U.S. patent application number 09/805557 was filed with the patent office on 2001-08-02 for connecting device for heat exchanger.
This patent application is currently assigned to Showa Aluminum Corp.. Invention is credited to Ichiyanagi, Shigeharu.
Application Number | 20010010263 09/805557 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 14787648 |
Filed Date | 2001-08-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010010263 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ichiyanagi, Shigeharu |
August 2, 2001 |
Connecting device for heat exchanger
Abstract
A connecting device for a heat exchanger which has a fluid
circulating channel formed with an opening at one end thereof and
an opening at the other end thereof, the openings being formed as
juxtaposed in one side of the heat exchanger. The connecting device
comprises a blocklike connector body having two horizontal through
bores corresponding to the respective openings and fixed to the
heat exchanger with the through bores in coincidence with the
respective openings. A tubular member is fluid-tightly fitted in
each of the through bores and has a connecting end projecting
toward a connectable device. The connecting end is in the form of a
spigot fittable in a socket of the connectable device.
Inventors: |
Ichiyanagi, Shigeharu;
(Utsunomiya-shi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ARMSTRONG,WESTERMAN, HATTORI,
MCLELAND & NAUGHTON, LLP
1725 K STREET, NW, SUITE 1000
WASHINGTON
DC
20006
US
|
Assignee: |
Showa Aluminum Corp.
Osaka
JP
|
Family ID: |
14787648 |
Appl. No.: |
09/805557 |
Filed: |
March 14, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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09805557 |
Mar 14, 2001 |
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09301329 |
Apr 29, 1999 |
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6220343 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
165/178 ;
165/132; 165/153; 165/67; 62/222; 62/503; 62/509; 62/515 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F28D 1/0341 20130101;
F28F 9/0253 20130101; F28F 9/0256 20130101; F28F 9/0246
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
165/178 ;
165/132; 165/67; 62/222; 62/515; 62/503; 62/509; 165/153 |
International
Class: |
F28F 009/00; F28D
001/06; F25B 041/04; F25B 043/00; F25B 039/02; F25B 039/04; F28D
001/02; F28F 009/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 30, 1998 |
JP |
10/120496 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A connecting device for a heat exchanger having a fluid
circulating channel formed with an opening at one end thereof and
an opening at the other end thereof, the openings being formed as
arranged in a row in one side of the heat exchanger, the connecting
device comprising a blocklike connector body having two horizontal
through bores corresponding to the respective openings and fixed to
the heat exchanger with the through bores in coincidence with the
respective openings, a tubular member being fluid-tightly fitted in
each of the through bores and having a connecting end projecting
toward a connectable device, the connecting end being in the form
of a spigot fittable in a socket of the connectable device.
2. A connecting device for a heat exchanger according to claim 1
wherein an edge defining each of the openings and an edge defining
each of the through bores are each formed with an annular
projection, and the annular projection of the former is fitted in
and brazed to the annular projection of the latter in lapping
relation, whereby the connector body is fixed to the heat
exchanger.
3. A connecting device for a heat exchanger according to claim 1
wherein the spigot of the tubular member and the portion thereof
fitted in the through bore are each formed with an annular groove,
and an O-ring is fitted in the annular groove, the fluid-tight fit
of the tubular member in the through bore being realized by the
O-ring.
4. A connecting device for a heat exchanger according to claim 1 or
3 wherein an annular positioning flange is formed on an outer
periphery of the tubular member approximately at a lengthwise
midportion thereof, and an inner peripheral surface of the
connector body defining the through bore is formed with an annular
stepped portion for receiving the positioning flange.
5. A connecting device for a heat exchanger having a fluid
circulating channel formed with an opening at one end thereof and
an opening at the other end thereof, the openings being formed as
juxtaposed in one side of the heat exchanger, the connecting device
comprising a blocklike connector body having two horizontal through
bores corresponding to the respective openings and provided for the
heat exchanger with the through bores in coincidence with the
respective openings, a tubular member being fluid-tightly fitted in
each of the through bores and having a connecting end projecting
toward a connectable device, the connecting end being in the form
of a spigot fittable in a socket of the connectable device, the
tubular member being fixed to the heat exchanger.
