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CN-122003566-A - Vehicle heating device

CN122003566ACN 122003566 ACN122003566 ACN 122003566ACN-122003566-A

Abstract

A heating device (1) for a vehicle, adapted to heat a liquid flowing through the heating device (1), comprises a die-cast metal body (2) having at least one face (21) on which a flow path for the liquid is provided, at least one tubular electric heater (3, 103a,103b,103 c), a cover plate (6) whose first side (61) defines the flow path and whose second side (62) opposite to the first side (61) defines a compartment (80), an electronic board (8) arranged in the compartment (80), wherein the at least one tubular electric heater (3, 103a,103b,103 c) comprises a heating section (32) embedded in the metal body (2) and two end sections (31 a,31 b), wherein the end sections (31 a,31 b) extend into the compartment (80), wherein first sealing means (38 a,39a,38b,39 b) arranged around each end section (31 a,31 b) are provided, adapted to prevent liquid from entering the compartment (80).

Inventors

  • M. BENVENUTO
  • R caulo
  • A. Daytos
  • F. Zopas

Assignees

  • I.R.C.A.共同股份公司工业铠装及类似电阻

Dates

Publication Date
20260508
Application Date
20241014
Priority Date
20231012

Claims (15)

  1. 1. A heating device (1) for a vehicle, adapted to heat a liquid flowing through the heating device (1), comprising: A die-cast metal body (2) having at least one face (21) on which a flow path for a liquid is provided; at least one tubular electric heater (3, 103a,103b,103 c); a cover plate (6) whose first side (61) defines the flow path and whose second side (62) opposite to the first side (61) defines a compartment (80); -an electronic board (8) arranged in the compartment (80); Wherein the at least one tubular electric heater (3, 103a,103b,103 c) comprises a heating section (32) and two end sections (31 a,31 b) embedded in a metal body (2); wherein the end sections (31 a,31 b) extend into the compartment (80); Wherein first sealing means (38 a,39a,38b,39 b) are provided arranged around each end section (31 a,31 b), adapted to prevent liquid from entering the compartment (80); Wherein the first sealing means (38 a,39a,38b,39 b) are arranged inside the compartment (80) and are in direct contact with respective end sections (31 a,31 b) of the at least one tubular electric heater (3, 103a,103b,103 c).
  2. 2. The heating device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the first sealing means (38 a,39a,38b,39 b) completely encloses the respective end section (31 a,31 b) and is preferably in contact with the second side (62) of the cover plate (6) and optionally spaced apart from the metal body (2).
  3. 3. The heating device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the first sealing means (38 a,39a,38b,39 b) are arranged between the respective end segment (31 a,31 b) and the cover plate (6).
  4. 4. The heating device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first sealing means (38 a,39a,38b,39 b) are arranged in respective seats (89 a,89 b) provided on the second side (62) of the cover plate (6), and/or wherein the first sealing means (38 a,39a,38b,39 b) are arranged in contact, in particular in direct contact, with the second side (62) of the cover plate (6).
  5. 5. The heating device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first sealing device (38 a,39a,38b,39 b) comprises at least one sealing material layer (39 a,39 b), preferably wherein the first sealing device (38 a,39a,38b,39 b) comprises an annular body (38 a,38 b) covered by a respective sealing material layer (39 a,39 b).
  6. 6. The heating device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein for each end section (31 a,31 b) a respective channel (30 a,30 b) is provided, which is closed by a respective first sealing means (38 a,39a,38b,39 b) and which leads to the outside of the heating device (1).
  7. 7. The heating device (1) according to claim 6, wherein each channel (30 a,30 b) is defined at least by the metal body (2) and the cover plate (6); preferably, each channel (30 a,30 b) is defined by: -passing through respective projections of the metal body (2) by respective end sections (31 a,31 b); -an inner surface of a respective through hole of the cover plate (6), into which the respective protrusion is inserted; A portion of the respective end section (31 a,31 b) possibly located between the metal body (2) and the first sealing means (38 a,39a,38b,39 b), and The first sealing means (38 a,39a,38b,39 b).
  8. 8. The heating device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a second sealing device (43) is provided, the second sealing device (43) being arranged in a housing (430), in particular a circumferential housing, which is provided on the first side (61) of the cover plate (6) and/or on the face (21) of the metal body (2) for sealing liquid flowing along a flow path.
  9. 9. The heating device (1) according to claim 8, comprising at least one temperature sensor (10) adapted to detect the temperature of the metal body (2), the temperature sensor (10) being in contact with a portion (28) of the metal body (2); Wherein the temperature sensor (10) and the portion (28) are arranged in an external position with respect to the second sealing means (43); Preferably, wherein the portion (28) of the metal body (2) passes through the cover plate (6) and protrudes into the compartment (80), and wherein the at least one temperature sensor (10) is arranged in the compartment (80), preferably connected to the electronic board (8).
  10. 10. Heating device (1) according to claim 9, wherein the portion (28) of the metal body (2) passes through the cover plate (6) and wherein third sealing means (29) are provided, arranged around the portion (28), preferably between the metal body (2) and the first side (61) of the cover plate (6), preferably wherein the third sealing means (29) are arranged in a housing (290) provided on the first side (61) of the cover plate (6) and/or on the face (21) of the metal body (2).
  11. 11. The heating device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the metal body (2) completely covers the heating section (32) of the at least one tubular electric heater (3, 103a,103b,103 c), preferably wherein one or more fastening elements (91, 92), in particular fastening elements fastened to the at least one tubular electric heater (3, 103a,103b,103 c), are also embedded in the metal body (2).
  12. 12. A heating device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a plurality of said tubular electric heaters (3, 103a,103b,103 c) are provided.
  13. 13. A method of manufacturing a heating device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein comprising: -arranging said first sealing means (38 a,39a,38,39 b) inside said compartment (80) so as to surround each end section (31 a,31 b) of said at least one tubular heater (3, 103a,103b,103 c) and be in direct contact with the respective end section (31 a,31 b), said first sealing means (38 a,39a,38,39 b) being adapted to prevent liquid from entering said compartment (80).
  14. 14. The method according to claim 13, wherein prior to arranging the first sealing means (38 a,39a,38,39 b), comprising the steps of: a) -arranging said at least one tubular electric heater (3, 103a,103b,103 c) inside said mould (200), leaving at least a portion of said end section (31 a,31 b) outside said mould (200); b) Injecting metal into the mold (200) by die casting to embed the at least one tubular electric heater (3, 103a,103b,103 c) in the metal; wherein in step a) the at least one tubular electric heater (3, 103a,103b,103 c) is locked in place by at least one fastening element (91, 92) traversing or being positioned in the mold (200) at the closing of the two half-molds (201, 202) to lock the tubular electric heater (3, 103a,103b,103 c) in place during the injection of metal into the mold.
  15. 15. Vehicle provided with at least one heating device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, in particular wherein the heating device (1) is adapted to heat a cooling liquid of a vehicle battery or to heat a liquid for heating passenger compartment air.

