U.S. patent application number 13/904035 was filed with the patent office on 2013-12-05 for centrifugal blower with cooling function.
This patent application is currently assigned to KEIHIN THERMAL TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION. The applicant listed for this patent is KEIHN THERMAL TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Naohisa HIGASHIYAMA.
Application Number | 20130319642 13/904035 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49661198 |
Filed Date | 2013-12-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130319642 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
HIGASHIYAMA; Naohisa |
December 5, 2013 |
CENTRIFUGAL BLOWER WITH COOLING FUNCTION
Abstract
A centrifugal blower with a cooling function includes an
impeller, a scroll casing, and an evaporator. The impeller includes
a plurality of blades provided around a rotary shaft and blows out
in a radially outward direction air taken in along the axial
direction of the rotary shaft. The scroll casing accommodates the
impeller, and has an intake port, a spiral air passage, and a
discharge port. The evaporator is disposed in the air passage of
the scroll casing. The evaporator includes a plurality of
refrigerant passage members which are stacked in the longitudinal
direction of the rotary shaft of the impeller and each of which has
a refrigerant flow channel. An air-passing clearance is provided
between adjacent refrigerant passage members. The centrifugal
blower with a cooling function is used for a vehicle air
conditioner.
Inventors: |
HIGASHIYAMA; Naohisa;
(Oyama-shi, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
KEIHN THERMAL TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION |
OYAMA-SHI |
|
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
KEIHIN THERMAL TECHNOLOGY
CORPORATION
Oyama-shi, TOCHIGI
JP
|
Family ID: |
49661198 |
Appl. No.: |
13/904035 |
Filed: |
May 29, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
165/122 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F04D 29/5826 20130101;
F05D 2250/52 20130101; F04D 29/281 20130101; F04D 29/444
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
165/122 |
International
Class: |
F04D 29/28 20060101
F04D029/28 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 30, 2012 |
JP |
2012-122779 |
Claims
1. A centrifugal blower with a cooling function comprising: an
impeller which includes a plurality of blades provided around a
rotary shaft and which blows out in a radially outward direction
air taken in along an axial direction of the rotary shaft; a scroll
casing which accommodates the impeller and which has an intake port
for taking in air along the axial direction of the rotary shaft of
the impeller, a spiral air passage through which the air blown out
from the impeller flows, and a discharge port for blowing out the
air having flowed through the air passage; and an evaporator which
is disposed in the air passage of the scroll casing and which has a
refrigerant flow channel and an air-passing clearance through which
the air flowing through the air passage passes.
2. A centrifugal blower with a cooling function according to claim
1, wherein the evaporator includes a plurality of refrigerant
passage members stacked in the longitudinal direction of the rotary
shaft of the impeller, the refrigerant flow channel is provided in
each of the refrigerant passage members, and the air-passing
clearance is provided between adjacent refrigerant passage
members.
3. A centrifugal blower with a cooling function according to claim
2, wherein the refrigerant flow channels of the refrigerant passage
members of the evaporator are formed such that refrigerant flows
through the refrigerant flow channels in a direction opposite the
flow of air within the air passage of the scroll casing.
4. A centrifugal blower with a cooling function according to claim
3, wherein each of the refrigerant passage members of the
evaporator is formed by joining two metal plates; each refrigerant
flow channel is formed by a plurality of flow-channel-forming
bulging portions provided on the first metal plate such that they
are spaced from one another in the flow direction of air within the
air passage of the scroll casing, and a plurality of
flow-channel-forming bulging portions provided on the second metal
plate such that they are spaced from one another in the flow
direction of air within the air passage of the scroll casing and
partially overlap with the flow-channel-forming bulging portions of
the first metal plate; and the air-passing clearance is formed
between two adjacent refrigerant passage members by joining
together the flow-channel-forming bulging portions of the first
metal plate of one of the two refrigerant passage members and the
flow-channel-forming bulging portions of the second metal plate of
the other refrigerant passage member.
