FR3127721A1 - Electric heating device and corresponding heating, ventilation and/or air conditioning installation - Google Patents

Abstract

Electric heating device and corresponding heating, ventilation and/or air conditioning installation The invention relates to an electric heating device (1) for a heating, ventilation and/or air conditioning installation (100) in particular for a motor vehicle, the electric device ( 1) comprising at least one heating body (10) configured to heat at least one air flow (F) and comprising a predefined number of heating elements (11), and a control module (20) electrically connected to the elements heating elements (11) and configured to drive the heating elements. According to the invention, the control module (20) is remote from the heating body (10). The invention also relates to a heating, ventilation and/or air conditioning installation (100) comprising such an electric heating device (1). Figure for the abstract: Fig. 1a

Description

Electric heating device and corresponding heating, ventilation and/or air conditioning installation

The present invention relates to the field of heating, ventilation and/or air conditioning installations for vehicles, in particular motor vehicles. The invention relates in particular to an electric device for heating a fluid such as an electric heater, in particular in such an installation.

A vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, is commonly equipped with a heating, ventilation and/or air conditioning installation to regulate the aerothermal parameters of a flow of air distributed towards the interior of the passenger compartment of the vehicle. Such an installation is commonly called HVAC (for Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning in English). The installation generally comprises a box delimited by partitions in which openings are provided, including at least one air inlet and at least one air outlet.

In known manner, a blower is implemented to circulate the air flow from the air inlet to the air outlet.

The use of heating devices such as electric radiators in such installations is known in particular for making additional radiators which can be arranged across the flow of air at the outlet of a main radiator through which a fluid such as a heat-transfer fluid, in particular in vehicles with internal combustion engines, in order to generate a temporary additional supply of heat energy, in particular when the vehicle is started, in order to carry out rapid punctual heating of the air flow.

It is also planned to equip motor vehicles with a high-voltage power supply network, in particular electric or hybrid vehicles. And in this context, electric radiators can be used as the main heating device, the calorific power that can be delivered by these electric radiators powered at high voltage being sufficient to heat the air in the ventilation, heating and/or of air conditioning.

Such electric heating devices such as electric radiators comprise a heating body provided with heating elements comprising for example resistive components, which can be arranged so as to be exposed directly to a flow of air passing through the electric heating device .

Heating devices generally comprise a control module capable of controlling the current flowing in the heating elements via in particular an electrical power supply circuit. The power supply circuit is mounted for example on an electronic control board, such as a printed circuit board known by the acronym PCB for Printed Circuit Board in English.

The control module comprises a control box receiving this control electronics and fixed to the heating body. This requires having sufficient space in the heating, ventilation and/or air conditioning installation to arrange the heating body surmounted by the box for the control electronics. However, a recurring problem in the field of vehicles, in particular motor vehicles, is the reduction in size, in particular of the heating, ventilation and/or air conditioning installation.

Another issue is the cooling of the control module. Indeed, in operation the temperature of the control module can rise and if it exceeds a predefined maximum temperature this risks damaging certain elements of the control module such as the electronic power components or the printed circuit board electrically connected to these latter.

The object of the invention is therefore to propose an alternative solution for the electric heating device making it possible to optimize the space available at the level of the heating, ventilation and/or air conditioning installation while promoting the cooling of the control module.

• au moins un corps de chauffe configuré pour chauffer au moins un flux d’air et comprenant un nombre prédéfini d’éléments chauffants, et
• un module de commande configuré pour piloter les éléments chauffants et relié électriquement aux éléments chauffants.

To this end, the subject of the invention is an electric heating device for a heating, ventilation and/or air conditioning installation, in particular for a motor vehicle, said device comprising:

• at least one heating body configured to heat at least one air flow and comprising a predefined number of heating elements, and
• a control module configured to drive the heating elements and electrically connected to the heating elements.

According to the invention, the control module is remote from the heating body.

Thus, the control module is not dependent on the location of the heating body. It can be arranged elsewhere, in particular in a location with free space, less cluttered. This is for example a location at the level of a box of said installation.

Said device may further comprise one or more of the following characteristics described below, taken separately or in combination.

The control module can be configured to control at least two heating bodies by being remote from at least one of the heating bodies. The control module can be remote from the two heating bodies. Said device may comprise the two heating elements.

