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: In a heat exchanger made of stacked tubular elements, the tubular elements are formed from pressed plates bearing on one another. The plates enclose between them a cavity which is connected via corresponding orifices to the cavity of the tubular element adjacent in each case. In order to fix the stacked plates in their position and reliably prevent slipping along the tubular element plane, all the plates of the heat exchanger are provided with a congruent fixing orifice, into which a fixing rod can be inserted. A method for manufacturing the heat exchanger is also disclosed.

Abstract: In order to prevent a communicating pipe from becoming damaged by water (in particular drain water) collecting in the gap formed between the tube element at one end of a heat exchanger that is constituted of a flat plate and a formed plate and the communicating pipe through defective brazing and repeatedly freezing and melting, a flange (32) and a bonding margin (11) continuous to the flange (32) are notched off over almost the entire circumference at the center on the inside of an indented portion (9) in a formed plate (16) which, together with a flat plate (15), constitutes a tube element (3b). Thus, while the communicating pipe (27) comes in contact with the internal surface of a flange (29) of a pipe connection hole (28) of the flat plate (15), it does not come in contact with the formed plate (16), thereby forming a gap bounded by the flat plate (15), the formed plate (16) and the communicating pipe (27).

Abstract: Baffle inserts or shims are disclosed for controlling the flow circuiting in plate or tube type heat exchangers of the kind having a plurality of stacked, hollow plate pairs or tubes including mating end bosses or areas or spacers having communicating openings formed therein to form a manifold for the flow of fluid through the plate pairs. The baffle inserts are located between preselected adjacent end bosses in the area of the end bosses only, to define different flow circuits through the plate pairs or tubes without having to use specially shaped plates or inserting obstructions into the flow passages inside the plate pairs or tubes. A method of using the baffle inserts is disclosed in which the baffle inserts are inserted during preassembly of the heat exchanger prior to the brazing operation.

Abstract: According to the present invention, plural downstream side evaporation passages in a downstream side heat exchanging unit are divided into two groups substantially at the middle of the width by a separator, plural upstream side evaporation passages in an upstream side heat exchanging unit are divided into two groups substantially at the middle of the width by a separator, and a downstream side lower tank and an upstream side upper tank are communicated by a communication passage so that inefficient heat exchanging areas of the downstream side heat exchanging unit and the upstream side heat exchanging unit disposed one after the other with respect to the flowing direction of air may not overlap with each other.

Abstract: A refrigerant evaporator 5 constructed by a refrigerant-refrigerant heat exchanger section 32 having an inflow passageway 38 and an outflow passageway 39, and a refrigerant-air heat exchanger section 34 having a bottom tank 48, a top tank 49 and evaporating passageways 100 connecting the tanks 48 and 49 with each other. An orifice 33 is arranged between the inflow passageway 38 of the refrigerant-air heat exchanger section 34 and the inlet tank 48 of the refrigerant-air heat exchanger section 34. The refrigerant in the bottom tank 48 is introduced into all of the evaporating passageways 100, so as to obtain a single, upward direction of flow of the refrigerant in the evaporating passageways 100.

Abstract: According to the present invention, the tube element includes a connecting portion for connecting the pair of core plates at an upstream air side, an extending portion extending from each of the connecting portions of the core plate at the upstream air side and having a fin connecting portion connected to the corrugated fin, and a further upstream end portion of the extending portion located at an upstream side of the fin connecting portion which is located away from the corrugated fin to form a predetermined gap with the corrugated fin so as to communicate with the air passage. The extending portion including the fin connecting portion closes the whole space between the tube elements and the adjacent corrugated fins at the more upstream air side of the refrigerant passage, so that the air entering between the tube elements and the adjacent corrugated fins can be substantially shut off.

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.