Electric heating device for motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to an electrical heating device, in particular for a motor vehicle, comprising an electrical connection box and a heating body comprising:-a plurality of heating elements intended to be supplied with an electrical current; a plurality of metal tubes, at least some of which comprise a heating element; and-a plurality of metal heat sinks, the metal tubes and the metal heat sinks forming an electrically conductive enclosure having the same potential, characterized in that at least one tube (12) of the plurality of tubes comprises an electrically conductive element (16) protruding from and in contact with the at least one tube (12), the protruding element (16) being connected to a ground connector of the electrical connection box.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the field of heating of motor vehicles, and in particular to an electric heating device, which is particularly used for motor vehicles. Background Art

[0002] In vehicles with internal combustion engines, heating of the interior is currently achieved by reusing the thermal energy generated by the internal combustion engine of such vehicles. In vehicles with electric motors, in which no thermal energy is available, it is known to use electric heating devices to heat the vehicle interior. Such electric heating is currently achieved by radiators comprising heating elements, such as heating resistors.

[0003] Such a radiator comprising a heating body made of aluminium is known in the prior art. The heating body comprises a plurality of tubes in which the heating elements are mounted, and a plurality of radiators in the form of fins which separate each of these plurality of tubes. On top of the heating body is an electrical connection box which must be mounted in a fluid-tight manner in the upper part of the heating body from which connections for the heating elements are led, the connections being intended to be electrically connected to the electrical connection box. In particular, the air which passes through the heating body of the electric radiator before being led inside may be humid, and this humidity must not adversely affect the electrical connections of the radiator. Therefore, a seal is placed on the upper periphery of the heating body and separates the upper part of the heating body, which comprises the electrical output of the heating elements of the heating body, from the electrical connection box.

[0004] The composition of the electric heating device consists in providing a metal frame formed by tubes and fins with a grounding loop, which must be as small and simple as possible, it being understood that the grounding connector to which the metal frame must be connected is fixed to an electrical connection box. The wired electrical connection extending from the outer surface of the heating body by bypassing this box is disadvantageous for installing the electric radiator in the relevant heating device and there is a risk of being damaged during installation. Therefore, it is known to provide an additional part which presses against the heating body and extends this heating body longitudinally so as to be able to be housed in the electrical connection box and is then connected to the grounding connector by means of an electrical conductor extending mainly in the connection box. The presence of this additional part involves increasing the size of the opening made in the electrical connection box in order to be able to connect the heating body and this leads to the necessity of adjusting the size of the above-mentioned seal. Summary of the invention

[0005] The present invention proposes an electric heating device which makes up for the shortcomings of the above-mentioned prior art, that is, its grounding is reliable and safe, and has no effect on the design of other components of the heating device, especially on the size and position of the sealing device at the joint between the heating body and the electrical connection box.

[0006] To this end, the invention proposes an electric heating device, in particular for motor vehicles, comprising an electrical connection box and a heating body comprising a plurality of heating elements intended to be supplied with electric current, a plurality of metal tubes and a plurality of metal radiators, at least some of the metal tubes comprising the heating elements, the metal tubes and the metal radiators forming an electrically conductive frame at the same electrical potential, the device being characterized in that at least one of the plurality of tubes comprises an electrically conductive element protruding from and in contact with the at least one tube, the protruding element being connected to a ground connector of the electrical connection box.

[0007] More specifically, the conductive element protruding from the at least one tube is in electrical contact with the at least one tube. Here, electrical contact is understood to mean the ability of the conductive element to transfer electric current from the conductive frame to the ground connector, it being understood that during normal operation of the heating device, electric current should not circulate within the conductive frame.

[0008] According to the invention, since the ground connection of the heating body utilizes a conductive element housed in one tube of the heating body, the conductive element does not hinder the installation of the heating body in the connection box. Specifically, by forming part of one tube of the heating body, the conductive element does not change the volume allocated to the heating body. On the contrary, during the installation of the heating body on the electrical connection box, with the simultaneous connection of each heating element on the electrical connection box, the conductive element protruding from one end of the tube is directly located in the connection area between the connection box and the heating body, and can therefore be accommodated in the seal included between the upper periphery of the heating body and the electrical connection box.

