HEAT EXCHANGER

Abstract

A heat exchanger of the present disclosure includes a plurality of fin tubes; in which refrigerant channels through which refrigerant flows are formed and which are arranged to be spaced apart in one direction; and a pair of headers configured to communicate with the refrigerant channels of the fin tubes, wherein each of the fin tubes of the plurality of fin tubes includes refrigerant channels through which a refrigerant can flow, a header hole through which the refrigerant can flows, and a header collar protruding in one direction from an edge of the header hole, wherein the one header collar of a respective fin tube of the plurality of fin tubes is inserted into another the header hole of the adjacent fin tube to the one respective fin tube, and wherein the pair of headers are configured to communicate with the refrigerant channels of the fin tubes.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0186120 filed in the Republic of Korea on Dec. 27, 2022, which is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to a heat exchanger, and more particularly, to a heat exchanger capable of maintaining fin spacing and preventing deformation and leakage of a refrigerant.

2. Description of the Related Art

In general, a heat exchanger may be used as a condenser or an evaporator in a refrigeration cycle device including a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator. The heat exchanger may be installed in a vehicle, refrigerator or air conditioner, and may exchange heat between refrigerant and air.

There are various types such as fin tube type heat exchanger and micro channel type heat exchanger. The heat exchanger may include a tube through which the refrigerant passes, and a header connected to the tube to distribute the refrigerant to the tube.

In the case of the fin tube type heat exchanger, the fins for heat exchange and the tubes through which the refrigerant passes may be coupled to each other. The fin tube type heat exchanger may be configured so that each of a plurality of tubes having a tubular shape passes through a plurality of fins having a plate shape, or may be configured so that the fin and the tube are integrally formed.

A plurality of fin tubes are spaced apart from each other, and air may pass between the fins and the tubes of the fin tube type heat exchanger. Then, the air can exchange heat with the refrigerant flowing through the tube while passing between the fin and the tube.

Meanwhile, thermal deformation of the fin tube may occur due to influences of an internal temperature and an external temperature of the fin tube in situations such as brazing or when the refrigerant flows. In particular, a plurality of fin tubes may be misaligned or incompletely coupled by the heat of brazing, the structural stability of the fin tubes may be impaired, the refrigerant may leak, and uniform heat exchange performance may not be secured.

• • Korea Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 10-2019-0097632 (published on Aug. 21, 2019)

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a heat exchanger that facilitates alignment between two panels in a process of brazing and coupling fin tubes.

Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a heat exchanger that is easy to manufacture by having a structure that couples two panels having the same structure by vertically inverting and horizontally inverting each other.

Still another object of the present disclosure is to provide a heat exchanger that improves structural stability.

Still another object of the present disclosure is to provide a heat exchanger that prevents refrigerant from leaking.

Still another object of the present disclosure is to provide a heat exchanger that secures uniform heat exchange performance.

Objects of the present disclosure are not limited to the objects mentioned above, and other objects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description below.

In order to achieve the above objects, a heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is characterized in that positioning units of fin tubes adjacent to each other are coupled to each other.

In addition, a heat exchanger according to another embodiment of the present disclosure is characterized in that header collars of fin tubes adjacent to each other are coupled to each other.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a heat exchanger including: at least a plurality of fin tubes in which refrigerant channels through which refrigerant flows are formed and which are arranged to be spaced apart in one direction; and a pair of headers configured to communicate with the refrigerant channels of the fin tubes, in which one of the plurality of fin tubes and another adjacent to the one fin tube include a positioning unit that determines positions of each other by contacting each other.

The positioning unit may include a positioning groove formed in the one fin tube, and a positioning protrusion formed in the another fin tube and inserted into the positioning groove.

Each of the fin tubes may further include a pair of header holes through which the refrigerant flows, and the positioning unit may be located around the header hole.

Each of the fin tubes further may include a pair of header holes through which the refrigerant flows and a port configured to surround the header hole, and the positioning unit may be located in the port.

The port may have a step with respect to other portions of each fin tube.

Each of the fin tubes may further include a header collar protruding in one direction from an edge of the header hole.

Each of the plurality of fin tubes may include a first panel, and a second panel coupled to the first panel to define the refrigerant channel between the first panel and the second panel.

The positioning unit may be formed in the first panel and the second panel, and the positioning unit formed in the first panel of one of the plurality of fin tubes and the positioning part formed in the second panel of another adjacent to the one fin tube are in contact with each other.

The positioning unit may include a positioning groove formed in the first panel, and a positioning protrusion formed in the second panel and inserted into the positioning groove.

