Heat exchanger

Abstract

A heat exchanger has a flat tube and a header in communication with the flat tube. The flat tube has a flat passage part and a groove part. The flat passage part defines a fluid passage therein. The groove part extends along the flat passage part. An end of the groove part is recessed from an end of the flat passage part in a longitudinal direction of the flat tube. The header has a tube insertion hole having a shape corresponding to an outline of the flat passage part. The end of the flat passage part is received in and fixed to the tube insertion hole of the header.

1 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a flat tube; and   a header in communication with the flat tube, wherein   the flat tube has a flat passage part that defines a fluid passage therein through which a fluid flows and a groove part, the groove part has a plate shape having a thickness smaller than a thickness of the flat passage part,   the groove part extends along the flat passage part and an end of the groove part is recessed from an end of the flat passage part by a predetermined distance in a longitudinal direction of the flat tube,   the header has a tube insertion hole having a shape corresponding to an outline of the flat passage part, and   the end of the flat passage part is received in the tube insertion hole.   
   
   
       2 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the flat tube has a plurality of flat passage parts including the flat passage part, the plurality of flat passage parts is aligned in a direction in which a width of the flat passage part is measured, and   the groove part is disposed between the adjacent flat passage parts and connects the adjacent flat passage parts.   
   
   
       3 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 2 , wherein the groove part has a flat plate shape. 
   
   
       4 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 2 , wherein the groove part is provided by a plate including a bend. 
   
   
       5 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 4 , wherein
 the plate includes a first plate portion and a second plate portion connected through the bend,   the first plate portion and the second plate portion are staggered in a direction in which the thickness of the flat passage part is measured.   
   
   
       6 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the groove part is a first groove part, and the flat tube further has a second groove part, wherein   the first groove part and the second groove part project from opposite sides of the flat passage part in a direction in which a width of the flat passage part is measured.   
   
   
       7 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 6 , wherein
 the flat tube is one of a plurality of flat tubes,   the plurality of flat tubes are aligned in the direction in which the width of the flat passage part is measured,   the header has a plurality of tube insertion holes including the tube insertion hole, and   each of the plurality of tube insertion holes has a shape corresponding to the outline of the flat passage part of each of the plurality of tubes.   
   
   
       8 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the end of the flat passage part is brazed with a perimeter of the tube insertion hole.   
   
   
       9 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the end of the flat passage part is located within the header and is spaced from an inner surface of the header by a predetermined distance, the inner surface opposed to the tube insertion hole in the longitudinal direction of the flat tube.   
   
   
       10 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the end of the groove part is in contact with an outer surface of the header. 
   
   
       11 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the header includes a header plate and a header tank,   the header plate and the header tank are joined to each other and define a tank space therebetween, and   the header plate has the tube insertion hole.   
   
   
       12 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the flat tube is one of a plurality of flat tubes,   the plurality of flat tubes is arranged in line in a direction in which the thickness of the flat passage part is measured, the heat exchanger further comprising:   a plurality of fins disposed between the plurality of flat tubes.   
   
   
       13 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of fins is one of a plurality of corrugated fins and a plurality of plate fins. 
   
   
       14 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 12 , wherein
 the plurality of fins are joined to outer surfaces of the flat passage parts of the plurality of flat tubes, and clearances are maintained between the groove part and the adjacent fins for providing draining grooves.   
   
   
       15 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the flat tube is coupled to the header such that the longitudinal direction of the flat tube is perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the header, and a direction in which the thickness of the flat passage part is measured is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the header.