WO2023227627A1

WO2023227627A1 - Heating member of a heating body for an electric radiator comprising two heating elements

Info

Publication number: WO2023227627A1
Application number: PCT/EP2023/063837
Authority: WO
Inventors: Frédéric MOULINAS; Serif KARAASLAN; Jonathan LEFLOCH
Original assignee: Valeo Systemes Thermiques
Priority date: 2022-05-24
Filing date: 2023-05-23
Publication date: 2023-11-30
Also published as: FR3136141A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a heating member (5) for a heating body (2) of an electric radiator (1), intended to heat a flow of air circulating through the heating body (2), the heating member (5) comprising at least a first heating element (7), a second heating element (8), and a tube (6) accommodating the first heating element (7) and the second heating element (8), characterized in that the heating member (5) comprises at least one positioning means (9) for positioning one of said heating elements (7, 8) with respect to the other in the tube (6).

Description

DESCRIPTION

Title of the invention ■ Heating member of a heating body for an electric radiator comprising two heating elements.

The present invention relates to the field of ventilation, heating and/or air conditioning installations for motor vehicles comprising an electric radiator, and it relates more particularly to a heating member of a heating body of such an electric radiator.

Motor vehicles are generally equipped with a ventilation, heating and/or air conditioning system making it possible to circulate a flow of air towards the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle, and, depending on the temperature of the passenger compartment desired by the driver and/or passengers of the motor vehicle, heat and/or cool the air flow sent into the passenger compartment. Such ventilation, heating and/or air conditioning installations thus comprise at least one member for circulating the air flow and an electric radiator capable of heating the air flow circulated towards the passenger compartment.

It is known that the electric radiators of these ventilation, heating and/or air conditioning installations comprise a heating body in which heating elements, for example in the form of tubes in which at least one heating element is housed, are arranged on next to each other across a flow of air to be heated. Such electric radiators generally comprise at least one device for electronic control of the heating elements comprising a printed circuit board on which different electronic components are installed. The electronic components help generate a control instruction to be transmitted to the heating elements so that they heat up and so that the air flow circulating between the heating elements of the electric radiator can rise in temperature.

A heating element intended to be housed in a tube to form the heating member previously mentioned comprises resistive elements sandwiched between electrodes configured to supply electric current to these resistive elements, which can in particular take the form of stones or ceramics with PCT effect, that is to say with a positive temperature coefficient, and the heating element can also comprise an electrical insulator capable of being inserted between the electrodes and the tube. The tube can then be deformed by crimping to ensure that the components of the heating element are pressed against each other inside the tube to allow the propagation of electric current and calories.

It is conventional to provide a heating element per tube and to have an electrical connection member linked to each electrode which extends projecting from a longitudinal end of the tube to be connected to an electrical supply network via an electronic box control.

In order to be able to divide the heating body into several zones which can be selectively activated, it has been proposed to produce electric radiators in which electrical connection members extend projecting from the corresponding tubes at each longitudinal end of the heating body. In this context, it may be interesting to house two heating elements in the same tube, each heating element having an electrical connection member which extends projecting from one of the distinct longitudinal ends of the heating body. The two heating elements present within the same tube then have a mirror arrangement, with the electrical connection members arranged opposite each other and with one end of a heating element housed within the tube which is opposite one end of the other heating element.

One of the problems with such a configuration is that, when inserting the heating elements into the tube, it is possible that these heating elements are not aligned correctly with each other in the tube. Such rough alignment is problematic in that it may, for example, interfere with the connection of a heating element to an electronic interface box supplying electrical energy to the heating element or damage the heating elements when crimping the tube.

Adjusting the alignment of the heating elements in the tube after inserting them requires adding a step in the process of assembling the heating member and, moreover, this step is carried out with visibility restricted heating elements within the tube which do not ensure correct alignment.

The present invention aims to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art, and to ensure that the alignment of one heating element relative to another within the same tube of a heating member is easily achieved when the insertion of the heating elements into the tube.

In this context, the main object of the present invention is a heating member for a heating body of an electric radiator intended to heat a flow of air circulating through the heating body, the heating member comprising at least a first heating element , a second heating element and a tube housing the first heating element and the second heating element, characterized in that the heating member comprises at least one means for positioning one of said heating elements relative to the other in the tube.

The heating member according to the invention is particular in that it contains, within the tube, and remains in this tube, a positioning means which makes it possible to position the two heating elements relative to each other. . The first heating element and the second heating element are arranged longitudinally in series, one next to the other in this longitudinal direction and the positioning means is interposed between these two heating elements. It should be understood that the positioning means is interposed between the two heating elements to the extent that it extends at least partially between the longitudinal ends facing the two heating elements within the tube. The positioning of the tubes relative to each other is carried out by means of said positioning means directly during the step of inserting the heating elements into the tube, and more particularly during the insertion of a heating element. in the tube while a heating element is already present in the tube. Bringing the longitudinal ends of the heating elements closer to each other uses the positioning means which acts as the insertion movement comes to an end. It is understood that the positioning means makes it possible to position a heating element relative to the other, and thus align the heating elements within the tube. This alignment is particularly useful for subsequently ensuring an electrical connection of the heating member to each of the longitudinal end edges of the tube, without one of the electrical connections being mechanically stressed by an offset position of one of the heating elements within the tube.