The heat exchanger may further include a spacer configured to hold a distance between the plurality of fin tubes.

The spacer may be formed to protrude from each of both surfaces of the fin tube, and the spacer formed in one of the plurality of fin tubes and the spacer formed in another fin tube adjacent to the one fin tube may be supported by each other.

Each panel may include a plate, a header hole formed through the plate and into which the header is inserted, and a port located to surround the header hole and having a step with respect to the plate.

The positioning unit may be formed in the port.

Each panel may include a pair of ports, and the positioning unit may include a positioning groove disposed in one of the pair of ports, and a positioning protrusion disposed in the other of the pair of ports.

Each panel may further include a header collar protruding in one direction from an edge of the header hole, and the head collar formed in the second panel of one of the plurality of fin tubes may be interpolated into a header hole formed in another first panel adjacent to the one fin tube.

Each panel may further include a plurality of ribs protruding from the plate and extending in a direction crossing a longitudinal direction of the plate.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a heat exchanger including: at least a plurality of fin tubes in which refrigerant channels through which refrigerant flows are formed and which are arranged to be spaced apart in one direction; and a pair of headers configured to communicate with the refrigerant channels of the fin tubes, in which the fin tube includes a header hole through which the refrigerant flows, and a header collar protruding in one direction from an edge of the header hole, and one header collar of the plurality of fin tubes is interpolated into another header hole adjacent to the one fin tube.

One header collar of the plurality of fin tubes may be interpolated into another header collar adjacent to the one fin tube.

Details of other embodiments are included in the detailed description and drawings.

Further scope of applicability of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the disclosure and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the disclosure and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the disclosure. The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a refrigeration cycle device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an outside of an outdoor unit illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a heat exchanger according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating a fin tube according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5′ of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a state in which two fin tubes of FIG. 4 are coupled.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the heat exchanger of FIG. 3 viewed from the side.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a portion of the fin tube of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a fin tube according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 10-1′ of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a view illustrating a state in which two fin tubes of FIG. 9 are coupled.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a fin tube according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Advantages and characteristics of the present disclosure, and methods for achieving them will become clear with reference to embodiments described later in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below and may be implemented in various different forms, but these embodiments only make the disclosure of the present disclosure complete. These embodiments are provided to make the disclosure of the present disclosure complete and to completely inform those skilled in the art of the scope of the disclosure to which the present disclosure belongs, and the present disclosure is only defined by the scope of claims. Like reference numbers designate like elements throughout the specification.

Spatially relative terms “below”, “beneath”, “lower”, “above”, “upper”, or the like may be used to easily describe components and may be used to easily describe a relationship between one component and another component, as illustrated in the drawings. Spatially relative terms should be understood as encompassing different directions of elements in use or operation in addition to the directions illustrated in the drawings. For example, when components illustrated in the drawings are reversed, components described as “below” or “beneath” other components may be placed “above” the other components. Thus, the exemplary term “below” may include directions of both below and above. Components may also be oriented in other directions, and thus spatially relative terms may be interpreted according to orientation.

Terminology used herein is for describing the embodiments and is not intended to limit the present disclosure. In the present specification, singular forms also include plural forms unless specifically stated otherwise in a phrase. As used herein, “comprises” and/or “comprising” means that stated component and step and/or operation do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other components, steps and/or operations.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used in the present disclosure may be used with meanings commonly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure belongs. In addition, terms defined in commonly used dictionaries are not interpreted ideally or excessively unless explicitly specifically defined.

In the drawings, the thickness or size of each component is exaggerated, omitted, or schematically illustrated for convenience and clarity of explanation. Moreover, the size and area of each component do not entirely reflect the actual size or area.

Hereinafter, the present disclosure will be described with reference to drawings for explaining a heat exchange panel and a heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the present disclosure according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a refrigeration cycle device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an outside of an outdoor unit illustrated in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the refrigerating cycle device according to the present embodiment includes a compressor 10 for compressing the refrigerant, an outdoor heat exchanger 11 in which a refrigerant exchanges heat with outdoor air, an expansion mechanism 12 for expanding the refrigerant, and an indoor heat exchanger 13 in which the refrigerant exchanges heat with indoor air.

The refrigerant compressed by the compressor 10 may be condensed through heat exchange with outdoor air while passing through the outdoor heat exchanger 11.

The outdoor heat exchanger 11 may be used as a condenser.

