Assembly and method for manufacturing an assembly

Abstract

The invention relates to an assembly (1) comprising at least one housing part (4, 5) made of a material with a self-passivating surface for receiving at least one electronic component and at least one solid seal (6) for sealing the respective housing part (4, 5) made of the material with the self-passivating surface against the exterior (2) of the assembly (1). According to the invention, a corrosion protection layer (8) consisting of a radiation-cured material is applied locally in a coating area (10) extending at least over the width of the respective solid seal (6) on the surface of the respective housing part (4, 5) made of the material with the self-passivating surface.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an assembly according to the preamble of patent claim 1 and a method for producing an assembly.

[0002] Assemblies with electronic circuit components or electronic components are used in a variety of applications, for example as electronic modules, electrical modules or mechatronic modules with corresponding circuit components suitable for the respective application.

[0003] These assemblies are also used in the high-voltage sector with corresponding high-voltage electronic components such as high-voltage connectors or high-voltage control components.

[0004] To protect the electronic circuit components or electronic components, they are usually housed in a housing or housing parts, for which aluminum housings or housing parts made of aluminum, or stainless steel housings or housing parts made of stainless steel are particularly used. If the assembly includes multiple housing parts, these are joined together as joining parts after the electronic components have been inserted. Seals are usually provided between the two parts to be joined to protect the electronic components from external influences and, in particular, to protect them from moisture ingress and other environmental influences.

[0005] In this regard, DE10 2012 207 770 A1 discloses a battery with a battery cell housing consisting of a base body made of aluminum or steel. Sealing elements are arranged between the battery cells and a degassing system in such a way that the battery cells are coupled to the degassing system in a gas-tight manner. The sealing elements between the battery cell housings and the degassing system are designed as solid seals, preferably rubber seals in the form of O-rings.

[0006] However, when using such solid seals, such as sealing beads dried prior to assembly, which may consist of polymers, for example, or O-rings made of plastic, a small gap remains between the solid seal and the surface of the respective housing component due to the material. Moisture can accumulate in this gap and, particularly in the case of a housing component made of aluminum or stainless steel, attack a protective oxide layer on the surface of the aluminum or stainless steel as a self-passivating surface layer and thus ultimately penetrate corrosively into the interior of the aluminum housing or the aluminum housing component, or the stainless steel housing or the stainless steel housing component.This can in turn lead to damage to the electronic components of the assembly and in particular to damage to the high-voltage electronic components of the assembly, which can ultimately also impair the functionality of the electronic components of the assembly and thus of the entire assembly.

[0007] In this context, DE10 2013 110 659 A1 describes a process for producing wear-resistant and / or corrosion-resistant oxide layers on barrier-forming metals such as aluminum, magnesium, and titanium. For this purpose, a continuous, near-surface oxygen plasma is generated on the surface of the barrier-forming metal to form the oxide layer.

[0008] The invention is based on the object of specifying a generic assembly in which the occurrence of harmful corrosion that impairs the functionality of the assembly is effectively prevented in a simple manner.

[0009] This object is achieved according to the invention by an assembly having the features set out in patent claim 1. This object is also achieved by a method for producing an assembly having the features set out in patent claim 10.

[0010] Advantageous further developments of the assembly according to the invention are part of the further patent claims.

[0011] In the assembly according to the invention with at least one housing part made of at least one non-corrosion-resistant material or a material with a self-passivating surface, such as in particular aluminum or stainless steel, which is sealed by at least one solid seal, an effective and corrosion-effective seal of the respective housing part made of the material with a self-passivating surface and thus a local strengthening of the sealing area of ​​the respective housing part made of the material with a self-passivating surface in the area of ​​the respective solid seal is realized by a corrosion protection layer or corrosion protection coating consisting of a radiation-curing material being applied locally at least in a coating area extending across the width of the respective solid seal on the surface of the respective housing part made of the material with a self-passivating surface.

