Condenser

Abstract

A condenser has, at one end, a first header tank to which first heat exchange tubes of third and fourth heat exchange paths are connected and a second header tank to which second heat exchange tubes of first and second heat exchange paths are connected. The upper end of the first header tank is located above the lower end of the second header tank. A plate member fixed to the circumferential wall of the first header tank serves as a partition portion for dividing the interior of the first header tank into a first region with which the first heat exchange tubes of the fourth heat exchange path (refrigerant super-cooling path), and a second region located above the first region. An internal volume reduction portion for reducing the internal volume of the first header tank is provided in the first region. The condenser is used for a car air conditioner.

1 . A condenser comprising a plurality of heat exchange tubes disposed in parallel such that the heat exchange tubes are spaced apart from one another in a vertical direction and extend in a left-right direction; and header tanks which extend in the vertical direction and to which left and right end portions of the heat exchange tubes are connected, in which three or more heat exchange paths each formed by a plurality of heat exchange tubes successively arranged in the vertical direction are juxtaposed in the vertical direction, wherein
 first and second header tanks are provided at a left or right end of the condenser, first heat exchange tubes which form at least two successively arranged heat exchange paths, including a heat exchange path located at the lower end, being connected to the first header tank, and second heat exchange tubes which form heat exchange paths provided above the heat exchange paths formed by the first heat exchange tubes connected to the first header tank being connected to the second header tank;   the first header tank is disposed on the outer side of the second header tank with respect to the left-right direction, has an upper end located above a lower end of the second header tank, and has a function of separating gas and liquid from each other and storing the liquid by making use of gravitational force;   an upper-end heat exchange path among the heat exchange paths formed by the first heat exchange tubes connected to the first header tank, and the heat exchange paths formed by the second heat exchange tubes connected to the second header tank serve as refrigerant condensation paths for condensing refrigerant; and   a heat exchange path formed by some of the first heat exchange tubes connected to the first header tank, other than the upper-end heat exchange path, serves as a refrigerant super-cooling path for super-cooling refrigerant,   wherein an internal volume reduction portion for reducing an internal volume of the first header tank is provided in a region of the interior of the first header tank which region communicates with the first heat exchange tubes of the refrigerant super-cooling path.   
     
     
         2 . A condenser according to  claim 1 , wherein a refrigerant passable tubular body is disposed in the first header tank, and a portion of the refrigerant passable tubular body constitutes at least a portion of the internal volume reduction portion. 
     
     
         3 . A condenser according to  claim 2 , wherein a lower end closing portion of the first header tank has an inward projecting portion having a recess formed on an upper surface thereof, and a lower end portion of the refrigerant passable tubular body is fitted into the recess. 
     
     
         4 . A condenser according to  claim 3 , wherein a refrigerant entry prevention portion is provided at least at the portion of the refrigerant passable tubular body fitted into the recess, and the inward projecting portion of the lower end closing portion of the first header tank and the refrigerant entry prevention portion of the refrigerant passable tubular body constitute at least a portion of the internal volume reduction portion. 
     
     
         5 . A condenser according to  claim 2 , wherein a partition portion is provided in the first header tank so as to divide the interior of the first header tank into upper and lower regions, a through hole is formed in the partition portion, and the refrigerant passable tubular body is passed through the through hole of the partition portion. 
     
     
         6 . A condenser according to  claim 5 , wherein the partition portion divides the interior of the first header tank into a first region which communicates with the first heat exchange tubes of a refrigerant super-cooling path located adjacent to and downward of the refrigerant condensation path associated with the first header tank, and a second region located above the first region; at least a portion of the refrigerant passable tubular body is located in the first region of the interior of the first header tank; the refrigerant passable tubular body has a first communication opening opened to the first region and a second communication opening opened to the second region; and at least one of the first and second communication openings is covered with a filter. 
     
     
         7 . A condenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the first heat exchange tubes which form two heat exchange paths are connected to the first header tank, and the second heat exchange tubes which form at least two heat exchange paths are connected to the second header tank.