EP1467597B1 - Heating apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

First (5.1) and second (5.2) conductors are insulated electrically from each other and fit on one side of heating elements. Each conductor maintains direct or indirect contact with heating elements. The second conductor maintains contact with a heating element by means of an electrically conductive spacer and a contact plate. An independent claim is also included for a method for producing a heating device.

Description

The invention relates to a heating device according to the preamble of claim 1.

The US 5,658,479 shows a PTC heating arrangement in which, although two PTC elements are electrically connected in parallel, but both are contacted in common on at least one side by at least two contact conductors, which are separately switchable. As a result, the heat output should be changeable in accordance with the surfaces of the split electrodes. This may be the case to a slight extent, but certainly not proportional to the areas of the electrode parts, since the resistance between electrodes applied to a voltage source is not determined by the electrode area but by the total current path between them and again by the PTC body itself becomes.

Other devices are for example from the EP 379 837 A1 or the EP 340 550 B1 known. In these cases, the electrical heating elements are in an insulating frame, preferably made of plastic, with the fixed a strip-shaped electrical conductor is connected or integrated and contacted the heating elements directly. This arrangement is in the first case in a housing of a U-shaped removal part, the U-leg contacted directly the other side of the heating elements and formed on the conductor applied insulating strip. In this case, the pressing takes place by means of slats seated on this housing. In the second-mentioned document, the housing consists of an electrically conductive profile tube, in which the contact arrangement of PTC elements, conductors and placed on these insulating strips inserted and the housing is then pressed. In the aforementioned generic heating devices, all heating elements can only be acted upon together.

From the DE 199 33 013 a heating device with plate-shaped heating elements is known - which has two separately switchable heating zones in the extension direction of the heating elements and the contacting conductor. However, for this purpose, the heating conductors are to be contacted from two end faces of the device or to omit part of the heating elements in each heating zone, as a result of which the heating density or specific heating power is unnecessarily reduced.

The invention is therefore an object of the invention to provide a heater with a plurality of separately switchable heating elements, when contacting only one end face of the heater and optimal optimum heating power.

According to the invention, the object is achieved with a heating device of the type mentioned, which has the characterizing features of claim 1.

The invention thus provides that substantially parallel and insulated from each other a plurality of electrical strip-shaped electrical conductors are provided which can be contacted on one side, wherein the first conductor to at least a first heating element or a first group of heating elements leads, on this or this side facing away from the first conductor parallel to this guided another conductor is guided to at least one second heating element or a second group of heating elements, on this or this opposite side of the second conductor possibly arranged third conductor is continued to at least a third heating element or a third group of heating elements, etc., and thus each conductor is electrically insulated from the further heating elements or groups of heating elements, as the first conductor to the second and third heating elements or groups thereof, etc.

The contacting of the heating elements by the conductors can be done directly or indirectly. In direct contact is / are the other or the other conductors except the first conductor to the heating elements bent out. An indirect contact can be made via at least one electrically conductive spacer between the plane of the conductor and the contact surface of the heating element facing it or else a plurality of conductive spacers or a spacer and a contact plate. Further preferred embodiments of the invention provide that heating elements, conductors and possibly spacers are arranged pressed in the housing, wherein in particular the housing is electrically conductive and at least one flat side of the housing in electrical contact with the at least one conductor facing away from flat side of at least one Heating element is.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Darstellung eines Heizregisters mit erfindungsgemäßen Heizvorrichtungen;

Fig. 2

in Seitenansicht die Darstellung zweier erfindungsgemäß erzielbarer Heizzonen des Heizregisters der Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

eine Seitenansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Heizvorrichtung;

Fig. 4

eine vergrößerte Darstellung des Anschlußdetails einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung;

Fig. 5

einen Längsschnitt durch eine erste Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Heizvorrichtung;

Fig. 6

einen Längsschnitt durch eine andere Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Heizvorrichtung; und

Fig. 7

einen Längsschnitt durch eine dritte Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Heizvorrichtung.

Further advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the claims and from the following description, in the embodiments of the invention with reference to the drawings. are explained in detail. Showing:

Fig. 1

a perspective view of a heating register with heating devices according to the invention;

Fig. 2

in side view, the representation of two inventively achievable heating zones of the heating coil of Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3

a side view of a heating device according to the invention;

Fig. 4

an enlarged view of the connection detail of a device according to the invention;

Fig. 5

a longitudinal section through a first embodiment of the heating device according to the invention;

Fig. 6

a longitudinal section through another embodiment of the heating device according to the invention; and

Fig. 7

a longitudinal section through a third embodiment of the heating device according to the invention.

