Heating device for a vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a heating device for a vehicle, in particular a caravan or motor caravan, having: a housing with an air inlet, an air outlet and a housing volume which extends axially longitudinally along a longitudinal axis between the air inlet and the air outlet; a circulating air blower for conveying air through the housing volume, wherein the circulating air blower is arranged in the housing volume along the longitudinal axis between the air inlet and the air outlet; a combustion air blower for conveying combustion air of the heating device, wherein the combustion air blower is arranged in the housing volume along the longitudinal axis between the circulating air blower and the air outlet; at least one circuit board on which electronic components are arranged, wherein the circuit board is arranged in the housing volume along the longitudinal axis between the circulating air blower and the combustion air blower; a circuit board holder on which the at least one circuit board is held, wherein the circuit board holder is detachably fastened to the combustion air blower; and a circulating air blower holder on which the circulating air blower is held, wherein the circulating air blower holder is detachably fastened in the housing.

Description

[0001] heater for a vehicle

[0002] The invention relates to a heater for a vehicle, in particular a caravan or motorhome.

[0003] Recreational vehicles, such as caravans (mobile homes) or motorhomes (mobile homes), are typically equipped with a heater for heating the interior air and water. Such heaters for combined heating of air and water are also known as combination heaters (or combo heaters for short) and are powered by gas, gasoline, or diesel.

[0004] Combination heaters, for example, are marketed by the applicant under the name "Combi D" and generally have a warm air assembly and a warm water assembly. The warm air assembly comprises a recirculation fan for conveying the air to be heated, a combustion air fan for conveying the combustion air, and a heat exchanger for transferring heat to the air and water to be heated. The actual heat generation takes place in a combustion unit provided within the heat exchanger, comprising a flame tube and burner. The warm water assembly comprises a water tank and, if applicable, other components. In addition, one or more circuit boards with electronic components are provided to control the functions of the heater; such circuit boards are often referred to, for short, as "electronics."Typical combination heaters have a housing with a volume in which the warm air module and the warm water module are located. The aforementioned electronics are usually located in a separate installation space within the housing, separate from the other components of the heater, or in a separate housing.

[0005] The object of the invention is to provide a heater for a vehicle which has improved properties compared to the prior art.

[0006] This object is achieved by providing a heater having the features of claim 1. Advantageous developments of the invention are specified in the subclaims. The wording of the claims is incorporated into the description by reference. The heater according to the invention comprises a housing, a recirculating air fan, a combustion air fan, and at least one circuit board. The housing has an air inlet, at least one air outlet, and a housing volume that extends axially along a longitudinal axis between the air inlet and the air outlet. The recirculating air fan is configured to convey air through the housing volume. The recirculating air fan is arranged in the housing volume along the longitudinal axis between the air inlet and the air outlet. The combustion air fan is configured to convey combustion air of the heater.The combustion air fan is arranged along the longitudinal axis between the recirculation fan and the air outlet in the housing volume. The at least one circuit board is provided with electronic components, also referred to below as electronics, and is arranged along the longitudinal axis between the recirculation fan and the combustion air fan in the housing volume. The heating device according to the invention also has an optional circuit board holder and an optional recirculation fan holder. The at least one circuit board is held on the circuit board holder. The circuit board holder is detachably attached to the combustion air fan. The recirculation fan is held on the recirculation fan holder. The recirculation fan holder is detachably attached in and / or to the housing.

[0007] The heating device according to the invention offers various advantages over the prior art.

[0008] Firstly, the heater according to the invention has a particularly compact design. This compact design is achieved by arranging the at least one circuit board between the recirculation fan and the combustion air fan. The axial arrangement of the at least one circuit board along the longitudinal axis between the recirculation fan and the combustion air fan saves installation space along a transverse and / or vertical axis.

[0009] Secondly, the heater's assembly is improved in several respects. This improved assembly is achieved through the optional circuit board holder and the optional recirculation fan holder and their interaction with the other components of the heater. By attaching the circuit board holder – and thus also the at least one circuit board – to the combustion air fan, the electronics can be positioned in the housing volume together with the combustion air fan and any other components of the warm air assembly connected to the combustion air fan during assembly of the heater. Compared to positioning the electronics separately, this saves an assembly step. In addition, the circuit board holder ensures that the relative positioning between the combustion air fan and the electronics always meets requirements.The recirculation fan bracket is used to secure the recirculation fan in and / or to the housing. During operation of the heater, the recirculation fan generates vibrations due to the inevitably present rotating masses. These vibrations can impair or damage the electronics. These disadvantages are counteracted by the inventive mounting and fastening of the electronics on the one hand and the recirculation fan on the other. Furthermore, the heater according to the invention eliminates the need for separate cooling of the electronics, since the at least one circuit board is cooled by the air flow between the air inlet and the air outlet generated by the recirculation fan.

[0010] In principle, the housing can have any design suitable for the present purpose. In a preferred embodiment, the housing is designed in a two-shell construction with a lower housing shell and an upper housing shell. In a further embodiment, the housing instead has one or more housing covers through which the housing volume is accessible. It is understood that more than just one circuit board can be present, for example, a circuit board arrangement with two, three, or even more circuit boards. In this case, the circuit board holder serves to hold and secure the circuit board arrangement.

[0011] For the purpose of holding the at least one circuit board, the circuit board holder can in principle be joined to the circuit board holder in a form-fitting, force-fitting and / or material-fitting manner. The same applies analogously to the fastening of the circuit board holder to the combustion air fan. For the purpose of holding the recirculation fan, the recirculation fan holder is joined to a recirculation motor of the recirculation fan in a preferred embodiment. In a further embodiment, the recirculation fan holder is instead joined to a housing component or another component or section of the recirculation fan away from the recirculation motor. The fastening of the recirculation fan holder to and / or in the housing is implemented differently in different embodiments. In a preferred embodiment, the recirculation fan holder is fixed in a form-fitting manner between a lower housing shell and an upper housing shell of the housing.In a further embodiment, the recirculation fan holder is screwed to a section of the housing provided for this purpose.

