Method for manufacturing an electrical or electronic component

Abstract

In a method for fitting a component (5) with a tightly surrounding jacket (7), the component (5), a plastically deformable metallic jacket blank (16) that has an excess of dimension compared to the component (5), and an elastically deformable auxiliary sleeve (17) that has an excess of dimension compared to the jacket blank (16) are assembled into a group that is inserted into the press tool (9) of a radial press (8), which has at least four press jaws (10) that are synchronously movable radially towards a press axis (X) by means of a drive device. The press tool (9) is closed at least once by successively applying the press jaws (10) to the auxiliary sleeve (17), elastically narrowing the auxiliary sleeve (17) radially to conform to the jacket blank (16), and plastically narrowing the jacket blank (16) radially to conform to the component (5).When the press tool (9) is opened, the elastically deformable auxiliary sleeve (17) lifts off from the jacket (6) which was formed from the jacket blank (16) by plastic deformation, so that the finished component can be removed from the auxiliary sleeve (17).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for producing an electrical or electronic component. In particular, the present invention relates to such a method in which—as part of the production of the respective electrical or electronic component—an electrical or electronic component is fitted with a surrounding metallic casing. In even more detail, the present invention relates to a method for fitting an electrical or electronic component that is at least partially cylindrical with a tightly surrounding metallic casing.

[0002] For various electrical or electronic components which are used and surrounded by a metallic sheath, particularly for their mechanical protection, a defined mechanical contact between the electrical or electronic component and the metallic sheath surrounding it is crucial for its function. This applies in particular to applications which require good heat transfer capacity between the electrical or electronic component and the sheath surrounding it, for example because the electrical or electronic component is a temperature sensor or a heating element. It is precisely in these applications that very good shape and dimensional stability of the outer surface of the electrical or electronic component, i.e. of the electrical or electronic component, is also essential.The sheath surrounding the electronic component is of great importance, since such components are typically used inserted into a respective bore of a device part, whereby the same high requirements (see above) apply to the heat transfer capacity between the sheath of the electrical or electronic component and the device part in which it is accommodated.

[0003] The present invention has set itself the task of providing a method by which good results in the above respects can be achieved with comparatively little manufacturing effort.

[0004] The above object is achieved according to the present invention by the method specified in claim 1, i.e. by a method for equipping an electrical or electronic component that is at least partially cylindrical with a metallic jacket that tightly surrounds it, comprising the following steps: - Providing the electrical or electronic component and a casing blank made of a plastically deformable metallic material which is at least partially cylindrical and has an oversize therefor; - Providing an auxiliary sleeve which is slotted at least in sections in the axial extension and resiliently flexible in the radial direction and has an oversize compared to the jacket blank; - combining the electrical or electronic component, the sheath blank and the auxiliary sleeve to form a group, the auxiliary sleeve surrounding the sheath blank at least in sections with play and the latter surrounding the electrical or electronic component at least in sections with play; - Inserting the group into the workpiece receiving space of the pressing tool of a radial press, which has at least four pressing jaws which can be moved radially synchronously in the direction of a pressing axis by means of a drive device; - closing the pressing tool at least once with successive application of the pressing jaws to the auxiliary sleeve, elastic radial narrowing of the auxiliary sleeve to bring it into contact with the casing blank and plastic radial narrowing of the casing blank to bring it into contact with the electrical or electronic component; - Opening the pressing tool by successively lifting the auxiliary sleeve from the sleeve produced by plastic deformation from the sleeve blank and lifting the pressing jaws from the auxiliary sleeve; - Removing the component joined from the electrical or electronic component with the metallic sheath tightly surrounding it and the auxiliary sleeve from the pressing tool and removing the component from the auxiliary sleeve.

[0005] The invention allows the use of established, reliable and highly precise radial presses for fitting an electrical or electronic component, which is at least partially cylindrical, with a metallic casing that tightly surrounds it, as they are manufactured and distributed in a wide variety of designs by Uniflex-Hydraulik GmbH, DE-61184 Karben and are also known from extensive patent literature (cf. for example DE 4135465 A1, DE 19912976 A1 and DE 19817882 B4 concerning radial presses in the so-called "yoke press" design, DE 10149924 A1 concerning radial presses in the so-called "hollow piston press" design and DE 2844475 A1, DE 3611253 A1, DE 10047025 C2 and DE 3331721 A1 concerning radial presses in other Construction) are known. The method according to the invention when deforming the jacket blank in order to convert it into a component connected to the electrical orThe auxiliary sleeve used to transfer the tight-fitting jacket to the electronic component, which extends during the pressing process between the pressing jaws of the pressing tool of the radial press and the jacket blank, surrounding the latter, effectively counteracts the formation of burrs or webs which, without the use of said auxiliary sleeve, would arise on the surface between two adjacent pressing jaws due to material from the jacket blank displaced during the pressing process. In this respect, by applying the present invention, a quality of precisely that surface can be achieved without reworking the surface of the finished electrical or electronic component which, without the inventive use of an auxiliary sleeve, could only be achieved through complex reworking.

