Automotive Heating Device Assembly with Compression Springs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current heating devices for automobile passenger compartments, particularly those using PTC elements, face manufacturing complexities in the electrode-PTC assembly and lack efficient operational control, leading to suboptimal performance and assembly challenges.
Innovation Solution
A heating device design featuring a support frame with radiating elements, a longitudinal housing, and compression means with integrated dissipation fins, where the longitudinal electrode is isolated from the containment tube and connected via springs, allowing for efficient heat generation and dissipation, with a method of assembly that includes mechanical expansion and compression to secure components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If traditional electrode-PTC assembly methods are used, then heating function is achieved, but manufacturing complexity increases and assembly becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The heating device is divided into modular components: containment tubes with PTC elements, radiating elements with dissipation fins, and a support frame. Each module can be assembled independently and then combined, significantly simplifying the manufacturing and assembly process compared to traditional integrated designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The longitudinal housing is arranged within the containment tube, creating a nested structure. This nesting approach allows multiple components to be integrated in a compact manner while maintaining ease of assembly, as the housing and electrode assembly can be inserted into the containment tube as a unit.
2Reliability
If compression means are added to ensure electrical and thermal contact, then contact reliability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The compression means are designed to automatically maintain electrical and thermal contact between components. The springs provide continuous compressive force that compensates for thermal expansion and contraction, ensuring reliable contact without requiring external adjustment or monitoring mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The compression means serve dual functions: they ensure both electrical contact between the electrode and PTC element, and thermal contact between the radiating element and containment tube. By combining these two contact requirements into a single mechanism, the design avoids adding separate systems for each function.
3Productivity
If dissipation fins are added to improve heat dissipation, then heating efficiency improves, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dissipation fins are integrated with the radiating element to form a single component that performs both radiation and convection heat dissipation. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate heat dissipation components, simplifying manufacturing while maximizing heating efficiency through multiple heat transfer mechanisms.
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
The solution enables a high-efficiency heating device with improved assembly and operational efficiency, ensuring effective heat dissipation and comfortable passenger compartment heating, while simplifying the manufacturing process by addressing the complexities of electrode-PTC assembly.
Implementation Method 1
by applying an electric current between said containment tube and said longitudinal electrode, said heat generating means generate heat
Implementation Method 2
ensure the thermal contact between said containment tube and said heat generating means
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~5
Figure 6~10b
AI summary
The present invention concerns a heating device (1, 1a), connectable to a power supply, comprising: a support frame (2); one or more radiating elements (3), fixed to said support frame (2), each radiating element (3) comprising a containment tube (31) capable to operate as an electrode and connectable with said power supply, a longitudinal housing (32), arranged within said containment tube (31), a longitudinal electrode (33, 33a), connectable with said power supply and arranged within said longitudinal housing (32), so as to be isolated from said containment tube (31), means for generating heat (34), such as one or more PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) elements (34), inserted within said containment tube (31) and arranged between, and in contact with, said longitudinal electrode (33, 33a) and said containment tube (31), so that, by applying an electric current between said containment tube (31) and said longitudinal electrode (33), said heat generating means (34) generate heat, and compression means (35, 35a) housed within said longitudinal housing (32), interposed between said longitudinal housing (32) and said longitudinal electrode (33), said compression means (35, 35a) being adapted to ensure the electrical contact between said longitudinal electrode (33, 33a) and said heat generating means (34) and to ensure the electrical and thermal contact between said containment tube (31) and said heat generating means (34); and one or more dissipation fins (4) capable to dissipate the heat generated by said radiating elements (3). The present invention even concerns a method for assembling a heating device (1, 1 a).