DE102022111866A1 - Heating device - Google Patents

Abstract

A heating device for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine comprises a support arrangement (18) and at least one heating conductor element (20) supported on the support arrangement (18) in the direction of a heater longitudinal axis (L) through which gas can flow, wherein the at least one heating conductor element (20) has a first Heating conductor element connection area (32) and a second heating conductor element connection area (34) for connecting the at least one heating conductor element (20) to a power supply, wherein a connection element (50, 52) is assigned to at least one of the heating conductor element connection areas (32, 34). ) with a first connection element connection area (62, 64) connected to the heating conductor element connection area (32, 34) and a second connection element connection area offset with respect to the first connection area (62, 64) in the circumferential direction about the heater longitudinal axis (L) ( 76, 78) is intended for connection to the power supply.

Description

The present invention relates to a heating device for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such heating devices are used in exhaust systems to heat gas flowing in an exhaust system, for example the exhaust gas emitted by an internal combustion engine. In particular, in a starting phase of the working operation of an internal combustion engine, in which the exhaust gas emitted by it has a comparatively low temperature, the heat absorbed in the exhaust gas by a heating device can be transferred to an exhaust gas treatment arrangement arranged downstream, for example a catalytic converter or particle filter. Rapid heating of such an exhaust gas treatment arrangement is thus achieved and the period of time during which exhaust gas is released into the environment without, for example, a catalytic cleaning process taking place in the exhaust gas treatment arrangement, can be significantly shortened.

From the US-A-5,597,503 a heating device according to the preamble of claim 1 is known, in which a substantially disk-like heating conductor element comprises a plurality of elongated heating conductor sections which run essentially parallel to one another. In each of their longitudinal end regions, the heating conductor sections connect to an adjacent heating conductor section in a heating conductor connection region. In the other of their longitudinal end regions, the heating conductor sections connect to another heating conductor section in a heating conductor section connecting region, so that in principle a substantially meander-like structure of the heating conductor sections results. The last two heating conductor sections of this meander-like structure each provide a heating conductor element connection area, in which a contact element passing through a housing-like exhaust gas guide element connects to the respective heating conductor element connection area and thus establishes an electrical connection with a voltage source.

The disk-like heating conductor element is supported in its radially outer region on a carrier arrangement which is basically designed with a ring-like structure. On an inflow side of the heating conductor element, this includes an upstream support ring which radially engages over the heating conductor element in its radially outer region. On an outflow side of the at least one heating conductor element, a downstream carrier ring of the carrier arrangement is arranged radially overlapping the heating conductor element in its radially outer region. The two carrier rings are firmly connected to one another by a carrier ring connection area formed by the exhaust gas guide component. Between the carrier rings and the radially outer region of the heating conductor element and also between the radially outer region of the heating conductor element and the carrier ring connection region, bearing material is arranged, through which the heating conductor element is held on the carrier arrangement in an electrically insulated manner.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a heating device for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine, in which the electrical contacting of a heating conductor element can be easily adapted to the positioning of elements of a power supply provided in an exhaust system.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a heating device for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine, comprising a support arrangement and at least one heating conductor element supported on the support arrangement in the direction of a heater longitudinal axis through which gas can flow, the at least one heating conductor element having a first heating conductor element connection area and a second heating conductor element. Connection area for connecting the at least one heating conductor element to a power supply. In association with at least one of the heating conductor element connection areas, a connection element is provided with a first connection element connection area connected to the heating conductor element connection area and a second connection element connection area offset with respect to the first connection area in the circumferential direction about the heater longitudinal axis for connection to the power supply.

By using such connection elements, it is easily possible to establish an electrically conductive connection between the or each heating conductor element connection area and a feedthrough for contact elements provided on an exhaust gas guide component of an exhaust system, which provide an electrically conductive connection to a voltage source.

In order to be able to establish a connection between such a connection element and the heating conductor element that is not affected by the carrier arrangement, it is proposed that the carrier arrangement is arranged surrounding the at least one heating conductor element in a radially outer region, the carrier arrangement being assigned to the first connection element connection region first connection recess includes and/or in association with the second Connection element connection area includes a second connection recess.

For a stable design of the carrier arrangement, the first connection recess can be arranged in the circumferential direction at a distance from the second connection recess and/or be separated from the second connection recess.