According to one characteristic of the invention, the first heating element and the second heating element each comprise a plurality of resistive elements.

According to one characteristic of the invention, the first heating element and the second heating element each comprise at least one electrode capable of being supplied with current independently of one another.

According to one characteristic of the invention, the first heating element and the second heating element each comprise a first electrode, a second electrode, the resistive elements being engaged between the first electrode and the second electrode.

In other words, the resistive elements of the first and second heating element are in contact with the first and the second electrode, respectively the first and second heating element.

According to one characteristic of the invention, the resistive elements are clamped between the first electrode and the second electrode.

According to a characteristic of the invention, the first heating element and the second heating element each comprise electrical connection members connected to the electrodes and forming a projection from the tube, the electrical connection members connected to the electrodes of the first heating element extending projecting of a first longitudinal end edge of the tube and the electrical connection members connected to the electrodes of the second heating element extending projecting from a second longitudinal end edge of the tube. It is understood that the first end edge longitudinal is opposite the second longitudinal end edge of the tube. According to one characteristic of the invention, the first heating element and the second heating element form two structural subassemblies distinct from each other before their relative positioning inside the tube.

According to one characteristic of the invention, the first heating element and the second heating element are identical. In other words, the proposed arrangement makes it possible to standardize in a simple manner, two heating elements capable of being supplied with current independently of one another within the same heating element.

According to one characteristic of the invention, the first heating element and the second heating element each comprise at least one intermediate element inserted between two of its resistive elements, the positioning means being distinct from this intermediate element.

According to one embodiment, each heating member comprises exactly two heating elements, namely the first and the second heating element.

According to one characteristic of the invention, the positioning means is configured to block the movement of one of said heating elements relative to the other. The positioning means makes it possible, as mentioned, to guide one of the heating elements in relation to the other but also to maintain the heating elements within the tube in a certain configuration. More particularly, the heating member extends in a direction of main longitudinal elongation and the positioning means is configured to block movement of one of said heating elements relative to the other within the tube in a direction parallel to said direction of main longitudinal elongation of the heating member. The positioning means is also configured to block movement of one of said heating elements relative to the other within the tube in at least one direction perpendicular to said direction of main longitudinal elongation of the heating member.

According to one characteristic of the invention, the first electrode, the second electrode and the resistive elements are assembled along a stacking axis perpendicular to the direction of main longitudinal elongation of the heating member and the positioning means makes it possible to block a movement of one of said heating elements relative to the other within the tube in a direction parallel to the stacking axis.

According to another characteristic, the first electrode, the second electrode and the resistive elements are assembled along a stacking axis perpendicular to the direction of main longitudinal elongation of the heating member and the positioning means makes it possible to block a movement of the one of said heating elements relative to the other within the tube in a lateral direction, this lateral direction being perpendicular to the stacking axis and to the direction of main longitudinal elongation of the heating member.

According to one characteristic of the invention, the first heating element comprises a first positioning element and the second heating element comprises a second positioning element, the first positioning element and the second positioning element jointly forming the positioning means. Such positioning means formed of a positioning element associated with each of the heating elements makes it possible to insert the heating elements into the tube and to maintain them in position relative to each other without inserting an additional independent element between both heating elements.

According to one characteristic of the invention, the intermediate elements of the first heating elements are formed on separate parts of the first and second positioning elements.

According to a characteristic of the invention, each of the first positioning element and the second positioning element has a base which is arranged at least partially between a first insulator and a second insulator of the associated heating element. The first insulator and the second insulator are distinguished in that the first insulator is stacked along the stacking axis between the first electrode and the tube and in that the second insulator is stacked along the stacking axis between the second electrode and tube. Within a heating element, the first and second insulators extend so as to be longitudinally overhanging the resistive element closest to the positioning element, this longitudinal extension covering a part of said heating element. positioning and allowing better integration of the positioning element into the heating element.

According to one characteristic of the invention, the first positioning element and the second positioning element are formed in separate parts.

According to a characteristic of the invention, one of the positioning elements comprises at least one projecting element and the other positioning element comprises at least one housing intended to accommodate said projecting element.

In other words, one of the first and second positioning elements comprises at least one projecting element and the other of the first and second positioning elements comprises at least one housing intended to accommodate said projecting element . According to one characteristic of the invention, the first positioning element comprises at least a first element projecting from the first positioning element in a direction parallel to the direction of main longitudinal elongation of the heating member, and the second element of positioning comprises at least a second element projecting from the second positioning element in a direction parallel to the direction of main longitudinal elongation of the heating member, the first positioning element comprising at least a first housing intended to receive the second element projecting from the second positioning element and the second positioning element comprising a second housing intended to receive the first element projecting from the first positioning element.

According to one characteristic of the invention, the at least one projecting element comprises at a free end a first chamfer. The first chamfer forms a ramp which is able to cooperate during the insertion of the corresponding heating element with an electrical insulator of the other heating element so as to guide this protruding element into the housing partly delimited within the other heating element by said electrical insulator. According to one characteristic of the invention, at least one wall of one of the positioning elements participating in delimiting the housing comprises a second chamfer. The second chamfer is intended to cooperate with the first projecting element or the second projecting element so as to guide one or the other into an associated housing.

