Heat exchanger
A heat exchanger comprises: a long and slender entrance side tank connected to one end side in the longitudinal direction of a plurality of laminated tubes; and an entrance pipe protruded from a wall face laid in the longitudinal direction of the entrance side tank, communicated with the inside of the entrance side tank, the heat exchanger further comprising: a division plate shifted from a center of a projected region which is formed when an inner diameter portion of the entrance pipe is projected into the entrance side tank, the division plate being formed into a plate-shape, the division plate being arranged so that the inside of the entrance side tank can be divided into two portions in the longitudinal direction and the plate face of the division plate can be laid in the axial direction of the entrance pipe, wherein the division plate divides a flow of fluid flowing into the entrance pipe by a plate-shaped end portion so that a flow of fluid flowing onto one side in the longitudinal direction of the entrance side tank and a flow of fluid flowing onto the other side in the longitudinal direction of the entrance side tank can be set at a predetermined ratio.
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a heat exchanger preferably used for a radiator incorporated, for example, into an automobile.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional heat exchanger is disclosed, for example, in the official gazette of JP-UM-2-124225. This heat exchanger includes: a plurality of tubes arranged in parallel with each other; a tube plate with which end portions of the tubes are communicated; and an entrance tank, the opening edge of which is joined to the tube plate, and a pipe, into which internal fluid flows, protrudes from an outer face of the entrance tank.
The pipe is arranged at a position shifted from the center of the entrance tank in the longitudinal direction. The entrance tank is divided into two portions in the longitudinal direction with respect to the boundary of the root portion of the pipe. A partition is provided in the pipe and the entrance tank so that a larger quantity of internal fluid can be introduced into one divided portion of the entrance tank, the opening area of which is larger than the other divided portion of the entrance tank. In the pipe, a position of the partition is biased to one side so that a cross section of the passage formed by this partition can correspond to the opening area of the entrance tank. In the entrance tank, a forward end portion of the partition is inclined to a side on which the opening area is large.
Due to the above structure, the internal fluid can be made to flow uniformly in the tubes. Therefore, heat exchange is effectively conducted throughout the entire heat exchanger.
However, in the heat exchanger described in the official gazette of JP-UM-2-124225, in order to make a larger quantity of internal fluid flow on the side of the larger opening area of the entrance tank, the partition is inclined so that a direction of the flow of the internal fluid can be changed along the inclined partition. Therefore, in this structure, the partition is given a load (pressure) from the internal fluid at all times. In the patent document described above, the heat exchanger is used for cooling air sucked into an engine. Therefore, as the internal fluid is a gas, a load given to the partition is light, however, for example, in the case where liquid such as cooling water is made to flow as the internal fluid, a heavy load is given by the internal fluid. Accordingly, it becomes necessary to improve the mechanical strength and the durability. Further, there is a possibility that the tubes are stopped up with broken pieces in the case where the partition has been damaged.
In view of the above problems of the prior art, an object of the present invention is to provide a heat exchanger characterized in that: a load given to the heat exchanger is made as light as possible; and the flow rate of internal fluid can be easily distributed.
In order to accomplish that above object, the present invention adopts the following technical means.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a heat exchanger comprising: a long and slender entrance side tank (120) connected to one end side in the longitudinal direction of a plurality of laminated tubes (111); and an entrance pipe (121a) protruded from a wall face (121d) laid in the longitudinal direction of the entrance side tank (120), communicated with the inside of the entrance side tank (120), the heat exchanger further comprising: a division plate (123) shifted from a center of a projected region which is formed when an inner diameter portion of the entrance pipe (121a) is projected into the entrance side tank (120), the division plate (123) being formed into a plate-shape, the division plate (123) being arranged so that the inside of the entrance side tank (120) can be divided into two portions in the longitudinal direction and the plate face (123a) of the division plate (123) can be laid in the axial direction of the entrance pipe (121a), wherein the division plate (123) divides a flow of fluid flowing into the entrance pipe (121a) by a plate-shaped end portion (123b) so that the flow rate of fluid flowing onto one side in the longitudinal direction of the entrance side tank (120) and the flow rate of fluid flowing onto the other side in the longitudinal direction of the entrance side tank (120) can be set at a predetermined ratio.
Due to the above structure, no load is given, by the fluid, to the plate face (123a) of the division plate (123). Therefore, a heat exchanger (100), the durability of which is high, can be provided.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, the entrance pipe (121a) is located on one side in the longitudinal direction of the entrance side tank (120), and the division plate (123) is arranged at a position shifted by a predetermined distance to one side in the longitudinal direction of the entrance side tank (120).
