Refrigerant distributor, heat exchanger, and refrigeration cycle apparatus

Abstract

A refrigerant distributor in which a refrigerant pipe and a plurality of heat transfer tubes are connected causes refrigerant to be distributed to the plurality of the heat transfer tubes and includes a first plate-like member, a second plate-like member and a third plate-like member arranged in a first direction, the first plate-like member being a member to which the refrigerant pipe is connected and the third plate-like member being a member to which the plurality of the heat transfer tubes are connected. The first plate-like member includes an inflow passage, and a plurality of return flow passages. The second plate-like member includes a plurality of through passages. The third plate-like member includes a plurality of projections. The plurality of the projections each have, in its inside, a space that is communicated with the plurality of the through passages.

1 . A refrigerant distributor in which a refrigerant pipe and a plurality of heat transfer tubes are connected, and refrigerant flowing in from the refrigerant pipe is caused to flow through flow passages formed inside to thereby cause the refrigerant to be distributed to the plurality of the heat transfer tubes; and
 comprising a first plate-like member, a second plate-like member, a third plate-like member and a fourth plate-like member arranged in a first direction, the first plate-like member being a member to which the refrigerant pipe is connected the third plate-like member being a member to which the plurality of the heat transfer tubes are connected and the fourth plate-like member being provided between the second plate-like member and the third plate-like member,   
       wherein
 the first plate-like member includes an inflow passage formed so as to penetrate in the first direction and into which refrigerant flows from the refrigerant pipe, and 
 a plurality of return flow passages that cause the refrigerant flowing from the second plate-like member side to make a return-flow to the second plate-like member side; 
 the second plate-like member includes 
 a plurality of through passages formed so as to penetrate in the first direction; 
 the third plate-like member includes 
 a plurality of projections that project in a direction opposite to the second plate-like member; 
 each of the plurality of the through passages is communicated with the inflow passage or one of the plurality of the return flow passages; 
 the plurality of the projections each have, in its inside, a space that is communicated with the plurality of the through passages; 
 at least two of the plurality of the projections each have an insertion opening in which one of the plurality of the heat transfer tubes is inserted; 
 the space formed in the inside of each of the at least two of the plurality of the projections each having the insertion opening is an insertion space in which a distal end portion of one of the plurality of the heat transfer tubes is positioned, and the space formed in the inside of each of the projections, apart from the at least two of the plurality of the projections each having the insertion space, is a branch passage that causes the refrigerant flowing in from one of the plurality of the through passages to be divided into flows; 
 the fourth plate-like member includes 
 a plurality of first communication passages and a plurality of second communication passages formed so as to penetrate in the first direction; 
 each of the plurality of the first communication passages causes one of the plurality of the through passages and one of the plurality of the branch passages to be communicated; and 
 each of the plurality of the second communication passages causes one of the plurality of the branch passages and the insertion space to be communicated. 
 
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . A refrigerant distributor in which a refrigerant pipe and a plurality of heat transfer tubes are connected, and refrigerant flowing in from the refrigerant pipe is caused to flow through flow passages formed inside to thereby cause the refrigerant to be distributed to the plurality of the heat transfer tubes; and
 comprising a first plate-like member, a second plate-like member and a third plate-like member arranged in a first direction, the first plate-like member being a member to which the refrigerant pipe is connected and the third plate-like member being a member to which the plurality of the heat transfer tubes are connected,   
       wherein
 the first plate-like member includes an inflow passage formed so as to penetrate in the first direction and into which refrigerant flows from the refrigerant pipe, and 
 a plurality of return flow passages that cause the refrigerant flowing from the second plate-like member side to make a return-flow to the second plate-like member side; 
 the second plate-like member includes 
 a plurality of through passages formed so as to penetrate in the first direction; 
 the third plate-like member includes 
 a plurality of projections that project in a direction opposite to the second plate-like member; 
 each of the plurality of the through passages is communicated with the inflow passage or one of the plurality of the return flow passages; 
 the plurality of the projections each have, in its inside, a space that is communicated with the plurality of the through passages; 
 at least two of the plurality of the projections each have an insertion opening in which one of the plurality of the heat transfer tubes is inserted; 
 the space formed in the inside of each of the at least two of the plurality of the projections each having the insertion opening is an insertion space in which a distal end portion of one of the plurality of the heat transfer tubes is positioned, and the space formed in the inside of each of the projections, apart from the at least two of the plurality of the projections each having the insertion space, is a branch passage that causes the refrigerant flowing in from one of the plurality of the through passages to be divided into flows; and 
 the at least two of the plurality of the projections each having the insertion space and the projection including the branch passage are formed as one body, and at least two of the insertion spaces and the branch passage are communicated. 
 
