HEATING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCTION THEREOF

Abstract

A method for producing an electric heating device, preferably fluid- or air-heating device, in particular for a motor vehicle, wherein at least one conductive polymer structure is produced by primary forming, said polymer structure containing a polymer component and a conductive component, in particular carbon component, wherein fluid channels for conducting the fluid to be heated are introduced into the polymer structure during the primary-forming manufacturing.

Claims

1. Method for producing an electric heating device, preferably fluid- or air-heating device, in particular for a motor vehicle, wherein at least one conductive polymer structure is produced by primary forming, said polymer structure containing a polymer component and a conductive component, in particular carbon component, wherein fluid channels for conducting the fluid to be heated are introduced into the polymer structure during the primary-forming manufacturing.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the primary forming operation comprises: a casting operation, in particular injection moulding and/or die-casting operation, a pressing operation, in particular extrusion and/or press-forming operation, and/or a foaming operation.

3. Method according to claim 1, wherein during the primary forming, at least one electrical connection element is connected to the polymer structure.

4. Method according to claim 1, wherein at least one/the at least one electrical connection element is arranged in a shaping tool before the primary forming.

5. Method according to claim 1, wherein the polymer structure forms a grid, honeycomb or network structure.

6. Electric heating device comprising at least one conductive polymer structure, wherein the polymer structure contains a polymer component and a carbon component, wherein the polymer structure has fluid channels for conducting the fluid to be heated, wherein the fluid channels are introduced by primary-forming manufacturing of the polymer structure.

7. Heating device according to claim 6, wherein at least one electrical connection element is connected to the polymer structure.

8. Heating device according to claim 6, wherein the polymer structure comprises a grid, honeycomb or network structure.

9. Heating device according to claim 6, wherein cross sections of the fluid channels in the polymer structure amount to at least 5% and/or amount to at most 80% of a total cross section of the polymer structure.

10. Heating device according to claim 6, wherein the carbon component is present in particle form and/or as a carbon backbone and/or is present in the form of carbon black and/or graphite and/or graphene and/or carbon fibres and/or carbon nanotubes.

11. Heating device according to claim 6, wherein the polymer structure has an electrically insulating polymer component.

12. Heating device according to claim 6, wherein the polymer structure comprises at least 6 fluid channels.

13. Method for operating a heating device according to claim 6, wherein fluid flows through the fluid channels and is heated in the process.

14. (canceled)

15. Method according to claim 3 wherein the at least one electrical connection element is a metal wire, metal grid, metal bar, metal sheet and/or metal sheet strip and is embedded in the polymer structure.

16. Method according to claim 4, wherein the shaping tool is an injection moulding tool.

17. Heating device according to claim 7, wherein the at least one electrical connection element is a metal wire, metal grid, metal bar, metal sheet and/or metal sheet strip, and is embedded in the polymer structure.

18. Heating device according claim 9, wherein cross sections of the fluid channels in the polymer structure amount to at least 20% of a total cross section of the polymer structure.

19. Heating device according to claim 12, wherein the polymer structure comprises at least 40 fluid channels.

20. Heating device according to claim 12, wherein the polymer structure comprises at least 10 fluid channels.

21. Method for operating a heating device according to claim 13 wherein the fluid is air.

Description

[0055] The invention disclosure is described below with reference to an exemplary embodiment that is explained in more detail with reference to the appended figures. In the figures:

[0056] FIG. 1 shows a schematic front view of an electric air-heating device according to the invention;

[0057] FIG. 2 shows a side view of the air-heating device according to FIG. 1;

[0058] FIG. 3 shows a sectional representation of the heating device according to FIG. 1; and

[0059] FIG. 4 shows a further sectional view of the air-heating device according to FIG. 1.

[0060] In the following description, the same reference numerals are used for identical and functionally identical parts.

[0061] FIG. 1 shows a schematic front view of an electric air-heating device according to the invention. The air-heating device has a polymer structure 10 and electrical contacts 11 and 12. The polymer structure 10 has a multiplicity of fluid channels 13 which here (optionally) have a rectangular cross section. The fluid channels 13 are arranged (regularly) in a plurality of columns and rows (this is not necessary).

[0062] In the sectional views according to FIGS. 3 and 4, electrical connection elements 14, 14a (e.g. connection bars or sheet strips) are provided which are embedded in the polymer structure 10 (see also FIG. 4). The connection elements 14a connect the connection elements 14 to the contacts 11, 12.

[0063] The air flow is schematically outlined by the arrow 15 in FIGS. 2 and 4.

[0064] As can also be seen in FIG. 3, the electrical connection elements 14 (connection bars) are connected to one another, such that an electrical connection is ensured (via the electrical contacts 11, 12).

[0065] The polymer structure 10 is a polymer structure based on polymer having a carbon content. The polymer structure has PTC behaviour.

[0066] The electrical connection elements 14 are preferably of metal.

[0067] The electrical supply may in particular take place via direct current.

[0068] At this point it should be noted that all of the parts described above, viewed individually and in any combination, in particular the details illustrated in the drawings, are claimed as essential to the invention. Amendments thereto are familiar to the person skilled in the art.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0069] 10 Polymer structure [0070] 11 Electrical contact [0071] 12 Electrical contact [0072] 13 Fluid channel [0073] 14 Electrical connection element [0074] 15 Arrow