Heat exchanger

• US 6,289,979 B1
• Filed: 06/01/2000
• Issued: 09/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Zexel Valeo Climate Control Corporation (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Zexel Corporation
• Inventors: Kato, Souichi
• Primary Examiner(s): FLANIGAN, ALLEN J
• Application Number:
  US09/555,483
• Time in Patent Office: 474 Days
• Field of Search: 165/173, 138/89
• US Class Current: 165/173
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 2220/00 Closure means, e.g. end caps on header boxes or plugs on conduits
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 9/0212 the partitions being separate elements attached to header boxes
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 9/0243 Header boxes having a circular cross-section

Abstract

A heat exchanger that achieves a reduction in the dimensions of the header pipes, a sufficient level of strength against pressure and a structure that allows the caps to be washed thoroughly during the washing process is provided At each of the caps closing off the two ends of the cylindrical portion constituting a header pipe, a circular groove at which the circumferential edge at an end of the cylindrical portion is fitted over the entire circumference is formed to completely fit the cylindrical portion inside the cap so that the dimensions of the header pipe along the axial direction are reduced. In addition, by forming a thick portion at a closing portion, the pressure withstanding capability of the cap is improved. The cap also has a projected portion at its outer flat surface.

Claims

1. A heat exchanger comprising at least a pair of header pipes each having an inflow pipe or an outflow pipe through which a heat exchanging fluid flows in or out, a plurality of tubes communicating between said pair of header pipes and fins provided between said tubes, characterized in that:

said header pipes are each provided with a cylindrical portion having insertion holes through which said tubes are inserted and a pair of caps each blocking off one of the openings at the two ends of said cylindrical portion, said caps are each constituted of a closing portion that closes off said open end, a circumferential wall portion formed at the circumferential edge of said closing portion to be externally fitted with the circumferential edge at an end of said cylindrical portion and a circular groove formed between said closing portion and the base end of the inner circumferential surface of said circumferential wall portion at which said end of said cylindrical portion is inserted over the entire circumference, and said closing portion has a thick portion within said circular groove.

2. A heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that:

a side surface of said thick portion located toward said cylindrical portion is formed in an indented shape.

3. A heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that:

said caps are each provided with at least one projected portion projecting out along the direction of the length of said cylindrical portion at an outer end surface on the side opposite from said cylindrical portion.

4. A heat exchanger according to claim 3, characterized in that:

said at least one projected portion comprises a projected portion formed at an approximate center at said outer end surface.

5. A heat exchanger according to claim 3, characterized in that:

said at least one projected portion comprises a plurality of projected portions formed over consistent intervals near the circumferential edge of said outer end surface.

6. A heat exchanger according to claim 2, characterized in that:

said caps are each provided with a projected portion projecting out along the direction of the length of said cylindrical portion at an outer end surface on the side opposite from said cylindrical portion.