Patent ID: 11959663
Assignee: ELTEK S.P.A.
Field: Thermal processes and apparatus (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B  F  H | IPC F  H

Claim 6:
7. An electrical heater device comprising at least one heating element that includes a first metal electrode, a second metal electrode and a heating body made at least in part of a material having a PTC effect in contact with the first metal electrode and the second metal electrode, wherein the material having a PTC effect comprises at least a polymer or a polymer-based material,
wherein each of the first metal electrode and the metal second metal electrode consists of:
at least one meshed structure including a plurality of substantially threadlike metal elements which define a plurality of mesh openings, the meshed structure having a length and a width to define an area thereof, and being in electrical contact with the heating body; and
at least one electrical-distribution element for distributing electric current on the threadlike metal elements that form the meshed structure, the at least one electrical-distribution element including a shaped metal strap having a total area amounting to a fraction of the area of the meshed structure and extending in at least one of a length direction and a width direction of the meshed structure;

wherein the shaped metal strap defines at least one longitudinally extending distribution portion which overlaps a corresponding region of the meshed structure and is fixed thereto,
wherein the meshed structure is at least partially embedded or englobed in said polymer or polymer-based material of the heating body,
wherein at least one part of the at least one distribution portion defined by the shaped metal strap is welded to corresponding threadlike metal elements of the meshed structure at said corresponding region,
wherein the heating body is a body moulded at least in part over the first metal electrode and the second metal electrode, such that part of said polymer or polymer-based material occupies at least a part of said mesh openings, and
wherein between the first metal electrode and the second metal electrode a spacer body is arranged, which is also at least partially embedded or englobed in the material having a PTC effect of the heating body which is moulded over the first metal electrode and the second metal electrode.