Device and method for electrical contact of sensor
By designing the plug and cable segment within the gas storage tank valve block, concealed electrical contact of the sensor was achieved, solving the problems of error-prone and time-consuming electrical contact of the sensor, and improving the degree of automation and production efficiency.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202480015967.9
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2023-03-02
- Filing Date
- 2024-02-09
- Publication Date
- 2025-11-07
AI Technical Summary
In existing technologies, the electrical contact method of temperature sensors inside the valve block of gas storage tanks is prone to errors and time-consuming, making it difficult to achieve highly automated production.
The design employs a plug and cable segment. The plug has an exposed disc-shaped and/or annular contact surface in the circumferential area, and the cable segment has a contact pin or spring. An eccentric element ensures the correct rotational position of the plug within the valve block, achieving concealed electrical contact.
It simplifies the electrical contact process, reduces errors, increases automation, avoids cable damage and short circuit risks, and improves production efficiency.
Smart Images
Figure CN120917293A_ABST
Abstract
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The invention relates to a device and a method for electrically contacting a sensor in the region of a bore intersection of two bores arranged at an angle to one another, in particular at a right angle, which bore intersection is configured in a valve block. The sensor can in particular be a temperature sensor and the valve block can in particular be a housing of a valve assembly, for example a tank valve.
[0002] A preferred field of application of the invention is a gas tank, for example a hydrogen or natural gas tank, which has a tank valve with an integrated temperature sensor and a device according to the invention for the electrical contacting of the temperature sensor. BACKGROUND
[0003] Tank valves of gas tanks are generally used for the extraction of gas from a gas tank and for the filling of a gas tank with gas. For this purpose, a plurality of valves are integrated in the tank valve, so that the tank valve is not a single valve, but rather a valve assembly. In order to detect the temperature in the gas tank, a temperature sensor can also be integrated in the tank valve. In order to enable the temperature sensor to be located inside the gas tank, it is generally integrated into a connection section of a valve block of the tank valve, which connection section is inserted into the interior of the gas tank for the connection to the gas tank. The electrical connection of the temperature sensor can here be led out of the gas tank via the connection section in order to be able to electrically contact the electrical connection.
[0004] In the prior art, the electrical contacting is generally achieved by means of so-called Molex plugs. The Molex plugs have female plug contacts and male plug contacts. Via the male plug contacts, the Molex plugs are connected to the sensor or to the connection cable of the sensor, wherein the Molex plugs and the temperature sensor are generally oriented at a 90° angle to one another in the interior of the valve block. For this purpose, the valve block has two bores at a right angle to one another, which are connected to one another by means of a bore intersection. During assembly, the connection cable of the sensor is introduced into the bore for the sensor and pushed through the bore intersection into the bore for the Molex plug. The connection cable can here be pulled out of the bore for the Molex plug and connected to the male plug contacts of the Molex plug. The male plug contacts are then connected to the female plug contacts and inserted into the bore for the Molex plug, wherein the connection cable of the sensor has to be pushed back through the bore intersection into the bore for the sensor again. During the insertion of the Molex plug, care must be taken here that the connection cable of the sensor is not pinched between the plug and the valve block, since otherwise there is a risk of a short circuit or a line interruption.
[0005] This way of electrically contacting a sensor, in particular a temperature sensor, in the interior of a valve block of a tank valve is not only extremely error-prone, but also very time-consuming, since many steps can only be carried out manually. The invention sets itself the task of making the electrical contacting less error-prone and less time-consuming, so that a high degree of automation is achieved for mass production. SUMMARY
[0006] To solve the above-mentioned tasks, the application proposes a device having the features of claim 1 and a method having the features of claim 6. Advantageous refinements of the application can be found in the respective dependent claims.
[0007] The proposed device serves for electrically contacting a sensor, in particular a temperature sensor, in the region of a bore intersection of two bores which are arranged at an angle to one another, in particular at a right angle, the bore intersection being configured in a valve block. The device comprises:
[0008] - a plug for insertion into one bore, wherein the plug has exposed disc-shaped and / or ring-shaped contact surfaces in a peripheral region, which can overlap the other bore and can be oriented coaxially with respect to a longitudinal axis A of the other bore,
[0009] - a cable section for insertion into the other bore, which is connected to the sensor, wherein the cable section has at least two cables with contact pins and / or springs arranged on the end sides, respectively, for contacting the contact surfaces.
[0010] With the proposed device, a concealed electrical contact can be achieved at the same time as the plug and the cable section are inserted into the respective bores of the valve block. That is to say, the cable does not have to be routed through the bore intersection, so that cable damage is avoided and errors in the electrical contact are reduced. Furthermore, the plug and the cable section can be inserted into the valve block in a mechanical manner, so that a high degree of automation is achieved.
