Electric heating device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electrical heating devices for vehicles face challenges in energy efficiency, material usage, and space optimization, particularly in vehicles with modern, fuel-efficient engines or electric motors that produce minimal waste heat, and require effective cooling of electronic components without increasing complexity or costs.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a housing with separate circuit board sections, plug-in devices, and heat-dissipating surfaces with ribs, allowing for energy-saving cooling and simplified assembly, while using PTC elements and MOSFET transistors for efficient heating and integration with vehicle electronics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If waste heat from the engine is used for heating, then energy efficiency is improved, but heating availability is worsened due to warm-up time and reduced waste heat in modern engines

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy efficiencyVSAvoidheating availability
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The heating device enables immediate heating operation from cold start without requiring engine warm-up time. The electrical heating elements can be activated immediately when heating is needed, eliminating the delay associated with waiting for waste heat to become available.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Power

If electrical heating devices are used to compensate for insufficient waste heat, then heating performance is improved, but energy consumption is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating performanceVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit regulates the heating power by changing the electrical parameters (voltage, current) supplied to the heating elements. This allows the system to provide sufficient heating performance only when and to the extent actually needed, rather than operating at constant high power.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit monitors the actual heating effect and adjusts the electrical power supply to the heating elements accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures that energy is consumed only to the extent necessary to achieve the desired heating performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Temperature

If heat sinks are provided for cooling the control unit, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and cost are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling effectivenessVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The housing serves dual functions: it provides mechanical protection for the control unit and simultaneously acts as a heat sink for cooling. By merging the protective housing with the thermal management function, additional dedicated cooling components are eliminated, reducing device complexity and cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The housing is designed to perform multiple functions: mechanical protection of internal components, structural support, and thermal management through heat dissipation. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated cooling components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Temperature

If additional components are used for cooling the control unit, then cooling capability is improved, but material usage and cost are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling capabilityVSAvoidmaterial usage
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The housing material serves dual purposes: providing mechanical structure and enabling thermal management. This eliminates the need for additional dedicated cooling components, reducing material usage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 configuration enables efficient heating performance in vehicles with limited waste heat, reduces material and space usage, and extends the device's lifespan by effectively cooling sensitive components and protecting against water damage.

Implementation Method 1

electrical heating device, in particular for a motor vehicle, with at least one heating element

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

heat-dissipating surfaces with ribs

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 3

allowing for energy-saving cooling

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP3096587B1Electric heating device
Publication Date: 2019.07.17 MAHLE INT GMBH
  • EP3096587B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

The invention relates to an electrical heating device (1), in particular for a motor vehicle, with at least one heating element (9) and with at least one control device (3) with a housing (2), with at least one printed circuit board (4), with a first printed circuit board section ( 5) and a second printed circuit board section (6), and with at least one first plug-in device (7) and with at least one second plug-in device (8), the two plug-in devices (7, 8) for connecting the at least one heating element (9) to the control device (3), the housing (2) only partially accommodating the at least one printed circuit board (4), the first printed circuit board section (5) being arranged in the housing (2) and the second printed circuit board section (6) emerging from the housing (2) protrudes and the at least one first plug-in device (7) is connected to the second printed circuit board section (6) and the at least one second plug-in device (8) is connected to the heating element (9).