[0006] By effectively preventing the displacement of the shell blank's material into the gaps between two adjacent press jaws during the plastic forming process, the moment at which the shell blank comes into contact with the electrical or electronic component during its forming process can be detected with particular precision by a correspondingly sharp-edged increase in force or pressure in the drive unit of the radial press. This allows for particularly precise control of the radial press in terms of a workpiece-specific break or a workpiece-specific termination of the closing movement. This protects the electrical or electronic component from mechanical overload, which is an invaluable manufacturing advantage, especially for electrical and electronic components with (typically brittle) ceramic structures.

[0007] If, during the forming of the jacket blank, a burr or web formed from displaced material of the jacket blank occurs on its surface where the slotted area of ​​the auxiliary sleeve interacts with it, a particularly preferred development of the method according to the invention can be used, which is characterized by repeated successive closing of the pressing tool, wherein between two closing processes the pressing tool is at least partially opened and the jacket blank deformed in the previous closing process or the jacket resulting from the jacket blank is rotated relative to the auxiliary sleeve. Thus, the burr or web formed in the first or previous closing process lies beneath the non-slotted area of ​​the auxiliary sleeve for the second or subsequent closing process, whereby the burr or web is leveled out again.

[0008] It is particularly advantageous if the pressing tool is partially opened between the two closing processes in such a way, i.e., to just the extent that the pressing jaws continue to rest against the auxiliary sleeve, but lift it away from the casing blank plastically deformed during the previous closing process or the casing produced from the casing blank. The pressing jaws thus hold the auxiliary sleeve, so that the intermediate product consisting of the electrical or electronic component and the partially deformed casing blank (or the casing produced from the casing blank) can be easily rotated around its axis (e.g., by 180°) in the auxiliary sleeve—held by the pressing jaws—without having to hold the auxiliary sleeve manually or in any other way, before the second or further closing process of the radial press is initiated.

[0009] In the interest of particularly homogeneous pressing, which is of considerable practical importance for electrical or electronic components containing ceramic structures, it can be particularly advantageous if a pressing tool having at least eight pressing jaws is used to carry out the method according to the invention. On the other hand, radial presses whose pressing tool has only four pressing jaws can also prove advantageous for carrying out the method according to the invention. The advantage of this design lies in the smaller number of gaps distributed over the circumference of the pressing tool, each existing between two pressing jaws, and thus - compared to a larger number of pressing jaws - a larger total area with which the pressing jaws rest against and act on the auxiliary sleeve.

[0010] As for the auxiliary sleeve, it is particularly advantageous if it is made of spring steel. The elastic resilience of the auxiliary sleeve, such that after the (plastic) forming of the casing blank, it springs back completely and assumes its original shape upon opening the radial press, is crucial from two perspectives. This allows the finished electrical or electronic component to be easily removed from the auxiliary sleeve; and the latter can be kept ready for the next use without reworking.

[0011] The inner surface of the auxiliary sleeve, which is in contact with the shell blank during forming, is preferably ideally smooth and free of roughness for typical applications of the present invention. However, it can also be provided with specifically defined elevations and / or depressions in order to imprint corresponding depressions or elevations on the shell blank's surface during the forming process in the radial press.

[0012] In individual cases, when applying the method according to the invention, it may prove advantageous to use an auxiliary sleeve—in this case, one that protrudes from the pressing tool at least on one side—which is not slit axially along its entire length, but in which the slit ends at least at one end region of the auxiliary sleeve in front of its end face. In the vast majority of applications, however, the use of an auxiliary sleeve slit axially along its entire length proves advantageous.

