Electrical adapter and electrical heat exchanger

Abstract

The invention relates to an electrical adapter and an electrical heat exchanger. The invention relates to an electrical adapter (3), in particular for an electrical heat exchanger (2), having a base body (6) with a first side (7) and a second side (8), the first side (7) of the base body (6) and the second side (8) of the base body (6) being located on opposite sides of the base body (6), the base body (6) being provided with a first electrical connection (9) on the first side (7) and a second electrical connection (10) on the second side (8), the first electrical interface (9) is designed to be mechanically and electrically connected to the control unit (1) and the second electrical interface (10) is designed to be mechanically and electrically connected to the connector (4) of the power supply, and the base body (6) comprises at least two bus bars (12) intersecting the base body (6) from the first side (7) to the second side (8) so as to create each electrical connector (13, 14) on the first side (7) and the second side (8). The invention also relates to an electrical heat exchanger (2) having an electrical adapter.

Description

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrical adapter, particularly for an electrothermal exchanger, which is particularly for a motor vehicle. Background Art

[0002] Motor vehicles, especially electric motor vehicles, require electrothermal exchangers to heat the interior of the vehicle. Such electrothermal exchangers are basically for low-voltage applications or high-voltage applications (depending on the heating power provided or the available power source within the motor vehicle).

[0003] It has been shown that the electrical connection of such electrothermal exchangers via electrical connectors varies depending on the vehicle manufacturer or the application, such that the manufacturer of such electrothermal exchangers must cope with different designs of electrical connectors for different projects. This means that the design of the electrical connectors of the electrothermal exchanger must be specifically designed for each application in order to be able to be used together with the electrical connectors used by the vehicle manufacturer for that specific application. This results in increased design work, additional processing costs, and overall higher costs for the electric heater. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The object of the present invention is to create a solution that allows for a reduction in the cost of manufacturing an electrothermal exchanger.

[0005] This object is solved by an adapter having the features of claim 1.

[0006] An exemplary embodiment of the present invention relates to an electrical adapter, particularly for an electrothermal exchanger, the electrical adapter having a base body, the base body having a first side and a second side, the first side and the second side of the base body being at two opposite sides of the base body, the base body being provided with a first electrical interface on the first side, and the base body being provided with a second electrical interface on the second side, the first electrical interface being designed to be mechanically and electrically connected to a control unit, and the second electrical interface being designed to be mechanically and electrically connected to a connector of a power supply, and the base body including at least two busbars, the at least two busbars intersecting the base body from the first side to the second side, thereby creating each electrical connector on the first side and on the second side. An adapter according to this feature allows, for example, connecting a control unit to an external power supply and, additionally, allows for a cost-reducing solution.

[0007] According to an embodiment of the present invention, it is advantageous that the base body further includes a third busbar as a ground busbar, the third busbar intersecting the base body from the first side to the second side, thereby creating electrical connectors on the first side and on the second side. Thus, these busbars allow for an electrical connection between the control unit and the connector of the power supply.

[0008] According to another embodiment, advantageously, the base body comprises first mechanical connection means on the first side for connecting the base body to the control unit, and the base body further comprises second mechanical connection means on the second side for connecting the base body to the connector of the power supply. Thus, the base body further comprises mechanical connection means on the first side for mechanically fastening the adapter to the control unit, in particular to the housing of the control unit. In addition, the base body comprises mechanical connection means on the second side to allow a mechanical connection of the adapter to the connector of the power supply. This prevents, for example, loosening of the connection to the connector due to vibrations.

[0009] Furthermore, advantageously, the connector on the first side is a male connector element, in particular an L-shaped male connector element, and / or the connector on the second side is a female connector element, in particular a clip-shaped female connector element. The male-type connector on the first side allows for a quick and secure direct connection to, for example, a circuit board of the control unit. The L-shaped design allows for connection to the circuit board from the top while passing through the base body in the horizontal direction. The female-type connector on the second side allows for a quick connection to the male connector of the power supply.

[0010] Additionally, advantageously, the base body comprises a cylindrical hole in which the female connector element is located, and wherein the hole has an opening on one side for inserting the connector of the power supply. This design allows the connector of the power supply to penetrate within the hole to allow for a firm and secure mechanical connection and also a firm and durable electrical connection even under applied mechanical stress.

[0011] Another embodiment of the present invention provides a solution in which the first mechanical connection means is made as a pin-type element protruding from the plane of the base body. This solution allows for a quick and durable fastening of the adapter to the control unit, for example to the housing of the control unit, and advantageously, the direction of movement of the adapter during the fastening process is the same as the direction for creating an electrical connection with the connector on the first side.

[0012] Furthermore, advantageously, the second mechanical connection means is made as a through-hole intersecting the base body. This allows for a quick connection of the connector to the base body, for example by means of a screw or a bolt.

[0013] Additionally, advantageously, the base body comprises a sealing interface for a sealed connection to the housing of the control unit. Thus, the base body of the adapter can be used as part of the wall structure of the housing of the control unit, and the base body can be integrated into the housing in a sealed manner.

[0014] The object regarding the electrothermal exchanger is solved by the features of claim 9.

