JP7805488B2 - Refrigerant distributors and heat exchangers - Google Patents

Description

The present disclosure relates to refrigerant distributors, such as stacked circulation headers, and heat exchangers having refrigerant distributors, and in particular to a distribution structure for the downward flow of refrigerant.

Some refrigerant distributors are made up of multiple stacked, vertically extending plate-like members. They include an outward path through which refrigerant flows upward from a discharge hole located at the bottom, an inward path through which refrigerant flows downward, upper and lower communication passages connecting the outward and inward paths, and multiple flat tube insertion holes into which the ends of flat tubes are inserted (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The refrigerant distributor disclosed in Patent Document 1 has second flow passages directly connected to each of the flat tube insertion holes, and each second flow passage communicates with the inward path via a communication port. That is, in the refrigerant distributor of Patent Document 1, the flat tube insertion holes are connected to the inward path via the second flow passages and the communication ports.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2022-44306

However, in the refrigerant distributor of Patent Document 1, when viewing the multiple plate-like members in the stacking direction, the width of the second flow path is larger than the width of the return path, but the width of the communication port is smaller than the width of the return path. Therefore, as the refrigerant flows out of the return path and passes through the communication port, it may experience flow inertia in the stacking direction. As a result, it becomes difficult for the refrigerant to diffuse laterally in the second flow path, which is the space between the communication port and the end of the flat tube, making it difficult to ensure that the refrigerant flows uniformly laterally into the flat tube.

This disclosure was made against the backdrop of the above-mentioned problems, and provides a refrigerant distributor and heat exchanger that can allow refrigerant to flow more evenly into flat tubes than conventional devices.

The refrigerant distributor according to the present disclosure is formed by stacking a plurality of plate-like members each extending in the vertical direction, forming a plurality of flat tube insertion holes in the vertical direction into which the ends of flat tubes are inserted, and forming a refrigerant inlet port. The refrigerant distributor has internal flow paths through which the refrigerant flowing in from the inlet port branches and flows into the plurality of flat tubes. The flow paths include an outward path extending in the vertical direction and connected to the inlet port at its lower end so that the refrigerant flows upward, a return path extending in the vertical direction so that the refrigerant flows downward, upper and lower communicating paths that annularly connect the outward path and the return path, and a plurality of flat tube communicating paths that individually connect the plurality of flat tube insertion holes to the return path. When the plurality of plate-like members are viewed in the stacking direction, the width of the flat tube communicating path is equal to or greater than the width of the return path across the stacking direction.

The refrigerant distributor according to the present disclosure is formed by stacking a plurality of plate-shaped members each extending in the vertical direction, including an inlet plate member having a refrigerant inlet formed therein, and an insertion side plate member having a plurality of flat tube insertion holes formed in the vertical direction into which the ends of flat tubes are inserted, and the refrigerant distributor branches the refrigerant flowing in from the inlet portion and flows into the plurality of flat tubes. The plurality of plate-shaped members form an outward path extending in the vertical direction, and between the inlet plate member and the insertion side plate member, an outward path plate member is provided adjacent to the inlet plate member so that the inlet portion is connected to the lower end of the outward path, and a return path extending in the vertical direction is formed. The plate-shaped member has a return path plate-shaped member arranged adjacent to the outgoing path plate-shaped member between the outgoing path plate-shaped member and the insertion side plate-shaped member, and a communication path plate-shaped member arranged adjacent to each of the return path plate-shaped member and the insertion side plate-shaped member between the return path plate-shaped member and the insertion side plate-shaped member, and in which a plurality of flat tube communication paths are formed that individually connect the plurality of flat tube insertion holes to the return path, and one or both of the outgoing path plate-shaped member and the return path plate-shaped member have upper and lower communication paths that connect the outgoing path and the return path in a ring shape, and when the plurality of plate-shaped members are viewed in the stacking direction, the width of the flat tube communication path is greater than or equal to the width of the return path across the stacking direction.

The refrigerant distributor according to the present disclosure is formed by stacking a plurality of plate-shaped members each extending in the vertical direction, including an inlet plate member having a refrigerant inlet formed therein, and an insertion side plate member having a plurality of flat tube insertion holes formed in the vertical direction into which the ends of flat tubes are inserted, and the refrigerant distributor branches the refrigerant flowing in from the inlet into the plurality of flat tubes. The plurality of plate-shaped members form an outward path extending in the vertical direction and a portion of a return path extending in the vertical direction while meandering in the stacking direction, and a first plate-shaped member is provided adjacent to the inlet plate member between the inlet plate member and the insertion side plate member so that the inlet is connected to the lower end of the outward path, and the remaining portion of the return path is and a second plate-shaped member provided adjacent to the first plate-shaped member between the first plate-shaped member and the insertion side plate-shaped member, and a third plate-shaped member provided adjacent to each of the second plate-shaped member and the insertion side plate-shaped member between the second plate-shaped member and the insertion side plate-shaped member, in which at least a portion of each of a plurality of flat tube connecting passages that individually connect the plurality of flat tube insertion holes to the return path are formed, and one or both of the first plate-shaped member and the second plate-shaped member have upper connecting passages and lower connecting passages that connect the outward path and the return path in a ring shape, and when the plurality of plate-shaped members are viewed in the stacking direction, the width of the flat tube connecting passages is greater than or equal to the width of the return path across the stacking direction.

Furthermore, the heat exchanger disclosed herein comprises the above-mentioned refrigerant distributor and a plurality of flat tubes connected to the refrigerant distributor.

In the refrigerant distributor and heat exchanger disclosed herein, the width of each of the multiple flat tube connecting passages, which individually connect the multiple flat tube insertion holes to the return passage, is equal to or greater than the width of the return passage in the stacking direction. As a result, there are no flow path portions narrower than the width of the return passage between the refrigerant flowing out of the return passage and the refrigerant flowing into the flat tubes. Compared to conventional methods, this means that the refrigerant is less likely to experience flow inertia in the stacking direction, making it easier for the refrigerant to diffuse laterally in the flat tube connecting passage. This makes it possible to provide a refrigerant distributor and heat exchanger that allows the refrigerant to flow laterally more evenly than conventional methods.

1 is a refrigerant circuit diagram showing the configuration of a refrigeration cycle device including a heat exchanger according to a first embodiment. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a refrigerant distributor and its surroundings in the heat exchanger according to the first embodiment; FIG. 3 is a schematic exploded view showing the configuration of each plate-shaped member of the refrigerant distributor according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the outward path, the discharge hole, and a plurality of flat tube communicating passages projected onto the inward path plate-shaped member of FIG. 3 . 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the refrigerant distributor of FIG. 2 taken along the line AA. FIG. 4 is a schematic development view showing a modified example of the refrigerant distributor of FIG. 3 . 10 is a schematic exploded view showing the configuration of each plate-shaped member of a refrigerant distributor according to embodiment 2. FIG. FIG. 8 is a schematic development view showing a modified example of the refrigerant distributor of FIG. 7 . 10 is a schematic exploded view showing the configuration of each plate-shaped member of a refrigerant distributor according to embodiment 3. FIG. FIG. 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view schematically showing a flow path in the refrigerant distributor of FIG. 9 . FIG. 10 is a schematic development view showing a first modified example of the refrigerant distributor of FIG. 9 . FIG. 12 is a vertical cross-sectional view schematically showing a flow path in the refrigerant distributor of FIG. 11 . FIG. 10 is a schematic development view showing a second modified example of the refrigerant distributor of FIG. 9 . FIG. 14 is a vertical cross-sectional view schematically showing a flow path in the refrigerant distributor of FIG. 13. 10 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view schematically showing the BB cross section of the refrigerant distributor of FIG. 9. 14 is a schematic development view showing a configuration example in which the discretely provided return path expansion portions in the refrigerant distributor of FIG. 13 are integrally provided. FIG. 10 is a schematic exploded view showing the configuration of each plate-shaped member of a refrigerant distributor according to embodiment 4. FIG. FIG. 18 is a schematic development view showing a modified example of the refrigerant distributor of FIG. 17. 10 is a schematic exploded view showing the configuration of each plate-shaped member of a refrigerant distributor according to embodiment 5. FIG. FIG. 20 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view schematically showing a flow path in the refrigerant distributor of FIG. 19 . 20 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section on a horizontal plane passing through a first communication passage portion of the refrigerant distributor of FIG. 19.

The refrigerant distributor 1 and heat exchanger 100 according to embodiment 1 are described below with reference to the drawings. A refrigeration cycle apparatus 200 equipped with this heat exchanger 100 is also described. Note that in the following drawings, including FIG. 1, the relative dimensional relationships and shapes of the components may differ from those in reality. In the following drawings, identical reference numerals denote identical or equivalent components, and this applies throughout the entire specification. To facilitate understanding, directional terms (e.g., "up," "down," "right," "left," "front," and "rear") are used as appropriate. However, these terms are used solely for the sake of convenience and do not limit the arrangement or orientation of the apparatus or components. In this specification, the relative positions of the components, the extension direction of each component, and the arrangement direction of each component are, in principle, those when the outdoor heat exchanger 105 is installed and ready for use.

Embodiment 1.
[Refrigeration cycle device 200]
Fig. 1 is a refrigerant circuit diagram showing the configuration of a refrigeration cycle apparatus 200 including a heat exchanger 100 according to embodiment 1. In Fig. 1, dotted arrows indicate the direction of refrigerant flow in a refrigerant circuit 100C during cooling operation, and solid arrows indicate the direction of refrigerant flow during heating operation. First, the refrigeration cycle apparatus 200 will be described using Fig. 1.

In this embodiment, an air conditioner is used as an example of the refrigeration cycle device 200, but the refrigeration cycle device 200 is used for refrigeration or air conditioning purposes, such as refrigerators or freezers, vending machines, air conditioners, refrigeration devices, and water heaters. Note that the illustrated refrigerant circuit 100C is only an example, and the configuration of the circuit elements is not limited to the contents described in the embodiment, and can be modified as appropriate within the scope of the technology related to the embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, the refrigeration cycle apparatus 200 has a refrigerant circuit 100C in which a compressor 101, a flow path switching device 102, an indoor heat exchanger 103, a pressure reducing device 104, and an outdoor heat exchanger 105 are connected in a ring shape via refrigerant piping. The refrigeration cycle apparatus 200 has an outdoor unit 106 and an indoor unit 107. The outdoor unit 106 houses the compressor 101, the flow path switching device 102, the outdoor heat exchanger 105, the pressure reducing device 104, and an outdoor blower 108 that supplies outdoor air to the outdoor heat exchanger 105. The indoor unit 107 houses the indoor heat exchanger 103 and an indoor blower 109 that supplies air to the indoor heat exchanger 103. The outdoor unit 106 and the indoor unit 107 are connected via two extension pipes L1 and L2, which are part of the refrigerant piping.

