Abstract
A PTC thermistor module may include at least two PTC thermistor elements. The at least two PTC thermistor elements may be spaced apart from one another by separation sections. The at least two PTC thermistor elements may include two electric lines, spaced apart from one another, for the electrical supply of the PTC thermistor elements. An increased efficiency and operational reliability of the PTC thermistor module are achieved with an electrically insulating receiving body, in which the PTC thermistor elements are received, and which encompasses the PTC thermistor elements in a circumferential direction. A method for producing such a PTC thermistor module and a temperature control device may utilize at least one such PTC thermistor module.
Claims
1. A PTC thermistor module for a temperature control device, for a motor vehicle, comprising: at least two PTC thermistor elements which are spaced apart from one another by separation sections, at least two electric lines spaced apart from one another for the electrical supply of the PTC thermistor elements, which are in electrical contact with the PTC thermistor elements, and an electrically insulating receiving body, in which the PTC thermistor elements are received and which encompasses the PTC thermistor elements in a circumferential direction.
2. The PTC thermistor module according to claim 1, wherein the receiving body lies against at least two circumferential sides of the respective PTC thermistor element.
3. The PTC thermistor module according to claim 1, wherein the receiving body surrounds at least one of the electric lines in the circumferential direction, on sides of the line facing away from the PTC thermistor elements.
4. The PTC thermistor module according to claim 1, wherein the respective line lies with a projecting line section against at least one circumferential side of the respective PTC thermistor element, and the receiving body lies on the side facing away from the circumferential sides against the line sections.
5. The PTC thermistor module according to claim 1, wherein the receiving body fills at least one of the separation sections.
6. The PTC thermistor module according to claim 1, wherein the receiving body has a thermal conductivity of at least 5 W/mK.
7. The PTC thermistor module according to claim 1, wherein the receiving body is produced by a sintering method using a ceramic powder.
8. The PTC thermistor module according to claim 1, wherein the PTC thermistor elements are embedded in the receiving body.
9. The PTC thermistor module according to claim 1, wherein the receiving body is produced in a single piece and from a single material.
10. The PTC thermistor module according to claim 1, wherein the receiving body has two half-shells, which follow one another in the circumferential direction and extend along the PTC thermistor elements.
11. The PTC thermistor module according to claim 1, wherein the PTC thermistor module has a tubular body, which encompasses the receiving body in the circumferential direction.
12. A method for producing a PTC thermistor module (2) according to claim 1, wherein the receiving body is produced by the sintering of a ceramic powder.
13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the PTC thermistor elements are arranged into a tool, the tool is filled with the ceramic powder, and the ceramic powder is sintered for producing the receiving body.
14. A temperature control device for controlling the temperature of a fluid, comprising: a flow chamber which is flowed through by the fluid during operation; and at least one PTC thermistor module including: at least two PTC thermistor elements that are spaced apart from one another by separation sections, at least two electric lines spaced apart from one another for the electrical supply of the PTC thermistor elements, which are in electrical contact with the PTC thermistor elements, and an electrically insulating receiving body, in which the PTC thermistor elements are received and which encompasses the PTC thermistor elements in a circumferential direction, wherein the at least one PTC thermistor module is in heat-exchanging contact with the fluid flowing through the flow chamber.
15. The temperature control device according to claim 14, further comprising a rib structure which is able to be flowed through is arranged in the flow chamber, wherein the rib structure is in heat-exchanging contact on a face side with at least one of the PTC thermistor modules.
16. The temperature control device according to claim 14, wherein the receiving body lies against at least two circumferential sides of the respective PTC thermistor element.
17. The temperature control device according to claim 14, wherein the receiving body surrounds at least one of the electric lines in the circumferential direction, on sides of the line facing away from the PTC thermistor elements.
18. The temperature control device according to claim 14, wherein the respective line lies with a projecting line section against at least one circumferential side of the respective PTC thermistor element, and the receiving body lies on the side facing away from the circumferential sides against the line sections.
19. The temperature control device according to claim 14, wherein the receiving body fills at least one of the separation sections.
