Electrical heating device with a plate element comprising conductive paths and method for the manufacture of a plate element of this nature

Abstract

An electrical heating includes a plurality of electrical heating elements which are held by a housing and which abut heat conducting surfaces over which a medium to be heated flows. The electrical heating elements comprise contact lugs, arranged essentially at the same height, that are connected through a plate element. The plate element includes conductive paths and contact lug receptacles for the contact lugs. The plate element may include a carrier plate of non-conducting material and a stamped out metal plate that are joined together to form one unit. A method of manufacturing a plate element of this nature includes manufacturing the carrier plate by injection moulding and subjecting a metal plate to stamping operations to form area elements which are joined together by connecting ridges and in which the contact lug receptacles are located. The carrier plate and the metal plate are then joined, and the connecting ridges are then parted.

1 . A method of manufacturing a plate element comprising conductive paths, the method comprising:
 forming a carrier plate from a plastic material via injection moulding,   subjecting a metal plate to stamping operations to form area elements which are joined together by connecting ridges and in which are provided contact lug receptacles, then   joining the carrier plate and the metal plate, and then   parting the connecting ridges.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein, during joining, each area element is positively locked to the carrier plate. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein flat plugs are inserted into flat plug holders and lock in the flat plug holders at the end of the insertion movement and are electrically connected to the assigned area elements in flat plug contact receptacles formed on the metal plate.