Header unit and heat exchanger having the same

Abstract

A header unit includes a body and a cover coupled to the body. The body supports outer and inner sides of the cover in a simultaneous manner. In accordance with this structure, refrigerant can flow in a heat exchanger for cooling/heating purposes requiring high operating pressure of refrigerant.

1 . A header unit of a heat exchanger having a plurality of tubes defining refrigerant paths, the header unit comprising:
 a body; and   a cover coupled to the body, the cover configured to receive the plurality of tubes,   wherein the body supports outer and inner sides of the cover simultaneously.   
     
     
         2 . The header unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the body includes a base and a seating groove provided at the base;
 the cover includes a support portion and a side wall portion provided at the support portion; and   at least a part of the side wall portion of the cover is fitted in the seating groove of the body.   
     
     
         3 . The header unit according to  claim 2 , wherein the seating groove of the body includes outer and inner side wall portions protruded from the base; and
 the outer side wall portion is protruded to a higher level than the inner side wall portion.   
     
     
         4 . The header unit according to  claim 2 , wherein the body further includes an intermediate barrier wall protruded from the base; and
 the intermediate barrier wall of the body is coupled to the support portion of the cover by caulking.   
     
     
         5 . The header unit according to  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a plurality of partition plates installed at the body and the cover while being arranged in a longitudinal direction of the body and the cover; and   at least one of the partition plates is inserted into the intermediate barrier wall of the body.   
     
     
         6 . The header unit according to  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a plurality of tubes fitted in the support portion of the cover,   wherein stoppers to set respective insertion positions of the tubes are formed at the intermediate barrier wall of the body.   
     
     
         7 . The header unit according to  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a plurality of tubes fitted in the support portion of the cover,   wherein each of the tubes is maintained to be spaced apart from the intermediate barrier wall by a predetermined gap before a coupling process for the tubes, and the gap is filled up by a clad material in the coupling process.   
     
     
         8 . The header unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the header unit is made of an aluminum material. 
     
     
         9 . The header unit according to  claim 8 , wherein a refrigerant introduction pipe is connected to at least a portion of the header unit, and the refrigerant introduction pipe is made of a copper material;
 a connecting pipe made of a stainless steel material is arranged between the header unit and the refrigerant introduction pipe.   
     
     
         10 . The header unit according to  claim 8 , wherein a refrigerant introduction pipe is connected to at least a portion of the header unit, and the refrigerant introduction pipe is made of a copper material;
 the refrigerant introduction pipe is provided with a reinforcing member enclosing the refrigerant introduction pipe, to be firmly supported by the header unit.   
     
     
         11 . The header unit according to  claim 8 , wherein a refrigerant discharge pipe is connected to at least a portion of the header unit, and the refrigerant discharge pipe is made of a copper material;
 a connecting pipe made of a stainless steel material is arranged between the header unit and the refrigerant discharge pipe.   
     
     
         12 . The header unit according to  claim 8 , wherein a refrigerant discharge pipe is connected to at least a portion of the header unit, and the refrigerant discharge pipe is made of a copper material;
 the refrigerant discharge pipe is provided with a reinforcing member enclosing the refrigerant discharge pipe, to be firmly supported by the header unit.   
     
     
         13 . The header unit according to  claim 1 , wherein an R-22 or R-410A-series refrigerant flows in the header unit. 
     
     
         14 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a pair of header units; and   a pair of heat exchanging units arranged between the header units, each of the heat exchanging units including a plurality of tubes defining refrigerant paths,   wherein each of the header units comprises a body, and a cover coupled to the body, and   wherein the body supports outer and inner sides of the cover simultaneously.   
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 14 , wherein each of the header units further comprises a plurality of partition plates fitted in the body and the cover to partition the header unit into a plurality of portions. 
     
     
         16 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 14 , wherein the header units and the heat exchanging units are made of an aluminum material. 
     
     
         17 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 14 , wherein an R-22 or R-410A-series refrigerant flows in the header units and the heat exchanging units. 
     
     
         18 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 14 , further comprising:
 at least one refrigerant circuit to define at least one refrigerant path through which refrigerant introduced into one of the header units is discharged out of the header unit after exchanging heat in the heating exchanging units.   
     
     
         19 . A header unit of a heat exchanger having a plurality of tubes defining refrigerant paths, the header unit comprising:
 a body; and   a cover coupled to the body, the cover configured to receive the plurality of tubes,   wherein at least a portion of the body supports an end of the cover.   
     
     
         20 . The header unit according to  claim 19 , wherein the at least a portion of the body is provided with a seating groove to support outer and inner sides of the end of the cover simultaneously. 
     
     
         21 . The header unit according to  claim 20 , wherein the seating groove includes outer and inner side wall portions to support the outer and inner sides of the end of the cover, respectively.