[0011] Since the contact surfaces are arranged in a peripheral region of the plug, they can overlap the other bore when inserted into the bore. For this purpose, only the rotational position of the plug with respect to the valve block has to be observed. The disc-shaped and / or ring-shaped embodiment of the contact surfaces achieves that the contact surfaces are arranged coaxially with respect to the longitudinal axis A of the other bore as required. That is to say, the contact surfaces are also arranged coaxially with respect to one another. Preferably, at least one contact surface is embodied as a ring, so that the other contact surface can be arranged in the center thereof. In this case, the other contact surface can be configured as a circular disc. The disc-shaped and / or ring-shaped contact surfaces are preferably connected to plug contacts of the plug by means of conductor tracks. For the purpose of electrical insulation, the conductor tracks are preferably completely injection-molded, so that only the contact surfaces are exposed.
[0012] If the cables of the cable section have contact pins on the end sides, the contact pins are preferably embodied as spring-loaded contact pins, so that after insertion of the cable section into the valve block, the spring-loaded contact pins can be pressed against the respective contact surfaces of the plug by means of spring force. Alternatively, the contact pins arranged on the end sides can also be surrounded by springs, which come into contact with the contact surfaces and are tensioned when the cable section is inserted into the valve block. The springs or the spring-loaded contact pins are able to compensate for manufacturing and / or assembly tolerances and, in addition, for length changes caused by temperature, so that an as permanent as possible electrical contact is ensured.
[0013] Furthermore, it is proposed that the disc-shaped and / or ring-shaped contact surfaces of the plug are spaced apart from one another in the axial direction relative to the longitudinal axis A of the hole of the receiving cable section. That is to say, the two contact surfaces are not arranged in one plane, but are arranged axially offset from one another. This offset arrangement increases the short-circuit distance of the two contact surfaces from one another, thus reducing the risk of a short circuit. To this end, at least one conductor track connected to a contact surface can be bent and / or curved once or several times.
[0014] In an expanded aspect of the application, it is proposed that the plug has an eccentrically arranged element, for example an eccentrically arranged pin, for determining the rotational position of the plug in the hole. Upon insertion of the plug, the eccentrically arranged element predefines the rotational position of the plug relative to the valve block. Preferably, only one rotational position is possible. After insertion, the eccentrically arranged element prevents a change in the rotational position of the plug. The eccentrically arranged element thus also acts as a rotational stop.
[0015] To this end, a hole for receiving the eccentric element is preferably configured in the valve block. In cooperation with this hole, the rotational position of the plug relative to the valve block can no longer be changed. Further preferably, the hole is arranged eccentrically relative to the hole for receiving the plug and extends parallel to the hole for receiving the plug. Here, the eccentrically arranged element can be easily inserted into the hole upon insertion of the plug into the hole, provided that the rotational position of the plug is correct.
[0016] Furthermore, it is preferably that one cable of the cable section is oriented coaxially to the longitudinal axis A of the hole of the receiving cable section and the other cable is arranged parallel to said longitudinal axis at an axial spacing a. In this way, each cable can be contacted (indirectly via a contact pin and / or a spring) with one of the two coaxially arranged contact surfaces. Upon insertion of the cable section into the valve block, the contact pin or spring of the cable oriented coaxially to the longitudinal axis A is in contact with the centrally arranged disc-shaped contact surface. The contact pin or spring of the cable arranged at an axial spacing a from this, in turn, is in contact with the outwardly arranged ring-shaped contact surface, which surrounds the centrally arranged contact surface, independently of the rotational position of the cable section relative to the valve block. The rotational position of the cable section is thus irrelevant and can be disregarded upon insertion of the cable section into the valve block.
[0017] The axial spacing a of the two cables of the cable section preferably corresponds to the average radius R of the larger contact surface, i.e. the outwardly arranged ring-shaped contact surface, of the two contact surfaces of the plug. This ensures that the non-coaxially arranged cable reliably comes to rest against the outwardly arranged ring-shaped contact surface.
[0018] To solve the task mentioned at the outset, it is also proposed that a sensor, in particular a temperature sensor, is electrically contacted in the region of a hole intersection of two holes arranged at an angle, in particular at a right angle, to one another, the hole intersection being configured in a valve block, the method comprising the following steps:
[0019] - inserting the plug into one hole, wherein the disc-shaped and / or ring-shaped contact faces of the plug, which are exposed in the circumferential region, overlap with the other hole and are oriented coaxially with respect to the longitudinal axis A of the other hole,
[0020] - inserting the cable section with at least two cables and connected to the sensor into the other hole, wherein the contact pins and / or springs arranged on the cables on the end side come into contact with the contact faces.