     
     
         4 . A refrigerant distributor in which a refrigerant pipe and a plurality of heat transfer tubes are connected, and refrigerant flowing in from the refrigerant pipe is caused to flow through flow passages formed inside to thereby cause the refrigerant to be distributed to the plurality of the heat transfer tubes; and
 comprising a first plate-like member, a second plate-like member, a third plate-like member and a fourth plate-like member arranged in a first direction, the first plate-like member being a member to which the refrigerant pipe is connected, the third plate-like member being a member to which the plurality of the heat transfer tubes are connected and the fourth plate-like member being provided between the second plate-like member and the third plate-like member, wherein   the first plate-like member includes an inflow passage formed so as to penetrate in the first direction and into which refrigerant flows from the refrigerant pipe, and   a plurality of return flow passages that cause the refrigerant flowing from the second plate-like member side to make a return-flow to the second plate-like member side;   the second plate-like member includes   a plurality of through passages formed so as to penetrate in the first direction;   the third plate-like member includes   a plurality of projections that project in a direction opposite to the second plate-like member;   each of the plurality of the through passages is communicated with the inflow passage or one of the plurality of the return flow passages;   the plurality of the projections each have an insertion opening in which one of the plurality of the heat transfer tubes is inserted;   the plurality of the projections each have, in its inside, a space that is communicated with the plurality of the through passages;   the space formed in the inside of each of the plurality of the projections is an insertion space in which a distal end portion of one of the plurality of the heat transfer tubes is positioned;   the fourth plate-like member includes   a plurality of first sub-branch passages and a plurality of second sub-branch passages formed so as to penetrate in the first direction;   each of the plurality of the first sub-branch passages causes one of the plurality of the through passages and other two of the plurality of the through passages to be communicated; and   each of the plurality of the second sub-branch passages causes one of the plurality of the through passages and two of the insertion spaces to be communicated.   
     
     
         5 . A refrigerant distributor in which a refrigerant pipe and a plurality of heat transfer tubes are connected, and refrigerant flowing in from the refrigerant pipe is caused to flow through flow passages formed inside to thereby cause the refrigerant to be distributed to the plurality of the heat transfer tubes; and
 comprising a first plate-like member, a second plate-like member, a third plate-like member and a fourth plate-like member arranged in a first direction, the first plate-like member being a member to which the refrigerant pipe is connected, the third plate-like member being a member to which the plurality of the heat transfer tubes are connected and the fourth plate-like member being provided between the second plate-like member and the third plate-like member, wherein   the first plate-like member includes an inflow passage formed so as to penetrate in the first direction and into which refrigerant flows from the refrigerant pipe, and   a plurality of return flow passages that cause the refrigerant flowing from the second plate-like member side to make a return-flow to the second plate-like member side;   the second plate-like member includes   a plurality of through passages formed so as to penetrate in the first direction;   the third plate-like member includes   a plurality of projections that project in a direction opposite to the second plate-like member;   each of the plurality of the through passages is communicated with the inflow passage or one of the plurality of the return flow passages;   the plurality of the projections each have, in its inside, a space that is communicated with the plurality of the through passages;   the space formed in the inside of each of the plurality of the projections is a branch passage that causes the refrigerant flowing in from one of the plurality of the through passages to be divided into flows;   the third plate-like member includes   a plurality of insertion openings formed so as to penetrate in the first direction;   one of the plurality of the heat transfer tubes is inserted in each of the plurality of the insertion openings;   the fourth plate-like member includes   a plurality of first communication passages and a plurality of second communication passages formed so as to penetrate in the first direction;   each of the plurality of the first communication passages causes one of the plurality of the through passages and one of the plurality of the branch passages to be communicated; and   each of the plurality of the second communication passages causes one of the plurality of the branch passages and one of the plurality of the insertion openings to be communicated.   
     
     
         6 . A refrigerant distributor in which a refrigerant pipe and a plurality of heat transfer tubes are connected, and refrigerant flowing in from the refrigerant pipe is caused to flow through flow passages formed inside to thereby cause the refrigerant to be distributed to the plurality of the heat transfer tubes; and
 comprising a first plate-like member, a second plate-like member and a third plate-like member arranged in a first direction, the first plate-like member being a member to which the refrigerant pipe is connected and the third plate-like member being a member to which the plurality of the heat transfer tubes are connected,   
       wherein
 the first plate-like member includes an inflow passage formed so as to penetrate in the first direction and into which refrigerant flows from the refrigerant pipe, and 
 a plurality of return flow passages that cause the refrigerant flowing from the second plate-like member side to make a return-flow to the second plate-like member side; 
 the second plate-like member includes 
 a plurality of through passages formed so as to penetrate in the first direction; 
 the third plate-like member includes 
 a plurality of projections that project in a direction opposite to the second plate-like member; 
 each of the plurality of the through passages is communicated with the inflow passage or one of the plurality of the return flow passages; 
 the plurality of the projections each have, in its inside, a space that is communicated with the plurality of the through passages; and 
 the inside of each of the plurality of the projections includes a downstream region having an arc shape. 
 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerant distributor of  claim 1 , wherein,
 in a face of the third plate-like member on the second plate-like member side, parts facing the plurality of the projections each have a tapered shape.   
     
     
         8 . The refrigerant distributor of  claim 1 , wherein
 the first plate-like member includes   a plurality of lying-astride projections that project in a direction opposite to the second plate-like member; and   each of the plurality of the lying-astride projections is formed   so as to lie astride at least one of the plurality of the heat transfer tubes when viewed in the first direction, and the return flow passage is formed in an inside of each of the plurality of the lying-astride projections.   
     
     
         9 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 the refrigerant distributor of  claim 1 ; and   a plurality of heat transfer tubes inserted in the refrigerant distributor.   
     
     
         10 . A refrigeration cycle apparatus comprising
 the heat exchanger of claim  9 .