EP3364122A1 - Domestic electric heating device, in particular such as a towel dryer - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a domestic electric heating device and in particular a heated towel rail. The heating device comprises:
at least one heating bar of oblong section having at least one main face,
at least one electrical resistance traversing the heating bar, according to the invention:
the main face of the heating bar has two longitudinal convex zones separated by a longitudinal concave zone, the convex zones and the concave zone extending along the bar,
the bar respectively has internal longitudinal cavities coinciding with the convex zones, and receiving the electrical resistance.

The invention finds applications in the field of domestic heating equipment and in particular wall-mounted towel warmers.

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to a domestic electric heating device, and in particular a towel-type electric heater. More specifically, it is a distributed electrical resistance heater.

The invention finds domestic applications, especially for the equipment of bathrooms. The device can be used as ambient heating, but also as a bath towel holder for drying towels.

State of the art

There are coolant towel warmers and heated towel rails.

The coolant towel warmers have a localized electrical resistance, usually in the low position, and a heat transfer fluid for transferring the heat produced by the electrical resistance to different radiant elements.

Electric resistance towel warmers include one or more electrical resistors for converting electrical energy into thermal energy. The electric resistances run over heating bars of the towel warmers.

Preferably, a plurality of heating rods extend horizontally between uprights. The function of the heating bars is at the same time a radiator function, for the diffusion of the heat produced by the distributed heating resistance or resistors, but also, in an accessory way, a support function for towels or clothes that the we want to dry.

The electrical heating element (s) may be in particular in the form of a heating wire with a relatively modest linear power and running through the heating device.

• FR 2 911 243
• FR 2 908 262
• EP 1 381 255
• EP 2 804 516
• EP 3 096 094 .

An illustration of the state of the art can be given by the following documents:

• FR 2 911 243
• FR 2 908 262
• EP 1 381 255
• EP 2,804,516
• EP 3,096,094 .

The document EP 1 381 255 in particular, describes a towel radiator with bars of oblong section. The bars are traversed by a heating electric resistance.

The document FR 2 908 262 describes a heated towel rail with bars having a front convex shape.

Exploded of the invention

• une montée en température rapide lors d'une mise en fonctionnement,
• une répartition uniforme de la chaleur sur les différents barreaux du sèche-serviettes,
• une absence de "point chaud" c'est-à-dire une température sensiblement uniforme pour chaque barreau,
• la possibilité de disposer aisément des serviettes sur les barreaux tout en conservant les propriétés de diffusion optimale de la chaleur,
• une capacité de séchage rapide.

The realization of a heating device of the towel type must meet a number of requirements, sometimes contradictory. We wish to obtain the following technical effects:

• a rapid rise in temperature during start-up,
• a uniform distribution of heat on the various bars of the towel rail,
• an absence of "hot spot" that is to say a substantially uniform temperature for each bar,
• the possibility of easily arranging the towels on the bars while preserving the properties of optimal heat diffusion,
• fast drying capacity.

To these technical effects that one wishes to optimize, is added a requirement of reduced manufacturing cost.

The invention thus aims to provide a dry towel type heating device to achieve and optimize the technical effects mentioned above while ensuring ease of manufacture and reduced production cost.

• au moins un barreau chauffant de section oblongue présentant au moins une face principale,
• au moins une résistance électrique parcourant le barreau chauffant. Conformément à l'invention :
• la face principale du barreau chauffant présente deux zones convexes longitudinales séparées par une zone concave longitudinale, les zones convexes et la zone concave s'étendant le long du barreau,
• le barreau présente respectivement des cavités longitudinales internes coïncidant avec les zones convexes, et recevant la résistance électrique.

To achieve these aims, the invention more specifically proposes a domestic electric heating device comprising:

• at least one heating bar of oblong section having at least one main face,
• at least one electrical resistance traversing the heating bar. According to the invention:
• the main face of the heating bar has two longitudinal convex zones separated by a longitudinal concave zone, the convex zones and the concave zone extending along the bar,
• the bar respectively has internal longitudinal cavities coinciding with the convex zones, and receiving the electrical resistance.