The two heating elements can be configured to heat the same type of fluid or two different fluids. For example, a first heating body can be configured to heat an air flow and a second heating body can be configured to heat a liquid.

Furthermore, the control module can be arranged upstream of the heating body depending on the direction of flow of the air flow.

In particular, the heating body can be configured for heating at least one air flow intended to flow within a casing of said installation.

The control module is advantageously arranged upstream of the heating body according to the direction of flow of the air flow within the housing of said installation.

According to one embodiment, the control module is configured to be fixed to the casing of said installation.

Alternatively, the control module could be arranged elsewhere than on the housing of said installation. For example, the control module can be attached to another heating body. According to yet another alternative, the control module could be arranged elsewhere on the motor vehicle. For example, the control module can be fixed to the chassis of the vehicle.

Said device may comprise at least two complementary interface connectors carried on the one hand by the control module and on the other hand by the heating body.

The complementary interface connectors are electrically linked by at least one wiring harness. The wiring harness can perform a single function or be multi-functional. It can be configured at least for electrical power transmission. The device may comprise one or more bundles of cables electrically connecting the control module to the heating body, for example for a ground connection, for transmission of signals such as temperature sensor signals. According to a variant embodiment, a single bundle of multifunction cables can ensure the functions of power transmission, ground connection, transmission of signals such as temperature.

The control module may comprise an electronic control card and at least two electrical connection elements with positive and negative poles electrically connected to the interface connector of the control module. These electrical connection elements pass through the electronic control card.

The electronic control card, such as a printed circuit card carries a plurality of electronic components. The control module may comprise a control box receiving at least the electronic card and the electronic components.

Said device may comprise at least one power connector electrically connected to the control module and configured to be connected to an electrical power source.

The heating body may comprise at least one conductive element electrically connected on the one hand to the control module and on the other hand to the heating elements. Such a conductive element is for example configured to distribute electrical power from the electrical power source to the heating elements. It is for example produced by a power bus called a bus bar or bus bar known by the English name "busbar".

According to one embodiment, the heating body comprises a frame receiving the heating elements and an electrical connection interface box receiving the conductive element and fixed to the frame so that the heating elements emerge inside the interface.

The interface connector or at least one of the interface connectors of the heating body can be fixed on the interface box.

The heating body comprises for example at least two conductive elements. At least one of the heating elements or each heating element comprises two electrical connection terminals opening into the interface box while being in contact with an associated conductive element.

The wiring harness comprises at least two electrical cables with positive and negative poles. Each cable can be attached to an associated conductive element of the heating body and electrically connected to an associated electrical connection element of the control module. These electrical connections can be made via complementary interface connectors.

Said device may further comprise at least one signal connector electrically connected to the control module and configured to receive at least one control signal for controlling the heating elements.

The connector(s) can be arranged outside the control box.

The control module comprises for example at least one heat sink. Such a heat sink can be configured to be arranged in the path of the air flow, for example in an air flow circulation channel delimited by the housing of said installation.

Alternatively, the control module, more precisely the control box, can be intended to be arranged in the circulation channel so as to be exposed to the flow of air intended to flow within the box of the installation. heating, ventilation and/or air conditioning, with the exception of the connector(s) of the control module intended to extend outside the casing of the said installation.

Furthermore, the control module comprises a circuit for modulating the power of the heating elements. Such a circuit allows a fine regulation of the power, that is to say a modulation of the power between a non-zero minimum and a maximum, unlike ON/OFF electronics. In particular, the power variation circuit comprises a transmitter of a periodic signal for controlling the heating elements, in particular a control signal by pulse width modulation.

The invention also relates to a heating, ventilation and/or air conditioning installation, in particular for a motor vehicle, comprising at least one electric heating device as defined above with at least one heating body configured to heat at least one air flow comprising a predefined number of heating elements, and a control module configured to control the heating elements electrically connected to the heating elements and remote from the heating body.

Said installation may also comprise one or more of the following characteristics described below, taken separately or in combination.

Said installation comprises a box within which the flow of air to be heated is intended to flow. The control module is advantageously mounted on the housing of said installation.

According to one embodiment, the housing of said installation delimits at least one circulation channel for at least one air flow. The heater can be configured to heat this airflow. The heating body can be arranged at least partly in the circulation channel. The control module can be mounted on the box upstream of the heating body depending on the direction of flow of the air flow within the box.

