BUILT-IN UNIT

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an installation unit for a carrier element of a carrier unit arranged on a body of a motor vehicle, comprising a housing with a first housing section supported on a first outer side on a receiving area of ​​the carrier element and a second housing section engaging in a receptacle of the receiving area on the carrier element, and a fixing unit supported on the receiving area when the installation unit is fixed in the receptacle.

[0002] Such installation units are known from the prior art. Document DE 298 25 216 U1 discloses an installation unit known from the prior art for a carrier element of a carrier unit arranged on a body of a motor vehicle, comprising a housing with a first housing section supported on a first outer side on a receiving area of ​​the carrier element and a second housing section engaging in a receptacle of the receiving area on the carrier element, and a housing cap supported on the receiving area when the installation unit is fixed in the receptacle, which housing cap is connected to the housing by an adhesive bond.

[0003] The invention is based on the object of creating such an installation unit which can be fixed to the support element holder as simply, permanently and reliably as possible.

[0004] This object is achieved according to the invention in an installation unit of the type described at the outset in that the fixing unit has a fixing body which, when the installation unit is fixed in the receptacle, is connected to a connecting region of the housing in a plastically deformable or flowable state by at least partially molding it onto this connecting region and subsequent curing.

[0005] The advantage of the solution according to the invention is therefore that a fixing body designed in this way and molded onto the connecting area of ​​the housing is particularly easy to manufacture and assemble.

[0006] In particular, such an installation unit may comprise a socket for a trailer or load carrier connectable to the motor vehicle and / or a control unit for a component of the carrier unit and / or the trailer or load carrier.

[0007] In particular, it is advantageous if the connecting region of the housing is arranged on the circumference of the second housing section.

[0008] The connecting area can enclose the entire second housing section or can be provided only in individual areas and in parts of the circumference of the second housing section.

[0009] The connecting region is particularly advantageously designed if it has a surface structure extending in the direction away from the first housing section and varying in the radial direction towards the central axis of the housing.

[0010] Such a varying surface structure can be formed in a variety of ways.

[0011] The surface structure can, for example, be formed by individual local protrusions.

[0012] Another embodiment provides that the connecting area is formed by ribs and depressions located between these ribs.

[0013] The solution according to the invention to the object mentioned at the outset provides that the fixing unit has a fixing body which, when the installation unit is fixed in the receptacle, is connected to the forming region in a plastically deformable or flowable state by at least partially forming it onto a forming region of the receptacle and subsequent curing.

[0014] This means that in this case the fixing body establishes the connection to the receiving area, in particular the molding area of ​​the receiving area, by molding.

[0015] The advantage of this solution is that tolerances in the shape of the receiving area, which occur particularly during forging, can be easily compensated without additional effort.

[0016] It is particularly advantageous if the molding area has a surface structure extending in the direction of the center axis of a receiving channel of the receiving area and varying in the radial direction to the center axis of the receiving channel.

[0017] Alternatively or additionally, it is also provided that an inner wall region of the receptacle has a surface structure extending in the direction away from the first housing section and widening in the radial direction towards the central axis of the receptacle channel.

[0018] Furthermore, it is preferably provided that an inner wall region of the receptacle is designed to widen with increasing extension away from the first housing section in the radial direction toward the central axis. To produce the fixing body, it is conceivable in principle to introduce the material forming the fixing body into the receptacle in the plastic or flowable state in which it is moldable, and then to cure it to form the fixing body.

[0019] The solution according to the invention provides that the fixing body is made from a pre-body, the material of which can be converted from a solid into a plastically deformable or flowable state for molding to the respective area and can be converted into the hardened state for forming the fixing body that fixes the housing to the receiving area.

[0020] It is particularly advantageous if the preform is made of a material that can be thermally converted into a plastically deformable or flowable state and, in particular by cooling, into a hardened state.

[0021] This means that the different states of the material can be easily achieved by heating and cooling.

[0022] It is particularly advantageous if the material can be brought into a liquid state and a hardened state.

