This application claims benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C § 119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-85291, filed on Mar. 26, 2003, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a heat exchanger that has tubes, header pipes, an inlet connector block and an outlet connector block.
2. Description of the Related Art
Two heat exchangers are disclosed in Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. 11-325784. As shown in
First fluid (coolant) enters from the inlet connector tube 54 and flows through a given flow path including one header pipe 53, the plural tubes 51, the other header pipe 53 in this order. First fluid efficiently heat-exchanges with second fluid flowing outside of the tubes.
Next, a connecting structure between one header pipe 53 and the inlet connector block 54 of the heat exchanger 50 is described. As shown in
First fluid flows from the inlet connector block 54 into the pipe-inside flow-through bore 57a and then enters to the pipe-inside flow-through bore 57b through the internal communicating bore 59. With such a structure, first fluid is distributed and supplied from the inlet connector block 54 to the pipe-inside flow-through bores 57a, 57b formed inside the header pipe 53. A flow distribution ratio of first fluid to be distributed to the pipe-inside flow-through bores 57a, 57b varies depending upon a ratio between a diameter A of the block connector bore 58 and a diameter B of the internal communicating bore 59. Also, the other header pipe 53 and the outlet connector block 55 have the same connecting mechanism as that of one header pipe 53 and the inlet connector block 54.
As the latter heat exchanger, as shown in
The plural tubes 61 are disposed in spaced relationship with respect to one another. The plural corrugated fins 62 are disposed between adjacent tubes 61. The header pipes 63, 63 are connected to both ends of each tube 61. The inlet connector block 64 is fixedly secured to one header pipe 63. The outlet connector block 65 is fixedly secured to the other header pipe 63.
Next, a connecting structure between one header pipe 63 and the inlet connector block 64 of the heat exchanger 50 in the heat exchanger 60 is described. As shown in
First fluid flows from the branch pipes 64b, 64c of the inlet connector block 64 into the pipe-inside flow-through bores 67a, 67b, respectively. With such a structure, first fluid is distributed and supplied from the inlet connector block 64 to the pipe-inside flow-through bores 67a, 67b formed inside the header pipe 63. A flow distribution ratio of first fluid to be distributed to the pipe-inside through-bores 67a, 67b varies depending upon an internal diameter ratio between the branch pipes 64b, 64c. Also, the other header pipe 63 and the outlet connector block 65 have the same connecting mechanism as that of one header pipe 63 and the inlet connector block 64.
The former heat exchanger has the following problems: With the heat exchanger 50, since the internal communicating bore 59 is formed inside the header pipe 53, it becomes hard to conduct work for machining the heat exchanger 50. Also, in order to vary the flow distribution ratio of first fluid to be distributed to the pipe-inside flow-through bores 57a, 57b, there is a need for changing the diameter A of the block connector bore 58 and the diameter B of the internal communicating bore 59, and it becomes hard to conduct work for machining the heat exchanger 50.
The latter heat exchanger has the following problems: With the heat exchanger 60, since the block connector bores 68a, 68b are formed on the outer peripheral wall of the header pipe 63, it becomes hard to conduct work for machining the heat exchanger 60. Also, in order to vary the flow distribution ratio of first fluid to be distributed to the pipe-inside flow-through bores 67a, 67b, there is a need for changing the internal diameter ratio between the block connector bores 58a, 58b and it becomes hard to conduct work for machining the heat exchanger 60.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a heat exchanger that makes it possible to simplify a connecting stricture between a header pipe and an inlet connector block and a connecting structure between the header pipe and an outlet connector block while enabling to easily vary a flow distribution ratio of fluid to be distributed to a pair of pipe-inside flow-through bores.
