IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,540,432
Granted Patent B2
US 12,540,432 · App. 18/415,165 · Granted Feb 3, 2026

Heat exchanger and manufacturing method of home appliance including the heat exchanger

Inventors: Sangkwon Han (Seoul, KR); Myeongdeok Kim (Seoul, KR); Jeonggeun Choi (Seoul, KR)
Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
D06F58/206D06F58/02D06F58/24F28F19/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,540,432
App. No.
18/415,165
Granted
Feb 3, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A heat exchanger includes: a copper pipe forming a refrigerant circulation passage; and a plurality of fins arranged at positions spaced apart from each other along one direction and coupled to an outer circumferential surface of the copper pipe, wherein the copper pipe includes: a plurality of straight tubes extending along the arranged direction of the plurality of fins; and a plurality of return bends connected to one end of one of the plurality of straight tubes and one end of another one of the plurality of straight tubes by welding, wherein burrs having a circumference greater than an outer diameter of each straight tube are formed at both ends of the plurality of straight tubes, a distance between a rim of the burr and an outer surface of the straight tube is 0.4 mm to 1.8 mm.

Claims (38)

1 . A clothes dryer comprising:

a cabinet;

a drum disposed in the cabinet and configured to receive clothes therein; and

a heat exchanger configured to (i) remove moisture from the clothes in the drum or (ii) increase a temperature of air in the drum,

wherein the heat exchanger comprises:

a copper pipe defining a refrigerant circulation passage,

a plurality of fins arranged in parallel and spaced apart from each other, the plurality of fins being coupled to an outer circumferential surface of the copper pipe,

a plurality of end plates that are spaced apart from each other, the plurality of fins being disposed between the plurality of end plates, and

a connection pipe that defines weld zones at both ends, that is connected to at least one of an inlet end or an outlet end of the copper pipe, and that has a length in a range from 40 mm to 80 mm,

wherein the copper pipe comprises:

a plurality of straight tubes that each extends along a direction of the plurality of fins, and

a plurality of return bends connected to the plurality of straight tubes, each of the plurality of the return bends being welded to two of the plurality of straight tubes, and each end of the plurality of return bends being connected to one end of the plurality of straight tubes, respectively, and

wherein a coating layer is applied to (i) a surface of each of the plurality of end plates, (ii) each of the plurality of return bends located at the surface of each of the plurality of end plates, and (iii) a surface of the connection pipe.

2 . The clothes dryer of claim 1 , wherein the coating layer is applied to the connection pipe spanning from 16 mm away from a first end of the connection pipe to 48 mm away from the first end of the connection pipe.

3 . The clothes dryer of claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger comprises an evaporator configured to evaporate refrigerant to remove moisture from the clothes in the drum, and

wherein an inlet end of the evaporator is connected to an expansion valve by welding an evaporator inlet connection pipe at the inlet end of the evaporator.

4 . The clothes dryer of claim 3 , wherein the coating layer is applied to the evaporator inlet connection pipe spanning from 16 mm away from a first end of the evaporator inlet connection pipe to 48 mm away from the first end of the evaporator inlet connection pipe.

5 . The clothes dryer of claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger comprises an evaporator configured to evaporate refrigerant to remove moisture from the clothes in the drum, and

wherein an outlet end of the evaporator is connected to a compressor by welding an evaporator outlet connection pipe at the outlet end of the evaporator.

6 . The clothes dryer of claim 5 , wherein the coating layer is applied to the evaporator outlet connection pipe spanning from 16 mm away from a first end of the evaporator outlet connection pipe to 48 mm away from the first end of the evaporator outlet connection pipe.

7 . The clothes dryer of claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger comprises a condenser configured to compress refrigerant and supply hot air to the clothes in the drum, and

wherein an inlet end of the condenser is connected to a compressor by welding a condenser inlet connection pipe at the inlet end of the condenser.

8 . The clothes dryer of claim 7 , wherein the coating layer is applied to the condenser inlet connection pipe spans from 16 mm away from a first end of the condenser inlet connection pipe to 48 mm away from the first end of the condenser inlet connection pipe.

9 . The clothes dryer of claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger comprises a condenser configured to compress refrigerant and supply hot air to the clothes in the drum, and

wherein an outlet end of the condenser is connected to an expansion valve by welding a condenser outlet connection pipe at the outlet end of the condenser.

10 . The clothes dryer of claim 9 , wherein the coating layer is applied to the condenser outlet connection pipe spanning from 16 mm away from a first end of the condenser outlet connection pipe to 48 mm away from the first end of the condenser outlet connection pipe.

11 . The clothes dryer of claim 1 , wherein the coating layer is made of materials including: polyurethane resin, xylene, dimethyl carbonate, and ethylbenzene.

12 . The clothes dryer of claim 1 , wherein the coating layer is made of materials including: butyl cellosolve, isobutyl alcohol, n-butyl alcohol, bisphenol A diglycidyl ether, ethylbenzene, acrylic acid mixed polymer, xylene, and melamine resin.

13 . The clothes dryer of claim 1 , wherein the coating layer is made of materials including: polymeric resin, deodorized kerosene, methyl isobutyl ketone, n-butyl acetate, isobutyl alcohol, n-butyl alcohol, talc, barium sulfate, urea-melamine copolymer, silicone epoxy copolymer, propylene glycol methyl ether acetate (PGMEA), modified melamine-formaldehyde resin, and optional additives.

14 . The clothes dryer of claim 1 , wherein a length from each of the plurality of end plates to the connection pipe spans from 60 mm to 80 mm,

wherein a first coating layer has a length spanning from 28 mm to 58 mm and is applied to the connection pipe from each of the plurality of end plates, and

wherein the first coating layer has a thickness spanning from 20 μm to 60 μm.

15 . The clothes dryer of claim 1 , wherein both ends of the plurality of straight tubes are configured to, based on expansion of the plurality of straight tubes, provide burrs.

16 . The clothes dryer of claim 15 , wherein the burrs have a circumference greater than an outer diameter of each of the plurality of straight tubes.

17 . The clothes dryer of claim 15 , wherein a distance between a rim of the burrs and an outer surface of the plurality of straight tubes spans from 0.4 mm to 1.8 mm.

18 . The clothes dryer of claim 15 , wherein a diameter of each of the burrs spans from 10 mm to 12 mm.

19 . The clothes dryer of claim 15 , wherein at least a portion of coating layer is applied to a surface of the burrs.

20 . The clothes dryer of claim 1 , wherein the coating layer is configured to block formation of rust.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 26, 2024
From: HAN, SANGKWON; KIM, MYEONGDEOK; CHOI, JEONGGEUN
To: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
Reel/Frame 067235/0571 →
Priority Claims (2)
KR 10-2019-0099748 · Aug 14, 2019 · national
KR 10-2020-0010694 · Jan 29, 2020 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation 16992800 · Aug 13, 2020
Related Publication 20240150955A1 · May 9, 2024
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