Assembly comprising at least a first element and a second element

Abstract

Assembly (1) comprising at least a first element (2) and a second element (3) which can be connected to each other via at least one locking element (6), wherein the locking element (6) has the following: - two spring legs (7) connected to the first element (2), which are connected to each other via a bridge (9), wherein the bridge (9) extends in a first spatial direction and wherein the spring legs (7) allow a spring movement of the bridge (9) in a second spatial direction perpendicular to the first spatial direction, - at least one projection (10) extending from the bridge (9) into the second spatial direction, which can be engaged with a recess of the second element (3) in order to lock the first element (2) to the second element (3) under springs of the bridge (9) in the second spatial direction.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an assembly comprising at least a first element and a second element that can be connected to one another via at least one locking element. The first element can, in particular, be a housing part of a battery control unit, and the second element can, in particular, be a component of a battery module of an electrically powered vehicle. However, the first element can also be a housing part of a control unit, and the second element can be a component of a motor vehicle to which the control unit is attached. The locking element is also suitable for attaching other components to one another, and is particularly advantageous for applications that must withstand high accelerations, for example, in motor vehicles. Such accelerations can occur, among other things, due to vibrations or in the event of a crash.

[0002] In some cases, the housings of battery control units are clipped into a designated space within the battery module of an electric vehicle. These clips, designed as snap-in elements made of plastic, are intended to facilitate easy mounting of the battery control unit to the battery module and to reliably hold it in its designated position. A challenge, however, is that such a clip must be easily deformable to allow for simple installation in confined spaces, while simultaneously being able to withstand very high holding forces during high acceleration.

[0003] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an assembly comprising at least a first element and a second element, which can be connected to one another via at least one snap-fit ​​element, which on the one hand enables simple mounting of the first element to the second element and on the other hand can withstand particularly high holding forces. In addition, the assembly should be easy and inexpensive to manufacture.

[0004] This problem is solved by the subject matter of the independent patent claim. Advantageous embodiments and further developments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0005] According to one aspect of the invention, an assembly is specified comprising at least a first element and a second element that can be connected to each other via a locking element. The locking element has two spring legs connected to the first element, which are connected to each other via a web, wherein the web extends in a first spatial direction and wherein the spring legs allow a spring movement of the web in a second spatial direction perpendicular to the first spatial direction.

[0006] Furthermore, the locking element has at least one projection extending from the web into the second spatial direction, which can be engaged with a recess of the second element in order to lock the first element to the second element under springs of the web in the second spatial direction.

[0007] Here and in the following, "latching" refers to the movement of the first and second elements into a latching position, whereby in the latching position the first element is mechanically connected to the second element and fixed in place. This fixation occurs because the projecting projection is moved into the recess, and the web then springs back, thus holding the projection in the recess. Due to the latching connection, movement of the first element in a third spatial direction, perpendicular to the first and second spatial directions, is blocked under high acceleration.

[0008] The assembly has the advantage that, due to the geometric design of the locking element, the holding force of the locking element and its mounting force are only weakly correlated. This is achieved because the locking element can be deflected relatively easily in the mounting direction, i.e., in the second spatial direction, due to the spring arms, while such a spring function is not provided in the third spatial direction, in which the holding force acts.

[0009] This makes it possible to achieve very high holding forces, while at the same time allowing for simple assembly with relatively little force.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the spring arms are integrally formed with the first element. In particular, the locking element or a plurality of locking elements can be formed integrally with the first element. For example, locking elements can be integrally formed with a control unit housing as part of the housing.

[0011] This design has the advantage of being particularly easy and inexpensive to manufacture and exhibiting high stability. Furthermore, it is very compact and requires only a small installation space.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the locking element can be made of plastic. In particular, it can be provided that the locking element, and optionally also the first element, is manufactured using an injection molding process.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the bridge of the locking element is designed as a band with a thickness that is small in relation to its width.

[0014] According to this embodiment, the web is designed to have a relatively large extension in the third spatial direction compared to its extension in the second spatial direction. For example, the web can be at least twice, and in particular five times, as large in the third spatial direction as in the second. This results in a relatively stable web, yet one that exhibits excellent spring action during assembly, thus requiring less assembly force.

[0015] The first element can be designed as a housing part of a battery control unit and the second element as an element of a battery module of an electrically powered vehicle.

