Electric heating device, in particular for motor vehicles

• US 9,234,677 B2
• Filed: 07/16/2008
• Issued: 01/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Catem GmbH & Co., KG
• Original Assignee: Catem GmbH & Co., KG
• Inventors: Clade, Michael, Bohlender, Franz
• Primary Examiner(s): STAPLETON, ERIC S
• Application Number:
  US12/174,361
• Publication Number:
  US 20090020515A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,736 Days
• Field of Search: 219/202, 219/504, 219520-523, 219/536, 219/537, 219/540, 219/541, 219/544, 219/548, 392/347, 277/597
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 3/0441 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 3/0464 Two-piece frames, e.g. two-shell frames, also including frames as a central body with two covers
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 9/1863 Arrangement or mounting of electric heating means
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 9/1872 PTC
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0203 Cooling of mounted components H05K1/0272 takes precedence

Abstract

An electric heating device that provides additional heating for motor vehicles includes several heating elements assembled to form a heating block, and a controller for controlling the heating elements. The controller forms a constructional unit together with the heating block. Contact and/or cooler elements extend between the controller and the heating block. The controller is held at a control means support. Between the controller support and a heating block housing accommodating the heating block, sealing elements are provided through which the contact or cooler elements project and which are sealed by clamping between the controller support and the heating block housing.

Claims

1. An electric heating device for providing additional heating for motor vehicles comprising:

a plurality of heating elements assembled to form a heating block;

a heating block housing accommodating the heating block;

control means for controlling the heating elements, the control means including a printed circuit board, wherein the control means and the heating block together form a constructional unit;

a control means support that holds the control means;

at least one of contact elements and cooler elements extending between the control means and the heating block;

a control means housing accommodating the control means support; and

a plurality of sealing elements provided between the control means housing and the heating block housing, wherein

the at least one of the contact elements and the cooler elements project through the sealing elements, wherein

the sealing elements are sealed against the control means support and the heating block housing by being clamped between the control means support and the heating block housing, and wherein

the sealing elements are connected to each other and have a one-piece construction to form an integral seating unit.

2. The electric heating device according to claim 1, wherein the sealing elements are injection molded as a single unit forming the integral sealing unit.

3. The electric heating device according to claim 1, wherein the sealing elements abut and are radially clamped against circumferential surfaces of the contact elements andor the cooler elements.

5. The electric heating device according to claim 1, wherein the sealing unit is fanned of a heat resisting elastic material.

7. The electric heating device according to claim 1, wherein the control means housing further comprises:

a lower housing part for accommodating the control means support; and

a housing lid placed upon the lower housing part.

8. The electric heating device according to claim 7, wherein the housing lid includes an electric supply interface.

4. An electric heating device for providing additional heating for motor vehicles comprising:

a plurality of heating elements assembled to form a heating block;

a heating block housing accommodating the heating block;

control means for controlling the heating elements, the control means including a printed circuit hoard, wherein the control means and the heating block together form a constructional unit;

a control means support that holds the control means;

at least one of contact elements and cooler elements extending between the control means and the heating block;

a control means housing accommodating the control means support; and

a plurality of sealing elements provided between the control means housing and the heating block housing, wherein

the at least one of the contact elements and the cooler elements project through the sealing elements, wherein

the sealing elements are sealed against the control means support and the heating block housing by being clamped between the control means support and the heating block housing, and wherein

the sealing elements abut radially circumferential surfaces of the contact elements and the cooler elements.

6. An electric heating device for providing additional heating for motor vehicles comprising:

a plurality of heating elements assembled to form a heating block;

a heating block housing accommodating the heating block;

control means for controlling the heating elements, the control means including a printed circuit board, wherein the control means and the heating block together form a constructional unit;

a control means support that holds the control means;

at least one of contact elements and cooler elements extending between the control means and the heating block;

a control means housing accommodating the control means support; and

a sealing element located between the control means housing and the heating housing, wherein

the at least one of the contact elements and the cooler elements project through the sealing elements, wherein

the sealing elements are sealed against the control means support and the heating block housing by being clamped between the control means support and the heating block housing, wherein

the sealing elements abut radially circumferential surfaces of the contact elements and the cooler elements, and wherein

the sealing unit is formed of a heat resisting elastic material.