Said installation may comprise a first device for heating the air flow disposed upstream of the heating body of a second device for electric heating of the air flow, depending on the direction of flow of the air flow. The remote control module of the heating body can be arranged upstream of the first heating device and of the heating body of the second heating device.

Said installation may comprise an evaporator. The control module can also be arranged downstream of the evaporator depending on the flow direction of the air flow.

The box may include several air outlets including at least one defrost outlet. According to one embodiment, the control module can be mounted on a face of the housing of said installation opposite to at least one defrost outlet.

The electrical connection interface box can be mounted on an external face of the box of said installation.

The electrical connection interface box and the control module are for example mounted on different faces of the box of said installation.

Alternatively, the electrical connection interface box can be received within said airflow circulation channel.

Other advantages and characteristics of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the following description given by way of illustrative and non-limiting example, and the appended drawings, among which:

is a perspective view of a heating, ventilation and/or air conditioning installation comprising a heating body for heating an air flow and a control module remote from the heating body.

is a sectional view of the installation of the .

is a perspective view of a variant of the heating, ventilation and/or air conditioning installation with two heating elements and a remote control module for controlling the two heating elements.

is a view of the control module and the heating body of the comprising an interface box for electrical connection to the control module.

is another view of the heating body of the on which a cover of the interface box is removed.

is yet another view of the heating body of the on which the interface box is removed.

shows an embodiment of the control module.

is a view of the control module in which a cover of the control box is removed so as to show a control electronic card of the control module.

In these figures, identical elements bear the same reference numbers.

The following achievements are examples. Although the description refers to one or more embodiments, this does not necessarily mean that each reference is to the same embodiment, or that the features apply to only one embodiment. Simple features of different embodiments can also be combined or interchanged to provide other embodiments.

In the description, certain elements can be indexed, for example first element or second element. In this case, it is a simple indexing to differentiate and name elements that are close but not identical. This indexing does not imply a priority of one element over another and it is easy to interchange such denominations without departing from the scope of the present description. Nor does this indexing imply an order in time.

With reference to Figures 1a to 2, the invention relates to a heating, ventilation and/or air conditioning installation 100, simply called installation 100 below. This installation 100 may be intended to equip a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle.

The orientation of the installation 100 can be defined according to the axes X, Y, Z defined by a trihedron represented schematically. The X axis is a longitudinal axis of the installation 100 corresponding for example to the front/rear longitudinal axis of the vehicle equipped with such an installation 100, it is a horizontal axis. The Z axis is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X of the installation 100, it corresponds for example to the top/bottom vertical axis of the vehicle equipped with the installation 100. The Y axis is a transverse axis perpendicular to the plane XZ.

The installation 100 comprises at least one housing 101. This housing 101 comprises at least one air inlet 103 and one or more air outlets 105a, 105b, 105c between which is intended to flow at least one flow of air f.

Such an installation 100 generally comprises at least one circulation channel 107 of the air flow F delimited by the box 101.

The box 101 can comprise a first so-called upper part 101A and a second so-called lower part 101B. The terms up and down are defined relative to the vertical Z axis.

This installation 100 can thermally condition the air flow F intended to be delivered into a passenger compartment of the vehicle. When several air outlets 105a, 105b, 105c are provided, they are capable of supplying air to one or more ducts distributing the air flows to nozzles opening into the passenger compartment, for example in several zones of the passenger compartment.

By way of example, at least one air outlet 105a can be configured for distributing the air flow to one or more defrosting nozzles making it possible to demist the windshield of the vehicle. The air outlet or outlets 105a for defrosting are for example provided at the level of the upper part 101A of the casing 101.

As a variant or in addition, at least one air outlet 105b can be configured for distributing the air flow to one or more side/central ventilation nozzles making it possible to cool/heat the occupants of the vehicle. Such an air outlet 105b can also be defined at the level of the upper part 101A of the casing 101.

As a variant or in addition, at least one air outlet 105c can be configured for a distribution of the air flow towards one or more outlet nozzles at the level of a low zone in the passenger compartment, or foot zone making it possible to warm the feet of vehicle occupants. The air outlet or outlets 105c for distribution to the feet are for example provided at the level of the lower part 101B of the housing 101.

