HEAT EXCHANGER

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a heat exchanger, in which a plurality of compartments is defined by dividing a header tank of the heat exchanger, in which a heat exchange medium flows, by partition walls in a first row and a second row, and communication holes, which connect the plurality of compartments, are formed in the partition walls.

BACKGROUND ART

An air conditioning device for a vehicle refers to an internal device for a vehicle installed for the purpose of cooling or heating a vehicle interior in the summer or winter season or ensuring front and rear visual fields for a driver by removing frost or the like formed on a windshield in rainy or cold weather. The air conditioning device typically has both a heating system and a cooling system and cools, heats, or ventilates the vehicle interior by selectively introducing outside air or inside air, heating or cooling the air, and then blowing the air into the vehicle interior.

A general refrigeration cycle of the air conditioning device includes an evaporator configured to absorb heat from the periphery, a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant, a condenser configured to discharge heat to the periphery, and an expansion valve configured to expand the refrigerant. In the cooling system, a gaseous refrigerant, which is introduced into the compressor from the evaporator, is compressed into a high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant by the compressor, and the compressed gaseous refrigerant is liquefied while passing through the condenser, such that liquefaction heat is discharged to the periphery. The liquefied refrigerant is converted into low-temperature, low-pressure wet saturated vapor while passing through the expansion valve again. Thereafter, the refrigerant is introduced into the evaporator again and cools ambient air by absorbing vaporization heat from the periphery while being vaporized. Therefore, the vehicle interior is cooled by this process.

The condenser, the evaporator, and the like used in the cooling system are representative heat exchangers. There have been many consistent research efforts to create more effective heat exchange between the air outside the heat exchanger and a heat exchange medium in the heat exchanger, i.e., the refrigerant. The efficiency of the evaporator has the most direct effect on the cooling of the vehicle interior. Therefore, various types of structural research and development have been particularly carried out to improve the heat exchange efficiency of the evaporator.

One of the improved structures to improve the heat exchange efficiency of the evaporator is a dual evaporation structure in which cores including tubes and fins are doubly provided to define first and second rows that are spaces in which the refrigerant flows.

As the related art, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-308384 (“Ejector Cycle,” Nov. 4, 2005) discloses a shape similar to a dual evaporator in which a refrigerant flows in first and second rows.

In this case, in the dual evaporator, a header tank disposed at an upper or lower side may be divided by a partition wall into two rows, and a communication hole may be formed in the partition wall, which separates first and second rows, to connect the first and second rows formed so that the refrigerant flows to constitute a flow path for a flow of the refrigerant.

However, because the header tank does not have a drain hole at a portion corresponding to an intermediate position between the first row and the second row, there is a problem in that condensate water, which is created on refrigerant tubes and fins that constitute the evaporator, is hardly discharged while passing through the header tank during the heat exchange.

In addition, in order to form a drain hole, through which condensate water is discharged, in the header tank, a narrow portion corresponding to the intermediate position between the first row and the second row may be formed, and the drain hole may be formed in the narrow portion. However, in this structure, it is very difficult to form the communication hole that connects the first row and the second row, and durability may be degraded because of low structural strength.

DOCUMENT OF RELATED ART

Patent Document

• • JP 2005-308384 A (Nov. 4, 2005)

DISCLOSURE

Technical Problem

The present invention has been made in an effort to solve the above-mentioned problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a heat exchanger, in which a through-hole, through which condensate water may be discharged, is easily formed in a widthwise center portion of a header tank without increasing the number of components in the header tank having two rows, a degree of freedom related to a forming size and position of a communication hole, which connects first and second compartments of the header tank, is high, and durability of a portion in which the communication hole is formed is high.

Technical Solution

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a heat exchanger including: a tank having a depressed portion formed by bending a widthwise center portion concavely inward in a longitudinal direction, and partition walls disposed to be spaced apart from each other with the depressed portion interposed therebetween; and a header coupled to the tank and having a plurality of compartments separated in a width direction by the partition walls, and tube insertion holes into which tubes are inserted, in which the tank has a contact portion where the partition walls are in contact with each other in the width direction in at least a partial region in the longitudinal direction, and the tank includes a communication hole formed through the partition walls in the width direction at the contact portion to allow the plurality of compartments to communicate with one another.

