Order to contact

Abstract

Arrangement for contacting at least one electrical drive component (1) to a control electronics unit arranged on a side of a hydraulic plate (2) facing away from the drive component (1) in a housing of an automatic transmission of a vehicle, characterized in that at least one insulated and electrically conductive screw connection (4) extending through a receiving opening (7) of the hydraulic plate (2) is provided for contacting.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an arrangement for contacting at least one electrical drive component to a control electronics according to the type defined in more detail in the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] In the automotive sector, particularly in the field of automatic transmissions, the use of drive components within the automatic transmission housing, especially for hydraulic fluid supply, is well established. The necessary control electronics for the drive component are typically integrated into existing control units or similar devices, for example, hydraulic control units. Accordingly, the control electronics are usually mounted on so-called hydraulic plates, which are equipped with hydraulic channels. The control electronics for the drive component are located on one side of the hydraulic plate, while the drive component itself is positioned on the other side. A cable with a suitable connector system is used to electrically connect the control electronics and the drive component, thus ensuring an electrical connection between the two.The disadvantage here is that the cable has to be routed around the hydraulic plate or around the hydraulic fluid supply inside the gearbox housing, which is not only costly but also structurally complex.

[0003] DE 602 18 006 T2 shows a submersible electrically driven fluid pump for transmission, transfer case or engine of a vehicle.

[0004] DE 10 2010 032 668 A1 discloses an electro-hydraulic control device for an automatic transmission with a hydraulic module connected to a hydraulic supply.

[0005] DE 198 54 100 A1 discloses a magnetic coil arrangement consisting of an encapsulated coil with an injection-molded plug-in base for connecting electrical connecting leads and a metal housing enclosing the encapsulated coil.

[0006] The present invention is based on the objective of proposing an arrangement for electrically contacting the type described above, which enables the most cost-effective and structurally simple connection between the drive component and the control electronics.

[0007] This problem is solved according to the invention by the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and benefits will become apparent from the dependent claims, the description, and the drawings.

[0008] Thus, an arrangement for contacting at least one electrical drive component to control electronics arranged on a side of a hydraulic plate facing away from the drive component, e.g. for the hydraulics in a housing of an automatic transmission of a vehicle, is proposed, wherein at least one insulated and electrically conductive screw connection running through the hydraulic plate is provided for contacting.

[0009] In this way, the electrical connection between the control electronics and the drive component is achieved via an insulated but electrically conductive screw connection, which is essentially screwed through the hydraulic plate of the hydraulic supply in the gearbox housing, thus establishing the electrical contact with the drive component. A further advantage of using a screw connection is that, in addition to the electrical contact function, it also provides the mechanical fastening of both the drive component and the control electronics.

[0010] The control electronics, for example, have an electrical contact surface that is electrically connected to the screw connection. The screw connection comprises, for example, a screw with a screw head, the screw head being in direct or indirect contact with the electrical contact surface via a spring washer. That is, the screw head rests either directly or indirectly on the electrical contact surface of the control electronics via the spring washer. The spring washer serves, for example, to ensure that the screw connection does not loosen due to vibrations during operation, thereby interrupting the electrical connection between the contact surface and the screw connection.

[0011] To insulate the electrical contact, the screw connection can, for example, be protected from short circuits to the ground-carrying hydraulic plate, at least partially, by an electrically non-conductive sleeve or similar component. This provides effective chip protection. It is also possible for the insulating element or sleeve to be produced using an overmolding process. A thermoset plastic is preferably used.

[0012] For example, if there is a sealing chamber above the hydraulic plate and another sealing chamber below the hydraulic plate, it may be provided that the screw connection is sealed in the radial direction with at least one sealing element or the like, for example as an O-ring or similar.

[0013] The present invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the drawings. The drawings show: Fig. 1 a schematic view of a first possible embodiment of an arrangement according to the invention; Fig. 2 a schematic view of a second embodiment of the arrangement according to the invention; Fig. 3 a schematic view of a third embodiment of the arrangement according to the invention; and Fig. 4 A detailed view of a contact socket of the electrical screw connection of the arrangement.

[0014] In the Fig. Figures 1 to 4 illustrate various embodiments and views of an arrangement according to the invention for contacting an electrical drive component 1, such as an oil pump or the like, to control electronics arranged on a side of a hydraulic plate 2 facing away from the drive component 1 in a housing of an automatic transmission of a vehicle. The control electronics preferably comprise a control unit 3 and a printed circuit board 9.

[0015] According to the invention, at least one insulated and electrically conductive screw connection 4 extending through the hydraulic plate 2 is provided for contacting the components. This not only establishes an electrical connection between the drive component 1 and the control electronics 3, but also provides a mechanical connection between the component 1 and the control electronics 3.

