Electric heating arrangement

• US 6,847,017 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2003
• Issued: 01/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eichenauer Heizelemente GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: Eichenauer Heizelemente GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Kamy, Frank, Starck, Roland, Flick, Franz
• Primary Examiner(s): Evans, Robin O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, VINOD D
• Application Number:
  US10/691,322
• Publication Number:
  US 20040104215A1
• Time in Patent Office: 461 Days
• Field of Search: 219/534, 219/544, 219/530, 219/540, 219/505, 219/546, 219/548, 338/221
• US Class Current: 219/534
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/02 Heaters using heating elements having a positive temperature coefficient
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/14 the material being non-metallic
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/42 non-flexible
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/50 heating conductor arranged in metal tubes, the radiating surface having heat-conducting fins

Abstract

The electric heating arrangement (1) has a tubular housing (2) in which is provided at least one PTC heating element (20) and at least one pair of metallic heat dissipators (9) between which the at least one heating element (20) is clamped and which for this purpose each comprise a base portion (10) facing the at least one heating element and one or two curved legs (15) projecting from said base portion, which adapt themselves resiliently to the inner surface of the surrounding wall of the housing (2). The invention provides that the legs (15) taper toward their free ends and/or that the base portion (10) is thicker than the legs (15) projecting it.

Claims

1. Electric heating arrangement having a tubular housing in which is provided at least one PTC heating element and at least one pair of metallic heat dissipators between which the at least one heating element is clamped and which for this purpose each comprise a base portion facing the at least one heating element and one or two curved legs projecting from said base portion, which adapt themselves resiliently to the inner surface of the surrounding wall of the housing, wherein the legs taper toward their free ends.

2. The heating arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein the base portion is thicker than the legs projecting from it.

5. The heating arrangement as defined in claim 1 or 3, wherein the legs taper continuously over their full length.

6. The heating arrangement as defined in claim 5, wherein the legs taper uniformly.

7. The heating arrangement as defined in claim 1 or 3, wherein the base portion has the greatest thickness in the middle between the legs projecting from it.

8. The heating arrangement as defined in claim 1 or 3, wherein two extensions extending in the longitudinal direction of the housing are formed on the base portion, on its side facing away from the heating element, which extensions form a terminal of U-shaped cross-section for a power supply cable.

9. The heating arrangement as defined in claim 1 or 3, wherein the base portion exhibits a flat, especially a plane, configuration on its side facing the PTC heating element.

10. The heating arrangement as defined in claim 1 or 3, wherein the surrounding wall of the housing is thinner than the base portion and the legs.

11. The heating arrangement as defined in claim 1 or 3, wherein the wall thickness of the housing is 0.1 mm to 0.7 mm.

12. The heating arrangement as defined in claim 1 or 3, wherein the heat dissipators consist of aluminium or an aluminium alloy.

13. The heating arrangement as defined in claim 12, wherein the heat dissipators are made from an extruded profile material.

14. The heating arrangement as defined in claim 1 or 3, wherein for mounting the heating elements the housing comprises an open end with an integrally formed flange which can then be closed after assembly.

15. The heating arrangement as defined in claim 14, wherein a plastic cap is held on the flange of the housing.

16. The heating arrangement as defined in claim 15, wherein a sealing ring is arranged between the plastic cap and the flange.

17. The heating arrangement as defined in claim 1 or 3, wherein the housing consists of stainless steel.

18. The heating arrangement as defined in claim 1 or 3, wherein the legs together cover almost the whole inner surface of the surrounding wall of the housing.

19. The heating arrangement as defined in claim 1 or 3, wherein the wall thickness of the housing is 0.2 mm to 0.5 mm.

20. The heating arrangement as defined in claim 1 or 3, wherein the housing is deformed by the legs of the heat dissipators applying themselves resiliently against its surrounding wall.

3. Electric heating arrangement having a tubular housing in which is provided at least one PTC heating element and at least one pair of metallic heat dissipators between which the at least one heating element is clamped and which for this purpose each comprise a base portion facing the at least one heating element and one or two curved legs projecting from said base portion, which adapt themselves resiliently to the inner surface of the surrounding wall of the housing, wherein the base portion is thicker than the legs projecting from it.

4. The heating arrangement as defined in claim 3, wherein the legs taper toward their free ends.