# US 11,994,352 B2 · Heat exchanger

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- Number: US 11,994,352 B2
- Document ID: US11994352B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/222,599
- Filed: 2023-07-17
- Published: 2023-12-14
- Granted: 2024-05-28
- Earliest claimed: 2021-01-22
- Assignees: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
- Applicants: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
- Inventors: Takehiro Naoi; Taichi Koshiji
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11994352B2

## CPC

- F28D 1/024: {with an air driving element}
- F28F 9/0275: {with multiple branch pipes}
- F25B 13/00: Compression machines, plants or systems, with reversible cycle (defrosting cycles F25B47/02)
- F25B 39/00: Evaporators; Condensers
- F25B 41/24: Arrangement of shut-off valves for disconnecting a part of the refrigerant cycle, e.g. an outdoor part
- F25B 49/02: for compression type machines, plants or systems
- F28D 1/0435: {Combination of units extending one behind the other (F28D1/0452 takes precedence)}
- F28D 1/0477: {the conduits being bent in a serpentine or zig-zag}
- F25B 2313/0292: related to reversing valves
- F25B 2600/2507: Flow-diverting valves
- F28D 2021/0068: {for refrigerant cycles}
- F28F 2210/10: Particular layout, e.g. for uniform temperature distribution
- F28D: HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT (fluid heaters having heat generating means and heat transferring means F24H; furnaces F27; details of heat-exchange apparatus of general)
- F28F: DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION (water and air traps, air venting F16)
- F25B: REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS

## Abstract

A heat exchanger includes: a first heat transfer tube; a second heat transfer tube; and a branching tube having a first end connected to an end of the first heat transfer tube, a second end connected to an end of the second heat transfer tube, and a third end, and connecting the first end, the second end, and the third end to each other. The first heat transfer tube is larger in heat exchange quantity than the second heat transfer tube. The branching tube has a first flow path connecting the first end with the third end, and a second flow path connecting the second end with the third end. The first flow path is shorter than the second flow path. The branching tube includes: a U portion; and an inflow portion having an end connected to the U portion.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A heat exchange system comprising:
a housing;
a fan; and
a heat exchanger comprising:
a first heat transfer tube;
a second heat transfer tube; and
a branching tube comprising:
a U-portion comprising:
a bent portion bent to a predetermined radius and having a first end and a second end;
a first linear portion extending linearly from the first end of the bent portion and having one end connected to the first heat transfer tube; and
a second linear portion extending linearly from the second end of the bent portion and having one end connected to the second heat transfer tube;
an inflow portion having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is connected to the first linear portion of the U-portion;
a first flow path connecting the second end of the inflow portion with the one end of the first linear portion connected to the first heat transfer tube;
a second flow path connecting the second end of the inflow portion with the one end of the second linear portion connected to the second heat transfer tube, wherein
the first flow path is shorter than the second flow path,
the first flow path is formed by a part of the inflow portion and a part of the first linear portion,
the second flow path is formed by a part of the inflow portion, a part of the bent portion, and a part of the second linear portion, and
the fan and the heat exchanger are located relative to one another in the housing such that the first heat transfer tube is disposed windward of the second heat transfer tube.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The heat exchange system according to claim 1, further comprising a third heat transfer tube connected to the second end of the inflow portion.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The heat exchange system according to claim 2, wherein the third heat transfer tube is disposed windward of the first heat transfer tube.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The heat exchange system according to claim 1, wherein
the inflow portion comprises a third linear portion extending linearly from a point connected to the first linear portion, and
in a plain including a center axis of the first linear portion and a center axis of the third linear portion, among angles formed between the center axis of the third linear portion and the center axis of the first linear portion, an angle adjacent to the one end of the first linear portion is 90 degrees or more and 135 degrees or less.