Device and method for electrically contacting a sensor

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for electrically contacting a sensor (1), in particular a temperature sensor, in the region of a drilled hole (3), which is formed in a valve block (2), of two boreholes (4, 5) arranged at an angle to each other, in particular perpendicularly, comprising: - a plug (6) for inserting into one borehole (4), wherein a circumferential region of the plug (6) has exposed disc-shaped and / or annular contact surfaces (7, 8) which can be brought into overlap with the other borehole (5) and which can be aligned coaxially with respect to the longitudinal axis (A) of the other borehole (5), and - a cable piece (9) which is connected to the sensor (1) for inserting into the other borehole (5), said cable piece (9) having at least two cables (10, 11), each of which comprises contact pins (12, 13) and / or springs (14, 15) arranged at the end face for contacting the contact surfaces (7, 8). The invention additionally relates to a method for electrically contacting a sensor (1), in particular a temperature sensor.

Description

[0001] Description and methods for electrical a sensor

[0002] The invention relates to a device and a method for electrically contacting a sensor in the region of a bore intersection formed in a valve block between two bores arranged at an angle, in particular at right angles, to one another. The sensor can be, in particular, a temperature sensor. The valve block can be, in particular, the housing of a valve assembly, such as a tank valve.

[0003] A preferred area of ​​application is fuel gas tanks, for example hydrogen or natural gas tanks, which have a tank valve with an integrated temperature sensor and a device according to the invention for electrically contacting the temperature sensor.

[0004] State of the art

[0005] A tank valve for a fuel gas tank is generally used to extract fuel gas from the fuel gas tank and to fill the fuel gas tank with fuel gas. For this purpose, several valves are integrated into the tank valve, so that the tank valve is not a single valve, but rather a valve assembly. A temperature sensor can also be integrated into the tank valve to measure the temperature in the fuel gas tank. To ensure that the temperature sensor is located inside the fuel gas tank, it is usually integrated into a connecting section of a valve block of the tank valve, which is inserted into the fuel gas tank to connect it. The electrical connections of the temperature sensor can then be led out of the fuel gas tank via the connecting section, so that they can be electrically contacted. In the prior art, the electrical contact is realized, for example, using so-called Molex connectors.A Molex connector has a female connector and a male connector. The male connector connects the Molex connector to the sensor or its connecting cables. The Molex connector and the temperature sensor are usually oriented at a 90° angle to each other within the valve block. For this purpose, the valve block has two holes at right angles to each other, which are connected by a hole intersection. During assembly, the sensor's connecting cables are inserted into the hole for the sensor and pushed over the hole intersection into the hole for the Molex connector. The connecting cables can then be pulled out through the hole for the Molex connector and connected to the male connector of the Molex connector.The male and female connectors are then connected and inserted into the hole for the Molex connector. The sensor's connecting cables must be pushed back into the sensor hole—again across the hole intersection. When inserting the Molex connector, care must be taken to ensure that the sensor's connecting cables are not trapped between the connector and the valve block, as this could cause a short circuit or a broken cable.

[0006] This type of electrical contacting of a sensor, particularly a temperature sensor, within a valve block of a tank valve is not only highly error-prone but also very time-consuming, as many steps can only be performed manually. The present invention addresses the problem of making electrical contacting less error-prone and less time-consuming, thus enabling a high degree of automation for large-scale production.

[0007] To achieve this object, the device having the features of claim 1 and the method having the features of claim 6 are proposed. Advantageous further developments of the invention can be found in the respective subclaims.

[0008] Disclosure of the invention The proposed device is used for electrically contacting a sensor, in particular a temperature sensor, in the region of a bore intersection formed in a valve block between two bores arranged at an angle, in particular at right angles, to one another. The device comprises: a plug for insertion into one bore, wherein the plug has exposed, disc-shaped and / or ring-shaped contact surfaces in a peripheral region which can be brought into overlap with the other bore and can be aligned coaxially with respect to a longitudinal axis A of the other bore, a cable piece connected to the sensor for insertion into the other bore, wherein the cable piece has at least two cables, each with contact pins and / or springs arranged at the end for contacting the contact surfaces.

[0009] With the help of the proposed device, the electrical connection can be made discreetly by inserting the connector and cable into the respective hole in the valve block. This means that no cables need to be routed across the hole intersection, thus preventing cable damage and reducing the risk of electrical contact errors. Furthermore, the insertion of the connector and cable into the valve block can be performed mechanically, enabling a high degree of automation.

