HEAT EXCHANGER

Abstract

A heat exchanger has a case body that includes an outer peripheral wall, a medium inlet, and a medium outlet, wherein an open surface is formed on one side in an erecting direction of the outer peripheral wall, and a lid body that is joined to the case body to cover the open surface. The medium flow path is formed between the case body and the lid body. The case body has a flow path partitioning portion. An outer wall end surface which is an end surface of the outer peripheral wall on a side of the open surface and a partition end surface which is an end surface of the flow path partitioning portion on the side of the open surface are formed continuously with each other. The lid body is joined to the case body at the outer wall end surface and the partition end surface.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE

This application claims priority to Japanese patent application No. 2025-005293 filed on January 15, 2025, the contents of which are fully incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a heat exchanger.

BACKGROUND ART

As a heat exchanger that includes a medium flow path through which a heat medium flows, for example, as disclosed in JP 2002-368170 A, there is a cooler that has a case body including a refrigerant inlet, a refrigerant outlet, and an open surface and a lid body joined to the case body to cover the open surface of the case body. In such a cooler, the case body and the lid body are sometimes joined to each other by welding, brazing, or the like.

SUMMARY

However, in such a cooler, the strength of a joint portion may be insufficient in a case in which the width of the medium flow path is wide, and the like. That is, for example, in a case in which the width of the medium flow path is large, the pressure of the heat medium flowing through the medium flow path is high, and the like, there is a concern that the pressure of the heat medium may cause damage to the joint portion between the case body and the lid body. That is, it is desired to improve the joint durability between the case body and the lid body.

The present disclosure has been made in view of such problems, and an object of the present disclosure is to provide a heat exchanger capable of improving the joint durability between a case body and a lid body.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a heat exchanger provided with a medium flow path configured to distribute a heat medium, the heat exchanger including:

a case body including

an outer peripheral wall,

a medium inlet, and

a medium outlet, wherein an open surface is formed on one side in an erecting direction of the outer peripheral wall; and

a lid body joined to the case body to cover the open surface,

wherein the medium flow path is formed between the case body and the lid body,

wherein the case body has a flow path partitioning portion to branch the medium flow path into a plurality of branch flow paths,

wherein an outer wall end surface which is an end surface of the outer peripheral wall on a side of the open surface and a partition end surface which is an end surface of the flow path partitioning portion on the side of the open surface are formed continuously with each other, and

wherein the lid body is joined to the case body at the outer wall end surface and the partition end surface.

In the heat exchanger of the above aspect, the lid body is joined to the case body at the outer wall end surface and the partition end surface. As a result, the joint portion between the case body and the lid body can be formed tightly, and thus it is possible to improve the joint durability between the case body and the lid body. The outer wall end surface and the partition end surface are formed continuously with each other. Thereby, it is possible to reduce the number of portions where stress is easily applied in the joint portion. As a result, it is possible to improve the joint durability between the case body and the lid body.

As described above, according to the above aspect, it is possible to provide a heat exchanger capable of improving the joint durability between the case body and the lid body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a heat exchanger in a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the heat exchanger in the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a case body in the first embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a view seen in a direction of an arrow IV in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view along line V-V in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view along line VI-VI in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view corresponding to the cross section along line VI-VI in FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a heat exchanger in a comparative embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a heat exchanger in a second embodiment; and

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a heat exchanger in a third embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The heat exchanger of the present disclosure can be, for example, a cooler that cools an object to be subjected to heat exchange or a heater that heats an object to be subjected to heat exchange. Alternatively, the heat exchanger of the present disclosure can perform both cooling and heating in order to adjust an object to be subjected to heat exchange to a predetermined temperature. That is, the heat medium may be a refrigerant that cools an object or a heat medium that heats an object. The heat medium may be any fluid, and for example, can be a liquid such as water, or a gas such as air.

The partition end surface may be continuous with the outer wall end surface at both ends of the medium flow path in a flow path direction. In this case, it is possible to further reduce the portion where the stress is easily applied in the joint portion. Therefore, it is possible to further improve the joint durability between the case body and the lid body.

