Heating device and electric vehicle

Abstract

This invention relates to a heating device and an electric vehicle. The heating device includes: a plurality of heaters, each extending along a first direction and arranged along a second direction orthogonal to the first direction; and a housing housing the plurality of heaters. The housing includes: a receiving portion housing the plurality of heaters; a supply flow path extending above the receiving portion along the first direction for supplying a heat medium to the receiving portion; and a supply port communicating with the receiving portion and extending along the first direction. The width of the supply flow path in a third direction orthogonal to both the first and second directions decreases as it moves downstream from its inlet side toward the first direction, thereby reducing the flow path area. The corner between the supply flow path and the receiving portion of the housing includes: a first portion located in the first direction closer to the inlet of the supply flow path; and a second portion located in the first direction farther from the inlet than the first portion, the corner being chamfered in the first portion.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The technologies disclosed in this specification relate to heating devices and electric vehicles. Background Technology

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a heating device. The heating device of Patent Document 1 includes a PTC heater, a housing for housing the PTC heater, and a supply flow path for the flow of a heat medium supplied to the housing.

[0003] Existing technical documents

[0004] Patent documents

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2017-218117 Summary of the Invention

[0006] The problem the invention aims to solve

[0007] In heating apparatuses that heat a heat medium using heaters, multiple heaters are sometimes used, extending in the same direction (a first direction) and arranged in a direction orthogonal to that direction (a second direction). Furthermore, in this case, the heat medium is sometimes supplied in a manner that causes it to flow along the direction in which the multiple heaters are arranged (the second direction). In this case, the heat medium may not be heated uniformly. For example, when the heat medium is supplied from a supply path to a housing containing the heaters, the heat medium may not be supplied smoothly from the supply path to the housing near the inlet of the supply path. Consequently, near the inlet of the supply path, the heaters may overheat, resulting in the inability to heat the heat medium uniformly. This specification provides a technique for uniformly heating a heat medium.

[0008] Solution for solving the problem

[0009] In a first technical solution of this technology, the heating device includes: a plurality of heaters, each extending along a first direction, and the plurality of heaters arranged along a second direction orthogonal to the first direction; and a housing that houses the plurality of heaters. The housing includes: a receiving portion that houses the plurality of heaters; a supply flow path extending above the receiving portion along the first direction, and the supply flow path is for supplying a heat medium to the receiving portion; and a supply port communicating the supply flow path with the receiving portion, and the supply port extending along the first direction. Alternatively, the width of the supply flow path, moving downstream from its inlet side towards the first direction, in a third direction orthogonal to both the first and second directions, may decrease, thereby reducing the flow path area. Alternatively, the corner of the housing between the supply flow path and the receiving portion may include: a first portion located in the first direction closer to the inlet of the supply flow path; and a second portion located in the first direction farther from the inlet than the first portion, the corner being chamfered in the first portion.

[0010] According to this structure, by reducing the flow area of ​​the supply flow path, the flow velocity of the hot medium flowing in the downstream portion of the supply flow path in the first direction can be accelerated. This allows for a smooth supply of the hot medium to the downstream side in the first direction, thus suppressing overheating of the heater at the downstream side of the first direction. Furthermore, at the inlet near the upstream side of the supply flow path in the first direction, the corner between the supply flow path and the receiving portion of the housing is chamfered, allowing for a smooth supply of the hot medium from the supply flow path to the receiving portion. This also suppresses overheating of the heater near the inlet of the supply flow path. Therefore, the hot medium can be heated uniformly.

[0011] In the second technical solution, the electric vehicle may also have the heating device described in the first technical solution. Attached Figure Description

[0012] Figure 1 This is a top view of the heating device in the embodiment.

[0013] Figure 2 This is a side view of the heating device in the embodiment.

[0014] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 Sectional view III-III.

[0015] Figure 4 yes Figure 1 Sectional view IV-IV.

