US 7,355,146 B2Granted

Heating unit

Assigneeebm-papst St. Georgen GmbH & Co. KG

InventorsWalter Georg Angelis, Wolfgang Arno Winkler

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Abstract

A heating unit for a vehicle features a radial fan (100) having a housing (110), which housing has an air inlet (116) and an air exit opening (118). The heating unit has an air-directing device (140) that guides an air flow in a pressure chamber (115) of the housing (110) to the exit opening (118). Arranged in the housing (110) is a radial fan wheel (130) that serves to generate a flow from the air inlet (116) via the pressure chamber (115) to the air exit opening (118). Also provided is an electrical heating element, e.g. a PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) heating element (125), that serves to transfer heat to the air flow generated by the fan. Air-directing elements (632, 634, 636, 638) are provided between the exit opening (118) and the heating element (125), in order to generate an air flow having a more uniform (680) velocity distribution.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A heating unit adapted for use in a vehicle, which heating unit comprises:

a radial fan (100) having a fan housing (110), said housing defining a pressure chamber with an air inlet (116) and an air exit opening (118);
an air-directing device (140) that guides an air flow, within the pressure chamber (115) of the fan housing (110), to the air exit opening (118), said air-directing device including an external, approximately spiral-shaped wall (109) forming part of a spiral housing (140) and extending as far as an air exit opening (118), the air (137) delivered by the radial fan wheel (130) during operation having, at the air exit opening (118) and near the spiral-shaped wall (109) in a zone (510) of higher velocity, a higher velocity than in zones (520, 530) of lower velocity that are located farther away from the spiral-shaped wall (109);
a radial fan wheel (130) arranged in the fan housing (110), for generating an air flow from the air inlet (116) via the pressure chamber (115) to the air exit opening (118);
an electrical heating element (125) arranged adjacent the air exit opening (118) and serving to transfer heat to the air flow generated by the radial fan (100);
and
wherein there is provided, between the air exit opening (118) of the spiral housing (140) and the heating element (125), a connecting part (620) in which air-directing elements are provided for generating a predetermined flow profile of the air flow (610), which air-directing elements are configured to deflect air that emerges from the spiral housing (140) in a zone (510) thereof having a relatively higher air velocity, in order to achieve a more uniform velocity distribution in the region of the heating element (125).

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 11/460,659Filed 28 Jul 2006
Priority: DE 20 2005 012 259 U28 Jul 2005
Published: US 2007/0023411 A11 Feb 2007
Granted: 8 Apr 2008
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

B60H 1/2225
The heat being derived from electric heaters: arrangements of electric heaters for heating air
B60H 1/00471
Ventilation unit, e.g. combined with a radiator: the ventilator being of the radial type, i.e. with radial expulsion of the air
B60H 2001/229
Constructional features: integration into an air outlet
B60H
Arrangements of heating, cooling, ventilating or other air-treating devices specially adapted for