Heat exchanger

Abstract

A heat exchanger is used for an air conditioner installed in a vehicle such as an electric car and is basically designed as a laminated type, which is constructed by assembling a pair of heat-exchanger units together. Herein, each of the heat-exchanger units is constructed by a pair of headers, which are arranged in parallel with each other in a vertical direction and between which tubes and cooling fins are alternately arranged along a horizontal direction. Herein, each of the tubes and each of the cooling fins are extended in the vertical direction between the headers. Partition plates are arranged inside of the headers at selected positions such that an overall front area in which the tubes and cooling fins are alternately arranged between the headers is divided into a number of parts, among which refrigerant sequentially flow from one part to another in a reciprocating manner. Herein, all the parts can be equally divided to have a same sectional area, or they are gradually changed (i.e., reduced or enlarged) in sectional area along a refrigerant flow direction corresponding to the horizontal direction. It is possible to change an overall front shape of the heat exchanger, which is originally a rectangular shape, to a prescribed shape such as an L-shape using an intermediate header, by which the heat exchanger is arranged not to interfere with some device or equipment inside of the vehicle.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A heat exchanger that is installed in an air conditioner used for a vehicle to cool or warm air inside of the vehicle, said heat exchanger comprising: 
 a pair of a first header and a second header which are extended in a horizontal direction and are arranged apart in parallel with each other in a vertical direction;    a plurality of tubes, each of which is vertically extended between and interconnected with the first and second headers to communicate with internal spaces of the first and second headers with end portions thereof respectively, said plurality of tubes being arranged along the horizontal direction with equal intervals of distance being provided therebetween; and    a plurality of cooling fins, each of which is vertically extended between the first and second headers, said plurality of cooling fins being arranged alternately in connection with the plurality of tubes along the horizontal direction such that one cooling fin is sandwiched between two tubes in the horizontal direction,    wherein refrigerant is introduced into the first header so that the refrigerant circulates through the tubes as well as the first and second headers and is then exhausted by way of the second header,    wherein a third header which is extended in the horizontal direction and is arranged apart in parallel with the first header in a vertical direction;    a plurality of secondary tubes, each of which is vertically extended between and interconnected with the first header and the third header to communicate with internal spaces of the first and third headers with end portions thereof respectively, said plurality of secondary tubes are arranged along the horizontal direction with equal intervals of distance being provided therebetween; and    a plurality of secondary cooling fins, each of which is vertically extended between the first and third headers, said plurality of secondary cooling fins being arranged alternately in connection with the plurality of secondary tubes along the horizontal direction such that one secondary cooling fin is sandwiched between two secondary tubes.    
     
     
         2 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 1  wherein the third header is located at an intermediate position in elevation between the first and second headers, so that both of the secondary tubes and the secondary cooling fins arranged between the first and third headers are shortened in length as compared with the tubes and the cooling fins arranged between the first and second headers.  
     
     
         3 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 1  wherein a space occupation member is arranged inside of the header so as to reduce an internal space of the header in volume in which the refrigerant flow.  
     
     
         4 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 1  wherein an internal pipe is inserted into the header as a space occupation member to reduce an internal space of the header in volume in which the refrigerant flow.  
     
     
         5 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 1  wherein a flat board is inserted into the header as a space occupation member to reduce an internal space of the header in volume in which the refrigerant flow.  
     
     
         6 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 1  wherein a space occupation member is arranged inside of the header so as to reduce an internal space of the header in volume in which the refrigerant flow.  
     
     
         7 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 1  wherein an internal pipe is inserted into the header as a space occupation member to reduce an internal space of the header in volume in which the refrigerant flow.  
     
     
         8 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 1  wherein a flat board is inserted into the header as a space occupation member to reduce an internal space of the header in volume in which the refrigerant flow.  
     
     
         9 . A heat exchanger that is installed in an air conditioner used for a vehicle to cool or warm air inside of the vehicle, said heat exchanger comprising: 
 a pair of a first header and a second header which are extended in a horizontal direction and are arranged apart in parallel with each other in a vertical direction;    a plurality of tubes, each of which is vertically extended between and interconnected with the first and second headers to communicate with internal spaces of the first and second headers with end portions thereof respectively, said plurality of tubes being arranged along the horizontal direction with equal intervals of distance being provided therebetween; and    a plurality of cooling fins, each of which is vertically extended between the first and second headers, said plurality of cooling fins being arranged alternately in connection with the plurality of tubes along the horizontal direction such that one cooling fin is sandwiched between two tubes in the horizontal direction,    wherein refrigerant is introduced into the first header so that the refrigerant circulates through the tubes as well as the first and second headers and is then exhausted by way of the second header,    wherein a third header which is extended in the horizontal direction and is arranged apart in parallel with the first header in a vertical direction;    a plurality of secondary tubes, each of which is vertically extended between and interconnected with the first header and the third header to communicate with internal spaces of the first and third headers with end portions thereof respectively, said plurality of secondary tubes are arranged along the horizontal direction with equal intervals of distance being provided therebetween; and    a plurality of secondary cooling fins, each of which is vertically extended between the first and third headers, said plurality of secondary cooling fins being arranged alternately in connection with the plurality of secondary tubes along the horizontal direction such that one secondary cooling fin is sandwiched between two secondary tubes,    wherein a plurality of partition plates which are arranged inside of the first and second headers at selected positions, so that the refrigerant circulate through the tubes as well as the first and second headers in a reciprocating manner by being blocked by the partition plates.    
     
     
         10 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 9  wherein the plurality of partition plates are arranged inside of the first and second headers respectively such that an overall area in which the tubes and the cooling fins are alternately arranged between the first and second headers is divided into a number of parts, and wherein the refrigerant circulate through the tubes between the first and second headers in the reciprocating manner such that the refrigerant flow through the tubes belonging to each part in a prescribed direction.  
     
     
         11 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 9  wherein the plurality of partition plates are arranged such that the parts are gradually reduced in sectional area along a refrigerant flow direction corresponding to the horizontal direction by which the refrigerant flow sequentially among the sections from one part to another in the reciprocating manner.  
     
     
         12 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 9  wherein the plurality of partition plates are arranged such that the parts are gradually enlarged in sectional area along a refrigerant flow direction corresponding to the horizontal direction by which the refrigerant flow sequentially among the sections from one part to another in the reciprocating manner.  
     
     
         13 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 9  wherein a space occupation member is arranged inside of the header so as to reduce an internal space of the header in volume in which the refrigerant flow.  
     
     
         14 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 9  wherein an internal pipe is inserted into the header as a space occupation member to reduce an internal space of the header in volume in which the refrigerant flow.  
     
     
         15 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 9  wherein a flat board is inserted into the header as a space occupation member to reduce an internal space of the header in volume in which the refrigerant flow.  
     
     
         16 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 9  wherein a space occupation member is arranged inside of the header so as to reduce an internal space of the header in volume in which the refrigerant flow.  
     
     
         17 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 9  wherein an internal pipe is inserted into the header as a space occupation member to reduce an internal space of the header in volume in which the refrigerant flow.  
     
     
         18 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 9  wherein a flat board is inserted into the header as a space occupation member to reduce an internal space of the header in volume in which the refrigerant flow.