Connection method, connection device and system

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for connecting an electrical device (3) comprising the steps: - Providing an enclosed housing (1) accessible via an opening (2); - Providing a cable connection (4) to a board (5); - mechanically connecting the plate (5) to the housing (1) by closing the opening (2) with the plate (5); - Connecting the electrical device (3) to the cable connection (4) As well as a device for connecting an electrical device (3) to at least one electronic component (10) arranged in an enclosed housing (1), comprising a plate (5) with a front (8) and a back (9) and connecting elements (7) for mechanical connection to the housing (1), wherein the front (8) has a cable connection (4). Finally, the invention relates to a system comprising, among other things, such a device.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for connecting an electrical device to an enclosed housing, in particular one containing electronic components, and to a corresponding device for connecting an electrical device for the autonomous operation of a system of electrical devices under harsh and humid environmental conditions. The invention also relates equally to a system comprising an enclosed housing containing electronic components and said device.

[0002] When using measuring systems or other electrical systems in environments where they are not constantly accessible and controllable, or under wet, adverse conditions, the electrical connections used must meet special requirements. They must be robust, dustproof, and waterproof, and must be able to withstand external forces such as shocks or vibrations. Furthermore, they should require little maintenance and allow for easy replacement in case of a defect.

[0003] These requirements for the installed electrical connections must be met, particularly when operating unmanned marine surface vehicles. Furthermore, they should be modular to ensure compatibility with modified electrical and / or mechanical systems, allowing changes and expansions to the measuring system to be carried out without the need for electrically trained personnel.

[0004] Corresponding maritime surface vessels are equipped with numerous sensors and measuring devices, the electronics of which must be installed and connected in a complex, waterproof manner, necessitating enclosures. Connecting measuring devices is usually done outside the enclosure and often requires elaborate sealing of the connection, for example, by using special connectors. Furthermore, the corresponding connections must be integrated into the enclosure from the outset, which complicates subsequent modifications and, in particular, the addition of components. Therefore, establishing an electrical connection to these measuring systems is complex, and replacing connections in case of a defect is equally time-consuming, as it requires modification of the entire enclosure.

[0005] It is therefore an object of the invention to propose a method which enables a simple, robust and modular connection of an electrical device to a housing and electronic components installed therein, as well as a corresponding connection device and a system consisting of a housing and a connection device.

[0006] The process problem is solved according to the invention by a method according to claim 1.

[0007] In carrying out the method according to the invention, an enclosed housing accessible through an opening is first provided. This is, in particular, a modular housing that enables a simple, robust, and watertight connection of several essentially identical housings. Specifically, the use of a housing according to German patent application 10 2024 127 949 is provided. Electronic components necessary for the operation of the electrical device(s) to be connected according to the invention are arranged within the housing. The housing serves to protect the electronic components installed therein, which are necessary for the operation of the electrical device to be connected, from harsh environmental conditions.

[0008] In a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, a cable connection is further connected to a plate. In this connection, the cable connection corresponds to an opening in the plate, allowing a connecting cable to pass through it or an electrical conductor to be routed from one side of the plate to the other via other electrical connection means. In a subsequent step, the plate is mechanically connected to the housing such that an opening in the housing is closed by the plate. This allows an external device to be connected to the interior of the housing via the cable connection of the plate. In a further step of the method according to the invention, the electrical device is connected to the cable connection and thus, in particular, to the electronic components installed in the housing.Depending on the type of cable connection used, it may be necessary to feed the electrical device's power cable through the cable connection before attaching the panel to the housing, especially when using cable glands. After the panel closes the housing, the power cable is secured to the cable gland with a screw, thus sealing the connection. If connectors are used for the cable connection, it is only necessary to insert the corresponding plug of the electrical device into the connector provided on the panel. This can be done either before or after attaching the panel to the housing, although inserting the plug afterward is preferable for ease of handling.

[0009] This means that the electrical device connected to the housing and the electronic components installed therein can be operated directly or replaced by removing its electrical connection to the housing and connecting another electrical device.

[0010] The plate used in the method has an opening that allows a cable to be connected from the electrical device located on the front of the plate to electronic components inside the housing that are connected to the back of the plate at the end of the inventive process. When using a cable gland, the cable itself is guided through the opening in the plate; in the case of connectors, the interlocking connections of the respective connector pair are guided through the opening.

[0011] In contrast to the typical use of fully enclosed housings in the construction of measuring systems, where these housings are manufactured with an integrated cable connection, the method according to the invention does require additional sealing of an opening in the housing against environmental influences; however, this is easily accomplished with the method according to the invention. On the other hand, it offers the advantage of easy accessibility and replaceability of a cable connection on the housing connected to the plate.

