FR3136140A1 - Electric radiator with overmolded retention gasket - Google Patents

Abstract

Title of the invention: Electric radiator with overmolded retention joint The present invention relates to an electric radiator (1), comprising a plurality of heating elements (12) extending mainly in a longitudinal direction and a control box (6) having receiving compartments (22) each receiving a longitudinal end of a heating element (12), the control box (6) being configured to transmit electric current to at least one of the heating elements (12), the electric radiator (1) being characterized in that a bottom wall of a receiving compartment (22) is formed by a retention seal (24) overmolded on the control box (6), the heating element (12 ) received in this receiving compartment (22) extending through this retention joint (24). Abstract Figure: Figure 3

Description

Electric radiator with overmolded retention gasket

The present invention relates to the field of ventilation, heating, and/or air conditioning of motor vehicles, and it relates more particularly to the use of electric radiators in ventilation, heating and/or air conditioning devices.

The use of electric radiators in ventilation, heating and/or air conditioning installation boxes was particularly known to produce additional radiators arranged across an air flow at the outlet of a main radiator to generate a temporary additional supply of heat energy, particularly when starting the vehicle, to achieve rapid occasional heating of the air flow. Alternatively, when electric heaters are powered at high voltage, they can be used as main heating devices and no longer as supplementary heating sources, the high voltage being sufficient to heat the air in the ventilation installation , heating and/or air conditioning.

In each of these cases of application, it is particularly known to use electric radiators comprising a heating body and an electronic control unit, the heating body being formed of at least a plurality of heating elements comprising respectively resistive elements, and in particular stones or ceramics with a CTP effect, that is to say with a positive temperature coefficient. More particularly, the heating body can be formed from an alternation of tubes participating in forming said heating elements and radiant elements. Each tube comprises an electrically insulating sheath inside which two electrodes are arranged separated from each other by a plurality of resistive elements with CTP effect. The two electrodes of each tube are connected to a control box which controls the electrical power supply to each of the heating elements, and an electrical contact is created inside the tube between the electrodes and the resistive elements. The current supply to the resistive elements via these electrodes then generates heating of the tube forming the heating element, the calories being able to be diffused by the radiant elements made integral with the tubes and extending between two neighboring tubes, these radiant elements increasing the exchange surface with the air passing through these electric radiators.

The assembly of the electric radiator is carried out in several successive stages including an assembly of the heating body, with a brazing operation of the radiant elements on the tubes, then the assembly of the heating body on the control box, with the electrical connection electrodes arranged within the tubes on suitable connection members. In this step, the ends of the electrodes are inserted through a passage orifice formed in a constituent wall of the control box, and a step of sealing the connection zone is then carried out.

Prior to the stage of assembling the heating body, each of the heating elements is formed by inserting the insulating sheath, the electrodes and the resistive elements within the corresponding tubes, and the tubes then undergo a deformation of two walls in opposition , in particular bending or compression, making it possible to ensure on the one hand a rapprochement within the tube of the electrodes and the resistive elements which are arranged between them, and on the other hand the plating of the electrodes against the wall of the tube with the sandwich insulating sheath, so as to improve the heat exchange performance of each heating element. However, such deformation is not uniform from one tube to another and there may be variations between the resulting tube shapes. There may therefore be a variable clearance between a tube and the edges delimiting the passage orifice of this tube through the wall constituting the control box, which leads to sealing problems within the electric radiator.

It is known from the prior art to form in the electronic control box compartments for receiving the end of the electrodes, in order during the sealing step to fill these compartments with a viscous sealing material, which ensures a chemical waterproofing once this sealing material is heated. In this context, it is of little importance that a greater clearance than another between a tube and the edges delimiting the passage orifice is present, since the viscosity of the sealing material prevents it from flowing through this. greater clearance before being heated. This viscous material is, however, not suitable for certain types of electric radiator assembly, for which a liquid sealant is required.

The use of such a liquid sealing material then raises the question of managing the clearances present between a tube and the edges delimiting the passage orifice so that there remains sufficient of this sealing material in the compartment around it. of the electrode tip at the time of polymerization of the liquid sealant.

The present invention aims to respond to this drawback by proposing an electric radiator having a retention member capable of holding the liquid sealing material in position in the compartment formed around the tubes, so as to ensure a sufficient quantity of sealing material to polymerize without the need to add larger quantities.