[0012] In one embodiment, the heater according to the invention is configured to heat the interior air of the vehicle and is therefore an air heater. In another embodiment, the heater is additionally configured to heat the vehicle's domestic water and is therefore a combination heater. In one embodiment of the invention, the circuit board holder has a connecting device, and the recirculation fan holder has a complementary connecting device. The connecting device and the complementary connecting device are configured to form a detachable mounting connection between the circuit board holder and the recirculation fan holder. The detachable mounting connection is released and / or removed when the heater is mounted.The detachable assembly connection between the connecting device and the complementary connecting device is only formed during assembly of the heater and allows the combustion air fan, the circuit board holder including the at least one circuit board, and the recirculation fan holder including the recirculation fan to be positioned together in the housing volume. The assembly connection therefore eliminates a separate assembly step for separately positioning the recirculation fan. The detachable assembly connection is a force-locking and / or form-locking joint between the connecting device and the complementary connecting device, and thus between the circuit board holder and the recirculation fan holder. Since the assembly connection is released when the heater is assembled, there is no direct mechanical connection between the circuit board holder and the recirculation fan holder.In other words, the circuit board holder and the recirculation fan holder are decoupled from each other when the mounting connection is released. This counteracts the aforementioned vibration transmission to the electronics. In one embodiment, the connecting device and the complementary connecting device are configured to automatically release the mounting connection, for example, by a section of the housing provided for this purpose acting on the circuit board holder and / or the recirculation fan holder to release the mounting connection. In another embodiment, manual release of the mounting connection is provided.

[0013] In a further embodiment of the invention, the connecting device of the circuit board holder has a plug-in receptacle, and the complementary connecting device of the recirculation fan holder has a complementary plug-in section. When the mounting connection is formed, the complementary plug-in section engages downwards into the plug-in receptacle along a vertical axis. When the housing acts on the recirculation fan holder, the complementary plug-in section engages upwards out of the plug-in receptacle along the vertical axis, as a result of which the mounting connection is / is released. In this embodiment of the invention, the detachable mounting connection is a detachable plug-in connection between the plug-in receptacle of the circuit board holder and the plug-in section of the recirculation fan holder. The plug-in section is held in the plug-in receptacle on one side downwards along the vertical axis. There is no positive connection along the vertical axis upwards.This allows the plug-in section to extend upwards out of the plug-in receptacle. This extension occurs automatically as soon as the recirculation fan, including the recirculation fan holder, assumes its intended position within the housing. "Extension" does not necessarily mean that the plug-in section must be completely removed from the plug-in receptacle. Rather, "extension" also encompasses the release of contact between the plug-in receptacle and the plug-in section, although the plug-in section may still extend into the plug-in receptacle.

[0014] In a further embodiment of the invention, the circuit board holder has a securing device, and the recirculation fan holder has a complementary securing device. To secure the mounting connection, the securing device and the complementary securing device interact in a form-fitting manner with limited movement along the longitudinal axis and / or along the vertical axis. The securing device and the complementary securing device serve to secure the detachable mounting connection during assembly of the heater. This prevents the mounting connection from becoming accidentally loose. The securing device acts in a form-fitting manner with limited movement along the longitudinal axis and / or the vertical axis. This enables the plug-in section to be removed from the plug-in receptacle as required during assembly of the heater. Conversely, engagement is also possible, for example, when disassembling the heater.

[0015] In a further embodiment of the invention, the recirculation fan holder has a mounting base. The mounting base is arranged along the vertical axis below the plug-in section and (when the heater is fully assembled) engages positively downwards on one side along the vertical axis into a mounting recess in the housing. During assembly of the heater, the plug-in section disengages from the plug-in recess when the mounting base engages in the mounting recess. This releases the assembly connection. With this embodiment, the entire assembly (combustion air fan, circuit board with circuit board holder, recirculation fan with recirculation fan holder) is inserted into the housing along the vertical axis from top to bottom during assembly of the heater.As soon as the fastening foot engages in the fastening receptacle, the position of the recirculation fan in relation to the vertical axis is fixed and further lowering of the remaining components of the assembly (combustion air fan, circuit board including circuit board holder) leads to a relative movement between the plug-in receptacle of the circuit board holder and the plug-in section of the recirculation fan, through which the plug-in section extends upwards relative to the plug-in receptacle. Viewed kinematically in reverse, the plug-in receptacle is displaced downwards relative to the plug-in section along the vertical axis. The fastening foot is received in the fastening receptacle with a form-fitting downwards on one side along the vertical axis. In one embodiment, the fastening foot is additionally received in the fastening receptacle with a form-fitting downwards along the longitudinal axis and / or the transverse axis.

[0016] In a further embodiment of the invention, the circuit board holder has at least one slot in which the at least one circuit board is received in a form-fitting and / or force-fitting manner. The combustion air blower, in particular a housing component of the combustion air blower, has at least one receiving slot into which an end face of the at least one circuit board is inserted along the longitudinal axis. The receiving slot can improve the retention of the circuit board. Preferably, the end face of the circuit board is held in the receiving slot in a form-fitting manner transversely to the longitudinal axis. If the electronics system has more than one circuit board, the circuit board holder has a corresponding number of slots, for example two, three, or more than three slots. The same applies, mutatis mutandis, to the number of receiving slots of the combustion air blower.

[0017] In a further embodiment of the invention, the circuit board holder is releasably screwed to the combustion air blower. Preferably, the circuit board holder is releasably screwed to the aforementioned housing component of the combustion air blower. In one embodiment, the combustion air blower has a flange surface against which a complementary flange surface of the circuit board holder rests. The flange surface can be formed, for example, by one or more screw bosses, or more precisely, by their end faces.

