Electrically hydraulic actuated space-saving and safe control unit for motor vehicle assemblies

Abstract

The invention discloses an electrically hydraulic actuated control unit (12) for a motor vehicle assembly, having a main housing (26) and at least one valve unit (10) which can be inserted into the main housing (26), wherein the valve unit (10) has a metallic valve housing (14) for accommodating an electrically actuated valve, a plug housing (18) which is fastened to the valve housing (14) and is formed from a plastic material, and a connection contact (16) which is accommodated in the plug housing (18) and can be electrically connected to the valve, wherein a clamping contact (28) for electrically connecting the connection contact (16) of the valve unit (10) to an actuating electronics system which is provided for operating the valve is connected to the main housing (26), and wherein the plug housing (18) forms a dielectric resistance between the clamping contact (28) and the valve housing (14). As a result of the plug housing (18) forming a dielectric resistance between the clamping contact (28) and the valve housing (14), a space-saving and safe control unit (12) is made possible.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an electro-hydraulic control unit, for example, for actuating a clutch in a motor vehicle, which can operate safely with limited installation space requirements. Background Technology

[0002] An electro-hydraulic control unit is known from DE102005058843A1, wherein a valve unit, which is laterally inserted into a main housing along the insertion direction, is fixed by a locking plate, and the valve unit has a plug protruding perpendicular to the insertion direction for electrical contact.

[0003] There is always a need to reduce the installation space requirements of the control unit without compromising electrical safety. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to demonstrate measures that make it possible to save installation space in a safety control unit.

[0005] This objective is achieved by a control unit for electro-hydraulic actuation of a motor vehicle assembly, particularly a clutch, and a hydraulic module for hydraulic actuation of a clutch in a motor vehicle's transmission system.

[0006] One embodiment relates to a control unit for electro-hydraulic actuation of a motor vehicle assembly, particularly a clutch, having a main housing and at least one valve unit insertable into the main housing, wherein the valve unit has: a metal valve housing for housing an electrically actuated valve; a plug housing fastened to the valve housing and formed of a plastic material; and a connecting contact portion housed in the plug housing and electrically connected to the valve, wherein the connecting contact portion of the valve unit is electrically connected to a clamping contact portion configured for operating the valve's actuation electronics system is connected to the main housing, and wherein the plug housing forms a dielectric resistance between the clamping contact portion and the valve housing.

[0007] The control unit can be mounted to the surrounding structure in a motor vehicle along the assembly direction. For example, the main housing has a protruding fastening flange that can be bolted or clamped to the surrounding structure in the assembly direction. In particular, the control unit can be part of a hydraulic module for actuating a clutch in the transmission system of a motor vehicle, such that the control unit can be mounted with the surrounding structure in the assembly direction extending radially toward the rotational shaft of the clutch to be actuated relative to the clutch. The main housing can have a receiving recess, particularly extending perpendicular to the assembly direction, for receiving the valve body of a valve unit, which can be inserted into the receiving recess of the main housing along the insertion direction. Furthermore, due to the relative movement of the valve body relative to the main housing when the valve body is inserted into the receiving recess of the main housing, the relative movement of the connecting contact portion of the valve body and the clamping contact portion of the main housing can occur simultaneously, resulting in electrical contact between the connecting contact portion and the clamping contact portion at a designated end position of the valve body in the receiving recess. Even if the control unit has been installed in the motor vehicle, a defective valve can be easily disassembled and reassembled by the relative movement of the valve body relative to the main housing in the insertion direction, wherein electrical contact can be simultaneously canceled and restored. This makes the maintenance of the control unit very easy.

[0008] However, these movement dynamics of the valve unit relative to the main housing mean that the clamping contact can be arranged in an imaginary extension of the metal valve housing perpendicular to the insertion direction. To minimize the mounting space required for the control unit perpendicular to the insertion direction, the clamping contact should be positioned as close as possible to the valve unit, and therefore very close to the metal valve housing. However, to prevent short-circuit current between the clamping contact and the metal valve housing, a sufficiently large dielectric resistance is formed between the clamping contact and the valve housing, which can safely prevent current breakdown between the clamping contact and the metal valve housing under the expected voltage. Here, the dielectric resistance is formed by the material of the plug housing, rather than as an air gap, so short circuits can be avoided even in the event of vibration and / or shock-type impacts that might temporarily shorten the distance between the clamping contact and the valve housing formed by an air gap, which would otherwise be configured. Since the thickness of the plug housing material forming the dielectric resistance provides sufficient voltage protection, sufficient electrical protection can be provided even with loose but low-cost manufacturing and assembly tolerances. Because the dielectric resistance is formed by the plug housing rather than the main housing, an accessible clamping contact can be provided on the side of the valve housing facing the valve unit. This simplifies the assembly and electrical contact between the clamping contact and the wires and / or electrical components housed within the main housing. Since the plug housing forms a dielectric resistance between the clamping contact and the valve housing, a space-saving and safe control unit can be achieved.

