Frame for holding heating elements of an electric heater of a ventilating, heating and/or air conditioning unit

• US 20070187384A1
• Filed: 02/14/2007
• Published: 08/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valeo Systemes Thermiques (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Valeo Systemes Thermiques (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Pierron, Frederic, Colette, Olivier
• Granted Patent: US 7,977,607 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/216
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 3/0405 using electric energy supply, e.g. the heating medium being a resistive element; Heating by direct contact, i.e. with resistive elements, electrodes and fins being bonded together without additional element in-between F24H3/06, F24H3/08, F24H3/10 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 3/0429 For vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 3/0435 Structures comprising heat spreading elements in the form of fins
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 3/0458 One-piece frames
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 9/1872 PTC
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/023 Heaters of the type used for electrically heating the air blown in a vehicle compartment by the vehicle heating system
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/50 heating conductor arranged in metal tubes, the radiating surface having heat-conducting fins

Abstract

The object of this invention is a frame (1) for receiving a heating element (3) for an electric heater of a ventilating, heating and/or air conditioning unit of a vehicle, in particular. This frame (1) is shaped in the form of a hollowed-out box whose large faces (2. 2′), intended to be traversed by the airflow (A) conveyed by the unit, are held at a distance from each other in order to create between them a space (12) for receiving the heating element (3). The frame (1) is made of a single part in which means for holding (15) the heating element (3) inside said space (12) are located in the area of said large faces (2, 2′).

Claims

1. Frame (1) for receiving at least one heating element (3) for an electric heater of a ventilating, heating and/or air conditioning unit, this frame (1) being shaped in the form of a hollowed-out box whose large faces (2. 2′

), intended to be traversed by the airflow (A) conveyed by the unit, are held at a distance from each other in order to create between them a space (12) for receiving the heating element (3), characterized in that the frame (1) is made of a single part in which means for holding (15) the heating element (3) inside said space (12) are located in the area of said large faces (2, 2′

).

2. Frame of claim 1, characterized in that a passage (21) for inserting the heating element (3) into said space (12) is made through at least any one of the side walls of the frame (1).

3. Frame as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that single part integrating the holding means (15) is formed by molding a plastic material, said large faces (2, 2′

) consisting at least in part of the holding means (2, 2′

).

4. Frame as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holding means (15) consist of at least one holding member forming a stop, which is arranged within the plane of at least one of said large faces (2, 2′

) in order to impede the heating element (3) from moving towards the exterior of said space (12).

5. Frame as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one channel (13), arranged inside said space (12), for individually receiving a heating element (3), this channel being delimited by longitudinal partitions (14) which run in-between said large faces (2, 2′

).

6. Frame as claimed in claims 4 and 5, characterized in that the holding member (15) is arranged in the connecting area between the partition (14) and said large face (2, 2′

).

7. Frame of claim 6, characterized in that the holding member (15) consists of a rim that at least one partition (14) comprises.

8. Frame as claimed in either of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that the holding members (15) run along the partitions (14) in an either continuous and/or segmented manner.

9. Frame of claim 8, characterized in that the holding members (15) run in segments along the partitions (14), at least one segment of a holding member (15) allocated to one of the large faces (2, 2′

) is staggered in relation to at least one segment of a holding member (15) allocated to the other large face.

10. Frame as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one locking member (17) of the heating element (3) is integrated with the frame (1).

11. Frame of claim 10, characterized in that the locking member (17) cooperates with one end of the heating element (3) in order to prevent it from moving at least longitudinally.

12. Frame as claimed in claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the locking member (17) consists of a clawed finger cooperating with a complementary relief surface (22) that the heating element (3) comprises.

13. Frame as claimed in any of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the locking member (17) runs within the plane of at least any one of said large faces (2, 2′

).

14. Frame as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one elastic longitudinal support member (16) for the heating element (3) is integrated with the frame (1).

15. Frame as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it incorporates means for individually integrating a plurality of heating elements (3).

16. Frame of claim 15, characterized in that, for each of the heating elements (3), the integration means combine:

a) at least one means for holding the heating element (3) within the plane of the frame (1), inside the space (12) reserved for receiving it,

b) at least one longitudinal locking means for said heating element (3) associated with at least one elastic support means for the heating element (3) at one of its ends,

c) at least one means for positioning the heating element (3) laterally on the frame (1) and for holding this element (3) in this position in relation to respective electrical connection elements that a coupling connector (4) equipping the heater comprises.

17. Electric heating radiator for a heating, ventilating and/or air conditioning unit, characterized in that it includes a frame (1) as claimed in any of claims 1 to 16.

18. Ventilating, heating and or air conditioning unit integrating an electric heater as claimed in claim 17.

19. Method for assembling an electric heater, characterized in that it includes at least the steps consisting in:

a) inserting at least one heating element (3) into the interior space (12) for receiving a frame (1), through a passage (21) made in one side wall of said frame,

b) sliding the heating element (3) between means for holding the heating element inside the receiving space of the frame (1), which are located in the area of said large faces (2, 2′

) of the latter,

c) bringing the heating element (3) to bear against the elastic member (16) and locking it in position via cooperation between the relief surface of the heating element (3) and the locking element (17),

d) installing a coupling connector (4) on the frame (1) via nesting, and connecting the heating element (3) to this coupling connector (4).