Heat exchanger

Abstract

A heat exchanger comprises outer fins; a plurality of tubes arranged alternately with the outer fins; and header tanks receiving open ends of the tubes for communication with the tubes. The header tanks each comprise a first member and a second member which are combined to each other. The first member has tube insertion slots into which the open ends of the tubes are inserted, the second member does not have the tube insertion slots. The first member is either a core material having no brazing material layers on outer and inner peripheral surfaces thereof, or a core material having a brazing material layer on an outer peripheral surface thereof but having no brazing material layer on an inner peripheral surface thereof. The second member is brazed to the outer or inner peripheral surface of the first member having no brazing material layer thereon.

1 . A heat exchanger comprising; 
 outer fins;    a plurality of tubes having open ends and arranged alternately with the outer fins; and    header tanks receiving the open ends of the tubes for communication with the tubes, the header tanks each comprising a first member and a second member which are combined to each other;    wherein the first member includes tube insertion slots into which the open ends of the tubes are inserted, the second member lacking the tube insertion slots;    the first member is either a core material having no brazing material layers on outer and inner peripheral surfaces thereof, or a core material having a brazing material layer on an outer peripheral surface thereof which does not have brazing material layer on an inner peripheral surface thereof; and    the second member is brazed to the outer or inner peripheral surface of the first member which does not have brazing material layer thereon.    
   
   
       2 . A heat exchanger as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the first member is the core material which does not have brazing material layers on the outer and inner peripheral surfaces thereof.  
   
   
       3 . A heat exchanger as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the second member has a brazing material layer on the inner or outer peripheral surface thereof to be joined to the first member.  
   
   
       4 . A heat exchanger as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein: 
 the second member is provided with the brazing material layer on the outer surface of a core material; and    the first and second members are brazed together with an outer peripheral surface of the second member connected to an inner peripheral surface of the first member.    
   
   
       5 . A heat exchanger as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein; 
 the second member is provided with the brazing material layer on the inner peripheral surface of a core material; and    the first and second members are brazed together with an outer peripheral surface of the first member connected to an inner peripheral surface of the second member.    
   
   
       6 . A heat exchanger as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the second member is provided with the brazing material layers on the inner and outer peripheral surfaces of a core material.  
   
   
       7 . A heat exchanger as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the first member and the second member of the header tank each have a box shape with an opening formed in a combining direction.  
   
   
       8 . A heat exchanger as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein: 
 the header tank includes a partition for partitioning an interior thereof into a plurality of chambers; and    the partition is provided with the brazing material layer on at least one surface of a core material having two surfaces.    
   
   
       9 . A heat exchanger as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein: 
 the header tank includes a pipe comprising the first member and the second member, and lids for closing opposite open ends of the pipe; and    the lids each have a brazing material layer on at least one surface of a core material having two surfaces.    
   
   
       10 . A heat exchanger as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein: 
 the header tank includes a partition for partitioning an interior thereof into a plurality of chambers; and    the partition has a brazing material layer on at least one surface of a core material having two surfaces.    
   
   
       11 . A heat exchanger as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the tubes each have a brazing material layer on the outer peripheral surface thereof.  
   
   
       12 . A heat exchanger as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the tubes each comprise two metal plates joined in a tubular shape.  
   
   
       13 . A heat exchanger as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein joint portions of the two metal plates are provided along the length of the tube.  
   
   
       14 . A heat exchanger as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the tubes each comprise a single metal plate folded in a tubular shape.  
   
   
       15 . A heat exchanger as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein the tubes each have joint portions provided along the length of the tube.  
   
   
       16 . A heat exchanger as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the first member does not have the brazing material layer on the inner peripheral surface thereof and has a brazing material layer on the outer peripheral surface thereof, and    the second member is connected to an inner peripheral surface of the first member and brazed to the first member.    
   
   
       17 . A heat exchanger as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the first member and the second member of the header tank each have a box-like shape with an opening formed in a combining direction to each other.  
   
   
       18 . A heat exchanger as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein the second member has the brazing material layer thereon.  
   
   
       19 . A heat exchanger as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein: 
 the header tank includes a pipe comprising the first member and the second member, and lids for closing opposite open ends of the pipes; and    the lids are connected in the pipe.    
   
   
       20 . A heat exchanger as set forth in  claim 19 , wherein the second member includes the brazing material layer thereon.  
   
   
       21 . A heat exchanger as set forth in  claim 19 , wherein the lids each have a plate-like shape, and have a brazing material layer on at least one surface thereof.  
   
   
       22 . A heat exchanger as set forth in  claim 16 , further comprising a partition fitted in each header tank for partitioning an interior space of the header tank into a plurality of chambers, the partition being connected to the inner peripheral surfaces of the first and second members.  
   
   
       23 . A heat exchanger as set forth in  claim 22 , wherein the partition has a plate-like shape, and the brazing material layer on at least one surface thereof.  
   
   
       24 . A heat exchanger as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein an edge of the first member is spaced from the outer peripheral surface of the second member.  
   
   
       25 . A heat exchanger comprising: 
 heat transfer tubes provided as heat transfer tubes;    outer fins brazed to outer surfaces of the tubes; and    inner fins brazed inside the tubes;    wherein each of the tubes has joint portions, and does not have a brazing material layer on an inner peripheral surface thereof but has a brazing material layer on an outer peripheral surface thereof; and    each of the inner fins has brazing material layers on both surfaces of a core material, and is brazed to the inner peripheral surface of the tube, without contact with the joint portions of the tube.    
   
   
       26 . A heat exchanger as set forth in  claim 25 , wherein the tubes are each comprise a single bent metal plate in a tubular shape, with a brazing material layer located at the outer peripheral side.  
   
   
       27 . A heat exchanger as set forth in  claim 25 , wherein the tubes each comprise a plurality of metal plates in a tubular shape, with a brazing material layers located at the outer peripheral side.  
   
   
       28 . A heat exchanger as set forth in  claim 25 , further comprising: 
 header tanks to which open ends of the tubes are brazed;    wherein the tubes and the outer fins are arranged alternately.    
   
   
       29 . A heat exchanger as set forth in  claim 25 , wherein the outer fins each comprise a core material which does not have the brazing material layers on either surface thereof.