Heating body of an electric radiator

By using connecting pipes to protect the electrical connection components in the heating element of the electric radiator, the problem of easy degradation of electrical connections in humid environments is solved, and a more efficient and compact heating surface design is achieved.

CN118975405BActive Publication Date: 2025-11-21VALEO SYST THERMIQUES SAS
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Patent Information

Application Number
CN202380034109.4
Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Patents(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
Priority Date
2022-04-15
Filing Date
2023-04-13
Publication Date
2025-11-21
Estimated Expiration
2043-04-13

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

The electrical connections of existing electric radiators are prone to degradation in humid environments, and the effective heating surface is reduced, leading to electrical connection breakage and reduced heating efficiency.

Method used

In the heating element, the electrical connection between the relative longitudinal ends of the resistive element and the printed circuit board is optimized by connecting tubes. The connecting components are protected by the connecting tubes, which extend parallel to the heating element and are integrated into the heating element to prevent degradation and optimize the compactness of the heating element.

Benefits of technology

It improves the durability of electrical connections, maintains the uniformity and effectiveness of the heating surface, reduces the exposed area of ​​electrical connections, and enhances the compactness of the heating element and the overall efficiency of the radiator.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

A heating body (2) of an electric radiator (1) comprising a plurality of heating elements (4) having a first longitudinal end (6) and an opposite second longitudinal end (8), the heating body (2) comprising first connection means (14) connected to at least one connection member (10) extending to the first longitudinal end (6) of at least one of the heating elements (4) and second connection means (16) connected to at least one connection member (10) extending to the second longitudinal end (8) of at least one of the heating elements (4), characterized in that an electrical connection member (18) electrically connecting the first connection means to the second connection means is arranged in a connection tube (20) extending parallel to at least one of the heating elements.
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Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning devices for motor vehicles, and more particularly to an electric radiator for such a heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning device. BACKGROUND

[0002] Motor vehicles are generally equipped with a heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning system which enables an air flow to be circulated towards the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle and to heat and / or cool the air flow sent to the passenger compartment according to the temperature of the passenger compartment desired by the driver and / or the passengers of the motor vehicle. Such a heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning device thus comprises at least one member for circulating the air flow and an electric radiator capable of heating the air flow circulating towards the passenger compartment.

[0003] As is known, the electric radiators of these heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning devices comprise a heating body in which heating elements, for example in the form of tubes, are arranged adjacent to one another across the air flow to be heated. Such an electric radiator generally comprises at least one electronic control device intended to electronically control the heating elements and having a printed circuit board on which various electronic components are mounted. The electronic components contribute to generating control instructions which are to be transmitted to the heating elements so that they heat up. The temperature of the heating elements thus increases and the air flow circulating between the heating elements of the electric radiator is heated as it circulates between the heating elements.

[0004] The heating elements are connected to the printed circuit board, as appropriate by means of transistors fastened to the printed circuit board, so that the control instructions can be transmitted to the heating elements.

[0005] By being fastened in this way to the printed circuit board, the heating elements extend mainly in a direction perpendicular to the plane of extension of the printed circuit board. In this arrangement, each heating element is connected to the printed circuit board at one of its longitudinal ends, i.e. at the end closest to the printed circuit board, and all the resistive elements within the heating element are supplied with the same current through this connection, so that a substantially uniform heat is released over the entire main extension dimension of the heating element.

[0006] The aim can be to configure the heating body so as to be able to divide it into a number of specific heating zones. In other words, the aim can be to supply the resistive elements present in a first zone of the heating body with an electric current so as to heat the part of the air flow which passes through this heating body, and at the same time to place the other resistive elements in an inactive state, thereby avoiding consuming electrical energy when the part of the air flow which encounters these other resistive elements does not need to be heated.