The main object of the present invention is thus an electric radiator, comprising a plurality of heating elements extending mainly in a longitudinal direction and a control box having receiving compartments each receiving a longitudinal end of a heating element, the box control being configured to transmit electric current to at least one of the heating elements. According to the invention, a bottom wall of a receiving compartment is formed by a retention joint molded onto the control box, the heating element received in this receiving compartment extending through this retention joint.

The electric radiator according to the invention is intended to equip a vehicle, for example a motor vehicle, so as to provide a passenger compartment of this vehicle with heated air after its passage through the electric radiator. The electric radiator extends in a main extension direction which corresponds to a longitudinal direction. It is controlled via a control box, or electronic control interface, which is arranged at a first longitudinal end of the electric radiator. This control box is capable of transmitting an electric current to a heating body of the electric radiator.

The heating body comprises on the one hand heating elements, which in particular comprise tubes and resistive elements housed inside these tubes, and on the other hand radiant elements, these heating elements and these radiant elements extending mainly in the longitudinal direction and being arranged alternately within the heating body in a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The heating body is placed within the electric radiator so that at least one end portion of its heating elements is arranged within the control box, which allows the passage of electric current from this control box to the body heating.

More particularly, the ends of the heating elements are arranged within the control box in receiving compartments of this control box, so that each receiving compartment receives a heating element.

After assembling the heating body on the control box, a sealing material is deposited in the control box, particularly in each receiving compartment. The purpose of this material, once heated and polymerized, is to fill the receiving compartment to avoid potential leaks between a heating element and an edge delimiting a passage for this heating element and to ensure the sealing of the electric radiator.

The sealing material is in liquid form before it is frozen in position around the heating elements, and the retention joint provided according to the invention makes it possible to prevent this sealing material from flowing out of the compartment. reception due to its liquid state. This retention seal is overmolded on the control box, more particularly in each receiving compartment, and it helps to form a bottom wall of this receiving compartment, entirely or in addition to another wall of the control box. The retention joint is not intended to form other walls of the control box than this bottom wall. To allow the heating element to be received within the receiving compartment, the retention joint is provided with an orifice. This orifice allows the heating element to pass through the bottom wall formed by the retention seal.

According to one characteristic of the invention, the retention seal has an internal edge in contact with the heating element and an external edge in contact with a wall of the receiving compartment.

The external edge is in contact with the wall of the receiving compartment due to the production of the retention joint by overmolding on the control box. The internal edge defines, as mentioned previously, an opening which allows the passage of the heating element. Thus, the retention joint is sized to ensure that the internal edge, opposite the external edge, is in contact with the heating element placed within the receiving compartment. The retention joint is made of a flexible material allowing appropriate elastic deformation of the joint so that the internal edge is in contact with the heating element. There is thus a complementarity of shapes between on the one hand the profile defined by the internal edge of the retention seal, and on the other hand the profile of the heating element in contact with this internal edge. Such complementarity of shapes ensures friction of the heating element against the internal edge during its insertion into the receiving compartment.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the retention seal extends along the entire perimeter of the heating element.

In other words, the internal edge of the retention seal extends over an entire periphery of the heating element when this heating element is seen along a transverse sectional plane, that is to say perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. . Additionally, the retention seal follows a contour of the heating element; the shape of the retention joint is therefore adapted to the shape of the tube. To do this, the retention seal can, prior to its overmolding on the control box, be shaped so as to follow the contour of the heating element when it is inserted into the receiving compartment.

According to one characteristic, a radiant element is inserted between two heating elements, the longitudinal end of the heating elements received in the receiving compartment being devoid of radiant element.

The radiant elements, which are inserted between two adjacent heating elements, have a longitudinal dimension which is smaller than a longitudinal dimension of the heating elements. Thus, the radiant elements do not extend to the longitudinal end of the heating elements which is in the receiving compartment, and these heating elements are therefore not arranged within the control box. This results in a clearance zone at the longitudinal end of the heating elements, in which the heating elements are devoid of radiant elements and which corresponds to their portion which will be in contact with the retention joint. This clearance zone also corresponds to the portion of the heating elements which is placed in the receiving compartment of the control box.

According to one characteristic of the invention, the retention joint is inclined so that it moves further and further away from the wall of the receiving compartment as the radiant elements move away.

