Housing and control device

Abstract

Housing (1) for a control device, in particular for a hygrostat or temperature controller, comprising a housing base (20), a housing cover (10) which can be connected to or is connected to the housing base (20), and an adjustment device (30) for adjusting a parameter of the control device, wherein the adjustment device (30) has at least one adjustment means (31) which is rotatably arranged in the housing (1) and can be actuated from an outside (11) of the housing cover (10) in order to rotate it into a rotational position corresponding to the parameter, wherein the housing cover (10) and / or housing base (20) has / has at least one stop (12) which is formed on an inside of the housing cover (10) and / or housing base (20) and is adapted to limit the rotational movement of the adjustment means (31) in a first end position and in a second end position, wherein the housing cover (10) and / or housing base (20) are / is monolithic.

Description

The invention relates to a housing for a control device and a control device with a control device and such a housing. Control devices typically comprise a control unit, for example a hygrostat or a temperature controller, and a housing that protects and contains the control unit. Control devices, such as humidistats or temperature controllers, are generally used to regulate a physical quantity, such as relative humidity or temperature, to a desired value, i.e., to keep it constant or to allow for controlled changes. The physical quantity can also be referred to as the controlled variable, and its desired value as the setpoint or reference variable. Rotary adjustment devices, such as rotary knobs or dials, are typically used to set the target value. These devices are connected to the control unit in such a way that the desired target value can be set by rotating the device accordingly. To limit the adjustable range of the device, for example, to prevent rotations below a minimum value and above a maximum value, mechanical stops can be provided. Control devices with such a stop are known, in which the stop is soldered into a circuit board in such a way that it limits the rotation of the device according to the minimum and maximum values. The manufacturing and assembly of such control devices involves a high expenditure of labor and time. It is therefore the object of the present invention to facilitate the manufacture and assembly of such control devices. This problem is solved according to the invention by a housing according to claim 1 and a control device according to claim 6. Specifically, the object of the invention is achieved by a housing for a control device, in particular for a hygrostat or temperature controller, comprising a housing base, a housing cover which is connectable to or connected with the housing base, and an adjustment device for setting a parameter of the control device. The adjustment device has at least one adjustment means which is rotatably arranged in the housing and can be actuated from an outside of the housing cover in order to rotate it into a position corresponding to the parameter. The housing cover and / or the housing base have at least one stop which is formed on an inside of the housing cover and / or housing base and is adapted to limit a rotational movement of the adjustment means in a first end position and in a second end position. The housing cover and / or housing base are monolithic. The invention is therefore based on the idea of ​​forming the housing cover and / or the housing base monolithically. In other words, the entire housing cover and / or housing base, i.e., including all its components such as the stop, is integral, meaning it is manufactured from a single, originally cohesive material, in particular a cast material, or workpiece. This clearly distinguishes the housing according to the invention from housings whose housing cover and / or housing base are assembled from two or more originally separate individual parts, in particular a base body and a separate stop, to form a cohesive component. The monolithic design of the housing cover and / or base offers several advantages. It reduces the number of components, thereby simplifying both manufacturing and assembly. Furthermore, it eliminates vulnerable connection points, thus increasing the housing's stability. In particular, the mechanical stop according to the invention, as part of the monolithic housing cover and / or base, exhibits increased stability as a result. Preferably, the monolithic formation of the housing cover and / or housing base according to the invention is carried out by means of a primary forming process, in particular an injection molding process. It is particularly preferred if the stop is produced in an injection mold of a base body of the housing cover and / or housing base. The stop is thus preferably produced together with the base body of the housing cover and / or housing base in the same injection mold. The base body of the housing cover can, for example, comprise a cover plate and a surrounding side wall, and the base body of the housing base can, for example, comprise a base plate and a side wall. The parameter to be set can be any parameter of the control device. Preferably, the parameter is a setpoint, i.e., a desired value, of a controlled variable, i.e., a quantity, in particular a physical quantity, that the control device is intended to regulate, i.e., keep constant or selectively variable. The controlled variable can be, for example, relative humidity or temperature, although any other physical quantity is equally possible. The rotational position of the adjusting device corresponds to a specific value of the parameter to be adjusted. Preferably, the first end position represents a minimum value and the second end position a maximum value of the parameter to be adjusted. The adjustable range thus preferably extends from the first end position to the second end position. The stop according to the invention ensures that the adjusting device can only be rotated or adjusted to the positions