The installation 100 comprises for this purpose one or more heat treatment devices for at least one fluid. In particular, the installation 100 comprises at least one electrical device for the thermal conditioning of a fluid. For example, the installation 100 comprises at least one electric heating device 1, described in more detail below.

This is for example an electrical device 1 for heating the air flow. The invention can be applied to another fluid. It could be, as a variant or in addition to an electric device for heating a heat transfer liquid, such as water, in particular glycol water, circulating for example in a heating circuit for heating a passenger compartment. of motor vehicle.

The installation 100 may include in particular one or more other heat treatment devices for the air flow F intended to be distributed in the passenger compartment arranged in the box 101 of the installation 100.

For example, the installation 100 can include a heat exchanger such as an evaporator 3. This evaporator 3 can be arranged in the box 101 so as to cool and dehumidify the entire flow of air circulating in the installation 100. This evaporator 3 is arranged upstream of the electric heating device 1 of the air flow F when it is provided. Upstream means in relation to the direction of flow of the air flow F.

As a variant or in addition, the installation 100 can include a heat exchanger such as a heating device 5. This is for example a radiator, intended to heat at least part of the air flow F circulating in the installation 100. This heating device 5 is for example arranged in the circulation channel 107 of the air flow F. Such a heating device 5 can optionally be coupled to the electric heating device 1 intended to heat the flow of air F more quickly, especially when starting the vehicle.

More particularly, in the example illustrated in FIGS. 1a, 1b, the installation 100 comprises the evaporator 3 and two heating devices 1, 5 configured for heating the air flow F, with the evaporator 3 arranged in upstream of the two heating devices 1, 5 in the direction of flow of the air flow F.

The installation 100 further comprises a pulser 109 making it possible, in operation, to introduce the flow of air into the casing 101, and after having been heat-treated by at least one heat exchanger, for example the evaporator 3 and possibly the heating devices 1 and 5, the air flow F is directed to one or more of the air outlets 105a, 105b, 105c.

As a variant or in addition, the installation 100 can comprise one or more heat treatment devices for a fluid other than the air flow F. For example, the installation 100 can comprise at least one electric heating device 1′ configured for heating a heat transfer liquid.

Electric heater

The invention relates more particularly to the electric heating device 1.

It may be a so-called high-voltage electric heating device 1, that is to say that it is intended to be powered by a direct or alternating current having an electric voltage greater than 60V, in particular order of 400V or 800V, and/or making it possible to release a heating power on the air or an electrical power consumed greater than 2 kW, in particular between 2 kW and 10 kW. As a variant, it may be a so-called low-voltage electric heating device 1. The low voltage can for example be of the order of 12V to 48V.

The electric heating device 1 comprises at least one heating body 10 comprising a predefined number of heating elements 11 and a control module 20 of the heating body(s) 10, more precisely the heating elements 11.

The electric heating device 1 is for example capable of transforming electric energy taken for example from the vehicle into thermal energy returned to the flow of air passing through the electric heating device 1.

In general, for the heating of the air flow F, the heating body 10 can be arranged at least partly in the circulation channel 107 so as to be crossed by the air flow F to be heated. It is intended to be supplied with electric current to heat the fluid, for example the flow of air, passing through the heating body 10. An example embodiment of the heating body 10 is detailed below.

The control module 20, described in more detail below, is remote from the heating body or bodies 10. In other words, the control module 20 is not fixed directly to the heating body 10. The control module 20 can be more or less distant from the heating body 10. Thus the electric heating device 1 does not form a unitary block, but comprises at least two distinct parts which are the heating body 10 and the control module 20.

The control module 20 can be provided to control a single associated heating element 10, as shown in FIGS. 1a, 1b.

On the contrary, the control module 20 can control several distinct heating bodies, for example two heating bodies 10, 10' as represented on the . Of course, this number is not limiting. The control module 20 can control heating bodies of similar technology, in particular for heating the same fluid, or on the contrary for heating different fluids. For example, the control module 20 can control at least one heating body 10 for heating the air flow F and one heating body 10' for heating the heat transfer liquid.

When it is configured to control several heating bodies 10, 10', the control module 20 can be remote from the respective heating bodies 10, 10'. Thus, the control module 20 is not attached to any of the heating bodies 10, 10' that it is intended to control. This configuration can be found on the example of the .