The carrier arrangement can include an upstream carrier ring arranged on an inflow side of the at least one heating conductor element, a downstream carrier ring arranged on an outflow side of the at least one heating conductor element, and a carrier ring connecting region connecting the upstream carrier ring to the downstream carrier ring and axially overlapping the at least one heating conductor element radially on the outside.

In the case of such a structure of the carrier arrangement which is essentially U-shaped in section, in order to enable access to the heating conductor element connection areas, the carrier ring connection area can comprise a plurality of carrier ring connection sections arranged at a distance from one another in the circumferential direction, and at least one first connection recess and/or at least a second connection recess can be provided between two carrier ring connection sections which follow one another in the circumferential direction.

At least one, preferably each connection element can comprise a connection element body, the first connection region being provided on a first end region of the connection element body and the second connection region being provided on a second end region of the connection element body.

In order to be able to establish the connection between the connection element body, which generally runs outside the support arrangement, and a respective associated heating conductor element connection region, it is proposed that the first connection region is designed to extend away from the connection element body essentially in the axial direction, and/or that the second Connection area is designed to extend away from the connection element body essentially in the axial direction.

For this purpose, in a structure that can be implemented in a simple, cost-effective and exhaust-gas-resistant manner, at least one, preferably each connection element can be constructed with sheet metal material, and the first connection region and/or the second connection region can be bent with respect to the connection element body.

To adapt to, for example, a substantially ring-like or circular structure of the support arrangement or the radially outer region of the at least one heating conductor element, the connection element body can be arranged to extend essentially in an arc-like manner in the circumferential direction.

For a stable connection even taking into account the vibrations occurring in a vehicle, it is proposed that in at least one, preferably each connection element, the first connection area is connected to the heating conductor element connection area by material connection, preferably welding or soldering

In a preferred embodiment, one connection element can be provided in association with each heating conductor element connection area, and the connection elements can, starting from their first connection element connection areas, extend in opposite directions to one another to their second connection element connection areas. Thus, heating conductor element connection areas that are comparatively far apart in the circumferential direction can be electrically conductively connected to contact elements of a feedthrough that are comparatively close to one another in the circumferential direction.

For efficient heating of gas flowing through the heating device, for example exhaust gas, it is proposed that the at least one heating conductor element is designed in a disk-like manner, and/or that the at least one heating conductor element has a plurality of heating conductor sections which preferably extend essentially parallel to one another, the heating conductor sections being in one connect their longitudinal end regions in a heating conductor section connection region to a respective adjacent heating conductor section and in the other of their longitudinal end regions in a heating conductor section connection region connect to another adjacent heating conductor section, with at least one, preferably each heating conductor element connection region on only one of its longitudinal end regions in a heating conductor section -Connection area is formed on a heating conductor section adjoining another heating conductor section.

The invention further relates to an exhaust system for an internal combustion engine, comprising an exhaust gas guide component through which exhaust gas can flow in a main exhaust gas flow direction, wherein in the exhaust gas guide component there is an exhaust gas treatment arrangement and upstream of the exhaust gas treatment arrangement at least one heating device constructed according to the invention.

• 1 eine perspektivische Ansicht einer Heizvorrichtung für eine Abgasanlage, betrachtet von einer Anströmseite;
• 2 eine Detail-Längsschnittansicht der Heizvorrichtung der 1;
• 3 eine Axialansicht eines scheibenartigen Heizleiterelements der Heizvorrichtung der 1;
• 4 eine weitere Detail-Schnittansicht der Heizvorrichtung der 1;
• 5 eine perspektivische Ansicht der Heizvorrichtung der 1, betrachtet von einer Abströmseite;
• 6 eine prinzipartige Darstellung einer Abgasanlage mit einer Heizvorrichtung und einer Abgasbehandlungsanordnung stromabwärts der Heizvorrichtung.

The present invention is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying figures. It shows:

• 1 a perspective view of a heater for an exhaust system, viewed from an inflow side;
• 2 a detailed longitudinal section view of the heating device 1 ;
• 3 an axial view of a disk-like heating conductor element of the heating device 1 ;
• 4 another detailed sectional view of the heating device 1 ;
• 5 a perspective view of the heating device 1 , viewed from an downstream side;
• 6 a schematic representation of an exhaust system with a heating device and an exhaust gas treatment arrangement downstream of the heating device.