[0013] With regard to the design of the slot in the auxiliary sleeve, there is considerable scope within the scope of the present invention, both with regard to the general course and with regard to the fine profiling of the two edges delimiting the slot, which is superimposed on the respective general course. A first preferred development of the present invention is characterized in that an auxiliary sleeve is used with a slot oriented generally parallel to its axis. This is a particularly simple variant in terms of manufacturing technology. While somewhat more complex in terms of manufacturing technology, the use of auxiliary sleeves with a spiral slot, i.e. one that generally runs along a helical line, is advantageous in terms of function, particularly from the perspective of achieving the most homogeneous stress distribution possible within the electrical or electronic component to be manufactured.The pitch of the helix is ​​advantageously selected such that the slot on the surface of the auxiliary sleeve completes at least one complete revolution (360°), particularly preferably at least two complete revolutions (720°).

[0014] As far as the design of the edges of the auxiliary sleeve delimiting the slot, which is superimposed on the general course of the slot (see above), is concerned, in addition to unprofiled edges, various variations with profiled edges are conceivable and can be used to advantage. In particular, within the scope of a preferred development of the present invention, auxiliary sleeves can be used in which the edges delimiting the slot are designed to be corrugated in a corresponding manner to one another. According to another, particularly preferred embodiment, auxiliary sleeves can be used in which interlocking finger profiles with alternately overlapping fingers are designed on the two edges delimiting the slot; the possibility of radial narrowing of the auxiliary sleeve provided by the "slot" is in this way divided between a plurality of slot sections offset from one another in the circumferential direction.If the auxiliary sleeve is designed with a spiral slot that generally runs along a helical line (see above), a stepped design of the two edges defining the slot with overlapping steps can be very advantageous, depending on the pitch of the helical line. Here too, as in the case of the variant with interlocking finger profiles explained above, the possibility of radial narrowing of the auxiliary sleeve provided by the "slot" is divided into a plurality of slot sections offset from one another in the circumferential direction. Auxiliary sleeves with a spiral slot that generally runs along a helical line can also be used with very good results for most common applications, with the edges defining the slot being spiraled parallel to one another, defining a helical gap.This design is characterized by its particularly simple manufacture - by winding from a sheet metal strip made of spring steel, for example.

[0015] According to yet another preferred embodiment, the edges of the auxiliary sleeve defining the slot can be beveled such that they overlap or cover one another in the circumferential direction. This applies in particular to auxiliary sleeves with a slot generally oriented parallel to the axis of the auxiliary sleeve. This is also a measure that contributes to a reduced risk of burr or web formation in the area of ​​the slot of the auxiliary sleeve. As a precaution, it should be noted that the above explanations regarding the geometric or structural design of the auxiliary sleeve refer to its stress-free state, i.e., the state that occurs in the absence of external forces (apart from gravity).

[0016] In the following, the present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to several preferred embodiments illustrated in the drawing. Fig. 1 an electrical component to be produced using the method according to the invention, Fig. 2 in an axial section a component produced during manufacture according to Fig. 1 usable radial press, Fig. 3 in a cross-section normal to the axis, the relevant area of ​​the radial press according to Fig. 2 during the manufacture of the component according to Fig. 1 in a first stage of the procedure, Fig. 4 one Fig. 3 corresponding cross-section in a second stage of the manufacturing process of the component according to Fig. 1, Fig. 5 shows a first preferred embodiment of a component used in the manufacture of Fig. 1 using the radial press Fig. 2 insertable auxiliary sleeves, Fig. 6 a second preferred embodiment of a component used in the manufacture of Fig. 1 using the radial press Fig. 2 insertable auxiliary sleeves, Fig. 7 shows a third preferred embodiment of a component used in the manufacture of Fig. 1 using the radial press Fig. 2 insertable auxiliary sleeves and Fig. 8 shows a fourth preferred embodiment of a component used in the manufacture of Fig. 1 using the radial press Fig. 2 insertable auxiliary sleeves.

[0017] The Fig. The electrical component 1 illustrated in Figure 1 in the form of a temperature sensor 2 comprises, in a manner known per se, an electrical component 5 of cylindrical shape, designed as a sensor element 3 and having connecting wires 4. This component is equipped with a casing 6 in such a way that it is tightly surrounded by a metallic casing 6. The casing 6 has a collar 7 for the subsequent correct placement of the temperature sensor 2 in a bore provided in a device part.