corresponding to or between the first and second end positions. The adjusting mechanism can be actuated from the outside of the housing cover in various ways. It can be actuated both manually and automatically. Manual actuation, e.g., by hand or a tool, is preferred and can be either direct, i.e., through direct contact with the adjusting mechanism, or indirect, e.g., by actuating another component and transferring the rotary motion to the adjusting mechanism. Other actuation methods are possible. The housing according to the invention is designed to accommodate a control device, in particular a humidistat or temperature controller. Specifically, the housing is designed for a mechanical humidistat, which is used to regulate relative humidity by means of heaters and fans. The housing can also be used for other control devices and other equipment. Preferred embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the stop has a stop rib for the adjusting means in both the first and second end positions. This allows the area between the stop ribs to be essentially material-free, at least in sections, thus advantageously saving material. Preferably, each stop rib has a stop surface adapted to engage positively with the adjusting element in its respective end position. The stop surfaces thus each have a geometry adapted to the geometry of the respective area of ​​the adjusting element designed for contact. This mutually adapted surface ensures that the force is distributed over a larger area during contact. In this way, the force-bearing capacity of the stop is increased. Furthermore, damage caused by localized force peaks is reduced. It is also advantageous if the stop has a support rib that connects the stop ribs for support in both directions of impact. The support rib is preferably arranged so that it absorbs at least part of the impact force acting on one stop rib and transfers it to the other stop rib. This stabilizes the stop ribs, further increasing the force-bearing capacity of the stop and further reducing the risk of damage. Preferably, the stop, in particular the stop ribs, is connected to a side wall of the housing cover and / or the housing base for support in at least one direction of impact. In this preferred embodiment, the housing cover and / or housing base thus has a side wall that projects from, for example, a cover plate of the housing cover and / or a base plate of the housing base and extends around its entire circumference. This side wall is connected to the stop in such a way that it supports it in at least one direction of impact, preferably in both directions of impact, in order to further increase the force-bearing capacity of the stop and further reduce the risk of damage. Furthermore, the invention specifies a control device comprising a control unit and a housing as previously described, wherein the control unit is arranged in the housing. For the function and advantages of the control device according to the invention, reference is made to the descriptions relating to the housing. The housing is thus disclosed and claimed both as part of the control device and separately, i.e., independently of the control device. The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to an exemplary embodiment and the accompanying schematic drawings. These show: Fig. 1 a front view of a housing according to an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 a side view of the housing from Fig. 1; Fig. 3 a sectional view of the housing from Fig. 1 with an adjusting means in a first end position; and Fig. 4 a sectional view of the housing from Fig. 1 with the adjusting means in a second end position. Fig. 1 shows a housing 1 for a control device, specifically for a mechanical hygrostat, according to an embodiment of the invention. The housing 1 comprises a housing cover 10, a housing base 20 (see Fig. 2), and an adjustment device 30. Fig. 1 shows an outer surface 11 of the housing cover 10. The setting device 30 is used to adjust a parameter of the control device, specifically a desired relative humidity, which the control device uses as a setpoint for regulating the actual relative humidity. The setting device 30 can also be used for other purposes, for example, to adjust other parameters such as a temperature setpoint, or to select different operating modes. The adjusting device 30 includes an adjusting means 31, specifically an adjusting wheel or rotary control. The adjusting means 31 is rotatably arranged in the housing 1. The adjusting means 31 can, for example, be rotatably attached or mounted on a circuit board of the control device located in the housing 1 or on a housing part, such as the housing cover 10 or housing base 20. The adjusting means 31 can also be arranged in the housing 1 in another way. The adjusting device 31 is arranged in the housing 1 such that it can be actuated from the outside 11 of the housing cover 10. It is therefore accessible from the outside 11. Specifically, an opening is formed in a cover plate 17 of the housing cover 10 through which the adjusting device 31 can be actuated, i.e., rotated, from the outside 11. The adjusting device 31 may, but does not necessarily have to, protrude from the housing cover 10, specifically the cover plate 17. In the illustrated embodiment, the adjusting device 31 can be actuated by means of a tool, specifically a suitable screwdriver. It is also possible to actuate the adjusting device 31 manually. By actuating it accordingly, the adjusting device 31 can be rotated into a position corresponding to the parameter. The position of the adjusting device 31 thus corresponds to a specific value of the parameter to be adjusted. The adjusting device 31 is adjustable between a first end position (shown in Fig. 1) and a second end position. In the illustrated embodiment, the first end position corresponds to a minimum value, specifically a relative humidity (RH) of slightly less than 30%, and the second end position to a maximum value, specifically a relative humidity (RH) of slightly more than 95%. The end positions thus limit the adjustable