In other words, the closer to the radiant elements the retention seal is the closer to the wall of the receiving compartment of the control box on which it is molded, and the further away from the radiant elements the more the seal retention moves away from the wall of the receiving compartment. Such a feature forms a ramp which facilitates insertion of the tubes within the passage orifice formed by the retention joint during assembly of the electric radiator.

According to an alternative characteristic of the invention, the retention joint is planar and extends mainly in a transverse direction. In this context, the retention joint has a substantially equivalent shape between the rest shape, or standard shape, once overmolded on the control box, and the working shape engaged on the side partitions of the heating element to form a waterproof housing for receiving the liquid sealing material. We understand here that work form and rest form are both plane. Conversely, when the retention joint has a ramp as its working form as mentioned previously, its original shape can be either an inclined shape, to which the ramp is already formed, or a planar shape, in which case the ramp may be formed during insertion of the heating element within the receiving compartment and more particularly within the orifice formed by the retention seal.

According to one characteristic of the invention, the heating element has four side partitions, two of these partitions opposite each other each having a groove shape, the internal edge of the retention seal following the groove shape of the two opposing partitions.

Such a groove shape results in particular from a deformation or preformation of the heating element before assembly of the electric radiator, by a bending operation which makes it possible to bring together and bring into contact the constituent elements of the heating element to ensure the passage of electric current and calories within it. This groove generates a deformation towards the interior of the tube when this tube is viewed along a transverse cutting plane, which therefore reduces the internal volume of the tube. Such a groove can for example have a V shape, one point of this V being directed towards the inside of the tube. The internal edge of the retention joint can be shaped before overmolding the retention joint on the control box, so that the internal edge follows the shape of the heating element all around. This internal edge then also presents, locally, a V shape.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the external edge is straight.

This external edge is straight since it is in contact with the wall of the receiving compartment, which is also straight. The external edge is therefore straight to within manufacturing tolerances. It is understood that when the internal edge follows the groove shape of the two side partitions of the heating element while the external edge is straight, the retention joint has a thickness, that is to say a dimension measured perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, which is not constant all around the heating element. More precisely, the thickness of the retention joint is greater for its portion which faces the side partitions comprising a furrow.

According to one characteristic of the invention, the retention seal is made of an elastomeric material.

According to one characteristic, the heating element comprises a tube within which at least electrodes and resistive elements are housed, the retention seal being in contact with an external face of the tube.

The invention further relates to a method for obtaining an electric radiator as mentioned above, comprising a brazing step during which the heating elements are brazed to radiant elements to form a heating body of the electric radiator, an overmolding step during which at least one retention seal is overmolded on the control box, an assembly step during which the heating body is placed in the control box with the heating elements which are inserted into through the retention joint to open into one of the reception compartments, a bottom wall of which is formed by the retention joint, and a filling step during which a liquid sealing material is deposited in each of the retention compartments. reception.

According to one characteristic, the method of obtaining comprises a bending step during which the heating element is deformed so that two of its opposite partitions having a furrow shape are brought closer to each other, the step bending being prior to the assembly stage.

According to one characteristic, the liquid sealing material is an elastomer. Alternatively, the liquid sealant material is silicone. It is understood here that for certain embodiments, the retention seal and the liquid sealing material are made of the same material, while for certain other embodiments they are made of distinct materials. When the retention seal and the sealing material are both made of an elastomer, this elastomer may for example have different degrees of hardness, so that the elastomer used for the retention seal is considered to be in a state solid while that used for sealing material is considered to be in a liquid state.

According to one characteristic, during the overmolding step, each retention seal is overmolded on the control box in a single overmolding operation. It is understood here that all of the retention joints, respectively arranged within the control box and therefore respectively intended to partially or entirely form a bottom wall of a receiving compartment can, for reasons of speed of the manufacturing process in particular, be carried out during the same operation.

Other characteristics, details and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly on reading the description which follows on the one hand, and examples of embodiment given for informational and non-limiting purposes with reference to the appended drawings on the other hand. , on which ones :

illustrates, schematically and partially, an electric radiator according to the invention, in a front view which makes visible a heating body and part of a control box of this electric radiator;

is a sectional view of the electric radiator of the , according to a first embodiment, making visible in particular a longitudinal end of the heating body and a part of the control box;

is a perspective view of the electric radiator of the , according to a second embodiment, which differs in particular from the first embodiment due to the shape of an overmolded retention joint according to the invention on the control box receiving the heating body, the view making visible in particular a longitudinal end of the heating body and part of the control box;

is a sectional view of the assembly shown on the ;

illustrates, schematically, a top view of the assembly shown in Figures 3 and 4.