[0018] To manufacture the temperature sensor 2, a commercially available radial press is used, as shown in an axial section in Fig. 2. The Fig. The radial press illustrated in Figure 2, known as such, is extensively described and explained in DE 28 44 475 A1. For this reason, and in particular because structural details of the radial press are not important in this case, a detailed description is unnecessary. Rather, for an understanding of the present invention, it is sufficient to know that the radial press 8 has a pressing tool 9 with eight pressing jaws 10, which are synchronously movable radially in the direction of the pressing axis X by means of a drive unit 15 - here hydraulic, comprising an annular piston 14 which can be acted upon via an annular hydraulic working chamber 11, is displaceable in the housing 12 along the pressing axis X, and has control surfaces 13 inclined with respect to the pressing axis X. It is emphasized again that Fig. 2 shows one possible design of the radial press by way of example only. All known and commercially available radial presses are suitable for implementing the present invention, in particular all radial presses from Uniflex-Hydraulik GmbH, DE-61184 Karben.

[0019] Fig. Figure 3 shows (schematically, i.e., not necessarily to scale) the situation before the beginning of the forming process carried out in the radial press 8. The electrical component 5 is housed in a surrounding jacket blank 16, which is cylindrical except for the collar 7. There is play between the electrical component 5 and the jacket blank 16; in other words, the jacket blank 16 is oversized relative to the electrical component 5, so that the latter is loosely inserted into the jacket blank 16. The jacket blank 16 is made of a plastically deformable metallic material.

[0020] The jacket blank 16 is in turn accommodated in a surrounding auxiliary sleeve 17 made of spring steel. This auxiliary sleeve 17, which is slotted in the axial direction and elastically resilient in the radial direction (cf. Fig. 5-7) has an excess dimension compared to the casing blank 16; it thus surrounds the casing blank 16 loosely, ie with play.

[0021] The entire assembly (group) consisting of auxiliary sleeve 17, casing blank 16, and electrical component 5 is inserted into the workpiece receiving space of the pressing tool 9 of the radial press 8; it is thus surrounded by the eight pressing jaws 10. The situation shown is when the said group consisting of auxiliary sleeve 17, casing blank 16, and electrical component 5 is placed on the lower pressing jaw 10a.

[0022] Fig. 4 shows the situation at the end of the closing process of the pressing tool 9. During the closing of the pressing tool 9 and thus synchronous radial movement of the pressing jaws 10 radially inwards in the direction of the pressing axis X starting with the Fig. 3, the pressing jaws 10 are successively applied to the auxiliary sleeve 17, a first elastic radial narrowing of the auxiliary sleeve 17 until it rests against the jacket blank 16 and a continued elastic radial narrowing of the auxiliary sleeve 17 with simultaneous plastic radial narrowing of the jacket blank 16 until it rests - as jacket 6 - against the electrical component 5 (cf. Fig. 4).

[0023] When the pressing tool 9 is subsequently opened, the elastically narrowed auxiliary sleeve 17 lifts off the jacket 6 produced from the jacket blank 16 by plastic deformation. After the elastically widening auxiliary sleeve 17 has regained its original shape, the pressing jaws 10 lift off the auxiliary sleeve 17 as the pressing tool 9 continues to open. In this way, the electrical component 1 - consisting of the electrical component 5 equipped with the tight-fitting jacket 6 - and the auxiliary sleeve 17 can be removed (simultaneously or sequentially) from the pressing tool 9. When the electrical component 1 and the auxiliary sleeve 17 are removed simultaneously from the opened pressing tool 9, the electrical component 1 is then removed separately from the auxiliary sleeve 17.

[0024] The Fig. 5-8 show four preferred embodiments of an elastically resilient auxiliary sleeve 17 made of spring steel. All four auxiliary sleeve embodiments are each slotted along their entire length in an axial extension; the respective slot 18 thus extends from one end face of the auxiliary sleeve 17 to the other.

[0025] In the two designs according to the Fig. 5 and Fig. 6, the respective slot 18a, 18b is generally oriented parallel to the axis Y of the auxiliary sleeve 17a, 17b. In contrast, the auxiliary sleeves 17c and 17d have Fig. 7 and Fig. 8 via a generally helical slot 18c or 18d, ie the slot 18c, 18d generally runs along a helical line.

[0026] The Fig. 5-7 illustrate three profiles of the edges 19, 20 of the respective auxiliary sleeve 17, which delimit the respective slot 18, which are superimposed on the general course of the slot 18. According to Fig. 5, the two edges 19a, 20a of the auxiliary sleeve 17a that define the slot are corrugated in a corresponding manner. Fig. 6, the two edges 19b, 20b of the auxiliary sleeve 17b that delimit the slot 18b are provided with interlocking finger profiles 21 with alternately overlapping fingers 22. And in the auxiliary sleeve 17c according to Fig. 7, the two edges 19c, 20c delimiting the slot 18c are stepped with overlapping steps 23, 24.