[0009] Specifically, the valve unit may have a solenoid valve enclosed within a valve housing. For example, a valve solenoid may be provided to actuate a valve slider, by means of which the switching position of the valve unit can be switched. The valve slider may be part of the valve unit, or, for example, inserted separately from the valve unit into the main housing. The valve solenoid is specifically designed as an electrically actuated electromagnet.

[0010] The valve housing of the valve unit is made of a metallic material such as steel or aluminum to effectively protect the solenoid valve from environmental influences. On the other hand, the plug housing of the valve unit is made of an electrically weak or non-conductive material (“dielectric”), particularly plastic, so that the material of the plug housing can provide dielectric resistance to the electrical short-circuit current between the clamping contact and the valve housing.

[0011] In particular, the main housing, made of plastic, can have a lead frame by means of which the valve unit, especially the valve solenoid, can be electrically controlled. Specifically, the lead frame is part of the main housing and is protected from the ambient medium. Preferably, the main housing can have a shell-like design and / or enclose a sufficiently large internal space in which hydraulic lines and wires for operating at least one valve unit can be installed. Specifically, the internal space can be closed and preferably sealed in a liquid-tight and / or gas-tight manner by a bottom element, particularly a two-dimensional flat bottom plate or a three-dimensional bottom shell. The main housing can, for example, have an opening extending in the assembly direction to allow the main housing and / or the bottom element to be screwed to the surrounding structure via screws aligned in the assembly direction. Preferably, the bottom element is fastened, particularly screwed and / or clamped, to the main housing by a separate fastening device.

[0012] Specifically, the dielectric resistance extends along a surface normal orthogonal to the outer side of the valve housing, at least on the entire projected surface of the clamping contact to the valve housing. Preferably, the dielectric resistance can protrude laterally beyond the protruding surface of the clamping contact, such that, within manufacturing and assembly tolerances, in any tolerance-related relative position, the entire protruding surface of the clamping contact is covered by the dielectric resistance provided by the plug housing. Therefore, the dielectric resistance is sufficiently large and potent in its two-dimensional shape and its material thickness along the third dimension to provide adequate voltage protection against short-circuit currents between the clamping contact and the metal valve housing.

[0013] Preferably, the valve body has a cylindrical, particularly substantially annular cylindrical, outer side, wherein the dielectric resistance extends in a plane tangential to and substantially parallel to the clamping contact, or the dielectric resistance extends circumferentially on the outer side, and the clamping contact extends substantially tangentially to the dielectric resistance. The dielectric resistance between the substantially cylindrical valve body and the substantially planar clamping contact can preferably follow the orientation of the valve body or the clamping contact with a substantially constant material thickness. Preferably, the valve body has a gap for accommodating at least a portion of the dielectric resistance, thereby further reducing the installation space. In this way, sufficient electrical insulation between the clamping contact and the valve body can be achieved cost-effectively and resource-efficiently with minimal material used to form the dielectric resistance.

[0014] Particularly preferably, the plug housing has a protruding insulating extension that guides along the outer side of the valve housing to form dielectric resistance between the clamping contact and the valve housing. The insulating extension may be connected at one end to the remainder of the plug housing and protrude from there into the intermediate region between the clamping contact and the valve housing to fill all or part of the intermediate region. In this regard, it is sufficient that the insulating extension is formed as a generally mesh-like extension or a partial loop rather than as a circumferentially closed tube extension. Therefore, the insulating extension can form dielectric resistance only where it is needed, using only a small amount of material.

