Control unit for a vehicle, as well as the corresponding vehicle and method for attaching the control unit.

Abstract

The invention relates to a control unit (10) comprising a mounting device for attaching the control unit (10) to a wall (12) of a vehicle body shell, wherein the wall (12) has an opening (14) connecting an interior of the vehicle body shell with an exterior of the vehicle body shell, wherein the control unit (10) comprises a sealing element (16) configured to provide, when the control unit (10) is attached to the wall (12), a particle- and fluid-tight seal between the sealing element (16) and the wall (12) by contact with the wall (12), and thus a seal between the interior of the vehicle body shell and the exterior of the vehicle body shell, wherein the mounting device comprises a first mounting element (18, 18a, 18b) configured to attach the control unit (10) to a first wall area (12a) of the wall (12), and a second mounting element (20, 20a, 20b) includes, which is designed to,to attach the control unit (10) to a second wall section (12b) of the wall (12), which is opposite the first wall section (12a) with respect to the plane of the opening (14). It further relates to a method for attaching such a control unit (10) and to a vehicle which includes such a control unit (10) or in which such a method has been carried out.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a control unit which can be attached in a particle- and fluid-tight manner in an opening in a wall of a vehicle body shell, a method for its attachment and a vehicle with such a control unit.

[0002] Vehicles are equipped with electronic control units (ECUs) that can perform a variety of functions, such as controlling engine components or actuators. If these ECUs are located in openings in the body shell of a vehicle that lie between the external environment and an interior protected from external environmental influences, it must be ensured that, after the ECUs are installed, the openings themselves are sealed against particles and fluids, preventing the outside world from entering the interior. At the same time, care must be taken to ensure that the openings and the ECUs installed within them occupy as little installation space as possible, since the walls of vehicle bodies must be available for a multitude of components and functions.

[0003] For mounting in vehicles, German patent application DE 40 09 321 A1 describes a control unit for which a separate foam body serves as a housing. This foam body at least partially surrounds the control unit and is detachably mounted in the vehicle. For control units, which now typically weigh several kilograms, screwing around the opening is standard practice. This involves the use of mounting tabs that extend from the control unit across the wall sections of the vehicle body surrounding the opening.

[0004] A disadvantage of this design is the large amount of space required. Even if mounting tabs are only provided for two opposite sides of an opening, for example, to the right or left, the space required per mounting tab typically increases by about 30 mm, totaling approximately 60 mm. If additional mounting tabs are needed in directions perpendicular to these, the space requirement for these directions also typically increases by about 60 mm, meaning that the corresponding area is occupied by the control unit and the installation space is not available for other components. Especially in smaller vehicles, the installation space for all the necessary components is extremely limited, so any reduction in the control unit's space requirement represents a significant advantage for the technical design possibilities.Another disadvantage is the fact that screwing is a complex process that usually requires the separate provision of screw components and / or the bringing of tools.

[0005] The object of the invention is to provide solutions that enable particle- and fluid-tight mounting of a control unit with minimal space requirements, and / or enable labor-saving mounting.

[0006] The invention is defined by the features of the independent claims. Advantageous further developments and embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0007] In all embodiments and further developments described herein, conventional screw-on tabs are advantageously eliminated, thus requiring less installation space.

[0008] The problem is solved in a first aspect by a control unit comprising a mounting device for attaching the control unit to a wall of a vehicle body shell, wherein the wall has an opening connecting an interior space of the vehicle body shell with an exterior space of the vehicle body shell, wherein the control unit includes a sealing element designed to provide, when the control unit is attached to the wall, a particle- and fluid-tight seal between the sealing element and the wall, and thus a seal between the interior space of the vehicle body shell and the exterior space of the vehicle body shell. As a result, when the control unit is attached to the wall, the opening is sealed particle- and fluid-tight, so that despite the opening, no particles or fluids can penetrate from the exterior space into the interior space.The fastening device comprises a first fastening element designed to attach the control unit to a first wall area of ​​the wall, and a second fastening element designed to attach the control unit to a second wall area of ​​the wall, which is opposite the first wall area with respect to the plane of the opening.

