Patent ID: 7355146

Claim:
A heating unit adapted for use in a vehicle, which heating unit comprises: a radial fan ( 100 ) having a fan housing ( 110 ), said housing defining a pressure chamber with an air inlet ( 116 ) and an air exit opening ( 118 ); an air-directing device ( 140 ) that guides an air flow, within the pressure chamber ( 115 ) of the fan housing ( 110 ), to the air exit opening ( 118 ), said air-directing device including an external, approximately spiral-shaped wall ( 109 ) forming part of a spiral housing ( 140 ) and extending as far as an air exit opening ( 118 ), the air ( 137 ) delivered by the radial fan wheel ( 130 ) during operation having, at the air exit opening ( 118 ) and near the spiral-shaped wall ( 109 ) in a zone ( 510 ) of higher velocity, a higher velocity than in zones ( 520 , 530 ) of lower velocity that are located farther away from the spiral-shaped wall ( 109 ); a radial fan wheel ( 130 ) arranged in the fan housing ( 110 ), for generating an air flow from the air inlet ( 116 ) via the pressure chamber ( 115 ) to the air exit opening ( 118 ); an electrical heating element ( 125 ) arranged adjacent the air exit opening ( 118 ) and serving to transfer heat to the air flow generated by the radial fan ( 100 ); and wherein there is provided, between the air exit opening ( 118 ) of the spiral housing ( 140 ) and the heating element ( 125 ), a connecting part ( 620 ) in which air-directing elements are provided for generating a predetermined flow profile of the air flow ( 610 ), which air-directing elements are configured to deflect air that emerges from the spiral housing ( 140 ) in a zone ( 510 ) thereof having a relatively higher air velocity, in order to achieve a more uniform velocity distribution in the region of the heating element ( 125 ).