Fastening device for electrical components

Abstract

The invention relates to a fastening device for guiding and fastening a first electrical subassembly on a second electrical subassembly. The fastening device comprises a first housing part of the first electrical subassembly, a second housing part of the second electrical subassembly and a guiding device which is arranged to linearly guide the first electrical subassembly in an assembly direction towards the second electrical subassembly. Here, the guiding device comprises a guide rail on the first housing part and a guiding slide on the second housing part, wherein the guiding device comprises a snap connection mechanism to fix the guide rail on the guiding slide.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a fastening device and an electrical assembly having a fastening device according to the invention. Background Technology

[0002] Complex electrical components often consist of sub-components that must be fastened together during assembly. These sub-components may have complex geometries, making assembly difficult. For example, busbars may protrude from sub-components, and improper assembly can damage other sub-components. This can lead to increased scrap rates and malfunctions on the assembly line.

[0003] It is desirable to have a fastening device that enables reliable guidance of a first electrical component to a second electrical component during assembly and subsequent fastening. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The fastening device according to the invention, having the features of claim 1, has the advantage that the first electrical subassembly can be reliably guided to the second electrical subassembly during assembly and subsequently fastened. According to the invention, this is achieved by the fastening device comprising a guide structure configured to linearly guide the first electrical subassembly to the second electrical subassembly along the assembly direction. Here, the guide structure has a guide slider on a first housing part of the first electrical subassembly and a guide rail on a second housing part of the second electrical subassembly. The guide structure also includes a snap-fit ​​connection mechanism configured to secure the guide rail to the guide slider. Therefore, by means of the guide structure of the fastening device, consisting of a guide rail and a guide slider, which includes a snap-fit ​​connection mechanism, reliable guidance and fastening of the first electrical subassembly to the second electrical subassembly can be achieved with simplicity and low cost in manufacturing. The assembly direction is preferably viewed from the first electrical subassembly and points towards the second electrical subassembly. An electrical subassembly should be understood as a subassembly comprising at least one electrical component configured to conduct current and be part of a circuit.

[0005] The dependent claims illustrate preferred modifications of the invention.

[0006] Preferably, the guide slider has a snap-fit ​​hook that is configured to engage with a recess in the guide rail. Therefore, a reliable, preferably non-destructive, snap-fit ​​connection mechanism can be easily integrated into the guide structure.

[0007] More preferably, the guide slider has two parallel guide surfaces that are configured to contact the guide rail. This allows for simple linear guidance along the assembly direction and lateral fixation between the first and second electrical subassemblies.

[0008] Preferably, each snap hook is disposed on a guide surface and oriented parallel to the assembly direction. The snap hook preferably includes an elongated rod region and a hook-shaped head region, wherein the rod region is disposed at the distal end of the guide surface. Therefore, the snap hook can be easily integrated into the guide slider, enabling reliable guidance and subsequent fastening of the first electrical subassembly to the second electrical subassembly along the assembly direction.

[0009] The guide surface preferably has a chamfer or rounding at the distal end. This prevents the first electrical subassembly from skewing relative to the second electrical subassembly and improves the assembly process.

[0010] More preferably, the guide rail includes two parallel guide ribs, which are connected, particularly at the first axial end, by a connecting rib. Therefore, the parallel guide ribs on the guide rail and the parallel guide surfaces on the guide slider allow for the simple integration of a linear guiding mechanism with low material requirements into the fastening device.

[0011] According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, each of the two guide ribs includes a notch configured to accommodate a snap hook. This allows for reliable fixation of the guide structure by means of the snap hook, while simplifying the manufacture of the notch.

[0012] More preferably, the guide rib has a stop at its second axial end for guiding the slider. This stop ensures a reliable fastening of the first housing component to the second housing component. Furthermore, the stop absorbs and transmits forces between the first and second housing components, thereby ensuring a secure fastening of the first electrical subassembly to the second electrical subassembly.

[0013] Preferably, the connecting rib includes a chamfer or rounding in the assembly direction, which is configured to align the guide slider. This ensures that the guide surface is oriented parallel to the guide rib, and that the first electrical subassembly can be reliably guided and secured to the second electrical subassembly.

[0014] The guide slider is preferably connected to an electrical component of the first electrical subassembly via a clearance fit to compensate for tolerances between the guide slider and the electrical component. This electrical component is preferably a busbar. This allows for the compensation of tolerances in the electrical component, particularly those caused by bending processes, and enables reliable assembly of the first and second electrical subassemblies.