Due to the above structure, although the flow rate of fluid flowing to the other side in the longitudinal direction of the entrance tank (120) is reduced, compared to the case where no division plate (123) is provided, the flow rate of fluid flowing to the other side can be increased by the division plate (123). Accordingly, it is possible to equalize the flow rate of fluid flowing in the tubes (111), and the heat exchange performance of the heat exchanger (100) can be enhanced.
It is possible to reduce a temperature difference between the tubes (111) caused by an uneven flow rate of fluid. Therefore, the durability of the heat exchanger (100) can be enhanced.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, the division plate (123) is extended into the entrance pipe (121a).
Due to the above structure, at the time when fluid has flowed into the entrance pipe (121a), the fluid has been divided by the division plate (123). Therefore, a flow rate can be positively divided.
Incidentally, the reference numerals in parentheses, to denote the above means, are intended to show the relationship of the specific means which will be described later in an embodiment of the invention.
The present invention may be more fully understood from the description of preferred embodiments of the invention set forth below, together with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The first embodiment will be explained below. The first embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1 to 4. In the first embodiment, a heat exchanger of the present invention is applied to a radiator 100 for automobile use. In this connection,
As shown in
The core portion 110 includes: a tube 111; a corrugated fin (referred to as a fin hereinafter) 112; and a side plate 113, wherein the core portion 110 is connected to plate portions 122, 132 of both tanks 120, 130 described later. These members 111 to 113 are respectively made of aluminum or aluminum alloy, the mechanical strength and the corrosion resistance of which are excellent.
A plurality of tubes 111 and fins 112 are alternately laminated on each other, that is, a plurality of tubes 111 and fins 112 are alternately arranged in the lateral direction in
End portions in the longitudinal direction of each tube 111 are inserted into the tube holes 122a (shown in
The upper tank (corresponding to the entrance side tank in the present invention) 120 includes: a main tank body 121 and a plate portion 122. The lower tank 130 includes a main tank body 131 and a plate portion 132. The main tank bodies 121, 131 are made of resin material (for example, nylon material). The plate portions 122, 132 are made of aluminum or aluminum alloy.
Each main tank body 121, 131 is formed into a shape of a container which will be described as follows. A shape of the cross section of each main tank body 121, 131, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (referred to as a tank longitudinal direction hereinafter) of the tank body, is formed into a substantial U-shape (shown in
In this connection, the pipe portions 121a, 131a respectively protrudes from the side walls (corresponding to the wall faces provided in the longitudinal direction of the tank in the present invention) 121d of the main tank body portions 121, 131 in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the tank. The pipe portions 121a, 131a are communicated with the inside of the main tank body portions 121, 131.
Each of the plate portions 122, 132 is a long and slender plate-shaped member, onto the surface of which brazing material is clad. In an inside region of each plate portion, a plurality of tube holes 122a are formed being arranged in the longitudinal direction. On the outer circumference of the plate portion 122, 132, a tank insertion portion 122b, into which the outer circumference portion on the opening side of the main tank body portion 121, 131 is inserted, and a plurality of crimping nails 122c used for caulking the tank are provided. Between the outer circumference portion on the opening side of each main tank body portion 121, 131 and the tank insertion portion 122b of each plate portion 122, 132, a sealing packing member 122d is interposed. The main tank body portion 121, 131 and the plate portion 122, 132 are mechanically joined to each other being caulked by the plurality of crimping nails 122c.
In the present embodiment, by the restriction imposed on the heat exchanger when the heat exchanger is mounted on a vehicle, in the upper tank 120, the pipe portion 121a is located on one side (on the left side in
At a position in the main tank body portion 121 corresponding to the position of the pipe portion 121a, a division plate 123 is provided. As shown in
The division plate 123 is arranged in a projected region which is formed when an inner diameter portion of the pipe portion 121a is projected into the main tank body portion 121. In this case, the projected region is defined as a region corresponding to the inner diameter size of the pipe portion 121a in the longitudinal direction of the tank as shown in
The radiator 100 composed as described above is arranged in the front portion (at the rear of the grill) of an engine compartment of a vehicle, and the attaching portions 121c, 131b are fixed to a vehicle frame. An inlet hose extending from the vehicle engine is attached to the pipe portion 121a. An outlet hose, in which the cooling water returns to the engine, is attached to the pipe portion 131a.
Next, the operation and the operational effect of the radiator 100 composed as described above will be explained below.
Cooling water flows from the vehicle engine into the pipe portion 121a and the upper tank 120 via the inlet hose. Then, the cooling water flows in the plurality of tubes 111. While the cooling water is flowing in the plurality of tubes 111, heat exchange is conducted with a flow of cold air, so that the cooling water can be cooled. At this time, heat exchange is facilitated by the fins 112. The thus cooled cooling water is collected into the lower tank 130. The thus collected cooling water flows out from the pipe portion 131a and returns to the engine via the outlet hose.
