Heat exchanger including heat-transfer-tube unit

Abstract

A heat exchanger includes a heat-transfer-tube unit and a header. The heat-transfer-tube unit includes a fin and heat transfer tubes. The header is connected to the heat-transfer-tube unit. The fin and the heat transfer tubes are disposed, alternately, side by side, where the heat transfer tubes extend in a heat-transfer-tube-extending direction. The fin has sides that extend in the heat-transfer-tube-extending direction and that are joined to the heat transfer tubes. An end of the fin is disposed closer to a center of the heat-transfer-tube unit in the heat-transfer-tube-extending direction than ends of the heat transfer tubes, and the ends of the heat transfer tubes are inserted into holes disposed on the header.

1 .- 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a heat-transfer-tube unit comprising a fin and heat transfer tubes; and   a header connected to the heat-transfer-tube unit,   wherein the fin and the heat transfer tubes are disposed, alternately, side by side,   wherein the heat transfer tubes extend in a heat-transfer-tube-extending direction,   wherein the fin has sides that extend in the heat-transfer-tube-extending direction and that are joined to the heat transfer tubes,   wherein an end of the fin is disposed closer to a center of the heat-transfer-tube unit in the heat-transfer-tube-extending direction than ends of the heat transfer tubes, and   wherein the ends of the heat transfer tubes are inserted into holes disposed on the header.   
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 13 , wherein
 the header comprises a first header and a second header, and   the heat-transfer-tube unit is held between the first header and the second header.   
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 14 , wherein
 the second header is disposed below the first header, and   the second header comprises a heat-transfer-tube-unit-connecting surface inclined with respect to a heat-transfer-tube-spacing direction.   
     
     
         16 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 13 ,
 wherein the header is a circular pipe.   
     
     
         17 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 13 ,
 wherein the end of the fin conforms with a shape of the header and contacts the header when the ends of the heat transfer tubes are inserted in the holes.   
     
     
         18 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 13 ,
 wherein the end of the fin is spaced apart from the header.   
     
     
         19 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 18 , wherein
 the heat-transfer-tube unit further comprises:
 stoppers disposed on the heat transfer tubes and between the ends of the heat transfer tubes and the end of the fin, and 
   the stoppers are shaped so that the stoppers cannot pass through the holes in the header.   
     
     
         20 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 13 ,
 wherein the heat-transfer-tube unit is a single member.   
     
     
         21 . A heat exchanger manufacturing method, comprising:
 forming a heat-transfer-tube unit comprising a fin and heat transfer tubes;   forming a cutout by removing a portion of the fin, wherein an end of the fin is disposed closer to a center of the heat-transfer-tube unit in a heat-transfer-tube-extending direction than ends of the heat transfer tubes;   forming holes in a header;   inserting the ends of each of the heat transfer tubes into respective ones of the holes; and   brazing the heat-transfer-tube unit and the header to one another other.   
     
     
         22 . The heat exchanger manufacturing method according to  claim 21 ,
 wherein the forming of the heat-transfer-tube unit comprises integrally forming the fin and the heat transfer tubes from a metal material by extrusion molding.   
     
     
         23 . The heat exchanger manufacturing method according to  claim 21 ,
 wherein portions of the fin are punched off in the forming of the cutout.   
     
     
         24 . The heat exchanger manufacturing method according to  claim 21 ,
 wherein the holes are formed by drilling.