METHOD FOR MAKING A PLUG CONNECTION ON A CIRCUIT BOARD OF A HEATING DEVICE, PLUG CONNECTION, CONTROL AND REGULATION DEVICE, AND HEATING DEVICE

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a plug connection on a circuit board of a heating device, a plug connection, a control and regulating device and a heating device.

[0002] Heating appliances typically feature electronic controls, comprising one or more circuit boards. These boards have connectors for various lines, such as those used for control signals, sensors, etc. Each connector consists of a socket (also called a receptacle) on the circuit board that makes electrical contact with the board's wires, and a plug that is inserted into the socket to establish an electrical connection. These connectors are essential for the heating appliance's operation. Therefore, various methods exist for testing such connectors. For example, sensors connected via the connector can be activated, and their signals checked for plausibility. However, this method cannot distinguish between a defective sensor and a loose connection in the connector.

[0003] Another option is to bridge two contacts in the connector and then test the electrical conductivity of the connection. This method is complex and requires two free, unused contacts in the connector, resulting in additional effort.

[0004] Finally, mechanical locking mechanisms for plug connections are used, but these do not allow for verification of the electrical connection itself. For example, a locking hook is proposed for this purpose in DE 10 2017 208 650 A1.

[0005] In German patent application DE 10 2017 213 147 A1, a method for classifying a connector is proposed, in which a force applied by an installer during assembly of the connector is recorded, and subsequently a plurality of characteristics of the force-time curve during assembly are determined. The connector is then classified based on these plurality of characteristics. However, as mentioned above, this method does not allow for verification of the electrical contact of the connector.

[0006] US Patent 2008 / 0261433 A1 describes a system for testing a plug connection between a first contact and a second contact, in which two additional contacts of the first and second contact, spaced apart, are used to test the electrical contact. A disadvantage of this system is that it increases the size of the plug connection, and the additional contacts necessitate structural modifications to the plug connection.

[0007] WO 2008 / 150523 A2 describes an electrical connector in which two contact elements located on opposite sides and in an outer area of ​​the connector are short-circuited by a conductive strip or conductor arranged in a recess to detect a proper electrical connection. This solution is also complex and increases the size of the connector and recess housing.

[0008] Furthermore, the aforementioned connectors cannot detect a detachment of the tray from the circuit board and / or a (resulting) loss of electrical contact between the connector and the circuit board.

[0009] US 2022 / 0166167A1 also describes an electrical connection with a detection mechanism located on the side of the connector facing away from the electrical connection. A disadvantage of such a detection mechanism is that it increases the space required for the electrical connection.

[0010] US 2009 / 0233459A1 describes an electrical connector with contact tongues in which at least two contact tongues are shorter, thus allowing the insertion depth of the connector into a recess to be tested. This solution is complex and not sufficiently robust.

[0011] Starting from this premise, the object of the invention is to propose a method for manufacturing a plug connection on a circuit board of a heating device, a plug connection, a control and regulation device, and a heating device that at least partially overcome the problems of the prior art described above. In particular, the invention is intended to provide a simple method for verifying the electrical contact of a plug connection of a heating device.

[0012] Furthermore, the process or the connector should be easy and inexpensive to manufacture.

[0013] These problems are solved by the features of the independent claims. Further advantageous embodiments of the solution proposed here are specified in the independent claims. It should be noted that the features listed in the dependent claims can be combined with one another in any technologically meaningful way and define further embodiments of the invention. Furthermore, the features specified in the claims are further specified and explained in the description, which also presents further preferred embodiments of the invention.

[0014] This is aided by a method for creating an (electrical) plug connection on a circuit board of a heating device, which includes at least the following steps: a) Inserting a connector plug into a socket of the connector connected to the circuit board; b) Establishing an electrical verification contact outside the socket between the plug and the circuit board; c) Checking the electrical verification contact between the plug and the circuit board.

[0015] Steps a), b), and c) can be performed at least once in the specified order during a regular procedure. In particular, step c) can be repeated several times, for example, each time the heating device is started up. Furthermore, steps a) and b) can often be performed in parallel (simultaneously). This procedure is used to check a plug connection, for example, on a heating device's circuit board.

[0016] The heating appliance can be configured to supply a building with heat for heating and hot water. For this purpose, the heating appliance can include (at least) one heat generator, such as a gas condensing boiler or a heat pump. A heating appliance designed for the combustion of a fuel can transfer the heat energy released in the process to a heating circuit via at least one heat exchanger. Consumers in the heating circuit can be connected to the heating appliance via a flow and return pipe. The exhaust gases produced during combustion can be routed to a flue system via an exhaust duct on the heating appliance. A circulation pump can be integrated into the heating circuit of the heating appliance to circulate a heat transfer medium (heating water). Heated heat transfer medium is supplied to consumers, such as convectors or underfloor heating systems, via a flow pipe and returned to the heat generator via a return pipe.to which at least one heat exchanger can be returned.