[0018] In a further embodiment of the invention, the circuit board holder is made of a plastic material. Alternatively or additionally, the circuit board holder is designed as a single piece. Manufacturing it from plastic allows for weight savings. The single-piece design further simplifies the construction of the heater. A single-piece design made of the plastic material, preferably by plastic injection molding, is particularly preferred.

[0019] In a further embodiment of the invention, the recirculation fan comprises a recirculation motor and a recirculation fan impeller, which is fixed to a motor shaft of the recirculation motor and rotatable by means of the recirculation motor. The recirculation fan holder has a flange section to which the recirculation motor is detachably fastened. A detachable screw connection is preferably provided. Flanging the recirculation motor results in a simply constructed and easy-to-manufacture attachment of the recirculation fan to the recirculation fan holder. Preferably, the flange section has a through-bore for the motor shaft. In this case, the recirculation fan impeller and the recirculation motor are arranged on axially opposite sides of the flange section and / or recirculation fan holder. In a further embodiment of the invention, the flange section is made of an elastomer material.The flange section thus also acts as a damping element for vibrations generated by the rotating recirculation fan wheel and / or the recirculation motor. This allows for improved vibration isolation between the recirculation fan and the housing.

[0020] In a further embodiment of the invention, the circuit board holder has a recess into which the recirculation motor protrudes along the longitudinal axis. The recess in the circuit board holder allows for a particularly compact arrangement of the recirculation motor along the longitudinal axis. The recirculation motor protrudes axially into the electronics (at least one circuit board including the circuit board holder). In this embodiment of the invention, the recirculation motor and the at least one circuit board are positioned axially at approximately the same height. The circuit board is offset radially outward relative to the recirculation motor and is arranged, for example, laterally, above, and / or below the recirculation motor.

[0021] In a further embodiment of the invention, the recirculation fan holder is made of at least one plastic material. Alternatively or additionally, the recirculation fan holder is designed as a single piece. Manufacturing from the at least one plastic material allows for weight savings. The single-piece design allows for further simplification of the structure. A single-piece design made of the plastic material, preferably by plastic injection molding, is particularly preferred.

[0022] In a further embodiment of the invention, the recirculation fan holder is a multi-component injection-molded component. Consequently, the recirculation fan holder is made of at least two different plastic materials, for example, a relatively flexible plastic material and a relatively rigid plastic material, which can also be referred to as a soft component and a hard component. The soft component can be used, for example, for a possible flange section for screw fastening the recirculation motor in order to achieve improved vibration damping. The hard component can be used otherwise. This allows for a design of the recirculation fan holder that particularly meets requirements.

[0023] In a further embodiment of the invention, the housing has a lower housing shell and an upper housing shell, which is supported along a / the vertical axis on the lower housing shell and detachably joined to the lower housing shell. The housing volume is formed between the lower housing shell and the upper housing shell. The recirculation fan holder is held in a form-fitting manner between the lower housing shell and the upper housing shell along the vertical axis. The shell construction of the housing provided for in this embodiment of the invention allows for particularly simple assembly of the heater. During assembly, the housing is opened by removing the upper housing shell from the lower housing shell. This allows the aforementioned assembly (combustion air fan, at least one circuit board including circuit board holder, recirculation fan including recirculation fan holder) and any other components to be easily inserted into the lower housing shell and positioned there.Once positioned, the housing is closed by placing the upper housing shell onto the lower housing shell and joining them. In a preferred embodiment, a tongue and groove joint with additional screw fastening is provided as the joining connection between the lower housing shell and the upper housing shell. When the housing is closed, the assembly is held in a form-fitting manner along the vertical axis between the lower housing shell and the upper housing shell, thus eliminating the need for separate fastening devices for securing the assembly along the vertical axis in and / or on the housing.

[0024] The invention also relates to a circuit board holder for a heater of a vehicle, in particular a caravan or motorhome. The circuit board holder is designed to hold at least one circuit board of the heater and to releasably attach it to a combustion air fan of the heater. The circuit board holder according to the invention contributes to a particularly simple design and easy installation of the heater.

[0025] In a further embodiment of the invention, the circuit board holder has a connecting device configured to form a detachable mounting connection with a complementary connecting device of a recirculation fan holder of the heater. The connecting device, in conjunction with the complementary connecting device, further simplifies the installation of the heater.

[0026] For further features of the circuit board holder according to the invention, possible embodiments, and resulting advantages, reference is made to the disclosure of the heating device according to the invention and its embodiments. Further features of the circuit board holder according to the invention emerge from the features of the circuit board holder of the heating device according to the invention and its embodiments.

[0027] The invention also relates to a recirculation fan mount for a heater of a vehicle, in particular a caravan or motorhome. The recirculation fan mount according to the invention is designed to hold a recirculation fan of the heater and to be mounted in a housing of the heater. The recirculation fan mount according to the invention contributes to a particularly simple design and easy installation of the heater. Furthermore, the recirculation fan mount according to the invention allows for vibration-related decoupling of the recirculation fan from other components of the heater.

[0028] In a further embodiment of the invention, the recirculation fan holder has a complementary connecting device configured to form a detachable mounting connection with a connecting device of a circuit board holder of the heater. The complementary connecting device of the recirculation fan holder, in conjunction with the connecting device of the circuit board holder, contributes to further simplifying the assembly of the heater.

[0029] For further features of the recirculation fan holder according to the invention, possible configurations, and resulting advantages, reference is made to the disclosure of the heater according to the invention and its configurations. Further features of the recirculation fan holder according to the invention emerge from the features of the recirculation fan holder of the heater according to the invention and its configurations.

