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

Claim 13:
14. An electrical heater device comprising at least one heating element which includes a first electrode, a second electrode and a heating body that includes a material having a PTC effect in electrical contact with the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the material having a PTC effect comprises at least a polymer or a polymer-based material,
wherein each of the first electrode and the second electrode comprises:
a meshed structure comprising a plurality of substantially threadlike metal elements which define a plurality of mesh openings, with the meshed structure which has a length and a width to define an area thereof, is in electrical contact with the heating body and is at least partially embedded or englobed therein, 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 which is fixed to the meshed structure and has a total area amounting to a fraction of the area of the meshed structure,

wherein the shaped metal strap defines a first longitudinally extended distribution portion and a second longitudinally extended distribution portion, which extend perpendicular to each other and overlap corresponding regions of the meshed structure,
wherein the first longitudinally extended distribution portion and the second longitudinally extended distribution portion are both welded to respective threadlike metal elements at said corresponding regions to overlap corresponding portions of the heating body,
wherein the heating body is a body moulded at least in part over the first electrode and the second 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 electrode and the second 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 electrode and the second electrode.