PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) heater, using method and automobile air conditioner

Abstract

The invention relates to a PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) heater, a using method and an automobile air conditioner, the PTC heater comprises a shell, a heating core body and a control panel and further comprises a negative ion generator, the heating core body, the negative ion generator and the control panel are all arranged in the shell, and the heating core body and the negative ion generator are electrically connected with the control panel respectively. According to the PTC heater, air passing through an automobile air conditioner is disinfected and sterilized through negative ions generated after electrons generated by the negative-ion generator make contact with the air, the quality of air in an automobile is improved, and therefore the problem that the quality of the air in the automobile is affected by microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses attached to the filter element is solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the technical field of automobile air conditioners, and in particular to a PTC heater and a use method thereof, and an automobile air conditioner. Background Art

[0002] Existing car air conditioners need to be equipped with filter elements to filter the air passing through the air conditioner to ensure the air quality in the car. The filter element is generally used to filter dust in the air, but the air in the car contains certain bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms. When the car air conditioner is running, the microorganisms in the air will attach to the filter element and multiply, thereby affecting the air quality in the car. Summary of the invention

[0003] The main purpose of the present invention is to provide a PTC heater and a method of use, and a car air conditioner, aiming to solve the problem that microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses attached to the filter element affect the air quality.

[0004] To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the present invention proposes a PTC heater, comprising a shell, a heating core and a control board, and also comprising a negative ion generator. The heating core, the negative ion generator and the control board are all arranged in the shell, and the heating core and the negative ion generator are electrically connected to the control board respectively.

[0005] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the shell includes a core shell and a control box connected to each other, the negative ion generator includes a generator body and a generator release end connected to the generator body, the heating core and the generator release end are arranged in the core shell, the control board and the generator body are arranged in the control box, and the generator body is electrically connected to the control board.

[0006] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the generator body is integrated on the control board.

[0007] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the core shell includes a front shell and a rear shell that are snap-fitted and docked with each other, and the front shell and the rear shell are respectively detachably connected to the control box.

[0008] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the heating core includes at least two heat dissipation strips and a single heating tube connected between every two adjacent heat dissipation strips, the end of the single heating tube is connected to an electrode sheet, the end of the heat dissipation strip is connected to a transfer terminal, the electrode sheet and the transfer terminal are arranged alternately, the electrode sheet is welded to the control board, and the transfer terminal is connected to the control box by screws.

[0009] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the electrode sheet includes a main body segment and a transition segment, the main body segment is protruded at the end of the single heating tube along the axis of the single heating tube, and the transition segment is protruded at one end of the main body segment away from the single heating tube along a direction perpendicular to the control board surface.

[0010] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the transfer terminal and the heat sink are integrally formed.

[0011] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the control board is used to electrically connect to the low-voltage circuit of the whole vehicle and the negative ion generator to form a first starting circuit, and the control board is also used to electrically connect to the high-voltage circuit of the whole vehicle and the heating core to form a second starting circuit.

[0012] According to some embodiments of the present invention, an NTC temperature sensor is further included, and the NTC temperature sensor is disposed on the control board and electrically connected to the control board.

[0013] The present invention also provides a method for using the above-mentioned PTC heater, wherein the control board is provided with an NTC temperature sensor, and the NTC temperature sensor is electrically connected to the control board, and the method for using the PTC heater further comprises the following steps:

[0014] Acquire the temperature of the heating core according to the data measured by the NTC temperature sensor and the control board;

[0015] The over-temperature protection strategy is executed according to the temperature of the heating core.

[0016] The present invention also provides an automobile air conditioner, comprising an air conditioner body and a filter element arranged in the air conditioner body, characterized in that it also comprises the above-mentioned PTC heater, the PTC heater is installed in the air conditioner body and arranged at the air outlet of the filter element.