[0030] The invention also relates to a combustion air blower for a heater of a vehicle, in particular a caravan or motorhome. The combustion air blower according to the invention is designed to convey combustion air of the heater and has a fastening section designed for the detachable fastening, in particular screw fastening, of a circuit board holder of the heater. The combustion air blower according to the invention, in its interaction with the circuit board holder, allows for a compact design and simplified assembly of the heater.

[0031] In a further embodiment of the invention, the combustion air blower has at least one receiving slot designed to receive a front end of a circuit board held by the circuit board holder. The receiving slot allows for improved retention of the circuit board. The receiving slot is preferably formed on a housing component of the combustion air blower.

[0032] For further features of the combustion air blower according to the invention, possible embodiments, and resulting advantages, reference is made to the disclosure of the heating device according to the invention and its embodiments. Further features of the combustion air blower according to the invention emerge from the features of the combustion air blower of the heating device according to the invention and its embodiments.

[0033] Further advantages and features of the invention emerge from the claims and from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention, which are illustrated with reference to the drawings.

[0034] Fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a heating device according to the invention,

[0035] Fig. 2 shows the heating device according to the invention according to Fig. 1 in a perspective exploded view,

[0036] Fig. 3 is a schematic exploded view of individual components of the heater according to Figs. 1 and 2, wherein the components in particular show a combustion air fan, a recirculation fan including recirculation fan holder and a circuit board arrangement including circuit board holder,

[0037] Fig. 4 the circuit board holder and the combustion air blower in a further perspective exploded view,

[0038] Fig. 5 shows the circuit board arrangement in a state held on the circuit board holder in a schematic perspective view,

[0039] Fig. 6 is a schematic plan view of an assembly comprising the combustion air blower, the circuit board assembly including the circuit board holder and the recirculation air blower including the recirculation air blower holder,

[0040] Fig. 7 the assembly according to Fig. 6 in a schematic bottom view,

[0041] Fig. 8 the recirculation fan holder in a schematic perspective view,

[0042] Fig. 9 shows the combustion air fan with the circuit board holder and the recirculation fan holder attached thereto, wherein the recirculation fan holder is detachably connected to the circuit board holder in the exemplary situation shown, Fig. 10 shows a schematic perspective view of the circuit board holder and the recirculation fan holder in an exemplary situation in which the connection between the circuit board holder and the recirculation fan holder is released,

[0043] Fig. 11 in a schematic longitudinal section of the recirculation fan holder with a recirculation motor of the recirculation fan and

[0044] Fig. 12 shows the heater according to Figs. 1 and 2 in a schematic longitudinal section in the area of ​​the recirculation fan, the circuit board arrangement and the combustion air fan, with individual components hidden in the drawing.

[0045] Figures 1 and 2 show a heater 1 designed for heating air and water in a recreational vehicle. The recreational vehicle can be, for example, a caravan (mobile home) or a motorhome (mobile home). The heater 1 serves to heat the interior air and the domestic water of the recreational vehicle and can therefore also be referred to as a combination heater.

[0046] The heater 1 comprises a housing 100, a recirculation fan 200, a combustion air fan 300, a circuit board assembly 400, a circuit board holder 500, a recirculation fan holder 600 and a heat exchanger 700.

[0047] The recirculation fan 200, the combustion air fan 300, the circuit board assembly 400, the circuit board holder 500, the recirculation fan holder 600 and the heat exchanger 700 can also be referred to as a warm air assembly.

[0048] In the embodiment shown, the heater 1 also has a hot water assembly

[0049] 800, which is to be understood as optional. In embodiments not shown in the figures, the heater therefore has no hot water assembly and is a pure air heater. In the embodiment shown, the hot water assembly 800 has a water tank.

[0050] 801 and a valve and pump device 802. The water tank 800 serves as a reservoir for the heated water. The valve and pump device 802 provides a controlled water supply and drainage.

[0051] The housing 100 has a housing volume V in which the other components of the heater 1 are arranged in a manner described in more detail below. The housing 100 has an air inlet 101 and a plurality of air outlets 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d. It is understood that only a single air outlet may be present. The housing volume V extends axially along a longitudinal axis X between the air inlet 101 and the plurality of air outlets 102a to 102d. The warm air assembly is arranged axially between the air inlet 101 and the plurality of air outlets 102a to 102d in the housing volume V.

[0052] During operation of the heater 1, air to be heated is drawn in through the air inlet 101 from the environment, specifically from the vehicle interior of the recreational vehicle, heated, and discharged into the vehicle interior through the multiple air outlets 102a to 102d. The multiple air outlets 102a to 102d allow the heated air to be distributed to different areas of the vehicle interior.

[0053] The recirculation fan 200 is designed to convey the air to be heated / heated and is arranged along the longitudinal axis X between the air inlet 101 and the air outlets 102a to 102d in the housing volume V.

[0054] The recirculation fan 200 in the present case has a recirculation motor 201 and a recirculation fan wheel 202, which is fixed to a motor shaft 203 of the recirculation motor 201 and is rotatable by means of the recirculation motor 201 (see in particular Fig. 3).

[0055] The combustion air blower 300 serves, in a manner known to the person skilled in the art, to convey the combustion air and exhaust gases of the heater 1. The combustion air blower

[0056] 300 is arranged along the longitudinal axis X between the recirculation fan 200 and the air outlets 102a to 102d in the housing volume V.

[0057] In the embodiment shown, the combustion air blower 300 has a housing component

[0058] 301 and a combustion air motor 302 (see especially Fig. 3). The combustion air blower 300 is preferably designed as a side channel compressor, and the housing component 301 of the combustion air blower 300 defines the side channel of the side channel compressor.

