JP2002087051A - Heater device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce a weight and a manufacturing cost for a heater device. SOLUTION: A heater 404 is fixed to a casing 405 made of a resin through a metal fixed block 410. The casing 405 can be prevented from thermal deformation at a portion of the heater 404 fixed onto the casing 405 to thereby be allowed to be made of resin, thus realizing light weighting and reduction of a manufacturing cost of the heater device 400. Further, the fixed block 410 is clamped between a first and a second casings 406, 407 to be fixed onto the casing 405, whereby the fixed block 410 can be easily fixed on the casing 405 without providing means for fixing the fixed block 410 onto the casing 405, and assembling ability of the heater device 400 can be improved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a heater device for heating a fluid such as water, and is effective when applied to a vehicle heating device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a structure of a heater device applied to a vehicle heating device, for example, in the invention described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-309935, a heater such as an electric heater is disposed in a space filled with hot water. Is heating.

[0003]

The heater must be fixedly held in the casing. However, since the heater generates heat, when the heater is directly fixed to the casing as described in the above-mentioned publication, the casing must be fixed. It is necessary to be made of metal such as stainless steel having excellent heat resistance and corrosion resistance.

[0004] However, if the casing is made of metal, the weight of the heater device is increased, and the manufacturing cost of the heater device is increased.

[0005] In order to solve this problem, it is conceivable that the casing is made of resin. However, in general, resin has a lower heat-resistant temperature than metal. Of these, the resin may be thermally deformed at the fixed portion of the heater.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to reduce the weight of a heater device and to reduce manufacturing costs.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a resin casing (405) constituting a space (401) filled with a fluid is provided. A heater device having a heater (404) disposed in a space (401) for heating a fluid, and a metal fixed block (410) fixed to a casing (405) and holding the heater (404).

As a result, the casing (40) is fixed at a portion of the casing (405) where the heater (404) is fixed.
5) can be prevented from being thermally deformed, so that the casing (405) can be made of resin, and the heater device can be reduced in weight and manufacturing cost.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the casing (405) is constituted by combining at least two parts (406, 407), and the fixing block (410) is further composed of two parts (406, 407). ), And is fixed to the casing (405) in a state of being sandwiched therebetween.

[0010] This makes it possible to easily fix the fixing block (410) to the casing (405) without providing a means for fixing the fixing block (410) to the casing (405), thereby improving the assemblability of the heater device.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the heater (40)
4) The casing (405) is integrated with the fixed block (410) via the fixed block (410).
Characterized in that it is fixed to

Thus, the heater (404) can be easily attached to the casing (40) by assembling the heater (404) together with the fixed block (410) to the casing (405).
Since it can be assembled in 5), the assemblability of the heater device can be improved.

The resin constituting the casing (405) has a density of 2 g / c, as described in the fourth aspect of the present invention.
m ³ or less of what is desirable.

The metal forming the fixed block (410) has a thermal conductivity of 7 as in the fifth aspect of the present invention.
It is desirable to have a value of 0 W / mk.

It is desirable that the fixing block (410) is made of brass, as in the sixth aspect of the present invention.

Further, the fixing block (410) may be made of aluminum as in the seventh aspect of the present invention.

According to the invention described in claim 8, the fluid passage () is provided.
Temperature detecting means (30) for detecting the temperature of the fluid flowing through
8), wherein the temperature detecting means (308) is mounted on the outer surface side of the fixed block (410).

Thus, the temperature detecting means (308) is inserted through the space (401) to the temperature detecting means (308).
Since the temperature of the fluid can be detected without directly exposing the fluid to the fluid, there is no need to provide a sealing means such as an O-ring for preventing fluid leakage at a portion where the temperature detecting means (308) is mounted. The structure of the heater device can be simplified, and the manufacturing cost of the heater device can be reduced.

Incidentally, the reference numerals in parentheses of the above means are examples showing the correspondence with specific means described in the embodiments described later.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (First Embodiment) In this embodiment, a heater device according to the present invention is applied to an air conditioner of a fuel cell vehicle. FIG.

Reference numeral 101 denotes an air-conditioning casing which constitutes a flow path for air blown into the room.
At the upstream side of the air flow, the inside air inlet 102 for introducing the vehicle interior air and the outside air inlet 10 for introducing the air outside the vehicle interior are provided.
The inlets 102 and 103 are selectively opened and closed by an inside / outside air switching door 104.

Reference numeral 105 denotes a centrifugal blower that blows air. Reference numeral 201 denotes an evaporator that exchanges heat between the air blown from the blower 105 and the refrigerant and evaporates the liquid-phase refrigerant to cool the air.

