Heat exchanger and producing method thereof

Abstract

A heat exchanger and a production method thereof are disclosed. A through hole ( 17 ) is formed in a second header member ( 17 ) of a first refrigerant header tank ( 14 ) of segmentation type. A protrusion ( 20 a ) of a first connector ( 20 ) for pipe connection is deformed by being inserted into the through hole ( 17 b ) and thus tacked by engagement. Under this condition, the first header member ( 16 ) is fitted and tacked on the second header member ( 17 ) so that the first connector ( 20 ), the second head member ( 17 ) and the first head member ( 16 ) are integrally brazed and coupled. By doing so, the first connector ( 20 ) can be properly coupled to the first refrigerant header tank ( 14 ). Further, the first connector ( 20 ) can be tacked by engagement before the first refrigerant header tank ( 14 ) assumes a cylindrical shape, and therefore the workability of tacking the first connector ( 20 ) is improved.

1 . A heat exchanger comprising a cylindrical header tank connected with a plurality of tubes through which a fluid passes and a pair of connectors each for connecting a fluid pipe, 
 wherein the connectors each have a tacked portion engaging the header tank, and    wherein the connectors and the header tank have a coupling surface therebetween, respectively, coupled by brazing to each other.    
   
   
       2 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , 
 wherein the header tank has a through hole for establishing communication between the inside and the outside of the header tank,    wherein the connectors each have a protrusion adapted to be inserted into the through hole, and    wherein the tacked portion makes up engaging portions configured by deforming the protrusion.    
   
   
       3 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 2 , 
 wherein the protrusion is caulked on the inner periphery of the through hole.    
   
   
       4 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 2 , 
 wherein the through hole is formed on the side of the cylinder of the header tank.    
   
   
       5 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 2 , 
 wherein an opening of the through hole is in the shape elongated along the length of the header tank.    
   
   
       6 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 2 , 
 wherein the engaging portion is arranged on each end of the protrusion in a longitudinal direction of the header tank.    
   
   
       7 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 2 , 
 wherein the header tank is configured by fitting the second header member on the first header member connected with a plurality of the tubes, and    wherein the through hole is formed in the second header member.    
   
   
       8 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 7 , 
 wherein the second header member has a pair of fitting steps each having an L-shaped section fitted with the first header member, and    wherein the through hole is arranged adjacently to the fitting steps.    
   
   
       9 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 2 , 
 wherein the through hole is open in the direction perpendicular to the length of the tubes, and    wherein the connectors are arranged on the header tank in such a manner as to project outward in the direction perpendicular to the length of the tubes from the opening of the through hole.    
   
   
       10 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , 
 wherein the connectors each have a positioning portion set in position by contact with the outer periphery of the header tank, and    wherein the coupling surface is the contact portion between the positioning portion and the header tank.    
   
   
       11 . A method of producing a heat exchanger including a cylindrical header tank connected with a plurality of tubes with a fluid passing therein and connectors for fluid pipe connection, comprising the steps of: 
 tacking the connectors on the header tank by deforming a part of the connectors, and    coupling by brazing the connectors and the header tank one on the other after the tacking step.    
   
   
       12 . A method of producing a heat exchanger according to  claim 11 , 
 wherein the tacking step includes the step of preparing the header tank having a through hole communicating between inside and outside thereof and the connector having a protrusion insertable into a through hole, and    wherein the protrusion is expanded toward the inner periphery of the through hole after being inserted into the through hole.    
   
   
       13 . A method of producing a heat exchanger according to  claim 12 , 
 wherein the tacking step includes the step of imposing a load parallel to the length of the header tank on the protrusion after inserting the protrusion into the through hole.    
   
   
       14 . A method of producing a heat exchanger according to  claim 12 , 
 wherein the tacking step includes the step of preparing the header tank in which the second header member having the through hole is fitted on the first header member connected with a plurality of the tubes, and    wherein after inserting the protrusion into the through hole and deforming the protrusion, the second header member is fitted on the first header member.    
   
   
       15 . A method of producing a heat exchanger according to  claim 11 , 
 wherein the tacking step includes the step of preparing the header tank having the through hole open in the direction perpendicular to the length of the tube, and    wherein the connectors are arranged on the header tank in such a manner as to project outward in the direction perpendicular to the length of the tubes from the opening of the through hole.