In the figures there is a heating device for an in 6 Exhaust system 10 of an internal combustion engine shown in a schematic representation is generally designated 12. The heating device 12 is arranged in the exhaust system 10 in, for example, a pipe-like or housing-like exhaust gas guide component 14 in a main exhaust gas flow direction A upstream of an exhaust gas treatment arrangement generally designated 16. The exhaust gas treatment arrangement 16 can include, for example, a catalyst unit, for example an SCR catalyst, a particulate filter unit or the like. In such an exhaust gas treatment arrangement 16, the exhaust gas to flow in the exhaust gas main flow direction A onto the heating device 12 and the exhaust gas treatment arrangement 16 is cleaned of pollutants contained therein, for example in a catalytic reaction.

The heating device 12 comprises a support arrangement generally designated 18 and surrounding a heater longitudinal axis L in a ring-like manner. There is an in on the carrier arrangement 18 3 Heating conductor element 20 shown in axial view is carried in such a way that exhaust gas flowing in the main exhaust gas flow direction A or in the direction of the heater longitudinal axis L can flow through it. The heating conductor element 20 is separated from an electrically conductive flat material, for example by laser cutting or the like, and has a fundamentally disk-like structure.

The heating conductor element 20 has a plurality of heating conductor sections 22 which extend essentially parallel to one another and between which column-like spaces 24 are formed, through which the exhaust gas can flow. In their longitudinal end regions, the heating conductor sections 22 adjoin one another in respective heating conductor section connection regions 26 which are integrally formed with them, so that a fundamentally meander-like structure of the heating conductor sections 22 running next to one another results.

The heating conductor sections 28, 30 located in the end regions of this meander-like structure connect only in one of their longitudinal end regions in a heating conductor section connection region 26 to a heating conductor section 22 running adjacent thereto and each provide a heating conductor section connection region 32, 34. In the heating conductor element connection areas 32, 34, when a voltage is applied to this heating conductor element 20, through which electrical current flows and thereby heats up, is connected in the manner described below to a voltage source in a vehicle, for example the on-board voltage system or a battery.

The carrier arrangement 18 includes an in 1 Upstream support ring 36 visible at the front, which holds the heating conductor element 20 at its in 1 Visible inflow side 38 lying at the front is covered in its radially outer area. The carrier arrangement 18 further comprises an outflow-side carrier ring 40, which engages over the heating conductor element 20 on its outflow side 42 in its radially outer region. To connect the two carrier rings 36, 40, a carrier ring connection area, generally designated 44, is provided on the upstream carrier ring 36. This comprises a plurality of spaced apart and essentially axially extending carrier ring connecting sections 46, which overlap the downstream carrier ring 40 radially on the outside in the axial direction and are firmly connected to it, for example by welding or soldering. The two carrier rings 36, 40 can be formed, for example, by punching out and forming a respective sheet metal blank.

For stable and electrically insulated mounting of the heating conductor element 20 between the two carrier rings 36, 40, bearing material 47, 48, for example ring-shaped and extending along the entire edge region of the heating conductor element 20, is arranged between the radially outer region of the heating conductor element 20 and each of the carrier rings 36, 40 . The bearing material 47, 48 can, for example, be made of electrically insulating fiber material, for example made of ceramic material. be constructed and held under axial prestress between one of the carrier rings 36, 40 and the inflow side 38 or the outflow side 42 of the heating conductor element 20.

For electrical contacting of the heating conductor element 20, a connection element 50, 52 is provided in association with each of the heating conductor element connection areas 32, 34. Each of the connecting element 50, which is provided, for example, by punching out and forming a respective sheet metal blank, comprises a connecting element body 54, 56 which is curved in the circumferential direction and is adapted to the ring-like structure, in particular of the upstream support ring 36. The first connecting element bodies 54, 56 extend in a respective first end region 58, 60 of the connecting element bodies 54, 56 Connection areas 62, 64 from the connection element body 54 and 56. The first connection element connection areas 62, 64 initially extend slightly radially outwards from the respectively assigned connection element body 54, 56 and are then bent in the axial direction so that they hold the heating conductor element 20 on its side axially overlapping the radially outwardly oriented outer circumferential surface 66 in the area of the respectively assigned heating conductor element connection area 32, 34 and there are connected in a material-locking, electrically conductive manner to the heating conductor element 20 by welding or soldering.