Here, the evaporator 201 is a low-pressure side heat exchanger (evaporator) of the vapor compression refrigeration cycle 200. As is well known, the vapor compression cycle 200 includes a compressor 202 for sucking and compressing a refrigerant, A condenser (radiator) 203 for cooling and condensing the refrigerant discharged from the machine 202, a decompressor (in this embodiment, a fixed throttle such as a capillary tube) 204 for decompressing the condensed refrigerant, and a refrigerant flowing out of the evaporator 201. It comprises an accumulator (gas-liquid separator) 205 that separates the refrigerant into a phase refrigerant and a liquid-phase refrigerant, flows out the gas-phase refrigerant to the suction side of the compressor 202, and stores excess refrigerant.

Incidentally, the compressor 202 according to this embodiment
Is a unit in which a compression mechanism that sucks and compresses a refrigerant and an electric motor that drives the compression mechanism are integrated.

On the downstream side of the air flow of the evaporator 201, air passing through the evaporator 201 using cooling water (fluid) for cooling the fuel cell (in the present embodiment, polymer electrolyte fuel cell) 300 as a heat source. A heater core (heating heat exchanger) 106 that heats the heater core 106 is provided, and a bypass flow path 107 that bypasses the heater core 106 and allows air to flow downstream is provided.

Reference numeral 108 denotes an air mixing door for adjusting the temperature ratio of air blown into the vehicle cabin by adjusting the ratio of the amount of cold air flowing through the bypass passage 107 and the amount of air (warm air) heated through the heater core 106. is there.

At the most downstream side of the air-conditioning casing 101, there are a face outlet 109 for blowing air-conditioned air to the upper body of the passenger in the passenger compartment, and a foot outlet 110 for blowing air to the feet of the passenger in the passenger compartment. A defroster outlet 111 for blowing air toward the inner surface of the windshield 112 is formed.

Blow-out mode switching doors 113 to 115 for controlling the opening and closing of the outlets 109 to 111 are arranged at the upstream side of the air flow of the outlets 109 to 111.

Incidentally, a thick solid line indicates a cooling water circuit, 301 is a radiator for cooling the cooling water by exchanging the high temperature cooling water flowing out of the fuel cell (FC stack) 300 with the outside air, and 302 is a radiator. This is a bypass circuit for flowing the cooling water flowing out of the FC stack 300 while bypassing the radiator 301.

Reference numeral 303 denotes a radiator 30 so that the temperature of the FC stack 300 becomes a predetermined temperature (in this embodiment, the cooling water temperature flowing out of the FC stack 300 is about 60 ° C.).
This is a thermostat that controls the amount of cooling water flowing through the bypass circuit 302 and the amount of cooling water flowing through the bypass circuit 302.

Reference numerals 304 and 305 denote electric first and second pumps for circulating cooling water, and reference numeral 400 denotes a heater core 106.
Heater device for heating the cooling water flowing into
Represents cooling water flowing into the heater core 106,
This is a switching valve for switching between a case where circulation is performed only between the heater device 400 and the heater device 400 and a case where circulation is performed throughout the cooling water circuit including the FC stack 300. The details of the heater device 400 will be described later.

Reference numeral 307 denotes a first temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the cooling water flowing out of the FC stack 300;
Is a second temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the cooling water flowing out of the heater device 400, and the two temperature sensors 307 and 308
Is for detecting a temperature from a change in an electric resistance value of a thermistor or the like.

The detected values of the two temperature sensors 307 and 308 are input to an electronic control unit (ECU) 309, and the ECU 309 controls the detected values of the two temperature sensors 307 and 308 and controls manually set by the occupant. Panel 3
Air conditioning sensors 311 such as a set value of 10, an indoor air temperature sensor for detecting indoor temperature, an outdoor air temperature sensor for detecting outdoor temperature, and a solar radiation sensor for detecting the amount of solar radiation poured into the vehicle interior.
The compressor (electric motor) and the heater device are inverter-controlled based on the above.

Next, the structure of the heater device 400 is shown in FIGS.
It is described using.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 401 denotes a cooling water passage (space) filled with cooling water. The cooling water passage 401 meanders in a substantially horizontal direction and has an inflow port 402 provided on the lower side.
From the upper side to the outlet 403 side.

Reference numeral 404 denotes a heater for heating the cooling water flowing in the cooling water passage (fluid passage) 401. The heater 404 has a meandering shape so as to crawl along the cooling water passage 401.

In this embodiment, a sheathed heater (such as a nichrome wire) that generates heat when energized is employed as the heater 404, and the radius of curvature of the bent portion 404a is 1.3 times or more the heater diameter. , Twice or less.

