Heat exchanger and production method for the heat exchanger

Abstract

A bracket portion and a caulking pawl portion are provided on a tank cap closing an end portion of a first refrigerant header tank of an evaporator. Brazing is carried out in a state where the pawl portion is caulked and provisionally fixed to side plates by the pawl portion. As the evaporator and a radiator for electric components are coupled through the bracket portion, the coupling distance can be reduced and a suitable fastening strength between the evaporator and the radiator for electric components can be secured.

1 . A heat exchanger comprising: 
 a core portion ( 13 ) having a plurality of tubes ( 11 ) through which a fluid flows;    side plates ( 21 ) arranged on both end sides of said core portion ( 13 ) and reinforcing said core portion ( 13 );    a pair of header tanks ( 14 ,  15 ) arranged on both end sides of said tubes ( 11 ) in a longitudinal direction and communicating with said tubes ( 11 ); and    tank caps ( 23 ,  28 ) closing the ends of said header tank ( 14 ) in the longitudinal direction;    wherein at least one of said tank caps ( 23 ,  28 ) is a tank cap ( 23 ) with a bracket having a bracket ( 23 ) provided thereon;    said tank cap ( 23 ) with a bracket has provisional fixing means ( 21 ) to said side plates ( 21 ); and    said tank cap ( 23 ) with a bracket is coupled with said header tank ( 14 ) in a state where it is provisionally fixed to said side plates ( 21 ) by said provisional fixing means ( 25   b ).    
   
   
       2 . A heat exchanger comprising a first heat exchanger ( 1 ) and a second heat exchanger ( 2 ), wherein said first heat exchanger ( 1 ) includes: 
 a first core portion ( 13 ) having a plurality of first tubes ( 11 ) through which a first fluid flows;    side plates ( 21 ) arranged on both end sides of said first core portion ( 13 ) and reinforcing said first core portion ( 13 );    a pair of first header tanks ( 14 ,  15 ) arranged on both end sides of said first tubes ( 11 ) in a longitudinal direction and communicating with said first tubes ( 11 ); and    tank caps ( 23 ,  28 ) closing the ends of said first header tank ( 14 ) in the longitudinal direction;    wherein at least one of said tank caps ( 23 ,  28 ) is a tank cap ( 23 ) with a bracket having a bracket ( 26 ) provided thereon; and    said second heat exchanger ( 2 ) includes:    a second core portion ( 33 ) having a plurality of second tubes ( 31 ) through which a second fluid flows; and    a pair of second header tanks ( 34 ,  35 ) arranged on both end sides of said second tubes ( 31 ) in a longitudinal direction and communicating with said second tubes ( 31 );    said tank cap ( 23 ) with a bracket having provisional fixing means ( 25   b ) to said side plates ( 21 );    said bracket ( 23 ) with a bracket being coupled with said first header tank ( 14 ) in a state where it is provisionally fixed to said side plates ( 21 );    said first heat exchanger ( 1 ) and said second heat exchanger ( 2 ) being coupled in parallel with each other through said bracket ( 26 ) with respect to a flow direction of a third fluid that executes heat exchange with said first fluid and said second fluid.    
   
   
       3 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein said provisional fixing means is a pawl portion ( 25   b ) caulked to an outer edge portion of said side plate ( 21 ) when it is bent.  
   
   
       4 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 2 , wherein said provisional fixing means is a pawl portion ( 25   b ) caulked to an outer edge portion of said side plate ( 21 ) when it is bent, and said pawl portion ( 25   b ) is caulked to a portion in proximity with a coupling portion between said side plate ( 21 ) and said first header tank ( 14 ).  
   
   
       5 . A method for producing a first heat exchanger ( 1 ) as defined in  claim 2 , comprising: 
 the first step for provisionally fixing said tank cap ( 23 ) with a bracket to said side plate ( 21 ) by said provisional fixing means ( 25   b ); and    the second step for coupling said tank cap ( 23 ) with a bracket and said first header tank ( 14 ) after said first step.    
   
   
       6 . A heat exchanger comprising: 
 a core portion ( 13 ) having a plurality of tubes ( 11 ) through which a fluid flows;    a pair of header tanks ( 14 ,  15 ) arranged on both end sides of said tubes ( 11 ) in a longitudinal direction and communicating with said tubes ( 11 ); and    tank caps ( 23 ,  138 ) closing the ends of said header tanks ( 14 ,  15 ) in the longitudinal direction;    a bracket ( 136 ) coupled with at least one of said tank caps ( 23 ,  138 ); and    a pin member ( 137 ) for provisionally fixing said tank cap ( 23 ) and said bracket ( 136 );    wherein said pin member ( 137 ) is caulked and provisionally fixed to provisional fixing hole portion ( 134   b ) formed in said tank cap ( 23 ) and a provisional fixing hole portion ( 136   c ) formed in said bracket ( 136 ); and    said tank cap ( 23 ) and said bracket ( 136 ) is coupled in a state where they are caulked and provisionally fixed.    
   
   
       7 . A heat exchanger comprising a first heat exchanger ( 1 ) and a second heat exchanger ( 2 ), wherein said first heat exchanger ( 1 ) includes: 
 a first core portion ( 13 ) having a plurality of first tubes ( 11 ) through which a first fluid flows;    a pair of first header tanks ( 14 ,  15 ) arranged on both end sides of said first tubes ( 11 ) in a longitudinal direction and communicating with said first tubes ( 11 );    tank caps ( 23 , 138 ) closing the ends of said first header tanks ( 14 ,  15 ) in the longitudinal direction;    a bracket ( 136 ) coupled with at least one of said tank caps ( 23 ,  138 ); and    a pin member ( 137 ) for provisionally fixing said tank cap ( 23 ) and said bracket ( 136 ); and    wherein said second heat exchanger ( 2 ) includes:    a second core portion ( 33 ) having a plurality of second tubes ( 31 ) through which a second fluid flows; and    a pair of second header tanks ( 34 ,  35 ) arranged on both end sides of said second tubes ( 31 ) in a longitudinal direction and communicating with said second tubes ( 31 );    said pin member ( 137 ) being caulked and provisionally fixed to a pin provisional fixing hole portion ( 34   b ) formed in said tank cap ( 23 ) and to a pin provisional fixing hole portion ( 136   c ) formed in said bracket ( 136 );    said tank cap ( 23 ) and said bracket ( 23 ) being coupled with each other in a state where they are caulked and provisionally fixed;    said first heat exchanger ( 1 ) and said second heat exchanger ( 2 ) being coupled in parallel with each other through said bracket ( 136 ) with respect to a flow direction of a third fluid that executes heat exchange with said first fluid and said second fluid.    
   
   
       8 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 6 , wherein said tank caps ( 23 ,  138 ) include a tank cap ( 138 ) to which said bracket ( 136 ) is not coupled.  
   
   
       9 . A production method for a heat exchanger according to  claim 6 , which further comprises: 
 the first step for caulking and provisionally fixing said pin member ( 137 ) to a pin provisional fixing hole portion ( 134   b ) formed in said tank cap ( 23 ) and to a pin provisional fixing hole portion ( 136   c ) formed in said bracket ( 136 ); and    the second step for coupling said tank cap ( 23 ) and said bracket ( 136 ) in a state where they are caulked and provisionally fixed.