The compressor 101 compresses and discharges the refrigerant it draws in. The flow path switching device 102 is, for example, a four-way valve, and switches the refrigerant flow path between cooling and heating operation under the control of a control device (not shown).

The indoor heat exchanger 103 is a heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the refrigerant circulating inside and the indoor air supplied by the indoor blower 109. The indoor heat exchanger 103 functions as a condenser during heating operation and as an evaporator during cooling operation.

The pressure reducing device 104 is, for example, an expansion valve, and is a device that reduces the pressure of the refrigerant. The pressure reducing device 104 can be an electronic expansion valve whose opening is adjusted by the control of the control device.

The outdoor heat exchanger 105 is a heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the refrigerant circulating inside and the air supplied by the outdoor blower 108. The outdoor heat exchanger 105 functions as an evaporator during heating operation and as a condenser during cooling operation.

At least one of the outdoor heat exchanger 105 and the indoor heat exchanger 103 uses a heat exchanger (heat exchanger 100 in FIG. 2 , described below) equipped with a heat exchange section 4 and a refrigerant distributor 1, as described below. The refrigerant distributor 1 is positioned in the heat exchanger at a location where the liquid-phase refrigerant is more abundant. Specifically, the refrigerant distributor 1 is preferably positioned on the inlet side of the heat exchanger functioning as an evaporator, i.e., on the outlet side of the heat exchanger functioning as a condenser, in the refrigerant flow in the refrigerant circuit 100C. Note that while the refrigerant distributor 1 is provided in both the indoor heat exchanger 103 and the outdoor heat exchanger 105 in FIG. 1, it may be provided in only one of the indoor heat exchanger 103 or the outdoor heat exchanger 105.

[Operation of the refrigeration cycle device 200]
Next, an example of the operation of the refrigeration cycle apparatus 200 will be described with reference to Figure 1. During heating operation of the refrigeration cycle apparatus 200, high-pressure, high-temperature gas refrigerant discharged from the compressor 101 flows into the indoor heat exchanger 103 via the flow switching device 102, where it condenses by exchanging heat with air supplied by the indoor blower 109. The condensed refrigerant becomes a high-pressure liquid, flows out of the indoor heat exchanger 103, and is reduced to a low-pressure gas-liquid two-phase state by the pressure reducing device 104. The low-pressure gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant flows into the outdoor heat exchanger 105, where it evaporates by exchanging heat with air supplied by the outdoor blower 108. The evaporated refrigerant becomes a low-pressure gas and is drawn into the compressor 101.

During cooling operation of the refrigeration cycle unit 200, the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant circuit 100C flows in the opposite direction to that during heating operation. That is, during cooling operation of the refrigeration cycle unit 200, the high-pressure, high-temperature gas refrigerant discharged from the compressor 101 flows into the outdoor heat exchanger 105 via the flow path switching device 102, where it condenses through heat exchange with air supplied by the outdoor blower 108. The condensed refrigerant becomes a high-pressure liquid, flows out of the outdoor heat exchanger 105, and is reduced to a low-pressure, gas-liquid, two-phase state by the pressure reducing device 104. The low-pressure, gas-liquid, two-phase refrigerant flows into the indoor heat exchanger 103, where it evaporates through heat exchange with air supplied by the indoor blower 109. The evaporated refrigerant becomes a low-pressure gas and is drawn into the compressor 101.

[Heat exchanger 100]
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of a refrigerant distributor 1 and its surrounding parts in a heat exchanger 100 according to the first embodiment. The heat exchanger 100 according to the first embodiment will be described using FIG. 2 . As shown in FIG. 2 , the heat exchange unit 4 of the heat exchanger 100 has a plurality of flat tubes 5 through which a refrigerant flows, and performs heat exchange between the refrigerant flowing through the ducts of the flat tubes 5 and the air outside the flat tubes 5. The plurality of flat tubes 5 are arranged at intervals from one another in a first direction (Z-axis direction), and the ducts of each flat tube 5 extend in a second direction (X-axis direction) perpendicular to the first direction (Z-axis direction). The second direction (X-axis direction), which is the extension direction of the ducts, also corresponds to the direction in which the refrigerant flows in the flat tubes 5. The heat exchanger 100 is installed such that the arrangement direction of the plurality of flat tubes 5, which is the first direction (Z-axis direction), is the vertical direction, and the extension direction of the ducts of the plurality of flat tubes 5, which is the second direction (X-axis direction), is horizontal. Hereinafter, the direction perpendicular to both the first direction (Z-axis direction), which is the arrangement direction of the multiple flat tubes 5 in the heat exchanger 100, and the second direction (X-axis direction), which is the extension direction of the pipe lines of the flat tubes 5, will be referred to as the third direction.

When the heat exchanger 100 functions as an evaporator, the refrigerant distributor 1 is connected to the end 5a of the flat tube 5, which serves as the refrigerant inlet side of the heat exchange section 4. In other words, when the refrigeration cycle device 200 shown in Figure 1 is performing heating operation, the refrigerant distributor 1 is provided on the refrigerant inlet side of the outdoor heat exchanger 105. The heat exchanger 100 also has a refrigerant inlet pipe 2 attached to the bottom of the refrigerant distributor 1.

The refrigerant distributor 1 is composed of multiple plate-like members 1p, each extending in a first direction (Z-axis direction), i.e., the vertical direction, stacked in a second direction (X-axis direction). At one end of the refrigerant distributor 1 in the direction in which the plate-like members 1p are stacked (hereinafter referred to as the stacking direction), a refrigerant inlet section 11 connected to the refrigerant inlet pipe 2 is formed. At the other end of the refrigerant distributor 1 in the stacking direction, multiple flat tube insertion holes 51 are formed in the vertical direction, into which the ends 5a of the flat tubes 5 are inserted.

Between two adjacent flat tubes 5 among the plurality of flat tubes 5, a gap 4a is formed through which air can flow. Air flows through the gap 4a in the third direction of the heat exchanger 100 (the front-to-rear direction on the paper surface of FIG. 2). The heat exchange section 4 may have heat transfer fins 6, as shown in FIG. 2, between two adjacent flat tubes 5. The heat exchanger 100 may also have heat transfer fins 6, which are heat transfer promotion members, in part, and an area in which adjacent flat tubes 5 are not connected by the heat transfer promotion member in part.

Incidentally, adjacent flat tubes 5 among the plurality of flat tubes 5 may not have heat transfer fins 6, and the flat tubes 5 may not be connected to each other by a heat transfer promotion member. A heat transfer promotion member is a member that promotes heat transfer, such as a plate fin like the heat transfer fins 6 or a corrugated fin. Therefore, the outdoor heat exchanger 105 may be configured as a so-called finless heat exchanger.

When the heat exchanger 100 functions as an evaporator of the refrigeration cycle device 200, in each of the multiple flat tubes 5, the refrigerant flows through the internal pipes of the flat tubes 5 from one end to the other end in the extension direction. Also, when the heat exchanger 100 functions as a condenser of the refrigeration cycle device 200, in each of the multiple flat tubes 5, the refrigerant flows through the internal pipes of the flat tubes 5 from the other end to one end in the extension direction.

Although not shown, the flat tubes 5 have a cross-sectional shape that is flat in one direction, such as an oval shape, in a cross section perpendicular to their extension direction. More specifically, the cross-sectional shape of the flat tubes 5 is a cross-sectional shape that extends in the third direction, i.e., the air flow direction in the heat exchanger 100. The flat tubes 5 are, for example, flat perforated tubes, and are configured such that a plurality of tube flow paths extending in the second direction (X-axis direction) are provided in the third direction (front-to-back direction on the paper in Figure 2), which is the air flow direction. Note that flat tubes 5 with only one tube flow path (pipe line) may also be used.

Figure 3 is an exploded schematic diagram showing the configuration of each plate-shaped member 1p of the refrigerant distributor 1 according to embodiment 1. Figure 3 shows multiple plate-shaped members 1p stacked in the first direction (Z-axis direction) and arranged in order from the side to which the refrigerant inlet pipe 2 is connected, exploded from right to left in the figure. Figure 4 is a projection of the outgoing path Pu, discharge hole 21, and multiple flat tube connecting passages Po onto the return path plate-shaped member 30 of Figure 3. Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the A-A cross section of the refrigerant distributor 1 of Figure 2. Below, the structure of the refrigerant distributor 1 will be described in detail based on Figures 3 to 5 and with reference to Figure 2.

(Refrigerant distributor 1)
3 to 5, the refrigerant distributor 1 has branched flow paths P therein, and when the heat exchanger 100 (see FIG. 2) functions as an evaporator, distributes the refrigerant flowing in from the inlet portion 11 to a plurality of flat tubes 5 (see FIG. 2). The outline arrows F1, F2, and dashed arrow F3 in FIG. 3 indicate the flow direction of the refrigerant in each flow path portion of the refrigerant distributor 1.

As shown in FIG. 3, each of the multiple plate-shaped members 1p constituting the refrigerant distributor 1 is formed, for example, using a flat metal plate and has a strip-like shape that is elongated in one direction. The longitudinal direction of the plate-shaped member 1p is the arrangement direction of the multiple flat tubes 5 (see FIG. 2) connected to the refrigerant distributor 1, i.e., the vertical direction (Z-axis direction). The short-side direction of the plate-shaped member 1p is a third direction (Y-axis direction) that is perpendicular to the vertical direction (Z-axis direction) that is the arrangement direction of the multiple flat tubes 5 (see FIG. 2) and the second direction (X-axis direction) that is the extension direction of the ducts of the flat tubes 5. The short-side direction (Y-axis direction) of the plate-shaped member 1p is also the horizontal direction when the refrigerant distributor 1 is viewed from one side of the stacking direction (X-axis direction). In the following, the stacking direction of the multiple plate-shaped members 1p (i.e., the second direction (X-axis direction)) may be referred to as the plate thickness direction of the plate-shaped member 1p.

The flow path P has an outgoing path Pu and a return path Pd that extend in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction), and an upper communication path Pca and a lower communication path Pcb that connect the outgoing path Pu and the return path Pd in an annular shape. An inlet 11 is connected to the lower end of the outgoing path Pu, and refrigerant from the inlet 11 circulates through the outgoing path Pu, the upper communication path Pca, the return path Pd, and the lower communication path Pcb. In other words, the refrigerant flows upward in the outgoing path Pu and downward in the return path Pd. The flow path P also has multiple flat tube communication paths Po that individually connect multiple flat tube insertion holes 51 to the return path Pd.