When the pipe portion 121a is located at a position on the left side in
However, in the present embodiment, as the division plate 123 is arranged in the upper tank 120, as shown in
At this time, the division plate 123 only divides a flow of cooling water by the end portion 123b. Therefore, no load (pressure) of the cooling water is given to the plate face 123a. Accordingly, it is possible to provide a radiator 100 (division plate 123), the durability of which is high.
Further, it is possible to prevent a temperature difference between the tubes 111 which is caused when the flow rates of cooling waters are not equal. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of heat deformation caused by the temperature difference. Accordingly, the durability of the radiator 100 can be enhanced.
A basic shape of the division plate 123 is a simple plate-shape. When the size L1, which is a size shifted from the center of the projected region, and the size L2, which is a size of the gap, are appropriately set, the flow rate of cooling water on the right side of the upper tank 120 and the flow rate of cooling water on the left side of the upper tank 120 can be determined at a predetermined ratio by a very compact device. Therefore, an influence given to the productivity and the manufacturing cost can be minimized.
Next, the second embodiment will be explained below. The second embodiment of the present invention is shown in
Due to the above structure, at the time when the cooling water flows into the pipe portion 121a, the fluid can be divided by the division plate 123. Therefore, the flow rate of cooling water can be more positively distributed.
Finally, another embodiment will be explained below. With respect to the first and the second embodiment described above, irrespective of the position of the pipe portion 121a in the upper tank 120 (The position of the pipe portion 121a in the upper tank 120 is located on the left side.) and also irrespective of the shape of the main tank body portion 121 (A cross-section of the shape of the main tank body portion 121 on the right side is formed being crushed in a long region.), when the division plate 123 is used, the distribution of the flows of cooling water can be positively changed. For example, in the case where a distribution is caused in the flow of the cooling air flowing into the heat exchanger from a vehicle grill, the division plate 123 may be utilized so that a quantity of cooling water can be increased on a side of a large volume of the cooling air.
Even in the case where the pipe portion 121a is not perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the tank but inclined, when the plate face 123a of the division plate 123 is set along the axial direction of the inclined pipe portion 121a, the same effect can be provided. Even in the case where the pipe portion 121a protrudes from the ceiling wall 121f of the main tank body portion 121, it is possible to apply the division plate 123 to the heat exchanger.
Concerning the material of the heat exchanger, instead of aluminum or aluminum alloy, it is possible to use copper alloy or stainless steel.
The heat exchanger of the present invention is applied to the radiator 100. However, the application of the heat exchanger is not limited to the radiator 100. The heat exchanger of the present invention can be applied to an oil cooler, a heater core, a condenser used for condensing refrigerant incorporated into a refrigerating cycle and an evaporator for evaporating refrigerant in the same manner. The use of the heat exchanger of the present invention is not limited to a heat exchanger for vehicle use but the heat exchanger of the present invention may be a heat exchanger for domestic use.
While the invention has been described by reference to specific embodiments chosen for purposes of illustration, it should be apparent that numerous modifications could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the basic concept and scope of the invention.
Claims
1. A heat exchanger comprising:
- a long and slender entrance side tank (120) connected to one end side in the longitudinal direction of a plurality of laminated tubes (111); and
- an entrance pipe (121a) protruded from a wall face (121d) laid in the longitudinal direction of the entrance side tank (120), communicated with the inside of the entrance side tank (120),
- the heat exchanger further comprising:
- a division plate (123) shifted from a center of a projected region which is formed when an inner diameter portion of the entrance pipe (121a) is projected into the entrance side tank (120), the division plate (123) being formed into a plate-shape, the division plate (123) being arranged so that the inside of the entrance side tank (120) can be divided into two portions in the longitudinal direction and the plate face (123a) of the division plate (123) can be laid in the axial direction of the entrance pipe (121a), wherein
- the division plate (123) divides a flow of fluid flowing into the entrance pipe (121a) by a plate-shaped end portion (123b) so that the flow rate of fluid flowing onto one side in the longitudinal direction of the entrance side tank (120) and the flow rate of fluid flowing onto the other side in the longitudinal direction of the entrance side tank (120) can be set at a predetermined ratio.
2. A heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the entrance pipe (121a) is located on one side in the longitudinal direction of the entrance side tank (120), and
- the division plate (123) is arranged at a position shifted by a predetermined distance to one side in the longitudinal direction of the entrance side tank (120).
3. A heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the division plate (123) is extended into the entrance pipe (121a).
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 2, 2006
Publication Date: Apr 12, 2007
Applicant: DENSO Corporation (Kariya-city)
Inventor: Yoshihiro Tomura (Chiryu-city)
Application Number: 11/541,945
International Classification: F28F 9/02 (20060101);