The refrigerant condensed in the outdoor heat exchanger 11 may be expanded by flowing into the expansion mechanism 12. The refrigerant expanded by the expansion mechanism 12 may be evaporated through heat exchange with the indoor air while passing through the indoor heat exchanger 13.

The indoor heat exchanger 13 may be used as an evaporator for evaporating the refrigerant. The refrigerant evaporated in the indoor heat exchanger 13 may be recovered to the compressor 10.

The heat exchanger may include the indoor heat exchanger 13 and the outdoor heat exchanger 11.

The refrigerant circulates through the compressor 10, the outdoor heat exchanger 11, the expansion mechanism 12, and the indoor heat exchanger 13 and operates in a refrigeration cycle.

The compressor 10 may be connected to a suction channel of the compressor 10 that guides the refrigerant passing through the indoor heat exchanger 13 to the compressor 10. An accumulator 14 in which a liquid refrigerant is accumulated may be installed in the suction channel of the compressor 10.

The indoor heat exchanger 13 may have a refrigerant channel through which refrigerant passes.

The refrigeration cycle device may be a separate type air conditioner in which an indoor unit I and an outdoor unit O are separated, and in this case, the compressor 10 and the outdoor heat exchanger 11 may be installed inside the outdoor unit I. In addition, the refrigerating cycle device may be a refrigerator, the indoor heat exchanger 13 may be disposed to exchange heat with air in a food storage, and the outdoor heat exchanger 11 may exchange heat with air outside the food storage. In the case of a refrigerator, the indoor unit I and the outdoor unit O may be disposed together in a main body.

The expansion mechanism 12 may be installed in either the indoor unit I or the outdoor unit O.

The indoor heat exchanger 13 may be installed inside the indoor unit I.

An outdoor fan 15 for blowing outdoor air to the outdoor heat exchanger 11 may be installed in the outdoor unit O. In addition, the compressor 10 may be installed in a machine room of the outdoor unit O.

An indoor fan 16 for blowing indoor air to the indoor heat exchanger 13 may be installed in the indoor unit I.

Hereinafter, the configuration of the heat exchanger will be described in detail. The heat exchanger may include the indoor heat exchanger 13 or the outdoor heat exchanger 11.

All portions that are inserted, coupled, fitted, contacted, bonded, or assembled between components of the heat exchanger may be coupled by brazing. For example, filler metal can be injected into all portions where the components of the heat exchanger are inserted, coupled, fitted, contacted, joined, or assembled. The heat exchanger may be brazed by being put into a furnace in a state where the filler metal is injected and exposed to high temperature conditions for a certain period of time. Hereinafter, the description of the brazing may be omitted.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a heat exchanger 20 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, FIG. 4 is a view illustrating a fin tube 21 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5′ of FIG. 4.

Referring to FIGS. 3 to 5, the heat exchanger 20 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes the fin tube 21 and a header 22.

The fin tube 21 may include a fin tube 21 elongated in a longitudinal direction (up-down direction, UD). A plurality of fin tubes 21 may be provided and arranged to be spaced apart along a thickness direction (front-rear direction, FR) of the fin tube 21. A refrigerant channel 27 through which a refrigerant L flows may be formed inside the fin tube 21.

A pair of headers 22 may be provided and may be located at both ends of the plurality of fin tubes 21. The header 22 may communicate with the refrigerant channels 27 formed inside the plurality of fin tubes 21. The header 22 may elongate along the thickness direction of the fin tube 21 in which the plurality of fin tubes 21 are arranged.

Accordingly, the refrigerant L flows into one of the pair of headers 22, passes through the refrigerant channels 27 formed inside each of the plurality of fin tubes 21, and then may be discharged through the other of the pair of the headers 22. Then, air A may pass between the plurality of fin tubes 21 and between the pair of headers 22 and exchange heat with the flowing refrigerant L. The air A may flow along the width direction of the fin tube 21.

Each fin tube 21 may include a plate 210 and the pair of headers 22.

The plate 210 may have a plate shape. The plate 210 may be rectangular. The plate 210 may include a metal having high heat exchange efficiency. The plate 210 may include aluminum, copper, and alloys thereof.

The plate 210 defines the boundary of the refrigerant channel 27 and allows heat exchange between the internal refrigerant and the external air.

A pair of header holes 230 may be provided and formed adjacent to both ends of the fin tube 21, respectively. The header hole 230 may be formed through the plate 210.

The header hole 230 may communicate with the refrigerant channel 27 formed inside the fin tube 21. The header hole 230 may form a part of the header 22. The header hole 230 may have a shape corresponding to that of the header 22, and in general, the header hole has a circular shape.