As a variant, the control module 20 could be attached to one of the heating bodies 10, 10' which it is intended to control. For example, the control module 20 can be remote from the heating body 10 for heating the air flow F and be attached to another heating body 10', for example for heating the coolant.

In addition, the control module 20 is electrically connected to the heating body 10 and more particularly to the heating elements 11, or to each heating body 10, 10' that it is intended to control. According to an exemplary embodiment shown in Figures 2 and 3, this electrical connection can be made via at least two complementary interface connectors 30a, 30b carried on the one hand by the heating body 10 and elsewhere by the control module 20. These interface connectors 30a, 30b are electrically connected by at least one cable harness 40.

The wiring harness 40 can perform a single function or be multifunctional.

Wire harness 40 may be configured at least for electrical power transmission.

According to one example, the electric heating device 1 may comprise one or more other cable harnesses electrically connecting the control module to the heating body, for example for a connection to ground, for transmission of signals such as sensor signals of temperature. Indeed, the electric heating device 1 may optionally comprise at least one temperature sensor which may or may not be disposed within the heating body 10.

According to another example, a common so-called multifunction cable harness 40 can provide several functions among power transmission, ground connection, transmission of signals such as temperature.

It is also possible to have a common wiring harness 40 which can be separated into several bundles to be connected to the heating body 10 and/or to the control module 20.

Heater

An embodiment of the heating body 10 for heating the air flow F is described in more detail with reference to Figures 1b and 3 to 5.

The heating body 10 may be intended to be arranged downstream of a first heating device 5 according to the direction of flow of the air flow, in the case of an installation 100 comprising two heating devices 1, 5.

The heating body 10 may have a general parallelepipedal configuration.

It may comprise a frame 13 receiving the heating elements 11. The frame 13 may extend along a main longitudinal extension axis L. It has for example the general shape of a rectangular parallelepiped. The heating elements 11 can be arranged longitudinally in the frame 13, along the main extension axis L of the frame 13.

The frame 13 is intended to be arranged in the circulation channel 107 of the air flow F delimited by the housing 101 of the installation 100. It is in particular intended to be positioned transversely with respect to the general direction of the air flow. air F to be heated which is intended to flow in the channel. The frame 13 is in particular perforated to allow the passage of the air flow.

The heating body 10 comprises one or more identical or different heating elements 11, intended to be supplied with electric current to heat the flow of air passing through the heating body 10. This supply is carried out via the control module 20 when the latter is also electrically connected to an electrical power source (not shown).

The heating elements 11 of the heating body 10 can be made in the form of heating rods. The heating elements 11 for example in the form of heating rods. A heating bar can comprise one or more resistive components, such as thermistors, for example of the PTC effect type (for positive temperature coefficient), received in a tube. Other alternatives can be considered.

According to one embodiment, the heating body 10 may comprise electrodes making it possible to distribute the electric current, supplied by the electric power source (not shown), to the resistive components. Each electrode is electrically connected to the control module 20. For example, the resistive components of a heating bar can be enclosed by a positive electrode and a negative electrode.

Each heating element 11 may have two electrical connection terminals 111 at one end. According to the previously described embodiment of the heating elements 11 comprising electrodes, the electrical connection terminals 111 may be provided at the end of these electrodes. The electrical connection terminals 111 extend along the direction or parallel to the axial direction of the heating elements 11, such as heating rods.

Furthermore, the heating body 10 may comprise a plurality of heat sinks, for example in the form of fins, arranged alternately with the heating elements 11.

In addition, the heating body 10 includes an electrical connection interface between the heating elements 11 and the control module 20.

It may be an electrical connection interface box 15. This electrical connection interface box 15 is advantageously fixed to the frame 13, for example in a non-limiting way by screwing, gluing. The frame 13 of the heating body 10 is for example delimited longitudinally at one end by the electrical connection interface box 15. The latter extends along an axis T transverse to the frame 13.

The electrical connection terminals 111 of the heating elements 11 can emerge inside the electrical connection interface box 15.

The body and the lid forming the electrical connection interface box 15 can be made of an electrically insulating material such as a plastic material, for example polypropylene or polyamide. Alternatively, the electrical connection interface box 15 can be made of a metallic material, such as aluminum or an aluminum alloy.