[0023] A particularly simple solution provides that the preform is made of a hot-melt adhesive material, which can be easily thermally converted into a plastic or flowable state and into a hardened state by cooling.

[0024] A further advantageous solution provides that the preform, in addition to the material which can be thermally converted into a plastically deformable or flowable state and which can be thermally cured, has a heating element embedded therein, by means of which the plastic or flowable state of the material can be produced, in particular by applying current.

[0025] This makes it easy to insert the preform into the desired position and to convert its material into a plastically deformable or flowable state using the heating elements.

[0026] It is particularly advantageous if the heating elements are embedded in the fixing element when it is in its cured state.

[0027] This also provides, for example, a simple way of dismantling the installation unit by re-energizing the heating elements, which can convert the material of the fixing element into a plastically deformable or flowable state.

[0028] It is particularly advantageous if the heating elements have connections which extend from the pre-body in the direction away from the first housing section, so that the connections of the heating elements are easily accessible from the second outer side of the receptacle.

[0029] Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the fixing body, in the plastically deformable or flowable state, forms itself both to the connecting region of the second housing section and to the forming region of the receiving region when the second housing section is inserted into the receiving region.

[0030] Furthermore, it is expediently provided that the preform in the non-molded solid state has a preform which enables it to be inserted into a space between the inner wall of the receptacle and the second housing section.

[0031] The preform can be designed in any way.

[0032] For example, the preform can be used in the form of individual blocks.

[0033] However, it is also conceivable that the pre-body is designed at least as part of an annular body, in particular as a substantially or completely closed annular body.

[0034] A particularly advantageous solution provides that the fixing body is arranged in the intermediate space between the inner wall of the receptacle and the second housing section when the installation unit is fixed to the receptacle area and in the molded state.

[0035] Furthermore, a further advantageous solution provides that the fixing body at least partially fills the space between the inner wall of the receptacle and the second housing section when the installation unit is fixed to the receptacle area.

[0036] A particularly good fixation is possible if, in the state of the installation unit fixed in the receiving area, the fixing body rests on the one hand on the receiving area, in particular on the inner wall of the receptacle, and on the other hand on the circumference of the second housing section, in order to thus optimally support the second housing section relative to the receiving area.

[0037] Furthermore, an advantageous solution of the installation unit according to the invention provides that at least one projection is arranged on the housing, in particular on the second housing section, which projection engages in a recess arranged on the receiving area and fixes the housing to the receiving area in a rotationally fixed manner.

[0038] In particular, this can be achieved by molding the at least one projection onto the second housing section adjacent to the first housing section.

[0039] It is particularly advantageous if a plurality of projections are arranged on the housing, in particular on the second housing section, each of which engages in a recess arranged in the receiving area. A particularly advantageous implementation of the solution according to the invention provides that the connecting area of ​​the second housing section is arranged adjacent to the at least one projection on the second housing section.

[0040] Furthermore, it is expediently provided that the second housing section is closed with a cover on a side facing away from the first housing section.

[0041] Furthermore, the invention relates to a carrier element provided with an installation unit, in which the installation unit is designed according to one or more of the above-mentioned features.

[0042] Furthermore, the invention relates to a method according to claim 11 for fixing an installation unit in a carrier element of a carrier unit.

[0043] Alternatively or additionally, in such a method, it is provided that the fixing unit is formed by a fixing body which, when the installation unit is inserted into the receptacle, is connected to the receptacle in a plastically deformable or flowable state by at least partially molding it onto a receptacle area of ​​the receptacle and subsequent curing.

[0044] Further features and advantages of the invention are the subject of the following description and the drawings of some embodiments.