Each fin tube 21 includes a port 220 surrounding the header hole 230. The port 220 may define an area surrounding the header hole 230 in the plate 210. A pair of ports 220 may be provided to surround the pair of header holes 230.

The port 220 may have a step with respect to other portions of each fin tube 21. Specifically, the port 220 may have a step with respect to the plate 210. The port 220 may protrude from the plate 210 in a thickness direction in which the plurality of fin tubes 21 are arranged. The port 220 may protrude from both sides of the fin tube 21.

The port 220 may have a ring shape surrounding the header hole 230. When the plurality of fin tubes 21 are arranged, the port 220 may be connected to each of the plurality of fin tubes 21 to form the header 22 together with the header hole 230.

The port 220 may have a flat shape. One port 220 of the fin tubes 21 adjacent to each other may be in surface contact with the other port 220 of the fin tubes 21 adjacent to each other. Therefore, structural stability of heat exchange can be improved.

The refrigerant may flow in the header hole 230 inside the port 220. The refrigerant may flow into the fin tube 21 through the port 220 or be discharged from the fin tube 21.

Each fin tube 21 may further include a rib 260. The rib 260 may have a shape that expands a contact area between the plate 210 and the air. The rib 260 may be positioned between the pair of ports 220 in the fin tube 21.

The rib 260 may protrude from the outer surface of the fin tube 21 in the thickness direction of the fin tube 21. The rib 260 may form the refrigerant channel 27 in which the refrigerant flows inside the fin tube 21 by protruding outward from the inner surface of the fin tube 21. The rib 260 may be formed on each of both surfaces of the fin tube 21. The refrigerant channel 27 formed by the rib 260 may communicate with the header hole 230.

The rib 260 may extend in a direction crossing the longitudinal direction of the fin tube 21. Specifically, the rib 260 may extend in a direction inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction of the fin tube 21. The rib 260 may extend in an inclined direction with respect to the width direction (left and right directions, Le and Ri) of the fin tube 21. A plurality of ribs 260 may be arranged along the longitudinal direction of the fin tube 21.

Each of the plurality of fin tubes 21 may be formed by coupling a first panel 21a and a second panel 21b. The first panel 21a and the second panel 21b may be joined at the outer portion formed around an edge. The refrigerant channel 27 is defined between the first panel 21a and the second panel 21b.

The first panel 21a and the second panel 21b may have a plate shape elongated in the longitudinal direction. The first panel 21a and the second panel 21b each include a first plate 210a and a second plate 210b. The plates 210 may be coupled to face each other in a flat shape.

The first panel 21a may include a plurality of first ribs 260. The first rib 260 may protrude from an outer surface of the first plate 210a in the thickness direction. The first rib 260 may protrude outward from an inner surface of the first plate 210a and cover one side of the refrigerant channel 27.

The first rib 260 may extend in an inclined direction with respect to the longitudinal direction of the first panel 21a. The first rib 260 may extend in a direction inclined with respect to the width direction of the first panel 21a. The plurality of first ribs 260 may be spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal direction of the first panel 21a.

The second panel 21b may include a plurality of second ribs 260. The second rib 260 may protrude from an outer surface of the second plate 210b in the thickness direction. The second rib 260 may protrude in a direction opposite to the protruding direction of the first rib 260.

The second rib 260 may cover the other side of the refrigerant channel 27 as the inner surface of the second plate 210b is recessed outward. The second rib 260 may extend in a direction inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction of the second panel 21b. The second rib 260 may extend in a direction inclined with respect to the width direction of the second panel 21b. The plurality of second ribs 260 may be arranged to be spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal direction of the second panel 21b.

The second rib 260 may be formed in an opposite direction to the first rib 260. The second rib 260 may obliquely extend in a direction crossing the first rib 260. When the first panel 21a and the second panel 21b are coupled, the first rib 260 and the second rib 260 may face each other and form the refrigerant channel 27 through which the refrigerant inside the fin tube 21 flows.

Meanwhile, the pair of ports 220 may include a pair of first ports 220a formed on the first panel 21a and a pair of second ports 220b formed on the second panel 21b.

The pair of headers 22 may be formed so that a pair of first ports 220a formed in one fin tube 21 of the plurality of fin tubes 21 and a pair of second port 220b formed in another fin tube 21 adjacent to the one fin tube 21 are continuously coupled. That is, the first port 220a formed on the first panel 21a may form the header 22 by being coupled with the second port 220b formed on the second panel 21b facing the first panel 21a.