At least one of the medium inlet and the medium outlet may be provided with an interior partition thereinside to separate an interior thereof, the interior partition being connected to the flow path partition. In this case, the heat medium can be easily and smoothly branched into the plurality of branch flow paths. From this point of view, the inner partitioning portion is more preferably provided inside both the medium inlet and the medium outlet.

First embodiment

An embodiment of a heat exchanger will be described with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, a heat exchanger 1 of the present embodiment is a heat exchanger that includes a medium flow path 11 through which a heat medium flows. As shown in FIG. 2, the heat exchanger 1 has a case body 2 and a lid body 3. As shown in FIG. 3, the case body 2 includes an outer peripheral wall 21, a medium inlet 22, and a medium outlet 23. An open surface 24 is formed on one side in an erecting direction of the outer peripheral wall 21. As shown in FIG. 2, the lid body 3 is joined to the case body 2 to cover the open surface 24. The medium flow path 11 is formed between the case body 2 and the lid body 3.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the case body 2 has a flow path partitioning portion 25 that causes the medium flow path 11 to branch into a plurality of branch flow paths 111 and 112. An outer wall end surface 211 which is an end surface of the outer peripheral wall 21 on a side of the open surface 24 and a partition end surface 251 which is an end surface of the flow path partitioning portion 25 on the side of the open surface 24 are formed continuously with each other. The lid body 3 is joined to the case body 2 at the outer wall end surface 211 and the partition end surface 251.

In the present embodiment, the case body 2 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape and has a bottom wall 26 and the outer peripheral wall 21 (21a, 21b, 21c, 21d) erected from the outer periphery thereof. The medium flow path 11 is formed inside the outer peripheral wall 21. A side of the case body 2 opposite to the bottom wall 26 is the open surface 24. As described above, the lid body 3 is joined to the case body 2 to cover the open surface 24. The erecting direction of the outer peripheral wall 21 is appropriately referred to as a Z direction, and for convenience, a side of the open surface 24 is referred to as an upper side, and a side of the bottom wall 26 is referred to as a lower side. However, the upper side and the lower side here are not limited to an upper side and a lower side in a vertical direction.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, in the present embodiment, the medium flow path 11 is formed in a substantially U shape when viewed in the Z direction. The case body 2 has an inner wall 27 erected from the bottom wall 26 and having one end connected to the outer peripheral wall 21. The inner wall 27 extends toward the outer peripheral wall 21c on a side opposite to the outer peripheral wall 21a to which the inner wall 27 is connected, but the inner wall 27 is not connected to the outer peripheral wall 21c on the opposite side. Thus, the substantially U-shaped medium flow path 11 is formed inside the outer peripheral wall 21.

The medium inlet 22 and the medium outlet 23 are disposed on the outer peripheral wall 21a to which the inner wall 27 is connected. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the substantially U-shaped medium flow path 11 has one end connected to the medium inlet 22 and the other end connected to the medium outlet 23.

The flow path partitioning portion 25 is formed in the substantially U-shaped medium flow path 11. The flow path partitioning portion 25 partitions the medium flow path 11 in a direction orthogonal to the Z direction and orthogonal to a flow path direction of the medium flow path 11. The flow path partitioning portion 25 has a substantially U-shape along the medium flow path 11. The flow path partitioning portion 25 is continuous with the outer peripheral wall 21 at both ends of the medium flow path 11 in the flow path direction. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the partition end surface 251, which is an upper surface of the flow path partitioning portion 25, is continuous with the outer wall end surface 211, which is an upper surface of the outer peripheral wall 21, at both ends of the medium flow path 11 in the flow path direction. That is, the partition end surface 251 is continuous with the outer wall end surface 211 of the outer peripheral wall 21a.

An inner wall end surface 271, which is an upper surface of the inner wall 27, is also continuous with the outer wall end surface 211 of the outer peripheral wall 21a on a side where the medium inlet 22 and the medium outlet 23 are provided.

