Sealing arrangement

Abstract

The invention relates to a sealing arrangement in a housing with two housing parts (1, 7), of which a first housing part (7) has a sealing channel (10) with an elastomer sealing element (9) inserted therein, wherein in the assembled state the first housing part (7) is pressed against a contact surface (11) of the second housing part (1), specifically with the interposition of the elastomer sealing element (9), which together with the contact surface (11) of the second housing part (7) forms a sealing zone (D) by means of which a dry housing interior is sealed off from the external environment, and wherein, to prevent it from falling out of the sealing channel (10) during assembly, in particular overhead assembly, the sealing element (9) is held in a form-fitting and / or force-fitting manner in a gap-forming holding region (H) of the first housing part (7).According to the invention, the holding region (H) is formed exclusively on the side of the sealing zone (D) facing away from the external environment in the dry housing interior, so that in particular the gap-forming holding region (H) is protected by the sealing zone (D) from environmental influences, such as water or dirt.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a sealing arrangement in a housing according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] A pulse-controlled inverter housing of a vehicle's electric drive unit contains electrical components, including power modules. The pulse-controlled inverter housing has at least one housing opening that can be closed by a housing cover. The housing cover is clamped to the pulse-controlled inverter housing with an interposed elastomer sealing element to protect the housing interior from external environmental influences, such as water or dirt.

[0003] In a typical assembly process, the housing cover is mounted overhead onto the housing opening of the pulse-controlled inverter housing. For reliable assembly, the sealing element inserted into a sealing channel in the housing cover must be secured against accidental falling out. For this purpose, the sealing element is held positively and / or force-fitted to a gap-forming retaining area of the housing cover.

[0004] In the prior art, the gap-forming holding area is located outside a sealing zone formed between the housing cover sealing element and a corresponding contact surface of the pulse-controlled inverter housing. Therefore, the gap formed in the holding area is susceptible to crevice corrosion or similar corrosive infiltration.

[0005] A housing seal assembly is known from DE 10 2015 114 813 A1. The housing seal assembly comprises a housing with a sealing face provided for sealing with a counter-housing. A stepped groove is provided in the housing along the sealing face, which groove is configured with at least a first step as a support surface for a first sealing element and a second (deeper) step as a support surface for a second sealing element.

[0006] The object of the invention is to provide a sealing arrangement in a housing in which, in comparison to the prior art, crevice corrosion or similar corrosive infiltration in the sealing area between two housing parts of the housing is prevented in a simple manner.

[0007] The object is solved by the features of claim 1. Preferred developments of the invention are disclosed in the subclaims.

[0008] The invention relates to a sealing arrangement in a housing with two housing parts, a first housing part of which has a sealing channel with an elastomer sealing element inserted therein. In the assembled state, the first housing part is pressed against a contact surface of the second housing part, with the elastomer sealing element interposed. This, together with the contact surface of the second housing part, forms a sealing zone by means of which a dry housing interior is sealed from the external environment. To prevent it from falling out of the sealing channel during assembly, in particular overhead assembly, the sealing element is held in a form-fitting and / or force-fitting manner in a gap-forming holding region of the first housing part. According to the characterizing part of claim 1, the gap-forming holding region is no longer arranged outside the sealing zone.Rather, the holding area is formed on the inner side of the sealing zone, facing away from the external environment, in the dry housing interior. Thus, the gap-forming holding area is protected from external environmental influences, such as water or dirt, by the sealing zone. On the side of the sealing zone facing the external environment, however, no gap-forming holding area is present according to the invention.

[0009] In one technical implementation, the sealing element can be extended toward the inside of the housing using the same material and / or in one piece with at least one retaining segment. The retaining segment of the sealing element can be brought into positive and / or non-positive engagement with the first housing part. To provide a sufficiently large spatial distance between the sealing zone and the retaining segment, it is preferred if the sealing element is extended toward the inside of the housing via a connecting web with a reduced cross-section and terminates at the retaining segment.

[0010] For a process-reliable form-fit and / or frictional connection, the first housing part can have a housing part receptacle on the inner side of the sealing element, which approximately replicates the negative shape of the retaining segment. The retaining segment of the sealing element can preferably be pressed into the housing part receptacle in a clamping connection.