[0016] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0017] 2. Heating device; 10. Heater; 10a. Specific heater; 12. Terminal; 20. Housing; 22. Main body; 22a. Heating flow path; 24. Supply section; 24a. Supply flow path; 26. Discharge section; 26a. Discharge flow path; 28. Receiving section; 32. Upper surface; 33. Front surface; 34. Lower surface; 35. Rear surface; 36. Side surface; 38. Supply port; 40. Discharge port; 42. Upper surface; 44. Inner side; 46. Outer side; 50. Corner; 50a. First part; 50b. Second part; 52. Chamfered part; 52a. Lower end; 58. Inlet; 60. Outlet; 70. Inlet pipe; 72. Outlet pipe; 102. Heating element; 104. Cylinder; 106. Insulator; 142. Upper surface; 144. Inner side; 146. Outer side. Detailed Implementation

[0018] The heating device 2 of the embodiment will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figures 1 to 4 As shown, the heating device 2 of this embodiment includes a housing 20 and a plurality of heaters 10 disposed within the housing 20. The heating device 2 is an apparatus for heating a liquid or gaseous heat medium using the plurality of heaters 10. For example, the heating device 2 heats a heat medium (e.g., water or coolant) in a heating system installed in an electric vehicle. Furthermore, in the following description, the X direction in the figures will be designated as the first direction D1, the Y direction as the second direction D2, and the Z direction as the third direction D3. The first direction D1, the second direction D2, and the third direction D3 are mutually orthogonal directions.

[0019] The housing 20 of the heating device 2 includes a main body 22, a supply section 24 connected to the main body 22, and a discharge section 26 connected to the main body 22 on the side opposite to the supply section 24. The supply section 24 and the discharge section 26 are opposite to each other in the second direction D2.

[0020] The main body 22 is a generally flat container that extends along a first direction D1 and a second direction D2. The main body 22 forms a housing section 28 that houses a plurality of heaters 10. The housing section 28 forms a heating flow path 22a for the flow of the heat medium heated by the plurality of heaters 10.

[0021] The main body 22 includes an upper surface 32, a lower surface 34, a front surface 33, a rear surface 35, and a pair of side surfaces 36. In addition, the main body 22 includes a supply port 38 provided on the supply section 24 side and a discharge port 40 provided on the discharge section 26 side.

[0022] The upper surface portion 32 and the lower surface portion 34 of the main body portion 22 extend along a first direction D1 and a second direction D2, respectively. A plurality of heaters 10 are disposed between the upper surface portion 32 and the lower surface portion 34. A heating flow path 22a is formed between the upper surface portion 32 and the lower surface portion 34.

[0023] The front surface portion 33 and the rear surface portion 35 of the main body portion 22 extend along the second direction D2 and the third direction D3, respectively. A pair of side portions 36 of the main body portion 22 extend along the first direction D1 and the third direction D3, respectively. A plurality of heaters 10 are disposed between the pair of side portions 36.

[0024] The supply port 38 and the discharge port 40 of the main body 22 are respectively provided on the upper surface portion 32 of the main body 22 and open upwards. The supply port 38 and the discharge port 40 extend elongatedly along the first direction D1. The supply port 38 is located upstream of the plurality of heaters 10 in the flow direction of the heat medium, and the discharge port 40 is located downstream of the plurality of heaters 10 in the flow direction of the heat medium.

[0025] A plurality of heaters 10 are housed in a housing portion 28 of the main body 22. The plurality of heaters 10 are arranged in a row along a heating flow path 22a of the main body 22. Each of the plurality of heaters 10 extends along a first direction D1. The plurality of heaters 10 are arranged at intervals along a second direction D2 orthogonal to the first direction D1. The plurality of heaters 10 are arranged along the flow direction of the heat medium. The plurality of heaters 10 heat the heat medium flowing in the heating flow path 22a.

[0026] Multiple heaters 10 are, for example, sheathed heaters. Figure 3 As shown in the enlarged view, the heater 10 includes a heating element 102 made of nickel-chromium alloy wire, a cylindrical body 104 housing the heating element 102, and a powdered insulator 106 filled between the heating element 102 and the cylindrical body 104. The heater 10 is generally cylindrical. Furthermore, since the structure of the sheathed heater is already known, detailed descriptions are omitted.

[0027] The heater 10 has terminals 12, 12 at both ends along its length (first direction D1). One end of the heater 10 along its length is fixed to the front surface 33 of the main body 22 of the housing 20, penetrating the front surface 33. The other end of the heater 10 along its length is fixed to the rear surface 35 of the main body 22 of the housing 20, penetrating the rear surface 35. The terminals 12, 12 of the heater 10 are located outside the housing 20 and are electrically connected to an external power source. The heater 10 generates heat by electricity supplied from the external power source via the terminals 12, 12. The heater 10 generates heat by current flowing through the heating element 102.