Further, a casing 405 which forms the cooling water passage 401 and houses the heater 404 is provided with a casing 405 shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, the first casing 406 and the second casing 407 are configured by combining two parts, and the first and second casings 406 and 407 are made of resin (density smaller than metal such as stainless steel). In the present embodiment, it is formed of PPS resin).

The cooling water passage 401 is formed by forming a groove (recess) on the side of the mating surface 405a of the first and second casings 406 and 407. 406 and 407 are
The sealing member 108 (an O-ring made of EPDM) disposed on the outer peripheral side of the casing 405 in the mating surface 405a is watertightly fixed by bolts (fastening means) 409 while sandwiching the sealing member 108 (O-ring made of EPDM).

In the present embodiment, the cooling water passage 40
1, the heat transfer coefficient α between the cooling water and the heater 404 is increased by actively disturbing the flow in the cooling water passage 401 by providing unevenness in the cooling water passage 401.

The longitudinal end of the heater 404 is held by a fixed block 410 made of metal (in this embodiment, brass).
It is fixed to the casing 405 while being sandwiched between the casings 406 and 407. The heater 404
Is fixed to a fixed block 410 by bolts 412 via an oblong heater flange 411 brazed to the heater 404.

The second temperature sensor 308 is screwed on the outer surface of the fixed block 410 without penetrating the casing 405 and reaching the cooling water passage 401. Although FIG. 3 shows the outlet 403 side of the longitudinal end of the heater 404, the inlet 402 has the same structure as the outlet 403 except for the second temperature sensor 308. .

Incidentally, the 413 fixed block 410 and the first
An O-ring made of rubber (fluorine rubber in the present embodiment) having excellent heat resistance for preventing leakage of cooling water from a gap with the casing 406, and a terminal 404b for supplying power to the heater 404 are provided. .

Next, the general operation of the air conditioner according to this embodiment during heating will be described.

1. First heating mode This mode is executed when the temperature of the cooling water flowing out of the FC stack 300 (the value detected by the first temperature sensor 307) is equal to or higher than a temperature (for example, 40 ° C.) sufficient to heat the room. Specifically, the cooling water flowing out of the FC stack 300 is circulated through the heater core 106, and the room is heated by waste heat generated in the FC stack 300.

2. Second heating mode This mode is executed when the temperature of the cooling water flowing out of the FC stack 300 is lower than a temperature sufficient for heating the room. Specifically, the heating device 400 and the second pump The cooling water is circulated between the heater core 106 and the heater device 400 by operating the 305.

At this time, ECU 309 determines the temperature of the cooling water flowing out of heater device 400 (second temperature sensor 3).
08) is controlled based on the detected value (08).

Next, the features of this embodiment will be described.

According to this embodiment, since the heater 404 is fixed to the casing 405 via the metal fixing block 410, the heater 404 of the casing 405
It is possible to prevent the casing 405 from being thermally deformed in the fixed portion of the fourth member 4.

Therefore, since the casing 405 can be made of resin, the weight and the manufacturing cost of the heater device 400 can be reduced.

Further, since the fixed block 410 is fixed to the casing 405 while being sandwiched by the first and second casings 406 and 407, means for fixing the fixed block 410 to the casing 405 are provided. Can be easily fixed without using the heater device 400.
Can be improved.

The heater 404 is connected to the heater flange 41.
1 is integrated with the fixed block 410 by the bolt 412 via the
The heater 404 can be easily assembled to the casing 405 by attaching the 04 to the casing 405, and the assemblability of the heater device 400 can be improved.

When the casing 405 is made of metal, the entire casing 405 is covered with a heat insulating material made of a resin having excellent heat insulating properties such as urethane foam, and the heat of the heater 404 is radiated from the casing 405 to the atmosphere. It is necessary to prevent that.

On the other hand, in this embodiment, since the casing 405 is made of resin having better heat insulating properties than metal, there is no need to cover the casing 405 with heat insulating material.
It is possible to reduce the manufacturing cost while reducing the size and weight of the heater device 100.

If the casing 405 is made of a lightweight metal such as aluminum, it is possible to prevent the casing 405 from being thermally deformed at the fixing portion of the heater 404. Since there is a possibility that corrosion due to dissimilar metal contact may occur at the contact portion with
It is necessary to use a material having excellent corrosion resistance, such as stainless steel, for the material of the heater 04 (seed heater), which increases the manufacturing cost of the heater 404.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, since the fixing block 410 is made of brass, the material of the heater 404 (seed heater) can be made of copper, which is cheaper than stainless steel. Can be achieved.