[0007] This requires an electrical connection at each longitudinal end of the resistive element, i.e. close to the longitudinal end of the printed circuit board and at the opposite longitudinal end. In this configuration, the electrical connection between the opposite longitudinal end and the printed circuit board extends through the frame of the heating body. This solution is not satisfactory, firstly because it exposes this electrical connection to the air flow circulating through the heating body and to a potentially humid environment, which can cause degradation of the electrical connection and eventually a break in the electrical connection between the printed circuit board and the opposite longitudinal end of the resistive element, and secondly because it causes a reduction in the effective heating surface. Utility model content

[0008] The present invention proposes, for a heating body, an alternative solution to the existing solutions, in which the arrangement of the electrical connection between the opposite longitudinal ends of the resistive element and the printed circuit board is optimized in order to make the heating body itself more compact, while optimizing the heating area.

[0009] In this case, the main subject of the present invention is a heating body of an electric radiator, comprising a plurality of heating elements arranged adjacent to each other in a transverse direction of the heating body so as to delimit, between the heating elements, a space for circulating an air flow to be heated, the heating elements extending in a longitudinal direction perpendicular to the transverse direction and having a first longitudinal end and a second opposite longitudinal end, at least one of the heating elements having, at each of its longitudinal ends, at least one connection member, the heating body comprising a first connection device connected to the at least one connection member extending at the first longitudinal end of at least one of the heating elements and a second connection device connected to the at least one connection member extending at the second longitudinal end of at least one of the heating elements, characterized in that the electrical connection member connecting the first connection device to the second connection device is arranged in a connection tube extending parallel to at least one of the heating elements.

[0010] In this case, the first connection device and the second connection device are configured to be electrically connected to the respective connection members extending at the longitudinal ends of the heating elements. It should be understood that the heating elements have a connection member at each of their longitudinal ends and that the first connection device is advantageously connected to the connection member extending at the first longitudinal end of the heating elements, while the second connection device is connected to the connection member extending at the second longitudinal end of the heating elements.

[0011] As such, the connection member is electrically connected to the first and second connection means by extending through a connection tube configured to house it. It will be appreciated that, in this case, the connection member is protected from the external environment by the connection tube, thus preventing degradation of said connection member due to the external environment. For example, since the heating body is configured to heat the air flow circulating between the heating elements, moisture can be transported by the air flow, and in this case the connection tube in which the connection member extends prevents degradation of said connection member.

[0012] The connection tube extends parallel to the heating elements, so that it can be integrated into the heating elements without interfering with the uniformity of the air flow to be heated by the heating body.

[0013] Furthermore, this particular arrangement of the connection member within an enclosed space such as the connection tube makes it possible to limit the support volume of the connection member, thus making the heating body more compact, with the aim of optimizing the ratio between the volume of the heat sink and the effective surface of the heating body.

[0014] According to various optional features of the application, taken separately or in combination, it is possible to provide:

[0015] The connection tube and the heating elements are arranged adjacent to each other along the transverse direction;

[0016] The heating elements are housed respectively in heating tubes;

[0017] The connection tube is identical to at least one of the heating tubes;

[0018] The connection tube and the heating tubes are mounted equidistant from each other.

[0019] According to the application, this arrangement of regularly distributed similar tubes, one of which is used to house the connection member instead of a heating element, provides an excellent compromise between the heating efficiency and the volume of the heat sink, since the heating tubes and the connection tube are identical and equidistant, the air flow through the heating area remains uniform, and the electrical connection area allocated to the passage of the heating body is limited within the tube mounted to the connection member.

[0020] According to another optional feature of the application, the heating body comprises at least a first cover and a second cover, the first longitudinal end of the heating element and the first connection means extending at least partially into the first cover, the second cover being different from the first cover, the second longitudinal end of the heating element and the second connection means extending at least partially into the second cover, the first cover and the second cover being arranged longitudinally on either side of the heating body. This eliminates the need to provide side walls forming a frame structure in order to protect the connection member, and thus limits the transverse volume, since the connection tube is mounted around the connection member.

