Electrical interface device for an electric motor

Abstract

The invention relates to an electronic device unit and a plug-in connection box for pluggable connection of a connection plug connector integrated in an insertion direction into a plug-compatible socket of an electronic device housing of an electronic device unit of an electric motor, wherein the connection box has a housing with a pot-shaped receiving area delimited by a housing wall for receiving a contact carrier of the connection plug connector, wherein a plurality of hollow-cylindrical threaded bushings extending in the insertion direction are arranged in the receiving area, and wherein the contact carrier has external guide means at a plurality of positions corresponding to the positions of the threaded bushings, on which the contact carrier can be guided into its final assembly position, and in which final assembly position the respective guide means at least partially surrounds the cylindrical threaded bushing.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrical interface device for an electric motor, which is particularly capable of enabling a connection for a customer interface and modular connection of the electric motor. Background Technology

[0002] In the prior art, it is known to have a motor connection device with an intermediate carrier serving as a junction box. This junction box carries connecting contacts for external connection wires and contact elements for connection to control electronic equipment. The intermediate carrier partially has multiple seals in the area of ​​the contact feed-through opening in the wall of the electronic equipment housing for sealing the wall of the electronic equipment housing. Such a junction box is equipped with, for example, a flat plug, which is inserted into a junction box socket formed in the housing. A drawback, depending on the structural type, is the presence of multiple sealing and contact areas (electronic contact points) along the axial direction in different sealing planes or planes.

[0003] Motor connection interfaces are not always designed as junction boxes; sometimes they are designed as plug-in solutions, allowing users or customers to establish a detachable connection to the motor using their dedicated motor connection cables. However, in addition to the wide variety of variations, there are additional requirements for IP protection, which makes using plug-in solutions more difficult. IP protection ratings have been standardized internationally for decades, indicating the suitability of electrical equipment for various defined environmental conditions to ensure protection against potential electric shock risks during use.

[0004] In many electrical applications, electrical and electronic equipment must operate safely and reliably for many years under harsh environmental conditions. In addition to the permissible temperature range, the corrosion load, which refers to resistance to corrosive media in industry such as moisture, water, steam, acids, alkalis, oils, or fuels, represents the usage limit.

[0005] In IEC / EN 60529, IP protection levels are defined in a standardized manner. Two code numbers are appended to the letters IP, and they always appear in the name of the protection level. These indicate the extent of protection provided by the enclosure against contact with foreign objects (first code number) and moisture or water (second code number).

[0006] International Standard EN 60034 Part 5, or terminology index VDE 0530-5, applies to the classification of types of protection for rotating electrical machinery by means of enclosures. These standards specify requirements for enclosures that, in all other respects, are suited to their intended use and, with respect to materials and processing, ensure that the characteristics specified in the standard are maintained when used as intended.

[0007] For example, DE 10 2015 11 9002 A1 discloses a connection scheme from the prior art for how to achieve a connection with an electric motor. DE 10 2019 005 171 A1 discloses an electric motor, particularly an external rotor motor, having a rotor, a stator, an electronics housing, and at least one receiving space. The electronics housing has mounting space for electrical / electronic components, which are at least partially arranged on at least one circuit board. The receiving space is separate from the mounting space and houses a connector unit in which at least one connecting wire is connected to a connector wiring device. The connector unit and the electronics housing together form a common connection housing isolated from the environment.

[0008] However, it is desirable to avoid many known drawbacks, particularly in providing high flexibility for different applications and motor designs. Furthermore, it is necessary to be able to reuse existing electronic equipment housings and corresponding interfaces without requiring entirely new designs and tools. Therefore, a modular principle is required, meaning a control unit and multiple modules in the customer connection area that can be connected via the same interface. Additionally, cost-optimized solutions should be sought. Using a pluggable solution eliminates the need for a separate junction box cover and reduces the overall number of required parts. This offers not only economic advantages but also quality advantages, as fewer parts mean fewer failures. Summary of the Invention

[0009] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages and to provide an improved, and in particular a component-optimized, solution for electronic device units with preferably sealed interfaces or electric motors with such plug connections.

[0010] This objective is achieved by combining the features of the following technical solutions.

