Heat exchanger and vehicle air conditioning apparatus provided with the same

Abstract

There is provided a heat exchanger 10 in which each of header tanks 20 A and 20 B is configured so that each of intermediate plates 60 and 90 is held between a header plate 40 and a tank plate 50. The intermediate plate 60, 90 functions as a reinforcing member, so that the strength of the header tank 20 A, 20 B is improved. The intermediate plate 60, 90 serving as a reinforcing element comprises bent parts 100 between the central portion and both the end portions in the width direction of the header tank 20 A, 20 B. By the elastic deformation of the bent parts 100, for example, the stresses developed in brazing of the header tank 20 A, 20 B, and the stresses at the time when a refrigerant pressure is applied can be prevented from concentrating in the joint portion of the header plate 40, the tank plate 50, and the intermediate plate 60, 90.

1 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 a plurality of heat exchange tubes arranged in parallel with each other;   fins provided between the heat exchange tubes adjacent to each other;   a first header tank connected to one end side of the plurality of heat exchange tubes; and   a second header tank connected to the other end side of the plurality of heat exchange tubes, wherein   the first header tank and the second header tank each comprises:   a header plate into which the end parts of the plurality of heat exchange tubes are inserted;   a tank plate facing the header plate; and   an intermediate plate held between the header plate and the tank plate;   the header plate, the tank plate, and the intermediate plate are joined to each other in end parts on both sides and a middle part in the width direction thereof, whereby between the header plate and the tank plate, refrigerant flow paths are formed on one side and the other side with the middle part being held therebetween; and   the intermediate plate crosses the refrigerant flow paths in the direction in which the end parts and the middle part are connected in the refrigerant flow paths, and the intermediate plate has an elastically deformed part which allows the end parts and the middle part to be displaced relatively in the direction where they move closer to or away from each other.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the intermediate plate has a concave part, which is continuous in the longitudinal direction of the intermediate plate, on at least one surface thereof;   at least one of the header plate and the tank plate has a convex part having a shape corresponding to the concave part;   the concave part of the intermediate plate is formed in the middle part in the width direction of the intermediate plate, and the convex part of the at least one of the header plate and the tank plate is formed in a portion facing the concave part; and   the concave part and the convex part are joined to each other.   
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein
 at least one of the intermediate plate of the first header tank and the intermediate plate of the second header tank is provided with a communicating port which is continuous to both sides with the middle part being straddled; and   the refrigerant flow path on one side and the refrigerant flow path on the other side communicate with each other via the communicating port with the middle part being held therebetween.   
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the plate thicknesses of the header plate, the tank plate, and the intermediate plate each are not smaller than 1.0 mm and not larger than 2.0 mm. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 3 , wherein the width of the communicating port in the intermediate plate is not narrower than 2.0 mm and not wider than 3.8 mm. 
     
     
         6 . A vehicle air conditioning apparatus provided with the heat exchanger according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 2 , wherein
 at least one of the intermediate plate of the first header tank and the intermediate plate of the second header tank is provided with a communicating port which is continuous to both sides with the middle part being straddled; and   the refrigerant flow path on one side and the refrigerant flow path on the other side communicate with each other via the communicating port with the middle part being held therebetween.