Composite seal for motor vehicle

Abstract

A composite seal (10) for circumferentially sealing an interior space (50) formed between two motor vehicle housing parts (40, 41) from an exterior space (51) has a metal profiled support (11) and an elastomeric main seal (12) which is connected to an end face (14) of the profiled support (11) facing the interior space (50). An additional elastomer profile seal (20) is connected to the outer side (19) of the profile support (11) facing the outer space (51), which profile seal (20) provides a seal to the outside.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a composite seal for circumferentially sealing an interior space formed between two motor vehicle shell parts from the exterior space, the composite seal comprising a metal profile support and an elastomeric main seal connected to the profile support at its end face facing the interior space. Background Art

[0002] Irregularities and roughness on the sealing surfaces of the two housing parts encourage moisture to penetrate between the profile support and the housing part. Since electric drives operate at lower temperatures than combustion engines, this moisture no longer evaporates and continuously promotes corrosion on the housing part and / or the profile support. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The object of the present invention is to provide a composite seal which reliably prevents corrosion on the housing parts and / or the profile supports.

[0004] The objects of the invention are achieved by the features of the independent claims.

[0005] According to the invention, an additional elastomeric profile seal is connected to the outer side of the profile support towards the exterior space, which additional elastomeric profile seal provides a seal to the exterior and effectively prevents moisture from penetrating the gap between the profile support and the housing part.

[0006] Because the sealing flange width of housing components is typically limited, the profile support cannot be narrowed arbitrarily for stability reasons. Furthermore, the main seal should be as high as possible for aging resistance and is therefore typically attached to the inner end face of the profile support. This leaves little space for an additional, outward-facing profile seal. Therefore, the profile support preferably has at least one recess on its outer side, into which the additional profile seal is installed. The recess or embossing on the outer side provides the additional profile seal with sufficient height for installation. This allows the seal to be applied at or below the level of the profile support.

[0007] The additional profile seal towards the outside can only have a protective function and therefore the height can be lower than the main seal. In other words, the height of the additional profile seal in the sealing direction is preferably lower than the height of the main seal.

[0008] In one embodiment, the additional profile seal has sealing elements on both sealing sides of the profile support. For manufacturing reasons and to facilitate the injection of the elastomer, the additional profile seal may have an elastomer bridge extending across the outer end face of the profile support and connecting the sealing elements; however, this is not essential.

[0009] The profile support preferably has at least one, preferably two, embossed sections in the preferably elastomer-free region between the main seal and the additional profile seal. These embossed sections, which can be produced, in particular, by injection molding, can create additional pressure relief spaces for the main seal and / or the additional profile seal. Consequently, corresponding pressure relief grooves in the main seal and / or the additional profile seal may be unnecessary.

[0010] In other embodiments, the primary seal and / or the additional profile seal may have at least one pressure relief groove.

[0011] Preferably, the circumferential profile support element consists of a plurality of support components which are connected to one another only by the elastomer of the primary seal and / or the elastomer of the additional profile seal. This embodiment has the advantage that the annular profile support element does not have to be stamped as a whole, but rather only the individual support components having a much smaller surface area need to be stamped, thus saving considerable stamping waste.

[0012] Preferably, the gap between the support elements is nonlinear, in particular S-shaped. To this end, the gap may have a central portion extending parallel to the circumferential axis or circumference of the profile support, and two end portions extending from the central portion in opposite directions. This gap shape has the advantage that the connection between the support elements via the elastomer is stronger than via a linear gap. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] The present invention will be explained below in conjunction with preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0014] Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of a composite seal viewed from one sealing direction;

[0015] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of a composite seal;

[0016] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a composite seal in another embodiment; and

[0017] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of a composite seal installed between two housing components. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] The annular static composite seal 10 comprises a profile support 11 made of metal (eg aluminum) and a main seal 12 made of elastomer. Figure 1 In the installed state (see Figure 3), the composite seal 10 is installed between two housing parts 40, 41 fastened together, for example, by screws, and serves to isolate the housing interior 50 from an exterior space 51, such as the atmosphere. Holes 13 for fastening elements, such as screws, are preferably provided along the profile support 11. One possible application is in housings in electric vehicle drivetrains—for example, sealing pulse inverter or gearbox housings.

