Method for manufacturing an electrical heating device and heating device

Abstract

What is described is a method for manufacturing an electrical heating device, wherein electrical heating resistors are disposed in tubes of an extruded profile, and openings are cut into a plate of the extruded profile connecting the tubes. According to this disclosure, fastening sections of the extruded profile are plastically deformed and, by means thereof, heat sinks are fastened on the extruded profile. A corresponding electrical heating device is also described.

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing an electrical heating device, comprising: providing an extruded profile comprising tubes and a plate connecting the tubes; arranging electrical heating resistors in the tubes of the extruded profile; cutting openings into the plate of the extruded profile; and fastening heat sinks on the extruded profile by plastically deforming fastening sections of the extruded profile.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the fastening sections are blades, which are cut out of the plate, then folded upright in order to form the openings and, after plastic deformation, retain the heat sinks by clamping.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the fastening sections are regions of the plate adjoining the tubes or are flanges extending from the tubes, and the heat sinks are fastened on the tubes by placing each heat sink between the plate and one of the flanges, and then deforming the flange or the region adjoining the tube plastically.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the heat sink is sheet metal bent in a serpentine shape.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the fastening sections are bent over an edge of the heat sinks for fastening the heat sinks.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the total surface area of the cut-out openings is larger than the remaining surface area of the plate.

7. A heating device, comprising: electrical heating resistors; tubes in which the heating resistors are disposed; the tubes comprising webs connecting the tubes; heat sinks bearing against the tubes; and fastening sections extending from the webs or the tubes, the fastening sections retaining the heat sinks on the webs.

8. The heating device according to claim 7, wherein at least some of the fastening sections are blades, which extend from the webs and retain the tubes.

9. The electrical heating device according to claim 7, wherein at least some of the fastening sections are flanges extending from the tubes, wherein each of the heat sinks is retained by one of the flanges and the webs.

10. The electrical heating device according to claim 7, wherein the tubes, flanges, and webs were produced as a single piece from an extruded profile, wherein openings were cut into a plate connecting the tubes, thereby forming the webs out of the plate.

11. The electrical heating device according to claim 7, wherein the webs connect lateral surfaces of the tubes.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The above-mentioned aspects of exemplary embodiments will become more apparent and will be better understood by reference to the following description of the embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic depiction of an electrical heating device;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a detailed view of FIG. 1; and

(4) FIG. 3 shows a detailed view of a further embodiment in which the heat sinks are retained by blades.

DESCRIPTION

(5) The embodiments described below are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed in the following detailed description. Rather, the embodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may appreciate and understand the principles and practices of this disclosure.

(6) The heating device depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises heat sinks 1, which are fastened on tubes 2, in each of which one or more heating resistors, for example, ceramic PTC elements, are disposed. The tubes 2 are connected to one another by webs 3. The tubes 2 can be fastened at one end to a base 4 and/or can carry an attachment 5 at the other end, wherein said attachment can contain electrical connections and/or control electronics.

(7) The heat sinks 1 are each fastened on the tubes 2, between the webs 3 and a flange 6. The tubes 2 can comprise a flange 6, as a fastening section, on two opposing sides. After a heat sink 1 is set in place, the flange 6 is plastically deformed, for example, using a pressing or stamping tool 7 depicted schematically in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 2, after such plastic deformation, sections 6a of the flange 6 can engage around an edge of the heat sink 1. When the flange 6 is plastically deformed, the underlying heat sink 1 can also be plastically deformed.

(8) Strips of sheet metal bent in a serpentine shape, for example, can be used as the heat sinks 1.

(9) The tubes 2, the flange 6 thereof, and the webs 3 are produced as an extruded profile, wherein openings 8 were cut into a plate connecting the tubes 2. The webs 3 are what remains of this plate after the openings are cut out. The total surface area of the openings 8 is preferably greater than the remaining surface area of the plate, i.e., greater than the total surface area of the webs 3. For example, the total surface area of all openings 8 can be more than twice the total surface area of all webs 3.

(10) The webs 3 extend between lateral surfaces of the tubes 2. The tubes 2 can be embodied as square tubes. In this case, the webs 3 are positioned perpendicularly on the lateral surfaces. The webs 3 can be disposed on a tube edge. It is also possible for the webs 3 to be positioned on a lateral surface of one of the tubes 2 at a distance from the two edges that limit this lateral surface. FIG. 1 depicts different stages of manufacturing. The webs 3 are show in phantom on the right, whereas the cutouts 8 are shown near the center of FIG. 1. On the left side of FIG. 1, the heat sinks 1 are shown and on the far left side the stamping tools 7 are depicted.

(11) Alternatively or in addition thereto, the heat sinks 1 in the above-described heating device can also be retained by blades 9, which are formed of the material of the plate in the region of the openings 8. This region is circled in FIG. 1 and this optional feature is depicted in FIG. 3. The blades 9 are cut out of the plate, as fastening sections, and are then folded upright and are bent to hold the heat sinks 1, as depicted schematically in FIG. 3.

(12) While exemplary embodiments have been disclosed hereinabove, the present invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Instead, this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of this disclosure using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.