Housing for an electrical or electronic device

Abstract

The invention describes a housing for an electrical or electronic device, comprising a first housing part (1) made of metal and a second housing part (2) made of metal, wherein the first housing part (1) has a groove (4) containing a sealing medium, into which one or more ribs of the second housing part (2) engage. According to the invention, the rib or ribs are designed as compression ribs (3).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a housing for an electrical or electronic device.

[0002] DE 195 28 313 A1 discloses a housing for electrical or electronic devices comprising two aluminum housing parts. One of the two housing parts has a groove with an elastic seal into which an edge portion of the other housing part engages. To ensure electrical contact between the two housing parts, a U-shaped contact strip is provided, which protrudes into the groove and has blade-like contact areas.

[0003] DE 20 2016 106 815 U1 discloses a shielding housing for a vehicle electrical system. It consists of two metallic housing parts. One of these two housing parts has a groove in which a sealing element is arranged and into which an edge portion of the other housing part engages. This edge portion has nose-shaped projections in the radial direction to form a press fit and thus an electrical contact between the two housing parts.

[0004] Constant requirements for such enclosures include EMC shielding and moisture sealing. Reliable EMC shielding requires electrically conductively connected metal housing components. In conventional enclosures, this contact is ensured by an electrically conductive adhesive that connects two metal housing halves and simultaneously provides moisture sealing.

[0005] Electrically conductive adhesives contain metal or other electrically conductive particles and are therefore considerably more expensive than conventional non-conductive adhesives. Furthermore, the electromagnetic attenuation achieved is less effective than with a metallic bond.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to show a way in which housings for electrical or electronic devices can be produced which ensure both reliable EMC shielding over the lifetime of the electrical or electronic device and sealing against moisture.

[0007] This object is achieved by a housing having the features specified in claim 1. Advantageous further developments are the subject of subclaims.

[0008] A housing according to the invention is formed by a first metallic housing part having a groove and a second metallic housing part having crimp ribs engaging in the groove. Reliable electrical contact and thus improved EMC shielding between the two housing parts is achieved via the crimp rib engaging in the groove.

[0009] Crimp ribs are dimensioned so that plastic deformation of the rib and / or the groove occurs when pressed into the groove. Crimp ribs thus reliably ensure good electrical contact between the two housing parts. In particular, the plastic deformation of the crimp rib and groove can result in advantageous cold welding of the two housing parts. A circumferential crimp rib can engage in a circumferential groove.

[0010] However, it is also possible to use several ribs arranged at a distance from each other, which engage in a groove, preferably a circumferential groove.

[0011] When inserted into the groove, crush ribs are deformed, in particular in a direction transverse to the insertion direction. For example, the groove can have a side wall with an inclined wall section that the crush rib hits when inserted into the groove. When the crush rib is pressed into the groove, the crush rib then slides along the inclined wall section and is deformed in the process. This generates a force that presses the rib against the side wall, deforms it, and can then lead to cold welding. The inclined wall section can be a curved surface, but is preferably a flat surface that runs diagonally to the insertion direction. A flat wall section that runs in the insertion direction of the crush rib and against which the crush rib rests flatly when installed can be connected to the inclined surface. The inclined wall section is preferably located between two flat wall sections that run parallel to the insertion direction.Alternatively, the crush rib may also have a side surface with an inclined section which, when pressed into the groove, guides along the edge of the groove so that the crush rib is deformed and a clamping force is generated which presses the crush rib against the side wall of the groove.

[0012] In the groove there is a sealing agent, for example a rubber seal, an O-ring cord or adhesive, in particular electrically insulating adhesive, for example silicone adhesive.

[0013] An advantageous development of the invention provides for the first housing part and the second housing part to be connected by means of screws. In this way, a mechanically resilient connection between the two housing parts can be achieved even before the adhesive hardens. The screws are preferably self-tapping or self-drilling screws, as these are particularly easy to apply.

[0014] Further details and advantages are explained using an exemplary embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings. They show: Fig. 1: an embodiment of a housing; and Fig. 2: a sectioned detailed view of the housing.