[0009] Since the fastening device comprises a first fastening element and a second fastening element, it may be provided that one or more first fastening elements and / or one or more second fastening elements are present.

[0010] The first and second mounting elements are preferably already integrated into the control unit. Accordingly, the workload during the mounting process is reduced or eliminated, as the installer does not need to carry any additional separate components, or at least fewer separate components, apart from the control unit.

[0011] When referring here to a control unit inserted into the opening, it is preferably intended that the control unit is inserted into the opening from an exterior area of ​​the vehicle, which is exposed to moisture and dirt, and that further fastening steps to create the seal are carried out from inside the vehicle. This advantageously allows components of the fastening elements, which must be actuated to create the seal and are described in detail below, to be actuated from inside the vehicle and thus require space only inside, thereby relieving the particularly valuable installation space in the exterior area. However, a correspondingly reversed procedure is also conceivable.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the first fastening element comprises at least one tension hook designed to engage behind and support the first wall section after the control unit has been inserted into the opening, and the second fastening element comprises a screw element designed to be screwed to the second wall section through an opening in the second wall section. To fasten the control unit, it is positioned at the opening in the wall such that the at least one tension hook extends through the opening, engages behind the wall, and rests upon it.The control unit is then brought into full contact with the wall so that the screw element provided on the control unit is aligned with the opening in the second wall section, allowing a screw connection to be established, for example, by engaging the screw element with a corresponding internal thread in the opening, or by screwing a nut onto the screw element. After the screw connection is established and the sealing element is thereby pressed against all wall sections surrounding the opening, the particle- and fluid-tight seal is achieved. Preferably, the first fastening element comprises at least two spaced-apart clamping hooks, and the second fastening element comprises at least two spaced-apart screw elements.Advantageously, such a control unit can provide a particle- and fluid-tight mounting on the wall of the vehicle body shell, which requires less space than conventional solutions using multiple screw-on tabs.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the first fastening element comprises at least one tension hook configured to engage behind and brace itself against the first wall section after the control device has been inserted into the opening. The second fastening element comprises an elastically deformable tab configured to assume a starting position before the control device is inserted into the opening, further configured to deform elastically during the insertion of the control device into the opening and while sliding along a stop in the second wall section, and further configured to return to its starting position after insertion into the opening, thereby forming a snap connection with a stepped end region of the tab.Accordingly, a positive-locking connection is formed with the support of the second wall section, which opposes the direction of movement opposite to that during insertion. Furthermore, the control unit can be very easily fixed in this wall section by means of at least one tension hook and its support against the first wall section, eliminating the need for time-consuming or complex steps such as screwing. Fixing in the second wall section is achieved simply by inserting the corresponding part of the control unit into the opening. Advantageously, no separate fastening material needs to be carried by the person or robot installing the unit, as both the tension hook (the first fastening element) and the tab (the second fastening element) are already integrated into the control unit.Preferably, the first fastening element comprises at least two tension hooks, and the second fastening element comprises at least two elastically deformable tension hooks. The first end region of the tab is preferably stepped.

[0014] According to a further development, the control unit inserted into the opening includes a clamping screw with a pre-assembled nut. The clamping screw is designed to increase the contact pressure between the sealing element and the wall when the nut is tightened. The clamping screw can be considered a secondary fastening element. When inserted into the opening, the nut is initially untightened and can be tightened from this side after insertion, thereby increasing the contact pressure between the sealing element and the wall. This reinforces the clamping mechanism that secures the control unit to the wall. The clamping screw with pre-assembled nut significantly reduces the installation effort, as the person or robot performing the installation does not need a separate clamping screw or nut, but only a tool to tighten the nut.