[0009] According to one characteristic of the invention, the heating device is a high voltage device, in other words a device with a voltage greater than 48 V or 52 V, for example equal to 400 V or 800 V. According to one characteristic of the invention, the heating element comprises at least one resistive element, in particular a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) resistive element sandwiched between two electrodes.

[0010] According to one feature of the invention, the conductive element is an element separated from the electrodes. In other words, the conductive element is electrically insulated from the electrodes. In other words, the protruding conductive element does not transmit current to the at least one resistive element.

[0011] According to one feature of the invention, the conductive element protruding from the at least one tube is a metal rod longitudinally arranged in the at least one tube, the metal rod comprising at least one metal tab in contact with the inner surface of the at least one tube. This embodiment of the invention makes it possible to manufacture the metal tube by extrusion, without the need for subsequent recutting of the tube, since the metal rod is an element separate from the at least one tube. The position of the metal rod inside the tube is ensured by the appropriate elasticity of the metal tab, the spacing of which relative to the main plane of extension of the rod is such that contact with the inner surface of the tube is ensured during insertion. In addition, the metal tab has an elasticity compatible with the dimensional adjustment of the at least one tube, the at least one tube being intended to deform in the same way as the tube comprising the heating element therein, for fixing the position of the heating element in the tube.

[0012] According to one feature of the invention, the at least one metal tab is a side portion of the metal bar, which is hinged on the body of the metal bar at the base of the metal tab. The metal tab advantageously has a hook shape with a rounded portion intended to come into contact with the inner surface of the tube, and a free end directed towards the body of the metal bar. The articulation of the metal tab enables the metal bar to be easily inserted into the at least one tube by its elasticity, during which insertion the hook deforms by flattening and ensures good contact between the tab and the at least one tube. For example, the tab is obtained by cutting and then bending the side portion of the metal bar. This embodiment of the tab is simple and cheap to manufacture.

[0013] According to one feature of the invention, the at least one tube further comprises an electrical connection member protruding from the at least one tube, the protruding portion of the electrical connection member being electrically connected to a power source in the electrical connection box. This optimizes the space present in the at least one tube. The electrical connection member is, for example, a positive or negative busbar.

[0014] According to one feature of the invention, the electrical connection member and the metal rod are at least partially embedded in an insulating polymer material over a longitudinal portion of the electrical connection member and the metal rod. The longitudinal portion covers neither the at least one metal tab nor the ends of the electrical connection member and the metal rod intended to be electrically connected to the electrical connection box. Such an overmolding ensures electrical insulation between the metal rod and the electrical connection member. Furthermore, by combining the metal rod and the electrical connection member together as an overmolding block, the insertion and positioning of the metal rod and the electrical connection member in the tube is facilitated.

[0015] According to one feature of the present invention, the metal rod comprises a plurality of metal tabs evenly distributed along the metal rod. This ensures good contact between the metal rod and the inner surface of the tube and ensures that the metal rod is substantially parallel to the inner surface of the tube.

[0016] According to one characteristic of the invention, said at least one tube further comprises a further metal bar comprising one or more metal tabs in contact with said inner surface of said at least one tube, said metal bar and said further metal bar being arranged on either side of a median plane longitudinally intersecting the width of said at least one tube, said metal bar and said further metal bar being fixed to each other. This further metal bar fixed to said metal bar makes it possible to correctly position said metal bar in the tube and to achieve a better conductive contact between the tube and said metal bar when the fixing means between these bars are themselves conductive. When the fixing is achieved by means of an overmolding, for example said further metal bar and said metal bar are positioned in this overmolding on either side of the electrical connection member, said further metal bar notably has the function of assisting in positioning the overmolded block in the tube.

[0017] According to one feature of the invention, the metal bar or the metal tabs of the metal bar and the further metal bar protrude from the same side of the metal bar or the plurality of metal bars. This arrangement of the metal tabs makes it possible to arrange a heating element or a sensor, for example, on one side of the metal bar or the plurality of metal bars, that is to say on the side opposite to the metal tabs.

