Motor, in particular pump motor and method for its production

Abstract

A motor (10), in particular a pump motor, has external contacts (24) exposed on the outside of the motor (10) and motor contacts (14) for connection to at least one motor component, such as a stator (12), a printed circuit board (18) and a housing (20) surrounding the printed circuit board (18) and contacts, and is characterized in that all contacts are inserted into the printed circuit board (18) from one side which faces the outside. A method for producing a motor (10), in particular a pump motor, with external contacts (24) which are exposed on the outside of the motor (10), and motor contacts (14) for connection to at least one motor component, such as a stator (12), a printed circuit board (18) and a housing (20) which surrounds the printed circuit board (18) and contacts, is characterized in that all contacts are integrated, in particular cast, into the housing (20), a printed circuit board (18) is subsequently plugged onto the contacts with a relative movement (A) in a direction which points towards the outside, and subsequently at least one motor component, such as a stator (12), is plugged onto the contacts in the same direction (B).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELDThe invention relates to a motor, in particular a pump motor and a method for producing such a motor.PRIOR ARTIn this regard, motors are known which have external contacts which are exposed on the outside of the motor and are used, for example, for the electrical connection to a controller or the like. Furthermore, motor contacts are provided for connection to at least one motor component such as a stator. All of the mentioned contacts are plugged into a circuit board comprising electronic components, and a housing typically surrounds the circuit board and the contacts.Individual contacts may be integrated into the housing. This relates in particular to the external contacts which are usually inserted into the printed circuit board in the direction of the inner side, that is to say in the direction of the motor components. The motor contacts are inserted into the printed circuit board from the opposite direction, i.e. from the inside. Thus, during assembly, the printed circuit board must first be connected to the external contacts, and subsequently the motor contacts must be connected to the printed circuit board.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAgainst this background, the invention is based on the object of simplifying the assembly of such a motor.This is achieved according to the invention in particular in that all contacts are inserted into the printed circuit board from a direction which points to the outside. In other words, the motor contacts and, if appropriate, one or more ground contacts are also plugged into the printed circuit board in the direction of the inner side. Furthermore, they can be integrated into the housing, so that the printed circuit board can be connected to all contacts in one step by joining the printed circuit board and housing to one another. In particular, the usually following step of plugging the motor contacts into the printed circuit board in the direction of the outer side is dispensed with.The described combination of housing, contacts and printed circuit board can then be connected to the motor components in order in particular to establish the electrical connection between the motor contacts and the motor components. Overall, therefore, only two steps are required for the described assembly, namely the connection of the printed circuit board to the housing and the connection of these two components to motor components. At the same time, the printed circuit board can advantageously be accommodated in the housing in such a way that cooling thereof with the aid of the ambient air is possible. The only remaining two assembly steps also result in a reduced and thus improved tolerance chain and better automatability. Furthermore, the susceptibility to errors of the assembly process can be reduced. For the plug connection of the contacts to the printed circuit board, it should be mentioned that this can be effected in a force-fitting manner in that the contacts have, for example, insertable spring sections. However, the connection can additionally or alternatively be effected by soldering and / or welding.Preferred refinements are described in the further claims.For the configuration of at least one motor contact in such a way that it can be plugged into the printed circuit board in the described direction, a U-shaped configuration of at least one motor contact in the region of the printed circuit board has proven advantageous. The opening of the U points substantially to the printed circuit board, one leg is plugged into the printed circuit board, and the second leg runs past the edge of the printed circuit board in the direction of the motor component to be contacted.With regard to the cooling of the printed circuit board, it is advantageous to form at least one concave region on the housing on its outer side. This is located in particular between an external contact and a motor contact and enables the external side of the housing to extend as close as possible to the printed circuit board to be cooled and the printed circuit board can thus be cooled well. Accordingly, electronic components mounted on the circuit board are preferably mounted on the inside of the circuit board. It should be mentioned in addition that the vicinity of the concave region is convex or has elevations because here the contacts inserted into the printed circuit board from the outside are accommodated.As already indicated, it is advantageous for the cooling of the printed circuit board if it bears against the housing on the inside at least in regions and in particular in the concave region of the housing. As a result, heat can be conducted particularly well from the printed circuit board through the housing wall to the outside.With a view to simplifying assembly, it is furthermore advantageous if at least one external and / or motor contact, preferably all contacts, are cast into the housing. Accordingly, the housing is preferably formed from plastic.As likewise already indicated, the motor preferably has at least one ground contact which is likewise plugged into the printed circuit board from a side which points to the outside of the motor. Thus, even in the presence of such a ground contact, the above-described two mounting steps are sufficient. The grounding contact can be U-shaped in accordance with the described motor contacts.As mentioned, it offers further advantages for the cooling if electronic components mounted on the printed circuit board are mounted on the inside of the printed circuit board.The invention develops its advantages to a particular extent if the stator is air-cooled and not liquid-cooled. In other words, it can be a dry-running stator, for example for a coolant or lubricant pump. This air cooling for the stator can be referred to as dry rotor principle.The above object is further achieved by the method described in claim 9. For the described assembly steps, a relative movement between housing and integrated contacts and the printed circuit board is essentially required, which points with respect to the printed circuit board in the direction of the outside of the motor. In the same direction, at least one motor component is subsequently combined with the combination of housing and printed circuit board. Here too, the relative movement is important only. In other words, a motor component such as a stator can be moved in the direction of the outside and in the direction of the printed circuit board, so that the motor contacts are connected to a motor component. However, in both described assembly steps, the movement can also take place in the opposite direction, in other words the housing with integrated contacts is moved in the direction of the printed circuit board, and the combination of housing and printed circuit board is moved in the direction of the motor components. The last-described direction is preferred for both steps. Finally, the direction may differ between the two assembly steps. In any case, efficient and reliable assembly can be achieved by the described relative movements.The preferred embodiments of the method according to the invention substantially correspond to those of the engine according to the invention. It should also be mentioned that all the features described above and below merely with regard to the motor are also applicable to the method and vice versa.