Patent ID: 8235099

Claim:
A heat exchanger comprising a refrigerant inlet header section having a refrigerant inlet at a first end and closed at a second end opposite the first end; and a plurality of heat exchange tubes disposed at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal direction of the refrigerant inlet header section and connected to the refrigerant inlet header section, in which the interior of the refrigerant inlet header section is divided vertically into first and second spaces by means of a partition member, refrigerant flows into the first space via the refrigerant inlet, the heat exchange tubes project into the second space, the partition member has a communication opening located on the side toward the second end with respect to a heat exchange tube provided at an end portion of the partition member opposite the refrigerant inlet, the communication opening establishing communication between the first and second spaces, to thereby cause the refrigerant to flow from the first space into the second space via the communication opening while changing its flow direction to make a U-turn, wherein a guide portion is provided at an edge portion of the communication opening on the second end side, the guide portion projecting into the second space from a surface of the partition member facing the second space, and guiding the refrigerant to flow toward the first end side, and wherein the guide portion includes a slant portion which inclines toward the heat exchange tubes while approaching the first end, and a horizontal portion extending from a distal end of the slant portion toward the first end, and wherein the guide portion includes connection portions which are formed integrally with the partition member at opposite edge portions of the communication opening with respect to a direction of air flow such that the connection portions incline downward toward the inner side with respect to the direction of air flow, the connection portions connecting opposite edge portions, with respect to the direction of air flow, of the slant portion and the horizontal portion to the partition member.