Heat exchanger

Abstract

A heat exchanger includes a plurality of refrigerant tubes through which refrigerant flows and a fin which is arranged between adjacent refrigerant tubes, conducts heat, and extends in a first direction. The fin includes: a flat portion defining a surface parallel to the first direction; a first protruded portion having a step from the flat portion; and a second protruded portion having a step from the flat portion, where the first protruded portion and the second protruded portion are arranged symmetrically with respect to a center of the fin.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a plurality of refrigerant tubes configured to carry refrigerant; and   a fin arranged between adjacent refrigerant tubes among the plurality of refrigerant tubes, the fin being configured to conduct heat and extending in a first direction,   wherein the fin comprises:
 a flat portion that defines a surface parallel to the first direction, 
 a first protruded portion that defines a first step protruding from the flat portion, and 
 a second protruded portion that defines a second step protruding from the flat portion, and 
   wherein the first protruded portion and the second protruded portion are arranged symmetrically with respect to a center of the fin.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the flat portion surrounds the first protruded portion and the second protruded portion. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the first protruded portion and the second protruded portion protrude in a same direction from the flat portion. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein an end of the first protruded portion is connected to an end of the second protruded portion. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the first protruded portion comprises a plurality of inclined surfaces that are inclined with respect to the flat portion. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the second protruded portion comprises a plurality of inclined surfaces having an incline with respect to the flat portion. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the first protruded portion comprises:
 a first inclined surface defining a first inclination with respect to the flat portion;   a second inclined surface defining a second inclination with respect to the flat portion, the second inclined surface having an end connected to the first inclined surface;   a third inclined surface defining a third inclination with respect to the flat portion, the third inclined surface being connected to the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface; and   a fourth inclined surface defining a fourth inclination with respect to the flat portion, the fourth inclined surface being connected to the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface.   
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger of  claim 7 , wherein a length of the second inclined surface in the first direction is greater than a length of the first inclined surface in the first direction. 
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger of  claim 7 , wherein the first protruded portion further comprises a first top portion defining a highest position of the first protruded portion with respect to the flat portion, and
 wherein the first top portion connects the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface to each other, the first top portion extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction.   
     
     
         10 . The heat exchanger of  claim 9 , wherein the first top portion is connected to the third inclined surface and the fourth inclined surface,
 wherein first lateral ends of the first top portion are spaced apart from each other in the first direction and connected to the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface, respectively, and   wherein second lateral ends of the first top portion are spaced apart from each other in the second direction and connected to the third inclined surface and the fourth inclined surface, respectively.   
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger of  claim 10 , wherein a length between the second lateral ends of the first top portion in the second direction is greater than a length between the first lateral ends of the first top portion in the first direction. 
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger of  claim 10 , wherein the second inclined surface is located closer to the second protruded portion than the first inclined surface. 
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger of  claim 10 , wherein a height of the first protruded portion or the second protruded portion from the flat portion is greater than a thickness of the flat portion. 
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger of  claim 11 , wherein the length of the first top portion in the second direction is greater than a height of the first protruded portion or the second protruded portion from the flat portion. 
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger of  claim 7 , wherein an inclination angle of the first inclined surface with respect to the flat portion is greater than an inclination angle of the second inclined surface with respect to the flat portion. 
     
     
         16 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a plurality of refrigerant tubes configured to carry refrigerant; and   a fin arranged between adjacent refrigerant tubes among the plurality of refrigerant tubes, the fin being configured to conduct heat and extending in a first direction,   wherein the fin comprises:
 a flat portion that defines a surface parallel to the first direction, 
 a first protruded portion that protrudes from the flat portion in a second direction intersecting the first direction, 
 a second protruded portion that protrudes from the flat portion in the second direction, and 
 a third protruded portion that is disposed between the first protruded portion and the second protruded portion and protrudes from the flat portion in a third direction opposite to the second direction, and 
   wherein the first protruded portion and the second protruded portion are arranged symmetrically with respect to the third protruded portion.   
     
     
         17 . The heat exchanger of  claim 16 , wherein the flat portion surrounds the first protruded portion, the second protruded portion, and the third protruded portion. 
     
     
         18 . The heat exchanger of  claim 16 , wherein the third protruded portion has (i) a first end connected to the first protruded portion and (ii) a second end connected to the second protruded portion. 
     
     
         19 . The heat exchanger of  claim 16 , wherein the first protruded portion comprises a plurality of inclined surfaces that are inclined with respect to the flat portion,
 wherein the second protruded portion comprises a plurality of inclined surfaces that are inclined with respect to the flat portion, and   wherein at least a portion of the third protruded portion is defined by (i) a part of the plurality of inclined surfaces of the first protruded portion and (ii) a part of the plurality of inclined surfaces of the second protruded portion.   
     
     
         20 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a plurality of refrigerant tubes configured to carry refrigerant; and   a fin which arranged between adjacent refrigerant tubes among the plurality of refrigerant tubes, the fin being configured to conduct heat and extending in a first direction,   wherein the fin comprises:
 a flat portion that defines a surface parallel to the first direction, 
 a first top line that protrudes from the flat portion in a second direction intersecting the first direction, 
 a second top line that protrudes from the flat portion in the second direction, 
 a third top line that is disposed between the first top line and the second top line and protrudes from the flat portion a third direction opposite to the second direction, 
 a first inclined surface that connect the first top line and the third top line to each other, and 
 a second inclined surface that connects the second top line and the third top line to each other.