Heat exchange – Radiator core type – Deformed sheet forms passages between side-by-side tube means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-20
2001-07-10
Leo, Leonard (Department: 3743)
Heat exchange
Radiator core type
Deformed sheet forms passages between side-by-side tube means
C165S175000, C165S176000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06257325
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a heat exchanger suitable for use in vehicles, and, more particularly, to an improved structure of a heat exchanger having a side tank at a side of a heat exchanger body formed with a heat exchanger core and header tanks.
2. Description of the Related Art
A multi-flow type heat exchanger, for example, used as a condenser or as an evaporator for an air conditioner in vehicles, may be equipped with a side tank at a side of a heat exchanger body. An example of a side tank portion of such a heat exchanger is depicted in
FIGS. 9 and 10
. Heat exchanger
50
is constructed as a stacking type multi-flow heat exchanger, that has heat transfer tubes
51
and fins
52
alternately disposed. Side plate
53
is provided on the outer side of the outermost fin
52
. Side tank
54
is provided on the outer side of side plate
53
for forming fluid introduction/discharge paths
71
and
72
.
Side tank
54
comprises a first side tank forming plate
55
provided at a side of heat exchanger body
57
, and a second side tank forming plate
56
provided at a non-heat exchanger body side. First and second side tank forming plates
55
and
56
are connected to each other for forming side tank
54
. In this structure, first side tank forming plate
55
is formed and processed from a single plate. Drawn projecting portions
58
,
59
,
60
and
61
are provided integrally with first side tank forming plate
55
, and are formed by drawing. Drawn projecting portions
58
,
59
,
60
and
61
project toward heat exchanger body
57
for forming fluid paths communicating between the interior of side tank
54
and the interior of heat exchanger body
57
. On second side tank forming plate
56
, protruding portions
62
and
63
, which protrude in a direction opposite to the first side tank forming plate side, are provided for forming fluid introduction/discharge paths
71
and
72
in side tank
54
. Protruding portions
62
and
63
are formed integrally with second side tank forming plate
56
, and extend in the longitudinal direction of second side tank forming plate
56
.
In order to enlarge the cross-sectional area of fluid introduction/discharge paths
71
and
72
, as depicted in
FIGS. 11 and 12
, protruding portions
64
and
65
also may be formed on first side tank forming plate
55
. A pressure loss in a side tank may be reduced by such enlarged fluid introduction/discharge paths.
In the above-described structure, however, drawn projecting portions
58
,
59
,
60
and
61
are formed on first side tank forming plate
55
, and protruding portions
64
and
65
are also formed on first side tank forming plate
55
. Therefore, in portions
66
and
67
, which are positioned between protruding portions
64
and
65
, and near drawn projecting portions
58
,
59
,
60
and
61
, shown in
FIG. 11
, the total amount of drawing may be great. The great amount of drawing may cause the generation of cracks on portions
66
and
67
, or it may cause an extremely thin portion, resulting in a reduction of strength. Such defects are liable to occur, particularly when projecting portions
58
,
59
,
60
and
61
are formed by drawing. Further, during the formation of protruding portions
62
and
63
on second side tank forming plate
56
, similar such defects may also occur.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved structure of a side tank and vicinity thereof of a side tank type heat exchanger which may prevent the generation of cracks and too thin portions on a plate forming the side tank when forming desired fluid paths in the side tank, thereby achieving a heat exchanger having a less pressure loss in the side tank and having an excellent performance without leakage.
To achieve the foregoing and other objects, the structure of a heat exchanger according to the present invention is herein provided. The heat exchanger includes a heat exchanger body having a heat exchanger core and header tanks, and a side tank provided at a side of the heat exchanger body for forming fluid introduction/discharge paths communicating with the header tanks. The side tank comprises a first side tank forming plate provided at a heat exchanger body side of the side tank, and a second side tank forming plate provided at a non-heat exchanger body side of the side tank. The first and second side tank forming plates are connected to each other for forming the side tank. At least one of the first and second side tank forming plates is divided into two parts in a thickness direction of the heat exchanger core.
In the heat exchanger, the first side tank forming plate may be divided into two parts. On the first side tank forming plate, at least one drawn projecting portion, projecting toward one of the header tanks, may be provided for forming a fluid path communicating between one of the fluid introduction/discharge paths and one of the header tanks. The drawn projecting portion may be connected directly to one of the header tanks. Alternatively, the drawn projecting portion may be connected to one of the header tanks via an auxiliary connecting member. The fluid introduction/discharge paths may extend in the side tank in a longitudinal direction of the side tank. Further, a protruding portion may be formed on the first side tank forming plate for forming at least one of the fluid introduction/discharge paths. The protruding portion may protrude toward the heat exchanger body, and may extend in a longitudinal direction of the first side tank forming plate. The second side tank forming plate also may be divided into two parts.
Alternatively, a heat exchanger according to the present invention may be constructed as follows. The heat exchanger includes a heat exchanger body having a heat exchanger core and header tanks, and a side tank provided at a side of the heat exchanger body for forming fluid introduction/discharge paths communicating with the header tanks. The side tank comprises a first side tank forming plate provided at a heat exchanger body side of the side tank, and a second side tank forming plate provided at a non-heat exchanger body side of the side tank. The first and second side tank forming plates may be connected to each other for forming the side tank. The first side tank forming plate has at least one drawn portion projecting toward one of the header tanks for forming a fluid path communicating between one of the fluid introduction/discharge paths and one of the header tanks. The first side tank forming plate has a slot provided at a central portion of the first side tank forming plate in a thickness direction of the heat exchanger core positioned near the drawn projecting portion.
In this structure, the slot may extend in a longitudinal direction of the first side tank forming plate.
In the heat exchanger, in which at least one of the first and second side tank forming plates is divided into two parts in the thickness direction of the heat exchanger core, even if a protruding portion forming a fluid introduction or discharge path is formed on the divided first or second side tank forming plate, or even if a drawn projecting portion is formed on the divided first side tank forming plate, or both, a forming force may be prevented from being concentrated at a particular portion, as in a conventional structure forming the plate from a single plate. Therefore, defects, such as cracks or too thin portions, are not generated by the forming force at any portion of the divided plate. Consequently, the protruding portion or the drawn projecting portion, or both, may be processed into a desired form without generating any defect. By the desired forms of the protruding portion and the drawn projecting portion without any inconvenience, the fluid path in the side tank may be enlarged, thereby reducing the pressure loss in the side tank, and an excellent performance of the heat exchanger may be achieved without leakage.
In the heat exchanger, in which a slot is provided at a centr
Hosoya Kazuki
Watanabe Akimichi
Baker & Botts L.L.P.
Leo Leonard
Sanden Corporation
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