Housing for an electrical device and electrical device
Patent Information
- Application Number
- EP2024708738
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2023-04-17
- Filing Date
- 2024-02-28
- Publication Date
- 2026-02-25
AI Technical Summary
Existing housings for electrical devices, such as converters, face complexity in changing the orientation of contact elements relative to the front panel, requiring adjustments to the contours of the hole and the contact element, which is time-consuming and inefficient.
A housing design featuring a hollow cylindrical alignment plate with equidistantly distributed convex and concave sections allows for easy angular adjustment of the contact element, eliminating the need for additional contour adjustments, and a locking mechanism secures the alignment plate in a rotationally fixed position, preventing unwanted twisting.
Enables straightforward reorientation of the contact element without modifying the contours, facilitating the connection of different mating connectors and ensuring secure, dust-proof electrical connections.
Smart Images
Figure EP2024055162_24102024_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] Housing for an electrical device and electrical device
[0002] Description:
[0003] The invention relates to a housing for an electrical device, in particular for a converter, comprising a front panel and at least one contact element inserted into a bore in the front panel. The invention also relates to an electrical device, in particular a converter, comprising a housing according to the invention.
[0004] The contact element is designed, for example, as a socket into which a mating connector can be inserted from the outside. This creates an electrical connection to the electronic components in the housing.
[0005] It is known to apply contours to the hole in the front panel and to the outside of the contact element that engage with each other in a form-fitting manner. This prevents rotation of the contact element relative to the front panel. The contact element is thus held in a defined orientation in the front panel, preventing rotation. This ensures that a mating connector can be inserted into the contact element from the outside with a defined orientation.
[0006] DE 20 2004 011 226 U1 discloses a single control unit for shield support frames. The single control unit comprises a housing and connectors for connecting cable plugs.
[0007] Changing the alignment of the contact element relative to the housing's front panel is relatively complex. Such a change requires adjustments to the contours of the hole in the front panel and / or on the outside of the contact element.
[0008] The invention is based on the object of developing a housing for an electrical device, in particular a converter, as well as an electrical device.
[0009] The object is achieved by a housing for an electrical device having the features specified in claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and further developments are the subject of the dependent claims. The object is also achieved by an electrical device having the features specified in claim 10. A housing according to the invention for an electrical device, in particular for a converter, comprises a front panel and at least one contact element which is inserted into a bore in the front panel. The housing has at least one alignment plate which is of hollow cylindrical design. The contact element passes through a radially inner opening in the alignment plate. The contact element is fastened to the alignment plate in an angular position in a rotationally fixed manner.The alignment plate has a plurality of convex portions and a plurality of concave portions in a radially outer region, which allow alignment of the alignment plate in a plurality of discrete angular positions relative to the front panel of the housing. The alignment plate is held in a rotationally fixed manner in one of the angular positions on one side of the front panel.
[0010] The convex and concave sections of the alignment plate allow for several possible orientations of the alignment plate relative to the front panel. Changing the orientation of the contact element relative to the front panel of the housing is thus relatively easy by appropriately aligning the alignment plate to a desired angular position relative to the front panel. Changing the orientation of the contact element relative to the front panel of the housing is necessary, for example, if a different mating connector is to be connected to the contact element. Additional adjustments to the contours of the hole in the front panel and / or on the outside of the contact element are not required in such a case.
[0011] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the convex sections and the concave sections of the alignment plate are distributed equidistantly in the radially outer region of the alignment plate. For example, 16 convex sections are provided, each offset by 22.5° from one another. For example, 16 concave sections are provided, each offset by 22.5° from one another.
[0012] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, a locking lug is attached to the front panel, which engages in a concave section of the alignment plate in a form-fitting manner. For example, 16 concave sections are provided, each offset by 22.5° from one another. This provides 16 different angular positions for aligning the alignment plate. According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, a recess is attached to the front panel, into which a convex section of the alignment plate engages in a form-fitting manner. For example, 16 convex sections are provided, each offset by 22.5° from one another. This provides 16 different angular positions for aligning the alignment plate.
[0013] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the hole in the front panel has a circular cross-section. This makes the hole relatively easy to insert into the front panel. Additional adjustments to the hole's contour are not necessary.
[0014] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the radially inner opening of the alignment plate has a cross-section that deviates from a circular shape. This non-circular cross-section prevents unintentional rotation of the inserted contact element relative to the alignment plate and the front panel.
