JP5746212B2 - Electric heating device and corresponding heater - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electric heating device configured to pass an air flow to be warmed. The present invention is particularly applied to automobile heaters and / or air conditioners.

  Air for automotive compartment heating, and anti-fogging and anti-icing air is usually passed through a heat exchanger, more precisely, air flow and liquid, typically engine cooling water. It is warmed by the heat exchange between.

However, this heating method is particularly useful in the following situations, for example:
-Pre-heating / air-conditioning before starting the engine, for remote heating or pre-setting, for vehicle compartment heating and anti-fogging and anti-icing conditions, before using the vehicle in an extremely cold environment,
-Situations where the cabin temperature needs to be raised rapidly,
-In the case of a low heat loss type engine, at some time after the engine is started, the heat exchanger needs the amount of heat required to warm the air sufficiently to provide heating and adequate anti-fogging and anti-icing functions. Cannot supply,
In some situations, such as, it may be inappropriate or insufficient to warm the passenger compartment quickly and efficiently.

  In order to eliminate these drawbacks, one known solution adds to the heat exchanger an electric heating device, also known as a heater, located downstream of the exchanger in the duct through which the air to be warmed flows. It is to be.

  The electric heating device includes an electric heater module that is provided in the housing of the frame of the heating device so that it is directly exposed to air passing through the electric heating device so as to provide replenishment substantially immediately.

  However, since the structure of the frame that receives the heater module is extremely flexible, it has been found that the heater module may be damaged or deteriorated.

  Further, when assembling the heater module to the frame, problems may arise when inserting the heater module into the associated housing of the frame.

  Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an electric heating device that can overcome these disadvantages of the prior art.

  In order to achieve this object, the present invention is an electric heating device for warming an air flow, the electric heating device having a substantially parallelepiped shape having an air inlet surface and an opposite air outlet surface. The frame includes a generally shaped frame that receives a predetermined number of electric heater modules in an associated housing of the frame configured to warm the air flow passing therethrough, the frame being an air inlet for the frame A plurality of ribs on the surface and the air outlet surface for structural reinforcement and for guiding the heater module in an associated housing of a frame, the plurality of ribs holding the heater module in the housing It is characterized by being oriented obliquely with respect to the insertion direction.

  The oblique orientation of the ribs means that the heater module abuts against the ribs during the insertion / movement phase when moving the module compared to the orientation of the ribs perpendicular to the insertion direction of the heater module. Can be prevented, which facilitates the assembly of the heating device.

  Furthermore, these oblique ribs can structurally strengthen the frame, which improves the torsional behavior of the frame.

The heating device
-The rib is substantially X-shaped;
-Two continuous reinforcing guide ribs are provided on each of the air inlet face and air outlet face of the frame;
-The distance between two successive reinforcing guide ribs is selected to ensure continuous guidance of the heater module;
The ribs are arranged substantially in contrast to the symmetry axis of the frame;
The rib is at an angle in the range of 2 ° to 88 ° with respect to the insertion direction;
One or more of the above features may be further included separately or in combination.

  The present invention also includes an automotive heater and / or an air conditioner characterized by including the above-described electric heating device.

  Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading the following embodiments given by way of illustrative and non-limiting examples and referring to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. The figure which shows the electric heating apparatus of the heater of FIG. The figure which shows one Embodiment of the heater module of the electric heating apparatus of FIG. The figure which shows an example of the flame | frame holding the heater module of the heating apparatus of FIG. The fragmentary perspective view of the flame | frame of FIG.

  In the drawings, substantially the same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  FIG. 1 shows a portion of an automotive heater and / or air conditioner 1 that includes a case 3 that defines a passage 5 for the air flow to be warmed. The passage 5 carries air to the vents 7 and 9 for heating and anti-fogging / freezing to be selectively distributed to the passenger compartment depending on the position of the mixing and distributing valve 11. The air flow in the passage 5 is generated by a fan 13, a so-called pulsar, that receives air outside the vehicle compartment or air from the vehicle compartment. If desired, the air is warmed by any liquid type heat exchanger 15 that uses engine coolant as the heat exchange liquid and by an electric heating device 17, also known as an electric radiator. The heat exchanger 15 and the electric radiator 17 are disposed in the passage 5, but the heat exchanger 15 is on the upstream side of the electric radiator 17. In the absence of the heat exchanger 15, the air is warmed only by the electric heating device 17.

  Referring to FIG. 2, this type of electric heating device 17 through which the air flow to be warmed passes has a heater unit with a generally parallelepipedal frame 21 having opposed air inlet and air outlet surfaces. 19 and the control module 23 of the heater unit 19, also known as a driver, fixed to the side of the frame 21, for example, molding on the side of the frame 21 opposite to the side holding the control module 23. Thus, a heel 25 formed integrally with the frame 21 is provided.