In the Fig. 1 is a composed of four individual heaters according to the invention 1 heater R shown in perspective. The individual heaters 1 are interconnected by cross members 10. In addition to heating elements and holding and insulating elements in the Fig. 5 to 7 are shown and explained, are formed as profile tubes housing 2 of the heater 1 according to the invention and conductors 5.1, 5.2, which are formed as flat sheets and protrude from the housing 2. The exact structure and the cooperation with the heating elements is also below with reference to the Fig. 5 to 7 described.

By in the Fig. 5 to 7 shown in more detail and explained with reference to these figures can be created in a heating coil formed from the invention 1 heater R in the illustrated embodiment, two heating zones (zone 1 and zone 2), as shown in the Fig. 2 are shown, which are switchable separately, so that either only the zone 1 is heated or only the zone 2 or both zones.

The Fig. 3 shows a plan view of a heater 1 according to the invention with the housing 2 and the outstanding therefrom conductors 5.1 and 5.2. An enlarged view of the end portion of a heater 1 and the detail A of Fig. 2 is in the Fig. 4 shown.

The heating device 1 according to the invention has a housing 2, the material is good heat transfer and preferably consists of metal. The housing 2 may be a tube, preferably a profile tube, with adapted to the inner structure 3 of the device cross-section. Upper and lower surfaces are preferably compressed inwardly against the inner structure 3 of the device convex (concave towards the outside).

The inner structure 3 of the heating device 1 according to the invention has - seen in the illustrated embodiment, from bottom to top - first an insulating strip 4, which rests on a lower top surface 2a of the housing 2 within the same. From one end face 2c of the housing extends a strip-shaped electrical conductor 5.2 with protruding from the housing 2 end 5.2a.

At a distance from the conductor 5.2 - in the illustrated embodiment above the same - are two plate-shaped ceramic heating elements 6.1 and 6.2 are provided, which abut with a flat side 6.1a, 6.2a directly to the upper deck surface 2b of the housing. On its side facing away from the top wall 2b (lower) surface 6.1b, the first heating element 6.1 is contacted by another strip-shaped electrical conductor 5.1, which is led out with its end 5.1a on the same side of the housing 1, as the electrical conductor 5.2. To insulate the two conductors 5.1 and 5.2 and to bridge the distance between them, an insulating spacer 7.1 is provided between them in the region of the heating element 6.1.

In the region of the second heating element 6.2, a contact plate 5.3 and an electrically conductive spacer 7.2 are provided between this and the second electrical conductor 5.2 in the illustrated embodiment. The end faces of the housing may be potted, wherein, as stated, the two conductors 5.1 and 5.2 are led out with their ends 5.1a and 5.2a on the front side of the housing from this.

Thus, the first heating element 6.1 and the second heating element 6.2 can be charged separately from a single end face of the housing 2 and thus heated. Instead of a first element 6.1 and a second heating element 6.2 - as shown for the sake of clarity only in the drawing - can also be provided a plurality of first heating elements 6.1 and a plurality of second heating elements 6.2, which can be contacted separately in the same way and energized. It can also be provided more than two separately contacted and energized individual heating element or more corresponding groups of heating elements (for example, three or more), for this purpose, for example, on the side facing away from the heating elements of the second Conductor 5.2 is a third heating conductor on the connection side (at 5.1a, 5.2a) isolated within the housing 2 is passed and is on the side facing away from the terminal side with one or more heating elements in electrically conductive contact.

Both the conductor 5.1 and the contact plate 5.3 are held in a central space of a frame 8, wherein in particular the conductors can be injected, for example, in the frame 8 or molded by this and the frame 8 the conductor 5.1 and the contact plate 5.3 in the vertical direction surmounted by its flat sides and in such a way also includes and positions the heating elements 6.1 and 6.2 as well as spacers 7.1 and 7.2.

The additional conductor 5.2 can also be enclosed in such a frame.