[0016] Embodiments of the invention are described below by way of example with reference to schematic drawings. Fig. Figure 1 shows a view of an assembly according to an embodiment of the invention, Fig. Figure 2 shows a perspective view of part of the assembly according to Fig. 1 and Fig. Figure 3 shows a sectional view of part of the assembly according to Fig. 1.

[0017] Fig. Figure 1 shows a top view of an assembly 1 according to an embodiment of the invention. The assembly 1 comprises a first element 2, which is configured as a housing part of a battery control unit, and a second element 3, which is configured as an element of a battery module of an electrically powered vehicle. The second element 3 has a recess 4, indicated by the dashed line 5, into which the first element 2 is to be inserted. For this purpose, the first element 2 is moved into the recess 4 from above, i.e., in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing, which is also referred to as the third spatial direction.

[0018] The first element 2 is connected to the second element 3 via a snap-fit ​​connection mediated by a plurality of snap-fit ​​elements 6. The snap-fit ​​elements 6 are integrally formed on the first element 2 and snap into the second element 3 when the first element 2 has been moved into its snap-fit ​​position, so that the first element 2 is firmly connected to the second element 3.

[0019] In the embodiment shown, several locking elements 6 are arranged along the circumference of the first element 2. The locking elements 6 are described in detail in the following figures.

[0020] Fig. Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a section of the first element 2 with a locking element 6. In the illustrated embodiment, both the first element 2 and the locking element 6 are made of plastic and are formed integrally with each other. In particular, the locking element 6, as well as the [missing information], is Fig. Two additional locking elements, not shown, are formed together with the first element 2 using injection molding.

[0021] The locking element 6 has two spring legs 7, which are arranged on a side surface 8 of the first element 2 and project from it. The spring legs 7 are essentially U-shaped and connected to each other by a web 9. The web 9 has a length L, which corresponds to the distance between the two spring legs 7, as well as a width B and a thickness S.

[0022] In the representation according to Fig. 2 The first spatial direction and the second spatial direction extend in the plane of the first element 2 and the third spatial direction extends perpendicular to it.

[0023] The locking element 6 further has a projection 10 which extends from the web 9 in the second spatial direction and engages with a corresponding recess in the second element 3 in a locking position of the locking element 6.

[0024] Fig. Figure 3 shows another representation of the locking element 6. In this sectional view, it can be seen that the web 9 has a relatively small thickness S, especially in relation to its width B and even more so to its length L.

[0025] When the locking element 6 is acted upon in the manner indicated by arrow 12, particularly during the assembly of the first element 2 in the recess 4 of the second element 3, where the projections 10 of the locking elements 6 come into contact with the wall of the recess 4, the locking element 6 is compressed in the direction of arrow 12, with the spring legs 7 springing inwards in the manner shown by arrow 11. Once the first element 2 is positioned within the recess 4, the locking element 6 springs back and the projection 10 engages in the corresponding recess in the second element 3. The first element 2 is thus fixed to the second element 3.

[0026] In the case of high accelerations, very high forces act on the first element 2 in the third spatial direction. However, in the third spatial direction, the locking element 6 is not as easily deformed as in the second spatial direction because it does not exhibit spring properties in the third spatial direction. Thus, the assembly 1 can meet particularly high requirements for the holding forces of the fully assembled first element 2 under high accelerations.

Claims

[1] Assembly (1) comprising at least a first element (2) and a second element (3) which can be connected to each other via at least one locking element (6), wherein the locking element (6) comprises the following: - two spring legs (7) connected to the first element (2), which are connected to each other via a bridge (9), wherein the bridge (9) extends in a first spatial direction and wherein the spring legs (7) allow a spring movement of the bridge (9) in a second spatial direction perpendicular to the first spatial direction, - at least one projection (10) extending from the bridge (9) into the second spatial direction, which can be engaged with a recess of the second element (3) in order to lock the first element (2) to the second element (3) under springs of the bridge (9) in the second spatial direction. [2] Assembly (1) according to claim 1, wherein the spring legs (7) are integrally formed on the first element (2). [3] Assembly (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the locking element (6) is made of plastic. [4] Assembly (1) according to claim 3, wherein the locking element (6) is manufactured by an injection molding process. [5] Assembly (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the web (9) is designed as a band with a thickness that is small in relation to its width. [6] Assembly (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first element (2) is designed as a housing part of a battery control unit and the second element (3) is designed as an element of a battery module of an electrically powered vehicle.

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