[0017] The present invention has at least the following beneficial effects:

[0018] In the present invention, when the negative ion generator is in operation, a large number of electrons will be generated. After contacting with the air, the electrons will generate negative ions to disinfect and sterilize the passing air. It can be understood that in the automobile air conditioner, the PTC heater is arranged at the air outlet of the filter element, that is, the air passes through the filter element and then the heater through the air inlet of the air conditioner. Even if the air carries bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms attached to the filter element into the PTC heater when passing through the filter element, the negative ion generator in the PTC heater can disinfect and sterilize the air passing through the filter element, so that the air flowing out from the air outlet of the air conditioner is a disinfected and sterilized gas, thereby improving the air quality in the car.

[0019] It is also worth mentioning that since the negative ion generator is installed in the PTC heater, there will be a ventilation resistance when the air passes through the PTC heater, which slows down the air flow rate and prolongs the contact time between electrons and air to a certain extent, thereby further improving the efficiency of air purification. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying creative work.

[0021] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of a PTC heater provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 2 for Figure 1 An exploded schematic diagram of a PTC heater in FIG.

[0023] Figure 3 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of the heating core;

[0024] Figure 4 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of the two end surfaces of the control board;

[0025] Figure 5 This is the circuit schematic diagram of the PTC heater.

[0026] Description of reference numerals:

[0027] 100-PTC heater; 1-shell; 11-core shell; 111-front shell; 112-rear shell; 12-control box; 2-heating core; 21-heating single tube; 211-electrode sheet; 2111-main body segment; 2112-adapter segment; 22-heat sink; 221-adapter terminal; 3-control board; 4-power harness; 5-negative ion generator; 51-generator body; 52-generator release end; 6-NTC temperature sensor. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention are described clearly and completely below. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0029] It should be noted that if the embodiments of the present invention involve directional indications (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.), the directional indications are only used to explain the relative position relationship, movement status, etc. between the components under a certain specific posture (as shown in the accompanying drawings). If the specific posture changes, the directional indication will also change accordingly.

[0030] In addition, if there are descriptions involving "first", "second", etc. in the embodiments of the present invention, the descriptions of "first", "second", etc. are only used for descriptive purposes and cannot be understood as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, the features defined as "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of the features. In addition, the meaning of "and / or" appearing in the full text includes three parallel schemes. Taking "A and / or B" as an example, it includes scheme A, or scheme B, or a scheme that satisfies both A and B. In addition, the technical solutions between the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but it must be based on the ability of ordinary technicians in the field to implement. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or cannot be implemented, it should be deemed that such a combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection required by the present invention.

[0031] The present invention provides a PTC heater. Figure 1-Figure 5 A specific embodiment of a PTC heater provided by the present invention.

[0032] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 An embodiment of the present invention provides a PTC heater 100, including a shell 1, a heating core 2 and a control board 3, and also includes a negative ion generator 5. The heating core 2, the negative ion generator 5 and the control board 3 are all arranged in the shell 1, and the heating core 2 and the negative ion generator 5 are electrically connected to the control board 3 respectively.

[0033] In the present invention, when the negative ion generator 5 is in operation, a large number of electrons will be generated. After contacting with the air, the electrons will generate negative ions to disinfect and sterilize the passing air. It can be understood that in the automobile air conditioner, the PTC heater 100 is arranged at the air outlet of the filter element, that is, the air passes through the filter element and then the heater through the air inlet of the air conditioner. Even if the air carries bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms attached to the filter element into the PTC heater 100 when passing through the filter element, the negative ion generator 5 in the PTC heater 100 can disinfect and sterilize the air passing through the filter element, so that the air flowing out from the air outlet of the air conditioner is a disinfected and sterilized gas, thereby improving the air quality in the car.

[0034] It is also worth mentioning that, since the negative ion generator 5 is installed in the PTC heater 100, there will be a ventilation resistance when the air passes through the PTC heater 100, which slows down the air flow rate and prolongs the contact time between electrons and air to a certain extent, thereby further improving the efficiency of air purification.