The characteristics, variants and different embodiments of the invention can be associated with each other, in various combinations, to the extent that they are not incompatible or exclusive with respect to each other. In particular, it will be possible to imagine variants of the invention comprising only a selection of characteristics described subsequently in isolation from the other characteristics described, if this selection of characteristics is sufficient to confer a technical advantage and/or to differentiate the invention. compared to the prior art.

In the figures, elements common to several figures retain the same reference.

In the detailed description which follows, the terms “longitudinal”, “transverse” and “vertical” refer to the orientation of an electric radiator according to the invention. A longitudinal direction corresponds to a main extension direction of the electric radiator, this longitudinal direction being parallel to a longitudinal axis L of a mark L, V, T illustrated in the figures. A transverse direction corresponds to a direction in which the heating elements and the radiant elements are arranged alternately, this transverse direction being parallel to a transverse axis T of the mark L, V, T and this transverse axis T being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L. Finally, a vertical direction corresponds to a direction parallel to a vertical axis V of the reference L, V, T, this vertical axis V being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L and to the transverse axis T.

There thus illustrates, schematically, an electric radiator 1 according to the invention. This electric radiator 1 is capable of transforming an electric current into thermal energy, so as to heat a flow of air circulating through it. The electric radiator 1 can thus be fitted to a vehicle, for example a motor vehicle, in order to regulate a temperature within a passenger compartment of this vehicle. The electric radiator 1 can for this purpose be part of a ventilation, heating and/or air conditioning installation capable of conveying fresh air to the electric radiator 1 then of conveying air treated by the electric radiator 1 to desired areas of the passenger compartment.

The electric radiator 1 has a main extension dimension which corresponds to a longitudinal direction. It thus extends from a first longitudinal end 2 to a second longitudinal end 4. At its first longitudinal end 2, the electric radiator 1 comprises a control box 6. This control box 6 corresponds to an electronic control interface , which allows the electrical connection of the electric radiator 1 to an electrical network of the vehicle. The control box 6 consists of a box for receiving electronic components configured to receive information, process it and generate a control instruction for controlling the electric radiator 1. The control box 6 can for this purpose comprise a circuit card printed and connection means, which are not shown in the figures, the control box being shown here partially.

The control box 6 is connected to a heating body, which may in particular include a frame 8 without this being limiting, the heating body or the frame where appropriate comprising means of fixing, for example by snap-fastening, with the housing control 6. In the example illustrated, the frame 8 constitutes a receiving housing for the heating body 10 of the electric radiator 1.

The heating body 10 is formed of a plurality of heating elements 12 arranged next to each other to form a zone capable of being crossed by a flow of air to be heated. The heating elements 12 extend mainly in the longitudinal direction between a proximal end near the control box 6 and a distal end at a distance therefrom, these proximal and distal ends of the heating elements 12 constituting their longitudinal ends. In other words, the proximal end of the heating elements 12 faces the first longitudinal end 2 of the electric radiator 1 while their distal end is close to the second longitudinal end 4 of this electric radiator 1. These heating elements 12 are arranged next to each other within the heating body 10, so that they are aligned in the transverse direction.

In the example illustrated and as visible in the , each of these heating elements 12 comprises a tube 14 inside which is arranged a pair of electrodes 16 enclosing resistive elements 18 with a positive temperature coefficient, such as for example CTP stones or ceramics. More precisely, each tube 14 has four lateral partitions 19, including two vertical partitions 19A arranged in opposition and against an internal face from which the electrodes 16 extend, and two transverse partitions 19B connecting the other two in pairs. The vertical partitions 19A each form a large face of the tube 14, these large faces facing each other between two neighboring tubes 14, and the transverse partitions 19B each form a small face. The heating elements 12, if they are shown with their constituent elements in the , are illustrated in a simplified manner in the other figures only in the form of their tubes 14, without the components arranged between the partitions of the tube 14 being represented.

The control box 6 is electrically and/or electronically connected to at least one of the heating elements 12 to transmit a control instruction to it. Here, and as visible in , each heating element 12 comprises at its proximal end a connection member 17 with the control box 6, this connection member 17 extending one of the electrodes of the heating element and being configured to be connected to the printed circuit board. It is understood that the connection member 17 makes it possible to ensure electrical and/or electronic communication between the associated heating element 12 and the control box 6.