[0011] In a specific design variant, the housing part receptacle is pocket-shaped, with a profile base set back from the contact surface of the second housing part by one profile height, from which a housing-inside inner flank and a housing-outside outer flank are raised towards the contact surface of the second housing part. In this case, the holding segment can be in clamping contact with either the inner flank or the outer flank of the pocket-shaped housing part receptacle. Alternatively, the holding segment can also be in clamping contact with both the inner flank and the outer flank of the pocket-shaped housing part receptacle. Depending on the design, the holding segment can be brought into clamping contact with the housing part receptacle over a large area, in a point-like manner, or in a linear manner.

[0012] The sealing element can preferably be annular, for example as a sealing ring, which surrounds a housing opening of the second housing part in a frame-like manner.

[0013] In a further embodiment, the annular sealing element can have at least one retaining strut projecting inwardly from the housing in the holding region, preferably a plurality of retaining struts spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction of the sealing element. These can be formed from the same material and / or in one piece on the inner circumference of the sealing element. The retaining struts can be brought into positive and / or frictional engagement with the first housing part. To further increase the dimensional stability of the sealing element, the retaining struts can converge in the center of the sealing element, similar to wheel spokes, and are made of the same material and / or in one piece. With this sealing element geometry, the first housing part can have wedge-shaped base profiles that fill a space between adjacent retaining struts. The base profiles of the first housing part can preferably be in positive and / or frictional engagement with the intermediately positioned retaining struts of the sealing element.

[0014] Alternatively and / or additionally, a through-hole is formed in the center of the sealing element, through which a retaining pin of the first housing part can be guided. The retaining pin can perform centering functions to facilitate secure positioning of the sealing element in the first housing part. In a dual function, the retaining pin can have a retaining pin head that protrudes from the through-hole in the center of the sealing element and is wider than the through-hole. In this case, the sealing element is held positively on the retaining pin.

[0015] The housing opening of the second housing part can be surrounded by a tubular connecting piece of the second housing part. The end face of the tubular connecting piece forms the contact surface with the sealing element of the first housing part. Furthermore, the first housing part, for example, a housing cover, can have an edge web. When assembled, this can overlap the tubular connecting piece of the first housing part at a distance, like a labyrinth seal. The labyrinth seal provides additional protection, for example, against high-pressure cleaner impact, so that the sealing element is protected against further mechanical influences.

[0016] Embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the attached figures.

[0017] They show: Fig. 1 to 3 show different views of the sealing arrangement according to the invention; and Fig. 4 a sealing arrangement according to a comparative example not covered by the invention.

[0018] For a simple understanding of the invention, reference is first made to the Fig. 4, in which a sealing arrangement according to a comparative example not encompassed by the invention is indicated. Accordingly, a housing 1 is shown with, for example, a circular housing opening 3, which is surrounded by a tubular nozzle or collar 5. The housing opening 3 is closed by means of a housing cover 7. The housing cover 7 is clamped to the housing 1 (for example via a screw connection not shown) with the interposition of an elastomer sealing element 9. This protects the housing interior, which is designed as a dry area, from external environmental influences, such as water or dirt. The annular sealing element 9 surrounds the housing opening 3. In addition, the sealing element 9 is inserted in a sealing channel 10 of the housing cover 7. In the Fig. In the assembly position shown in Figure 5, the sealing element 9 forms a sealing zone D with a frontal contact surface 11 of the housing collar 5. By means of this, the dry housing interior is sealed against external environmental influences.

[0019] The housing cover 7 is mounted overhead to the housing 1 in an assembly process not shown. To secure the sealing element 9 against accidental falling out during overhead assembly, the sealing element 9 has retaining knobs 13 on both the inner and outer circumferences, which project radially inward and outward and are spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction by pitch distances. The retaining knobs 13 are in clamping contact with the inner and outer sealing channel side walls at retaining areas H, which are located both outside and inside the sealing zone D. The retaining areas H form gaps in which water or dirt can accumulate, which can lead to crevice corrosion or similar corrosive infiltration.

[0020] In addition, the housing cover 7 has a radially outer edge web 17. This overlaps the housing collar 5 in the manner of a labyrinth seal with a predefined distance a, from which water and / or dirt can drain into the outer region of the housing 1.