[0015] Specifically, the insulating extension is integrally formed with the rest of the plug housing. Specifically, the plug housing can be manufactured by plastic injection molding. This maintains a low number of parts, low assembly workload, and low manufacturing cost. The plug housing can be made of multiple parts, such as two parts having a housing and a cover, allowing the connecting contacts to be easily installed in the plug housing. Specifically, the cover is securely attached to the housing, for example, by adhesive bonding. The insulating extension can be integrally formed with the cover or integrally formed with the housing of the plug housing. Alternatively, the insulating extension can be fastened (e.g., clamped) to the rest of the plug housing, particularly the cover or housing, as a separate attachment part using form-fitting and / or force-fitting methods.

[0016] Preferably, the insulating extension has a through opening for the connecting contact to pass through the exterior of the valve housing extension in the insertion direction of the valve unit into the main housing and the exterior of the valve housing extension perpendicular to the main housing. Therefore, the through opening of the insulating extension for the connecting contact to pass from the inside to the outside of the plug housing toward the clamping contact is located at a relatively far position from the valve housing. The distance between the through opening and the valve housing can be easily chosen to be large enough to prevent short circuits between the clamping contact and / or the connecting contact on one side and the valve housing on the other side through the through opening.

[0017] Particularly preferably, the insulating extension between the clamping contact and the valve housing can be inserted, and in particular clamped, into the main housing by relative movement relative to the clamping contact along the insertion direction of the valve unit. For this purpose, suitable fits can be provided, on the one hand, between the insulating extension and the valve housing, and on the other hand, between the insulating extension and the clamping contact, which still allows for manual insertion of the insulating extension with or without clamping. This simplifies assembly.

[0018] Specifically, the plug housing is bonded to the valve housing via plastic deformation of the valve housing, particularly through a flanged connection with the fastening edge of the plug housing. The metallic material of the valve housing allows for a particularly secure connection between the plug housing and the valve housing without the need for additional separate fastening devices. This results in a smaller number of parts.

[0019] Preferably, the clamping contact has a U-shaped groove for receiving the connecting contact in a clamping manner, wherein the groove of the clamping contact is open relative to the insertion direction of the valve unit into the main housing, and the connecting contact extends substantially perpendicular to the insertion direction to the outside of the plug housing. The connecting contact can be screwed into the groove, for example, via an introduction ramp formed at the edge of the U-shaped groove, and frictionally clamped in the narrow area of ​​the groove. This allows for good mechanical fastening and good electrical contact between the connecting contact of the valve unit and the clamping contact of the main housing.

[0020] Another embodiment relates to a hydraulic module for hydraulically actuating a clutch in a motor vehicle's drivetrain, comprising a hydraulic pressure source for actuating the clutch, an actuation electronics system for processing signals for actuating the clutch, and a control unit, which can be designed and further developed as described above, for connecting and / or disconnecting the hydraulic pressure between the pressure source and the clutch in response to an electrical control signal output by the actuation electronics system. Because the plug housing in the control unit forms a dielectric resistance between the clamping contact and the valve housing, a space-saving and safe hydraulic module is possible. Attached Figure Description

[0021] In the following description, the invention will be explained by way of example using preferred exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein the features presented below may individually or in combination represent aspects of the invention. In the drawings: Figure 1 A schematic perspective view of the valve unit is shown. Figure 2 It shows that it has Figure 1 A schematic perspective cross-sectional view of the control unit of the valve unit in the diagram. Detailed Implementation

[0022] Figure 1The valve unit 10 shown can be used in an electro-hydraulic control unit 12 for actuating a clutch in a motor vehicle assembly, particularly in the transmission system of a motor vehicle. The valve unit 10 has a metal valve housing 14, within which a solenoid valve can be protectively housed. The valve can be electrically actuated via a connecting contact 16, for example, by electromagnetically displacing a valve slider, thereby opening and / or closing the hydraulic connection between a hydraulic pressure source and a hydraulic consumption device. The connecting contact 16 is fixedly inserted into a plug housing 18 made of a non-conductive plastic material and is electrically connected to an associated electrical connection of the valve. The connecting contact 16 is housed in the plug housing 16 in a protected and electrically insulated manner, wherein the connecting contact 16 extends to the outside via a through opening 19 in the plug housing 18. The plug housing 18 can be removably or non-removably secured to the valve housing 14. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the valve housing 14 has a plastically bent tab 20 by means of which the protruding fastening edge 22 of the plug housing 18 is fastened to the valve housing 14 in a binding manner, particularly by means of a flange connection.