[0017] For this purpose, the heating appliance designed for combustion may have a conveying device, in particular a blower, which can supply a mixture of combustion air and fuel to a burner of the heating appliance.

[0018] In a heating system with a heat pump, the latter can be any type of heat pump that incorporates a refrigeration cycle in which a refrigerant is circulated. Through a phase change of the refrigerant in an evaporator and a condenser (liquefier) ​​of the refrigeration cycle, heat can be transferred from a source medium, such as the ground, ambient air, or groundwater, to a delivery point, often a building being heated. A compressor and an expansion valve generate the necessary pressure differentials for the phase change of the refrigerant.

[0019] The compressor in the refrigeration cycle compresses the gaseous refrigerant, increasing its pressure and simultaneously raising its temperature. In the subsequent condenser, the gaseous refrigerant cools down and transfers heat via a heat exchanger connected to the condenser, for example, into a building's heating system. The refrigerant, now in a liquid phase, is then directed to an expansion valve (also called a throttle valve) where it expands, cooling further in the process. In a subsequent evaporator, the refrigerant can absorb heat from an ambient medium (ambient air, groundwater, or geothermal energy) and warm up before being returned to the compressor. Energy must be supplied to the compressor to maintain this process.

[0020] A method proposed here can be applied in particular to or during the installation of a circuit board of the heating device, for example on a circuit board of the control and regulating device.

[0021] The connector can comprise at least one socket and at least one plug. The socket can be mounted (permanently) on the circuit board and electrically connected to it. For this purpose, the socket can include so-called pins, which establish an electrical connection through openings in the circuit board and can be soldered to it.

[0022] The plug can be connected to at least one cable and inserted into the tray (preferably only in a predefined relative position), whereby an electrical connection is made from a cable connected to the plug to the pins of the tray and thus to the conductor tracks of the circuit board assigned to the pins.

[0023] According to current technology, to test the electrical connection between the plug and socket, two contacts in the plug can be bridged, i.e., electrically connected. A current can then flow through these bridged contacts of the plug, and if this is detected, a proper connection can be assumed. As already mentioned, such a test requires additional pins on the socket and connected to the plug, which creates additional complexity and also necessitates an increase in the size of both the plug and socket.

[0024] According to step a), a plug of the connector can be inserted into a socket of the connector that is connected to the circuit board. In other words, this establishes the mechanical and electrical connection between the plug and the socket, and thus an electrical connection between the cable connected to the plug and the electrical traces of the circuit board (which are electrically connected to the socket). After the plug is inserted into the socket, a mechanical locking mechanism, such as a clip, can engage, if present, preventing the connector from unintentionally coming loose (for example, due to vibrations of the heating device).

[0025] According to step b), an electrical verification contact can be established between the plug and the circuit board. In particular, step b) can be carried out immediately afterwards or even (at least partially) in parallel with step a), i.e., the electrical verification contact between the plug and the circuit board can be established during the execution of step a), i.e., triggered by inserting the plug into the tray.

[0026] The electrical verification contact between the plug and the circuit board can be an electrical connection that is closed (directly or indirectly) by the plug on the circuit board, thus indicating proper insertion of the plug into the housing. This electrical verification contact between the plug and the circuit board is located outside the housing, for example, in the vicinity of the housing and / or below it. The electrical verification contact extends, in particular, to the outside of the housing and / or is (partially) located on an outer surface of the housing or accessible from the outside. It is possible that the circuit board and / or the housing is equipped with an (additional or purpose-built) electrical verification contact that can be closed by means of or via the plug (but not its pins).

[0027] For electrical verification contacting, the connector can include a verification contact element configured to contact a verification contact area on the circuit board when the connector is inserted into the socket. A proper connection can then be verified by observing current flow through the verification contact. The connector's verification contact element may extend through the socket to close a verification contact on the circuit board. Alternatively or cumulatively, an electrical verification contact area may be located within a mechanical contact area between the connector and the socket. For this purpose, the socket may include means to establish electrical contact from corresponding conductor tracks on the circuit board to the verification contact area within the contact area between the connector and the socket.

[0028] In particular, steps a) and b) can thus be carried out (in time) in parallel or consecutively, whereby the verification contact can be established simultaneously when the plug is inserted into the tray, in particular by bringing the verification contact area of ​​the circuit board into contact with the verification contact element of the plug.

