IP Library Granted Patent US 7,726,389
Granted Patent B2
US 7,726,389 · App. 11/722,962 · Granted Jun 1, 2010

Evaporator

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,726,389
App. No.
11/722,962
Granted
Jun 1, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

An evaporator includes a plurality of heat exchange tubes extending vertically and arranged in rows spaced apart from each other in a front-rear direction. A drainage acceleration member extending vertically is disposed between the adjacent front and rear heat exchange tubes. A gap is present between each of the adjacent front and rear heat exchange tubes, and the drainage acceleration member disposed between the front and rear heat exchange tubes. The gaps serve as drain channels. The evaporator exhibits excellent drainage of condensed water.

Claims (32)

1. An evaporator comprising:

a plurality of heat exchange tubes extending vertically and arranged in rows spaced apart from each other in a front-rear direction,

wherein a drainage acceleration member extending vertically is disposed between the adjacent front and rear heat exchange tubes, a drain channel is formed between the front heat exchange tube and the drainage acceleration member and between the rear heat exchange tube and the drainage acceleration member, the heat exchange tubes are flat and are arranged such that a width direction thereof coincides with the front-rear direction, the thickness of the drainage acceleration member as measured in the left-right direction is equal to the thickness of the heat exchange tube as measured in the left-right direction, outer surfaces of end walls of the front and rear heat exchange tubes in opposition to the drainage acceleration member have one of an arcuate horizontal cross section and a V-shaped horizontal cross section, and front and rear end surfaces of the drainage acceleration member have one of an arcuate horizontal cross section and a V-shaped horizontal cross section.

2. The evaporator according to claim 1 , wherein outer surfaces of end walls of the front and rear heat exchange tubes in opposition to the drainage acceleration member, and front and rear end surfaces of the drainage acceleration member have an arcuate horizontal cross section.

3. The evaporator according to claim 1 , wherein outer surfaces of end walls of the front and rear heat exchange tubes in opposition to the drainage acceleration member have an arcuate horizontal cross section, whereas front and rear end surfaces of the drainage acceleration member have a V-shaped horizontal cross section; alternatively, the outer surfaces of end walls of the front and rear heat exchange tubes in opposition to the drainage acceleration member have a V-shaped horizontal cross section, whereas the front and rear end surfaces of the drainage acceleration member have an arcuate horizontal cross section.

4. The evaporator according to claim 1 , wherein outer surfaces of end walls of the front and rear heat exchange tubes in opposition to the drainage acceleration member, and front and rear end surfaces of the drainage acceleration member have a V-shaped horizontal cross section.

5. The evaporator according to claim 1 , wherein a drain groove extending vertically is formed on at least one of left and right side surface of the drainage acceleration member.

6. A refrigeration cycle comprising a compressor, a condenser, and the evaporator according to claim 1 , wherein the refrigeration cycle uses a chlorofluorocarbon-based refrigerant.

7. The evaporator according to claim 1 , wherein a gap is present between at least one of the two adjacent front and rear heat exchange tubes, and the drainage acceleration member disposed between the two heat exchange tubes, and the gap serves as the drain channel.

8. An evaporator comprising:

a plurality of heat exchange tubes extending vertically and arranged in rows spaced apart from each other in a front-rear direction,

wherein a drainage acceleration member extending vertically is disposed between the adjacent front and rear heat exchange tubes, a drain channel is formed between the front heat exchange tube and the drainage acceleration member and between the rear heat exchange tube and the drainage acceleration member, the heat exchange tubes are flat and are arranged such that a width direction thereof coincides with the front-rear direction, the thickness of the drainage acceleration member as measured in the left-fight direction is equal to the thickness of the heat exchange tube as measured in the left-fight direction, a gap is present between at least one of the two adjacent front and rear heat exchange tubes, and the drainage acceleration member disposed between the two heat exchange tubes; the gap serves as the drain channel; and a relation 0<w/h≦¼ is satisfied, where h (mm) is the thickness of the heat exchange tube and the thickness of the drainage acceleration member as measured in the left-fight direction, and w (mm) is the width of the drain channel as measured in the front-rear direction.

9. The evaporator according to claim 8 , wherein an outer surface of an end wall of the heat exchange tube in opposition to the drain channel, and an outer surface of the drainage acceleration member in opposition to the drain channel are flat surfaces perpendicular to left and right side surfaces of the heat exchange tube.

10. A refrigeration cycle comprising a compressor, a condenser, and the evaporator according to claim 8 , wherein the refrigeration cycle uses a chlorofluorocarbon-based refrigerant.

11. The evaporator according to claim 8 , wherein a drain groove extending vertically is formed on at least one of left and right side surface of the drainage acceleration member.