In order to enable this access of the first connection element connection areas 62, 64 to the heating conductor element connection areas 32, 34, first connection recesses 68, 70 are formed in the carrier arrangement 18, in particular in the upstream carrier ring 36. These first connection recesses 68, 70 can each be formed in the upstream carrier ring 36 or the carrier ring connection area 44 in a circumferential area between two adjacent carrier ring connection sections 46. The first connection recesses 68, 70 are dimensioned such that the first connection element connection areas 62, 64 which extend axially onto the heating conductor element connection areas 32, 34 do not come into contact with the carrier arrangement 18. Electrical contact between the connection element bodies 54, 56 and the carrier arrangement 18 is avoided in that the connection element bodies 54, 56 extend axially at a distance from the upstream carrier ring 36.

In respective second end regions 72, 74 of the connecting element bodies 54, 56, second connecting element connecting regions 76, 78 extend first radially outwards and then in the axial direction. The axially extending sections of the second connection element connection regions 72, 74 are radially slightly further outward than the axially extending sections of the first connection element connection regions 62, 64, so that the second connection element connection regions 76, 78 are not in contact with the outer peripheral surface 66 of the heating conductor element 20 come, but have a radial distance from it.

In association with the second connection element connection regions 76, 78, second connection recesses 80, 82 are formed on the carrier arrangement 18, into which the second connection element connection regions 76, 78 extend. In the illustrated embodiment, both second connection recesses 80, 82 are provided by a gap formed between two carrier ring connection sections 46 which are immediately adjacent in the circumferential direction.

The connection elements 50, 52, which are firmly supported on the heating device 12 by the material connection of the first connection element connection areas 62, 64 to the heating conductor element connection areas 32, 34, are connected through the interaction of the respective connection element connection areas 62, 64, 76, 78 with the assigned ones first and second connection recesses 68, 70 and 80, 82 are positioned so that they do not extend radially outward beyond the carrier arrangement 18, in particular the carrier ring connection area 44, in any circumferential area. There is therefore the possibility, without interference from the connecting elements 50, 52, of fitting the heating device 12 into the, for example, tubular exhaust gas guide component 14 in such a way that the heating device 12 with the carrier ring connection region 44 rests on an inner circumferential surface of the exhaust gas guide component 14 and with this, for example by welding or soldering can be firmly connected.

A passage, generally designated 84, for pin-like contact elements 86, 88 can be provided on the exhaust gas guide component 14. The two contact elements 86, 88 pass through the exhaust gas guide component 14 or a wall thereof in an electrically insulated and gas-tight manner and touch, as in 2 clearly visible, with their inner ends 90, the axially extending sections of the second connection element connection areas 76, 78. In their outer ends 92, the contact elements 86, 88 can be connected to respective connection lines 94, via which an electrical voltage can be applied, in order to heat the heating conductor element 20 by the electrical current then flowing through the heating conductor element 20.

By using the connection elements 50, 52 to establish an electrically conductive connection between the contact elements 86, 88 Bushing 84 and the heating conductor element connection areas 32, 34 make it possible in a simple manner to provide the structural design of the heating conductor element 20, in particular the positioning of the heating conductor element connection areas 32, 34, independently of the positioning of the contact elements 86, 88 of the bushing 84. Depending on where or at what mutual distance the contact elements 86, 88 are provided or to be provided on the exhaust gas guide component 14, the connection elements 50, 52 can be provided with correspondingly dimensioned connection element bodies 54, 56 or connection element connection areas 62, 64, 76, 78 being constructed. The two connection elements 54, 56 do not necessarily have to be arranged and designed essentially symmetrically to one another. One of the connection elements 50, 52 could have a larger circumferential extent than the other, and in the case of one of the connection elements 50, 52, for example, the second connection element connection region 76 or 78 could have a larger axial extension than in the other, if in the feedthrough 84, for example the two contact elements 86, 88 are positioned axially offset from one another.

Finally, it should be noted that in the heating device shown in the figures, for example, more than one heating conductor element can be provided and the single or possibly several heating conductor elements can have a differently wound course, for example a spirally wound course of the respective heating conductor sections.