range of values ​​for the parameter. The adjusting device 31 can be rotated or adjusted to any position between the first and second end positions. The adjustment of the adjusting device 31 is therefore stepless or continuous. It is also conceivable that the adjusting device 31 can only be adjusted to predefined, discrete rotational positions. To prevent the adjusting element 31 from being rotated into positions outside the adjustable range, the housing cover 10 has a stop 12 (see Fig. 3 and Fig. 4) for the adjusting element 31 in the first end position and in the second end position. The stop 12 is formed on an inner surface of the housing cover 10 and is adapted to limit the rotational movement of the adjusting element 31 in the first end position and in the second end position. The housing cover 10 is monolithic, specifically manufactured by means of an injection molding process. In other words, the entire housing cover 10, i.e., including all its components such as the stop 12, is integral, meaning it is made from a single, continuous piece of material, specifically cast material. At least the stop 12 is produced in an injection mold of a base body of the housing cover 10, the base body comprising at least the cover plate 17 and preferably a circumferential side wall 16. Fig. 2 shows a side view of the housing 1 from Fig. 1. The housing base 20 is connected to the housing cover 10. The housing base 20 has a substantially flat base plate 24 and a surrounding side wall 23, which is arranged substantially perpendicularly to the base plate 24. The base plate 24 and the side wall 23 form a basic body of the housing base 20. Connecting means 22 for connecting the housing 1 to the environment are provided on an outer surface of the housing base 20, specifically the base plate 24. The circumferential side wall 16 of the housing cover 10 is arranged essentially perpendicularly to the cover plate 17. The cover plate 17 is stepped, with a first (lower in Fig. 2) area, which includes the opening for actuating the adjusting means 31, having a greater distance to the housing base 20 than a second (upper in Fig. 2) area. Ventilation openings, specifically ventilation slots, are formed in the side walls 16 and 23 of the housing cover 10 and the housing base 20. The ventilation openings extend without interruption from the side wall 16 of the housing cover 10 to the side wall 23 of the housing base 20. Figures 3 and 4 each show a sectional view of the housing 1 from Figures 1 and 2, the section being made along a sectioning plane AA indicated in Figure 2. Figures 3 and 4 differ only in the depicted rotational position of the adjusting means 31. Figure 3 shows the adjusting means 31 in the first end position, which corresponds to the minimum value, while Figure 4 shows the adjusting means 31 in the second end position, which corresponds to the maximum value. The stop 13 is shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The hatching of the cut housing cover 10 clearly shows that the stop 13 and the base body of the housing cover 10 are monolithic parts of the housing cover 10, i.e., formed from a single piece. The stop 15 has a stop rib 13 for the adjusting element 31 in both the first and second end positions. Each stop rib 13 has a stop surface 14 adapted to engage positively with the adjusting element 31 in the respective end position. The stop surfaces 14 thus each have a geometry adapted to the geometry of the respective area of ​​the adjusting element 31 designed for contact, specifically a side flank of a projection 32 of the adjusting element 31. The stop surfaces 14, specifically the stop ribs 13, and the side flanks of the projection 32 extend essentially in the radial direction of a rotational axis of the adjusting element 31. The stop 12 has a support rib 15 that connects the stop ribs 13 for support in both directions of impact. The direction of impact is understood to be the direction of movement of the respective area designed for impact, i.e., the respective side flank, of the adjusting element 31 shortly before it strikes the stop. The support rib 15 extends essentially tangentially to the direction of rotation of the adjusting element 31 between the stop ribs 13. This allows the support rib 15 to support the essentially radially arranged stop ribs 13 both when impacting in the first end position and when impacting in the second end position, thus absorbing at least a portion of the impact force exerted by the adjusting element 31 on the stop ribs 13. The stop ribs 13 are connected to the side wall 16 of the housing cover 10 for support in both stop directions. The stop ribs 13 thus extend essentially in the radial direction of the axis of rotation of the adjusting means 31 to the circumferential side wall 16. In this context, it is particularly evident in Figures 3 and 4, with regard to the hatching of the sectioned housing cover 10, that the stop 13 and the side wall 16 of the housing cover 10 form a coherent structure that is free of joints, connecting lines, or the like. Rather, the components of the housing cover 10, i.e., in particular the stop 15, the cover plate 17, and the side wall 16, are integral, meaning they are made from a single, originally coherent unit, namely a cast material. In the embodiment described above and shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 to 4, the stop 13 is formed as part of the housing cover 10. It is also possible for the stop 13 to be formed additionally or alternatively as part of the housing base 20. Such a stop 13 has essentially the same structural and functional features as the embodiment described above and shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 to 4. Reference symbol list: 1 Housing 10 Housing cover 11 Outer surface of housing cover 12 Stop 13 Stop rib 14 Stop surface 15 Support rib 16 Side wall of housing cover 17 Cover plate of housing cover 20 Housing base 21 Outer surface of housing base 22 Connecting element 23 Side wall of housing base 24 Base plate of housing base 30 Adjustment device 31 Adjustment means 32 Extension

