HEATING STRUCTURE FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

The invention relates to a heating structure (30) which is intended in particular to be installed inside a passenger compartment of a vehicle, the heating structure (30) comprising at least one resistive layer arranged to release heat when an electric current passes through this layer (36), this panel further comprising art electrode array comprising a plurality of contact electrodes (34) arranged to be in electrical contact with the resistive layer in order to Sallow electric current to flow through this resistive layer.

Claims

1. A heating structure to be installed inside a passenger compartment of a vehicle, the heating structure comprising: at least one resistive layer arranged so as to release heat when an electric current passes through this layer; an electrode array comprising a plurality of contact electrodes arranged so as to be in electrical contact with the resistive layer in order to allow electric current to flow through this resistive layer, wherein the contact electrodes and the resistive layer are borne on a substrate made of a flexible material capable of stretching and taking a predetermined shape through deformation.

2. The heating structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the contact electrodes are formed by intermeshed, woven or knitted filaments, on or in a respectively woven or knitted substrate.

3. The heating structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the substrate is a non-woven substrate.

4. The heating structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the substrate is a stretchable textile or stretchable knit which incorporates filaments used as contact electrodes and the resistive layer is placed on the surface.

5. The heating structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein, a plurality of contact electrodes being connected together to a distribution electrode, the connection between the distribution electrode and the contact electrodes may be made by integrating the distribution electrode into the weaving weft and the contact electrodes into the weaving warp or vice versa.

6. The heating structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the contact electrodes and distribution electrodes are made of copper filaments.

7. A component forming an element of a glove compartment or a door panel of a vehicle, comprising: a heating structure as claimed in claim 1.

Description

[0052] It is understood that the set of features and configurations above is in no way limiting. Further features, details and advantages of the invention will become more clearly apparent from reading the detailed description given below, and several exemplary embodiments that are given by way of non-limiting indication, with reference to the attached schematic drawings, in which:

[0053] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of one exemplary embodiment of the radiant panel according to one exemplary embodiment of the invention;

[0054] FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of components including the radiant panel of the invention;

[0055] FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of another heating structure of the invention;

[0056] FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of another heating structure of the invention;

[0057] FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of another heating structure of the invention.

[0058] FIG. 1 shows a radiant panel 1 forming a heating structure in the sense of the invention, and designed to be installed inside a passenger compartment 3 of a vehicle.

[0059] The radiant panel 1 comprises a resistive layer 4 which is designed to release heat when an electric current passes through this layer 4.

[0060] The resistive layer 4 is, for example, an acrylic paint loaded with conductive or semi-conductive particles. This conductive filler takes the form of carbon or graphite flakes for example.

[0061] This panel 1 also comprises an electrode array 5 comprising a plurality of contact electrodes 6 which are arranged to be in electrical contact with the resistive layer 4 in order to cause an electric current to flow through this resistive layer 4.

[0062] These contact electrodes 6 are arranged with a mutual spacing D1, D2, . . . Di between successive electrodes, which spacing is variable.

[0063] These contact electrodes 6 are rectilinear and mutually parallel in the example described.

[0064] The electrode array 5 comprises distribution electrodes 8 arranged to conduct electric current to the contact electrodes 6, wherein one of these electrodes 8 is connected to an electrical source 9, for example of positive electrical polarity. The other distribution electrode 8 is connected to another polarity, for example being connected to ground.

[0065] The electric current thus passes into a distribution electrode 8 which distributes it into the contact electrodes 6. The current then circulates in the resistive layer 4 before being collected by the contact electrodes 6 connected to the other distribution electrode 8.

[0066] Several contact electrodes 6 are connected to one and the same distribution electrode 8.

[0067] The distribution electrodes 8 are rectilinear over part of their length, even over their entire length, and the contact electrodes 6 associated with these distribution electrodes 8 are connected perpendicularly to this associated distribution electrode 8.

[0068] Here, the electrode array 5 comprises two mutually parallel distribution electrodes 8, and their associated contact electrodes 6 are arranged between these two distribution electrodes 8 and alternate with a spacing D1, D2 . . . Di, which decreases in accordance with the decrease in voltage U1, U2 . . . Ui present between the pairs of electrodes 6, so as to maintain a substantially uniform electrical power between the pairs of contact electrodes.

[0069] The contact electrodes 6 which are arranged between the two distribution electrodes 8 (these contact electrodes forming part of the same group 14 of contact electrodes) have a plurality of spacing values D1, D2, . . . Di. In the example described, D1>D2>D3>D4 and U1>U2>U3>U4 are for the voltages between the electrodes 6.

[0070] The resistive layer 4 is a layer deposited on a substrate 16, in particular by screen printing, this resistive layer 4 extending in particular between the two distribution electrodes 8 associated with the group of contact electrodes.

[0071] The electrodes 6 and 8 are made of conductive material, in particular metal, such as paint loaded with conductive particles, in particular particles of silver or copper.

[0072] In the example described, the resistive layer 4 associated with the group of contact electrodes is a continuous, substantially rectangular layer. Other shapes are naturally conceivable.

