Electric heating device, particularly for a heating or air-conditioning unit in a vehicle

Abstract

Electric heating device comprising an electric radiator (10) for heating the air passing through it, said radiator comprising a casing (12), at least one resistive element mounted in the casing and constituted by at least one zigzag metal strip (22) which is disposed so as to be directly exposed to the air passing through the casing, and a circuit (30) for controlling the electrical supply of the resistive element or elements connected to a power supply. The electric radiator (10) comprises a set of individual heating modules (20) disposed parallel to one another in the casing (12) and so as to be directly exposed to the air passing through the casing, each heating module (20) comprising a pleated or corrugated metal strip (22) and an electronic switch controlled by the control circuit (30) intended to selectively inhibit the electrical supply of the metal strip (22).

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] The invention concerns an electric heating device comprising an electric radiator passed through by the air to be heated and in particular passed through by at least part of an air flow produced by an air flow generator, such as a fan or blower. [0002] The field of application of the invention is more particularly that of heating and / or air-conditioning apparatuses for vehicles, in particular private and commercial motor vehicles and heavy lorries. [0003] Usually, the heating up of the air intended for heating the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, and for demisting and defrosting, is provided by passing a flow of air through a heat exchanger through which the engine block cooling liquid runs. [0004] This heating method may prove unsuitable or insufficient in a number of situations such as: [0005] preconditioning before starting the engine in order to provide heating up of the passenger compartment, and defrosting or demisting, in a remote o...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0026] The thermal sensor or detector is connected thermally to the spring blade and comprises an element chosen from amongst an NTC resistor, a PTC resistor

Problems solved by technology

This heating method may prove unsuitable or insufficient in a number of situations such as: preconditioning before starting the engine in order to provide heating up of the passenger compartment, and defrosting or demisting, in a remote or pre-programmed manner, before use of the vehicle in a very cold environment, desired very fast rise in temperature in the passenger compartment, inability of the heat exchanger to supply the calories necessary for satisfactory heating up of the air i

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