[0018] According to one feature of the invention, the at least one tube further comprises one or more temperature sensors arranged on the opposite side of the same side of the metal rod or rods, the temperature sensors being in contact with the wall of the at least one tube. When the tube does not comprise a heating element, this arrangement optimizes the use of the tube for the sensor and any connection lines of the sensor that can be electrically connected to the electrical connection box. Preferably, the wall against which the sensor rests is in contact with one of the plurality of radiators. Thus, the reliability of the sensor is improved.

[0019] According to one feature of the invention, the at least one tube is arranged at a side edge of the heating body. Thus, it does not interrupt the heat dissipation from the rest of the heating body, for which the arrangement of the heating body is optimized.

[0020] According to one characteristic of the invention, and as an alternative to the main variant embodiment of the invention, the protruding conductive elements are metal fingers extending the wall of the at least one tube. It will be understood that in this variant, the protruding conductive elements are no longer realized by additional parts such as metal bars, but directly by the tube and its specific shape, with the disadvantage of requiring cutting of the at least one tube after extrusion, which is therefore not preferred. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will also become apparent from the following description and from a number of exemplary embodiments given by way of non-limiting indication with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0022] 1 shows an electric heating device according to the invention, in particular making visible a heating body comprising a plurality of tubes and a radiator, and an electrical connection box connected to the upper part of the heating body;

[0023] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a tube of the device of FIG. 1 in which a heating element is arranged,

[0024] FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of a conductive element intended for earth connection and one tube of the device of FIG. 1 , said tube being separated from the tube of FIG. 2 and with the conductive element inserted therein,

[0025] 4 is a perspective view of the upper part of the heating body of the heating device of FIG. 1 and showing the electrical connection box partly transparently in order to make visible more particularly the ground connection of the conductive element protruding from the tube of FIG. 3 ,

[0026] 5 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 4 , this time without the electrical connection box, in order to illustrate an embodiment variant which differs from the previous figure in the content of the tube housing the conductive element of the ground connection,

[0027] FIG. 6 shows a detailed perspective view of two conducting elements for ground connection and housed in one tube of the heating body in FIG. 5 , respectively, with the metal rod and the electrical connection member embedded in an insulating polymer material,

[0028] FIG. 7 shows the elements of FIG. 6 housed in a corresponding tube, the tube being shown in a transparent manner,

[0029] FIG. 8 shows a variant of the conducting element intended for ground connection and housed in one of the tubes of the heating body visible in FIG. 3 , with two metal bars fixed to each other, and

[0030] FIG. 9 shows the conductive elements of FIG. 8 arranged in an electrical radiator, without the tubes comprising these elements to make them visible. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] As mentioned above, the present invention relates to an electric heating device for a motor vehicle having a specific grounding device, in particular one or more conductive elements, which respectively protrude from the tube and contact the corresponding tube, and which are connected to a grounding connector.

[0032] An embodiment will first be described with particular reference to Figures 1 to 4, in which the conducting element consists of a single metal rod housed in a respective tube.

[0033] The electric heating device 2 according to the invention is intended to heat the interior of a motor vehicle, in particular an electric vehicle, and comprises an electrical connection box 4 connected to the vehicle's power supply network, to at least one computer of the vehicle and to the vehicle's ground connection. This connection box 4 thus comprises a positive power bus, a negative power bus, a ground connector 18, as shown by way of example in FIG. 6 , and a connection to the computer bus.

[0034] The electric heating device 2 also comprises a heating body 6 intended to be traversed by the air flow to be heated and comprising a plurality of resistance elements which generate heat transferred to the air flow, depending on a suitable power supply from the connection box 4. To this end, the heating body 6 is fastened in a fluid-tight manner to the connection box at its upper part, in particular by means of a seal (not visible here) extending over the periphery of the heating body.

[0035] The heating body 6 is composed of alternating metal tubes 8 and radiators 10, also of metal. As a non-limiting example, the metal tubes and the radiators are made of aluminum.