[0021] The proposed method can be carried out in particular using the above-described device according to the application, with the same advantages. In particular, the electrical contacting is simplified, since the cables do not have to be guided through the hole intersection. In this way, time can be saved. Furthermore, damage to the cables is avoided, so that the process safety is increased. Furthermore, the steps of the method can be carried out mechanically, so that the method can be implemented with a high degree of automation.
[0022] The electrical contacting of the sensor is achieved in a concealed manner in the case of the insertion of the plug and the cable section into the valve block. For this purpose, the plug is inserted into one hole and the cable section is inserted into the other hole. In the process of inserting the cable section, the contact pins and / or springs arranged on the cables on the end side come into contact with the contact faces of the plug, so that no additional measures for electrical contacting are required.
[0023] Preferably, the respective cables are contacted indirectly by the contact pins and / or springs with the contact faces of the plug when the cable section is inserted into the hole. It is to be noted that the contact pins or springs must not come into contact with one another, nor must the contact faces of the plug come into contact with one another, since otherwise a short circuit can occur. The rotational position of the cable section with respect to the valve block is not critical as long as the plug has been inserted into the valve block in the correct rotational position. It is advantageous if the contact is established by spring-loaded contact pins and / or springs arranged on the contact pins, since these are able to compensate for manufacturing and / or assembly tolerances and also length changes caused by temperature.
[0024] Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the rotational position of the plug within the hole is fixed, so that the plug is not rotatable within the hole. Otherwise, there is a risk that the electrical contacting will fail. The rotation prevention is preferably achieved by means of an eccentrically arranged element, for example an eccentrically arranged pin. This eccentrically arranged element can be inserted into a further hole of the valve block, which is preferably arranged eccentrically with respect to and extends parallel to the hole in which the plug is received. The eccentrically arranged element can be inserted into the eccentrically arranged further hole of the valve block when the plug is inserted into the valve block. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0025] Preferred embodiments of the application will be explained in detail below with reference to the drawings. These show:
[0026] Figure 1 a sectional view of a valve block with a sensor and a device for electrical contacting of the sensor according to the application,
[0027] Figure 2 In the case of the device according to the application with the plug inserted and without the cable segment fitted Figure 1 a detail,
[0028] Figure 3 a) an enlarged detail of the region of the hole intersection in the valve block, and b) Figure 2
[0029] 90° rotated view of the same detail;
[0030] Figure 4 the same detail, after the cable segment of the device according to the application has been fitted; Figure 2 a) an enlarged detail of the region of the hole intersection in the valve block, and b) Figure 5 Figure 4 90° rotated view of the same detail.DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0031] The valve block 2, for example of a tank valve, can be seen from The valve block 2 comprises a sensor 1, preferably a temperature sensor, which is surrounded by a sleeve 19 which is arranged coaxially with respect to a hole 5 in a connection section 18 of the valve block 2. Through the connection section 18, the valve block 2 or the tank valve can be inserted into a gas tank (not shown). The hole 5 is connected via a hole intersection 3 to a hole 4 which extends at an angle, in the present case at a right angle, to the hole 5. The plug 6 of the device according to the application for the electrical contacting of the sensor 1 is inserted into the hole 4. Since the plug 6 has to be mounted in a specific rotational position with respect to the valve block 2, the plug has an eccentrically arranged element 16 in the form of a pin which cooperates with a further hole 17 when the plug 6 is inserted into the valve block 2.
[0032] Figure 1 The upper region of the valve block 2 of
[0033] is shown with the inserted plug 6. The plug 6 extends into the region of the hole intersection 3. Thereby it is ensured that the circumferentially arranged exposed contact faces 7, 8 of the plug 6 can overlap with the hole 5 which is configured in the connection section 18. The contact faces 7, 8 are explained in the following in connection with Figure 2 a) and Figure 1 b). Figure 3 Figure 3 As can be seen from a), the contact faces 7, 8 are configured disc- or ring-like and are arranged coaxially with respect to each other and with respect to the longitudinal axis A of the hole 5 which is configured in the connection section 18 (see
[0034] Figure 3 Figure 3 b)). The conductor tracks 20, 21 lead from the contact faces 7, 8 to plug contacts (not shown) arranged at the other end of the plug 6. The contact faces 7, 8 are not in one plane, but are arranged one behind the other, i.e. axially spaced with respect to the longitudinal axis A (see Figure 3 b)). Since the contact face 7 is embodied as a ring, it leaves the rearwardly arranged contact face 8 exposed.