[0045] The drawing shows: Fig. 1 a side view of a motor vehicle with a carrier unit comprising a carrier element designed, for example, as a ball neck; Fig. 2 a perspective view of the carrier unit according to the invention according to Fig. 1 ; Fig. 3 a view of the support element of the support unit in the direction of arrow A in Fig. 2 ; Fig. 4 a section along line 4-4 in Fig. 7 ; Fig. 5 a perspective view of an installation unit according to the invention with a fixing element, molded onto a housing of the installation unit and in a form molded onto the receptacle, but without showing the receptacle and the receiving area to which the fixing element is molded; Fig. 6 an exploded view of the unit according to the invention with the fixing element in the form according to Fig. 5 ; Fig. 7 a side view of the support element according to Fig. 3 in the direction of arrow B with the installation unit installed, looking at a cover plate and a cable feed provided thereon, and Fig. 8 shows an exploded view of a preform of the fixing element with a separate view of a heating coil.

[0046] One in Fig. 1 The motor vehicle shown and designated as a whole by 10 comprises a body 12 which carries a bumper unit 16 at a rear area 14.

[0047] On a rear side 18 of the rear region 14 covered by the bumper unit 16, a cross member 22 of a support unit designated as a whole by 20 is provided, which is fixed to the rear region of the body 12 by side members 24, for example, fixed in that the side members 24 extend parallel to a longitudinal direction 26 of the body 12 and are fixed to the rear region 14 in side regions 28 thereof.

[0048] The cross member 22 is arranged between the rear side 18 of the rear area 14 and the bumper unit 16 and is covered by the bumper unit 16.

[0049] The carrier unit 20 is further provided with a bearing unit designated as a whole by 30, the bearing base 32 of which is connected to the cross member 22, as shown in Fig. 2 shown.

[0050] The bearing unit 30 further comprises a bearing element, designated as a whole by 34, which is connected to a first end 42 of a carrier element, designated as a whole by 40 and also encompassed by the carrier unit 20, in particular designed as a ball neck, which extends from the first end 42 to a second end 44 and carries at its second end 44 a coupling element, designated as a whole by 46, which is thus carried by the carrier unit 20 and is designed, for example, as a coupling ball.

[0051] The bearing element 34 can be a bearing element that is fixedly connected to the bearing base 32 or a bearing element that can be removably mounted on the bearing base 32.

[0052] Alternatively, the Fig. 2 However, in the solution shown, the bearing element 34 can be a pivot bearing element which can be pivoted relative to the bearing base 32 about a pivot axis designated 36, so that the carrier element 40 can be pivoted from the Fig. 2 can be pivoted from the working position A shown by solid lines into a rest position R shown by dashed lines, in which the support element 40 extends from the bearing base 32 transversely to the longitudinal direction 26 of the motor vehicle body 12 and thus in particular along the cross member 22.

[0053] Thus, in the rest position R shown in dashed lines, the support element 40 extends transversely to a vertical longitudinal center plane 38 of the motor vehicle body 12 and also of the support unit 20, wherein the vertical longitudinal center plane 38 thus also extends parallel to the longitudinal direction 26.

[0054] Furthermore, the pivot axis 36 also preferably runs transversely to the vertical longitudinal center plane 38, but obliquely to this, in particular inclined relative to the vertical longitudinal center plane by an angle of less than 90°, wherein the angle is, for example, less than 70° or in particular more than 20°.

[0055] An embodiment of such a carrier element 40, in particular a ball neck, is shown in Fig. 3 shown enlarged, wherein the carrier element 40 is in particular firmly connected to the bearing element 34, preferably formed thereon, and the bearing element 34 in this case is designed as a pivot bearing element for pivotable mounting on the bearing base 32.

[0056] In the illustrated embodiment of the carrier element 40, this carries, in particular at its second end 44, a ball projection 48 which has a cylindrical outer surface extending to a ball center axis and extending at a radial distance around a ball center axis 50 which is smaller than a radius of the coupling ball 46.

[0057] In the illustrated embodiment of the carrier element 40, this has, as in Fig. 3 shown, a receiving area 60 which is integrated in one piece into the carrier element 40 and is preferably designed in the form of an annular body 62, which lies between a first section 64 which extends from the first end 42 of the carrier element 40 to the annular body 62, and a second section 66 which extends from the annular body 62 to the second end 44 of the carrier element 40.

