Closure system and associated procedures

Abstract

The invention relates to a closure system for closing an opening of a component, - with a component having an opening and an opening edge enclosing the opening, - with a lid for closing the opening, which has a surrounding lid rim that rests on the opening rim, - with an outer seal that runs along the edge of the lid and rests on the edge of the opening, - whereby the outer seal, the opening edge and the lid edge are matched to one another in such a way that the outer seal adheres to the opening edge and the lid edge. To make it easy to remove the lid, - that the opening edge has a non-stick strip running around the opening, - that the lid edge, the non-stick strip and the outer seal are matched to one another in such a way that the lid edge only partially overlaps the non-stick strip and that the outer seal completely overlaps the non-stick strip and also rests on and adheres to an outer region of the opening edge, which runs around the non-stick strip on an outer side facing away from the opening, - that the non-stick strip and the outer seal are matched to each other in such a way that the outer seal does not adhere to the non-stick strip and / or that the outer seal can be detached from the non-stick strip.

Description

The present invention relates to a closure system for closing an opening of a component. The invention also relates to a method for closing an opening of a component. The invention further relates to a method for opening and re-closing a closure system of the type described above.In many areas of technology, it may occur that a component that has an opening and an opening edge enclosing the opening is to be closed with the aid of a cover. It may be necessary to connect the cover firmly to the component. In addition, it may be necessary to seal between the cover and the component in order to prevent contaminants from entering the component through the opening even when the cover is attached. To achieve a firm and tight seal, it is possible in principle to glue the cover to the opening edge. However, the opening is thus permanently closed and can usually no longer be opened without damage to the component and / or the cover. For many applications, however, it is desirable that the opening closed by means of the cover can be opened again, for example in order thereby to make an interior space enclosed by the component accessible through the opening. The opening should then be closable again by the same cover. The component can be, for example, a housing. The opening then represents a housing opening which can be closed with the aid of the cover. Of particular interest in this context is a battery housing of a traction battery of a battery-electric motor vehicle, which battery housing can have at least one opening which is to be closed by a cover.The component with its opening and the cover together form a closure system, which can also be referred to as a closure assembly or closure arrangement.DE 10 2012 210 455 A1 discloses a method for repairing a battery cell, the battery cell having a metallic housing. During repair, a region of the housing in which damage to an electrical insulation layer is present is processed and subsequently again glued over with insulation foil, wherein the insulation foil can be a plastic film or a plastic adhesive tape.CN 215 119 017 U discloses a battery housing which has an opening covered by a cover, a region surrounding the opening being sealed off by a seal.CN 219 371 235 U discloses a further battery housing having an opening closed by a cover.The present invention addresses the problem of specifying an advantageous embodiment for a closure system of the type described above, which is distinguished in particular in that the opening can be closed sufficiently tightly on the one hand and can be opened again comparatively easily on the other hand.This problem is solved according to the invention by the subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.The invention is based on the general idea of sealingly connecting the cover to the opening edge enclosing the opening by means of an outer seal which extends along a cover edge, by the outer seal resting against and adhering to the opening edge and the cover edge. This achieves a highly effective sealing of the cover with respect to the component, and an interior space enclosed by the component, which interior space is accessible through the opening, is protected from contaminants in the environment of the component. In order that the opening can be opened again comparatively easily, the component is equipped on the opening edge with a circumferential anti-stick strip, to which the outer seal does not adhere or from which the outer seal can be at least easily detached again. The outer seal can thus be easily separated along the anti-stick strip, whereby the tight connection between cover and component is canceled and the cover can be