To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a heat exchanger comprising: a plurality of tubes internally having tube-inside flow-through bores; a first header pipe comprising: a first partition wall that is internally formed; a first pipe-inside flow-through bore portion that is internally formed and divided into two regions by the first partition wall; and a first tube insertion bore portion formed on a first area of a side wall in slit shapes to accommodate first end portions of the tubes; a second header pipe comprising: a second partition wall that is internally formed; a second pipe-inside flow-through bore portion that is internally formed and divided into two regions by the second partition wall; and a second tube insertion bore portion formed on a first area of a side wall in slit shapes to accommodate second end portions of the tubes; a first connector bore portion formed on the side wall of the first header pipe at a second area opposing to the first area and on the first partition wall at an area opposing to the second area, and opening to the two regions of the first pipe-inside flow-though bore portion; a second connector bore portion formed on the side wall of the second header pipe at a second area opposing to the first area and on the second partition wall at an area opposing to the second area, and opening to the two regions of the second pipe-inside flow-though bore portion; an inlet connector block having one end portion accommodated in the first connector bore portion and permitting coolant to flow through the first pipe-inside flow-through bore portion; and an outlet connector block having one end portion accommodated in the second connector bore portion and permitting the coolant to flow out through the second pipe-inside flow-through bore portion.
According to the present invention, since the first connector bore portion is open to the first pipe-inside flow-through bore, the first header pipe may be provided with one connector bore portion. Further, since the second connector bore portion is open to the second connector bore portion, the second header portion may be provided with one connector bore portion. Therefore, the connecting structure between the header pipe and the inlet connector block and the connecting structure between the header pipe and the outlet connector block are simplified. Additionally, depending upon an installed position of the first connector bore portion, the surface area of the first in-pipe flow-through bore portion that is open to the two regions varies. Also, depending upon the position of the second connector bore portion, the surface area of the second in-pipe flow-through bore portion that is open to the two regions varies. Therefore, it becomes possible to easily vary the ratio of coolant to be distributed to the two regions of the pipe-inside flow-through bores.
Referring now to
As shown in
The plural tubes 2 are located in spaced relationship with respect to one another. Also, in
The tubes 2 are formed of, for instance, aluminum material in a flat plate configuration. Formed in each tube 2 are plural tube-inside flow-through bores (not shown) that extend in parallel with respect to one another. The tube-inside flow-through bores are opened at a distal end face 2a of the tube 2 (see
The header pipes 4, 4 are made of, for instance, aluminum material. As shown in
Next, a connecting structure between the inlet connector block 5 and one header pipe 4 is described. As shown in
Under a condition where the inlet connector block 5 and the header pipe 4 are coupled to one another, a distal end surface 8a of the in-pipe 8 is inserted to the block connector bore 12 to a position in front of an end face 11a formed by cutting out the partition wall 11. The distal end surface 8a of the in-pipe 8 is open to the pipe-inside flow though bores 10a, 10b. The total surface area of open surfaces 10c, 10d of the pipe-inside flow-through bores 10a, 10b is nearly equal to a surface area of the distal end surface 8a of the in-pipe 8. A centerline C2 of the in-pipe 8 is aligned with the centerline C1 of the partition wall 11. A connecting structure between the outlet connector block 6 and the other head pipe 4 is similar to the connecting structure between the inlet connector block 5 and the one of the header pipes 4. That is, when described with reference to
With the heat exchanger 1A, first fluid (coolant) flows through a given path in a sequence through the inlet connector block 5, the pipe-inside flow-through bores 10a, 10b of one of the header pipes 4, tube-inside flow-through bores of plural tubes 2, the pipe-inside flow-through bores 10a, 10b of the other header pipe 4, and the outlet connector block 6. Heat-exchange efficiently takes place between first fluid in the tubes and second fluid passing across the outsides of the tubes 2.
With the presently filed embodiment, since the distal end surface 8a of the in-pipe 8 of the inlet connector block 5 has the surface area nearly equal to the total surface area of the opening surfaces 10c, 10d of the pipe-inside flow-through bores 10a, 10b of the header pipe 4, first fluid uniformly enters the pipe-inside flow-through bores 10a, 10b. Also, since the distal end surface 9a of the out-pipe 9 of the outlet connector block 6 has the surface area nearly equal to the total surface area of the opening surfaces 10c, 10d of the pipe-inside flow-through bores 10a, 10b of the header pipe 4, first fluid smoothly flows out from the pipe-inside flow-through bores 10a, 10b.
With the presently filed embodiment, the end of the block connector bore 12 is open to the pipe-inside flow-through bores 10a, 10b, only one block connector bore 12 may be provided in the header pipe 4. Therefore, an easy connecting structure may be provided between the one header pipe 4 and the inlet connector block 5.