[0028] Multiple heaters 10 can also be electrically connected in parallel. Alternatively, multiple heaters 10 can be electrically connected in series. In this embodiment, several (e.g., four) of the multiple heaters 10 are electrically connected in series. In addition, groups of multiple (e.g., four) heaters 10 connected in series are electrically connected in parallel.

[0029] Next, the supply section 24 of the housing 20 will be described. The supply section 24 of the housing 20 is fixed to the upper surface 32 of the main body 22. The supply section 24 is connected to the supply port 38 provided on the upper surface 32 of the main body 22. The supply section 24 is located upstream of the main body 22 in the flow direction of the heat medium. The supply section 24 forms a supply flow path 24a for supplying heat medium to the receiving section 28 (heating flow path 22a) of the main body 22. The supply section 24 supplies heat medium to the receiving section 28 (heating flow path 22a) of the main body 22 through the supply port 38 of the main body 22. The supply port 38 connects the supply flow path 24a with the receiving section 28 (heating flow path 22a). The supply flow path 24a is located above the receiving section 28 (heating flow path 22a).

[0030] The supply section 24 extends along a first direction D1. The supply section 24 includes an upper surface portion 42, an inner surface portion 44, and an outer surface portion 46. The upper surface portion 42 extends along the first direction D1 and a second direction D2. The inner surface portion 44 and the outer surface portion 46 extend along the first direction D1 and a third direction D3, respectively. The inner surface portion 44 is positioned in the second direction D2 at a position closer to the outer surface portion 46 than the outer surface portion 46 (towards the discharge section 26). The outer surface portion 46 is positioned in the second direction D2 at a position further outward than the inner surface portion 44 (on the side opposite to the discharge section 26). A supply flow path 24a is formed between the inner surface portion 44 and the outer surface portion 46.

[0031] The supply section 24 has an inlet 58 for the heat medium. The inlet 58 of the supply section 24 opens in a first direction D1. An inlet pipe 70 is connected to the inlet 58 of the supply section 24. The upstream end of the inlet pipe 70 is connected to a heat medium supply source, and the downstream end is connected to the inlet 58 of the supply section 24. The inlet pipe 70 supplies the heat medium to the supply flow path 24a of the supply section 24 through the inlet 58 of the supply section 24.

[0032] The upper surface 42 of the supply section 24 is inclined relative to the first direction D1. The upper surface 42 of the supply section 24 descends from the upstream side of the flow direction of the hot medium (i.e., the inlet 58 side of the supply flow path 24a) toward the downstream side of the first direction D1. As the upper surface 42 of the supply section 24 moves from the upstream side of the flow direction of the hot medium toward the downstream side, it approaches the supply port 38 of the heating flow path 22a of the main body 22. Therefore, the flow area of ​​the supply flow path 24a decreases (contracts) as it moves from the upstream side of the flow direction of the hot medium toward the downstream side. The flow area of ​​the supply flow path 24a decreases due to the narrowing of the width of the supply flow path 24a in the third direction D3. Furthermore, the flow area of ​​the supply flow path 24a is the cross-sectional area of ​​the section of the supply flow path 24a orthogonal to the first direction D1.

[0033] like Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the housing 20 has a corner portion 50 between the supply flow path 24a of the supply section 24 and the receiving section 28 (heating flow path 22a) of the main body 22. More specifically, the corner portion 50 is formed between the inner surface portion 44 of the supply section 24 of the housing 20 and the upper surface portion 32 of the main body 22. The corner portion 50 extends in the first direction D1 along the supply port 38 between the supply flow path 24a and the receiving section 28 (heating flow path 22a).

[0034] The corner portion 50 has a first portion 50a and a second portion 50b in the first direction D1. The first portion 50a and the second portion 50b are arranged along the first direction D1. The first portion 50a is located on the side closer to the front surface portion 33 of the main body portion 22 than the second portion 50b. The first portion 50a is located on the side closer to the inlet 58 of the supply flow path 24a than the second portion 50b. The second portion 50b is located on the side closer to the rear surface portion 35 of the main body portion 22 than the first portion 50a. The second portion 50b is located on the side farther from the inlet 58 of the supply flow path 24a than the first portion 50a.