According to a characteristic of the invention, the first chamfer of one of the first heating element and the second heating element is capable of cooperating with the end of the first insulator or of the second insulator of the other of the first heating element and the second heating element, in case of interference during the assembly of the first heating element and the second heating element in the tube.

According to one characteristic of the invention, the second chamfer of one of the first heating element and the second heating element is capable of cooperating with the end of the element projecting from the other of the first heating element and the second heating element. second heating element, in case of interference during the assembly of the first heating element and the second heating element in the tube.

According to one characteristic of the invention, the heating member extending in a direction of main longitudinal elongation, the first positioning element and the second positioning element comprise a base in which the housings are formed by release of material and at from which the projecting elements extend, said base having a central abutment surface disposed between the two elements projecting within the same positioning element, the central abutment surface of the first positioning element being intended to be in contact against the central abutment surface of the second positioning element so as to block the movement of one of said heating elements relative to the other heating element in a direction parallel to said direction of main longitudinal elongation of the member heating. Thus, the blocking of the longitudinal movement, that is to say according to the direction of the insertion movement of the heating element within the tube, is done by a contact between two surfaces flat and not by the free end of a protruding element, which avoids generating damage on impact.

According to one characteristic of the invention, the first positioning element is in contact with a resistive element of the first heating element and the second positioning element is in contact with a resistive element of the second heating element.

According to one characteristic of the invention, the first positioning element and/or the second positioning element are integral with a resistive element. It is understood that the first positioning element and/or the second positioning element are bonded against a resistive element by means, for example, of a polymeric layer such as glue.

According to one characteristic of the invention, the positioning means is formed of an elastomeric thermoplastic material.

According to one characteristic of the invention, the first heating element has a first positioning element which is of the same shape as the second positioning element of the second heating element, the first positioning element and the second positioning element being oriented in directions opposite longitudinals so that the at least one projecting element of one of the positioning elements is housed in the at least one housing of the other positioning element.

According to one characteristic of the invention, the heating member extending in a direction of main longitudinal elongation, each positioning element has protruding elements and housings arranged in double symmetry with respect to a plane on the one hand. longitudinal and vertical median and on the other hand to a longitudinal and transverse median plane. This results in an alternating arrangement within the same positioning element, and in particular a positioning element can have two sides on either side of a longitudinal and transverse median plane and each comprising a projecting element and a housing , with a first side in which the protruding element extends from one side of the housing in the transverse direction and a second side in which the protruding element extends from the other side of the housing if we consider this same direction transversal. Such a configuration of male and female elements within the same positioning element makes it possible to standardize the design of the positioning elements and to be able to arrange this or that positioning element indifferently, and in this or that direction, on one or another. the other heating elements.

According to one characteristic of the invention, the first positioning element and the second positioning element each have an axis of symmetry. This axis of symmetry is arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tube. Thus, each positioning element can be oriented in two positions to be mounted on the corresponding heating element. This makes it possible to use identical positioning elements (in other words similar, or standard) on the first heating element and the second heating element while limiting the risk of error in assembling the positioning element on the element. corresponding heater.

Each positioning element has a projecting element and a housing on either side of the axis of symmetry.

According to one characteristic of the invention, the heating member is configured so that the first heating element and the second heating element can be supplied with current independently of each other. It is thus possible to divide the heating body into different heating zones operating independently of each other.

According to one characteristic of the invention, the first electrode of the first heating element can be supplied with current independently of the first electrode of the second heating element.

According to one characteristic of the invention, the positioning means is formed in an electrically insulating material, in particular entirely.

For example, the positioning means is formed from an elastomeric thermoplastic material, for example polyphenylene sulfide loaded with 30% glass fibers. Thus, the positioning means does not contribute to electrically connecting the first heating element and the second heating element. In other words, the positioning means is not an electrical connection element.

According to one characteristic of the invention, a portion of the first positioning element rests against the end edge of the first insulator of the first heating element and another portion of the first positioning element rests against the end edge of the second insulator of the first heating element. Likewise, a portion of the second positioning element rests against the end edge of the first insulator of the second heating element and another portion of the second positioning element rests against the end edge of the second insulator of the second element heating.

According to one characteristic of the invention, the first positioning element and the second positioning element are engaged with one another. By snap-fit we mean a connection involving a form locking. The two heating elements can thus be blocked relative to each other. Where appropriate, each projecting element may include an elastic hook. This elastic hook is capable of engaging, after elastic deformation, in a groove of the corresponding housing.

The invention also relates to an electric radiator comprising a heating body in which at least one heating member conforms to what has just been described previously.

Other characteristics, details and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly on reading the description which follows on the one hand, and several examples of embodiment given for informational and non-limiting purposes with reference to the appended schematic drawings on the other hand. share, on which:

[Fig.i] represents an electric radiator intended to equip a ventilation, heating and/or air conditioning installation;

[Fig.2] represents a heating body of the electric radiator represented by Figure 1; [Fig.3] represents a heating member of the heating body represented by Figure 2, comprising a tube within which heating elements are housed;

[Fig.q] represents the heating element of Figure 3, with the tube of the heating element which has been removed here to make visible the interior of the heating element and two heating elements aligned with each other relative to each other. the other by a positioning means;

[Fig.5] represents a positioning element of the positioning means visible in Figure 4;

[Fig.6] represents a view of two positioning elements forming a positioning means interposed between two heating elements within a tube;

[Fig.7] represents a side view of the positioning means of Figure 6.