The refrigerant distributor 1 of embodiment 1 is composed of five plate-shaped members 1p. Adjacent plate-shaped members 1p are joined by brazing. Both side surfaces of the refrigerant distributor 1 in the stacking direction (X-axis direction) are composed of an inlet plate-shaped member 10 having a refrigerant inlet 11 formed therein and an insertion-side plate-shaped member 50 having multiple flat tube insertion holes 51 formed therein. Between the inlet plate-shaped member 10 and the insertion-side plate-shaped member 50, in this order from the inlet plate-shaped member 10 side in the stacking direction, an outward path plate-shaped member 20 having an outward path Pu formed therein, a return path plate-shaped member 30 having a return path Pd formed therein, and a communication path plate-shaped member 40 having multiple flat tube communication paths Po formed therein. In addition, an upper communication path Pca and a lower communication path Pcb are formed in the return path plate-shaped member 30.

The refrigerant inlet 11 is, for example, a circular hole penetrating the inlet plate member 10 in the plate thickness direction (X-axis direction), and the end of the refrigerant inlet pipe 2 is inserted into the inlet 11. The inlet 11 is provided at the lower end of the inlet plate member 10. The outgoing path Pu is, for example, a rectangular hole 22 penetrating the outgoing path plate member 20 in the plate thickness direction (X-axis direction). A discharge hole 21 connected to the outgoing path Pu is provided below the outgoing path Pu in the outgoing path plate member 20, facing the inlet 11 of the inlet plate member 10. The width of the connection between the hole 22 and the discharge hole 21 constituting the outgoing path Pu in the outgoing path plate member 20 is smaller than the width Wu of the outgoing path Pu and the width of the discharge hole 21, so that refrigerant flowing in from the inlet 11 is blown out into the outgoing path Pu through the discharge hole 21. Here, the lateral width of each flow path portion refers to the length of each flow path portion in the lateral direction (i.e., the short side direction (Y-axis direction) of the plate-like member 1p).

The return path Pd is, for example, a rectangular hole 31 that penetrates the return path plate-shaped member 30 in the plate thickness direction (X-axis direction). As shown in Figure 4, the return path Pd and the outgoing path Pu are arranged approximately parallel to each other so as not to overlap each other when viewed in the stacking direction (X-axis direction), and are spaced apart in the short direction (Y-axis direction). In the example of Figure 4, the width Wd of the return path Pd is approximately the same as the width Wu of the outgoing path Pu.

The upper communication passage Pca is, for example, a rectangular hole 32a that penetrates the return path plate member 30 in the plate thickness direction (X-axis direction) and is a flow path that connects the upper end of the return path Pd to the upper end of the outgoing path Pu in the stacking direction (X-axis direction). The upper communication passage Pca extends from the upper end of the return path Pd toward the outgoing path Pu (to the right in the figure) in the short direction (Y-axis direction) and is arranged so as to overlap with the upper end of the outgoing path Pu. The lower communication passage Pcb is, for example, a rectangular hole 32b that penetrates the return path plate member 30 in the plate thickness direction (X-axis direction) and is a flow path that connects the lower end of the return path Pd to the lower end of the outgoing path Pu in the stacking direction (X-axis direction). The lower communication passage Pcb extends from the lower end of the return path Pd toward the outgoing path Pu in the short direction (Y-axis direction) and is arranged so as to overlap with the lower end of the outgoing path Pu. The lower communication passage Pcb is connected to the inside of the outward passage Pu above the discharge hole 21 .

3 and 4, the outgoing path Pu is formed to the right of the center in the short side direction (Y-axis direction) of the outgoing path plate member 20, and the returning path Pd is formed to the left of the center in the short side direction (Y-axis direction) of the returning path plate member 30. The discharge hole 21 is formed on the right side of the lower part of the outgoing path plate member 20, and the inflow section 11 is formed on the right side of the lower part of the inflow section plate member 10 so as to face the discharge hole 21. Furthermore, only the returning path Pd, the upper communicating passage Pca, and the lower communicating passage Pcb are formed on the returning path plate member 30. The plate surface portion 35 of the returning path plate member 30 covers the outgoing path Pu of the outgoing path plate member 20 except for the parts that overlap with the upper communicating passage Pca and the lower communicating passage Pcb in the stacking direction, as well as all of the discharge hole 21.

2, the flat tube insertion holes 51 are spaced apart in the vertical direction to correspond to the flat tubes 5, respectively. As shown in FIG. 3, the flat tube insertion holes 51 are holes that penetrate the insertion-side plate-shaped member 50 in the plate thickness direction (X-axis direction) and have a shape similar to the cross-sectional shape of the flat tubes 5 described above. Furthermore, the flat tube connecting passage Po that connects the return path Pd and the flat tube insertion holes 51 is a hole 41 that penetrates the connecting passage plate-shaped member 40 in the plate thickness direction (X-axis direction) and has, for example, approximately the same shape as the flat tube insertion holes 51.

As shown in Figure 5, the width Wo of the flat tube communication passage Po, which connects the return path Pd and the flat tube insertion hole 51 in the stacking direction (X-axis direction), is greater than or equal to the width Wd of the return path Pd. In other words, the flat tube communication passage Po is a flow path portion that diffuses the refrigerant flowing out from the return path Pd in the short direction (Y-axis direction) and allows it to flow into the flat tubes 5.

The width Wo of the flat tube communicating passage Po may be constant or variable in the thickness direction of the communicating passage plate-shaped member 40 (i.e., the stacking direction (X-axis direction) of the multiple plate-shaped members 1p), but is set to be equal to or greater than the width Wd of the return path Pd throughout the thickness direction (X-axis direction). In other words, the flat tube communicating passage Po does not have a flow path portion in the short direction (Y-axis direction) of the communicating passage plate-shaped member 40 that is smaller than the width Wd of the return path Pd. Therefore, compared to conventional configurations in which the width Wo of the flat tube communicating passage Po is narrower than the width Wd of the return path Pd, the refrigerant is less likely to experience flow inertia in the stacking direction (X-axis direction) between the return path Pd and the flat tube insertion hole 51, making it easier for the refrigerant to diffuse laterally (Y-axis direction). Furthermore, when the width Wo of the flat tube connecting passage Po changes in the plate thickness direction (X-axis direction), it is preferable that the width Wo of the flat tube connecting passage Po increases as it approaches the flat tube insertion hole 51.

Furthermore, as shown in Figure 5, the width Wo of the flat tube communication passage Po is equal to or greater than the width Wd of the return path Pd, and is preferably equal to or greater than the width Wp of the pipe line of the flat tube 5. If the flat tube 5 is a flat perforated pipe having multiple pipe flow paths, the flat tube communication passage Po is provided so as to communicate with all of the pipe flow paths.

In Figure 5, the width Wo of the flat tube communicating passage Po is made smaller than the width of the flat tube insertion hole 51 by the thickness of the tube wall of the flat tube 5. In this way, by making the width Wo of the flat tube communicating passage Po slightly smaller than the width of the flat tube insertion hole 51, when the end 5a of the flat tube 5 is inserted into the flat tube insertion hole 51, the end face of the flat tube 5 comes into contact with the plate surface on the insertion side plate member 50 side of the communicating passage plate member 40 and stops. Therefore, the flat tube communicating passage Po, which is a space in which the refrigerant diffuses between the return path Pd and the end face of the flat tube 5, can be easily secured, providing a refrigerant distributor 1 that is easy to manufacture.

The refrigerant distributor 1 may be configured to have the above-mentioned flow path P, and the number of plate-shaped members 1p constituting the refrigerant distributor 1 may be, for example, six or more. The upper communication passage Pca and the lower communication passage Pcb may be configured to connect the outgoing path Pu and the returning path Pd, and may be provided, for example, in the outgoing path plate-shaped member 20 of the outgoing path plate-shaped member 20 and the returning path plate-shaped member 30. Alternatively, the upper communication passage Pca may be provided in one of the outgoing path plate-shaped member 20 and the returning path plate-shaped member 30, and the lower communication passage Pcb may be provided in the other plate-shaped member. Alternatively, the upper communication passage Pca and the lower communication passage Pcb may be provided in both the outgoing path plate-shaped member 20 and the returning path plate-shaped member 30, respectively, so as to penetrate these two plate-shaped members 1p.

Figure 6 is an exploded schematic diagram showing a modified example of the refrigerant distributor 1 of Figure 3. In the refrigerant distributor 1a shown in Figure 6, the return path plate member 130 is configured so that only the return path Pd is formed out of the outward path Pu, return path Pd, upper communicating path Pca, and lower communicating path Pcb that make up the circulation path. In this refrigerant distributor 1a, in addition to the outward path Pu, the upper communicating path Pca and lower communicating path Pcb are formed in the outward path plate member 120.

1 to 3 and 5, the operation of the refrigerant distributor 1 according to embodiment 1 will be described using an example in which the heat exchanger 100 (see FIG. 2) functions as an evaporator of the refrigeration cycle device 200. As shown in FIG. 1, when the refrigeration cycle device 200 is in heating operation, the outdoor heat exchanger 105 functions as an evaporator. The refrigerant flowing into the refrigerant distributor 1 of the outdoor heat exchanger 105 is a gas-liquid two-phase flow.

As shown in FIG. 3, gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant flows from the refrigerant inlet pipe 2 (see FIG. 2) into the flow path P of the refrigerant distributor 1. The gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant that flows into the flow path P is discharged upward into the outgoing path Pu through the discharge hole 21, which has a discharge mechanism formed at the bottom of the outgoing path plate member 20. As indicated by the white arrow F1, the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant flows upward in the extension direction of the outgoing path Pu and reaches the upper end of the outgoing path Pu. Upon reaching the upper end of the outgoing path Pu, the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant flows horizontally from the outgoing path Pu toward the upper connecting passage Pca formed in the return path plate member 30 and flows through the upper connecting passage Pca into the upper end of the return path Pd. The gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant that flows into the upper end of the return path Pd flows downward in the direction of gravity within the return path Pd, as indicated by the white arrow F2.