20. The temperature control device according to claim 14, wherein the receiving body has a thermal conductivity of at least 5 W/mK
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0036] There are shown, respectively diagrammatically
[0037] FIG. 1 an isometric internal view of a temperature control device with at least one PTC thermistor module,
[0038] FIG. 2 a section through the PTC thermistor module of the temperature control device,
[0039] FIG. 3 a section through the PTC thermistor module in another example embodiment,
[0040] FIG. 4 an isometric, partially transparent view of the PTC thermistor module in a further example embodiment,
[0041] FIG. 5 an isometric exploded illustration of the PTC thermistor module in a further example embodiment,
[0042] FIG. 6 an isometric exploded illustration of the PTC thermistor module in another example embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0043] A temperature control device 1, as is illustrated in FIG. 1, has at least one PTC thermistor module 2, wherein the example which is shown has several PTC thermistor modules 2 which are arranged spaced apart from one another. The PTC thermistor modules 2 are arranged in a flow chamber 3 of the temperature control device 1, through which a fluid flows along a flow path 4 and thus flows around the PTC thermistor modules 2. Between the PTC thermistor modules 2 rib structures 5 are arranged, which lie on the face side against the PTC thermistor modules 2 and thus enlarge a heat-transmitting area within the temperature control device 1. The temperature control device 1 can be used for example in a motor vehicle 6, which is otherwise not shown. Heat is generated with the respective PTC thermistor module 2, which is emitted to the fluid and thus heats the latter.
[0044] FIG. 2 shows a section through one of the PTC thermistor modules 2 in the temperature control device 1, wherein the rib structure 5 is illustrated on only one side of the PTC thermistor module 2. The PTC thermistor module 2 has several PTC thermistor elements 7, also designated as PTC elements, which are spaced apart from one another by separation sections 24 (see FIGS. 4 to 6), wherein the section shown in FIG. 2 leads through one of the PTC thermistor elements 7 such that a single one of the PTC thermistor elements 7 can be seen. The respective PTC thermistor element 7 has a positive temperature coefficient, i.e. an increasing electrical resistance with increasing temperature. In the example which is shown, the PTC thermistor element 7 is configured in a parallelepiped shape and has a rectangular cross-section. The PTC thermistor element 7 is surrounded in a closed manner, and therefore encompassed, by a receiving body 9 in a circumferential direction 8, which in the example which is shown runs around a longitudinal extent of the PTC thermistor module 2. The PTC thermistor element 7 has circumferential sides 10 following one another in circumferential direction 8, wherein through the elongate, parallele-piped-shaped formation of the PTC thermistor element 7 respectively two large circumferential sides 10 and two small circumferential sides 10 are arranged lying opposite. The respective circumferential side 10 forms here an outer surface of the PTC thermistor element 7. It can be seen that the receiving body 9 lies directly and flat against at least two of the circumferential sides 10, against the large circumferential sides 10 in the example which is shown. An electric line 11, for example an electrode 12, respectively lies directly flat against the other circumferential sides 10. i.e. in the present case against the small circumferential sides 10. The lines 11 are spaced apart from one another and serve for the electrical supply of the PTC thermistor elements 7. Accordingly, an electric current flows between the lines 11 via the PTC thermistor elements 7, which, owing to their positive temperature coefficient, generate heat in a regulated manner, which is used in the temperature control device 1 for heating the fluid. The electric lines 11 have a rectangular cross-section and are substantially aligned with the large circumferential sides 10 of the PTC thermistor element 7. Here, the lines 11 are also surrounded in a closed manner and thus encompassed by the receiving body 9 in circumferential direction 8. Here, the receiving body 9, with the exception of the contact surfaces between the respective line 11 and the PTC thermistor element 7, lies in circumferential direction 8 directly and flat against the lines 11. It can be seen in particular from FIG. 2 that the PTC thermistor module 2 is therefore free of air pockets and uneven areas. The receiving body 9 is, in addition, electrically insulating, has in particular a specific electrical resistance of at least 10.sup.8 .Math.cm, so that it electrically insulates the electric lines 11 entirely in circumferential direction 8. The receiving body 9 has, in addition, a thermal conductivity of at least 5 W/mK, particularly preferably of at least 20 W/mK, in particular between 20 and 300 W/mK. Therefore it is possible, in addition, with the receiving body 9 to effectively discharge outwards the heat generated in the PTC thermistor element 7 and to provide it to the temperature control device 1, in particular to transmit it to the rib structures 5. This takes place here on the one hand via the large circumferential sides 10 directly, and on the other hand via the small circumferential sides 10 via the lines 11. In the example which is shown, the heat transmission to the fluid takes place via a tubular body 13, surrounding and therefore encompassing the receiving body 9 in a closed manner in circumferential direction 8, lying flat and directly against the receiving body 9. The tubular body 13 is, for example, made from a metal or a metal alloy and has, in addition to an advantageous thermal conductivity, a stabilizing characteristic which leads to a stabilizing of the receiving body 9 in which the PTC thermistor elements 7 are received, and in addition mechanically protects these. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the rib structures 5 are applied here onto the tubular body 13 for example via an adhesive layer 15.