[0073] The contact electrodes 6 of one and the same group 14 have the same length. As a variant, the electrodes 6 may have different lengths.

[0074] In an example which is not shown, several pairs of distribution electrodes 8 may be provided, and there are then several groups 14 of contact electrodes 6.

[0075] A passenger compartment component 19 of a motor vehicle, in particular a component to be integrated into a door of the vehicle, is provided with a radiant panel 1. Several components may be provided in the passenger compartment.

[0076] The component 19 may comprise a decorative layer applied to the radiant panel. The decorative layer may for example be impermeable to air, for example being made of leather.

[0077] The distribution electrodes 8 may if desired have more complex shapes, with for example one or more rounded corners connecting the rectilinear portions.

[0078] In the example described, all spacing values Ui of a group 15 are different. As a variant, it is possible that certain spacing values of one and the same group are identical, and not all are different.

[0079] The substrate may be a sheet or a cloth for example.

[0080] The contact electrodes 6 and their associated distribution electrodes 8 are arranged in the manner of enmeshed combs.

[0081] In one variant, the heating structure is used in a component of a passenger compartment, being a passenger armrest, wherein the structure may warm the arm of the passenger through thermal contact.

[0082] In the example described, the substrate 16 is stretchable. In particular, the elements of the heating structure form a stretchable assembly, namely the substrate 16, the resistive layer 4 and the contact electrodes 6 are stretchable and flexible.

[0083] The contact electrodes 6 are formed by intermeshed, in particular woven or knitted, filaments, on a respectively woven or knitted substrate 16.

[0084] The conductive filaments forming the contact electrodes 6 are in contact with the resistive layer 4.

[0085] In another example of the invention, the substrate is a non-woven. This non-woven may comprise a mixture of polypropylene fibers and/or polyester fibers. Other fibers may be used, for example natural fibers.

[0086] As a variant, the substrate 16 is a fabric, in particular with stretchable filaments, or a knitted structure.

[0087] According to one aspect of the invention, the substrate may be a flexible plastic sheet or a foam such as TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane).

[0088] FIG. 3 shows a heating structure 30 intended in particular to be installed inside a passenger compartment of a vehicle, this structure being a radiant panel, the heating structure comprising a set of intermeshed filaments, of which certain filaments 31 form distribution electrodes 32, also called busbars, and other intermeshed filaments 33 form contact electrodes 34.

[0089] The substrate 35 on which the electrodes 32 and 34 are formed is here a knitted structure 35 which incorporates filaments used as contact electrodes and the resistive layer 36 is placed on the surface. The resistive ink is attached, for example, to the textile by lamination, screen printing or hot stamping and transfer.

[0090] The substrate 35 comprises at least one of the following filaments: non-stretchable filaments for the substrate, non-stretchable conductive filaments for electrodes, single-stranded or multi-stranded copper filaments, a copper conductive filament, and non-conductive filaments for reasons of mechanical strength or ease of manufacture.

[0091] The heating structure 30 comprises an electrical distribution circuit 39 comprising distribution electrodes 32 which carry the current from the connectors to the contact electrodes 34 which are in contact, for example, with a resistive layer.

[0092] The contact 34 and distribution 32 electrodes are, for example, made of copper filaments.

[0093] When the substrate 35 is knitted, the stretchable characteristic may be obtained either through the arrangement of the knitted structure, namely through the knitting technique, or through the intrinsic stretchability of the filaments used for the knitting.

[0094] In particular, if the extensibility of the conductive filament is different from that of the main fibers of the knit, the end of each conductor must remain free to move inside or outside the knit.

[0095] Let A be the number of contact electrodes 34 connecting to one of the distribution electrodes 32 and B the number of filaments used for each contact electrode; the distribution electrodes thus have A×B knitted filaments. The knitted filaments of the distribution electrodes are knitted so as to form connecting elements too.

[0096] In order to have a continuous manufacturing process for the knitted or woven structure, it is possible to connect the two sides of the contact electrodes 34 to the distribution electrodes 32 and then to electrically neutralize a portion of these contact electrodes with respect to the distribution electrode by cutting the filaments of the contact electrodes by stamping them, as represented by the regions 41 in FIG. 4, or by incorporating an electrical insulator into a region 42 illustrated in FIG. 5, at the location where the electrical connection must be interrupted. FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate woven substrates 45.

[0097] It is possible to have a connector at the end of each contact electrode 36, or an external distribution electrode connecting all of the contact electrodes together.

[0098] The filaments used for the distribution electrodes have a larger diameter than the filaments used to form the contact electrodes, or heating filaments.

[0099] In the case of using heating filaments, it is not mandatory to have a resistive layer, for example a resistive ink layer.

[0100] If a plurality of contact electrodes 34 are connected together to one of the distribution electrodes 32, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the connection between the distribution electrode 32 and the contact electrodes 34 may be made by integrating the distribution electrode into the weaving weft and the contact electrodes into the weaving warp or vice versa. By virtue of an alternating passage on the two sides of the woven structure, the connection between electrodes is secure.