[0036] The metal tubes 8 are divided into two types according to what they contain therein, with a heating tube 32, which can be arranged in particular in the center of the heating body, and electrical connection tubes 12, 14, which can be arranged in particular at the side ends of the heating body, at the end of the stack of tubes and radiators. It should be noted that in the example shown, the shapes of the heating tubes and the electrical connection tubes are identical and they can be distinguished only by what is contained therein.

[0037] The heating tube 32 comprises a heating element, the heat of which is transferred through the walls of the heating tube to the radiator 10 in the form of fins, which diffuse the heat into the vehicle interior.

[0038] In Figure 1, the heating body 6 thus has the general shape of a parallelepiped, the side walls of which are formed by two side tubes, in this case the electrical connection tubes 12, 14. The length of the heating body 6 is equal to the length of one tube 8, the width of the heating body is equal to the distance separating the side tubes, and the height of the heating body is equal to the width of one side wall, that is to say the width of one tube 8.

[0039] 2 shows a heating tube 32 comprising a heating element. Like each tube 8, the heating tube 32 has an overall parallelepiped shape and is arranged in the heating body such that the length 56 of the heating tube 32 corresponds to the length of the heating body 6 and such that the width 58 of the tube 32 corresponds to the height of the heating body 6. The smallest dimension of the parallelepiped also corresponds to the thickness 60 of the heating tube 32.

[0040] The heating element is in the form of a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) resistor element 44, specifically, in this case, a ceramic stone with a PTC effect. When the electric heating device 2 is in operation, the current transmitted by the two electrodes 38 and 40 passes through these resistor elements 44. The electrodes 38 and 40 are electrically insulated from the tube 32 by two insulating layers 34 and 36. A plurality of resistor elements 44 are mounted in parallel along the tube 32 between the two electrodes 38 and 40. The resistor element 44 comprises a metal layer 42, for example made of aluminum, on each of its surfaces in contact with the electrodes 38, 40. It should be noted that this embodiment of the heating element does not imply a limitation of the invention, as long as they are housed in a heating tube 32 similar to that already described above.

[0041] As shown in FIG4 , for each heating tube 32, when the heating body is fastened to the electrical connection box 4, the first electrode 38 is fixed to a positive power bus 39 electrically connected to the electrical connection box 4 of the electric heating device 2. Similarly, for each heating tube 32, the second electrode 40 is fixed to a negative power bus 41 electrically connected to the electrical connection box 4. Thus, a plurality of heating elements can be supplied simultaneously by command of the electrical connection box 4. A plurality of positive power buses 39 can be provided so that a plurality of groups of heating elements can be controlled differently.

[0042] As described above, the conductive element consists of a single metal rod housed in the corresponding tube. In this embodiment, at least one electrical connection tube 12, 14 includes a metal rod 16 made of aluminum, which is housed in the tube and whose free end protrudes from the corresponding electrical connection tube toward the connection box 4 in the length direction of the tube, as shown in particular in Figure 4. In this case, each tube arranged at the side end of the heating body includes such a metal rod, but in a variant, a single tube of the heating body including the metal rod 16 can be provided, which tube is not necessarily arranged at the side end of the heating body 6.

[0043] According to the above, the shape and size of the connecting pipes 12 , 14 are identical to those of the heating pipe 32 , so that the length 56 of the connecting pipe in the longitudinal direction, the width 58 and the thickness 60 of the connecting pipe in FIG. 3 can be identified.

[0044] It should be understood that the internal arrangement of the electrical connection tubes 12, 14 can be similar, and only one of the electrical connection tubes 12 is described in detail here, in particular with reference to Figure 3. Once the metal rod has been inserted into the tube, the part of the metal rod 16 that protrudes beyond the tube 12 in the direction of the connection box 4, that is, the free end visible in Figure 4, is a metal finger 48, to which a connector 46 is welded. This connector itself is connected to the ground connector 18 of the connection box 4 by an electrical conductor 47, which is schematically shown in Figure 4.

