Ground connection device

Abstract

The invention relates to a ground connection device for coolant-carrying components in motor vehicles, comprising: - a coolant-carrying component with a non- or poorly electrically conductive housing having a through-hole for receiving an electrically conductive rivet element, - an electrically conductive ground connection device which can be connected to ground at a first end and has an opening for - the rivet element, in particular a blind rivet, wherein the rivet element comprises a coolant contact section, a fastening section and a ground connection section along its longitudinal axis, wherein a first end of the rivet element forms the coolant contact section, which is arranged within the housing in such a way that it can contact a coolant located in the housing in order to form an electrical connection with a coolant, and wherein the fastening section is partially surrounded tangentially by the housing in the region of the through-opening and wherein the ground connection section is connected to the ground connection device in such a way that an electrical connection is formed between the ground connection device and the housing rivet element, and the rivet element is connected to the housing in the region of the through-opening via the fastening section by deformation.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a ground connection device for coolant-carrying components, in particular in motor vehicles, a coolant-carrying component with ground connection and a method for grounding coolant-carrying components.

[0002] Ground (GND for short) is the reference potential for signal and operating voltages. Ground can, in principle, be any node in an electrical circuit and can be used as a reference potential for determining all voltages in this network. Ground is typically defined as 0 V.

[0003] In motor vehicles with different on-board electrical systems, for example 48 V and 12 V for different applications, it is common to define different ground potentials.

[0004] It is common to define the ground potential as the mean voltage between a negative and positive on-board voltage.

[0005] The components of an electrical system are connected to a common ground. This is usually done using ground straps with welded ends and crimped sleeves.

[0006] In automobiles, as well as motorcycles and bicycles, the ground potential is the body or frame. As a conductive part that extends across the entire vehicle, it also serves as the return conductor for the electrical system. Every consumer in this electrical system is connected to ground, thus only one wire needs to be laid.

[0007] In motor vehicles, the coolant circuit is also assigned a potential, preferably ground. The cooling circuit includes components such as valves and valve housings, radiators, pumps, lines, and expansion tanks.

[0008] The object of the invention is to provide a device with which cooling liquid can also be easily connected to a common potential in a vehicle.

[0009] A further object of the invention is to provide a device which, in addition to a safe, reliable electrical contact, seals the housing of a coolant-carrying component.

[0010] Furthermore, it is the object of the invention to ensure that the ground connection is cost-efficient and quick.

[0011] According to the invention, a ground connection device for coolant-carrying components in motor vehicles is provided. This device comprises: - a coolant-carrying device with a non- or poorly electrically conductive housing having a through-opening for receiving an electrically conductive rivet element, in particular a blind rivet, - an electrically conductive ground connection device which can be connected to ground at a first end and has an opening for - the rivet element, wherein the rivet element comprises a cooling liquid contact section, a fastening section and a ground connection section along its longitudinal axis, wherein a first end of the rivet element forms the cooling liquid contact section, which is arranged within the housing in such a way that it can contact a cooling liquid located in the housing in order to form an electrical connection with a cooling liquid, and wherein the fastening section is partially surrounded tangentially by the housing in the region of the through-opening and wherein the ground connection section is connected to the ground connection device in such a way that an electrical connection is formed between the ground connection device and the housing, and the rivet element is held in the through-opening by being deformed.

[0012] That the rivet element is held in the through-hole by being deformed. This means that the rivet element is connected to the housing in the area of ​​the through-hole via the fastening section by deformation.

[0013] A rivet is a plastically deformable cylindrical fastener. The process of creating a riveted joint between superimposed flat pieces of material at the joint is called riveting. Rivets consist of a flat, wide rivet head and a narrow, cylindrical rivet shank.

[0014] In a riveted joint, the joining forces are redirected, creating additional bending moments in the assembly. The formation of a riveted joint between flat pieces of material placed on top of each other at the joint is called riveting.

