Electric heating – Heating devices – Combined with diverse-type art device
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-14
2001-05-29
Hoang, Tu Ba (Department: 3742)
Electric heating
Heating devices
Combined with diverse-type art device
C219S202000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06239409
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a heating device for heating a movable part of a motor vehicle, more particularly a steering wheel heater.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is known to heat parts of a vehicle which can be held, more particularly the steering wheel. For example, a steering wheel with an electric heater is known from DE 41 08 114 A1. There, a heat conductor made of copper wire is provided in the surface area of the steering wheel cover and is connected to a power supply device in the vehicle by a switch mechanism. In conjunction with a thermo-sensor, this serves to switch on the heater when required. From practice, it is known to operate the heater with a voltage of 12 volts and a current strength of 8 amps. As a result of this large current strength, it is standard practice to transfer the current from the battery through a contact unit with a slip ring/carbon brush to the steering wheel, because in the case of transfer by means of a strip conductor, the latter is no longer sufficiently flexible as a result of the minimum cross-section required, and because fewer conductors can be set in one contact unit and thus fewer consumers can be controlled.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to supply the heating device with electric energy through a sufficiently flexible strip conductor having a cross-section such as is usual for supplying the remaining consumers in the steering wheel. The invention is a heating device for heating a movable part of a motor vehicle which can also be held, more particularly, a steering wheel heater which is connected through a contact unit having a stator and rotor to a source of electric energy in the stationary part of the vehicle. According to the invention, a voltage converter for the heating device is mounted in the stationary part of the vehicle in front of the contact unit or in the stator of the contact unit to generate a voltage which is higher than the standard 12 volt voltage in the vehicle. The voltage lies preferably between 35 and 50 volts and more preferably amounts to 48 volts.
By increasing the voltage, it is possible to reduce the current strength necessary to achieve a predetermined heating output, and it is also possible to use flat strip conductors having such small cross-sections that they are sufficiently flexible. Owing to the small cross sections, the number of flat strip conductors in the contact unit need not be reduced compared to an assembly without heater.
A DC/DC converter is preferably provided as the voltage converter.
It is furthermore expedient if the heating device is associated with control electronics having a temperature sensor for observing the predetermined maximum or minimum temperatures of the part which is to be heated.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2392539 (1946-01-01), Leible
patent: 2537606 (1951-01-01), Steppan
patent: 2652476 (1953-09-01), Langiano
patent: 2835777 (1958-05-01), Gates et al.
patent: 3165620 (1965-01-01), Miller
patent: 4631976 (1986-12-01), Noda et al.
patent: 5294775 (1994-03-01), Carrier
patent: 91 14 936 (1991-12-01), None
patent: 41 08 114 (1992-09-01), None
English Summary of DE 4108114 and DE 9114936.3 (1 page).
Bonn Helmut
Germuth-Löffler Michael
Christie Parker & Hale LLP
Hoang Tu Ba
Petri AG
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