The structure of the heaters 1 of FIGS. 6 and 7 is basically similar and in the region of the first heating element 6.1 identical to the structure of the radiator Fig. 5 , The design of the Fig. 6 differs from the design of the Fig. 5 in that the second conductor 5.2 is bent in the region of the second heating element 6.2 towards the heating element 6.2, so that only a spacer 7.2 'between the bent region 5.2b of the second heating conductor 5.2 and the insulating strip 4 must be provided, wherein the spacer 7.2' may be conductive or non-conductive, preferably non-conductive. Preferably, the spacer 7.2 'with the insulating strip 4 also form a structural unit and be made of one piece, for example, from molded ceramic. A further advantage here is a further reduction of the individual parts.

In the embodiment of Fig. 7 is the contact plate 5.3 and the electrically conductive spacer 7.2 Fig. 5 is replaced by a one-piece electrically conductive spacer 7.2 ", which may also be injected into the holding frame 8. This resulting configuration is particularly preferred, as it combines the advantages of reducing individual parts with a simple realization in the manufacture.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

heater

2

casing

2a

cover surface

2 B

cover surface

2c

front

3

construction

4

insulating

5.1, 5.2

ladder

5.1a

conductor end

5.2a

conductor end

5.2b

off-set range of (5.2)

5.3

contact plate

6.1

heating element

6.2

heating element

6.1a

flat side

6.2a

flat side

7.1

Spacer (insulating)

7.2

Spacer (conductive)

7.2 '

Spacer (conductive or insulating)

7.2 "

Spacer (conductive)

8th

frame

10

carrier

detail

A

R

heater

Claims (15)

1. A heating device with at least two plate-shaped ceramic heating elements (6.1, 6.2), which are electrically contacted on opposite flat sides, wherein at least one flat electrical conductor is provided and at least two further conductors (5.1, 5.2) are arranged electrically insulated from each other on the second side of the heating element (6.1, 6.2) facing away from the first side, characterized in that at least one of the conductors (5.1) provided on the second side is connected to a first heating element (6.1) or a first group of heating elements, in that at least one conductor (5.2) provided on the second side is connected to a second heating element (6.2) or a second group of heating elements, and in that each of conductions (5.1, 5.2) is electrically insulated from the other heating element (6.1, 6.2) or the further group of heating elements.
2. Device according to claim 1, wherein at least one conductor (5.1, 5.2) is in direct contact with a heating element (6.1, 6.2).
3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one conductor (5.1, 5.2) is in indirect contact with a heating element.
4. Device according to claim 3, wherein at least one conductor (5.2) is in contact via at least one electrically conductive spacer (7.2, 7.2'') with at least one heating element (6.2).
5. Device according to claim 4, wherein at least one conductor (5.2) is in contact via at least one electrically conductive spacer (7.2) and a contact plate with a heating element (5.3).
6. Device according to one of the claims 1 to 5, wherein at least one electrical conductor (5.1, 5.2) and/or electrically conductive contact plate (5.3) are circumferentially held by at least one insulating frame (8).
7. Device according to one of the claims 1 to 6, wherein at least one electrical conductor (5.1, 5.2) and/or an electrically conductive spacer (7.2, 7.2'') are circumferentially held by at least one insulating frame (8).
8. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein two conductors (5.1, 5.2) are electrically insulated against one another by at least one insulating spacer (7.1) located between them.
9. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one conductor (5.2) has an area offset to at least one heating element (5.2b).
10. Device according to claim 1, wherein the at least two electrical conductors (5.1, 5.2) are contacted solely from one front side (2c) of the casing (2).
11. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein heating elements (6.1, 6.2) and conductors (5.1, 5.2), together with optionally spacers (7.1, 7.2, 7.2', 7.2'')are placed in a casing (2).
12. Device according to claim 11, wherein heating elements (6.1, 6.2), conductors (5.1, 5.2) and optionally spacers (7.1, 7.2, 7.2', 7.2'')are pressed in the casing (2).
13. Device according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the casing (2) has an electrically conductive construction and at least one flat side of the casing (2) is in electrical contact with the flat side of at least one heating element (6.1, 6.2) remote from the at least one conductor (5.1, 5.2).
14. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the electrical conductors (5.1, 5.2) and/or an electrically conductive spacer (7.2) is injection-moulded around by an insulating holding frame for the heating elements (6.1, 6.2).
15. Method for the manufacture of a heating device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein initially at least one electrical conductor (5.1, 5.2) and/or an electrically conductive spacer (7,2) is injection-moulded around with an insulating holding frame for the heating elements (6.1, 6.2).

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