6. A connecting device for a heat exchanger according to claim 5
wherein an edge defining each of the openings and an edge defining
each of the through bores are each provided with an annular
projection, and the annular projection of the former is fitted in
and brazed to the annular projection of the latter in lapping
relation, whereby the tubular member is fixed to the heat
exchanger.
7. A connecting device for a heat exchanger according to claim 6
wherein the annular projection has a larger outer periphery than
the tubular member, whereby a connector body receiving stepped
portion is formed.
8. A connecting device for a heat exchanger according to claim 5
wherein the tubular member has an annular groove formed in the
spigot and an O-ring fitted in the annular groove, and the
fluid-tight fit of the tubular member in the through bore is
realized by enlarging the portion of the tubular member fitted in
the through bore.
9. A connecting device for a heat exchanger according to claim 1 or
5, the heat exchanger being a multilayer evaporator, the
connectable device being an expansion valve of the block type, the
spigot of one of the tubular members providing an inlet for a
fluid, and the spigot of the other tubular member providing an
outlet for the fluid.
10. A connecting device for a heat exchanger having as arranged at
one side thereof a vertical upper header and a vertical lower
header integral therewith, the upper header and the lower header
having a lower-end opening and an upper-end opening respectively as
arranged in a row, the connecting device comprising a blocklike
connector body having two through bores corresponding to the
respective openings and fixed to the heat exchanger with the
through bores in coincidence with the respective openings, a
tubular member being fluid-tightly fitted in each of the through
bores and having a connecting end projecting toward a connectable
device, the connecting end being in the form of a spigot fittable
in a socket of the connectable device.
11. A connecting device for a heat exchanger according to claim 10
wherein a member in the form of a short tube for positioning the
connector body is fixedly fitted in each of the openings so as to
project into the header by a short length and into the connector
body by a long length, and the connector body has an inner
peripheral surface defining each of the through bores and formed
with an annular stepped portion for receiving the positioning
member, the bore-defining peripheral surface being formed at one
side thereof opposite to the positioning member with an annular
stepped portion for receiving the portion of the tubular member
fitted in.
12. A connecting device for a heat exchanger according to claim 10
wherein the spigot of the tubular member and the portion thereof
fitted in the through bore are each formed with an annular groove,
and an O-ring is fitted in the annular groove, the fluid-tight fit
of the tubular member in the through bore being realized by the
O-ring.
13. A connecting device for a heat exchanger according to claim 10
wherein the connector body is in the form of a vertically elongated
rectangle in vertical section, and the two through bores are
horizontal.
14. A connecting device for a heat exchanger according to claim 10
wherein the connector body is approximately square in vertical
section, and the two through bores are each L-shaped
15. A connecting device for a heat exchanger according to claim 10,
the heat exchanger being a condenser having a supercooling unit
which is provided by the portion of the heat exchanger below a
horizontal plane through a boundary between the upper header and
the lower header, the connectable device being a liquid receiver.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to connecting devices for heat
exchangers such as evaporators and condensers.
[0002] The term "aluminum" as used herein and in the claims
includes pure aluminum and aluminum alloys.
[0003] For use with heat exchangers having a fluid circulating
channel and two openings of respective opposite ends of the channel
formed as juxtaposed in one side of the heat exchanger, a
connecting device is known which comprises a connector having two
horizontal through bores corresponding to the respective openings
and fixed to the heat exchanger with the through bores in
coincidence with the respective openings. The connector comprises a
blocklike body adjacent to the heat exchanger, and two short
tubular projections provided on the connector body around edges
thereof defining the respective through bores and to be opposed to
a connectable device, each of the tubular projections being in the
form of a spigot fittable in a socket of the connectable device.
Since the connector has the structure described above, the two
spigot portions must be made from a large block of material by
cutting. This not only causes waste of a large quantity of the
material but also gives rise to the problem that after one of the
spigot portions has been formed by cutting, this spigot portion
interferes with the cutting operation for making the other spigot
portion.
[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide a
connecting device for heat exchangers which is easy to make without
involving waste of material.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] To fulfill the above object, the present invention provides
a connecting device for a heat exchanger having a fluid circulating
channel formed with an opening at one end thereof and an opening at
the other end thereof, the openings being formed as juxtaposed in
one side of the heat exchanger, the connecting device comprising a
blocklike connector body having two horizontal through bores
corresponding to the respective openings and fixed to the heat
exchanger with the through bores in coincidence with the respective
openings, a tubular member being fluid-tightly fitted in each of
the through bores and having a connecting end projecting toward a
connectable device, the connecting end being in the form of a
spigot fittable in a socket of the connectable device. The spigots
thus provided need not be formed from a black of material by
cutting.