[0045] The heating body 6 can be grounded by means of a metal finger 48 which projects beyond the wall of the connection tube 12 and thus forms a longitudinal projection relative thereto, which extends in the longitudinal continuation of the housing defining the heating body towards the connection box 4. Thus, the seal for sealing the junction between the upper periphery of the heating body 6 and the connection box 4 ensures that this ground connection is also fluid-tight, without the need to provide a seal of larger dimensions. Advantageously, no electrical conductor capable of grounding extends outside the heating body, which makes it possible to install without obstruction and avoids the risk of such installation damaging the electrical conductors.

[0046] The metal bar 16 incorporated in the connection tube 12 has a substantially flat body and metal tabs 20 regularly distributed along the metal bar 16, the purpose of which is to ensure contact between the metal bar and the connection tube 12. The metal tabs 20 are hinged to the body of the metal bar 16 at their bases 200, which define the hinge axis, and it will be understood that this flexibility ensures contact with the connection tube without the risk of not being able to insert the metal bar into the connection tube.

[0047] The metal tab 20 is produced by an operation of cutting the longitudinal edges of the metal bar 16 and subsequent different bending operations. The metal tab 20 is bent for a first time to release the tab from the plane of the body of the metal bar, thereby forming a protrusion hinged around the base 200. The metal tab is then bent for a second time so that the free end 202 is returned towards the body of the metal bar 16, giving the tab a hook shape with a rounded edge 204 that forms the contact surface between the tab 20 and the wall of the tube 12 facing it. This hook shape and this elasticity facilitate the insertion of the metal bar 16 into the tube 12 without the free end 202 rubbing against the inner surface of the tube.

[0048] FIG3 shows in particular the insertion of the conducting element formed by the metal rod 16 into the connection tubes 12, 14, the metal rod being inserted into the connection tubes through an opening formed in the longitudinal end of the connection tubes. Since the metal rod 16 has a flat rod shape from which the tab 20 protrudes, the planar portion of the metal rod 16 is inserted into the tube 12, facing the larger area of ​​the wall 62 of the tube 12, so that the hook can come into contact with the inner surface of the connection tube defining the thickness 60 of the connection tube. The hook is shaped to be slightly larger than the opening in the tube through which the metal rod is inserted in the direction in which the thickness 60 of the connection tube 12 is inscribed, and deforms by flattening during insertion, thus increasing the chances of contact between the wall of the tube 12 and the tab 20. In other words, the thickness 60 of the connection tube 12 is less than the average distance between the rounded edge of the tab and the plane in which the body of the metal rod 16 lies.

[0049] As shown in Figure 3, the metal bar 16 is inserted in a direction such that the base 200 of each tab 20 enters the connecting tube 12 before the rounded edge 204 of the corresponding tab, which has the effect of again facilitating the insertion of the metal bar. As a result, the metal fingers 48 are caused to pass over the opening through which the metal bar 16 has been inserted, being closer to the rounded edge 204 of the metal tab 20 than to its base 200.

[0050] These lugs 20 form part of a conductive element intended for ground connection, the contact between the lugs 20 and the inner surface of the connecting tube 12 making it possible to ground the connecting tube 12 and therefore all the tubes 8 of the heating body 6 and all the radiators 10 , provided that these elements are made of metal and are in contact with each other.

[0051] An embodiment variant will now be described with reference to Figures 5 to 8, which differs from the embodiment variant already described above in that the connection tubes 12, 14 accommodate not only conductive elements protruding from the tubes for ground connection, but also an electrical connection member 26. This metal connection member 26 enables the current required to activate the heating elements in the heating tubes to flow from the electrical connection box on the side of the upper part of the heating body to the lower part of the heating body, where some of the heating elements may have electrodes similar to those described for the upper part of the heating body.

[0052] In the upper part of the heating body, the electrodes 38,40 associated with each heating tube 32 are connected to a power bus for connection to an electrical connection box as described above. The electrical connection members 26 present in the connection tubes 12,14 are also connected to the electrical connection box via a power bus 43.

[0053] 6 and 7 show in more detail the conductive elements and the electrical connection member 26 used for the ground connection when in the connection tubes 12 , 14 .