[0015] Riveting is a simple and quick mechanical joining method. Installation requires only a standard riveting tool. For a high number of repetitions, a rivet gun can be used.

[0016] Riveted joints are mainly used in applications that require high vibration resistance.

[0017] Furthermore, riveted joints can reduce manufacturing costs because they allow packaging sizes to be kept smaller for transport.

[0018] In addition, riveted joints are lighter than welds or screw connections.

[0019] These properties of riveted joints are particularly advantageous for use in motor vehicles.

[0020] In this ground connection device, the riveted connection in the ground connection section not only provides a mechanical connection between the housing and the ground connection device, but also an electrical connection between the coolant and the ground. The rivet element presses the ground connection device against the housing and itself, creating an electrical contact. At the same time, the rivet element is positioned in the housing so that it is surrounded by coolant.

[0021] This results in the advantage that only one rivet element is required to create a suspension for the ground connection and an electrical contact to the coolant.

[0022] This means that the ground connection device according to the invention is vibration-resistant, inexpensive to manufacture and quick to assemble.

[0023] Furthermore, the use of a rivet saves space, as only the rivet head protrudes.

[0024] By using rivets, the installer can securely and reliably connect the ground connection device outside the enclosure in a single operation. This allows the ground connection to be made through the ground connection device in a simple, externally accessible mounting position.

[0025] To ground the entire cooling circuit, the individual components of the cooling circuit are connected to ground. It is important that this is a common ground to prevent compensating currents from occurring among the components.

[0026] The coolant can act as an electrical conductor if it contains electrically conductive components. Electrically conductive coolant should therefore be connected to a common ground with other coolant-carrying components.

[0027] Furthermore, coolant can come into contact with live conductors. Therefore, it's advisable to connect its potential to ground so that any resulting currents can flow safely. A coolant without a ground connection could come into contact with electrically conductive components in the event of a leak in the cooling circuit, damaging them through transient currents.

[0028] Furthermore, charged and leaking coolant would be a problem for people who are in the vehicle or working on it.

[0029] The rivet element can be sealingly connected to an edge of the housing delimiting the through-opening by the deformation of the rivet element and / or by a sealing element, in particular an O-ring.

[0030] During assembly, the rivet element plastically deforms within the housing. This creates a kind of plug that seals the housing recess against leaking coolant.

[0031] The through opening of the housing can be sealed by a sealing element, in particular an O-ring, alone or additionally.

[0032] In addition to the deformation of the rivet element, the sealing element provides protection against leaking coolant. It also ensures that nothing can penetrate the housing from the outside. Therefore, a combination of deformation and sealing element is advantageous.

[0033] The housing can have a sealing recess formed in the region of the through-opening for receiving the sealing element, wherein a partial section of the fastening section of the rivet element forms a sealing section.

[0034] The ground connection device can be made of a sheet metal, in particular of copper or aluminum, which can also be used for shielding purposes.

[0035] Shielding plates are used in motor vehicles to prevent unwanted electromagnetic waves from being coupled into cables. Depending on which area of ​​the vehicle is being cooled, the cooling system can cause unwanted interference in other on-board networks. For example, the coolant pumps can disrupt internal vehicle communication through internal switching operations. Shielding plates or braided shields are usually connected to ground.

[0036] If the ground connection arrangement is designed as a shield plate, the cooling circuit or other components can be shielded without the need for additional suspension for a shield plate.

[0037] The ground connection device may be formed from an insulated cable and a cable lug.

[0038] This allows the ground connection device to be installed in areas of the vehicle that don't have enough space for a sheet metal connection. The cable can be routed to a remote ground bar.

[0039] The housing can be made of a plastic using a 1-component injection molding process.

[0040] This means that the housing can be manufactured quickly and inexpensively in one step.

[0041] The coolant-carrying components can be designed as valves, valve housings, radiators, pumps, pipes, expansion tanks and / or battery housings.

[0042] The coolant-carrying components therefore include the components that come into contact with coolant.

