Connection device for a solenoid assembly, solenoid assembly and valve

Abstract

The invention relates to a connecting device (1) for a magnet assembly (2), comprising - a housing part (3) which is at least partially hollow-cylindrical and which has an undercut region (4) on the inner circumference extending at least over a partial circumference region, and a substantially pot-shaped locking part (5) with connecting cables (6), wherein the locking part (5) can be inserted into the housing part (3) and has locking elements (7) arranged on the outer circumference, which engage in the undercut area (4) of the housing part (3) in a locking manner when the locking part (5) is inserted into the housing part (3). The invention further relates to a magnet assembly (2) with a connection device (1) according to the invention and to a valve with a magnet assembly (2) according to the invention.

Description

The invention relates to a connection device for a magnet assembly. Preferred application areas of the invention are valves, in particular gas valves, which are actuated by means of a magnet assembly. The invention therefore also relates to a magnet assembly having a connection device according to the invention and to a valve, in particular a gas valve, having a magnet assembly according to the invention.Prior ArtA magnet assembly for actuating a valve generally has a magnet coil for acting on a solenoid armature which is movable in a stroke and which is part of the valve. The magnet armature itself can form a valve closing element or be coupled to a valve closing element, so that the valve can be opened and closed via the stroke movements of the magnet armature. Depending on the design of the valve as a normally closed or normally open valve, the magnetic force of the magnet coil acts on the magnet armature in the opening or closing direction. In the other direction, the magnet armature is acted upon by the spring force of a spring, which thus counteracts the magnetic force of the magnet coil.The magnetic force is generated by energizing the magnet coil. This presupposes that the magnet coil is connected to a power supply. The connection is often effected via two contact elements which are led outwards through a housing of the magnet assembly receiving the magnet coil and are connected at the end to connection cables. In order to fix the connection cables, the connecting region is subsequently cast with a curing casting compound. However, the casting compound is complicated to produce and thus increases the production costs. In addition, shrinkage of the casting compound can occur during curing, so that it is detached from the housing of the magnet assembly. A permanent fixing of the connecting cables may then no longer be ensured.The present invention is concerned with the object of simplifying the electrical connection of a magnet coil of a magnet assembly. In particular, a casting of the connection regions is to be dispensed with.The object is achieved by the connecting device having the features of claim 1. Furthermore, in order to achieve the object, a magnet assembly with a connection device according to the invention and a valve with a magnet assembly according to the invention are specified.Disclosure of the InventionA connection device for a magnet assembly is proposed, comprising:an at least partially hollow cylindrical housing part which has an undercut region on the inner circumference extending at least over a partial circumferential region, anda substantially cup-shaped latching part with connecting cables, wherein the latching part can be inserted into the housing part and has latching elements arranged on the outer circumference, which engage latchingly in the undercut region of the housing part when the latching part is inserted into the housing part.In the proposed connection device, the connection cables are positioned and fixed in a hollow cylindrical housing part with the aid of a latching part. Positioning and fixing are effected via a latching connection between the latching part and the housing part. The latching connection is firstly simple to produce and secondly holds the connection cables securely in position even without subsequent potting. It is thus possible to dispense with a casting compound, as a result of which the production costs are reduced.To produce the latching connection, the latching part has an outer diameter in the region of the latching elements which is greater than the inner diameter of an insertion opening of the housing part. When the latching part is inserted into the housing part, the latching elements are then constricted or pressed inward in the region of the insertion opening until the undercut region is reached and the latching elements snap outward again, engaging in the undercut region. For this purpose, the latching elements of the latching part are designed as slightly elastically deformable spring arms.According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the latching part has slots running radially from the outside to the inside in order to form the latching elements. The latching elements are released via the slots.Furthermore, the latching elements are preferably outwardly protruding, so that they together form a type of insertion cone. This facilitates the insertion of the latching part into the housing part.Furthermore, the latching part preferably has a centrally arranged base, from which in each case a first end of the connection cables exits axially and in each case a second end of the connection cables exits radially. The deflection of the connecting cables in the base brings about strain relief. Furthermore, the ends of the connecting cables can be positioned in a targeted manner via the deflection in such a way that they can be easily connected to the contact elements of a magnet assembly. As a rule, the electrical connection of a magnet assembly requires two connecting cables. In particular in the case of two connecting cables, the ends of the two connecting cables which emerge axially from the base are preferably guided in parallel and the radially emerging ends are arranged along a common axis. The two radially emerging