[0021] In contrast to the sealing arrangement according to the Fig. 4, the sealing arrangement according to the invention does not have gap-forming holding areas H outside the sealing zone D. Instead, the holding areas H are formed only on the inner side of the sealing zone D facing away from the external environment in the dry housing interior, as can be seen from the Fig. 1. The outer circumference of the sealing element 9, however, remains in the circumferential direction continuously out of contact with an outer sealing channel side wall, which is provided by the edge web 17 of the housing cover 1.

[0022] The basic structure and functionality of the Fig. The sealing arrangement according to the invention shown in Figure 1 corresponds to the structure and functioning of the Fig. 4 shown sealing arrangement, so reference is made to the previous description. In contrast to Fig. 4, the sealing element 9 providing the sealing zone D is extended radially inward with a reduced-cross-section connecting web 18, which terminates at a cross-sectionally large holding segment 19. The cross-sectionally large holding segment 19 is inserted into a pocket-shaped receptacle 21 of the housing cover 7, specifically under elastic deformation, i.e., in clamping engagement with the pocket-shaped receptacle 21.

[0023] As from the Fig. 1, a profile base 23 of the pocket-shaped receptacle 21 is set back from the contact surface 11 of the housing 1 by a profile height h. From the profile base 23, an inner flank 25 on the inside of the housing and an outer flank 27 on the outside of the housing are each raised in the direction of the contact surface 11 of the housing 1. For example, the holding segment 19 can either be in clamping contact with the inner flank 25 of the housing receptacle 21 or in clamping contact with the outer flank 27 of the housing receptacle 21. Alternatively, the holding segment 19 can also be in clamping contact with both the inner flank 25 and the outer flank 27 of the pocket-shaped housing receptacle 21. In addition, the outer circumference of the sealing element 9 is formed in the circumferential direction so as to be continuously contact-free with the radially outer sealing channel side wall, with a correspondingly large free space 12 from which water can easily flow away.

[0024] In the version of the Fig. 2, the clamping contact between the holding segment 19 and the pocket-shaped housing receptacle 21 is no longer realized over a large area, but rather in a point-like manner via projections 29 formed accordingly on the holding segment 19.

[0025] In the Fig.3 shows a further embodiment of the invention, in which the housing cover 7 is detached from the housing 1. Accordingly, the sealing element 9 is designed as a ring-shaped sealing ring that surrounds the housing opening 3 in a frame-like manner. A total of eight retaining struts 31 are formed integrally and of the same material on the inner circumference of the annular sealing element 9. These retaining struts 31 are spaced from one another in the circumferential direction at equal pitch intervals. The retaining struts 31 converge centrally at a sealing element center 33 in the manner of wheel spokes. The space between adjacent retaining struts 31 is filled with wedge-shaped base profiles 35. A through-hole is formed in the sealing element center 33, through which a retaining pin 37 of the housing cover 7 is guided. The retaining pin 37 has a retaining pin head 39 that protrudes from the through-hole in the sealing element center 33 and is wider than the through-hole.The retaining pin 37, on the one hand, centers the sealing element 9 in the correct position. On the other hand, the retaining pin 37 forms a holding area H, to which the sealing element 9 is securely held during overhead installation. Alternatively and / or in addition to the retaining pin 37, the wedge-shaped base profiles 35 can be in force-locking and / or form-locking engagement with the retaining struts 31 of the sealing element 9. List of reference symbols 1 first housing part or housing 3 Housing opening 5 Housing collar 7 second housing part or housing cover 9 Sealing element 10 Sealing channel 11 Contact surface 12 Free space 13 retaining studs 17 Edge bridge 18 Connecting bridge 19 Holding segment 21 Housing holder 23 profile floor 25 inner flank 27 Outer flank 29 lead 31 Support strut 33 Sealing element center 35 base profile 37 Retaining pin 39 Retaining pin head D Sealing zone H Holding areas a distance h profile height QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

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

[0000] DE 10 2015 114 813 A1

[0005]

