JP2001304722A - Refrigerant distributor and method of manufacturing it - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a refrigerant distributor which can secure high distributing performance and, at the same time, can be reduced in cost and a method of manufacturing the distributor. SOLUTION: The refrigerant distributor is constituted of a distributing function member 1 which is formed by molding a resin and has a refrigerant distributing function and a tightly closed container-like outer shell body 2 which covers the outside of the member 1 and has a refrigerant inlet pipe 3 in the upstream portion of the member 1 and a plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes 4, 4, etc., in the downstream portion of the member 1. Consequently, the distributing function member 1 having high distributing ability can be obtained inexpensively. Since a high strength can be secured by supplementing the strength of the member 1 with the outer shell body 2, the distributing performance of the distributor can be improved. At the same time, the cost of the distributor can be reduced. Therefore, the refrigerant distributor having high distributing performance can be provided more inexpensively.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a refrigerant diverter which is provided, for example, at a branch of a refrigerant circuit of an air conditioner and divides a refrigerant, and a method of manufacturing the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Refrigerant flow dividers have a primary problem of refrigerant distribution performance, which is their original function, while at the same time, low cost is one of the main problems. In order to cope with the above, various types have conventionally been proposed.

[0003] For example, when pursuing split flow performance,
The structure is complicated, and it is necessary to realize this structure with high accuracy. For this reason, conventionally, the processing accuracy, which is the main component of the refrigerant flow divider and exerts the function of dividing the refrigerant, has been improved. It is customary to manufacture by machining capable of performing high and complicated processing.

On the other hand, as a pursuit of low cost, for example, a so-called “imo-type refrigerant” in which a refrigerant inlet pipe is attached to one end of a simple closed container body and a plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes are attached to the other end, respectively. A simple refrigerant flow divider such as a flow divider is known.

[0005]

However, the refrigerant flow diverter obtained by the manufacturing method mainly for machining has a problem in that it has high diverting performance, but is versatile due to high manufacturing cost. Was. Conversely, a simple refrigerant flow divider has the advantage of low production cost and excellent versatility, but at the expense of flow division performance, and therefore, has the inherent performance of the refrigerant flow divider. Therefore, it is not preferable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to propose a refrigerant flow divider that can ensure both high flow distribution performance and low cost, and a method of manufacturing the refrigerant flow divider.

[0007]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the process of examining a specific technique for achieving the above contradictory problems, the inventors of the present application considered the characteristics of resin molding with respect to machining and the characteristics of resin molded products. I paid attention.

That is, the most common injection molding method as a molding method of a resin material has a feature that a complicated shape can be manufactured with high accuracy (accuracy close to machining accuracy by machining), and furthermore, resin molding cost is high. Is cheaper than the machining cost.

However, on the other hand, a resin molded product formed of a resin material has a drawback that the strength performance is lower than that of a machined product. Therefore, the entire refrigerant flow divider is formed of the resin molded product. This is generally difficult due to safety standards. However, it is considered that such a disadvantage of low strength of the resin molded product can be solved by covering the resin molded product with a metal container having high strength performance.

[0010] As a result of considering the above points, the following concrete means have been conceived.

[0011]

According to the present invention, the following configuration is employed as specific means for solving the above-mentioned problems.

In the refrigerant flow divider according to the first invention of the present application, a flow dividing function member 1 formed of a resin material and having a function of dividing a refrigerant, a refrigerant which covers the outside of the flow dividing function member 1 and is provided with a refrigerant of the flow dividing function member 1 The refrigerant inlet pipe 3 is provided on the upstream side part, and the metal closed container-shaped outer body 2 provided with a plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes 4, 4,. It is characterized by.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the refrigerant flow divider according to the first aspect, the peripheral wall 2c of the outer shell 2 is provided.
A swelling portion 9 swelling on the inner surface side is provided, and the swelling portion 9 and the flow dividing function member 1 are engaged with each other in the axial direction of the outer shell 2 to move the flow dividing function member 1 in the axial direction. It is characterized in that it is configured to regulate

In the method for manufacturing a refrigerant flow divider according to the third invention of the present application, the flow distribution function member 1 formed of a resin material and having the function of dividing the refrigerant is provided. 1 is a refrigerant inlet pipe 3
However, a plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes 4, 4,.
When manufacturing a flow splitter comprising a closed container-shaped outer body 2 provided with each of the above, the bottomed cylinder is formed on a bottom wall 21a of a bottomed cylinder 21 which is a forming material of the refrigerant inlet pipe 3. The plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes 4 facing the inside of the body 21.
Are fixed by brazing, and thereafter, the flow dividing function member 1 is fitted into the bottomed cylindrical body 21, and in this state, the opening end 21c side of the bottomed cylindrical body 21 is squeezed. The second step is to reduce the opening area by molding, and the refrigerant inlet pipe 3 is inserted into the narrowed opening of the bottomed cylindrical body 21 and joined and fixed by brazing.