[0058] The annular body 62 encloses a receptacle designated as a whole by 72, which extends, for example, in the form of an opening from a first outer side 74 of the annular body 62 to a second outer side 76 of the receiving area 60 and forms, for example, a central axis 78 which runs transversely to the vertical longitudinal center plane 38 and can be inclined, for example, relative to a perpendicular to the vertical longitudinal center plane 38 by an acute angle, for example in the range of 5° to 30° ( Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 ).

[0059] The receptacle 72 is formed in particular by a receiving channel 82 with an inner wall 84 which, adjoining the first outer side 74 of the receiving region 60, has a wall region 86 which runs essentially conically to the central axis 78 and encircles the central axis 78 of the receiving channel 78, which narrows from the outer side 74 to a constriction 87, and which has a wall region 88 which starts from the constriction 87 and widens conically to the second outer side 76 and thus runs at a greater radial distance from the central axis 78 at the transition to the second outer side 76 of the receiving region 60 than near the constriction 87.

[0060] In the receptacle 72, a built-in unit designated as a whole by 100, for example designed as a socket, is accommodated, which is provided with a housing 102 having a first housing section 104, which rests on the first outer side 74 and is supported in particular by this ( Fig. 5 ).

[0061] Starting from the first housing section 104, a second housing section 106 extends into the receiving channel 82 in the direction of the second outer side 76, wherein its central axis coincides, for example, with the central axis 78.

[0062] Preferably, the second housing section 106 is formed integrally with the first housing section 104, so that they enclose a housing interior 108, in which, for example, a plug contact element 112 and a line connection element 114 combined with this and / or an electrical circuit, optionally also with sensors, are arranged.

[0063] Access to the plug contact elements 112 arranged, for example, in the housing interior 108 is made possible, for example, by a cover 116 closing the first housing section 104, which is pivotable relative to the first housing section 104 by means of a hinge 118 and is arranged on a side opposite the second housing section 106 on the first housing section 104 in front of the outer side 74 ( Fig. 5 ), so that by pivoting the cover 116 an opening 120 of the housing 102 is accessible.

[0064] For example, the second housing section 106 - as in Fig. 5 and 6shown - designed so that the second housing section 106 adjoins the first housing section 104 and has at least one projection 122, preferably on opposite sides, each of the projections 122 extending into a recess 124 ( Fig. 7 ) extends into the wall region 86 and wherein the recess 124 is adapted to the shape of the respective projection 122 in such a way that the interaction of the respective projection 122 with the corresponding recess 124 results in a rotationally fixed fixing of the housing 102 of the installation unit in the receptacle 72.

[0065] As a result, the interaction of the respective projection 122 with the corresponding recess 124 results in a clear alignment of the housing 102 of the installation unit 100 and thus also a clear alignment of the cover 116 and, for example, the plug contact element 112.

[0066] As also in Fig. 5 bis 7 As shown, the housing 102 is provided on its access side 130 facing away from the first housing section 104 with an access opening 128 which can be closed by a cover designated as a whole by 132, wherein the cover 132 has an end wall 134 and a cylindrical projection 136 extending from the end wall 134, which can be inserted through the access opening 128 into the housing interior 108 in order to achieve a tight seal between the second housing section 106 and the cover 132 ( Fig. 5 , 6 ).

[0067] Furthermore, the end cover 132 is also provided with a sleeve-like cable feed 138 through which a supply cable can be introduced into the housing interior 108 when the end cover 132 is placed on the second housing section 106.

[0068] As in Fig. 4 bis 7 As shown, the cover 132 thus closes the housing interior 108 on a side opposite the cover 116, whereby, as in Fig. 4 shown, the cylindrical projection 136 can be tightly connected to walls of the second housing section 106.