[0015] According to a further development, the second fastening element is designed as a clamping clamp. At one end, it includes the tab for forming the snap connection with the support of the second wall section. At another end, it is a flat surface with a ramp-like cam. Along this cam, a toggle switch, pivotally connected to the control unit, can be pivoted between an unlocked position, in which the toggle switch exerts no pressure on the cam of the clamping clamp due to its position relative to the ramp-like cam, and a locked position, in which the toggle switch exerts contact pressure on the clamping clamp due to its position relative to the ramp-like cam. Due to the contact pressure in the locked position, the pressure acting on the sealing element via the snap connection increases, thus improving the seal between the sealing element and the wall.A particularly advantageous feature is that neither an additional component, such as a nut, nor a special tool, such as a wrench, is required for mounting the control unit; a simple pivoting motion of the knob is sufficient to move it between the unlocked and locked positions. Optionally, the knob can be reversibly engaged in the locked position, thus securing it in that position.

[0016] According to a further development, the toggle, in its unlocked position, conceals a socket for a plug connection located on the surface of the control unit, while in its locked position, it allows external access to the socket. The socket can, for example, be for an electrical connection and accept an electrical plug, or for a hydraulic connection and a coupling plug. This further development advantageously ensures that such electrical or hydraulic connections cannot be made as long as the toggle is not in the locked position, thus exerting contact pressure on the clamping jaw and ensuring the control unit is correctly mounted with a particle- and fluid-tight seal.

[0017] In all the embodiments and further developments described above, where the first fastening element comprises a tension hook, the following advantages arise: The at least one tension hook and its support against the first wall section allow for very simple fixing of the control unit in this first wall section, eliminating the need for time-consuming or complex steps such as screwing. Instead, the support against the first wall section provides sufficient contact pressure without requiring an additional active step for this section. In conjunction with the screw fixing in the second wall section, this results in a significant overall saving of labor when setting up the fastening.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the first fastening element and the second fastening element are identical and each comprise an elastically deformable tab designed to assume a starting position before the control unit is inserted into the opening, further designed to deform elastically during the insertion of the control unit into the opening and during sliding along a stop of the second wall area, and further designed to return to the starting position after insertion into the opening, thereby forming a snap connection with the stop of the second wall area via a stepped end region of the tab, wherein the control unit inserted into the opening comprises a clamping screw with a pre-assembled nut for both the first and second fastening elements, the clamping screw being designed toThe contact pressure between the sealing element and the wall is increased when the nut is tightened. Accordingly, for installation, the control unit is inserted into the opening and is secured in place by the resulting snap-fit ​​connection. No additional components are required to increase the contact pressure between the sealing element and the wall; only a tool is needed for the installer or robot to tighten the respective nuts. Preferably, the first and second fastening elements each comprise two corresponding tabs and clamping screws with pre-installed nuts. According to a further embodiment, the first and second fastening elements are connected to each other via a connecting element. According to another embodiment,In a system where the first and second fastening elements each comprise two corresponding tabs, tension screws with pre-assembled nuts, all tabs are connected to each other by means of corresponding connecting elements to form a frame.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the first fastening element and the second fastening element are identical and each comprise an elastically deformable tab designed to assume a starting position before the control device is inserted into the opening, further designed to deform elastically during the insertion of the control device into the opening and during sliding along a stop of the second wall area, and further designed to return to the starting position after insertion into the opening, thereby forming a snap connection with the stop of the second wall area via a stepped end region of the tab, wherein the first fastening element and the second fastening element are each designed as a clamping jaw which includes at one end region the tab for forming the snap connection with the stop of the second wall area.and is formed flat in a further end area, and the surface of the control unit, which is inserted into the opening, has a ramp-like cam along which a toggle lever pivotably connected to the control unit can be pivoted between an unlocked position, in which the toggle lever exerts no pressure on the cam of the clamping jaw due to its position relative to the ramp-like cam, and a locked position, in which the toggle lever exerts contact pressure on the clamping jaw due to its position relative to the ramp-like cam. Advantageously, neither additional components nor additional tools are required to increase the contact pressure between the sealing element and the wall.but merely the pivoting of the toggles by the person or robot performing the assembly. According to one further development, the first fastening element and the second fastening element are connected to each other via a connecting element. According to another further development, in which the first fastening element and the second fastening element each comprise two corresponding tabs, clamping screws with pre-assembled nuts, all the tabs present are connected to each other by means of corresponding connecting elements, forming a frame.