[0035] Specifically, in some embodiments, the housing 1 includes a core shell 11 and a control box 12 connected to each other, the negative ion generator 5 includes a generator body 51 and a generator release end 52 connected to the generator body 51, the heating core 2 and the generator release end 52 are arranged in the core shell 11, the control board 3 and the generator body 51 are arranged in the control box 12, and the generator body 51 is electrically connected to the control board 3. Through this arrangement, the generator release end 52 is arranged in the core shell 11, which can directly contact the air entering the heating core 2 from the air outlet of the filter element, thereby improving the efficiency of air purification, while the generator body 51 and the control board 3 are arranged in the control box 12 and separated from the core shell 11, thereby reducing the influence of the heating core 2 and the negative ion release end on the components in the control box 12 when they are working.

[0036] Specifically, in some embodiments, the generator body 51 is integrated on the control board 3. This arrangement is more cost-effective than installing the entire negative ion generator 5 in the air conditioner, and is conducive to the miniaturization design of the PTC heater 100 product.

[0037] Specifically, in some embodiments, the core housing 11 includes a front shell 111 and a rear shell 112 that are engaged with each other, and the front shell 111 and the rear shell 112 are respectively detachably connected to the control box 12. The front shell 111 and the rear shell 112 are connected by a snap-fit ​​structure, and the snap-fit ​​structure includes a buckle and a slot that are engaged with each other, and one of the opposite end surfaces of the front shell 111 and the rear shell 112 is provided with the buckle, and the other is provided with the slot. Through the design of the buckle and the slot, the front shell 111 and the rear shell 112 can be quickly docked without the need for additional fasteners such as screws, nuts, etc., thereby simplifying the assembly process. It is worth mentioning that in the process of connecting the core shell 11 and the control box 12, the front shell 111 and the rear shell 112 are first docked to form the core shell 11, and then the front shell 111 and the rear shell 112 are respectively connected to the control box 12. In this way, the control box 12 can further improve the docking effect of the front shell 111 and the rear shell 112, so that the front shell 111 and the rear shell 112 fit more closely, which can reduce the gap in the assembly process, thereby improving the overall sealing and stability. In addition, after the core shell 11 is formed, it is docked with the control box 12 to further ensure the positioning accuracy of the overall structure.

[0038] Specifically, in some embodiments, the heating core 2 includes at least two heat dissipation strips 22 and a single heating tube 21 connected between each two adjacent heat dissipation strips 22, the end of the single heating tube 21 is connected to an electrode sheet 211, the end of the heat dissipation strip 22 is connected to a transfer terminal 221, the electrode sheet 211 and the transfer terminal 221 are arranged alternately, the electrode sheet 211 is welded to the control board 3, and the transfer terminal 221 is connected to the control box 12 by screws. The two heat sinks 22 are respectively attached to the two sides of the heating tube 21, which helps to disperse the heat generated by the heating tube 21 to a larger area, so that the heater can release heat quickly and improve the heating rate. The alternating arrangement of the electrode sheet 211 and the adapter terminal 221 ensures the effective transfer of heat between the heating tube 21 and the heat sink 22, reduces thermal resistance and improves thermal efficiency. In this embodiment, the electrode sheet 211 is set as the positive electrode, the adapter terminal 221 is set as the negative electrode, and the electrode sheet 211 is directly welded to the control board 3, and the adapter terminal 221 is connected to the control box 12 by screws. This design helps to prevent electrical short circuits and leakage, etc., and ensures the stability and safety of the electrical connection.

[0039] Specifically, in some embodiments, the electrode sheet 211 includes a main body segment 2111 and a transfer segment 2112, wherein the main body segment 2111 is convexly disposed at the end of the heating single tube 21 along the axial direction of the heating single tube 21, and the transfer segment 2112 is convexly disposed at one end of the main body segment 2111 away from the heating single tube 21 along a direction perpendicular to the surface of the control board 3. Through this design, the electrode sheet 211 is set in a "7" shape, and when the electrode sheet 211 is welded to the control board 3, its main body segment 2111 can be welded in a state parallel to the surface of the control board 34, thereby making the contact area between the electrode sheet 211 and the control board 3 larger, making it easier to form uniform welding points during welding, improving the welding quality, and no additional transfer terminal 221 is required, and the transfer segment 2112 can be vertically welded to the welding hole of the control board 3, further improving the stability of welding without affecting the parallel state of the main body segment 2111 and the surface of the control board 3.