[0006] The present invention will be described below in greater
detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a multilayer evaporator
as a heat exchanger provided with a connecting device of the
invention, i.e., Embodiment 1;
[0008] FIG. 2 is a plan view partly broken away and showing the
connecting device of FIG. 1 and an expansion valve of the block
type as a connectable device before the valve is connected to the
heat exchanger;
[0009] FIG. 3 is a plan view partly broken away and showing another
connecting device of the invention, i.e., Embodiment 2, in an
exploded state along with a connectable device in the same state as
in FIG. 2;
[0010] FIG. 4 is a plan view partly broken away and showing another
connecting device of the invention, i.e., Embodiment 3;
[0011] FIG. 5 is an exploded view in horizontal section of the
connecting device of FIG. 4 to show the order of assembly;
[0012] FIG. 6 is a front view of a condenser provided with a
supercooling unit and serving as a heat exchanger which has another
connecting device of the invention, i.e., Embodiment 4;
[0013] FIG. 7 is a front view partly broken away and showing the
connecting device of FIG. 6 and a liquid receiver as a connectable
device before the receiver is connected to the heat exchanger;
[0014] FIG. 8 is a front view partly broken away and showing
another connecting device of the invention, i.e., Embodiment 5, and
a liquid receiver different from that of FIG. 7 and serving as a
connectable device before the receiver is connected to the heat
exchanger; and
[0015] FIG. 9 is a view in section partly broken away,
corresponding to FIG. 2 and showing a conventional connecting
device.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0016] For a better understanding of the present invention, a
conventional connecting device C for a heat exchanger 1 will be
described with reference to FIG. 9 before the description of the
invention. The heat exchanger 1 has a fluid circulating channel
formed with an opening 3 at one end thereof and an opening 4 at the
other end thereof, the openings 3, 4 being formed as juxtaposed in
one side of the heat exchanger 1. The illustrated connecting device
C comprises a connector 72 having two horizontal through bores 70,
71 corresponding to the respective end openings 3, 4 and fixed to
the heat exchanger 1 with the through bores 70, 71 in coincidence
with the respective openings 3, 4. The connector 72 comprises a
blocklike connector body 73 adjacent to the heat exchanger 1, and
two short tubular projections provided on the connector body 73
around edges thereof defining the respective through bores 70, 71
and to be opposed to a connectable device, the tubular projections
being in the form of spigots 74, 75 fittable in respective sockets
of the connectable device. Since the two spigot portions 74, 75
must be formed by cutting a large block of material, the connector
72 has the foregoing problem.
[0017] The heat exchangers and connecting devices to be described
below with reference to the following embodiments are all made from
aluminum.
Embodiment 1
[0018] FIGS. 1 and 2 show this embodiment, i.e., a connecting
device C1, for use with a heat exchanger 1 shown which has a fluid
circulating channel 2 formed with an opening 3 at one end thereof
and an opening 4 at the other end thereof, the openings 3, 4 being
formed as juxtaposed in one side wall of the heat exchanger 1. The
connecting device C1 comprises a blocklike connector body 7 having
two horizontal through bores 5, 6 corresponding to the respective
openings 3, 4 and fixed to the heat exchanger 1 with the through
bores 5, 6 in coincidence with the respective openings 3, 4.
Tubular members 8, 9 are fluid-tightly fitted in the respective
through bores 5, 6, with connecting ends thereof projecting toward
a connectable device 10 (i.e., device to be connected to the
exchanger 1). The connecting ends of the tubular members 8, 9 are
in the form of spigots 13, 14 fittable in respective sockets 11, 12
of the connectable device 10.
[0019] The side wall of the heat exchanger 1 has an edge defining
each of the openings 3, 4 and formed with an annular projection 15,
and the connector body 7 has an edge defining each of the through
bores 5, 6 and formed with an annular projection 16. The former
annular projection 15 is fitted in and brazed to the latter annular
projection 16 in lapping relation to thereby fix the connector body
7 to the heat exchanger 1. The connector body 7 is in the form of a
horizontally elongated circle when seen from one side, and in the
form of a horizontally elongated rectangle except the two annular
projections 16 when seen from above. The connector body 7 is
obtained by cutting an aluminum extrudate to a predetermined size
and further cutting the resulting block as specified.
