# US 2012/0055913 A1 · Vehicular fluid heater

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- Number: US 2012/0055913 A1
- Document ID: US20120055913A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/140,923
- Filed: 2008-12-19
- Published: 2012-03-08
- Earliest claimed: 2008-12-19
- Assignees: Kaiten Technology Electronic (Guangzhou) Ltd.; Kautex Textron Cvs Limited
- Inventors: Hsuan Yao Huang; Michael Wright
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20120055913A1

## CPC

- F24H 1/121: {using electric energy supply}
- B60S 1/488: {electrically}
- F24H 1/009: {for vehicle systems}
- F24H 9/1827: {Positive temperature coefficient [PTC] resistor}
- F28F 2265/14: for preventing damage by freezing, e.g. for accommodating volume expansion
- F24H: FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL (steam generation F22)
- B60S: SERVICING, CLEANING, REPAIRING, SUPPORTING, LIFTING, OR MANOEUVRING OF VEHICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F28F: DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION (water and air traps, air venting F16)

## Abstract

The invention refers to a vehicular fluid heater (3), in particular to an automotive water heater. The vehicular fluid heater (3) comprises at least one heat exchanger (8) and at least one electrically operated heating unit (9), the heat exchanger (8) comprising at least one thermally conductive body defining at least one fluid channel for the fluid to be heated and sealing covers (16a, 16b) sealing the front and rear ends of the thermally conductive body, at least one cover (16a) having an inlet and/or outlet for establishing fluid flow, the heating unit (9) being joint to a heat-conductive surface of the thermally conductive body. The sealing covers (16a, 16b) are made from a pressure deformable material and are held in position by a housing and closing the fluid heater (FIG. 3).

## Claims

### Claim 1

A vehicular fluid heater, in particular an automotive water heater, comprising at least one heat exchanger and at least one electrically operated heating unit, the heat exchanger comprising at least one thermally conductive body defining at least one fluid channel for the fluid to be heated and sealing covers sealing the front and rear ends of the thermally conductive body, at least one cover having an inlet and/or outlet for establishing fluid flow, characterized in that the sealing covers are being held in position by a housing and are closing the fluid heater.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A vehicular fluid heater according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one sealing cover is made from a pressure deformable material such as rubber.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A vehicular fluid heater according to claim 1, characterized by at least one resilient backing member at least partially supporting at least one sealing cover against the housing at least upon deformation.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

A vehicular fluid heater according to claim 3, characterized in that the backing member comprises a resilient foam, in particular closed cell foam.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

A vehicular fluid heater according to claim 3, characterized in that the housing comprises at least one cavity for receiving one backing member.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A vehicular fluid heater according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing comprises several parts engaging each other via snap-fit connectors.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A vehicular fluid heater according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing comprises at least a main body and first and second end caps snap-fitted to the main body, the first end cap being provided with electrical connectors, the second end cap being provided with fluid connectors.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A vehicular fluid heater according to claim 1, characterized in that the sealing covers establish fluid communication at least between some sections of the fluid channel of the heat exchanger in order to establish a fluid flow in a sequential order.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

A vehicular fluid heater according to claim 7, characterized in that the fluid connectors are in the form of nippels extending through and sealingly engaging fluid openings in a sealing cover.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

A vehicular fluid heater according to claim 1, characterized in that the sealing covers comprise sealing members, such as sealing grooves preventing fluid communication at least between some sections of the fluid channel in order to establish a fluid flow in a sequential order, the sealing members are being held in place even under deformation of the sealing covers preferably by the housing.