ELECTRONIC INTERFACE UNIT FOR AN ELECTRICAL HEATING DEVICE OF A HEATING, VENTILATION AND/OR AIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEM OF A MOTOR VEHICLE
20230062663 ยท 2023-03-02
Assignee
Inventors
Cpc classification
F24H3/0441
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
B60H1/2225
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
F24H9/1872
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
H05B2203/02
ELECTRICITY
F24H2250/04
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
B60H2001/2278
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
F24H3/0476
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F24H3/0429
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
H05B3/50
ELECTRICITY
International classification
B60H1/22
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
F24H9/1863
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
Abstract
The invention, according to a first aspect, relates to a cover (4) of an electronic interface housing (300) of an electrical heating device for a motor vehicle, the cover (4) comprising at least one pressing member (44a, 44b) and at least one pressing element (45) which are configured to be in contact with a printed circuit board (5) when the cover (4) is fixed on the electronic interface housing (300), a free end of the at least one pressing member (44a, 44b) extending in a first transverse plane (451) and a free end (4501) of the at least one pressing element (45) extending in a second transverse plane (452), the at least one pressing member (44a, 44b) and the at least one pressing element (45) being arranged so that they project, in a direction perpendicular to a reference plane (400) of the cover (4), from an inner face of the cover (4) intended to face toward the inside of the electronic interface housing (300), characterized in that the first transverse plane (451) and the second transverse plane (452) are substantially parallel to one another and to the reference plane of the cover, strictly not coincident with one another or with the reference plane (400) of the cover (4), the second transverse plane (452) being, in a direction perpendicular thereto, closer to the reference plane (400) of the cover (4) than the first transverse plane (451).
Claims
1. A cover (4) of an electronic interface housing (300) of an electrical heating device (100) for a motor vehicle, the cover (4) comprising at least one pressing member (44a, 44b) and at least one pressing element (405, 45) which are configured to be in contact with a printed circuit board (5) when the cover (4) is fixed on the electronic interface housing (300), a free end of the at least one pressing member (44a, 44b) extending in a first transverse plane (451) and a free end (4501) of the at least one pressing element (405, 45) extending in a second transverse plane (452), the at least one pressing member (44a, 44b) and the at least one pressing element (405, 45) being arranged so that they project, in a direction perpendicular to a reference plane (400) of the cover (4), from an inner face (401) of the cover (4) intended to face toward the inside of the electronic interface housing (300), characterized in that the first transverse plane (451) and the second transverse plane (452) are substantially parallel to one another and to the reference plane of the cover, strictly not coincident with one another or with the reference plane (400) of the cover (4), the second transverse plane (452) being, in a direction perpendicular thereto, closer to the reference plane (400) of the cover (4) than the first transverse plane (451).
2. The cover (4) as claimed in the preceding claim, characterized in that an offset (500), measured perpendicularly to the reference plane (400), between the first transverse plane (451) and the second transverse plane (452) is in the order of 1 to a few tenths of a millimeter.
3. The cover (4) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising means (430) for elastic fixing by click and ratchet on a base (3) of the electronic interface housing (300), characterized in that the at least one pressing element (405, 45) is located between a pressing member (44a, 44b) and an edge of the cover on which the means for elastic fixing (430) are arranged.
4. The cover (4) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one pressing element comprises a plurality of pins (45) arranged so that they project from the inner face (401) of the cover (4), perpendicularly to the reference plane (400) thereof.
5. The cover (4) as claimed in the preceding claim, characterized in that the pins (45) of the at least one pressing element are arranged in a staggered pattern along at least two transverse lines(455, 456).
6. The cover (4) as claimed in any one of preceding claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the pins (45) forming the at least one pressing element are arranged so that they project from a deformed zone (402) of the inner face (401) of the cover (4).
7. The cover (4) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one pressing member (44a, 44b) comprises at least one rib (441a, 4410b, 4411b) substantially perpendicular to the first transverse plane (451).
8. An electronic interface housing (300) of an electrical heating device (100) of a motor vehicle, comprising a cover (4) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, as well as a base (3) configured to house a printed circuit board (5), the base (3) comprising click and ratchet means (33) configured to cooperate with means for elastic fixing (43, 430) carried by the cover in (4) order to close a cavity (35) for receiving the printed circuit board (5).
9. The housing (300) according to the preceding claim, comprising an electrical connection zone and a connection zone to heating elements (2) of an electrical heating device (100) of the motor vehicle, characterized in that the pressing element (45) of the cover (4) is located in the vicinity of the connection zone to the heating elements (2) of the electrical heating device (100).
10. The housing (300) as claimed in one of claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the printed circuit board (5) is sandwiched between the at least one pressing member (44a, 44b) of the cover (4) and a reinforcing element (34) arranged in the base (3).