With the presently filed embodiment, the distal end surface 8a of the in-pipe 8 is inserted to the position in front of the end face 11a formed by cutting out the partition wall 11 and the distal end surface 8a of the in-pipe 8 is made open to the pipe-inside flow-through bores 10a, 10b. Therefore, the in-pipe 8 is connected to the pipe-inside flow-through bores 10a, 10b without machining the distal end of the in-pipe 8.
With the presently filed embodiment, since the connecting structure between the outlet connector block 6 and the other header pipe 4 takes the same structure as that of the inlet side, it is possible for the outlet side to have the same advantage as that of the inlet side. Therefore, assembling work can be done with no distinction between the inlet connector block 5 and the outlet connector block 6, providing an ease of manufacturing the heat exchanger 1A.
A first modified form of the presently filed embodiment is described. As shown in
A second modified form of the presently filed embodiment is described. As shown in
A third modified form of the presently filed embodiment is described. As shown in
A heat exchanger 1B has a structure different from the heat exchanger 1A in respect of the connecting structure between the inlet connector block 5 and one of the header pipes 4, and the connecting structure between the outlet connector block 6 and the other header pipe 4. Since the heat exchanger 1B has the same structure as the heat exchanger 1A except for the above structure, description of the other component parts is omitted. Also, the same component parts as those of the heat exchanger 1A bear the same reference numerals as those of the heat exchanger 1B in the drawings.
As shown in
Likewise, the out-pipe 9 has a distal end surface 9a that is closed, and a peripheral wall of the distal end portion of the out-pipe 9 is formed with bores 32, 33. The bores 32, 33 are open to the communicating bore 9b of the out-pipe 9. The out-pipe 9 is inserted until the distal end surface 9a of the out-pipe 9 is brought into abutting engagement with the end face 11a formed by cutting out the partition wall 11. Under such a condition, the bores 32, 33 are open to the pipe-inside flow-through bores 10a, 10b, respectively. With such a structure, the outlet connector block 6 is connected to the other header pipe 4.
With the presently filed embodiment, since an end portion of the block connector bore 12 is open to the pipe-inside flow-through bores 10a, 10b, it is sufficient for the header pipe 4 to be formed with one block connector bore 12. Further, if the diameters of the bores 30, 31 of the in-pipe 8 are changed, the opening surface areas of the pipe-inside flow-through bores 10a, 10b vary. Therefore, the connecting structure between the one header pipe 4 and the inlet connector block 5 is simplified, and the flow distribution ratio of fluid to be distributed to the pipe-inside flow-through bores 10a, 10b can be easily altered.
With the presently filed embodiment, the distal end surface 8a of the in-pipe 8 is closed, whereupon the in-pipe 8 is inserted until the distal end surface 8a is brought into abutting engagement with the end face 11a formed by cutting out the partition wall 11 and the bores 30, 31 formed on the side periphery of the distal end portion of the in-pipe 8 are open to the pipe-inside flow-through bores 10a, 10b, respectively. Therefore, the in-pipe 8 may be sufficiently inserted until the distal end surface 8a of the in-pipe 8 is brought into abutting engagement with the end face 11a of the partition wall 11, and positioning of the in-pipe 8 can be reliably and easily performed, resulting in improvement over an insertion workability.
With the presently filed embodiment, since the connecting structure between the outlet connector block 6 and the other header pipe 4 has the same structure as that of the inlet side, the same effect as that of the inlet side can be obtained. Therefore, assembling work can be performed without distinction between the inlet connector block 5 and the outlet connector block 6, resulting in an ease of manufacturing the heat exchanger 1B.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2003-085291 | Mar 2003 | JP | national |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
5152339 | Calleson | Oct 1992 | A |
5911274 | Inaba et al. | Jun 1999 | A |
6340055 | Yamauchi et al. | Jan 2002 | B1 |
6564863 | Martins | May 2003 | B1 |
6604574 | Loomis et al. | Aug 2003 | B1 |
6854512 | Lee et al. | Feb 2005 | B1 |
Number | Date | Country |
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11-325784 | Nov 1999 | JP |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20040244957 A1 | Dec 2004 | US |