In the description which follows, the reference to a heating bar does not prejudge the number of heating bars of the heating device. The heating device can in fact be provided with a plurality of heating bars, preferably parallel to each other.

Moreover, the terms "convex zone" and "concave zone", although applicable to the main face of the heating bar, are also used to designate the corresponding parts of the wall of the heating bar, and by extension, the corresponding parts. of the heating bar itself. The terms convex and concave mean the bar seen from the outside.

Finally, the reference to an electrical heating resistor of the bar does not prejudge the number of electrical resistances housed in the heating bar. In particular, and by way of example only, the heating bar can receive two electrical resistances, a resistor being accommodated in each cavity. The heating bar can also receive a single resistor, folded through the two cavities.

Given the oblong shape of the bar, it may have two main faces, preferably substantially vertical when the heater is fixed parallel to a wall. One of the main faces is generally exposed to the view of a user of the heater, while the other face is generally facing a wall or a support on which the heater is attached, in the case of a usual installation.

The structure of the heating bar having two convex zones and a concave zone, longitudinal, can be conferred, in this case, to one of the faces only, for example the exposed face, or to the two main faces.

The apex lines of the convex zones, as well as the bottom line of the concave zone are located on the main face and are parallel to each other. Thus, the alternation of the convex and concave zones gives the main face a wave shape extending perpendicular to an axis of the bar. The concave zone is in depression on the main face of the bar relative to the convex zones. In particular, it avoids that a towel suspended from the bar completely covers the main face of the bar, but makes it possible to provide a spacing between the napkin and a portion of the bar, so as to promote the diffusion of heat.

Preferably, the main face of the heating bar may have a continuous curvature, that is to say without sharp edge, between the convex zones and the concave zone. This form facilitates the production of the heating bar and confers incidentally a certain aesthetics. The convex zones of the bar are similar in this case to simple bulges of the bar.

As mentioned above, longitudinal internal cavities correspond to the convex portions of the bar. The heating bar thus comprises two cavities, which extend along its length. The cavities can communicate with each other or not.

Each cavity is associated with an electrical resistance, or a portion of electrical resistance, for heating the bar. Electric resistance is, for example in the form of one or more electrically insulated heating conductor son.

The general shape of the heating bar and the distribution of the electrical resistance or resistances in the cavities makes it possible to increase the speed and the efficiency of the heating while ensuring an improved uniformity of the distribution of the heat.

In a very advantageous manner, each internal cavity of the bar may comprise a guide for receiving the electrical resistance. The receiving guide can perform several functions.

A first function may be to facilitate the introduction of the electrical resistance or the electric resistance portion in each cavity of the bar during its manufacture or during assembly of the heating device.

A second function can be to maintain the electrical resistance respectively in each cavity.

A third function may be to house the electrical resistance and to ensure efficient and uniform thermal coupling of the electrical resistance with the wall of the heating bar.

The reception guide of the electrical resistance can be simply inserted into the corresponding cavity of the heating bar. However, and according to a preferred embodiment of the heating device, the reception guide of the electrical resistance can be secured to a wall of the heating bar.

Making the reception guide integral with the wall of the bar makes it possible to increase the efficiency of the thermal coupling with the bar.

In particular, the reception guide of the heating resistor may be integral with a part of the wall forming the main face of the heating bar in the respective convex zone. In this case a rapid dissipation of heat is ensured, in particular because of the wave shape of the main face.

Furthermore, and according to an improvement, the receiving guide can form respectively inside the cavity of the bar a closed housing.

It is considered that the housing is closed when it completely surrounds the electrical heating resistance taken according to its section. This is not detrimental to the presence of a housing opening at its ends, that is to say at the ends of the heating bar, allowing in particular the introduction of the electrical resistance in the reception guide that constitutes the housing.