As the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant flows downward through the return path Pd, it branches off and flows into multiple flat tube communication passages Po formed in the return path plate member 30 and the adjacent communication passage plate member 40, as indicated by the dashed arrows. As shown in FIG. 5 , the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant flowing from the return path Pd into each flat tube communication passage Po flows into the duct of the flat tube 5 inserted in the flat tube insertion hole 51 connected to that flat tube communication passage Po. Here, the width Wo of the flat tube communication passage Po, which is the flow path connecting the return path Pd and the flat tube 5, is set to be equal to or greater than the width Wd of the return path Pd in the thickness direction (X-axis direction) of the communication passage plate member 40, as described above. Therefore, in the present disclosure, there is no flow path portion narrower than the width Wd of the return path Pd between the return path Pd and the end faces of the flat tubes 5, so that the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant that flows out of the return path Pd is less likely to experience flow inertia in the stacking direction (X-axis direction) compared to conventional devices. As a result, by using the refrigerant distributor 1 of the present disclosure, the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant can flow more uniformly in the lateral direction in each flat tube 5 than in conventional devices, thereby improving the heat exchange performance of the heat exchanger 100.

As described above, the refrigerant distributor 1 according to embodiment 1 is formed by stacking a plurality of plate-like members 1p each extending in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction), has a plurality of flat tube insertion holes 51 formed in the vertical direction into which the ends 5a of the flat tubes 5 are inserted, and has a refrigerant inlet 11 formed therein. The refrigerant flowing in from the inlet 11 branches and flows into the plurality of flat tubes 5. The flow path P has an outward path Pu extending in the vertical direction and connected to the inlet 11 at its lower end so that the refrigerant flows upward, a return path Pd extending in the vertical direction so that the refrigerant flows downward, and an upper communication path Pca and a lower communication path Pcb annularly connecting the outward path Pu and the return path Pd. In addition, the flow path P has a plurality of flat tube connecting passages Po that individually connect the plurality of flat tube insertion holes 51 to the return path Pd, and when the plurality of plate-shaped members 1p are viewed in the stacking direction (X-axis direction), the width Wo of the flat tube connecting passages Po is greater than or equal to the width Wd of the return path Pd across the stacking direction.

The refrigerant distributor 1 according to the first embodiment includes an inlet plate member 10 having a refrigerant inlet 11 formed therein, and an insertion plate member 50 having a plurality of flat tube insertion holes 51 formed in the vertical direction, into which the ends 5a of the flat tubes 5 are inserted. The refrigerant distributor 1 is formed by stacking a plurality of plate members 1p, each extending in the vertical direction, and branches the refrigerant flowing in from the inlet 11 into the plurality of flat tubes 5. The plurality of plate members 1p have an outward path Pu extending in the vertical direction, and an outward path plate member 20 is provided between the inlet plate member 10 and the insertion plate member 50, adjacent to the inlet plate member 10, so that the inlet 11 is connected to the lower end of the outward path Pu. The plurality of plate members 1p also have a return path Pd extending in the vertical direction, and a return path plate member 30 is provided between the outward path plate member 20 and the insertion plate member 50, adjacent to the outward path plate member 20. The plurality of plate-shaped members 1p also include a communication passage plate-shaped member 40 disposed adjacent to each of the return path plate-shaped member 30 and the insertion-side plate-shaped member 50, the communication passage plate-shaped member 40 having a plurality of flat tube communication passages Po that individually connect the plurality of flat tube insertion holes 51 to the return path Pd. One or both of the outgoing path plate-shaped member 20 and the return path plate-shaped member 30 are formed with upper communication passages Pca and lower communication passages Pcb that annularly connect the outgoing path Pu and the return path Pd. When the plurality of plate-shaped members 1p are viewed in the stacking direction (X-axis direction), the lateral width Wo of the flat tube communication passages Po is equal to or greater than the lateral width Wd of the return path Pd across the stacking direction.

In this way, in the refrigerant distributor 1 according to the present disclosure, the width Wo of each of the multiple flat tube communication passages Po, which individually connect the multiple flat tube insertion holes 51 to the return path Pd, is equal to or greater than the width Wd of the return path Pd in the stacking direction. As a result, there are no flow path portions narrower than the width Wd of the return path Pd between the refrigerant flowing out of the return path Pd and flowing into the flat tubes 5. This means that the refrigerant is less likely to experience flow inertia in the stacking direction compared to conventional refrigerants, making it easier for the refrigerant to diffuse laterally (in the Y-axis direction) in the flat tube communication passages Po. This makes it possible to provide a refrigerant distributor 1 that allows the refrigerant to flow more uniformly into the flat tubes 5 in the Y-axis direction than conventional refrigerants.

The multiple plate-shaped members 1p also include an outgoing path plate-shaped member 20 on which the outgoing path Pu is formed, and a return path plate-shaped member 30 on which the return path Pd is formed. The upper communication passage Pca and the lower communication passage Pcb are formed in one or both of the outgoing path plate-shaped member 20 and the return path plate-shaped member 30, respectively. In this case, the outgoing path Pu and the return path Pd are provided in separate plate-shaped members. When the outgoing path Pu and the return path Pd are provided in the same plate-shaped member 1p, the width of the portion separating the outgoing path Pu and the return path Pd (the lateral distance between the outgoing path Pu and the return path Pd shown in Figure 4) must be approximately the thickness of each plate-shaped member 1p. On the other hand, when the outgoing path Pu and the return path Pd are provided in separate plate-shaped members as in the present disclosure, the lateral distance between the outgoing path Pu and the return path Pd can be shortened, improving the design flexibility of the flow path width.

In addition, the return path plate-shaped member 30 is formed with only the return path Pd of the flow path P, either one of the upper communication path Pca and the lower communication path Pcb and only the return path Pd, or both the upper communication path Pca and the lower communication path Pcb and only the return path Pd.

In some conventional refrigerant distributors, the return path plate member 30 on which the return path Pd is formed is provided with multiple small holes that form part of the flow path P. However, in such refrigerant distributors, the width Wd of the return path Pd is limited to ensure sufficient space for the multiple small holes in the return path plate member 30. In contrast, as in the present disclosure, the return path plate member 30 is configured so that only the return path Pd, upper communicating path Pca, and lower communicating path Pcb of the flow path P are provided, thereby improving the design freedom of the width Wd of the return path Pd.

In addition, in the modified refrigerant distributor 1a shown in Figure 6, only the return path Pd of the flow path P is formed in the return path plate member 30, and the return path Pu, upper communication path Pca, and lower communication path Pcb are both formed in the return path plate member 20. Since only the return path Pd of the flow path P is formed in the return path plate member 30 and neither the upper communication path Pca nor the lower communication path Pcb is provided, the design freedom of the width Wd of the return path Pd is further improved.

The multiple plate-shaped members 1p also include an insertion-side plate-shaped member 50 having multiple flat tube insertion holes 51 formed therein, and a communication passage plate-shaped member 40 having multiple flat tube communication passages Po formed therein that communicate with the multiple flat tube insertion holes 51. The communication passage plate-shaped member 40 is disposed between the return path plate-shaped member 30 and the insertion-side plate-shaped member 50 so as to be adjacent to both the return path plate-shaped member 30 and the insertion-side plate-shaped member 50.

By arranging one communicating passage plate member 40 between the return passage plate member 30 and the insertion side plate member 50, which has multiple through holes (multiple holes 41) with a width greater than or equal to the width Wd of the return passage Pd, it is possible to easily manufacture a refrigerant distributor 1 in which the refrigerant is less likely to experience flow inertia in the stacking direction (X-axis direction) just before flowing into the flat tubes 5.

Furthermore, the heat exchanger 100 according to embodiment 1 includes the above-described refrigerant distributor 1 or 1a and a plurality of flat tubes 5 connected to the refrigerant distributor 1 or 1a. Because the heat exchanger 100 includes the above-described refrigerant distributor 1 or 1a, the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant can flow more uniformly in the horizontal direction (Y-axis direction) in each flat tube 5 than in the past, thereby improving heat exchange performance.

Embodiment 2.
7 is an exploded schematic view showing the configuration of each plate-shaped member 1p of a refrigerant distributor 1b according to embodiment 2. Components having the same functions and actions as those in embodiment 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals and will not be described again. In the refrigerant distributor 1b according to embodiment 2, the relationship between the width Wd of the return path Pd and the width Wu of the forward path Pu is different from that in embodiment 1.

In the refrigerant distributor 1b of embodiment 2, as in embodiment 1, the outgoing path Pu extends in the longitudinal direction (Z-axis direction) of the outgoing path plate member 220, and the returning path Pd extends in the longitudinal direction (Z-axis direction) of the returning path plate member 230. The returning path Pd and the outgoing path Pu are arranged approximately parallel to each other and spaced apart in the short direction (Y-axis direction) so as not to overlap each other when viewed in the stacking direction (X-axis direction).

In the refrigerant distributor 1 of embodiment 1, the width Wd of the return path Pd is approximately the same as the width Wu of the outbound path Pu. However, in the refrigerant distributor 1b of embodiment 2, the width Wd of the return path Pd is different from the width Wu of the outbound path Pu. Specifically, compared to embodiment 1, the width Wu of the outbound path Pu is narrower and the width Wd of the return path Pd is wider, so that the width Wd of the return path Pd, where the refrigerant flows downward, is wider than the width Wu of the outbound path Pu, where the refrigerant flows upward. Therefore, in the refrigerant distributor 1b of embodiment 2, the width of the plate surface portion 235 of the return path plate member 30 to the right of the return path Pd in the figure is narrower than the width of the plate surface portion 35 (see Figure 3) in the refrigerant distributor 1 of embodiment 1.

As described above, in the refrigerant distributor 1b according to embodiment 2, when the multiple plate-like members 1p are viewed in the stacking direction (X-axis direction), the width Wu of the outgoing path Pu and the width Wd of the return path Pd are different sizes. In particular, narrowing the width Wu of the outgoing path Pu to increase the speed (ascending speed) of the refrigerant ascending within the outgoing path Pu and widening the width Wd of the return path Pd to decrease the speed (descending speed) of the refrigerant descending within the return path Pd makes it easier for the refrigerant to circulate, improving the refrigerant distribution performance among the multiple flat tubes 5.

Figure 8 is an exploded schematic diagram showing a modified example of the refrigerant distributor 1b of Figure 7. In the refrigerant distributor 1c shown in Figure 8, as in the refrigerant distributor 1b shown in Figure 7, the return path Pd and the outgoing path Pu are spaced apart in the short direction (Y-axis direction) so as not to overlap each other when viewed in the stacking direction (X-axis direction). In the modified refrigerant distributor 1c, the hole 322 formed in the outgoing path plate-shaped member 320 that constitutes the outgoing path Pu has a constant width Wu in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction).

However, in the modified refrigerant distributor 1c, the hole 331 formed in the return path plate member 330 that constitutes the return path Pd is configured so that its width Wd changes in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction). In Figure 8, the edge of the hole 331 that constitutes the return path Pd on the outgoing path Pu side is inclined so that the width Wd1 of the return path Pd gradually increases from the bottom end to the top end of the return path Pd. Therefore, the distance between the return path Pd and the outgoing path Pu in the short direction (Y-axis direction) decreases from the bottom end to the top end of the return path Pd.

