ELECTRIC HEATING DEVICE, METHOD FOR PRODUCING, OPERATING AND USING SAID TYPE OF DEVICE

Abstract

An electric heating appliance, particularly a liquid or air heating appliance, particularly for a motor vehicle, comprising a first heating element with a corresponding main body and at least one second heating element with a corresponding main body. A clearance is formed between the heating elements through which fluid can flow for its heating. The heating elements are joined together by at least one spacer arranged between them, particularly a conductive spacer. The spacer is a fixed component of the first heating element.

Claims

1. Electric heating appliance for a motor vehicle, comprising a first heating element with a corresponding main body and at least one second heating element with a corresponding main body, wherein a clearance is formed between the heating elements through which fluid can flow for its heating, wherein the heating elements are joined together by at least one spacer arranged between them wherein the spacer is a fixed component of the first heating element.

2. Heating appliance according to claim 1, wherein the spacer is connected undetachably to the main body of the first heating element and/or it is connected by material bonding, force locking and/or form fitting to the main body of the first heating element and/or it is formed as a monolithically moulded-on component of the first heating element.

3. Heating appliance according to claim 1, wherein the heating elements each comprise a polymer structure, containing a polymer component and a conductive component and/or preferably comprise in each case a substrate and/or a polymer layer as the polymer structure.

4. Heating appliance according to claim 1, wherein the first and/or second heating element are electrically contacted across the spacer.

5. Heating appliance according to claim 1 wherein the spacer is formed from the first heating element by cutting and/or stamping and/or bending.

6. Heating appliance according to claim 1 wherein the spacer is in electrical and/or mechanical contact with a carrier and/or bridge element which electrically and/or mechanically connects the first and the second heating element, wherein a connection between spacer and carrier and/or bridge element is provided by force locking and/or material bonding.

7. Heating appliance according to claim 1, wherein the first heating element comprises at least one opening for receiving a carrier and/or bridge element wherein the at least one spacer is arranged at least partly around the opening.

8. Heating appliance according to claim 1 wherein the spacer is formed at an edge of the first heating element by a rolling and/or flanging.

9. Heating appliance according to claim 1, wherein at least three heating elements are provided with corresponding clearances.

10. Method for producing an electric heating appliance according to claim 1, comprising a first heating element with a corresponding main body and at least one second heating element with a corresponding main body, wherein a clearance is formed between the heating elements through which fluid can flow for its heating, wherein at least one spacer is formed as a fixed component of the first heating element such that the spacer separates the first and the second heating element from each other.

11. Method according to claim 10, wherein the spacer is connected undetachably to the main body of the first heating element and/or it is connected by material bonding, force locking and/or form fitting to the main body of the first heating element and/or it is formed as a monolithically moulded-on component of the first heating element.

12. Method according to claim 10, wherein the heating elements each comprise a polymer structure, containing a polymer component and a conductive component, and/or comprise in each case a substrate and/or a polymer layer as the polymer structure.

13. Method according to claim 10, wherein the spacer is formed from the first heating element by cutting and/or stamping and/or bending.

14. Method according to claim 10, wherein the spacer is brought into electrical and/or mechanical contact with a carrier and/or bridge element which electrically and/or mechanically connects the first and the second heating element, wherein a connection between spacer and carrier and/or bridge element is provided by force locking and/or material bonding.

15. Method according to claim 10, wherein the spacer is formed at an edge of the first heating element by a rolling and/or flanging.

16. Method for operating a heating appliance according to claim 1, wherein fluid, particularly air, or a liquid, such as water, flows through the at least one clearance and is thereby heated.

17. (canceled)

18. Electric heating appliance according to claim 1, wherein the at least one spacer is a conductive spacer.

19. Heating appliance according to claim 3 wherein the conductive component is a carbon component, and/or the substrate is an insulating substrate.

20. Heating appliance according to claim 6 wherein the connection between spacer and carrier and/or bridge element is provided by press-fitting and/or soldering and/or welding, particularly laser welding.

21. Heating appliance according to claim 7, wherein the carrier and/or bridge element is rod-shaped and conductive.

Description

[0065] In the following, the disclosure will be described with the aid of exemplary embodiments, which are explained more closely with the aid of the enclosed figures. There are shown:

[0066] FIG. 1 a first embodiment of a heating appliance according to the disclosure in a view from above (schematically);

[0067] FIG. 2 the embodiment of FIG. 2 in a schematic view from the side;

[0068] FIG. 3 a further embodiment of the heating appliance according to the disclosure in a schematic view from above; and

[0069] FIG. 4 the embodiment of FIG. 3 in a schematic sectional representation.

