Electric heating device with electrode housing station
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing heating devices for air conditioning units in vehicles face challenges in achieving a simple and reliable electrical and mechanical connection between the heating body and the distribution unit, leading to difficulties in correct positioning and increased risk of vibration issues during assembly and operation.
Innovation Solution
A docking station is introduced that mediates the connection between the heating body and the distribution unit, featuring a plurality of housings with switches that are fixed on an electronic current supply card, allowing for stable positioning and secure mechanical and electrical connections through a system of pins, female ends, and flexible blades, guiding the electrodes into place.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If switches are welded to control current in electrodes, then electrical connection is achieved, but mechanical positioning and orientation become difficult to operate on production lines
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the connection system into separate functional modules: the electronic card with switches, the docking station with housings, and the electrodes. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured and positioned independently, then assembled together through the docking station interface, making production line operations much easier while maintaining reliable electrical connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The docking station acts as an intermediary component between the electronic card and the electrodes. It provides housings that accommodate electrodes and facilitate their connection to switches on the electronic card. This intermediary structure simplifies the assembly process by providing a standardized interface, allowing electrodes to be connected to the electronic card through the docking station rather than requiring direct welding operations.
2Reliability
If switches are positioned on electronic card for welding, then electrical connection is established, but correct orientation and positioning cannot be ensured
Solution Approach 1:
The docking station is designed with housings and positioning features in advance that guide and constrain the electrodes during assembly. The switches are pre-positioned on the electronic card within the docking station structure. This preliminary preparation ensures that when electrodes are connected, they automatically achieve correct orientation and positioning through the pre-designed mechanical interface, eliminating positioning errors.
3Manufacturing precision
If mechanical connection is added to electrical connection, then correct positioning is achieved, but relative movements and vibration problems increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the mechanical connection and electrical connection functions into a single integrated docking station interface. The housings provide mechanical support and positioning for electrodes while simultaneously facilitating electrical connection to switches. This unified design ensures that mechanical stability and electrical connectivity are achieved together without creating separate connection points that could move relative to each other, thereby reducing vibration problems.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution simplifies the connection process, ensures correct positioning of all parts, reduces relative movements to minimize vibration, and enhances the reliability of the heating device by maintaining switches in optimal position for consistent operation.
Implementation Method 1
said switch comprising at least one flexible blade capable of exerting pressure on the male end of the electrode so as to hold it in position and perform the electrical connection
Implementation Method 2
heating elements traversed by said current
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
Heating device 1 for an air conditioning unit, the said heating device 1 comprising a heating body 2 powered with current via a distribution unit 3 to heat a flow of air passing through the said heating body 2, the heating body 2 comprising an alignment of tubes 4 in which there are: – heating elements 8 through which the said current passes; – electrodes 9 situated on each side of the heating elements 8 in order to supply them with electrical current. This heating device 1 is characterised in that the distribution units 3 comprises an electrode housing station 6 housing the electrodes 9, the said housing station 6 having a plurality of housings 17 to house the electrodes 9 and in which there are means for mechanically and electrically connecting the electrodes 9 to the distribution unit 3.