Closure element for a hole with an electrical element

Abstract

A closure or fastening element (110) for insertion into a hole (11) of a component (10) comprises a base body (120) insertable into the hole (11), an expansion body (130) having an internal opening (137) along a longitudinal axis (30) of the closure element, a tension bolt (132) connected to the expansion body, and an electrical element (21) arranged at least partially in the opening of the expansion body. The electrical element (21) is configured to transmit and / or receive electrical signals, wherein the expansion body supports the base body in the hole (11) in the assembled state. The internal opening (137) is provided with an outlet (139) towards the upper surface (123 ') of the expansion body (130).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a closing or fastening element for inserting into a hole of a component, comprising a base body that can be inserted into the hole, an expansion body having an internal opening, a tension bolt connected to the expansion body, and an electrical element at least partially arranged in the opening of the expansion body, wherein the electrical element is configured to send and / or receive electrical signals, wherein the expansion body supports the base body in the assembled state. Background Art

[0002] Such a closure or fastening element for insertion into a hole, for example a hole in an engine, is known, which has a sleeve-shaped base body that can be inserted into the hole and an expansion body that can be supported in the hole. Closure elements of this type, in particular as mass-produced items, are inserted into holes with different diameters and internal pressures in order to achieve the purpose of sealing.

[0003] The arrangement of an electrical component in such a closing element is known from US 9,689,718 B2 of the applicant. Such a closing element is to be inserted into a hole in a component, for example into a hole in an engine, a valve block, a hydraulic unit or a container. At least one electrical component is provided which is arranged in or on the element, wherein each electrical component sends and / or receives an electrical signal. In the assembled state, the electrical component is advantageously positioned such that it is adjacent to a chamber formed in the hole and is therefore in contact with the medium contained in the hole for measuring purposes, etc. In addition to the actual sealing and / or fastening function, the element can therefore be used to carry out one or more measurements. Depending on the electrical component used, the closing element is the housing of the sensor. Summary of the invention

[0004] The object of the invention is to increase the usability of such electrical components in closure elements.

[0005] Based on the above-mentioned prior art, the features of the closure element according to claim 1 are used to achieve an improvement in the usability of the closure element or the fastening element.

[0006] The closure element or fastening element for insertion into a hole of a component comprises a base body insertable into the hole, an expansion body having an internal opening along the longitudinal axis of the closure element, a tension bolt connected to the expansion body, and an electrical element at least partially arranged in the opening of the expansion body. The electrical element is configured to send and / or receive electrical signals, wherein in an assembled state the expansion body supports the base body in the hole. The internal opening is provided with an outlet facing the upper surface of the expansion body, and a mounting element is provided on the tension bolt, the mounting element being configured to be connected to a mounting tool for pulling the expansion body back into the base body to fix the closure element in the hole.

[0007] The tension bolt is connected to the expansion body in one piece. Therefore, it can also be said that the expansion body comprises the head (ie the actual expansion element) and the tension bolt without causing clarity problems.

[0008] The inner opening may be a through hole, the electrical component may be arranged inside the housing, and the housing is positioned (particularly by bonding or injection molding) in the inner opening close to the underside of the expansion body.

[0009] The through hole may have a connection cavity and a sensor cavity, wherein the sensor cavity has a larger diameter to accommodate the housing of the electrical component so that it rests on a shoulder between the connection cavity and the sensor cavity. Such a shoulder improves the tightness of the sealing effect of the housing in the cavity.

[0010] The housing may include one or more circumferential grooves to accommodate a sealing ring.

[0011] The closure element may include two or more electrical connections (eg, wires) connected to the electrical element and extending out of the outlet of the internal opening to make external connection with a controller.

[0012] The electrical connector may be arranged in a cable, in particular in a shielded cable. The cable may already include a plug for connecting to a controller at the end opposite to the electrical component.

[0013] The electrical component may include a transceiver for wireless communication.

[0014] The further closing element has an electrical component including a transceiver for wireless communication. The internal opening may include a connection cavity and a sensor cavity, wherein the sensor cavity near the lower side of the expansion body accommodates the housing of the electrical component, and the connection cavity on the opposite side of the expansion body is separated from the sensor cavity by a signal transmission area in the expansion body, the signal transmission area being adapted to allow wireless signal transmission through the signal transmission area and the connection cavity. The sensor cavity is then physically separated from the connection cavity and thereby from the external environment.