[0015]

According to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained by adopting such a configuration.

In the refrigerant flow divider according to the first invention of the present application, a flow distribution function member 1 formed of a resin material and having a flow distribution function of a refrigerant, a refrigerant that covers the outside of the flow distribution function member 1 and that is A refrigerant inlet tube 3 is provided at an upstream portion, and a metal hermetically sealed outer shell 2 provided with a plurality of refrigerant outlet tubes 4, 4,... At a refrigerant downstream portion. I have.

Therefore, since the flow dividing function member 1 is formed by resin molding, even if the structure is complicated, it can be manufactured easily and with high molding accuracy. High shunt performance can be provided, and this can be provided at a lower cost. On the other hand, by covering the flow dividing function member 1 with a metal-made closed container-shaped outer body 2, the strength performance of the outer body 2 causes a drawback of the flow dividing function member 1 that is a resin molded product and has low strength performance. Thus, the combination of the flow dividing function member 1 and the outer body 2 can provide high strength performance as a whole.

As a synergistic effect, it is possible to achieve both the improvement of the flow dividing performance of the refrigerant flow divider and the cost reduction, and to provide a refrigerant flow distributor having a high flow dividing performance at a lower cost.

According to the refrigerant flow divider according to the second invention of the present application, in addition to the effects described above,
The following specific effects can be obtained. That is, in the present invention, in the refrigerant flow divider according to the first invention, the bulging portion 9 bulging toward the inner surface side of the peripheral wall portion 2c of the outer shell 2 is provided.
The swelling portion 9 and the flow dividing function member 1 are engaged with each other in the axial direction of the outer shell 2 so that the flow dividing function member 1
The flow dividing member 1 is a resin molded product and is joined to the metal outer body 2 by an inexpensive joining method such as brazing to restrict the movement. Even if it cannot be performed, it is possible to reliably control the movement of the flow dividing function member 1 by a non-joining and inexpensive processing method of performing bulging processing on the outer shell 2, This ensures operational reliability.

According to the method for manufacturing a refrigerant flow divider according to the third invention of the present application, the flow distribution function member 1 formed of a resin material and having a refrigerant flow distribution function, covers the outside of the flow distribution function member 1, and A refrigerant inlet pipe 3 is provided at a refrigerant upstream side portion of the functional member 1, and a closed container-shaped outer body 2 provided with a plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes 4, 4,. In manufacturing the flow divider, the bottom wall portion 21a of the bottomed cylindrical body 21 which is a forming material of the refrigerant inlet pipe 3 is formed.
The plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes 4, 4,... Are joined and fixed by brazing to the inside of the bottomed tubular body 21. Thereafter, the flow dividing function member 1 is placed in the bottomed tubular body 21. In this state, a second step of reducing the opening area by forming the opening end 21c side of the bottomed cylindrical body 21 by reducing the opening area, and adding a refrigerant to the narrowed opening portion of the bottomed cylindrical body 21 The inlet tube 3 is inserted and fixed by brazing.

Therefore, according to this manufacturing method, the flow dividing function member 1 which is a resin molded product and the bottomed cylinder 21 made of metal are used, and the bottomed cylinder 21 is drawn and brazed. Flow processing member 1
And a shell 2 covering the outside of the diverting function member 1, so that a diverter having high diverting performance can be provided at a lower cost.

[0022]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be specifically described below based on preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

First Embodiment FIG. 1 shows a refrigerant flow divider Z1 according to a _first embodiment. The refrigerant flow divider Z ₁ is disposed, for example, branching portion of the refrigerant circuit of an air conditioner be for diverting refrigerant to each branch circuit, shunt features described next member 1 and該分flow function member 1 And an outer shell 2 that covers the outside.

The flow dividing function member 1 is formed by integrally forming a resin material by, for example, injection molding. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the flow dividing function member 1 has a substantially columnar appearance and its axial direction. A funnel-shaped concave portion 6 is provided on one end 1a side, and a lead-out passage portion 7 functioning as an orifice is continuously formed at the lowermost end of the concave portion 6. Further, at the lower end of the outlet passage 7, a plurality of diversions having oblique holes extending obliquely outward from the outlet passage 7 and opening on the other end 1 b of the diversion function member 1. Paths 5, 5,... Are formed.

