Heat exchanger, heat exchanger assembling apparatus, and heat exchanger assembling method

Abstract

The present invention provides a heat exchanger, a heat exchanger assembling apparatus, and a heat exchanger assembling method, according to which assembling each of the laminated tubes with a tank can be accurately performed. A heat exchanger ( 10 ) including a plurality of laminated tubes ( 11 ) having an opening end ( 11 d ) to which a tank ( 13,14 ) is connected. A pressing portion ( 11 g ) is provided in the vicinity of the opening end of each tube, the tube being held by the pressing portion when the tank is connected to the opening ends of the tubes.

1 .- 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A heat exchanger including a laminate body constituted by a plurality of alternately laminated tubes and fins, the laminated tubes having an opening end to which a tank is connected, wherein
 the laminate body includes a pressing portion provided in the vicinity of the opening end of each tube, the laminate body being held by the pressing portion when the tank is connected to the opening end of the tubes, and   the pressing portion is provided on the laminate body at two portions apart from each other in a longitudinal direction of the tube.   
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 10 , wherein the pressing portion is provided only on the tube. 
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 10 , wherein the size of the fin in a thickness direction is smaller than the size of the tube in the thickness direction,
 the fins are disposed at positions offset toward one end of the tubes in the thickness direction, and   the pressing portion is provided at the other end of the tubes in the thickness direction.   
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 12 , wherein the fins and the one end of the tubes are disposed on the same plane. 
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 10 , wherein the pressing portion includes a pressed mark to be formed on a surface of the tube. 
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 14 , wherein the pressed mark is a concave portion recessed on the surface of the tube. 
     
     
         16 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 15 , wherein the concave portion has a depth smaller than a difference between the size of the fin in the thickness direction and the size of the tube in the thickness direction. 
     
     
         17 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 10 , wherein the pressing portion is formed at a position apart from the tank in a longitudinal direction of the tube. 
     
     
         18 . A heat exchanger assembling apparatus for assembling a heat exchanger including a laminate body constituted by a plurality of alternately laminated tubes and fins, the laminated tubes having an opening end to which a tank is connected, the assembling apparatus comprising:
 a table on which respective tubes and fins are laminated;   a laminate-direction compressing unit configured to compress the laminate body laminated on the table in a laminate direction; and   a thickness-direction compressing unit configured to compress the laminate body in a thickness direction perpendicular to the table, wherein   the thickness-direction compressing unit includes a holding portion configured to press the laminate body in the vicinity of the opening end of the plurality of tubes, compressed in the laminate direction by the laminate-direction compressing unit, against the table, and   the holding portion holds the laminate body at two portions apart from each other in a longitudinal direction of the plurality of tubes when the tank is connected to the plurality of tubes.   
     
     
         19 . The heat exchanger assembling apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the holding portion holds only the tubes. 
     
     
         20 . The heat exchanger assembling apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein the thickness-direction compressing unit forms pressed marks on surfaces of the plurality of tubes with the holding portion. 
     
     
         21 . The heat exchanger assembling apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein the size of the fin in the thickness direction is smaller than the size of the tube in the thickness direction,
 the tubes and the fins are in contact with the table, and   the pressed marks are formed by the holding portion at the other ends of the fins, which are on the opposite side of one ends of the fins that are in contact with the table.   
     
     
         22 . The heat exchanger assembling apparatus according to  claim 21 , wherein the thickness-direction compressing unit includes a leveling plate aligned with the holding portion and pressing the plurality of tubes against the table, and
 the leveling plate compresses the plurality of tubes in the thickness direction in a state where the holding portion is separated from the plurality of tubes.   
     
     
         23 . A heat exchanger assembling method for assembling a heat exchanger including a laminate body constituted by a plurality of alternately laminated tubes and fins, the laminated tubes having an opening end to which a tank is connected, the method comprising:
 a lamination process for laminating the plurality of tubes and fins;   a main compression process for compressing the laminate body in a laminate direction; and   an assembling process for connecting the tank to the plurality of tubes in a state where the laminate body are held and pressed at two portions apart from each other in a longitudinal direction of the plurality of tubes by a holding portion for holding the laminate body in the vicinity of the opening end of the plurality of tubes compressed in the laminate direction.   
     
     
         24 . The heat exchanger assembling method according to  claim 23 , wherein the holding portion holds only the tubes in the assembling process. 
     
     
         25 . The heat exchanger assembling method according to  claim 24 , wherein the assembling process includes forming pressed marks on surfaces of the plurality of tubes with the holding portion. 
     
     
         26 . The heat exchanger assembling method according to  claim 25 , wherein the size of the fin in a thickness direction is smaller than the size of the tube in the thickness direction,
 the lamination process includes disposing the fins at positions offset toward one ends of the tubes in the thickness direction, and   the pressed marks are formed by the holding portion, in the assembling process, at the other ends of the tubes, which are on the opposite side of the one ends of the tubes in the thickness direction.