[0069] To fix the housing 102 in the receptacle 72, as in Fig. 3 and 4 indicated, an insertion of the housing 102 with the second housing section 106 in an insertion direction 142 into the receptacle designated as a whole by 72, preferably parallel to the central axis 78, until the housing 102 with the first housing section 104 rests against the first outer side 74 of the receptacle area 60.

[0070] This is done when the end cover 132 has not yet been mounted, so that only when the housing 102 of the installation unit 100 has been pushed into the receptacle 72, the end cover 132 is put on after the supply line introduced through the cable feed 138 has been connected to the line connection element 114.

[0071] In this case, the cable feed 138 is preferably located as shown in Fig. 7 shown, in a recess 144 of the carrier element 40, which is set back relative to the second outer side 76 of the receptacle 72, so that the cable feed 138 is substantially protected against external mechanical influences by the carrier element 40.

[0072] The housing 102 is fixed by a Figuren 4 bis 6illustrated fixing unit 150, which in the illustrated embodiment has a fixing body 152, which in turn is formed from a pre-body 154 made of plastically deformable or flowable material 156, which, due to thermal action, changes from a hardened solid into a plastically deformable or flowable, in particular flowing, state.

[0073] For this reason, a heating winding 158 made of a resistance heating wire is provided in the pre-body 154, embedded in the material 156, with terminals 159 of the heating winding 158 protruding from the pre-body 154.

[0074] In its initial state, the pre-body 154 has a merely annular shape, which makes it possible to push the pre-body 154 into a space 162 between the second housing section 106 and the inner wall 84 of the receptacle over the second housing section 106, namely until the fixing body 152 is arranged enclosing a connecting region 164 of the second housing section.

[0075] The connecting region 164 is arranged, for example, between the projection 122 or the projections 122 and the access opening 128, preferably adjacent to the projection(s) 122 on the second housing section 106.

[0076] The connecting region 164 of the second housing section 106 has an outer contour which varies in the radial direction to the central axis 78 and which has, for example, radially outwardly projecting ribs 166 and radially inwardly offset recesses 168 located between the ribs 166.

[0077] In addition, the receptacle 72 comprises a molding area 172 which, for example, starting from the wall area 88, has a recess 174 extending into the inner wall 84, which also merges with a step 176 into the inner wall 84, for example into the wall area 88.

[0078] The preform 154 which can be inserted into the intermediate space 162 does not yet engage in the forming region 172 and in particular not in the recess 174 or the step 176, but runs radially inside the same and outside the connecting region 164 and rests, for example, on the ribs 166 without engaging in the recesses 168.

[0079] If the heating coil 158 is now energized via the connections 159, the preform 154 from the mass 156 heats up and goes into a flowable, in particular flowing, state. In this state, the preform 154, in particular the annular body 62, is reshaped both by molding it onto the connecting section 164 of the second housing section 106 and onto the molding regions 172 of the receptacle 72 and, in particular, the flowable or flowing mass penetrates both into the recesses 168 between the ribs 166 and into the recess 174 of the molding regions 172 and thus also contacts the step 176, forming the fixing body 154 after the mass 156 has hardened.

[0080] After the fixing body 152, which is thus molded onto the connecting section 164 of the second housing section 106 as well as onto the molding regions 172, has hardened, it is on the one hand positively fixed to the connecting section 164 by the molding and on the other hand has formations 178 engaging in the molding regions 172, with which the fixing body 152 is thus supported as a whole on the receptacle 72 and thus fixes the housing 102 of the installation unit 100 in a position in which the first housing section 104 rests against the first outer side 74.

[0081] In particular, the preform 154 for the fixing body 152 is made of conventional hot-melt adhesive material, which can be heated by the heating coil 158, thereby becoming liquid and then tending to mold itself to the connecting section 164 of the second housing section 106 as well as to the molding area 172 of the receptacle 72, and thus, after curing and formation of the fixing body 152, the housing 102 is reliably fixed in the receptacle 72.