Claims

[1] Sealing arrangement in a housing with two housing parts (1, 7), of which a first housing part (7) has a sealing channel (10) with an elastomer sealing element (9) inserted therein, wherein in the assembled state the first housing part (7) is pressed against a contact surface (11) of the second housing part (1), specifically with the interposition of the elastomer sealing element (9), which, with the contact surface (11) of the second housing part (7), forms a sealing zone (D) by means of which a dry housing interior is sealed from the external environment, and wherein, to prevent it from falling out of the sealing channel (10) during assembly, in particular overhead assembly, the sealing element (9) is held in a gap-forming holding region (H) of the first housing part (7) in a form-fitting and / or force-fitting manner, characterized bythat the holding area (H) is formed exclusively on the side of the sealing zone (D) facing away from the external environment in the dry housing interior, so that in particular the gap-forming holding area (H) is protected by the sealing zone (D) from environmental influences, such as water or dirt, and / or no gap-forming holding area (H) is formed on the side of the sealing zone (D) facing the external environment. [2] Sealing arrangement according to claim 1, characterized by that the sealing element (9) is extended towards the inside of the housing in a uniform and integral manner with at least one holding segment (19), in particular via a connecting web (18) with a reduced cross-section compared to the sealing element (9) and the holding segment (19), and that in particular the holding segment (19) of the sealing element (9) can be brought into positive and / or non-positive engagement with the first housing part (7). [3] Sealing arrangement according to claim 2, characterized bythat the first housing part (7) has a housing part receptacle (21) on the housing-inner side of the sealing element (9), with which the holding segment (19) can be brought into positive and / or non-positive engagement, in particular into a clamped connection, and / or that in particular the outer circumference of the sealing element (9) remains completely contact-free with a sealing channel side wall on the outer side of the housing, viewed in the circumferential direction, and in particular is formed with a correspondingly large free space (12) from which water and / or dirt can be easily discharged. [4] Sealing arrangement according to claim 3, characterized by that the housing part receptacle (21) is pocket-shaped, specifically with a profile base (23) set back by a profile height (h) from the contact surface (11) of the second housing part (1), from which a housing-inside inner flank (25) and a housing-outside outer flank (27) are raised in the direction of the contact surface (11) of the second housing part (1). [5] Sealing arrangement according to claim 3 or 4, characterized by that the holding segment (19) is inserted into the housing part receptacle (21) while building up a clamping force, and that in particular the holding segment (19) can be brought into clamping contact with the inner flank (25) and / or the outer flank (27) of the housing part receptacle (21), and / or that in particular the holding segment (19) can be brought into clamping contact with the housing part receptacle (21) over a large area, in a point-like manner or in a line-like manner. [6] Sealing arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the sealing element (9) is annular, for example as a sealing ring, and / or surrounds a housing opening (3) of the second housing part (1) in a frame-like manner. [7] Sealing arrangement according to claim 6, characterized bythat the sealing element (9) in the holding area (H) has at least one holding strut (31) projecting towards the inside of the housing, in particular a plurality of holding struts (31) spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction of the sealing element, which are preferably formed from the same material and / or in one piece on the inner circumference of the sealing element (9), and that in particular the holding struts (31) can be brought into positive and / or non-positive engagement with the first housing part (7). [8] Sealing arrangement according to claim 7, characterized bythat the retaining struts (31), in particular in the manner of wheel spokes, converge in a sealing element center (33) in a force-transmitting manner and in particular of the same material and / or in one piece, and that in particular the first housing part (7) has wedge-shaped base profiles (35) which fill the space between adjacent retaining struts (31), and that in particular the base profiles (35) of the first housing part (7) are in force-locking and / or form-locking engagement with the retaining struts (31) of the sealing element (9). [9] Sealing arrangement according to claim 8, characterized by that a through-hole is formed in the center (33) of the sealing element, through which a retaining pin (37) of the first housing part (7) is guided, and that in particular the retaining pin (37) has a retaining pin head (39) projecting from the through-hole of the sealing element (9) and which is widened in comparison to the through-hole. [10] Sealing arrangement according to one of claims 6 to 9, characterized bythat the housing opening (3) of the second housing part (1) is surrounded by a tubular collar or nozzle (5) of the second housing part (1), the end face of which forms the contact surface (11) to the sealing element (9), and that the first housing part (7), in particular a housing cover, has an edge web (17) which, in the assembled state, engages over the tubular nozzle (5) of the first housing part (7) in the manner of a labyrinth seal at a distance (a).

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