Heat exchanger having plate and holder and the plate for the heat exchanger

A plate is equipped to one side of a core of a heat exchanger. A tank is equipped to another side of the core. The tank has a holder in a tubular shape. The holder has a hole in which a plate end is inserted.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a heat exchanger having a plate and holder. The present disclosure further relates to the plate for the heat exchanger.

BACKGROUND

Conventionally, a heat exchanger includes a core having tubes and fins stacked one on top of another. A core may be equipped with tanks to receive thermal medium. A heat exchanger may further include a plate (insert) equipped to a core. It may be desirable to facilitate assembling of those components of the heat exchanger.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the disclosure, a heat exchanger comprises a core. The heat exchanger further comprises a plate equipped to one side of the core. The heat exchanger further comprises a tank equipped to an other side of the core. The tank has a holder in a tubular shape. The holder has a hole in which a plate end of the plate is inserted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

First Embodiment

As follows, a first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to drawings. In the description, a vertical direction is along an arrow represented by “VERTICAL” in drawing(s). A thickness direction is along an arrow represented by “THICKNESS” in drawing(s). A length direction is along an arrow represented by “LENGTH” in drawing(s). A width direction is along an arrow represented by “WIDTH” in drawing(s). A lateral direction is along an arrow represented by “LATERAL” in drawing(s).

As shown inFIG. 1, a radiator100(heat exchanger) includes tanks160and180, multiple tubes130, multiple fins140, and plates110and120. The tanks160and180, the tubes130, the fins140, and the plates110and120are integrated with each other and may be brazed into one component. Alternatively, the tanks160and180may be crimped to a core100aformed of the tubes130and the fins140. The radiator100may be connected with an internal combustion engine through unillustrated pipes to circulate cooling water therethrough. The tubes130and the fins140are stacked alternately in the lateral direction to form the core100a. The alternately stacked tubes130and fins140are interposed between the tank160and180at both ends.

Each of the fins140is extended in the lateral direction and is interposed between adjacent tubes130in the vertical direction. The fin140and the adjacent tubes130form air passages to flow air therethrough. The fins140enhance a performance of heat exchange between the cooling water (thermal medium), which flows through the tubes130, with air, which passes through the air passages.

One ends of the tubes130are inserted into the tank160and communicated with a fluid space formed in the tank160. The other ends of the tubes130are inserted into the tank180and communicated with a fluid space formed in the tank180. Thus, the tank160, the tubes130, and the tank180form a fluid passage to flow the thermal medium therethrough.

One of the plates110and120is equipped to one side (core side) of the core100aincluding the fins140and the tubes130. The other of the plates110and120is equipped to the opposite side (core side) of the core100a. Each of the plates110and120may be an insert plate, which may be to reinforce the core100a. The tanks160and180are equipped to the other sides (tank sides) of the core100a.

As shown inFIG. 2, the tubes130, the fins140, and the plate110are stacked together. InFIG. 2, illustration of the plate120and lower side of the core100aare omitted. The tubes130, the fins140, and the plates110and120may be bound together with a wire (not shown).

The tank160has a holder60. The tank160is equipped with a core plate170having multiple holes170a. The one ends of the tubes130are inserted into the holes170aof the core plate170, respectively. Simultaneously, the plate110is inserted into the holder60. Thus, as shown inFIG. 3, the fins140, the tubes130, the plates110and120, and the tank are assembled into the radiator100as one component. The assembled radiator100may be brazed together. The tank160and the core plate170may be formed of resin or metal. The core plate170may be crimped onto the tank160.

Subsequently, the plate110will be described with reference toFIGS. 4 to 6.FIG. 4is a cross section taken along the line IV-IV inFIG. 5.FIG. 5is a top view when viewed along the arrow V inFIG. 6.FIG. 6is a front view when viewed along the arrow VI inFIG. 5.

The plate110may be formed by bending a metallic flat plate. The plate110includes a plate body20and two plate arms54and56. The plate arms54and56extend from both sides of the plate body20, respectively. The plate body20and the plate arms54and56form a plate space110ain a rectangular shape. The plate110has a cross section in a U-shape in the front view inFIG. 6.