[0021] According to another optional feature of the application, the tube configured to house the connection member is arranged at one of the transverse ends of the heating body.

[0022] According to another optional feature of the application, the heating body comprises two electrical connection members, each mounted in a connection tube, one of the connection tubes being arranged at one transversal end of the heating body and the other connection tube being arranged at the other transversal end of the heating body, the first cover, the second cover and the two connection tubes contributing to form a frame of the heating body. In this arrangement, it can be noted that the connection tubes are arranged transversally so as not to form an interruption in the heating surface, i.e. an area without heating tube.

[0023] According to another optional feature of the application, the connection tubes are transversally surrounded by the two heating elements. This leads to a central arrangement of the one or more connection members, it being understood that it can be advantageous to thus provide a single connection tube in which the two connection members are arranged, the two connection members being isolated from each other and connected to the first connection means dedicated to each connection member, respectively.

[0024] According to another optional feature of the application, the electrical connection member comprises two connection rods, each extending between the second connection means and the first connection means, and an insulating shell in which the connection rods extend, the insulating shell being arranged facing the inner surface of the connection tube.

[0025] According to another optional feature of the application, the insulating shell comprises a wall contributing to delimit two housings, each of the rods extending in a different housing, respectively, the wall extending mainly in a longitudinal direction and having a first longitudinal edge facing the electronic control unit and an opposite second longitudinal edge, the housings being open at said each longitudinal edge.

[0026] According to another optional feature of the application, the insulating shell comprises at least one tab protruding from one of the longitudinal edges of the insulating shell in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, the tab being configured to form an end stop for the insertion of the insulating shell into the connection tube.

[0027] According to another optional feature of the application, the insulating shell comprises at least one lug protruding from one of the faces of the insulating shell and configured to be in contact with the inner surface of the connection tube.

[0028] Another subject of the application is an electric radiator comprising at least one heating body as described according to any one of the preceding features, and an electronic control unit housed in a housing and configured to supply power to the heating elements and to control the operation of the heating elements, the heating body being fastened to the housing, the housing comprising a bottom wall extending in a main extension plane facing the heating body, the heating elements extending perpendicularly with respect to the main extension plane of the bottom wall.

[0029] A last subject of the application is a method of assembling a heating body as described according to any one of the preceding features, the assembly method comprising a step of assembling the connection member in the connection tube, at least one of the steps of assembling the heating element and the step of assembling the heating body, during which the connection member of the heating element is electrically connected to any one of the connection means, the connection member being electrically connected to the second connection means and to the first connection means.

[0030] According to another optional feature of the application, during the step of assembling the connection member in the connection tube, the stem is mounted in the insulating shell, then the insulating shell is mounted in the connection tube by a translational movement along the longitudinal direction until the tab abuts against one of the longitudinal ends of the connection tube.

[0031] The connection tube can then be bent so as to fix the position of the connection member therein. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0032] Further features, details and advantages of the application will become more clearly apparent on reading the following description, given purely by way of non-restrictive indication, and on examining the attached drawings which show:

[0033] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an electric radiator according to an aspect of the application, in particular showing a heating body;

[0034] Figure 2 is Figure 1 a front view of the heating body shown, in which a heating tube and at least one connection tube are arranged;

[0035] Figure 3 is Figure 1 a perspective view of the connection tube of the heating body shown and of the connection member housed inside the connection tube;

[0036] Figure 4 is a cross-section through the connection tube, more particularly showing an exemplary structure of the connection member from Figure 3 ;

[0037] Figure 5 is Figure 3 a perspective view of the arrangement of the connection tube and of the connection member shown in , in this case an exploded view. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] The features, variants and various embodiments of the application can be combined with each other in various combinations, provided that they are not mutually incompatible or exclusive. In particular, variants of the application can be envisaged which only include a selection of the features described below, provided that this selection of features is sufficient to confer a technical advantage and / or to distinguish the application from the prior art, independently of the other features described.