[0015] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the contact element has a cross-section complementary to the radially inner opening of the alignment plate. This prevents unintentional rotation of the contact element relative to the alignment plate and relative to the front panel.
[0016] According to an advantageous development of the invention, the contact element has a flange arranged on a side of the front panel opposite the alignment plate, and a seal is located between the flange and the front panel. The flange fixes the contact element to the front panel in the axial direction. The seal prevents dust and other foreign matter from penetrating the housing through the hole.
[0017] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the contact element has an external thread onto which a nut is screwed, and the nut rests against the alignment plate. The contact element is fixed axially to the front panel by the nut.
[0018] An electrical device according to the invention, in particular a converter, comprises a housing according to the invention. The invention is not limited to the combination of features of the claims. Further possible combinations of claims and / or individual claim features and / or features of the description and / or the figures will become apparent to those skilled in the art, particularly from the problem and / or the problem arising from comparison with the prior art.
[0019] The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings. The drawings only represent the subject matter of the invention schematically. They show:
[0020] Figure 1: an exploded view of a part of a housing according to a first embodiment and
[0021] Figure 2: a perspective view of part of a housing according to a second embodiment.
[0022] Figure 1 shows an exploded view of part of a housing for an electrical device according to a first embodiment. The electrical device is, for example, an inverter. The housing surrounds a cavity in which electronic components, such as memory cards, processors, and connector strips, are accommodated.
[0023] The housing is, for example, cuboid-shaped and has a top wall, a bottom wall, second side walls, a front wall, and a rear wall. The side walls are arranged opposite each other. Furthermore, the bottom wall and the top wall are arranged opposite each other. The rear wall is arranged opposite the front wall.
[0024] The front panel, for example, has an opening through which electrical conductors are routed to electrically contact the electronic components in the cavity. The housing comprises a front panel 40. The opening in the front panel is closed by the front panel 40. The front panel 40 is attached to the front panel (not shown here).
[0025] A plurality of bores 42 are provided in the front panel 40. The bores 42 in the front panel 40 each have a circular cross-section. The bores 42 each serve to accommodate a contact element 20 and thus to pass through the electrical conductors for electrically contacting the electronic components in the cavity. A plurality of locking lugs 45 are attached to the front panel 40. Each locking lug 45 is assigned to a bore 42. The housing comprises a plurality of contact elements 20. The contact elements 20 are each inserted into one of the bores 42 in the front panel 40. In the present case, the contact elements 20 are designed as sockets into which a mating connector can be inserted. Other designs of contact elements 20, for example as plugs, are also conceivable.
[0026] The housing has several alignment plates 30. Each contact element 20 is assigned exactly one alignment plate 30. In the illustration shown here, one of the contact elements 20 is already inserted into a bore 42, and another contact element 20 is shown, similar to an exploded view, before being inserted into a bore 42.
[0027] The contact elements 20 are designed at least approximately identically. The alignment plates 30 are also designed at least approximately identically. In the following, reference is made only to one contact element 20 and one alignment plate 30.
[0028] The alignment plate 30 is hollow-cylindrical. The alignment plate 30 has a plurality of convex sections and a plurality of concave sections in a radially outer region. The convex sections and the concave sections of the alignment plate 30 are distributed equidistantly in the radially outer region of the alignment plate 30. In the present case, 16 convex sections are provided, each offset by 22.5° from one another. In the present case, 16 concave sections are also provided, each offset by 22.5° from one another.
[0029] The alignment plate 30 is arranged on one side of the front panel 40 concentrically with one of the holes 42. The locking lug 45 associated with the hole 42 engages positively with a concave section of the alignment plate 30. The convex sections and the concave sections thus allow the alignment plate 30 to be aligned in a plurality of angular positions, in this case in 16 different angular positions, relative to the front panel 40.
[0030] The alignment plate 30 has a radially inner opening. The contact element 20 extends through the radially inner opening of the alignment plate 30. The radially inner opening of the alignment plate 30 has a cross-section that deviates from a circular shape. The contact element 20 has a cross-section that is complementary to the radially inner opening of the alignment plate 30. The contact element 20 has a flange 22. The flange 22 is arranged on a side of the front panel 40 opposite the alignment plate 30. A seal 25 is located between the flange 22 and the front panel 40. A diameter of the flange 22 is larger than a diameter of the bore 42.