[0045] In the example shown in FIG. 2, the receiving body 9 is produced in a single piece and monolithically, in particular as a ceramic body 16. The PTC thermistor elements 7 and the lines 11 are therefore embedded in the receiving body 9. For this, it is conceivable to arrange the PTC thermistor elements 7 and the lines 10 into a tool, which is not shown further, and to fill this with a ceramic powder (not shown) or ceramic grains, wherein the powder is subsequently sintered to produce the receiving body 9.
[0046] In FIG. 3 another example embodiment of the PTC thermistor module 2 is shown, in which the same view as in FIG. 2 can be seen, wherein the rib structure 5 and the adhesive layers 15 are not illustrated. Therefore, exclusively the PTC thermistor module 2 is shown. This example embodiment differs from the example shown in FIG. 2 in that the receiving body 9 is constructed having several parts, two parts in the example which is shown. The receiving body 9 therefore comprises two half-shells 17, 18. The half-shells 17, 18 follow one another in circumferential direction 8 and extend along the PTC thermistor elements 7 which are spaced apart from one another, in the example which is shown therefore along the longitudinal extent 14. In the example which is shown, the half-shells 17, 18 are constructed substantially identically and delimit jointly an interior 19 for the respective PTC thermistor element 7, in which the associated PTC thermistor element 7 and the two lines 11 are received. The half-shells 17, 18 have respectively a U-shaped cross-section with a base side 20 and legs 21 projecting therefrom, wherein the legs 21 lie against one another. It is conceivable to fix the respective PTC thermistor element 7 to at least one of the half-shells 17, 18. In the example which is shown, an adhesive layer 22 is provided for this between the respective base side 20 and the PTC thermistor element 7, in the present case the large circumferential side 10 of the PTC thermistor element 7. The respective PTC thermistor element 7 can be arranged for mounting the PTC thermistor module 2 between the legs 21 of one of the half-shells 17, 18, for example of the first half-shell 17, and the first half-shell 17 can subsequently be closed by means of the second half-shell 18, in order to form the receiving body 9 which receives the PTC thermistor elements 7 and encompasses it is circumferential direction 8. Previously, between the respective leg 21 of the first half-shell 17 and the facing circumferential side 10 of the PTC thermistor element 7, in the present case the small circumferential side 10, the line 11 is arranged, wherein the lines 11 and the PTC thermistor element 7 and the half-shells 17, 18 are dimensioned such that the PTC thermistor elements 7 and the lines 11 fill the respective interior 19 entirely, so that at least in the region of the PTC thermistor elements 7 no air pockets are present in the interior 19. With the two adhesive layers 22, the half-shells 17, 18 are also fastened to one another, wherein it is also conceivable to provide an adhesive layer, not shown, between the legs 21 which are lying on one another. In the example embodiment shown in FIG. 3 in addition no tubular body 13 is provided. In this example embodiment, the rib structures 5, which are not shown, are therefore applied directly against the receiving body 9. The half-shells 17, 18 can be respectively produced in any desired manner, in so far as they are electrically insulating. Preferably, the respective half-shell 17, 18 is made from ceramic, in particular a ceramic shell 23, which can be produced by the sintering of a ceramic powder.
[0047] Another example embodiment of the PTC thermistor module 2 can be seen in FIG. 4. The PTC thermistor module 2 shown in FIG. 4 corresponds substantially to the PTC thermistor module 2 shown in FIG. 2, wherein for better understanding the tubular body 13 is transparent and the receiving body 9 only partially shown. It is preferred here if the receiving body 9 also fills the separation sections 24 and lies directly and flat against the face sides 25 of the PTC thermistor elements 7 delimiting the associated separation section 24. The example embodiment shown in FIG. 4 differs from the one shown in FIG. 2 in addition in that the receiving body 9 does not have a parallelepiped-shaped, but rather an oval cross-section. The same applies for the tubular body 13. In addition, the PTC thermistor elements 7 in the example shown in FIG. 4 differ from the example shown in FIG. 2 in that the circumferential sides 10 against which the conductors 11 lie, in the present case therefore the small circumferential sides 10, are not formed so as to be flat, but concave, in particular in a complementary manner to an outer contour of the line 11. In addition, the lines 11 or respectively electrodes 12 are configured so as to be rod-shaped with a round cross-section, such that they lie directly and flat against the associated circumferential side 10 of the respective PTC thermistor element 7, in the present case therefore the small circumferential side 10.
