JP3353428B2 - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an air conditioner used for a vehicle or the like, which improves the sealing performance between a case and a heat exchanger.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a conventional heat exchanger. FIG. 17 shows a cross-sectional top view of a conventional heat exchanger. The conventional core part 2 is formed by alternately stacking a number of layers of tubes 9 and corrugated fins 10. Inserts 4 are provided on both end surfaces of the core portion 2 in a direction in which the tubes 9 and the corrugated fins 10 are alternately arranged. The widths of the tube 9, the fins 10 and the inserts 4 (indicated by a in FIGS. 16 and 17) are the same. Then, as shown in FIG. 17, the tube 9 is inserted into a fixing hole 11 slightly larger than the width of the tube 9 provided in the sheet metal 5. Thereby, the width of the sheet metal 5 (indicated by c in FIG. 17) becomes larger than the width of the tube 9. A tank capsule 6 forming the tank unit 1 covers and surrounds the sheet metal 5. As a result, the width of the core portion 2 (shown by a in FIG. 17)
Is naturally smaller than the width of the tank 1 (shown by b in FIG. 17). In order to seal such a heat exchanger and the case, the shape of the heat exchanger inlet provided in the case accommodating the heat exchanger and the top shape of the heat exchanger are made equal, and the heat exchanger is sealed. The heat exchanger and the case were sealed by attaching packing to the sealing surface.

[0003]

However, the width of the core portion 2 (shown in FIG. 17A) is equal to the width of the tank portion 1 (b in FIG. 17).
), A step is generated between the core portion 2 and the tank portion 1. Then, the upper surface shape of the entire heat exchanger 20 has a complicated shape in which a step is formed between the core portion 2 and the tank portion 1. Further, if the heat exchanger 20 is attached to the case while maintaining the sealing property, a heat exchanger inlet having a shape equivalent to the top shape of the entire heat exchanger 20 is required. However, if the shape of the heat exchanger inlet is complicated, there is a problem that it is difficult to form the case. In addition, the shape of the heat exchanger inlet and the heat exchanger 20
Even if the overall top shape is made equal, there is a problem that it is difficult to reliably seal the heat exchanger 20 and the heat exchanger intake port because the shape is complicated.

[0004] In view of the above problems, the present invention has a structure in which a step is not formed between the tank portion 1 and the insert 4, so that the sealability between the case and the heat exchanger can be maintained without deteriorating the moldability of the case. The purpose is to improve.

[0005]

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, the width of the insert and the width of the tank in the direction in which air passes through the heat exchanger are made equal. As technical means, the shape area of at least one side surface insert and the insertion opening of the pair of inserts is made equal, and the insertion opening and the one side surface insert are fitted as technical means. Do

[0006]

According to the construction of the present invention described above, the width of the insert and the width of the tank in the direction of passage of the air passing through the heat exchanger are equal to each other, and at least one of the pair of inserts has the same width as that of the side insert. The shape area of the insertion opening is made equal to that of the insertion opening, and the insertion opening and the one side insert are fitted. Therefore, the space between the heat exchanger and the case can be sealed.

[0007]

According to the configuration of the present invention described above, the space between the case and the heat exchanger can be sealed without lowering the moldability of the case. Then, it is possible to prevent air leakage and prevent a decrease in cooling capacity.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 8 shows a basic layout of the air conditioner.
The configuration of this air conditioner will be described from the most upstream part of the air to the downstream. This air conditioner includes a case 12 forming an air passage, and an inner air inlet 13 and an outer air inlet 14 are formed at the most upstream side of the case 12. An inside air switching damper 15 for selectively opening and closing the inside air inlet 13 and the outside air inlet 14 is provided. The blower motor 16 and the blower fan 17 having variable rotational abilities are connected to each other, and the blower fan 17 changes its blowing ability in accordance with the rotation speed of the blower motor 16.

Next, there are provided an evaporator 18 which constitutes an element of a well-known refrigeration cycle and an air mix damper 19 which opens and closes the amount of air sent to a heater core 20 which uses engine cooling water as a heat source. A bypass passage 21 serving as an air passage that does not pass through the heater core 20 is formed by the air mix damper 19.
A defroster door 2 that opens and closes a blowing port that blows air to the inner surface of the windshield is provided at the most downstream portion of the case 12.
3. A vent door 24 is provided for opening and closing a blower port for blowing air to the upper body of the boarding vehicle, and a floor door 25 for opening and closing a blower port for blowing air to the lower body of the boarding vehicle.

