Layer packet contacting for electrically heatable honeycomb body

Abstract

An electrically conductive connection between at least two electrically conductive stacks of at least partially structured, metal foils which form a large number of channels through which a fluid may flow, comprising at least one electrically conductive rod element which passes through the at least two stacks, wherein a spacer element is arranged on the at least one rod element and between the at least two stacks, the two stacks being arranged at a distance from one another by the spacer element; wherein an arrangement comprising the at least two stacks, the at least one rod element and the spacer element is clamped by at least one clamping element.

Claims

1. An electrically conductive connection between at least two electrically conductive stacks of at least partially structured, metal foils which form a plurality of channels through which a fluid may flow, the electrically conductive connection comprising: at least one electrically conductive rod element which passes through the at least two stacks; a spacer element arranged on the at least one electrically conductive rod element and between the at least two stacks, such that the at least two stacks are arranged at a distance from one another by the spacer element; and at least one clamping element; wherein the at least two stacks, the rod element and the spacer element are clamped by at least one clamping element.

2. The electrically conductive connection of claim 1, further comprising: a profile, the plurality of channels having the profile; and a surface being part of at least one of the at least two electrically conductive stacks; wherein the at least one rod element is arranged transverse to the profile of the plurality of channels and transverse to the surface of the at least one of the at least two electrically conductive stacks.

3. The electrically conductive connection of claim 1, further comprising: at least one end being part of each of the at least two electrically conductive stacks; wherein the at least one electrically conductive rod element passes through the stack in the region of the at least one end of each of the at least two electrically conductive stacks.

4. The electrically conductive connection of claim 1, further comprising: a flange being part of the at least one electrically conductive rod element, such that the spacer element is at least partially formed by the flange of the at least one electrically conductive rod element; wherein the at least two electrically conductive stacks are arranged at a distance from one another by the flange.

5. The electrically conductive connection of claim 1, wherein the at least one electrically conductive rod element and the spacer element have an electrical resistance to an electric current which flows through the arrangement.

6. The electrically conductive connection of claim 5, wherein the electrical resistance is at most 20% of the electrical resistance of one of the at least two electrically conductive stacks.

7. The electrically conductive connection of claim 1, the at least one electrically conductive rod element further comprising: a beading; wherein the at least one clamping element is formed by the beading of the at least one electrically conductive rod element.

8. The electrically conductive connection of claim 1, further comprising a screw/nut unit, wherein the at least one electrically conductive rod element and the at least one clamping element form the screw/nut unit.

9. The electrically conductive connection of claim 1, further comprising a screw/nut unit, wherein the spacer element and the at least one clamping element form the screw/nut unit.

10. The electrically conductive connection of claim 1, the at least one clamping element further comprising: a clip; wherein the clip interacts with a groove formed as part of the at least one electrically conductive rod element.

11. The electrically conductive connection of claim 1, further comprising a bore/pin unit, wherein the at least one electrically conductive rod element and the at least one clamping element form the bore/pin unit.

12. The electrically conductive connection of claim 1, further comprising a bore/pin unit, wherein the spacer element and the at least one clamping element, form the bore/pin unit.

13. A honeycomb body with a cross section through which a fluid may flow, comprising: a plurality of stacks which are arranged next to one another, each of the plurality of stacks having at least one end; and a plurality of connections, the at least one end of at least two of the plurality of stacks is electrically conductively connected together by one of the plurality of connections; each of the plurality of connections further comprising: at least one electrically conductive rod element which passes through the plurality of stacks; a spacer element arranged on the at least one electrically conductive rod element and between two of the plurality of stacks, such that the two of the plurality of stacks are arranged at a distance from one another by the spacer element; and at least one clamping element, and the plurality of stacks, the rod element and the spacer element are clamped by at least one clamping element; wherein an electrical current path is formed through the plurality of stacks and the at least one electrically conductive rod element.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will be described in more detail below with reference to an embodiment example and figures, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 schematically shows a honeycomb body according to U.S. Pat. No. 5,332,672;

(3) FIG. 2 schematically shows two stacks which are electrically conductively connected to one another by a connection;

(4) FIG. 3 schematically shows a rod element with a groove;

(5) FIG. 4 schematically shows a clip as clamping element;

(6) FIG. 5 schematically shows an arrangement with a connection comprising a rod element and clips as clamping elements;

(7) FIG. 6 schematically shows a clamping element designed as a notched pin;

(8) FIG. 7 schematically shows an arrangement with a connection comprising two clamping elements according to FIG. 6 as rod elements and a spacer element;

(9) FIG. 8 schematically shows a rod element designed as a rivet;

(10) FIG. 9 schematically shows a connection with a rod element according to FIG. 8 and a disk; and

(11) FIG. 10 schematically shows an arrangement with a rod element according to FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(12) The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.