ends are thus arranged on opposite sides of the base. In this arrangement, the ends can be easily brought into contact with the contact elements of the magnet assembly.Advantageously, the connecting cables are connected to the latching part in a materially integral, non-positive and / or positive manner. The material connection can be achieved in particular by the connecting cables also being inserted into the mold and injection molded into the mold during the production of the latching part in an injection molding process. The material connection fixes the connecting cables in the latching part. At the same time, strain relief of the connecting cables is achieved. The frictional and / or positive connection can be achieved in particular with the aid of a latching part which is embodied in multiple parts.In a further development of the invention, it is therefore proposed that a clamping part be inserted, in particular pressed, into the base of the latching part and the connection cables be clamped between the base and the clamping part. The frictional connection between the latching part and the connecting cables is then achieved via the clamping part.In addition, it is proposed that the connecting cables are accommodated in cable guides which are formed in the base and / or in the clamping part. The connecting cables can be positioned exactly via the cable guides. In addition, they cannot slip during the insertion, in particular pressing-in, of the clamping part. Preferably, clamping webs running transversely to the connecting cables and arranged offset to one another are formed in the cable guides. With the aid of the clamping webs, in addition to the frictional connection, a positive connection is achieved, which leads to strain relief of the connecting cables. This is because, when the connecting cables are clamped between the base and the clamping part, the clamping webs dig into the insulation of the connecting cables.Furthermore, it is proposed that the latching part, preferably in the region of the base or of the clamping part inserted, in particular pressed, into the base, has a centrally arranged centering pin. By means of the centering pin, the latching part can be centered during insertion into the housing part. However, this presupposes that the housing part or the magnet assembly connected to the housing part has a diametrically opposed recess for receiving the centering pin.Alternatively or additionally, it is proposed that the latching part has at least one eccentrically arranged guide pin. By means of the at least one guide cup, a rotation prevention of the latching part relative to the housing part or the magnet assembly connected to the housing part can be achieved. This also presupposes, in turn, that the housing part or the magnet assembly connected to the housing part has at least one diametrically opposed recess for receiving the at least one guide pin.It is furthermore proposed that the latching part has at least two eccentrically arranged engagement openings for a pressing tool. The pressing tool facilitates the insertion of the latching part into the housing part, in particular the alignment or angular position of the latching part with respect to the housing part. This presupposes that the housing part or the magnet assembly connected to the housing part has at least two identical engagement openings for receiving the pressing tool. The pressing tool can have, for example, at least two guide pins which are initially inserted into the eccentrically arranged engagement openings of the latching part. The pressing tool is then rotated until the guide pins can be brought into engagement with the engagement openings of the housing part or of the magnet assembly. Once the correct angular position has been found, the latching part can be pressed into the housing part with the aid of the pressing tool. For this purpose, the guide pins of the pressing tool are preferably spring-mounted, so that they can be retracted when the latching part is pressed into the pressing tool. The latching part is pressed into the housing part with the aid of the pressing tool to such a depth that the latching elements latch into the undercut region of the housing part.According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the latching part has on two mutually opposite sides in each case a substantially sector-shaped cutout for exposing the connection cables, preferably for exposing the ends of the connection cables which emerge radially from the base. The sector-shaped recesses allow the connection cables to be brought into contact with the contact elements of the magnet assembly when the latching part is inserted into the housing part.Furthermore, a magnet assembly for a valve, in particular a gas valve, is proposed. The magnet assembly comprises a magnet coil and a connection device according to the invention for connecting the magnet coil to a power supply. The magnet coil is accommodated in a housing part which is formed integrally with the housing part of the connection device or is connected to the housing part of the connection device. The connection can be, for example, a screw or press connection.The connection device according to the invention facilitates the electrical connection of the magnet coil of the magnet assembly. In particular, subsequent casting of the connection region can be dispensed with. The assembly is thus cleaner and at the same time less time and cost-intensive.Preferably, the housing part of the magnet assembly has contact elements protruding on an end face for electrically conductive connection to the connection cables of the connection device. The contact elements can be designed, for example, as pins, pins or tabs. As such, the contact elements have a certain dimensional rigidity, which simplifies the contacting with the connecting cables when the latching part is inserted into the housing part. For further simplification, it is proposed that the contact elements for receiving the connecting cables are formed in a fork shape at the end. The connection cables can thus be inserted into the fork-shaped ends of the contact elements and subsequently connected, in