Patent Description:
In a plate heat exchanger, a heat exchange space is formed between two adjacent heat transfer plates. Fluid flows into the heat exchange space of the heat exchanger through a connecting pipe, a channel formed in the heat transfer plates, and a distributor. The function of the distributor is to control the distribution of fluid via one or more through-holes. <CIT>, on which the preamble of claim <NUM> is based, describes a block fluid distributor and a manufacturing method therefor. This arrangement comprises a lower stamped sheet, a fluid distribution block and an upper stamped sheet. The fluid distribution block is arranged between the lower stamped sheet and the upper stamped sheet. The fluid distribution block comprises several through-holes pointing in a radial direction in an installed state. The upper stamped sheet and the lower stamped sheet are the plates of a plate heat exchanger. Thus, the distribution block is arranged between two plates of the plate heat exchanger. <CIT> describes a board-type heat exchanger comprising multiple heat exchange plates which are stacked together. Each heat exchange plate comprises a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet located in two opposite ends of the heat exchange plate. A separating part is provided on a top surface and/or a bottom surface of each heat exchange plate, such that a fluid coming from the fluid inlet is split into different flows at the fluid inlet. The fluid then flows into mutually fluid channel regions separated by the separating part and converges at the fluid outlet. The fluid distributor has a main body and a middle cavity located inside the main body. In addition, the fluid distributor has also at least two guide parts which pass through the fluid distributor and guides fluid out of the middle cavity. The main body is substantially angular or secularly angular and comprises through-holes in a radial direction. <CIT> describes a stacked plate heat exchanger. The plate heat exchanger comprises multiple stacked plates that are stacked on top of one another and soldered to one another. A first stacked plate comprises at least one first passage opening and at least one second passage opening wherein the first passage opening is surrounded by a dome projecting from a stacked plate plane. The second passage opening is located radially outwards of the dome. Further, the first passage opening of each plate are in communication with each other, and the second passage openings of different plates are also in fluid communication with each other. <CIT> describes an inlet arrangement for a plate heat exchanger having a cylinder wall comprising at least one opening. This opening is arranged in radial direction and cuts the cylinder wall once parallel to an axis of the cylinder.