[0020] The spigot 13 (14) of each tubular member 8 (9) and the
portion 17 (18) thereof fitted in the through bore 5 (6) are each
formed with an annular groove 19, and an O-ring 20 is fitted in the
annular groove 19. The fluid-tight fit of the tubular member 8 (9)
in the through bore 5 (6) is realized by the O-ring 20. An annular
positioning flange 21 is formed on the outer periphery of the
tubular member 8 (9) approximately at the lengthwise midportion
thereof, and the inner peripheral surface of the connector body 7
defining the through bore 5 (6) is formed with an annular stepped
portion 22 for receiving the positioning flange 21. The through
bore 5 (6) is tapered toward the bore end from the portion thereof
where the extremity of the fitted portion 17 (18) of the tubular
member 8 (9) therein is positioned, and the inner periphery of the
connector body 7 defining the bore end is formed with an annular
stepped portion for receiving the annular projection 15 around the
opening 3 (4) of the fluid circulating channel 2.
Embodiment 2
[0021] FIG. 3 shows this embodiment, i.e., a connecting device C2,
for use with a heat exchanger 1. Unlike Embodiment 1, this
embodiment has no annular positioning flange on the outer periphery
of each of tubular portions 23, 24 approximately at the midportion
thereof, and the inner periphery defining each of through bores 25,
26 correspondingly has no positioning flange bearing stepped
portion. With the exception of this feature, Embodiment 2 is
substantially the same as Embodiment 1.
Embodiment 3
[0022] FIGS. 4 and 5 show this embodiment, i.e., a connecting
device C3, for use with a heat exchanger 1 shown which has a fluid
circulating channel 2 formed with an opening 3 at one end thereof
and an opening 4 at the other end thereof, the openings 3, 4 being
formed as juxtaposed in one side wall of the heat exchanger 1. The
connecting device C3 comprises a blocklike connector body 29 having
two horizontal through bores 27, 28 corresponding to the respective
openings 3, 4 and provided for the heat exchanger 1 with the
through bores 27, 28 in coincidence with the respective openings 3,
4. Tubular members 30, 31 are fluid-tightly fitted in the
respective through bores 27, 28, with connecting ends thereof
projecting toward a connectable device 10 (i.e., device to be
connected to the exchanger 1). The connecting ends of the tubular
members 30, 31 are in the form of spigots 13, 14 fittable in
respective sockets of the connectable device 10. The tubular
members 30, 31 are fixed to the heat exchanger 1.
[0023] The side wall of the heat exchanger 1 has an edge defining
each of the openings 3, 4 and formed with an annular projection 15,
and the connector body 29 has an edge defining each of the through
bores 5, 6 and provided with an annular projection 32. The former
annular projection 15 is fitted in and brazed to the latter annular
projection 32 in lapping relation to thereby fix each tubular
member 30 (31) to the heat exchanger 1.
[0024] The annular projection 32 has a larger outer periphery than
the tubular member 30 (31), whereby a connector body receiving
stepped portion 32 is formed. The annular projection 32 has a
larger inner periphery than the tubular member 30 (31), whereby an
annular stepped portion is formed in the inner periphery of the
edge of the bored portion for receiving the annular projection 15
around the opening 3 (4) of the channel 2. Each of the tubular
members 30, 31 has an annular groove 19 formed in its spigot 13
(14) and an O-ring 20 fitted in the annular groove 19. The
fluid-tight fit of the tubular member 30 (31) in the through bore
27 (28) is realized by enlarging the portion 34 (35) of the tubular
member 30 (31) fitted in the through bore 27 (28). The portion 34
(35) is enlarged using a usual jig useful for enlarging pipes or
tubes. The connecting device C3 is assembled in the order shown in
FIG. 5 by inserting the tubular members 30, 31 through the
respective bores 27, 28 of the blocklike connector body 29 as
indicated by arrows in the drawing to engage the stepped portions
33 with the edges of the respective bored portions of the connector
body 29. When the tubular members 30, 31 are fixed to the heat
exchanger 1 by brazing, the connector body 29 is consequently
received by the stepped portions 33. The O-rings 20 are fitted into
the respective annular grooves 19 after the tubular members 30, 31
have been fixed to the heat exchanger 1.