easily removed from the component.In particular, the invention proposes providing a closure system for closing an opening of a component, which closure system has a component with an opening and an opening edge enclosing the opening, a cover for closing the opening with a circumferential cover edge which rests on the opening edge, and an outer seal which rests circumferentially along the cover edge on the cover edge and on the opening edge. The outer seal, the opening edge and the cover edge are matched to one another in such a way that the outer seal adheres to the opening edge and to the cover edge. In addition, the opening edge has an anti-stick strip encircling the opening, wherein the cover edge, the anti-stick strip and the outer seal are matched to one another such that the cover edge only partially overlaps the anti-stick strip and that the outer seal completely overlaps the anti-stick strip and also lies in an outer region of the opening edge and adheres thereto, which outer region surrounds the anti-stick strip on an outer side facing away from the opening. Furthermore, the anti-stick strip and the outer seal are matched to one another such that the outer seal does not adhere to the anti-stick strip and / or that the outer seal is detachable from the anti-stick strip.In the present context, the adhesion corresponds to an adhesive bond and represents a materially bonded bond. Accordingly, the outer seal is firmly connected by means of a material-bonded connection both to the cover edge and to the opening edge, while the outer seal cannot establish such a material-bonded connection with respect to the anti-stick strip.According to an advantageous embodiment, the cover edge can be fastened to the opening edge by means of at least one releasable connection. The respective releasable connection can be formed in an inner region of the opening edge, which runs around the opening along the anti-stick strip on an inner side facing the opening, so that the outer seal also rests on the respective connection. The outer seal and the respective connection can now be matched to one another such that the outer seal adheres to the respective connection. The respective releasable connection between the cover edge and the opening edge represents a mechanical connection or fastening of the cover edge to the opening edge, whereby the outer seal is mechanically relieved, so that the outer seal can permanently fulfil its sealing function. By incorporating the respective releasable connection into the outer seal, the respective connection can also be protected from contaminants.Expediently, it can be provided that the respective connection is a screw connection which has a screw. The respective screw connection can then be formed on the inner region of the opening edge, so that the outer seal rests on the respective screw and adheres thereto. As a result, the respective screw connection is protected from environmental influences, as a result of which, for example, corrosion of the screw can be reduced.In an advantageous embodiment, the cover edge can have an inner seal which abuts the opening edge in an inner region of the opening edge which runs around the opening along the anti-stick strip on an inner side facing the opening. The inner seal and the opening edge can now be matched to one another in such a way that the inner seal does not adhere to the opening edge and / or that the inner seal is detachable from the opening edge. Thus, when the outer seal is severed, the cover can be easily removed from the component together with the inner seal. An additional sealing effect is realized by the inner seal, whereby the interior of the component, which is preferably a housing, is particularly efficiently protected from contaminants. Expediently, the inner seal can form the main seal, while the outer seal forms an additional seal or seal.The anti-stick strip can consist, for example, of a polyurethane. For example, a non-stick material which is commercially available from Henkel under the trade name Fermapore® can be used for the non-stick strip. Additionally or alternatively, the outer seal may be a silane modified polyester-based polymer. Such a sealing material is commercially available, for example, under the trade name Teroson® from Henkel. The inner seal can be a conventional sealing material which does not have an adhesion effect in the finished state.A method according to the invention for closing an opening in a component or a method for producing the above-described closure system assumes that the component has an opening edge enclosing the opening. In the method, an anti-stick strip is applied on the edge of the opening, running around the opening. This can be done by means of spraying or the like. In particular, this can be a curing anti-stick material. After application, in particular after curing of the anti-stick strip, the opening is closed with a cover which has a cover edge, wherein the