Refrigerant Pipe Assembly Using Copper Joint Brazing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The high material cost and complexity of connecting stainless steel refrigerant pipes with copper thin tubes in refrigeration systems, which requires intricate brazing processes and can lead to strength reduction and increased manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerant pipe design featuring a stainless steel main pipe with a copper joint and a copper thin tube, where the copper joint and thin tube are connected using furnace brazing, allowing for easier assembly and avoiding the need for complex stainless steel brazing, thus maintaining the strength of the thin tube and reducing manufacturing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a copper pipe is used as a refrigerant pipe, then the ease of processing is improved, but the material cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigerant pipe system uses a composite structure where a stainless steel pipe (first pipe) is connected to a copper thin tube (second pipe) via a copper joint pipe. This composite material approach allows the main refrigerant line to use cost-effective stainless steel while maintaining ease of processing at connection points by using copper components that are easier to manually braze.
2Strength
If manual brazing is used to connect the thin tube to the refrigerant pipe, then the connection strength is improved, but the manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
A copper joint pipe is introduced as an intermediary component between the stainless steel refrigerant pipe and the copper thin tube. This joint pipe serves as a mediator that facilitates easier manual brazing connections, as copper-to-copper brazing is simpler and more reliable than directly brazing stainless steel to copper, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining connection strength.
3Quantity of substance
If stainless steel is used for the refrigerant pipe, then the material cost is reduced, but the ease of connection with copper thin tubes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by using stainless steel for the main refrigerant pipe (first pipe) where cost reduction is prioritized, while using copper for the joint pipe and thin tube (second pipe) at connection locations where ease of manufacturing and brazing is critical. This localized material selection optimizes both cost and ease of connection.
4Ease of manufacture
If copper components are used for brazing connections, then the ease of brazing is improved, but the material cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of making the entire refrigerant pipe system from copper (which would maximize ease of brazing but significantly increase material cost), the invention applies copper partially - only for the joint pipe and thin tube portions where brazing operations are performed. This partial application of copper achieves the ease of brazing benefit while minimizing the material cost increase.
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
Facilitates easier connection of the thin tube to the stainless steel pipe without compromising strength, eliminates the need for flux in stainless steel brazing, and reduces manufacturing complexity and costs by using copper components for brazing, ensuring efficient refrigerant flow and system performance.
Implementation Method 1
the copper joint and thin tube are connected using furnace brazing
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerant pipe of a refrigeration apparatus includes: a first pipe, made of stainless steel, through which a refrigerant flows; a joint pipe, made of a material different from stainless steel, disposed on an outer peripheral surface of the first pipe; and a second pipe, having a diameter smaller than a diameter of the first pipe, connected to the outer peripheral surface of the first pipe via the joint pipe. A surface of the second pipe at which the second pipe is connected to the joint pipe is made of a material identical to the material of the joint pipe.