An object of the embodiments of the present invention is to provide a distributor for a plate heat exchanger, and a plate heat exchanger, and thereby reduce the difficulty of manufacture of distributors and plate heat exchangers.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a distributor for a plate heat exchanger is provided, comprising: a tube part, having a tube wall and having a first end and a second end, with a tube part inner cavity being defined in the tube part; a first flange formed at the first end, the first flange extending from the first end in a direction away from an axis of the tube part, the first flange having an outer edge remote from the tube part; and a connecting protrusion, projecting from the tube wall of the tube part in a direction away from the axis of the tube part, and projecting from the first flange at the inside of the outer edge of the first flange in a direction towards the second end of the tube part; the connecting protrusion having a connecting protrusion wall, with a connecting protrusion inner cavity being defined in the connecting protrusion wall, the connecting protrusion inner cavity being in communication with the tube part inner cavity; the connecting protrusion wall having an axial connecting protrusion wall which faces in the axial direction of the tube part and is remote from the first flange, the axial connecting protrusion wall being between the first end and the second end of the tube part, and having the axial connecting protrusion wall at least one through-hole.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the axial connecting protrusion wall is at <NUM>/<NUM> to <NUM>/<NUM> of a distance between the first end and second end of the tube part.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a distance between an outer edge of the axial connecting protrusion wall and an edge of the through-hole is <NUM> - <NUM>.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a width of the first flange is <NUM> - <NUM>.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the distributor for a plate heat exchanger further comprises: a positioning structure, configured to position the distributor relative to a heat transfer plate of the plate heat exchanger.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the positioning structure is a positioning protrusion, which projects from the first flange at the inside of the outer edge of the first flange in a direction towards the second end of the tube part.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the positioning protrusion projects from the tube wall of the tube part in a direction away from the axis of the tube part, and projects from the first flange at the inside of the outer edge of the first flange in a direction towards the second end of the tube part; the positioning protrusion has a positioning protrusion wall, with a positioning protrusion inner cavity being defined in the protrusion wall, the positioning protrusion inner cavity being in communication with the tube part inner cavity.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the positioning structure is a positioning piece projecting from an inner edge of the second flange.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the positioning structure is a positioning piece projecting from the outer edge of the first flange.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the distributor for a plate heat exchanger further comprises: a second flange formed at the second end of the tube part, the second flange extending from the second end of the tube part in a direction towards the axis of the tube part.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first flange and second flange are perpendicular to the axis of the tube part.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the distributor is formed from a plate by stamping.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the tube part is a truncated-cone-shaped tube part, with a diameter of the first end being greater than a diameter of the second end; the first flange extends radially outward from the first end; and the second flange extends radially inward from the second end.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a plate heat exchanger is provided, comprising: a plurality of heat transfer plates; a heat exchange space formed between adjacent heat transfer plates amongst the plurality of heat transfer plates; a channel formed in the heat transfer plates, the channel allowing a heat exchange medium to flow into or out of the heat exchanger, wherein openings of the plurality of heat transfer plates form the channel; and the distributor described above, arranged at at least one said channel.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the distributor further comprises: a positioning structure, configured to position the distributor relative to the heat transfer plate of the plate heat exchanger.