The reception guide in the form of a closed housing allows not only an improved guidance of the electrical resistance in the corresponding cavity of the heating bar, but also an optimum thermal coupling by avoiding the presence of "hot spots" along the bar.

Alternatively, the receiving guide may also have a C-shaped section with a longitudinal slot open to the inner cavity of the heating bar. The longitudinal slot can be used, for example, for the passage of an insertion tool of an electrical resistance. Moreover, the C shape, essentially circular, makes it possible to better adapt the reception guide to an electrical resistance of circular section, for optimized transmission of the heat produced by the electrical heating resistance towards the wall of the bar.

Advantageously, the heating resistor receiving guide may be formed in one piece with the wall of the heating bar, in particular by coextrusion with the heating bar.

The reception guide of the electric heating resistor and the wall of the heating bar may be made of a material selected from steel, aluminum or an aluminum-based alloy. The reception guide of the electrical resistance and the bar are preferably made of the same material, especially when they are produced simultaneously and in one piece by extrusion.

In a particularly simple embodiment, the heating bar may be a straight bar extending parallel to its axis. As an alternative, and essentially for aesthetic reasons, the bar can also be bent, for example according to a bending plane perpendicular to the main face.

A heating device according to the invention may preferably comprise a plurality of heating rods extending parallel to each other and being integral with a pair of uprights, perpendicular to the heating bars. In order to be able to use the heating bars as towel support, the heating device is preferably configured for a substantially horizontal arrangement of the heating bars. In this case the amounts extend substantially vertically.

The uprights, and / or the bars may be provided with wall brackets provided for fixing the heater on a preferably vertical wall.

Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description which follows, with reference to the figures of the drawings. This description is given for purely illustrative and non-limiting purposes.

Brief description of the figures

• The figure 1 is a front view, in slight perspective, of a portion of a heating device according to the invention.
• The figure 2 is a perspective view in section of a heating rod section of a heating device according to the invention illustrating a first embodiment of such a bar.
• The figure 3 is a perspective view in section of a heating rod section of a heating device according to the invention illustrating another embodiment of such a bar.
• The figure 4 is a cross section of a bar of a heating device according to the invention, illustrating yet another possible embodiment of such a bar.

The figures are represented in free scale.

Detailed description of embodiments of the invention

In the following description of identical, similar or equivalent parts of the different figures are marked with the same reference signs, so as to be able to refer from one figure to another.

The figure 1 shows an electric heater 10 according to the invention.

The electric heating device 10 comprises a plurality of heating bars 12, parallel to each other. The heating bars 12 form a radiator for the dissipation of heat produced, and have between them spacings for hanging or hanging including towels or clothing.

The heating device can thus have a dual function of heating the ambient air and drying towels, for example.

The bars 12 are fixed at their respective ends to two lateral uprights 14a, 14b, the preferred arrangement is a vertical arrangement.

One of the lateral uprights 14b is provided with a control interface 16 of the heating device allowing a user to control, or even program, the operation of the heater, and to adjust a desired heating power.

The control interface 16 is connected to a power source not shown, such as for example a domestic power supply network.

The control interface 16 is also connected to one or more electric heating resistors 44 which run through the bars. On the figure 1 the electric heating resistors 44 are represented partially and symbolically in dotted lines.

The electrical resistors 20 are connected to the control interface 16 via electrical conductors, heated or not, which pass inside the uprights, and in particular the upright 14b carrying the control interface.

In the example of the figure 1 , all the electrical heating resistors running through the bars are connected in series. Other connection modes are also conceivable, and in particular an individual connection in parallel of the heating electric resistances of each heating bar.

Each heating bar of the heating device 10 of the figure 1 has a main face 30 exposed to the view of a user in the case of a conventional installation of the heater on a wall or a wall of a bathroom. The main face 30 extends substantially in a plane parallel to the plane containing the bars 12 and the lateral uprights 14a, 14b.

