Abstract: In a laminated heat exchanger in which a heat exchanging medium flows into a specific tank portion via a communicating passage that is connected to a surface that is at a right angle to the direction of the lamination, a reinforced portion is formed in the tank portion that faces opposite the opening portion of communicating passage (communicating pipe). The reinforced portion minimizes the likelihood of a rupture at the shoal-like bead near the communicating passage, which is provided among shoal-like beads formed in an area where the tank portions change to a U-shaped passage portion.

Abstract: In a laminated heat exchanger constituted by laminating tube elements. Each tube element is constituted by bonding two formed plates together to form a U-shaped flow passage interconnecting a pair of tank portions at one end. A plurality of shoal-like beads are formed in an area extending from the tank portions to the U-shaped passage portion. The bonding width of the shoal-like bead formed in the central area is greater than the bonding widths of the shoal-like beads formed on opposite sides. This improves the bonding strength in the central area where the tank portions change into the U-shaped passage portion to prevent rupture caused by high pressure fluid in the area. The strength of the area that is most likely to rupture in the area where the tank portions change into the U-shaped passage portion is increased.

Abstract: In order to achieve reduced production costs in an expansion valve mounting member used for mounting an expansion valve on a heat exchanger and an improvement in its suitability for mass production, the expansion valve mounting member has a pair of tubular members, each of which is formed as a pipe, with one end of the pair connecting with a pair of coolant intake/outlet portions provided parallel to each other in the heat exchanger and the other end connecting with the expansion valve. A collar is provided at a specific position on the external circumferential side surface of each tubular member. A plate member is provided with a pair of holes into which the pair of tubular members are inserted. When the tubular members are fitted into the holes of the plate member, the collars come in contact with the circumferential edges of the holes to establish positioning.

Abstract: In a laminated heat exchanger constituted by laminating tube elements. Each tube element is constituted by bonding two formed plates together to form a U-shaped flow passage interconnecting a pair of tank portions at one end. A plurality of shoal-like beads are formed in an area extending from the tank portions to the U-shaped passage portion. The bonding width of the shoal-like bead formed in the central area is greater than the bonding widths of the shoal-like beads formed on opposite sides. This improves the bonding strength in the central area where the tank portions change into the U-shaped passage portion to prevent rupture caused by high pressure fluid in the area. The strength of the area that is most likely to rupture in the area where the tank portions change into the U-shaped passage portion is increased.

Abstract: A plurality of tube elements, each of which is provided with a pair of tanks on one side with these tanks communicating via a heat exchanging medium passage, are laminated. An intake/outlet tank group with intake/outlet portions is divided into three tank sub groups while a non intake/outlet tank group is not partitioned, constituting a single tank group. The intake/outlet portion on the intake side is directly connected with the tank sub group at one end in the intake/outlet tank group and at the same time, it communicates with the tank sub group at the other end via a relay pipe. Consequently, the coolant that has flowed in through the intake/outlet portion is induced to the non intake/outlet tank group from the tank sub group at one end via a heat exchanging medium passage and it is also induced to the non intake/outlet tank group from the tank sub group at the other end via the heat exchanging medium passage before the two flows are joined at the center.

Abstract: A plurality of tube elements, each of which is provided with a pair of tanks on one side with these tanks communicating via a heat exchanging medium passage, are laminated. An intake/outlet tank group with intake/outlet portions is divided into three tank sub groups while a non intake/outlet tank group is not partitioned, constituting a single tank group. The intake/outlet portion on the intake side is directly connected with the tank sub group at one end in the intake/outlet tank group and at the same time, it communicates with the tank sub group at the other end via a relay pipe. Consequently, the coolant that has flowed in through the intake/outlet portion is induced to the non intake/outlet tank group from the tank sub group at one end via a heat exchanging medium passage and it is also induced to the non intake/outlet tank group from the tank sub group at the other end via the heat exchanging medium passage before the two flows are joined at the center.

Abstract: A plurality of tube elements, each of which is provided with a pair of tanks on one side with these tanks communicating via a heat exchanging medium passage, are laminated. An intake/outlet tank group with intake/outlet portions is divided into three tank sub groups while a non intake/outlet tank group is not partitioned, constituting a single tank group. The intake/outlet portion on the intake side is directly connected with the tank sub group at one end in the intake/outlet tank group and at the same time, it communicates with the tank sub group at the other end via a relay pipe. Consequently, the coolant that has flowed in through the intake/outlet portion is induced to the non intake/outlet tank group from the tank sub group at one end via a heat exchanging medium passage and it is also induced to the non intake/outlet tank group from the tank sub group at the other end via the heat exchanging medium passage before the two flows are joined at the center.