As shown in FIG. 1, the case body 2 is joined to the lid body 3 at the partition end surface 251 of the flow path partitioning portion 25, the outer wall end surface 211 of the outer peripheral wall 21, and the inner wall end surface 271 of the inner wall 27. The joint of the case body 2 and the lid body 3 can be performed by, for example, welding as will be described below or brazing. In the present embodiment, all the outer wall end surface 211, the partition end surface 251, and the inner wall end surface 271 have substantially flat surfaces.

As shown in FIGS. 3, 6, and 7, the medium inlet 22 and the medium outlet 23 are provided with interior partitions 221 and 231 thereinside respectively to separate an interior thereof. Each of the interior partitions 221 and 231 is connected to the flow path partition 25. In the present embodiment, the medium inlet 22 and the medium outlet 23 are each formed of a cylindrical body. These cylindrical bodies are joined to the outer peripheral wall 21 to form the medium inlet 22 and the medium outlet 23, respectively. Each of the inner partitioning portions 221 and 231 is provided inside one of the cylindrical bodies.

Each of the inner partitioning portions 221 and 231 is formed to partition the inside in a direction orthogonal to both a passing-through direction of the cylindrical body and the Z direction. Each of the inner partitioning portions 221 and 231 is formed up to an end portion of the cylindrical body on a side of the medium flow path 11 (right side in FIG. 6). Each of the end portions of the inner partitioning portions 221 and 231 on a side opposite to a side of the medium flow path 11 is located closer to the medium flow path 11 than an end portion of the cylindrical body on a side opposite to a side of the medium flow path 11. The thickness of each of the inner partitioning portions 221 and 231 is smaller than the thickness of the flow path partitioning portion 25.

In the heat exchanger 1 of the present embodiment, the heat medium flows through the medium flow path 11 as indicated by an arrow f in FIG. 6. That is, the heat medium introduced from the medium inlet 22 is branched by the inner partitioning portion 221 and introduced into the medium flow path 11. That is, the heat medium branched into one side and the other side through the inner partitioning portion 221 is separately introduced into the branch flow path 111 and the branch flow path 112 in the medium flow path 11.

The heat medium introduced into the two branch flow paths 111 and 112 of the medium flow path 11 flows in a substantially U shape along each flow path and reaches the medium outlet 23. Also in the medium outlet 23, the heat medium having flowed through each of the two branch flow paths 111 and 112 flows through each of spaces on sides opposite to each other through the inner partitioning portion 231 in the medium outlet 23. Then, at a position where the inner partitioning portion 231 ends, the branched flows of the heating medium merge, and the heating medium is discharged from the heat exchanger 1.

The heat medium exchanges heat with an object such as a component thermally in contact with the heat exchanger 1 while flowing through the medium flow path 11. For example, the heat exchanger 1 of the present embodiment can be a cooler for cooling a heat generating component such as an electronic component. For example, a heat generating component is disposed on a lower surface of the bottom wall 26 of the case body 2, and a refrigerant as the heat medium is circulated in the medium flow path 11, whereby the heat generating component can be cooled. The refrigerant may be a liquid such as cooling water or a gas such as air. The heat exchanger 1 can be made of a metal such as aluminum or an aluminum alloy, for example.

Next, an example of a method for manufacturing the heat exchanger 1 of the present embodiment will be described.

In the case body 2 shown in FIG. 3, for example, a portion other than the cylindrical body constituting each of the medium inlet 22 and the medium outlet 23 is formed by a die casting method of an aluminum alloy. On the other hand, the inner partitioning portions 221 and 231 are joined to the cylindrical bodies constituting the medium inlet 22 and the medium outlet 23, respectively. The joining of the inner partitioning portions 221 and 231 in the cylindrical bodies can be performed by, for example, welding, brazing, or the like. The cylindrical body including each of the inner partitioning portions 221 and 231 can also be made of, for example, an aluminum alloy.

One end of the cylindrical body provided with each of the inner partitioning portions 221 and 231 is joined to one outer peripheral wall 21a of the case body 2. That is, two openings are provided in advance in the outer peripheral wall 21a, a cylindrical body is fitted into each of the openings, and the cylindrical body is joined to the outer peripheral wall 21. This joining can also be performed by, for example, welding, brazing, or the like. In this manner, the case body 2 shown in FIG. 3 is obtained.

