Heat exchanger comprising a separator element

Abstract

A heat exchanger has a first distributor and a second distributor, and a plurality of parallel, coplanar tubes interconnecting the first distributor and the second distributor. One of the first and second distributors has a separator element inserted into a through-hole formed on a side wall of the distributor. The separator element has a pair of plates, each of which has a central portion and a peripheral edge raised with respect to the central portion, the plates being joined to each other at their central portions to define an annular gap around the central portions, interposed between the peripheral edges of the plates. The peripheral edge of each plate has a pair of laterally protruding portions arranged on opposite sides of the plate, and interposed between opposite edges of the through-hole.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heat exchanger comprising a first distributor and a second distributor, and a plurality of parallel, coplanar tubes interconnecting the first distributor and the second distributor,
 wherein each of the first and second distributors comprises a tubular body, on a side wall of which a plurality of slits is formed,   wherein in each slit of the plurality of slits an end of a respective tube of the plurality of parallel, coplanar tubes is inserted,   wherein at least one of the first and second distributors, hereinafter “partitioned distributor”, comprises a separator element that partitions an inside of the partitioned distributor into a first inner space and a second inner space, the separator element being inserted into a through-hole formed in the side wall of the partitioned distributor,   wherein the separator element comprises a pair of plates, each of which comprises a central portion and a peripheral edge raised with respect to the central portion, the plates being joined to each other at their central portions so as to define an annular gap around the central portions, interposed between the peripheral edges of the plates, and   wherein the peripheral edge of each plate comprises a pair of laterally protruding portions arranged on opposite sides of the plate, and interposed between opposite edges of the through-hole.   
     
     
         2 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein, in each plate, the laterally protruding portions are connected to each other by a central protruding portion of the peripheral edge, and wherein the central protruding portions of the plates are interposed between the opposite edges of the through-hole. 
     
     
         3 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the laterally protruding portions of the plates overlap the opposite edges of the through-hole. 
     
     
         4 . The heat exchanger of  claim 3 , wherein the laterally protruding portions have respective crimping appendages provided for attachment to the tubular body of the partitioned distributor. 
     
     
         5 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the plates are joined to the tubular body of the partitioned distributor by braze-welding. 
     
     
         6 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the plates are directly fixed to each other. 
     
     
         7 . The heat exchanger of  claim 1 , wherein the plates are connected to each other by at least one connection portion made in one piece with the plates, the at least one connection portion being bent to arrange the plates with the central portions against each other.