[0019] The cross section of the primary seal 12 according to one embodiment is as follows Figure 2 As shown. The main seal 12 is connected, in particular vulcanized, to the end face 14 of the profile support 11 facing the interior space 50. In this embodiment, a plurality of, for example, two, sealing ribs 15, 16 are provided, which are radially offset in the main sealing plane and each form a sealing edge facing the two housing parts 40, 41. Relief grooves 17, 18 are preferably provided between the sealing ribs 15, 16 and / or between the sealing rib 16 and the profile support 11. At the location of the relief grooves 17, 18, the thickness de of the main seal 12 is preferably less than the thickness dp of the profile support 11.

[0020] The thickness of the profile support 11 corresponds to the size of the gap between the two mounted housing parts 40, 41; the profile support 11 is screwed to the block. Figure 4 ), due to tolerances, unevenness, and component deformations, gaps 42 may appear in at least partial areas on both sides between the profile support 11 and the two housing parts 40, 41. The profile support 11 serves both to shape the main seal 12 connected thereto and to limit the degree of sealing compression of the main seal 12.

[0021] In order to prevent dirty water from penetrating from the exterior space 51 into the gap 42 between the profile support 11 and the two housing parts 40, 41, an additional elastomeric profile seal 20 is attached to the outer side 19 of the profile support 11 facing the exterior space 51. This profile seal 20 seals the gap 42 between the profile support 11 and the two housing parts 40, 41 from the external environment. The additional profile seal 20 preferably has two sealing elements 21, 22, i.e. one sealing element 21, 22 on each of the two sealing sides of the profile support 11, for sealing the gap 42 towards the respective housing part 40, 41. Figure 2 As shown, these sealing elements may be separate sealing elements 21 , 22 .

[0022] Since the additional profile seal 20 only performs a protective function against the external environment, its height h can preferably be smaller than the height H of the primary seal 12 (in the unloaded state). However, to still provide sufficient elastomeric sealing height for the additional seal 20, the profile support 11 preferably has recesses 23, 24 on its outer side 19, i.e., one recess 23, 24 for each sealing element 21, 22. The sealing elements 21, 22 are arranged in the recesses 23, 24 and connected to the profile support 11. Due to the presence of the recesses 23, 24, the thickness ds of the profile support 11 on its outer side 19 is at least 10%, preferably at least 20%, less than the thickness dp of the uncut central area between the primary seal 12 and the additional seal 20. These recesses 23, 24 thus allow the additional profile seal 20 to be applied at or below the level of the profile support 11.

[0023] Since the profile support 11 is advantageously placed against the block for a predetermined compression of the primary seal 12 in the installed state, an elastomer located in the central region of the profile support 11 could interfere. Therefore, the central region of the profile support 11 between the primary seal 12 and the additional seal 20 is preferably free of elastomer.

[0024] The additional profile seal 20 can also have a pressure relief groove 18 ′. At the location of the pressure relief groove 18 ′, the thickness de′ of the additional profile seal 12 is preferably smaller than the thickness dp of the profile support 11 .

[0025] In accordance with Figure 3 In the embodiment of the present invention, the sealing elements 21 and 22 are connected to each other via an elastomeric bridge 26 extending across the outer end face 25 of the profile support 11. This may be advantageous from a manufacturing point of view. Due to the more compact design of the main seal, compared to Figure 2 Without the constrictions 17 , 18 , a single sealing rib 15 would be sufficient for the main seal 12 , which would form only one sealing edge toward the two housing parts 40 , 41 , which saves space.

[0026] In the elastomer-free area between the main seal 12 and the additional profile seal 20, the profile support can have at least one, preferably two, embossings 27, 28, created by the vulcanization tool, advantageously also facing the two housing parts 40, 41. These embossings 27, 28 are formed on either side of the central portion 29 and are reduced in height compared to the latter. These embossings 27, 28 can create additional pressure relief spaces for the main seal 12 and / or the additional profile seal 20.

