Abstract: The present invention provides a heat exchanger, an air conditioning apparatus, and a method for manufacturing the heat exchanger capable of reducing the scattering of condensate water from curved portions to the downstream side in the direction of airflow. An indoor heat exchanger includes lower fins and upper fins. The upper fins are inclined in the direction of the airflow at an angle formed between the longitudinal axis of the upper fins and the vertical direction, the range of the angle being equal to or greater than the range of an angle formed between the longitudinal axis of the lower fins and the vertical direction, and the upper fins are disposed adjacent to top ends of the lower fins. The upper fins have curved portions that are curved in proximity to the portions bordering the top ends of the lower fins on the downstream side in the airflow direction F.

Abstract: An air conditioner indoor unit A includes a body casing 1, which accommodates a fan 2 and a heat exchanger 3. A top plate 13 is arranged in an upper portion of the body casing 1. A longitudinal reinforcement rib 14, which divides the top plate 13 into a first region 13a and a second region 13b, is formed in the top plate 13. A first lateral reinforcement rib 15, which extends between the longitudinal reinforcement rib 14 and a corresponding one of side edges 13c of the top plate 13, is formed in the first region 13a. A second lateral reinforcement rib 16, which extends between the longitudinal reinforcement rib 14 and the other side edge 13c of the top plate 13, is formed in the second region 13b. The reinforcement ribs 14, 15, 16 thus significantly increase the rigidity of the top plate 13 as a whole. Further, if the first and second lateral reinforcement ribs 15, 16 are formed by stretch-forming, torsion and flexure of the top plate 13 caused by spring back after the ribs 15, 16 are formed are decreased.

Abstract: In a center portion of the coupling body of a bite type pipe coupling, an insertion port for receiving a connector pipe is formed at an end that faces a coupling member. In the center portion, an insertion port is formed at an end located opposite to the end that faces the coupling member. An apparatus-side pipe is inserted into and brazed to the insertion port. A thin wall portion is formed in an outer circumferential wall portion of the entrance of the insertion port for receiving the apparatus-side pipe. The outer diameter of the thin wall portion is smaller than that of the coupling body. The thin wall portion is formed in a range extending from the entrance of the insertion port to a position that is located closer to the entrance than the inner end of the insertion port and is located in the vicinity of the inner end.

Abstract: A heat exchanger-use fin includes a fin body, collars and erect portions. The fin body has a plurality of holes. The collars surround the holes. The collars are disposed between two straight lines on a surface of the fin body. Outer peripheries of the collars contact the straight lines. The erect portions are positioned outside the two straight lines. Distal ends of the erect portions are in higher positions than distal ends of the collars relative to the surface of the fin body. A guide used with the fin includes first and second alternately arranged grooves. The second grooves are deeper than the first grooves. A method of using the guide includes slidably fitting the collars into one of the first grooves, and fitting the erect portions into the second groove adjacent to the first groove having the collars fitted therein.

Abstract: The present invention provides a heat exchanger, an air conditioning apparatus, and a method for manufacturing the heat exchanger capable of reducing the scattering of condensate water from curved portions to the downstream side in the direction of airflow. An indoor heat exchanger includes lower fins and upper fins. The upper fins are inclined in the direction of the airflow at an angle formed between the longitudinal axis of the upper fins and the vertical direction, the range of the angle being equal to or greater than the range of an angle formed between the longitudinal axis of the lower fins and the vertical direction, and the upper fins are disposed adjacent to top ends of the lower fins. The upper fins have curved portions that are curved in proximity to the portions bordering the top ends of the lower fins on the downstream side in the airflow direction F.

Abstract: A needle blade roll (12) for forming short fibers from a material capable of formation of artificial cotton in an artificial cotton fabricating apparatus is disclosed which is made up of a roll main body (13) and a large number of needle blades (14) implanted into a peripheral surface of the roll main body (13). In the needle blade roll (12), each needle blade (14) is arranged at a sloping angle relative to a radial line of the roll main body (13) so that its leading end lies ahead of the radial line with respect to the rotational direction of the roll main body (13). This makes it possible to form short fibers the length of which is longer than conventional, thereby fabricating artificial cotton made of such short fibers which are fully intertwined with one another.

Abstract: Hydrogen-rich reformed gas is produced by reaction including partial oxidation of feed gas in a reforming reaction section (6). In this case, for the purpose of reducing temperature variations in the reforming reaction section (6), improving the thermal efficiency thereof and providing a reformer (A) with a simple and compact construction, the reformer (A) is formed in a double-wall structure consisting of a housing (1) and partitions (2), (2) inside of the housing (1), the reforming reaction section (6) is contained between the partitions (2), (2), and a feed gas passage (3) is provided by the space between the housing (1) and the partition (2). In this manner, the feed gas passage (3) is provided in the surrounding area of the reforming reaction section (6). The reforming reaction section (6) is thermally insulated by the feed gas passage (3) so that temperature variations in the reforming reaction section (6) can be reduced.