The outer shell 2 is a closed container formed by using a metal bottomed cylindrical body 21 (see FIG. 2) as described later. 1
And a refrigerant chamber 10 having a predetermined volume is formed above the flow dividing function member 1. In this case, the flow dividing function member 1 has one end 1a.
Are formed in the peripheral wall portion 2c of the outer shell 2 so as to protrude toward the inner surface thereof in the axial direction with respect to the caulking portions 9, 9 (corresponding to the "bulging portion 9" in the claims). The movement is regulated by the engagement at.

A plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes 4 are formed on the bottom wall 2a of the outer shell 2 so as to correspond to the open ends of the respective flow paths 5, 5,. ,
Are joined and fixed, and constitute a plurality of refrigerant passages that communicate with the respective refrigerant outlet pipes 4, 4,... From the respective flow paths 5, 5,. Further, a refrigerant inlet pipe 3 is attached to the top wall 2 b of the outer shell 2, with its opening end “a” substantially coaxially facing the outlet passage 7 of the flow dividing function member 1.

In the refrigerant flow divider Z ₁ thus configured, the refrigerant (gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant) introduced into the refrigerant chamber 10 from the refrigerant inlet pipe 3 side is supplied to the flow dividing function member 1.
After the gas-liquid mixture is sufficiently achieved by the collision with the surface of the concave portion 6 and the throttling action in the outlet passage portion 7 following the refrigerant chamber 10, the gas is diverted to the respective branch channels 5, 5,. Are supplied to the respective paths of a heat exchanger (not shown) through the respective refrigerant outlet pipes 4, 4,.

In this case, the refrigerant flow divider Z ₁ of this embodiment is used.
In the above, since the flow dividing function member 1 is formed by resin molding, even if the structure of the flow dividing function member 1 is complicated as described above, the structure is the same as that at the time of molding by machining. Since it can be manufactured easily and with high molding accuracy, the flow dividing function member 1 can be provided with high flow dividing performance. Further, since the resin material is less expensive than the metal material, it can be obtained at a lower cost by forming the flow dividing function member 1 from a resin molded product. further,
Covering the flow dividing function member 1 with the metal shell 2 eliminates the disadvantage of the low strength of the resin flow dividing function member 1 due to the strength performance of the shell 2, so that the refrigerant flow divider Z _{1 is used.} Has high strength performance by the combination of the flow dividing function member 1 and the outer body 2. As these synergistic effects, it is possible to achieve both an improvement and cost reduction of the shunt performance of the refrigerant flow divider Z _1, it becomes possible to provide a refrigerant flow divider Z ₁ with a high shunt performance at lower cost.

On the other hand, as in this embodiment, a caulking portion 9 bulging to the inner surface side of the peripheral wall portion 2c of the outer shell 2 is provided.
Is provided so that the axial movement of the flow dividing function member 1 is restricted by the axial engagement between the caulking portion 9 and the flow dividing function member 1, so that the flow dividing function member 1 is a resin molded product. Even if it is impossible to control the movement of the outer shell 2 by joining the outer shell 2 made of metal by an inexpensive joining method such as brazing, the outer shell 2 is crimped. in and inexpensive processing method can be surely perform movement regulation of the diversion function member 1 by which the so that the reliability in the operation the refrigerant flow divider Z ₁ is ensured.

In this embodiment, as described above, the caulking portion 9 is provided on the peripheral wall 2c of the outer shell 2 as a fixing structure of the flow dividing function member 1 in the outer shell 2. However, the present invention is not limited to such a structure, and the point is that any structure can be used as long as it can restrict the movement of the flow dividing function member 1 in the axial direction in the outer body 2. As shown in FIG. 5, the flow dividing function member 1 is fitted into the bottomed cylindrical body 21, and in this state, the bottomed cylindrical body 2 is fitted.
The opening end 21c (see FIG. 2) of the top wall portion 2c is drawn into a substantially hemispherical shape by drawing to form the top wall portion 2b, and the base portion of the top wall portion 2b (that is, the boundary portion between the top wall portion 2b and the peripheral wall portion 2c) It is also possible to adopt a structure in which the flow dividing member 1 is engaged with the outer shell 2 in the axial direction. In this case, the base of the top wall 2b corresponds to the bulging portion 9 in the claims.