[0039] In the drawings, elements common to several figures retain the same reference signs.

[0040] In the following detailed description, the terms "longitudinal", "transversal" and "vertical" refer to the directions of the heating body according to the application. The longitudinal direction corresponds to the main direction of elongation of the tube of the heating body, which is parallel to the longitudinal axis L of the coordinate system L, V, T shown in the figures. The transversal direction corresponds to the direction along which the heating elements of the heating body are arranged adjacent to each other, which is parallel to the transversal axis T of the coordinate system L, V, T, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L. Finally, the vertical direction corresponds to the direction parallel to the vertical axis V of the coordinate system L, V, T, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L and to the transversal axis T.

[0041] Figure 1 An electric radiator 1 comprising a heating body 2 according to the application is shown, the electric radiator 1 itself being configured to be installed in a heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning device. The electric radiator 1 is used in this type of device to heat the air flow circulating in the heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning device, for example by means of the heating body 2 of the electric radiator 1.

[0042] To this end, and more particularly as shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2 The heating body 2 is equipped with heating elements 4 arranged adjacent to each other so as to delimit, between them, a space for circulating the air flow to be heated. More particularly, each heating element 4 is arranged at a distance from at least one adjacent heating element 4, between which two heating elements 4 a portion of the air flow can circulate so as to be heated.

[0043] More particularly, the heating elements 4 are arranged in succession parallel to each other along the transversal direction T, each heating element extending mainly along the longitudinal direction L perpendicular to the transversal direction T. The heating elements 4 each have a first longitudinal end 6 and an opposite second longitudinal end 8.

[0044] At least one of the heating elements 4 comprises a plurality of electrodes intended to supply electrical energy to a resistive material to generate heat, these electrodes and the resistive material being housed in a heating tube 22. Each electrode has a connection member 10 and the electrodes are arranged within the heating tube 22 so that at least one connection member 10 is arranged at each longitudinal end of the heating element 4. These connection members 10 are in particular configured to be electrically connected to a printed circuit board of the electric radiator 1.

[0045] As shown in Figure 1 The electric radiator 1 comprises an electronic housing 12 which houses such a printed circuit board, which is intended to generate control commands and transmit them to the heating elements 4 of the heating body 2, partly via the connection members 10 of the electrodes. The electronic housing has at least one electrical connection terminal 11 which can be connected to an electrical power supply of the electric radiator 1. Figure 2The printed circuit board is seen and made connectable to the connection members in a sealed manner via a connection device common to the connection members. This connection device makes it possible to transmit the same control instructions to a plurality of connection members simultaneously without the need to connect the connection members individually to the printed circuit board.

[0046] The heating body 2 comprises a first connection device 14 connected to at least one connection member 10 extending at the first longitudinal end 6 of one of the heating elements 4 and a second connection device 16 connected to at least one connection member 10 extending at the second longitudinal end 8 of one of the heating elements 4. More specifically, as Figure 2 illustrated, the first connection device 14 is electrically connected to a plurality of connection members 10 extending at the first longitudinal end 6 of a plurality of heating elements 4 and the second connection device 16 is electrically connected to a plurality of connection members 10 extending at the second longitudinal end 8 of a plurality of heating elements 4.

[0047] According to the invention, the heating body 2 comprises an electrical connection member 18 arranged in a connection tube 20 configured and dimensioned to house the connection member 18, the electrical connection member 18 being arranged in the heating body so as to electrically connect the first connection device 14 to the second connection device 16. In other words, the connection member 18 is electrically connected to the first connection device 14 and to the second connection device 16 by extending through the connection tube 20 configured to house it. The connection member 18 is protected from the outside environment by the connection tube 20, thus preventing said connection member 18 from degrading due to the outside environment.

