Abstract: A stacking-type, multi-flow, heat exchanger includes heat transfer tubes and outer fins stacked alternatively. Each heat transfer tube is formed by connecting a pair of tube plates, and each heat transfer tube includes a raised portion fixing the pair of tube plates to each other. The raised portions are formed by elongating or raising a portion of the pair of tube plates substantially simultaneously at a position at which a pair of holes, each of which is formed through one tube plate beforehand, are aligned. Complicated steps, such as inserting a raised portion into a hole, are not necessary. The number of types of tube plates also may be reduced. Moreover, the efficiency of assembling a heat transfer tube when fixing a pair of tube plates to each other may be significantly increased.

Abstract: A stacking-type, multi-flow, heat exchanger includes heat transfer tubes and fins, which are stacked alternately, an end plate disposed at an outermost position of the stacked heat transfer tubes and fins in a stacking direction, and inlet and outlet pipes connected to the end plate. The heat exchanger includes a pipe connection plate provided on the end plate, having a pipe insertion hole formed therethrough, into which at least one of the inlet and outlet pipes is inserted and which temporarily fixes an end portion of an inserted pipe in the pipe insertion hole. The pipe connection plate and the entire heat exchanger may be formed with a reduced size and weight, and the brazing quality between the plate and the pipe may be improved.

Abstract: In a method for manufacturing a stacking-type, multi-flow, heat exchanger, heat transfer tubes and outer fins are stacked alternately, each heat transfer tube being formed by connecting a pair of tube plates and including an inner fin therebetween. The manufacturing method includes the steps of disposing the tube plates so as to oppose each other, inserting an inner-fin forming material between the tube plates, stacking the tube plates with respect to each other so as to nip or seize the inner-fin forming material between the tube plates, and cutting the inner-fin forming material and end portions of the tube plates simultaneously. By this method, the time for required manufacturing heat transfer tubes may be reduced significantly, and the productivity of the heat exchanger may be increased significantly. The positioning of inner fins may be achieved with a high degree of accuracy.

Abstract: A stacking-type, multi-flow, heat exchanger includes a plurality of heat transfer tubes and fins stacked alternately, and a pair of tanks provided at either end of the heat transfer tubes. One of the tanks has an inlet tank portion and an outlet tank portion for the introduction and the discharge of a heat exchange medium to the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger has a flange member connected to the one of the tanks, the flange member has a flange body, an inlet pipe communicating with the inlet tank portion and an outlet pipe communicating with the outlet tank portion, and at least one of the inlet and outlet pipes is formed separately from the flange body. A passage for introducing heat exchange medium from the inlet pipe to the inlet tank portion and a passage for discharging heat exchange medium from the outlet tank portion to the outlet pipe are arranged in a thickness direction of the heat exchanger in parallel to each other.

Abstract: A stacked-type, multi-flow heat exchanger includes a plurality of heat transfer tubes. Each of the heat transfer tubes includes a first tube plate and a second tube plate connected to the first tube plate, such that the first tube plate and the second tube plate form a refrigerant path within the heat transfer tube. Each of the heat transfer tubes also includes an inner fin having a wave shape, positioned within the refrigerant path and extending in a longitudinal direction along the refrigerant path. Moreover, the heat exchanger includes a plurality of outer fins. The plurality of outer fins and the plurality of heat transfer tubes are stacked alternately. The heat exchanger further includes a plurality of projection portions formed on the first tube plates and the second tube plates, such that the projection portions project into the refrigerant path and extend in an oblique direction relative to the inner fin. Further, the inner fin is connected to the plurality of projection portions.