[0059] The heat exchanger 700 serves to transfer the generated heat to the air and water to be heated. The heat exchanger 700 is arranged along the longitudinal axis X between the combustion air blower 300 and the air outlets 102a to 102d in the housing volume V. Heat is generated by means of a combustion unit with a flame tube and burner integrated into the heat exchanger 700, which is not visible in the figures. The combustion unit is fired with a gaseous liquid fuel, for example, liquefied petroleum gas, gasoline, or diesel. The heat exchanger 700 has a heat exchanger housing 701 in the present case.

[0060] In the embodiment shown, the combustion air blower 300, in particular the housing component 301, is flanged to a front end of the heat exchanger 700, in particular the heat exchanger housing 701, facing the recirculation fan 200.

[0061] The circuit board arrangement 400 has at least one circuit board 401. In the embodiment shown, the circuit board arrangement 400 has a plurality of circuit boards 401, 402, 403 (see in particular Fig. 3). The plurality of circuit boards 401, 402, 403 are each provided with a plurality of electronic components 4011, 4021, 4031 and serve to control different functions of the heater 1. The circuit board arrangement 400 can also be referred to in the broadest sense as electronics or electronic arrangement. The plurality of circuit boards 401, 402, 403 are also referred to below as first circuit board 401, second circuit board 402, and third circuit board 403. It is understood that the circuit board arrangement can also have more or fewer than the three circuit boards shown. In an embodiment not shown in the figures, only a single circuit board is present.

[0062] The circuit board arrangement 400 is arranged along the longitudinal axis X between the recirculation fan 200 and the combustion air fan 300 in the housing volume V.

[0063] By arranging the circuit board assembly 400 axially between the recirculation fan 200 and the combustion air fan 300, installation space along a vertical axis Z and a transverse axis Y (see in particular Fig. 1) can be saved and a compact dimension of the heater 1 can be achieved. Furthermore, separate cooling of the circuit board assembly 400 can be dispensed with, since the recirculation fan 200 simultaneously serves as a cooling fan for the circuit board assembly 400.

[0064] The circuit board assembly 400 is held on the circuit board holder 500 in a manner described in more detail below (see especially Fig. 5). The circuit board holder 500 is attached to the combustion air blower 300.

[0065] By attaching the circuit board holder 500 together with the circuit board assembly 400 to the combustion air fan 300 and its attachment to the heat exchanger 700, the aforementioned components can be introduced together into the housing 100 during assembly of the heater 1 and positioned in the housing volume V. The recirculation fan holder 600 serves to hold and attach the recirculation fan 200. The recirculation fan 200 is held on the recirculation fan holder 600 in a manner described in more detail below, which is detachably attached in and / or to the housing (see in particular Fig. 12). When the heater 1 is in the assembled state, the recirculation fan holder 600 is only indirectly connected to the other components of the heater 1 via the housing 100. In particular, there is no direct mechanical connection to the circuit board holder 500 and thus also to the circuit board assembly 400.This prevents vibrations generated by the rotating masses of the recirculation fan 200 from being transmitted to the circuit board arrangement 400 and damaging the electronic components 4011, 4021, 4031.

[0066] The aforementioned decoupling between the recirculation fan 200 on the one hand and the circuit board assembly 400 on the other hand is present in the illustrated embodiment in the assembled state of the heater 1. During assembly of the heater 1, the recirculation fan holder 600 and the circuit board holder 500 are detachably connected to one another, which will be explained in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10 in particular. This assembly connection allows essentially the entire warm air assembly to be inserted together into the housing 100 and positioned in the housing volume V. In other words: During assembly of the heater 1, the following components are inserted together into the housing 100 in an interconnected state: recirculation fan 200, recirculation fan holder 600, circuit board holder 500, circuit board assembly 400, combustion air fan 300, heat exchanger 700.After positioning in the housing volume V as required, the aforementioned mounting connection between the circuit board holder 500 and the recirculation fan holder 600 is released in a manner described in more detail below.

[0067] In the embodiment shown, the housing 100 has a shell construction with a lower housing shell 103 and an upper housing shell 104. This two-shell design contributes significantly to the particularly easy assembly of the heater 1. However, such a two-shell construction is not present in all embodiments and is therefore considered optional.

[0068] The housing upper shell 104 and the housing lower shell 103 enclose the housing volume V. The housing upper shell 104 is placed along the vertical axis Z from top to bottom onto the housing lower shell 103 and detachably joined to it. In the present case, a tongue and groove connection NF is provided as a detachable joining connection, which is formed between a tongue F running around an upper housing edge of the housing lower shell 103 and a groove N running around a lower housing edge of the housing upper shell 104. The tongue and groove connection NF is additionally screwed. In the embodiment shown, the housing 100 is divided into two parts approximately centrally with respect to the vertical axis Z into the housing lower shell 103 and the housing upper shell 104.Accordingly, the housing volume V enclosed between the housing lower shell 103 and the housing upper shell 104 is divided approximately in half between the housing lower shell 103 and the housing upper shell 104 (lower volume half V', upper volume half V"). The air inlet 101 is formed by recesses 10T, 101" on the housing lower shell 103 and the housing upper shell 104, respectively. In the present case, the air outlets 102a, 102b, 102c are arranged on the housing upper shell 104. The remaining air outlet 102d is arranged on the housing lower shell 103.

[0069] Furthermore, the air inlet 101 is covered by an air inlet grille 900, which serves as an intrusion protection and is optional.

[0070] Furthermore, two mounting rails 102 are assigned to the housing 100 (see Fig. 2), which serve to simplify the installation of the heater 1 in the vehicle interior.

[0071] During assembly of the heater 1, the housing 100 is opened by lifting the upper housing shell 104 from the lower housing shell 103. When the housing 100 is open, the warm air assembly can be easily inserted into the lower housing shell 103.

