Plug and sensor assembly

Abstract

The invention relates to a plug and sensor assembly (1) for a tank valve (2) or a tank end-stopper of a fuel gas tank, comprising - a plug (3) with a plug part (4) and a mounting plate (5) for mounting the plug and sensor assembly (1), - a sensor (6), in particular a temperature sensor, with a sensor element (7) which is connected to the plug part (4) via conductor tracks (8) which are received in sections in the mounting plate (5), wherein the conductor tracks (8) run inside the mounting plate (5) parallel to the plate plane and outside the mounting plate (5) at an angle, in particular at a right angle, to the plate plane of the mounting plate (5). The invention further relates to a housing (12) for a tank valve (2) or a tank end-stopper, and to a tank valve (2) and to a tank end-stopper having a housing (12) according to the invention.

Description

[0001] CONNECTOR SENSOR ASSEMBLY

[0002] Description

[0003] The invention relates to a plug-sensor assembly for a tank valve or a tank end plug of a fuel gas tank. Furthermore, the invention relates to a housing for a tank valve or a tank end plug with a plug-sensor assembly according to the invention, as well as to a tank valve and a tank end plug for a fuel gas tank.

[0004] The fuel gas tank can, in particular, be a hydrogen or natural gas tank. The preferred application of the invention is mobile fuel gas tanks for fuel cell and / or gas vehicles.

[0005] State of the art

[0006] Tank valves are known for withdrawing fuel gas from a fuel gas tank and for filling a fuel gas tank with fuel gas. At least one controllable shut-off valve is integrated into such a tank valve. Control is typically provided via a solenoid assembly connected to the tank valve. In addition, additional valves and / or sensors, such as a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature in the fuel gas tank, can be integrated into the tank valve.

[0007] To integrate a sensor, particularly a temperature sensor, into a tank valve, a bore is usually provided in a tank connection piece to accommodate the sensor or sensor element and its electrical connections. Contact is usually made with the electrical connections via a plug assembly that is housed in a further bore that runs at an angle, particularly at right angles, to the sensor bore and is connected to it via an intersection area. To establish contact, the sensor's electrical connections must then be guided over the intersection area into the further bore in order to connect them to the plug assembly outside the housing. The plug assembly is then inserted into the bore, and the sensor's electrical connections are pushed back, requiring the connection to pass through the intersection area again.Since the intersection area of ​​the holes is difficult to round, there is a risk of damage to the sensor's electrical connections, which in turn can lead to a loss of sensor functionality. Since electrical contacting usually has to be performed manually, it is also time-consuming and costly.

[0008] The present invention is concerned with the task of facilitating the integration of a sensor, in particular a temperature sensor, into a tank valve or a tank end plug of a fuel gas tank in order to save time and costs. Furthermore, process reliability is to be increased.

[0009] To achieve this objective, the connector-sensor assembly having the features of claim 1 and the housing having the features of claim 4 are proposed. Advantageous further developments of the invention are set forth in the respective subclaims. Furthermore, a tank valve and a tank end plug are proposed.

[0010] Disclosure of the invention

[0011] Proposed is a plug-sensor assembly for a tank valve or a tank end plug of a fuel gas tank, comprising a plug with a plug part and a mounting plate for mounting the plug-sensor assembly, a sensor, in particular a temperature sensor, with a sensor element that is connected to the plug part via conductor tracks accommodated in sections in the mounting plate, wherein the conductor tracks run parallel to the plate plane within the mounting plate and at an angle, in particular at right angles, to the plate plane of the mounting plate outside the mounting plate. The proposed plug-sensor assembly forms a preassembled unit that can be easily integrated into a tank valve or a tank end plug. Since the sensor is already connected to the plug part of the plug via conductor tracks, complex electrical contacting of the sensor after its installation is eliminated.This saves time and money. Furthermore, assembly can be automated, for example, for large-scale production.

[0012] When assembling the connector-sensor assembly, no electrical connections need to be routed or redirected through a hole intersection, thus minimizing the risk of damage to the electrical connections. This increases process reliability during assembly.

[0013] To install the connector-sensor assembly, the sensor, including the exposed conductors, is preferably inserted into a housing bore of a tank valve or tank end plug until the connector's mounting plate rests against the housing. The mounting plate can then be secured to the housing.

[0014] In a further development of the invention, it is proposed that the mounting plate form a collar that surrounds the conductor tracks, which run at an angle, in particular perpendicular, to the plane of the mounting plate, in the area where they enter the mounting plate. The collar of the mounting plate supports the conductor tracks so that no bending moments act on them when inserted into a housing bore. Furthermore, the conductor tracks can be electrically insulated via the collar.

[0015] Preferably, the collar of the mounting plate is surrounded by a sealing element. During assembly of the connector-sensor assembly, the sealing element comes into contact with the housing of the tank valve or tank end plug, sealing the housing bore to the outside.