particular welded or soldered, to the contact elements in a materially bonded manner for fixing.Furthermore, the housing part preferably has an end face in whicha recess for receiving the centering pin of the latching part and / orat least one recess for receiving the at least one guide pin of the latching part and / orat least two engagement openings for the pressing tool which can be brought into superposition with the engagement openings of the latching part is.The recess for receiving the centering pin facilitates centering of the latching part when it is inserted into the housing part, which-provided it is not formed integrally with the housing part of the magnet assembly-is connected beforehand to the magnet assembly. The at least one recess for receiving the at least one guide pin serves to prevent rotation of the latching part within the housing part after the insertion. The engagement openings serve for the correct positioning of the latching part when it is inserted into the housing part, in particular with regard to its angular position, since only in the case of a correct angular position can the radially guided ends of the connecting cables be brought into contact with the contact elements of the magnet assembly. In this respect, the correct angular position should be permanently secured by means of a rotation prevention means, for example with the aid of the at least one guide pin.Since the preferred field of application of the invention is electromagnetically controllable valves, a valve, in particular a gas valve, having a magnet assembly according to the invention is furthermore proposed.Preferred embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the attached drawings. These show: FIG. 1 shows a perspective illustration of a latching part with connecting cables of a first preferred embodiment of a connecting device according to the invention, FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the latching part of FIG. 1 after insertion into a housing part of the connection device, FIG. 3 shows a perspective illustration of the latching part of FIG. 1 inserted into the housing part, wherein the housing part is arranged on a magnet assembly, FIG. 4 is a sectional view through the latching part of FIG. 1 inserted into the housing part, FIG. 5 a) shows a longitudinal section through the connection device of FIG. 1 and the magnet assembly connected to the connection device, b) an enlarged detail of FIG. 5 a), FIG. 6 shows a perspective illustration of a latching part of a second preferred embodiment of a connection device according to the invention, FIG. 7 shows a perspective illustration of the connecting cables to be connected to the latching part of FIG. 6, FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a clamping part to be connected to the latching part of FIG. 6, FIG. 9 shows a perspective illustration of the latching part after the connection cables and the clamping part have been inserted, viewed from above, FIG. 10 shows a perspective illustration of the latching part after the connection cables and the clamping part have been inserted, viewed from below, FIG. 11 a) is a bottom view of the latching part including connecting cable and clamping part and b) is a longitudinal section through the latching part including connecting cable and clamping part, FIG. 12 shows a perspective illustration of the latching part, including the connecting cable and clamping part, before insertion into a housing part of the connecting device of FIG. 6, FIG. 13 shows a perspective illustration of the latching part, including the connecting cable and clamping part, and of a pressing tool for inserting the latching part into the housing part of the connecting device, FIG. 14 shows a perspective illustration of the latching part, including the connecting cable and clamping part, on the pressing tool before the insertion into the housing part of the connecting device, FIG. 15 shows a perspective view of the connection device of FIG. 6 after assembly, FIG. 16 shows a longitudinal section through the pressing tool and the connecting device during assembly, and FIG. 17 shows a longitudinal section through the mounted connection device.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSWith reference to FIGS. 1 to 5, a first preferred embodiment of a connection device 1 according to the invention for a magnet assembly 2 is described. With the aid of the connection device 1, a magnetic coil 17 of the magnet assembly 2 can be electrically contacted and connected to a power supply.The connection device 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5 has a housing part 3 (see FIG. 2 ) and a latching part 5. The housing part 3 is substantially hollow cylindrical and has on the inner circumference an undercut region 4 extending at least over a partial circumferential region (see FIGS. 4 and 5 a) and 5 b)). The latching part 5 is substantially pot-shaped and has two sector-shaped recesses 16 on the outer circumference side on opposite sides. The remaining outer circumferential region forms latching elements 7 which are exposed by slots 24 running radially from the outside to the inside. In addition, the latching elements 7 are slightly outwardly protruding at their free ends, so that they form an insertion cone when the latching part 5 is inserted into the housing part 3. When the latching part 5 is inserted, the latching elements 7 are brought into engagement with the undercut region 4 of the housing part 3 (see FIG. 5 b )).Two connecting cables 6 are integrated into the latching part 5, namely into a centrally arranged base 8 of the latching part 5. These have in each case an end 6.1 emerging axially from the base 8 and an end emerging radially from the base 8. In the base 8, the connecting cables 6 are accordingly deflected. The contacting with contact elements 19 of the magnet assembly 2 is produced via the ends 6.2 radially emerging from the base 8, which contact elements are fork-shaped at the end, so that they can accommodate the ends 6.2 of the connecting cables 6 (see FIGS. 2 and 3 ). This is possible since the ends 6.2 are released by the sector-shaped recesses 16 of the