The bars 12 and the lateral uprights 14a, 14b of the heating device of the figure 1 are straight.

As shown in figure 1 heating rods 12 have an oblong section, more or less flattened, with longitudinal bulges on the main face. The bulges form on the main face convex zones 32a, 32b longitudinal, that is to say convex zones that extend along the heating bar, substantially from one end of the bar to the opposite end. The ends of the bar are understood here as the ends facing the lateral uprights 14a, 14b. Convex zones 32a, 32b are separated by a longitudinal concave zone 34, mediator. The concave zone 34 forms a longitudinal depression along the bar on the main face 30, between the convex zones.

Preferably, and as shown in figure 1 the bar has a symmetry with respect to a bisecting plane of symmetry passing through the concave zone.

The structure of the heating bars can be better understood by referring to the figure 2 which shows a bar with a cut at one of its ends.

The section shows the oblong general shape of the bar with on its main face 30 two convex zones 32a, 32b separated by a concave zone 34. The main face thus has a wave shape between the edges 36 of smallest radius of curvature . It can be seen that the main face has a smooth and continuous curvature, without sharp edge, between the edges 36 of the heating bar and the convex zones 32 as well as between the convex zones 32 and the hollow concave zone 34.

A second face 31 of the bar 12 opposite to the main face, and designated by "opposite face" in the following description is substantially flat between the edges 36. The edges 36 are included as parts of the bar connecting the main face to the opposite side of the heating bar. The edges 36 correspond to areas of the smallest radius of curvature. Unlike the figure 1 , and in order to better show the internal structure of the main face of the heating bar, described below, the main face 30 is facing backwards on the perspective of the figure 2 , while the opposite face 31 is facing forward of the perspective of the figure 2 .

The bulges of the convex zones of the main face of the heating bar 12 correspond, as shown in FIG. figure 2 internal cavities 40a, 40b. The cavities extend longitudinally along the heating bar, and substantially parallel to an axis 41 of the bar. Axis 41 is included as a middle line of the bar passing through a plane of symmetry bisecting the bar.

The inner cavities 40a, 40b of the bar, hollow in the main, communicate with each other in the concave zone 34 of the bar. It may be noted that each cavity has a housing, of substantially square section, coming integrally with the wall of the bar, and located substantially at the apex of the bulge of the corresponding convex zone. The housings extend longitudinally along the bar and are closed relative to the internal cavities 40a, 40b, except at their ends. The housings constitute receiving guides 42a, 42b receiving electrical heating resistors 44a, 44b.

In the example of the figure 2 , two filamentous electric heating resistors 44a, 44b are inserted into the receiving guides 42a, 42b, and allow, when they are supplied with energy, to heat the bar. They give the bar its heating character.

The electric heating resistors 44a, 44b are here resistors with a double sheath of electrical insulation, so as to ensure perfect electrical insulation with the heating bar whose metal walls are electrically conductive.

Alternatively, the two heating resistors can be replaced by a single heating resistor 44 running after the two receiving guides. This variant is suggested by a dotted line on the figure 1 .

The arrangement of the heating resistors in the reception guides, and the location of the reception guides in the cavities of the convex zones of the heating bar ensure, as mentioned above, a rapid and uniform heating of the bar and a good diffusion of heat. They also reduce the risk of forming "hot spots".

The electric heater heaters 44a, 44b may be freely inserted into the deception guides. Indeed the section of the receiving guides 42a, 42b is not adjusted to the electrical resistances but is chosen sufficient for easy insertion of the resistors.

A filler material may optionally be provided to fill the spacing between the heating resistors and the walls of the receiving guides 42a, 42b.

The figure 3 illustrates alternative embodiments of a heating bar for the heating device.

The bar of the figure 3 is not right. It is a bar bent along its length, and more precisely bent in a bisecting plane of symmetry passing through the axis 41 of the bar. The axis of the bar, defined as a middle line, here is a curved line following the bending of the bar.