[0015] The electrical component may then comprise an NFC transceiver, wherein a further NFC transceiver is positioned in the connecting cavity.

[0016] The electrical components for the wireless transceiver may include batteries as an energy source, rather than relying on induction-based energy transfer.

[0017] The electrical component may comprise one or more sensors, in particular a temperature sensor and / or a pressure sensor.

[0018] The closing element may have the outlet of the internal opening directed toward the upper surface of the tension bolt beyond the mounting element of the expansion body.

[0019] In particular, the mounting element may be a mounting groove.

[0020] Further embodiments of the invention are given in the dependent claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] The preferred embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. These embodiments are only used to illustrate the preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not used to limit the present invention. In the accompanying drawings,

[0022] Figure 1 shows a cross section of a preassembled closure element for contactless sensing of fluids;

[0023] Figure 2 Shows Figure 1 Detail area Ⅱ;

[0024] Figure 3 shows a cross section of another preassembled closure element for contactless sensing of fluids;

[0025] Figure 4 Shows Figure 3 Cross-section of a pre-assembled closure element with sensor and cable connection;

[0026] Figure 5 shows a cross section of a preassembled closure element for contact sensing of fluids;

[0027] Figure 6 Shows Figure 5 A cross section of the closure element in a built-in state without components;

[0028] Figure 7 Shows Figure 6 The cross section of the closure element located in the hole of the component;

[0029] Figure 8 Shows Figure 6 A cross section of the closure element in a built-in state with electrical components and electrical connectors;

[0030] Fig. 9 Shows Figure 8 The cross section of the closure element located in the hole of the component;

[0031] Fig.10 shows a cross section of another preassembled closure element for contact sensing of fluids;

[0032] Fig.11 Shows Fig.10 Cross-section of the closing element with the sensor and cable connection;

[0033] Fig.12shows a cross section of another preassembled closure element for contact sensing of fluids for wireless communication; and

[0034] Fig.13 Shows Fig.12 Cross section of the closing element with the sensor. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] Figure 1 An element 110 is shown which serves as a closure element for inserting a Figure 7 The component 10 shown is in a bore 11. The component 10 can in particular be a motor, a valve block, a hydraulic unit or a container.

[0036] The closing element 110 is manufactured in one piece and consists of a sleeve-shaped base body 120 which can be inserted into the hole 11 and whose outer circumference 121 abuts against the inner surface of the hole 11 in the installed state, and an expansion body 130 which can support the base body 120 in the hole 11 .

[0037] The expansion body 130 comprises a head 131 and a tension bolt 132. The tension bolt 132 comprises a mounting element, here a mounting groove 133, which is adapted to be clamped by a complementary mounting fixture to hold the tension bolt 132, in particular in a form-closed or form-fitting manner, so that the tension bolt 132 can be pulled in the longitudinal direction of the tension bolt 132 to insert the expansion body 130 into the base body 120 and to support the expansion body 130 in the base body 120. In other words, the figure shows a part of a mounting unit, including a mounting groove and a clamping tool.

[0038] The head 131 has a completely flat underside 135 and a conical outer head surface 134 adapted to abut against the inner surface 122 of the base 120 in the assembled state. The mounting groove 133 is provided in a region of the expansion body 130 located above the upper flat surface 123 of the base 120 in the pre-assembled state.

[0039] The mounting element 133 as part of the mounting unit can in other embodiments be a bayonet mount, the bayonet mount comprising a bayonet-type closed groove as a female receiver in the expansion body 130, wherein the mounting tool comprises a male side with one or more radial pins engaging with the bayonet-type female receiver. The mounting element 133 can also be a threaded connector, with an external thread on the expansion body and an internal thread on the mounting tool.

[0040] A common feature of the mounting element is that it is part of a two-part mounting unit, is adapted to apply tension to the expansion body 130 in its longitudinal direction, and is detachable.