[0020] According to a second aspect, the problem is solved by a method for attaching a control device, which includes a tension hook as its first fastening element. The method comprises the following steps: inserting the control device into the opening until the first fastening element, designed as a tension hook, engages behind and is supported by the first wall section of the wall containing the opening; pivoting the control device until it rests against the second wall section of the wall containing the opening; and finally, fastening the control device to the second wall section by means of the second fastening element. The insertion may include positioning the control device against the opening, followed by sliding the control device so that the tension hook engages behind the wall.

[0021] According to a third aspect, the problem is solved by a vehicle that includes a control unit as described above. The vehicle can be in a bare-bones state or in a finished, operational state. Such a vehicle accordingly includes a control unit whose sealing element provides a particle- and fluid-tight seal between the interior and the exterior, advantageously requiring less installation space compared to the prior art.

[0022] The embodiments and further developments described herein can be combined as desired. All disclosures made herein regarding the control unit described herein also constitute disclosures for the method and vehicle described herein, and vice versa.

[0023] Further advantages, features, and details will become apparent from the following description, in which – possibly with reference to the drawings – at least one embodiment is described in detail. Identical, similar, and / or functionally equivalent parts are identified by the same reference numerals.

[0024] This shows: Fig. 1: a control unit with wall mounting according to the state of the art Fig. 2: a wall with an opening in spatial view and spatial section view Fig. 3 a control unit according to an embodiment in spatial view Fig. 4 the control unit off Fig. 3 in a corresponding spatial sectional view Fig. 5 a control unit according to a further embodiment in spatial view Fig. 6 the control unit off Fig. 5 in a corresponding spatial sectional view Fig. 7 a control unit according to a further embodiment in spatial view Fig. 8 the control unit off Fig. 7 in a corresponding spatial sectional view Fig. 9 a detailed view of the control unit Fig. 7 and Fig. 8 Fig. 10 individual interconnected fastening elements Fig. 11 a control unit according to a further embodiment in spatial representation Fig. 12 the control unit off Fig. 11 in a corresponding spatial sectional view Fig. 13. Creating a snap connection Fig. 14 the procedure for attaching a control unit

[0025] For the sake of clarity, not all identical parts present in multiple locations in the figures are individually marked with the corresponding reference symbols, especially not in the case of parts obscured by perspective.

[0026] Fig. Figure 1 shows, for illustrative purposes, a spatial view of a control unit 10 not according to the invention, mounted on a wall 12 according to a prior art solution. Accordingly, the control unit 10 comprises a plurality of mounting tabs 100, which are connected to a wall 12 of a vehicle body shell via screw connections. It is evident that the mounting tabs 100 occupy a considerable amount of installation space, at least in one direction of extension, in this case the extension between the right side and the left side, which corresponds to the double arrow with dashed line. In the control unit 10 shown here, the mounting tabs 100 could be arranged in a space-saving manner with respect to the extension between the front edge and the rear edge of the control unit 10.However, due to structural constraints, it may also happen that an arrangement is required for the corresponding screw-on tabs 100 in which they extend further over the front and rear edges of the control unit 10, thus also requiring considerable installation space in this direction of extension, which corresponds to the double arrow with dotted line.

[0027] Fig. 2 shows in the left Fig. Figure 2A shows a spatial representation of a wall 12 with a first wall section 12a and a second wall section 12b, flanking an opening 14 in the wall 12. With respect to the plane of the opening 14, the first wall section 12a is opposite the second wall section 12b. In the right Fig. 2B shows the same wall in a spatial section view. Fig. Figure 2 serves primarily to illustrate the position of the opening 14, which is no longer freely visible in the following figures due to a control unit 10 inserted therein and is therefore no longer indicated with a reference sign.

