Heating device for complexly formed surfaces

• US 9,468,045 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2012
• Issued: 10/11/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gentherm GmbH (Gentherm Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Gentherm GmbH (Gentherm Incorporated)
• Inventors: Zhang, Jonathan Yu, Zhang, Yand Yanbing, Zhang, Fred Fufei, Liang, Beck Hailong
• Primary Examiner(s): Ross, Dana
• Assistant Examiner(s): SIMS III, JAMES F
• Application Number:
  US13/432,210
• Publication Number:
  US 20120255944A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,658 Days
• Field of Search: 219/202, 219/204, 219/209, 219/528, 219/529, 219/494, 219/542, 219/546, 219/549
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/2227 Electric heaters incorporated in vehicle trim components, e.g. panels or linings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/004 using zigzag layout
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/007 using multiple electrically connected resistive elements or resistive zones
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/015 Heater wherein the heating element is interwoven with the textile
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/029 Heaters specially adapted for seat warmers
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/345 knitted fabrics
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/347 woven fabrics
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

The present invention relates to an electrical temperature control for controlling the temperature of surfaces. It is envisaged that the temperature control has at least one heat distribution device which covers at least parts of the surface to be temperature controlled.

Claims

1. An electric temperature control device for controlling a temperature of a surface, the temperature control device comprising:

at least one heat distribution device covering at least part of the surface to be temperature controlled, the at least one heat distribution device having metal layers,

at lease one carrier comprising;

i. an elongated tape-like core section extending along a longitudinal axis,

ii. a plurality of blade sections, each of the blade sections are projections that project and extend from opposing longitudinal edges of the core section, and

iii. at least one heater resistor element,

wherein the at least one heater resistor element is arranged between two flexible metal layers of the heat distribution device that project at least partially beyond sides of the at least one heater resistor element to cover a larger area than a base area of the at least one heater resistor element,

wherein in a first portion of the core section, the at least one heater resistor element extends generally along the longitudinal axis and is free from extending into the blade sections, and in a second portion of the core section, the at least one heater resistor element extends into the blade sections, and

wherein the at least one heater resistor element is a standard wire that forms a conductor loop, phase winding, or both with an outgoing lead and a return wire.

2. The electric temperature control device according to claim 1, wherein at least one blade section of the plurality of blade sections has a cutout.

3. The electric temperature control device according to claim 2, wherein the at least one carrier is comprised at least partially of a material which has pores, mesh openings, perforations, the like, or a combination thereof.

4. The electric temperature control device according to claim 3, wherein the at least one heat distribution device is arranged between two textile layers or two carriers.

5. The electric temperature control device according to claim 4, wherein the electric temperature control is integrated as a:

insert into padding of a seat or a steering wheel.

6. The electric temperature control device according to claim 1, wherein the electric temperature control device has at least one electrical cooling element.

7. The electric temperature control device according to claim 1, wherein the electric temperature control device includes a heat pump, a Peltier element, an air moving means, or a combination thereof.

8. The electric temperature control device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one carrier is comprised at least partially of a material which has pores, mesh openings, perforations, the like, or a combination thereof.

9. The electric temperature control device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one heat distribution device is arranged between two textile layers or two carriers.

10. The electric temperature control device according to claim 1, wherein the electric temperature control device is integrated as art insert into padding of a seat.

11. The electric temperature control device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of blade sections are arranged in asymmetrical sections relative to a longitudinal axis of the at least one carrier.

12. The electric temperature control device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of blade sections are arranged in sections relative to the longitudinal axis of the at least one carrier,

wherein at least some of the sections are symmetrically arranged relative to the longitudinal axis and at least some of the sections are asymmetrically arranged relative to the longitudinal axis.

13. The electric temperature control device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one heater resistor element has an electrical resistance between 100 Ω

/m and 1000 Ω

/m.

14. An electrical temperature control device for controlling a temperature of a surface comprising:

a carrier core extending along a longitudinal carrier axis, the carrier core having a plurality of carrier blade sections, each of the carrier blade sections are projections that project and laterally extend from opposing edges of the carrier core relative to the carrier axis, the carrier blade sections are arranged in carrier sections on the opposing edges of the carrier core that are asymmetric, symmetric, or a combination of both about the carrier axis,

at least one heater resistor element arranged on the carrier core, and

a heat distribution device arranged on an upper side of the at least one heater resistor element, an underside of the at least one heater resistor element, or both, the heat distribution device protrudes beyond the at least one heater resistor element, the heat distribution device includes a distribution core extending along a distribution axis with distribution blade sections that are projections laterally extending from opposing edges of the distribution core relative to the distribution axis, the distribution blade sections are arranged in distribution sections on opposing edges of the distribution device that are asymmetric, symmetric, or a combination of both about the distribution axis,

wherein at least some of the carrier blade sections have a cutout, and at least some of the carrier blade sections are free of a cutout,

wherein in at least one area of the carrier core, the at least one heater resistor element extends into one or more of the carrier blade sections that are free of a cutout and the at least one heater resistor element is generally free from extending along the carrier axis,

wherein in at least one other area of the carrier core, the at least one heater resistor element is arranged generally along the carrier axis and the at least one heater resistor element does not extend into one or more of the carrier blade sections that have the cutout, and

wherein the at least one heater resistor element is a standard wire that forms a conductor loop, phase winding, or both with an outgoing lead and a return wire which are short-circuited on their one end.

15. The electrical temperature control device of claim 14, wherein the electrical temperature control device has at least one electrical cooling element assisting in cooling the heat distribution device.

16. The electrical temperature control device of claim 14, wherein the carrier core and the heat distribution device include at least one heater resistor element therebetween forming a sandwich.

17. The electrical temperature control device of claim 14, wherein the carrier core and the heat distribution device include at least one heater resistor element therebetween forming a sandwich,

wherein the heat distribution device is arranged closer to the surface to be temperature controlled than the carrier core.