[0041] The expansion body 130 and the base 120 placed thereon can be positioned together in the hole 11. By applying a force away from the component 10 to the tension bolt 132 and the expansion body 130, the expansion body 130 can be pushed into the base 120, so that the expansion body 130 presses the outer surface 121 of the base 120 against the wall of the hole 11 to be closed by generating radial pressure on the inner wall 122 of the base 120.

[0042] The tension bolt 132 has a central cavity 137 that extends beyond the mounting slot area 133 into the head 131. The central cavity 137 forms a blind hole. Figure 4 The electrical components in the housing 20 in which the electrical components will be described are positioned at the bottom surface 138 of the cavity 137 .

[0043] Figure 2 Shows Figure 1 Detailed area II, which is a part of the base 120 facing the expansion body 130. The sleeve-shaped base 120 has a head receiving larger internal opening with an inner surface 122 to accommodate the head of the expansion body 130, and a bolt receiving internal opening 140, which has three adjacent parts 143, 141 and 143 as seen from the upper surface 123 of the base 120. The middle part 141 has a cylindrical surface, which is configured to meet the outer surface 136 of the bolt part of the head 131 below the mounting groove area 133, as a guide, allowing Figure 1 The pre-assembly of the closure element (and the electrical element 20) is shown. An angled tapered portion 142 is provided on both sides close to the middle portion 141, followed by an outer portion 143. Figure 2 The small angle Θ shown may be between 1 and 10 degrees, preferably between 3 and 7 degrees, and in particular 5 degrees, which is related to the conical part 142, which connects two cylindrical parts 141 with smaller inner diameters to another cylindrical part 143 with larger inner diameter. Figure 2 The parts shown are for pre-assembly purposes only. The wording of smaller diameter part 141 relates to the inner diameter of the hollow cylindrical part 141 which is smaller than the inner diameters of the two outer parts 143 which have a larger inner diameter and are therefore able to receive the expansion body 130 more easily.

[0044] like Figure 4 As shown in a similar embodiment shown, the electrical component is positioned in a housing 20 placed in an internal cavity 137 in a hollow expansion body 130. The electrical component sends and / or receives electrical signals via (at least) two electrical connections 23 and is preferably held in a form-fitting manner inside the expansion body 130. The form fit of the housing 20 allows the electrical component 21 in the housing to not be subjected to direct pressure, which is substantially absorbed by the housing 20.

[0045] Figure 3 FIG. 2 shows a cross section of another preassembled closure element 210 for contactless sensing of fluids. Figure 1 1 and 2. The embodiment of the present invention is similar to that of the present invention, and therefore only different reference numerals are used for different features, such as the base body 220 and the expansion body 230, while elements such as the tension bolt 132 and its mounting groove area 133 still use the reference numerals from the first embodiment. The main difference lies in the complementary form of the head 231 and the inner surface of the base body. The outer head surface 234 has a conical area 235 facing the outer surface 136 of the tension bolt 132. This conical area 235 abuts against the complementary surface 225 of the base body 220 in the assembled state. The area of ​​the inner opening 140 can be as shown in FIG. Figure 2 Build as shown.

[0046] Figure 4 Shows Figure 3 20 is a cross section of a preassembled closure element 210 with a sensor and cable connection. Here the housing 20 of the electrical component 21 (as shown inserted into the housing 20) is a sensor with two electrical connections 23, which are shown as part of the cable 22. The housing 20 is positioned at the bottom of the cavity 137 and can be glued.

[0047] Figure 5 shows a cross section of a preassembled closure element 310 for contact sensing of a fluid in the depth of a hole outside the closure element 310; Figure 6 Shows Figure 5 A cross section of the closure element 310 in the built-in state without the component 10, Figure 7 Shows Figure 6 The closure element 310 is located in the cross section of the hole 11 in the component 10.

[0048] The closure element 310 includes a base body 320 and an expansion body 330, the construction and interaction of which are the same as in the above-described embodiment. The cavity in the expansion body 330 is a through hole, which has a sensor cavity 337' on the lower side 335 of the hole and a connecting cavity 337 facing the mounting groove area 133. The connecting cavity 337 has a smaller diameter, so that a shoulder 338 appears at the transition to the sensor cavity 337'. The electrical component can be fixedly positioned in the sensor cavity 337', especially when it is protected by the housing 20. Figure 8 and Fig. 9 As shown, this embodiment enables the electrical component 21 (especially the sensor) to be in direct contact with the fluid in the hole 11, and the electrical connection piece extends beyond the connection cavity 337.