The plate body20includes two nails30and40. Each of the nails30and40is in a rectangular shape in the top view inFIG. 5. Each nail30and40is cantilevered from the plate body20into the plate space110a. Each nail30and40is inclined relative to the plate body20. The nail30has a nail root36on the side of the plate body20and has a nail end34on the opposite side of the nail root36. The nail40has a nail root46on the side of the plate body20and has a nail end44on the opposite side of the nail root36.

The plate body20has a slot20a, which is a through hole in a rectangular shape in the top view inFIG. 5. The slot20aextends through the plate body20. The nail roots36and46are adjacent to the slot20a.

The nails30and40may be formed by stamping the plate body20. Specifically, a blade of a die is pressed onto the plate body20from the rear side of the plate body20upward inFIG. 4to cut the plate body20and to form three sides of each of the nails30and40. The die is further thrusted into the plate body20to bend the nail roots36and46relative to the plate body20. In this way, the nails30and40are bent and inclined relative to the plate body20. The plate body20is partially formed into the nails30and40, and the portion of the plate body20, which corresponds to the nails30and40, are cut to form the slot20a. The nails30and40formed in this way are monolithic with the plate body20.

In the present example, the nails30and40are identical to each other in the shape. InFIG. 4, the nails30and40are opposed to each other and at the same angle relative to the plate body20. The nails30and40are, for example, at 45 degrees relative to the plate body20. Each of the nail ends34and44may be machined and may have a flat surface. The nail ends34and44are, for example, at 45 degrees relative to the plate body20.

Subsequently, the holder60will be described with reference toFIGS. 7 to 9.FIG. 7is a cross section taken along the line VII-VII inFIG. 8.FIG. 8is a top view when viewed along the arrow VIII inFIG. 9.FIG. 9is a front view when viewed along the arrow IX inFIG. 8.

As shown inFIGS. 4 to 6, the holder60has a hole60ain which a plate end10of the plate110is to be inserted. The holder60is in a tubular shape to form the hole60a.

The holder60is equipped to an end162of the tank160. The tank160and the holder60may be integrally molded of resin by using slidable molding dies. The holder60has a main wall70, side walls94and96, and a bottom wall80.

Each of the main wall70, the side walls94and96, and the bottom wall80may be in a flat plate shape. The side walls94and96extend from the main wall70toward the bottom wall80to form the hole60a. Thus, the side walls94and96, the main wall70, and the bottom wall80form a hollow tube in a box shape. The hole60ais in a rectangular shape, which corresponds to the cross section of the plate end10of the plate110. In the present example, the bottom wall80is integrally molded with the end162of the tank160.

The main wall70has a tab72extending into the hole60a. The tab72is opposed to the bottom wall80. The tab72has a cross section in a trapezoidal shape. The tab72has angled surfaces74and76on both sides.

The main wall70has two slits78each being in a rectangular shape. The two slits78extend through the main wall70. The two slits78are adjacent to the tab72.

The bottom wall80has a bump82extending from the bottom wall80into the hole60a. The bump82is extended toward the tab72and is opposed to the tab72. The bump82has a cross section in a trapezoidal shape. The bump82has angled surfaces84and86on both sides.

Subsequently, the holder60will be described with reference toFIGS. 4 to 6.FIG. 4is a cross section taken along the line IV-IV inFIG. 5.FIG. 5is a top view when viewed along the arrow V inFIG. 6.FIG. 6is a front view when viewed along the arrow VI inFIG. 5.

As shown inFIGS. 10 to 12, the plate end10is inserted into the holder60in this order. Specifically, inFIG. 10, the plate end10is inserted into the hole60aof the holder60in an insertion direction. The plate end10is slid along the surface of the bump82and is moved on the bump82.