Like the bars of the previous figures, the bar of the figure 3 has on a main face 30, two convex zones 32a, 32b separated by a concave zone 34. The bar also has internal cavities 40a, 40b corresponding to the convex zones.

Each internal cavity 40a, 40b is respectively provided with a receiving guide 42a, 42b for an electrical heating resistor.

Unlike the figure 2 the reception guides 42a, 42b of the heating bar of the figure 3 do not come in the form of closed quarters of square section. The reception guides 42a, 42b of the heating bar of the figure 3 are in the form of angles extending longitudinally along the cavities of the bar, parallel to its axis 41.

The receiving guides 42a, 42b are formed in one piece with the wall of the bar, by coextrusion.

It may also be noted that the reception guides 42a, 42b are formed not on the wall of the main face 30, but on the wall of the opposite face 31, which is essentially flat.

Bars in accordance with the figure 3 may be associated with lateral uprights to form a heating device comparable to the figure 1 .

The figure 4 shows in section yet another possibility of realization of a bar 12. It also makes it possible to better see the wave shape of the front face 30 of the bar between the convex zones 32a, 32b and the concave zone 34.

The bar of the figure 4 comprises two reception guides 42a, 42b, formed in one piece with the wall of the bar, and arranged substantially at the apex of the convex zones 32a, 32b. The receiving guides 42a, 42b have a rounded, C-shaped section with a longitudinal slot 45a, 45b respectively open towards the internal cavities 40a, 40b corresponding to the convex zones 32a, 32b.

It can be seen that the receiving guides 42a, 42b are integral with the wall of the bar along a side opposite to the longitudinal slot 45a, 45b, with a symmetry with respect to a bisecting plane of the longitudinal slot. This configuration also allows optimized transmission of heat towards the wall of the bar 12.

The longitudinal slot has an opening sufficient to facilitate the insertion of electrical heating resistors, not shown, for example, by allowing the passage of a resistance insertion tool. The opening of the longitudinal slot is also low enough to prohibit an unexpected output of the heating electric resistors.

Claims (11)

Domestic electric heating device comprising: at least one heating bar (12) of oblong section having at least one main face (30), at least one electrical resistance (44, 44a, 44b) running through the heating bar (12), characterized in that the main face (30) of the heating bar (12) has two convex zones (32a, 32b), longitudinal, separated by a longitudinal concave zone (34), the convex zones and the concave zone extending along the bar, - The heating bar (12) has respectively internal longitudinal cavities (40a, 40b) coinciding with the convex zones, and receiving the electrical resistance (44, 44a, 44b). Device according to claim 1, wherein each inner cavity (40a, 40b) of the bar comprises a receiving guide (42a, 42b) of the electrical resistance (44a, 44b). Device according to claim 2, wherein the receiving guide (42a, 42b) is integral with a wall of the heating bar (12). Device according to claim 3, wherein the receiving guide (42a, 42b) is integral with a portion of the wall forming the main face (30) of the heating bar (12) in the respective convex zone (32a, 32b). Electrical device according to one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the receiving guide (42a, 42b) is formed in one piece with the wall of the heating bar. Device according to claim 5, wherein the receiving guide (42a, 42b) and the wall of the heating bar (12) are made of a material selected from steel, aluminum and an aluminum alloy. Device according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the receiving guide (42a, 42b) forms respectively inside the internal cavity (40a, 40b) of the heating bar (12), a closed housing. Device according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the receiving guide (42a, 42b) has a C-shaped section with a longitudinal slot open towards the internal cavity (40a, 40b) of the heating bar (12) . Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the main face (30) of the heating bar (12) has a continuous curvature between the convex zones (32a, 32b) and the concave zone (34). Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the heating bar is one of a straight bar and a curved bar. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a plurality of heating bars (12), the heating bars extending parallel to each other and being integral with a pair of uprights (14a, 14b), perpendicular to the heating bars (12). ).

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