[0048] In the example illustrated in Figure 2 , it will be noted that the heating body comprises two first connection devices 14 connected to connection terminals 11, respectively, so that it is possible to supply power to the heating elements connected to either of the first connection devices, respectively. Similarly, the heating body has two second connection devices 16 that can be individually supplied with power by the printed circuit board via either of the connection terminals 11, thus supplying power to the connection members 10 at the second longitudinal end 8. The invention should be understood both to cover a heating body with a single first connection device and a single second connection device and thus with a single connection member housed in a connection tube and to cover a heating body with two first connection devices and two second connection devices and thus with two connection members housed in the same connection tube or each housed in their own connection tube, as mentioned above.

[0049] In particular as Figure 2 illustrated, the connection tube 20 extends parallel to the heating elements 4 so that the connection tube 20 and the heating elements 4 are arranged adjacent to each other along a transverse direction T extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction L.

[0050] It should be noted that this stacking of the connection pipes 20 and the heating elements 4 along the transverse direction T makes it easier to assemble the heating body 2 by bringing together the ends of the connection pipes 20 and the ends of the heating elements 4 at the same location.

[0051] The connection pipes 20 are located in a regular transverse arrangement of the heating pipes 22. Whatever the position of the connection pipes relative to the heating pipes, all the pipes of the heating body are configured so that the connection pipes 20 and the heating pipes are mounted equidistant from one another. In other words, the distance between two adjacent pipes, whether they are connection pipes 20 and / or heating pipes 22, measured along a direction parallel to the transverse direction T, is similar to the distance between another two adjacent pipes along the same direction. This even distribution of the pipes of the heating body 2 makes it possible to generate a regular passage section for the air flow in the heating body and to avoid interfering with the circulation of this air flow through said heating body 2.

[0052] The connection pipes 20 can be arranged transversely in several positions without departing from the scope of the application. As Figure 2 indicated, the connection pipes 20 can in particular be arranged at one of the transverse ends of the heating body 2. Alternatively and not shown here, the connection pipes 20 can occupy a more central position in the heating body, being transversely surrounded by two heating elements 4. It should be understood that when positioned at a transverse end of the heating body, the connection pipes 20 are offset to optimize the number of heating elements at the center of the heating body, whereas when positioned substantially at the center of the heating body 2, the connection pipes 20 can help to delimit at least two transverse heating zones arranged on either side of said connection pipes 20.

[0053] In Figure 2 one particular embodiment shown, the heating body 2 comprises two electrical connection members 18, each electrical connection member 18 being mounted in a connection pipe 20, as just described, one of the connection pipes 20 being arranged at one transverse end of the heating body 2 and the other connection pipe 20 being arranged at the other transverse end of the heating body 2. It should be understood that in this particular embodiment, the connection pipes 20 are arranged at the transverse ends of the heating body 2 and thus contribute to delimiting transversely the heating zones through which the air flow circulates.

[0054] In this way, the arrangement of the pipes and heating elements 4 optimizes the heating zones for the air flow passing through the heating body 2. This particular arrangement also makes it possible to make the heating body 2 more compact, with the aim of limiting the space occupied by the various components of the heating body 2 within the heat sink.

[0055] The heating element 2 may include a first cover 24 and a second cover 26. The first longitudinal end 6 of the heating element 4 and the first connecting device 14 extend at least partially into the first cover 24. The second cover 26 differs from the first cover 24, and the second longitudinal end 8 of the heating element 4 and the second connecting device 16 extend at least partially into the second cover 26. In this way, as... Figure 1 As shown, the first cover 24 and the second cover 26 are arranged longitudinally on both sides of the heating element 2 and on both sides of the tubes 20 and 22, which helps to define the heating element. In this case, the covers 24 and 26 are components for covering each end of the tubes, configured to accommodate the connecting member 18 or the heating element 4, and particularly enable sealing of the ends of the connecting tube 20 or the heating tube 22 in areas for circulating airflow. It should be noted that the inclusion of another element (e.g., a wall) in place of the covers 24 and 26 in the heating element 2 will not constitute a departure from the scope of the invention.