[0028] Fig. Figure 3 shows a sectional view of a control unit 10 according to the invention, which, for the sake of clarity, is shown largely without other possible components. Fig. Figure 4 shows the same control unit 10 in a spatial sectional view. The control unit 10 comprises two first fastening elements 18a and 18b, which are designed as tension hooks and are attached to a first wall section 12a of a wall 12, the wall section 12a being, for illustrative purposes, at the upper edge of Fig. 3 seemingly ends, but actually continues upwards. Furthermore, the control unit 10 includes two second fastening elements 20a and 20b, which are designed as screw elements 20a and 20b and result in a positive connection with the second wall section 12b. The fastening of the two first fastening elements 18a and 18b to the first wall section 12a is effected indirectly by the contact pressure mediated via the second fastening elements 20a and 20b. The opening 14 in the wall 12 is completely filled by the control unit 10 and is therefore not identified with a separate reference numeral. A sealing element 16 surrounding the opening 14, which is only visible in the spatial sectional view of Fig. 4 is visible, ensuring a particle- and fluid-tight seal of an outdoor space, exemplified by the following: Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 to the left of wall 12, opposite an interior space, which is exemplified in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 to the right of wall 12 is located.

[0029] Fig. 5 and Fig. Figure 6 shows a further embodiment of the control unit 10 in a spatial oblique view or the corresponding spatial oblique sectional view. The control unit 10 again comprises two first fastening elements 18a and 18b, which are designed as tension hooks and are attached to a first wall area 12a of a wall 12, wherein, for illustrative purposes, the wall area 12a is located at the left edge of Fig. 3 seemingly ends, but actually continues further to the left. A second fastening element 20 is designed as a clamping screw 26 with a pre-assembled nut. An embodiment with a single fastening element 20 is shown here; embodiments with two or more fastening elements 20 are also conceivable. The in Fig. 5 and Fig. The orientation shown in Figure 6 does not necessarily correspond to the orientation found in an actual vehicle. Rather, it may be rotated 90° clockwise, so that the first mounting elements 18, 18a, 18b are arranged along the vehicle's vertical axis at the top, and the second mounting element 20 is arranged along the vehicle's vertical axis at the bottom. The view of the control unit 10 is preferably from inside the vehicle, and the vehicle's engine compartment is located behind the wall 12. An elastically deformable tab 22 forms a snap connection with a stop 24 of the second wall section 12, 12b and prevents movement of the control unit 10 relative to the vehicle's vertical axis. Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 downwards. Accordingly, when mounting the control unit 10 on the wall 12, the tab 22 serves as an initial fixing point in its second wall area 12b, before the second fastening element 22, which is also designed as a clamping screw 26 with a pre-assembled nut, contributes to a stronger fixing, a higher contact pressure and thus to sealing after completion of the installation. In Fig. Figure 6 shows a sealing element 16 surrounding the opening 14.

[0030] Fig. 7 and Fig. Figure 8 shows a further embodiment of the control unit 10 in a spatial oblique view or the corresponding spatial sectional view. The control unit 10 again comprises two first fastening elements 18a and 18b, which are designed as clamping hooks and are supported on a first wall section 12a (not provided with a reference numeral due to perspective obscurity) and a first wall section 12b of a wall 12. Two second fastening elements 20, 20a and 20, 20b are designed as clamping jaws, each with an elastically deformable tab 22 and a further end section 28, the surface of which comprises a ramp-like cam 32. A toggle 30 is pivotably connected to the control unit 10 and can be pivoted between an unlocked position and a locked position. Fig. 7 and Fig. 8 the knob 30 is in the unlocked position.

[0031] Fig. Figure 9 shows a detailed spatial view of the control unit 10. Fig. 7 and Fig. 8. Shown is an oblique view of the further end area 28, which includes a ramp-like backdrop 32. In the Fig. 7, Fig. 8 and Fig. At position 9, the toggle 30 is in the unlocked position. If the toggle 30 is moved over the ramp-like cam 32 until the contact element 34 rests on the raised part of the ramp-like cam 32, it is in the locked position, in which the toggle 32 exerts a contact pressure on the clamping jaw 20 due to its position relative to the ramp-like cam. Due to the contact pressure in the locked position, the pressure exerted on the clamping jaw 20 via the snap connection increases. Fig. 9. The sealing element (not shown) acts, and the sealing between the sealing element and the wall is increased.