5. A centrifugal blower with a cooling function according to claim
4, wherein the evaporator has a refrigerant inlet header with which
upstream ends of the refrigerant flow channels of all the
refrigerant passage members communicate, and a refrigerant outlet
header with which downstream ends of the refrigerant flow channels
of all the refrigerant passage members communicate; the refrigerant
inlet header and the refrigerant outlet header are formed by an
inlet header forming portion and an outlet header forming portion,
respectively, provided on each refrigerant passage member; the
inlet header forming portion is formed by communicatably joining
together adjacent ones of inlet header bulging portions provided on
the two metal plates of each refrigerant passage member, and the
outlet header forming portion is formed by communicatably joining
together adjacent ones of outlet header bulging portions provided
on the two metal plates of each refrigerant passage member; and the
flow-channel-forming bulging portion provided on the first metal
plate of each refrigerant passage member at the downstream end
thereof with respect to the flow direction of air within the air
passage of the scroll casing communicates with the inlet header
bulging portion of the first metal plate, the flow-channel-forming
bulging portion provided on the first metal plate at the upstream
end thereof with respect to the flow direction of air does not
communicate with the outlet header bulging portion of the first
metal plate, the flow-channel-forming bulging portion provided on
the second metal plate at the upstream end thereof with respect to
the flow direction of air within the air passage of the scroll
casing communicates with the outlet header bulging portion of the
second metal plate, and the flow-channel-forming bulging portion
provided on the second metal plate at the downstream end thereof
with respect to the flow direction of air does not communicate with
the inlet header bulging portion of the second metal plate.
6. A centrifugal blower with a cooling function according to claim
5, wherein water drain holes in the shape of through holes are
formed in portions of the two metal plates of each refrigerant
passage member where the flow-channel-forming bulging portions, the
inlet header bulging portion, and the outlet header bulging portion
are not provided.
7. A centrifugal blower with a cooling function according to claim
4, wherein each refrigerant passage member has a circular outer
shape and has an eccentric circular hole; the evaporator is
disposed in the air passage of the scroll casing such that the
impeller is located within the eccentric circular hole of each
refrigerant passage member; and the flow-channel-forming bulging
portions of the first metal plate are straight and incline radially
outward toward the downstream side with respect to the flow
direction of air within the air passage, and the
flow-channel-forming bulging portions of the second metal plate are
straight and incline radially outward toward the upstream side with
respect to the flow direction of air within the air passage.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a centrifugal blower with a
cooling function used for a vehicle air conditioner which is
mounted on, for example, an automobile.
[0002] FIG. 6 shows a conventionally used vehicle air conditioner
(see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (kokai) No.
2002-144848). The vehicle air conditioner, which is denoted by a
reference numeral 51, includes an air conditioner casing 52 having
an air introduction port 53, an air blowing port 54, and an air
passage 55 which establishes communication between the air
introduction port 53 and the air blowing port 54; and an evaporator
56 which is disposed in the air passage 55 of the air conditioner
casing 52 and which constitutes a refrigeration cycle. The air
passage 55 of the air conditioner casing 52 has a first portion 57
whose upstream end communicates with the air introduction port 53;
a second portion 58 in which air flows in a direction orthogonal to
the flow direction of air within the first portion 57 and whose
downstream end communicates with the air blowing port 54; and a
connection portion 59 which is provided at a location where an
extension line extending from the first portion 57 in the
downstream direction with respect to the air flow direction
intersects with an extension line extending from the second portion
58 in the upstream direction with respect to the air flow
direction. The connection portion 59 establishes communication
between the first portion 57 and the second portion 58, and guides
the air having flowed through the first portion 57 to flow into the
second portion 58 while changing the flow direction of the air. The
air introduction port 53 of the air conditioner casing 52 is
connected to a discharge port of a blower 60, and the evaporator 56
is disposed in an upstream region of the second portion 58 of the
air passage 55. The evaporator 56 has air-passing clearances
through which air passes in a direction parallel to the flow
direction of air in the second portion 58.
[0003] However, the vehicle air conditioner 51 disclosed in the
publication has a problem in that since the evaporator 56 is
disposed at the second portion 58 of the air passage 55 of the air
conditioner casing 52, the distance between the wall surface 59a of
the connection portion 59 located opposite the second portion 58
and the end of the second portion 58 located on the side toward the
air blowing port 54 is relatively large, whereby the size of the
vehicle air conditioner 51 becomes relatively large.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] An object of the present invention is to solve the
above-mentioned problem and to provide a centrifugal blower with a
cooling function which can reduce the size of a vehicle air
conditioner.