[0015] An exemplary embodiment of the present invention relates to an electrothermal exchanger having a heating device and a control unit for controlling the heating device, and the control unit includes an electrical adapter according to the present invention to allow electrical connection and mechanical connection to a power supply connector and to allow cost-reducing manufacture of the heat exchanger.

[0016] According to an embodiment of the present invention, it is advantageous that the control unit includes a housing having at least one housing element, and the housing is in sealing contact with the adapter at the sealing interface of the adapter. This allows the adapter to be integrally sealed into the control unit, preventing water and dirt from entering the control unit at the interface between the substrate and the control unit.

[0017] Further advantageous designs are described by the following description of the drawings and the dependent claims. Description of the Drawings

[0018] Hereinafter, the present invention will be further explained based on several exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings.

[0019] In these figures:

[0020] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a control unit having an embodiment of the adapter of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 2 is according to Figure 1 a perspective view of the adapter;

[0022] Figure 3 is a perspective view of a control unit having another embodiment of the adapter of the present invention; and

[0023] Figure 4 is a perspective view of another adapter. Detailed Description

[0024] Figure 1 A perspective view of the arrangement of the control unit 1 of the electrothermal exchanger 2 having the electrical adapter 3 is shown, and the electrical adapter 3 allows electrical connection and mechanical connection of the connector 4 of the power supply, in particular high voltage (HV) connection or low voltage (LV) connection.

[0025] The electrothermal exchanger 2 has an electrical heating device 5 for heating, for example, air or other fluids, in order to heat, for example, the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle or other components, such as the battery of a motor vehicle. Thus, the electrothermal exchanger 2 can be integrated in the air conditioning unit of a motor vehicle and / or integrated in a fluid circuit for supplying components to heat these components.

[0026] The electrothermal exchanger 2 also provides a control unit 1 for controlling the electrical heating device 5.

[0027] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the heating device 5 is connected to the control unit 1 such that they form a unit that can be mounted as a single piece in a motor vehicle.

[0028] As Figure 1 and Figure 2 can be seen in, the electrical adapter 3, particularly for the electrothermal exchanger 2, has a base body 6 which has a first side 7 and a second side 8. The first side 7 and the second side 8 of the base body 6 are located at two opposite sides of the base body 6. The base body 6 has the shape of a flat plate at which different features are arranged and positioned.

[0029] The base body 6 is provided with a first electrical interface 9 on the first side 7, and the base body 6 is provided with a second electrical interface 10 on the second side 8.

[0030] The first electrical interface 9 is designed to be mechanically and electrically connected to the control unit 1 to allow a secure mechanical fastening of the electrical adapter 3 to the control unit 1 and to allow a secure electrical connection of the electrical adapter 3 to the control unit 1. According to one aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the electrical connection of the electrical adapter 3 to the control unit 1 can be directly achieved to the electronic card board 11 of the control unit 1. Such an electronic card board 11 of the control unit 1 can be a card board 11 carrying the electronic components (such as electronic circuits, electronic switches, sensors, etc.) of the control unit 1.

[0031] The second electrical interface 10 is designed to be mechanically and electrically connected to the connector 4 of the power supply. As Figure 1 can be seen in, this electrical connection can be a plug-in connection. The mechanical connection can be a plug-in connection and / or a form-fitting connection, which can alternatively or additionally be achieved by connecting the body of the connector 4 to the electrical adapter 3 using screws or bolts.

[0032] As Figure 2 can be seen in, the base body 6 includes at least two busbars 12 which intersect the base body 6 from the first side 7 to the second side 8, thereby creating electrical connectors 13, 14 on the first side 7 and the second side 8. The busbars 12 electrically connect the first side 7 and the second side 8.

[0033] The connector 13 on the first side 7 is designed as a male connector element, particularly an L-shaped male connector element. The connector 14 on the second side 8 is designed as a female connector element, particularly a clip-shaped female connector element.

[0034] Optionally, the base body 6 can further include a third busbar 15 as a ground busbar which intersects the base body 6 from the first side 7 to the second side 8, thereby creating electrical connectors 16 on the first side 7 and the second side 8.

[0035] Furthermore, the base body 6 includes a first mechanical connecting device 17 on the first side 7 for connecting the base body 6 to the control unit 1, and the base body 6 further includes a second mechanical connecting device 18 on the second side 8 for connecting the base body 6 to the connector 4 of the power supply.

[0036] As can be seen in Figure 1 , the base body 6 includes a cylindrical hole 19 in which the female connector element 14 is located. Additionally, the hole 19 has an open end or opening on one side for inserting the connector 4 of the power supply. On the other side, the hole 19 is closed by the base body 6.

[0037] The first mechanical connecting device 17 is made as a pin-type element protruding from the plane of the base body 6. This plane is positioned at a right angle compared to the main body of the base body 6. Additionally, at least one through-hole can be used as the connecting device 17.

[0038] The second mechanical connecting device 18 is made as a through-hole intersecting the base body 6.