[0072] To form the assembly connection between the recirculation fan 200 and the other components of the warm air assembly, the circuit board holder 500 has a connecting device 501 (see in particular Fig. 4), and the recirculation fan holder 600 has a complementary connecting device 601 (see in particular Fig. 8). In the formed state of the assembly connection, the connecting device 501 and the complementary connecting device 601 are in a positive and / or non-positive operative connection. In the released state of the assembly connection, this operative connection is canceled.

[0073] In the embodiment shown, the connecting device 501 has two connecting sections 5011, 5012, which are spaced apart from one another along the transverse axis Y and are preferably each designed to be identical or at least mirror-symmetrical with respect to a plane running through the Z-axis and the X-axis. The connecting sections 5011, 5012 can also be referred to as right connecting section 5011 and left connecting section 5012 with reference to the plane of the drawing in Fig. 4. The complementary connecting device 601 also has two complementary connecting sections 6011, 6012 in the present case (see in particular Fig. 8). The complementary connecting sections 6011, 6012 are also spaced apart from one another along the transverse axis Y and are preferably designed to be identical or at least mirror-symmetrical with respect to the plane running through the Z-axis and the X-axis.The complementary connecting sections 6011, 6012 may be referred to as right complementary connecting section 6011 and left complementary connecting section 6012.

[0074] It is understood that such a two-part design of the connecting device 501 and the complementary connecting device 601 is optional and therefore not present in all embodiments.

[0075] When the assembly connection is established, the right connecting section 5011 cooperates with the right complementary connecting section 6011 and the left connecting section 5012 cooperates with the left complementary connecting section 6012.

[0076] The connecting devices 501, 601 can, in principle, have any design suitable for the aforementioned purpose. For example, the connecting devices 501, 601 can be configured to form a detachable plug-in, snap-in, clamp-in, or other connection.

[0077] In the embodiment shown, the mounting connection is a plug-in connection. The connecting sections 5011, 5012 are therefore each designed as plug-in receptacles 5013, 5014, which can be referred to as right plug-in receptacle 5013 and left plug-in receptacle 5014. The complementary connecting sections 6011, 6012 are each designed as plug-in sections 6013, 6014 (right plug-in section 6013, left plug-in section 6014).

[0078] To form the assembly connection, the plug-in sections 6013, 6014 engage in the respective plug-in receptacles 5013, 5014. In this case, the engagement takes place along the vertical axis Z from top to bottom, as shown, for example, in Fig. 9 and indicated by the arrow drawn there in the area of ​​the connecting devices 501, 601. To form the assembly connection, the plug-in sections 6013, 6014 are inserted from top to bottom into the plug-in receptacles 5013, 5014. In other words: the recirculation fan holder 600, together with the recirculation fan 200 attached to it, is inserted or hooked from top to bottom into the circuit board holder 500. For this purpose, the assembly connection is released kinematically in reverse, for example by moving the circuit board holder 500 relative to the recirculation fan holder 600 along the vertical axis Z until the plug-in sections 6013, 6014 extend from the plug-in receptacles 5013, 5014.To prevent accidental loosening of the mounting connection during assembly, the embodiment shown provides a securing device between the circuit board holder 500 and the recirculation fan holder 600. Specifically, the circuit board holder 500 has a securing device 502 (see in particular Fig. 4). The recirculation fan holder 600 has a complementary securing device 602 (see in particular Fig. 8). The two securing devices 502, 602 are secured to one another with limited mobility to secure the mounting connection. In other words, a positive fit is formed between the securing devices 502, 602, which allows a certain degree of relative mobility. The limited-movability positive fit exists along the longitudinal axis X and along the vertical axis Z.

[0079] The securing device 502 has two identically designed securing receptacles 5021, 5022 arranged at a distance from one another along the transverse axis Y, which can also be referred to as the right securing receptacle 5021 and the left securing receptacle 5022. The complementary securing device 602 has two identically designed securing sections 6021, 6022 spaced from one another along the transverse axis Y (right securing section 6021, left securing section 6022). The securing receptacles 5021, 5022 can be locked over along the longitudinal axis X, so that the securing sections 6021, 6022 can each be inserted through the securing receptacles 5021, 5022 along the arrow direction shown in Fig. 9. In the inserted state, the securing sections 6021, 6022 are each held in the respective securing receptacle 5021, 5022 with limited movement along the longitudinal axis X and the vertical axis Z.

[0080] In the embodiment shown, the recirculation fan holder 600 also has a fastening foot 604 which cooperates with a fastening receptacle 1031 of the housing 100 (see Fig. 12).

[0081] During assembly of the heater 1, the warm air assembly is inserted into the housing 100 from top to bottom along the vertical axis Z. In doing so, the fastening foot 604 first comes into contact with the fastening receptacle 1031. By further lowering the warm air assembly, the mounting connection between the circuit board holder 500 and the recirculation fan holder 600 is automatically released, as the circuit board holder 500 is lowered further along the vertical axis Z relative to the recirculation fan holder 600, and consequently the plug-in sections 6013, 6014 engage from the plug-in receptacles 5013, 5014. In this case, the plug-in sections 6013, 6014 are not completely displaced from the plug-in receptacles 5013, 5014 and a contact previously established between the plug-in sections 6013, 6014 and the respective plug-in receptacle 5013, 5014 is released.In an embodiment not shown in the figures, the plug-in sections are completely displaced from the respective plug-in receptacle in the disengaged state. The plug-in sections 6013, 6014 reengage in the plug-in receptacles 5013, 5014 as soon as the warm air assembly is lifted along the vertical axis Z for disassembly from the housing 100.

[0082] In the embodiment shown, the recirculation fan holder 600 has an additional mounting foot 605. The additional mounting foot 605 is arranged at an upper end of the recirculation fan holder 600 facing away from the mounting foot 604. Consequently, one can also speak of a lower mounting foot 604 and an upper mounting foot 605.