[0010] Because the contact surfaces are arranged in a circumferential area of ​​the plug, they can be made to overlap with the other hole when inserted into the hole. To do this, only the rotational position of the plug in relation to the valve block needs to be taken into account. The disc-shaped and / or ring-shaped design of the contact surfaces enables the required coaxial arrangement of the contact surfaces in relation to the longitudinal axis A of the other hole. This means that the contact surfaces are also arranged coaxially to one another. Preferably, at least one contact surface is ring-shaped so that the other contact surface can be arranged in its center. In this case, the other contact surface can be designed as a circular disc. The disc-shaped and / or ring-shaped contact surfaces are preferably connected to plug contacts of the plug via conductor tracks.The conductor tracks are preferably completely overmolded for electrical insulation, so that only the contact surfaces are exposed.

[0011] If the cable of the cable section has contact pins at the end, these are preferably designed as spring-loaded contact pins, so that after the cable section is inserted into the valve block, they are pressed against the respective contact surface of the connector by spring force. Alternatively, the contact pins arranged at the end can be surrounded by springs, which come into contact with the contact surfaces and are tensioned when the cable section is inserted into the valve block. The springs or the spring-loaded contact pins allow for the compensation of manufacturing and / or assembly tolerances. Furthermore, thermally induced length changes can be compensated, ensuring the most permanent electrical contact possible.

[0012] Furthermore, it is proposed that the disc-shaped and / or ring-shaped contact surfaces of the connector be spaced apart from one another in the axial direction relative to the longitudinal axis A of the bore accommodating the cable section. This means that the two contact surfaces are not located in one plane, but are arranged axially offset from one another. The offset arrangement increases the short-circuit distance between the two contact surfaces, thus reducing the risk of a short circuit. For this purpose, at least one conductor track connected to a contact surface can be angled and / or bent one or more times.

[0013] In a further development of the invention, it is proposed that the plug has an eccentrically arranged element, for example, an eccentrically arranged pin, for determining the rotational position of the plug within the bore. When the plug is inserted, the eccentrically arranged element determines the rotational position of the plug relative to the valve block. Preferably, installation is only possible in one rotational position. After insertion, the eccentrically arranged element prevents the rotational position of the plug from changing. The eccentrically arranged element therefore also serves as an anti-twist device.

[0014] For this purpose, a bore for receiving the eccentric element is preferably formed in the valve block. Once engaged with the bore, the rotational position of the plug relative to the valve block can then no longer be changed. Furthermore, the bore is preferably arranged eccentrically with respect to the bore receiving the plug and runs parallel to it. The eccentrically arranged element can then be very easily inserted into the additional bore when inserting the plug into the bore, provided the rotational position of the plug is correct.

[0015] Furthermore, one cable of the cable section is preferably aligned coaxially to the longitudinal axis A of the bore accommodating the cable section, and the other cable is parallel thereto at an axial distance a. In this way, each cable can be brought into contact with one of the two coaxially arranged contact surfaces, indirectly via the contact pin and / or the spring. When the cable section is inserted into the valve block, the contact pin or spring of the cable aligned coaxially with respect to the longitudinal axis A comes into contact with the centrally arranged, disc-shaped contact surface. The contact pin or spring of the cable arranged at an axial distance a therefrom comes into contact with the outer, annular contact surface surrounding the centrally arranged contact surface, regardless of the rotational position of the cable section relative to the valve block.The rotational position of the cable piece is therefore not important, so that it can be neglected when inserting the cable piece into the valve block.

[0016] The centerline distance a of the two cables of the cable segment preferably corresponds to a mean radius R of the larger of the two contact surfaces of the connector, i.e., the outer annular contact surface. This ensures that the non-coaxially arranged cable securely contacts the outer annular contact surface.

[0017] To solve the aforementioned problem, a method for electrically contacting a sensor, in particular a temperature sensor, in the region of a bore intersection formed in a valve block between two bores arranged at an angle, in particular at right angles, to one another is also proposed. The method comprises the following steps:

[0018] Inserting a plug into one hole, whereby disc-shaped and / or ring-shaped contact surfaces of the plug exposed in a peripheral area are brought into overlap with the other hole and aligned coaxially with respect to a longitudinal axis A of the other hole,

[0019] Inserting a piece of cable connected to the sensor with at least two cables into the other hole, whereby contact pins and / or springs arranged at the ends of the cables are brought into contact with the contact surfaces.