  Since this type of electric heating device 17 is likely to reach high temperatures of approximately 150 ° C. during operation, for example, the frame 21 is made of a material such as a plastic material that can withstand these high temperatures that are reached during operation. .

  This electric heating device 17 may be in a single zone heater 1, i.e. a part capable of heating the entire cabin, or a multi-zone heater 1 that warms a plurality of separate areas of the cabin, e.g. It may be in a part for separating the seat side and the passenger seat side, or for preventing fogging and heating the space under the feet.

  For this purpose, the heater 1 is provided with, for example, a separator disposed substantially in the center of the frame 21 and extending parallel to the longitudinal side of the frame 21 at the level of the axis A1, and in some cases, for example, the frame 21. And a separate separator that extends parallel to one side of the frame 21 at the level of the axis A2 and is provided with four separate parts, e.g. The associated separate areas may each be divided into a left front, a right front, a left rear, and a right rear.

  The air flow is warmed by a heater module 27 disposed in the housing 29 of the frame 21 so that the air flow to be warmed passes through, but these housings 29 are in the example shown by the longitudinal walls of the frame 21. It may be defined and inserted between the perforated areas 30 of the frame 21 to regulate the air flow.

  The number of heater modules 27 is determined as a function of the required total heat generation, depending on the application. These heater modules 27 are arranged parallel to each other and extend over the entire length of the frame 21 of the heater unit 19 in such a way that they are directly exposed to the air flow through the heater unit 19.

  Further, the heater module 27 may include a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) type resistance element. These elements are protected from overheating or overcurrent.

  In the variant shown in FIG. 3, the heater module 27 includes two longitudinal electrodes 31, each longitudinal electrode 31 surrounding a heat removal material 33 formed of, for example, a bent metal strip or a corrugated metal strip, In addition, a PTC resistance element or stone 35 is carried. For the sake of clarity, FIG. 3 does not show the entire heat removal material 33. Needless to say, the heat removal material 33 extends over the entire length of the electrode 31.

  In another variant of the heater module 27 (not shown), the electrode sandwiches the resistive element, and the heat removal material formed by the metal strip is arranged against the released outer surface of the electrode. In other words, the heater module 27 is composed of two heat removal materials surrounding the two electrodes, and a PTC stone or a resistance element is arranged between the two electrodes.

  The two electrodes 31 of the heater module 27 are connected to different potentials by two first electrical terminals 37, for example, a first potential available in the automobile such as a battery voltage and a second potential such as ground. Is done.

  In the example shown in FIG. 2, when three heater modules 27 are provided, there are six rows of terminals 37 to which electric energy is to be supplied.

  With reference to FIGS. 2, 4, and 5, the frame 21 includes guide means and optionally means for holding the heater module 27 in the housing 29 of the frame 21.

  Referring to the guide means, the frame 21 includes, for example, a plurality of generally X-shaped guide ribs 39 on the air inlet surface A and the air outlet surface B, and these guide ribs 39 have a range of, for example, 2 ° to 88 °. As shown by the arrow, the angle is oriented in an oblique direction with respect to the angle D at which the heater module is inserted into the housing 29 of the frame 21.

  This type of orientation makes it easier to guide the heater module 27 when the heater module 27 is inserted into the frame 21.

  In addition, these guide ribs 39 also provide structural reinforcement of the frame 21 to limit the flexibility of the frame 21 and thereby improve the mechanical behavior of the frame 21 torsion. Additional ribs 41 perpendicular to the insertion direction D may be provided at the level of the housing 29 and / or the perforated area 30 for local reinforcement of the frame 21.

  The ribs 39 may be provided on both sides of the housing 29 of the frame 21 for receiving the heater module 27 and on both sides of the perforated region 30 of the frame 21. When the heater module 27 is inserted into the housing 29 of the frame 21, the contact point with the heater module 27 moves along the rib 39 at the level of the housing 29.

  The ribs 39 may be provided alternately and evenly on the air inlet surface A and the air outlet surface B of the frame 21. More precisely, when the first rib 39 is provided on the air inlet surface A, the next rib is provided on the air outlet surface B. In this case, the ribs 39 of the two opposing surfaces A and B do not face each other and are shifted so as to balance the head loss.

  Note that the frame 21 and ribs 39 form a single integral part made by molding plastic material.

  Thus, when the heater module 27 is inserted into the associated housing 29 of the frame 21 from the left in FIGS. 2 and 4 in the insertion direction D, the heater module 27 continues along the housing 29 by a continuous rib 39. Are guided.

Therefore, the distance between two consecutive ribs 39 d, More precisely, the first rib 39, the last contact point P ₁ between the heating module 27 is inserted, the next second rib 39 the distance d between the first contact point P _2, during the insertion, so as to ensure continuous guiding of the heater module 27, is calculated.

  Further, the ribs 39 are arranged substantially symmetrically with respect to one or both of the symmetry axes A1 and A2 of the frame 21 so as to balance up / down and / or left / right head loss. Also good.