A radiant element 20 is inserted between two adjacent heating elements 12 in the transverse direction, so that there is an alternation between the heating elements 12 and the radiant elements 20 within the heating body 10. More precisely, each of the radiant elements 20 is arranged between the vertical partition 19A of a first tube 14 and the vertical partition 19A of a second tube 14 which is adjacent to it. The heating elements 12 and the radiant elements 20 can be assembled together, in particular by brazing. The purpose of these radiant elements 20 is to increase the exchange surface with the air passing through the electric radiator 1, the air being caused to recover calories released from the radiant elements 20 made hot by thermal conduction from the resistive elements 18 As is particularly visible in Figures 3 and 4, these radiant elements 20 can be made of corrugated sheet metal and take the form of fins to optimize the exchange of calories between the heating body 10 and the air passing through. through the latter.

As mentioned previously, the proximal end of the heating elements 12 corresponds to their end which is close to the first longitudinal end 2 of the electric radiator 1. More precisely, the proximal end of the heating elements 12 is arranged within the housing of control 6. To this end, the control box 6 comprises receiving compartments 22 for the heating elements 12, each of the heating elements 12 here being received in one of these receiving compartments 22.

The receiving compartments 22 are formed in particular by a peripheral wall 23 of the control box 6, which delimits a housing for the heating elements 12 with respect to an exterior of the electric radiator 1. The receiving compartments 22 are further formed by sections through sections 25 which extend within the control box 6 mainly along a longitudinal and vertical plane to connect opposite sides of the peripheral wall 23, such through sections 25 being parallel to each other and arranged at regular intervals in the direction transversal. It is understood that if the two receiving compartments 22 arranged at the ends of the control box 6 in the transverse direction are delimited by the internal wall 23 and a single through section 25, the other receiving compartments 22 arranged between these two receiving compartments 22 end are delimited by the internal wall 23 in the vertical direction and by two neighboring through sections 25 in the transverse direction.

As is particularly visible in the , the radiant elements 20 have a reduced longitudinal dimension compared to a longitudinal dimension of the heating elements 12 measured between their proximal and distal ends. More particularly, the radiant elements 20 do not extend longitudinally to the control box 6, thus forming a clearance zone in which the heating elements, and in particular the tubes 14, are devoid of radiant elements 20. This results in that, among the heating elements 12 and the radiant elements 20, the receiving compartments 22 of the control box 6 only receive the heating elements 12.

According to the invention, a bottom wall of a receiving compartment 22 is formed by a retention seal 24 overmolded on the control box 6, this retention seal 24 also surrounding the heating element 12 as well as the receiving compartment. 22 receives. The retention seal 24 is more particularly molded onto the walls of the control box so as to form a bottom wall of the receiving compartments 22 of the control box 6. Here, each of the receiving compartments 22 has a retention seal 24 forming its bottom wall, so that there is a retention seal 24 around each of the heating elements 12, one end of which is intended to be housed in a receiving compartment. We could, however, imagine, without departing from the scope of the invention, a single retention joint 24 which would form in one piece the bottom wall of each of the receiving compartments 22.

The retention joint 24 will now be described in more detail in relation to Figures 2 to 5. The corresponds to a first embodiment of the retention joint 24 according to the invention, a second embodiment being illustrated in Figures 3 to 5. The purpose of this retention joint 24 is in particular the retention of a liquid sealing material which is deposited within the reception compartments 22.

Whatever the embodiment, the retention seal 24 can be made of an elastomeric material. This retention joint 24 comprises an internal edge 26 and an external edge 28, the internal edge 26 corresponding to its end which is placed in contact with a heating element 12 while the external edge 28 corresponds to its end which is directly in contact , by an overmolding operation, of a wall of the control box 6 to form a bottom wall of a receiving compartment 22. The internal edge 26 and the external edge 28 can thus be considered as lateral ends of the seal. retention 24. It is further understood that the retention joint 24 extends between these lateral ends from either the internal wall 23, or one of the through sections 25 delimiting the receiving compartments 22, and this up to the element heating 12 corresponding.