[0035] The length of the first direction D1 of the first portion 50a of the corner 50 is not particularly limited. For example, the length of the first direction D1 of the first portion 50a of the corner 50 may be more than 1 / 4 and less than 1 / 2 of the length of the first direction D1 of the corner 50, or more than 1 / 2 of the length of the first direction D1 of the corner 50. The length of the first direction D1 of the first portion 50a of the corner 50 may also be more than 1 / 2 and less than 2 / 3 of the length of the first direction D1 of the corner 50.

[0036] like Figure 3 As shown, the first portion 50a of the corner 50 is chamfered, and has a chamfered portion 52. Figure 4As shown, the second portion 50b of the corner 50 is not chamfered and does not have a chamfered portion. In the first portion 50a of the corner 50 where the corner is chamfered, the width of the supply port 38 in the second direction D2 becomes wider. The width of the supply port 38 in the second direction D2 at the first portion 50a where the corner is chamfered is wider than the width of the supply port 38 in the second portion 50b where the corner is not chamfered. The width of the supply port 38 in the second direction D2 at the first portion 50a widens as it moves from the upstream side of the third party towards the downstream side of D3. The supply port 38 at the first portion 50a expands towards the downstream side of the third party towards D3.

[0037] The chamfered portion 52 of the first portion 50a of the corner 50 is inclined relative to the second direction D2 and the third direction D3. The chamfered portion 52 is located upstream of the plurality of heaters 10 in the flow direction of the hot medium. The lower end portion 52a of the chamfered portion 52 is located upstream of the plurality of heaters 10 in the flow direction of the hot medium. The lower end portion 52a of the chamfered portion 52 is located upstream of the specific heater 10a in the flow direction of the hot medium. The specific heater 10a is the heater 10 among the plurality of heaters 10 that is located closest to the supply flow path 24a. The specific heater 10a is the outermost heater 10 among the plurality of heaters 10 arranged in the second direction D2 located on the side of the supply flow path 24a.

[0038] Next, the discharge portion 26 of the housing 20 will be described. The discharge portion 26 of the housing 20 is fixed to the upper surface portion 32 of the main body portion 22. The discharge portion 26 is connected to the outlet 40 provided on the upper surface portion 32 of the main body portion 22. The discharge portion 26 is located downstream of the main body portion 22 in the flow direction of the heat medium. The discharge portion 26 forms a discharge flow path 26a for the heat medium discharged from the receiving portion 28 (heating flow path 22a) of the main body portion 22. The heat medium is discharged from the heating flow path 22a through the outlet 40 into the discharge flow path 26a. The outlet 40 connects the receiving portion 28 (heating flow path 22a) and the discharge flow path 26a. The discharge flow path 26a is located above the receiving portion 28 (heating flow path 22a). The discharge portion 26 discharges the heat medium discharged from the main body portion 22 to the outside.

[0039] The discharge section 26 extends along a first direction D1. The discharge section 26 includes an upper surface portion 142, an inner surface portion 144, and an outer surface portion 146. The upper surface portion 142 extends along the first direction D1 and a second direction D2. The inner surface portion 144 and the outer surface portion 146 extend along the first direction D1 and a third direction D3, respectively. The inner surface portion 144 is positioned in the second direction D2 at a position closer to the outer surface portion 146 (on the supply section 24 side). The outer surface portion 146 is positioned in the second direction D2 at a position further to the outside of the inner surface portion 144 (on the side opposite to the supply section 24). A discharge flow path 26a is formed between the inner surface portion 144 and the outer surface portion 146.

[0040] The discharge section 26 has an outlet 60 for the hot medium. The outlet 60 of the discharge section 26 opens in a first direction D1. The outlet 60 of the discharge section 26 faces the same direction as the inlet 58 of the supply section 24. Figure 1 The outlet 26 has an opening on its right side. An outlet pipe 72 is connected to the outlet 60 of the discharge section 26. The upstream end of the outlet pipe 72 is connected to the outlet 60 of the discharge section 26, and the downstream end is connected to the destination of the hot medium discharge. The hot medium is discharged from the discharge flow path 26a of the discharge section 26 through the outlet 60 of the discharge section 26 to the outlet pipe 72. The outlet pipe 72 discharges the hot medium discharged from the discharge section 26 to the external discharge destination.

[0041] In the heating device 2 described above, a heat medium is supplied from the inlet pipe 70 to the supply section 24 of the housing 20. The heat medium is supplied from the inlet 58 of the supply section 24 to the supply flow path 24a. The heat medium supplied to the supply flow path 24a flows downstream in the first direction D1 within the supply flow path 24a.

