Patent Description:
A heat exchanger comprises a header assembly and heat exchange tubes; the header assembly comprises a distribution pipe and a header, and the heat exchange tubes are connected to the header.

Document <CIT> discloses a header assembly known from the prior art.

It is an object of embodiments of the present invention to provide a header assembly for a heat exchanger, and a heat exchanger, whereby, for example, the quality of the heat exchanger may be improved.

The embodiments of the present invention provide a header assembly for a heat exchanger. The header assembly comprises: a header, comprising: a header wall, and an opening penetrating the header wall at an end of the header wall; an end cap disposed in the header wall at the end of the header wall, the end cap having a hole, the opening or recess being at a side of the end cap that faces an end face of the end of the header wall; a distribution pipe, comprising a distribution part and a connection part, the connection part projecting from the end cap through the hole of the end cap from the distribution part; and a positioning member, the positioning member having a first end and a second end, the first end of the positioning member being connected to the connection part of the distribution pipe, and the second end of the positioning member being engaged in the opening or recess of the header wall of the header.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first end of the positioning member has a hole or a notch, and the connection part of the distribution pipe is inserted into the hole or notch of the first end of the positioning member.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the opening or recess of the header wall is a notch sunk from the end face of the end of the header wall.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the positioning member extends in a direction intersecting the axial direction of the header.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the connection part of the distribution pipe has an opening penetrating a pipe wall of the connection part, and the first end of the positioning member is inserted into the opening of the connection part of the distribution pipe in a direction intersecting the axial direction of the connection part of the distribution pipe.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the opening of the connection part of the distribution pipe is a notch sunk from an end face of the connection part.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the connection part of the distribution pipe comprises a first connection part extending in the axial direction of the distribution pipe, and a second connection part which is connected to the first connection part and bent at a predetermined angle relative to the first connection part; and the first end of the positioning member is connected to the second connection part of the connection part of the distribution pipe.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the positioning member also has an intermediate part between the first end and the second end, and the second end of the positioning member has a bent part which is bent at a predetermined angle relative to the intermediate part of the positioning member, the bent part being engaged in the opening or recess of the header wall of the header.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the connection part of the distribution pipe comprises a first connection part extending in the axial direction of the distribution pipe, and a second connection part which is connected to the first connection part and bent at a predetermined angle relative to the first connection part; and the header further comprises a slot penetrating the header wall at the end of the header wall, the slot comprising a first slot part sunk from the end face of the end of the header wall, and the second connection part of the distribution pipe is in the first slot part.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the connection part of the distribution pipe comprises a first connection part extending in the axial direction of the distribution pipe, and a second connection part which is connected to the first connection part and bent at a predetermined angle relative to the first connection part; and the header further comprises a slot penetrating the header wall at the end of the header wall, the slot comprising a first slot part and a second slot part; the second slot part is sunk from the end face of the end of the header wall, and the first slot part extends in a direction intersecting the second slot part from that end of the second slot part which is remote from the end face of the end of the header wall; the first slot part has slot walls opposite each other in the axial direction of the header, and the second connection part of the distribution pipe is in the first slot part.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the opening or recess of the header wall is a notch sunk from the first slot part in the header wall in a direction away from the end face of the end of the header wall.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the opening or recess of the header wall is a notch sunk from the second slot part in the header wall in a direction away from the end face of the end of the header wall.

The embodiments of the present invention also provide a heat exchanger, comprising a heat exchange tube, and further comprising the header assembly as described in the above embodiments, an end of the heat exchange tube being connected to the header of the header assembly.

By using the header assembly and the heat exchanger according to the embodiments of the present invention, for example, the quality of the heat exchanger may be improved.

The present invention is explained further below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific implementations.