[0005] To fulfill the above object, the present invention comprises
the following modes.
[0006] 1) A centrifugal blower with a cooling function comprising
an impeller which includes a plurality of blades provided around a
rotary shaft and which blows out in a radially outward direction
air taken in along an axial direction of the rotary shaft; a scroll
casing which accommodates the impeller and which has an intake port
for taking in air along the axial direction of the rotary shaft of
the impeller, a spiral air passage through which the air blown out
from the impeller flows, and a discharge port for blowing out the
air having flowed through the air passage; and an evaporator which
is disposed in the air passage of the scroll casing and which has a
refrigerant flow channel and an air-passing clearance through which
the air flowing through the air passage passes.
[0007] 2) A centrifugal blower with a cooling function according to
par. 1), wherein the evaporator includes a plurality of refrigerant
passage members stacked in the longitudinal direction of the rotary
shaft of the impeller, the refrigerant flow channel is provided in
each of the refrigerant passage members, and the air-passing
clearance is provided between adjacent refrigerant passage
members.
[0008] 3) A centrifugal blower with a cooling function according to
par. 2), wherein the refrigerant flow channels of the refrigerant
passage members of the evaporator are formed such that refrigerant
flows through the refrigerant flow channels in a direction opposite
the flow of air within the air passage of the scroll casing.
[0009] 4) A centrifugal blower with a cooling function according to
par. 3), wherein each of the refrigerant passage members of the
evaporator is formed by joining two metal plates; each refrigerant
flow channel is formed by a plurality of flow-channel-forming
bulging portions provided on the first metal plate such that they
are spaced from one another in the flow direction of air within the
air passage of the scroll casing, and a plurality of
flow-channel-forming bulging portions provided on the second metal
plate such that they are spaced from one another in the flow
direction of air within the air passage of the scroll casing and
partially overlap with the flow-channel-forming bulging portions of
the first metal plate; and the air-passing clearance is formed
between two adjacent refrigerant passage members by joining
together the flow-channel-forming bulging portions of the first
metal plate of one of the two refrigerant passage members and the
flow-channel-forming bulging portions of the second metal plate of
the other refrigerant passage member.
[0010] 5) A centrifugal blower with a cooling function according to
par. 4), wherein the evaporator has a refrigerant inlet header with
which upstream ends of the refrigerant flow channels of all the
refrigerant passage members communicate, and a refrigerant outlet
header with which downstream ends of the refrigerant flow channels
of all the refrigerant passage members communicate; the refrigerant
inlet header and the refrigerant outlet header are formed by an
inlet header forming portion and an outlet header forming portion,
respectively, provided on each refrigerant passage member; the
inlet header forming portion is formed by communicatably joining
together adjacent ones of inlet header bulging portions provided on
the two metal plates of each refrigerant passage member, and the
outlet header forming portion is formed by communicatably joining
together adjacent ones of outlet header bulging portions provided
on the two metal plates of each refrigerant passage member; and the
flow-channel-forming bulging portion provided on the first metal
plate of each refrigerant passage member at the downstream end
thereof with respect to the flow direction of air within the air
passage of the scroll casing communicates with the inlet header
bulging portion of the first metal plate, the flow-channel-forming
bulging portion provided on the first metal plate at the upstream
end thereof with respect to the flow direction of air does not
communicate with the outlet header bulging portion of the first
metal plate, the flow-channel-forming bulging portion provided on
the second metal plate at the upstream end thereof with respect to
the flow direction of air within the air passage of the scroll
casing communicates with the outlet header bulging portion of the
second metal plate, and the flow-channel-forming bulging portion
provided on the second metal plate at the downstream end thereof
with respect to the flow direction of air does not communicate with
the inlet header bulging portion of the second metal plate.
[0011] 6) A centrifugal blower with a cooling function according to
par. 5), wherein water drain holes in the shape of through holes
are formed in portions of the two metal plates of each refrigerant
passage member where the flow-channel-forming bulging portions, the
inlet header bulging portion, and the outlet header bulging portion
are not provided.
