Patents by Inventor Rüdiger Freitag

Rüdiger Freitag has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 12089298
    Abstract: A heat-generating element of an electric heating device includes a PTC element, conductor tracks abutting surfaces of the PTC element, and an adhesive which connects the conductor tracks to the PTC element. The conductor track has several contact projections which protrude from an abutment surface of the conductor tracks. The contact projections form a contact surface which abuts the surface in an electrically conductive manner with a free space between the surface and the abutment surface, in which the adhesive is accommodated. Also disclosed is a method in which the contact projections are formed from initially planar conductor track, an adhesive is applied to the abutment surface between the contact projections, a masking covering the contact surfaces is removed, and the conductor track is glued to a PTC element with the adhesive accommodated between the surface and the abutment surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: Eberspächer catem GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Ahmad Asafi, Stefan Plewnia, Kai-Fabian Bürkle, Rüdiger Freitag, Michael Niederer, Müge Pilavtepe-Christ
  • Patent number: 11913676
    Abstract: A PTC heating element has a casing that joins as a unit at least one PTC element, conductor paths electrically connected to the PTC element, and insulating layers bearing, in a heat-conductive manner against the PTC element. The PTC heating element also has contact strips which project over itself and which are electrically conductively connected to the conductor paths for energizing the PTC element with different polarities. The casing forms a receptacle space that receives the PTC element, the conductor paths, and the insulating layers. In order to improve heat decoupling from the PTC element, the receptacle, in a cross-sectional view, is defined by two oppositely disposed inner surfaces covering the PTC element and concave cavities, adjoining the inner surfaces and forming the longitudinal edges of the casing, the diameter of which is greater than the distance between the inner surfaces. The electric heating device has at least one PTC heating element arranged in a circulation chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Eberspächer catem GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Kurt Walz, Michael Niederer, Rüdiger Freitag
  • Publication number: 20240053057
    Abstract: A PTC heating device has contact surfaces formed by a metallization, and also has first and second contact elements which are to be assigned different polarity and which are electrically contacted with the contact surfaces. Both of the first and second contact surfaces are circumferentially sealed by a frame that follows the contour of the respective contact surface and that is made of an electrically non-conductive adhesive coating. In the method of making the PTC heating device, the contact surfaces of the PTC element are contacted in an electrically conductive manner with the two contact elements, each of which has a strand an electrically non-conductive adhesive coating following the contour of the contact surfaces. During this contacting, the adhesive coating is displaced in such a manner that both contact surfaces are circumferentially sealed by a frame formed by the adhesive coating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2023
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Inventors: Rüdiger Freitag, Ulrich Mundt, Michael Clade
  • Publication number: 20240057222
    Abstract: A PTC heating device has a heating cell with at least one PTC element and conductor elements provided on opposite sides of the PTC element. The conduct elements form contact surfaces for the electrical contacting of the PTC elements, are electrically connected to the PTC element, and are to be assigned different polarities. The conductor elements also are provided with an electrical insulation on their side opposite the PTC element. A metallic housing which accommodates the heating cell is connected to the insulation in a heat-conducting manner Each of the conductor elements is provided with at least one through-hole by which the electrically conductive surface of the conductor elements is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2023
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Inventors: Kurt Walz, Rüdiger Freitag, Ahmad Asafi
  • Publication number: 20240011667
    Abstract: An electric heating assembly of an electric heating device includes a metal housing which forms a pocket in which at least one PTC element, contact sheets abutting surfaces of the PTC element and insulating layers which are arranged between the contact sheets and inner surfaces of the pocket. The contact sheets each have contact projections which project in the direction of one of the contact surfaces of the PTC element and are surrounded by an adhesive which connects the contact sheet to the PTC element. In order to improve heat extraction from the electrical contact of the PTC element, front end regions of the contact projections abutting against the PTC element are plastically deformed against the surface of the PTC element. Also disclosed is a method of making a heating device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2023
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Inventors: Michael Niederer, Ulrich Lehr, Müge Pilavtepe-Christ, Rüdiger Freitag, Ahmad Asafi
  • Patent number: 11395376