cover edge rests on the opening edge in such a way that the cover edge does not completely overlap the anti-stick strip, but only partially overlaps it. An inner section of the anti-stick strip facing the opening is thus overlapped by the cover edge, while an outer section of the anti-stick strip facing away from the opening is uncovered by the cover edge. The outer seal is now applied in such a way that the outer seal rests on the cover edge, on the anti-stick strip and on the opening edge. The outer seal abuts the aforementioned outer section of the anti-stick strip, which is not covered by the cover edge and faces away from the opening edge. The outer seal, the cover edge and the opening edge as well as the anti-stick strip are matched to one another in such a way that the outer seal adheres to the cover edge and to the opening edge, while it is detachable from the anti-stick strip or does not adhere to the anti-stick strip. This can be realized in particular by a corresponding selection of material for the outer seal, the cover edge, the opening edge and the anti-stick strip.According to an advantageous embodiment, it can be provided that the cover edge is fastened to the opening edge by means of at least one releasable connection before the outer seal is attached, and that the respective releasable connection is formed in an inner region of the opening edge, which runs around the opening along the anti-stick strip on an inner side facing the opening, so that the outer seal also rests on the respective connection. The outer seal and the respective connection can now optionally be matched to one another such that the outer seal adheres to the respective connection. Expediently, the respective connection can be a screw connection that has a screw, wherein the respective screw connection is formed in the inner region of the opening edge, so that the outer seal rests on the respective screw and in particular adheres thereto. Expediently, a plurality of such connections, in particular screw connections, are arranged distributed along the opening edge, so that they are spaced apart from one another in a circumferential direction. The outer seal bears directly against the cover edge between connections or screw connections adjacent in the circumferential direction.It can be expediently provided here that the outer seal is sprayed or foamed onto the cover edge, the opening edge and the anti-stick strip and also, if appropriate, onto the respective connection.According to an advantageous embodiment, the cover edge can be equipped with an inner seal before the opening is closed, which seal, after the opening has been closed, bears against the opening edge in an inner region of the opening edge which runs around the opening on an inner side facing the opening along the anti-stick strip. The inner seal and the opening edge can be matched to one another such that the inner seal does not adhere to the opening edge and / or that the inner seal is detachable from the opening edge. For example, the inner seal can be produced separately from the cover and can preferably be inserted into a seal receptacle formed on the opening edge. It is likewise conceivable to cast or inject or foam the inner seal into a seal receptacle formed on the opening edge, wherein the cover is then used to close the opening only after the inner seal has cured.A method according to the invention for opening and re-closing a closure system of the type described above comprises a step for opening the closure system and a step for re-closing the closure system. To open the closure system, a central sealing section of the outer seal, which runs around the opening in the region of the anti-stick strip, is removed, so that an outer sealing section of the outer seal adhering to the opening edge remains on the opening edge, while an inner sealing section of the outer seal adhering to the cover edge remains on the cover edge, whereby the cover can be removed from the component for accessibility of the opening. Re-closing the closure system involves applying a new outer seal which thereby abuts and adheres to the outer seal portion and the inner seal portion of the old outer seal, overlapping the anti-stick strip.It is clear that in an embodiment in which the releasable connections, in particular the screw connections, are provided, they are released for opening the closure system and are re-attached for re-closing.Further important features and advantages of the invention are evident from the dependent claims, from the drawings and from the associated description of the figures with reference to the drawings.It is understood that the features mentioned above and those still to be explained below can be used not only in the respectively specified combination, but also in other combinations or alone, without departing from the scope of the invention. The above-mentioned components of a superordinate unit, such as a device, a device or an