[0056] according to Figure 1 In the example shown, two connecting pipes 20 are arranged at the lateral ends of the heating element, defining the heating area through which the airflow circulates in the longitudinal and lateral directions. The first cover 24, the second cover 26, and the two connecting pipes 20 help to form the frame of the heating element 2.

[0057] Regardless of the position of the connecting tube 20 relative to the heating tube 22, according to the invention, it is advantageous for one or more connecting tubes 20 to be identical to at least one of the heating tubes 22. "Identical" should be understood to mean that identical tubes of the same shape and size are used to accommodate the connecting member 18 and the heating element 4. Using identical tubes makes it easy to assemble and position the various tubes of the heating element 2 relative to each other.

[0058] Now will be of particular reference Figures 3 to 5 The connecting member 18 and the connecting pipe 20 are described in more detail.

[0059] The electrical connection component 18 includes two connecting rods 28 and an insulating shell 30. Each connecting rod 28 extends between the second connecting device 16 and the first connecting device 14. The connecting rod 28 extends in the insulating shell 30, which is arranged around the connecting rod so as to be inserted between these connecting rods 28 and the inner surface 32 of the connecting tube 20.

[0060] When the electrical connection member 18 is arranged in the heating body, the connecting rods 28 extend parallel to each other and parallel to the longitudinal direction L. For example... Figure 4As shown, they each have a substantially rectangular cross-section, seen in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L. Advantageously, the connecting rods 28 comprise a metallic material able to conduct electricity between the second connecting means 16 and the first connecting means 14, or directly between the second connecting means 16 and the electrical connection terminal 11 if necessary, which can be chosen in particular from copper, copper alloys or iron-nickel alloys, in particular from the following references: alloy 42, STOL 81, C1100, C2860.

[0061] The walls of the insulating shell 30 extend longitudinally between the first longitudinal edge 34 and the opposite second longitudinal edge 36, so as to cover almost entirely the connecting rods 28, except at each longitudinal edge 34, 36, where tongues are used to connect the connecting rods to the connecting means or to the electrical connection member.

[0062] The insulating shell 30 is configured to delimit two housings, one in each of which a respective rod 28 extends. Both of these housings form a sealed area for the respective rod 28 and are at a distance from each other to avoid false contacts between the connecting rods 28.

[0063] The insulating shell also has a central portion 38 extending between the two housings. This central portion 38 comprises rods 40 extending at regular intervals between the two housings to reinforce the insulating shell 30.

[0064] The housings are open at each longitudinal edge 34, 36, the connecting rods 28 passing through holes in the housings, which extend respectively in the housings. The connecting rods 28 are in contact with the walls at least at the first longitudinal edge 34 and at the second longitudinal edge 36. More precisely, the walls closely guide the connecting rods 28 at the holes that communicate with the housings of the connecting rods 28, so as to maintain the position of the connecting rods 28 relative to the insulating shell 30.

[0065] More particularly as shown in Figure 4 and Figure 5 The insulating shell 30 comprises at least one lug 42 that projects from one of the faces of the insulating shell 30 and is configured to come into contact with the inner surface 32 of the connecting tube 20. More particularly, the insulating shell 30 comprises a plurality of lugs 42 that project from the walls in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. Each lug 42 has a bearing zone configured to come into contact with the inner surface 32 of the connecting tube 20. In this case, the function of the lugs 42 is to maintain the position of the insulating shell 30 in the connecting tube 20 and to avoid any possible deformation of this connecting tube 20.

[0066] In addition, the insulating shell 30 comprises at least one tab 44 that projects from the insulating shell 30 at one of the longitudinal edges, the tab 44 being configured to form an end stop for the insertion of the insulating shell 30 into the connecting tube 20. More particularly, as shown inFigure 3 As shown, the tab 44 has an abutment surface intended to come into contact with one of the ends of the connection tube 20. This tab 44 thus ensures the positioning of the insulating shell 30 in the longitudinal direction relative to the connection tube 20 when the connection member 18 is assembled in the connection tube 20.