[0025] The blocklike connector body 29 of the present embodiment is
identical with the connector body 7 of Embodiment 1 in shape when
seen from one side, and is perfectly in the form of a horizontally
elongated rectangle when seen from above. Accordingly, the body 29
has no portion which needs to be made by cutting.
[0026] Throughout Embodiments 1 to 3, the heat exchanger 1 is a
multilayer evaporator, while the connectable device 10 is an
expansion valve of the block type. The spigot 13 provides an inlet
for a fluid, and the other spigot 14 provides an outlet for the
fluid. In connection with Embodiments 1 to 3, like parts are
designated by like reference numerals and are not described
repeatedly.
Embodiment 4
[0027] FIGS. 6 and 7 show this embodiment, i.e., a connecting
device C4, for use with a heat exchanger 36 shown which has as
arranged at one side thereof a vertical upper header 37 and a
vertical lower header 38 integral therewith. The upper header 37
and the lower header 38 have a lower-end opening 39 and an
upper-end opening 40, respectively, as arranged in a vertical row.
The connecting device C4 comprises a blocklike connector body 43 in
the form of a vertically elongated rectangle in vertical section,
having two through bores 41, 42 corresponding to the respective
openings 39, 40 and fixed to the heat exchanger 36 with the through
bores 41, 41 in coincidence with the respective openings 39, 40.
Tubular members 44, 45 are fluid-tightly fitted in the respective
through bores 41, 42 and each have a connecting end projecting
toward a connectable device 46. The connecting ends are in the form
of spigot 49, 50 fittable in respective sockets 47, 48 of the
connectable device 46. A member 51 in the form of a short tube for
positioning the connector body 43 is fixedly fitted in each of the
openings 39, 40 so as to project into the header by a short length
and into the connector body 43 by a long length. The connector body
43 has an inner peripheral surface defining each of the through
bores 41, 42 and formed with an annular stepped portion 52 for
receiving the positioning member 51, the bore-defining peripheral
surface being formed, at one side thereof opposite to the
positioning member 51, with an annular stepped portion 55 for
receiving the portion 53 (54) of the tubular member 44 (45) fitted
in. The spigot 49 (50) of the tubular member 44 (45) and the
portion 53 (54) thereof fitted in the through bore 41 (42) are each
formed with an annular groove 56, and an O-ring 57 is fitted in the
annular groove 56. The fluid-tight fit of the tubular member 44
(45) in the through bore 41 (42) is realized by the O-ring 57. The
upper header 37 is separated from the lower header 38 by a
partition 58.
Embodiment 5
[0028] FIG. 8 shows this embodiment, i.e., a connecting device C5.
In the case of Embodiment 4, the connectable device 46 has the
sockets 47, 48 in the outer periphery of its lower portion, whereas
with this embodiment, sockets 60, 61 are formed in the bottom of a
connectable device 59. Accordingly, the device C5 comprises a
connector body 62 which is approximately square in vertical section
and formed with L-shaped through bores 63, 64. The upper end of the
connector body 62 has an inner peripheral surface defining each of
each through bore 63 (64) and formed with an annular stepped
portion 65, which faces upward for receiving the portion 53 (54) of
each tubular member 44 (45) fitted in the connector body 62. With
the exception of this feature, Embodiment 5 is substantially the
same as Embodiment 4. In connection with Embodiments 4 and 5, like
parts are designated by like reference numerals and will not be
described repeatedly.
[0029] In the case of Embodiments 4 and 5, the heat exchanger 36 is
a condenser having a supercooling unit which is provided by the
portion of the heat exchanger below a horizontal plane through the
boundary between the upper header 37 and the lower header 38, while
each of the connectable devices 46, 59 is a liquid receiver. The
spigot 49 provides an outlet for a fluid, i.e., the refrigerant
subjected to condensation by the condenser, and the other spigot 50
provides an inlet of the supercooling unit 66 for the fluid, i.e.,
the refrigerant as passed through the receiver, that is, as
purified.
[0030] The tubular members 8, 9, 23, 24, 30, 31, 44, 45 of
Embodiments 1 to 5 are each obtained by cutting a hollow aluminum
extrudate to a predetermined size and further cutting the resulting
piece as specified.
* * * * *