Referring to <FIG>, a heat exchanger <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: heat exchange tubes <NUM>; and a header assembly <NUM>, wherein ends of the heat exchange tubes <NUM> are connected to a header <NUM> of the header assembly <NUM>. The heat exchanger <NUM> further comprises fins arranged alternately with the heat exchange tubes <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the header assembly <NUM> comprises: a header <NUM>, the header <NUM> comprising: a header wall <NUM>, and a recess <NUM> on the header wall or an opening <NUM> penetrating the header wall <NUM> at an end of the header wall <NUM>; an end cap <NUM>, the end cap <NUM> being provided at the end of the header wall <NUM> (for example in the header wall <NUM>) to close the end of the header <NUM>, the end cap <NUM> having a hole <NUM>, and the opening or recess <NUM> being at a side of the end cap <NUM> that faces an end face of the end of the header wall <NUM>; a distribution pipe <NUM>, the distribution pipe <NUM> comprising a distribution part <NUM> and a connection part <NUM>, the connection part <NUM> projecting from the end cap <NUM> through the hole <NUM> of the end cap <NUM> from the distribution part <NUM>; and a positioning member <NUM>, the positioning member <NUM> having a first end <NUM> and a second end <NUM>, the first end <NUM> of the positioning member <NUM> being connected to the connection part <NUM> of the distribution pipe <NUM>, and the second end <NUM> of the positioning member <NUM> being engaged in the opening or recess <NUM> of the header wall <NUM> of the header <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the first end <NUM> of the positioning member <NUM> has a hole or notch <NUM>, and the connection part <NUM> of the distribution pipe <NUM> is inserted into the hole or notch <NUM> of the first end <NUM> of the positioning member <NUM>. The second end <NUM> of the positioning member <NUM> may have a rectangular cross section.

<FIG> show embodiments in which the distribution pipe <NUM> is positioned in the axial direction of the header <NUM>; <FIG>, <FIG> show an embodiment in which the first end <NUM> of the positioning member <NUM> has a hole, while <FIG> show an embodiment in which the first end <NUM> of the positioning member <NUM> has a notch. For other types of positioning members <NUM> with a hole in the first end <NUM>, the hole may also be replaced by a notch.

Referring to <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, according to embodiments of the present invention, the opening or recess <NUM> of the header wall <NUM> is a notch sunk from an end face of the end of the header wall <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, according to embodiments of the present invention, the positioning member <NUM> extends in a direction intersecting the axial direction of the header <NUM>, thereby positioning the distribution pipe <NUM> in a radial direction of the header <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, according to embodiments of the present invention, the connection part <NUM> of the distribution pipe <NUM> has an opening <NUM> penetrating a pipe wall <NUM> of the connection part <NUM>, the positioning member <NUM> has a rod-like shape, and the first end <NUM> of the positioning member <NUM> is inserted into the opening <NUM> of the connection part <NUM> of the distribution pipe <NUM> in a direction intersecting the axial direction of the connection part <NUM> of the distribution pipe <NUM>. The opening <NUM> of the connection part <NUM> of the distribution pipe <NUM> may be a notch sunk from an end face of the connection part <NUM>. The positioning member <NUM> may have a rectangular, circular or trapezoidal cross section.

Referring to <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, according to embodiments of the present invention, the connection part <NUM> of the distribution pipe <NUM> comprises a first connection part <NUM> extending in the axial direction of the distribution pipe <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, according to embodiments of the present invention, the connection part <NUM> of the distribution pipe <NUM> comprises a first connection part <NUM> extending in the axial direction of the distribution pipe <NUM>, and a second connection part <NUM> which is connected to the first connection part <NUM> and bent at a predetermined angle (for example, <NUM> degrees) relative to the first connection part <NUM>; and the first end <NUM> of the positioning member <NUM> is connected to the second connection part <NUM> of the connection part <NUM> of the distribution pipe <NUM>. The positioning member <NUM> also has an intermediate part <NUM> between the first end <NUM> and the second end <NUM>, and the second end <NUM> of the positioning member <NUM> has a bent part <NUM> which is bent at a predetermined angle relative to the intermediate part <NUM> of the positioning member <NUM>, the bent part <NUM> being engaged in the opening or recess <NUM> of the header wall <NUM> of the header <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, according to embodiments of the present invention, the connection part <NUM> of the distribution pipe <NUM> comprises a first connection part <NUM> extending in the axial direction of the distribution pipe <NUM>, and a second connection part <NUM> which is connected to the first connection part <NUM> and bent at a predetermined angle (for example, <NUM> degrees) relative to the first connection part <NUM>; and the header <NUM> further comprises a slot <NUM> penetrating the header wall <NUM> at the end of the header wall <NUM>, the slot <NUM> comprising a first slot part <NUM> sunk from the end face of the end of the header wall <NUM>, and the second connection part <NUM> of the distribution pipe <NUM> is in the first slot part <NUM>. Referring to <FIG>, the opening or recess <NUM> of the header wall <NUM> may be a notch sunk from the first slot part <NUM> in the header wall <NUM> in a direction away from the end face of the end of the header wall <NUM>. The distribution pipe <NUM> may not be in contact with a wall of the slot <NUM>. Lengthening the header so that the distribution pipe is located in the slot <NUM> may have the effect of protecting the distribution pipe. The distribution pipe may be positioned by means of the positioning member <NUM>. The distribution pipe may also be engaged in the slot <NUM>, to provide further positioning for the distribution pipe.