[0012] 7) A centrifugal blower with a cooling function according to
par. 4), wherein each refrigerant passage member has a circular
outer shape and has an eccentric circular hole; the evaporator is
disposed in the air passage of the scroll casing such that the
impeller is located within the eccentric circular hole of each
refrigerant passage member; and the flow-channel-forming bulging
portions of the first metal plate are straight and incline radially
outward toward the downstream side with respect to the flow
direction of air within the air passage, and the
flow-channel-forming bulging portions of the second metal plate are
straight and incline radially outward toward the upstream side with
respect to the flow direction of air within the air passage.
[0013] The centrifugal blower with a cooling function according to
any one of pars. 1) to 7) includes an impeller which includes a
plurality of blades provided around a rotary shaft and which blows
out in a radially outward direction air taken in along an axial
direction of the rotary shaft; a scroll casing which accommodates
the impeller and which has an intake port for taking in air along
the axial direction of the rotary shaft of the impeller, a spiral
air passage through which the air blown out from the impeller
flows, and a discharge port for blowing out the air having flowed
through the air passage; and an evaporator which is disposed in the
air passage of the scroll casing and which has a refrigerant flow
channel and an air-passing clearance through which the air flowing
through the air passage passes. Therefore, when air forced by the
impeller to flow through the air passage of the scroll casing
passes through the air-passing clearance of the evaporator, the air
is cooled by the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant flow
channel of the evaporator, and the cooled air is blown out from the
discharge port of the scroll casing. Accordingly, as compared with
the case where an evaporator is separately prepared and is disposed
within the air conditioner casing, the size of the air conditioner
casing can be reduced. As a result, the overall size of the vehicle
air conditioner can be reduced as compared with the vehicle air
conditioner described in the above-mentioned publication.
[0014] According to the centrifugal blower with a cooling function
of par. 2), the evaporator includes a plurality of refrigerant
passage members stacked in the longitudinal direction of the rotary
shaft of the impeller, the refrigerant flow channel is provided in
each of the refrigerant passage members, and the air-passing
clearance is provided between adjacent refrigerant passage members.
Accordingly, the refrigerant flow channels and the air-passing
clearances can be provided in the evaporator relatively easily.
[0015] According to the centrifugal blower with a cooling function
of par. 3), the efficiency of heat exchange between the air flowing
through the air-passing clearances and the refrigerant flowing
through the refrigerant flow channels of the refrigerant passage
members is improved.
[0016] According to the centrifugal blower with a cooling function
of par. 4), the heat exchange section of the evaporator can be
formed by using two metal plates only without use of separate
fins.
[0017] According to the centrifugal blower with a cooling function
of par. 6), condensed water which is produced on the surface of
each refrigerant passage member upon operation of the evaporator
can be drained.
[0018] According to the centrifugal blower with a cooling function
of par. 7), the flow-channel-forming bulging portions extending in
different directions are provided in the air-passing clearances,
whereby a turbulent flow effect can be imparted to the flow of
air.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] FIG. 1 is a view schematically showing a vehicle air
conditioner which includes a centrifugal blower with a cooling
function according to the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view showing the
centrifugal blower with a cooling function according to the present
invention;
[0021] FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line A-A of
FIG. 2;
[0022] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an evaporator disposed in
the centrifugal blower with a cooling function shown in FIG. 2;
[0023] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a refrigerant
passage member used in the evaporator shown in FIG. 4; and
[0024] FIG. 6 is a view schematically showing a conventional
vehicle air conditioner.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0025] An embodiment of the present invention will next be
described with reference to the drawings.
[0026] In the following description, the term "aluminum"
encompasses aluminum alloys in addition to pure aluminum. Also, in
the following description, the upper and lower sides of FIG. 3 will
be referred to as "upper" and "lower," respectively.
[0027] FIG. 1 schematically shows a vehicle air conditioner which
includes a centrifugal blower with a cooling function according to
the present invention. FIGS. 2 and 3 show the centrifugal blower
with a cooling function, and FIGS. 4 and 5 show the structure of an
evaporator used in the centrifugal blower with a cooling
function.
[0028] As shown in FIG. 1, a vehicle air conditioner 1 includes an
air conditioner casing 2 which is made of plastic and which has an
air introduction port 3, an air blowing port 4, and an air passage
5 extending between the air introduction port 3 and the air blowing
port 4; and a centrifugal blower 10 which has a cooling function
and which blows cooled air into the air introduction port 3 of the
air conditioner casing 2.