In addition, the tank may further include a connection portion configured to connect the contact portion and the partition walls spaced apart from each other with the depressed portion interposed therebetween, and the connection portion may be formed such that an interval between the partition walls spaced apart from each other gradually decreases in a direction from the partition walls, which are spaced apart from each other, toward the contact portion.

In addition, a height of the contact portion of the tank may be a height from a lower end of the depressed portion to a portion that excludes a round portion where a flat portion of an upper end of the tank is connected to the contact portion.

In addition, the header and the tank may include through-holes formed through the depressed portion and a portion of the header facing the depressed portion so that an external space of the header and a concave space of the depressed portion of the tank communicate with each other.

In addition, the header may have a concave portion formed concavely inward in a longitudinal direction of a widthwise center portion, and the concave portion of the header may be in contact with and correspond to the depressed portion of the tank.

In addition, the header and the tank may include through-holes formed through the concave portion and the depressed portion so that a concave space of the concave portion of the header and a concave space of the depressed portion of the tank communicate with each other.

In addition, a first fixing portion may protrude toward the tank from a periphery of the through-hole formed in the concave portion of the header, and the first fixing portion of the header may pass through the through-hole formed in the depressed portion of the tank and be bent in the longitudinal direction such that the concave portion of the header and the depressed portion of the tank are tightly attached to each other.

In addition, a second fixing portion may extend from any one of the partition walls of the tank toward the inside of the communication hole, and the second fixing portion may pass through the communication hole and be bent toward the other partition wall to surround the other partition wall such that the partition walls are tightly attached to each other in the width direction in which the partition walls face each other.

In addition, any one of the communication holes formed in the partition walls of the tank may be formed to be smaller in size than the other communication hole, and a caulking portion may pass from any one communication hole to the other communication hole among the communication holes and be bent to the outside of the communication hole, such that the partition walls are tightly attached to each other in the width direction in which the partition walls face each other.

In addition, the communication hole formed in the partition wall of the tank may have a shape surrounded by the partition wall in all directions.

In addition, the communication hole formed in the partition wall of the tank may be surrounded by the partition wall in three direction and opened at one side adjacent to the header.

In addition, the heat exchanger may further include: a baffle interposed between the header and the tank and configured to separate the plurality of compartments, which are internal spaces, in the longitudinal direction.

In addition, the contact portion where the partition walls are in contact with each other in the width direction may be sealed as surfaces, which are in contact with each other while facing each other, are joined.

In addition, the present invention provides a heat exchanger including: a first header tank having two rows formed by dividing an internal space into first and second compartments by coupling the header and the tank; a second header tank disposed to be spaced apart from the first header tank and having two rows formed by dividing an internal space in the width direction; a plurality of tubes each having two opposite ends connected and fixed to the first header tank and the second header tank; and heat radiating fins interposed between the tubes.

In addition, an inlet port for a heat exchange medium, which communicates with the first compartment, may be formed in a first row of the first header tank, a discharge port, which communicates with the second compartment, may be formed in a second row of the first header tank, the first and second compartments, which are the internal spaces of the first header tank, may be separated in longitudinal direction by a baffle interposed between the header and the tank, a first throttle, which decreases a cross-sectional area of the internal space, may be formed in a first row of the second header tank at one longitudinal side based on the baffle, and a second throttle, which decreases a cross-sectional area of the internal space, may be formed in a second row of the second header tank at the other longitudinal side based on the baffle.

In addition, flow paths for the heat exchange medium, through which the heat exchange medium introduced through the inlet port of the first header tank is discharged to the discharge port of the first header tank, may include: a first path through which the heat exchange medium flows from the first row of the first header tank to the first row of the second header tank; a second path through which the heat exchange medium having passed through the first path flows from the first row of the second header tank to the first row of the first header tank; a third path through which the heat exchange medium having passed through the second path flows from the second row of the first header tank to the second row of the second header tank while passing through the communication hole that connects the first and second rows of the first header tank; and a fourth path through which the heat exchange medium having passed through the third path flows from the second row of the second header tank to the second row of the first header tank.

