Heat sink, associated heating module and corresponding assembly method

Abstract

The invention relates to a heat sink of a heating module ( 3 ) for an electric heating device ( 1 ) for heating an air flow, said heating module ( 3 ) comprising at least one heating element ( 5 ). The heat sink ( 7 ) is designed to be passed through by the air flow and to transmit the heat from the heating element ( 5 ) to the air flow to be heated. According to the invention, the heat sink ( 7 ) is a single block having at least one housing ( 9 ) for receiving at least one heating element ( 5 ), said housing ( 9 ) having at least one opening in a face of the sink that is intended to be in contact with the air flow. The invention also relates to a heating module ( 3 ) comprising at least one heating element ( 5 ) and such a heat sink ( 7 ). The invention also relates to a method for assembling such a heating module ( 3 ).

1 . A heat dissipater of a heating module for an electric heating device for a flow of air, said heating module comprising at least one heating element wherein:
 the heat dissipater is configured to be passed through by the flow of air and to transmit the heat from the heating element to the flow of air to be heated, and   the heat dissipater is a unitary block having at least one housing for receiving at least one heating element, the housing having at least one opening formed on a face of said dissipater intended to be in contact with the flow of air.   
     
     
         2 . The dissipater as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the dissipater is produced in a single piece. 
     
     
         3 . The dissipater as claimed in  claim 1 , having an airflow inlet face and an airflow outlet face, and in which the housing has at least one opening formed on the airflow outlet face of said dissipater. 
     
     
         4 . The dissipater as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the reception housing has a substantially “U”-shaped transverse section. 
     
     
         5 . The dissipater as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the heating element is arranged in thermal and electrical contact with the dissipater and wherein an electrode is positioned in the housing in electrical contact with the heating element. 
     
     
         6 . The dissipater as claimed in  claim 5 , further comprising a layer of electrical insulation positioned in the housing for mechanically closing the housing. 
     
     
         7 . The dissipater as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one heat dissipation area distinct from the reception housing. 
     
     
         8 . The dissipater as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the heat dissipation area has louvers. 
     
     
         9 . The dissipater as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the heat dissipation area comprises dissipation fins. 
     
     
         10 . The dissipater as claimed in  claim 1 , having an alternation of heat dissipation areas and of reception housings for at least one heating element. 
     
     
         11 . The dissipater as claimed in  claim 1 , produced in the form of a support plate. 
     
     
         12 . A heating module of an electric heating device for heating a flow of air passing through said heating module, said heating module comprising:
 at least one heating element; and   a heat dissipater configured to be passed through by the flow of air and to transmit the heat from the heating element to the flow of air to be heated,   wherein the heat dissipater is a unitary block having at least one reception housing for at least one heating element, and forming a support for said at least one heating element, the housing having at least one opening formed on a face of said dissipater intended to be in contact with the flow of air.   
     
     
         13 . The heating module as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the heating element is a resistive element. 
     
     
         14 . The heating module as claimed in  claim 12 , comprising at least one electrode in contact with the heating element. 
     
     
         15 . The heating module as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the heat dissipater receives, in a reception housing, at least one heating element arranged between the heat dissipater and an electrode plate. 
     
     
         16 . The heating module as claimed in  claim 14 , further comprising at least one heating structure comprising a predefined number of heating elements and two electrode plates on either side of the heating elements, and in which a heating structure is received in a reception housing of the heat dissipater. 
     
     
         17 . A method for assembling a heating module for an electric heating device for a flow of air, comprising:
 producing a heat dissipater in the form of a unitary block comprising at least one reception housing for at least one heating element and at least one heat dissipation area, the housing having at least one opening formed on a face of said dissipater configured to contact a flow of air passing through said dissipater, and   arranging at least one heating element in an associated reception housing of the heat dissipater.   
     
     
         18 . The method as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the heat dissipater is produced in a single piece from a metal material by stamping or casting. 
     
     
         19 . The method as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein louvers are produced by folding on the heat dissipation area. 
     
     
         20 . The method as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein an electrode plate is arranged on said at least one heating element arranged in a reception housing of the heat dissipater. 
     
     
         21 . The method as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein a layer of electrical insulation is arranged on the electrode plate and said at least one heating element arranged in a reception housing of the heat dissipater, such as a layer of silicone. 
     
     
         22 . The method as claimed in  claim 17 , further comprising a step prior to the step of arrangement of at least one heating element in the associated reception housing of the heat dissipater, in which bonding agent is placed in said at least one housing of the heat dissipater. 
     
     
         23 . The method as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein dissipation fins are produced in a single piece with said dissipater by casting. 
     
     
         24 . The method as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein dissipation fins are assembled on the heat dissipation area, by brazing or bonding. 
     
     
         25 . The method as claimed in  claim 17 , further comprising:
 assembling two electrode plates on either side of a predetermined number of heating elements to form a heating structure, and   inserting the heating structure into an associated housing of the heat dissipater.