Hybrid heater core system

Abstract

A hybrid heater core system may include a heater core body having an upper header; a lower header; and a plurality of cooling water tubes connecting the upper and lower headers; and a PTC heater coupled to the heater core body and having a PTC element; a flow path hole forming a flow path in the PTC heater; a connector formed at a first end of the PTC heater; locking protrusions configured to be locked to the upper and lower headers at upper end and lower end thereof; and a hook locked and fixed to the cooling water tubes at a second end of the PTC heater.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hybrid heater core system comprising:
 a heater core body including:
 an upper header; 
 a lower header; and 
 a plurality of cooling water tubes connecting the upper and lower headers; and 
   a PTC heater coupled to the heater core body and including:
 a PTC element; 
 a flow path hole forming a flow path in the PTC heater; 
 a connector formed at a first end of the PTC heater; 
 locking protrusions configured to be locked to the upper and lower headers at upper end and lower end thereof; and 
 a hook locked and fixed to the cooling water tubes at a second end of the PTC heater. 
   
     
     
         2 . The hybrid heater core system of  claim 1 , further including:
 protruding rails formed below the upper header and above the lower header;   vertically extending locking legs formed on an upper end and a lower end of the PTC heater, respectively; and   a locking protrusion formed at an end portion of the locking legs, wherein the locking protrusion restricts upper and lower ends of the protruding rails while the locking legs cover the protruding rails.   
     
     
         3 . The hybrid heater core system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the cooling water tubes are formed with protrusion ribs at side ends thereof,   wherein fastening protrusions wrapping around one of the protrusion ribs are formed on a connector side of the PTC heater, and   wherein the hook of the PTC heater is configured to wrap around the one of the protrusion ribs.   
     
     
         4 . The hybrid heater core system of  claim 1 , wherein the PTC heater includes:
 a top plate;   a bottom plate; and   the PTC element interposed between the top plate and the bottom plate;   wherein the top plate and the bottom plate are formed with first and second flow path holes therethrough, and   wherein in the first and second flow path holes of the top plate and the bottom plate, guide ribs are be formed by being bent in directions facing each other.   
     
     
         5 . The hybrid heater core system of  claim 4 , wherein the PTC element is positioned at a point between the first and second flow path holes adjacent to each other, and both side ends of the PTC element are supported by the guide ribs. 
     
     
         6 . The hybrid heater core system of  claim 1 , wherein the PTC element is connected to a positive electrode via the connector, and the top plate and the bottom plate perform a negative electrode. 
     
     
         7 . The hybrid heater core system of  claim 1 , wherein the PTC heater is attached to one side surface of the heater core and fastened via the hook.