[0011] In an embodiment of the invention, a pluggable connector is provided for pluggably connecting a connector plug-in integrated therein in an insertion direction (S) to an electronic device housing of an electronic device unit of an electric motor in a pluggable receptacle, wherein the connector has a housing having a can-shaped receiving area defined by a housing wall for receiving a contact support of the connector plug-in, wherein a plurality of hollow cylindrical threaded bushings are provided in the receiving area, the plurality of hollow cylindrical threaded bushings extending in the insertion direction (S), and wherein the contact support has external guides at a plurality of positions corresponding to the positions of the threaded bushings, the contact support being guided to its final assembly position at the plurality of positions, and in the final assembly position, the respective guides at least partially surround the cylindrical threaded bushings.

[0012] The guide device not only guides the contact holder into its intended final assembly position after assembly with the connecting cable, but also functions as an encoding device for securing it within the connector box, without applying permanent force to the plastic or alternative material after the connector box is fastened to the electronic device housing. After final assembly of the connector box, the contact holder is installed essentially stress-free.

[0013] In the final assembly of the connector box, if it is inserted into the socket of the electronic device housing, a suitable screw can be passed through the hollow cylindrical threaded bushing extending in the insertion direction (S), and then the connector box is tightened together with the electronic device housing. In this state, the correspondingly additionally arranged seals or sealing planes also function between the inserted parts. However, it is advantageous that the socket on the electronic device housing can also be designed to ensure the required IP protection even when not inserted.

[0014] Advantageously, the can-shaped receiving area for accommodating the contact support is closed on one side by a cover integrally connected thereto.

[0015] In another advantageous embodiment of the invention, one or more integrally formed cable bolt connectors are provided on the housing of the junction box, the cable bolt connectors being configured for cable connections that pass through the housing transversely to the insertion direction into the can-shaped receiving area.

[0016] According to the invention, it is advantageously further provided that at least one latching groove is provided in the can-shaped receiving area, wherein when the contact support is installed in the housing of the connecting box in its final assembly position, a latching protrusion extending parallel to the insertion direction latches into the latching groove.

[0017] In another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the corresponding guide device is designed as a dome extending parallel to the insertion direction (S), having at least a partially cylindrical guide surface, preferably having a 90° portion of the cylinder. That is, this is the outwardly open profile of the inner surface of the "partial cylinder".

[0018] Furthermore, the corresponding guiding device is set at the corner position, preferably at the four corner positions of the contact support designed as a roughly rectangular shape.

[0019] According to the invention, it is further advantageously provided that a plurality of connecting ribs extend from the housing wall of the receiving area for accommodating the contact support, the plurality of connecting ribs preferably being arranged outside at least one or more of the receiving areas, and a cylindrical threaded bushing extending in the insertion direction (S) and more preferably connected to the plurality of connecting ribs. Due to the design according to the invention, the connection force when connecting the connector to the electronic device housing can also be selectively transferred to an area outside the actual plug connection. It is also conceivable that the aforementioned hollow cylindrical threaded bushing is merely configured as a support bushing, but the threaded connection to the electronic device housing is made only by means of screws or connecting devices via the hollow cylindrical threaded bushing located within the receiving space.

[0020] In another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the cover (in its basic form) is designed as a sub-section of a substantially circular plate, and the sub-section extends laterally on both sides from the can-shaped receiving area in the insertion direction (S) of the plug connection.

[0021] Another aspect of the invention relates to a corresponding electronic device housing for an electronic device unit of an electric motor, designed to receive the aforementioned pluggable connector via a socket in a mounting space on the housing side, wherein, with the connector plug integrated in the connector housing inserted in the socket, the pluggable connector housing is shaped to complement the electronic device housing to form a cylindrical can. In a corresponding preferred embodiment of the invention, the electronic device housing is designed as a can-shaped housing with a surrounding annular housing flange, wherein the recess for the connector housing is arranged as a lateral opening recess in the can-shaped housing.

[0022] Furthermore, the electronic device unit for the electric motor has an electronic housing designed to house control electronic devices arranged on a circuit board within the housing, an interface module provided on the control electronic devices, the interface module having a socket for inserting the connecting plug connector, the socket having contacts, and a connection box provided therein, the connecting plug connector of the connection box being inserted into or capable of being inserted into the socket.

[0023] Another aspect of the invention relates to an electric motor, preferably an external rotor motor, having the electronic device unit according to the invention as described above. Attached Figure Description

[0024] Other advantageous further aspects of the invention are characterized in the dependent claims or presented in more detail below together with the description of preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0025] As shown in the attached figure:

[0026] Figure 1An isometric exploded view of an embodiment of an electronic device unit is shown.

[0027] Figure 2 A bottom view of the connecting box according to the present invention is shown.

[0028] Figure 3 Show Figure 2 A perspective view of the contact bracket of the connector box.