[0049] Figure 8 Shows Figure 6The closure element 310 is a cross-section of the housing 20 with the electrical component 21 and the electrical connector 23 in the built-in state. The electrical connector 23 extends in the cable 22, which has a diameter that is almost the same as the opening 337. The cable 22 can be shielded. Here, a part of the housing 20 of the electrical component 21 (and the electrical component 21) extends outside the lower side 335 of the expansion body 330. Fig. 9 Shows Figure 8 The closure element 310 is located in the cross section of the hole of the component 10, and the housing 20 of the electrical component 21 extends beyond the lower side 335 into the fluid in the hole 11. In the assembled state, the electrical component 21 is positioned so that it is adjacent to the cavity formed in the hole 11 and is therefore in contact with the medium contained in the hole for measurement purposes, etc.

[0050] The electrical component 21 schematically shown here can also be manufactured in a plate-like or other form, and the electrical connectors 23 of the electrical component 21 can be provided in a different number, in particular more than two, or arranged differently from the shown manner.

[0051] Depending on the application, sensors, actuators, transducers, chips, measuring transducers or the like can be used for the electrical element 21. For example, the pressure and / or temperature of a medium in an engine block as component 10 can be determined by continuous monitoring or controlled access.

[0052] An O-ring 339 is schematically shown inside a circumferential groove in the housing 20, which is pressed against the hollow cylindrical wall of the sensor cavity 337' for an extended sealing function of the housing 20. Of course, two or more O-rings 339 may be provided.

[0053] Fig.10 A cross section of another preassembled closure element 410 for contact sensing of fluids is shown. Fig.11 Shows Fig.10 Cross section of a closing element 410 with an electrical component 20 and a cable connection 22. Fig.10 Examples and Figures 5 to 9 The embodiment of FIG. 4 differs in that the through-holes and the connections as well as the sensor cavity 437 have the same cross-section along the longitudinal axis of the cavity. Fig.10 The pre-assembled state of the housing 20 without electrical components is shown. Fig.11 The introduction of the housing 20 of the electrical component in particular is shown. When the closing element 410 is fitted together in the hole, the expansion body 430 is then inserted into the base body 420. This also applies radial pressure to the housing 20 of the electrical component 21, which then bears any fluid pressure from inside the hole.

[0054] In order to prevent damage to the sensor, the cavity sealing can be completed in advance by a sensor cage structure or an embedded structure. This embedded structure can be provided by injection molding the electrical component 21 and the cable 23 into the matrix 430. The electrical component 21 (which may include a sensor housing 20 (smaller than the cavity)) is positioned in the matrix 430. If the electrical component 21 includes a wire-based transmission connection, the cable 22 is also positioned in the matrix 430. The preassembled components are then positioned in an injection molding device, and the cavity 337, 337' or 437 is at least partially filled with injection material to seal the hole. In an embodiment with a cavity 137 or 537', injection molding can also be used to position the electrical component 21. For a more robust preassembly, the housing 20 can also be bonded in the cavity 437 at the very beginning, and the housing 20 can also include a groove with an O-ring 339 or another sealing element.

[0055] Fig.12 FIG. 5 shows a cross section of another preassembled closure element 510 for contact sensing of fluid for wireless communication. Fig.13 Shows Fig.12 The closing element 510 has a cross-section of the housing 20 of the electrical component 21. The expansion body 530 in this embodiment has a sensor cavity 537' only on the lower side 535 of the expansion body 530, and the housing 20 of the electrical component 21 is fixed in the sensor cavity 537'. The electrical component 21 is configured to be wirelessly connected to an external controller (not shown) because the previous electrical component 20 is connected to the electrical connector 23 through such a controller. The sensor cavity 537' in the expansion body 530 is configured to measure the distance from the blind hole cavity 537 opening through the upper surface of the expansion body 530 from the hole 11. In the expansion body 530, there is a small distance between the bottom of the blind hole cavity 537 and the inner wall of the sensor cavity 537', allowing wireless transmission because the small distance between the two cavities 537 and 537' is thin enough to reduce the Faraday effect of the aluminum material constituting 538.