arrangement, which are designated separately, can form separate components or components of this unit or can be integral regions or sections of this unit, even if this is illustrated differently in the drawings.Preferred exemplary 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 the same components.They show, in each case schematically, FIGS. 1 to 6 each show a greatly simplified schematic sectional view of a closure system in different states, FIG. 7 shows a flow diagram of a method for closing, opening and re-closing an opening with the aid of the closure system.According to FIGS. 1 to 6, a closure system 1 comprises a component 2 which has an opening 3 and an opening edge 4 which runs around the opening 3 in a closed manner or encloses the opening 3. The sectional views of FIGS. 1 to 6 show in each case only the component 2 in the region of the opening edge 4 which adjoins the opening 3. According to FIGS. 2 to 6, the closure system 1 also has a cover 5 for closing the opening 3. The cover 5 has a closed, circumferential cover edge 6, which rests on the opening edge 4 when the cover 5 is mounted on the component 2, as is shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 and 6. The closure system 1 also has an outer seal 7, which can be seen in FIGS. 3 to 6. The outer seal 7 extends around the cover edge 6 in a closed manner and rests both on the cover edge 6 and on the opening edge 4. The outer seal 7, the opening edge 4 and the cover edge 6 are matched to one another, in particular with regard to their materials, such that the outer seal 7 adheres to the opening edge 4 and to the cover edge 6 and is thus connected in particular in a materially bonded manner. In other words, wherever the outer seal 7 rests on the opening edge 4, it also adheres to the opening edge 4; and wherever the outer seal 7 rests on the cover edge 6, it also adheres to the cover edge 6.According to FIGS. 1 to 6, the cover edge 4 has an anti-stick strip 8 which runs around the opening 3 in a closed manner. The cover edge 6, the anti-stick strip 8 and the outer seal 7 are now matched to one another with regard to their dimensions and positioning in such a way that the cover edge 6 according to FIGS. 2 to 4 and 6 only partially overlaps, in particular approximately half of, the anti-stick strip 8 when the cover 5 is attached to the component 2, while the outer seal 7 completely overlaps the anti-stick strip 8 and furthermore rests in an outer region 9 of the opening edge 4 and adheres thereto, wherein the outer region 9 circulates around the anti-stick strip 8 on an outer side facing away from the opening 3. The anti-stick strip 8 and the outer seal 7 are matched to one another, in particular with regard to their materials, in such a way that the outer seal 7 does not adhere to the anti-stick strip 8 and / or that the outer seal 7 can be detached from the anti-stick strip 8. In particular, the anti-stick strip 8 and the outer seal 7 are matched to one another in such a way that they do not form a material-bonded connection with one another when in contact with one another.According to FIGS. 2 to 6, the cover edge 6 can be fastened to the opening edge 4 by means of at least one detachable connection 10. The detachable connection 10 can be equipped as a screw connection 11 as in the example shown, which has a screw 12 which penetrates a through-opening 13 formed in the cover edge 6 and is screwed into a threaded opening 14 formed on the opening edge 4. In any case, the respective releasable connection 10 or the respective screw connection 11 is formed in an inner region 15 of the opening edge 4, which runs around the opening 3 along the anti-stick strip 8 on an inner side facing the opening 3. In the examples of FIGS. 3 to 6, the outer seal 7 is expediently configured such that it also rests on the respective connection 10 or on the respective screw connection 11. In this case, it is possible in principle for the outer seal 7 to be configured such that it adheres to the respective connection 10 or to the respective screw connection 11 and in particular to the respective screw 12. In principle, an embodiment is also conceivable in which the outer seal 7 does not adhere to the respective connection 10 or screw connection 11 or screw 12.In the present context, a "configuration" corresponds to a "configuration" and / or a "device" such that the phrase "configured such that" is synonymous with the phrase "configured such that" and / or "configured such that".According to FIGS. 2 to 6, the cover edge 6 can have an inner seal 16, which is arranged, for example, in a seal receptacle 17 which is formed on the cover edge 6. For example, the inner seal 16 can be cast or injected or foamed into the seal receptacle 17. The inner seal 16 is positioned on the cover edge 6 in such a way that it abuts the opening edge 4 on the inner region 15 of the opening edge 4. The inner seal 16 and the opening edge 4 are matched to one