[0015] Fig. 1 shows a housing for an electrical or electronic device, for example, an electronic control unit for an electric turbocharger, a liquid or air heater, an inverter, an electric motor, or a fan. The housing comprises a first housing part 1 and a second housing part 2, each made of metal, for example, an aluminum-based alloy. The housing shown thus has two metallic housing halves.

[0016] One of the two housing parts, for example the housing part 1, has crush ribs 3 which engage in a groove 4 in the other housing part, in the embodiment shown in the housing part 2.

[0017] An example of the design of a crush rib is particularly in Fig. 2, which shows a sectional detailed view of the housing. The crush rib 3 shown can be designed as a circumferential crush rib or be one of several crush ribs arranged at a distance from one another.

[0018] When the crimp rib 3 is pressed in, plastic deformation of the crimp rib 3 and a side wall 5 of the groove 4 occurs. This plastic deformation leads to cold welding of the two housing parts 1, 2, namely the crimp rib 3 with a side wall 5 of the groove 4. The two housing parts 1, 2 are thus firmly bonded to one another in the area of ​​the crimp rib 3. This advantageously ensures good electrical contact between the two housing parts 1, 2.

[0019] In the illustrated embodiment, the side wall 5 of the groove 4 has an inclined section 5a, for example, an oblique surface. When the crimp rib 3 is pressed into the groove 4, the crimp rib 3 slides along this section and is thereby deformed, for example, by 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm in a direction transverse to the insertion direction. The suitable wall section can run between two wall sections running straight in the insertion direction.

[0020] Groove 4 contains non-conductive adhesive, such as silicone adhesive. Non-conductive adhesives are sometimes referred to as insulating adhesives and typically have a resistivity of 10 8 Ω cm or more. Such adhesives are available at lower cost than electrically conductive adhesives made conductive by adding metal or graphite particles. The adhesive in the groove 4 reliably seals the connection between the two housing parts 1, 2, particularly against moisture penetration.

[0021] Additionally, the two housing parts 1, 2 are connected by screws 6. These screws 6 secure the connection of the two housing parts 1, 2, particularly until the adhesive has cured or dried. The screws 6 can be self-tapping or self-drilling screws to simplify assembly.

[0022] One of the two housing parts 1, 2, in the embodiment shown the housing part 1, has an opening 8 into which a housing of an electrical connector is inserted. List of reference symbols 1 housing part 2 Housing part 3 crush ribs 4 grooves 5 Side wall of the groove 5a inclined section of the side wall 6 screw 8 Opening 9 plastic housing

Claims

[1] Enclosure for an electrical or electronic device, with a first housing part (1) made of metal and a second housing part (2) made of metal, wherein the first housing part (1) has a groove (4) containing a sealing means and into which one or more ribs of the second housing part (2) engage, the rib or ribs are designed as crush ribs (3), the groove (4) has a side wall (5) which has an inclined wall section (5a) onto which the crimping rib (3) strikes when inserted into the groove (4), then slides off and is thereby deformed, so that a clamping force is generated which presses the crimping rib (3) against the side wall (5), and the inclined wall section (5a) forms an inclined surface onto which the crushing rib (3) strikes when inserted into the groove (4). [2] Housing according to claim 1, characterized bythat the two housing parts (1, 2) are additionally connected with screws (6). [3] Housing according to claim 2, characterized by that the screws are self-tapping screws or self-tapping screws. [4] Housing according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the crush rib or crush ribs (3) are cold-welded to a side wall of the groove (4). [5] Housing according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the sealant is an adhesive. [6] Housing according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the first housing part (1) and the second housing part (2) are made of an aluminum-based alloy. [7] Housing according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the inclined wall section (5a) is adjoined by a wall section which runs straight in the insertion direction. [8] Housing according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the inclined wall section (5a) lies between two wall sections which run straight in the insertion direction. [9] Housing according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the groove (4) is a circumferential groove. [10] Housing according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the first housing part (1) or the second housing part (2) has an opening into which a housing (8) of an electrical connector is inserted.

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