[Fig.8] represents a variant of Figure 7 with snap connection.

The characteristics, variants and different embodiments of the invention can be associated with each other, in various combinations, to the extent that they are not incompatible or exclusive of each other. It will be possible in particular to imagine variants of the invention comprising only a selection of characteristics described subsequently in isolation from the other characteristics described, if this selection of characteristics is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention from to the state of the art.

In the figures, elements common to several figures retain the same reference.

In the description which follows, we will refer to an orientation function of the Longitudinal, Vertical and Transverse axes as they are arbitrarily defined by the trihedron L, V, T represented in Figures 1 to 7. The choice of the names of these axes does not limit the orientation that the device can take in its application to a motor vehicle. Figure 1 represents an electric radiator 1 according to the invention configured to be installed in a heating, ventilation and/or air conditioning installation of a motor vehicle. The electric radiator i is used in this type of installation, for example, to heat a flow of air circulating in the heating, ventilation and/or air conditioning installation through the electric radiator i.

The electric radiator i comprises at least one heating body 2, extending in a direction of main longitudinal elongation substantially parallel to the axis L, and an electronic interface box 3, arranged on one side of the heating body, which contains all the electronic components which make it possible to both control the operation and electrically power the electric radiator 1.

The heating body 2 of the electric radiator 1 comprises a plurality of heating members 5 arranged at a distance from each other, as is particularly visible in Figure 2, so as to delimit between them a space for circulation of a flow air to be heated. In the example illustrated, the electric radiator 1 comprises a frame 4 forming a support for the heating body 2 and the heating elements 5, the frame 4 having openings 41 through which the air flow is able to circulate to pass between the heating elements 5 of the heating body 2. Without departing from the context of the invention, the electric radiator 1 could be devoid of this frame 4, the heating body 2 then being held on the electronic interface box 3 by a device appropriate mechanical fastening.

Figure 2 shows the heating body 2 alone. The heating elements 5 extend, like the radiator 1, in a direction of main longitudinal elongation substantially parallel to the axis L and parallel to each other. A circulation space 21 of the air flow is formed between each heating member 5, each circulation space being in the embodiment shown filled by radiant elements 22.

The radiant elements 22 are formed by a corrugated sheet extending mainly in the longitudinal direction L, that is to say along the axis L, substantially parallel to the heating elements 5. During operation of the electric radiator i, the heating elements 5 generate calories which are transmitted by conduction and/or convection to the radiant elements 22. When the air flow crosses the circulation space 21, an exchange of calories takes place between the wall metallic, forming the radiant elements 22 and heated by the release of heat from the heating elements, and the air flow so that the calories of the metal wall are transferred to the air flow. It should be noted that the shape of the radiant elements 22 makes it possible to increase the exchange surface between the metal wall and the air flow. Of course, the radiant elements 22 can take other shapes as long as these shapes make it possible to increase the exchange surface between the metal wall and the air flow and therefore to increase the number of calories able to be transmitted to the air flow.

As will be described in more detail in the description which follows, each heating member 5 comprises a first heating element and a second heating element housed within the same tube of this heating member. The first heating element is electrically powered by a first connector element 31 provided at a first longitudinal end edge 51 of the tube of the heating member 5. The second heating element is electrically powered by a second connector element 32 arranged at the second longitudinal end edge 52, opposite the first longitudinal end edge 51 of the tube of the heating member 5. The first connector elements 31 are directly connected to the electronic interface box 3 while the second connector elements 32 are connected to the electronic interface box 3 via a connector return which can in particular extend along one of the sides of the heating body, here the frame 4. Each of the first and second connector elements 31 and 32 is connected to electrodes, described in more detail in the remainder of this description and forming one of the components housed in a tube 6 of the heating member 5. Via these different electrical connections, the electronic interface box 3 makes it possible to modulate the operation of the electric heater 1 to activate the first heating elements and/or the second heating elements.

It results from such a heating member 5, comprising two heating elements capable of being supplied with electrical energy independently of one another, that the first heating element and the second heating element of the same heating element 5 and that it is thus possible to split the heating body 2 into two heating zones, one comprising the first heating elements and the other the second heating elements.

Figures 3 and 4 make more particularly visible the structure of a heating member 5. More precisely, Figure 3 makes visible the tube 6 of the heating member 5, at one end of which are visible a first insulator 71, a second insulator 72 , and connector elements 31 which protrude from the tube to allow the electrical connection of the electrodes housed within the tube and not visible in Figure 3. Figure 4 illustrates the heating member 5 as illustrated in Figure 3, here devoid of the tube 6 and the second insulator 72, to make the two heating elements more particularly visible and a positioning means according to the invention and positioned at the junction of the two heating elements.