latching part 5 (see FIGS. 1 and 2 ). The connecting cables 6 are connected to the latching part 5 in a materially integral manner, for example by injection molding with the material of the latching part 5. During the production of the latching part 5, the connecting cables 6 are also inserted into the mold.Before the latching part 5 is inserted into the housing part 3, the housing part 3 is first connected to a housing part 18 of the magnet assembly 2, in which the magnet coil 17 is accommodated (see FIG. 5 a )). The contact elements 19 for contacting the magnetic coil 17 are guided through the housing part 18 (not shown in FIG. 5 ). The connection of the housing part 3 to the housing part 18 of the magnet assembly 2 can be, in particular, a screw or press connection. Alternatively, the two housing parts 3, 18 can also be embodied in one piece, as is shown by way of example in a further embodiment of a connection device 1 according to the invention, which is described in more detail below in connection with FIGS. 6 to 17.The further embodiment of a connection device 1 according to the invention illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 17 likewise has a latching part 5 (see FIG. 6 ) and connection cables 6 (see FIG. 7 ). However, these are not integrated into the latching part 5 and are connected to the latching part 5 in a materially integral manner, but rather can be prefabricated and inserted into the latching part 5 from below. For exact positioning of the connecting cables 6, the latching part 5 has cable guides 9 in the region of the base 8, which are open towards the bottom. By inserting, in particular pressing, a clamping part 10 into the base 8 of the latching part 5, the connecting cables 6 can then be fixed (see FIGS. 9 and 10 ). The clamping part 10 also has cable guides 9. Clamping webs 11 (see FIG. 8 ) run transversely to the cable guides 9, which dig into the insulation of the connecting cables 6 when the clamping part 10 is pressed into the base 8 of the latching part 5. Further clamping webs 11 are provided in the cable guides 9 of the base 8. These are arranged offset with respect to the clamping webs 11 of the clamping part 10, so that the connecting cables 6 are fixed and relieved of tension via the clamping webs 11 (see FIG. 11 b)).The clamping part 10 has an excess pressing dimension for pressing into the base 8 of the latching part 5. This is produced in the present case by lateral material thickenings 25. In addition, the clamping part 10 has a recess 26, into which a web 27 of the latching part 5 engages when the clamping part 10 is pressed into the base 8 of the latching part 5 (see FIG. 11 b )). The clamping part 10 is thus connected not only in a force-fitting manner but also in a form-fitting manner to the latching part 5.After the connection cables 6 and the clamping part 10 have been inserted into the latching part 5, said latching part can be inserted into the housing part 3 of the connection device 1 or into the housing part 18 of the magnet assembly 2 which is formed integrally with the housing part 3 (see FIG. 12 ). This involves exact positioning of the latching part 5 with respect to the housing part 3 or the housing part 18. In order to facilitate positioning, the latching part 5 or the clamping part 10 has various auxiliary means. A first expedient is a centering pin 12 which is arranged on the underside of the clamping part 10 (see FIGS. 10, 11 a) and 11 b)). This can be brought into engagement with a diametrically opposed recess 21 in an end face 20 of the housing part 18 of the magnet assembly 2. As a further aid, two eccentrically arranged guide pins 13 are provided on the underside of the latching part 5 (see FIGS. 10 and 11 a) ), which engage in diametrically opposed recesses 22 when the latching part 5 is correctly positioned at an angle with respect to the magnet assembly 2 (see FIG. 12 ). In addition, the latching part 5 has two eccentrically arranged engagement openings 14 for a pressing tool 15 (see FIGS. 10, 11 a) and 13 ). The pressing tool 15 has two guide pins 28 which can be inserted into the engagement openings 14 (see FIG. 13 ). In the housing part 18 of the magnet assembly 2, corresponding engagement openings 23 are formed (see FIG. 14 ), which are found by the guide pins 28 of the pressing tool 15 when the latching part 5 is inserted into the housing part 3 or housing part 18, so that it is ensured that the latching part 5 is inserted into the housing part 3 or the housing part 18 in the correct angular position. This also facilitates the insertion of the guide pins 13 into the recesses 22 of the housing part 18 provided for this purpose. After the insertion, after the pressing tool 15 has been removed again, the guide pins 13 form a rotation prevention means.As can be seen in particular from FIG. 15, the angular position of the latching part 5 with respect to the housing part 3 or housing part 18 plays a particular role, since only in the case of a correct angular position are the ends 6.2 of the connecting cables 6 come to lie in the fork-shaped ends of the contact elements 19. Once this has been achieved, the ends 6.2 can be welded or soldered to the contact elements 19 in order to fix the contact. A casting compound is no longer required.When the latching part 5 is inserted into the housing part 3 or housing part 18, a pressure F is exerted on the latching part 5 with the aid of the pressing tool 15 (see FIG. 17 ). According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the latching part 5 is pressed over. As shown by way of example in FIGS. 16 and 17, the base 8 of the latching part 5 can form a plateau 29 on its underside, which comes to bear against the end face 20 of the housing part 18 of the magnet assembly 2 during insertion. The plateau 29 has a height h (see FIG. 17 ). Due to a certain elasticity of the latching part 5, the latter can then be over-pressed with the aid of the pressing tool 15, which for this purpose is supported on the latching part 5 outside the plateau 29 (see encircled regions in FIG. 16 ). This facilitates snapping the latching elements 7 into the undercut region 4 of the housing part 3.

