EP0383642A1 - Electric heating apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Electric heating appliance comprising at least one electric heating resistor (24) disposed in a sheet metal body (1) provided with an air inlet at its lower part and an air outlet at its upper part, characterized in that the body (1) is constituted by a double-walled hollow element, in the form of a gutter (2,3) provided with end walls (14,15) and at least one opening (12) d air inlet and defining a first volume (20) of air intake, in that the electrical resistance (24) is mounted on the concave part of the double wall element in the shape of a gutter (2,3 ) outside of it, a perforated panel (30) being disposed on said hollow wall and defining therewith a second volume (33) of air heating by convection and of direct radiation from the heat by the resistance through the perforations of the perforated panel, at least one opening (35,36) being formed in s said hollow element (2,3) for communicating the first and second volumes (20,33) and at least one passage (31c) for evacuating hot air being formed between the hollow element (2,3) and a side edge of the pegboard (30).

Description

The present invention relates to electric heaters and relates more particularly to heaters comprising electric resistors with heat dissipation fins.

Electric convection heaters are known, also called convectors, comprising one or more electrical heating resistors arranged in a sheet metal body defining an air circulation path in contact with the heating resistance (s), starting from an air inlet situated at the lower part of the body, up to an air outlet situated at the upper part of said body.

The electric resistances of such convectors are supplied with electric current from the mains by means of thermostatic means also arranged in the body of the appliance.

Electric radiant heaters are also known, the electrical resistances of which are brought to red when they are supplied.

The electrical resistors are placed in front of a surface reflecting the radiation so that the heat emitted by the resistors is projected into the room.

There are also heating devices in the form of radiant panels generally consisting of enamelled sheet metal plates to which electrical heating resistors are applied.

A drawback of known heating devices lies in the fact that they are very bulky, in particular on the surface so that their installation on a wall of a room takes a significant place.

Furthermore, due to their large size, conventional convectors are relatively unsightly.

As for visible radiation devices, they are difficult to use in residential premises due in particular to the danger represented by their apparent resistance brought to red.

The invention aims to remedy the drawbacks of known electric heaters by creating an electric heater which, while being of improved aesthetics, has an increased heating capacity and a reduced volume.

The subject of the invention is an electric heating appliance comprising at least one electric heating resistor arranged in a sheet metal body provided with an air inlet at its lower part and an air outlet at its upper part , characterized in that the body is constituted by a double-walled hollow element, in the form of a gutter provided with end walls and at least one air intake opening and defining a first intake volume for air, in that the electrical resistance is mounted on the concave part of the double wall element in the form of a gutter on the outside thereof, a perforated panel being disposed on said hollow wall and defining therewith a second volume for heating the air by convection and for direct radiation of the heat by the resistance through the perforations of the perforated panel, at least one opening being formed in said hollow element in order to put in place communication the first and second volumes and at least one passage exhaust air being formed between the hollow member and a side edge of the perforated panel.

According to a particular characteristic of the invention, the double-walled hollow element consists of a sole provided with means for fixing to a wall, a section of metal profile provided with two end flanges, fixed to the sole and defining with the sole, the first air intake volume, the electrical resistance being mounted on the face of the profile section opposite to said first volume, the perforated resistance protection panel fixed to the profile section, defining with the portion of the section profile to which it is attached the second volume of air heating, by convection and direct radiation of heat by the resistance through its perforations, the first volume being placed in communication with the outside via at least a first opening made in a lower part of the profile section while the second volume is placed in communication with the p remier volume by at least a second opening formed in a wall of the profile section ensuring the separation between said first and second volumes and the second volume is placed in communication with the outside by at least one passage formed between a lateral edge of the perforated panel and a wing of the profile section.

• - la Fig.1 est une vue en perspective écla­tée d'un appareil de chauffage électrique suivant l'invention;
• - la Fig.2 est une vue en perspective d'un mode de réalisation particulier de résistance élec­trique utilisée dans l'appareil de la Fig.1;
• - la Fig.3 est une vue schématique en coupe transversale de l'appareil de chauffage suivant l'invention; et
• - la Fig.4 est une vue schématique partielle en perspective d'une variante d'un tronçon de profilé entrant dans la construction de l'appareil de chauf­fage suivant l'invention.