Claims

Housing (1) for a control device, in particular for a hygrostat or temperature controller, comprising a housing base (20), a housing cover (10) which can be connected to or is connected to the housing base (20), and an adjustment device (30) for adjusting a parameter of the control device, wherein the adjustment device (30) has at least one adjustment means (31) which is rotatably arranged in the housing (1) and can be actuated from an outside (11) of the housing cover (10) in order to rotate it into a rotational position corresponding to the parameter, wherein the housing cover (10) and / or housing base (20) has / has at least one stop (12) which is formed on an inside of the housing cover (10) and / or housing base (20) and is adapted to limit the rotational movement of the adjustment means (31) in a first end position and in a second end position, wherein the housing cover (10) and / or housing base (20) are / is monolithic. Housing according to claim 1, characterized in that the stop (12) has a stop rib (13) for the adjusting means (31) in the first end position and in the second end position. Housing according to claim 2, characterized in that the stop ribs (13) each have a stop surface (14) which is adapted to interact positively with the adjusting means (31) in the respective end position. Housing according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the stop (12) has a support rib (15) which connects the stop ribs (13) to each other for support in both stop directions. Housing according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stop (12), in particular the stop ribs (13), is connected to a side wall (16) of the housing cover (10) and / or the housing base (20) for support in at least one stop direction. Control device comprising a control unit and a housing (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control unit is arranged in the housing (1).

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