Each heating element 5 comprises, according to the invention, the tube 6, a first heating element 7 and a second heating element 8 housed in the tube 6. The heating element 7 and the heating element 8 each comprise resistive elements 73 with a positive temperature coefficient (CTP), namely in the present case of CTP ceramic stones, a first electrode 74, a second electrode 75, the first insulator 71 and the second insulator 72.

The first electrode 74 and the second electrode 75 each comprise a tongue extending to a first longitudinal end 76 of the first and second heating elements 7 and 8 and forming a connection member 720 making it possible to connect the first electrode 74 and the second electrode 75 of the first heating element 7 and the second heating element 8, respectively, to the first connector element 31 and to the second connector element 32. It is understood that on the one hand, the first electrode 74 is electrically powered by means of the connecting member 720 and the first connector element 31 and that on the other hand, the second electrode 75 is electrically supplied by means of the second connector element 32 connected to the electronic interface box 3. It should be noted that the first heating element 7 and the second heating element 8 are, in the embodiment shown, similar.

They are inserted into the tube 6 in two different directions of insertion and each through a different longitudinal end edge of the tube. In position in the tube, the first longitudinal end 76 of the first heating element 7 is arranged at a first longitudinal end edge of the tube of the member, the first heating element 7 having been inserted into the tube by this first edge of end in a first longitudinal direction, and the first longitudinal end 76 of the second heating element 8 is arranged at a second longitudinal end edge of the tube of the member, the second heating element 8 having been inserted into the tube by this second edge end in a second longitudinal direction opposite to the first direction. As visible in Figures 3 and 4 in particular, the first longitudinal end 76 of the first heating element 7 is opposite the first longitudinal end 76 of the second heating element 8 in the tube 6, and the second longitudinal ends of each of the heating elements are arranged facing each other within the tube.

Within a heating element 7, 8, the first electrode 74 and the second electrode 75 form a pair of electrodes enclosing the resistive elements 73, the first insulator 71 being disposed between a first internal face 64 of the tube 6 and the first electrode 74 and the second insulator 72 being disposed between a second internal face 65 of the tube 6. In other words, the first electrode 74 and the second electrode 75 are respectively separated from the tube 6 by the first electrical insulator 71 and the second insulator electrical 72. These first and second electrical insulators 71, 72 prevent the electric current supplying the first electrode 74 and the second electrode 75 from reaching the tube 6. Furthermore, it is understood that the components of each of the first and second heating elements 7 , 8 are assembled along a stacking axis A substantially parallel to the vertical direction V. In other words, within a heating element, the first insulator 71, the first electrode 74, the resistive elements 73, the second electrode 75 and the second insulator 72 are stacked on top of each other and in this order along the stacking axis A.. The resistive elements 73 have a dimension in the longitudinal direction L making it possible to insert a plurality of resistive elements 73 between the first electrode 74 and the second electrode 75 at equal distance from each other. It should be noted that all the resistive elements 73 of the same heating element 7 and/or 8 generate heat as soon as an electric current is sent into the first electrode 74 and/or into the second electrode 75 which this includes. heating member 5, the electric current being transmitted to the resistive elements 73 in contact with said electrodes 74 and 75.

The tube 6 comprises two side walls 66 connecting two main walls 67 in opposition, each of the side walls 66 extends in the longitudinal direction L and the transverse direction T. More particularly, the side walls 66 join the main walls 67 together in such that the main walls 67 and the side walls 66 delimit an internal space in which the heating elements 7 and 8 are inserted.

More particularly, the tube 6 is deformed by a crimping process bending the side walls 66 so as to bring the main walls 67 closer to each other and improve the contact between them of the components forming a heating element within the tube.

According to the invention, and as mentioned previously, the heating member 5 comprises, according to the invention, a means 9 for positioning one of the heating elements 7 and 8 relative to the other in the tube 6. This positioning means 9 is formed, in the embodiments shown, by a thermoplastic elastomeric material and is arranged between the first heating element 7 and the second heating element 8. More precisely, the positioning means 9 is formed at the level of a second longitudinal end 77 of the heating elements facing each other, this second longitudinal end 77 being opposite the first longitudinal end 76. The positioning means can be considered as interposed longitudinally between the first and second heating elements 7 and 8, even if it is formed by elements made integral with each of the heating elements. As will be more particularly described in connection with Figures 6 and 7, the first heating element 7 comprises a first positioning element

91 and the second heating element 8 comprises a second positioning element 92, the first positioning element 91 and the second positioning element 92 jointly forming the positioning means 9.

One of the positioning elements 91, 92 comprises at least one projection and the other positioning element 91, 92 comprises at least one housing intended to accommodate the projecting element.

When inserting a heating element into the tube, while the other heating element is already present within the tube, the cooperation of the first positioning element 91 and the second positioning element 92 via this male-female assembly allows to ensure the positioning of the incoming heating element relative to the heating element present in the tube 6 and thus allows alignment at least in one direction of the heating elements 7.8 within the tube 6.