[0056] The closure element 10 may include a base body positioned in the graduated hole 11, and a separate sleeve-shaped expansion body 530 that can be pushed into the base body 520. The expansion body 530 is pushed in such a way that the base body 520 is pressed radially outward against the inner wall of the hole 11, and its protruding annular outer ribs or the like are pushed into the material of the insertion hole wall and plastically deformed to achieve reliable retention and sealing.

[0057] The housing 20 of the electric component 21 is positioned in the base 530, and the base 530 can also advantageously be in the shape of a sleeve, so that the electric component 20 fixed in the base 530 can basically contact the medium located in the hole. The lower opening of the base is preferably arranged in a funnel shape, so that the entire lower side of the electric component 20 is advantageously exposed to the medium.

[0058] As a feature, it is also provided that, since both the expansion body and the base body are made in the form of sleeves, the electric element 21 acts as a seal for the closing element. This has the advantage that the electric connector 23 of the electric element 21 is freely accessible from the outside. In principle, however, the expansion body can also be closed at the top.

[0059] Fig.12 and Fig.13 Shown with Figure 8 Another exemplary embodiment of a similar element includes a predetermined mounting groove area of ​​a one-piece closing disk as the head of a tension bolt, which can be pulled to provide tension. The closing disk can be expanded by the axial force in the tension bolt, so that it can be radially pressed against the inner wall of the hole of the component 10 to be closed.

[0060] According to the invention, the housing 20 of the electrical component 21 is positioned in the opening of the closing disk, the electrical component 21 being again schematically shown. The opening of the housing 20 for receiving the electrical component 21 has such a length that it can extend downward through the predetermined mounting slot area, so that after the expansion body is pulled back into the base body, a continuous opening is produced on the lower side of the expansion body. The housing 20 of the electrical component 21 is tightly inserted into the expansion body, adjacent to the cavity formed in the hole 11, facing inward. The receiver of the electrical component 21 can be positioned inside or outside the cavity 537, so that there may or may not be an electrical connection to the outside. A receiver or transceiver can also be positioned in the hole 537.

[0061] The exemplary embodiments described above have fully explained the present invention. However, the present invention may also be disclosed in other versions. For example, two or even more such electrical elements 21 may be integrated into a closed element 110, 210, 310, 410 or 510, for example by integrating one electrical element into a substrate or an expansion body and positioning a second electrical element below the substrate, which may also be annular. The other element positioned above the second electrical element may be cylindrical or similar, which may also be connected to the inside of an engine, etc., so that, for example, one element measures the temperature of the medium in the chamber and the other measures the pressure of the medium in the chamber.

[0062] Furthermore, in the assembled state, the electrical component 20 may not be directly adjacent to the cavity formed in the hole, but may extend into the hole or into the interior of the component, for example via a line with a sensor or the like.

[0063] Furthermore, another advantage within the framework of the invention is that the electrical component 20 can be replaced when it is damaged or needs to be replaced by a different electrical component 20. Thus, for example, the component 10 can be removed from the hole 11 by a removal device and a new electrical component 20 can be installed on it.

[0064] Generally speaking, the hole 11, the corresponding element and the electrical element 21 have a circular cross section. In principle, however, these elements can also be provided with a rectangular or polygonal cross section.

[0065] Reference numerals list

[0066] 10 Part 210 Closing element

[0067] 11 holes 220 base

[0068] The upper surface 225 of the component 12 is a complementary surface of the base 220