Advantageous Effects

In the heat exchanger of the present invention, the through-hole, through which condensate water may be discharged, may be easily formed in the widthwise center portion of the header tank without increasing the number of components in the header tank having the two rows, which may reduce manufacturing costs.

Further, a degree of freedom related to a forming size and position of the communication hole, which connects the first and second compartments separated in the width direction of the header tank, is high, and the durability of the portion where the communication hole of the header tank is formed is high.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 and 2 are an exploded perspective view and an assembled perspective view illustrating a heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken by cutting a portion where a pair of partition walls is spaced apart from each other in the heat exchanger according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken by cutting a contact portion where the pair of partition walls is in contact with each other in the heat exchanger according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a tank of the heat exchanger according to the embodiment of the present invention when viewed from below.

FIGS. 6 to 9 are partial perspective views illustrating the contact portion according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating through-holes and a structure in which the tank and a widthwise center portion of a header are coupled in the heat exchanger according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 11 to 13 are a cross-sectional view and a perspective view illustrating one embodiment of a coupling structure for tightly attaching a contact portion of a portion where a communication hole is formed in the tank of the heat exchanger according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 14 to 16 are a cross-sectional view and a perspective view illustrating another embodiment of the coupling structure for tightly attaching the contact portion of the portion where the communication hole is formed in the tank of the heat exchanger according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 17 and 18 are perspective views illustrating the entire heat exchanger according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 19 and 20 are cross-sectional views taken by cutting a portion, which is adjacent to a baffle, and a portion, in which no baffle is provided, in the heat exchanger according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view illustrating a heat exchange medium flow path of the heat exchanger according to the embodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODE

Hereinafter, a header tank and an evaporator including the same according to the present invention configured as described above will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1 and 2 are an exploded perspective view and an assembled perspective view illustrating a heat exchanger according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken by cutting a portion where a pair of partition walls is spaced apart from each other in the heat exchanger according to the embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken by cutting a contact portion where the pair of partition walls is in contact with each other in the heat exchanger according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a tank of the heat exchanger according to the embodiment of the present invention when viewed from below.

As illustrated, the heat exchanger of the present invention may broadly include a tank 110 and a header 120, and the tank 110 and the header 120 may be coupled to define a space in which a heat exchange medium may flow. Further, partition walls 113 are formed at a widthwise center of the tank 110 in a longitudinal direction, such that an internal space of a header tank 100 may be divided by the partition walls 113 into a first compartment 101 and a second compartment 102 in the width direction. In addition, the heat exchanger of the present invention may further include baffles 130 and an end cap 140.

The tank 110 may have a depressed portion 111 formed as a widthwise center portion bent concavely inward in the longitudinal direction, and a portion where the depressed portion 111 is formed may protrude convexly toward the inside of the tank 110. For example, a side of the tank 110, which faces the header 120, may be formed concavely, and the tank 110 may have a shape in which the depressed portion 111 protrudes concavely inward from the widthwise center portion. Therefore, a pair of partition walls 113, which constitutes two opposite widthwise surfaces of the depressed portion 111, may be disposed to be spaced apart from each other. Further, the tank 110 may have a contact portion 114 where the pair of partition walls 113 are in contact with each other in the width direction in at least a partial longitudinal region. A communication hole 115 may be formed in the contact portion 114 while penetrating the pair of partition walls 113 in the width direction to allow the first compartment 101 and the second compartment 102 to communicate with each other. In this case, regions corresponding to the contact portion 114 may be sealed as surfaces of the regions, which face each other, are joined by brazing later. In addition, the contact portion 114 and the communication hole 115 may be provided as one or more contact portions 114 and one or more communication holes 115. For example, as illustrated, a first contact portion 114-1 and a second contact portion 114-2 may be formed at positions spaced apart from each other. A first communication hole 115-1 having a relatively large size may be formed in the first contact portion 114-1, and a second communication hole 115-2 having a relatively small size may be formed in the second contact portion 114-2.

