US Patent 7784529 Heat exchanger

An evaporator includes a refrigerant inlet header section having a refrigerant inlet at a first end portion thereof and plural heat exchange tubes disposed at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction of the refrigerant inlet header section and connected at respective first end portions thereof to the refrigerant inlet header section. A flow-dividing control wall divides the refrigerant inlet header section interior into an upper space, into which a refrigerant flows through the refrigerant inlet, and a lower space, with which the heat exchange tubes communicate. A communication hole in the flow-dividing control wall at an end portion opposite the first end portion establishes communication between the spaces therethrough. A flow-division-adjusting hole communicating with the lower space formed at the first end portion of the refrigerant inlet header section allows the refrigerant to flow into the lower space therethrough without passing through the upper space.