Tube for Heat Exchanger, Heat Exchanger, and Method for Manufacturing Tube for Heat Exchanger

Abstract

Provided is a tube for a heat exchanger in which drainage performance of the tube and the fin is improved while preventing the brazing failure. That is, provided is a tube ( 110 ) for a heat exchanger, the tube through which a refrigerant flows being formed into a flat plate shape, the tube including stepped portions ( 117 and 118 ) at both end portions ( 110 a and 110 b ) in a refrigerant flowing direction, respectively, in which the tube has a widthwise length in a region on an end portion ( 110 a or 110 b ) side with respect to a position of each of the stepped portions ( 117 and 118 ), the widthwise length being smaller than a widthwise length in a region between both the stepped portions ( 117 and 118 ), and in which the tube further includes a drainage portion ( 119 ) at a predetermined position between both the stepped portions ( 117 and 118 ) along the refrigerant flowing direction.

1 . A tube for a heat exchanger, the tube through which a refrigerant flows being formed into a flat plate shape,
 the tube comprising stepped portions at both end portions in a refrigerant flowing direction, respectively,   wherein the tube has a widthwise length in a region on an end portion side with respect to a position of each of the stepped portions, the widthwise length being defined in a longitudinal direction of a cross-section orthogonal to the refrigerant flowing direction, the widthwise length being smaller than a widthwise length in a region between both the stepped portions, and   wherein the tube further comprises a drainage portion at a predetermined position between both the stepped portions along the refrigerant flowing direction.   
     
     
         2 . A tube for a heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the widthwise length in the longitudinal direction of the cross-section orthogonal to the refrigerant flowing direction of the region on the end portion side with respect to the position of the each of the stepped portions is formed to become smaller toward the end portion. 
     
     
         3 . A heat exchanger, comprising the tube for a heat exchanger according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         4 . A method of manufacturing a tube for a heat exchanger, the method comprising press-forming a tube for a heat exchanger, which has a drainage portion formed therein at at least one widthwise side end portion in a longitudinal direction of a cross-section orthogonal to the refrigerant flowing direction along a refrigerant flowing direction, to thereby flatten parts of the drainage portion at both end portions in the refrigerant flowing direction so that a width in the longitudinal direction of the cross-section orthogonal to the refrigerant flowing direction of each part obtained by the flattening is smaller than a width in the longitudinal direction of a cross-section orthogonal to the refrigerant flowing direction between both side end portions. 
     
     
         5 . A heat exchanger, comprising the tube for a heat exchanger according to  claim 2 .