[0020] The proposed method can be carried out, in particular, using the previously described device according to the invention, thus achieving the same advantages. In particular, electrical contacting can be simplified, since no cables need to be routed across the bore intersection. This saves time. Furthermore, damage to the cables is avoided, thus increasing process reliability. Furthermore, the steps of the method can be performed mechanically, thus enabling a high degree of automation.

[0021] The sensor's electrical contact is made discreetly when the connector and cable are inserted into the valve block. The connector is inserted into one hole, and the cable into the other. When the cable is inserted, the contact pins and / or springs located at the ends of the cables engage the contact surfaces of the connector, eliminating the need for any further electrical contacting measures.

[0022] Preferably, when inserting the cable section into the bore, each cable is brought into contact with a contact surface of the plug indirectly via a contact pin and / or a spring. Neither the contact pins or springs may touch each other nor the contact surfaces of the plug, as this would otherwise result in a short circuit. The rotational position of the cable section in relation to the valve block is not important, provided the plug has been inserted into the valve block in the correct rotational position. Advantageously, contact is established via spring-loaded contact pins and / or springs arranged on the contact pins, as these compensate for manufacturing and / or assembly tolerances as well as thermally induced changes in length. Furthermore, the rotational position of the plug within the bore is preferably secured so that the plug cannot twist within the bore.Otherwise, there is a risk that the electrical contact will be lost. The anti-rotation device is preferably implemented using an eccentrically arranged element, for example, an eccentrically arranged pin. The eccentrically arranged element can then be inserted into another hole in the valve block, which is preferably eccentrically arranged with respect to the hole accommodating the connector and runs parallel to it. When inserting the connector into the valve block, the eccentrically arranged element can then be inserted into the additional eccentrically arranged hole in the valve block.

[0023] A preferred embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. These show:

[0024] Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a valve block with a sensor and a device according to the invention for electrically contacting the sensor,

[0025] Fig. 2 shows a section of Figure 1 with the plug inserted and before the cable section of the device according to the invention is mounted,

[0026] Fig. 3 a) an enlarged section of Figure 2 in the area of ​​a bore intersection formed in the valve block and b) the same section, but rotated by 90°,

[0027] Fig. 4 shows the same section as Figure 2 after the assembly of the cable section of the device according to the invention and

[0028] Fig. 5 a) an enlarged section of Figure 4 in the area of ​​the bore intersection formed in the valve block and b) the same section, but rotated by 90°.

[0029] Detailed description of the drawings Figure 1 shows a valve block 2, for example the valve block 2 of a tank valve. The valve block 2 comprises a sensor 1, preferably a temperature sensor, which is surrounded by a sleeve 19 which is arranged coaxially with respect to a bore 5 in a connecting section 18 of the valve block 2. The valve block 2 or the tank valve can be inserted into a fuel gas tank (not shown) via the connecting section 18. The bore 5 is connected via a bore intersection 3 to a bore 4 which runs at an angle, in this case at a right angle, to the bore 5. A plug 6 of a device according to the invention for making electrical contact with the sensor 6 is inserted into the bore 4.Since the plug 6 must be installed in a specific rotational position with respect to the valve block 2, the latter has an eccentrically arranged element 16 in the form of a pin which is brought into engagement with a further bore 17 when the plug 6 is inserted into the valve block 2.

[0030] Figure 2 shows the upper area of ​​the valve block 2 of Figure 1 with the plug 6 inserted. The plug 6 extends into the area of ​​the bore intersection 3. This ensures that the exposed contact surfaces 7, 8 of the plug 6 arranged on the circumference can be brought into alignment with the bore 5 formed in the connecting section 18. The contact surfaces 7, 8 are described below with reference to Figures 3a) and 3b).

[0031] As can be seen from Figure 3a), the contact surfaces 7, 8 are disc-shaped or ring-shaped and arranged coaxially to one another and with respect to a longitudinal axis A of the bore 5 formed in the connecting section 18 (see Figure 3b)). Conductor tracks 20, 21 lead from the contact surfaces 7, 8 to plug contacts (not shown) of the connector 6 arranged at the other ends. The contact surfaces 7, 8 are not located in one plane, but one behind the other, i.e. at an axial distance relative to the longitudinal axis A (see Figure 3b)). Since the contact surface 7 is ring-shaped, it exposes the contact surface 8 arranged behind it.