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the positioning structure is a positioning protrusion, which projects from the first flange at the inside of the outer edge of the first flange in a direction towards the second end of the tube part, and the heat transfer plate comprises a positioning protrusion, which is engaged in the positioning protrusion of the distributor.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the positioning structure is a positioning piece projecting from an inner edge of the second flange, and the heat transfer plate comprises a positioning notch, which extends from an edge of the opening in a direction away from the opening, and the positioning piece of the distributor is bent and thereby engaged in the positioning notch of the heat transfer plate.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the positioning structure is a positioning piece projecting from the outer edge of the first flange, and the heat transfer plate comprises a positioning through-hole which runs through the heat transfer plate, and the positioning piece of the distributor is bent and thereby engaged in the positioning through-hole of the heat transfer plate.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the distributor is pre-fixed to the heat transfer plate by welding or bonding, such that the distributor is positioned relative to the heat transfer plate.

The distributor and plate heat exchanger according to embodiments of the present invention may reduce the difficulty of manufacture of distributors and plate heat exchangers.

The present invention is explained further below in conjunction with the drawings and particular embodiments.

As shown in <FIG>, a plate heat exchanger <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a plurality of heat transfer plates <NUM>; a heat exchange space formed between adjacent heat transfer plates <NUM> amongst the plurality of heat transfer plates <NUM>; a channel <NUM> formed in the heat transfer plates <NUM>, the channel <NUM> allowing a heat exchange medium (e.g. a refrigerant) to flow into or out of the heat exchanger <NUM>, wherein openings <NUM> of the plurality of heat transfer plates <NUM> form the channel <NUM>; and a distributor <NUM> arranged at at least one said channel <NUM>. The heat exchanger <NUM> may be a single-circuit heat exchanger such as that shown in <FIG>, or a dual-circuit heat exchanger such as that shown in <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the distributor <NUM> for a plate heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a tube part <NUM>, the tube part <NUM> having a tube wall <NUM> and having a first end <NUM> and a second end <NUM>, with a tube part inner cavity being defined in the tube part <NUM>; a first flange <NUM> formed at the first end <NUM>, the first flange <NUM> extending from the first end <NUM> in a direction away from an axis of the tube part <NUM>, the first flange <NUM> having an outer edge <NUM> remote from the tube part <NUM>; and a connecting protrusion <NUM>, the connecting protrusion <NUM> projecting from the tube wall <NUM> of the tube part <NUM> in a direction away from the axis of the tube part <NUM>, and projecting from the first flange <NUM> at the inside of the outer edge <NUM> of the first flange <NUM> in a direction towards the second end <NUM> of the tube part <NUM>; the connecting protrusion <NUM> has a connecting protrusion wall <NUM>, with a connecting protrusion inner cavity being defined in the connecting protrusion wall <NUM>, the connecting protrusion inner cavity being in communication with the tube part inner cavity; the connecting protrusion wall <NUM> has an axial connecting protrusion wall <NUM> which faces in the axial direction of the tube part <NUM> and is remote from the first flange <NUM>, the axial connecting protrusion wall <NUM> being between the first end <NUM> and the second end <NUM> of the tube part <NUM>, and having at least one through-hole <NUM>. The number of through-hole(s) <NUM> may be one, two or more, and the shape of the through-hole <NUM> may be round or any other suitable shape. The number of connecting protrusion(s) <NUM> may be one, two or more, and the connecting protrusion <NUM> may have any suitable shape, e.g. substantially round or rectangular.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, in an embodiment of the present invention, the distributor <NUM> further comprises: a second flange <NUM> formed at the second end <NUM> of the tube part <NUM>, the second flange <NUM> extending from the second end <NUM> of the tube part <NUM> in a direction towards the axis of the tube part <NUM>. The first flange <NUM> and second flange <NUM> may be perpendicular to the axis of the tube part <NUM>. The distributor <NUM> may be formed from a plate by stamping. According to an example of the present invention, the tube part <NUM> may be a truncated-cone-shaped tube part <NUM>, with the diameter of the first end <NUM> being greater than the diameter of the second end <NUM>; the first flange <NUM> extends radially outward from the first end <NUM>; and the second flange <NUM> extends radially inward from the second end <NUM>. The first flange <NUM> and second flange <NUM> have an annular shape, and have openings therein.

