piping part, 31a first end, 31b second end, 32 second piping part, 32a third end, 32b fourth end, 33 covering member, 33a seventh end, 33b eighth end, 34 trap part, 34a Fifth end, 34b Sixth end, 34c lowest point, 34d curved section, 34e first straight section, 34f second straight section, 100, 200, 300, 400 heat exchanger.

Claims

1. A device comprising one or more pipes, each of which has a first pipe section, a second pipe section, and a covering member, wherein the ionization tendency of the constituent material of the first pipe section is greater than the ionization tendency of the constituent material of the second pipe section, wherein the first pipe section has a first end and a second end opposite the first end, and is arranged so that the position of the second end is higher in the vertical direction than the position of the first end, wherein the second pipe section has a third end and a fourth end opposite the third end, and is arranged so that the position of the fourth end is higher in the vertical direction than the position of the third end, wherein the second end and the third end are connected to each other, wherein the first pipe section has a trap section, and wherein the trap section has a fifth end and a sixth end opposite the fifth end, and wherein the second end forms the sixth end, a pipe connection structure in which the position of the trap section in the vertical direction increases from the lowest point between the fifth end and the sixth end toward the fifth end, and also increases from the lowest point toward the sixth end; the covering member has a seventh end and an eighth end opposite the seventh end; the seventh end is closer to the first end than the lowest point; and the eighth end is closer to the fourth end than the second end; and the covering member covers the first piping section and the second piping section between the seventh end and the eighth end.

2. The pipe connection structure described in claim 1, wherein the one or more pipes are a first pipe and a second pipe, the position of the lowest point of the second pipe in the vertical direction is higher than the position of the lowest point of the first pipe, and the position of the seventh end of the first pipe in the vertical direction is higher than the position of the lowest point of the second pipe.

3. A piping connection structure as described in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the first end is connected to a distributor of a heat exchanger, and when viewed along the vertical direction, the lowest point of each of the one or more pipes is at a position farthest from the distributor.

4. A piping connection structure as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the trap portion has a curved portion, a first straight portion extending in a straight line from the curved portion to the fifth end, and a second straight portion extending in a straight line from the curved portion to the sixth end, and the direction in which the first straight portion extends and the direction in which the second straight portion extends form an angle of 90° or less.

5. A piping connection structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the main component of the material of the first piping section is aluminum, and the main component of the material of the second piping section is copper.

6. A piping connection structure according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the covering member is a heat-shrinkable tube.

7. A device comprising one or more pipes, each of the one or more pipes having a first pipe section and a second pipe section, wherein the ionization tendency of a constituent material of the first pipe section is greater than the ionization tendency of a constituent material of the second pipe section, wherein the first pipe section has a first end and a second end opposite the first end, and is arranged so that the position of the second end is higher in the vertical direction than the position of the first end, wherein the second pipe section has a third end and a fourth end opposite the third end, and is arranged so that the position of the fourth end is higher in the vertical direction than the position of the third end, wherein the second end and the third end are connected to each other, wherein the second pipe section has a trap section, wherein the trap section has a fifth end and a sixth end opposite the fifth end, and wherein the third end forms the fifth end, A piping connection structure in which the position of the trap section in the vertical direction becomes higher as it approaches the fifth end from the lowest point between the fifth end and the sixth end, and also becomes higher as it approaches the sixth end from the lowest point.

8. A piping connection structure as described in claim 7, wherein the first end is connected to a distributor of a heat exchanger, and when viewed along the vertical direction, the lowest point of each of the one or more pipes is at a position farthest from the distributor.

9. A piping connection structure as described in claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the trap portion has a curved portion, a first straight portion extending in a straight line from the curved portion to the fifth end, and a second straight portion extending in a straight line from the curved portion to the sixth end, and the direction in which the first straight portion extends and the direction in which the second straight portion extends form an angle of 90° or less.

10. A piping connection structure according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the main component of the material of the first piping section is aluminum, and the main component of the material of the second piping section is copper.

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