As described above, in the modified refrigerant distributor 1c shown in Figure 8, when the multiple plate-like members 1p are viewed in the stacking direction (X-axis direction), the width Wd1 of the upper end of the return path Pd is larger than the width Wd2 of the lower end of the return path Pd. By configuring the width Wd of the return path Pd to be smaller on the lower side in this way, resistance to the refrigerant attempting to flow back through the circulation path from the lower end of the outward path Pu to the lower end of the return path Pd is increased, thereby suppressing backflow.

Embodiment 3.
FIG. 9 is a schematic development view showing the configuration of each plate-shaped member 1p of a refrigerant distributor 1d according to the third embodiment. FIG. 10 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a flow path P in the refrigerant distributor 1d of FIG. 9. In FIG. 10, the refrigerant flow in the stacking direction (X-axis direction) is indicated by dashed arrows. Note that components having the same functions and actions as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and their description will be omitted. The refrigerant distributor 1d according to the third embodiment differs from the refrigerant distributor 1 according to the first embodiment in that the flow path P further includes a return path extension portion 424 that extends the return path Pd.

As shown in FIG. 10, the return path extension portion 424 extends the return path Pd in the stacking direction (X-axis direction). As shown in FIG. 9, the return path extension portion 424 is formed on the outgoing plate member 420, which is arranged adjacent to the return path plate member 30 on which the return path Pd is formed. The return path extension portion 424 is, for example, a rectangular hole that penetrates the outgoing plate member 420 in the plate thickness direction (X-axis direction). Note that the return path extension portion 424 may also be a recess formed on the plate surface of the outgoing plate member 420 facing the return path plate member 30. However, by forming the return path extension portion 424 as a through hole, the volume of the return path extension portion 424 can be made constant depending on the plate thickness of the outgoing plate member 420, and can be made the same as the design dimension regardless of insertion variations of the multiple flat tubes 5, etc.

The outgoing plate member 420 has multiple return path extension portions 424 formed thereon, which are arranged in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction) in the projection area R of the return path Pd when the multiple plate members 1p are viewed in the stacking direction (X-axis direction). Note that the number of return path extension portions 424 formed on the outgoing plate member 420 may be just one. The width of each return path extension portion 424 is approximately the same as the width Wd of the return path Pd.

In the refrigerant distributor 1d of embodiment 3, an upper communication passage Pca is provided across the outgoing plate member 420 and the return path plate member 30 in the stacking direction (X-axis direction). The outgoing plate member 420 has a rectangular hole 423a, for example, extending from the upper end of the outgoing path Pu to the return path Pd side (left side in the figure) in the short direction (Y-axis direction). When the refrigerant distributor 1d is viewed in the stacking direction (X-axis direction), this hole 423a is arranged to overlap with the upper end of the return path Pd provided in the return path plate member 30 and the hole 32a extending from the upper end of the return path Pd. The hole 423a in the outgoing plate member 420 and the hole 32a in the return path plate member 30 form the upper communication passage Pca.

The multiple return path extension sections 424 are provided in a region below the upper communication passage Pca in the projection region R of the return path Pd. Also, in Figure 9, each return path extension section 424 is formed between two adjacent flat tube insertion holes 51 in the vertical direction in the projection region R of the return path Pd.

As shown in Figure 9, the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant that flows into the flow path P of the refrigerant distributor 1d rises through the forward path Pu, then flows into the return path Pd via the upper connecting path Pca and descends. As indicated by the dashed arrows in Figure 10, as the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant descends toward the bottom end of the return path Pd, some of the liquid refrigerant, particularly the liquid refrigerant flowing along the wall surface, flows into and stagnates in the return path expansion section 424. This reduces the amount of liquid refrigerant stagnating at the bottom end of the return path Pd and prevents refrigerant from flowing unevenly into the lowest flat tubes 5. As a result, the refrigerant is more easily distributed evenly among the flat tubes 5 arranged vertically, improving the heat exchange performance of the heat exchanger 100.

Note that the location of the return path expansion section 424 in the refrigerant distributor 1d is not limited to the location described above. Two modified examples are described below.

Figure 11 is an exploded schematic view showing a first modified example of the refrigerant distributor 1d of Figure 9. Figure 12 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a schematic view of the flow path P within the refrigerant distributor 1e of Figure 11. In the refrigerant distributor 1e of the first modified example, the outgoing plate member 420 is provided with multiple return path extension portions 424, and the connecting path plate member 440, which is arranged on the opposite side of the return path plate member 30 from the outgoing path plate member 420, is also provided with multiple return path extension portions 442. The configuration of the outgoing path plate member 420 is the same as that of the refrigerant distributor 1d shown in Figure 9, so a description thereof will be omitted here.

As shown in Figure 11, the return path extension portion 442 is, for example, a rectangular hole that penetrates the communication path plate member 440 in the plate thickness direction (X-axis direction). In the communication path plate member 440, the multiple return path extension portions 442 are formed in positions facing the multiple return path extension portions 424 of the outgoing path plate member 420. Note that the return path extension portion 442 may also be a recess formed in the plate surface of the communication path plate member 440 on the return path plate member 30 side.

As described above, in the refrigerant distributor 1e of the first modified example, multiple return path extensions 424 are provided in the vertical direction on the outbound plate member 420, and multiple return path extensions 442 are provided in the vertical direction on the flat tube connecting passage Po. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 12 , the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant descending through the return path Pd alternately passes through a first space S1 having a width in the stacking direction (X-axis direction) equal to the plate thickness of the return path plate member 30, and a second space S2 formed by the return path extensions 442 and 424 expanding the return path Pd on both sides in the stacking direction. In the refrigerant distributor 1e of the first modified example, as the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant passes through the second space S2, some of the liquid refrigerant flows into and stagnates in the return path extensions 424 and 442. Therefore, compared to the configuration of Figure 9 in which the return path Pd is expanded in only one direction in the stacking direction, the refrigerant distributor 1e of the first modified example can further reduce the amount of liquid refrigerant remaining at the lower end of the return path Pd, thereby improving the refrigerant distribution performance.

Figure 13 is a schematic exploded view showing a second modified example of the refrigerant distributor 1d of Figure 9. Figure 14 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a flow path P in the refrigerant distributor 1f of Figure 13. In the refrigerant distributor 1d shown in Figure 9, the multiple return path extension portions 424 were provided between two adjacent flat tube insertion holes 51 in the projection area R of the return path Pd. In the refrigerant distributor 1f of the second modified example shown in Figure 13, the multiple return path extension portions 524 are provided in positions that overlap at least a portion of the multiple flat tube insertion holes 51 in the projection area R of the return path Pd when the multiple plate-shaped members 1p are viewed in the stacking direction (X-axis direction). Furthermore, in the refrigerant distributor 1f of the second modified example, the upper communication passage Pca is provided only in the return path plate-shaped member 30 out of the outward path plate-shaped member 520 and the return path plate-shaped member 30.

As shown in FIG. 14 , in the refrigerant distributor 1f of the second modified example, while the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant descends toward the lower end of the return path Pd, a portion of the liquid refrigerant flows into and stagnates in the return path extension section 524. The multiple return path extension sections 524 are formed in positions that overlap with at least a portion of the multiple flat tube insertion holes 51 in the projection area R of the return path Pd when the multiple plate-like members 1p are viewed in the stacking direction (X-axis direction). This positions the stagnant liquid refrigerant and the ends 5a of each flat tube 5 in the same position in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction), making it easier for the liquid refrigerant to flow out of the refrigerant distributor 1 through each flat tube 5. As a result, the amount of liquid refrigerant stagnating at the lower end of the return path Pd can be further reduced.

Figure 15 is a vertical cross-sectional view schematically illustrating the B-B cross section of the refrigerant distributor 1d of Figure 9. The relationship between the flow path cross-sectional area Sc1 of the upper communication passage Pca and the flow path cross-sectional area Sc2 of the lower communication passage Pcb will be explained below with reference to Figures 9 and 15. To facilitate refrigerant flow from the forward path Pu to the return path Pd in the flow path P shown in Figure 9, the flow path cross-sectional area Sc1 of the upper communication passage Pca is configured to be larger than the flow path cross-sectional area Sc2 of the lower communication passage Pcb in the vertical cross-sectional view of Figure 15. In the example of Figure 15, the upper communication passage Pca and the lower communication passage Pcb have the same length in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction). Because the length of the upper communication passage Pca in the stacking direction (X-axis direction) is longer than the length of the lower communication passage Pcb in the stacking direction (X-axis direction) by the thickness of the forward path plate-shaped member 420, the flow path cross-sectional area Sc1 of the upper communication passage Pca is larger than the flow path cross-sectional area Sc2 of the lower communication passage Pcb.

In addition, in a configuration in which the upper communicating passage Pca and the lower communicating passage Pcb are provided in the same plate-shaped member 1p (e.g., the return path plate-shaped member 30), such as the second modified refrigerant distributor 1f shown in Figures 13 and 14, the flow path cross-sectional areas Sc1 and Sc2 can be adjusted by the vertical (Z-axis direction) lengths of the upper communicating passage Pca and the lower communicating passage Pcb.

13 and 14, multiple return path extensions 524 are provided discretely on the outgoing plate member 520, but a single return path extension 524a, which integrates these return path extensions 524, may also be provided on the outgoing plate member 520. Figure 16 is an exploded schematic diagram showing an example configuration in which the return path extensions 524 provided discretely in the refrigerant distributor 1f of Figure 13 are provided integrally. In the refrigerant distributor 1fa shown exploded in Figure 16, the return path extension 524a is, for example, a rectangular hole that penetrates the outgoing plate member 520 in the plate thickness direction (X-axis direction) and extends in the longitudinal direction (Z-axis direction). In the outgoing plate member 520, the return path extension 524a and the outgoing path Pu are arranged approximately parallel to each other and spaced apart in the short direction (Y-axis direction).

Furthermore, in the refrigerant distributor 1d shown in Figures 9 and 10, or the first modified refrigerant distributor 1e shown in Figures 11 and 12, the return path extension portions 424 provided discretely on the outward path plate-shaped member 420 may be integrated into one to provide a single return path extension portion.

As described above, in the refrigerant distributor 1d of embodiment 3 shown in Figures 9 and 10, the flow path P has one return path extension section 524a extending in the vertical direction, or multiple return path extension sections 424 arranged in the vertical direction, in the projection area R of the return path Pd when the multiple plate-like members 1p are viewed in the stacking direction (X-axis direction), which extends the return path Pd in the stacking direction.

