CONTROL DEVICE FOR A VEHICLE HEATER

• US 20150214676A1
• Filed: 01/22/2015
• Published: 07/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eberspacher Climate Control Systems GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: Eberspacher Climate Control Systems GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: HUMBURG, Michael, EPPLER, Hermann
• Granted Patent: US 9,472,906 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/502 composed of different pieces H01R13/514 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/665 with built-in electronic circuit H01R13/70, H01R13/719 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6658 on printed circuit board H01R13/6666 - H01R13/6691 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/065 with built-in electric apparatus

Abstract

A control device for a vehicle heater includes a circuit assembly unit (12) with a plurality of external contacts (24), an external receptacle (30) for receiving an external plug (42) for establishing an electrical contact with the external contacts (24) for connecting the control device (10) to a vehicle wiring system, as well as a circuit assembly unit housing (18) surrounding the circuit assembly unit (12) with an external receptacle tunnel (52) surrounding at least partially the external receptacle (30).

Claims

1. A vehicle heater control device comprising:

a circuit assembly unit with a plurality of external contacts;

an external receptacle for receiving an external plug for establishing an electrical contact with the plurality of external contacts for connecting the control device to a vehicle wiring system; and

a circuit assembly unit housing surrounding the circuit assembly unit and comprising an external receptacle tunnel at least partially surrounding the external receptacle.

2. A control device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the external receptacle tunnel comprises a holding meshing formation for providing a holding meshing with a heater housing.

3. A control device in accordance with claim 2, wherein the holding meshing formation comprises a housing meshing groove for the holding meshing of at least one housing part of a heater housing.

4. A control device in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

the circuit assembly unit housing comprises a first circuit assembly unit housing part with a plate or shell first housing section carrying the external receptacle tunnel; and

the plate or shell first housing section is formed integrally in one piece with the external receptacle tunnel.

5. A control device in accordance with claim 4, wherein the holding meshing formation on the external receptacle tunnel is arranged at a spaced location from the first housing section.

6. A control device in accordance with claim 4, wherein the first circuit assembly unit housing part is sealed in an essentially fluid-tight manner in relation to the external receptacle.

7. A control device in accordance with claim 4, wherein the external receptacle tunnel and the external receptacle are formed integrally with the first circuit assembly unit housing part with a casting process from a plastic material.

8. A control device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a holding formation establishing a holding connection with an external plug, the holding formation being provided on at lest one of the external receptacle and the external receptacle tunnel.

9. A control device in accordance with claim 8, wherein the holding formation comprises at least one of a snap-in projection, a snap-in recess and a catch spring.

10. A control device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the external receptacle comprises a receptacle recess for receiving a contact area of an external plug, wherein the external contacts extend into the receptacle recess.

11. A control device in accordance with claim 4, wherein the circuit assembly unit comprises a plurality of internal contacts for establishing an electrical contact with an internal plug for connecting at least one heater component to the control device.

12. A control device in accordance with claim 11, wherein the circuit assembly unit housing further comprises an internal receptacle tunnel surrounding the internal contacts at least partially.

13. A control device in accordance with claim 12, wherein the circuit assembly unit housing further comprises a second circuit assembly unit housing part with a plate or shell second housing section carrying the internal receptacle tunnel and formed integrally in one piece with the internal receptacle tunnel.

14. A control device in accordance with claim 13, wherein the first housing section is connected with the second housing section, surrounding the circuit assembly unit.

15. A control device in accordance with claim 12, wherein the external receptacle tunnel and the internal receptacle tunnel are arranged offset in relation to one another on the circuit assembly unit housing.

16. A control device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the circuit assembly unit comprises at least one printed circuit board.

17. A vehicle heater, comprising:

a heater housing; and

a control device comprising;

a circuit assembly unit with a plurality of external contacts;

an external receptacle for receiving an external plug for establishing an electrical contact with the plurality of external contacts for connecting the control device to a vehicle wiring system; and

a circuit assembly unit housing surrounding the circuit assembly unit and comprising an external receptacle tunnel at least partially surrounding the external receptacle, wherein the control device is carried on the heater housing by means of a connection of the heater housing and the external receptacle tunnel.

18. A vehicle heater control device comprising:

a circuit assembly unit housing defining an interior space;

a circuit assembly unit with a plurality of external contacts, the circuit assembly unit being disposed within the interior space;

an external receptacle for receiving an external plug for establishing an electrical contact with the plurality of external contacts for connecting the control device to a vehicle wiring system; and

an external receptacle tunnel connected to the circuit assembly unit housing and at least partially surrounding the external receptacle.

19. A vehicle heater control device according to claim 18 in combination with a heater housing, wherein:

the heater housing comprises a housing part with an engagement structure; and

the external receptacle tunnel comprises a holding engagement formation for providing a holding engagement with the engagement structure of the housing part.

20. A vehicle heater control device in accordance with claim 19, wherein:

the holding engagement formation comprises a housing engagement groove for the engaging a flange of the housing part;

the circuit assembly unit housing comprises a first circuit assembly unit housing part with a plate or shell first housing section carrying the external receptacle tunnel and a second housing section;

the first housing section and the second housing section cooperate to provide the interior space; and

the plate or shell first housing section is formed integrally in one piece with the external receptacle tunnel.