[0029] Figure 4 An isometric exploded view of the components of the connector box is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0030] The following is for reference. Figures 1 to 4 The invention is described in more detail using exemplary embodiments, wherein the same reference numerals in the figures denote the same functional and / or structural features.

[0031] exist Figure 1 and Figure 4 An isometric exploded view of an embodiment of the invention is shown. The electronic device unit includes a circuit board (not shown in detail), an electronic device housing 20, and a connection box 40, which will be described in more detail below.

[0032] As in Figure 1 As shown, the electronic device housing 20 has a canister shape, wherein a housing flange 28 with a fastening opening 28a is disposed circumferentially on the outer side. It can also be seen from... Figure 1 As can be seen, a receiving space 26 is provided within the can-shaped electronic device housing 20. This receiving space 26 is designed as a housing recess and an outwardly open receiving space 26, into which the connection box 40, which will be described in more detail later, can be inserted and mounted. A wall 22 extending substantially parallel to the cover surface is provided within the receiving space 21. An opening 23 is provided in the wall 22, through which interface components mounted on a circuit board (not shown in detail) can be accessed. A socket 21 on the housing side (which has an exemplary contact cavity KK for a suitable contact element) is located in the area of ​​the receiving space 26 and is designed to be compatible with the corresponding connector plug 50 plug of the connection box 40.

[0033] exist Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 4The connecting box 40 is shown in more detail below. The shape of the connecting box 40 is designed to be correspondingly installed in the receiving space 26 of the electronic device housing 20, and is preferably connected to the electronic device housing 20 by a fastening device, and its shape complementarily forms a cylindrical can. For this purpose, the cover 45 of the connecting box 40 is designed as a sub-section of a substantially circular plate, and sub-sections 45a, 45b extend laterally from the can-shaped receiving area 42 transverse to the insertion direction (S) on two diameter-opposite sides, thereby complementing the surface of the electronic device housing 20.

[0034] As shown in the figure, the pluggable connector box 40 is designed for pluggable connection of the integrated connector plug 50 to the plug-compatible socket 21 of the electronic equipment housing 20 of the electronic equipment unit of the motor along the insertion direction S. The connector box 40 has a housing 41 with a can-shaped receiving area 42 defined by the housing wall 43, as shown in... Figure 2 and Figure 4 This can be clearly seen in the image. The receiving area 42 is designed to receive the contact support 51, as shown in the image. Figure 3 As shown.

[0035] The contact holder 51 is a contact support 51 that carries the contacts of the connecting plug connector 50. In the receiving area 42 of the connector housing 40, four hollow cylindrical threaded bushings 44 extending in the insertion direction S are provided. Mechanical detachable connection to the electronic device housing 20 can be achieved via, for example... Figure 1 The screw shown in the example is used to achieve this, wherein the screw provided for this purpose passes through the hollow cylindrical screw bushing 44 and is fixedly engaged in a corresponding bushing or threaded core hole on the electronic housing.

[0036] from Figure 3 It can be clearly seen that the contact holder 51 has external guides 52 at its corner positions, each guide having a curved guide surface 55. These positions correspond to the positions of the screw bushing 44, and the contact holder 51 can be guided or actuated to its final assembled position at these positions. In this respect, the four guides 52 are designed as domes extending parallel to the insertion direction S, having at least a partially cylindrical guide surface 55, particularly a 90° portion inside the cylinder. However, this angle can also be greater than or less than the selected angle in the illustrated exemplary embodiment.

[0037] In the final assembled position of the contact holder 51, the corresponding guide 52 at least partially surrounds the cylindrical screw bushing 44, such as Figure 2 The top view clearly shows the contact holder 51 in its final assembled position.

[0038] The can-shaped receiving area 42 for accommodating the contact holder 51 is closed on the upper side by a cover 45, which is integrally connected to the outer shell of the connecting box 40. Figure 4 It can also be clearly seen that two cable bolt connectors 46 are integrally formed on the housing 41 of the connector box 40 for cable connection with cable K. The cable bolt connectors are formed transversely to the insertion direction S through the housing 41 into the can-shaped receiving area 42. These cable bolt connectors 46 (without cap nuts) are preferably directly molded onto the housing 41.

[0039] Two locking grooves 47 are radially oppositely provided in the can-shaped receiving area 42. When the contact support 51 is installed in the housing 41 of the connecting box 40 in its final assembly position, the latching protrusion 54 of the latching tongue 53 extending parallel to the insertion direction (S) latches into the latching groove.