Actually, during operation of the air conditioner, the inside / outside air switching damper 15 opens and closes the range of the arrow as shown in FIG.
The inside air inlet 13 or the outside air inlet 14 is selected. When a voltage is applied to the blower motor 16, the blower fan 1
7 turns, and inside air or outside air is sent to the evaporator 18 from the selected inlet. In the evaporator 18, the blown air is cooled when passing through fins (not shown) cooled by the refrigerant. The cooled air is
The air mix damper 19 opens and closes the range of the arrow (see FIG. 8) to adjust the amount of air sent to the heater core 20, and mixes the air warmed by the heater core 22 with the cool air sent by the bypass passage 21. And perform air conditioning. Then, the air-conditioned air is also blown into the vehicle compartment from the outlets of the defroster door 23, the vent door 24, and the floor door 25.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the heater core 20, FIG. 2 is a top view of the heater core 20, and FIG. The core portion 2 is formed by alternately stacking a plurality of aluminum alloy tubes 9 through which the engine cooling water flows, and aluminum alloy corrugated fins 10 for improving heat exchange performance. The outermost corrugated fins 10 are provided with inserts 4 made of aluminum alloy on both side surfaces. At both ends of the core portion 2 in the longitudinal direction of the tube 9, tank portions 1 for storing engine cooling water are formed.

The tank portion 1 includes a sheet metal 5 made of an aluminum alloy provided with a long hole 11 for fixing the tube 9 and the insert 4, and a tank capsule 6 serving as a cover for forming the tank portion 1. It has.
The tank portion 1 is provided at the end of the tank portion 1 in the direction in which the tubes 9 and the corrugated fins 10 are alternately arranged.
End plates 7 and 8 made of aluminum alloy are provided so that engine cooling water does not leak from the engine. The end plate 7 fixes the hot water inlet / outlet pipe 3.

The heater core 20 is assembled as described below. As shown in FIG. 1, a corrugated fin 10 made of aluminum alloy is provided on an upper surface 36 of an insert 4 made of aluminum alloy or iron.
Place. Then, a tube 9 made of an aluminum alloy is arranged on the corrugated fin 10. Thus, the corrugated fin 10 and the tube 9 are laminated, and the insert 4 is arranged in the outermost row in the laminated manner in the same manner as described above. Then, the inserts 4 forming both sides in the direction in which the tubes 9 and the corrugated fins 10 are alternately arranged are wound by wires so as to be tightened from both sides and locked.

Next, the long hole 1 provided in the sheet metal 5
1 and the claw portion 26 of the insert 4 is inserted into the elongated hole 11 provided in the sheet metal 5 at the same time. Then, the end portion 28 is expanded so that the tube 9 does not fall out of the elongated hole 11 (see FIG. 3). Also,
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the sheet metal 5 has a U-shaped cross section, and includes a fitting portion 29 erected from one end to the other end along the longitudinal direction. Then, the tank capsule 6 is fitted from the outer surface of the fitting portion 29,
The heater core 20 is temporarily assembled.

Next, the heater core 20 in this state is placed in a heating furnace and heated. When the heater core 20 is heated, the brazing material previously formed on the surface of the tube 9 is melted, and the tube 9 and the corrugated fin 10 are fusion-bonded. At the same time, the brazing material of the tube 9 is also melted and joined between the elongated hole 11 provided in the sheet metal 5 and the tube 9.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the heater core 20 in which the insert 4 is separated from the tank portion 1, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the insert 4. Claw portion 26 provided on insert 4
Is inserted into the tank unit 1 through a long hole 11 provided in the sheet metal 5 (see FIG. 2). Here, in the heater core 20 of the present embodiment, the width of the insert 4 (the width indicated by E in FIG. 4) in the flow direction of the air passing through the heater core 20 (indicated by an arrow B in FIG. 4) is the width of the tank portion 1. (The width indicated by e in FIG. 4). Therefore, the width of the insert 4 is larger than the width of the laminated tube 9 and corrugated fin 10 (the width shown in FIG. 4D). Also, as shown in FIG.
Has a U-shape, and is provided at both ends of the insert 4 in the flow direction of the air passing through the heater core from the one end to the other end of the insert 4 in the longitudinal direction.
3, 44 are provided.

The lower insert 4 in FIG. 1 has the same configuration as described above. As described above, since the width of the insert 4 and the width of the tank portion 1 are made equal, the side surface 3 of the tank portion 1 in the flow direction of the air passing through the heater core 20
2, 33 and the side surface 34 of the insert 4 are coplanar. Further, the ventilation surface of the heater core portion 2 composed of the tube 9 and the corrugated fins 10 is connected to the side surfaces 32 and 3 of the tank portion 1.
3 and the side surfaces 34 of the insert 4 are recessed into the core portion 2 (see FIG. 1).

FIG. 6 is a top view in which the heater core 20 is housed in the case 12, and FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. To store the heater core 20 in the heater unit case, first, as shown in FIG. 6, the width of the side surface 34 of the insert 4 in the direction in which the tubes 9 and the corrugated fins 10 are alternately arranged (the width indicated by F in FIG. 5). ), A packing 37 made of polyethylene or the like on a plate is attached over the entire periphery of the heater core 20 on the side surface 34 and the tank portion 1 (hatched portion shown in FIG. 1).

The case 12 shown in FIG. 6 is formed of a resin material such as polypropylene, and satisfactorily stores and holds the heater core 20. In case 12,
An opening 38 for taking in the heater core for taking in the heater core 20 is provided. Here, the shape of the heater core intake opening 38 is substantially the same as the upper surface shape of the heater core 20 shown in FIG. 6, but the area is slightly larger. On the inner surface of the case 12, fixed portions 40 and 41 into which the heater core portion 2 to which the packing is attached are fitted.
Is formed. The width of the fixed portions 40 and 41 in the flow direction of the air flowing inside the case (the width indicated by E in FIG. 7) is slightly larger than the width of the tank portion 1.

