Electrical heating device

Abstract

Disclosed is an electrical heating device for heating the interior of a vehicle, comprising a plurality of PTC heating rods each comprising ceramic PTC heating resistors, heat sinks for transferring heat from the PTC heating rods to an air flow, and a holder holding the PTC heating rods. The PTC heating rods are connected in series to an NTC heating rod comprising at least one NTC resistor, wherein the NTC heating rod is held by the holder.

Claims

1. An electrical heating device for heating the interior of a vehicle, comprising: a plurality of PTC heating rods each comprising ceramic PTC heating resistors; an NTC heating rod comprising at least one NTC resistor; a holder that holds the PTC heating rods and the NTC heating rod; and heat sinks for transferring heat from the PTC heating rods to an air flow; wherein the PTC heating rods are connected in series to the NTC heating rod; and wherein the PTC heating rods are connected in parallel to each other.

2. The electrical heating device according to claim 1, wherein the PTC heating rods comprise tubes in which the PTC resistors are arranged and the NTC heating rod comprises a tube in which the at least one NTC resistor is arranged.

3. The electrical heating device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one NTC heating resistor is a ceramic NTC resistor.

4. The electrical heating device according to claim 1, wherein the NTC heating rod is arranged between PTC heating rods.

5. The electrical heating device according to claim 1, wherein the holder comprises a plug in connector for connecting the electrical heating device to a power source.

6. The electrical heating device according to claim 1, wherein each PTC heating rod and each NTC heating rod comprises a frame for positioning the resistors.

7. The electrical heating device according to claim 1, wherein each PTC heating rod and each NTC heating rod comprises two contact plates between which the respective PTC and NTC resistors are arranged, wherein the two contact plates are electrically insulated from a housing of the respective heating rod.

8. The electrical heating device according to claim 1, wherein the heat sinks adjacent to the NTC heating rod have a different heat transfer characteristic than the heat sinks that are adjacent only to one or two PTC heating rods.

9. An electrical heating device for heating the interior of a vehicle, comprising: a plurality of PTC heating rods each comprising ceramic PTC heating resistors; an NTC heating rod comprising at least one NTC resistor; a holder that holds the PTC heating rods and the NTC heating rod; and heat sinks for transferring heat from the PTC heating rods to an air flow; wherein the PTC heating rods are connected in series to the NTC heating rod; wherein the PTC heating rods comprise tubes in which the PTC resistors are arranged and the NTC heating rod comprises a tube in which the at least one NTC resistor is arranged; and wherein each PTC heating rod and each NTC heating rod comprises a frame for positioning the resistors.

10. The electrical heating device according to claim 9, wherein the PTC heating rods are connected in parallel to each other.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The above-mentioned aspects of exemplary embodiments will become more apparent and will be better understood by reference to the following description of the embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an electrical heating device;

(3) FIG. 2 shows the components of a heating rod without housing; and

(4) FIG. 3 shows the components of a heating rod without housing of a different embodiment of an electrical heating device.

DESCRIPTION

(5) The embodiments described below are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed in the following detailed description. Rather, the embodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may appreciate and understand the principles and practices of this disclosure.

(6) The heating device shown in FIG. 1 comprises a plurality of heating rods 3a, 3b, 3c and heat sinks 4 attached to the heating rods. The number of heating rods may vary. The heat sinks 4 transfer heat from the heating rods to an air flow. The heat sinks 4 may be separate parts that are connected to the heating rods or the heat sinks 4 may be integral parts of the heating rods. A front end of the heating rods 3 is stuck in a holder 1, a rear end in a holder 2. It is also possible to use a holder that is a rectangular frame surrounding the heating rods. The holder 1 can form a plug connector for connecting the heating device to a power source, e.g., the on-board power supply of a vehicle.

(7) Some of heating rods are PTC heating rods 3a, 3c containing ceramic PTC heating elements. One of the heating rods is an NTC heating rod 3b containing ceramic NTC heating elements. In the embodiment shown, the heating rod 3b in the middle is an NTC heating rod and the two heating rods 3a, 3c next to it are PTC heating rods. The NTC heating rod 3b is connected in series to the PTC heating rods 3a, 3c. The PTC heating rods 3a, 3c are connected in parallel to each other.

(8) The heating rods 3a, 3b, 3c comprise a housing, which may for example be a tube. FIG. 2 shows the components of a heating rod 3a, 3b, 3c without the housing. Each heating rod 3a, 3b, 3c contains ceramic resistors 12. If the heating rod is a PTC heating rod, the ceramic resistors 12 are ceramic PTC resistors. If the heating rod is an NTC heating rod, the ceramic resistors 12 are ceramic NTC resistors. The ceramic resistors 12 are arranged between two contact plates 11 which electrically contact the ceramic resistors 12. The contact plates 11 are electrically insulated from the housing, e.g., by strips of insulating material 15, for example insulating ceramic like alumina.

(9) One contact plate 11 or both contact plates 11 may carry a positioning frame 13 for positioning the resistors 12. The positioning frames 13 may define compartments 14 for the resistors 12. The resistors 12 may be held by the positioning frames 13 by means of clamping protrusions, e.g., noses.

(10) Instead of using two positioning frames 13 in each heating rod 3a, 3b, 3b, it is also possible to use only a single positioning frame. For example, a positioning frame may be used which carries two contact plates 11.

(11) As the NTC heating rod 3b and the PTC heating rods 3a, 3c will usually have different heating characteristics and produce different amounts of heat, it can be advantageous to use heat sinks 4 with different heat transfer characteristics. For example the shape, size, or width of heat sinks 4 connected to the NTC heating rods 3b may be different from the shape, size, or width of heat sinks 4 connected to the PTC heating rods 3a, 3c. Thereby temperature differences between the various heat sinks 4 can be minimized.

(12) FIG. 3 shows a different embodiment of a heating rod that can be used in a heating device as shown in FIG. 1. The heating rod shown in FIG. 3 without its housing comprises both PTC resistors 12a and NTC resistors 12b stacked on top of each other. Thus each PTC resistor 12a is connected in series to an NTC resistor 12b. The heating rod comprising PTC resistors 12a and NTC resistors 12b can otherwise be like the PTC or NTC heating rods described above.

(13) It is possible that all heating rods of an electrical heating device may be such heating rods that comprise both NTC and PTC resistors. It is also possible to connect such an NTC-PTC heating rod in series to a PTC heating rod. Then the NTC-PTC heating rod can be used to replace a NTC heating rod 3b in the electrical heating device described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

(14) While exemplary embodiments have been disclosed hereinabove, the present invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Instead, this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of this disclosure using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(15) 1 holder 2 holder 3a PTC heating rod 3b NTC heating rod 3c PTC heating rod 4 heat sink 11 contact plate 12 resistor 12a PTC resistor 12b NTC resistor 13 positioning frame 14 compartment 15 electrical insulation