[0012] In an embodiment of the method according to the invention, it is provided that the housing is dustproof, in particular waterproof, and / or wherein the cable connection is connected to the plate in a dustproof, in particular waterproof, manner, and / or wherein the opening through the plate is sealed in a dustproof, in particular waterproof, manner.

[0013] The watertight connection of the cable terminal to the plate is easily achieved using commercially available cable glands, which already contain seals. Sealing the housing over the plate can also be easily made watertight by providing sealing material on the back of the plate. This makes the use of the inventive method for connecting electrical devices in damp and wet environments straightforward.

[0014] In an embodiment of the method according to the invention, it is provided that the electrical device is electrically connected to at least one electronic component which was previously connected inside the housing.

[0015] In this way, the electrical device can be easily connected to all the electronics necessary for its operation, which are enclosed in the housing for protection.

[0016] Furthermore, in an embodiment of the method according to the invention, it is provided that a power supply to the housing is provided via the cable connection of the plate and / or that data is transmitted via the cable connection of the plate to and / or from the electronic component and the electrical device.

[0017] This allows the housing, connected electrical devices, and enclosed electronic components to be powered in a modular manner. The input and output of data from the installed electronic components and connected electrical devices enables communication between the devices, thus allowing for autonomous operation. It also permits remote control. This allows for the simple setup, expansion, and maintenance of an entire measurement system with multiple electrical devices and electronic components, and enables its operation or remote control over extended periods without direct intervention.

[0018] The apparatus problem of the invention is solved by a device according to the features of claim 5.

[0019] A device according to the invention for connecting an electrical device to a housing and an electronic component contained therein has a plate with a front and a back, wherein the plate has connecting elements for mechanical connection to the housing and wherein the front has a cable connection.

[0020] According to the invention, an electrical device is connected via a replaceable plate that is separate from the housing. This means that the cable connection does not need to be manufactured within the housing itself or provided for from the outset. The cable connection to the housing is therefore modular, as the plate containing the cable can be easily removed and modified by loosening the mechanical fasteners. In particular, the use of different types of cable connections is possible. Furthermore, the cable connection can be manufactured and fixed separately to the plate, thus eliminating the need for extensive machining of the entire housing surface.

[0021] In an advantageous embodiment, the plate has a smaller thickness than the housing, in particular a thickness that is less than or equal to half the thickness of the housing for which the plate is intended to close and provide electrical connections during operation. This allows the plate to absorb vibrations directly, thus preventing unwanted vibration peaks that could stress the cable connections. Combined with damping of the plate's vibrations by damping elements connected to the plate, such as sealing rings or sealing lips, the forces acting on the cable connection due to vibrations are reduced.

[0022] In a further development of the device according to the invention, it is provided that the back side has sealing means, in particular designed as a sealing ring or sealing lip, for dustproof, in particular waterproof, sealing of an opening of the housing.

[0023] This makes the housing advantageously waterproof, thus protecting the components inside and the cable entry point from influences such as external moisture.

[0024] While the housing according to the invention has an additional opening compared to previously used housings, which must be sealed against environmental influences, especially water, the plate according to the invention enables reliable sealing against these external influences and at the same time allows for the simple provision of a modular cable connection to the housing connected to the plate.

[0025] In one embodiment of the device according to the invention, one surface of the plate is designed to be flat. This facilitates the manufacture of the plate as well as the sealing of the opening in the housing closed by the plate. Furthermore, it simplifies the mechanical connection between the plate and the housing.

[0026] In one embodiment of the device according to the invention, the cable connection is also interchangeable, and in particular, the cable connection is designed as a cable gland and / or connector. This allows for easy replacement of the cable connection between the electrical housing and the external electrical device. Furthermore, it enables the advantageous and cost-saving use of cable glands as well as of connectors that are already frequently used in the aforementioned harsh environments and provide a good seal.

[0027] In an embodiment of the invention, it is also provided that the cable gland is made of plastic, preferably polyamide, in particular preferably PA 12, brass or stainless steel.

[0028] Furthermore, the use of commercially available cable glands is possible, as these are already protected against external influences by a typically included sealing ring.

[0029] Furthermore, in an embodiment of the invention, the connecting elements can be designed as screws, with the plate having corresponding connecting openings, and in particular, the screws being secured by locking devices, especially spring washers or flat washers. In this way, the plate can be connected to the housing simply, permanently, and detachably. Locking devices also counteract the effect of vibrations or other external movements that could loosen the connection to the housing.

[0030] According to one embodiment of the invention, the plate is further provided to be made of thermoplastic material, in particular POM or V4A sheet. This prevents corrosion and galvanic currents between the housing and the connected plate.

