Heat Exchanger

Abstract

A heat exchanger includes a plurality of heat exchanger units, each of which including header pipes ( 4,6 ) disposed in parallel to each other, a plurality of tubes ( 8 ) communicating with the header pipes and being disposed between the header pipes, fins ( 10 ) disposed between adjacent tubes, wherein a core portion ( 12 ) of the heat exchanger unit ( 2 ) is configured with the tubes and the fins layered therebetween; wherein the plurality of heat exchanger units are disposed in a direction that the tubes and the fins are arranged; and wherein the heat exchanger includes: fitting portions ( 16,18 ) which connect respective end portions ( 4 a, 6 a ) of the header pipes of the heat exchanger units that are adjacent to each other, and side plates ( 20,22,40,42,46,48 ) which connect opposing end portions ( 12 a ) of respective core portions of the heat exchanger units that are adjacent to each other.

1 . A heat exchanger, comprising:
 a plurality of heat exchanger units, each of which including header pipes disposed in parallel to each other, a plurality of tubes communicating with the header pipes and being disposed between the header pipes, fins disposed between adjacent tubes, wherein a core portion of the heat exchanger unit is configured with the tubes and the fins layered therebetween;   wherein   the plurality of heat exchanger units are disposed in a direction that the tubes and the fins are arranged;   and wherein   the heat exchanger comprises:   fitting portions which connect respective end portions of the header pipes of the heat exchanger units that are adjacent to each other; and   side plates which connect opposing end portions of respective core portions of the heat exchanger units that are adjacent to each other.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the plurality of heat exchanger units are arranged laterally;   the header pipes are therein disposed in parallel to each other on upper side and on lower side;   the plurality of tubes, extending in vertical direction, are arranged between the header pipes and communicated with both of the header pipes;   the fitting portion includes an upper-side fitting portion which engages opposing end portions of respective upper-side header pipes of the heat exchanger units that are adjacent to each other, and a lower-side fitting portion which engages opposing end portions of respective lower-side header pipes of the heat exchanger units that are adjacent to each other; and   the side plate includes an inlet-side side plate on the inlet side of air blowing onto the core portion, which is provided to one of the opposing end portions of core portions of the heat exchanger units that are adjacent to each other, and an outlet-side side plate on the outlet side of air blowing onto the core portion, which is provided to other one of the opposing end portions of core portions of the heat exchanger units that are adjacent to each other.   
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the side plate includes a connecting portion formed along longitudinal direction of the tubes and fins, of which both end portions in the longitudinal direction being connected respectively to the header pipes, and a joining portion extending and being bent from the connecting portion, which is joined to a opposing side plate of adjacent core portion.   
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 3 , wherein the side plate has a cross section of L-letter shape. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 3 , wherein the connecting portion or the joining portion is bent towards the connecting portion or the joining portion of the opposing side plate, and thus the side plate has a cross section of U-letter shape. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 4 , wherein the side plates are joined to each other so that a space enclosed with core portions that are adjacent to each other and with fitting portions thereof that are opposing to each other is blocked. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 6 , wherein:
 the side plate includes a bolt insertion hole on the joining portion, by which the side plates that are opposing to each other are joined with a bolt inserted therein;   and   the bolt insertion hole is provided on the side plates that are opposing to each other, which are arranged on a position that these side plates are not in contact to each other and can block the space in a direction of blowing air onto the core portion.   
     
     
         8 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 7 , wherein the bolt insertion hole has a diameter larger than a diameter of the bolt. 
     
     
         9 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 8 , wherein the side plates are provided as identical parts, and are arranged symmetrically to each other at the end portions of core portions that are adjacent to each other, and are arranged in front-back direction to each other along the direction of blowing air onto the core portion.