[0016] Regardless of the specific design variants, the screw connection 4 comprises at least one contact screw 5 with a screw head and at least one contact socket 6, 6A, which can be screwed together to provide both an electrical connection and a mechanical fastening. The screw connection 4 passes through a receiving opening 7 in the hydraulic plate 2. The screw head of the contact screw 5 rests on a contact surface of the control electronics 3.

[0017] In Fig. Figure 1 shows a first embodiment variant in which a sealing element or O-ring 8 is arranged in the receiving opening 7 of the hydraulic plate 2 in order to seal the sealing spaces above and below the hydraulic plate 2 accordingly.

[0018] In the first embodiment, the head of the contact screw 5 is assigned to or in contact with a contact surface 14 of the circuit board 9. The contact screw 5 has an external thread which is screwed into a corresponding internal thread of the contact socket 6, 6A, wherein the contact sleeve or socket 6, 6A is assigned to or in contact with a terminal 10 of the electrical drive component 1.

[0019] The screw connection 4 is encased in an insulating sleeve 11 and is located in the receiving opening 7 of the hydraulic plate 2. The receiving opening 7 is radially sealed by means of the sealing element 8. The control unit 3 and the circuit board 9 are encased in the area of ​​the contact screw 5, for example, with a thermoset overmolding 12 to provide voltage protection.

[0020] In Fig. Figure 2 shows a second embodiment variant in which, in contrast to the first embodiment variant, a thermoset overmolding 12 is provided in the area of ​​the receiving opening 7 of the hydraulic plate 2 instead of a sealing element 8, so that the screw connection 4 is comprehensively sealed and insulated.

[0021] In Fig. Figure 3 shows a third embodiment in which, unlike the two preceding embodiments, the contact screw 5 with its head is associated with the connecting lug 10 of the drive component 1 or the oil pump, and the contact socket 6, 6A is associated with the control unit 3 with the circuit board 9 or is in contact with the circuit board 9. The advantage of this is that the contact socket 6, 6A is completely surrounded by the thermoset overmolding 12. Furthermore, a sealing element 8 is optionally provided in the area of ​​the receiving opening 7 of the hydraulic plate 2.

[0022] Fig. Figure 4 shows two different versions of the contact socket 6, 6A. Both contact sockets 6, 6A have an internal thread into which the external thread of the contact screw 5 can be screwed. A flange collar 13 or the like is provided for secure contact with the circuit board 9 or the terminal 10. In the right-hand version in Fig. 4 The contact socket 6A has a further flange collar 13A. In this way, not only can an optimal electrical connection be achieved, but also an additional mechanical clamping force can be applied to the circuit board 9 and a mounting plate 15, which is ultimately connected to the hydraulic plate 2. Reference sign 1 Drive component 2 Hydraulic plates 3 Control unit 4 screw connections 5 contact screws 6.6A contact socket 7 Intake opening 8 Sealing element or O-ring 9 printed circuit board 10 Connection tab of the drive component 11 Insulating sleeve 12. Thermoset overmolding or plastic overmolding 13.13A Flange collar 14 Contact area 15 Reinforcement plate

Claims

[1] Arrangement for contacting at least one electrical drive component (1) to a control electronics arranged on a side of a hydraulic plate (2) facing away from the drive component (1) in a housing of an automatic transmission of a vehicle, characterized by , that at least one insulated and electrically conductive screw connection (4) extending through a receiving opening (7) of the hydraulic plate (2) is provided for contacting. [2] Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized by , that the electrically conductive screw connection (4) has at least one contact screw (5) and at least one contact socket (6, 6A) which can be screwed together. [3] Arrangement according to claim 2, characterized by , that the contact screw (5) is electrically in contact with the control electronics, wherein the contact socket (6, 6A) is electrically in contact with a connecting tab (10) of the drive component (1). [4] Arrangement according to claim 3, characterized by , that the contact screw (5) has a screw head which is in electrical contact either directly or via a spring ring with an electrical contact surface of the control electronics. [5] Arrangement according to claim 2, characterized by , that the contact screw (5) is in electrical contact with the connecting tab (10) of the drive component (1), wherein the contact socket (6, 6A) is in electrical contact with the control electronics. [6] Arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the screw connection (4) has at least a section of plastic overmolding (12) for insulation. [7] Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the screw connection (4) is at least partially surrounded by at least one insulating sleeve (11) for insulation. [8] Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that at least one sealing element (8) is provided in the receiving opening (7) of the hydraulic plate (2) for sealing. [9] Arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by that the control electronics comprise a control unit (3) with at least one circuit board (9). [10] Arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that an oil pump for supplying hydraulic fluid is provided in the housing as a drive component (1).

Images