[0031] The contact element 20 has an external thread. A nut 35 is screwed onto the external thread. The nut 35 rests against the alignment plate 30. The alignment plate 30, the front panel 40, and the seal 25 are thus clamped between the nut 35 and the flange 22 of the contact element 20.
[0032] The contact element 20 is thus non-rotatably attached to the alignment plate 30. The alignment plate 30 is non-rotatably held in one of the angular positions on the side of the front panel 40.
[0033] Figure 2 shows an exploded view of part of a housing for an electrical device according to a second embodiment. The electrical device is, for example, a converter. The housing surrounds a cavity in which electronic components, such as memory cards, processors, and connector strips, are accommodated.
[0034] The housing is, for example, cuboid-shaped and has a top wall, a bottom wall, second side walls, a front wall, and a rear wall. The side walls are arranged opposite each other. Furthermore, the bottom wall and the top wall are arranged opposite each other. The rear wall is arranged opposite the front wall.
[0035] The housing comprises a front panel 40. In this case, the front wall is formed by the front panel 40. Electrical conductors for electrically contacting the electronic components in the cavity are led through the front panel 40. A plurality of through-holes 47 are provided in the front panel 40, which serve, for example, to supply or discharge air for cooling the electronic components in the cavity. Alternatively, the through-holes 47 are provided for large cable glands or connectors. A plurality of bores 42 are provided in the front panel 40, each having a circular cross-section. A plurality of locking lugs 45 are attached to the front panel 40. Each locking lug 45 is assigned to a bore 42. The housing comprises a plurality of contact elements 20. The contact elements 20 are each inserted into one of the bores 42 in the front panel 40. The housing has a plurality of alignment plates 30.Each contact element 20 is assigned exactly one alignment plate 30. The contact elements 20 are, as shown in Figure 1, non-rotatably secured to the alignment plate 30. The alignment plates 30 are held non-rotatably in one of the angular positions on the side of the front panel 40, as shown in Figure 1.
[0036] The contact elements 20 are designed as sockets, as shown in Figure 1. A plug 50 is inserted into each contact element 20. The plugs 50 are each inserted into the contact elements 20 in a defined orientation relative to the front panel 40. The orientation of the plugs 50 relative to the front panel 40 is determined by the angular position in which the respective alignment plate 30 is arranged on the front panel 40.
[0037] List of reference symbols
[0038] 20 Contact element 22 Flange
[0039] 25 Seal
[0040] 30 alignment plate
[0041] 35 mother
[0042] 40 Front panel 42 Hole
[0043] 45 locking lug
[0044] 47 through hole
[0045] 50 plugs
Claims
Patent claims:
1. Housing for an electrical device, in particular for a converter, comprising a front panel (40) and at least one contact element (20) which is inserted into a bore (42) in the front panel (40), characterized in that the housing has at least one alignment plate (30) which is designed as a hollow cylinder, and in that the contact element (20) passes through a radially inner opening of the alignment plate (30), and in that the contact element (20) is fastened in an angular position in a rotationally fixed manner to the alignment plate (30), and in that the alignment plate (30) has in a radially outer region a plurality of convex sections and a plurality of concave sections which permit alignment of the alignment sheet (30) in a plurality of discrete angular positions relative to the front panel, and that the alignment plate (30) is held in a rotationally fixed manner in one of the angular positions on one side of the front panel (40).
2. Housing according to claim 1, characterized in that the convex sections and the concave sections of the alignment plate (30) are distributed equidistantly in the radially outer region of the alignment plate (30).
3. Housing according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a locking lug (45) is attached to the front panel (40), which engages positively in a concave section of the alignment plate (30).
4. Housing according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a recess is provided on the front panel (40) into which a convex section of the alignment plate (30) engages in a form-fitting manner.
5. Housing according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bore (42) in the front panel (40) has a circular cross-section.
6. Housing according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the radially inner opening of the alignment plate (30) has a cross-section deviating from the circular shape.
7. Housing according to claim 6, characterized in that the contact element (20) has a cross-section complementary to the radially inner opening of the alignment plate (30).
8. Housing according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact element (20) has a flange (22) which is arranged on a side of the front panel (40) opposite the alignment plate (30), and in that a seal (25) is located between the flange (22) and the front panel (40).
9. Housing according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact element (20) has an external thread onto which a nut (35) is screwed, and that the nut (35) bears against the alignment plate (30).
10. Electrical device, in particular a converter, comprising a housing according to one of the preceding claims.