[0083] In the assembled state, the lower fastening foot 604 is inserted into the (lower) fastening receptacle 1031 of the housing 100, which in this case is formed on the housing lower shell 103. When the housing 100 is closed, the upper fastening foot 605 is inserted into an upper fastening receptacle 1041, which in this case is formed on the housing upper shell 104.

[0084] Both the lower fastening foot 604 and the upper fastening foot 605 are designed in two parts and / or forked in the embodiment shown. With reference to the plane of the drawing in Fig. 8, right foot sections 6041, 6051 and left foot sections 6042, 6052 are provided. The lower fastening receptacle 1031 and the upper fastening receptacle 1041 of the housing are also designed to match these. In particular, the foot sections 6051, 6052 of the upper fastening foot 605 are designed to be resilient, so that they can be resiliently moved towards and away from one another along the transverse axis Y. The upper fastening receptacle 1041 preferably has opposing insertion bevels (not shown) for receiving the resiliently designed foot sections 6051, 6052.When assembling / joining the housing upper shell 104 and the housing lower shell 103, a pre-tension / tension of the recirculation fan holder 600 along the vertical axis Z can be achieved in this way. Furthermore, manufacturing tolerances in the housing 100 and / or the recirculation fan holder 600 can be compensated along the vertical axis Z. What has been disclosed for the foot sections 6051, 6052 and the upper fastening receptacle 1041 can apply accordingly to the foot sections 6041, 6042 of the lower fastening foot 604 and the lower fastening receptacle 1031. It is understood that instead a continuous, non-forked design of the fastening feet 604, 605 and the corresponding fastening receptacles 1031, 1041 can also be provided along the transverse axis.In the closed state of the housing 100, the recirculation fan holder 600 is held in a form-fitting manner along the vertical axis Z between the housing lower shell 103 and the housing upper shell 104, wherein the recirculation fan holder 600 is preferably also held in a form-fitting manner along the longitudinal axis X and / or along the transverse axis Y.

[0085] The same applies in this case to the heat exchanger 700 and to the hot water assembly 800. The combustion air blower 300, the circuit board arrangement 400 and the circuit board holder 500 are supported indirectly on the housing 100 via the heat exchanger 700.

[0086] To attach the recirculation fan 200 to the recirculation fan holder 600, the latter has a flange section 603 (see in particular Figs. 8, 11). The recirculation motor 201 is releasably screwed to the flange section 603. For this purpose, the flange section 603 has a plurality of through-holes 6032 arranged offset from one another in the circumferential direction of the flange section 603, which are aligned with threaded holes (without reference numerals) of the recirculation motor 201. The flange section 603 also has a central passage for the motor shaft 203. When the warm air assembly is assembled, the motor shaft 203 projects axially through the passage 6031. The recirculation fan wheel 202 is arranged on a front end face of the flange section 603 with respect to the plane of the drawing in Fig. 3, and the recirculation motor 201 is arranged on a rear end face.

[0087] In the embodiment shown, the flange section 603 is made of an elastomer material K2. The elastomer material K2 allows for vibration damping of any vibrations that may arise from the rotating masses of the recirculation motor 201 and the recirculation fan impeller 202.

[0088] Aside from the flange section 603, the recirculation fan holder 600 is made of a (further) plastic material K1. The plastic material K1 is less flexible than the elastomer material K2.

[0089] The recirculation fan holder 600 is designed as a single piece and is constructed as a multi-component injection-molded component. Specifically, this can also be referred to as a two-component component, with a first component being formed by the elastomer material K2 of the flange portion 603. A second component is formed by the plastic material K1.

[0090] In the embodiment shown, the circuit board holder 500 has three slots S1, S2, S3 for receiving a total of three circuit boards 401, 402, 403 (see in particular Fig. 3, 5). These can also be referred to as the first slot S1, the second slot S2 and the third slot S3. The first circuit board 401 is received in the first slot S1. The second circuit board 402 is received in the second slot S2. The third circuit board 403 is received in the third slot S3. The slots S1, S2, S3 are each configured to hold the respective circuit board 401, 402, 403 in a form-fitting and / or force-fitting manner. The design of the slots S1, S2, S3 shown for this purpose in the figures is to be understood as purely exemplary.

[0091] The first slot S1 and the second slot S2 are arranged opposite each other along the transverse axis Y and allow vertical insertion of the respective circuit board. The third slot S3 is arranged below the other two slots S1 and S2 with respect to the vertical axis Z and allows horizontal insertion of the third circuit board S3.

[0092] The circuit boards 401, 402, 403 are fixed along the longitudinal axis X between the circuit board holder 500 and the combustion air blower 300. To enable an improved fixation of the circuit boards 401, 402, 403, the combustion air blower 300 has several receiving slots

[0093] 303, 304, 305 (see especially Fig. 4). The front ends (without reference numerals) of the plates 401, 402, 403 facing the combustion air blower 300 project axially along the longitudinal axis X into one of the receiving slots 303, 304, 305. The receiving slots 303,

[0094] 304, 305 are elongated according to the orientation of the respective circuit board to be accommodated. In the embodiment shown, the receiving slots 303, 304, 305 are formed on the housing component 301 of the combustion air blower 300.

[0095] For securing the circuit board holder 500, the combustion air blower 300 has a fastening section 306. The circuit board holder 500 has a complementary fastening section 506. The fastening section 306 and the complementary fastening section 506 are releasably joined together, with any joining connection suitable for the present purpose being possible. In the embodiment shown, a screw connection is provided between the combustion air blower 300 and the circuit board holder 500.

[0096] Accordingly, the fastening section 306 has a plurality of screw bosses 3061 to 3064 arranged offset from one another in the circumferential direction. Their end faces (without reference numerals) axially facing the circuit board holder 500 span a flange surface (imagined in the geometric sense). The complementary fastening section 506 is a counterflange with a plurality of through holes (not designated in more detail) arranged offset from one another in the circumferential direction, through which fastening screws 5061 to 5064 can pass for fastening to the screw bosses 3061 to 3064 (see in particular Figs. 4, 5).