(13) FIG. 1 shows a known honeycomb body 27 according to U.S. Pat. No. 5,322,672 having a cross section 17 through which a fluid 4 (exhaust gas) may flow and which is formed by a plurality of stacks 2 of foils 3 which are arranged next to one another, wherein stacks 2 which are arranged respectively adjacent to one another are electrically conductively connected to one another by means of constrictions 28 as connections 1, so that an electric current 16 is conducted through the stacks 2 along an electrical current path 18 which runs in a meandering manner. The structured foils 3 are pressed together in the region of the constrictions 28 such that they bear flat against one another. The honeycomb body 27 is formed by a single stack 2 of foils 3, wherein the constrictions 28 have been created in order to produce the required cross section 17 of the honeycomb body 27 by folding the foils 3. The stacks 2 which now rest one on the other are in each case at a distance from each other, for example by air gaps 19 (or insulating coatings or insulating layers). The stacks 2 are formed by smooth and structured foils 3 which form a large number of channels 5 through which a fluid 4 may flow.

(14) Instead of the constrictions 28, it is now proposed here to employ an electrically conductive connection 1 which is illustrated with the aid of the following figures.

(15) FIG. 2 shows two stacks 2 which are electrically conductively connected to one another by a connection 1. The electrically conductive connection 1 connects two electrically conductive stacks 2 which have at least partially structured, metal foils 3. The foils 3 form a large number of channels 5 through which a fluid 4 may flow. The connection 1 comprises at least one electrically conductive rod element 6 which passes through the at least two stacks 2, wherein a spacer element 7 by way of which the two stacks 2 are arranged at a distance from one another is arranged on the rod element 6 and between the at least two stacks 2. An arrangement 8 comprising the at least two stacks 2, the rod element 6 and the spacer element 7 is clamped by at least one clamping element 9.

(16) Here, the rod element 6 is arranged transverse to a profile 10 of the channels 5 and transverse to a surface 11 of the respective stack 2. The rod element 6 passes through the stack 2 in the region of the end 12. For this purpose, the end 12 of the stack 2 (that is to say the foils 3) has an opening 29 through which the rod element 6 extends.

(17) The foils 3 of the stack 2 bear against one another in the direct vicinity 14 of the rod element 6 substantially without gaps.

(18) The rod element 6 and the spacer element 7 together have an electrical resistance 15 to an electric current 16 which flows through the arrangement 8, the electrical resistance being at most 20% of the electrical resistance 15 of any stack 2.

(19) FIG. 3 shows a rod element 6 with a groove 24. The rod element 6 forms, with a flange 13, the spacer element 7.

(20) FIG. 4 shows a clip 23 as clamping element 9.

(21) FIG. 5 shows an arrangement 8 with a connection 1 comprising a rod element 6 and clips 23 as clamping elements 9 in accordance with FIGS. 3 and 4. The foils 3 in the region of the ends 12 of the stacks 2 are pressed together and the arrangement 8 is clamped by the clips 23 which are pushed into the grooves 24.

(22) FIG. 6 shows a clamping element 9 as pin 26, here designed as a notched pin.

(23) FIG. 7 shows an arrangement 8 with a connection 1 comprising two clamping elements 9 according to FIG. 6 as rod elements 6 and a spacer element 7. The foils 3 in the region of the ends 12 of the stacks 2 are pressed together and the arrangement 8 is clamped by the pins 26 of the clamping elements 9, which pins are pushed into the bore 25. Here, the pins 26 form the rod elements 6.

(24) FIG. 7 may likewise be used to describe an arrangement 8 with a connection 1, in which arrangement the spacer element 7 and the at least one clamping element 9 form a screw 21/nut 22 unit. Here, the spacer element 7 has a bore 25 in each case with an internal thread (nut 22) for the clamping element 9 which is designed as screw 21. The clamping elements 9 form the rod elements 6 here too.

(25) FIG. 8 shows a rod element 6 designed as a rivet. The rod element 6 forms, with a flange 13, the spacer element 7.

(26) FIG. 9 shows a connection 1 with a rod element 6 according to FIG. 8 and a disk 30. The clamping element 9 is formed by a beading 20 of the rod element 6. The beading 20 presses the disks 30 against the surface 11 of the stack 2 in the region of the end 12. The foils 3 in the region of the ends 12 of the stack 2 are pressed together in this way and the arrangement 8 is clamped in this way.

(27) FIG. 10 shows the arrangement 8 according to FIGS. 8 and 9, only without using a disk 30. The foils 3 in the region of the ends 12 of the stacks 2 are pressed together by the beading 20 and the arrangement 8 is clamped in this way.

(28) The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.