Claims

1. An installation unit for a carrier element (40) of a carrier unit (20) arranged on a chassis (12) of a motor vehicle (10), comprising a housing (102) with a first housing section (104) supported on a first outer side (74) on a receiving region (60) of the carrier element (40) and a second housing section (106) engaging into a receptacle (72) of the receiving region (60) on the carrier element (40), and a fixing unit (150) supported on the receiving region (60) with the installation unit (100) fixed in the receptacle (72), wherein the fixing unit (150) has a fixing body (152), which, with the installation unit (100) fixed in the receptacle (72), in a plastically deformable or flowable state, by moulding at least at some parts to a connection region (164) of the housing (102) and subsequent curing is connected to this connection region (164) and by moulding at least at some parts to a moulding region (172) of the receiving region (60) and subsequent curing is connected to the moulding region (172), wherein the fixing body (152) is produced from a preform (154), the material (156) of which is convertible from a solid into a plastically deformable or flowable state for the moulding to the respective region and, for the formation of the fixing body (152) fixing the housing (102) to the receiving region (60), is convertible into the cured state.

2. An installation unit according to Claim 1, characterised in that the connection region (164) of the housing (102) is arranged at the periphery of the second housing section (106).

3. An installation unit according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the connecting region (164) of the housing (102) has a surface structure (166, 168) extending in a direction away from the first housing section (104) and varying in radial direction to the central axis (78) of the housing (102).

4. An installation unit according to any of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the moulding region (172) has a surface structure (174, 176) extending in the direction of the central axis (78) of a receiving channel (82) of the receiving region and thereby varying in radial direction to the central axis (78) of the receiving channel (82), and / or in that in particular an inner wall region (84) of the receptacle (72) has a surface structure (174, 176) extending in a direction away from the first housing section (104) and thereby widening in radial direction to the central axis (78) of the receiving channel, and / or in that in particular an inner wall region (84) of the receptacle (72), with increasing distance from the first housing section (104), is formed widening in a radial direction to the central axis (78).

5. An installation unit according to any of the preceding Claims, characterised in that in particular the preform (154) is produced from a material which is thermally convertible into a plastically deformable or flowable state and is convertible into a cured state, and / or in that in particular the material can be brought into a fluid state and into a cured state, and / or in that in particular the preform (154) is produced from a hot-glue material, and / or in that in particular the preform (154), in addition to the material (156) which is thermally convertible into a plastically deformable or flowable state and is thermally curable, has heating elements (158) embedded into this, by means of which the plastic or flowable state of material (156) is producible, in particular by supplying current, in that in particular the heating elements (158) in the cured state of the fixing element (152) are embedded therein, and / or in that in particular the heating elements (158) have terminals which extend starting from the preform (154) in the direction away from the first housing section (104).

6. An installation unit according to any of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the fixing body (152), in the plastically deformable or flowable state and with the second housing section (106) inserted into the receiving region (60), is moulded both on the connection region (164) of the second housing section (106) and also on the forming region (172) of the receiving region (60).

7. An installation unit according to any of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the preform (154) in the unmoulded solid state has an initial configuration which permits this to be inserted into an intermediate space (162) between the inner wall (84) of the receptacle (72) and the second housing section (106) and in that in particular the preform (154) constitutes at least a part of an annular body, in that in particular the fixing body (152) with the installation unit (100) fixed to the receiving region (60) and in the moulded state, is arranged in the intermediate space (162) between the inner wall (84) of the receptacle (72) and the second housing section (106), in that in particular the fixing body (152) with the installation unit (100) fixed to the receiving region (60), at least partially fills the intermediate space (162) between the inner wall (84) of the receptacle (72) and the second housing section (106), and / or in that in particular, in the state of the installation unit (100) fixed to the receiving region (60), the fixing body (152) abuts on one side against the receiving region (60), in particular against the inner wall (84) of the receptacle (72), and on the other side peripherally against the second housing section (106).