12. An evaporator comprising:

a plurality of heat exchange tubes extending vertically and arranged in rows spaced apart from each other in a front-rear direction,

wherein a drainage acceleration member extending vertically is disposed between the adjacent front and rear heat exchange tubes, a drain channel is formed between the front heat exchange tube and the drainage acceleration member and between the rear heat exchange tube and the drainage acceleration member, the heat exchange tubes are flat and are arranged such that a width direction thereof coincides with the front-rear direction, the thickness of the drainage acceleration member as measured in the left-fight direction is equal to the thickness of the heat exchange tube as measured in the left-fight direction, at least one of the two adjacent front and rear heat exchange tubes, and the drainage acceleration member disposed between the two heat exchange tubes are in contact with each other, a recess is formed between the drainage acceleration member and the heat exchange tube in contact with the drainage acceleration member in such a manner as to be depressed inward with respect to the left-fight direction from an extension surface of a left side surface of the heat exchange tube and to extend vertically, a recess is formed between the drainage acceleration member and the heat exchange tube in contact with the drainage acceleration member in such a manner as to be depressed inward with respect to the left-right direction from an extension surface of a right side surface of the heat exchange tube and to extend vertically, he recesses serve as the drain channels, and a relation 0.05≦S/h≦1.5, is satisfied, where S (mm 2 ) is the cross-sectional area of the drain channel, and h (mm) is the thickness of the heat exchange tube and the thickness of the drainage acceleration member as measured in the left-right direction.

13. A refrigeration cycle comprising a compressor, a condenser, and the evaporator according to claim 12 , wherein the refrigeration cycle uses a chlorofluorocarbon-based refrigerant.

14. The evaporator according to claim 12 , wherein a drain groove extending vertically is formed on at least one of left and right side surface of the drainage acceleration member.

15. An evaporator comprising:

a plurality of heat exchange tubes extending vertically and arranged in rows spaced apart from each other in a front-rear direction,

wherein a drainage acceleration member extending vertically is disposed between the adjacent front and rear heat exchange tubes, a drain channel is formed between the front heat exchange tube and the drainage acceleration member and between the rear heat exchange tube and the drainage acceleration member, the heat exchange tubes are flat and are arranged such that a width direction thereof coincides with the front-rear direction, the thickness of the drainage acceleration member as measured in the left-right direction is equal to the thickness of the heat exchange tube as measured in the left-right direction, outer surfaces of end walls of the front and rear heat exchange tubes in opposition to the drainage acceleration member have an arcuate horizontal cross section, whereas front and rear end surfaces of the drainage acceleration member are flat surfaces perpendicular to left and right side surfaces of the heat exchange tubes; alternatively, the outer surfaces of end walls of the front and rear heat exchange tubes in opposition to the drainage acceleration member are flat surfaces perpendicular to the left and right side surfaces of the heat exchange tubes, whereas the front and rear end surfaces of the drainage acceleration member have an arcuate horizontal cross section.

16. A refrigeration cycle comprising a compressor, a condenser, and the evaporator according to claim 15 , wherein the refrigeration cycle uses a chlorofluorocarbon-based refrigerant.

17. The evaporator according to claim 15 , wherein a drain groove extending vertically is formed on at least one of left and right side surface of the drainage acceleration member.

18. The evaporator according to claim 15 , wherein a gap is present between at least one of the two adjacent front and rear heat exchange tubes, and the drainage acceleration member disposed between the two heat exchange tubes, and the gap serves as the drain channel.

19. An evaporator comprising:

a plurality of heat exchange tubes extending vertically and arranged in rows spaced apart from each other in a front-rear direction,

wherein a drainage acceleration member extending vertically is disposed between the adjacent front and rear heat exchange tubes, a drain channel is formed between the front heat exchange tube and the drainage acceleration member and between the rear heat exchange tube and the drainage acceleration member, the heat exchange tubes are flat and are arranged such that a width direction thereof coincides with the front-rear direction, the thickness of the drainage acceleration member as measured in the left-right direction is equal to the thickness of the heat exchange tube as measured in the left-right direction, outer surfaces of end walls of the front and rear heat exchange tubes in opposition to the drainage acceleration member have a V-shaped horizontal cross section, whereas front and rear end surfaces of the drainage acceleration member are flat surfaces perpendicular to left and fight side surfaces of the heat exchange tubes; alternatively, the outer surfaces of end walls of the front and rear heat exchange tubes in opposition to the drainage acceleration member are flat surfaces perpendicular to the left and right side surfaces of the heat exchange tubes, whereas the front and rear end surfaces of the drainage acceleration member have a V-shaped horizontal cross section.

20. A refrigeration cycle comprising a compressor, a condenser, and the evaporator according to claim 19 , wherein the refrigeration cycle uses a chlorofluorocarbon-based refrigerant.

21. The evaporator according to claim 19 , wherein a drain groove extending vertically is formed on at least one of left and right side surface of the drainage acceleration member.

22. The evaporator according to claim 19 , wherein a gap is present between at least one of the two adjacent front and rear heat exchange tubes, and the drainage acceleration member disposed between the two heat exchange tubes, and the gap serves as the drain channel.

Assignments (4)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE INCORRECT APPL. NO. 13/064,689 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 028982 FRAME: 0429. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Oct 20, 2017
From: SHOWA DENKO K.K.
To: KEIHIN THERMAL TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 044244/0524 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE RECEIVING PARTY'S ADDRESS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 028982 FRAME: 0429. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Dec 8, 2016
From: SHOWA DENKO K.K.
To: KEIHIN THERMAL TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 040850/0162 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 18, 2012
From: SHOWA DENKO K.K.
To: KEIHIN THERMAL TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 028982/0429 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 28, 2007
From: WATANABE, SUMITAKA
To: SHOWA DENKO K.K.
Reel/Frame 019496/0551 →