Fan and method for heating a fan

Abstract

A fan having a nozzle (1), in particular an inlet nozzle, and / or a wall ring and having a heating device (2) which is arranged in the region of the nozzle (1) or of the wall ring and has a heating strip (3) is configured and developed, with a view to reliable heating of a fan by structurally simple and cost-effective means, such that the heating strip (3) has a strip-shaped carrier (8) with at least one heating conductor (10) which is connected to the carrier (8) by stitching. The invention further relates to a method for heating a fan.

Description

[0001] FAN AND METHOD FOR HEATING A FAN

[0002] The present invention relates to a fan with a nozzle, in particular an inlet nozzle, and / or a wall ring and a heating device arranged in the area of ​​the nozzle or the wall ring and comprising a heating band.

[0003] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for heating a fan, wherein the fan has a nozzle, in particular an inlet nozzle, and / or a wall ring and a heating device arranged in the area of ​​the nozzle or the wall ring and comprising a heating band, and wherein the heating device is attached to the nozzle or to the wall ring.

[0004] Such a fan and such a method for heating a fan are known from EP 2 898 219 B1. A heating device 22 known therefrom can be designed in a ribbon-like form with at least one heating wire 30', wherein the heating device 22 is arranged in the region of a ring 18 and more precisely in this ring 18.

[0005] Furthermore, a flat heating element for a vehicle and in particular for a footwell covering of a vehicle is known from DE 10 2023 000 928 A1.

[0006] For example, conventional fans use heating tapes made of aluminum or silicone to prevent icing in the gap between a blade or impeller and a nozzle or ring of the fan, thus preventing fan failure. These heating tapes usually require additional insulation to increase their efficiency as needed. This, however, adds to the installation effort.

[0007] Another option is to use a heating cable, albeit with considerable installation effort and additional insulation, to create a kind of heating band for a fan. The cable typically needs to be wrapped several times around a nozzle or ring to provide the required heating effect, and additional fixings and cable ties are usually necessary during installation. This is very complex for production and, as a disadvantage, results in a long installation time.

[0008] The present invention is based on the objective of designing and further developing the generic fan and the generic method in such a way that safe heating of a fan is made possible with structurally simple and cost-effective means.

[0009] The foregoing problem is solved by a fan with the features of claim 1, wherein the fan is designed and further developed such that the heating band has a band-shaped carrier with at least one heating conductor connected to the carrier by means of a stitch.

[0010] Furthermore, the foregoing problem is solved by a method for heating a fan with the features of claim 12, wherein the method is designed and further developed in such a way that a heating tape with a tape-shaped carrier with at least one heating conductor connected to the carrier by means of stitching is used as the heating tape.

[0011] In accordance with the invention, it has first been recognized that the aforementioned problem can be solved in a surprisingly simple manner through a clever design of the heating device. In a further aspect of the invention, a specially designed heating tape is used within the heating device. This heating tape is designed such that it has a tape-shaped carrier and at least one heating conductor arranged on or coupled to the carrier. The heating conductor and the carrier are connected to each other in a simple and cost-effective manner by means of stitching. In this respect, a stitched heating tape is used to prevent icing as described above. Due to the stitching, such a heating tape is very cost-effective to manufacture and, moreover, very easy to mount, for example, by means of adhesive bonding.In particular, such a heating tape is significantly more cost-effective than previously used heating tapes made of aluminum or silicone.

[0012] Consequently, the fan and method according to the invention provide a fan and a method according to which safe heating of a fan is made possible by means that are structurally simple and cost-effective.

[0013] The terms "nozzle," "inlet nozzle," and "wall ring" can, in principle, refer to components of a fan housing. In this respect, the present invention also encompasses, in general terms, the arrangement or fastening of the heating element at a suitable location within such a housing in which a fan blade or impeller can be arranged, and not only specifically at a "nozzle," an "inlet nozzle," or a wall ring.

[0014] For particularly easy installation of the heating element, a fixing device for attaching the heating element to the nozzle or wall ring can be arranged on the side of the heating element facing away from the support, and thus in the area of ​​the at least one heating conductor. Using this fixing device, the at least one heating conductor can be brought into virtually direct or at least very close contact with the housing, nozzle, or ring, resulting in particularly high efficiency and thus particularly reliable heating of the fan. Depending on the design of the fixing device, contact between the heating conductor and the housing, nozzle, or ring could be achieved either with the fixing device positioned between them or with the heating conductor in direct contact. The fixing device can also be implemented only in sections or only in an area where no heating conductor is located on the support, as required.The fixing device can be arranged directly on the carrier.

