Heat exchanger, method of manufacturing the same, and air-conditioning apparatus

Abstract

A heat exchanger includes a first row of flat tubes, a second row of flat tubes, a first header causing first ends of the flat tubes in the first row in a first direction to communicate with each other, a second header causing first ends of the flat tubes in the second row in the first direction to communicate with each other, and a third header that causes the second ends to communicate with each other and connects the first and second rows to cause refrigerant to flow between the first header and the second header. The flat tubes are arranged outside a space between the segments of the third header. A stress-absorbing part is provided in at least a bending target portion of one of the first header and the second header subjected to larger stress from the bending than the other one of the first header and the second header.

1 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a first row of flat tubes and a second row of flat tubes, each of the flat tubes extending in a first direction and having a flat cross-section in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, the flat tubes being spaced apart from each other in the second direction with long sides of the flat cross-sections facing each other;   a first header disposed at a first end of each of the flat tubes in the first row in the first direction, the first header causing the first ends to communicate with each other;   a second header disposed at a first end of each of the flat tubes in the second row in the first direction, the second header causing the first ends to communicate with each other; and   a third header disposed at a second end of each of the flat tubes in the first and second rows in the first direction and located on both the first row and the second row, the third header causing the second ends to communicate with each other and connecting the first and second rows to cause the refrigerant to flow between the first header and the second header,   the first row and the second row being arranged side by side,   the third header including segments,   the flat tubes being arranged outside a space between the segments of the third header,   the first header and the second header being bent by bending,   stress-absorbing part that absorbs stress being provided in at least a bending target portion of one of the first header and the second header that is subjected to larger stress resulting from the bending than an other one of the first header and the second header.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein
 the first header or the second header subjected to larger stress resulting from the bending is longer than an other one of the first header and the second header in the bending target portion, and   the stress-absorbing part is curved in the first direction or a direction orthogonal to the first direction.   
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the first header or the second header including the stress-absorbing part is disposed at a lower position in the first direction than a position of an other one of the first header and the second header. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the stress-absorbing part is provided in one of the first header and the second header that is subjected to the bending in larger part than an other one of the first header and the second header. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the stress-absorbing part is a separate coupling that couples facing ends of the first header or the second header. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the stress-absorbing part is a separate coupling that couples sides of facing ends of the first header or the second header. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , further comprising
 fins, each of the fins being interposed between the flat tubes that are adjacent in the second direction.   
     
     
         8 . A heat exchanger manufacturing method comprising:
 assembling components of a heat exchanger into an assembly and brazing the assembly, the components including   a first row of flat tubes and a second row of flat tubes, each of the flat tubes extending in a first direction and having a flat cross-section in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, the flat tubes being spaced apart from each other in the second direction with long sides of the flat cross-sections facing each other,   a first header disposed at a first end of each of the flat tubes in the first row in the first direction, the first header causing the first ends to communicate with each other,   a second header disposed at a first end of each of the flat tubes in the second row in the first direction, the second header causing the first ends to communicate with each other, and   a third header disposed at a second end of each of the flat tubes in the first and second rows in the first direction and located on both the first row and the second row, the third header causing the second ends to communicate with each other and connecting the first and second rows to cause the refrigerant to flow between the first header and the second header; and   bending the first header and the second header in the assembly obtained in the assembling,   the assembling including   arranging the first row and the second row side by side, dividing the third header into segments, arranging the segments of the third header, arranging the flat tubes outside a space between the segments of the third header, and   forming stress-absorbing part that absorbs stress in at least a bending target portion of one of the first header and the second header that is subjected to larger stress resulting from the bending than an other one of the first header and the second header.   
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger manufacturing method of  claim 8 , wherein
 the assembling includes   making the first header or the second header subjected to larger stress resulting from the bending longer than an other one of the first header and the second header in the bending target portion, and   curving the stress-absorbing part in the first direction or a direction orthogonal to the first direction.   
     
     
         10 . An air-conditioning apparatus comprising
 a refrigerant circuit at least including a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator,   wherein the condenser or the evaporator is the heat exchanger of  claim 1 .