Then, the lid body 3 is disposed to cover the open surface 24 of the case body 2. The lid body 3 is also made of a metal such as an aluminum alloy, for example. In the present embodiment, the lid body 3 is formed in a plate shape. In this manner, in a state where the case body 2 and the lid body 3 are overlapped with each other, the lid body 3 is disposed to face the outer wall end surface 211, the partition end surface 251, and the inner wall end surface 271 of the case body 2. In this state, as shown in FIG. 5, the lid body 3 is joined to the outer wall end surface 211, the partition end surface 251, and the inner wall end surface 271.

The joint of the lid body 3 to the case body 2 can be performed by, for example, welding, brazing, or the like. In the present embodiment, welding is performed. As a welding method, for example, friction stir welding (FSW), laser welding, or the like can be used. This welding is performed along the outer wall end surface 211, the partition end surface 251, and the inner wall end surface 271. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 1, a joint portion 12 between the case body 2 and the lid body 3 is formed along the outer wall end surface 211, the partition end surface 251, and the inner wall end surface 271. As shown in the drawing, a joint portion 121 in the outer wall end surface 211, a joint portion 122 in the partition end surface 251, and a joint portion 123 in the inner wall end surface 271 are formed continuously with each other.

As described above, the heat exchanger 1 of the present embodiment can be obtained.

Next, effects of the present embodiment will be described.

In the heat exchanger 1 of the present embodiment, the lid body 3 is joined to the case body 2 at the outer wall end surface 211, the partition end surface 251, and the inner wall end surface 271. As a result, the joint portion 12 between the case body 2 and the lid body 3 can be formed tightly, and thus it is possible to improve the joint durability between the case body 2 and the lid body 3. That is, the interval between the adjacent joint portions 12 can be short, and thus it is possible to improve the joint strength between the case body 2 and the lid body 3.

The outer wall end surface 211 and the partition end surface 251 are formed continuously with each other. As a result, it is possible to reduce the number of portions where stress is easily applied in the joint portion 12. That is, the partition end surface 251 is formed continuously with the outer wall end surface 211, and thus the joint portion 122 in the partition end surface 251 can be formed continuously with the joint portion 121 in the outer wall end surface 211. Therefore, the number of end edges of the joint portion 12 can be reduced.

In particular, as in the present embodiment, when the partition end surface 251 is continuous with the outer wall end surface 211 at both ends in the flow path direction of the medium flow path 11, both ends of the joint portion 122 in the partition end surface 251 can be continuous with the joint portion 121 in the outer wall end surface 211. In this case, it is possible to substantially eliminate an end edge where stress is particularly likely to concentrate in the joint portion 122 formed in the partition end surface 251. As a result, it is possible to improve the joint durability between the case body 2 and the lid body 3.

In order to explain this, for example, a comparative embodiment as shown in FIG. 8 is considered. In a heat exchanger 9 according to the comparative embodiment, the partition end surface 251 is not connected to the outer wall end surface 211, and thus both end edges 122a are formed at the joint portion 122 in the partition end surface 251. Then, stress is likely to concentrate on the end edges 122a. That is, when a force to deform the lid body 3 acts around the end edges 122a of the joint portion 122 due to the pressure of the heat medium or the like, the force concentrates on the end edges 122a. As described above, the presence of the end edges 122a of the joint portion 122 on which stress is likely to concentrate may cause damage to the joint portion 122 starting from the end edges 122a.

On the other hand, in the heat exchanger 1 of the present embodiment (see FIG. 1), the end edges 122a of the joint portion 122 in the partition end surface 251 as described above can be eliminated, and thus it is possible to improve the joint durability.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, each of the medium inlet 22 and the medium outlet 23 are provided with interior partitions 221 and 231 thereinside respectively, and each of the interior partitions 221 and 231 is connected to the flow path partition 25. Accordingly, the heat medium can be easily and smoothly branched into the plurality of branch flow paths 111. Accordingly, the stress acting on the joint portion 12 can be more easily reduced.

