Testing system, test lance and testing procedure

Abstract

Comprehensive testing system a control unit (10) with a housing (13) and with a connector unit (20) attached to the housing (13), the connector unit (20) comprising a through-hole (28) to an interior (14) of the housing (13), and a test lance (40) with a test opening, characterized by the fact that the test lance (40) can be attached to the connector unit (20) from the outside in a sealing manner and its test opening surrounds the through hole (28) when attached, so that the interior (14) of the housing (13) can be pressurized via the test lance (40).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a test system comprising a control unit with a housing and a connector attached to the housing, and a test lance. The invention further relates to a test lance for testing the tightness of a control unit. The invention also relates to a test method for testing the tightness of a control unit comprising a housing and a connector.

[0002] German patent application DE 10 2011 015 640 A1 discloses a control unit with a housing that has a lid, wherein a pressure sensor is attached to the outside of the lid in such a way that an electrical connection area between the lid and the pressure sensor is sealed against the environment.

[0003] A control unit with slot-shaped ventilation openings in a connector unit is known from DE 84 08 092 U1.

[0004] Other relevant control units are known from DE 100 22 124 A1 and DE 36 35 165 A1.

[0005] The object of the invention is to provide a test system and a suitable test lance with which a leak test can be carried out within the framework of a corresponding test procedure on a control unit with a housing and with a plug unit that is attached to the housing, in particular on a fluidic actuation arrangement for the fluidic actuation of at least one component, such as a coupling, with an actuator housing.

[0006] The problem is solved by a test system according to claim 1. The test system comprises a control unit with a housing and a connector unit attached to the housing. The connector unit further comprises a through-hole to an interior of the housing. The interior of the housing can be easily pressurized, for example with compressed air, through the through-hole to test whether the housing is airtight. The placement of the through-hole in the connector unit offers the advantage that the through-hole can remain open when the connector unit is tightly sealed with a suitable mating connector. This eliminates the need for a cover for the through-hole, such as a waterproof but breathable membrane or a label. This significantly simplifies the manufacture of the control unit.

[0007] Further features of the testing system are described in the dependent claims.

[0008] A preferred embodiment of the control unit is characterized in that the through-hole is arranged at a safe distance from the contacts of the connector unit. This ensures that the contacts are not damaged when the leak test is performed with the test lance. In this context, "safe distance" means that the contacts are not touched by the test lance during the leak test.

[0009] Another preferred embodiment of the control unit is characterized in that the through-hole in the connector unit is accessible from outside the housing for a test lance. This simplifies the leak test. The through-hole in the connector unit is particularly accessible to the test lance from outside the housing when a mating connector of the unit has been removed.

[0010] Another preferred embodiment of the control unit is characterized in that the connector unit comprises a connector housing that has the through-hole and is tightly connected to the housing of the control unit. The seal between the connector housing and the housing of the control unit is achieved, for example, with a liquid sealant. The connector housing of the connector unit and the housing of the control unit are, for example, two injection-molded parts. The housing of the control unit can be made of the same material as the connector housing of the connector unit. However, the two housings can also be made of different materials.

[0011] Another preferred embodiment of the control unit is characterized in that the connector unit comprises a mating connector, which is preferably designed to form a plug connection and / or a snap connection and can be tightly connected to the connector housing. When establishing the plug connection, for example, the contacts of the connector unit are brought into contact with contacts of the mating connector. When forming the snap connection, for example, a mating connector housing of the mating connector is connected to the connector housing of the connector unit. For example, at least one snap hook, provided for example on the connector housing of the connector unit, serves to form the snap connection. This snap hook engages in a corresponding opening in the mating connector housing when the mating connector is plugged onto the connector housing of the connector unit. An electrical and / or electronic connecting cable extends from the mating connector.

[0012] Another preferred embodiment of the control unit is characterized in that a connector seal is arranged between the connector housing and the mating connector. The connector seal is, for example, an O-ring that is arranged between a connector body of the mating connector and the connector housing, in particular a wall of the connector housing. The connector seal creates a fluid-tight seal around the connector unit, so that the through-hole inside the connector unit can remain open without any fluid inadvertently entering the interior of the control unit housing through the through-hole.