[0035] For the electrical contacting of the sensor 1, a cable section 9 (see Figure 1 ) with two parallel conductor tracks 10, 11 is inserted into the bore 5. Here, the cable 10 is oriented coaxially to the longitudinal axis A of the bore 5. The cable 11 extends parallel thereto at a distance a (see Figure 4 and Figure 5 b)). The distance a corresponds to the average radius R of the ring-shaped contact face 7 of the plug 6 (see Figure 3 a) and Figure 5 a)). Furthermore, as shown in Figure 5 b), the two cables 10, 11 have at their end a contact pin 12, 13 with a spring 14, 15, which protrudes in the axial direction beyond the contact pin 12, 13. Upon insertion of the cable section 9 into the bore 5, the springs 14, 15 abut against the contact faces 7, 8 and are tensioned there. In this way, the springs 14, 15 can compensate for manufacturing and / or assembly tolerances, as well as for length changes caused by temperature.
[0036] While the rotational position of the plug 6 is of great importance, the rotational position of the cable section 9 with respect to the valve block 2 is of no importance. As exemplarily shown in Figure 5 a), the spring 14 can always abut against the ring-shaped contact face 7, regardless of the rotational position of the cable section 9 (and thus of the cable 11) (see the position examples shown in the figures by dashed lines). Therefore, no measures for rotational securing of the cable section 9 are required.
Claims
1. Arrangement for electric contacting of a sensor (1), in particular a temperature sensor, in the region of a bore intersection (3) of two bores (4, 5) which are arranged at an angle to one another, in particular at a right angle, the bore intersection being configured in a valve block (2), comprising: - a plug (6) for insertion into one bore (4), wherein the plug (6) has exposed disc-shaped and / or ring-shaped contact surfaces (7, 8) in a circumferential region, which overlap the other bore (5) and can be oriented coaxially with respect to a longitudinal axis (A) of the other bore (5); - a cable section (9) connected to the sensor (1) for insertion into the other bore (5), wherein the cable section (9) has at least two cables (10, 11) with contact pins (12, 13) and / or springs (14, 15) arranged on the end sides for contacting the contact surfaces (7, 8), respectively. The disc-shaped and / or ring-shaped contact surfaces (7, 8) of the plug (6) are spaced apart from one another in the axial direction with respect to the longitudinal axis (A) of the bore (5) which receives the cable section (9). The plug (6) has an eccentrically arranged element (16), for example an eccentrically arranged pin, for determining the rotational position of the plug (6) in the bore (4).
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, A bore (17) for receiving the eccentric element (16) is configured in the valve block (2), wherein the bore (17) is preferably arranged eccentrically with respect to and extends parallel to the bore (4) which receives the plug (6).
3. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein, One cable (10) of the cable section (9) is oriented coaxially with respect to the longitudinal axis (A) of the bore (5) which receives the cable section (9), while the other cable (11) is oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis at an axial spacing (a), wherein the axial spacing (a) preferably corresponds to the average radius (R) of the larger contact surface (7) of the two contact surfaces of the plug (6).
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein, 6. Method for electric contacting of a sensor (1), in particular a temperature sensor, in the region of a bore intersection (3) of two bores (4, 5) which are arranged at an angle to one another, in particular at a right angle, the bore intersection being configured in a valve block (2), comprising the following steps: - insertion of a plug (6) into one bore (4), wherein exposed disc-shaped and / or ring-shaped contact surfaces (7, 8) of the plug (6) overlap the other bore (5) and are oriented coaxially with respect to a longitudinal axis (A) of the other bore (5); - insertion of a cable section (9) with at least two cables (10, 11) connected to the sensor (1) into the other bore (5), wherein contact pins (12, 13) and / or springs (14, 15) arranged on the end sides on the cables (10, 11) contact the contact surfaces (7, 8).
5. The device of any of the preceding claims, characterized in that, Upon insertion of the cable section (9) into the bore (5), the respective cable (10, 11) is indirectly contacted by the contact pin (12, 13) and / or spring (14, 15) with the contact surface (7, 8) of the plug (6). 7. The method of claim 6, wherein, 8. The method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that, Fixing the rotational position of the plug (6) in the bore (4), preferably by means of an eccentrically arranged element (16), for example an eccentrically arranged pin.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein, Inserting the eccentrically arranged element (16) into a further bore (17) of the valve block (2), preferably the further bore is arranged eccentrically with respect to the bore (4) receiving the plug (6) and extends parallel to the bore receiving the plug.