PTC heater and automobile air conditioner

Abstract

The utility model relates to a PTC heater 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. 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] This invention relates to the field of automotive air conditioning technology, specifically to a PTC heater and an automotive air conditioner. Background Technology

[0002] Existing car air conditioning systems require filters to filter the air passing through the system in order to ensure air quality inside the car. Filters are generally used to filter dust from the air, but the air inside a car contains certain bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms. When the car air conditioning is running, these microorganisms will attach to the filter and multiply, thus affecting the air quality inside the car. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The main objective of this invention is to propose a PTC heater and an automotive air conditioner, which aims to solve the problem of bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms attached to the filter affecting air quality.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention proposes a PTC heater, comprising a housing, a heating core, and a control board, and further comprising a negative ion generator. The heating core, the negative ion generator, and the control board are all arranged inside the housing, 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 housing 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 inside the core shell, the control board and the generator body are arranged inside 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 housing includes a front shell and a rear shell that engage with each other, and the front shell and the rear shell are detachably connected to the control box respectively.

[0008] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the heating core includes at least two heat dissipation strips and a heating single tube connected between each two adjacent heat dissipation strips. An electrode plate is connected to the end of the heating single tube, and an adapter terminal is connected to the end of the heat dissipation strip. The electrode plate and the adapter terminal are arranged alternately. The electrode plate is welded to the control board, and the adapter 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 protrudes axially from the end of the heating tube along the heating tube axis, and the transition segment protrudes perpendicularly to the control board surface from the end of the main body segment away from the heating tube.

[0010] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the adapter 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 with the vehicle's low-voltage circuit and the negative ion generator to form a first starting circuit, and the control board is also used to electrically connect with the vehicle's high-voltage circuit and the heating core to form a second starting circuit.

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

[0013] The present invention also provides an automotive air conditioner, including an air conditioner body and a filter element disposed within the air conditioner body, characterized in that it further includes the aforementioned PTC heater, wherein the PTC heater is installed within the air conditioner body and disposed at the air outlet of the filter element.

[0014] The present invention has at least the following beneficial effects:

[0015] In this invention, the negative ion generator produces a large number of electrons during operation. These electrons generate negative ions upon contact with air, thereby disinfecting and sterilizing the air. Furthermore, it is understood that in a car air conditioner, the PTC heater is located at the air outlet of the filter. That is, air passes through the air inlet of the air conditioner first through the filter and then through the heater. Even if the air carrying bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms attached to the filter enters the PTC heater, the negative ion generator within the PTC heater can disinfect and sterilize the air passing through the filter, ensuring that the air flowing out of the air conditioner outlet is disinfected and sterilized, thus improving the air quality inside the car.

[0016] Furthermore, it is worth mentioning that since the negative ion generator is installed inside the PTC heater, there is a ventilation resistance when the air passes through the PTC heater, which slows down the airflow and prolongs the contact time between the electrons and the air to a certain extent, thereby further improving the efficiency of air purification. Attached Figure Description

[0017] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a PTC heater provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 2 for Figure 1 An exploded view of the PTC heater in the diagram;

[0020] Figure 3 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the heating core structure;

[0021] Figure 4 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of the two end faces of the control board in the middle;

[0022] Figure 5 This is the circuit diagram of a PTC heater.

[0023] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0024] 100-PTC heater; 1-housing; 11-core outer shell; 111-front shell; 112-rear shell; 12-control box; 2-heating core; 21-heating single tube; 211-electrode plate; 2111-main body segment; 2112-transfer segment; 22-heat sink; 221-transfer terminal; 3-control board; 4-power harness; 5-negative ion generator; 51-generator body; 52-generator release end; 6-NTC temperature sensor. Detailed Implementation

[0025] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0026] It should be noted that if the embodiments of the present invention involve directional indicators (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.), the directional indicators are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of the components in a certain specific posture (as shown in the figure). If the specific posture changes, the directional indicators will also change accordingly.