Claims

Connection device (1) for a magnet assembly (2), comprising - an at least partially hollow cylindrical housing part (3) which has an undercut region (4) on the inner circumference side extending at least over a partial circumference region, and a substantially cup-shaped latching part (5) with connection cables (6), wherein the latching part (5) can be inserted into the housing part (3) and has latching elements (7) arranged on the outer circumference side, which engage in the undercut region (4) of the housing part (3) in a latching manner when the latching part (5) is inserted into the housing part (3).Connection device (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the latching part (5) has slots (24) running radially from the outside to the inside in order to form the latching elements (7).Connection device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the latching elements (7) are outwardly protruding so that they together form a type of insertion cone.Connection device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the latching part (5) has a centrally arranged base (8), from which in each case a first end of the connection cables (6) exits axially and in each case a second end of the connection cables (6) exits radially, wherein preferably the axially exiting ends are guided in parallel and the radially exiting ends are arranged along a common axis.Connection device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connection cables (6) are connected to the latching part (5) in a materially integral, frictional and / or positive-locking manner.Connection device (1) according to claim 4 or 5, characterised in that a clamping part (10) is inserted, preferably pressed, into the base (8), and the connection cables (6) are clamped between the base (8) and the clamping part (10).Connection device (1) according to claim 6, characterised in that the connection cables (6) are accommodated in cable guides (9) which are formed in the base (8) and / or in the clamping part (10), wherein clamping webs (11) which preferably run transversely to the connection cables (6) and are arranged offset with respect to one another are formed in the cable guides (9).Connection device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the latching part (5), preferably in the region of the base (8) or of the clamping part (10) inserted, in particular pressed, into the base (8), has a centring pin (12) arranged centrally.Connection device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the latching part (5) has at least one eccentrically arranged guide pin (13).Connection device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the latching part (5) has at least two eccentrically arranged engagement openings (14) for a pressing tool (15).Connection device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the latching part (5) has on two mutually opposite sides in each case a substantially sector-shaped cutout (16) for exposing the connection cables (6), preferably for exposing the ends of the connection cables (6) which emerge radially from the base (8).Magnet assembly (2) for a valve, in particular a gas valve, comprising a magnet coil (17) and a connection device (1) according to one of the preceding claims for connecting the magnet coil (17) to a power supply, wherein the magnet coil (17) is accommodated in a housing part (18) which is formed integrally with the housing part (3) of the connection device (1) or is connected to the housing part (3) of the connection device (1).Magnet assembly (2) according to claim 12, characterised in that the housing part (18) of the magnet assembly (2) has contact elements (19) protruding on an end face for electrically conductive connection to the connection cables (6) of the connection device (1), wherein preferably the contact elements (19) for receiving the connection cables (6) are formed fork-shaped on the end face.Magnet assembly (2) according to claim 12 or 13, characterised in that the housing part (18) has an end face (20) in which - a recess (21) for receiving the centring pin (12) of the latching part (5) and / or - at least one recess (22) for receiving the at least one guide pin (13) of the latching part (5) and / or - at least two engagement openings (23) for the pressing tool (15) are formed which can be brought into superposition with the engagement openings (14) of the latching part (5).Valve, in particular gas valve, having a magnet assembly (2) according to one of Claims 12 to 14.

Images