Abstract: A stacked-type, multi-flow heat exchanger includes a plurality of heat transfer tubes. Each of the heat transfer tubes includes a first tube plate and a second tube plate connected to the first tube plate, such that the first tube plate and the second tube plate form a refrigerant path within the heat transfer tube. Each of the heat transfer tubes also includes an inner fin having a wave shape, positioned within the refrigerant path and extending in a longitudinal direction along the refrigerant path. Moreover, the heat exchanger includes a plurality of outer fins. The plurality of outer fins and the plurality of heat transfer tubes are stacked alternately. The heat exchanger further includes a plurality of projection portions formed on the first tube plates and the second tube plates, such that the projection portions project into the refrigerant path and extend in an oblique direction relative to the inner fin. Further, the inner fin is connected to the plurality of projection portions.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for plasma control, in which an electric field is generated in the direction perpendicular to the surface of an object to be processed in plasma atmosphere generated in a processing chamber and another electric field is generated in the direction parallel to the surface, and the direction of ion or electron in plasma atmosphere is controlled by controlling the composite electric field composed of both the electric fields. The invention provides also an apparatus for plasma control provided with a perpendicular electric field generating means for generating an electric field in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the object, and a parallel electric field generating means for generating an electric field in the direction parallel to the surface of the object.

Abstract: In a distribution device (1) including a distribution tank (3) supplied with a mixed-phase medium consisting essentially of a gas-phase medium and a liquid-phase medium, and a plurality of distribution paths (4), each of which has a medium inlet port and a medium outlet port coupled to the distribution tank and a heat exchanger, respectively, and which are for directing the mixed-phase medium from the distribution tank to the heat exchanger, the medium inlet ports of the plurality of distribution paths are coupled to the distribution tank substantially along an equal void ratio line defined by connecting those points of the distribution tank which are equal in a void ratio to each other, where the void ratio is defined as a ratio of the volume of the gas-phase medium to the volume of both the gas-phase medium and the liquid-phase medium. Typically, the medium outlet ports of the distribution paths are coupled to a plurality of exchanger tubes of the heat exchanger, respectively.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for plasma control, in which an electric field is generated in the direction perpendicular to the surface of an object to be processed in plasma atmosphere generated in a processing chamber and another electric field is generated in the direction parallel to the surface, and the direction of ion or electron in plasma atmosphere is controlled by controlling the composite electric field composed of both the electric fields. The invention provides also an apparatus for plasma control provided with a perpendicular electric field generating means for generating an electric field in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the object, and a parallel electric field generating means for generating an electric field in the direction parallel to the surface of the object.

Abstract: A two path flow, laminated-type heat exchanger for an automotive refrigerant circuit includes a plurality of heat transfer tubes, a plurality of fins, and a tank. The tank is divided into three chambers. The second and third chambers are in fluid communication with the heat transfer tubes, each of which tubes has an interior U-shaped flow path. A plurality of holes of different radii or one diamond-shaped hole or a wall dividing the first chamber into two sub-chambers may be provided between the first chamber and the second chamber. The fluid enters through an inlet orifice and flows into the first chamber. Imbalances in the fluid's mass-flow rate along the length of the tank are leveled as the fluid passes from the first chamber to the second chamber. The fluid now possessing a leveled mass-flow rate enters the heat transfer tubes. Thus, the fluid in every heat transfer tube is leveled.

Abstract: A heat exchanger includes reservoirs spaced apart from each other and a plurality of parallel heat transfer tubes fluidly connecting the reservoirs. An end portion of each heat transfer tube is connected to at least one of the reservoirs so that the end portion does not project into the interior of the reservoir. Thus, the dimension of the reservoir in the axial direction of the tubes and a proper volume of heat transfer medium may be minimized. Further, pressure loss can be reduced because there are no projecting tubes in the reservoirs to obstruct the flow of the heat transfer medium. Moreover, the strength of the connection between the tubes and the reservoirs can be increased because more contacting surface area is provided for making the connection, for example by brazing.

Abstract: In a heat exchanger (1) including first through M-th tube groups, each tube group comprising at least one exchanger tube (10), and a distribution device (3) which has a distribution tank (30) supplied with a medium and first through M-th distribution paths (31, 32, and 33) for directing the medium from the distribution tank to the first through the M-th tube groups, respectively, medium inlet ports of the first through the M-th distribution paths are coupled to first through M-th regions of the distribution tank that have first through M-th void ratios different to each other. Medium outlet ports of the first through the M-th distribution paths are coupled to the exchanger tubes of the first through the M-th tube groups, respectively.