[0054] In this embodiment variant, in addition to the metal rod 16, the connecting pipe 12 also includes another metal rod 22, which also includes longitudinally regularly distributed metal tabs 24. These tabs 24 are similar to the tabs 20 and are arranged on the other metal rod 22 in the same manner as the tabs on the metal rod 16.

[0055] The tabs 24 of the other metal rod 22 are also intended to come into contact with the inner surface of the respective connecting pipe 12 , 14 .

[0056] The metal bar 16 and the further metal bar 22 are fixed to each other by overmolding with a rigid synthetic material, for example a plastic material, thereby forming a block that is easily positioned in the connection tubes 12, 14. The overmolded block makes it possible also to arrange the electrical connection members 26, 52 in the connection tubes 12, 14 without the risk that the electrical contact between the electrical connection members 26, 52 and the metal bars 16, 22 could produce a short circuit.

[0057] In FIG. 6 , two overmoulded blocks can be seen, intended to be housed in one of the connection tubes 12 , 14 respectively, and each block comprising a metal bar 16 and another metal bar 22 arranged on either side of the electrical connection member.

[0058] For an overmolded block intended to be housed in the first connection tube 12, the electrical connection member 26 is arranged between the metal bar 16 and the further metal bar 22 before overmolding the longitudinal portion of the assembly formed by the electrical connection member and the metal bar. This overmolded portion 54 or the overmolded longitudinal portion does not cover the tabs 20, 24 and does not cover either the longitudinal ends of the electrical connection member 26 or the metal fingers 48 forming the ends of the metal bar 16.

[0059] Similarly, for an overmoulded block intended to be housed in the second connecting tube 14 , the electrical connection member 52 is arranged between the two metal bars 16 , 20 and the overmoulded portion 54 of the assembly is realised not to cover the metal tabs and not to cover the ends making the electrical connection.

[0060] For each connection tube, the overmolding 54 ensures insulation between the electrical connection members 26, 54 and the metal bar 16, as well as insulation between the electrical connection members 26, 54 and the other metal bar 22 set to ground potential. The presence of the other metal bar 22 arranged on the other side of the electrical connection members 26, 54 makes it possible to provide a stable position for the assembly, substantially parallel to the wall of the tube against which the tabs 20, 24 rest, and this therefore makes it possible to ensure that the electrical connection members 26 are ideally arranged according to the desired theoretical position in order to be connected to the power bus both in the upper part and in the lower part of the heating body. In this case, the metal bar 16 and the other metal bar 22 are not connected, so that the metal tabs of the other metal bar have only the effect of correctly positioning the overmolded block inside the connection tube. Only the tabs 20 of the metal bar 16 have the function of creating an electrical bridge between the tube wall and therefore the heating body and the ground connector 18, successively via the metal bar body, the metal fingers 48 and the electrical conductor 47.

[0061] Fig. 7 shows in a transparent manner in the connection tube 12 an overmolding block comprising an overmolding portion 54, a metal rod 16, an electrical connection member 26 and a further metal rod 22. In this Fig. 7, it can be seen what has already been described above, namely that in particular the overmolding portion 54 is produced so as to leave sufficient clearance so that the tabs 20, 24 can bend when inserted into the connection tube and ensure contact with the inner surface of the connection tube 12.

[0062] The metal bars are oriented in the overmolded block so that the metal tabs 20, 24 of each metal bar are arranged against the same wall of the connecting tube 12, 14. This configuration makes it possible to accommodate the temperature sensors 28, 30 in the connecting tube and ensure that they are in contact with the wall of the tube, i.e. the wall of the tube opposite to the wall in contact with the metal tabs. The elasticity of the metal tabs tends to press the overmolding against this opposite wall, and the temperature sensors can be arranged on that face of the overmolding 54 facing this opposite wall. These temperature sensors include a connection 50 visible in FIG. 6, which is intended to be connected to a computer bus connection in the electrical connection box 4.

[0063] The connecting pipes 12 , 14 including the metal rod 16 may also include a heating element without departing from the invention.

