EP0235242A1

EP0235242A1 - A device for heating with energy saving in cars and boats

Info

Publication number: EP0235242A1
Application number: EP86905444A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Odd Stephan Irgens; Geir Saetevik
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-08-26
Filing date: 1986-08-26
Publication date: 1987-09-09
Also published as: NO853341L; WO1987001549A1

Abstract

Le dispositif ci-décrit comprend un élément plastique (1) conducteur de courant et des électrodes tressées noyées (2) pourvues d'une connexion électrique (5). Le dispositif en forme d'appareil de chauffage (3) pour batterie est isolé en surface. Lorsqu'il est raccordé à une batterie (7), ledit élément (1) maintient une température constante dans ladite batterie (7) qui, à son tour, conserve sa capacité lorsque la température ambiante diminue. Lorsque l'état de ladite batterie est bon, les éléments chauffants (1) du plancher et du siège peuvent être raccordés aux connexions (5 et 6). Le caractère autoréglable du matériau (1) permettant une diminution de la consommation de courant lorsque la température augmente, combiné à une température de surface homogène, rend cette solution particulièrement intéressante en matière d'économie d'énergie.The device described below comprises a current-conducting plastic element (1) and embedded braided electrodes (2) provided with an electrical connection (5). The device in the form of a heater (3) for a battery is isolated on the surface. When connected to a battery (7), said element (1) maintains a constant temperature in said battery (7) which, in turn, retains its capacity when the ambient temperature decreases. When the state of said battery is good, the heating elements (1) of the floor and the seat can be connected to the connections (5 and 6). The self-adjusting nature of the material (1) allowing a reduction in the current consumption when the temperature increases, combined with a homogeneous surface temperature, makes this solution particularly advantageous in terms of energy saving.

Description

A device for heating with energy saving in cars and boats

The present invention relates to a device for heating with energy saving in cars and boats, comprising an electrically conductive plastic element, electrodes, and an electric connect ion. The invention was developed to reduce problems with cold environments in cars and boats, e.g. starting problems and difficulties with keeping ones feet and buttocks warm.Electric batteries have low capacity at low temperatures, and this may sometimes. cause starting problems. A car/boat battery only shows full capacity at temperatures above 25 C. In cooler weather its capacity is drastically reduced.

In order to remedy this, experiments were made with new kinds of batteries and more capacity, and it was found by experiments that thicker cell plates of the battery improve its capacity. The disadvantage is that the weight and the physical size of the battery increase as well. A heated driver's seat in the car compartment is generally used. This is based on a heater cable arranged in a loop in the back rest and in the seat. Said heat¬ er cable consists of a thin electricas wire, a connection and a thermostat.

With the heated seat of the kind known to day there is a big risk of breaking the heat conductor and the connection, and there have been cases where heat conductors provided with a thermostat failed and resulted in a fire in the seat. Further¬ more, when a heating cable is used, it is necessary to use a high temperature on the cable in order to achieve a uniform temperature in the seat. Power consumption will be equally high

According to the invention a device is proposed, as stated above, which device is characterized in that a heating plate that is resistant to rupture and fire and shows an energy saving and self-adjusting effect keeps the battery heated and, thus, the battery capacity on an acceptable level when it is cold, and that said element may also be stitched into the seat upholstery and rug to act as a compartment/cabin/person heater. Said device is intended to be firmly mounted in a car or a boat, and current, is, thus, taken from the battery to a plastic plate element. Said plate element comprises three electrodes - that are resistant to rupture and are embedded in a current conductive plastic plate. When electric current is connected the entire plate surface gets uniformly warm. Said electrodes that are current-carrying are brided metal conductors which results in a much stronger electric connection than for any other heating element. At the same time the fabric is suffic- iently slack to move with the expansion coefficient of the plastic. Utilization of such a heating element in combination with a car/boat battery will increase the battery capacity considerably in kold weather and, thus, the period of time when there is electric power at one's disposal.