11. An electrical heating device (100) for heating an airflow in a motor vehicle, comprising at least one heating element (2) and an electronic interface housing (300) as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 10.
Description
[0026] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more clearly apparent from the description and the drawings, in which:
[0027]
[0028]
[0029]
[0030]
[0031]
[0032] It should first of all be noted that although the figures set out the invention in detail for implementing the invention, these figures may of course be used in order to better define the invention if necessary. It should also be noted that these figures set out only some of the possible exemplary embodiments according to the invention.
[0033] With reference to
[0034] According to the example more particularly illustrated in
[0035] With reference to the directions and orientations defined above, the electronic interface housing 300 is placed at the longitudinal end of the frame 1 opposite the bottom wall 10c thereof, so as to close the opening of the U formed by the walls 10a, 10b, 10c, of the frame 1 upon assembly of the electrical heating device 100.
[0036] In the receiving space 150, in particular delimited by the walls 10a, 10b, 10c of the frame 1, each heating element 2 extends substantially parallel to the side walls 10a, 10b, of the frame 1, that is to say substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction L of the electrical heating device 100. Each heating element 2 thus comprises, in the longitudinal direction L of the electrical heating device 100, a first end 20 arranged in the vicinity of the bottom wall 10c of the frame 1 and a second end 21 arranged in the vicinity of the electronic interface housing 300.
[0037] It should be noted that the electrical heating device according to the invention could be realized without a frame, which has been described here as a structural element making it possible in particular to protect the heating elements and to facilitate the insertion of the electrical heating device in the ventilation, heating and air conditioning system, moreover in particular to lighten the device. In this context, the heating elements remain integral with the electronic interface housing and are traversed by an airflow, and the structure of the electronic interface housing is unchanged from what will follow.
[0038] The electronic interface housing 300 comprises a base 3 and a cover 4. The base 3 is configured to house electronic components for powering and controlling the operation of the heating elements, and the cover 4 is configured to overlap an opening in the base 3 to protect the aforementioned electronic components. These electronic components comprise, in particular, a printed circuit board 5, not visible in
[0039] As shown in
[0040] Here, the base 3 has the general shape of a T comprising a first portion 31 and a second portion 32, one dimension of which, in the transverse direction T of the electrical heating device 100, is greater than a transverse dimension of the first portion 31. The second portion 32 of the base 3 is located, in the longitudinal direction L of the electrical heating device 100, in the extension of the heating elements, and the first portion 31 of the base 3 is located, in the vertical direction V of the electrical heating device 100, in the extension of the second portion 32. In the aforementioned transverse direction T, the first portion 31 and the second portion 32 of the base 3 are substantially centered with respect to one another. The previously mentioned receiving cavity 35 advantageously extends into the first portion 31 and into the second portion 32 of the base 3.
[0041] The cover 4 is located opposite, in the longitudinal direction L of the electrical heating device 100, the portion by which the electronic interface housing 300 and, more specifically, the base 3 thereof, is connected to the heating elements. The cover 4 comprises a substantially planar main wall 40, which extends primarily along a plane 400 defined by the transverse direction T and by the vertical direction V of the electrical heating device 100. The aforementioned plane 400 will be referred to in the following as the reference plane of the cover 4.
[0042] With reference to
[0043] The base 3 and the cover 4 also comprise means allowing the cover 4 to be elastically fixed to the base 3 by click and ratchet. According to the example more particularly illustrated by
[0044]
[0045]
[0046] According to the example more particularly illustrated by
[0047] The first pressing member 44a and the second pressing member 44b extend, from the inner face 401 of the main wall 40 of the cover 4, substantially perpendicularly to the reference plane 400 of the cover 4. More specifically, the first pressing member 44a and the second pressing member 44b are connected to the inner face 401 of the cover 4 by one of their ends in the longitudinal direction L, and their opposite end, in said longitudinal direction L, is free. The pressing members 44a, 44b, thus extend toward the inside of the electronic interface housing 300 when the cover is connected to the base of the electronic interface housing.
[0048] According to the invention, the free ends of the first pressing member 44a and of the second pressing member 44b together define a first transverse plane 451, which is substantially parallel to the vertical direction V and to the transverse direction T of the cover 4 and of the electrical heating device 100 and in particular is visible in
[0049] According to the example more particularly illustrated by
[0050] According to the example more particularly illustrated by
[0051] The second pressing member 44b also comprises a second substantially planar portion, which extends from the aforementioned first portion 440b. The second portion of the second pressing member 44b extends in a plane containing the longitudinal axis of the first portion 440b, and here is in the form of two ribs 4410b, 4411b diametrically opposed with respect to said first portion 440b and which extend in a transverse longitudinal plane defined by the longitudinal direction L and transverse direction T of the electrical heating device 100. It should be noted that these two ribs of the second pressing member 44b are arranged perpendicularly to the second portion 441a of the first pressing member 44a.