Each positioning element is here pressed against the resistive element closest to the second longitudinal end of the corresponding heating element. The positioning element 91, 92 is, advantageously, formed of a temperature-resistant material such as polyphenylene sulphide loaded with 30% glass fibers, commonly referred to as “PPS GF30”. Such a material has a strong heat resistance property making it possible to protect the positioning element 91,

92 of the heat generated by the resistive element 73 adjacent to the positioning element 91, 92. In an alternative embodiment, this protective function of the positioning element 91, 92 can consist of a thin layer of a heat-resistant material such as PPS GF30 interposed between the positioning element 91, 92 and the resistive element 73 against which it is pressed. It is understood that the plastic material forms a thin coating pressed against the resistive element 73 and that the positioning element 91, 92 is pressed against the plastic material. Figure 5 illustrates the second longitudinal end 77 of the first heating element 7 thereby making visible the first positioning element 91 of the first heating element 7. In this embodiment shown in Figure 5, the first positioning element 91 comprises a base 911, a first projecting element 10 and a second projecting element 11 extending longitudinally from the base 911, as well as a first housing 12 and a second housing 13 formed in the thickness of the base 911, for example by a release of material.

The first positioning element 91 has a first side 151 and a second side 152 distributed on either side of a longitudinal and transverse median plane 15, parallel in particular to the stacking axis previously mentioned. Each side 151, 152 comprises a projecting element and a housing, and these projecting elements and these housings are arranged within the first positioning element in double symmetry with respect on the one hand to the longitudinal and transverse median plane 15 which comes to be mentioned and in relation on the other hand to a longitudinal and vertical median plane, perpendicular to the longitudinal and transverse median plane 15.

This specific configuration makes it possible to arrange the first positioning element 91 in any direction against the first heating element, as long as the protruding elements are oriented opposite the resistive elements of this first heating element. And the same positioning element 91, 92 can be assembled with any one of the first heating element 7 or the second heating element 8.

The first positioning element 91 and the second positioning element 92 forming the positioning means 9 are identical, with the first positioning element and the second positioning element which are oriented in opposite longitudinal directions. In this way, the first side 151 of the first positioning element, arranged in the vicinity of a vertical end of the heating element, is arranged facing a second side 152 of the second positioning element. Thus, the at least one projecting element of one of the positioning elements can be housed in the at least one housing of the other positioning element. It follows from the above that the description of the first positioning element 91 in connection with Figure 5 applies mutatis mutandis to the second positioning element 92.

The first side 151 comprises in particular the first projecting element 10 and the first housing 12. The first projecting element 10 has the shape of a finger which extends from the base 911 of the first positioning element 91, in a parallel direction in the longitudinal direction L opposite the first heating element 7. A first free end 101 of the first projecting element 10 thus forms the part of the first heating element intended to be closest to the second heating element 8 during the inserting the heating elements into the tube. Furthermore, the first projecting element 10 comprises at the level of the first free end 101 a first chamfer 102, which will be described in more detail in connection with Figure 7.

The first housing 12 is intended to accommodate an element projecting from the second positioning element 92. This first housing 12 is formed by a clearance of material within the base and it is delimited by the first insulator 71, a bottom wall, formed by the resistive element 73 closest to the second longitudinal end 77, a first transverse wall 121 and a first vertical wall 122.

The first transverse wall 121 and the first vertical wall 122 each extend from the resistive element 73, and the first vertical wall 122, which extends substantially parallel to the first projecting element, has at its edge opposite the resistive element 73 a second chamfer 123, which will be described in more detail in connection with Figure 7.

The second side 152 comprises in particular the second projecting element 11 and the second housing 13. The second projecting element 11 has the shape of a finger which extends from the base 911 of the first positioning element 91, in a parallel direction in the longitudinal direction L opposite the first heating element 7. A second free end 111 of the second projecting element 11 thus also forms the part of the first heating element intended to be closest to the second heating element 8 during the inserting the heating elements into the tube. Furthermore, the second projecting element n comprises at the level of the second free end ni a third chamfer 112, which will be described in more detail in connection with Figure 7.

Like the first housing 12, the second housing 13 is intended to accommodate an element projecting from the second positioning element 92. The second housing 13 is formed by a clearance of material within the base and it is delimited by the second insulator 72, a bottom wall, formed by said resistive element 73 closest to the second longitudinal end 77, a second transverse wall 131 and a second vertical wall 132.

The second transverse wall 131 and the second vertical wall 132 each extend from the resistive element 73, and the second vertical wall 122, which extends substantially parallel to the first projecting element, has at its edge opposite the element resistive 73 a fourth chamfer 133, which will be described in more detail in connection with Figure 7.

In addition, the first positioning element 91 comprises stop elements 912, 913 arranged at each of the transverse ends and extending transversely the base 911 to abut against one of the insulators 71, 72. More particularly, a first element stop 912 is arranged at a first transverse end of the positioning element 91. This first stop element 912 extends in a direction parallel to the axis V on a part of the first positioning element 91, it that is to say over the entire transverse dimension of the base 911 up to the first housing 12, this first stopping element 912 being intended to abut against the first insulator 71. Opposite the first stopping element 912, a second stopping element 913 extends to a second transverse end of the first positioning element 91, in said direction parallel to the axis V and up to the second housing 13, this second stopping element 913 being intended to come into contact of the second insulator 72.