[0013] The invention further relates to a test lance according to claim 6 and a test method according to claim 7.

[0014] A fluidic actuation arrangement for the fluidic actuation of at least one component, such as a clutch, comprising an actuator housing and a previously described control unit, is further disclosed. A fluidic actuation arrangement for the fluidic actuation of at least one clutch is also referred to as a clutch actuator. The control unit is advantageously integrated into the clutch actuator. The clutch actuator is preferably a hydrostatic clutch actuator.

[0015] A preferred embodiment of the fluidic actuation arrangement is characterized in that the actuator housing and the control unit housing are combined in a single housing body, which is closed by a housing cover. The actuator housing and the control unit housing can advantageously be represented by a single housing part, in particular by an injection-molded part made of a plastic material. The housing body can also be made of a metallic material, for example, aluminum. The housing cover preferably serves to close an electronics compartment within the control unit housing. The housing cover can be made of the same material as the housing body. However, the housing cover can also be made of a different material than the housing body.

[0016] The invention further relates to a test method for checking the leak tightness of a previously described control unit, in particular a previously described fluidic actuation arrangement, using a test lance that is attached to the outside of the connector unit to perform the leak test. The test lance is preferably placed over the through-hole with a test opening. The interior of the housing is then pressurized through the through-hole via the test lance. If a defined pressure is maintained for a certain period of time, then the control unit or the fluidic actuation arrangement is leak tight. The test lance can then be removed and the connector housing closed with the mating connector. Sealing the through-hole is not necessary.

[0017] The invention further discloses an actuator housing, a connector unit, a housing, a connector housing, a mating connector, a connector seal and / or a housing body for a previously described control unit, in particular for a previously described fluidic actuation arrangement. The aforementioned parts are available for separate sale.

[0018] Further advantages, features, and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description, in which various exemplary embodiments are described in detail with reference to the drawing. The drawing shows: Fig. 1 a fluidic actuation arrangement with an integrated control unit in section; Fig. 2 an enlarged section from Fig. 1 when performing a leak test with a test lance; Fig. 3 an excerpt from Fig. 1 in a side view from the right of a plug unit and Fig. 4 the same section as in Fig. 2, wherein the plug unit is closed by a mating plug.

[0019] In the Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3 to Fig. Figure 4 shows a fluidic actuation arrangement 1 with an actuator 2, shown in various views. The actuator 2 is, for example, a hydrostatic actuator with an electric motor and a planetary roller gear, as disclosed in German patent application DE 10 2011 014 932 A1.

[0020] The actuator assembly 2 comprises an actuator housing 3 with a housing body 5. The housing body 5 is closed by a housing cover 9.

[0021] In the fluidic actuation arrangement 1, a control unit 10 is combined with the actuator unit 2. The control unit 10 comprises a housing 13, which is integrally connected to the housing body 5 of the actuator housing 3. An electronic device 16, which includes, for example, a circuit board, is arranged in an interior 14 of the housing 13.

[0022] The fluidic actuation arrangement 1 integrates, firstly, the control unit 10 for the actuator unit 2. Secondly, a connector unit 20 is integrated into the fluidic actuation arrangement 1.

[0023] The connector unit 20 comprises a connector housing 23, which is mounted on the actuator housing 3. The connector housing 23 includes a connector housing wall 24, which closes an opening in the interior 14 of the housing 13 of the control unit 10. Contacts 25 extend through the connector housing wall 24.

[0024] The ends of the contacts 25, which protrude from the interior 14 of the housing 13 of the control unit 10, are surrounded by a circumferential wall 26 in the connector unit 20. The circumferential wall 26 is integrally connected to the connector housing wall 24 of the connector housing 23.