Next, a description will be given of preferable production method of the refrigerant flow divider Z _1.

First, as shown in FIG. 2, a bottomed cylinder 21 having a predetermined volume is prepared, and the bottom wall 21 of the bottomed cylinder 21 is prepared.
., a plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes 4, 4,... are respectively arranged to penetrate, and these are joined and fixed by brazing (corresponding to the “first step” in the claims).

Next, as shown in FIG. 3, the above-mentioned divided flow formed in a separate step from the opening end 21c side into the bottomed cylindrical body 21 having the refrigerant outlet pipes 4, 4,. The functional member 1 is fitted and arranged, and the ends of the respective branch channels 5, 5,... Are connected to the respective refrigerant outlet pipes 4, 4,.
After that, at a position corresponding to one end 1a of the flow dividing function member 1 of the peripheral wall portion 21b of the bottomed cylindrical body 21, an appropriate caulking process is performed from the outside thereof.
The swaging portions 9, 9 bulging to the inner surface side of 1 b are formed, and the movement of the flow dividing function member 1 in the axial direction is regulated by the swaging portions 9, 9 (in the “second step” in the claims). Applicable).

Next, a drawing process is performed on a portion of the bottomed cylindrical body 21 above the caulking portions 9, 9 so that the bottomed cylindrical body 2
The opening area of the first open end 21c is narrowed, and the refrigerant inlet pipe 3 is inserted into the narrowed opening, and is joined and fixed by brazing (the "third step" in the claims).
Applicable). Thus, the flow dividing function member 1 as shown in FIG.
A refrigerant flow splitter Z1 including: and an outer shell 2 that covers the outside of the flow splitting function member ₁ is manufactured.

According to this manufacturing method, the flow dividing function member 1 which is a resin molded product and the metal bottomed cylinder 21 are used.
In addition, by applying only inexpensive processing such as drawing, brazing and crimping to the bottomed cylindrical body 21, the flow dividing function member 1 and the outer shell 2 covering the outside of the flow dividing function member 1
Thus, a refrigerant flow divider having high flow distribution performance can be provided at a lower cost.

Second Embodiment FIG. 6 shows a refrigerant flow divider Z2 according to a _second embodiment of the present invention. The refrigerant flow divider Z ₂ is a closed container-like shell body 2 made of a metal lid member 23 for covering fixing the open end of the metal bottomed tubular body 22 and the bottomed cylindrical body 22,該Gaikaku And a flow dividing function member 1 made of a resin molded product fitted and arranged inside the body 2. Then, the bottomed cylindrical body 22
A plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes 4, 4,... Are attached to the bottom wall 22a of the
The coolant inlet pipe 3 is fitted and fixed at a position close to the upper end of the peripheral wall portion 22b from the tangential direction of the peripheral wall portion 22b.

On the other hand, the branching function member 1 is an integrally molded product of a resin material, has a bottomed cylindrical shape, and has a refrigerant outlet 1c functioning as an orifice at the center of the bottom wall 1a. Are provided so as to protrude downward. The flow dividing function member 1 is fitted and arranged in the outer shell 2 with its open end facing upward, and is formed by caulking portions 9, 9 provided on the peripheral wall portion 22 b of the bottomed cylindrical body 22. Downward movement is restricted. Due to the arrangement of the flow dividing function member 1, the internal space of the outer shell 2 is divided into two chambers, a refrigerant introduction chamber 11 located above the flow dividing function member 1 and a refrigerant distribution chamber 12 located below. Both rooms 11,
Numeral 12 communicates via the refrigerant outlet 1c of the flow dividing function member 1.

[0038] In thus constituted refrigerant flow divider Z ₂ are the refrigerant inlet pipe 3 side from introduced into the refrigerant introduction chamber 11 the refrigerant (gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant), said refrigerant introduction chamber 1
1 is introduced into the refrigerant distribution chamber 12 while being throttled by the refrigerant outlet port 1c, and is divided into the refrigerant outlet pipes 4, 4,. In this case, since the refrigerant inlet pipe 3 is attached to the bottomed cylinder 22 from the tangential direction thereof, the refrigerant introduced into the refrigerant introduction chamber 11 from the open end 3a of the refrigerant inlet pipe 3 The swirl component is given by flowing along the inner peripheral surface of the refrigerant introduction chamber 11, and swirl is generated in the refrigerant introduction chamber 11 by the introduced refrigerant. By the swirling effect, the gas-liquid mixing of the refrigerant is promoted, and the refrigerant is discharged from the refrigerant outlet 1c in a state where the gas-liquid mixing is sufficiently performed.
, The refrigerant is introduced into the refrigerant distribution chamber 12 side, so that the distribution to the refrigerant outlet pipes 4, 4,... Is performed more uniformly and efficiently, and a high distribution performance is secured. still,
From the viewpoint of improving the flow dividing performance by promoting the gas-liquid mixing of the refrigerant, for example, a coil spring-shaped member is inserted and arranged in the refrigerant inlet pipe 3 or a spiral groove is formed on the inner surface of the refrigerant inlet pipe 3. And the refrigerant introduction chamber 1
It is also effective to vortex the refrigerant flow before it is introduced into 1.

