BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a heat exchanger of an
air conditioner, and more particularly, the present invention
relates to a refrigerant flow uniforming device of a heat
exchanger of an air conditioner which has a refrigerant flow
uniforming mesh disposed in a refrigerant inlet tube of the
heat exchanger, the refrigerant flow uniforming mesh causing
the same amount cf refrigerant to be supplied into each cf a
plurality of feeaer tubes when the refrigerant is introduced
into the plurality of feeder tubes connected to the
refrigerant inlet tube, whereby improving cooling efficiency
of the air conditioner.
Description of the Prior Art
Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a front view of a
heat exchanger cf an air conditioner, according to the prior
art, and FIG. 2 is a side view of the heat exchanger of FIG.
1.
A heat exchanger 50 of the prior art includes a
refrigerant inlet tube 52 connected to an outdoor unit (a
condensing unit) for receiving refrigerant therefrom, a
plurality of feeder tubes 58 spaced apart from one another by
a predetermined distance and having their one ends connected
to a distributor 54 which is coupled to the refrigerant inlet
tube 52, a plurality of heat exchanger coils 56 attached to
the plurality of feeder tubes 58, a plurality of band tubes 60
for joining the plurality of feeder tubes 58 with one another,
and a refrigerant outlet tube 62 connected to the other ends
of the plurality of feeder tubes 58 for collecting the
refrigerant back into the outdoor unit. In the heat exchanger
50, the refrigerant introduced into the refrigerant inlet tube
52 from the outdoor unit is supplied into the plurality of
feeder tubes 58 through the distributor 54. As the
refrigerant passes through the plurality of feeder tubes 58,
it is evaporated while absorbing heat from the plurality of
heat exchanger coils 56, to thereby cool air. Then, the
refrigerant is collected back as a liquid under low
temperature and low pressure into the outdoor unit through the
refrigerant outlet tube 62.
For improving cooling efficiency of the heat exchanger
50, it is preferred that the same amount of the refrigerant is
supplied into each of the plurality of feeder tubes 5S when
the refrigerant introduced into the refrigerant inlet tube 52
is supplied into the plurality of feeder tubes 58 through the
distributor 54. However, because the heat exchanger 50 is
designed such that refrigerant inlet tube 52 and the plurality of feeder tubes 58
are bent or rounded at an angle to have directional properties, the same amount
of the refrigerant cannot be supplied into each of the plurality of feeder tubes
58 through the distributor 54 from the refrigerant inlet tube 52. In other words,
more refrigerant may be supplied into one feeder tube 58 while less refrigerant
may be supplied into another feeder tube 58.
Therefore, as the refrigerant is non-uniformly supplied into the respective
feeder tubes 58, cooling efficiency of the heat exchanger 50 is reduced, whereby
performance of the air conditioner is deteriorated.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention has been made in an effort to solve the
problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention
provide refrigerant flow uniforming device of a heat exchanger of an air
conditioner, which causes the same amount of refrigerant to be supplied into
each of a plurality of feeder tubes through a refrigerant inlet tube of the heat
exchanger, thereby improving cooling efficiency of the heat exchanger.
Accordingly, the present provides a heat exchanger of an air conditioner,
said heat exchanger comprising:
a refrigerant inlet tube connected at its one end to an outdoor unit of the
air conditioner for receiving the refrigerant therefrom;
a distributor connected to the other end of the refrigerant inlet tube;
a plurality of spaced apart feeder tubes connected at one end to the
distributor; and
a plurality of heat exchanger coils attached to the plurality of feeder
tubes, the feeder tubes being connected to one another by band tubes and the
other ends of the feeder tubes being connected to a refrigerant outlet tube,
characterized in that a flow uniforming mesh is disposed in the
refrigerant inlet tube .
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
The above "objects, and other features and advantages of the present
invention will become more apparent after a reading of the following detailed
description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a front view of a heat exchanger of an air conditioner, according
to the prior art;
FIG. 2 is a side view of the heat exchanger of FIG. 1; and
FIG. 3 is a side view of a heat exchanger of an air conditioner, in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Reference will now be made in greater detail to a
preferred embodiment of the invention, an example of which
is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible,
the same reference numerals will be used throughout the
drawings and the description to refer to the same or like
parts.
Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown a side view of a heat
exchanger of an air conditioner, in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention.
A heat exchanger 10 of the present invention includes a
refrigerant inlet tube 52 connected to an outdoor unit (a
condensing unit) for receiving refrigerant therefrom, . a
plurality of feeder tubes 58 spaced apart from one another by
a predetermined distance and having their one ends connected
to a distributor 54 which is coupled to the refrigerant inlet
tube 52, a plurality of heat exchanger coils 56 attached to
the plurality of feeder tubes 58, a plurality of band tubes 60
for joining the plurality of feeder tubes 58 with one another,
and a refrigerant outlet tube 62 connected to the other ends
of the plurality of feeder tubes 58 for collecting the
refrigerant back into the outdoor unit. In the heat exchanger
10 of the present invention, a flow uniforming mesh 12 is
disposed in the refrigerant inlet tube 52 to uniform flow of
the refrigerant introduced into the refrigerant inlet tube 52.
The flow uniforming mesh 12 is formed into a shape of a
tube and has a diameter which is smaller than an inner
diameter of the refrigerant inlet tube 52. An upper end of
the flow uniforming mesh 12 is secured to the refrigerant
inlet tube 52 by means of fastening means such as welding or
the like, and a lower end 12b of the flow uniforming mesh 12
is closed. Accordingly, the refrigerant flows into the
distributor 54 through a circumferential outer surface 12a of
the flow uniforming mesh 12 to be uniformly distributed over
the plurality of feeder tubes 58.
Because the flow of the refrigerant is made uniform by
the flow uniforming mesh 12 when the refrigerant introduced
into the refrigerant inlet tube 52 is supplied into the
plurality of feeder tubes 58 through the distributor 54, the
same amount of refrigerant is supplied into each "of the
plurality of feeder tubes 58.
Therefore, due to the fact that the refrigerant supplied
into the distributor 54 through the flow uniforming mesh 12 is
uniformly distributed over the plurality of feeder tubes 58,
cooling efficiency of the heat exchanger 10 is improved.
As described above, according to the present invention,
advantages are provided in that since refrigerant supplied
into a plurality of feeder tubes of a heat exchanger is
uniformly distributed by a flow uniforming mesh disposed in a
refrigerant inlet tube, cooling efficiency is improved.
In the drawings and specification-, there have been
disclosed typical preferred embodiments of the invention and,
although specific terms are employed, they are used in a
generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of
limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the
following claims.
WE CLAIM
-1. A heat exchanger of an air conditioner, said heat exchanger comprising:
a refrigerant inlet tube connected at its one end to an outdoor unit of the
air conditioner for receiving the refrigerant therefrom:
a distributor connected to the other end of the refrigerant inlet tube;
a plurality of spaced apart feeder tubes connected at one end to the
distributor; and
a plurality of heat exchanger coils attached to the plurality of feeder
tubes, the feeder tubes being connected to one another by band tubes and the
other ends of the feeder tubes being connected to a refrigerant outlet tube ,
characterized in that a flow uniforming mesh is disposed in the
refrigerant inlet tube.
-2. The heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flow uniforming
mesh is formed into a shape of a tube and has a diameter smaller than an inner
diameter of the refrigerant inlet tube.
-3. The heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1, wherein the end of the flow
uniforming mesh opposite to the contacting position to the distributor is closed.
-4. The heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of feeder tubes
comprise a plurality of heat exchanger coils winding around the feeder tubes.
-5. A heat exchanger as claimed in claim 1 or 2, substantially as herein described,
particularly with reference to the accompanying drawings.
-6. An air conditioner incorporating a heat exchanger as claimed in any of claims 1
to 4, substantially as herein described, particularly with reference to the accompanying
drawings.

A heat exchanger (10) of an air conditioner, comprising : a refrigerant inlet
tube (52) connected at its one end to an outdoor unit of the air conditioner for
receiving the refrigerant therefrom; a distributor (54) connected to the other end
of the refrigerant inlet tube; spaced apart feeder tubes (58) connected at one
end to the distributor; and heat exchanger coils (56) attached to the feeder
tubes, connected to one another by band tubes (60), the other ends of the
feeder tubes being connected to a refrigerant outlet tube (62), is characterized
in that a flow uniforming mesh (12) is disposed in the refrigerant inlet tube (52).