PTC element module and pre-heater for vehicles including the same

• US 7,297,901 B2
• Filed: 11/11/2004
• Issued: 11/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Woory Industrial Company, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Woory Industrial Company, Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Sung-Young
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoang; Tu Ba
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, VINOD D
• Application Number:
  US10/579,619
• Publication Number:
  US 20070095809A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,104 Days
• Field of Search: 219/202, 219/505, 219/540
• US Class Current: 219/202
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/2225 arrangements of electric heaters for heating air
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/2268 Constructional features
• 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 3/047 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 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

Disclosed is a pre-heater for vehicles comprising: A PTC element module including a positive terminal composed of two sheets, an upper sheet of which has a fastening hole and upward bended ribs formed at opposite edges of the fastening hole; a ring-shaped insert insulator inserted between the ribs; a PTC element inserted into an inside of the insert insulator, a bottom surface of which is in contact with a lower sheet of the positive terminal; one heat fin assembly closely fastened to one surface of the PTC element; another heat fin assembly fastened to the other surface of the PTC element through the medium of a positive terminal and an entire surface insulator; and a fastening insulator for binding together the two heat fin assemblies, the PTC element, the positive terminal and the entire surface insulator, and a heat fin assembly disposed parallel to the PTC element module; a negative terminal disposed parallel to the heat fin assembly; frames and respectively fastened to both ends of a combined body including the PTC element module; the heat fin assembly, and the negative terminal; and housing and respectively fastened to both longitudinal ends of a combined body including the PTC element module, the heat fin assembly, the negative terminal, and the frames and. In accordance with the present invention, the pre-heater has advantages capable of more facilitating assembly and maintenance and remarkably improving productivity, since the PTC element module and so on may be modulized.

Claims

1. A PTC element module of a pre-heater for vehicles including a PTC element, comprising:

a positive terminal composed of two sheets, an upper sheet of which has a fastening hole and upward bended ribs formed at opposite edges of the fastening hole;

a ring-shaped insert insulator inserted between the ribs;

a PTC element inserted into an inside of the insert insulator a bottom surface of which is in contact with a lower sheet of the positive terminal;

one heat fin assembly closely fastened to one surface of the PTC element;

another heat fin assembly fastened to the other surface of the PTC element through the medium of a positive terminal and an entire surface insulator;

and a fastening insulator for binding together the two heat fin assemblies, the PTC element, the positive terminal and the entire surface insulator.

2. The PTC element module according to claim 1, wherein the heat fin assembly is formed of a corrugated heat fin fastened to one heat fin plate.

3. The PTC element module according to claim 1, wherein the fastening insulator comprises a longitudinally extending thin and long member and a “

C”

shaped insert member formed inward from the thin and long member.

4. The PTC element module according to claim 1, wherein the PTC element and the insert insulator have rectangular shapes.

5. A pre-heater for vehicles comprising:

the PTC element module according to claim 1;

a heat fin assembly disposed parallel to the PTC element module;

a negative terminal disposed parallel to the heat fin assembly;

frames fastened to both lateral ends of a combined body including the PTC element module, the heat fin assembly, and the negative terminal; and

housings fastened to both longitudinal ends of a combined body including the PTC element module, the heat fin assembly, the negative terminal, and the frames.

6. The pre-heater for vehicles according to claim 5, further comprising fastening means for binding together the PTC element module, the heat fin assembly, and the negative terminal at a longitudinal middle position thereof.

7. The pre-heater for vehicles according to claim 5, wherein the frames are fastened to a heat fin of the heat fin assembly through the medium of a fin protector.

8. A pre-heater for vehicles comprising:

the PTC element module according to claim 2;

a heat fin assembly disposed parallel to the PTC element module;

a negative terminal disposed parallel to the heat fin assembly;

frames fastened to both lateral ends of a combined body including the PTC element module, the heat fin assembly, and the negative terminal; and

housings fastened to both longitudinal ends of a combined body including the PTC element module, the heat fin assembly, the negative terminal, and the frames.

9. The pre-heater for vehicles according to claim 8, further comprising fastening means for binding together the PTC element module, the heat fin assembly, and the negative terminal at a longitudinal middle position thereof.

10. The pre-heater for vehicles according to claim 8, wherein the frames are fastened to a heat fin of the heat fin assembly through the medium of a fin protector.