Electrical connection device for mechanically and electrically connecting an electrical cable to a metallic component of a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to an electrical connection device (1) for mechanically and electrically connecting an electrical line to a metallic component (21) of a motor vehicle. The electrical connection device (1) comprises a sleeve-shaped base body (2) having a peripheral wall (3) partially surrounding a body interior (4). Furthermore, the connection device comprises two lever elements (5a, 5b), each made of a metal and rotatably fastened to the peripheral wall (3), for clamping the connection device (1) to the component (20). Furthermore, the connection device (1) comprises a rotatable fixing element (6) made of a metal, arranged partially in the body interior (4), for fixing the connection device (1) to the metallic component (20) by adjusting the lever elements (5a, 5b).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrical connection device for mechanically and electrically connecting an electrical cable to a metallic component of a motor vehicle, as well as to an arrangement comprising such a connection device. The invention further relates to a motor vehicle comprising at least one such arrangement.

[0002] It is known to screw electrical lines, in particular ground lines, for fastening to a metallic component, in particular to a body component of a motor vehicle, either onto a stud bolt with a paint-scraping nut or to screw them to a nut welded to the component by means of a paint-scraping screw.

[0003] However, such conventional connection methods prove to be comparatively complex and therefore expensive.

[0004] It is therefore an object of the present invention to show new ways in the development of electrical connection devices.

[0005] This problem is solved by the subject matter of the independent patent claims. Preferred embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent patent claims.

[0006] This object is achieved by the subject matter of the independent patent claims. Preferred embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0007] The basic idea of the invention is therefore to equip an electrical connection device as presented above with a base body and two lever elements that can be rotated or folded relative to the base body. This allows the connection device to be easily electrically connected to the metallic component and, for this purpose, the metallic component can be clamped between the base body and the two lever elements. In this way, the connection device can be securely fixed to the component. To fix it to the metallic component, the connection device is arranged in a through-opening provided in the metallic component so that it extends through it. The clamping or fixing is achieved using a fixing element of the connection device, which can be screwed into the two lever elements.By screwing in the fixing element, the two lever elements are folded over so that the metallic component is sandwiched between the base body and the two lever elements.

[0008] An electrical connection device according to the invention serves for the mechanical and electrical connection of an electrical line to a metallic component of a motor vehicle. The component can preferably be part of a body of the motor vehicle. The connection device comprises a sleeve-shaped base body having a peripheral wall which in turn partially surrounds a body interior, in particular circumferentially. Furthermore, the connection device comprises two lever elements, each made of a metal and rotatably fastened to the peripheral wall, for clamping the connection device to the component. In addition, the connection device comprises a rotatable fixing element made of a metal and arranged partially in the body interior for fixing the connection device to the metallic component by adjusting the lever elements.An electrical line, in particular an electrical ground line, can be attached to the fixing element and thus electrically connected to the metallic component. The base body, the two lever elements, and the fixing element can be electrically conductive and, for this purpose, consist of or comprise an electrically conductive material.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment of the connection device according to the invention, a first thread can be provided on the lever elements and a second thread complementary to the first thread can be provided on the fixing element, so that the fixing element with the second thread can be screwed into the first thread to fold the lever elements. This embodiment simplifies the assembly of the fixing element to the lever elements and thus allows for simplified assembly of the entire electrical connection device on the metallic component of the motor vehicle.

[0010] In another preferred embodiment, the sleeve-shaped base body extends along an axial direction. In this embodiment, the two lever arms are located opposite each other in a longitudinal section along the axial direction, along a radial direction perpendicular to the axial direction. This allows for improved clamping of the metallic component between the base body and the two lever elements.

[0011] According to an advantageous further development, at least one lever element can be curved, preferably L-shaped, in particular in the longitudinal section along the axial direction.

[0012] According to an advantageous development, the fixing element has an axially extending fixing shaft. In this development, an actuating element for actuating the fixing element is axially connected to the fixing shaft and extends radially beyond the fixing shaft. Such an actuating element with an increased radial extension makes it easier for a worker to rotate the fixing element for screwing it into the lever elements.