In addition, since the joint portions 121, 122, and 123 are continuous, the joint portions 121, 122, and 123 can be continuously formed by so-called single stroke when the case body 2 and the lid body 3 are welded. That is, for example, when welding is performed by the FWS, the joining tool is transferred while being pressed against the object to be welded, and the joint portions 121, 122, and 123 can be continuously formed. In addition, also in the case of laser welding, the joint portions 121, 122, and 123 can be continuously formed by performing the laser irradiation without interruption. Therefore, it is likely to be advantageous also from the viewpoint of productivity.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to provide a heat exchanger capable of improving the joint durability between the case body and the lid body.

Second embodiment

The present embodiment is a modification embodiment of the first embodiment, and as shown in FIG. 9, one end 123a of the joint portion 123 between the inner wall end surface 271 and the lid body 3 is connected to a part of the joint portion 123 itself.

That is, the joint portion 123 in the inner wall end surface 271 is folded back in a substantially annular shape at an end portion on a side (right side in FIG. 9) opposite to a side connected to the joint portion 121 in the outer wall end surface 211. The one end 123a of the folded-back joint portion 123 is connected to a part of the joint portion 123.

Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment. Among the reference signs used in the second embodiment and a subsequent embodiment, the same reference signs as those used in the above-described embodiment represent the same components and the like as those in the above-described embodiment unless otherwise specified.

In the case of the present embodiment, it is possible to further improve the joint durability between the case body 2 and the lid body 3. That is, it is also possible to alleviate the concentration of stress on both ends of the joint portion 123 between the inner wall 27 and the lid body 3.

The second embodiment has other effects similar to those of the first embodiment.

Third embodiment

As shown in FIG. 10, the present embodiment is an embodiment of the heat exchanger 1 in which the medium inlet 22 and the medium outlet 23 are provided on the outer peripheral walls 21 on opposite sides of the case body 2.

In the heat exchanger 1 of the present embodiment, the flow path direction of the medium flow path 11 is substantially along a straight line when viewed in the Z direction.

The flow path partitioning portion 25 that partitions the medium flow path 11 is provided in a substantially straight line when viewed in the Z direction. An extended line from the flow path partitioning portion 25 in a longitudinal direction when viewed in the Z direction passes through substantially the center of each of the medium inlet 22 and the medium outlet 23. The present embodiment is the same as the first embodiment in that the partition end surface 251 of the flow path partitioning portion 25 is continuous with the outer wall end surface 211. In the present embodiment, there is no portion equivalent to the inner wall 27 shown in the first embodiment.

Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment. The present embodiment also has other effects similar to those of the first embodiment.

The shape of the medium flow path 11 is not limited to the substantially U shape and the substantially I shape as in the above-described embodiments and may be various shapes such as a substantially L shape. Two or more flow path partitioning portions may be provided to form three or more branch flow paths.

The present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiments and can be applied to various embodiments without departing from the gist of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A heat exchanger provided with a medium flow path configured to distribute a heat medium, the heat exchanger comprising:

a case body including

an outer peripheral wall,

a medium inlet, and

a medium outlet, wherein an open surface is formed on one side in an erecting direction of the outer peripheral wall; and

a lid body joined to the case body to cover the open surface,

wherein the medium flow path is formed between the case body and the lid body,

wherein the case body has a flow path partitioning portion to branch the medium flow path into a plurality of branch flow paths,

wherein an outer wall end surface which is an end surface of the outer peripheral wall on a side of the open surface and a partition end surface which is an end surface of the flow path partitioning portion on the side of the open surface are formed continuously with each other, and

wherein the lid body is joined to the case body at the outer wall end surface and the partition end surface.

2. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the partition end surface is continuous with the outer wall end surface at both ends of the medium flow path in a flow path direction.

3. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the medium inlet and the medium outlet is provided with an interior partition thereinside to separate an interior thereof, the interior partition being connected to the flow path partition.

4. The heat exchanger according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the medium inlet and the medium outlet is provided with an interior partition thereinside to separate an interior thereof, the interior partition being connected to the flow path partition.