Abstract: With a fin width FW in the air-flow direction, fin thickness FT, fin pitch FP, fin height FH, and tube element height TW, dimensional relationships are 50 mm.ltoreq.FW.ltoreq.65 mm, 0.06 mm.ltoreq.FT.ltoreq.0.10 mm, 2.5 mm.ltoreq.FP.ltoreq.3.6 mm, 7.0 mm.ltoreq.FH 9.0 mm, and 2.0 mm.ltoreq.TW.ltoreq.2.7 mm. Provided are an optimum fin shape and tube element thickness in which a heat exchange efficiency and an air-flow resistance are well balanced, thereby ensuring an improvement in the heat exchange efficiency and the reduction in size of the heat exchanger.

Abstract: An intake/outlet passage forming plate is provided with an entrance/exit section onto which an expansion valve is mounted. A first coolant passage communicates between one side of the intake/outlet section and one end of a coolant path and a second coolant passage that connects the other side of the intake/outlet section and the other end of the coolant path via a communicating pipe. With this structure, the shapes of the first and second coolant passages in the intake/outlet passage forming plate can be changed, making it possible to have the entrance/exit section, onto which the expansion valve is mounted, communicate freely with the outflow/inflow sides of the coolant path. Also, by providing a plurality of tanks to communicate between the communicating pipe and the tank groups at one end of the coolant path, and by changing the communicating positions, the heat exchanging capacity is improved.

Abstract: A heat exchanger having tube elements, each of which is provided with a pair of tanks on one side and a U-shaped passage that communicates between the pair of tanks, laminated alternately with fins over a plurality of levels. Two tank groups that extend along the direction of lamination are formed. Intake/outlet portions, through which heat exchanging medium flows, are provided on one end along the direction of lamination. One of the intake/outlet portions communicates with one of the tank groups via a communicating pipe. One end of the communicating pipe is inserted into a fitting hole formed in an end plate or in a cylindrical portion extending from the periphery of the insertion hole in anticipation of contraction of the heat exchanger. This construction allows one end of the communication to move relative to the insertion hole, while the other end of the communicating pipe is secured in a mounting hole of a specific tank.

Abstract: A laminated heat exchanger has a single tank structure and is of the type which does not have its fin holding portions in contact, but rather has them facing opposite each other over a specific gap. The structure of this heat exchanger ensures that the fins do not extend out of the gaps between the fin holding portions. The laminated heat exchanger has a single tank structure provided with tube elements constituted with tank portions formed by distending at one longitudinal end, and fin holding portions formed by bending at the other longitudinal end. Tanks are constituted on one side of the core by bonding adjacent tube elements. Each tube element of each adjacent pair of tube elements has a pair of fin holding portions facing opposite a pair of fin holding portions of the other tube element of the adjacent pair of tube elements over a specific gap. The distal ends of each pair of tube elements are non-aligned with one another, and thus, the gaps between opposing fin holding portions are non-aligned.

Abstract: A heat exchanger structured with a plurality of tube elements laminated alternately with fins over a plurality of levels and end plates at either end in the direction of lamination. A passage plate, in which a supply passage and a discharge passage for heat exchanging medium are formed, is provided on the side of one of the end plates, and an intake pipe and an outlet pipe for heat exchanging medium are connected to the supply passage, and the discharge passage respectively, of the passage plate. The supply passage and the discharge passage of the passage plate have sufficient length, to allow the intake pipe and the outlet pipe to be connected at arbitrary positions. It is possible to connect the intake pipe and the outlet pipe for heat exchanging medium at arbitrary positions for different types of vehicles. Also, a heat exchanger in which commonality of components is achieved.

Abstract: A method of cutting a flat tube (6) into unit pieces, which includes moving in a transverse direction rotatable disc cutters (12) with knife edges so as to cut the upper and lower walls of a flat tube to form a pair of cutting grooves (15) and fixing the flat tube at a point upstream of the cutting groove while flexing in the vertical direction a length of the flat tube downstream of the cutting grooves to break it off at the cutting grooves, thereby providing a unit piece of a predetermined length.

