Arrangement of a sensor electronics on a pole terminal of a battery and method for producing such an arrangement

Abstract

An arrangement of sensor electronics (3) on a pole terminal (1) of a battery, comprising: - a pole terminal (1) of a battery; - sensor electronics (3); - a housing (10) that can accommodate the sensor electronics (3); and - fastening means that can connect the housing (10) to the pole terminal (1), wherein the fastening means comprise a receptacle (13) and a fastening part (8) that can be inserted into the receptacle (13) in at least some sections in a form-fitting and / or force-fitting manner. The fastening part (8) is arranged on the housing (10) and the fastening part (8) is arranged on the pole terminal (1), wherein the pole terminal (1) has a plate-shaped region (7) that, when the arrangement is attached to the battery, at least partially covers the side of the housing (10) facing away from the battery.and wherein the fastening part (8) is arranged in the plate-shaped region (7) of the pole terminal (1) or is part of the plate-shaped region (7) of the pole terminal (1).

Description

The present invention relates to an arrangement of sensor electronics on a pole terminal of a battery according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a method for producing such an arrangement.An arrangement and a method of the aforementioned type are known from D1 DE 10 2008 006 866 A1. The arrangement comprises a device for measuring the current for checking the functionality of an accumulator in motor vehicles. In order to be able to fasten a terminal, such as a battery terminal, in a simple and stable manner, it is proposed to form a rivet on the housing, by means of which rivet the first terminal can be fastened to the housing.A further arrangement of sensor electronics on a pole terminal of a battery is known from DE 601 21 114 T2. Therein, a battery terminal equipped with a current sensor is described. The arrangement comprises a battery side terminal to be connected to a battery end pole, a harness side terminal to be connected to the front end of a wire, preferably of a harness, and a fastening means to be able to separate and connect the two terminals from each other, wherein the current sensor is to be mounted at a connection portion where the battery side terminal and the harness side terminal are to be connected, wherein the connection portion is insertable into a slot provided in the current sensor.A sensor arrangement is known from DE 10 2006 054 369 A1. The sensor arrangement is used to detect a variable which represents an electrical current which flows between a first and a second terminal of the sensor arrangement.The sensor arrangement comprises an electrically conductive connecting rail with a measuring resistor. The sensor arrangement further comprises a pole terminal having a bracket which is electrically conductively connected to the connection rail. The bracket is designed such that there is a mounting space between the bracket and the connecting rail, which mounting space is bounded by the bracket and the connecting rail from at least three sides. The sensor arrangement further comprises a circuit arrangement which is arranged in the mounting space and which is electrically conductively coupled to the connection rail and which is designed to sense the variable representing the current.A battery sensor unit is known from WO 2008 / 037724 A1. The battery sensor unit comprises a pole terminal which can be connected to a pole of a motor vehicle battery and is electrically conductively connected to a plate-like carrier element, and a planar measuring slot which extends at a distance parallel to the carrier element and which comprises a resistance element and resistance connections adjoining the latter on both sides, wherein the carrier element is connected by its one free end region to the one resistance connection in a materially bonded and electrically conductive manner and the second free end region of the carrier element is connected to the second resistance connection in an electrically insulated manner. Between the second free end region of the carrier element and the second resistor terminal, a spacer made of an electrically insulating material is arranged, on which spacer the second free end region of the carrier element and the second resistor terminal bear with their mutually facing sides and which can be connected both to the second free end region of the carrier element and to the second resistor terminal.A further arrangement of sensor electronics on a pole terminal of a battery and a method for producing such an arrangement are known from DE 10 2005 043 320 A1. The arrangement described therein is connected to a battery in a motor vehicle. The sensor electronics are designed as a current sensor. The fastening means used for connecting pole terminal and housing of the sensor electronics are a screw and a nut, by means of which a tab arranged on the pole terminal can be connected to a tab arranged on the housing. An additional screw connection is provided between the cable harness of the motor vehicle and the housing, wherein the screw used in this case can also be screwed into a holding section of the battery. The screw connections serve for the mechanical mounting of the housing of the sensor electronics and are also suitable for absorbing moments in the event of forces acting from the outside during the driving operation.A disadvantage of such a device is the screw connections which can only be realized by using the screws and nuts. Thus, during assembly, additional components as well as additional manufacturing steps are necessary. It is thus found that in this prior art no instantaneous support on the housing of the sensor electronics can be realized without additional components such as screws, rivets or the like.The problem underlying the present invention is the provision of an arrangement of the type mentioned at the beginning which ensures a secure connection of the sensor electronics to the pole terminal with simple and cost-effective means. A method for producing such an arrangement is also to be specified.This is achieved according to the invention with regard to the arrangement by an arrangement of the type mentioned at the beginning with the characterizing features of claim 1 and with regard to the method by a method with the features of claim 7. The dependent claims relate to preferred embodiments of the invention.According to claim 1, it is provided that the receptacle is arranged on the housing and the fastening part is arranged on the pole terminal, wherein the pole terminal has a plate-shaped region which, in the state of the arrangement attached to the battery, at least partially covers the side of the housing facing away from the battery, and wherein the fastening part is arranged in the plate-shaped region of the pole terminal or is part of the plate-shaped region of the pole terminal.By covering the side facing away from the battery or generally the top side of the housing, the sensitive sensor electronics are protected from damage in the installed state. This is the case, for example, when a user applies the pole terminal to the pole of the battery with the aid of a striking tool. In this case, for example, the fastening part can be a tab-shaped protruding part of the plate-shaped region.The receptacle and the fastening part received therein can likewise serve as a torque support and thus ensure a secure mechanical connection of the housing of the sensor electronics to the pole terminal. In particular, additional components such as screws, rivets or bolts can thereby be dispensed