[0015] Furthermore, for particularly easy installation, the fixing device can have or be formed by an adhesive element. Using such an adhesive element, the heating tape, in its pre-formed shape, can be easily attached or glued to the housing, nozzle, or wall ring. No additional fasteners are required.

[0016] In a specific embodiment, the adhesive element can simply have a double-sided adhesive tape or be formed by a double-sided adhesive tape.

[0017] In another embodiment, the adhesive element can have a woven fabric or be integrated into one. Such a woven fabric is typically a sheet structure consisting of one or more layers of parallel, elongated threads. This also allows for particularly simple attachment of the heating tape to the housing, nozzle, or wall ring.

[0018] With regard to the safe operation of the fan, the heating conductor can have a preferably insulated heating cord, the heating cord of which can further have a Kevlar core to ensure the stability of the heating conductor.

[0019] In one specific embodiment, an insulating layer can be arranged between the support and the at least one heating conductor. When a heating band is implemented with such an insulating layer, no additional insulating layer needs to be subsequently installed. With a fan designed in this way, assembly steps are thus saved and handling is simplified.

[0020] In a structurally simple way, the insulation layer can consist of or be formed from a foam. Such a foam ensures high flexibility of the heating cable while simultaneously providing very good insulation.

[0021] Furthermore, with a view to a structurally simple and safe design of the heating tape, the carrier can consist of or be formed from a glass fabric. Such a glass fabric effectively serves as protection against environmental influences. Advantageously, the carrier can have silicone or a silicone layer on one or both sides, or be embedded in or within a silicone layer.

[0022] To maximize the efficiency of the heating element, the heating tape can be positioned, in particular, in the narrowest gap between the nozzle or wall ring and a fan blade or impeller. Depending on the heating requirements, the heating tape can be arranged on one or more sections or completely around the nozzle or wall ring.

[0023] Depending on the application, the nozzle and / or the wall ring may or may be made of plastic or metal.

[0024] In one embodiment, to prevent icing on a nozzle or wall ring, an embroidered heating tape can be used, which has a structure consisting of an adhesive bond, a heating conductor, an insulation or insulating layer and a glass fabric, wherein the heating tape may also have further components.

[0025] As a result, embodiments of the present invention include the use of an embroidered heating band in combination with a fan or a nozzle or wall ring of a fan, wherein the nozzle or wall ring can be made of plastic or steel.

[0026] There are now various ways to advantageously develop and further refine the teaching of the present invention. For this purpose, reference should be made, on the one hand, to the claims subordinate to claim 1 and, on the other hand, to the following explanation of preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the drawing. In conjunction with the explanation of the preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the drawing, generally preferred embodiments and further developments of the teaching are also explained. In the drawing, Fig. 1 shows in a perspective view an embodiment of a fan according to the invention, wherein a heating band is arranged around a nozzle.

[0027] Fig. 2 in a sectional view, partially showing the embodiment from Fig. 1 ,

[0028] Fig. 3 shows a schematic cutaway view of the heating band of the embodiment from Fig. 1 and

[0029] Fig. 4 shows a top view of another embodiment of a heating tape, wherein the heating conductor of this embodiment is shown as translucent.

[0030] Figures 1 and 2 show, in a perspective view and a sectional view, a partial embodiment of a fan according to the invention. The fan has a nozzle 1 and a heating element 2 arranged in the region of the nozzle 1. To ensure reliable heating of the fan or a region of the fan using simple and cost-effective means, the heating element includes a heating band 3 arranged around the nozzle 1. The fan comprises a motor 4, a suspension 5, and an impeller 6.

[0031] As shown in Fig. 2, a narrowest gap 7 is formed between the impeller 6 and the nozzle 1, with the heating band 3 being arranged on the outside of the nozzle 1 corresponding to this narrowest point between the nozzle 1 and the impeller 6.

[0032] Fig. 3 shows a schematic and sectional view of the heating tape 3 of the above embodiment. The heating tape 3 has a tape-shaped carrier 8, an insulating layer 9 arranged on and coupled to the carrier 8, and a heating conductor 10 arranged on and coupled to the insulating layer 9. The heating conductor 10 and the insulating layer 9 are connected to the carrier 8 by means of stitching. Therefore, the heating tape 3 – with or without the insulating layer 9 – is referred to as a stitched heating tape 3.