The header 120 may have a concave portion 121 formed as a widthwise center portion is formed concavely inward in the longitudinal direction, and a portion where the concave portion 121 is formed may protrude convexly toward the inside of the header 120. For example, a side of the header 120, which faces the tank 110, may be formed concavely, and the header 120 may have a shape in which the concave portion 121 protrudes concavely inward from the widthwise center portion. Further, the header 120 may have a plurality of tube insertion holes 124 into which tubes may be inserted. The plurality of tube insertion holes 124 may be arranged and spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction.

The baffle 130 may be formed in a plate shape and interposed and coupled between the tank 110 and the header 120. Coupling holes may be formed in the tank 110 and the header 120 while penetrating inner and outer surfaces of the tank 110 and the header 120, and the baffle 130 has coupling protrusions protruding from portions corresponding to the coupling holes, such that the baffle 130 may be assembled in a shape in which the coupling protrusions are inserted into the coupling holes. Holes may be formed through two opposite surfaces of the end cap 140, and a manifold or inlet and outlet pipes may be coupled and connected to the end cap 140.

Therefore, the tank 110 and the header 120 are coupled so that concave inner sides thereof face each other, and the baffle 130 may be interposed and coupled between the tank 110 and the header 120. After the tank 110 and the header 120 are coupled, the surfaces, which are in contact with one another, may be joined by brazing, and the tank 110 and the header 120 are sealed by the joined portion, such that the heat exchange medium may not leak.

Therefore, in the heat exchanger of the present invention, the through-hole, through which condensate water may be discharged, may be easily formed in the widthwise center portion of the header tank without increasing the number of components in the header tank having the two rows, which may reduce manufacturing costs. That is, in the related art, in order to connect a first compartment and a second compartment in a state in which a pair of partition walls is spaced apart from each other, holes need to be formed in the pair of partition walls, and then a separate communication pipe needs to be coupled. Alternatively, holes need to be formed in the pair of partition walls, and then a separate insert member having holes needs to be inserted between the pair of partition walls and then joined. For this reason, additional components are required, the configuration is complicated, and manufacturing costs are increased. In contrast, in the present invention, the contact portion 114, in which the pair of partition walls 113 is in contact with each other, may be formed by plastic processing without an additional constituent component, and the communication hole 115, which allows the two opposite spaces of the contact portion 114 to communicate with each other, is formed by punching, such that the separated spaces of the header tank may simply communicate with each other. In addition, a degree of freedom related to a forming size and position of the communication hole, which connects the first and second compartments separated in the width direction of the header tank, is high, and the durability of the portion where the communication hole of the header tank is formed is high. In addition, because a separate communication pipe is not used, it is possible to ensure a maximum area (height) of the communication hole.

FIGS. 6 to 9 are partial perspective views illustrating the contact portion according to the embodiment of the present invention.

As illustrated, the tank 110 may further include connection portions 118 configured to connect the contact portion 114 and the pair of partition walls 113 spaced apart from each other with the depressed portion 111 interposed therebetween. In this case, a length corresponding to the connection portion 118 is indicated by A. The connection portion 118 may be gently formed in a shape in which an interval between the pair of partition walls 113 spaced apart from each other gradually decreases in a direction from the pair of partition walls 113 toward the contact portion 114. That is, the connection portion 118 may define a shape in which cross-sectional areas of the first and second compartments 101 and 102 gradually increase in the direction from the pair of partition walls 113 toward the contact portion 114. Therefore, the contact portion 114 may be more stably formed by the connection portion without a crack or the like at the time of forming the contact portion 114 by plastic processing. Further, a length of the connection portion may increase or decrease in consideration of formability.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the through-holes and the structure in which the tank and the widthwise center portion of the header are coupled in the heat exchanger according to the embodiment of the present invention.

As illustrated, the tank 110 and the header 120 may have through-holes 112 and 122 provided in the depressed portion 111 and formed through the tank 110 and the header 120 so that an external space of the header 120 and a concave space of the depressed portion 111 of the tank 110 communicate with each other. Therefore, condensate water formed on a surface of the heat exchanger may be discharged through the through-holes 112 and 122 formed in the widthwise center portion of the header tank 100. In this case, the through-holes 112 and 122 may be provided as a plurality of through-holes 112 and 122, and the plurality of through-holes 112 and 122 may be arranged to be spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction. In addition, the through-holes 112 and 122 may be formed through the portion where the depressed portion 111 of the tank 110 and the concave portion 121 of the header 120 are adjacent to each other, such that a concave space of the depressed portion 111 and a concave space of the concave portion 121 may communicate with each other.