[0029] According to step c), the electrical verification contact between the plug and the circuit board can be checked. This is usually done by testing for electrical current flow through the verification contact, i.e., by applying a voltage to the verification contact and detecting a (predefined) current flow. Step c) can be performed (immediately) after steps a) and b), but can also be repeated (at predetermined intervals and / or regularly), for example, each time the heater is started (before each ignition). This allows for the detection of a loose connection caused by (operating) vibrations of the heater or by other mechanical impacts, such as a backfire.

[0030] Thus, a connector is created using the method proposed here, which forms a separate verification contact in the area of ​​the interface between the circuit board and the housing and / or between the housing and the connector, thereby requiring no additional installation space for the verification contact. No contact of the connector, and in particular no cable on the connector, is associated with the verification contact. The verification contact can, in particular, comprise two conductors that are electrically connected in the area of ​​the housing or the circuit board by mounting the connector in the housing.

[0031] According to one embodiment, during step b), an open or interrupted (electrical) switching contact on the circuit board can be electrically closed by the plug inserted into the tray. The switching contact can comprise two contact areas of two electrical conductors, which are mechanically connected to each other by the plug. For this purpose, the two electrical conductors can be arranged in such close proximity to each other that, by inserting the plug into the tray at a predetermined insertion position, the two electrical conductors are contacted, thus closing the verification contact.

[0032] According to one embodiment, the verification contact area can be configured as two adjacent contact areas of two conductors, which are electrically connected by the verification contact element, which can be configured as an electrically conductive, planar area, when the plug is inserted into the socket according to step a) to carry out step b). The contact areas of the verification contact area can be located on a side of the socket facing the plug, and the verification contact element can be located on a side of the plug facing the socket.

[0033] According to one embodiment, during step b), a verification contact element of the connector can establish an electrical contact between the top and bottom of the circuit board. In other words, the verification contact area can be configured as two conductor ends positioned opposite each other on different sides of the circuit board and connected by a bore, with the verification contact element electrically connecting the two conductor ends through this bore. The verification contact element can, for example, be a pin (contact base).

[0034] Another aspect proposes a plug connection, at least comprising a plug and a tray to be connected to or already connected to a circuit board, which is designed to receive the plug (with a precise fit), the plug being designed to establish a (separate) electrical verification contact outside the tray between the plug and the circuit board when plugged in.

[0035] According to one embodiment, the connector can include a (separate, in addition to the usual pins) verification contact element that establishes the verification contact.

[0036] According to one embodiment, the verification contact element and / or the verification contact area can be configured to establish contact with the verification contact area or the verification contact element of the circuit board through an opening in (the bottom) of the tub when the plug connection is inserted.

[0037] Another aspect is the proposal for a control and regulating device for a heating appliance, featuring at least one plug connection as proposed here.

[0038] Another aspect is the proposal for a heating appliance, specifically designed to supply a building with heat for heating and hot water, which includes a control and regulation device and / or a plug connection as proposed herein. The heating appliance can be a gas-fired heating appliance, particularly a hydrogen-powered gas-fired heating appliance, or a heating appliance incorporating a heat pump. The gas-fired heating appliance can include a burner and a delivery system for supplying a mixture of combustion gas (hydrogen) and combustion air to the burner.

[0039] The details, features, and advantageous designs discussed in connection with the process can also occur in the connector, control unit, and heating device presented here, and vice versa. In this respect, full reference is made to the explanations provided therein for a more detailed characterization of the features.

[0040] This document describes a method for creating a plug connection on a heating device's circuit board, a plug connection, a control unit, and a heating device, which at least partially solve the problems described with reference to the prior art. In particular, the method for creating a plug connection on a heating device's circuit board, the plug connection, the control unit, and the heating device contribute to enabling simple verification of the plug connection's contact. Furthermore, the size of the plug and socket can be reduced compared to prior art solutions.

[0041] The invention and its technical context are explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying figures. It should be noted that the invention is not intended to be limited by the exemplary embodiments shown. In particular, unless explicitly stated otherwise, it is also possible to extract partial aspects of the situations described in the figures and combine them with other components and findings from the present description. It should be emphasized that the figures, and especially the depicted dimensions, are only schematic. They show: Fig. 1: a heating device proposed here, and Figs. 2 to 4: various designs of the verification contact.

[0042] Fig. 1 Figure 1 shows an exemplary and schematic representation of a heating appliance 1 proposed here. This appliance can draw in air from a combustion air supply 4 via a conveying device 2 and deliver it to a burner 3. A fuel gas, for example hydrogen or a hydrogen-containing mixture, can be added to the combustion air from a fuel gas supply 8 via a gas valve 5. The resulting fuel gas-air mixture can be ignited and combusted by means of an ignition electrode 9 on the burner 3. The resulting exhaust gases transfer most of their heat to a heat exchanger 6 and can then be discharged into the environment via an exhaust pipe 10 of the heating appliance 1 into a downstream exhaust system. A control unit 7 can be configured to regulate and control the operating processes of the heating appliance 1.