[0015] More preferably, the guide structure includes a fixing region configured to connect the guide slider and the guide rail of the guide structure in a form-fitting manner by means of connecting elements, particularly screws. This ensures a durable and reliable fixation between the first electrical subassembly and the second electrical subassembly.

[0016] Particularly preferably, the fixed area is arranged between two parallel guide ribs. This allows for a compact construction of the guide structure.

[0017] Preferably, the first housing component with the guide slider and the second housing component with the guide rail are injection-molded parts made of plastic material. This allows the fastening device according to the invention to be manufactured at low cost and with good electrical insulation properties.

[0018] Furthermore, the present invention relates to an electrical assembly comprising a first electrical subassembly and a second electrical subassembly, wherein the first and second electrical subassemblies are fastened to each other by means of the aforementioned fastening device. Here, the first and / or second electrical subassemblies particularly have a busbar as an electrical component. This enables the reliable manufacture of the electrical assembly by means of a fastening device that guides the first electrical subassembly toward the second electrical subassembly during assembly and subsequently reliably connects them to each other. Attached Figure Description

[0019] The preferred first embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings: Figure 1 A perspective view of an electrical assembly having a fastening device according to a first embodiment of the present invention is shown. Figure 2 A perspective view of a first housing component with a guide slider of a fastening device according to a first embodiment of the present invention is shown. Figure 3 A top view of a first housing component according to a first embodiment of the present invention is shown, and Figure 4 A perspective sectional view of a fastening device according to a first embodiment of the present invention is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0020] Preferably, in all the drawings, all the same parts, elements and / or units are given the same reference numerals.

[0021] The following reference Figures 1 to 4 The fastening device 1 and electrical assembly 100 are described in detail.

[0022] Figure 1 A fastening device 1 for fastening the first electrical sub-assembly 2 to the second electrical sub-assembly 3 is shown. Here, the fastening device 1 is shown in an unassembled state.

[0023] The first electrical subassembly 2 includes a first housing component 10 and a plurality of electrical components 6. The electrical components 6 are located in... Figure 1 The first electrical sub-assembly 2 and the second electrical sub-assembly 3 may also include other electronic or electrical components 6, such as film capacitors or electrical filters.

[0024] A guide structure 4 is constructed between the first housing component 10 and the second housing component 30 of the second electrical sub-assembly 3 to guide the first electrical sub-assembly 2 linearly toward the second electrical sub-assembly 3 along the assembly direction R. Here, the assembly direction R points from the first housing component 10 to the second housing component 30. The guide structure 4 includes a guide slider 12 on the first housing component 10 and a guide rail 32 on the second housing component 30. Furthermore, the guide structure 4 includes a snap-fit ​​connection mechanism 5, which is configured to secure the guide rail 32 to the guide slider 12.

[0025] The guide slider 12 has two parallel guide surfaces 16 that extend in the assembly direction R. In the assembly direction R, the guide surfaces 16 have a chamfer 20 at their distal ends 18. Starting from the chamfer 20, a snap hook 14 extends parallel to the assembly direction R on each of the two guide surfaces 16.

[0026] The guide rail 32 includes two parallel guide ribs 36 oriented parallel to the assembly direction R. The two parallel guide ribs 36 are connected by a connecting rib 38 at a first axial end 41 facing the first housing component 10. Two parallel guide surfaces 16 are arranged to be linearly guided by the two parallel guide ribs 36. Here, a clearance fit or transition fit is preferably present between the outer spacing of the parallel guide ribs 36 and the inner spacing of the parallel guide surfaces 16.

[0027] Each of the two guide ribs 36 has a notch 34, which is configured to receive a snap hook 14 from the guide slider 12. Therefore, the guide slider 12 can be fixed relative to the guide rail 36 of the guide structure 4 in the assembly direction R.

[0028] At the second axial end 42, the guide ribs 36 each have a stop 44. The stop 44 is configured to contact the distal end 18 of the guide slider 12 to ensure the defined positioning of the guide slider 12 relative to the guide rail 32.

[0029] A fixing region 48 is arranged between the two guide ribs 36 of the guide rail 32. Together with the two corresponding holes 22 in the guide slider 12, the fixing region 48 enables a form-fit connection between the guide slider 12 and the guide rail 32 by means of a connecting element. The connecting element is preferably a screw screwed into the fixing region 48. The fixing region 48 has a hollow cylindrical geometry, wherein the cavity of the fixing region 48 forms a receiving area for the connecting element.