[0097] In this case, the counterflange 506 has a central passage (without reference symbol) through which the combustion air motor 302 projects axially in the direction of the recirculation motor 201. The recirculation motor 201 projects axially into a recess 503 of the circuit board holder 500. The recess 503 is arranged between the slots S1, S2, S3 (see Figs. 4, 5). The circuit boards 401, 402, 403 are therefore arranged axially approximately at the level of the recirculation motor 201 and laterally with respect to the transverse axis Y and below the recirculation motor 201 with respect to the vertical axis Z.

[0098] In this case, the circuit board holder is also made of a plastic material K (see Fig. 11). Furthermore, a one-piece design of the circuit board holder 500 is provided. Production is carried out by plastic injection molding.

Claims

Patent claims 1. A heater (1) for a vehicle, in particular a caravan or motorhome, comprising a housing (100) with an air inlet (101), an air outlet (102a to 102d) and a housing volume (V) which is axially elongated along a longitudinal axis (X) between the air inlet (101) and the air outlet (102a to 102d), a recirculating air fan (200) for conveying air through the housing volume (V), wherein the recirculating air fan (200) is arranged along the longitudinal axis (X) between the air inlet (101) and the air outlet (102a to 102d) in the housing volume (V), a combustion air fan (300) for conveying combustion air of the heater (1), wherein the combustion air fan (300) is arranged along the longitudinal axis (X) between the recirculating air fan (200) and the air outlet (102a to 102d) is arranged in the housing volume (V), at least one circuit board (401, 402, 403) on which electronic components (4011, 4021, 4031) are arranged, wherein the circuit board (401, 402,403) is arranged along the longitudinal axis (X) between the recirculation fan (200) and the combustion air fan (300) in the housing volume (V), a circuit board holder (500) on which the at least one circuit board (401, 402, 403) is held, wherein the circuit board holder (500) is detachably fastened to the combustion air fan (300), and a recirculation fan holder (600) on which the recirculation fan (200) is held, wherein the recirculation fan holder (600) is detachably fastened in the housing (100), wherein the circuit board holder (500) has a connecting device (501) and the recirculation fan holder (600) has a complementary connecting device (601), wherein the connecting device (501) and the complementary connecting device (601) are arranged to form a detachable mounting connection between the circuit board holder (500) and the recirculation fan holder (600),wherein the detachable mounting connection allows a joint positioning of the combustion air fan (300), the circuit board holder (500) together with the at least one circuit board (401, 402, 403) and the recirculation fan holder (600) together with the recirculation fan (200) in the housing volume (V) during assembly of the heater (1), and wherein the mounting connection is released in the assembled state of the heater (1).

2. Heating device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the connecting device (501) of the circuit board holder (500) comprises a plug-in receptacle (5013, 5014) and the complementary connecting device (601) of the circulating air fan holder (600) comprises a complementary Has a plug-in section (6013, 6014) which engages downwards along a vertical axis (Z) into the plug-in receptacle (5013, 5014) to form the assembly connection, wherein in the assembled state of the heater (1), the plug-in section (6013, 6014) extends upwards along the vertical axis (Z) out of the plug-in receptacle (5013, 5012) under the action of the housing (100) on the recirculation fan holder (600), whereby the assembly connection is released.

3. Heating device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the circuit board holder (500) has a securing device (502) and the recirculation fan holder (600) has a complementary securing device (602), and wherein the securing device (502) and the complementary securing device (602) interact in a form-fitting manner with limited mobility along the longitudinal axis (X) and / or along the vertical axis (Z).

4. Heater (1) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the recirculation fan holder (600) has a fastening foot (604) which is arranged along the vertical axis (Z) below the plug-in section (6013, 6014) and engages in a form-fitting manner on one side downwards along the vertical axis (Z) in a fastening receptacle (1031) of the housing (100), and wherein during assembly of the heater (1) the plug-in section (6013, 6014) extends out of the plug-in receptacle (5013, 5014) when the fastening foot (604) engages in the fastening receptacle (1031).

5. Heating device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the circuit board holder (500) has at least one slot (S1, S2, S3) in which the at least one circuit board (401, 402, 403) is received in a form-fitting and / or force-fitting manner, and wherein the combustion air blower (300), in particular a housing component (301) of the combustion air blower (300), has at least one receiving slot (303, 304, 305) into which an end face of the at least one circuit board (401, 402, 403) is inserted along the longitudinal axis (X).

6. Heating device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the circuit board holder (500) is releasably screwed to the combustion air blower (300), in particular to a / the housing component (301) of the combustion air blower (300).

7. Heating device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the circulating air fan (200) has a circulating air motor (201) and a circulating air fan wheel (202) which is fixed to a motor shaft (203) of the circulating air motor (201) and is rotatable by means of the circulating air motor (201), and wherein the circulating air fan holder (600) has a flange section (603) to which the recirculation motor (201) is detachably fastened, in particular detachably screwed.

8. Heater (1) according to claim 7, wherein the flange portion (603) is made of an elastomer material (K2).

9. Heater (1) according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the circuit board holder (500) has a recess (503) into which the circulating air motor (201) projects along the longitudinal axis (X).

10. Heater (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing (100) has a lower housing shell (103) and a housing upper shell (104) which is supported along a / the vertical axis (Z) on the lower housing shell (103) and is detachably joined to the lower housing shell (103), wherein the housing volume (V) is formed between the lower housing shell (103) and the upper housing shell (104), and wherein the recirculation fan holder (600) is held in a form-fitting manner between the lower housing shell (103) and the upper housing shell (104) along the vertical axis (Z).

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