Heat exchanger

Abstract

In a heat exchanger for a vehicle, a cover member covers an upstream side end that is a part of an outer peripheral surface of a tube in which a heat medium flows, on the upstream side of the air flow. Further, the cover member is fixed to the upstream side end of the tube. For example, a width of the cover member is equal to or less than that of the tube in a direction perpendicular to the air flow direction and a flow direction of the heat medium. Thus, the heat exchanger can prevent the misalignment of the cover member with respect to the tube, thereby protecting the tube by the cover member at the front side of the vehicle. Therefore, the tube can be protected from chipping.

1 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a tube that allows a heat medium flowing therein to exchange heat with air flowing around the tube, the tube having an upstream side end on an upstream side of an air flow; and   a protective member covering the upstream side end and being fixed to the upstream side end to partially cover the tube, the protective member being configured to protect the tube from a solid flying to the tube, wherein   the protective member is made of a polymer material.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the protective member has a tip end located on the upstream side of the air flow, and   the tip end of the protective member is formed to be rounded in a section of the protective member perpendicular to a flow direction of the heat medium.   
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein
 a width of the protective member is equal to or less than that of the tube, in a direction perpendicular to an air flow direction and a flow direction of the heat medium.   
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the upstream side end of the tube has a planar shape or a concave shape recessed toward an inside of the tube.   
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein
 fins are provided on both sides of the tube in a direction perpendicular to an air flow direction, to promote heat exchange between the heat medium and the air, and   the fins protrude more toward the upstream side of the air flow than the tube or the protective member.   
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the protective member is made of a material obtained by solidifying a fluid material applied to the upstream side end, the fluid material having fluidity.   
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of the tubes, wherein
 the protective member is fixed at the upstream side ends of a part of the plurality of the tubes.   
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the protective member is made of one material selected from an acrylic resin, a silicon resin, a resin containing a volatile solvent, a thermosetting resin, and an UV curing resin.   
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , the heat exchanger being disposed outside a vehicle compartment in a vehicle, wherein
 the protective member is disposed at a front side of the vehicle with respect to the tube.   
     
     
         13 . A heat exchanger for a vehicle, comprising:
 a core portion including a plurality of tubes, each of the tubes allowing a heat medium to flow through therein, and fins disposed on both sides of each of the tubes, the core portion being configured to exchange heat between the heat medium and air;   a tank portion connected to an end in a longitudinal direction of the tube; and   a protective member fixed to an upstream end of at least a part of the plurality of tubes on an upstream side of an air flow, wherein   the protective member is disposed at a front side of the vehicle with respect to the tube, and   the protective member is made of a polymer material.   
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 13 , wherein
 the protective member is made of a material obtained by solidifying a fluid material having fluidity.   
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 13 , wherein
 the tube is disposed to have a longitudinal direction set in a width direction of the vehicle.   
     
     
         16 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 13 , wherein
 the protective member is fixed to the upstream end of the tube on the upstream side of the air flow, in a lower part of the core portion.   
     
     
         17 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 13 , wherein
 the protective member is fixed to a part of the tube in a longitudinal direction of the tube.   
     
     
         18 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 13 , wherein
 the fin protrudes more toward the upstream side of the air flow than the tube.   
     
     
         19 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 18 , wherein
 the protective member fixed to the end of the tube on the upstream side protrudes more toward the upstream side of the air flow than the fin.   
     
     
         20 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein
 fins are provided on both sides of the tube in a direction perpendicular to an air flow direction, to promote heat exchange between the heat medium and the air, and   the protective member has an upstream end protruding more toward the upstream side of the air flow than the fins.   
     
     
         21 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the protective member has an upstream end having a cross-sectional area expanding toward upstream in the air flow.   
     
     
         22 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the protective member has a hardness smaller than that of the tube.