[0030] Figure 2 A perspective view of the first housing component 10 of the first electrical subassembly 2 is shown in detail. The first electrical subassembly 2 has a busbar as an electrical component 6 extending from the first electrical subassembly 2. Here, the busbar is at least partially surrounded by the first housing component 10.

[0031] The first housing component 10 has a guide slider 12 with two parallel guide surfaces 16 to guide the first electrical subassembly 2 toward the second electrical subassembly 3 during assembly. Furthermore, a snap hook 14 is arranged on each guide surface 16.

[0032] A snap hook 14 is positioned at the chamfer 20 of the guide slider 32, wherein the snap hook 14 is oriented parallel to the assembly direction R. Here, the hook area of ​​the snap hook 14 is oriented inward to engage with the notch 34 of the guide rib 36.

[0033] The snap hook 14 includes an elongated rod region 13 and a hook-shaped head region 15, wherein the elongated rod region 13 is arranged toward the distal end 18, and the hook-shaped head region 15 is arranged on the elongated rod region 13 in the opposite direction of the assembly direction R.

[0034] Figure 3 A top view of the first housing component 10 is shown, in which two buses are arranged as electrical components 6. The buses have multiple bends, which may increase positional tolerances due to the properties of the elastic material. A clearance fit exists between the buses and the first housing component 10 to allow for tolerance compensation between the guide slider 12 and the electrical component 6 during assembly.

[0035] Figure 4 The guide structure 4 of the fastening device 1 in the assembled state is shown. Here, the guide slider 12 rests against the two stops 44 of the guide rib 36 at its distal end with the guide surface 16. In addition, the guide surface 16 rests against the outer side of the guide rib 36.

[0036] The two recesses 34 of the guide rib 36 respectively accommodate the snap hooks 14 of the guide slider 12. Therefore, the guide structure 4 forms a snap connection 5, which fixes the guide rail 32 to the guide slider 12.

Claims

1. A fastening device for guiding and securing a first electrical subassembly (2) to a second electrical subassembly (3), comprising: The first housing component (10) of the first electrical sub-assembly (2). The second housing component (30) of the second electrical sub-assembly (3), and A guiding structure (4) is configured to linearly guide the first electrical sub-assembly (2) toward the second electrical sub-assembly (3) along the assembly direction (R). The guide structure (4) includes a guide slider (12) on the first housing component (10) and a guide rail (32) on the second housing component (30). The guide structure (4) includes a snap-fit ​​connection mechanism (5), which is configured to fix the guide rail (32) onto the guide slider (12).

2. The fastening device according to claim 1, wherein, The guide slider (12) has a snap hook (14) which is configured to engage with a notch (34) in the guide rail (32).

3. The fastening device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The guide slider (12) has two parallel guide surfaces (16) that are configured to contact the guide rail (32).

4. The fastening device according to claim 3, wherein, Each has a snap hook (14) arranged on the guide surface (16) and oriented parallel to the assembly direction (R).

5. The fastening device according to any one of claims 3 or 4, wherein, The guide surface (16) has a chamfer (20) or rounding at the distal end (18).

6. The fastening device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The guide rail (32) includes two parallel guide ribs (36), which are connected by a connecting rib (38) at the first axial end (41).

7. The fastening device according to claim 6, wherein, The two guide ribs (36) each include a notch (34) which is configured to receive a snap hook (14).

8. The fastening device according to any one of claims 6 or 7, wherein, The guide rib (36) has a stop (44) for the guide slider (12) at the second axial end (42).

9. The fastening device according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein, The connecting rib (38) includes a chamfer (46) or rounding in the assembly direction (R), which is configured to align the guide slider (12).

10. The fastening device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The guide slider (12) is connected to the electrical component (6) of the first electrical sub-assembly (2) by means of clearance fit, so as to realize tolerance compensation between the guide slider (12) and the electrical component (6).

11. The fastening device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The guide structure (4) includes a fixing area (48) which is configured to connect the guide slider (12) and the guide rail (32) of the guide structure (4) in a form fit by means of a connecting element, in particular a screw.

12. The fastening device according to claim 11, wherein, The fixed area (48) is arranged between two parallel guide ribs (36).

13. The fastening device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The first housing component (10) with guide slider (12) and the second housing component (30) with guide rail (32) are injection molded parts made of plastic material.

14. An electrical component (100) comprising a first electrical sub-component (2) and a second electrical sub-component (3), wherein, The first electrical sub-assembly (2) and the second electrical sub-assembly (3) are fastened to each other by means of a fastening device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the first electrical sub-assembly (2) and / or the second electrical sub-assembly (3) have, in particular, a busbar as an electrical component (6).

Images