[0027] like Figure 2 and 3As shown, the composite seal 10 may be configured in a mirror-symmetrical manner relative to a center plane of the composite seal 10 extending within the annular plane.

[0028] like Figure 1 As shown, the circumferential profile support 11 advantageously consists of a plurality of, for example two, support parts 30, 31, which are connected only by the elastomer of the main seal 12 (inner side) and / or the elastomer of the additional profile seal 20 (outer side). As a result, gaps 32 are formed between the support parts 30, 31. Each support part 30, 31 forms a circumferential portion of the profile support 11, where all support parts 30, 31 complement each other to form the profile support. An advantage of this embodiment is that the annular profile support does not have to be stamped as a whole, but rather only the individual support parts 30, 31 with a much smaller surface area need to be stamped, which saves considerable stamping waste.

[0029] The gap 32 extending between the support members 30, 31 is preferably non-linear, in particular S-shaped, having a central portion 33 extending parallel to the circumference or perimeter of the profile support 11, and two end portions 34, 35 extending in opposite directions from the central portion 33. The shape of the gap 32 has the advantage of making the connection between the support members 30, 31 stronger than would be the case without the central portion 33. The central portion 33 is advantageously longer than each of the end portions 34, 35, preferably at least twice as long.

[0030] Reference Signs List

[0031] 10 Composite seals

[0032] 11 Profile support

[0033] 12 Main seal

[0034] 13 holes

[0035] 14 End face

[0036] 15, 16 sealing ribs

[0037] 17, 18 pressure relief grooves

[0038] 19 outside

[0039] 20 Additional profile seal

[0040] 21, 22 Sealing elements

[0041] 23, 24 depressions

[0042] 25 end face

[0043] 26 Elastomer bridge

[0044] 27, 28 Stamping Department

[0045] 29 Central part

[0046] 30, 31 support components

[0047] 32 gap

[0048] 33 Central

[0049] 34, 35 end

[0050] 40, 41 shell parts

[0051] 42 Gap

[0052] 50 Interior Space

[0053] 51 External Space

Claims

1. A composite seal (10) for circumferentially sealing an interior space (50) formed between two motor vehicle shell parts (40, 41) and isolating it from an exterior space (51), the composite seal comprising a metal profile support (11) and an elastomeric main seal (12), the main seal (12) being connected to an end face (14) of the profile support (11) facing the interior space (50), characterized in that: An additional elastomeric profile seal (20) is connected to the outer side (19) of the profile support (11) facing the external space (51), which profile seal (20) provides sealing to the outside.

2. The composite seal (10) according to claim 1, wherein: At least one recess (23, 24) is provided on the outer side (19) of the profile support (11), in which recess (23, 24) an additional profile seal (20) is arranged.

3. A composite seal according to any preceding claim, wherein: The height h of the additional profile seal (20) in the sealing direction is smaller than the height H of the main seal (12).

4. A composite seal according to any preceding claim, wherein: The additional profile seal (20) has a sealing element (21, 22) on each of the two sealing sides of the profile support (11).

5. The composite seal according to claim 4, wherein: The additional profile seal (20) has an elastomeric bridge (26) which spans the outer end face (25) of the profile support (11) and connects the sealing elements (21, 22).

6. A composite seal according to any preceding claim, characterised in that The profile support (11) has at least one, preferably two, embossings (27, 28) in a preferably elastomer-free region between the main seal (12) and the additional profile seal (20).

7. A composite seal according to any preceding claim, wherein: The main seal (12) and / or the additional profile seal (20) has at least one pressure relief groove (17, 18, 18').

8. A composite seal according to any preceding claim, wherein: The main seal (12) has one or more sealing ribs (15, 16) acting on both sides.

9. A composite seal according to any preceding claim, wherein: The circumferential profile support (11) consists of a plurality of support parts (30, 31) which are connected to one another only via the elastomer of the main seal (12) and / or the elastomer of the additional profile seal (20).

10. The composite seal according to claim 9, wherein: The gap (32) extending between the support members (30, 31) is non-linear, in particular S-shaped.

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