In the center of the first positioning element 91, in a vertical and transverse strip which is in particular delimited vertically by the first side wall 121 and the second side wall 131 and extends transversely from the first stopping element 912 to the second element stop 913, the base 911 forms a stop surface, substantially flat and intended to come into contact with a corresponding stop surface formed by the base of the second positioning element 92. In this way, when the stop surfaces of the bases of the first positioning element 91 and of the second positioning element 92 are in contact, it is possible to block the longitudinal insertion of one heating element 7, 8 relative to the other.

Figure 6 illustrates a perspective view of the first heating element 7 and the second heating element 8 and the cooperation of the first positioning element 91 and the second positioning element 92 to form the positioning means 9 making it possible to align one of the heating elements 7, 8 relative to the other within the tube 6.

It should be noted that, in this Figure 6, the second insulator 72 has been removed, making it possible to see a first bearing surface 914 on which rests a part of the second insulator 72 and the shoulder formed by the stopping element 913 for positioning the positioning element against this second insulator 72. It is understood that the first insulator 71 also rests partly on a second support surface, here not visible in Figure 6, and that the first and second positioning elements 91 and 92 are framed transversely between the first and second insulators 71 and 72 of the associated heating element 7, 8, which ensures that the base of the positioning elements is correctly pressed against the element resistive closest to the second longitudinal end 77 of the heating element.

The first positioning element 91 and the second positioning element 92 cooperate with each other to form the positioning means 9. To this end, when inserting a heating element within the tube in which is already present the other heating element, the first protruding element 10 of each heating element will be housed in the second housing 13 of the other heating element, and the second projecting element 11 of each heating element will be housed in the first housing 12 of the other heating element.

As visible in Figure 6 in particular, the first and second transverse walls 121,131 extend along a plane inclined relative to a plane extending along the axis L and the axis T. This inclined plane of the first and second transverse walls 121, 131 is respectively complementary to an inclined side wall of the second projecting element 11 and of the first projecting element 10 intended to be facing the first and second transverse walls 121, 131 when the projecting elements enter their respective housing. The inclined side wall of the projecting elements 10, 11 is the side wall arranged at the vertical end facing the abutment surface of the base 911.

The ramp formed by the inclined plane of a transverse wall 121, 131 makes it possible to guide the first and second projecting elements 10, 11 into the associated housing 12 or 13 and therefore to adjust the position of a heating element relative to to the other in the tube 6 in a vertical direction parallel to the axis V shown in the figures. Furthermore, when the abutment surfaces of each base 911 are in contact with each other and the projecting elements 10, 11 are in their associated housing 12, 13, a vertical movement of one of the heating elements 7, 8 relative to the other is blocked by the contact between on the one hand, the first transverse wall 121 and the second projecting element 11, and on the other hand, the second transverse wall 131 and the first projecting element 10.

The positioning and blocking in a transverse direction is particularly visible in Figure 7 which illustrates, schematically, a side view of the heating member 5 devoid of the tube 6, and in which the abutment surfaces of the base 911 of the first and second positioning elements 91, 92 are in contact with each other. As mentioned, this contact between said abutment surfaces makes it possible to block movement in a direction parallel to the direction of main longitudinal elongation, that is to say parallel to the axis L, of the heating member 5 , in a direction leading to bringing the first and second heating elements 7, 8 closer to each other.

Figure 7 makes it particularly visible that in accordance with what has been mentioned, the first and second positioning elements 91 and 92 are respectively in contact with the resistive elements 73 of the first element heating element 7 and the second heating element 8 closest to the second longitudinal end 77 of said heating elements 7, 8.

In particular, the first and second positioning elements 91 and 92 can be made integral with said resistive elements, for example, by means of an adhesive layer. It should be noted that the positioning elements 91, 92 can also be secured to the first insulator 71 and/or to the second insulator 72 by linking said insulators 71, 72 to the associated support surfaces 914.

As described above, the first projecting element 10 comprises a first chamfer 102 and the second projecting element 11 comprises a third chamfer 112. The first chamfer 102 is intended to facilitate the sliding of the first projecting element 10 within the second housing 13 , between the second insulator 72 and the second vertical wall 132 so that, during the insertion of the first and second heating elements 7.8 in the tube 6, in the event of contact between the first projecting element 10 and the second insulator 72, the first chamfer 102 makes it possible to guide the first projecting element 10 transversely into the second housing 13. Similarly, the third chamfer 112 is intended to cooperate with the first insulator 71 so that in the event of contact between the second projecting element 11 and the first insulator 71, the third chamfer 112 makes it possible to guide the second projecting element 11 transversely in the first housing 12.

As has also been described previously, the first vertical wall 122 comprises a second chamfer 123 and the second vertical wall 132 comprises a fourth chamfer 133. The second chamfer 123 is intended to cooperate with the second free end 111 of the second element making projection 11 such that, when inserting the first and second heating elements 7.8 into the tube 6, in the event of contact between the second free end 111 and the second chamfer 123, the second chamfer 123 makes it possible to guide transversely the second projecting element 11 in the first housing 12. The fourth chamfer 133 is intended to cooperate with the first free end 101 of the first projecting element 10 so that in the event of contact between first free end 102 and the fourth chamfer 133, the fourth chamfer 133 makes it possible to guide the first projecting element 10 transversely in the second housing 13.