Description

Vehicle heating device Technical Field The present invention relates to a heating device for a vehicle, preferably but not necessarily an electric or hybrid vehicle, in particular for heating a battery coolant in the case of low outdoor temperatures, to maintain a constant desired operating temperature, or for heating a liquid for heating air in a passenger compartment in an exchanger. Background Batteries are critical to the operation of electric or hybrid vehicles. The battery must provide the vehicle with the energy required for quick, reliable operation. Most cells are high voltage hybrid lithium ion cells and nickel metal cells. The battery used must operate within a defined temperature range. In fact, at operating temperatures exceeding +40 ℃, the service life begins to shorten, while at operating temperatures below-10 ℃, performance and power decline. In addition, the temperature difference between the individual battery cells must not exceed a certain value. Exceeding the limit temperature may lead to accelerated aging and, correspondingly, premature battery failure. The goal of vehicle manufacturers is to equalize battery life to vehicle life. Thus, the aging process can only be delayed by optimizing the temperature management. The battery cell generally includes a battery cell, a cooling plate, and an auxiliary electric heating device. The cooling plate is installed in the battery cell stack, and a cooling liquid (e.g., a mixture of water and ethylene glycol) flows therethrough. To ensure higher performance and maximum service life of the battery, the temperature of the associated coolant should be between about 15 ℃ and 30 ℃. When the temperature is too high, the liquid is cooled, for example, by a low-temperature radiator. Conversely, if the temperature is too low, the coolant is heated by the auxiliary electric heating means. The latter thus ensures adequate control of the battery temperature when the outdoor temperature is low. To perform this heating, the battery is integrated into the secondary loop. The loop ensures that the desired operating temperature is maintained between 15 ℃ and 30 ℃. Such electric heating devices generally comprise at least one electric heating unit or electric heater for generating heat and transferring the generated heat to a heat transfer medium (i.e. the aforementioned liquid) through a body made of metallic material in contact with the electric heating unit. Such a liquid may be, for example, water, ethylene glycol, a mixture of water and ethylene glycol, or other suitable heat transfer liquid. The liquid flows along a flow path that includes at least one channel disposed on one face of the metal body and the channel is closed by a cover plate secured to the metal body. The at least one channel communicates at both ends thereof directly with the inlet section and the outlet section of the heating device. The heating device must be compact and is generally shaped substantially as a rectangular hexahedron. The diameters of the inlet and outlet are determined by the cross section of the hydraulic circuit conduit. The electric heating unit comprises a heating element, for example a tubular resistor embedded in the thickness of the metal body, or a thin film resistor deposited on the surface of the metal body not in contact with the liquid. The electric heating unit is connected to an electronic control unit which allows to control the thermal power of the heating unit. The electronic control unit comprises an electronic board accommodated in a compartment of the heating device. Disadvantageously, the metal body of the heating device may have production defects, for example the metal body may have an undesirable porosity. Thus, disadvantageously, the liquid may infiltrate into the compartment of the heating device accommodating the electronic board through the pores. In particular, in the case where the tubular resistor is embedded in the thickness of the metal body, the liquid flowing along the at least one channel provided on one face of the metal body and closed by the cover plate fastened thereto can reach the interface between the metal body and the tubular heater embedded therein through the aperture of the metal body. Along this interface, this liquid can reach the end section of the tubular heater that protrudes into the compartment housing the electronic board. Thus, liquid may enter the compartment damaging the electronic board. This problem may occur, for example, in the heater disclosed in US2018/187920 A1. The heating device may also be provided with a sensor adapted to detect the temperature of the metal body. Disadvantageously, undesired liquid infiltration can alter the temperature at the region where the metal body temperature is detected, resulting in an incorrect temperature reading. Further, disadvantageously, in order to produce an assembly comprising a metal body and an (e.g. tubular) electric heater, pins are used to hold the electric heater in