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe invention is explained in more detail below with reference to an embodiment shown by way of example in the drawings. The following are shown: FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing essential components of the engine according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a first exploded view of essential components of the engine according to the invention, FIG. 3 is a second exploded view of essential components of the engine according to the invention, FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the housing of the motor according to the invention; and FIG. 5 is another sectional view of essential components of the engine according to the invention.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTIONAs can be seen in the partial view of a motor 10 according to the invention according to FIG. 1, it has a stator 12 which is connected to a printed circuit board 18 via stator contacts 14 and, in the case shown, a ground contact 16. The printed circuit board 18 and the contacts are integrated into a housing 20, which can also be referred to as a cover, and furthermore has a socket 22 for connecting external contacts 24 to the outside.In the case shown, the external contacts 24 are substantially L-shaped and extend in the region of the printed circuit board 18 substantially in the direction of the axis of the stator 12, while in the region of the socket 22, they have a section bent relative thereto by 90 degrees. Depending on the installation situation, however, the external contacts 24 can also extend straight and substantially in the direction of the axis of the stator 12. As can be seen better in FIG. 2, the stator contacts 14 and the ground contact 16 are substantially U-shaped and each have a first, shorter leg 26, with which they are plugged into the printed circuit board 18 substantially perpendicularly thereto. With the aid of the respectively longer leg 28, typically parallel to the shorter leg 24, the connection to the stator 12 takes place.It can be seen in particular in FIG. 2 that the legs 26, 28 of the stator contacts 14 and of the earth contact 16 have a slot and are formed narrower with respect to the remaining course of the contact, so that two spring portions are formed substantially at each end. As a result, a reliable connection to the stator 12 on the one hand and to the printed circuit board 18 on the other hand can be produced by the spring sections being inserted into suitable openings. The contacts 14, 16 are contacted with the wires of the stator 12 by means of the openings. The shape of the openings can be selected according to the task. Advantageously, the contacts are so-called "insulation displacement contacts" which cut through the insulation of the wires of the stator 12 and clamp the wire in the interior. Thus, advantageously, welding does not have to be carried out, and the described cutting clamping is also possible with the cover closed. It can likewise be seen in FIG. 2 that the spring sections 30 have at least one widening 32, so that a latching connection with a suitable opening can be formed.Both FIGS. 1 and 2 show a concave region 34 on the outer side of the housing 20, at which region the housing wall is particularly close to the printed circuit board 18. As a result, the cooling of the printed circuit board 18 by ambient air can be particularly promoted, so that heat generated by electronic components 36 can be dissipated well. As can be seen in the figures mentioned, such electronic components 36 are particularly preferably attached only to that side of the printed circuit board 18 which points to the inner side, that is to say downwards according to the figures. Adjacent to the concave region 34, substantially those elevations are located on the outer side of the housing 20 which are necessary for receiving the connecting region between the legs 26, 28 of the U-shaped contacts.In FIG. 2, the arrow A also indicates the first assembly step, in which the printed circuit board 18 is combined with the housing 20 and the contacts 14, 16 and 24 integrated therein with a relative movement which points to the outside with respect to the printed circuit board 18. The contacts 14, 16 and 24, in particular all contacts, are thus plugged from one side, namely the upper side according to FIG. 2, into the printed circuit board 18, which points to the outside.FIG. 3 shows the combination of housing 20, printed circuit board 18 and contacts 14, 16 and 24 obtained as a result, and their connection to stator 12. Here too, the relative movement B with respect to the stator 12 takes place in a direction which points towards the outside, that is to say upwards according to FIG. 3. In an efficient and reliable manner, in the first step, the contacts 14, 16 and 24 can be connected to the printed circuit board 18, and in the second step, the said contacts can be connected to the stator 12. In addition, within the scope of the first step, the printed circuit board 18 can be connected to the housing 20, which, as mentioned, can be referred to as a cover. Although this is shown and described differently, it is presently preferred that in the first step according to FIG. 2 the contacts 14, 16 and 24 with the housing 20 are moved downwards in the direction of the printed circuit board 18 and in the second step according to FIG. 3 the obtained combination is moved downwards in the direction of the stator 12.Finally, in FIG. 4, the housing 20 is shown in perspective, which in this case is approximately round and has fastening openings 38 which serve as screw eyes for connection to an interface in the application, such as a transmission, an e-axis or the like. The circuit board 18 is substantially rectangular in the case shown, with two beveled corners toward the receptacle 22 in the case shown, but may have any other suitable shape. The external contacts 24 can be seen as L-shaped and inserted into the printed circuit board 18 from the upper side that can be seen in FIG. 4. This plug-in direction also applies to the case where the external contacts 24 are straight, as mentioned above, and to the stator contacts 14 and the ground contact 16 shown. In the case shown, the external contacts 24 are located on the edge of the printed circuit board 18 directed toward the plug-in bridge 22, approximately centrally opposite the ground contact 16, and the stator contacts 14 are substantially located in the corners of the printed circuit board.It can be seen from FIG. 4 in particular for the stator contacts 14 that the connection between the two legs is substantially bent around a line which extends parallel to the legs. As a result, that leg 28 of the respective contact which leads to the stator 12 can be arranged parallel to the outer edge of the printed circuit board 18, and the leg 26 to be connected to the printed circuit board 18 can be inserted efficiently into the printed circuit board 18, in particular in the edge region of the printed circuit board 18. As can be additionally seen with reference to FIGS. 1-3, the housing has elevations in the region of the contacts 14 and 16, in particular in the region of their connections between the legs 26 and 28, which elevations are not as high, but rather approximately one third or half as high as the elevation formed by the plug socket 22. Between the elevations due to the contacts 14 and 16, the concave region 34 can extend from one edge to the other of the housing 20 and in particular perpendicularly to the plug-in direction of a plug into the socket 22.In FIG. 5, the upper part of FIG. 3 is shown. Here, the arrow C indicates how ambient air can pass as a result of the concave region 34 particularly close to the printed circuit board arranged close to this concave region 34. As a result, the electronic components 36 (see also FIG. 2 ) mounted thereon can be cooled particularly well.