[0029] The air introduction port 3 and the air blowing port 4 of
the air conditioner casing 2 are directed toward respective
directions which form a predetermined angle (right angle in the
present embodiment) therebetween, and the air passage 5 guides the
air introduced from the air introduction port 3 to flow toward the
air blowing port while changing the flow direction halfway.
[0030] Although not illustrated in the drawings, as is well known,
the air blowing port 4 of the air passage 5 of the air conditioner
casing 2 communicates with air outlets which are formed in the air
conditioner casing 2 so as to blow air toward different regions
within the vehicle compartment. Air outlets from which air is to be
blown out are chosen by a blowing position changeover apparatus.
Furthermore, a heater core is also disposed in the air passage 5 of
the air conditioner casing 2, and the temperature of the air blown
out from the air outputs is adjusted by appropriate means.
[0031] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the centrifugal blower 10
includes an impeller 11, a scroll casing 14, and an evaporator 18.
The impeller 11 includes a plurality of blades 13 provided around a
vertically extending rotary shaft 12. The impeller 11 takes in air
along the axial direction of the rotary shaft 12 (from the upper
side with respect to the axial direction) and blows the air in a
radially outward direction. The scroll casing 14, which
accommodates the impeller 11, has an intake port 15 for introducing
air from the upper side with respect to the axial direction of the
rotary shaft 12 of the impeller 11, a spiral air passage 16 through
which the air blown out of the impeller 11 flows, and a discharge
port 17 for blowing out the air having flowed through the air
passage 16. The evaporator 18 is disposed in the air passage 16 of
the scroll casing 14. The discharge port 17 of the scroll casing 14
is connected to the air introduction port 3 of the air conditioner
casing 2. The evaporator 18 forms a refrigeration cycle in
cooperation with a compressor, a refrigerant cooler (condenser), a
pressure reducer, etc.
[0032] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the evaporator 18 is formed by
stacking a plurality of refrigerant passage members 20 in the
longitudinal direction of the rotary shaft 12 of the impeller 11
(the vertical direction) and joining them together. The evaporator
18 has a refrigerant inlet header 21, a refrigerant outlet header
23, and a plurality of refrigerant flow channels 25. The
refrigerant inlet header 21 extends in the vertical direction and
has a refrigerant inlet 22 which is formed at the upper end thereof
and is exposed to the outside of the scroll casing 14. The
refrigerant outlet header 23 extends in the vertical direction and
has a refrigerant outlet 24 which is formed at the lower end
thereof and is exposed to the outside of the scroll casing 14. The
refrigerant flow channels 25 establish communication between the
refrigerant inlet header 21 and the refrigerant outlet header 23.
In a region between the refrigerant inlet header 21 and the
refrigerant outlet header 23, air-passing clearances 39 are
provided such that each air-passing clearance 39 is located between
adjacent refrigerant passage members 20. The refrigerant inlet
header 21 of the evaporator 18 is provided on the downstream side
(with respect to the flow direction of air) of the air passage 16
of the scroll casing 14 to be located near the discharge port 17.
The refrigerant outlet header 23 of the evaporator 18 is provided
on the upstream side (with respect to the flow direction of air) of
the air passage 16. Each refrigerant flow channel 25 is provided in
the corresponding refrigerant passage member 20 such that one end
of the refrigerant flow channel 25 communicates with the
refrigerant inlet header 21 and the other end of the refrigerant
flow channel 25 communicates with the refrigerant outlet header
23.
[0033] Each of the refrigerant passage members 20 of the evaporator
18 is formed by joining (by, for example, brazing) two circular
aluminum plates 26 and 27 having eccentric circular holes 28 and
29. Each refrigerant passage member 20 has an inlet header forming
portion 31 for forming the refrigerant inlet header 21 and an
outlet header forming portion 32 for forming refrigerant outlet
header 23. The refrigerant flow channel 25 of the evaporator 18 is
provided in each refrigerant passage member 20 such that
communication is established between the inlet header forming
portion 31 and the outlet header forming portion 32, and
refrigerant flows in the direction opposite the flow direction of
air within the air passage 16 of the scroll casing 14. The
evaporator 18 is disposed in the air passage 16 of the scroll
casing 14 such that the impeller 11 is located within the eccentric
circular holes 28 of the upper and lower aluminum plates 26 and 27
of each refrigerant passage member 20.