[0013] Particularly preferably, the actuating element comprises a paint scraper for scraping off a paint layer present on the metallic component. This makes it possible to establish an additional electrical connection with the metallic component via the fixing element, since the typically electrically insulating paint layer can be removed with the aid of the paint scraper during the process of screwing the fixing element into the lever elements. This creates an additional direct electrical connection between the fixing element and the metallic component.

[0014] Particularly preferably, the paint scraper can be arranged radially on the outside of the actuating element. In this way, by rotating the fixing element, a comparatively large surface area of a paint layer applied to the metallic component can be removed from the metallic component.

[0015] The invention further relates to an arrangement comprising a metallic component in which a through-opening is arranged. Furthermore, the arrangement comprises an electrical connection device according to the invention, which is arranged in the through-opening and is presented above. The advantages of the connection device according to the invention explained above are therefore transferred to the arrangement according to the invention. The component is clamped between the two folded lever arms and the fixing element. At the same time, the metallic component is electrically connected to the connection device.

[0016] The invention further relates to a motor vehicle having a body and at least one of the above-described arrangements according to the invention, wherein the metallic component of the arrangement is part of the body of the motor vehicle according to the invention. The above-explained advantages of the connection device according to the invention are therefore transferred to the motor vehicle according to the invention.

[0017] Further important features and advantages of the invention emerge from the subclaims, from the drawings and from the associated description of the figures based on the drawings.

[0018] It is understood that the features mentioned above and those to be explained below can be used not only in the combination specified in each case, but also in other combinations or on their own, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0019] Preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and are explained in more detail in the following description, wherein the same reference numerals refer to the same or similar or functionally identical components.

[0020] They show, schematically: Fig. 1 to 3 show, in the form of snapshots, the assembly of an arrangement according to the invention with an electrical connection device according to the invention.

[0021] According to Fig. 1, the arrangement 20 comprises a metallic component 21 in which a through-opening 22 is arranged. The component 21 can be part of a motor vehicle body. In this case, the electrical connection device 1 can function as a ground connection for electrically grounding an electrical line connected to the connection device 1, for example in the form of an electrical cable (not shown).

[0022] Furthermore, the arrangement 20 comprises an electrical connection device 1 according to the invention. The electrical connection device 1 serves for the mechanical and electrical connection of an electrical line in the form of a flexible cable, not shown in more detail in the figures, to the metallic component 21.

[0023] The electrical connection device 1 comprises a sleeve-shaped base body 2 made of a metal, which has a peripheral wall 3, which in turn circumferentially surrounds a body interior 4. Furthermore, the electrical connection device 1 comprises two lever elements 5a, 5b, each made of a metal, which are rotatably attached to the peripheral wall 3. The two lever elements 5a, 5b can each be curved, in particular L-shaped.

[0024] The sleeve-shaped base body 2 has a central longitudinal axis M which extends along an axial direction A. A radial direction R extends perpendicular to the axial direction R away from the central longitudinal axis M. A circumferential direction U runs perpendicular to both the axial direction A and the radial direction R around the central longitudinal axis M. In the longitudinal section shown, the two lever arms 5a, 5b are opposite each other along the axial direction A along the radial direction R which runs perpendicular to the axial direction A.

[0025] The two lever elements 5a, 5b can be folded over to clamp the electrical connection device 1 to the component 20 by rotating them about a rotation axis D1 or D2, respectively. The two rotation axes D1, D2 each extend perpendicular to the axial direction A and can run parallel to each other, as shown.

[0026] Furthermore, the electrical connection device 1 comprises a fixing element 6 made of a metal, which is arranged partially in the body interior 4 and is rotatable along the circumferential direction D and which is made of an electrically conductive material for rotating or folding and thus for adjusting the two lever elements 5a, 5b.

[0027] For the controlled folding or adjustment of the two lever elements 5a, 5b, a first thread 13 can be provided on the two lever elements 5a, 5b and, correspondingly, a second thread 14 complementary to the first thread 13 can be provided on a fixing element 6. The second thread 14 can be designed as an external thread 15 and arranged on an axially extending fixing shaft 7 of the fixing element 6. The fixing element 6 or the fixing shaft 7 can also have a central longitudinal axis M* that is identical to the central longitudinal axis M of the base body 2, so that the base body 2 and the fixing shaft 7 are arranged coaxially to one another. For folding the two lever elements 5a, 5b, the fixing element 6 can be screwed with the second thread 14 into the first thread 13 provided on the two lever arms 5a, 5b.

[0028] An actuating element 11 projecting beyond the fixing shaft 7 along the radial direction R can be formed on the fixing shaft 7 for screwing the fixing element 6 into the first thread 13 provided on the two lever elements 5a, 5b. The actuating element 11 can be actuated by a worker. In the example, the actuating element 11 comprises a paint scraper 14 for scraping off a paint layer 23 present on the metallic component 20. The paint scraper 14 can be arranged on a radially outer end portion 8 of the actuating element 11.

[0029] In order to fix the electrical connection element 1 to the component 21, the actuating element 11 is rotated by a worker along the circumferential direction U. This causes the first thread 13 to be screwed into the second thread 14. This causes the two lever elements 5a, 5b to be Fig. 2 shown rotated around the respective rotation axis D1, D2 and thereby folded over.

[0030] This process is continued until the two lever elements 5a, 5b and the actuating element 11 rest against the component 21, so that the component 21 is clamped between the two lever elements 5a, 5b and the fixing element 6 or the actuating element 11 of the fixing element 6. Since the base body 2, the two lever elements 5a, 5b and the fixing element 6 are electrically conductive, the desired electrical connection of the connecting device 1 to the component 20 is ensured in this way. In this way, the desired electrical connection between the electrical connecting device 1 and the component 21 is also created. An electrical cable (not shown) can be attached to the fixing shaft 7 of the fixing element 6, so that it is electrically connected to the component 21.

Claims

[1] Electrical connection device (1) for mechanically and electrically connecting an electrical line to a metallic component (21) of a motor vehicle, - with a sleeve-shaped base body (2) which has a peripheral wall (3) which partially surrounds a body interior (4), - with two lever elements (5a, 5b) each rotatably attached to the peripheral wall (3), each made of a metal, for clamping the connecting device (1) to the component (20), - with a rotatable fixing element (6) made of a metal, arranged partially in the interior of the body (4), for fixing the connecting device (1) to the metallic component (20) by adjusting the two lever elements (5a, 5b). [2] Connection device according to claim 1, characterized bythat a first thread (12) is provided on the lever elements (5a, 5b) and a second thread (13) complementary to the first thread (12) is provided on the fixing element (6), so that the fixing element (6) with the second thread (13) can be screwed into the first thread (13) for folding over the lever elements. [3] Connection device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that - the sleeve-shaped base body (2) extends along an axial direction (A), - the two lever arms (5a, 5b) are opposite each other in a longitudinal section along the axial direction along a radial direction (R) perpendicular to the axial direction (A). [4] Connection device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that at least one lever element (5a, 5b) is curved, in particular L-shaped. [5] Connection device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat at least one lever element (5a, 5b) is designed to be rotatable about an axis of rotation (D1, D2) extending perpendicular to the axial direction (A). [6] Connection device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that - the fixing element (6) has an axially extending fixing shaft (7), - an actuating element (11) projecting radially beyond the fixing shaft (7) is provided axially on the fixing shaft (7) for actuating the fixing element (6) by a worker. [7] Connection device according to claim 6, characterized by that the actuating element (11) comprises a paint scraper (14) for scraping off a paint layer (23) present on the metallic (21) component. [8] Connection device according to claim 6 or 7, characterized by that the paint scraper (14) is arranged on a radially outer end portion (8a) of the actuating element (11). [9] Order (20), - with a metallic component (21) having a through-opening (22), - with an electrical connection device (1) according to one of the preceding claims arranged in the through opening (22), - wherein the component (20) is clamped between the two folded lever arms (5a, 5b) and the fixing element (6). [10] Motor vehicle, - with a body, - with at least one arrangement (20) according to claim 9, wherein the metallic component (20) is part of the body.

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