Electrical motor vehicle air heater with grounded housing

• US 6,810,203 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2003
• Issued: 10/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Beru Aktiengesellschaft (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Beru Aktiengesellschaft (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Alban, Thomas, Wenske, Dirk
• Primary Examiner(s): Jeffery, John A.
• Application Number:
  US10/373,040
• Publication Number:
  US 20030180033A1
• Time in Patent Office: 608 Days
• Field of Search: 392/347, 392/354, 392/358-359, 219/530, 219/540, 219/202, 219/505, 219/210, 219/209, 219/520, 219/522, 219/526, 219/542
• US Class Current: 392/347
• 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 3/0441 Interfaces between the electrodes of a resistive heating element and the power supply means
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 3/0447 Forms of the electrode terminals, e.g. tongues or clips
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 3/062 using electric energy supply; the heating medium being the resistive element F24H3/08, F24H3/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 9/1818 Arrangement or mounting of electric heating means
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 9/1872 PTC

Abstract

An electrical air heating apparatus, especially for a motor vehicle, with electrical heating elements (3) for heating air and a housing (1) which has a ground connection (1a), an electrical supply connection and an electronic circuit (7) to control the supplying of electrical power to the heating elements (3). In the housing (1), the heating elements (3) are arranged in electrical contact with the ground connection and the electrical supply connection. The housing (1) is made of an electrically conducting material, for example, aluminum and is constructed in one piece with a molded-on ground connection (1a). The heating elements (3) and the electronic circuit (7) are arranged in direct electrical contact with the housing (1).

Claims

1. An electrical air heating apparatus, comprising:

electrical heating elements for heating air, and

a housing which has a ground connection, an electrical supply connection and an electronic circuit to control supplying of electrical power to the heating elements and at which the heating elements are arranged in electrical contact with the ground connection and the electrical supply connection,

wherein the housing is constructed of an electrically conducting material and in one piece with a molded-on ground connection, and wherein the heating elements and the electronic circuit are arranged in direct electrical contact with the housing; and

wherein a layer of heat-conducting material is arranged between a printed circuit board, which carries the electronic circuit for controlling the supply of electrical power to the heating elements, and the housing.

2. The heating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heating elements are pressed into the housing.

3. The heating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heating elements are arranged by a sealing element in the housing.

4. The heating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heating elements are mounted in the housing and welded to the housing.

5. The heating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, on a side of the housing facing the heating elements, cooling fins are constructed integrally with the housing.

6. The heating apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the housing is made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy.

7. The heating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, on a side of the housing facing the heating elements, cooling fins are constructed integrally with the housing.

8. The heating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the housing is made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy.