Plastic Refrigerant Distributor with Copper Tube Seats

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fluid distributors in heat exchangers are expensive, heavy, and lack versatility to accommodate variable cooling needs, limiting their efficiency and adaptability.

Innovation Solution

A plastic-made fluid distributor with modular, interchangeable metallic tubular elements that can be easily adapted to different distribution needs, featuring a main body with elongated seats and deformable engaging members for secure tube insertion, allowing for reduced costs and enhanced flexibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If metal distributors are used in heat exchangers, then strength and durability are improved, but weight and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedistributor strengthVSAvoiddistributor weight

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The distributor combines plastic material for the main body with metallic tubular elements inserted in seats, creating a composite structure that leverages the advantages of both materials: plastic provides lightweight properties and cost-effectiveness, while metal tubes provide necessary strength and durability for fluid distribution

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The distributor is divided into distinct functional components: a plastic main body containing elongated seats, and separate metallic tubular elements that can be independently selected and inserted, allowing optimization of each component for its specific function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Strength

If metal distributors are used in heat exchangers, then strength and durability are improved, but cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedistributor strengthVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The distributor combines plastic material for the main body with metallic tubular elements inserted in seats, creating a composite structure that leverages the advantages of both materials: plastic provides lightweight properties and cost-effectiveness, while metal tubes provide necessary strength and durability for fluid distribution

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The plastic main body serves as a cost-effective, easily manufacturable component that can be produced through injection molding, reducing overall distributor cost while the durable metal tubes are inserted only where strength is critically needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Device complexity

If traditional distributors are used, then structural simplicity is maintained, but versatility for variable cooling needs decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedistributor structureVSAvoiddistribution versatility

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The distributor is divided into distinct functional components: a plastic main body containing elongated seats, and separate metallic tubular elements that can be independently selected and inserted, allowing optimization of each component for its specific function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The distributor enables dynamic adaptation to different cooling requirements by allowing the insertion, removal, or replacement of metallic tubular elements in the elongated seats, transforming a static structure into a dynamically configurable system

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3143356B1A distributor of refrigerant fluid in a heat exchanger

Publication Date: 2018.03.28 PROVIDES METALMECCANICA SRL

Figure 1~4
Figure 2

AI summary

A distributor (1) of coolant in a heat exchanger, which distributor (1) comprises a main body (2) made of plastic material having a plurality of elongated longitudinal seats (21), each one suitable to receive a respective tubular member (3) made of copper wherein, upon use, the coolant flows, at each one of such elongated seats (21) a transversal abutment profile (20) being further obtained, acting as abutment of the main body (2) against the tube plate (104) of the exchanger which arranges, upon use, circumscribed to the respective tubular member (3) made of copper.