As a result, some of the liquid refrigerant flowing down the return path Pd flows into and stagnates in the return path expansion section 524a or 424. Therefore, compared to the configuration in which the return path Pd is flat as in embodiment 1, the refrigerant distributor 1d makes it less likely for the refrigerant to stagnate at the lower end of the return path Pd. This makes it easier to distribute and cool the refrigerant evenly across the multiple flat tubes 5. Furthermore, applying the refrigerant distributor 1d to the heat exchanger 100 improves heat exchange performance.

In the refrigerant distributor 1d, the flow path cross-sectional area Sc1 of the upper communication passage Pca is larger than the flow path cross-sectional area Sc2 of the lower communication passage Pcb. This allows refrigerant discharged from the discharge hole 21 to the lower end of the return path Pd to flow upward through the outward path Pu and then more easily into the return path Pd via the upper communication passage Pca, thereby suppressing backflow in the circulation path. Suppressing backflow in the circulation path promotes refrigerant circulation and the inflow of refrigerant into each flat tube 5.

Embodiment 4.
17 is an exploded schematic view showing the configuration of each plate-shaped member 1p of a refrigerant distributor 1g according to embodiment 4. Note that components having the same functions and actions as those in embodiment 1 are given the same reference numerals and their description will be omitted. The refrigerant distributor 1g according to embodiment 4 differs from the refrigerant distributor 1g according to embodiment 1 in that the flat tube communicating passage Po connecting the return path Pd and the flat tube insertion hole 51 is provided across multiple plate-shaped members 1p.

In the refrigerant distributor 1g of embodiment 4, as in embodiment 1, the flow path P has a refrigerant circulation path consisting of an outgoing path Pu, a return path Pd, an upper connecting path Pca, and a lower connecting path Pcb, and a plurality of flat tube connecting paths Po that individually connect the plurality of flat tube insertion holes 51 to the return path Pd.

The refrigerant distributor 1g of embodiment 4 is composed of seven plate-shaped members 1p. These seven plate-shaped members 1p are fastened to each other with fasteners (not shown). For this purpose, mounting holes h1 and h2 for inserting fasteners are formed in two diagonal locations, for example, at the upper and lower ends of each plate-shaped member 1p. Note that multiple plate-shaped members 1p may be integrated by brazing adjacent members together without using fasteners.

Both side surfaces of the refrigerant distributor 1g in the stacking direction (X-axis direction) are composed of an inlet plate member 610 in which the refrigerant inlet 11 is formed, and an insertion side plate member 650 in which multiple flat tube insertion holes 51 are formed. Between the inlet plate member 610 and the insertion side plate member 650, in this order in the stacking direction from the inlet plate member 610 side, are an outward path plate member 620 in which an outward path Pu is formed, a return path plate member 630 in which a return path Pd is formed, and a communication path plate member group 640 in which multiple flat tube communication paths Po that communicate with the multiple flat tube insertion holes 51 are formed.

The return path plate member 630 is also formed with an upper communication passage Pca and a lower communication passage Pcb. The upper communication passage Pca is a hole 32a that penetrates the return path plate member 630 in the plate thickness direction (X-axis direction), and is a flow path that connects the upper end of the return path Pd to the upper end of the outgoing path Pu in the stacking direction (X-axis direction). The lower communication passage Pcb is a hole 632b that penetrates the return path plate member 630 in the plate thickness direction (X-axis direction), and is a flow path that connects the lower end of the return path Pd to the lower end of the outgoing path Pu in the stacking direction (X-axis direction).

While the lower communication passage Pcb in embodiment 1 extends linearly from the lower end of the return path Pd toward the outgoing path Pu in the short-side direction (Y-axis direction), the lower communication passage Pcb in embodiment 4 has a shape that includes a crank portion C when viewed in the stacking direction (X-axis direction). The lower communication passage Pcb in embodiment 4 is composed of a first extension portion Pcb1 that extends in the short-side direction (Y-axis direction) from the return path Pd to approach the outgoing path Pu, a second extension portion Pcb2 that extends upward from the end of the first extension portion Pcb1 on the outgoing path Pu side, and a third extension portion Pcb3 that extends in the short-side direction (Y-axis direction) from the upper end of the second extension portion Pcb2 to again approach the outgoing path Pu, and has a generally Z-shaped configuration when viewed in the stacking direction (X-axis direction).

In addition, the outgoing plate member 620 is formed with a return path extension portion 624 that extends the return path Pd in the stacking direction (X-axis direction). The return path extension portion 624 is, for example, a rectangular hole that penetrates the outgoing plate member 620 in the plate thickness direction (X-axis direction). The outgoing plate member 620 is formed with multiple return path extension portions 624. The multiple return path extension portions 624 are arranged in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction) in the projection area R of the return path Pd when the multiple plate members 1p are viewed in the stacking direction (X-axis direction). Each return path extension portion 624 is provided between two adjacent flat tube insertion holes 51 in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction).

In Embodiment 4, each of the multiple flat tube communicating passages Po has a width Wo that varies in the stacking direction (X-axis direction). Therefore, the flat tube communicating passage Po has a first communicating passage portion Po1 having a width Wo1 and a second communicating passage portion Po2 having a width Wo2 that is larger than the width Wo1 of the first communicating passage portion Po1. The first communicating passage portion Po1 connects the return path Pd to the second communicating passage portion Po2, and the second communicating passage portion Po2 connects the first communicating passage portion Po1 to the flat tube insertion hole 51. The width Wo of the flat tube communicating passage Po varies in the stacking direction (X-axis direction), but, as in Embodiment 1, the width Wo of the flat tube communicating passage Po is equal to or greater than the width Wd of the return path Pd in the plate thickness direction (X-axis direction).

17 includes a first communication passage plate member 640a adjacent to the return path plate member 630, and two second communication passage plate members 640b and 640c arranged between the first communication passage plate member 640a and the insertion side plate member 650. Between the return path plate member 630 and the insertion side plate member 650, the first communication passage plate member 640a, the second communication passage plate member 640b, and the second communication passage plate member 640c are arranged in this order from the return path plate member 630 side. That is, of the two second communication passage plate members 640b and 640c, the second communication passage plate member 640b is adjacent to the first communication passage plate member 640a, and the second communication passage plate member 640c is adjacent to both the second communication passage plate member 640b and the insertion side plate member 650.

The first communication passage plate member 640a adjacent to the return path plate member 630 is formed with a first communication passage section Po1 of the multiple flat tube communication passages Po. Furthermore, the two multiple second communication passage plate members 640b and 640c are formed with a second communication passage section Po2 of the multiple flat tube communication passages Po. The first communication passage section Po1 is, for example, a rectangular hole 643 that penetrates the first communication passage plate member 640a in the plate thickness direction (X-axis direction). The first communication passage plate member 640a is provided with multiple holes 643 in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction) so as to face the multiple flat tube insertion holes 51. The second communication passage section Po2 is, for example, holes 641b and 641c that penetrate the two second communication passage plate members 640b and 640c in the plate thickness direction (X-axis direction), and has approximately the same shape as the flat tube insertion holes 51. Each of the second communication passage plate-shaped members 640b and 640c has a plurality of holes 641b or 641c formed in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction) so as to face the plurality of flat tube insertion holes 51.

The group of communication passage plate members 640 that constitute the flat tube communication passage Po is not limited to the above configuration. For example, one of the two second communication passage plate members 640c may be omitted, and the flat tube communication passage Po may be constituted by the hole 643 in the first communication passage plate member 640a and the hole 641b in the second communication passage plate member 640b. Furthermore, the configuration of the lower communication passage Pcb is not limited to the above configuration. Modifications are shown below.

Figure 18 is an exploded schematic diagram showing a modified example of the refrigerant distributor 1g of Figure 17. In the modified refrigerant distributor 1h shown in Figure 18, the lower communication passage Pcb is composed of two members: an outgoing plate member 720 and a returning plate member 730. Specifically, the lower communication passage Pcb is formed by connecting a hole 723b formed in the outgoing plate member 720 with a hole 732b formed in the returning plate member 730. The hole 723b in the outgoing plate member 720 extends linearly from the outgoing path Pu toward the returning path Pd in the short direction (Y-axis direction). The hole 732b formed in the returning path plate member 730 extends from the returning path Pd toward the outgoing path Pu in the short direction (Y-axis direction) and then extends upward, forming an inverted L-shape. When viewed in the stacking direction (X-axis direction), the upper end of the hole 732b of the return path plate member 730 overlaps the end of the hole 723b of the outgoing path plate member 720 on the return path Pd side, and the hole 732b of the return path plate member 730 and the hole 723b of the outgoing path plate member 720 are connected. In the modified refrigerant distributor 1h, as in the refrigerant distributor 1g, the lower communication passage Pcb has a substantially Z-shape when viewed in the stacking direction (X-axis direction). In the modified refrigerant distributor 1h, the crank portion C of the lower communication passage Pcb is formed in the return path plate member 730, and the remaining linear portion of the lower communication passage Pcb is formed in the outgoing path plate member 720. Note that the shape of the lower communication passage Pcb is not limited to the above-described shape. The lower communication passage Pcb may be formed only with the crank portion C and have an inverted L-shape.

In the refrigerant distributor 1g (or the modified refrigerant distributor 1h shown in FIG. 18), when the multiple plate-like members 1p are viewed in the stacking direction (X-axis direction), the lower communication passage Pcb has a crank portion C composed of a first extension portion Pcb1 extending laterally (Y-axis direction) from the return passage Pd toward the outgoing passage Pu, and a second extension portion Pcb2 extending upward from the end of the first extension portion Pcb1 on the outgoing passage Pu side. By having the lower communication passage Pcb have this bent crank portion C, resistance to refrigerant attempting to flow back through the circulation passage from the lower end of the outgoing passage Pu to the lower end of the return passage Pd is increased, thereby suppressing backflow. This prevents refrigerant flowing from the discharge hole 21 into the lower end of the outgoing passage Pu from flowing directly through the lower communication passage Pcb to the lower end of the return passage Pd. This suppresses the outflow of refrigerant biased toward the lowest flat tube 5, improving distribution performance.