[0016] Furthermore, it is proposed that the sections of the conductor tracks located outside the mounting plate be electrically insulated from one another by at least one insulating part. The conductor tracks are kept at a distance by the at least one insulating part. Preferably, several insulating parts are provided at an axial distance from one another for the electrical insulation of the conductor tracks. Furthermore, it is proposed that the at least one insulating part separates the conductor tracks and surrounds them in sections. In this way, the conductor tracks can also be electrically insulated from the housing via the at least one insulating part after insertion into a housing bore.

[0017] Furthermore, a housing for a tank valve or a tank end plug with a plug-sensor assembly according to the invention is proposed. The conductor tracks are accommodated in sections in a through-hole in the housing, at one end of which the mounting plate rests against the housing, and at the other end of which the sensor protrudes from the housing. The tank valve or tank end plug can then be connected to a fuel gas tank in such a way that the sensor of the plug-sensor assembly protrudes into the fuel gas tank, while the plug of the plug-sensor assembly is located outside the fuel gas tank, so that the plug part of the plug is accessible from the outside.

[0018] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the sensor element of the sensor is surrounded by a sleeve. The sleeve serves to protect the sensor element. Since the sensor can be a temperature sensor, in particular, it is further proposed that the sleeve be filled with a thermally conductive paste. The thermally conductive paste bridges the gap between the sensor element and the sleeve, thus improving heat transfer.

[0019] Furthermore, it is proposed that the through-bore form a shoulder at at least one end, against which a sealing element connected to the mounting plate and / or a sealing element connected to the sleeve rests. The at least one shoulder forms a sealing surface that interacts with the respective sealing element, so that the through-bore is sealed toward the fuel gas tank and / or to the outside. Preferably, a shoulder is provided at each end of the through-bore, against which a sealing element, for example, an O-ring, rests.

[0020] Preferably, the mounting plate is flush with the housing. This means that a recess is formed in the housing to accommodate the mounting plate. The recess determines the orientation of the mounting plate, further simplifying the assembly of the connector-sensor assembly.

[0021] Alternatively or additionally, it is proposed that the mounting plate be attached to the housing, for example, via a plug-in, clamp-on, snap-in, and / or screw connection. The screw connection can be easily implemented using one or more screws that are screwed through the mounting plate into a corresponding threaded hole in the housing.

[0022] The housing preferably has a contact surface for the plug part of the connector, which is arranged at an angle, in particular at a right angle, to a surface of the housing against which the mounting plate rests. In this way, the plug part can be oriented at an angle, in particular at a right angle, to the longitudinal axis of the sensor, so that the usual orientation of the plug part with respect to the sensor can be maintained. This is particularly advantageous when the plug-sensor assembly is integrated into the housing of a tank valve, which comprises a magnet assembly for controlling the shut-off valve, the position of which is usually predetermined and which also must be electrically contacted. Contacting the magnet assembly can then be achieved with the aid of a further plug part on the plug of the plug-sensor assembly.

[0023] Since tank valves are a preferred application, a tank valve for a fuel gas tank with a housing according to the invention is also proposed. This is characterized by the fact that a plug-sensor assembly according to the invention is integrated into the housing. This assembly can be inserted into the housing quickly and easily, and the process can be automated. Since installation takes place in a single installation direction, which also corresponds to the longitudinal axis of the sensor, the risk of damage to the electrical connections during installation is minimized.

[0024] A further area of ​​application is tank end plugs, so a tank end plug for a fuel gas tank with a housing according to the invention is also proposed. In this case, there is no magnetic assembly that requires electrical contact, so the connector only needs to have one plug part. Furthermore, a two-pin connector can be used.

[0025] A preferred embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. These show:

[0026] Fig. 1 is a side view of a plug-sensor assembly according to the invention for a tank valve,

[0027] Fig. 2 shows an enlarged section of Figure 1 in the area of ​​the sensor of the plug-sensor assembly,

[0028] Fig. 3 a longitudinal section through a housing of a tank valve and

[0029] Fig. 4 shows a longitudinal section through the housing of Figure 3 with the plug-sensor assembly inserted.

[0030] Detailed description of the drawings

[0031] Figure 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a plug-sensor assembly 1 according to the invention, which can be easily integrated into a housing 12 of a tank valve 2 or a tank end plug of a fuel gas tank.

[0032] The illustrated plug-sensor assembly 1 has a plug 3 and a sensor 6. The plug 3 comprises a first and a second plug part 4.1, 4.2, which are oriented at a 90° angle to each other. The plug part 4.1 is connected to the sensor 6, and the plug part 4.2 forms an interface for connecting a magnet assembly (not shown). The plug 3 further comprises a mounting plate 5, which extends away from the plug parts 4.1, 4.2 and accommodates conductor tracks 8 connected to the plug part 4.1. These conductor tracks 8 emerge from the mounting plate 5 on one side of the mounting plate 5 in the region of a collar 9 and are each connected at their free ends to a sensor element 7 of the sensor 6 via a cable 22 (see Figure 2).The conductor tracks 8 are electrically insulated from one another and—when the sensor 6 is inserted into a housing 12—from the housing 12 via insulating parts 11, which are arranged at an axial distance from one another and both separate and surround the conductor tracks 8. The sensor element 7, the cables 22, and the conductor tracks 8 are all aligned in a longitudinal direction, which runs essentially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the sensor element 7 and perpendicular to the plane of the mounting plate 5.