[0043] In addition to the ground connection device in the ground connection section, other components independent of the coolant supply can be connected to ground by the rivet element.

[0044] In this way, surrounding components can be connected to ground in a space-saving manner without having to create additional connection points for ground.

[0045] Furthermore, the invention provides a coolant-conducting component comprising a ground connection device according to the invention, which comprises a housing, a ground connection device, and a rivet element. A first end of the rivet element forms the coolant contact section, which is arranged within the housing such that it can contact a coolant located in the housing in order to form an electrical connection with a coolant. The fastening section is partially surrounded tangentially by the housing in the region of the through-opening. The ground connection section is connected to the ground connection device such that an electrical connection is formed between the ground connection device and the housing. The rivet element is connected to the housing in the region of the through-opening via the fastening section by deformation.

[0046] The advantages of the coolant-carrying component according to the invention correspond analogously to the advantages described above with reference to the device according to the invention.

[0047] In addition, the invention provides a method for connecting coolant in coolant-carrying components to ground, comprising a ground connection device according to the invention, which comprises a housing, a ground connection device, and a rivet element. A first end of the rivet element forms the coolant contact section, which is arranged within the housing in such a way that it can contact a coolant located in the housing in order to form an electrical connection with a coolant. The fastening section is partially surrounded tangentially by the housing in the region of the through-opening. The ground connection section is connected to the ground connection device in such a way that an electrical connection is formed between the ground connection device and the housing. The rivet element is connected to the housing in the region of the through-opening via the fastening section by deformation.

[0048] The advantages of the method according to the invention correspond analogously to the advantages described above with reference to the device according to the invention.

[0049] The present invention is described in more detail below with reference to an exemplary embodiment illustrated in the figures. These schematically show: Fig. 1 a perspective side view of a ground connection device, and Fig. 2 a cross-section of a ground connection device.

[0050] According to the invention, a ground connection device 1 is arranged in a motor vehicle (not shown) on a ground rail (not shown) that is connected to the body of the motor vehicle. The ground rail is made of an electrically conductive material and combines several ground connections.

[0051] The ground connection device 1 is screwed to the ground rail, or welded or soldered to it, or is otherwise electrically connected. Ground rails are preferably designed with a large surface area and a certain material thickness in order to be able to absorb high currents.

[0052] The ground connection device 1 is designed for coolant-carrying components.

[0053] The coolant-carrying component has at least one chamber and / or a line for the passage or storage of coolant. The coolant-carrying component is part of the cooling circuit. The coolant-carrying component can be designed as a valve, valve housing, radiator, pump, line, expansion tank, and / or battery housing.

[0054] The housing 2 of a coolant-carrying component is designed to contain coolant within its interior. The housing 2 is made of a material that is non-conductive or poorly electrically conductive. This material is designed to be resistant to coolant.

[0055] In the present embodiment, the housing is made of a plastic using a 1-component injection molding process.

[0056] Furthermore, the housing 2 has an approximately circular through-opening 4 for a rivet element 5 in a fastening section 3. Direct physical contact with the cooling liquid or coolant is possible through this through-opening 4. In the fastening section 3, the rivet element 5 is tangentially surrounded by the housing 2.

[0057] In a ground connection section 6, the ground connection device 1 comprises a ground connection device 7. This is formed from an electrically conductive, formable material, such as copper sheet, aluminum sheet, aluminum tape or the like.

[0058] The ground connection device 7 is preferably formed by bending such that it is arranged tangentially on a housing 2 of the coolant-carrying component to be connected.

[0059] It is also possible for the ground connection device 7 to be connected to the housing 2 by means of a cable which has a cable lug whose diameter is designed to accommodate a rivet element 5.

[0060] The ground connection device 7 has an opening 8 for receiving the rivet element 5.

[0061] In the ground connection section 6, the ground connection device 7 forms an electrical contact with the rivet element 5 in that the rivet element 5, in conjunction with the housing 2, presses the ground connection device 7 against itself.