[0027] Furthermore, if the embodiments of this invention involve descriptions such as "first" or "second," these descriptions are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of those features. Additionally, the meaning of "and / or" throughout the text includes three parallel solutions; for example, "A and / or B" includes solution A, solution B, or a solution where both A and B are satisfied simultaneously. Furthermore, the technical solutions of the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but this must be based on the ability of those skilled in the art to implement them. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or impossible to implement, it should be considered that such a combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection claimed by this invention.

[0028] This invention provides a PTC heater. Figures 1-5 This invention provides a specific embodiment of a PTC heater.

[0029] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 This invention provides a PTC heater 100, which includes a housing 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 inside the housing 1, and the heating core 2 and the negative ion generator 5 are electrically connected to the control board 3 respectively.

[0030] In this invention, the negative ion generator 5 generates a large number of electrons during operation. These electrons generate negative ions upon contact with air, thereby disinfecting and sterilizing the air. Furthermore, it is understood that in a car air conditioner, the PTC heater 100 is located at the air outlet of the filter element. That is, air passes through the air inlet of the air conditioner first through the filter element and then through the heater. Even if the air carrying bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms attached to the filter element enters the PTC heater 100, the negative ion generator 5 within the PTC heater 100 can disinfect and sterilize the air passing through the filter element, ensuring that the air flowing out of the air conditioner outlet is disinfected and sterilized, thus improving the air quality inside the car.

[0031] Furthermore, it is worth mentioning that since the negative ion generator 5 is installed inside 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 and prolongs the contact time between electrons and air to a certain extent, thereby further improving the efficiency of air purification.

[0032] Specifically, in some embodiments, the housing 1 includes a core outer 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 inside the core outer shell 11, and the control board 3 and the generator body 51 are arranged inside the control box 12. The generator body 51 is electrically connected to the control board 3. With this arrangement, the generator release end 52 is arranged in the core outer shell 11, which can directly contact the air entering the heating core 2 from the filter outlet, thus improving the air purification efficiency. The generator body 51 and the control board 3 are arranged in the control box 12 and separated from the core outer shell 11, reducing the impact of the heating core 2 and the negative ion release end on the components inside the control box 12 when they are working.

[0033] Specifically, in some embodiments, the generator body 51 is integrated onto the control board 3. This arrangement is more cost-effective than installing the entire negative ion generator 5 inside the air conditioner, and it also facilitates the miniaturization of the PTC heater 100 product.

[0034] Specifically, in some embodiments, the core housing 11 includes a front housing 111 and a rear housing 112 that engage with each other, and the front housing 111 and the rear housing 112 are detachably connected to the control box 12. The front housing 111 and the rear housing 112 are connected by an engaging structure, which includes a latch and a slot that engage with each other. One of the opposite end faces of the front housing 111 and the rear housing 112 has the latch, and the other has the slot. The snap-fit ​​and slot design allows the front shell 111 and rear shell 112 to quickly connect without the need for additional fasteners such as screws and nuts, thus 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 rear shell 112 are first connected to form the core shell 11, and then the front shell 111 and rear shell 112 are respectively connected to the control box 12. In this way, the control box 12 can further improve the connection effect between the front shell 111 and rear shell 112, so that the front shell 111 and rear shell 112 fit more tightly, which can reduce the gap during the assembly process and improve the overall sealing and stability. In addition, after the core shell 11 is formed, it is connected to the control box 12, which can further ensure the positioning accuracy of the overall structure.