[0064] Figures 8 and 9 show another variant of the invention, in which the metal bar 16 and the other metal bar 22 are connected to each other by a rigid metal coupling 17, without intervening electrical connection members. It will be understood that in this configuration, the metal tabs 20, 24 of each metal bar participate in the positioning of the metal bar inside the connecting tube 12, 14, thus ensuring that the tabs and the body are in contact with the wall of the tube, but they both participate in the grounding of the heating body.

[0065] Finally, in another embodiment variant of the invention (not shown here), according to the invention, the conducting element protruding from the tube and intended for ground connection is formed by an element integral with one wall of the connection tube 12, 14. As already mentioned in the previous variant, the metal rod is replaced by a metal finger extending the wall of the connection tube 12, 14, which thus forms a longitudinal projection of the connection tube 12, 14 at the end of the tube in the connection area between the connection box 4 and the heating body 6. It will be understood that in this case, the tube can incorporate the heating element and / or the electrical connection means, as described above.

[0066] As has just been described by means of various embodiments, the invention achieves the aim it set itself, namely to propose an electric heating device which provides simplified means for grounding the heating body, which enables rapid installation of the electric heating device without the need to modify the dimensions of the sealing device.

[0067] However, the invention is not limited to the devices and configurations described and shown here, and it also extends to any equivalent devices and configurations and any technically operable combination of these devices.

Claims

1. An electric heating device (2), in particular for a motor vehicle, said device (2) comprising an electrical connection box (4) and a heating body (6), said heating body (6) comprising: - a plurality of heating elements intended to be supplied with electric current, - a plurality of (8) metal tubes, at least some of which include said heating elements, and - Multiple (10) metal heat sinks, The metal tube and the metal heat sink form a conductive frame at the same electrical potential. The device (2) is characterized in that at least one tube (12) of the plurality of tubes (8) comprises a conductive element (16) protruding from the at least one tube (12) and in electrical contact with the at least one tube, the protruding element (16) being connected to a grounding connector (18) of the electrical connection box (4).

2. The electric heating device (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that: The element protruding from the at least one tube (12) is a metal rod (16) longitudinally arranged in the at least one tube (12), the metal rod (16) comprising at least one metal tab (20) in contact with the inner surface of the at least one tube (12).

3. The electric heating device (2) according to claim 2, wherein: The at least one metal tab (20) is a side portion of the metal bar (16) which is hinged to the body of the metal bar (16) at the base of the metal tab (20).

4. The electric heating device (2) according to any one of claims 2 and 3, wherein: The at least one tube (12) further comprises an electrical connection member (26) protruding from the at least one tube (12), the protruding portion of the electrical connection member (26) being electrically connected to a power source in the electrical connection box (4).

5. The electric heating device (2) according to claim 4, wherein: The electrical connection member (26) and the metal rod (16) are at least partially embedded in an insulating polymer material on longitudinal portions of the electrical connection member (26) and the metal rod (16).

6. The electric heating device (2) according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein: The metal rod (16) comprises a plurality of metal protrusions (20) evenly distributed along the metal rod (16).

7. The electric heating device (2) according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein: The at least one tube (12) further comprises another metal rod (22) comprising one or more metal tabs (24) in contact with the inner surface of the at least one tube (12), the metal rod (16) and the other metal rod (22) being arranged on either side of a mid-plane longitudinally intersecting the width of the at least one tube (12), the metal rod (16) and the other metal rod (22) being fixed to each other.

8. The electric heating device (2) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein: The metal tabs (20, 24) of the metal bar (16) or the metal bar (16) and the further metal bar (22) protrude from the same side of the metal bar (16) or the metal bars (16, 22).

9. The electric heating device (2) according to claim 8, wherein: The at least one tube (12) further comprises one or more temperature sensors (28, 30) arranged on a side opposite to the same side of the metal rod or rods (16, 22), the temperature sensors (28, 30) being in contact with the wall of the at least one tube (12).

10. The electric heating device (2) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The at least one tube (12) is arranged at a side edge of the heating body (6).

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