[0067] The method of assembling the heating body 2 according to the application will now be described in more detail.

[0068] The assembly method comprises a step of assembling the connection member 18 in the connection tube 20, a step of assembling the heating element 4 and at least one of the steps of assembling the heating body 2, during which the connection member 10 of the heating element 4 is electrically connected to either of the connection means, the connection member 18 itself being electrically connected to the second connection means 16 and to the first connection means 14.

[0069] More particularly, during the step of assembling the connection member 18 in the connection tube 20, the connection rod 18 is mounted in the insulating shell 30, then the insulating shell 30 and the connection rod 18 are mounted in the connection tube 20 by a translational movement in the longitudinal direction L until the tab 44 abuts against one of the longitudinal ends of the connection tube 20.

[0070] During the step of assembling the heating element 4, the electrodes and the electrically resistive material, for example PTC effect stone, are assembled relative to one another to form an assembly, then mounted in the heating tube 22. The heating element 4 is mounted so that at least one of the connection members 10 of the electrodes is arranged at each longitudinal end of the heating tube 22.

[0071] Once the steps of assembling the connection member 18 in the connection tube 20 and of assembling the heating element 4 in the heating tube 22 have been performed, the tubes 20, 22 are then arranged parallel to one another and electrically connected to the connection means.

[0072] As a reminder, the main subject of the application is a heating body 2 of an electric radiator 1 comprising heating elements 4 extending in a main direction of extension and having electrical connection members 10 at each of their ends, the heating body 2 comprising an electrical connection member 18 between the connection means 14, 16 extending at each end of the heating elements 4 to electrically connect the electrical connection members 10, and more particularly characterised by the positioning of the connection member 18 in a tube arranged adjacent to the other tubes which house the heating elements themselves. This arrangement of the connection member 18 in a tube in particular makes it possible to protect the connection member 18 from the air flow circulating through the heating body 2 between the heating elements 4 and makes it possible to standardise the means for protecting the connection member on the one hand and the heating elements on the other hand.

[0073] The application is not, however, limited to the devices and configurations described and shown herein, but extends to any technically operative combination of these devices.

Claims

1. A heating element (2) of an electric radiator (1), the heating element (2) comprising a plurality of heating elements (4) arranged adjacent to each other in a transverse direction (T) of the heating element to define a space between the heating elements for circulating an airflow to be heated, the heating elements (4) extending in a longitudinal direction (L) perpendicular to the transverse direction (T) and having a first longitudinal end (6) and an opposing second longitudinal end (8), at least one of the heating elements (4) having at least one connecting member (10) at each of its longitudinal ends (6, 8), the heating element (2) comprising a first connecting device (14) and a second connecting device (16), the first connecting device (14) being connected to at least one connecting member (10) extending at the first longitudinal end (6) of at least one of the heating elements (4), and the second connecting device being connected to at least one connecting member (10) extending at the second longitudinal end (8) of at least one of the heating elements (4), characterized in that, An electrical connection member (18) that electrically connects the first connection device to the second connection device is arranged in at least one extending connection tube (20) parallel to the heating element (4).

2. The heating element (2) as claimed in the preceding claim, characterized in that, The connecting pipe (20) and the heating element (4) are arranged adjacent to each other along the transverse direction (T).

3. The heating element (2) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The heating elements (4) are respectively housed in the heating tubes (22).

4. The heating element (2) as described in the preceding claim, characterized in that, The connecting tube (20) is the same as at least one of the heating tubes (22).

5. The heating element (2) as claimed in the preceding claim, characterized in that, The connecting pipe (20) and the heating pipe (22) are installed at equal intervals to each other.