The invention will be better understood with the aid of the description which follows, given solely by way of example and made with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

• - Fig.1 is an exploded perspective view of an electric heater according to the invention;
• - Fig.2 is a perspective view of a particular embodiment of electrical resistance used in the apparatus of Fig.1;
• - Fig.3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the heating device according to the invention; and
• - Fig.4 is a partial schematic perspective view of a variant of a section of profile used in the construction of the heating device according to the invention.

The electric heating appliance shown in Fig. 1 mainly comprises a body designated by the general reference 1, this body being formed by a double-walled hollow element, in the form of a gutter, comprising a sole 2 constituted by a metal plate of generally rectangular shape, intended to be fixed to the wall of a room to be fitted with the apparatus according to the invention and on which is fixed a part 3 which constitutes the main element of the apparatus and which is constituted by a section profile comprising a flat rectangular core 4 and two lateral wings 5.

Each of the lateral wings 5 comprises a first part 6 inclined with respect to the core 4 and moving away from the latter, a second part 7 extending the first part 6 and folded back behind the core 4 to form a lateral channel 8, the second part 7 being in turn extended by a third approximately flat part 9 extending parallel to the corresponding first part 6.

The third part 9 is terminated by a rim 10 parallel to the core 4 and provided at its ends with lugs 11 folded inwards.

In the third inclined part 9 of the wing 5 intended to form the lower part of the body 1, are formed rectangular orifices 12 for admission of fresh air.

Edges 13 are provided at the ends of the core 4 of the profile section 3 for fixing to the profile section, for example by welding, end plates 14 and 15. The tabs 11 provided at the ends of the edges 10 of the third parts 9 of each of the wings 5 are also provided to constitute fixing points by welding of these same flanges.

Each of the flanges 14 and 15 has a re-entrant flange 16, 17, folded at a right angle, intended to be engaged between the flanges 10 of the section of section 3 and provided with holes 18 for receiving hooks 19 for removable fixing of the section of sections 3 provided with its end flanges 14, 15 on the sole 2.

The sole 2 and the profile section 3 provided with its flanges 14 and 15, define a first volume 20 for air admission into the body 1 of the device. In the core 4, rectangular orifices 21 are provided for receiving insulating parts 22 for fixing supports 23 for heating resistors 24.

The electric heating resistors 24 are fixed to the core 4 of the profile section 3 opposite the first volume 20 for admitting fresh air into the body 1 of the device.

The resistance supports 23 consist of metal parts allowing expansion. Each of the supports 23 comprises a base 25 by which it is fixed to the insulating part 22 and two branches 26 and 27 extending respectively upwards and downwards having an elasticity transversely to their direction, and provided respectively with inclined surfaces 28 and 29 for receiving each of the resistors 24.

Thus, once mounted, the resistors 24 are slightly inclined upwards, which allows the radiated heat to be directed more towards the center of the room to be heated.

The body 1 of the device is completed by a front panel 30 made of perforated sheet metal and provided with end flanges 31 by which it is fixed to the profile section 3 equipped with its end flanges 14 and 15 by engagement of these end flanges 31 on hooks 32 produced by cutting and localized folding of the sheet metal of the flanges 14 and 15.

It also has lateral flanges 31a provided with perforations and defining with the first parts 6 of the wings 5 of the profile section a lower passage 31b for fresh air inlet and an upper passage 31c for hot air outlet (Fig.3 ).

The front panel 30 serves as a protection panel for the resistors 24 and defines, with the portion of the profile section 3 which it covers and the end plates 14 and 15, a second volume 33 for heating the air in contact with the electric heating resistors 24 and for evacuating this air heated by the passage 31c defined between the lateral rim 31a and the first part 6 of the upper wing 5 of the profile section.

The communication of the first fresh air intake volume 20 with the second volume 33 for heating and evacuating the hot air is ensured by two series of orifices 35, 36 formed at the bottom and at the upper part of the core 4 of the profile section.

The orifices 36 formed in the upper part of the core 4 are further intended for the admission of relatively fresh air into the upper part of the body 1 of the apparatus in order to avoid excessive heating of the wall of the latter. this.

The perforations 34 of the front panel 30 have the function of letting the heat emitted by radiation through the electrical heating resistors 24 pass.

The electric heating device according to the invention is completed by end cheeks 37, 38 made of electrically and thermally insulating material, of plastic material for example covering the end flanges 14 and 15 respectively and concealing the connections of these ci with the section of profile 3.