    Abstract: A PTC heating device for introduction into a receiving pocket of an electric heating device includes at least one PTC element, a conductor track that is electrically connected to the PTC element, and insulating layers that are abutted in a thermally conductive manner against the PTC element. A frame-shaped casing joins the at least one PTC element, the conductor track, and the insulating layers as a unit. The frame-shaped casing has a leading frame member with elastic guide tabs which, in an initial assembly state, project on oppositely disposed sides of the frame-shaped casing over the heat-emitting open surface respectively associated with them, which are inclined obliquely from the leading frame member in a direction of the open surface, and which are elastically pivotable. During heating device assembly, the PTC heating device is centered and guided by the elastic guide tabs when introduced into a heating rib of a heating chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Eberspächer catem GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Michael Niederer, Rüdiger Freitag
  • Publication number: 20210254859
    Abstract: An electrical heating device for a motor vehicle has a housing which encloses a circulation chamber. The housing has inlet and outlet openings for a medium to be heated which communicate with the circulation chamber. An electrically insulated PTC element projects into the circulation chamber and is electrically conductively connected to conductor elements leading to connections of different polarity. The housing forms a connection chamber in which the connections to the PTC element are electrically connected. The connection chamber and the circulation chamber are separated from one another and are sealed against each other. A a flat tube is curved in a U-shape for a good heat discharge. The flat tube has opposite legs which each contain at least one PCT element and against which rests at least one heat-emitting element which is exposed in the circulation chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Inventor: Rüdiger Freitag
  • Patent number: 11092358
    Abstract: An electrical heating device for a motor vehicle has a housing which encloses a circulation chamber, The housing has inlet and outlet openings for a medium to be heated which communicate with the circulation chamber. An electrically insulated PTC element projects into the circulation chamber and is electrically conductively connected to conductor elements leading to connections of different polarity, The housing forms a connection chamber in which the connections to the PTC element are electrically connected. The connection chamber and the circulation chamber are separated from one another and are sealed against each other. A flat tube is curved in a U-shape for a good heat discharge. The flat tube has opposite legs which each contain at least one PCT element and against which rests at least one heat-emitting element which is exposed in the circulation chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Eberspächer catem GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Rüdiger Freitag
  • Publication number: 20210204365
    Abstract: A heat-generating element of an electric heating device includes a PTC element, conductor tracks abutting surfaces of the PTC element, and an adhesive which connects the conductor tracks to the PTC element. The conductor track has several contact projections which protrude from an abutment surface of the conductor tracks. The contact projections form a contact surface which abuts the surface in an electrically conductive manner with a free space between the surface and the abutment surface, in which the adhesive is accommodated. Also disclosed is a method in which the contact projections are formed from initially planar conductor track, an adhesive is applied to the abutment surface between the contact projections, a masking covering the contact surfaces is removed, and the conductor track is glued to a PTC element with the adhesive accommodated between the surface and the abutment surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Inventors: Ahmad Asafi, Stefan Plewnia, Kai-Fabian Bürkle, Rüdiger Freitag, Michael Niederer, Müge Pilavtepe-Christ
  • Publication number: 20210144812
    Abstract: A PTC heating device for introduction into a receiving pocket of an electric heating device includes at least one PTC element, a conductor track that is electrically connected to the PTC element, and insulating layers that are abutted in a thermally conductive manner against the PTC element. A frame-shaped casing joins the at least one PTC element, the conductor track, and the insulating layers as a unit. The frame-shaped casing has a leading frame member with elastic guide tabs which, in an initial assembly state, project on oppositely disposed sides of the frame-shaped casing over the heat-emitting open surface respectively associated with them, which are inclined obliquely from the leading frame member in a direction of the open surface, and which are elastically pivotable. During heating device assembly, the PTC heating device is centered and guided by the elastic guide tabs when introduced into a heating rib of a heating chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Inventors: Michael Niederer, Rüdiger Freitag
  • Publication number: 20200340708
    Abstract: A PTC heating element has a casing that joins as a unit at least one PTC element, conductor paths electrically connected to the PTC element, and insulating layers bearing, in a heat-conductive manner against the PTC element. The PTC heating element also has contact strips which project over itself and which are electrically conductively connected to the conductor paths for energizing the PTC element with different polarities. The casing forms a receptacle space that receives the PTC element, the conductor paths, and the insulating layers. In order to improve heat decoupling from the PTC element, the receptacle, in a cross-sectional view, is defined by two oppositely disposed inner surfaces covering the PTC element and concave cavities, adjoining the inner surfaces and forming the longitudinal edges of the casing, the diameter of which is greater than the distance between the inner surfaces. The electric heating device has at least one PTC heating element arranged in a circulation chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Inventors: Kurt Walz, Michael Niederer, Rüdiger Freitag