Adjacent fin tubes 21 are coupled by brazing. In this case, in order to prevent distortion by heat generated during brazing and to facilitate alignment of the fin tubes 21 in the beginning, each fin tube 21 of the present disclosure includes a positioning unit 240.

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a state in which two fin tubes 21 of FIG. 4 are coupled.

Referring to FIGS. 4 to 6, the positioning unit 240 may be a structure in which one of the plurality of fin tubes 21 and another adjacent to the one fin tube 21 contact (or match) each other to determine positions of each other.

The positioning unit 240 is formed in the first panel 21a and the second panel 21b, and the positioning unit 240 formed in the first panel 21a of any one of the plurality of fin tubes 21 and the positioning unit 240 formed in the second panel 21b of another fin tube adjacent to the one fin tube 21 may be in contact with each other. In addition, the positioning unit 240 may include a first positioning unit 240a formed in the first panel 21a and a second positioning unit 240b formed in the second panel 21b.

For example, the positioning unit 240 may have a structure in which the fin tubes 21 adjacent to each other allow movement of the fin tube in the thickness direction while limiting movements of the fin tube in the longitudinal and width directions.

Specifically, the positioning unit 240 may include a positioning groove 241 formed in one fin tube 21 and a positioning protrusion 242 formed in another fin tube 21 and inserted into the positioning groove 241.

The positioning groove 241 is formed so that the plate 210 is recessed in the thickness direction of the fin tube, and the positioning protrusion 242 is formed so that the plate 210 protrudes in the thickness direction of the fin tube. The positioning groove 241 and the positioning protrusion 242 protrude forward F and may be recessed.

The positioning groove 241 is formed in the first panel 21a, and the positioning protrusion 242 is formed in the second panel 21b and inserted into the positioning groove 241. Specifically, the positioning protrusion 242 formed in another fin tube 21 adjacent to one fin tube 21 of the plurality of fin tubes 21 is inserted into the positioning groove 241 formed in the one fin tube 21.

The positioning protrusion 242 and the positioning groove 241 may have shapes corresponding to each other. The positioning protrusion 242 may have a hemispherical or semi-polyhedral structure, and the positioning groove 241 may have a hemispherical or semi-polyhedral structure into which the positioning protrusion 242 is inserted.

The positioning unit 240 may be positioned at various locations on the plate 210, but may be positioned around the header hole 230. The positioning unit 240 is preferably located in the port 220. The positioning unit 240 may be formed such that the port 220 is recessed or protrudes in the thickness direction of the fin tube 21.

Since the ports 220 adjacent to each other are in surface contact with each other in the process of forming the header 22, when the positioning unit 240 is formed in the port 220, structural stability is improved and alignment is facilitated.

The first panel 21a and the second panel 21b may be manufactured separately so that the structures thereof are different from each other. However, when the first panel 21a and the second panel 21b have the same structure and the first panel 21a and the second panel 21b are coupled to each other, the second panel 21b may be coupled to the first panel 21a so that the top and bottom are reversed and the left and right are reversed in contrast to the first panel 21a.

In order to form one fin tube 21 by coupling the panels by having the same structure and inverting each other vertically and horizontally, the pair of ports 220 and the pair of header holes 230 are arranged to be symmetrical vertically with respect to the center of each panel. In addition, the shapes of each port 220 and each header hole 230 are formed to be symmetrical horizontally with respect to the center of each panel.

The positioning unit 240 may be positioned at each of the pair of ports 220. The positions of the pair of positioning units 240 are symmetrical vertically with respect to the center of each panel.

For example, the positioning unit 240 includes the positioning groove 241 disposed in one 221 of the pair of ports 220 and the positioning protrusion 242 disposed in the other 222 of the pair of ports 220.

Specifically, in each panel, the positioning groove 241 may be formed in one port 220 (the port 221 located at the upper portion in FIG. 4), and the positioning protrusion 242 may be formed in the other port 220 (the port 222 located at the lower portion in FIG. 4).

Two positioning grooves 241 may be formed to be symmetrical horizontally in one port 220 (the port 221 located at the upper portion in FIG. 4), and two positioning protrusion 242 may be formed to be formed symmetrical horizontally in the other port 220 (the port 222 located at the lower portion in FIG. 4).

Since each panel has the same structure, there is an advantage in that manufacturing cost and manufacturing time are reduced.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the heat exchanger 20 of FIG. 3 viewed from the side, and FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a portion of the fin tube 21 of FIG. 7.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, the present disclosure may further include spacers 250 and 250′ for holding distances between the plurality of fin tubes 21.