[0035] Specifically, in some embodiments, the heating core 2 includes at least two heat dissipation strips 22 and a heating single tube 21 connected between each two adjacent heat dissipation strips 22. The end of the heating single tube 21 is connected to an electrode plate 211, and the end of the heat dissipation strip 22 is connected to an adapter terminal 221. The electrode plate 211 and the adapter terminal 221 are arranged alternately. The electrode plate 211 is welded to the control board 3, and the adapter terminal 221 is connected to the control box 12 by screws. Two heat dissipation strips 22 are respectively attached to both sides of the heating tube 21, which helps to disperse the heat generated by the heating tube 21 to a larger area, enabling the heater to release heat quickly and improving the heating rate. The alternating arrangement of the electrode plate 211 and the adapter terminal 221 ensures the effective transfer of heat between the heating tube 21 and the heat dissipation strips 22, reducing thermal resistance and improving thermal efficiency. In this embodiment, by setting the electrode plate 211 as the positive electrode and the adapter terminal 221 as the negative electrode, and by directly welding the electrode plate 211 to the control board 3 and connecting the adapter terminal 221 to the control box 12 by screws, this design helps to prevent electrical short circuits and leakage, ensuring the stability and safety of the electrical connection.

[0036] Specifically, in some embodiments, the electrode sheet 211 includes a main body segment 2111 and a transition segment 2112. The main body segment 2111 protrudes axially from the end of the heating tube 21, and the transition segment 2112 protrudes perpendicularly to the surface of the control board 3 from the end of the main body segment 2111 away from the heating tube 21. This design, with the electrode sheet 211 shaped like a "7", allows the main body segment 2111 to be welded parallel to the surface of the control board 34 during welding, resulting in a larger contact area between the electrode sheet 211 and the control board 3. This facilitates the formation of uniform weld points, improves welding quality, and eliminates the need for an additional transition terminal 221. Furthermore, the transition segment 2112 can be welded perpendicularly to the welding holes of the control board 3, further enhancing welding stability without affecting the parallelism between the main body segment 2111 and the surface of the control board 3.

[0037] Specifically, in some embodiments, the adapter terminal 221 and the heat sink are integrally formed. This arrangement effectively reduces the risk of product reliability being affected by poor soldering of the adapter terminal 221.

[0038] Specifically, in some embodiments, the control board 3 is used to electrically connect to the vehicle's low-voltage circuit and the negative ion generator 5 respectively to form a first starting circuit. The control board 3 is also used to electrically connect to the vehicle's high-voltage circuit and the heating core 2 respectively to form a second starting circuit. This allows the negative ion generator 5 and the heating core 2 to be controlled through two independent starting circuits. Users can turn the negative ion generator 5 and the heating core 2 on or off 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 vehicle's high-voltage and low-voltage systems respectively, a failure in one component will not affect the normal operation of the other component.

[0039] Specifically, in some embodiments, an NTC temperature sensor 6 is also included. The NTC temperature sensor 6 is disposed on the control board 3 and electrically connected to the control board 3. By disposing of 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 PTC heater 100 can be disconnected from the power supply by the controller disposed on the control board 3, so that the PTC heater 100 stops heating, thereby playing the role of over-temperature protection.

[0040] Specifically, ventilation grilles are provided on both the front shell 111 and the rear shell 112 to ensure ventilation while also isolating the heating core 2 to protect the operator.

[0041] Specifically, in some embodiments, a power harness 4 is also included, one end of which is connected to the control board 3, and the other end of which extends out of the control box 12.

[0042] The present invention also provides a method of using the above-mentioned PTC heater 100, comprising the following steps:

[0043] The control board 3 is equipped with an NTC temperature sensor 6, which is electrically connected to the control board 3. The method of use further includes the following steps:

[0044] The temperature of the heating core 2 is obtained based on the data measured by the NTC temperature sensor 6 and the control board 3.

[0045] It should be noted that the specific acquisition process is as follows: the temperature of the heating core 2 is monitored in real time according to T2 = RP + T1, where 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.