[0043] For example, the control and regulating unit 7 can include at least one of the plug connections 11 suggested here.

[0044] The Fig. 2 bis 4 The figures show, by way of example and schematically, different designs of a plug connection 11 proposed here, manufactured according to a method presented here.

[0045] Fig. 2 Figure 11 shows an exemplary and schematic representation of a connector 11 comprising a plug 12 and a socket 13, wherein the socket 13 is arranged on a circuit board 18 and pins of the socket 13 can be electrically connected to conductors of the circuit board. A verification contact area 14 of the socket 13 can be configured as a switching contact 17 and arranged on the circuit board 18. When the plug 12 is inserted into the socket 13, a verification contact element 15 can exert pressure on the switching contact 17 through an opening in the socket 13, thereby closing it and establishing a verification contact 16 of the switching contact 17, which can be used to verify the connector 11.

[0046] Fig. 3 Figure 11 also shows, by way of example and schematically, a further embodiment of a plug connection 11, in which a verification contact area 14 can be formed on the circuit board 18 in the form of two adjacent contacts, with both contacts of the verification contact area 14 being guided through an opening 19 in the recess 13. When the plug 12 is inserted, its verification contact element 15, here designed as a flat, conductive area on the side of the plug 12 facing the recess 13, can establish an electrical connection between the two contacts of the verification contact area 14 and thus close the verification contact 16.

[0047] Fig. 4 Figure 11 also shows, by way of example and schematic, another embodiment of a plug connection 11, in which the verification contact area 14 can be formed by two contacts, each arranged on the top and bottom of the circuit board 18 and connected by a bore. The verification contact element 15 can be designed here as a pin or similar, which, through an opening 19 in the housing 13 and the bore in the circuit board 18, can close the verification contact 16 by electrically connecting the two contacts of the verification contact area 14 arranged on the top and bottom of the circuit board 18.

[0048] The designs according to Fig. 2 - 4 This shows verification contacts 16 that were formed by carrying out steps a) and b) of a procedure proposed here.

[0049] According to step c), the electrical verification contact 16 between connector 12 and circuit board 18 can now be checked. For this purpose, a voltage can be applied to the verification contact 16 and the resulting current flow can be recorded / checked. Reference symbol list

[0050] 1 Heater 2 Conveyor 3 Burner 4 Combustion air supply 5 Gas valve 6 Heat exchanger 7 Control unit 8 Fuel gas supply 9 Ignition electrode 10 Exhaust pipe 11 Plug connection 12 Plug 13 Tray 14 Verification contact area 15 Verification contact element 16 Verification contact 17 Switching contact 18 Circuit board 19 Opening

Claims

1. Method for producing a plug connection (11) on a circuit board (18) of a heating device (1), comprising at least the following steps: a) inserting a plug (12) of the plug connection (11) into a tray (13) of the plug connection (11) connected to the circuit board (18); b) Establishing an electrical verification contact (16) outside the tray (13) between the plug (12) and the circuit board (18); and c) Checking the electrical verification contact (16) between the plug (12) and the circuit board (18).

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein, during the execution of step b), an open switch contact (17) on the circuit board (18) is electrically closed by a verification contact element (15) of the plug (12).

3. Method according to claim 1, wherein, as part of the execution of step b), a verification contact area (14) is designed as two adjacent contact areas of two conductors, which are electrically connected by the verification contact element (15) designed as an electrically conductive, flat area.

4. Method according to claim 1, wherein, in the course of performing step b), a verification contact element (15) of the plug establishes electrical contact between two contacts forming the verification contact area (14), arranged respectively on an upper side and a lower side of the circuit board (18).

5. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein step c) is repeated regularly.

6. Plug connection (11) for carrying out a method according to one of the preceding claims, comprising at least a plug (12) and a tray (13) connectable to a circuit board (18), designed to accommodate the plug (12), wherein the plug (12) is designed to establish an electrical verification contact (16) outside the tray (12) between the plug (12) and the circuit board (18) .

7. Plug connection (11) according to claim 6, wherein the plug comprises a verification contact element (15) which establishes the verification contact (16) with a verification contact area (14) of the circuit board (18)8. Plug connection (11) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the verification contact element (15) is designed to establish contact with the verification contact area (14) of the circuit board (18) through an opening (19) in the tray (13) when the plug connection (11) is in the connected state.

9. Control and regulating device (7) for a heating device (1), comprising at least one plug connection (11) according to one of claims 6 to 8.

10. Heating device (1) comprising at least one plug connection (11) according to one of claims 6 or 7 and / or a control and regulation device (7) according to claim 9.