Heat exchanger and air conditioner having same

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a heat exchanger having a bead structure to be folded in a predetermined shape, and an air conditioner having the same. The heat exchanger includes a plurality of refrigerant tubes which respectively extend in a first direction, and are disposed to be spaced apart from each other in a second direction; and a fin array which is fitted to the plurality of refrigerant tubes in a third direction, wherein the fin array includes a plurality of insertion grooves which are disposed to be spaced apart in the second direction, such that the plurality of refrigerant tubes are inserted, a plurality of folding parts which are bent so that the plurality of insertion grooves are disposed at one side of the fin array, and a plurality of heat exchange fins which are divided by the plurality of insertion grooves and the plurality of folding parts.

1 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a plurality of refrigerant tubes which respectively extend in a first direction, and are spaced apart from each other in a second direction; and   a fin array coupleable to the plurality of refrigerant tubes,   wherein the fin array comprises:
 a plurality of heat exchange fins disposed to contact the plurality of refrigerant tubes; 
 a folding part which connects the plurality of heat exchange fins in the first direction; and 
 an insertion groove in which at least two refrigerant tubes among the plurality of refrigerant tubes arranged in a third direction are insertable. 
   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of heat exchange fins comprises one pair of contact surfaces which face each other to form the insertion groove, and one pair of connection surfaces which face each other to be connected to the folding part. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger of  claim 2 , wherein the one pair of connection surfaces comprise a first connection surface spaced apart from each of the plurality of heat exchange fins adjacent to each other in the second direction, and a second connection surface connected to each of the plurality of heat exchange fins adjacent to each other in the second direction. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger of  claim 3 , wherein the folding part comprises a first folding part to connect the first connection surface in the first direction, and a second folding part to connect the second connection surface in the first direction. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger of  claim 2 , wherein the pair of contact surfaces comprise a burring part which increases a contact area with each of the plurality of refrigerant tubes. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger of  claim 3 , wherein the second connection surface comprises a moisture guide groove formed in the second direction to discharge moisture generated during a heat exchange process. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of heat exchange fins comprises at least one bead disposed so that a plurality of folding parts are bent in a predetermined shape, and the at least one bead is formed to protrude in the first direction. 
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of heat exchange fins comprises a plurality of louvers to change a path of air which exchanges heat while passing through the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of louvers comprise a first louver inclined from the third direction to one side, and a second louver inclined from the third direction to the other side. 
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger of  claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of heat exchange fins comprises at least one bead disposed so that a plurality of folding parts are bent in a predetermined shape, and the at least one bead is located outside the plurality of louvers. 
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of heat exchange fins comprises a gap maintaining member which protrudes in the first direction of each of the plurality of heat exchange fins to be spaced apart from each other in the first direction and to be disposed at the plurality of refrigerant tubes. 
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger of  claim 11 , wherein the gap maintaining member comprises a plurality of slits which are respectively formed to have a protuberated part at one side thereof, and each of the plurality of slits is disposed so that the protuberated part of one slit of the plurality of slits is in contact with the protuberated part of another slit of the plurality of slits which is located at at least one heat exchange fin located adjacent in the first direction. 
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger of  claim 11 , wherein the gap maintaining member comprises at least one tab which protrudes from one surface of each of the plurality of heat exchange fins. 
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two refrigerant tubes among the plurality of refrigerant tubes which are arranged in the third direction comprise a first refrigerant tube and a second refrigerant tube which are located in parallel with each other in the third direction. 
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger of  claim 14 , comprising one pair of first headers coupleable to ends of the first refrigerant tube, and one pair of second headers coupleable to ends of the second refrigerant tube,
 wherein one side of each of the pair of first headers and the pair of second headers comprises at least one through-hole so that a refrigerant passes through the first refrigerant tube and the second refrigerant tube.   
     
     
         16 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a plurality of refrigerant tubes; and   a header coupleable to each of the plurality of refrigerant tubes and formed to extend from a first end to a second end of the plurality of refrigerant tubes,   wherein the header comprises at least one bending part near at least one of the first end and the second end of the plurality of refrigerant tubes.   
     
     
         17 . The heat exchanger of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one bending part comprises a cutting surface which cuts at least a part of the header. 
     
     
         18 . The heat exchanger of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one bending part comprises a support part which connects at least a part of the header, such that parts of the header which are separated by the cutting surface are connected to each other. 
     
     
         19 . The heat exchanger of  claim 16 , further comprising a fin array coupleable to each of the plurality of refrigerant tubes,
 wherein the fin array comprises at least one notch corresponding to the at least one bending part.   
     
     
         20 . The heat exchanger of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one notch is provided in a shape in which at least a part of the fin array is removed, and the fin array is bent in a direction that an area of the at least one notch becomes smaller. 
     
     
         21 - 27 . (canceled)