[0031] It may be provided in particular that the plate has an axially symmetrical shape, especially a hexagonal shape or a parallelogram shape.

[0032] The axially symmetrical shape, in particular the hexagonal shape, is especially preferred with regard to the sealing rings used, in particular O-rings, which enables a uniform sealing of the plate.

[0033] Fasteners, particularly in the form of screws, are preferably arranged in the corners of the plate. A parallelogram shape allows for a space-saving arrangement of the plate and a convenient arrangement of the connecting screws.

[0034] Furthermore, in an embodiment of the invention, it may be provided that the described device is applicable in carrying out the method according to the invention.

[0035] This makes the execution of the process easier and allows the advantageous sealing and damping properties of the device to be used in the process according to the invention.

[0036] The invention relates equally to a system comprising at least one enclosed housing, wherein at least one electronic component is arranged within the housing and wherein the housing has an opening, further comprising a device according to one of claims 5 to 12, wherein the device is connected to the housing via the connecting elements in such a way that it closes the opening in a particularly watertight manner and that the cable connection is conductively connected to the electronic component.

[0037] In a preferred embodiment, it can be provided that the system in question is used in the method according to the invention to create a robust, modular system in which various electrical devices can be operated. The housing in question can, in particular, be a housing that can be modularly and watertightly connected to other housings, as described in German patent application 10 2024 127 949. In particular, it can be provided that a plurality of the housings are mechanically and electrically connected in a modular manner by means of watertight segment buffers. In this way, the system is modularly configurable and easily modifiable.On the other hand, it is able to operate under adverse conditions, since electronic components and connections to them are protected against water ingress and since the connections under the housings as well as the connections to external electrical devices are designed to be robust according to the invention, so that they are able to absorb shocks and vibrations without the respective mechanical and / or electrical connection being damaged.

[0038] The invention is described in a preferred embodiment by way of example with reference to a drawing, further advantageous details of which can be seen in the figures of the drawing.

[0039] Functionally identical parts are marked with the same reference symbols.

[0040] The figures in the drawing show, in detail: Fig. 1a Illustration of a housing with a connection device according to the invention; Fig. 1b: Representation of several combined enclosures according to Fig. 1a with connection devices according to the invention; Fig. 2a: Exploded view of the connection device according to the invention; Fig. 2b: Connection device according to Fig. 2a in perspective view; Fig. 3: Overhead view of another embodiment of a connection device according to the invention; Fig. 4: Circuit diagram with electrical device connected by the method according to the invention.

[0041] In the Fig. Figure 1a shows a waterproof, modular housing 1, on the side surface 20 of which several cable connections 4 are arranged via a connection to a device according to the invention. In particular, the housing 1 shown has been closed with plates 5 having the cable connections 4, using the method according to the invention. The process step of connecting an external electrical device 3 is still pending. Electronic components 10 are installed in the housing, which can be electrically connected to the plate 5 via the cable connections 4, although this is not apparent.

[0042] To achieve a modular design and for mechanical connection with other similar housings 1, housing connectors 16 in the form of connecting pins are arranged on the front and rear of the housing 1 shown. In addition, housing connectors 18 for power and data transmission between connected housings 1 and the electronic components 10 (not shown) located within them are arranged on these sides. In the illustrated embodiment, two opposing side surfaces 20 of the housing 1 are partially serrated. This creates a raised surface. Providing openings 2 on this surface, closed by plates 5 using the inventive method, is particularly advantageous, as the corresponding openings 2, the cables 14 to be connected, and the cable connections 4 are mechanically protected by the housing 1.The openings 2 each provide access to an interior housing 19 (not visible here), enabling a connection to installed electronic components 10. This connection is sealed, in particular, in a watertight and robust manner by the plates 5. In the illustrated embodiment, the plates 5 are parallelogram-shaped, allowing the correspondingly shaped openings 2 of the housing 1 to be made comparatively small. Four fasteners 6 in the form of screws are arranged in the corners of the plate 5 for mechanical connection to the housing 1.

[0043] In particular, an embodiment of a system according to the invention is shown, consisting of a housing 1 and a plate 5 having a cable connection 4 and closing an opening 2 of the housing.

[0044] Fig. 1b shows this in the Fig. Figure 1a shows housings 1, closed according to the inventive method, in combination with other similar housings 1. By mechanically and electrically connecting the housings 1 to one another using flexible and sealing segment buffers 15 and by means of the resulting interconnection of electronic components 10, an electronic system can be configured modularly. A plurality of cable connections 4 provided on the plates 5 allow external electrical devices 3 to be connected to this system, and an entire measuring or working system with a plurality of connected electrical devices 3 can be constructed simply and robustly and operated autonomously.