[0033] Figure 3 shows a housing 12 into which the plug-sensor assembly 1 shown in Figure 1 can be integrated. The housing 12 has a through-bore 13 into which the sensor 6 can be inserted from the right-hand side of the housing 12 in the figure. At the other end, the through-bore 13 can be closed by a sleeve 14, which is axially supported on a shoulder 17 of the through-bore 13 via an annular sealing element 18, so that the through-bore 13 is sealed. If the sensor 6 is now inserted from the right into the through-bore 13 until the mounting plate 5 of the plug-sensor assembly 1 comes to rest against a surface 20 of the housing 12 and the collar 9 engages in the through-bore 13, the sensor element 7 is inserted into the sleeve 14.Since the sensor 6 can be a temperature sensor in particular, the sleeve 14 can be filled in advance with a thermal paste 15 so that the sensor element 7 in the sleeve 14 is surrounded by the thermal paste 15.

[0034] At its end facing away from the sensor element 7, the through-hole 13 has a further shoulder 16, on which an annular sealing element 10 surrounding the collar 9 of the mounting plate 5 is axially supported. The through-hole 13 is thus tightly closed at both ends.

[0035] The surface 20 for supporting the mounting plate 5 is recessed from the outside of the housing 12, allowing the mounting plate 5 to be inserted flush into the housing 12. The mounting plate 5, and thus the entire connector-sensor assembly 1, can be secured to the housing 12 using a screw 21 (see Figure 4). A threaded hole 23 is provided in the housing 12 to accommodate the screw 21.

[0036] As can be seen in particular from Figure 4, which shows the housing 12 of Figure 3 with the plug-sensor assembly 1 of Figure 1, during assembly the plug parts 4.1, 4.2 of the plug 3 come to rest on a contact surface 19 of the housing 12, which in this case is oriented at right angles to the surface 20 or to the plate plane of the mounting plate 5. The usual orientation of the plug part 4.1 and the sensor element 7 to one another can thus be maintained, but without having to route the electrical connections of the sensor element 7 via a bore intersection during assembly.

Claims

Claims 1. Plug-sensor assembly (1) for a tank valve (2) or a tank end plug of a fuel gas tank, comprising a plug (3) with a plug part (4) and a mounting plate (5) for mounting the plug-sensor assembly (1), a sensor (6), in particular a temperature sensor, with a sensor element (7) which is connected to the plug part (4) via conductor tracks (8) which are accommodated in sections in the mounting plate (5), wherein the conductor tracks (8) run parallel to the plate plane inside the mounting plate (5) and at an angle, in particular at right angles, to the plate plane of the mounting plate (5) outside the mounting plate (5).

2. Plug-sensor assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the mounting plate (5) forms a collar (9) which surrounds the conductor tracks (8) running at an angle, in particular at right angles, to the plane of the mounting plate (5) in the region of their entry into the mounting plate (5), wherein preferably the collar (9) is surrounded by a sealing element (10).

3. Plug-sensor assembly (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the sections of the conductor tracks (8) lying outside the mounting plate (5) are electrically insulated from one another via at least one insulating part (11), wherein preferably the insulating part (11) separates the conductor tracks (8) and surrounds them in sections.

4. Housing (12) for a tank valve or a tank end plug with a plug-sensor assembly (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the conductor tracks (8) are accommodated in sections in a through-bore (13) of the housing (12), at one end of which the mounting plate (5) rests on the housing (12) and at the other end of which the sensor (6) protrudes from the housing (12).

5. Housing (12) according to claim 4, characterized in that the sensor element (7) of the sensor (6) is surrounded by a sleeve (14) which is preferably filled with a thermally conductive paste (15).

6. Housing (12) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the through-bore (13) forms a shoulder (16, 17) at at least one end, against which a sealing element (10) connected to the mounting plate (5) and / or a sealing element (18) connected to the sleeve (14) rests or rests.

7. Housing (12) according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the mounting plate (5) is embedded flush in the housing (12) and / or is fastened to the housing (12), for example via a plug-in, clamping, snap-in and / or screw connection.

8. Housing (12) according to one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that the housing (12) has a contact surface (19) for the plug part (4) of the plug (3), which is arranged at an angle, in particular at right angles, to a surface (20) of the housing (12) against which the mounting plate (5) rests.

9. Tank valve (2) for a fuel gas tank with a housing (12) according to one of claims 4 to 8.

10. Tank end plug for a fuel gas tank with a housing (12) according to one of claims 4 to 8.

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