The end flange 38 also receives a control assembly comprising a thermostat, a temperature limiter and all the necessary electrical equipment. This electrical assembly is designated by the reference 39. Maneuvering buttons 40 are mounted on the cheek 38 carrying the electrical assembly 39.

The two electric heating resistors 24 are shielded electric resistors. One of these resistors is shown in more detail in Fig. 2.

It is an electrical resistance placed in a metal tube 41 trapped between a flat plate 42 directed towards the front panel 30 of the device and a perforated plate 43, provided with fins 44 produced in said plate by cutting and folding. at 90 °, these fins being directed towards the core 4 of the profile section 3.

The plates 42 and 43 are advantageously made of aluminum. In addition, the plate 43 provided with folded fins 44 has interruptions 45 at regular intervals intended to avoid noise during heating.

The resistors 24, once mounted on their support 23, their terminals 46, 47 pass through notches 48 formed in the end flanges 14, 15 and can be connected beyond these flanges, either to the sector or between them when it is a series connection, by conductors such as the conductor 49 shown in FIG. 1, which is hidden between the end flange 14 and the end cheek 37.

In the embodiment described with reference to FIG. 1, the lower resistance can have a higher power than the upper resistance, which makes it possible to have a constant surface temperature, and consequently a well distributed radiation.

The operation of the heating device according to the invention will now be described with reference to FIG. 3.

Fresh air is admitted into the first volume 20 through the series of openings 12 formed in the lower wing 5 of the profile section 4 and circulates in this volume to exit therefrom the orifices 35 and 36 in the direction indicated by the arrows F1 and enter the second volume 33 delimited by the core 4, the first parts 6 of the wings 5 of the profile section and the perforated panel 30.

Simultaneously, a smaller quantity of ambient air enters, according to the arrow f1, into the second volume 33 through the passage 31b formed between the re lateral edge 31a lower of the perforated panel 30 and the first part 6 of the lower wing 5 of the profile section 3.

In the second volume 33, the air heats up by convection in contact with the resistors 24 including the plates 43 provided with folded fins directed towards the core 4 of the section of section 3 promoting convection.

Thus heated in contact with the resistors 24, the hot air is evacuated towards the outside of the apparatus, according to arrow F2 by the passage 31c formed between the upper lateral edge 31a of the perforated panel 30 and the first part 6 of the upper wing 5 of the section of section 3.

In addition, the relatively cool air which passes through the orifices 36 formed in the upper part of the core 4 of the profile section 3 mixes with warmer air and thus avoids excessive heating of the upper part of the 'apparatus.

Furthermore, the heat radiated by the resistors 24 and in particular by their flat plates 42 facing the perforated panel passes directly towards the outside of the apparatus through the perforations 34 of the panel 30.

The device therefore operates both by radiation and by convection.

Thus, the device according to the invention has significant radiation towards the front and also dissipates heat by convection at the rear of the electrical resistances.

The fact of making the main element 3 of the device in the form of a section of profile is very advantageous for making devices of different lengths.

Indeed, to modify the length of the device, it suffices to choose a section of section 3 of appropriate length.

Of course, the sole 1 and the front panel 30 as well as the resistors 24 will have to be adapted to the new length of the section section chosen. However, all the other parts used for the production of the heating device according to the invention will be identical to those described with reference to FIG. 1.

The presence of the covers 37 and 38 at the ends of the heating device according to the invention as well as their rounded shape at the corners, makes it possible to ensure the safety of the users.

In the embodiment which has just been described, shielded electrical resistors are used having a flat plate and a plate provided with folded fins.

However, it is possible to use resistors of different construction in the apparatus and in particular resistors having flat plates on their two faces.

According to a variant shown in FIG. 4 in the part 3 in the form of a section of section, a cutout 50, rectangular for example, is provided in the roughly flat third part 9 of the upper wing 5 of the part 3.

In the cutout 50 is mounted a housing 51 of insulating material such as plastic containing an electronic device with microprocessor for heating programming and provided with a keyboard 52 and a liquid crystal display 53.

The apparatus according to the invention also has the advantage of being able to be easily installed and disassembled.

Indeed, the establishment of the device begins with the installation of the sole 1 and is followed by the simple attachment of the rest of the device on the hooks 19 provided at the ends of the sole and an appropriate locking.

Finally, due to its structure, the device lends itself to a thin construction, which considerably improves its aesthetics.