As described above, in the refrigerant distributor 1g (or refrigerant distributor 1h) of embodiment 4, each of the multiple flat tube connecting passages Po is composed of a first connecting passage portion Po1 connected to the return path Pd, and a second connecting passage portion Po2 connected to the flat tube insertion hole 51 and having a width Wo2 larger than the width Wo1 of the first connecting passage portion Po1 when viewed in the stacking direction. The multiple plate-shaped members 1p include an insertion side plate-shaped member 650 in which multiple flat tube insertion holes 51 are formed, a first communication passage plate-shaped member 640a arranged between the return path plate-shaped member 630 and the insertion side plate-shaped member 650 so as to be adjacent to the return path plate-shaped member 630, and in which a first communication passage portion Po1 in the multiple flat tube communication passages Po is formed, and a second communication passage plate-shaped member 640c arranged between the first communication passage plate-shaped member 640a and the insertion side plate-shaped member 650 so as to be adjacent to the insertion side plate-shaped member 650, and in which a second communication passage portion Po2 in the multiple flat tube communication passages Po is formed.

In this way, by constructing the flat tube connecting passage Po using multiple plate-shaped members (in the example of Figure 17, a first connecting passage plate-shaped member 640a and two second connecting passage plate-shaped members 640b and 640c), the width Wo of the flat tube connecting passage Po can be changed in the stacking direction (X-axis direction), thereby improving design freedom.

Embodiment 5.
Fig. 19 is a schematic development view showing the configuration of each plate-shaped member 1p of a refrigerant distributor 1i according to embodiment 5. Fig. 20 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a flow path P in the refrigerant distributor 1i of Fig. 19. Fig. 21 is a transverse cross-sectional view showing a horizontal cross section passing through the first communication passage portion Po1 of the refrigerant distributor 1i of Fig. 19. Components having the same functions and actions as those of embodiment 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals and their description will be omitted. The refrigerant distributor 1i according to embodiment 5 differs from the refrigerant distributor 1 according to embodiment 1 in that a part of the return path Pd is formed in the first plate-shaped member 820 in which the outward path Pu is formed.

19, in the refrigerant distributor 1i of embodiment 5, as in embodiment 1, the flow path P includes a refrigerant circulation path consisting of an outgoing path Pu, a return path Pd, an upper communication path Pca, and a lower communication path Pcb, and multiple flat tube communication paths Po that individually connect multiple flat tube insertion holes 51 to the return path Pd. In embodiment 1, the return path Pd was configured as a flat plate extending in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction). However, as shown in FIG. 20, the return path Pd in embodiment 5 extends in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction) while meandering in the stacking direction (X-axis direction).

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 21 , in embodiment 5, each of the multiple flat tube communicating passages Po is configured so that the width Wo varies in the stacking direction (X-axis direction). Therefore, the flat tube communicating passage Po is configured to have a first communicating passage portion Po1 having a width Wo1 and a second communicating passage portion Po2 having a width Wo2 larger than the width Wo1 of the first communicating passage portion Po1. The first communicating passage portion Po1 connects the return path Pd to the second communicating passage portion Po2, and the second communicating passage portion Po2 connects the first communicating passage portion Po1 to the flat tube insertion hole 51. The width Wo of the flat tube communicating passage Po varies in the stacking direction (X-axis direction), but as in embodiment 1, the width Wo of the flat tube communicating passage Po is equal to or greater than the width Wd of the return path Pd in the plate thickness direction (X-axis direction).

The refrigerant distributor 1i of embodiment 5 is composed of five plate-shaped members 1p. Adjacent members of the multiple plate-shaped members 1p are joined by brazing.

19, the refrigerant distributor 1i has two side surfaces in the stacking direction (X-axis direction) that are composed of an inlet plate member 10 in which a refrigerant inlet 11 is formed, and an insertion plate member 50 in which multiple flat tube insertion holes 51 are formed in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction). Between the inlet plate member 10 and the insertion plate member 50, a first plate member 820, a second plate member 830, and a third plate member 840 are arranged in this order in the stacking direction from the inlet plate member 10 side.

The first plate-shaped member 820 is provided with most of the circulation paths, including part of the return path Pd, the outgoing path Pu, the upper communication path Pca, and the lower communication path Pcb. Specifically, the first plate-shaped member 820 is formed with a plurality of first return path holes 825 that form part of the serpentine return path Pd, holes 22 that form the outgoing path Pu, holes 823a that form the upper communication path Pca, and holes 823b that form the lower communication path Pcb.

The second plate-shaped member 830 also has the remaining portion of the return path Pd and a portion of each of the multiple flat tube communicating passages Po. Specifically, the second plate-shaped member 830 has multiple second return path holes 831 that form the remaining portion of the serpentine return path Pd, and multiple holes 832 that form the first communicating passage portions Po1 of the multiple flat tube communicating passages Po.

Furthermore, the remaining portions of each of the multiple flat tube connecting passages Po are provided in the third plate-shaped member 840. More specifically, the third plate-shaped member 840 has multiple holes 41 formed therein that constitute the second connecting passage portions Po2 of the multiple flat tube connecting passages Po.

The multiple second return passage holes 831 are spaced apart in the vertical direction of the second plate-shaped member 830, and each of the multiple second return passage holes 831 connects two adjacent first return passage holes 825 in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction) of the first plate-shaped member 820. The multiple first return passage holes 825 are also spaced apart in the vertical direction of the first plate-shaped member 820, and each of the multiple first return passage holes 825 connects two adjacent second return passage holes 831 in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction) of the second plate-shaped member 830. The refrigerant descending in the return passage Pd collides with a portion 826 that separates two adjacent first return passage holes 825 in the first plate-shaped member 820, and this portion 826 functions as a refrigerant downward suppression plate.

The holes 832 that constitute the first communication passage portion Po1 and the second return passage holes 831 are arranged alternately in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction) on the second plate-shaped member 830. The second plate-shaped member 830 also has a plate surface portion 835 that covers the outgoing passage Pu, the upper communication passage Pca, and the lower communication passage Pcb on the first plate-shaped member 820.

The shape of each flow path section is not limited to the above shapes. For example, the shape of the return path Pd does not have to be serpentine. Furthermore, in the return path Pd, the descending suppression plate through which the refrigerant descends (the portion 826 separating two adjacent first return path holes 825 in the first plate-shaped member 820) only needs to be located in at least one location above or below the topmost flat tube 5.

As described above, the refrigerant distributor 1i of embodiment 5 includes an inlet plate member 10 having a refrigerant inlet 11 formed therein, and an insertion side plate member 50 having a plurality of flat tube insertion holes 51 formed in the vertical direction, into which the ends 5a of the flat tubes 5 are inserted. The refrigerant distributor 1i is formed by stacking a plurality of plate members 1p, each extending in the vertical direction, and branches the refrigerant flowing in from the inlet 11 into the plurality of flat tubes 5. The plurality of plate members 1p form an outward path Pu extending in the vertical direction and a portion of a return path Pd that snakes in the stacking direction (X-axis direction) and extends in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction). A first plate member 820 is provided between the inlet plate member 10 and the insertion side plate member 50, adjacent to the inlet plate member 10, so that the inlet 11 is connected to the lower end of the outward path Pu. The plurality of plate-shaped members 1p also include a second plate-shaped member 830, in which the remaining portion of the return path Pd is formed, provided adjacent to the first plate-shaped member 820 between the first plate-shaped member 820 and the insertion-side plate-shaped member 50. The plurality of plate-shaped members 1p also include a third plate-shaped member 840, in which the second plate-shaped member 830 and the insertion-side plate-shaped member 50 are provided adjacent to each of the second plate-shaped member 830 and the insertion-side plate-shaped member 50, and in which at least a portion of each of the plurality of flat tube communicating passages Po, which individually communicate the plurality of flat tube insertion holes 51 with the return path Pd, is formed. An upper communicating passage Pca and a lower communicating passage Pcb, which annularly communicate the outgoing path Pu and the return path Pd, are formed in one or both of the first plate-shaped member 820 and the second plate-shaped member 830. When the plurality of plate-like members 1p are viewed in the stacking direction, the width Wo (each of the widths Wo1 and Wo2) of the flat tube communicating passage Po is equal to or greater than the width Wd of the return path Pd across the stacking direction.

In the refrigerant distributor 1i of embodiment 5, the return path Pd extends vertically (Z-axis direction) while meandering in the stacking direction (X-axis direction). The multiple plate-shaped members 1p include an insertion-side plate-shaped member 50 having multiple flat tube insertion holes 51 formed therein, and a first plate-shaped member 820 having multiple first return path holes 825 and an outgoing path Pu that constitute part of the return path Pd. The multiple plate-shaped members 1p also include a second plate-shaped member 830 positioned between the first plate-shaped member 820 and the insertion-side plate-shaped member 50 so as to be adjacent to the first plate-shaped member 820. The second plate-shaped member 830 has multiple second return path holes 831 formed therein that constitute the remaining portion of the return path Pd. The multiple plate-shaped members 1p also include a third plate-shaped member 840 positioned between the second plate-shaped member 830 and the insertion-side plate-shaped member 50 so as to be adjacent to both the second plate-shaped member 830 and the insertion-side plate-shaped member 50. At least a portion of each of the plurality of flat tube communicating passages Po is formed in the third plate-shaped member 840. The upper communicating passage Pca and the lower communicating passage Pcb are formed in the first plate-shaped member 820 or the second plate-shaped member 830. The plurality of second return passage holes 831 are provided in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction) of the second plate-shaped member 830, and each second return passage hole 831 connects two adjacent first return passage holes 825 in the vertical direction of the first plate-shaped member 820. The second plate-shaped member 830 also has a plate surface portion 835 that covers the outward passage Pu, the upper communicating passage Pca, and the lower communicating passage Pcb of the first plate-shaped member 820.

In this way, in embodiment 5, the return path Pd has a curved shape, so the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant is agitated within the return path Pd, compared to the configuration in embodiment 1 in which the return path Pd is flat. Therefore, the refrigerant distribution in the vertical direction within the return path Pd is made uniform, improving distribution performance.

Each of the multiple flat tube communicating passages Po is composed of a first communicating passage portion Po1 that connects to the return path Pd, and a second communicating passage portion Po2 that has a width Wo2 that is larger than the width Wo1 of the first communicating passage portion Po1 when viewed in the stacking direction (X-axis direction) and connects to the flat tube insertion hole 51. The first communicating passage portions Po1 of the multiple flat tube communicating passages Po are formed in the second plate-shaped member 830. The second communicating passage portions Po2 of the multiple flat tube communicating passages Po are formed in the third plate-shaped member 840. The first communicating passage portions Po1 and the second return path holes 831 are arranged alternately in the vertical direction on the second plate-shaped member 830.

In this way, by constructing the flat tube connecting passage Po using multiple plate-shaped members (in the example of Figure 19, the second plate-shaped member 830 and the third plate-shaped member 840), the width Wo of the flat tube connecting passage Po can be changed in the stacking direction (X-axis direction), thereby improving design freedom.