[0070] In the following description, the same reference numbers are used for identical or equivalent parts.

[0071] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of the heating appliance according to the disclosure. The heating appliance comprises several (for example, four) heating elements 10a-10d. The heating elements are identical in construction in FIG. 2 (which need not be the case). Each of the heating elements 10a-10d comprises a (plate-shaped) main body 11 as well as (respectively) two (edge-side) spacers 12a, 12b. The spacers 12a, 12b are formed by a crimping (flanging) from the corresponding heating element (integrally) and define a spacing of the heating elements 10a-10d or their main body 11 relative to each other. The spacers 12a of the heating elements 10a-10d are in (mechanical and electrical) contact with a bridge element 13a, which can be formed of metal, for example (or some other conductive material). The bridge element 13a here is connected to a minus pole. Accordingly, the spacers 12b of the heating elements 10a-10d are connected to a bridge element 13b which in turn is connected to a plus pole. The bridge element 13b may be designed identical to the bridge element 13a.

[0072] The bridge elements 13a, 13b may be formed (respectively) as a plate and/or a strip and/or a moulding and/or a rod and/or a lattice.

[0073] The heating elements 10a-10d may be formed (respectively) of a conductive polymer structure or may comprise such a structure. In the latter case, the heating elements 10a-10d may (respectively) comprise a substrate (which might not be electrically conductive), on which a conductive polymer coating (shown stippled) is provided as the polymer structure 14. The respective polymer structure 14 per FIG. 2 is provided only on one side of the respective main body 11, but it may also be provided for example on both sides and/or (at least partly) on the spacers 12a and/or 12b.

[0074] FIGS. 3 and 4 show a further embodiment of the heating appliance according to the disclosure. Here as well, several (for example, three) heating elements 10a, 10b and 10c are provided (specifically preferably stacked on one another). Each of the heating elements 10a, 10b and 10c comprises two openings 15a, 15b, which are bordered by corresponding spacers 12a, 12b. The spacers 12a, 12b here are configured as a collar, defining a spacing from the next fin. Through the opening 15a there is led a bridge element 16a. Through the openings 12b there is led a bridge element 16b. The bridge elements 16a, 16b preferably contact (mechanically and electrically) the spacers 12a and 12b.

[0075] The bridge elements 16a, 16b may be associated with a fixation means (not shown), such as a screw nut or the like, at their (respective) ends 17, in order to hold together the stack of heating elements 10a, 10b and 10c. Optionally, a (respective) end of the bridge element 16a, 16b may also be provided with an enlargement, which holds the stack of heating elements 10a-10c together on one side of the stack. On the other side, for example, a (screw) nut can be screwed on to hold the said stack (together). Other holding devices are conceivable.

[0076] FIG. 3 shows schematically (stippling) a polymer coating as the polymer structure 14. The polymer coating may also extend over fewer or more (for example, respectively all) of the heating elements 10a, 10b and 10c (on one side or both sides). Here as well, the spacers 12a, 12b as such may optionally comprise (at least partially) a polymer structure or be built from such a structure. Basically, the heating elements 10a, 10b and 10c may also be built (entirely) from a conductive polymer structure (alternatively: comprise a substrate as well as a polymer structure placed on it, particularly a polymer coating).

[0077] Between the individual heating elements 10a-10d (according to the embodiment of FIG. 1 and 2) or 10a-10c (according to the embodiments of FIGS. 3 and 4) there are provided respective clearances 18, through which fluid can flow for its heating. The fluid may be a liquid or a gas, particularly water or air.

[0078] In this place, it should be pointed out that all of the above described parts are claimed as essential to the disclosure in themselves and in any combination, particularly the details represented in the drawings. Modifications of these parts are within the purview of the skilled person.

REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0079] 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d Heating element

[0080] 11 Main body

[0081] 12a Spacer

[0082] 12b Spacer

[0083] 13a Bridge element

[0084] 13b Bridge element

[0085] 14 Polymer structure

[0086] 15a, 15b Opening

[0087] 16a, 16b Bridge element

[0088] 17 End

[0089] 18 Clearance