[0042] Additionally, the heat medium supplied to the supply flow path 24a is supplied from the supply flow path 24a to the heating flow path 22a of the main body 22. The heat medium flowing in the supply flow path 24a is supplied to the heating flow path 22a through the supply port 38 of the main body 22.

[0043] The heat medium supplied to the heating flow path 22a of the main body 22 flows downstream in the heating flow path 22a and is heated by the plurality of heaters 10 disposed in the heating flow path 22a. The heat medium heated by the plurality of heaters 10 flows downstream in the heating flow path 22a and is discharged to the discharge section 26. The heat medium flowing in the heating flow path 22a is discharged through the discharge outlet 40 of the main body 22 to the discharge flow path 26a of the discharge section 26. The heat medium discharged to the discharge section 26 is discharged from the outlet 60 of the discharge section 26 to the outlet pipe 72.

[0044] (Effect)

[0045] The heating device 2 of the embodiment has been described above. As can be seen from the above description, the heating device 2 includes: a plurality of heaters 10, each extending along a first direction D1 and arranged along a second direction D2; and a housing 20 that houses the plurality of heaters 10. The housing 20 includes: a housing portion 28 that houses the plurality of heaters 10; a supply flow path 24a that extends above the housing portion 28 along the first direction D1 and is used for the flow of a heat medium supplied to the housing portion 28; and a supply port 38 that connects the supply flow path 24a to the housing portion 28 and extends along the first direction D1. Regarding the supply flow path 24a, its width decreases as it moves downstream from its inlet 58 towards the first direction D1, and decreases in a third direction D3 that is orthogonal to both the first direction D1 and the second direction D2, thereby reducing the flow path area. The corner 50 between the supply flow path 24a and the receiving portion 28 of the housing 20 includes: a first portion 50a, which is located in the first direction D1 on the side closer to the inlet 58 of the supply flow path 24a; and a second portion 50b, which is located in the first direction D1 on the side farther from the inlet 58 than the first portion 50a. The corner 50 has a chamfered first portion 50a.

[0046] According to this structure, by reducing the flow area of ​​the supply flow path 24a, the flow velocity of the hot medium flowing in the downstream part of the first direction D1 of the supply flow path 24a can be accelerated. Therefore, the hot medium can be smoothly supplied to the downstream side of the first direction D1, thus suppressing overheating of the heater 10 at the downstream side of the first direction D1. Furthermore, at the inlet 58 near the upstream side of the supply flow path 24a in the first direction D1, the corner 50 between the supply flow path 24a and the receiving portion 28 of the housing 20 is chamfered, thus allowing the hot medium to be smoothly supplied from the supply flow path 24a to the receiving portion 28. This also suppresses overheating of the heater 10 near the inlet 58 of the supply flow path 24a. Therefore, the hot medium can be heated uniformly. Additionally, the pressure of the hot medium flowing in the chamfered portion of the corner 50 can also be increased.

[0047] The specific examples of the present invention have been described in detail above, but these are merely illustrative and do not limit the scope of the claims. The technology described in the claims includes techniques derived from various modifications and alterations of the specific examples described above. The technical elements illustrated in this specification or drawings are technically useful individually or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of application. Furthermore, the technology illustrated in this specification or drawings can achieve multiple objectives simultaneously, and achieving even one objective is itself technically useful.

Claims

1. A heating device, wherein, The heating device has the following features: A plurality of heaters, each extending along a first direction, and said heaters arranged along a second direction orthogonal to the first direction; and A housing that contains a plurality of the heaters, The housing includes: A housing section that houses multiple of the aforementioned heaters; A supply flow path extends above the receiving portion along the first direction, and the supply flow path is for the flow of a heat medium supplied to the receiving portion; as well as A supply port that connects the supply flow path to the receiving section, and the supply port extends along the first direction. For the supply flow path, as the width of the third direction orthogonal to the first and second directions decreases from its inlet side towards the downstream side of the first direction, the flow path area decreases. The corner between the supply flow path and the receiving portion of the housing has: a first portion located on the side closer to the inlet of the supply flow path in the first direction; and a second portion located on the side farther from the inlet than the first portion in the first direction, the corner being chamfered in the first portion.

2. An electric vehicle, wherein, The electric vehicle is equipped with the heating device as described in claim 1.

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