HOLDER FOR PIPE IN HEAT EXCHANGER, METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MANUFACTURING HEAT EXCHANGER USING SAID HOLDER, AND AIR CONDITIONER AND/OR OUTDOOR UNIT HAVING SAID HEAT EXCHANGER

摘要

A holder (3) for pipes in a heat exchanger can be fitted to the outside of a pipe-expanding mandrel (2), which is capable of applying pressure from the opening (7b) of a pipe (7) inserted into the radiator fin (6) of a heat exchanger (5), in a manner such that reciprocating movement is possible. The holder (3) has a plurality of pipe-contacting parts (3f) capable of radial expansion in directions intersecting the lengthwise direction of the pipe (7), and the outer surfaces of the pipe-contacting parts (3f) are provided with inclined surfaces (3b) which are inclined so as to expand towards the opening (7b)-side of the pipe (7). The holder (3) is configured so that the pipe-contacting parts (3f) are made to expand in the radial direction by a sliding means which causes the inclined surfaces (3b) of the pipe-contacting parts (3f) to slide with a reciprocating motion along the lengthwise direction of the pipe. Therein, the plurality of pipe-contacting parts (3f) capable of radial expansion are separated by a plurality of slit-like gaps (3a) having a prescribed width dimension (3u) which are formed in the lengthwise direction of the holder (3) along the direction of the reciprocating movement of the pipe-expanding mandrel (2), and said slit-like gaps (3a) are formed so as to have a width-expansion dimension (3x) such that the prescribed width dimension (3u) gradually expands from a prescribed location towards the opening (7b) of the pipe (7).