As is particularly visible in the , the retention joint 24 extends along the entire perimeter of the heating element 12. In other words, the retention joint 24 is in contact with each of the side partitions 19 of the heating element 12, c that is to say on its entire periphery. In addition, the retention joint 24 follows this periphery of the heating element 12 and matches its shape. For this purpose, the retention joint 24 can be shaped, prior to its overmolding, so as to have a shape complementary to that of the periphery of the heating element 12. It is understood here that the shape of the retention joint 24 is adapted and adjusted to the shape of the tube 14. There is thus a complementarity of shapes between on the one hand the profile defined by the internal edge 26 of the retention joint 24, and on the other hand the profile of the heating element 12 in contact with this internal edge 26. In addition, this internal edge 26 delimits a passage orifice for the heating element 12 within the retention joint 42 in order to allow its insertion therein and in the receiving compartment 22.

The tube 14 presents here, on each of its two transverse partitions 19B, that is to say its side partitions 19 which are opposite in the vertical direction, a furrow shape. Such a groove shape is particularly visible in Figures 3 and 5. This groove shape can result from a deformation undergone by the tube 14 during a bending operation of the heating elements 12 of the heating body 10, during which the transverse partitions 19B of this tube 14 are deformed to bring the vertical partitions 19A closer to each other in order to ensure contact between the electrodes 16 and the resistive elements 18 arranged within it. The shape of the groove can correspond, as illustrated here, to a V shape, a point of this V being directed towards an interior of the tube 14 which houses the electrodes 16 as well as the resistive elements 18. If each of the heating elements 12 of the heating body 10 here has the shape of a furrow, this shape is however not identical from one tube 14 to another. It is understood here that there is a dispersion of the shape of the tubes 14 and more generally of the heating elements 12 after the aforementioned bending operation. In a schematic and exaggerated manner to facilitate the reader's understanding, the illustrates that the heating element 12 disposed in one of the end receiving compartments 22 of the control box 6 has a less pronounced groove shape than the heating element 12 which is adjacent to it.

As mentioned previously, the internal edge 26 of the retention seal 24 is in contact with the heating element and the retention seal 24 has a shape adapted to that of the tube of the heating element 12, so that the internal edge 26 of the retention joint 24 follows the groove shape of the two transverse partitions 19B; thus, the retention joint 24 also has groove shapes opposite those of the tube 14.

In the first embodiment, unlike the internal edge 26, the external edge 28 is straight, i.e. it does not have a furrow shape. As a result, the thickness of the retention joint 24, measured between its internal edge 26 and its external edge 28 in a vertical and transverse plane, is not constant. More particularly, the retention joint 24 has a greater thickness facing the two transverse partitions 19B of the tube 14 compared to its thickness facing the two vertical partitions 19A of this tube 14.

According to the first embodiment and as illustrated in , the retention joint 24 has a substantially rectangular section when viewed along a longitudinal-transverse sectional plane. In other words, the retention joint 24 has a substantially constant transverse dimension, with a transverse dimension of the retention joint 24 measured closest to the radiant elements 20 which is equal to a transverse dimension of this retention joint 24 measured at distance from these radiant elements 20. Furthermore, a longitudinal dimension of the retention joint 24 measured along its internal edge 26 is equal to a longitudinal dimension of the retention joint 24 measured along its external edge 28. The retention joint 24 is therefore, according to this first embodiment, plan.

The second embodiment illustrated in Figures 3 to 5 differs from the first embodiment in that the retention seal 24 moves further and further away from the wall of the receiving compartment 22 as the radiant elements 20. In other words, near these radiant elements 20 the retention seal 24 is closest to the wall of the receiving compartment 22 of the control box 6 on which it is molded, while at a distance from these radiant elements 20 the receiving joint 24 is further away. The retention joint 24 therefore has an inclined profile. Such an inclination is particularly visible in the sectional view of the , on which the internal edge 26 and the external edge 28 of the retention joint 24 are connected by an inclined section which extends in a intersecting plane but not perpendicular to the side partitions 19 of the tube 14 of the heating element 12 with which this retention joint 24 is in contact.

The assembly of the electric radiator 1 will now be described. A method of obtaining the electric radiator 1 according to the invention comprises a step of manufacturing the heating elements 12 during which these heating elements 12 undergo a bending step, the tubes 14 of the heating elements 12 being deformed such that the electrodes 16 and the resistive elements 18 previously arranged within each of the tubes 14 are pressed against each other.

The heating elements 12 thus obtained then undergo a brazing step, by which they are made integral with the radiant elements 20 in order to form the heating body 10 of the electric radiator 1. For this purpose, the heating elements 12 and the radiant elements 20 are arranged alternately along the transverse direction, so that a radiant element 20 is interposed between two neighboring heating elements 12.