This electrical connection interface box 15 can be intended to be mounted on an external face of the box 101 of the installation 100, that is to say on the side opposite the circulation channel 107, as in the example illustrated. in FIGS. 1a to 2. Alternatively, the electrical connection interface box 15 can be arranged at least partly inside the box 101 of the installation so as to be in the path of the air flow F .

The interface connector 30a or one of the interface connectors 30a carried by the heating body 10 can be fixed on such an electrical connection interface box 15.

Referring again to Figures 3 to 5, the heating body 10 comprises in particular at least one conductive element 17 electrically connected on the one hand to the control module 20 and on the other hand to the heating elements 11. This is in particular of a metallic element. Such a conductive element 17 can be mounted in the electrical connection interface box 15. It can be a power bus called a bus bar or a bus bar known by the English name "busbar".

More precisely, at least two conductive elements 17 can be provided, one with a positive pole and the other with a negative pole.

These conductive elements 17 are configured to distribute electric power to the heating elements 11. This is the electric power coming from an electric power source when the control module 20 is connected to such a source.

To this end, the wiring harness 40 also connected to the control module 20, may include at least two electric cables 401 with positive and negative poles fixed to an associated conductive element 17. According to the particular example illustrated, the cable harness 40 comprises a common sheath arranged around the electric cables between the two interface connectors 30a, 30b, and the electric cables 401 at the output of the interface connector 30a on the side of the body of the heater 10 are no longer surrounded by this common sheath so as to be able to come into contact with an associated conductive element 17 .

On the other hand, the electrical connection terminals 111 of the heating elements 11 are arranged in contact with an associated conductive element 17. In particular, the conductive elements 17 include electrical connection elements 171. An electrical connection element 171 can be provided for each electrical connection terminal 111. The electrical connection elements 171 are also metallic.

The connection elements 171 can be made in the form of tabs or more precisely of clamps extending in the direction of the heating elements 11 and enclosing an electrical connection terminal 111, for example at the assembly of the electrical connection interface box 15 on the frame 13. Alternatively, it could be traces or metal plates connected to the electrical connection terminals 11 for example by clinching, punching, or even by welding.

Furthermore, the electrical heating device 1 advantageously comprises an electrical insulator 19, for example made of plastic, which can be arranged around at least a part of the conductive elements 17. The electrical insulator 19 is for example obtained by molding or by plastic injection.

This electrical insulator 19 can define a plurality of housings 191 to receive the electrical connection elements 171, for example two rows of housings 191, one associated with the conductive element 17 on a positive current line and the other associated with the conductive element 17 on a negative current line.

The electrical insulator 19 may comprise, for each housing 191, guide ramps 193 extending in the direction of the heating elements 11, making it possible to guide an electrical connection terminal 111 of a heating element 11 until it is inserted into a heating element. electrical connection 171 associated. The faces of the guide ramps 193 located opposite are bevelled, thus drawing a general V shape inside which an electrical connection terminal 111 of a heating element 11 can be inserted during assembly.

Command module

Furthermore, referring again to Figures 1a to 2, as previously mentioned, the control module 20 is not fixed, mechanically connected, to the heating body 10 unlike the solutions of the prior art, but is only connected electrically to the heating body 10.

According to one option, the control module 20 can be intended to be fixed on the box 101 of the installation 100. It can be more or less distant from the heating body 10 depending on the space available at the level of the box 101 of the installation. 100. According to another option, the control module 20 can be remote from the heating body 10 by being fixed to another heating body or another heat treatment device. It can also be arranged at any other place in the vehicle, having room to receive it. Advantageously, the control module 20 can be arranged at least partly in a path of an air flow, so as to be swept by this air flow.

According to the particular embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1a to 2, the control module 20 is configured to be fixed to the casing 101 of the installation 100. It can be mounted at least in part on an external face of the casing 101 of the installation 100, that is to say a face opposite the circulation channel 107 of the air flow F defined inside the box 101. It can also be arranged so as to be at least partly exposed to the flow of air F when it passes through the box 101 of the installation 100.

The control module 20 is for example intended to be arranged upstream of the heating body 10 for heating the air flow F, according to the direction of flow of the air flow F within the housing 101 of the installation 100. It can be arranged upstream of the main heating device 5 when the installation 100 comprises such a main heating device 5 coupled to the electric heating device 1. The control module 20 is also arranged downstream of the evaporator 3 depending on the flow direction of the air flow.