In addition, in the header tank 100 of the present invention, the depressed portion 111 of the tank 110 and the concave portion 121 of the header 120 may be formed at the positions corresponding to each other, such that the depressed portion 111 and the concave portion 121 may be in contact with each other when the tank 110 and the header 120 are coupled. In this case, because the depressed portion 111 of the tank 110 and the concave portion 121 of the header 120 are portions having high structural strength implemented by curved shapes, the depressed portion 111 of the tank 100 and the concave portion 121 of the header 120 may be joined by brazing in a state of being securely coupled and supported on each other, such that the durability of the header tank may be improved, and a leak of heat exchange medium from the joined portion may be suppressed.

In addition, a first fixing portion 123 may protrude toward the tank 100 from a periphery of the through-hole 122 formed in the concave portion 121 of the header 120. The first fixing portion 123 may pass through the through-hole 112 formed in the depressed portion 111 of the tank 110, and a free end portion of the first fixing portion 123 is bent in the longitudinal direction. Therefore, the concave portion 121 of the header 120 and the depressed portion 111 of the tank 110 may be tightly attached and fixed to each other, and a leak of the heat exchange medium may be suppressed at the peripheries of the through-holes 112 and 122 joined by brazing later.

FIGS. 11 to 13 are a cross-sectional view and a perspective view illustrating one embodiment of a coupling structure for tightly attaching the contact portion of the portion where the communication hole is formed in the tank of the heat exchanger according to the embodiment of the present invention.

As illustrated, a height H of the contact portion 114 of the tank 110 may be a height from a lower end of the depressed portion 111 to a portion that excludes a round portion 110b where a flat portion 110a of an upper end of the tank 110 is connected to the contact portion 114. In this case, because the communication hole 115 may be formed by cutting and removing the contact portion 114, it is possible to ensure a maximum area of the communication hole 115.

In addition, in the contact portion 114 of the tank 110, a second fixing portion 116 may extend from any one of the pair of partition walls 113 toward the inside of the communication hole 115. The second fixing portion 116 may pass through the communication hole 115 and be bent toward the other partition wall, such that the pair of partition walls 113 may be tightly attached to each other in the width direction, and a leak of the heat exchange medium from the contact portion 114 may be suppressed at the peripheries of the communication hole 115 joined by brazing later.

FIGS. 14 to 16 are a cross-sectional view and a perspective view illustrating another embodiment of the coupling structure for tightly attaching the contact portion of the portion where the communication hole is formed in the tank of the heat exchanger according to the embodiment of the present invention.

As illustrated, among the communication holes 115 formed in the pair of partition walls 113 of the tank 110, any one hole is formed to be smaller in size than another hole. A material of the partition wall, which has the relatively small hole, passes from any one communication hole to another communication hole among the communication holes 115 and is bent to the outside of the communication hole by caulking, such that a caulking portion 117 may be formed. For example, the caulking portion 117 may be formed in a shape that surrounds the entire communication hole. Therefore, the pair of partition walls 113 may be easily joined by brazing at the contact portion 114 having the communication hole 115, such that a leak of the heat exchange medium may be suppressed. Further, the structural strength of the portion of the communication hole 115 may be increased by the caulking portion 117, which may further improve the durability.

In addition, the communication hole 115 formed in the pair of partition walls 113 of the tank 110 may be formed in a shape surrounded by the partition wall 113 in all directions. Therefore, it is possible to prevent structural deformation of the partition wall 113 at the periphery of the communication hole 115 and reduce the deterioration in structural strength when the tank 110 and the header 120 are joined.

Alternatively, the communication hole 115 formed in the pair of partition walls 113 of the tank 110 may be formed in a shape surrounded by the partition wall 113 in three directions and opened at one side adjacent to the header 120. Therefore, a length, which is to be cut at the time of forming the communication hole 115 in the contact portion 114 of the partition wall 113, is relatively short, such that the cutting may be performed with a low force, which may make it easy to form the communication hole.