[0045] Fig. 2a and Fig. Figure 2b shows a further embodiment of a connection device according to the invention, which has a hexagonal plate 5. In the exploded view of the Fig. Figure 2a shows the elements that are watertight after application of the inventive method. A portion of the housing 1, which is closed and connected by the device according to the invention, is shown. The opening 2 in the housing 1, which provides access to the interior 19 and allows the connection of the installed electronic components 10 to the cable connection 4, is clearly visible. The significantly greater thickness of the housing compared to the plate 5 sealing the opening 2 is also evident. The plate 5 and the housing 1 are firmly connected to each other by means of fasteners 7 designed as screws, which are arranged at the corners of the plate 5. The housing 1 has corresponding screw holes for this purpose. A sealing element 11 in the form of an O-ring is arranged on the back side of the plate 5 between the plate 5 and the housing 1 to seal the connection.The plate 5 has a plate opening 17 through which, in conjunction with the opening 2 in the housing 1, a connecting cable of the electrical device 3 is led into or connected to the interior of the housing 19 in the operating state of the device according to the invention, in which an electrical device 3 with electronic components 10 arranged inside the housing 1 is connected to the plate 5 via the cable connection 4. In the illustrated embodiment, the cable connection is designed as a cable gland. This gland has a screw connection 6, with the aid of which a connecting cable of the electrical device 3 connected to the device shown in the invention can be fixed in the connection.

[0046] In the Fig. 2b is the one in the Fig. 2a The device shown is depicted in a perspective view, in which the plate 5 is fixed to the housing 1 by means of the connecting means 7.

[0047] The Fig. Figure 3 shows a sectional top view of another embodiment of a connection device according to the invention. According to this embodiment, the plate 5 is designed as a parallelogram with two cut corners, the cut corners being designed for better connection with a housing 1 or its side surface 20, which, as in Figure 3, Fig. The components shown in Figure 1 serve as connecting elements. Fasteners 7 in the form of screws are located in the corners of the plate 5. A cable connection 4 in the form of a cable gland is located in the center of the plate 5. A screw connection 6 for securing a connecting cable 14 of an attached electrical device 3 and the cable connection 4 to the plate 5 are visible, as is a cross-section of the connecting cable 14. After loosening the connecting elements 7 from the housing 1, the cable gland can also be detached by loosening the screw connection 6, allowing both the cable connection 4 and the attached electrical device 3 to be replaced.

[0048] The Fig. Figure 4 shows a sketch of a circuit of an electrical device 3 connected in application of an embodiment of the method according to the invention. Several waterproof housings 1 are shown, such as housing 1 according to the embodiment in the Fig.1a, are connected to each other via segment buffers 15 in a watertight manner. This allows for both the transmission of current between the housings 1 and between a housing 1 and the electrical device 3 connected via the respective cable connection 4, as well as corresponding data transmission. Power is supplied via a power connection 12 on the front of the housing 1. Alternatively, power can be supplied via a power connection 12', which is located at one of the cable connections on the plates 5. Electronic components 10, which are protected from the environment by a watertight seal, are arranged in an interior 19 of the housings 1. These components are required, in particular, for the operation of the external electrical devices 3, which are connected to the housings via the cable connections 4.In principle, an electrical device 3 can be connected to any of the cable connections 4 of the housing, thus allowing electrical devices 3 to be easily added, replaced, or removed. The connection of these electrical devices to the housings 1 is carried out using the method according to the invention. Current is passed between the connected housings 1 to power the installed electronic components 10 and the connected electrical devices 3, and data is also passed via a data connection 13. Data from the electronic components 10 and the connected electrical devices 3 is both transmitted and output. This enables control of the electronic components 10 and the connected electrical devices 3 with the aid of microcontrollers built into each housing 1, which facilitates the advantageous operation of the system shown.In this way, the system can react autonomously to changes in environmental conditions determined by the system shown, or to failures of individual components. On the other hand, remote control of the system via user input is enabled by transmitting the relevant data to a remote receiver or by receiving control signals. Thus, the device and method according to the invention not only facilitate the simplified, waterproof, modular connection and replacement of electrical devices 3 to electronic components 10 installed in a housing 1, but also their control. REFERENCE MARK LIST 1 case 2 openings 3 electrical appliances 4 cable connection 5 plate 6 screw connection 7 connecting elements 8 Front 9 Back 10 electronic components 11 Sealants 12, 12' Power connection 13 Data connection 14 connection cables 15 segment buffers 16 Housing fasteners 17 plate opening 18 Housing connector 19 Case interior 20 side surface QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 10 2024 127 949 [0007, 0037]

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