Claims

Motor (10), in particular a pump motor, having external contacts (24) which are exposed on the outside of the motor (10), and motor contacts (14) for connection to at least one motor component, such as a stator (12), a printed circuit board (18) and a housing (20) which surrounds the printed circuit board (18) and contacts, characterized in that all contacts are plugged into the printed circuit board (18) from a side which points to the outside.Motor (10) according to Claim 1, characterized in that at least one motor contact (14) is U-shaped in the region of the printed circuit board (18).Motor (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the housing (20) has at least one concave region (34) on the outer side, preferably between an outer contact and a motor contact (14).Motor (10) according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the printed circuit board (18) bears on the inside of the housing (20) at least in regions, in particular in the concave region (34) of the housing (20).Motor (10) according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that at least one external and / or motor contact (14), preferably all contacts, are cast into the housing (20).The motor (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising at least one ground contact inserted into the circuit board (18) from a side facing the outside.Motor (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that electronic components (36) mounted on the circuit board are mounted on the inside of the circuit board (18).Motor (10) according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the stator (12) is air-cooled and not liquid-cooled.Method for producing a motor (10), in particular a pump motor, having external contacts (24) which are exposed on the outside of the motor (10), and motor contacts (14) for connection to at least one motor component, such as a stator (12), a printed circuit board (18) and a housing (20) which surrounds the printed circuit board (18) and contacts, characterized in that all contacts are integrated, in particular cast, into the housing (20), subsequently with a relative movement (A) in a direction which points to the outside, a printed circuit board (18) is plugged onto the contacts, and subsequently in the same direction (B) at least one motor component, such as a stator (12), is plugged onto the contacts.Method according to claim 9, characterised in that the housing (20) with the integrated contacts is moved in the direction of the printed circuit board (18), and subsequently the combination of housing (20) and printed circuit board (18) is moved in the direction of the motor component (12).Method according to Claim 9 or 10, characterized in that at least one motor contact (14) is formed in a U-shaped manner in the region of the printed circuit board (18).Method according to one of Claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the housing (20) is formed with a concave region (34), preferably between an external contact and a motor contact (14).Method according to one of Claims 9 to 12, characterized in that the printed circuit board (18) is placed on the inside of the housing (20) at least in regions, in particular in the concave region (34) of the housing (20).Method according to any of claims 9 to 13, characterized in that any electronic components (36) are mounted on the inside of the circuit board (18).

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