FIGS. 17 and 18 are perspective views illustrating the entire heat exchanger according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 19 and 20 are cross-sectional views taken by cutting a portion, which is adjacent to the baffle, and a portion, in which no baffle is provided, in the heat exchanger according to the embodiment of the present invention.

As illustrated, the heat exchanger of the present invention may include a first header tank 100 having two rows as the internal space is divided into the first compartment 101 and the second compartment 102 in the width direction by coupling the tank and the header, a second header tank 200 disposed to be spaced apart from the first header tank 100 and having two rows as the internal space is divided in the width direction, a plurality of tubes 200, and heat radiating fins 300.

The first header tank 100 and the second header tank 200 may be disposed to be spaced apart from each other, and the first header tank 100 and the second header tank 200 may be disposed such that the headers having the tube insertion holes face one another. The tubes 300 may be provided as a plurality of tubes 300 formed in two rows. Two opposite ends of each of the tubes 300 are assembled by being inserted into the tube insertion holes formed in the header tanks 100 and 200 and then joined by brazing. The heat radiating fins 400 may be interposed between the adjacent tubes 300 and joined by brazing. Further, the heat exchanger of the present invention may further include the baffle 130.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view illustrating a heat exchange medium flow path of the heat exchanger according to the embodiment of the present invention.

As illustrated, for example, the heat exchanger of the present invention may further include the one or more baffles 130 and a plurality of throttles 201 and 202. Further, an inlet port for the heat exchange medium, which communicates with the first compartment 101, may be formed in the first row (rear side based on the drawings) of the heat exchanger of the present invention, and a discharge port for the heat exchange medium, which communicates with the second compartment 102, may be formed in the second row (front side based on the drawings). In addition, a manifold 500 may be coupled and connected to the end cap 140 having the inlet port and the discharge port. The baffle 130 may be coupled to the central portion between the two opposite ends of the first header tank 100 based on the longitudinal direction, such that the first compartment 101 and the second compartment 102, which are the internal spaces of the first header tank 100, may be separated by the baffle 130 in the longitudinal direction. Further, in the first row of the second header tank 100, the first throttle 201, which decreases the cross-sectional area of the internal space, may be coupled to one longitudinal side based on the baffle 130. In the second row of the second header tank 200, the second throttle 202, which decreases the cross-sectional area of the internal space, may be coupled to the other longitudinal side based on the baffle 130.

Therefore, the flow paths for the heat exchange medium, through which the heat exchange medium introduced through the inlet port of the first header tank 100 is discharged to the discharge port of the first header tank 100, may include a first path P1 through which the heat exchange medium flows from the first row of the first header tank 100 to the first row of the second header tank 200, a second path P2 through which the heat exchange medium having passed through the first path P1 flows from the first row of the second header tank 200 to the first row of the first header tank 100, a third path P3 through which the heat exchange medium having passed through the second path P2 flows from the second row of the first header tank 100 to the second row of the second header tank 200 while passing through the first communication hole 115-1 and the second communication hole 115-2 that connect the first row and the second row of the first header tank 100, and a fourth path P4 through which the heat exchange medium having passed through the third path P3 flows from the second row of the second header tank 200 to the second row of the first header tank 100. That is, the first communication hole 115-1 and the second communication hole 115-2 may be formed such that the first row and the second row of the first header tank 100 communicate with each other at a position, which is one side (right side in the drawings) based on the baffle 130, at which the flow path propagates from the second path P2 to the third path P3. In addition, various flow paths of the heat exchanger may be configured in accordance with the arrangement of the baffle 130 and the communication holes 115-1 and 115-2.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and the scope of application is diverse. Of course, various modifications and implementations made by any person skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains without departing from the subject matter of the present invention claimed in the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

• • 100: First header tank
  • 110: Tank
  • 111: Depressed portion
  • 114: Contact portion
  • 115: Communication hole
  • 116: Second fixing portion
  • 120: Header
  • 123: First fixing portion
  • 140: End cap
  • 202: Second throttle