another in such a way that the inner seal 16 does not adhere to the opening edge 4 or that the inner seal 16 can be detached from the opening edge 4. In particular, the inner seal 16 and the opening edge 4 are matched to one another such that they do not form a material-bonded connection with one another even in the event of permanent contact with one another.The closure system 1 serves for closing the opening 3 of the component 2 with the aid of the lid 5 in such a way that the opening 3 is reliably and tightly closed, wherein the closure can however be opened again, in particular for accessibility of the opening 3.The anti-adhesion strip 8 can be inserted, glued, cast or foamed into a recess 18 formed for this purpose on the opening edge 4. In particular, the anti-stick strip 8 can be produced on the basis of one of polyurethane. The outer seal 7 can be glued on as an adhesive strip. The outer seal 7 can likewise be sprayed on or foamed. The outer seal 7 may be a silane modified polyester-based polymer.FIG. 7 shows a method 19 on the basis of a simplified flow chart, which is also explained in more detail below on the basis of FIGS. 1 to 6. The method 19 serves for closing the opening 3 of the component 2 and thus includes a method 20 for producing the closure system 1. in the example of FIG. 7, the method 19 additionally comprises a method 21 for opening and re-closing the closure system 1, which can optionally follow the method 20 for producing the closure system 1.The method 19 for closing the opening 3 or the method 20 for producing the closure system 1 comprises a first step 22, in which, according to FIG. 1, the anti-stick strip 8 is attached to the opening edge 4 in such a way that it circulates closed around the opening 3. In a subsequent step 23, according to FIG. 2, the opening 3 is closed with the cover 5 in such a way that the cover edge 6 rests on the opening edge 4, wherein the cover edge 6 only partially overlaps the anti-stick strip 8. In the examples shown, the anti-stick strip 8 is overlapped approximately half way from the cover edge 6, while it likewise remains free approximately half way from the cover edge 6. In a subsequent step 24, the outer seal 7 is applied according to FIG. 3, namely in such a way that the outer seal 7 rests or abuts on the cover edge 6, on the anti-stick strip 8 and on the opening edge 4. For example, the outer seal 7 is injection-molded. By a suitable selection of material for the outer seal 7, the cover edge 6, the opening edge 4 and the anti-stick strip 8, the outer seal 7 adheres to the cover edge 6 and to the opening edge 4, but not to the anti-stick strip 8.In step 23, according to FIG. 2, after the cover 5 has been attached, the cover 5 can also be fixed to the component 2, wherein the releasable connections 10, in particular the screw connections 11, are used. In step 24, the outer seal 7 is then expediently attached in such a way that it likewise overlaps the connections 10 and adheres to them in the region of the connections 10. In particular, the outer seal 7 then adheres to the respective screw 12. Between connections 10 adjacent in the circumferential direction along the opening 3, the outer seal 7 then abuts the cover edge 6.Before the cover 5 is attached, it can be provided with the inner seal 16 in a separate step, not shown in detail here, so that in step 23 the cover 5 is attached to the component 2 with the inner seal 16 attached to the cover edge 6.In the method 21 for opening and reclosure of the closure system 1, in a step 25 according to FIG. 4 the outer seal 7 is cut through in the region of the anti-stick strip 8, namely circumferentially around the opening 3. In particular, a central sealing section 28 of the outer seal 7, which runs around the opening 3 in the region of the anti-stick strip 8, is removed. As a result, an outer sealing section 29 of the outer seal 7 adhering to the opening edge 4 remains on the opening edge 4; in addition, an inner sealing section 30 adhering to the cover edge 6 remains on the cover edge 6. In order to be able to remove the cover 5 from the component 2, it may optionally also be necessary to release the connections 10. Also seen in Figure 5 is the cut-away and removed middle seal portion 28.In step 27, after the cover 5 has been attached again to the component 2 for closing the opening 3, a new outer seal 7' is attached, if appropriate after the connections 10, in particular the screw connections 11, have been attached, in such a way that it rests on the outer seal section 29 and on the inner seal section 30 and adheres thereto and in the process overlaps the anti-stick strip 8. It is clear that the contacting and adhesion of the new outer seal 7' to the inner seal section 30 takes place outside the connections 10 in the circumferential direction, since the inner seal section 30 is likewise removed in the region of the connections 10 for accessibility to the respective connection 10.