Referring to <FIG>, in particular <FIG>, according to embodiments of the present invention, the connection part <NUM> of the distribution pipe <NUM> comprises a first connection part <NUM> extending in the axial direction of the distribution pipe <NUM>, and a second connection part <NUM> which is connected to the first connection part <NUM> and bent at a predetermined angle (for example, <NUM> degrees) relative to the first connection part <NUM>; and the header <NUM> further comprises a slot <NUM> penetrating the header wall <NUM> at the end of the header wall <NUM>, the slot <NUM> comprising a first slot part <NUM> and a second slot part <NUM>; the second slot part <NUM> is sunk from the end face of the end of the header wall <NUM>, and the first slot part <NUM> extends in a direction intersecting the second slot part <NUM> (e.g. a direction perpendicular to the second slot part <NUM>) from that end of the second slot part <NUM> which is remote from the end face of the end of the header wall <NUM>; the first slot part <NUM> has slot walls opposite each other in the axial direction of the header <NUM>, and the second connection part <NUM> of the distribution pipe <NUM> is in the first slot part <NUM>. Referring to <FIG>, the opening or recess <NUM> of the header wall <NUM> is a notch sunk from the second slot part <NUM> in the header wall <NUM> in a direction away from the end face of the end of the header wall <NUM>. In the embodiment shown in <FIG>, there is no positioning member <NUM>; the distribution pipe is engaged in the slot <NUM>, and the slot <NUM> serves a positioning function and also serves to protect the distribution pipe. In addition, providing the first slot part <NUM> and the second slot part <NUM> may facilitate the insertion of one end of the positioning member <NUM> into the opening or recess of the header.

By using the header assembly and the heat exchanger according to the embodiments of the present invention, the quality of the heat exchanger may be improved.

In the header assembly and the heat exchanger according to the embodiments of the present invention, since the positioning member is provided between the distribution pipe and the header, the installation position of the distribution pipe is pre-fixed by means of the positioning member when the distribution pipe is installed. During the process of putting the heat exchanger in a furnace and brazing it, due to the action of the positioning member, the distribution pipe will not experience positional deflection even if it is affected by high temperature and gravity, thereby improving the installation precision of the distribution pipe and improving the heat exchange performance.

Claim 1:
A header assembly (<NUM>) for a heat exchanger (<NUM>), comprising:
a header (<NUM>), comprising: a header wall (<NUM>);
an end cap (<NUM>) disposed at the end of the header wall (<NUM>) to close the end of the header (<NUM>), the end cap (<NUM>) having a hole (<NUM>);
a distribution pipe (<NUM>), comprising a distribution part (<NUM>) and a connection part (<NUM>), the connection part (<NUM>) projecting from the end cap (<NUM>) through the hole (<NUM>) of the end cap (<NUM>) from the distribution part (<NUM>); and
a positioning member (<NUM>),
the header assembly (<NUM>) being characterized in that
the header (<NUM>) comprises a recess (<NUM>) on the header wall (<NUM>) or an opening penetrating the header wall (<NUM>) at an end of the header wall (<NUM>);
the opening or recess (<NUM>) is at a side of the end cap (<NUM>) that faces an end face of the end of the header wall (<NUM>); the positioning member (<NUM>) has a first end (<NUM>) and a second end (<NUM>), the first end (<NUM>) of the positioning member (<NUM>) being connected to the connection part (<NUM>) of the distribution pipe (<NUM>), and the second end (<NUM>) of the positioning member (<NUM>) being engaged in the opening or recess (<NUM>) of the header wall (<NUM>) of the header (<NUM>).