[0012] The adhesion of the local corrosion protection layer, consisting, for example, of a paint or a polymer as a radiation-curing material, is so strong that this local corrosion protection layer cannot be infiltrated by moisture from the outside of the respective housing part made of the material with a self-passivating surface, and thus cannot be infiltrated by moisture from the outside of the assembly. This effectively protects the interior of the respective housing part made of the material with a self-passivating surface, or the interior of the assembly, from corrosion. This also effectively protects the electronic components located inside the respective housing part made of the material with a self-passivating surface, or inside the assembly, from corrosion.

[0013] The layer width of the locally applied corrosion protection layer made of a radiation-curing material and thus the coating area on the surface of the respective housing part made of the material with a self-passivating surface with the radiation-curing material corresponds at least to the width of the solid seal, so that the coating area is arranged at least below the solid seal and / or above the solid seal on the surface of the respective housing part made of the material with a self-passivating surface.

[0014] However, the layer width of the corrosion protection layer made of a radiation-curing material is preferably wider than the width of the solid seal to compensate for manufacturing tolerances during production of the assembly and is thus arranged both in the area of ​​the solid seal and on both sides in a lateral area next to the solid seal on the surface of the respective housing part made of the material with a self-passivating surface.

[0015] In an advantageous development of the invention, the layer width of the corrosion protection layer made of a radiation-curing material is at least four times as wide as the width of the solid seal and up to twenty times as wide as the width of the solid seal.

[0016] In particular, the corrosion protection layer made of a radiation-curing material on the surface of the respective housing part made of the material with a self-passivating surface can also extend to the housing edge of the respective housing part made of the material with a self-passivating surface.

[0017] In an advantageous development of the invention, the corrosion protection layer consists of a radiation-curing material that can be cured by UV irradiation, such as a UV-curing lacquer or a UV-curing polymer, or of a radiation-curing material that can be cured by means of electron beams.

[0018] The corrosion protection layer made of a radiation-curing material is applied locally in the desired coating area to the surface of the respective housing part made of the material with a self-passivating surface, preferably by means of an offset printing process or by means of a screen printing process or by means of a spray application, preferably with a layer thickness between 8 µm and 100 µm.

[0019] The solid seals used to seal the respective housing part made of the material with a self-passivating surface can be designed in particular as elastomer molded parts or as thermoplastic molded parts or as molded parts made of an elastomer-metal compound or of a dried polymer sealing bead.

[0020] Preferably, the assembly has at least one housing part made of aluminum or stainless steel for accommodating high-voltage electronic components of a high-voltage battery, wherein, for example, high-voltage plugs or high-voltage connectors or high-voltage control components are provided as high-voltage electronic components of the assembly.

[0021] The at least one solid seal is applied to the cured corrosion protection layer after the local application and curing of the corrosion protection layer consisting of a radiation-curing material. If several consecutively arranged solid seals are provided to seal the interior of the assembly from the exterior of the assembly, at least one of the described corrosion protection layers is provided in the area of ​​each of the solid seals, which can then also be directly adjacent to one another.

[0022] In the assembly according to the invention, it is advantageously possible in a simple manner to ensure effective and efficient protection against the occurrence of corrosion on housing parts made of a material with a self-passivating surface, such as in particular aluminum or stainless steel, and at the same time to achieve sufficient tightness on the sealing surface of a solid seal used on the respective housing part made of the material with a self-passivating surface, even under high pressure loads.

[0023] Thus, a long-term, reliable and corrosion-resistant seal of the respective housing part made of the material with a self-passivating surface and thus of the assembly as a whole is realized by effectively preventing corrosive infiltration of the solid seal of the respective housing part made of the material with a self-passivating surface.

[0024] The corrosion protection layer is applied by locally coating the surface of the respective housing part made of the material with a self-passivating surface. This takes a short time, typically only a few seconds, during the assembly's manufacturing process, thus virtually "just in time." The subsequent assembly steps can then be continued immediately afterward or be connected to the assembly's manufacturing process.

[0025] Due to the inventive formation of the corrosion protection layer, no adverse thermal stress is introduced on the respective housing part made of the material with a self-passivating surface or on the electronic components and electronic parts located therein.