[0023] The valve housing 14 has a substantially annular cylindrical shape and can be inserted together with the plug housing 18 into a corresponding receiving recess in the main housing 26 of the control unit 10 along an insertion direction 24 corresponding to the axial direction of the valve housing 14. Figure 2 As shown. On the lower side of the main housing 26 facing the valve housing 14, there is a clamping contact portion 28. Each clamping contact portion 28 has a groove with a U-shaped opening opposite to the insertion direction 24. When the valve unit 10 is assembled with the main housing 26, the associated connecting contact portion 16 can be automatically screwed into and clamped into the groove.

[0024] The plug housing 18 has an integrally formed insulating extension 30 projecting along the insertion direction 24. This insulating extension is arranged between the metal valve housing 14 and the metal clamping contact 28 when the valve unit 10 is installed, so as to form a dielectric resistance between the valve housing 14 and the clamping contact 28. When viewed in the radial direction of the valve housing 14, the insulating extension 30 completely covers the clamping contact 28 and protrudes laterally beyond the clamping contact 28, such that the material of the plug housing 18 in the region of the protruding insulating extension 30 provides a high dielectric resistance to voltage breakdown and / or short circuit between the clamping contact 28 and the valve housing 14.

[0025] List of reference numerals 10 Valve Units 12 Control Units 14 valve housing 16 Connecting Contact Part 18. Plug housing 19. Through opening 20 convex plates 22. Secure the edges 24. Insertion direction 26 Main housing 28 Clamping Contact Part 30 Insulation Extension

Claims

1. A control unit for electro-hydraulic actuation of a clutch, comprising: Main shell (26), and At least one valve unit (10) capable of being inserted into the main housing (26), wherein, The valve unit (10) has Metal valve housing (14) for accommodating an electrically actuated valve. The plug housing (18), which is fastened to the valve housing (14) and is formed of plastic material, and A connecting contact (16) is provided, which is housed in the plug housing (18) and is electrically connected to the valve. The connecting contact (16) for electrically connecting the valve unit (10) to the clamping contact (28) of the actuation electronics system configured to operate the valve is connected to the main housing (26), and The plug housing (18) forms a dielectric resistance between the clamping contact (28) and the valve housing (14).

2. The control unit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The dielectric resistance extends along the surface normal orthogonal to the outside of the valve housing (14) at least across the entire projected surface from the clamping contact (28) to the valve housing (14).

3. The control unit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The valve housing (14) has a substantially annular cylindrical outer side, wherein the dielectric resistance extends in a plane tangent to the outer side and substantially parallel to the clamping contact (28), or the dielectric resistance extends in a circumferential direction along the outer side, and the clamping contact (28) extends substantially tangent to the dielectric resistance.

4. The control unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The plug housing (18) has a protruding insulating extension (30) guided along the outside of the valve housing (14) for forming the dielectric resistance between the clamping contact (28) and the valve housing (14).

5. The control unit according to claim 4, characterized in that, The insulating extension (30) is integrally formed with the rest of the plug housing (18).

6. The control unit according to claim 4, characterized in that, The insulating extension (30) has a through opening (19) for the connecting contact (16) to pass through the extension of the valve housing (14) in the insertion direction (24) from the valve unit (10) to the main housing (26) and the extension of the valve housing (14) perpendicular to the insertion direction (24).

7. The control unit according to any one of claims 4, characterized in that, The insulating extension (30) between the clamping contact (28) and the valve housing (14) can be inserted and clamped into the main housing (26) by relative movement of the clamping contact (28) along the insertion direction (24) of the valve unit (10) relative to the clamping contact (28).

8. The control unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The plug housing (18) is connected to the valve housing (14) in a restrained manner by a flange connection between the valve housing (14) and the fastening edge (22) of the plug housing (18).

9. The control unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The clamping contact (28) has a groove for receiving the connecting contact (16) in a clamping manner, wherein the groove of the clamping contact (28) is open relative to the insertion direction (24) from the valve unit (10) into the main housing (26), and the connecting contact (16) extends substantially perpendicular to the insertion direction (24) to the outside of the plug housing (18).

10. A hydraulic module for hydraulic actuation of a clutch in a transmission system of a motor vehicle, comprising a hydraulic pressure source for actuating the clutch, an actuation electronics system for processing a signal for actuating the clutch, and a control unit (12) for connecting and / or disconnecting the hydraulic force between the pressure source and the clutch in response to an electrical control signal output by the actuation electronics system, according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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