6. The heating element (2) as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, It includes at least a first cover (24) and a second cover (26) different from the first cover (24), the first longitudinal end (6) of the heating element (4) and the first connecting device (14) extend at least partially into the first cover (24), the second longitudinal end (8) of the heating element (4) and the second connecting device (16) extend at least partially into the second cover (26), and the first cover (24) and the second cover (26) are arranged longitudinally on both sides of the heating body (2).

7. The heating element (2) as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The connecting pipe (20) is arranged at one of the transverse ends of the heating element (2).

8. The heating element (2) as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that, The heating element (2) includes two electrical connection members (18), each of which is installed in a connecting tube (20). One of the connecting tubes (20) is located at one lateral end of the heating element (2), and the other connecting tube (20) is located at the other lateral end of the heating element (2). The first cover (24), the second cover (26), and the two connecting tubes (20) help to form the frame of the heating element (2).

9. The heating element (2) as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The connecting pipe (20) is laterally surrounded by two heating elements (4).

10. The heating element (2) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The electrical connection member (18) includes two connecting rods (28) and an insulating shell (30), each connecting rod (28) extending between the second connecting device (16) and the first connecting device (14), the connecting rod (28) extending in the insulating shell (30), the insulating shell (30) being arranged to face the inner surface (32) of the connecting tube (20).

11. The heating element (2) as claimed in the preceding claim, characterized in that, The insulating shell (30) includes walls that help define the two shells, each of the connecting rods (28) extending in a different shell, the walls extending primarily along the longitudinal direction and having a first longitudinal edge (34) and an opposing second longitudinal edge (36), the shells opening at each longitudinal edge (34, 36).

12. The heating element (2) as claimed in the preceding claim, characterized in that, The insulating shell (30) includes at least one tab (44) that protrudes from one of the longitudinal edges of the insulating shell (30) in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (L), and the tab (44) is configured to form an end stop for inserting the insulating shell (30) into the connecting tube (20).

13. The heating element (2) as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that, The insulating shell (30) includes at least one lug (42) that protrudes from one of the faces of the insulating shell (30) and is configured to contact the inner surface (32) of the connecting tube (20).

14. An electric radiator (1), characterized in that, The device includes at least one heating element (2) as described in any of the preceding claims, and an electronic control unit housed in a housing (12) and configured to supply power to the heating element (4) and control the operation of the heating element (4), the heating element (2) being fastened to the housing (12), the housing (12) including a bottom wall extending in a main extension plane facing the heating element (2), the heating element (4) extending perpendicularly to the main extension plane of the bottom wall.

15. A method for assembling a heating element (2) as described in any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that, The assembly method includes at least one of the following steps: assembling the electrical connection member (18) in the connecting tube (20), assembling the heating element (4), and assembling the heating body (2). During this process, the connecting member (10) of the heating element (4) is electrically connected to either the first connecting device (14) or the second connecting device (16), and the electrical connection member (18) is electrically connected to both the second connecting device (16) and the first connecting device (14).

16. The assembly method as described in claim 15, characterized in that, The electrical connection member (18) includes two connecting rods (28) and an insulating shell (30), each connecting rod (28) extending between the second connecting device (16) and the first connecting device (14), the connecting rod (28) extending within the insulating shell (30), the insulating shell (30) being arranged to face the inner surface (32) of the connecting tube (20). The insulating shell (30) includes walls that help define the two shells, each of the connecting rods (28) extending in a different shell, the walls extending primarily along the longitudinal direction and having a first longitudinal edge (34) and opposing second longitudinal edges (36), the shells opening at each longitudinal edge (34, 36), and During the step of assembling the electrical connection member (18) into the connecting tube (20), the connecting rod (28) is installed in the insulating shell (30), and then the insulating shell (30) is installed in the connecting tube (20) by translating along the longitudinal direction (L) until the tab (44) abuts against one of the longitudinal ends of the connecting tube (20).

Citation Information

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