Head assembly of heat exchanger for vehicle

Abstract

Disclosed is a head assembly of a heat exchanger for a vehicle including heads each consisting of a plurality of head pieces coupled together in a laminated fashion, thereby being capable of achieving an easy manufacture thereof and a reduction in manufacturing costs while easily coping with a changed specification. The head assembly includes at least two heads spaced apart from each other, a plurality of tubes coupled between the heads in a laminated state and defined with fluid passages, respectively, and a plurality of centers each interposed between adjacent ones of the tubes and adapted to provide an improved heat exchange efficiency. Each of the heads includes at least two head pieces assembled together in a laminated state. A separator is interposed between the head pieces. Caps are coupled to opposite ends of the head pieces, respectively.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A head assembly of a heat exchanger for a vehicle serving to receive a refrigerant to be heat-exchanged and to circulate the heat-exchanged refrigerant and including at least two heads spaced apart from each other, a plurality of tubes coupled between the heads in a laminated state and defined with fluid passages, respectively, and a plurality of centers each interposed between adjacent ones of the tubes and adapted to provide an improved heat exchange efficiency, 
 wherein each of the heads includes at least two head pieces assembled together in a laminated state;    further a separator interposed between the head pieces.    
     
     
         2 . The head assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 each of the heads includes two head pieces each formed with a plurality of tube mounting holes uniformly spaced from one another along the length of the head piece and adapted to receive an end of a tube;    the separator comprises a disk-shaped body, and a pair of engagement protrusions protruded from the body at opposite sides of the body; and    each of the head pieces is provided, at each end thereof, with engagement grooves engagable with the engagement protrusions of the separator.    
     
     
         3 . The head assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 each of the heads includes two head pieces each formed with a plurality of tube mounting holes uniformly spaced from one another along the length of the head piece and adapted to receive an end of a tube;    the separator comprises a cylindrical body, a partition wall formed at a central portion of the cylindrical body, and annular steps outwardly protruded from the central portion of the cylindrical body to serve as seats for respective coupling ends of the head pieces;    
     
     
         4 . The head assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 each of the heads comprises a plurality of head pieces fitted together in a laminated fashion, the head pieces having the same modular structure as the separator; and    each of the head pieces has a tube mounting hole.    
     
     
         5 . The head assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein separators having the same structure as the separator are coupled to respective ends of the head pieces other than the coupling ends so that they serve as caps, respectively.  
     
     
         6 . The head assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein the tube mounting of each head piece comprises a slot formed at a central portion of the head piece.  
     
     
         7 . The head assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein each of the head pieces has grooves at both coupling ends thereof, each of the grooves mating with that of another head piece coupled to the head piece, thereby forming the tube mounting hole.  
     
     
         8 . The head assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein the tube mount hole of each head piece comprises a groove formed at one coupling end of the head piece.