It is understood that depending on the possible transverse offset of one heating element relative to the other during the insertion of one of the heating elements in the tube, the first elements projecting from a positioning element are able to cooperate with an insulator to guide the positioning elements transversely in a first direction while the other projecting elements are able to cooperate with a vertical wall to guide these positioning elements transversely in a second direction.

It is understood that the positioning means 9 makes it possible to position one of the heating elements 7, 8 relative to the other within the tube in both directions in each of the vertical and transverse directions, and in the direction of rapprochement. one from the other in the longitudinal direction, it being understood that the relative positioning in the other longitudinal direction is fixed when the heating elements are electrically connected at their first longitudinal end. The positioning means 9 also makes it possible to block the movement of one of the heating elements 7, 8 relative to the other once the latter have been introduced into the tube 6, at least in the transverse and vertical directions.

Figure 8 represents an alternative embodiment in which the first positioning element 91 and the second positioning element 92 are engaged with each other. By snap-fit we mean a connection involving a form locking. The two heating elements 7 and 8 can thus be blocked relative to each other. Where appropriate, each projecting element 10, 11 may include an elastic hook. This hook is able to engage, by elastic deformation, in a groove 141, 151 of the corresponding housing when introducing the protruding element into the corresponding housing. This groove can be delimited for example by the positioning element and the end of one of the resistive elements. Thus, the invention as it has just been described achieves the goals it had set for itself and makes it possible to propose a heating member for the heating body of an electric radiator within which the position of the heating elements l one in relation to the other is ensured during the step of inserting the heating elements into the tube without the need for subsequent realignment operations before proceeding with the electrical connection of the heating elements. Variants not described here could be implemented without departing from the context of the invention, since, in accordance with the invention, they comprise a heating member in which the heating elements are positioned relative to each other. within the tube during the step of inserting the heating elements into the tube by means of positioning means.

Claims

1. Heating member (5) for heating body (2) of an electric radiator (1) intended to heat a flow of air circulating through the heating body (2), the heating member (5) comprising at least a first heating element (7), a second heating element (8) and a tube (6) housing the first heating element (7) and the second heating element (8), characterized in that the heating member (5) comprises at least one means for positioning (9) one of said heating elements (7, 8) relative to the other in the tube (6).

2. Heating member (5) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the first heating element (7) and the second heating element (8) each comprise a plurality of resistive elements, a first electrode, a second electrode, the elements resistors being in contact with the first electrode and the second electrode.

3. Heating member (5) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first heating element (7) comprises a first positioning element (91) and the second heating element (8) comprises a second positioning element (92), the first positioning element (91) and the second positioning element (92) jointly forming the positioning means (9).

4. Heating member (5) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the first positioning element (91) and the second positioning element (92) are formed in separate parts.

5. Heating member (5) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the first positioning element (91) and the second positioning element (92) each have an axis of symmetry.

6. Heating member (5) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the first positioning element (91) and the second positioning element (92) are identical.

7. Heating member (5) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, the first heating element (7) and the second heating element (8) form two structural subassemblies distinct from each other before their relative positioning inside the tube. Heating member (5) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first heating element (7) and the second heating element (8) are identical. Heating member (5) according to one of claims 3 to 8, characterized in that one of the positioning elements (91, 92) comprises at least one projecting element (10, 11) and in that the other positioning element (91, 92) comprises at least one housing (12, 13) intended to accommodate said projecting element (10, 11). Heating member (5) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the at least one projecting element (10, 11) comprises at a free end (101, 111) a first chamfer (102, 112). Heating member (5) according to any one of claims 9 and 10, characterized in that at least one wall (122, 132) of one of the positioning elements (91, 92) participating in delimiting the housing (12, 13 ) includes a second chamfer (123, 133). Heating member (5) according to any one of claims 9 to 11, in which the heating member (5) extends in a direction of main longitudinal elongation, characterized in that the first positioning element (91) and the second positioning element (92) comprise a base (911) in which the housings (12, 13) are formed by release of material and from which the projecting elements (10, 11) extend, said base ( 911) having a central abutment surface disposed between the two elements projecting within the same positioning element, the central abutment surface of the first positioning element (91) being intended to be in contact against the central abutment surface of the second positioning element (92) so as to block the movement of one of said heating elements (7, 8) relative to the other heating element in a direction parallel to said direction of main longitudinal elongation of the member heating (5). - Heating member (5) according to any one of the preceding claims in combination with claim 3, characterized in that the first positioning element (91) is in contact with a resistive element (73) of the first heating element (7 ) and the second positioning element (92) is in contact with a resistive element (73) of the second heating element (8). . Heating member (5) according to any one of the preceding claims, in combination with claim 8, wherein the first heating element

(7) has a first positioning element (91) which is of the same shape as the second positioning element of the second heating element

(8), the first positioning element and the second positioning element being oriented in opposite longitudinal directions so that the at least one projecting element (10, 11) from one of the positioning elements (91, 92) is housed in at least one housing (12, 13) of the other positioning element (91, 92). . Heating member (5) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the heating member is configured such that the first heating element (7) and the second heating element (8) can be supplied with current independently. one from the other. . Electric radiator (1) comprising a heating body (2) in which at least one heating member (5) conforms to any one of the preceding claims.