Abstract: A method of cutting a flat tube (6) into unit pieces, which includes moving in a transverse direction rotatable disc cutters (12) with knife edges so as to cut the upper and lower walls of a flat tube to form a pair of cutting grooves (15) and fixing the flat tube at a point upstream of the cutting groove while flexing in the vertical direction a length of the flat tube downstream of the cutting grooves to break it off at the cutting grooves, thereby providing a unit piece of a predetermined length.

Abstract: A heat exchanger is immersed in a hydrophilic-film-forming solution in order to form a hydrophilic film on the surface of the heat exchanger. The film applied on the heat exchanger is then dried to a semi-dry state and while this film is semi-dry, an antimicrobial agent is permeated into the hydrophilic film. Then it is completely dried. By following this process, it is possible to permeate a large amount of antimicrobial agent near the surface of the film, increasing the antimicrobial effect and at the same time, the effect is retained over a long period of time because the antimicrobial agent is not coated on the surface and, therefore, is not washed away with water.

Abstract: The present invention attempts to offer a heat exchanger apparatus capable of absorbing its compression during its soldering and of allowing an easy connection of its intake/outlet pipes to an expansion valve, wherein the expansion valve is mounted, via a joint member, on refrigerant intake/outlet pipes integrally installed on the core of the heat exchanger apparatus, and wherein said joint member has a securing means for securing one of said intake/outlet pipes, and a compression-absorbing means for the other one of said intake/outlet pipes to slide in the stacking direction of said heat exchanger apparatus.

Abstract: A heat-exchanger includes a plurality of stacked tubular elements each having tanks, and passage-forming protrusions defining a passage connecting the tanks, fins interposed between adjacent ones of the tubular elements and contacting the passage-forming protrusions, inlet/outlet units each comprising a barrel-shaped element protruding from and open to the tank of a respective one of the tubular elements, inlet/outlet pipes fitted coaxially in contact with and joined to the barrel-shaped elements, respectively, and a measure (reinforcement) for preventing parts of the barrel-shaped elements from being deformed as the inlet/outlet pipes are fitted to the barrel-shaped elements during the assembly of the heat exchanger to in turn maintain the integrity of the joints between the inlet/outlet units and the inlet/outlet pipes. The reinforcement may include a ring disposed around the barrel-shaped element adjacent an end thereof.

Abstract: A heat exchanger having outer surfaces thereof coated with a hydrophilic coating layer. The hydrophilic coating layer essentially consists of a resin as a base, containing a colloidal silica. In the hydrophilic coating layer, part of silanol groups of the colloidal silica are chemically combined with part of hydroxyl groups of the resin. Due to this chemical combination, the colloidal silica undergoes change in its properties such that it has degraded adsorptivity, making smells less liable to attach to the colloidal silica.

Abstract: A condenser for use in an automobile air conditioner, which includes a pair of header pipes (1) each consisting of a tank portion (2) and an end plate (3); a plurality of parallel flat tubes (14) extending between the header pipes for supporting coolant flows; the end plate being continuously outwardly curved and joined to the tank portion such that inside surfaces of opposite joint edges (2a) of the tank portion overlap outside surfaces of opposite joint edges (3a) of the end plate, whereby the tank portion reinforces the end plate to withstand high pressures of the coolant flows. The flat tubes are brazed to the header pipes such that opposite ends of each flat tube are brought so closely to the joint edges that there is only a minimum clearance that is able to prevent brazing material from entering the flat tube, whereby the tank portion is minimized.

Abstract: Here is disclosed a heat exchanger of the multiflow type comprising a plurality of flat tubes and corrugated fins stacked together one on another alternately, an inlet header pipe to which said flat tubes are connected at their one ends, an outlet header pipe to which said flat tubes are connected at their other ends, and partitions provided within said respective header pipes so that a flow of refrigerant folded plural times in zigzag fashion is established along a purality of paths defined between the two header pipes, wherein the corrugated fins and the flat tubes are previously dimensioned within the respective optimal ranges and the number of the paths as well as the numbers of the flat tubes defining the respective paths are also optimally selected so that the passage resistance of the refrigerant and the flow resistance of the cooling air may be effectively reduced while improving the heat exchanging efficiency, and thereby a heat exchanger having a totally high reliability may be obtained.