[0034] As shown in FIG. 5, the inlet header forming portion 31 of
each refrigerant passage member 20 is composed of an inlet header
upward bulging portion 33 provided on a first aluminum plate 26
(first metal plate) located on the upper side in the present
embodiment such that the inlet header upward bulging portion 33
bulges upward, and an inlet header downward bulging portion 34
provided on a second aluminum plate 27 (second metal plate) located
on the lower side in the present embodiment such that the inlet
header downward bulging portion 34 bulges downward at a position
corresponding to that of the inlet header upward bulging portion
33. The outlet header forming portion 32 of each refrigerant
passage member 20 is composed of an outlet header upward bulging
portion 35 provided on the first aluminum plate 26 such that the
outlet header upward bulging portion 35 bulges upward, and an
outlet header downward bulging portion 36 provided on a the second
aluminum plate 27 such that the outlet header downward bulging
portion 36 bulges downward at a position corresponding to that of
the outlet header upward bulging portion 35.
[0035] The refrigerant flow channel 25 of each refrigerant passage
member 20 is formed by a plurality of flow-channel-forming upward
bulging portions 37 which are provided on the first aluminum plate
26 such that they are spaced from one another in the flow direction
of air within the air passage 16 of the scroll casing 14 and they
budge upward, and a plurality of flow-channel-forming downward
bulging portions 38 which are provided on the second aluminum plate
27 such that they are spaced from one another in the flow direction
of air within the air passage 16 of the scroll casing 14 and they
budge downward and such that they partially overlap with the
flow-channel-forming upward bulging portions 37 of the first
aluminum plate 26. The flow-channel-forming upward bulging portions
37 of the first aluminum plate 26 are straight and incline radially
outward toward the downstream side with respect to the flow
direction of air within the air passage 16. The
flow-channel-forming downward bulging portions 38 of the second
aluminum plate 27 are straight and incline radially outward toward
the upstream side with respect to the flow direction of air within
the air passage 16. When viewed from above, each
flow-channel-forming upward bulging portion 37 of the first
aluminum plate 26 partially overlaps with at least one
flow-channel-forming downward bulging portion 38 of the second
aluminum plate 27, whereby the refrigerant flow channel 25 is
formed between the two aluminum plates 26 and 27 of each
refrigerant passage member 20.
[0036] The flow-channel-forming upward bulging portion 37 provided
on the first aluminum plate 26 of each refrigerant passage member
20 at the downstream end with respect to the flow direction of air
within the air passage 16 of the scroll casing 14 communicates with
the inlet header upward bulging portion 33 of the first aluminum
plate 26, and the flow-channel-forming upward bulging portion 37
provided on the first aluminum plate 26 at the upstream end with
respect to the flow direction of air does not communicates with the
outlet header upward bulging portion 35 of the first aluminum plate
26. The flow-channel-forming downward bulging portion 38 provided
on the second aluminum plate 27 at the upstream end with respect to
the flow direction of air within the air passage 16 of the scroll
casing 14 communicates with the outlet header downward bulging
portion 36 of the second aluminum plate 27, and the
flow-channel-forming downward bulging portion 38 provided on the
second aluminum plate 27 at the downstream end with respect to the
flow direction of air does not communicates with the inlet header
upward bulging portion 34 of the second aluminum plate 27.
[0037] Accordingly, in each refrigerant passage member 20,
refrigerant entering through the inlet header upward bulging
portion 33 of the first aluminum plate 26 enters the
flow-channel-forming upward bulging portion 37 communicating with
the inlet header upward bulging portion 33, then flows through the
flow-channel-forming downward bulging portions 38 of the second
aluminum plate 27 and the flow-channel-forming upward bulging
portions 37 of the first aluminum plate 26 alternately, enters the
flow-channel-forming downward bulging portion 38 provided on the
second aluminum plate 27 at the upstream end with respect to the
flow direction of air within the air passage 16 of the scroll
casing 14, and enters the outlet header downward bulging portion
36.