Then, the heater core 20 is inserted into the heater core intake opening 38 from right to left in the drawing of FIG. 7, and the lower portion of the heater core 20 to which the packing is attached is fixed to the fixing portion 40 provided inside the case. And the fixing portion 41. On the other hand, in the heater core intake opening 38, the intake inner surface 42 and the packing 37 are in close contact with each other.
As described above, the width of the insert 4 is made equal to the width of the tank portion 1 and the upper surface of the heater core 20 is made a simple rectangular shape as shown in FIG. Has the same shape, and the moldability of the case can be improved.

Further, since the shape of the upper surface of the heater core 20 and the shape of the opening portion 38 for taking in the heater core are substantially the same in shape and area, air is prevented from flowing between the case 12 and the heater core 20. It is possible to seal easily, prevent air leakage, and prevent deterioration of performance. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a heater core 20 in another example, and FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the heater core 20 in another example.

In the above embodiment, the width of the two inserts 4 forming both end surfaces of the heater core 20 is made equal to the width of the tank 1. Here, the fixing portions 40 and 41 mainly fix the heater core 20. Since the heater core intake opening 38 leaks air directly to the outside of the case 12, a reliable seal is required. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the width of the insert 4 on the side fixed to the fixing portions 40, 41 provided inside the case is made equal to the width of the tube 9 and the corrugated fin 10. That is, the width of the insert 4 located at the upper part in FIG. 9 and the tank 1 may be made equal, and the width of the other insert 4 may be smaller than the width of the tank 1 (see FIG. 10).

FIG. 11 is a top view in which the heater core 20 in another example is housed in the case 12, and FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. The width between the fixing part 40 and the fixing part 41 (FIG. 1)
2) is made equal to the width of the tank 1. The heater core intake opening 38 and the heater core 20
Are made equal in shape to the upper surface, and the area is slightly reduced. Then, the heater core 20 is pressed into the case 12 from right to left in the drawing of FIG. Thus, the packing 37 does not have to be attached to the heater core 20 as shown in FIGS.

Further, a configuration as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 may be used. That is, a claw may be formed in the opening of the tank capsule 6, and the sheet metal 5 may be locked by the claw. Further, the fitting portion 29 of the sheet metal 5 may be in contact with the outer surface of the tank capsule 6. Further, as shown in FIG. 15, a plurality of needle-shaped protrusions are provided on the end face of the intake opening 38 over the entire circumference, and the heater core 20 is press-fitted in the direction of the arrow in the figure. by this,
The needle-shaped protrusion is bent in the press-fitting direction, and the heater core 20 and the case 12 come into close contact with each other due to the repulsive force.
And the case 12 can be improved in sealing performance.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a heater core.

FIG. 2 is a top view of a heater core.

FIG. 3 is a sectional side view of a heater core.

FIG. 4 is a top view showing a state where an insert is separated from a tank unit.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an insert.

FIG. 6 is a top view of a heater core housed in a case.

FIG. 7 is a sectional side view of a heater core housed in a case.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an air conditioner.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a heater core (another embodiment).

FIG. 10 is a bottom view of a heater core (another embodiment).

FIG. 11 is a top view of a heater core housed in a case (another embodiment).

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional side view of a heater core housed in a case (another embodiment).

FIG. 13 is a detailed view of a main part of a heater core (another embodiment).

FIG. 14 is a detailed view of a main part of a heater core (another embodiment).

FIG. 15 is a detailed view of a main part of an intake opening 38 (another embodiment).

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a heater core (conventional example).

FIG. 17 is a top cross-sectional view of a heater core (conventional example).

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Tank part 2 Core part 4 Insert 9 Tube 10 Fin 12 Case 22 Heater core 38 Inlet opening

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-6-2133591 (JP, A) JP-A-3-225198 (JP, A) JP-A 57-94086 (JP, U) JP-A 63-121281 (JP , U) Japanese Utility Model Showa 58-99107 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model Hei 1-123076 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model Showa 48-101252 (JP, U) (58) Fields surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB Name) F28F 9/00 331 F28F 9/02 301 F28D 1/053 B60H 1/08 611

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A case forming an air passage, an insertion opening formed in the case, and a heat exchanger housed in the case and exchanging heat with air, wherein the heat exchanger includes a tube. A core portion in which fins are alternately arranged; inserts disposed on both side surfaces of the core portion in a laminating direction of the tube and the fin; and insert portions disposed on both side surfaces of the heat exchanger in a longitudinal direction of the tube. And a width of the tank portion is equal to a width of the tank portion in a direction in which air passes through the heat exchanger, and at least one side surface insert of the pair of inserts is provided. An air conditioner characterized in that the shape area of the insertion opening and the shape of the insertion opening are made equal, and the insertion opening and the one side insert are fitted.