[0025] A through-hole 28 is provided in the connector housing wall 24 of the connector housing 23. The through-hole 28 is, for example, designed as a bore and connects the interior 14 of the housing 13 of the control unit 10 with an interior 29, which is surrounded by the circumferential wall 26 of the connector housing 23. The ends of the contacts 25, which protrude from the interior 14 of the housing 13 of the control unit 10, are arranged in the interior 29.

[0026] In the Fig. 2 shown excerpt from Fig. Figure 1 shows how a leak test is carried out on the control unit 10 or the fluidic actuation arrangement 1 using a test lance 40. The test lance 40 is positioned against the wall 24 of the connector housing 23 such that a Fig. 2 left end of the test lance 40 surrounds the through hole 28 in the connector housing wall 24.

[0027] The housing body 5 and the housing cover 9 represent housing halves that are joined, for example, by a liquid sealant. Furthermore, the connector unit 20 is sealed to the housing body 5 using a liquid sealant 27. The contacts 25 within the connector unit 20 are designed as pins.

[0028] In Fig. Figure 3 shows that the through-hole 28 in the connector housing wall 24 is arranged at a safe distance from the contacts 25. As can be seen in Figure 3, the test lance 40 can be used to determine the distance between the contacts and the contacts. Fig. 2 can be docked from the outside to the through hole 28 in a sealing manner in order to carry out the leak test.

[0029] In the subsequent use of the fluidic actuation arrangement 1, in particular the actuator device 2 or the control unit 10, a seal to the environment is achieved via a connector seal 35, as can be seen in Fig. 4. The connector seal 35 is designed as an O-ring and is arranged radially between a connector body 31 of a mating connector 30 and the connector housing wall 24 of the connector housing 23 of the connector unit 20. The mating connector 30 comprises a mating connector housing 33, which is snapped onto the connector housing 23 of the connector unit 20. Reference symbol list 1 fluidic actuation arrangement 2 Actuator setup 3 actuator housings 5 Housing bodies 9 Case covers 10 plug-in devices 13 cases 14 Interior 16 Electronic equipment 20 plug unit 23 connector housings 24 connector housing wall 25 contacts 26 Perimeter wall 27 Liquid sealant 28 through hole 29 Interior 30 mating plugs 31 connector bodies 33 mating connector housings 35 Plug seal 40 test lances

Claims

Test system comprising a control unit (10) with a housing (13) and with a connector unit (20) attached to the housing (13), wherein the connector unit (20) comprises a through-hole (28) to an interior (14) of the housing (13), and a test lance (40) with a test opening, characterized in that the test lance (40) can be attached to the connector unit (20) from the outside in a sealing manner and its test opening surrounds the through-hole (28) in the attached state, so that the interior (14) of the housing (13) can be pressurized via the test lance (40). Test system according to claim 1, characterized in that the through hole (28) is arranged at a safe distance from contacts (25) of the plug unit (20). Test system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connector unit (20) comprises a connector housing (23) which has the through-hole (28) and is tightly connected to the housing (13) of the control unit (10). Test system according to claim 3, characterized in that the plug unit (20) comprises a mating plug (30) which is preferably able to be tightly connected to the plug housing (23) to form a plug connection and / or a snap connection. Test system according to claim 4, characterized in that a connector seal (35) is arranged between the connector housing (23) and the mating connector (30). Test lance (40) for testing the tightness of a control unit, with a test opening, characterized in that the test lance (40) is designed in such a way that it can be attached to a connector unit (20) of a control unit from the outside in a sealing manner, that its test opening surrounds a through hole (28) of the connector unit (20) when attached, and that it can pressurize an interior (14) of the control unit. Test method for testing the tightness of a control unit (10) with a housing (13) and a connector unit (20) attached to the housing (13), the connector unit having a through-hole (28), the method comprising the steps: a) sealingly applying a test lance (40) from outside the housing (13) to the through-hole (28); b) pressurizing an interior (14) of the housing (13) via the test lance (40) with a predetermined test pressure; c) recording whether the test pressure is maintained for a predetermined period of time; and d) removing the test lance (40) after completion of the pressure retention test.

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