All cars and most boats are equipped with a battery with some space at the place where the battery is arranged. According to the invention said heating element is designed to be secured about the battery like a belt and it is provided with extended electrodes running to the respecitve battery poles. Advantage¬ ously said element may be joined by other materials, and it may e.g. be stitched, nailed, screwed or riveted to textile, a rug, plastic, or the like. Said element may, e.g. be design¬ ed for being stitched into the seat upholstery, a heated chair etc. Advantageously said element prevents static electricity by the aid of its conductivity. Preferably, the consistency of said device is arranged in such a manner that the resistance of said element increases linearly with increasing temperature, which will result in low power consumption at high environmental temperatures and will make a thermostat redundant. This means taht said element is self adjusting and energy saving in use as a heating element in a car/boat. Advantageously, said ele¬ ment removes condensation in boats and prevents moisture in a car floor.

The device accordin'g to the invention may advantageously com¬ prise a total heating solution for a car/boat with battery/ heating elements prolonging the period of available power in combination with self-adjusting heat in the back rest, seat, and floor.

The invention is now to be disclosed in more detail with refer- ence to the drawing wherein

Figure 1 is a sectional view of an element according to the invention,

Figure 2 shows the plate shaped element according to Figure 1 as seen in section from above,

Figure 3 is an isometric view of a tabbery provided with heat¬ ing elements,

Figure 4 is an isometric view of the heating seat.

The device shown in Figures 1 - 4 comprises a conductive plastic element (1) and three electrodes (2). Said plastic plate can be shaped as desired, inter alia as a chair seat and back rest, see Figure 4. Electrodes (2) are special resilient brided metal conductors resistant against mechanical stress, e.g. bending, stretching and pressure. In consequence they may be embedded in a plastic body. When power is connected with said electrodes (2) current is conducted through the plastic (1) from a positive to a negative electrode (2). When said plastic plate (1) is cold there is low resistance in the ma- terial and said plate (1) will be rapidly heated. With in¬ creasing temperature the resistance in the material will in¬ crease and, finally, there will hardly be any current passing through, but the temperature will be maintained at a constant level.

In Figure 3 the entire heating element for the battery is enveloped in a non-conductive and acid-proof plastic material (3). A gas tight chord anchorage in the shape of a clamping and locking member (4) for the insulated electric line (5) is embedded in said heating element (1). Said line (5) may be provided with a contact (6) that is inserted into the opening for the cigaret lighter. A total solution is also feasible, where all elements (1) may be connected with a console compris- ing OFF-ON-switches, timer, and state control.

In Figure 4 the heating seat is provided with slot shaped open¬ ings (8) in the seat member and back rest member to provide for good ventilation. Holes (9) improve the flexibility.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A device for heating in an energy saving manner, e.g. in a car or a boat, comprising a current conductive platic heat¬ ing element provided with embedded electrodes for electric connection, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that said heat¬ ing element is provided with brided, resilient and metallic electrodes intended for being embedded and for severe mechanical stress, as well as extremely good electric contact surfaces between the fibres in the brided cable and plastic. 0

2. A device as defined in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that said plastic heating element may be stitched directly onto a seat upholstery or a rug in all parts of said element, inclusively through said

'5 electrodes.

3. A device as defined in claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that recessed holes in the heating seat improve the flexibility, and that a special series of holes in the seat and back rest member causes optimal ventilation for the passenger sitting in said heating seat.

4. A device as defined in claim 3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that electrodes embedded in plastic are completely separated, so that self-ignition cannot occur.

5. A device as defined in one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that said device is energy saving due to the fact that the power consumption will decrease linearly with increasing temperature and uniform heat is develop ed across the entire surface.

6. A device as defined in one of the prceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that a system of elements is designed to form a total heating solution, wherein increased battery capacity delivers more heating effect to the compartment cabin.

7. A device as defined in one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that said elements prevent static electricity.

8. A device as defined in one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that said heating element may be shaped as desired.

9. A device as defined in one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that heating by the aid of said plastic heating element causes improved charging susceptibility and, thus, correspondingly reduced fuel consumption.

10. A device as defined in one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that three electrodes are used for achieving very rapid and uniform heating all over the element surface, and that three electrodes in stead of four considerably simplify the electric connection, and that an electric change-over switch can disconnect the center electrode in order to reduce to 1/4 effect.

11. A device as defined in one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the connector between said embedded electrodes and the electric supply cable con¬ sists of a gas-tight clamp member placed in said element.