The spacers 250 and 250′ may protrude from the fin tube 21 in the thickness direction. The spacer may protrude from each panel in the thickness direction. The spacers 250 and 250′ may be formed to protrude from the plate 210. The spacers 250 and 250′ may protrude from the rib 260 of the fin tube 21. The rib 260 and the spacers 250 and 250′ may be formed on both surfaces of the fin tube 21.

A plurality of spacers 250 and 250′ may be formed in one rib 260. The plurality of spacers 250 and 250′ may be arranged to be spaced apart along the rib 260. The plurality of spacers 250 and 250′ may be spaced apart from each other to form a gap therebetween. The inner surfaces of the spacers 250 and 250′ may be in contact with the refrigerant channel 27. Air may pass between the spacers 250 and 250′.

The spacer 250 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may have a shape elongated in one direction. The spacer 250 may elongate along the rib 260. The plurality of spacers 250 may be arranged to be spaced apart along the rib 260. The distance at which a pair of adjacent spacers 250 are spaced apart from each other may be substantially similar to a length of the spacer 250.

The spacer 250 according to another embodiment of the present disclosure may have a circular shape.

The spacers 250 and 250′ may be disposed between the plurality of fin tubes 21. The spacers 250 and 250′ may be disposed between a pair of fin tubes 21 adjacent to each other. The spacers 250 and 250′ formed in one fin tube 21 may be in contact with the spacers 250 and 250′ formed in the other fin tube 21 adjacently facing each other. In the area where the spacers 250 and 250′ contact each other, filler metal is injected and brazed so that they can be coupled to each other. The spacers 250 and 250′ may support the fin tube 21. The spacers 250 and 250′ may support or press the fin tube 21 in the thickness direction.

Accordingly, the plurality of fin tubes 21 are mutually supported and structural stability can be secured. Specifically, it is possible to prevent the fin tube 21 from being heat-deformed by the brazing of the heat exchanger 20, the flow of the refrigerant, or the influence of the temperature caused by external environmental conditions, and it is possible to maintain the interval between the fin tubes 21 uniformly. In addition, a couple force between the first panel 21a and the second panel 21b can be increased, and the refrigerant can be prevented from leaking from the refrigerant channel 27 formed between the first panel 21a and the second panel 21b. Moreover, even when the heat exchanger 20 is used for a long time, uniform heat exchange performance can be secured. In addition, as the air flowing through a gap 140 flows between the spacers 250 and 250′, the heat exchange area with the refrigerant increases, and thus, the heat exchange efficiency can be improved.

A protruding height of the spacer 250 may be higher than that of the rib 260. The protruding height of the spacer 250 may be the same as the protruding height of the port 220.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a fin tube 31 according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 10-1′ of FIG. 9, and FIG. 11 is a view illustrating a state in which two fin tubes 31 of FIG. 9 are coupled.

Referring FIGS. 9 to 11, in the fin tube 31 according to another embodiment, compared to the embodiment of FIG. 4, the role of the positioning unit 240 of FIG. 4 is performed by a header collar 323. That is, in the fin tube 31 of the other embodiment, the positioning unit 240 is omitted from the embodiment of FIG. 4 and the fin tube 31 includes a header collar 323. Of course, the header color 323 may be a sub-concept of the positioning unit 240.

Hereinafter, differences from the embodiment of FIG. 4 will be mainly described, and configurations without special explanation are the same as those of the embodiment of FIG. 4.

Each fin tube 31 may further include a header collar 323 protruding in one direction from the edge of the header hole 330. The header collar 323 may have a ring shape or an arc shape surrounding the header hole 330. The header collar 323 may protrude in the thickness direction of the fin tube 31. The header color 323 may define a boundary between the header hole 330 and the port 320.

One header collar 323 of the plurality of fin tubes 31 may be interpolated into another header hole 330 adjacent to one fin tube 31. Moreover, one header collar 323 of the plurality of fin tubes 31 may be interpolated to another header collar 323 adjacent to the one fin tube 31.

The header collars 323 of the fin tubes 31 adjacent to each other are coupled to each other so that the plurality of fin tubes 31 are aligned and are not twisted during brazing.

The protruding height of the header collar 323 may be lower than that of the port 320. With this structure, the header 22 defined by the port 320 is not sealed.

The first panel 31a may include a first header collar 323a protruding in one direction from the edge of the header hole 330, and the second panel 31b may include a second header collar 323b protruding in one direction from the edge of the header hole 330.