[0040] Specifically, in some embodiments, the transfer terminal 221 and the heat sink are integrally formed. This arrangement effectively reduces the risk of product reliability being affected by poor welding of the transfer terminal 221.

[0041] Specifically, in some embodiments, the control board 3 is used to be electrically connected to the low-voltage circuit of the vehicle and the negative ion generator 5 to form a first start-up circuit, and the control board 3 is also used to be electrically connected to the high-voltage circuit of the vehicle and the heating core 2 to form a second start-up circuit. The negative ion generator 5 and the heating core 2 are controlled by two independent start-up circuits, respectively. The user can turn on or off the negative ion generator 5 and the heating core 2 according to actual needs, thereby achieving on-demand control and avoiding unnecessary energy waste. In addition, since the two functional components are powered by the high voltage and low voltage of the vehicle respectively, when one component fails, it will not affect the normal operation of the other component.

[0042] Specifically, in some embodiments, an NTC temperature sensor 6 is further included. The NTC temperature sensor 6 is disposed on the control board 3 and is electrically connected to the control board 3. By disposing the NTC temperature sensor 6 on the control board 3, the temperature of the control board 3 can be monitored in real time. When the collected temperature reaches a preset temperature protection threshold, the controller disposed on the control board 3 can control the PTC heater 100 to disconnect the power supply, so that the PTC heater 100 no longer generates heat, thereby playing a role of over-temperature protection.

[0043] Specifically, ventilation grilles are provided on the front shell 111 and the rear shell 112 to ensure ventilation and to isolate the heating core 2 to protect operators.

[0044] Specifically, in some embodiments, a power harness 4 is further included, one end of the power harness 4 is connected to the control board 3 , and the other end of the power harness 4 extends out of the control box 12 .

[0045] The present invention also provides a method for using the PTC heater 100, comprising the following steps:

[0046] The control board 3 is provided with an NTC temperature sensor 6, and the NTC temperature sensor 6 is electrically connected to the control board 3. The method of use further includes the following steps:

[0047] Acquire the temperature of the heating core 2 according to the data measured by the NTC temperature sensor 6 and the control board 3;

[0048] It should be noted that the specific acquisition process is: according to T2=RP+T1, the temperature of the heating core 2 is monitored in real time, T2 is the temperature of the heating core 2, T1 is the temperature of the control board 3 measured by the NTC temperature sensor 6, P is the working power of the heating core 2, and R is the thermal resistance of the NTC temperature sensor 6;

[0049] The above formula is obtained by transforming the thermal resistance principle formula R = (T2-T1) / P, where T1 can be measured in real time according to the NTC temperature sensor 6, R is the thermal resistance, which is a variable. When the temperature rises, the resistance value decreases, making the current larger. In this way, the thermal resistance of the temperature sensor 6 can be judged by monitoring the current value through the monitoring component on the control board 3 (the product voltage is constant). Similarly, the working power P of the product can also be directly obtained by monitoring the current value. After obtaining the values ​​of P, R, and T1, according to the above formula, the core temperature T2 is indirectly measured. This indirect temperature measurement method can avoid the method of fixedly installing a thermostat or fuse on the PTC heating core 2, which not only reduces the production cost, but also simplifies the assembly process of the product, thereby improving production efficiency.

[0050] The over-temperature protection strategy is executed according to the temperature of the heating core 2 .

[0051] The steps of the over-temperature protection strategy include: when the temperature of the heating core 2 is greater than a preset temperature, shutting down the heating core 2.

[0052] Turning off the heating core 2 may be accomplished by disconnecting the second start-up circuit to turn off the heating core 2. The preset temperature may be selected based on actual needs.