[0027] For the auxiliary sleeve 17d after Fig. 8, in contrast, there are non-profiled edges 19d, 20d that define the slot 18d. Thus, the edges 19d, 20d that define the slot 18d are spirally wound parallel to each other; they define a continuous helical gap of a defined width.

[0028] All slot variants allow a defined radial narrowing of the respective auxiliary sleeve 17a, 17b, 17c or 17d. QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 4135465 A1

[0005] DE 19912976 A1

[0005] DE 19817882 B4

[0005] DE 10149924 A1

[0005] DE 2844475 A1 [0005, 0018] DE 3611253 A1

[0005] DE 10047025 C2

[0005] DE 3331721 A1

[0005]

Claims

[1] Method for equipping an electrical or electronic component (5) which is at least partially cylindrical with a metallic casing (7) which tightly surrounds it, comprising the following steps: - Providing the electrical or electronic component (5) and a casing blank (16) which is at least partially cylindrical and has an oversize therefor and is made of a plastically deformable metallic material; - providing an auxiliary sleeve (17) which is slotted at least in sections in the axial extent and resiliently flexible in the radial direction and has an oversize compared to the casing blank (16); - assembling the electrical or electronic component (5), the casing blank (16) and the auxiliary sleeve (17) into a group, the auxiliary sleeve (17) surrounding the casing blank (16) at least in sections with play and the latter surrounding the electrical or electronic component (5) at least in sections with play; - Inserting the group into the workpiece receiving space of the pressing tool (9) of a radial press (8), which has at least four pressing jaws (10) which can be moved radially synchronously in the direction of a pressing axis (X) by means of a drive device (15); - closing the pressing tool (9) at least once with successive application of the pressing jaws (10) to the auxiliary sleeve (17), elastic radial narrowing of the auxiliary sleeve (17) to bring it into contact with the casing blank (16) and plastic radial narrowing of the casing blank (16) to bring it into contact with the electrical or electronic component (5); - opening the pressing tool (9) by successively lifting the auxiliary sleeve (17) from the jacket (6) produced by plastic deformation from the jacket blank (16) and lifting the pressing jaws (10) from the auxiliary sleeve (17); - Removing the component (1) joined from the electrical or electronic component (5) with the metallic casing (6) tightly surrounding it and the auxiliary sleeve (17) from the pressing tool (9) and removing the component (1) from the auxiliary sleeve (17). [2] Method according to claim 1, characterized by repeated successive closing of the pressing tool (9), wherein between two closing processes the pressing tool (9) is at least partially opened and the casing blank (16) deformed in the previous closing process or the casing (6) resulting from the casing blank (16) is rotated relative to the auxiliary sleeve (17). [3] Method according to claim 2, characterized bythat the pressing tool (9) is partially opened between two closing processes in such a way that the pressing jaws (10) continue to bear against the auxiliary sleeve (10), but lifts the latter off the casing blank (16) plastically deformed during the preceding closing process or the casing (6) resulting from the casing blank (16). [4] Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that a pressing tool (9) having at least eight pressing jaws (10) is used. [5] Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by that an auxiliary sleeve (17) made of spring steel is used. [6] Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by that an auxiliary sleeve (17) is used which is slotted along its entire length in axial extension. [7] Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized bythat an auxiliary sleeve (17a, 17b) with a slot (18a, 18b) oriented generally parallel to the axis (Y) of the auxiliary sleeve (17a, 17b) is used. [8] Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by that an auxiliary sleeve (17c, 17d) with a slot (18c, 18d) generally running along a helical line is used. [9] Method according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by that an auxiliary sleeve (17a) is used, in which the edges (19a, 20a) delimiting the slot (18a) are designed to be corrugated in a corresponding manner to one another. [10] Method according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by that an auxiliary sleeve (17b) is used, in which interlocking finger profiles (21) with alternately overlapping fingers (22) are designed on the two edges (19b, 20b) delimiting the slot (18b). [11] Method according to claim 8, characterized bythat an auxiliary sleeve (17c) is used, in which the edges (19c, 20c) delimiting the slot (18c) are stepped with overlapping steps (23, 24). [12] Method according to claim 8, characterized by that an auxiliary sleeve (17d) is used, in which the edges (19d, 20d) delimiting the slot (18d) are spirally wound parallel to one another to define a gap.

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