Side member and heat exchanger having the same

Abstract

A side member for a heat exchanger includes a core formed of tubes stacked with one another along a stacking direction. The heat exchanger performs heat exchange between a first fluid flowing through the tubes and a second fluid passing through the core. The side member includes a body portion. The body portion has an elongated shape extending along a longitudinal direction and is configured to be positioned on one side of the core in the stacking direction in parallel with the tubes. The body portion defines a channel therein extending along a longitudinal direction and is configured to allow the first fluid to flow through the channel while exchanging heat with the second fluid passing through the core.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A side member for a heat exchanger that includes a core formed of a plurality of tubes stacked with one another along a stacking direction, the heat exchanger performing heat exchange between a first fluid flowing through the plurality of tubes and a second fluid passing through the core, the side member comprising:
 a body portion that has an elongated shape extending along a longitudinal direction and is configured to be positioned on one side of the core in the stacking direction in parallel with the plurality of tubes, wherein   the body portion defines a channel therein extending along a longitudinal direction and is configured to allow the first fluid to flow through the channel while exchanging heat with the second fluid passing through the core.   
     
     
         2 . The side member according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the body portion is stacked on an outermost tube of the plurality of tubes and is spaced away from the outermost tube in the stacking direction to define a flow path therebetween through which the second fluid passes.   
     
     
         3 . The side member according to  claim 2 , further comprising
 a first protrusion and a second protrusion that protrude from the body portion and extend away from the outermost tube, and   the first and second protrusions face each other in a width direction perpendicular to both the stacking direction and the longitudinal direction.   
     
     
         4 . The side member according to  claim 3 , wherein
 each of the first and second protrusions includes a through-hole passing therethrough in the width direction, and   the through-hole is configured to allow the second fluid to pass therethrough.   
     
     
         5 . The side member according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the body portion and the first and second protrusions are formed by extrusion molding.   
     
     
         6 . The side member according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the body portion and the first and second protrusions are formed by bending a single plate.   
     
     
         7 . The side member according to  claim 6 , wherein the single plate includes a first layer and a second layer made of different materials. 
     
     
         8 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a core formed of a plurality of tubes stacked with one another along a stacking direction, the core performing heat exchange between a first fluid flowing through the plurality of tubes and a second fluid passing through the core; and   a side member that has an elongated shape extending along a longitudinal direction and defines a channel therein through which the first fluid flows, wherein   the side member is configured to be positioned on one side of the core in the stacking direction in parallel with the plurality of tubes and is configured to allow the first fluid to flow through the channel while exchanging heat with the second fluid passing through the core.   
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 8 , wherein
 the side member is stacked on an outermost tube of the plurality of tubes and is spaced away from the outermost tube in the stacking direction to define a flow path, through which the second fluid passes, between the side member and the outermost tube.   
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 9 , wherein
 the side member includes
 a body portion defining the channel therein and 
 a first protrusion and a second protrusion that protrude from the body portion, extend away from the outermost tube along the stacking direction, and face each other in a width direction perpendicular to both the stacking direction and the longitudinal direction. 
   
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 10 , the heat exchanger further comprising
 a core plate that is located on a lateral side of the core along the stacking direction; and   a tank that is coupled with the core plate and defines a tank chamber therein together with the core plate, wherein   the core plate includes a plurality of slots into which the plurality of tubes and the body portion are inserted,   the plurality of slots include an outermost slot located outermost in the stacking direction among the plurality of slots,   the body portion is inserted into the outermost slot, and   the channel of the body portion and the plurality of tubes are in fluid communication with the tank chamber when the plurality of tubes and the side member are inserted into the plurality of slots.   
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 11 , further comprising
 the first and second protrusions are inserted into the outermost slot together with the body portion.   
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 11 , wherein
 the body portion includes an extended end that protrudes from the first and second protrusion along the longitudinal direction, and   the first and second protrusions come into contact with the core plate when the extended end is inserted into the outermost slot.