| 摘要 |
A self-regulating heater for use in an early fuel evaporation system for an automotive engine includes a metallic radiator having a first heat-receiving side and an opposite side for transferring heat to a fuel evaporization zone. Self-regulating ceramic electrical resistance heater elements having a positive temperature coefficient of resistivity(PTC) are disposed with first sides in facing relation with respective recessed first portions of the heat-receiving side of the radiator. A thermally conducting metal heat-transfer member has recessed first portions disposed in facing relation to respective second sides of the heater elements to receive heat second sides of the heater elements to receive heat from the second sides of the heaters and also has second portions disposed in closely-spaced facing relation to corresponding second portions of the heat-receiving side of the radiator, thereby to transfer the heat received from the second heater sides to the radiator. Electrically and thermally conductive metal wave springs disposed in the recessed first portions of the radiator and heat-transfer member electrically connect the heater elements in parallel to the radiator and heat-transfer member which are connected to the automotive power source to supply heating current to the heater elements. The recessed first portions containing the heater elements and spaces between the second portion of the metal heat-transfer member and radiator are filled with a thermally conducting, electrically insulating, silicone-based compound so that the heater provides improved heat transfer from both sides of the self-regulating ceramic heater elements to the radiator to achieve improved heating efficiency and reduced power drain on the automotive power source.
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