Claims (12)

1. Electric heating appliance comprising at least one electric heating resistor (24) disposed in a sheet metal body (1) provided with an air inlet at its lower part and an air outlet at its part upper, characterized in that the body (1) consists of a hollow double-walled element, in the form of a gutter (2,3) provided with end walls (14,15) and at least one opening (12 ) of air inlet and defining a first volume (20) of air intake, in that the electrical resistance (24) is mounted on the concave part of the double wall element in the shape of a gutter (2 , 3) outside of it, a perforated panel (30) being disposed on said hollow wall and defining therewith a second volume (33) of air heating by convection and direct radiation of heat by the resistance through the perforations of the perforated panel, at least one opening (35,36) being m swam in said hollow element (2,3) to communicate the first and second volumes (20,33) and at least one passage (31c) for evacuating hot air being formed between the hollow element (2,3 ) and a side edge of the perforated panel (30). 2. An electric heating device according to claim 1, characterized in that the hollow double-walled element consists of a sole (2) provided with means for fixing to a wall, a section of metal profile (3) provided with two end flanges (14,15), fixed to the sole (2) and defining with the sole, the first volume (20) of air intake, the electrical resistance (24) being mounted on the face of the section of profile (3) opposite said pre mier volume (20), the perforated resistance protection panel (30) fixed to the section of section (3), defining with the portion of the section of section to which it is fixed the second volume (33) of heating air by convection and direct radiation of heat by the resistance through its perforations (34), the first volume (20) being placed in communication with the outside via at least one first opening (12 ) formed in a lower part of the profile section while the second volume (33) is placed in communication with the first volume (20) by at least one second opening (35, 36) formed in a wall of the profile section ensuring the separation between said first and second volumes and the second volume (33) is placed in communication with the outside by at least one passage (31b, 31c) for evacuating hot air formed between a lateral edge of the perforated panel (30) and a wing (5) of the pro section spun (3). 3. An electric heating appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that the profile section (3) comprises a flat rectangular core (4) on which said resistor (24) is fixed and lateral wings (5) each comprising a first part (6) inclined relative to the core and moving away from it, a second part (7) extending the first part (6) and folded back behind the core (4) to form a lateral channel (8) , the second part (7) being in turn extended by a third approximately flat part (9) extending parallel to the corresponding first part (6). 4. Electric heating appliance according to one of claims 2 and 3, characterized in that said at least one fresh air inlet orifice is consisting of a series of openings (12) formed in the third part (9) of one of the wings (5) of the profile section (3). 5. Heating device according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that said at least one opening for communication between the first and second volumes (20,33) is constituted by at least one series of orifices (35 ), arranged in the lower part of the core (4) of the profile section. 6. An electric heating appliance according to claim 5, characterized in that at least one series of additional orifices (36) are provided in the upper part of the core (4) of the profile section (3), these orifices additional being further intended to prevent excessive heating of the upper part of the body (1) of the device. 7. An electric heating appliance according to one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that said at least one resistor (24) is mounted on the core (4) of the profile section by means of resistance supports ( 23) fixed to said core by means of insulating pieces (22) and provided with support surfaces (28,29) inclined to give said resistance (24) an inclination from the bottom up. 8. Electric heating appliance according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it includes cheeks made of electrically and thermally insulating material (37, 38) covering the end flanges (14, 15) and concealing the connections of these flanges with the profile section (3). 9. A heater according to claim 8, characterized in that one of said cheeks (38) contains an electrical assembly (39) for controlling the device and is provided with operating buttons. (40). 10. Heating appliance according to one of claims 2 to 8, characterized in that the sole (2) is provided with hooks (19) cooperating with holes (18) for receiving said hooks, provided in re-entrant flanges (16 , 17) end flanges (14,15), said hooks (19) and said holes (18) constituting means for detachably fixing the profile section (3) provided with its end flanges (14, 15) on the sole (2). 11. Heating appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one electrical resistor (24) is an armored resistor comprising a tube (41) containing the resistor itself, and trapped between a flat plate (42 ) and an openwork plate (43) provided with fins (44) obtained by cutting and folding, the flat plate (42) facing the perforated panel (30) and the plate provided with fins (44) facing towards the 'core (4) of the profile section. 12. Heating device according to one of claims 2 to 11, characterized in that it further comprises an electronic device with microprocessor for programming the heating comprising a keyboard (52) and a display (53), mounted in a housing (51) of insulating material, arranged in a cutout (50) formed in a wing (5) of the section of metal profile (3).

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