[0053] See also Figure 5 The specific working principle of the PTC heater 100 is as follows: when low-voltage electricity is input at the vehicle end, the control module of the PTC heater 100 is awakened, and at this time, the negative ion generator 5 can be independently controlled to start or not. After the negative ion generator 5 is started, a large number of electrons (e-) will be generated at the generator release end 52, which will be taken away by the air entering the automobile air conditioner through the through hole on the core shell 11. The electrons will contact the air to generate negative ions, which sterilize and disinfect the air, thereby achieving the effect of purifying the air; when high-voltage electricity is input at the vehicle end, the heating core 2 can be started under the control of the control module to heat the air. When the low-voltage electricity is disconnected from the vehicle or the temperature of the heating core 2 collected by the NTC temperature sensor 6 is too high, the control module will control the heating core 2 to automatically stop heating. It can be understood that the control module is equivalent to the control board.

[0054] The present invention also provides a car air conditioner, comprising an air conditioner body and a filter element arranged in the air conditioner body, characterized in that it also comprises the above-mentioned PTC heater 100, the PTC heater 100 is installed in the air conditioner body and arranged at the air outlet of the filter element. In this way, when air enters the PTC heater 100 through the filter element carrying microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses attached to the filter element, the negative ion generator 5 in the PTC heater 100 can disinfect and sterilize the air passing through the filter element, thereby improving the air quality in the car.

[0055] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principle of the present invention should be included in the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A PTC heater, comprising a housing, a heating core and a control board, characterized in that: It also includes a negative ion generator. The heating core, the negative ion generator and the control board are all arranged in the shell, and the heating core and the negative ion generator are electrically connected to the control board respectively.

2. The PTC heater according to claim 1, characterized in that: The shell includes a core shell and a control box connected to each other, the negative ion generator includes a generator body and a generator release end connected to the generator body, the heating core and the generator release end are arranged in the core shell, the control board and the generator body are arranged in the control box, and the generator body is electrically connected to the control board.

3. The PTC heater according to claim 2, characterized in that: The generator body is integrated on the control board.

4. The PTC heater according to claim 2, characterized in that: The core shell comprises a front shell and a rear shell that are engaged with each other, and the front shell and the rear shell are respectively detachably connected to the control box.

5. The PTC heater according to claim 1, characterized in that: The heating core includes at least two heat dissipation strips and a single heating tube connected between each two adjacent heat dissipation strips, the end of the single heating tube is connected to an electrode sheet, the end of the heat dissipation strip is connected to a transfer terminal, the electrode sheet and the transfer terminal are arranged alternately, the electrode sheet is welded to the control board, and the transfer terminal is connected to the control box by screws.

6. The PTC heater according to claim 5, characterized in that: The electrode sheet includes a main body segment and a transition segment. The main body segment is convexly arranged at the end of the single heating tube along the axial direction of the single heating tube, and the transition segment is convexly arranged at an end of the main body segment away from the single heating tube in a direction perpendicular to the control board surface.

7. The PTC heater according to claim 5, characterized in that: The transfer terminal and the heat sink are integrally formed.

8. The PTC heater according to claim 1, characterized in that: The control board is used to be electrically connected to the low-voltage circuit of the whole vehicle and the negative ion generator to form a first starting circuit, and the control board is also used to be electrically connected to the high-voltage circuit of the whole vehicle and the heating core to form a second starting circuit.

9. The method for using a PTC heater according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that: The control board is provided with an NTC temperature sensor, and the NTC temperature sensor is electrically connected to the control board. The method of use further includes the following steps: Acquire the temperature of the heating core according to the data measured by the NTC temperature sensor and the control board; The over-temperature protection strategy is executed according to the temperature of the heating core.

10. An automobile air conditioner, comprising an air conditioner body and a filter element arranged in the air conditioner body, characterized in that: It also includes a PTC heater as described in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the PTC heater is installed in the air conditioner body and is arranged at the air outlet of the filter element.

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