[0052] It was previously specified that the free ends of the first pressing member 44a and of the second pressing member 44b together define a first transverse plane 451, which is substantially parallel to the reference plane 400 of the cover 4. This first transverse plane 451 is defined by the free ends of the ribs 441a, 4410b, 4411b, that is to say by the longitudinal dimension thereof. According to the example illustrated in
[0053] The cover 4 also comprises a pressing member 405, which here takes the form of a plurality of pins 45 extending so that they project from the inner face 401 of the main wall 40 of said cover. As shown in
[0054] The pins 45 are here arranged in the second portion 42 of the cover 4. According to the example shown in
[0055] According to the invention, the free ends 4501 of the pins 45 together define a second transverse plane 452, parallel to the reference plane 400, and not coincident with the latter. For this purpose, the longitudinal dimensions, measured perpendicularly to the reference plane 400, of the pins 45 are all identical. More particularly, and as will be particularly apparent in
[0056] According to the example shown in
[0057] This deformed zone 402 extends, in the second portion 42 of the cover 4, in the vicinity of the means for elastic fixing by clock and ratchet 430 arranged on the side walls 420 of this second portion. As a result, the pins 45 are also located in the vicinity of these means for elastic fixing 430, and in particular between these means for elastic fixing 430 and the second pressing member 44b.
[0058] According to the example shown in
[0059]
[0060] More precisely,
[0061] According to the invention, it is provided that the pressing members 44a, 44b and the pins 45 are in contact with the printed circuit board 5 when the cover 4 is fixed on the base 3 of the electronic interface housing 300, by cooperation of the means for fixing by click and ratchet carried by the cover and the base.
[0062]
[0063] It then follows from the arrangement of the pins 45 in the second portion 42 of the cover 4, that is to say in the portion of this cover intended to cover the region of the electronic interface housing 300 in which the connection zone to the heating elements of the electrical heating device 100 is located, that this prevents any excessive stress on the connecting terminals 50 and the corresponding electrodes 22 when the cover is fixed to the base.
[0064] The assembly clearance, permitted by the axial offset of the free ends of the ribs and studs as previously described, is achieved over the entire surface of the region in which the studs 45 are disposed, that is to say according to the example shown in the figures, over the entire surface of the bottom 4020 of the deformed zone 402. This allows for a better distribution of the force for fixing the cover in this region.
[0065] It can also be seen in
[0066] What has just been described with reference to
[0067] Thus, these
[0068] As shown in
[0069] It is understood that in order to engage the eyelets 430 with the lugs 33 in order to fix the cover 4 to the base 3 by click and ratchet, it is necessary to exert a force on the cover 4, which force is directed perpendicularly to the aforementioned reference plane 400, the direction of which force is represented by the arrow F1 in
[0070] In particular, the presence of the clearance 500 ensures that the means for fixing by click and ratchet are properly engaged despite the manufacturing and assembly play of the components of the electronic interface housing 300, and prevents the direct transmission of stresses occurring during the fixing by click and ratchet to the printed circuit board 5 and the electrode connection terminals 50.
[0071] It is notable that the recessed pressing elements, that is to say the elements that are at a distance from the printed circuit board in the position of the cover placed on the base but not fixed, are arranged in a peripheral position on the cover. In this way, it is easy to press on the cover in this peripheral zone to allow the deformation of the eyelets 430 toward the lugs 33.
[0072] The size of the clearance 500 allowing the longitudinal offset between the transverse planes 451 and 452 is calculated on the one hand so as to allow this deformation of the eyelets to ensure the fixing by click and ratchet and on the other hand so as to ensure the contact of the pins 45 forming the pressing element with the printed circuit board when the cover 4 is locked by click and ratchet on the base 3, as illustrated in
[0073] The invention thus makes it possible to provide an electronic interface housing 300 of which the cover 4 has, on the one hand, thanks to the pressing members 44a, 44b and the pressing elements 405, a certain rigidity, and, on the other hand, thanks to the clearance 500, a flexibility making it possible to fix said cover on the base 3 of the electronic interface housing 300 with a minimum stress on the fragile elements which are the connecting terminals and assembly of the heating elements of an electrical heating device 100 for a motor vehicle.
[0074] The invention as described above nevertheless is not limited to the exclusively described and illustrated means and configurations, and is also applicable to all equivalent means or configurations and to any combination of such means. In particular, the invention applies regardless of the shape of the pressing members and elements, as long as they have the features described in the present document.