Webasto-werk W. Baier Gmbh & Co.

Webasto Ag Fahrzeugtechnik

Josef Riedmaier

Friedrich Widemann

Ernst Mosig

Werner Lucius

Bernhard Schmatelka

Falk Lamkewitz

A process for testing operational components in heaters, especially vehicle auxiliary heaters, in which the operational components are actuated and switched on sequentially, individually. Based on this, a corresponding evaluation is then performed. Further, a testing device for performing the process has a switching-on device with which the operational components can be started up, individually, on a sequential basis. From the process engineering viewpoint and from the device engineering viewpoint, further developments up to integration of the testing device in a heater control device are possible, and, optionally, for evaluation of the operational testing, external devices can also be used.

Process for testing operational components in heaters and testing device

A heater, in particular a vehicle auxiliary heater, of the type which operates with a liquid heat exchange medium and which is tied, for example, into the coolant circuit of a motor vehicle. In this heater, a mounting space for a control device is formed on a jacket-like outer casing, preferably a formation cast integrally as part of the outer casing. In this mounting space, circuit boards and printed circuit cards of the control device and sensor elements are mounted. Heat produced by semiconductor power components of the control device is removed to the surroundings by wall surfaces, in particular side walls, of the mounting space to which they are mounted. An electric connection device is provided that connects the inputs and outputs of the control device to the respective operational parts to be controlled and/or to the vehicle. This electric connection device includes a plug-like base, which preferably is formed of plastic, in which suitable electric conductor parts and contact parts, by which the control device is connected to operational parts to be controlled, are inserted. The control device and/or the electric connection device are designed so that parts projecting on the heater are avoided and a compact design of a heater is achieved.

Heater having a casing with an integrally cast mounting space for

A connecting device for supplying power to equipment in heating devices, particularly, auxiliary vehicle heating devices, which connecting device serves to commonly and centrally supply a combustion motor, a control device, a circulating pump, a solenoid valve, an ignition spark unit, a flame monitoring device, and, if utilized, a preheating device for a burner nozzle assembly. All connections and connecting devices, like plug connectors, are housed and combined in a common, central connecting component which can be secured on a flange of the heating device, and can be attached to a part of the heater housing. Appropriately, the connecting component is designed in the form of a housing and contains the electrical connections to be actuated in the form of printed circuit boards, or the like. In order to avoid connection errors and in order to achieve a low-loss connection, the plug connectors for the devices to be connected are arranged as close as possible to the respective device to be connected; also, a plug connector is provided at the peripheral surface of the connecting component that is accessible via an opening in the flange, which connector is intended for the connection of an external power supply such as that of a vehicle.

Connecting device for power supply and heater equipped therewith

A preheating process and apparatus for determination and utilization of a quantity of preheating energy so as to automatically achieve a desired temperature at a given location prior to a predetermined period of usage, especially for preheating an automotive vehicle. In accordance with the process, the respective preheating times required to achieve a desired temperature for various possible actual conditions at the location of usage are determined and stored, at a predetermined point of time prior to the usage commencement time, the correct preheating time is determined from the stored preheating times based upon actual temperature conditions and application of heat to the location is automatically commenced at a time prior to the usage commencement time that corresponds to the difference between the usage commencement time and the correct preheating time determined previously. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the apparatus, a presettable timer actuated switching control means is provided for actuating a heating device. An actual temperature value sensor means is utilized to sense the actual temperature at the location to be preheated and is used to address a memory unit containing, as stored data, preheating times to be read out that correspond to the respectively required heating time to achieve a desired temperature for each of various possible actual temperatures at the location. The stored preheating time read out by the memory unit based upon actual temperature value sensed by the sensor means at a point of time prior to the preset usage commencement time is utilized by the switching control means to actuate the heating device at a time prior to a preset time for commencement of usage that corresponds to the difference between the preset usage commencement time and the time read out by the memory unit.

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Pentenried, Germany

Josef Riedmaier