with. Additional manufacturing steps are also omitted.It can be provided that the fastening part is designed as a projection or as a projecting contour of the pole terminal or of the housing. The creation of such structures can be easily integrated into a manufacturing process.It is possible for the fastening part to be formed integrally with the pole terminal or integrally with the housing. In this way, an additional manufacturing step for the creation of the fastening part is saved.It can be provided that the receptacle is formed pocket-like. Such a configuration of the receptacle allows simple introduction of the fastening part and ensures that the fastening part is held in the receptacle in a positive and non-positive manner.It is possible for the receptacle to be formed integrally with the housing or integrally with the pole terminal. In this way, an additional manufacturing step for the production of the housing is saved.It can be provided that the housing with the receptacle arranged thereon or with the fastening part arranged thereon is a one-piece injection molded part. This allows very simple production of the housing with the fastening means attached thereto.In addition to the mechanical connection between the housing and the pole terminal, an electrically conductive connection can be provided between the pole terminal and a terminal of the sensor electronics. The sensor electronics can have further connections, for example for control and / or regulating and / or measuring lines, and for the second battery pole. The sensor electronics can comprise at least one measuring resistor and serve, for example, as a current sensor and / or also as a temperature or voltage sensor.The arrangement according to the invention can be mounted on the pole of a motor vehicle battery. However, it is also possible that the arrangement according to the invention is applied to other battery types.The method according to claim 7 provides the following method steps:the fastening part is inserted into the receptacle;an electrically conductive connection is established between a section of the pole terminal and a terminal of the sensor electronics.By inserting the fastening part into the receptacle, a secure mechanical connection between the pole terminal and the housing is realized with simple means. Further production steps for mechanically connecting the sensor electronics to the pole terminal are not required. The additional electrically conductive connection is also required in the prior art.In this case, it can be provided that a welded connection is produced as an electrically conductive connection between a section of the pole terminal and a connection of the sensor electronics, wherein the welded connection is arranged in particular on the side of the housing facing away from the receptacle or the fastening part. The welded connection creates a secure connection between the pole terminal and the sensor electronics even in the case of high currents.The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following shows: FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view of an arrangement according to the invention; FIG. 2 shows a schematic side view of the arrangement according to FIG. 1 rotated through 90° in the non-connected state of the housing and pole terminal; FIG. 3 is a view according to FIG. 2 in the connected state of the housing and pole terminal; FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of an arrangement according to the invention in the non-connected state of the housing and pole terminal; FIG. 5 shows a view according to FIG. 4 during the insertion of the fastening part into the receptacle; FIG. 6 shows a view according to FIG. 4 in the connected state of the housing and pole terminal; FIG. 7 shows a schematic plan view of the arrangement in the connected state of the housing and pole terminal; FIG. 8 is a section along the arrows VIII--VIII in FIG. 7.In the figures, identical or functionally identical parts are provided with identical reference numerals.The depicted exemplary embodiments of an arrangement according to the invention comprise a pole terminal 1 for a first pole of a battery, not depicted, and a housing assembly 2 for sensor electronics 3.The depicted embodiments may particularly relate to an arrangement comprising a pole terminal for attachment to a motor vehicle battery.The pole terminal 1 comprises, in a manner known from the prior art, two clamping jaws 4, 5 which surround the pole of a battery and can be fixed to the latter by means of a screw connection 6 (see FIG. 4 ). Furthermore, the pole terminal 1 comprises a plate-shaped region 7 protruding away from the clamping jaws 4, 5. the plate-shaped region 7 is arranged on the upper side or the side of the pole terminal 1 facing away from the battery in the state of the pole terminal 1 being attached to the battery.On the plate-shaped region 7 a fastening element 8 is formed which projects in the form of a tab to the left in FIGS. 2 and 4 away from the pole terminal 1. On the side of the plate-shaped region 7 facing away from the fastening element 8, a contact tab 9 is arranged, which is offset downward with respect to the plate-shaped region 7.The pole terminal 1 can be manufactured in particular, apart from the screw connection 6, as a one-piece part from metal.The housing assembly 2 comprises a housing 10 surrounding the sensor electronics 3 with connections 11, 12 arranged thereon for control and / or regulating and / or measuring lines and for a ground line to the body of the motor vehicle. On the top side or on the side of the housing 10 facing away from the battery, a pocket-shaped receptacle 13 is arranged, which has an opening for the insertion of the fastening element 8 on the side facing the pole terminal 1 in FIG. 2. The housing 10 together with the pocket-shaped receptacle 13 can be a one-piece part, in particular a plastic injection-molded part.On the side of the housing 10 facing the pole terminal 1 in FIG. 2, a tab-shaped connection 14 connected to the sensor electronics 3 is arranged on the housing for contacting the pole terminal 1.FIG. 5 shows the arrangement during the insertion of the fastening part 8 into the receptacle 13, and it is evident that the mechanical connection of the pole terminal 1 to the housing 10 can be realized by a simple sliding movement. FIGS. 3, 6, 7 and 8 show the arrangement in each case in the connected state of housing 10 and pole terminal 1.In this state, the fastening element 8 is completely inserted into the pocket-shaped receptacle 13 and held therein in a positive or non-positive manner. Furthermore, FIGS. 6 and 7 in particular show that the plate-shaped region 7 of the pole terminal 1 largely covers the upper side of the housing 10 and thus protects it from damage.In particular, FIGS. 3 and 8 show that after the insertion of the fastening element 8 into the receptacle 13, the contact tab 9 of the pole terminal 1 rests on the tab-shaped connection 14. For the electrical connection of the pole terminal 1 to the sensor electronics 3, the contact tabs 9 and the connection 14 are welded to one another after the insertion of the fastening element 8 into the receptacle 13.Alternatively, it is possible to connect the contact tab 9 and the terminal 14 to one another by brazing or soldering and clinching.List of reference characters1 Pole terminal 2 Housing assembly 3 Sensor electronics 4 Clamping jaw 5 Clamping jaw 6 Screw connection 7 Plate-shaped region 8 Fastening element 9 Contact tab 10 Housing 11 Connection for control and / or regulating and / or measuring lines 12 Connection for a ground line 13 Receptacle 14 Connection