[0040] Multiple connecting ribs 48 extend from the outer shell wall 43 of the receiving area 42 and lead to the hollow cylindrical dome 44a.

[0041] The accompanying drawings also show that the present invention provides an advantageous assembly process and easy-to-install connection possibilities for electronic device units. Due to the special interface design of the interface module, extensive scalability of the contact arrangement is also possible, particularly for the specific application arrangement of signal and power contacts; therefore, specific interface configurations can be achieved through the connection box shown.

Claims

1. A pluggable connector housing (40) for pluggably connecting a connector plug (50) integrated therein in an insertion direction (S) to a plug-compatible socket (21) of an electronic device housing (20) of an electronic device unit (1) of a motor in an electronic device unit (1), wherein, The connector box (40) has a housing (41) having a can-shaped receiving area (42) defined by a housing wall (43) for receiving a contact holder (51) of the connector plug (50) for carrying contacts. A plurality of hollow cylindrical threaded bushings (44) are provided in the receiving area (42), extending in the insertion direction (S). The contact holder (51) has external guides (52) at multiple locations corresponding to the positions of the threaded bushings (44), enabling it to be guided to its final assembly position at these positions, where the respective guides (52) at least partially surround the cylindrical threaded bushings (44). At least one latching groove (47) is provided in the can-shaped receiving area (42), and when the contact support (51) is installed in the housing (41) of the connecting box (40) in its final assembly position, the latching protrusion (54) of the latching tongue (53) extending parallel to the insertion direction (S) latches into the latching groove.

2. The pluggable connector box (40) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The can-shaped receiving area (42) for accommodating the contact support (51) is closed on one side by a cover (45) integrally connected thereto.

3. The pluggable connector box (40) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, One or more integrally formed cable bolt connectors (46) are provided on the housing (41) of the connection box (40), the cable bolt connectors being configured for cable connection through the housing (41) transverse to the insertion direction (S) into the can-shaped receiving area (42).

4. The pluggable connector box (40) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The corresponding guide device (52) is designed as a dome extending parallel to the insertion direction (S), having at least a partially cylindrical guide surface (55).

5. The pluggable connector box (40) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The corresponding guide device (52) is designed as a dome extending parallel to the insertion direction (S), having a 90° portion located inside the cylinder.

6. The pluggable connector box (40) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The corresponding guide device (52) is set at the corner.

7. The pluggable connector box (40) according to claim 6, characterized in that, The corresponding guide device (52) is set at the four corners of the contact support (51) designed as a rectangle.

8. The pluggable connector box (40) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, Multiple connecting ribs (48) extend from the housing wall (43) of the receiving area (42) for receiving the contact support (51), and a cylindrical threaded bushing (44) extends in the insertion direction (S).

9. The pluggable connector box (40) according to claim 8, characterized in that, The plurality of connecting ribs (48) are arranged outside at least one of the receiving areas (42) or the plurality of the receiving areas (42).

10. The pluggable connector box (40) according to claim 8, characterized in that, The cylindrical threaded bushing (44) is connected to the plurality of connecting ribs.

11. The pluggable connector box (40) according to claim 9, characterized in that, The cylindrical threaded bushing (44) is connected to the plurality of connecting ribs.

12. The pluggable connector box (40) according to claim 2, characterized in that, The cover (45) is designed as a subsection of a substantially circular plate, and the subsections (45a, 45b) extend laterally on both sides from the can-shaped receiving area (42) transverse to the insertion direction (S).

13. An electronic device housing (20) of an electronic device unit (1) for an electric motor, designed to receive a pluggable connection box (40) according to any one of claims 1 to 12 via a socket (21) in a mounting space, wherein, When the integrated connector plug (50) in the socket (21) is inserted, the pluggable connector box (40) is complementary in shape to the electronic device housing (20) to form a cylindrical can.

14. An electronic device unit (1) for an electric motor, configured to have an electronic device housing (20) according to claim 13, wherein a control electronic device is arranged in the electronic device housing (20), the control electronic device being arranged on a circuit board, and an interface module is provided on the control electronic device, the interface module having a socket (21) for inserting a connecting plug connector (50), the socket having contacts, wherein a pluggable connector box (40) according to any one of claims 1 to 12 is also provided, the pluggable connector box having a connecting plug connector (50) inserted into or capable of being inserted into the socket (21).

15. An electric motor, wherein the electric motor is an external rotor motor having an electronic device housing (20) according to claim 13 or an electronic device unit (1) according to claim 14.

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