[0062] In one mounting position, the ground connection device 7 is attached to the housing 2 from the outside.

[0063] The rivet element 5 is a plastically deformable cylindrical connecting element. It consists of a wide rivet sleeve 9 with a rivet head and a narrow rivet nail. Rivet elements 5 are made of copper, chromium steel, aluminum, or alloys thereof. According to the invention, the rivet elements 5 are made of an electrically conductive material. The outer diameter of the rivet element 5 approximately corresponds to the inner diameter of the through-hole 4.

[0064] In the present embodiment, the rivet element 5 is designed as a blind rivet. However, it is also conceivable that the rivet element 5 is designed as a countersunk head or half-round rivet or the like.

[0065] The ground connection section 6, the fastening section 3, and a coolant contact section 10 are arranged along the longitudinal axis L of the rivet element 5. The coolant contact section 10 is arranged within the housing in such a way that it can contact a coolant located in the housing to establish an electrical connection. The coolant flows tangentially around the rivet element 5.

[0066] The through-opening 4 also has an area with a recess 11 which is designed to receive a sealing element.

[0067] In the present embodiment, the sealing element is designed as an O-ring 12. The O-ring 12 provides additional sealing for the riveted connection. The inner diameter of the O-ring 12 approximately corresponds to the outer diameter of the rivet sleeve 9. The diameter of the recess 11 approximately corresponds to the outer diameter of the O-ring 12.

[0068] Furthermore, according to the invention, a coolant-carrying component, in particular for motor vehicles, is provided.

[0069] This comprises a ground connection device 1, which comprises a housing 2, a ground connection device 7 and a rivet element 5, wherein the rivet element 5 comprises a cooling liquid contact section 10, a fastening section 3 and a ground connection section 6 along its longitudinal axis L.

[0070] A first end 13 of the rivet element 5 forms the coolant contact portion 10, which is arranged within the housing 2 such that it can contact a coolant located in the housing 2 to form an electrical connection with a coolant.

[0071] The fastening section 3 is partially surrounded tangentially by the housing 2 in the area of ​​the through opening 4.

[0072] The ground connection section 6 is connected to the ground connection device 7 in such a way that an electrical connection is formed between the ground connection device 7 and the rivet element 5, and the rivet element 5 is connected by deformation to the housing 2 in the region of the through-opening 4 via the fastening section 3.

[0073] In addition, the invention provides a method for connecting coolant-carrying components.

[0074] This comprises a ground connection device 1, which comprises a housing 2, a ground connection device 7 and a rivet element 5, wherein the rivet element 5 comprises a cooling liquid contact section 10, a fastening section 3 and a ground connection section 6 along its longitudinal axis L.

[0075] A first end 13 of the rivet element 5 forms the coolant contact section 10, which is arranged within the housing 2 in such a way that it can contact a coolant located in the housing 2 to form an electrical connection with the coolant. The fastening section 3 is partially surrounded tangentially by the housing 2 in the region of the through-opening 4.

[0076] The ground connection section 6 is connected to the ground connection device 7 in such a way that an electrical connection is formed between the ground connection device 7 and the rivet element 5, and the rivet element 5 is connected by deformation to the housing 2 in the region of the through-opening 4 via the fastening section 3.

[0077] To assemble the ground connection device 1, the rivet sleeve 9 is inserted into the ground connection device 7, into the O-ring 12 and then into the through-opening 4 from the outside into the housing 2, so that the rivet element 5 projects into the housing at a first end 13.

[0078] Using a riveting pliers or riveting gun, the rivet needle is pulled out of the rivet sleeve 9 so that the rivet sleeve 9 forms a plastic deformation inside the housing 2.