  In particular, since the intersections of three consecutive X-shaped ribs 39 are not coaxially aligned, these intersections are offset from each other in a direction perpendicular to the direction D in which the heater module 27 is introduced, ie in the direction A2. Please note that.

  Also, one or more intersections of the X-shaped ribs 39 are located at the edge defining the housing 29, i.e. along the wall that is the boundary between the housing and the adjacent perforated region 30. Please note that. This limits the negative impact on head loss that can be caused by such intersections overlapping other structural elements of the frame.

  Similarly, one or more intersections of X-shaped ribs 39 are arranged along the PTC stone or resistance element of the heater module 27.

  The frame 21 may also include additional other means for guiding the heater module 27, such as one or more protrusions 43 provided on the wall of the housing 29 that extend toward the interior of the housing 29.

  Referring to the means for holding the heater module 27 in the frame 21, the frame 21 may include a flexible hook 45, which is substantially S-shaped, for example, with the end of the heater module 27. Serves as a flexible contact.

  The frame 21 may further include a flexible tongue 47 that applies a frictional force to the heater module 27. For this reason, the tongue 47 is at a non-zero angle with respect to the direction D in which the heater module 27 is inserted into the housing 29.

  Further, the frame 21 may be fixed to the module 23 and may be clipped, for example, and thus may include a clip jacket 51, which includes a complementary clip held by the module 23. The member 53 is inserted.

  In this regard, the control module 23 is made of a material that can withstand the high temperature that is reached when the heating device 17 is in operation, and may be formed of, for example, a module main body 23 a and a lid 23 b that are fixed by clipping by the clip means 54. Good.

  In addition, module 23 includes a power supply circuit mounted on a support such as a printed circuit board and connected to a power source by two metal conductors 55 and 55 ′, also known as “busbars”. Of these, the first conductor 55 may be at a first potential, and the second conductor 55 ′ may be at a second potential. For example, the power supply circuit includes an electronic transistor (not shown) for allowing or preventing current flow in the heater module 27.

  Further, when the terminal 57 connected to the conductors 55 and 55 ′ allows the current to flow through the transistor of interest, the current is sent to the terminal 37 of the heater module 27. In an example in which the electric heating device 17 includes three heater modules 27, six terminals 57 are provided to supply power to the corresponding six terminals 37 of the heater module 27. For this reason, the terminals 37 and 57 are connected and, for example, soldering or tightening is performed.

  Further, the power supply circuit may receive information regarding the power sent via the connector 61.

  In addition, to compensate for head loss imbalance caused by the opening required to connect the terminals 37 and 57 through which the air flow to be warmed passes, the heel 25 on the opposite side of the module 23 allows the air flow to be warmed through. It may be a head loss balanced heel that includes an opening 63 configured to do so.

  The structure of the frame 21 having ribs 39 that both serve to guide the heater module 27 during insertion into the frame 21 and to structurally strengthen the frame makes the heating device 17 easier to assemble, In addition, it is possible to avoid deterioration of the heater module 27 that may be caused by excessive flexibility of the frame 21 that holds the heater module 27.

Claims (10)

  An electric heating device for warming an air flow, wherein the electric heating device has a generally parallelepiped-shaped frame having an air inlet surface (A) and an air outlet surface (B) on the opposite side. The frame (21) receives a predetermined number of electric heater modules (27) in an associated housing (29) of the frame (21) configured to warm the passing airflow. The frame (21) is connected to the air inlet surface (A) and the air outlet surface (B) of the frame (21) for structural reinforcement and associated housing ( 29) includes a plurality of ribs (39) for guiding the heater module (27), and the plurality of ribs (39) inserts the heater module (27) into the housing (29). Characterized in that it is oriented obliquely to the direction (D), an electrical heating system.   The electric heating device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of ribs (39) are substantially X-shaped.   The electric heating device according to claim 2, wherein one or more intersections of the X-shaped ribs (39) are arranged at the end defining the boundary between the housing (29) and the perforated region (30). .   The electric heating device according to claim 2, wherein one or more intersections of the X-shaped ribs (39) are arranged along a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) stone or resistance element of the heater module (27). .   The electric heating device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein two continuous reinforcing guide ribs (39) are provided on each of the air inlet surface (A) and the air outlet surface (B) of the frame (21). .   The electric heating device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the distance (d) between two successive reinforcing guide ribs is selected to ensure a continuous guide of the heater module (27).   The electric heating device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the plurality of ribs (39) are arranged substantially in contrast to the symmetry axes (A1, A2) of the frame (21).   The electric heating device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the plurality of ribs (39) are at an angle in a range of 2 ° to 88 ° with respect to the insertion direction.   The electric heating device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the frame (21) and the plurality of ribs (39) form an integral part.   A heater and / or an air conditioner for an automobile, comprising the electric heating device (17) according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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