[0026] The electrical conductivity on the surface of the respective housing part made of the material with a self-passivating surface is retained even after the formation of the locally applied corrosion protection layer, so that the requirements placed on the respective housing part made of the material with a self-passivating surface with regard to electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and other electrical properties are still guaranteed.

[0027] By forming the corrosion protection layer in the coating area, the surface roughness of the respective housing part made of the material with a self-passivating surface is also significantly improved, thereby also increasing the accuracy of fit when connecting the respective housing part made of the material with a self-passivating surface to other housing parts or joining parts.

[0028] Further advantages, features, and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments and from the drawing(s). The features and feature combinations mentioned above in the description, as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned below in the description of the figures and / or shown alone in the figures, can be used not only in the respective specified combination, but also in other combinations or on their own, without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0029] Showing: Fig. 1 A schematic sectional view of a section of an electronic module as an assembly according to the invention in a first embodiment of the invention. Fig. 2 A schematic sectional view of a section of an electronic module as an assembly according to the invention in a second embodiment of the invention. Fig. 3 A schematic sectional view of a section of an electronic module as an assembly according to the invention in a third embodiment of the invention.

[0030] The one shown in the drawing with the Fig. The electronic module schematically illustrated in sections in Figures 1 to 3 is intended, for example, as assembly 1 for controlling the high-voltage traction battery of a battery-electric vehicle (BEV). A housing made, for example, at least partially of aluminum is provided to accommodate the high-voltage electronic components of the electronic module as assembly 1.

[0031] According to the Fig. 1, in a first embodiment of the invention, the electronic module 1 comprises two housing parts 4, 5, which are to be connected to one another and are made of aluminum as a material with a self-passivating surface. In order to seal the high-voltage electronic components of the electronic module 1 located in the interior area 3 of the electronic module 1 from the exterior area 2 of the electronic module 1, a circumferential solid seal 6 is provided between the two aluminum housing parts 4, 5, which consists, for example, of an elastomer material and has a diameter of, for example, 2 mm.

[0032] After the solid seal 6 has been inserted, a sealing gap 7 is created in the area of ​​the solid seal 6 adjacent to the outer area 2, in which moisture from the outer area 2 can be deposited.

[0033] This moisture can corrode the surface of the two housing parts 4, 5, which are made of aluminum, a non-corrosive material, and thus penetrate into the interior 3 of the electronic module 1. As a result, the functionality of the high-voltage electronic components of the electronic module 1 located therein can be impaired.

[0034] In order to prevent this corrosive infiltration, a curable lacquer layer as a corrosion protection layer 8 is applied locally to the surface of the respective inner side 15 of the two housing parts 4, 5 made of aluminum in the area of ​​the solid seal 6, for example a UV-curing lacquer layer as a corrosion protection layer 8 that can be cured by means of UV radiation. This lacquer layer as a corrosion protection layer 8 is printed, for example, by means of a screen printing process as part of the manufacturing process of the electronic module 1 in a specific coating area 10 onto the surface of the inner side 15 of the two housing parts 4, 5 made of aluminum.

[0035] For example, the curable paint layer is applied as a corrosion protection layer 8 in a coating area 10 of a total of 20 mm to the surface of the two housing parts 4, 5 made of aluminum in such a way that the coating area 10 extends from the housing edge 11 of the two housing parts 4, 5 made of aluminum into the inner area 3 of the electronic module 1.

[0036] After the application of the paint layer as a corrosion protection layer 8, it is cured by UV irradiation, for example during an irradiation time of 5 seconds.

[0037] The solid seal 6 is then inserted circumferentially between the two housing parts 4, 5 made of aluminum in the area of ​​the paint layer as a corrosion protection layer 8, thus creating a sealed and corrosion-resistant connection between the two housing parts 4, 5 made of aluminum.

[0038] According to the Fig. 2, in a second embodiment of the invention, two joining parts 4, 12 to be connected to one another are provided in the electronic module 1, of which one joining part 4 is designed as a housing part made of aluminum and one joining part 12 is designed as a plastic plug.