Claims

Arrangement of sensor electronics (3) on a pole terminal (1) of a battery, comprising - a pole terminal (1) of a battery, - sensor electronics (3), - a housing (10) which can accommodate the sensor electronics (3), and - fastening means which can connect the housing (10) to the pole terminal (1), wherein the fastening means comprise a receptacle (13) and a fastening part (8) which can be pushed at least in sections into the receptacle (13) in a positively locking and / or non-positively locking manner, characterized in that the receptacle (13) is arranged on the housing (10) and the fastening part (8) is arranged on the pole terminal (1), wherein the pole terminal (1) has a plate-shaped region (7) which, in the state of the arrangement attached to the battery, at least partially covers the side of the housing (10) facing away from the battery, and wherein the fastening part (8) is arranged in the plate-shaped region (7) of the pole terminal (1) or is part of the plate-shaped region (7) of the pole terminal (1).Arrangement according to Claim 1, characterized in that the fastening part (8) is designed as a projection or as a projecting contour of the pole terminal (1).Arrangement according to either of Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the fastening part (8) is formed integrally with the pole terminal (1).Arrangement according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the receptacle (13) is of pocket-like configuration.Arrangement according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the receptacle (13) is formed integrally with the housing (10).Arrangement according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the housing (10) with the receptacle (13) arranged thereon is a one-piece injection-moulded part.Method for producing an arrangement according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized bythe following method steps: - the fastening part (8) is inserted into the receptacle (13); - an electrically conductive connection is produced between a section of the pole terminal (1) and a connection (14) of the sensor electronics (3).Method according to claim 7, characterised in that a welded connection is produced as an electrically conductive connection between a section of the pole terminal (1) and a connection (14) of the sensor electronics (3), wherein the welded connection is arranged in particular on the side of the housing (10) facing away from the receptacle (13) or the fastening part (8).

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