Spacer, fixing structure and heat exchanger

Abstract

A spacer includes a plane portion and at least one positioning portion. The plane portion is interposed between two pipe arrays stacked one another. Each of the two pipe arrays is formed by arranging at least one pipe along a plane which crosses a stacking direction of the two pipe arrays. The at least one positioning portion positions the at least one pipe in at least one of the two pipe arrays on the plane portion.

1 . A spacer comprising:
 a plane portion interposed between two pipe arrays stacked one another, each of the two pipe arrays being formed by arranging at least one pipe along a plane which crosses a stacking direction of the two pipe arrays; and   at least one positioning portion that positions the at least one pipe in at least one of the two pipe arrays on the plane portion.   
     
     
         2 . The spacer according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one positioning portion is formed to protrude from the plane portion in at least one of two spots sandwiching an axis line of the at least one pipe. 
     
     
         3 . The spacer according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one positioning portion is formed by denting the plane portion from one surface of the plane portion toward the other surface in the at least one spot. 
     
     
         4 . The spacer according to  claim 3 , wherein the at least one positioning portion includes a through hole which penetrates the at least one positioning portion. 
     
     
         5 . The spacer according to  claim 4 , wherein the plane portion is arranged between the two pipe arrays such that the at least one positioning portion protrudes in a direction of gravity. 
     
     
         6 . The spacer according to  claim 1 , wherein at least part of an end portion of the spacer extending along the plane portion is bent. 
     
     
         7 . A fixing structure comprising:
 at least one spacer including:
 a plane portion interposed between two pipe arrays stacked one another, each of the two pipe arrays being formed by arranging at least one pipe along a plane which crosses a stacking direction of the two pipe arrays; and 
 at least one positioning portion that positions the at least one pipe in at least one of the two pipe arrays on the plane portion; and 
   a clamping portion that clamps the at least one spacer together with a pipe group, the pipe group including at least the two pipe arrays.   
     
     
         8 . The fixing structure according to  claim 7 , wherein at least one positioning portion is formed to protrude from the plane portion in at least one of two spots sandwiching an axis line of the at least one pipe. 
     
     
         9 . The fixing structure according to  claim 8 , wherein
 the plane portion includes at least one through hole which penetrates at least one of the plane portion and the at least one positioning portion, in a position off the at least one pipe positioned on the plane portion by the at least one positioning portion, and   the clamping portion includes
 a pair of clamping members, the at least one spacer being arranged together with the pipe group between the pair of clamping members; and 
 at least one connecting member that interconnects the pair of clamping members through the at least one through hole. 
   
     
     
         10 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a pipe group that is formed by at least two pipe arrays stacked one another, each of the at least two pipe arrays being formed by arranging at least one heat-transfer pipe along a plane which crosses a stacking direction of the at least two pipe arrays; and   at least one spacer that includes
 a plane portion arranged between two pipe arrays in the at least two pipe arrays and 
 at least one positioning portion that positions the at least one heat-transfer pipe in at least one of the two pipe arrays on the plane portion. 
   
     
     
         11 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 10 , wherein the at least one positioning portion is formed to protrude from the plane portion in at least one of two spots sandwiching an axis line of the at least one heat-transfer pipe. 
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 10 , further comprising a clamping portion that clamps the at least one spacer together with the pipe group. 
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 12 , wherein
 the plane portion includes at least one through hole which penetrates at least one of the plane portion and the at least one positioning portion, in a position off the at least one heat-transfer pipe positioned on the plane portion by the at least one positioning portion, and   the clamping portion includes:
 a pair of clamping members, the at least one spacer being arranged together with the pipe group between the pair of clamping members; and 
 at least one connecting member that interconnects the pair of clamping members through the at least one through hole. 
   
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 10 , wherein the at least one heat-transfer pipe is shaped so as to surround a predetermined space. 
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 10 , wherein the at least one heat-transfer pipe is arranged to form a space for air passage around the at least one heat-transfer pipe.