[0038] The inlet header upward bulging portion 33, outlet header
upward bulging portion 35, and flow-channel-forming upward bulging
portions 37 of the first aluminum plate 26 of each refrigerant
passage member 20 have the same bulging height, and the inlet
header downward bulging portion 34, outlet header downward bulging
portion 36, and flow-channel-forming downward bulging portions 38
of the second aluminum plate 27 of each refrigerant passage member
20 have the same bulging height. All the refrigerant passage
members 20 are assembled and brazed together such that between two
adjacent refrigerant passage members 20, bulging end portions of
the inlet header downward bulging portion 34 and outlet header
downward bulging portion 36 of the second aluminum plate 27 of the
upper refrigerant passage member 20 are brazed to bulging end
portions of the inlet header upward bulging portion 33 and outlet
header upward bulging portion 35 of the first aluminum plate 26 of
the lower refrigerant passage member 20, and bulging end portions
of the flow-channel-forming downward bulging portions 38 of the
second aluminum plate 27 of the upper refrigerant passage member 20
are brazed to bulging end portions of the flow-channel-forming
upward bulging portions 37 of the first aluminum plate 26 of the
lower refrigerant passage member 20. The inlet header forming
portions 31 of all the refrigerant passage members 20 are
communicatably connected together, and the outlet header forming
portions 32 of all the refrigerant passage members 20 are
communicatably connected together, whereby the refrigerant inlet
header 21 and the refrigerant outlet header 23 are formed. A
air-passing clearance 39 is formed between two adjacent refrigerant
passage members 20 by the flow-channel-forming downward bulging
portions 38 of the second aluminum plate 27 of the upper
refrigerant passage member 20 and the flow-channel-forming upward
bulging portions 37 of the first aluminum plate 26 of the lower
refrigerant passage member 20. The air which flows within the air
passage 16 of the scroll casing 14 passes through the air-passing
clearance 39.
[0039] Through holes 41 and 42 for draining water are formed in the
first aluminum plate 26 and second aluminum plate 27 of each
refrigerant passage member 20 such that the positions of the
through holes 41 correspond to those of the through holes 42, and
the through holes 41 and 42 are deviated from the various bulging
portions 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, and 38.
[0040] When the vehicle air conditioner 1 is used for cooling, a
compressor is operated and the impeller 11 of the centrifugal
blower with a cooling function is rotated. Low pressure, two-phase
refrigerant (a mixture of gas-phase refrigerant and liquid-phase
refrigerant) having been compressed by the compressor and having
passed through a condenser and an expansion valve flows through the
refrigerant inlet 22 of the evaporator 18 of the centrifugal
blower, enters the refrigerant inlet header 21, flows through the
refrigerant flow channel 25 of each refrigerant passage member 20,
enters the refrigerant outlet header 23, and flows out from the
refrigerant outlet 24. Meanwhile, as a result of the impeller 11
being rotated, air is taken in through the intake port 15 of the
scroll casing 14, enters the air passage 16, passes through the
air-passing clearances 39 of the evaporator 18, flows through the
air passage 16, and is blown out from the discharge port 17. While
flowing through the refrigerant flow channels 25 of the refrigerant
passage members 20, the refrigerant exchanges heat with the air
which passes through the air-passing clearances 39 as a result of
rotation of the impeller 11. The refrigerant flows out in the gas
phase, and the air is cooled.
[0041] The cooled air is fed into the air passage 5 of the air
conditioner casing 2 through the air introduction port 3, flows
through the air blowing port 4, and is blown out from the air
outlets formed in the air conditioner casing 2 toward different
regions within the vehicle compartment.
[0042] The evaporator used in the centrifugal blower with a cooling
function according to the present invention is not limited to that
shown in FIGS. 2 to 5.
[0043] In the above-described embodiment, the refrigerant inlet 22
is formed at the upper end of the refrigerant inlet header 21, and
the refrigerant outlet 24 is formed at the lower end of the
refrigerant outlet header 23. However, the positions of the
refrigerant inlet 22 and the refrigerant outlet 24 are not limited
thereto, and the embodiment may be modified such that the
refrigerant inlet 22 is formed at the lower end of the refrigerant
inlet header 21, and the refrigerant outlet 24 is formed at the
upper end of the refrigerant outlet header 23. Alternatively, the
refrigerant inlet 22 and the refrigerant outlet 24 may be formed at
the upper ends of the refrigerant inlet header 21 and the
refrigerant outlet header 23 or the lower ends of the refrigerant
inlet header 21 and the refrigerant outlet header 23.
* * * * *