8. An installation unit according to any of the preceding Claims, characterised in that there is arranged on the housing (102), in particularly on the second housing section (106), at least one projection (122), which engages in a recess (124) arranged at the receiving region (60) and fixes the housing (102) non-rotatably on the receiving region (60), in that in particular the at least one projection (122) on the second housing section (106) is formed next to the first housing section (104), and / or in that in particular there are arranged on the housing (102), in particular on the second housing section (106), a plurality of projections (122), each of which engage in a recess (124) arranged at the receiving region (60).

9. An installation unit according to any of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the connecting region (164) of the second housing section (106) is arranged next to the at least one projection (122) on the second housing section (106).

10. An installation unit according to any of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the second housing section (106), at the side remote from the first housing section (104), is closed off by a closure cover (132).

11. A method for fixing an installation unit for a carrier element (40) of a carrier unit (20) arranged on a chassis (12) of a motor vehicle (10), wherein the installation unit (100) has a housing (102) with a first housing section (104) supported on a first outer side (74) on a receiving region (60) of the carrier element (40) and a second housing section (106) engaging in a receptacle (72) of the receiving region (60) of the carrier element (40), and the installation unit (100) upon fixing to the receiving region (60) is fixed by a fixing unit (150) supported on the receiving region (60), wherein the fixing unit (150) is constituted by a fixing body (152), which with the installation unit (100) fixed in the receptacle (72), in a plastically deformable or flowable state, by moulding at least in parts to a connecting region (164) of the housing (102) and subsequent curing, is connected to this connecting region (164) and by, at least in parts, moulding to a moulding region (172) of the receptacle (72) and subsequent curing, is connected with the moulding region (172) and in that the fixing body (152) is constituted by a preform (154), the material (156) of which, for moulding at the respective region, is converted from a solid state into a plastically deformable or flowable state and, for constituting the fixing body (152) fixing the housing (102) to the receiving region, is converted into the cured state.

12. A method according to Claim 11, characterised in that the fixing body (152) is connected with a connecting region (164) of the housing (102) arranged peripherally of the second housing section (106), and / or in that in particular the fixing body (152) is connected to a connecting region (164) of the second housing section (106), which has a surface structure (166, 168) extending in the direction away from the first housing section (104) and varying in a radial direction to the central axis (78) of the housing (102).

13. A method according to any of Claims 11 and 12, characterised in that the fixing body (152) is connected to a surface structure (174, 176) of the moulding region (172) extending in the direction of the central axis (78) of a receiving channel (82) of the receiving region and thereby varying in the radial direction to the central axis (78) of the receiving channel (82), and / or in that in particular the fixing body (152) is connected to an inner wall region (84) of the receptacle (72) which has a surface structure (174, 176) extending in a direction away from the first housing section (104) and thereby widening in the radial direction to the central axis (78) of the receiving channel, in that in particular the fixing body (152) is connected to the inner wall region (84) of the receptacle (72), which with increasing distance away from the first housing section (104) widens in the radial direction to the central axis (78).

14. A method according to any of Claims 11 to 13, characterised in that the preform (154) is manufactured from a material which is converted thermally into a plastically deformable or flowable state and into a cured state, and / or in that in particular the material is converted into a flowing state and into a cured state, in that in particular the preform (154) is produced from a hot-glue material, and / or in that in particular in the preform (154), in addition to the material (156) which is thermally convertible into a plastically deformable or flowable state and also thermally curable, there are embedded therein heating elements (158), by means of which the plastic or flowable state of the material (156) is produced, in particular by the passage of current, in that in particular the heating elements (158), in the cured state of the fixing element (152), remain embedded therein.

15. A method according to any of Claims 11 to 14, characterised in that the fixing body (152), in the plastically deformable or flowable state with the second housing section (106) inserted in the receptacle, is moulded both to the connecting region (164) of the second housing section (106) and also to the moulding region (172) of the receiving region (60).

16. A method according to any of Claims 11 to 15, characterised in that the preform (154) in the unmoulded solid state has an initial configuration which allows it to be inserted in an intermediate space (162) between the inner wall (84) of the receptacle (72) and the second housing section (106).