Claims

Closure system (1) for closing an opening (3) of a component (2), - with a component (2) which has an opening (3) and an opening edge (4) enclosing the opening (3), - with a cover (5) for closing the opening (3) which has a circumferential cover edge (6) which rests on the opening edge (4), - with an outer seal (7) which rests circumferentially on the cover edge (6) and on the opening edge (4) along the cover edge (6), - wherein the outer seal (7), the opening edge (4) and the cover edge (6) are matched to one another such that the outer seal (7) adheres to the opening edge (4) and to the cover edge (6), - wherein the opening edge (4) has an anti-stick strip (8) circumferentially around the opening (3), wherein the cover edge (6), the anti-stick strip (8) and the outer seal (7) are matched to one another in such a way that the cover edge (6) only partially overlaps the anti-stick strip (8) and that the outer seal (7) completely overlaps the anti-stick strip (8) and also lies in an outer region (9) of the opening edge (4) and adheres thereto, which outer region runs around the anti-stick strip (8) on an outer side facing away from the opening (3), - wherein the anti-stick stiffener (8) and the outer seal (7) are matched to one another in such a way that the outer seal (7) does not adhere to the anti-stick stiffener (8) and / or that the outer seal (7) is detachable from the anti-stick stiffener (8).Closure system (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that - the cover edge (6) is fastened to the opening edge (4) by means of at least one releasable connection (10), - the respective releasable connection (10) is formed in an inner region (15) of the opening edge (4) which runs around the anti-stick strip (8) on an inner side facing the opening (3), so that the outer seal (7) also rests on the respective connection (10), - the outer seal (7) and the respective connection (10) are matched to one another in such a way that the outer seal (7) adheres to the respective connection (10).Closure system (1) according to claim 2, characterised in that - the respective connection (10) is a screw connection (11) comprising a screw (12), - the respective screw connection (11) is formed on the inner region (15) of the opening edge (4), - the outer seal (7) rests on the respective screw (12) and adheres thereto.Closure system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized - in that the cover edge (6) has an inner seal (16) which, in an inner region (15) of the opening edge (4) which runs around the anti-stick strip (8) on an inner side facing the opening (3), bears against the opening edge (4), - in that the inner seal (16) and the opening edge (4) are matched to one another such that the inner seal (16) does not adhere to the opening edge (4) and / or in that the inner seal (16) can be detached from the opening edge (4).Closure system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized - in that the anti-stick strip (8) consists of a polyurethane, and / or - in that the outer seal (7) is a silane-modified polymer based on polyester.Method (19, 20) for closing an opening (3) in a component (2), wherein the component (2) has an opening edge (4) enclosing the opening (3), - in which an anti-stick strip (8) is applied to the opening edge (4) so as to surround the opening (3), - in which the opening (3) is closed by a cover (5) which has a cover edge (6) which rests on the opening edge (4) in such a way that the cover edge (6) only partially overlaps the anti-stick strip (8), - in which an outer seal (7) is applied in such a way that the outer seal (7) rests on the cover edge (6), on the anti-stick strip (8) and on the opening edge (4), - wherein the outer seal (7), the cover edge (6), the opening edge (4) and the anti-stick strip (8) are matched to one another, the outer seal (7) adheres to the cover edge (6) and to the opening edge (4), while it is releasable from the anti-stick strip (8) or does not adhere to the anti-stick strip (8).Method (19, 20) according to Claim 6, characterized - in that the cover edge (6) is fastened to the opening edge (4) by means of at least one releasable connection (10) before the outer seal (7) is fitted, - in that the respective releasable connection (10) is formed in an inner region (15) of the opening edge (4) which runs around the anti-stick strip (8) on an inner side facing the opening (3), with the result that the outer seal (7) also rests on the respective connection (10), - in that the outer seal (7) and the respective connection (10) are matched to one another in such a way that the outer seal (7) adheres to the respective connection (10).Method (19, 20) according to Claim 6, characterized - in that the respective connection (10) is a screw connection (11) which has a screw (12), - in that the respective screw connection (11) is formed in the inner region (15) of the opening edge (4), - in that the outer seal (7) rests on the respective screw (12) and adheres thereto.Method (19, 20) according to one of Claims 6 to 7, characterized - in that the cover edge (6) is equipped, before the opening (3) is closed, with an inner seal (16) which, after the opening (3) is closed, bears against the opening edge (4) in an inner region (15) of the opening edge (4) which runs around the anti-stick strip (8) on an inner side facing the opening (3), - in that the inner seal (16) and the opening edge (4) are matched to one another such that the inner seal (16) does not adhere to the opening edge (4) and / or in that the inner seal (16) is releasable from the opening edge (4).Method (21) for opening and reclosure of a closure system (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 5, - in which a central sealing section (28) of the outer seal (7) which runs around the opening (3) in the region of the anti-stick strip (8) is removed, with the result that an outer sealing section (29) of the outer seal (7) which adheres to the opening edge (4) remains on the opening edge (4), an inner sealing section (30) of the outer seal (7) which adheres to the cover edge (6) remains on the cover edge (6) and the cover (5) is removable from the component (2) for accessibility of the opening (3), - in which a new outer seal (7') is applied which rests on the outer sealing section (29) and on the inner sealing section (30) and adheres thereto and which overlaps the anti-stick strip (8).

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