Further, since the second temperature sensor 308 is mounted on the metal fixed block 410, the second temperature sensor 308 is inserted through the cooling water passage 401 to directly expose the second temperature sensor 308 to the cooling water. Without this, the temperature of the cooling water can be detected.

Accordingly, since it is not necessary to provide a sealing means such as an O-ring for preventing leakage of cooling water at a portion where the second temperature sensor 308 is mounted, the structure of the heater device 400 can be simplified, and The manufacturing cost of the device 400 can be reduced.

(Second Embodiment) In the first embodiment, the heater 404 is connected to the bolt 412 via the heater flange 411.
However, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG.
10 was directly brazed.

As a result, since the heater flange 411 and the bolt 412 can be eliminated, the number of components of the heater device 400 can be reduced, and the manufacturing cost of the heater device 400 can be reduced.

(Other Embodiments) In the above embodiments, the casing 405 is made of PPS resin (polyphenylene sulfide). However, the present invention is not limited to this, and is lighter than metal (for example, having a density of 2g / c
m ³ below) may be a resin, may be PA (polyamide resin) and POM (polyacetal) or the like.

In the above-described embodiment, the fixed block 410 is made of brass. However, the present invention is not limited to this.
Any material having a high thermal conductivity (for example, 70 W / m · k or more) may be used, and aluminum, copper, iron, an alloy thereof, or the like may be used.

The fixed block 410 and the heater 404
The fixing method is not limited to the method described in the above-described embodiment, but may be press-fitting fixing, caulking fixing, or the like.

The method of fixing the fixing block 410 and the second temperature sensor 308 is not limited to screwing, but may be press-fitting or caulking.

In the above embodiment, the cooling water passage 4
Although the thermistor is used as the temperature detecting means (second temperature sensor 308) for detecting the temperature of the cooling water flowing through the inside of the air conditioner 01, the present invention is not limited to this, and the temperature of the cooling water is not less than a predetermined value. When the temperature of the cooling water exceeds a predetermined temperature (Curie point), a temperature switch that cuts off the power supply to the heater 404 when the temperature of the cooling water exceeds a predetermined temperature (Curie point). PTC or the like having an increased resistance value may be used.

In the above embodiment, the cooling water passage 4
Although the temperature detecting means (second temperature sensor 308) for detecting the temperature of the cooling water flowing through the inside of the air conditioner 01 is mounted on the heater device 400 (fixed block 410), it may be mounted on other parts such as a cooling water pipe. .

The heater 404 is not limited to a sheathed heater, but may be another type.

In the above embodiment, the heater device according to the present invention is applied to a fuel cell vehicle. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a hybrid vehicle, an eco-run vehicle, a diesel engine vehicle, a battery, etc. The present invention can also be applied to other vehicles such as electric vehicles that run as a vehicle.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an air conditioner using a heater device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the heater device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

3A is an enlarged view of a portion A in FIG. 2, and FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a fixed block in a heater device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

400: heater device, 401: cooling water passage (space), 4
04 ... heater (seed heater), 405 ... casing,
406: first casing, 407: second casing, 4
10: fixed block, 411: heater flange

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 3K058 AA12 AA22 AA45 AA51 AA82 AA91 BA01 BA11 CA12 CA23 CA46 CA61 CA62 CA78 CB07 CB12 CB25 CE02 CE12 CE16

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A resin casing (405) constituting a space (401) filled with a fluid, a heater (404) disposed in the space (401) to heat a fluid, and the casing (405). ), And a metal fixing block (410) holding the heater (404). 2. The casing (405) is formed by combining at least two parts (406, 407), and the fixing block (410) is sandwiched between the two parts (406, 407). The heater device according to claim 1, wherein the heater device is fixed to the casing (405) in a detached state. 3. The heater (404) is fixed to the casing (405) via the fixed block (410) while being integrated with the fixed block (410). Item 3. The heater device according to item 1 or 2. 4. The heater device according to claim 1, wherein the resin constituting the casing (405) has a density of 2 g / cm ³ or less. 5. The heater according to claim 1, wherein the metal constituting the fixed block has a thermal conductivity of 70 W / m · k or more. apparatus. 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the fixing block is made of brass.
The heater device according to any one of the above. 7. The heater device according to claim 1, wherein the fixing block is made of aluminum. 8. A temperature detecting means (308) for detecting a temperature of a fluid flowing in the fluid passage (), wherein the temperature detecting means (308) is provided on the fixed block (4).
The heater device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the heater device is mounted on the outer surface side of (10).