The control module 20 can for example be arranged at the level of the lower part 101B of the housing 101 of the installation 100. According to one embodiment, the control module 20 is mounted on one face of the housing 101 of the installation 100 opposed to a defrost output 105a. Such a location for the control module 20 is particularly interesting because it is an area of the installation 100 that is generally free or not very cluttered, devoid of components such as actuators for controlling shutters within the housing 101 of facility 100.

The control module 20 can in particular be mounted on a face of the box 101 of the installation 100 different from that on which the electrical connection interface box 15 is mounted.

The control module 20 is described in more detail with reference to Figures 3, 6 and 7.

The control module 20 is intended to be electrically connected to an electrical power source (not shown). The electrical power source is for example a 400V or 800V power battery.

The control module 20 makes it possible, after electrical connection to the electrical power source and to the heating elements 11, to control the power supply to the heating elements 11.

The control module 20 includes a box 201, also called a control box. The control box 201 comprises a box body to which a cover is fixed, for example by gluing, screwing. The control box 201 can be metallic, for example aluminum or aluminum alloy.

The control module 20 comprises an electronic control card 203 such as a printed circuit board known by the acronym PCB in English for “Printed circuit board”. It can be placed inside the control box 201. Such a card 203 is intended to be electrically connected to the electrical power source, for example an electrical network of the vehicle.

The electronic control card 203 is in particular configured to control the electric power supply of the heating body 10, and more precisely to control the heating elements 11. To this end, the electronic control card 203 is able to carry a plurality of components or electronic modules configured to receive information, process it and control, according to the information received, the heating elements 11. The electronic control card 203 can present part of the electronics for the supply, the power, to be transferred to the heaters 11, this part can for example be high voltage or low voltage, and another part of the electronics for the control signals which can be low voltage.

According to one embodiment, the control module 20, and more precisely the electronic control card 203, notably comprises a power modulation circuit for the heating elements 11. Such a circuit is configured to allow fine regulation of the power, c i.e. a power variation between a non-zero minimum and a maximum, unlike all-or-nothing or ON/OFF electronics, allowing a power supply at 0% or 100%. The power modulation circuit may comprise a transmitter of a periodic heating element control signal. This transmitter is preferably configured to generate a control signal by pulse width modulation of the heating elements 11.

When the control module 20 is configured to control several heating bodies 10, 10' (as in the example of the ) the electronic control card 203 may have a dedicated part for each heating body 10, 10' to be controlled. Certain electronic components or modules may optionally be sized and configured for the dual function of controlling the two heating bodies 10, 10'. As a variant, they can be multiplied by the number of heating bodies 10, 10' to be controlled.

In order to allow the electrical connection of the electronic control card 203 to the heating elements 11 via the interface connectors 30a, 30b connected by the wiring harness 40, the control module 20 may comprise at least one connection element electrical, more specifically at least two electrical connection elements, electrically connecting the electronic control card 203 to the interface connector 30b.

By way of example, the control module 20 may comprise at least one conductive part, in particular metal, arranged in electrical contact at one end with the interface connector 30b and having at the other end an electrical connection terminal 205, forming the electrical connection element. Such an electrical connection terminal 205 is arranged to pass through the electronic control card 203.

More specifically, at least two conductive parts with positive and negative poles are provided. Thus, two electrical connection terminals 205, one with a positive pole and the other with a negative pole, pass through the electronic control board 203.

When the control module 20 is electrically connected to the heating body 10 via complementary interface connectors 30a, 30b, each cable 401 is fixed to an associated conductive element 17, of the same pole, of the heating body 10 and electrically connected to an electrical connection element such as an associated terminal 205, of the same pole, of the control module 20.

Furthermore, the control module 20 can be electrically connected to one or more electrical connectors 50, 60 of the electrical heating device 1. The connector(s) 50, 60 are arranged outside the control box 201. Such connectors 50, 60 can be attached directly to the control box 201. Alternatively, they can be electrically connected to the control module 20 via an additional interface connector 30c which can be attached to the control box 201 and another 40' wiring harness.

In particular, at least one power supply connector 50 is configured to be connected to an electrical power source, and thus allow the electrical connection of the electronic control card 203 to the electrical power source. The 50 power connector is also called the power connector. In the case of a high voltage electrical device, this is in particular a so-called high voltage connector, i.e. it is configured to be used for a supply voltage greater than 60V. Alternatively, in the case of a so-called low voltage electrical device, the power supply connector 50 can be configured to be used for a power supply voltage of less than 60V, for example of the order of 12V.