[0032] Fig. Figure 10 shows first fastening elements 18, 18a and 18, 18b and second fastening elements 20, 20a and 20, 20b, all of which are identical to each other. They each comprise an elastically deformable tab 22 and a clamping screw 26. The fastening elements 18a, 18b, 20a and 20b can each be provided individually for attachment to a control unit, but according to the illustration in Fig. The situation shown in Figure 10 is connected to functional units, wherein the fastening elements 18a and 18b, as well as the fastening elements 20 and 20b, are each connected via a connecting element 36. Also included is the one shown in Figure 10. Fig. 10. Possibility, not shown, of connecting the fastening elements 18a and 18b, which are connected by means of a connecting element 36, and the fastening elements 20a and 20b, which are also connected to each other by means of a connecting element 36, by means of two further connecting elements, whereby a frame can be provided which can be attached to a control unit.

[0033] Fig. 11 and Fig. Figure 12 shows a further embodiment of the control unit 10 in a spatial oblique view or the corresponding spatial sectional view. The control unit 10 again comprises two first fastening elements 18a and 18b and two second fastening elements 20a and 20b, wherein the first fastening elements 18a and 18b and the second fastening elements 20a and 20b are identical. They each comprise an elastically deformable tab 22, which is designed to secure the control unit 10 before it is inserted into the Fig. 11 and Fig. 12. The non-visible opening is designed to assume a starting position, and is further designed to deform elastically during the insertion of the control unit into the opening and during sliding along a stop of the second wall area, and is further designed to return to the starting position after insertion into the opening, thereby with a Fig. 11 and Fig. 12. The non-visible, step-like end area of ​​the tab forms a snap connection with the Fig. 11 and Fig. 12 non-visible placement of the second wall area to form what is in Fig. 11 and Fig. This corresponds to the situation shown in Figure 12. Furthermore, the first fastening element 18, 18a, 18b and the second fastening element 20, 20a, 20b each comprise a clamping screw 26 with a pre-assembled nut, wherein the clamping screw 26 is designed to, when the nut is tightened, increase the contact pressure between the Fig. 11 and Fig. 12 non-visible sealing elements and the wall 12 to increase. Two first fastening elements 18a and 18b and two second fastening elements 20a and 20b are used here, which as in Fig. 10 are each described as being connected to each other via a connecting element 36.

[0034] Fig. Figure 13 shows the creation of a snap connection by means of a sectional view of part of a control unit 10 and a wall 12. The upper left section shows... Fig. 13A a second fastening element 20 of the control unit 10 with an elastically deformable tab 22 having a stepped end region 22a, and a clamping screw 26 with a pre-assembled nut. The elastically deformable tab 22 assumes a starting position in which it is not elastically deformed. Also shown is a sealing element 16. The control unit 10 is pushed in the direction of the arrow indicated by dashed lines to an opening 14 of the second wall region 12b of a wall 12, which has a stop 24. In the upper right Fig. In 13B, the stop 24 is in contact with the elastically deformable tab 22. With further movement of the control unit 10 in the direction of the dashed arrow, the tab 22 will deform elastically, so that it moves away from the stop 24. In the lower left Fig. In step 13C, the elastically deformable tab 22 has passed the stop 24 and assumed its initial position, in which it is no longer elastically deformed, and has formed a snap connection with the stepped end region 22a of the tab 22. In this state, the opening 14 is already sealed by the sealing element 16, which rests against the second wall region 12b. Tightening the clamping screw 26 with the pre-assembled nut results in the connection shown in the lower right. Fig. Figure 13D shows a situation in which the pressure of the second wall area 12b on the sealing element 16 has increased, resulting in a reinforced seal of the opening 14 and thus a seal between an interior space (not designated by a reference numeral) and an exterior space (also not designated by a reference numeral). Preferably, the sliding action towards the opening 14 is performed from the exterior space towards the interior space, and the tightening of the clamping screw 26 is performed from the interior space.

[0035] Fig. Figure 14 shows a highly schematic representation of a method for attaching a control unit 10 to a wall 12. The control unit 10 comprises a sealing element 16, a first fastening element 18 which includes a tension hook, and a tension screw 26, which can be considered a second fastening element 20. The control unit 10 is to be attached to the wall 12, which has an opening 14. Starting from an initial situation, which is in the Fig. As shown in 14A, control unit 10 is located in the Fig. 14B is inserted into the opening 14 until the fastening element 18 engages behind the first wall section 12a and is supported by it. In the Fig. 14C, the control unit 10 is pivoted so that the control unit 10 rests against the second wall area 12b of the wall 12. In the Fig. In Figure 14D, the clamping screw 26 is tightened. Accordingly, the control unit 10 is attached to the wall 12 via the first fastening element 18 and the clamping screw 26, which acts as the second fastening element 20, thereby sealing the opening 14 with the sealing element 16. For the sake of clarity, reference symbols are not included in all sub-figures of Figure 14D. Fig. 14 times repeated.

[0036] Although the invention has been further illustrated and explained in detail by means of preferred embodiments, the invention is not limited by the disclosed examples, and other variations can be derived from them by a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of protection of the invention. It is therefore clear that a multitude of possible variations exist. It is also clear that the embodiments mentioned as examples are truly only examples and are not to be understood in any way as limiting, for example, the scope of protection, the possible applications, or the configuration of the invention.Rather, the preceding description and the description of the figures enable the person skilled in the art to implement the exemplary embodiments in concrete terms, whereby the person skilled in the art, with knowledge of the disclosed inventive concept, can make various changes, for example with regard to the function or the arrangement of individual elements mentioned in an exemplary embodiment, without leaving the scope of protection defined by the claims and their legal equivalents, such as further explanations in the description. Reference symbol list 10 Control unit 12 Wall 12a first wall area 12b second wall area 14 Opening 16 Sealing element 18, 18a, 18b first fastening element 20, 20a, 20b second fastening element 22 elastically deformable tabs 22a Step-shaped end area of ​​the tab 22 24. Disconnection of the second wall area 26 Tensioning screw with pre-assembled nut 28 further end area 30 gags 32 ramp-like backdrop 34 Contact element 36 Connecting element 100 screw-on tabs according to the state of the art 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 40 09 321 A1

[0003]