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents listed by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• US 5597503 A [0003]

Claims (13)

Heating device for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine, comprising a support arrangement (18) and at least one heating conductor element (20) supported on the support arrangement (18) in the direction of a heater longitudinal axis (L) through which gas can flow, wherein the at least one heating conductor element (20) has a first Heating conductor element connection area (32) and a second heating conductor element connection area (34) for connecting the at least one heating conductor element (20) to a power supply, characterized in that in association with at least one of the heating conductor element connection areas (32, 34) a connection element ( 50, 52) with a first connection element connection area (62, 64) connected to the heating conductor element connection area (32, 34) and a second connection element offset in the circumferential direction about the heater longitudinal axis (L) with respect to the first connection area (62, 64). -Connection area (76, 78) is provided for connection to the power supply. heating device Claim 1 , characterized in that the carrier arrangement (18) is arranged surrounding the at least one heating conductor element (20) in a radially outer region, the carrier arrangement (18) having a first connection recess (68) in association with the first connection element connection region (62, 64). , 70) and/or comprises a second connection recess (80, 82) in association with the second connection element connection region (76, 78). heating device Claim 2 , characterized in that the first connecting recess (68, 70) is arranged in the circumferential direction at a distance from the second connecting recess (80, 82) and/or is separated from the second connecting recess (80, 82). Heating device according to one of the Claims 1 - 3 , characterized in that the carrier arrangement (18) has an upstream carrier ring (36) arranged on an inflow side (36) of the at least one heating conductor element (20), a downstream carrier ring (40) arranged on an outflow side (42) of the at least one heating conductor element (20). ) and a carrier ring connecting region (44) which connects the upstream carrier ring (36) to the downstream carrier ring (40) and which comprises at least one heating conductor element (20) which overlaps axially radially on the outside. heating device Claim 2 and Claim 4 , characterized in that the carrier ring connection region (44) comprises a plurality of carrier ring connection sections (46) arranged at a distance from one another in the circumferential direction, and in that at least one first connection recess (68, 70) and/or at least one second connection recess (80, 82) is provided between two carrier ring connecting sections (46) which follow one another in the circumferential direction. Heating device according to one of the Claims 1 - 5 , characterized in that at least one, preferably each connection element (50, 52) comprises a connection element body (54, 56), the first connection region (60, 64) being on a first end region (58, 60) of the connection element body (54, 56). is provided and the second connection region (76, 78) is provided on a second end region (72, 74) of the connecting element body (54, 56). heating device Claim 6 , characterized in that the first connection region (62, 64) is designed to extend away from the connection element body (54, 56) substantially in the axial direction, and/or that the second connection region (76, 78) extends away from the connection element body (54, 56) is designed to extend away essentially in the axial direction. Heating device according to claim or 7, characterized in that at least one, preferably each connection element (50, 52) is constructed with sheet metal material, and that the first connection region (62, 64) and/or the second connection region (76, 78) with respect to the connection element body (54, 56) is bent. Heating device according to one of the Claims 6 - 8th , characterized in that the connecting element body (54, 56) is arranged extending essentially in an arcuate manner in the circumferential direction. Heating device according to one of the Claims 1 - 9 , characterized in that in at least one, preferably each connection element (50, 52), the first connection region (62, 64) is connected to the heating conductor element connection region (32, 34) by material connection, preferably welding or soldering. Heating device according to one of the Claims 1 - 10 , characterized in that a connection element (50, 52) is assigned to each heating conductor element connection area (32, 34), and that the connection elements (50, 52), starting from their first connection element connection areas (62, 64), opposite each other extend to each other to their second connection element connection areas (76, 78). Heating device according to one of the Claims 1 - 11 , characterized in that the at least one heating conductor element (20) is designed in a disk-like manner, and/or in that the at least one heating conductor element (20) has a plurality of heating conductor sections (22, 28, 30) which preferably extend essentially parallel to one another, the heating conductor sections (22) in one of its longitudinal end regions in a heating conductor section connecting region (26) to a respective adjacent heating conductor section (22, 28, 30) and in the other of its longitudinal end regions in a heating conductor section connecting region (26) to another adjacent heating conductor section (22, 28, 30), wherein at least one, preferably each heating conductor element connection region (32, 34) is formed on a heating conductor section (28, 30) which adjoins another heating conductor section (22) in a heating conductor section connection region (26) only in one of its longitudinal end regions is. Exhaust system for an internal combustion engine, comprising an exhaust gas guide component (14) through which exhaust gas can flow in a main exhaust gas flow direction (A), wherein in the exhaust gas guide component (14) there is an exhaust gas treatment arrangement (16) and upstream of the exhaust gas treatment arrangement (16) at least one heating device (12) according to one of the preceding claims are arranged.

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