[0039] According to another aspect of the invention, the base body 6 includes a sealing interface 20 for sealingly connecting to the housing 21 of the control unit 1. The housing 21 has another sealing interface 22 that interacts with the sealing interface 20 of the base body 6. This design allows the base body 6 to be integrated as part of the housing 21 of the control unit 1.

[0040] The housing 21 is substantially made of a plurality of housing elements 23 (such as similar shells) mounted together, and the base body 6 can be sealingly inserted into the free space to sealingly complete and enclose the housing 21.

[0041] Figure 3 A perspective view of the arrangement of the control unit 1 of the electrothermal exchanger 2 with the electrical adapter 3 is shown, which allows for electrical and mechanical connection of the connector 4 of the power supply, in particular high voltage (HV) connection or low voltage (LV) connection.

[0042] In Figure 3 , the electrothermal exchanger 2 shows a heating device 5 and a radiator device 24. The heating device 5 and the radiator device 24 are arranged in an interleaved relationship such that each heating device 5 is arranged with radiator devices 24 on both sides to allow better heat transfer to and from the radiator device 24 to the air flow passing through the radiator device 24. As shown in Figure 3 As can be seen, the radiator device 24 is made as a corrugated fin element, for example.

[0043] Figure 4 Another embodiment of the electrical adapter 3 with a design having a 90° angle between the first side 7 and the second side 8 is shown. Other features of the electrical adapter 3 are as per Figure 1 and Figure 2is almost the same as the electrical adapter 3. See the corresponding description above. In Figure 4 In the design, the two sides of the base 6 are positioned at an angle of 90°, and they can even be arranged in another layout. It can be seen that they are located on two opposite sides of the base 6.

[0044] List of Reference Signs

[0045] 1 Control unit

[0046] 2 Electrothermal exchanger

[0047] 3 Electrical adapter

[0048] 4 Connector

[0049] 5 Heating device

[0050] 6 Base

[0051] 7 First side

[0052] 8 Second side

[0053] 9 First electrical interface

[0054] 10 Second electrical interface

[0055] 11 Cardboard

[0056] 12 Bus bar

[0057] 13 Electrical connector on the first side

[0058] 14 Electrical connector on the second side

[0059] 15 Third bus bar

[0060] 16 Electrical connector

[0061] 17 First mechanical connection device

[0062] 18 Second mechanical connection device

[0063] 19 Hole

[0064] 20 Sealing interface

[0065] 21 Housing

[0066] 22 Sealing interface

[0067] 23 Housing element

[0068] 24 Radiator device.

Claims

1. An electrical adapter (3), in particular for an electric heat exchanger (2), the electrical adapter (3) comprising a base body (6), the base body (6) having a first side (7) and a second side (8), the first side (7) of the base body (6) and the second side (8) of the base body (6) being located at opposite sides of the base body (6), the base body (6) being provided with a first electrical interface (9) on the first side (7), and the base body (6) being provided with a second electrical interface (10) on the second side (8), the first electrical interface (9) being designed to be mechanically and electrically connected to a control unit (1), and the second electrical interface (10) being designed to be mechanically and electrically connected to a connector (4) of a power supply, characterized in that The base (6) comprises at least two bus bars (12) intersecting the base (6) from the first side (7) to the second side (8) to create each electrical connector (13, 14) on the first side (7) and on the second side (8).

2. The electrical adapter (3) according to claim 1, characterized in that: The base (6) also includes a third bus bar (15) as a ground bus bar, the third bus bar (15) intersecting the base (6) from the first side (7) to the second side (8) to create an electrical connector (16) on the first side (7) and on the second side (8).

3. The electrical adapter (3) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The base (6) comprises first mechanical connection means (17) on the first side (7) for connecting the base (6) to the control unit (1), and the base (6) further comprises second mechanical connection means (18) on the second side for connecting the base (6) to the connector (4) of the power supply.

4. The electrical adapter (3) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that: The electrical connector (13) on the first side (7) is a male connector element, in particular an L-shaped male connector element, and / or the electrical connector (14) on the second side (8) is a female connector element, in particular a clip-shaped female connector element.

5. The electrical adapter (3) according to claim 4, characterized in that: The base body (6) comprises a cylindrical hole (19) in which the female connector element is located, and wherein the hole (19) has an opening on one side for inserting the connector (4) of the power supply.

6. The electrical adapter (3) according to claim 3 and / or 4, characterized in that: The first mechanical connection means (17) is made as a pin-type element protruding from the plane of the base body (6).

7. The electrical adapter (3) according to claim 3, 4 and / or 5, characterized in that: The second mechanical connection device (18) is made as a through hole intersecting the base body (6).

8. The electrical adapter (3) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The base body (6) comprises a sealing interface (20) for sealingly connecting to a housing (21) of the control unit (1).

9. A heat exchanger (2), comprising a heating device (5) and a control unit (1) for controlling the heating device (5), characterized in that: The control unit (1) comprises an electrical adapter (3) according to at least one of the preceding claims.

10. The heat exchanger (2) according to claim 9, characterized in that The control unit (1) comprises a housing (21) having at least one housing element (23), the housing (21) being in sealing contact with the electrical adapter (3) at a sealing interface (20) of the electrical adapter (3).

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