The method of obtaining the electric radiator 1 subsequently comprises an overmolding step, during which at least one retention seal 24 is overmolded on the control box 6 to form the bottom wall of one of the compartments. reception 22. The overmolding operation can be such that a plurality of retention seals 24 distinct from each other is overmolded on the control box to form a plurality of bottom walls of reception compartments 22 or such that a single retention joint 24 is made so as to form in one piece the bottom wall of each of the receiving compartments 22.

Once the overmolding has been carried out, the heating body 10 of the electric radiator 1 can be placed in the control box 6, the heating elements 12 being inserted through the retention joint 24. The control box 6 can then be associated with the body heating element 10 during an assembly step, each heating element 12 of this heating body 10 being received by a receiving compartment 22 of the control box 6 whose bottom wall is formed by the presence of the retention seal 24 before inserting the heating element. The retention joint 24, which has an internal edge configured for this purpose, is then engaged around each heating element 12, and more particularly around a tube 14 participating in forming this heating element 12, in a clearance zone in which the tube is devoid of radiant elements.

After the assembly step, the control box 6 is filled at least partly with a liquid sealing material. This liquid sealing material, for example an elastomer or silicone, is more precisely deposited in each of the receiving compartments 22, in particular contact with the bottom wall of each of the receiving compartments 22 formed by the retention seal 24.

The retention seal 24 thus has the effect of preventing a flow of this liquid sealing material within the electric radiator 1, and for example between the partitions of a tube 14 and the walls delimiting the receiving compartment 22, in forming for this purpose the bottom wall of the corresponding receiving compartment 22.

The present invention thus proposes an electric radiator having at least one retention joint molded within an electronic control box on a compartment receiving a heating element, this retention joint being dimensioned to be adjusted around an element heating it passing through and thus being capable of maintaining in position a liquid sealing material within the control box at the junction between this control box and the heating elements, thus ensuring the sealing of the electric radiator.

The present invention cannot, however, be limited to the means and configurations described and illustrated here and it also extends to any equivalent means and configuration as well as to any technically effective combination of such means.

Claims (10)

Electric radiator (1), comprising a plurality of heating elements (12) extending mainly in a longitudinal direction and a control box (6) having receiving compartments (22) each receiving a longitudinal end of a heating element (12), the control box (6) being configured to transmit electric current to at least one of the heating elements (12), the electric radiator (1) being characterized in that a bottom wall of a receiving compartment (22) is formed by a retention seal (24) molded onto the control box (6), the heating element (12) received in this receiving compartment (22) extending through this seal retention (24). Electric radiator (1) according to the preceding claim, in which the retention joint (24) has an internal edge (26) in contact with the heating element (12) and an external edge (28) in contact with a wall of the receiving compartment (22). Electric radiator (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the retention seal (24) extends along the entire perimeter of the heating element (12). Electric radiator (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which a radiant element (20) is interposed between two heating elements (12), the longitudinal end of the heating elements (12) received in the receiving compartment (22 ) being devoid of radiant element (20). Electric radiator (1) according to the preceding claim, in which the retention joint (24) is inclined so that it moves further and further away from the wall of the receiving compartment (22) as it progresses. distance from the radiant elements (20). Electric radiator (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in combination with claim 2, in which the heating element (12) has four side partitions (19, 19A, 19B), two of these partitions (19B) opposite one to the other each having a furrow shape, the internal edge (26) of the retention joint (24) following the furrow shape of the two opposite partitions (19B). Electric radiator (1) according to any one of the preceding claims in combination with claim 2, wherein the outer edge (28) is straight. Electric radiator (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the retention seal (24) is made of an elastomeric material. Electric radiator (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the heating element (12) comprises a tube (14) within which are housed at least electrodes (16) and resistive elements (18), the retention seal (24) being in contact with an external face of the tube (14). Method for obtaining an electric radiator (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, comprising a brazing step during which the heating elements (12) are brazed to radiant elements (20) to form a heating body (10) of the electric radiator, an overmolding step during which at least one retention seal (24) is overmolded on the control box (6), an assembly step during which the body of heater (10) is arranged in the control box (6) with the heating elements (12) which are inserted through the retention joint (24) to open into one of the reception compartments (22) including a wall of bottom is formed by the retention seal (24), and a filling step during which a liquid sealing material is deposited in each of the receiving compartments (22).