[0033] On the side of the heating tape 3 facing away from the carrier 8, and thus in the area of ​​the heating conductor 10, a fixing device with an adhesive element 11 is arranged for attaching the heating tape 3 to the nozzle 1. In the embodiment shown here, the adhesive element 11 is formed by a double-sided adhesive tape.

[0034] The heating conductor 10 has an insulated FEP heating cord with a Kevlar core. The carrier 8 is formed by a glass fabric coated with silicone on both sides. The insulating layer 9 is formed by a foam.

[0035] The heating tape 3 is therefore constructed in multiple layers. The heating conductor 10 is positioned in several turns on the insulation layer 9 and stitched to the insulation layer 9 and the carrier 8 using a stitching process. Thus, these three layers are securely bonded together.

[0036] Fig. 4 shows a top view of another embodiment of a heating tape 3, in which the heating conductor 10 of this heating tape 3 is shown as translucent. Here too, the heating conductor 10 is positioned in several turns on the insulation layer 9. In this embodiment, an electrical connection 12 for the heating tape 3 is also shown.

[0037] In principle, the heating tape 3 can be used on a fan nozzle 1. The heating tape 3 can be easily mounted by gluing it in place using an adhesive element 11. A specially formulated adhesive can be used for this purpose to ensure particularly good adhesion to the nozzle 1.

[0038] Regarding further advantageous embodiments of the fan according to the invention, reference is made to the general part of the description and to the appended claims to avoid repetition. Finally, it should be expressly pointed out that the exemplary embodiments of the fan according to the invention described above serve only to illustrate the claimed teaching and do not limit it to these exemplary embodiments.

[0039] Reference sign list

[0040] 1 nozzle

[0041] 2 Heating system

[0042] 3 heating tape

[0043] 4 engine

[0044] 5 Suspension

[0045] 6-wing Z-wheel

[0046] 7 gaps

[0047] 8 carriers

[0048] 9 Insulation layer

[0049] 10 heating conductors

[0050] 11 adhesive element

[0051] 12 electrical connection

Claims

Claims 1. Fan with a nozzle (1), in particular an inlet nozzle, and / or a wall ring and a heating device (2) arranged in the area of ​​the nozzle (1) or the wall ring and comprising a heating band (3), characterized in that the heating band (3) has a band-shaped carrier (8) with at least one heating conductor (10) connected to the carrier (8) by means of a seam.

2. Fan according to claim 1, characterized in that a fixing device for attaching the heating band (3) to the nozzle (1) or to the wall ring is arranged on a side of the heating band (3) facing away from the support (8) and thus in the area of ​​the at least one heating conductor (10).

3. Fan according to claim 2, characterized in that the fixing device has an adhesive element (11 ) or is formed by an adhesive element (11 ).

4. Fan according to claim 3, characterized in that the adhesive element (11) has a double-sided adhesive tape or is formed by a double-sided adhesive tape or that the adhesive element (11) has a fabric or is integrated into a fabric.

5. Fan according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the heating conductor (10) has a preferably insulated heating cord, wherein the heating cord may have a Kevlar core.

6. Fan according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that an insulating layer (9) is arranged between the support (8) and the at least one heating conductor (10).

7. Fan according to claim 6, characterized in that the insulating layer (9) has a foam or is formed by a foam.

8. Fan according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the support (8) has a glass fabric or is formed by a glass fabric.

9. Fan according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the carrier (8) has silicone or a silicone layer on one or both sides or is embedded in a silicone layer.

10. Fan according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the heating band (3) is arranged in particular in the area of ​​a narrowest gap (7) between the nozzle (1 ) or the wall ring and a blade or impeller (6) of the fan.

11. Fan according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the nozzle (1 ) and / or the wall ring are made of plastic or metal.

12. Method for heating a fan, in particular a fan according to one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the fan has a nozzle (1), in particular an inlet nozzle, and / or a wall ring and a heating device (2) arranged in the area of ​​the nozzle (1) or the wall ring and comprising a heating band (3), and wherein the heating device (2) is attached to the nozzle (1) or to the wall ring, characterized in that the heating band (3) is a heating band (3) with a band-shaped carrier (8) having at least one heating conductor (10) connected to the carrier (8) by means of a connection.

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