InFIG. 11, the plate end10is further inserted into the hole60aof the holder60. As the plate end10is thrusted into the hole60a, the nail30makes contact with the tab72, and subsequently, the nail30is resiliently bent at the nail root36toward the slot20a. Thus, the nail30is resiliently retracted into the slot20a.

InFIG. 12, the plate end10is further inserted into the holder60, and the plate end10is finally positioned in the holder60and is fixed to the holder60. After the nail30is moved beyond the tab72in the insertion direction, the nail30is no longer depressed by the tab72. Thus, the nail30resiliently recovers its original form before being inserted into the holder60. In addition, the plate end10moves down in the hole60aof the holder60, as the slot20ais fitted to the bump82. In the state of FIG.12, the nail ends34and44of both the nails30and40are opposed to the angled surfaces74and76of the tab72. In addition, the bump82is accommodated in the slot20aof the plate end10. Specifically, the angled surfaces84and86of the bump82are along the surfaces of the nail roots36and46, respectively. The nail ends34and44are latched to the angled surfaces74and76of the tab72, respectively. The nail roots36and46are also latched to the angled surfaces84and86of the bump82, respectively. Thus, the tab72and the bump82restrict movement of the nail30in the insertion direction.

In the state ofFIG. 12, at least one of the nail ends34and44may be in contact with the angled surfaces of the tab72. Alternatively, at least one of the nail ends34and44may be spaced from the angled surfaces of the tab72. At least one of the nail roots36and46may be in contact with the angled surfaces84and86of the bump82. Alternatively, at least one of the nail roots36and46may be spaced from the angled surfaces84and86of the bump82.

InFIG. 12, the height of the plate110may be lower than the height of the hole60aof the holder60by the height of the bump82, in order to enable insertion of the plate110in the hole60abeyond the bump82. Alternatively, for example, the bump82may be formed of a soft material compared with the material of the tank160, and the bump82may be adhered on the bottom surface of the holder60. In this configuration, the bump82may be deformed and dented while the plate110is thrusted through the hole60a, thereby to enable insertion of the plate110in the holder60. The bump82may recover its shape after insertion of the plate110and may protrude in the slot20ato support the plate110.

As described above, the plate110is snap-fitted to the holder60and thereby integrated into one piece. Thus, the plate110may be supported by the holder60and may be restricted from falling off the core100aand the tank160.

Second Embodiment

As shown inFIG. 13, the bump82in the first embodiment may be omitted. A holder260of the present second embodiment has a bottom wall280defining a flat surface on which the plate end10is located. In the present embodiment, the height of the plate110may be same as or slightly lower than the height of the hole60aof the holder60. Even in the structure, the nail ends34and44are latched to the angled surfaces74and76of the tab72, respectively. Thus, the tab72restricts movement of the nail30in the insertion direction.

Third Embodiment

As shown inFIG. 14, the nail40may be omitted. A plate end310of the present second embodiment only has the nail30. The plate end310includes a plate body320having a slot320a. The slot320ais smaller than the slot20aof the first embodiment.

On assumption that the tank180(FIG. 1) on the other side of the holder60and the tank160have a holder, which has a latch structure equivalent to that of the holder60, the holder260may hold the nail30of the plate end310on one side. Thus, even in the structure of the third embodiment, the nail end34is latched to the angled surface74of the tab72. Thus, the tab72restricts movement of the nail30in the insertion direction.

The configuration of the third embodiment may include a bump, which is similar to the bump82in the first embodiment.

Other Embodiment

As described above, the holders may be equipped to both ends of the tank, respectively. Alternatively, the holders may be equipped to one end of the tank. In this case, the plate may be inserted in the holder on one side of the core. In addition, the other plate may not be inserted in a holder. One tank may have the holder, and the other tank may not have the holder.

The holder may be a separate component from the tank and may be connected to the tank by, for example, adhesion or welding.

The nails may be separate components and may be welded to the plate body. The plate body may not have the slot.

For purposes of clarity, the same reference numbers will be used in the drawings to identify similar elements. As used herein, the phrase at least one of A, B, and C should be construed to mean a logical (A or B or C), using a non-exclusive logical or.