[0069] 13 inner surface of hole 230 expansion body

[0070] 20 Housing 231 of electrical component 230 Head

[0071] 21 The outer head surface of the electric element 234 231

[0072] 22 Cable 235 Conical surface

[0073] 23 Electrical connector 310 Closing element

[0074] 30 longitudinal axis 320 base

[0075] 110 Closing element 330 Expansion body

[0076] 120 The lower side of the sleeve-shaped base 335 330

[0077] 121 120 outer surface 337 330 connection cavity

[0078] 122 Sensor cavity in the inner surface 337'330 of 120

[0079] 123 120 upper surface 338 shoulder

[0080] 123'130 upper surface 339 O-ring

[0081] 130 expansion body 410 closing element

[0082] 131 130 head 420 base

[0083] 132 130 tension bolt 430 expansion body

[0084] 133 The lower side of the mounting groove area 435 430

[0085] 134 131 The connecting cavity in the outer head surface 437 430

[0086] 135 The flat underside 510 of 131 closes the element

[0087] 136 132 outer surface 520 base

[0088] 137 130 cavity 530 expansion body

[0089] The lower side of the bottom surface 535 530 of 138 137

[0090] 140 120 / 220 inner opening 537 530 in blind cavity

[0091] 141 Middle part (smaller inner diameter) 537' Sensor cavity in 530

[0092] 142 inclined part 538 transmission area

[0093] 143 External part (larger inner diameter)

Claims

1. A closing element or fastening element (110, 210, 310, 410, 510) for insertion into a hole (11) of a component (10), comprising a base body (120, 220, 320, 420, 520) insertable into the hole (11), an expansion body (130, 230, 330, 430, 530) having an inner opening (137, 337, 337', 437, 537, 537') along the longitudinal axis (30) of the closing element, a tension bolt (132) connected to the expansion body, and an electrical element (21) at least partially arranged in the opening of the expansion body, wherein the electrical element (21) is configured to send and / or receive electrical signals, wherein in the assembled state the expansion body supports the base body in the hole (11), characterized in that The internal opening (137) is provided with an outlet (139) facing the upper surface (123') of the expansion body (130), and a mounting element (133) is provided on the tension bolt (132), and the mounting element (133) is configured to be connected to a mounting tool for pulling the expansion body back into the base to fix the closing element in the hole.

2. A closing element according to claim 1, wherein the internal opening (337, 337'; 437) is a through hole, the electrical component (21) is arranged inside the shell (20), and the shell (20) is positioned in, in particular bonded to, the internal opening (337, 337'; 437) near the lower side (335) of the expansion body (330).

3. The closure element according to claim 2, wherein the housing (20) is glued or fixed in the inner opening by injection molding.

4. A closing element according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the through hole has a connecting cavity (337) and a sensor cavity (337'), wherein the sensor cavity (337') has a larger diameter to accommodate the housing (20) of the electrical element (21) so that it rests on a shoulder (338) between the connecting cavity (337) and the sensor cavity (337').

5. Closure element according to claim 4, wherein the housing (20) comprises one or more grooves to accommodate a sealing ring (339).

6. The closure element according to any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising two or more electrical connections (23) connected to the electrical element (21) and extending outside the outlet (139) of the inner opening.

7. Closure element according to claim 6, wherein the electrical connection (23) is arranged in a cable (22), in particular in a shielded cable.

8. Closure element according to claim 7, wherein the cable (22) comprises a plug at the end opposite to the electrical element (21).

9. Closure element according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the electrical element (21) comprises a transceiver for wireless communication.

10. A closing element according to claim 1, wherein the electrical component (21) includes a transceiver for wireless communication, wherein the internal opening (537, 537') includes a connecting cavity (537) and a sensor cavity (537'), wherein the sensor cavity (537') close to the lower side (335) of the expansion body (530) accommodates the housing (20) of the electrical component (21), and the connecting cavity (537) located on the opposite side of the expansion body (530) is separated from the sensor cavity (537') by a signal transmission area (538) in the expansion body (530), and the signal transmission area (538) is suitable for allowing wireless signal transmission through the signal transmission area (538) and the connecting cavity (537).

11. Closure element according to claim 10, wherein the electrical element (21) comprises an NFC transceiver, wherein a further NFC transceiver is positioned in the connection cavity (537).

12. Closure element according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the electrical element (21) comprises a battery.

13. Closure element according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the electrical element (21) comprises one or more sensors, in particular a temperature sensor and / or a pressure sensor.

14. Closure element according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein an outlet (139) of the inner opening (137) is directed towards an upper surface (123') of the tension bolt (132), beyond a mounting element (133) of the expansion body (130).

15. The closure element according to claim 14, wherein the mounting element is a mounting groove (133).

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