[0079] In this way, rivet element 5, ground connection device 7, O-ring 12 and housing 2 are mechanically connected to each other along the longitudinal axis L. ( Fig. 1 and Fig. 2)

[0080] Such a riveted joint can be re-soldered or glued to provide better electrical contact and / or to be particularly leak-proof. List of reference symbols 1 ground connection device 2 housings 3 Fastening section 4 passage opening 5 rivet element 6 Ground connection section 7 Ground connection device 8 Opening 9 rivet sleeve 10 Coolant contact section 11 Recess 12 O-ring 13 first end of the rivet element L Longitudinal axis

Claims

[1] Ground connection device (1) for coolant-carrying components in motor vehicles, comprising: -a coolant-carrying component with a non- or poorly electrically conductive housing (2) which has a through-opening (4) for receiving an electrically conductive rivet element (5), in particular a blind rivet, -an electrically conductive ground connection device (7) which can be connected to ground at a first end and has an opening for the rivet element (5) at a second end, wherein the rivet element (5) comprises, along its longitudinal axis (L), a coolant contact section (10), a fastening section (3), and a ground connection section (6), wherein a first end of the rivet element (5) forms the coolant contact section (10), which is arranged within the housing (2) in such a way that it can contact a coolant located in the housing (2) in order to form an electrical connection with a coolant, and wherein the fastening section (3) is partially surrounded tangentially by the housing (2) in the region of the through-opening (4), and wherein the ground connection section (6) is connected to the ground connection device (7) in such a way,that an electrical connection is formed between the ground connection device (7) and the rivet element (5), and the rivet element (5) is held in the through-opening (4) by being deformed., [2] Ground connection device (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that the rivet element (5) is sealingly connected to an edge of the housing (2) delimiting the through opening (4) by the deformation of the rivet element (5) and / or by a sealing element, in particular an O-ring (12). [3] Ground connection device (1) according to claim 2, characterized by that the housing (2) is formed in the region of the through opening (4) with a sealing recess for receiving the sealing element, and wherein a partial section of the fastening section (3) of the rivet element (5) forms a sealing section. [4] Ground connection device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized bythat the ground connection device (7) is made of a sheet metal, in particular of copper or aluminum, which can also be used for shielding purposes. [5] Ground connection device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by that the ground connection device (7) is formed from an insulated cable and a cable lug. [6] Ground connection device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by that the housing (2) is made of a plastic by means of a 1-component injection molding process. [7] Ground connection device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by that the coolant-carrying components are designed as valves, valve housings, radiators, pumps, lines, expansion tanks and / or battery housings. [8] Ground connection device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized bythat in addition to the ground connection device (7) in the ground connection section (6), other components independent of the coolant supply can be connected to ground by the rivet element (5). [9] A coolant-conducting component comprising a ground connection device (1), in particular according to one of claims 1 to 8, which comprises a housing (2), a ground connection device (7) and a rivet element (5), wherein a first end of the rivet element (13) forms the coolant contact section (10), which is arranged within the housing (2) in such a way that it can contact a coolant located in the housing (2) in order to form an electrical connection with a coolant, and wherein the fastening section (3) is partially surrounded tangentially by the housing (2) in the region of the through-opening (4), and wherein the ground connection section (6) is connected to the ground connection device (7) in such a way that an electrical connection is formed between the ground connection device and the rivet element (5),and the rivet element (5) is connected by deformation to the housing (2) in the region of the through-opening (4) via the fastening section (3). [10] A method for connecting coolant in coolant-carrying components to ground, comprising a ground connection device (1), in particular according to one of claims 1 to 8, which comprises a housing (2), a ground connection device (7) and a rivet element (5), wherein a first end of the rivet element (13) forms the coolant contact section (10), which is arranged within the housing (2) in such a way that it can contact a coolant located in the housing (2) in order to form an electrical connection with a coolant, and wherein the fastening section (3) is partially surrounded tangentially by the housing (2) in the region of the through-opening (4), and wherein the ground connection section (6) is connected to the ground connection device (7) in such a way that an electrical connection is formed between the ground connection device and the rivet element (5),and the rivet element (5) is connected by deformation to the housing (2) in the region of the through-opening (4) via the fastening section (3).

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