As shown in <FIG>, the distributor <NUM> is arranged at the channel <NUM>, between adjacent heat transfer plates <NUM>, and is configured to connect the channel <NUM> to the heat exchange space between the adjacent heat transfer plates <NUM>. The first flange <NUM> is connected to one of the adjacent heat transfer plates <NUM>, and the second flange <NUM> is connected to the other of the adjacent heat transfer plates <NUM>. The distributor <NUM> is generally provided at the channel that acts as a refrigerant inlet.

As shown in <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, in an embodiment of the present invention, the axial connecting protrusion wall <NUM> may be at <NUM>/<NUM> to <NUM>/<NUM> of a distance between the first end <NUM> and second end <NUM> of the tube part <NUM>, e.g. may be substantially at the midpoint between the first end <NUM> and second end <NUM>. A distance between an outer edge of the axial connecting protrusion wall <NUM> and an edge of the through-hole <NUM> may be <NUM> - <NUM>. A width of the first flange <NUM> (i.e. the width thereof in a radial direction) is <NUM> - <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, in an embodiment of the present invention, the distributor <NUM> further comprises a positioning structure, configured to position the distributor <NUM> relative to the heat transfer plate <NUM> of the plate heat exchanger <NUM>. The positioning structure may be a positioning protrusion <NUM>, which projects from the first flange <NUM> at the inside of the outer edge <NUM> of the first flange <NUM> in a direction towards the second end <NUM> of the tube part <NUM>. According to an example of the present invention, the positioning protrusion <NUM> projects from the tube wall <NUM> of the tube part <NUM> in a direction away from the axis of the tube part <NUM>, and projects from the first flange <NUM> at the inside of the outer edge <NUM> of the first flange <NUM> in a direction towards the second end <NUM> of the tube part <NUM>; the positioning protrusion <NUM> has a positioning protrusion wall <NUM>, with a positioning protrusion inner cavity being defined in the positioning protrusion wall <NUM>, the positioning protrusion inner cavity being in communication with the tube part inner cavity. According to an example of the present invention, the heat transfer plate <NUM> of the heat exchanger <NUM> has a positioning protrusion <NUM>; the positioning protrusion <NUM> of the heat transfer plate <NUM> may be a protrusion pressed out of the heat transfer plate <NUM>, or a part that is turned up after cutting open a part of the heat transfer plate <NUM>. Referring to <FIG>, the positioning protrusion <NUM> of the heat transfer plate <NUM> extends (e.g. extends radially) from an edge of the opening <NUM> in a direction away from the opening, and extends from the heat transfer plate <NUM> towards one side of the heat transfer plate <NUM> (one side in the direction in which the heat exchange plates <NUM> are stacked). The positioning protrusion <NUM> of the heat transfer plate <NUM> is engaged in the positioning protrusion <NUM> of the distributor <NUM>, in order to position the distributor <NUM> relative to the heat transfer plate <NUM>. The number of positioning protrusion(s) <NUM> may be one, two or more. In this way, an angle α between a line connecting the through-hole <NUM> to a centre line of the distributor <NUM>, and a horizontal plane passing through the centre line of the distributor <NUM>, is fixed. When the heat exchanger is placed according to requirements of use, the through-hole <NUM> is below this horizontal plane. That is to say, the angle α is <NUM>° - <NUM>°; in a preferred solution, α is <NUM>° - <NUM>°. There are no restrictions on the specific form and quantity of the positioning structure(s); positioning by shape or positioning by engagement slot are possible. For example, two positioning protrusions may be formed on a bottom surface of the distributor, or a part of the heat transfer plate may be cut open and then turned up, and at the same time, two matching positioning protrusions may be formed at the same positions on the plate below the distributor. According to an example of the present invention, the positioning structure is a positioning piece projecting from an inner edge of the second flange <NUM>, and the heat transfer plate <NUM> comprises a positioning notch; the positioning notch of the heat transfer plate <NUM> extends from the edge of the opening <NUM> in a direction away from the opening <NUM>, and the positioning piece of the distributor <NUM> is bent and thereby engaged in the positioning notch of the heat transfer plate <NUM>, such that a part of the positioning piece is bent onto a surface of the heat transfer plate <NUM>, thus locking the distributor <NUM>. According to another example of the present invention, the positioning structure is a positioning piece projecting from the outer edge <NUM> of the first flange <NUM>, and the heat transfer plate <NUM> comprises a positioning through-hole; the positioning through-hole of the heat transfer plate <NUM> runs through the heat transfer plate <NUM>, and the positioning piece of the distributor <NUM> is bent and thereby engaged in the positioning through-hole of the heat transfer plate <NUM>, such that a part of the positioning piece is bent onto a surface of the heat transfer plate <NUM>, thus locking the distributor <NUM>. According to another example of the present invention, the distributor <NUM> is pre-fixed to the heat transfer plate <NUM> by welding or bonding, such that the distributor <NUM> is positioned relative to the heat transfer plate <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, in an embodiment of the present invention, the distributor <NUM> further comprises: a protruding piece <NUM> projecting from the outer edge <NUM> of the first flange <NUM> in a direction away from the axis of the tube part <NUM>, or an indentation that is sunk from the outer edge <NUM> of the first flange <NUM> in a direction towards the axis of the tube part <NUM>, to enable an automated production line to identify front and back sides of the distributor <NUM>.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the height of the distributor <NUM> may be substantially equal to the distance between those parts of the heat transfer plates <NUM> that surround the channel <NUM>.

Claim 1:
Distributor (<NUM>) for a plate heat exchanger (<NUM>), comprising:
a tube part (<NUM>), having a tube wall (<NUM>) and having a first end (<NUM>) and a second end (<NUM>), with a tube part (<NUM>) inner cavity being defined in the tube part (<NUM>);
a first flange (<NUM>) formed at the first end (<NUM>), the first flange (<NUM>) extending from the first end (<NUM>) in a direction away from an axis of the tube part (<NUM>), the first flange (<NUM>) having an outer edge (<NUM>) remote from the tube part (<NUM>); and
a connecting protrusion (<NUM>), projecting from the tube wall (<NUM>) of the tube part (<NUM>) in a direction away from the axis of the tube part (<NUM>), and projecting from the first flange (<NUM>) at the inside of the outer edge (<NUM>) of the first flange (<NUM>) in a direction towards the second end (<NUM>) of the tube part (<NUM>); the connecting protrusion (<NUM>) having a connecting protrusion wall (<NUM>), with a connecting protrusion inner cavity being defined in the connecting protrusion wall (<NUM>), the connecting protrusion inner cavity being in communication with the tube part (<NUM>) inner cavity;
characterized in that a
the connecting protrusion wall (<NUM>) having an axial connecting protrusion wall (<NUM>) which faces in the axial direction of the tube part (<NUM>) and is remote from the first flange (<NUM>), the axial connecting protrusion wall (<NUM>) being between the first end (<NUM>) and the second end (<NUM>) of the tube part (<NUM>), and the axial connecting protrusion wall (<NUM>) having at least one through-hole (<NUM>).