1, 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e, 1f, 1fa, 1g, 1h, 1i Refrigerant distributor, 1p Plate-shaped member, 2 Refrigerant inlet pipe, 4 Heat exchange section, 4a Gap, 5 Flat tube, 5a End, 6 Heat transfer fin, 10, 610 Inlet section plate-shaped member, 11 Inlet section, 20, 120, 220, 320, 420, 520, 620, 720 Outward path plate-shaped member, 21 Discharge hole, 22 Hole, 30, 130, 230, 330, 630, 730 Return path plate-shaped member, 31 Hole, 32a Hole, 32b Hole, 35, 235, 835 Plate surface portion, 40, 440 Communication path plate-shaped member, 41 Hole, 50, 650 Insertion side plate-shaped member, 51 REFRIGERATION CYCLE APPARATUS, 322, 331, 423a, 424, 442, 524, 524a, 624, 632b, 640, 640a, 640b, 640c, 641b, 643, 723b, 732b, 820, 823a, 823b hole, 825 first return hole, 826 portion, 830 second plate-shaped member, 831 second return hole, 832 hole, 840 third plate-shaped member, C crank portion, L1, L2 extension pipe, P flow path, Pca upper connecting passage, Pcb lower connecting passage, Pcb1 first extension portion, Pcb2 second extension portion, Pcb3 third extension portion, Pd return path, Po flat tube connecting passage, Po1 first connecting passage portion, Po2 second connecting passage portion, Pu outward path, R projection area, S1 first space portion, S2 second space portion, Sc1 flow path cross-sectional area, Sc2 flow path cross-sectional area, Wd, Wd1, Wd2 horizontal width, Wo, Wo1, Wo2 horizontal width, Wp horizontal width, Wu horizontal width, h1, h2 mounting hole.

Claims (17)

A refrigerant distributor is formed by stacking a plurality of plate-like members each extending in the vertical direction, and has a plurality of flat tube insertion holes formed in the vertical direction into which ends of flat tubes are inserted, and a refrigerant inlet portion formed therein, and has flow paths formed therein that branch the refrigerant flowing in from the inlet portion and flow into the plurality of flat tubes,
The flow path is
an outgoing path extending in the vertical direction and having a lower end connected to the inlet portion through which the refrigerant flows upward;
a return path extending in the vertical direction and through which the refrigerant flows downward;
an upper communication passage and a lower communication passage that annularly connect the outward path and the return path;
a plurality of flat tube communication passages that individually connect the plurality of flat tube insertion holes to the return passage,
When the plurality of plate-like members are viewed in a stacking direction, a width of the flat tube communicating passage is equal to or greater than a width of the return passage across the stacking direction. The plurality of plate-like members include:
an outgoing path plate-shaped member on which the outgoing path is formed;
a return path plate-shaped member on which the return path is formed,
The refrigerant distributor according to claim 1 , wherein the upper communication passage and the lower communication passage are formed in one or both of the outward plate member and the return plate member, respectively. 3. The refrigerant distributor according to claim 2, wherein the return path plate member is formed with only the return path, one of the upper communication path and the lower communication path and only the return path, or both the upper communication path and the lower communication path and only the return path, among the flow paths. The return path plate member is formed with only the return path of the flow path,
The refrigerant distributor according to claim 2 , wherein the outgoing path, the upper communication path, and the lower communication path are all formed in the outgoing path plate member. The refrigerant distributor according to claim 2 , wherein, when the plurality of plate-like members are viewed in the stacking direction, the width of the outgoing passage and the width of the return passage are different in size. 3. The refrigerant distributor according to claim 2, wherein the flow path has one return path extension section extending in the vertical direction or a plurality of return path extension sections arranged in the vertical direction, which extend the return path in the stacking direction, in a projection area of the return path when the plurality of plate-like members are viewed in the stacking direction. The refrigerant distributor according to claim 6, wherein the one or more return path extension portions are formed at a position overlapping with at least a portion of the flat tube insertion holes in the projection area of the return path when the plurality of plate-shaped members are viewed in the stacking direction. The plurality of plate-like members include:
an insertion side plate-shaped member having the plurality of flat tube insertion holes formed therein;
3. The refrigerant distributor according to claim 2, further comprising: a communication passage plate member disposed between the return path plate member and the insertion side plate member so as to be adjacent to each of the return path plate member and the insertion side plate member, and having a plurality of flat tube communication passages formed therein that communicate with the plurality of flat tube insertion holes. Each of the plurality of flat tube communicating passages is configured with a first communicating passage portion connected to the return path, and a second communicating passage portion having a width larger than a width of the first communicating passage portion when viewed in the stacking direction and connected to the flat tube insertion hole,
The plurality of plate-like members include:
an insertion side plate-shaped member having the plurality of flat tube insertion holes formed therein;
a first communication passage plate-shaped member that is disposed between the return path plate-shaped member and the insertion side plate-shaped member so as to be adjacent to the return path plate-shaped member, and in which the first communication passage portions of the plurality of flat tube communication passages are formed;
a second communication passage plate member disposed between the first communication passage plate member and the insertion side plate member so as to be adjacent to the insertion side plate member, the second communication passage portion of the plurality of flat tube communication passages being formed therein . The return path extends in the up-down direction while meandering in the stacking direction,
The plurality of plate-like members include:
an insertion side plate-shaped member having the plurality of flat tube insertion holes formed therein;
a first plate-shaped member in which a plurality of first return path holes constituting a part of the return path and the outward path are formed;
a second plate-shaped member disposed between the first plate-shaped member and the insertion-side plate-shaped member so as to be adjacent to the first plate-shaped member, the second plate-shaped member having a plurality of second return path holes formed therein that constitute the remaining portion of the return path;
a third plate-shaped member that is disposed between the second plate-shaped member and the insertion-side plate-shaped member so as to be adjacent to each of the second plate-shaped member and the insertion-side plate-shaped member, and in which at least a portion of each of the plurality of flat tube communicating passages is formed,
the upper communication passage and the lower communication passage are formed in the first plate-shaped member or the second plate-shaped member,
the plurality of second return holes are provided in the vertical direction of the second plate-shaped member, and each of the second return holes communicates with two of the first return holes that are adjacent to each other in the vertical direction of the first plate-shaped member,
The refrigerant distributor according to claim 1 , wherein the second plate-shaped member has a plate surface portion that covers the outgoing passage, the upper communication passage, and the lower communication passage of the first plate-shaped member. Each of the plurality of flat tube communicating passages is configured by a first communicating passage portion connected to the first return path hole of the return path, and a second communicating passage portion having a width larger than a width of the first communicating passage portion when viewed in the stacking direction and connected to the flat tube insertion hole,
the second plate-shaped member is formed with the first communication passage portions of the plurality of flat tube communication passages,
the third plate-shaped member is formed with the second communication passage portions of the plurality of flat tube communication passages,
The refrigerant distributor according to claim 10 , wherein the first communication passage portions and the second return passage holes are alternately provided in the second plate-like member in the up-down direction. The refrigerant distributor according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein, when the plurality of plate-like members are viewed in the stacking direction, a width of an upper end of the return path is larger than a width of a lower end of the return path. The refrigerant distributor according to any one of claims 1 to 11 , wherein a flow path cross-sectional area of the upper communication passage is larger than a flow path cross-sectional area of the lower communication passage. A refrigerant distributor as described in any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein when the plurality of plate-like members are viewed in the stacking direction, the lower communication passage has a crank portion composed of a first extension portion extending laterally from the return path to approach the outward path, and a second extension portion extending upward from the end of the first extension portion on the outward path side. A refrigerant distributor is configured by stacking a plurality of plate-like members each extending in the vertical direction, the plate-like members including an inlet portion plate-like member having a refrigerant inlet portion formed therein and an insertion side plate-like member having a plurality of flat tube insertion holes formed in the vertical direction into which the ends of flat tubes are inserted, and the refrigerant distributor branches the refrigerant flowing in from the inlet portion and flows into the plurality of flat tubes,
The plurality of plate-like members include:
an outward path plate-shaped member that is formed with an outward path extending in the up-down direction, and that is provided adjacent to the inflow portion plate-shaped member between the inflow portion plate-shaped member and the insertion side plate-shaped member so that the inflow portion is connected to a lower end of the outward path;
a return path plate member having a return path extending in the up-down direction and provided adjacent to the return path plate member between the outgoing path plate member and the insertion side plate member;
and a communication passage plate member provided adjacent to each of the return path plate member and the insertion side plate member between the return path plate member and the insertion side plate member, the communication passage plate member having a plurality of flat tube communication passages formed therein that individually communicate the plurality of flat tube insertion holes with the return path,
an upper communication passage and a lower communication passage that annularly connect the outgoing path and the returning path are formed in one or both of the outgoing path plate-shaped member and the returning path plate-shaped member;
When the plurality of plate-like members are viewed in a stacking direction, a width of the flat tube communicating passage is equal to or greater than a width of the return passage across the stacking direction. A refrigerant distributor is configured by stacking a plurality of plate-like members each extending in the vertical direction, the plate-like members including an inlet portion plate-like member having a refrigerant inlet portion formed therein and an insertion side plate-like member having a plurality of flat tube insertion holes formed in the vertical direction into which the ends of flat tubes are inserted, and the refrigerant distributor branches the refrigerant flowing in from the inlet portion and flows into the plurality of flat tubes,
The plurality of plate-like members include:
a first plate-like member that is provided adjacent to the inlet portion plate-like member, and that has an outward path extending in the vertical direction and a part of a return path that snakes in the stacking direction and extends in the vertical direction, and that is disposed between the inlet portion plate-like member and the insertion side plate-like member so that the inlet portion is connected to a lower end of the outward path;
a second plate-shaped member on which the remaining portion of the return path is formed, the second plate-shaped member being disposed adjacent to the first plate-shaped member between the first plate-shaped member and the insertion-side plate-shaped member;
a third plate-shaped member provided between the second plate-shaped member and the insertion-side plate-shaped member and adjacent to each of the second plate-shaped member and the insertion-side plate-shaped member, and in which at least a portion of each of a plurality of flat tube communication passages that individually connect the plurality of flat tube insertion holes to the return passage is formed,
an upper communication passage and a lower communication passage that annularly connect the outward path and the return path are formed in one or both of the first plate-shaped member and the second plate-shaped member;
When the plurality of plate-like members are viewed in a stacking direction, a width of the flat tube communicating passage is equal to or greater than a width of the return passage across the stacking direction. A refrigerant distributor according to any one of claims 1 to 11 ;
a plurality of flat tubes connected to the refrigerant distributor.