The power supply connector 50 can be carried, fixed on the control box 201. The electrical connection between such a connector 50 and the electronic control card 203 can be made in known manner by any appropriate method.

There may also be provided a signal connector 60 configured to receive at least one control signal for controlling the heating elements. The control signal is for example intended to be generated by an electronic unit of said vehicle. Control signals are usually low voltage. In this case the signal connector 60 can be a low voltage connector configured to be used for a supply voltage lower than 60V, generally of the order of 5V or 12V.

Furthermore, the control module 20 advantageously comprises at least one heat sink 207 intended to be arranged in the vehicle in an air flow path, so as to be swept by this air flow. For example, when the control module 20 is arranged on the housing 101 of the installation 100, the heat sink 207 can be placed in the circulation channel 107 of the air flow F (cf. ). The heat sink 207 comprises for example fins which are arranged to be exposed to the flow of air F. This makes it possible to dissipate the heat generated by the control module. The fins extend for example transversely with respect to the control box 201.

In the example illustrated, only the heat sink 207 is in the air flow F. Alternatively, the control module 20, more precisely the control box 201, can be intended to be arranged in the circulation channel 107 so as to be exposed to the flow of air F intended to flow within the housing 101 of the installation 100, with the exception of the connector(s) 30b, 30c, 50, 60 of the control module 20 intended for s extend outside the box 101 of the installation 100.

Thus, the control module 20 being remote from the heating body 10, 10', the latter can be as compact as possible, and the control module 20 can be arranged at any location where space is available.

Claims (10)

Electric heating device (1) for a heating, ventilation and/or air conditioning installation (100) in particular for a motor vehicle, said device (1) comprising:

• at least one heating body (10) configured to heat at least one air flow (F) and comprising a predefined number of heating elements (11), and
• a control module (20) configured to control the heating elements (11) and electrically connected to the heating elements (11),
• characterized in that the control module (20) is remote from the heating body (10).

Device (1) according to the preceding claim, in which the control module (20) is arranged upstream of the heating body (10) in the direction of flow of the air flow (F). Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising at least two complementary interface connectors (30a, 30b) carried on the one hand by the control module (20) and on the other hand by the heating body ( 10), and electrically connected by at least one cable harness (40). Device (1) according to the preceding claim, in which the control module (20) comprises an electronic control card (203) and at least two electrical connection elements (205) of positive and negative poles electrically connected to the interface connector (30b) of the control module (20) and passing through the electronic control board (203). Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims:

• comprising at least one power connector (50) electrically connected to the control module (20) and configured to be connected to an electrical power source, and
• in which the heating body (10) comprises at least one conductive element (17) electrically connected on the one hand to the control module (20) and on the other hand to the heating elements (11), and configured to distribute electrical power from the electrical power source to the heating elements (11).

Device (1) according to the preceding claim, in which the heating body (10) comprises:

• a frame (13) receiving the heating elements (11) and
• an electrical connection interface box (15) receiving the conductive element (17) and fixed to the frame (13) so that the heating elements (11) emerge inside said interface box (15).

Device (1) according to the preceding claim, in which:

• the heating body (10) comprises at least two conductive elements (17), and in which
• at least one heating element (11) has two electrical connection terminals (111) opening into the interface box (15) while being in contact with an associated conductive element (17).

Device (1) according to Claim 4 in combination with Claim 7, in which the cable harness (40) comprises at least two electrical cables (401) with positive and negative poles, each cable being fixed to a conductive element (17) associated with the heating body (10) and electrically connected to an electrical connection element (205) associated with the control module (20) via complementary interface connectors (30a, 30b). Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the control module (20) comprises at least one heat sink (207) configured to be arranged in the path of the air flow (F). Installation (100) for heating, ventilation and/or air conditioning, in particular for motor vehicles,characterized in thatit comprises at least one electric heating device (1) according to one of the preceding claims with:

• at least one heating body (10) configured to heat at least one air flow (F) comprising a predefined number of heating elements (11), and
• a control module (20) configured to control the heating elements (11) electrically connected to the heating elements (11) and remote from the heating body (10).