[0048] FIG. 5 shows a further example embodiment of the PTC thermistor module 2. This corresponds in construction and form of the PTC thermistor elements 7 and of the lines 11 to the example embodiment of FIG. 4. The receiving body 9, however, is not constructed in one piece and integrally, but rather has two half-shells 17, 18 with a U-shaped cross-section. The respective half-shell has here a base side 20 and legs 21 projecting therefrom, wherein a shoulder 26 projects from the respective leg 21. Whereas one of the shoulders 26 is arranged on the outer edge of the associated leg 21, the other shoulder 26 is arranged on the inner edge of the associated leg 21. Hereby, an outer step 27 is formed between the shoulder 26 arranged on the inner side and the associated leg 21, whereas between the shoulder 26 arranged on the outer side and the associated leg 21 an inner step 28 is formed. The outer step 27 and the inner step 28 extend along the longitudinal extent 14, wherein in the mounted state of the PTC thermistor module 2 the shoulder 26 of the one half-shell 17, 18, lying on the interior, lies against the inner step 28 of the other half-shell 17, 18, whereas the shoulder 26 of the respective half-shell 17, 18 lying on the exterior lies against the outer step 27 of the other half-shell 17, 18. Therefore, the respective line 11 lies against the shoulder 26, lying on the inside, of one of the half-shells 17, 18. In this example, the receiving body 9 is not arranged in the separation sections 24 between the PTC thermistor elements 7. However, an example embodiment would also be conceivable in which the receiving body 9 fills at least one of the separation sections 24 and lies directly and flat against the face sides 25 delimiting the separation section 24. For this, one of the half-shells 17, 18, in particular the first half-shell 17, has projections which are not shown, wherein the respective projection fills one of the separation sections 24. Embodiments are also conceivable in which at least one of the separation sections 24 is at least partly filled by projections of both half-shells 17, 18. In the example shown in FIG. 5, in addition a tubular body 13 can be provided, as indicated in dashed lines.
[0049] A further example embodiment of the PTC thermistor module 2 is shown in FIG. 6. This example embodiment differs from the example embodiment shown in FIG. 2 by the construction of the half-shells 17, 18 and of the lines 11, in particular of the electrodes 12. The half-shells 17, 18 have respectively a U-shaped cross-section with a base side 20 and two legs 21 projecting therefrom, wherein one of the legs 21 is arranged offset inwards in cross-section and is also designated below as inner leg 21, whereas the other leg 21 projects externally or respectively on the edge side of the base side 20 from the latter and is designated below as outer leg 21. The inner leg 21 and outer leg 21 project at different distances from the base side 20, therefore have different heights. In the example which is shown, the inner leg 21 is shorter than the outer leg 21. On the outer leg 21 on the face side an internally lying shoulder 29 is formed. At the end facing away from the long leg 21 the base side 20 has an externally lying shoulder 30. In the mounted state of the PTC thermistor module 2, the externally lying shoulder 30 of the respective half-shell 17, 18 lies against the internally lying shoulder 29 of the other half-shell 17, 18. Therefore, the respective PTC thermistor element 7 is encompassed in circumferential direction 8 by the legs 21 and the base sides 20 of the half-shells 17, 18.
[0050] In FIG. 5 the respective line 11, 12 has a strip body 31 extending along the PTC thermistor elements 7, in the present case therefore along the longitudinal extent 14, wherein the strip body 31 of the respective line 11 has a parallelepiped-shaped cross-section and is arranged between the outer leg 21 of one of the half-shells 17, 18 and the inner leg 21 of the other half-shell 17, 18 and lies flat against these. The respective conductor 11 has, in addition, for the respective PTC thermistor element 7, a line section 32 which spans the adjoining inner leg 21 and lies flat and directly against one of the circumferential sides 10 of the respective PTC thermistor element 7. In the example which is shown, the line sections 32 lie respectively against one of the large circumferential sides 10 of the associated PTC thermistor element 7. In addition, in the example which is shown, provision is made that the line sections 32 of the respective line 11 lie against the same circumferential side 10 of the respective PTC thermistor element 7. In the example which is shown, therefore, a line section 32 of one of the lines 11 is arranged between the base side 20 of the respective half-shell 17, 18 and the facing circumferential side 10, in the present case therefore the facing large circumferential side 10. In addition, one of the strip bodies 31 is arranged between the respective outer leg 21 and the facing circumferential side 10, in the present case therefore the small circumferential side 10, of the respective PTC thermistor element 7. In contrast, the respective half-shell 17, 18 lies with the inner leg 21 directly and flat directly against the facing circumferential side 10, in the present case therefore the small circumferential side 10, of the respective PTC thermistor element 7. In this example embodiment also a tubular body 13, which is not shown, can be provided, which encompasses the receiving body 9 in circumferential direction 8 and lies against it.