[0046] The above formula is derived from the thermal resistance principle formula R = (T2 - T1) / P, where T1 can be measured in real time by the NTC temperature sensor 6, and R is the thermal resistance, a variable. As temperature rises, the resistance decreases, causing the current to increase. Thus, the thermal resistance of the temperature sensor 6 can be determined by monitoring this current value through the monitoring component on the control board 3 (assuming the product voltage is constant). Similarly, the product's operating power P can also be directly obtained by monitoring the current value. After obtaining the values ​​of P, R, and T1, the core temperature T2 can be indirectly measured according to the above formula. This indirect temperature measurement method avoids the need to fix a temperature controller or fuse on the PTC heating core 2, reducing production costs and simplifying the product assembly process, thereby improving production efficiency.

[0047] An over-temperature protection strategy is implemented based on the temperature of the heating core 2.

[0048] The over-temperature protection strategy includes the following steps: when the temperature of the heating core 2 is greater than the preset temperature, the heating core 2 is turned off.

[0049] Turning off the heating core 2 can be achieved by disconnecting the second start-up circuit. The preset temperature can be selected according to actual needs.

[0050] Please see Figure 5 The specific working principle of the PTC heater 100 is as follows: When low-voltage electricity is input to the vehicle, the control module of the PTC heater 100 is activated, and at this time, the negative ion generator 5 can be independently controlled to start. After the negative ion generator 5 is activated, the generator release end 52 will generate a large number of electrons (e-), which are carried away by the air entering the car air conditioner through the through holes on the core shell 11. The electrons come into contact with the air to generate negative ions, which sterilize and disinfect the air, thereby purifying the air. When high-voltage electricity is input to the vehicle, the heating core 2 can be activated under the control of the control module to heat the air. When the low-voltage electricity to the vehicle is disconnected 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 this control module is equivalent to the control board.

[0051] This invention also provides an automotive air conditioner, including an air conditioner body and a filter element disposed within the air conditioner body. The key feature is that it further includes the aforementioned PTC heater 100, which is installed within the air conditioner body and located at the air outlet of the filter element. Thus, when air carrying bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms attached to the filter element enters the PTC heater 100, the negative ion generator 5 within the PTC heater 100 can disinfect and sterilize the air passing through the filter element, thereby improving the air quality inside the vehicle.

[0052] 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 principles of the present invention should be included within 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 inside the housing. The heating core and the negative ion generator are electrically connected to the control board.

2. The PTC heater as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The housing 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 inside the core shell. The control board and the generator body are arranged inside the control box. The generator body is electrically connected to the control board.

3. The PTC heater as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The generator body is integrated on the control board.

4. The PTC heater as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The core housing includes a front shell and a rear shell that engage with each other, and the front shell and the rear shell are detachably connected to the control box.

5. The PTC heater as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The heating core includes at least two heat dissipation strips and a heating single tube connected between each two adjacent heat dissipation strips. An electrode plate is connected to the end of the heating single tube, and an adapter terminal is connected to the end of the heat dissipation strip. The electrode plate and the adapter terminal are arranged alternately. The electrode plate is welded to the control board, and the adapter terminal is connected to the control box by screws.

6. The PTC heater as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The electrode sheet includes a main body segment and a transition segment. The main body segment protrudes axially from the end of the heating tube, and the transition segment protrudes perpendicularly to the control board surface from the end of the main body segment away from the heating tube.

7. The PTC heater as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The adapter terminal and the heat sink are integrally formed.

8. The PTC heater as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The control board is used to electrically connect with the vehicle's low-voltage circuit and the negative ion generator to form a first starting circuit. The control board is also used to electrically connect with the vehicle's high-voltage circuit and the heating core to form a second starting circuit.

9. The PTC heater as described in claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes an NTC temperature sensor, which is mounted on the control board and electrically connected to the control board.

10. An automotive air conditioner, comprising an air conditioner body and a filter element disposed within the air conditioner body, characterized in that, It also includes a PTC heater as described in any one of claims 1-9, wherein the PTC heater is installed inside the air conditioner body and is located at the air outlet of the filter element.

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