[0039] Since the plastic plug 12 is made of a corrosion-resistant plastic material, a Fig. 1 described lacquer layer as corrosion protection layer 8 is applied only to the surface of the inner side 15 of the housing part 4 made of aluminum, in accordance with the Fig. 1 and in a preferred coating area 10 mentioned therein.

[0040] For positioning the solid seal 6, the plastic plug 12 has a groove 9 in which the solid seal 6 is fixed.

[0041] According to the Fig. 3 are in a third embodiment of the invention analogous to the embodiment according to Fig. 2, the electronic module 1 comprises two joining parts 4, 12 to be connected to one another, of which one joining part 4 is designed as a housing part made of aluminum and one joining part 12 is designed as a plastic plug. In this case, the solid seal 6 is designed in several parts, in particular in this case Fig. 3, two sealing elements 13 consisting of an elastomer material are formed laterally on a central metal carrier 14. List of reference symbols 1 electronic module 2 outdoor area 3 Interior 4 Housing part made of aluminum 5 Housing part made of aluminum 6 Solid seal 7 Sealing gap 8 Protective coating 9 grooves 10 Coating area 11 Case edge 12 additional joining parts 13 Elastomer part 14 metal supports 15 Inside housing surface 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 10 2012 207 770 A1

[0005] DE 10 2013 110 659 A1

[0007]

Claims

[1] Assembly (1), with at least one housing part (4, 5) made of a material with a self-passivating surface for accommodating at least one electronic component, and with at least one solid seal (6) for sealing the respective housing part (4, 5) made of the material with a self-passivating surface from the outer area (2) of the assembly (1), characterized by that a corrosion protection layer (8) consisting of a radiation-curing material is applied locally in a coating area (10) extending at least over the width of the respective solid seal (6) on the surface of the respective housing part (4, 5) made of the material with a self-passivating surface. [2] Assembly (1) according to claim 1, characterized bythat the corrosion protection layer (8) consisting of a radiation-curing material is applied locally in a coating area (10) extending over the width of the respective solid seal (6) and laterally from the solid seal (6) on the surface of the respective housing part (4, 5) made of the material with a self-passivating surface. [3] Assembly (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the coating area (10) on the surface of the respective housing part (4, 5) made of the material with a self-passivating surface is at least four times as wide as the width of the respective solid seal (6) and up to twenty times as wide as the width of the respective solid seal (6). [4] Assembly (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized bythat the corrosion protection layer (8) consists of a radiation-curing material that can be cured by means of UV irradiation or of a radiation-curing material that can be cured by means of electron beams. [5] Assembly (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by that the layer thickness of the corrosion protection layer (8) is between 8 µm and 100 µm. [6] Assembly (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by that the corrosion protection layer (8) is applied by means of an offset printing process or by means of a screen printing process or by means of a spray application to the surface of the respective housing part (4, 5) made of the material with a self-passivating surface. [7] Assembly (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by that at least one housing part (4, 5) of the assembly (1) is made of aluminum or stainless steel as a material with a self-passivating surface. [8] Assembly (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by that the at least one solid seal (6) is designed as an elastomer molded part or as a thermoplastic molded part or as a molded part made of an elastomer-metal compound. [9] Assembly (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8 for accommodating high-voltage electronic components of a high-voltage battery in at least one housing part (4, 5) made of aluminum or stainless steel. [10] Method for producing an assembly (1) with at least one housing part (4, 5) sealed by means of a solid seal (6) and intended to accommodate electronic components, made of a material with a self-passivating surface, characterized by , that on the surface of the respective housing part (4, 5) made of a material with a self-passivating surface, a corrosion protection layer (8) made of a radiation-curing material is applied locally at least in a coating area (10) provided for the respective solid seal (6), that the radiation-curing material of the corrosion protection layer (8) is subsequently cured by means of an irradiation process, and that the respective solid seal (6) is applied to the cured corrosion protection layer (8).

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