Abstract: At least one flow control member (127a) is fitted in a fitting groove (133) formed in a tank (121). An insertion hole (204) is formed in at least a part of the fitting groove (133). The flow control member (127a) has a projection (205) to be inserted into the insertion hole (204). The projection (205) is smaller in size than the insertion hole (204). The flow control member (127a) is arranged at a predetermined position within the tank (121). The fitting groove (133) is defined by a pair of side wall portions (203b) formed by internally cutting a tank wall of the tank (121) in a thickness direction along a pair of parallel cutting lines, and a guide portion (203a) formed by extruding a portion of the tank wall between the side wall portions (203b). The insertion hole (204) penetrates the guide portion (203a). The projection (205) has first and second tapered portions (351, 352, 354, 355) so that the thickness and the width are reduced towards the top end.

Abstract: A heat exchanger is provided with a first tank and a second tank. Heat transfer tubes are disposed between the tanks and are connected to the tanks to place the tanks in fluid communication. At least one of the tanks is divided into chambers by a partition. A reinforcement plate member is disposed in at least one of the first and the second tanks for reinforcing the tank to prevent deformation of the tank due to an increase of the pressure within the tanks. The reinforcement plate member is not connected to the partition.

Abstract: A heat exchanger is provided with a first tank and a second tank. Heat transfer tubes are disposed between the tanks and are connected to the tanks to place the tanks in fluid communication. At least one of the tanks is divided into chambers by a partition. A reinforcement plate member is disposed in at least one of the first and the second tanks for reinforcing the tank to prevent deformation of the tank due to an increase of the pressure within the tanks. The reinforcement plate member is not connected to the partition.

Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a pair of tanks spaced from each other and a plurality of parallel heat transfer tubes fluidly connected between the pair of tanks. Each tube has end portions inserted into holes disposed in the tanks. The end portions of each tube have a maximum diameter which is smaller than a central diameter of a central portion of the tube. At least one of the end portions comprises a straight portion having the maximum diameter and a tapered portion extending from the straight portion with a tapering diameter gradually decreasing from the maximum diameter. Manufacturing this heat exchanger is easier because the tubes are easily inserted into the holes of the tanks. Further, effective brazing between the tubes and the tanks may be achieved by the structure of the tube end portions having the straight portions and the tapered portions even if the length of the tubes vary slightly due to warping or improper manufacture.

Abstract: A heat exchanger is provided with a first tank and a second tank. Heat transfer tubes are disposed between the tanks and are connected to the tanks to place the tanks in fluid communication. Either of the tanks may be divided into chambers by a partition. The partition has at least one portion which is oriented to be angularly offset from the direction of an air flow passing through the heat exchanger. The orientation of the partition permits the heat transfer tubes to be connected to the tanks in an arrangement so that no portion of the air flow can pass through the heat exchanger without striking at least one of the heat transfer tubes.

Abstract: A heat exchanger is provided with a first tank and a second tank. Heat transfer tubes are disposed between the tanks and are connected to the tanks to place the tanks in fluid communication. Either of the tanks may be divided into chambers by a partition. The partition has at least one portion which is oriented to be angularly offset from the direction of an air flow passing through the heat exchanger. The orientation of the partition permits the heat transfer tubes to be connected to the tanks in an arrangement so that no portion of the air flow can pass through the heat exchanger without striking at least one of the heat transfer tubes.

Abstract: A heat exchanger includes upper and lower tanks, a plurality of parallel heat transfer tubes fluidly interconnected between the upper and lower tanks, a plurality of reinforcing members connecting an upper wall and a lower wall of the upper and lower tanks, and a communication path associated with each reinforcing member. The reinforcing members increase the strength of the tank walls against deformation due to the high pressure working fluid without increasing the thickness of the walls or increasing the spacing between the tubes. The communication path ensures efficient flow of a heat medium in the tanks.

Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a first tank and a second tank, an inlet and an outlet each connected to either the first tank or the second tank, and a plurality of panel units provided between and connected to the first and second tanks. Each of the panel units has a plurality of tube portions formed as fluid paths and a plurality of plate portions connecting adjacent tube portions and having a thickness less than a thickness of the tube portions. The heat exchanger is lightweight, can be easily assembled and can have a high efficiency in heat exchange.