Claims

[1] Control unit (10), comprising a fastening device for attaching the control unit (10) to a wall (12) of a vehicle body shell, wherein the wall (12) has an opening (14) connecting an interior of the vehicle body shell with an exterior of the vehicle body shell, wherein the control unit (10) comprises a sealing element (16) configured to provide, when the control unit (10) is attached to the wall (12), a particle- and fluid-tight seal between the sealing element (16) and the wall (12) by contact with the wall (12), and thus a seal between the interior of the vehicle body shell and the exterior of the vehicle body shell, characterized by, that the fastening device comprises a first fastening element (18, 18a, 18b) designed to fasten the control unit (10) to a first wall area (12a) of the wall (12), and a second fastening element (20, 20a, 20b) designed to fasten the control unit (10) to a second wall area (12b) of the wall (12) which is opposite the first wall area (12a) with respect to the plane of the opening (14). [2] Control unit (10) according to claim 1, characterized by , that - the first fastening element (18, 18a, 18b) comprises at least one tension hook designed to engage and brace itself against the first wall area (12a) after the control unit (10) has been inserted into the opening (14), and - the second fastening element (20, 20a, 20b) comprises a screw element which is designed to be screwed to the second wall area (12b) via an opening in the second wall area (12b). [3] Control unit (10) according to claim 1, characterized by , that - the first fastening element (18, 18a, 18b) comprises at least one tension hook designed to engage and brace itself against the first wall area (12a) after the control unit (10) has been inserted into the opening (14), and - the second fastening element (20, 20a, 20b) comprises an elastically deformable tab (22) designed to assume a starting position before the control unit (10) is inserted into the opening (14), furthermore designed to deform elastically during the insertion of the control unit (10) into the opening (14) and during sliding along a stop (24) of the second wall area (12b), and furthermore designed to return to the starting position after insertion into the opening (14) and thereby form a snap connection with the stop (24) of the second wall area (12b) with a stepped end area of ​​the tab (22). [4] Control unit (10) according to claim 3, characterized by, that the control unit (10) inserted into the opening (14) comprises a clamping screw (26) with a pre-assembled nut, wherein the clamping screw (26) is designed to increase the contact pressure between the sealing element (16) and the wall (12) when the nut is tightened. [5] Control unit (10) according to claim 3, characterized by, that the second fastening element (20, 20a, 20b) is designed as a clamping jaw which, at one end area, includes the tab (22) for forming the snap connection with the stop (24) of the second wall area (12b), and is designed as a flat surface in a further end area, the surface of which has a ramp-like cam (32) along which a toggle (30) pivotably connected to the control unit (10) is pivotable between an unlocking position, in which the toggle (30) does not exert any pressure on the cam (32) of the clamping jaw due to its position relative to the ramp-like cam (32), and a locking position, in which the toggle (30) exerts a contact pressure on the clamping jaw due to its position relative to the ramp-like cam (32). [6] Control unit (10) according to claim 5, characterized by, that the knob (30) in its unlocked position conceals a socket for a plug connection arranged in the surface of the control unit (10) and in the locked position allows access to the socket from the outside. [7] Control unit (10) according to claim 1, characterized by, that the first fastening element (18, 18a, 18b) and the second fastening element (20, 20a, 20b) are identical and each comprise an elastically deformable tab (22) designed to assume a starting position before the control unit (10) is inserted into the opening (14), further designed to deform elastically during the insertion of the control unit (10) into the opening (14) and during sliding along a stop (24) of the second wall region (12b), and further designed to return to the starting position after insertion into the opening (14) and thereby form a snap connection with the stop (24) of the second wall region (12b) with a stepped end region of the tab (22), wherein the control unit (10) inserted into the opening (14) is for the first fastening element (18, 18a, 18b) and the second Fastening element (20, 20a,20b) each comprises a clamping screw (26) with a pre-assembled nut, wherein the clamping screw (26) is designed to increase the contact pressure between the sealing element (16) and the wall (12) when the nut is tightened. [8] Control unit (10) according to claim 1, characterized by, that the first fastening element (18, 18a, 18b) and the second fastening element (20, 20a, 20b) are identical and each comprise an elastically deformable tab (22) designed to assume a starting position before the control unit (10) is inserted into the opening (14), further designed to deform elastically during the insertion of the control unit (10) into the opening (14) and during sliding along a stop (24) of the second wall region (12b), and further designed to return to the starting position after insertion into the opening (14) and thereby form a snap connection with the stop (24) of the second wall region (12b) with a stepped end region of the tab (22), wherein the first fastening element (18, 18a, 18b) and the second fastening element (20, 20a, 20b) each are designed as a clamping jawwhich at one end area includes the tab (22) for forming the snap connection with the stop (24) of the second wall area (12b), and is formed flat in a further end area, and the surface of the control device (10), which is inserted into the opening (14), has a ramp-like cam (32) along which a toggle (30) pivotably connected to the control device (10) can be pivoted between an unlocking position, in which the toggle (30) does not exert any pressure on the cam (32) of the clamping jaw due to its position relative to the ramp-like cam (32), and a locking position, in which the toggle (30) exerts a contact pressure on the clamping jaw due to its position relative to the ramp-like cam (32). [9] Method for attaching a control unit (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising - the control unit (10) is inserted into the opening (14) until the first fastening element (18, 18a, 18b), designed as a tension hook, engages behind and rests against the first wall area (12a) of the wall having the opening (14), - Swiveling the control unit (10) until the control unit (10) is in contact with the second wall area (12b) of the wall having the opening (14), - Attaching the control unit (10) to the second wall area (12b) using the second mounting element (20, 20a, 20b). [10] Vehicle comprising a control unit (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 8 or in which a method according to claim 9 has been carried out.

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