[0039] Further, in the refrigerant flow divider Z ₂ of this embodiment, since it is intended to the diverting function member 1 is formed by resin molding, for example, which in comparison with the case of a metal by machining , Can be obtained at a lower cost. In addition, since the resin flow dividing function member 1 is covered with the metal outer body 2, the strength performance of the outer body 2 eliminates the disadvantage that the resin flow dividing function member 1 has low strength. the refrigerant flow divider Z ₂ will have a high strength performance by the combination of the above diversion function member 1 and the outer member 2.

Further, as in this embodiment, a caulking portion 9 bulging to the inner surface side is provided on the peripheral wall portion 21b of the bottomed cylindrical body 22 constituting the outer shell 2, and the caulking portion 9 provides the flow dividing function. Since the axial movement of the member 1 is regulated, the flow dividing function member 1 is a resin molded product, and is joined to the metal bottomed cylinder 22 by an inexpensive joining method such as brazing. Even if the movement cannot be restricted, the movement of the flow dividing function member 1 can be surely restricted by a non-joining and inexpensive processing method of caulking the bottomed cylindrical body 22. can, thereby so that the reliability in the operation the refrigerant flow divider Z ₂ is ensured.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a refrigerant flow divider according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a manufacturing process of the refrigerant flow divider shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a manufacturing process of the refrigerant flow divider shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a structural explanatory view of a flow dividing function member shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing another example of the structure of the refrigerant flow divider according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a refrigerant flow divider according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 is a diverting function member, 2 is an outer body, 3 is a refrigerant inlet tube, 4 is a refrigerant outlet tube, 5 is a branch channel, 6 is a concave portion, 7 is an outlet passage portion,
9 is a caulking portion (bulging portion), 10 is a refrigerant chamber, 11 is a refrigerant introduction chamber, 12 is a refrigerant distribution chamber, 21 is a bottomed cylinder, Z ₁ and Z _2.
Is a refrigerant flow divider.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Takayuki Takahashi 1304 Kanaokacho, Sakai-shi, Osaka Daikin Industries, Ltd. Sakai Seisakusho Kanaoka Plant F-term (reference) 3H019 BA11

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A flow dividing function member (1) formed of a resin material and having a flow dividing function of a refrigerant, and a part upstream of the flow dividing function member (1) that covers the outside of the flow dividing function member (1). The refrigerant inlet pipe (3)
A plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes (4) are located at the downstream side of the refrigerant,
(4) A refrigerant flow divider characterized by being provided with an outer shell-like body (2) made of a metal and provided with a metal provided therein. 2. The swelling portion (9) according to claim 1, wherein a swelling portion (9) swelling on the inner surface side is provided on a peripheral wall portion (2c) of the outer shell (2). The refrigerant distribution is characterized in that the functional member (1) engages in the axial direction of the outer body (2) to restrict the axial movement of the flow dividing functional member (1). vessel. 3. A diverting function member (1) formed of a resin material and having a diverting function of a refrigerant, and a portion of the diverting function member (1) on the upstream side of the refrigerant that covers the outside of the diverting function member (1). The refrigerant inlet pipe (3) is provided with a closed vessel-shaped outer body (2) provided with a plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes (4), (4),. A method of manufacturing a vessel, comprising:
The plurality of refrigerant outlet pipes (4), (4),... Facing the inside of the bottomed cylinder (21) to the bottom wall (21a) of 1).
A first step of joining and fixing the flow dividing function member by brazing, and the flow dividing function member (1) is fitted into the bottomed cylindrical body (21), and in this state, the open end ( 2
1c) A second method of reducing the opening area by drawing the side.
And a third step of inserting a refrigerant inlet pipe (3) into the narrowed opening of the bottomed cylindrical body (21) and joining and fixing it by brazing. A method for manufacturing a refrigerant flow divider.