[0032] To make electrical contact with the sensor 6, a cable section 9 (see Figure 1) with two parallel cables 10, 11 is inserted into the bore 5. The cable 10 is aligned coaxially to the longitudinal axis A of the bore 5. The cable 11 runs parallel to it at a distance a (see Figures 4 and 5b)). The distance a corresponds to a mean radius R of the annular contact surface 7 of the plug 6 (see Figures 3a) and 5a)). As can also be seen from Figure 5b), both cables 10, 11 have contact pins 12, 13 with springs 14, 15 at their ends, which project beyond the contact pins 12, 13 in the axial direction. When the cable section 9 is inserted into the bore 5, the springs 14, 15 come into contact with the contact surfaces 7, 8 and are thereby tensioned. In this way, the springs 14, 15 allow the compensation of manufacturing and / or assembly tolerances as well as the compensation of thermally induced length changes.While the rotational position of the connector 6 is relevant, the rotational position of the cable section 9 relative to the valve block 2 is irrelevant. As shown in Figure 5a, the spring 14 always contacts the annular contact surface 7 regardless of the rotational position of the cable section 9 and thus of the cable 11 (see dashed position examples). Consequently, measures to prevent rotation of the cable section 9 are not required.

Claims

Claims 1. A device for electrically contacting a sensor (1), in particular a temperature sensor, in the region of a bore intersection (3) formed in a valve block (2) between two bores (4, 5) arranged at an angle, in particular at right angles, to one another, comprising: a plug (6) for insertion into one bore (4), the plug (6) having, in a circumferential region, exposed, disc-shaped and / or annular contact surfaces (7, 8) which can be brought into overlap with the other bore (5) and can be aligned coaxially with respect to a longitudinal axis (A) of the other bore (5); a cable piece (9) connected to the sensor (1) for insertion into the other bore (5), the cable piece (9) having at least two cables (10, 11), each with contact pins (12, 13) and / or springs (14, 15) arranged at its end for contacting the contact surfaces (7, 8).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the disc-shaped and / or ring-shaped contact surfaces (7, 8) of the plug (6) are spaced apart from one another in the axial direction relative to the longitudinal axis (A) of the bore (5) receiving the cable piece (9).

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the plug (6) has an eccentrically arranged element (16), for example an eccentrically arranged pin, for determining the rotational position of the plug (6) within the bore (4).

4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that a bore (17) for receiving the eccentric element (16) is formed in the valve block (2), wherein the bore (17) is preferably arranged eccentrically with respect to the bore (4) receiving the plug (6) and runs parallel to the latter.

5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one cable (10) of the cable piece (9) is aligned coaxially to the longitudinal axis (A) of the bore (5) receiving the cable piece (9) and the other cable (11) is aligned parallel thereto at an axial distance (a), wherein the axial distance (a) preferably corresponds to a mean radius (R) of the larger of the two contact surfaces (7) of the plug (6).

6. Method for electrically contacting a sensor (1), in particular a temperature sensor, in the region of a bore intersection (3) formed in a valve block (2) of two bores (4, 5) arranged at an angle, in particular at right angles, to one another, comprising the steps: Inserting a plug (6) into one bore (4), wherein disc-shaped and / or ring-shaped contact surfaces (7, 8) of the plug (6) which are exposed in a circumferential region are brought into overlap with the other bore (5) and are aligned coaxially with respect to a longitudinal axis (A) of the other bore (5), inserting a cable piece (9) connected to the sensor (1) and having at least two cables (10, 11) into the other bore (5), wherein contact pins (12, 13) and / or springs (14, 15) arranged at the ends of the cables (10, 11) are brought into contact with the contact surfaces (7, 8).

7. Method according to claim 6, characterized in that when inserting the cable piece (9) into the bore (5), a cable (10, 11) is brought into contact with a contact surface (7, 8) of the plug (6) indirectly via a contact pin (12, 13) and / or a spring (14, 15).

8. Method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the rotational position of the plug (6) within the bore (4) is secured, preferably by means of an eccentrically arranged element (16), for example an eccentrically arranged pin.

9. Method according to claim 8, characterized in that the eccentrically arranged element (16) is inserted into a further bore (17) of the valve block (2), which is preferably arranged eccentrically with respect to the bore (4) receiving the plug (6) and runs parallel to the latter.

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