Electric heating device

• US 6,720,536 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2002
• Issued: 04/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Catem GmbH & Co., KG, Catern GmbH & Co. KG.
• Original Assignee: Catem GmbH & Co., KG
• Inventors: Bohlender, Franz
• Primary Examiner(s): Gartenberg, Ehud
• Assistant Examiner(s): FASTOVSKY, LEONID M
• Application Number:
  US10/308,220
• Publication Number:
  US 20030132222A1
• Time in Patent Office: 498 Days
• Field of Search: 219/504, 219/505, 219/540, 219/530, 219/553, 338/22.R, 338/23
• US Class Current: 219/504
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/2296 integration into fluid/air heat exchangers
• 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 3/0447 Forms of the electrode terminals, e.g. tongues or clips
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 3/047 Multiple-piece frames assembled on their four or more edges
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 9/1872 PTC
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/02 Heaters using heating elements having a positive temperature coefficient
• 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 3/14 the material being non-metallic
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/50 heating conductor arranged in metal tubes, the radiating surface having heat-conducting fins

Abstract

An electric heating device including PTC heating elements which have electrode sheets arranged on both sides thereof. These electrode sheets supply power to the PTC heating elements and each having connected thereto radiator elements for emitting the heat generated by the PTC heating elements. An electrically insulating layer is arranged between at least one of the electrode sheets and the respective radiator element.

Claims

1. An electric heating device having a layered structure of a plurality of PTC heating elements and radiator elements, each PTC heating element being contacted by two electrode sheets so as to supply power thereto, and of said electrode sheets being connected to a radiator element in a heat-conducting manner,

wherein an electric insulation is provided between one of said electrode sheets and the radiator element connected thereto, and

wherein an insulating plate for electrically insulating the radiator elements is arranged between neighboring radiator elements.

2. An electric heating device according to claim 1, wherein the insulation is provided between a plus electrode sheet and the radiator element arranged adjacent thereto.

3. An electric heating device according to claim 1, wherein the radiator elements are implemented as corrugated ribs.

4. An electric heating device according to claim 1, wherein each of the two electrode sheets is electrically insulated from the respective radiator element arranged adjacent thereto.

5. An electric heating device according to claim 1, wherein said insulating plate is arranged between adjoining radiator elements, at least one of said neighboring radiator elements being disconnected from ground potential.

6. An electric heating device according to claim 1, wherein in said layered structure, three successive radiator elements have arranged between them a respective PTC heating element, and wherein the respective plus electrode sheet with the electric insulation is arranged adjacent a middle radiator element of the three neighboring radiator elements.

7. An electric heating device comprising:

a layered structure of a plurality of PTC heating elements, radiator elements, and electrode sheets, each PTC heating element being contacted by two electrode sheets so as to supply power thereto, and each of said electrode sheets being connected to a radiator element in a heat-conducting manner,

an electric insulation between one of said electrode sheets and the radiator element connected thereto, and

an insulating plate electrically insulating the radiator elements from one another, said insulating plate being arranged between neighboring radiator elements.

8. An electric heating device according to claim 7, wherein the insulation is provided between a plus electrode sheet and the radiator element arranged adjacent thereto.

9. An electric heating device according to claim 7, wherein the radiator elements comprise corrugated ribs.

10. An electric heating device according to claim 7, wherein each of the two electrode sheets associated with each PTC heating element is electrically insulated from the respective radiator element arranged adjacent thereto.

11. An electric heating device according to claim 7, wherein said insulating plate is arranged between adjoining radiator elements, and

wherein at least one of said neighboring radiator elements is disconnected from ground potential.

12. An electric heating device according to claim 7, wherein in said layered structure, three successive radiator elements have arranged between them a respective PTC heating element, and

wherein a respective plus electrode sheet with the electric insulation is arranged adjacent a middle radiator element of the three neighboring radiator elements.