The second header collar 323b formed on the second panel 31b of any one of the plurality of fin tubes 31 may be interpolated to the header hole 330 or/and first header collar 323a formed on the first panel 31a of another adjacent to the one fin tube 31.

The first panel 31a and the second panel 31b may be manufactured separately so that the structures thereof are different from each other. However, when the first panel 31a and the second panel 31b have the same structure and the first panel 31a and the second panel 31b are coupled to each other, the second panel 31b may be coupled to the first panel 31a so that the top and bottom are reversed and the left and right are reversed in contrast to the first panel 21a.

In order to form one fin tube 21 by coupling the panels by having the same structure and inverting each other vertically and horizontally, the header collar 323 may be positioned at each of the pair of ports 320. The positions of the pair of header collars 323 are arranged to be symmetrical vertically with respect to the center of each panel.

For example, the header collar 323 includes a female collar 323-1 disposed on one of the pair of ports 320 and a male collar 323-2 disposed on the other of the pair of ports 320.

Specifically, the female collar 323-1 may be formed on one port 320 (the port 320 located on the upper side in FIG. 4) in each panel and, and the male collar 323-2 may be formed on the other port 320 (the port 320 located on the lower side in FIG. 4).

The female collar 323-1 protrudes rearward from one edge of the pair of header holes 330, and the male collar 323-2 protrudes forward from the other edge of the pair of header holes 330.

The male collar 323-2 formed in any one of the plurality of fin tubes 31 may be interpolated into the female collar 323-1 formed in another fin tube 31 adjacent to the one fin tube 31.

Since each panel has the same structure, there is an advantage in that manufacturing cost and manufacturing time are reduced.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a fin tube 41 according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 12, the fin tube 41 according to another embodiment further includes a positioning unit 240 compared to the embodiment of FIG. 9.

Hereinafter, a description will be given focusing on differences from the embodiment of FIG. 9, and the configuration without special explanation is the same as that of the embodiment of FIG. 9.

That is, the heat exchanger 20 according to another embodiment of the present disclosure has a structure including the positioning unit 240 of FIG. 4 and the header color 323 of FIG. 9 at the same time.

The positioning unit 240 of the present embodiment may have the same structure as the positioning unit 240 of FIG. 4. The positioning unit 240 formed in any one of the plurality of fin tubes 41 may be interpolated into the positioning unit 240 formed in another fin tube 41 adjacent to the one fin tube 41.

According to the heat exchanger of the present disclosure, there is one or more of the following effects.

First, according to the present disclosure, the positioning groove and the positioning protrusion of the adjacent fin tubes are matched and coupled to each other, and thus, the manufacturing of the fin tube is quick and easy with a simple structure, and the alignment between a plurality of fin tubes is not misaligned during brazing.

Second, according to the present disclosure, the header collar is formed in the header hole through which the header passes through two panels constituting the fin tube, and thus, the header hole and header collar of adjacent fin tubes are inserted into each other, and the structural stability of the heat exchanger is improved.

Third, according to the present disclosure, since the port formed to surround the header hole passing through the fin tube is in surface contact with the fin tubes adjacent to each other, the alignment between the plurality of fin tubes is not misaligned during brazing.

Fourth, according to the present disclosure, it is possible to prevent the air channel between the plurality of fin tubes from being deformed during brazing by the spacer supporting between the fin tubes.

Fifth, according to the present disclosure, the panels have the same structure. Therefore, two panels are coupled to be inverted vertically and horizontally to form the header, the positioning units of each other are matched, and thus, it is possible to reduce the manufacturing cost and shorten the manufacturing time.

The effects of the present disclosure are not limited to the effects mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the claims.

Although preferred embodiments of the present disclosure have been illustrated and described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments described above, various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art to which the disclosure pertains without departing from the gist of the present disclosure claimed in the claims, and these modified implementations should not be individually understood from the technical spirit or prospect of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A heat exchanger comprising: a plurality of fin tubes; anda pair of headers,wherein each of the fin tubes of the plurality of fin tubes comprises: refrigerant channels through which a refrigerant can flow, anda positioning unit that determines positions of the respective adjacent fin tubes of the plurality of fin tubes by contacting respective adjacent fin tube,wherein each of the fin tubes of the plurality of fin tubes are arranged to be spaced apart in one direction with respect to the other fin tubes of the plurality of fin tubes, andwherein the pair of headers are configured to communicate with the refrigerant channels of the fin tubes.

2. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the positioning unit comprises: a positioning groove disposed on one side of the fin tube; anda positioning protrusion disposed on the opposite side of the fin tube, andwherein the positioning protrusion of a respective fin tube is configured to be inserted into the positioning groove of the respective adjacent fin tube.

3. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein each of the fin tubes of the plurality of fin tubes further comprises: a first header hole and a second header hole, the first header hole and the second header hole each being configured to allow refrigerant to pass therethrough, andwherein the positioning unit is disposed adjacent to both the first header hole and the second header hole.

4. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein each of the fin tubes of the plurality of fin tubes further comprises: a first header hole and a second header hole, the first header hole and the second header hole each being configured to allow refrigerant to pass therethrough;a first port configured to surround the first header hole; anda second port configured to surround the second header hole, andwherein the positioning unit is disposed adjacent to both the first port and the second port.

5. The heat exchanger of claim 4, wherein the first port and the second port each comprise a protrusion with respect to a plate of the fin tube.

6. The heat exchanger of claim 4, wherein each of the fin tubes of the plurality of fin tubes further comprise a header collar protruding in one direction from an edge of the first header hole, and a header collar protruding in one direction from an edge of the second header hole.

7. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein each of the fin tubes of the plurality of fin tubes further comprises: a first panel; anda second panel coupled to the first panel, andwherein the refrigerant channels comprise a space between the first panel and the second panel.

8. The heat exchanger of claim 7, wherein the positioning unit is formed in both the first panel and the second panel of each respective fin tube of the plurality of fin tubes, and wherein the positioning unit formed in the first panel of a respective fin tube of the plurality of fin tubes and the positioning unit formed in the second panel of an adjacent fin tube to the respective fin tube are in contact with each other.

9. The heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the positioning unit comprises: a positioning groove formed in a first panel; anda positioning protrusion formed on a second panel, andwherein the positioning protrusion of a respective fin tube is configured to be inserted into the positioning groove of the adjacent fin tube.

10. The heat exchanger of claim 1, further comprising a spacer configured to create a gap between each respective fin tube of the plurality of fin tubes.

11. The heat exchanger of claim 10, wherein the spacer protrudes from each surface of the each of the fin tubes, and wherein the spacer formed on a respective fin tube of the plurality of fin tubes and the spacer formed on the adjacent fin tube of the respective adjacent fin tube are disposed against each other.

12. The heat exchanger of claim 7, wherein both the first panel and the second panel comprise: a plate;a first header hole formed through the plate which is configured to receive one header from the pair of headers;a second header hole formed through the plate which is configured to receive the other header from the pair of headers;a first port disposed around the first header hole comprising a protrusion protruding away from a surface of the plate; anda second port disposed around the second header hole comprising a protrusion protruding away from the surface of the plate.

13. The heat exchanger of claim 12, wherein the positioning unit is disposed in both the first port and the second port.

14. The heat exchanger of claim 12, wherein the positioning unit comprises:a positioning groove disposed in one of the first port or the second port; anda positioning protrusion disposed in the other of the first port or the second port.

15. The heat exchanger of claim 12, wherein the first panel and the second panel each further comprise a header collar protruding in one direction from an edge of the first header hole or the second header hole, wherein the header collar formed in the second panel of a respective fin tube is configured to be inserted into a header hole formed in the first panel of the respective adjacent fin tube.

16. The heat exchanger of claim 12, wherein the first panel and the second panel each further comprise a plurality of ribs protruding from the plate, and wherein each rib of the plurality of ribs extends in a direction crossing a longitudinal direction of the plate.

17. A heat exchanger comprising: a plurality of fin tubes; anda pair of headers,wherein each of the fin tubes of the plurality of fin tubes comprises: refrigerant channels through which a refrigerant can flow,a header hole through which the refrigerant can flow, anda header collar protruding in one direction from an edge of the header hole,wherein the header collar of a first fin tube of the plurality of fin tubes is inserted into the header hole of a second fin tube of the plurality of fin tubes that is adjacent to the first fin tube, andwherein the pair of headers are configured to communicate with the refrigerant channels of the fin tubes.

18. The heat exchanger of claim 17, wherein the header collar of the second fin tube is inserted into the header hole of a third fin tube of the plurality of fin tubes that is adjacent to the second fin tube.

19. The heat exchanger of claim 17, wherein each of the fin tubes of the plurality of fin tubes includes a spacer configured to create a gap between adjacent fin tubes of the plurality of the plurality of fin tubes.

20. The heat exchanger of claim 19, wherein the spacer of the first fin tube is disposed against the spacer of the second fin tube that is adjacent to the first fin tube.