Plate-Type Refrigerant Pipe with Coupling for Simplified Brazing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The connection between plate-type refrigerant pipes made of stainless steel and copper pipes is complicated due to the need to remove oxide films, making manual brazing challenging and increasing the complexity of manufacturing and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A plate-type refrigerant pipe configuration that includes a coupling pipe made of a material identical to the connected copper pipe, such as copper or copper alloy, attached to the stainless steel plates, facilitating easy brazing by using an inexpensive brazing material and ensuring a firm connection through a cylindrical portion and positioning mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a plate-type refrigerant pipe made of stainless steel is used, then corrosion resistance and durability are improved, but connection complexity increases due to the need to remove oxide films for brazing with copper pipes
Solution Approach 1:
The plate-type refrigerant pipe is divided into distinct functional parts: stainless steel plates for corrosion-resistant refrigerant flow paths, and separately attached coupling pipes made of copper or copper alloy for simplified connections. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized for its specific function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The refrigerant pipe system uses composite construction by combining stainless steel plates with copper or copper alloy coupling pipes. This composite approach allows the system to benefit from both materials: the corrosion resistance of stainless steel and the ease of brazing and workability of copper.
2Ease of manufacture
If manual brazing of stainless steel and copper pipes is performed, then connection is achieved, but work complexity and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of making the entire plate-type pipe easy to connect, only the coupling pipe portions are made of copper or copper alloy material that is easy to braz e. The main body remains stainless steel for corrosion resistance. This local application of different material properties optimizes the specific connection areas without compromising overall system reliability.
3Ease of operation
If a coupling pipe made of copper or copper alloy is attached to stainless steel plates, then brazing simplicity is improved, but structural integrity must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling pipes are designed with predetermined connection structures including cylindrical portions that fit over connection portions of other refrigerant pipes, and positioning mechanisms such as projections and grooves that pre-align the components. This preliminary structuring ensures proper positioning and strong joints before brazing is performed.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling pipe acts as an intermediary component between the stainless steel plate-type refrigerant pipe and other refrigerant pipes. It provides a transition interface that simplifies connection while maintaining structural integrity through proper material selection and connection design.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration simplifies the brazing process, reduces the complexity of connecting stainless steel and copper pipes, and enhances the durability and reliability of the refrigerant circuit by minimizing the force exerted on the plates, thus improving the overall performance and longevity of the refrigeration apparatus.
Implementation Method 1
the coupling pipe can be easily connected to the other refrigerant pipe by brazing
Data Source
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AI summary
A plate-type refrigerant pipe includes a first plate (21) made of stainless steel, a second plate (22) made of stainless steel that is joined to the first plate (21) and forms a refrigerant flow path (F) together with the first plate (21), and a coupling pipe (50) that is attached to the first plate (21) and/or the second plate (22) and to which another refrigerant pipe (100) is connected. The coupling pipe (50) includes a material other than stainless steel and identical to a material of a connected surface of the other refrigerant pipe (100).