Automotive Electrical Component Assembly

Abstract

The present invention relates to an electrical component assembly for a motor vehicle, comprising an electrical component (1) and a component carrier (2) having conductive tracks (4) for electrical contact with the component (1). The component (1) is accommodated in a receptacle (5) in the component carrier (2) without a potting compound. According to the invention, a cover (3) of the component carrier (2) is provided with a sealing protrusion (3a) for sealing the receptacle (5) and is in sealing engagement with the receptacle (5) via the sealing protrusion (3a) when the cover (3) is integrated with the component carrier (2) in an assembly direction (M).

Description

[Technical field]

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to an automotive electrical component assembly having an electrical component carrier having conductive tracks for electrical contact with the component, the component being received in a receptacle within the component carrier without a potting compound.

[0002]

[0002] Automotive electrical component assemblies refer to assemblies of components used in and on motor vehicles. As a result, specific requirements for the intended use must be met. These typically cover not only a wide temperature range, from about -60 ° C to +100 ° C, without any perceptible functional impairment of the components. Furthermore, such electrical component assemblies must usually be sealed against moisture and dust to ensure functional reliability over time. For this purpose, so-called component carriers are usually used, on which or with the help of which the electrical components are positioned and held. For this purpose, the component carriers are equipped with conductive tracks, which are used to make electrical contact with the components. In many cases, sealing by potting compounds is additionally provided.

[0003]

[0003] The components referred to here are, by way of example and not limitation, typical switches or sensors, as well as electric motors, LEDs, etc. The conductive tracks can be glued to a component carrier (made of a plastic material) or embedded in the component carrier.

[0004]

[0004] Typically, such component assemblies are used together with electric motor drive units which are used to move actuators. These can be window lift drives, spindle drives, seat adjustment drives, etc. Particularly preferred are vehicle electrical component assemblies used together with vehicle closure devices. At this point, the component carrier carries, for example, a drive for electrically opening or latching the closure device as well as one or more sensors which can be used to query the relevant functional position of the vehicle closure device.

[0005]

[0005] The general state of the art according to DE 10 2014 222 428 A1 is a component carrier switch assembly. For this purpose, an interface between the switch and the component carrier is implemented. According to the invention as claimed in claim 2, it is also possible that the switch is not potted in the component carrier. For this purpose, a ring seal is provided in connection with the interface in question between the component carrier and the switch.

[0006]

[0006] However, such ring seals can only be realized and implemented with a significant design effort, since they usually need to be manufactured separately from and integrated with the component carrier, and there is also the risk that the ring seal may be damaged during assembly of the switch, resulting in no or insufficient protection of the internal contacts, which is what the present invention generally seeks to remedy. Summary of the Invention

[0007]

[0007] The present invention is based on the technical problem of further developing such an automotive electrical component assembly in such a way as to reduce the design and assembly efforts while eliminating the need for the use of potting compounds.

[0008]

[0008] In order to solve this technical problem, the general automotive electrical component assembly of the present invention is characterized in that a cover of a component carrier is provided with a sealing protrusion that seals a receptacle, and when the cover is integrated with the component carrier in the assembly direction, the cover sealingly engages with the receptacle via the sealing protrusion.

[0009]

[0009] The invention is based firstly on the observation that in order to mount a component on a component carrier, the component must be placed in a receptacle of the component carrier. During this process, the component is not only mechanically received in the receptacle. Typically, electrical contact between the component and the conductive track or tracks is also made at this point. For this purpose, the component in question can be equipped, for example, with plug, solder or clamp contacts which establish the desired electrical connection with corresponding mating contacts of the associated conductive track. In most cases, an attempt is made at this point to create a solder-free electrical connection, for example by providing the switch with plug contacts at the ends of the associated conductive tracks which are plugged into corresponding mating contacts.

[0010]

[0010] To ensure that the (inevitably present and recognized at this point) free area in the receptacle having the electrical connection established between the component in question and the conductive track is protected against corrosion, the current state of the art uses potting compounds to seal the electrical connection established in this area, which is time consuming and costly.

[0011]

[0011] For this purpose, the general state of the art according to DE 10 2014 222 428 A1 works with an additionally inserted seal. However, according to the present invention, neither a potting compound nor a seal is required. Rather, the above-mentioned free area is closed by a sealing protrusion on the cover as soon as the cover is coupled to the component carrier in the assembly direction.

[0012]

[0012] The invention is based on the further discovery that the component carrier, together with the component or components mounted thereon and electrically contacted therewith, is entirely covered by an additionally mounted cover. For this purpose, the component carrier may, for example, be arranged inside the housing or may itself be a component part of the housing. In any case, the mounting of the cover, which is generally a further component part of the housing, ensures according to the invention that the receptacles in the area of ​​the electrical connection between the components and the associated conductive tracks are properly closed with the aid of sealing projections on the cover, since the sealing projections sealingly engage with the receptacles along the assembly direction when the cover and the component carrier are brought together.

[0013]

[0013] In this way, the sealing projection ensures that any free area remaining in the receptacle surrounding the component as a whole is closed by the sealing projection. This means that an additional application of potting compound and upstream assembly of the seal is no longer necessary, resulting in advantages in terms of production and assembly. In addition, the cover can generally be removed again from the component carrier, so that the component, and in particular the electrical connection or contact area with the associated conductive track, can be accessed for repair purposes, if necessary. These are the main advantages.

[0014]

[0014] It is understood that the cover of the component carrier does not necessarily have to cover the entire surface of the component carrier. This means that within the scope of the invention, variants are likewise possible, for example, in which the cover only partially covers the component carrier, for example in the area of ​​a component or components. In any case, the assembly of the cover to the component carrier in the assembly direction not only ensures the desired covering of the component carrier, but also that the receptacles in which the components are placed are closed by the sealing projections.

[0015]

[0015] According to an advantageous embodiment, the sealing protrusion comprises at least one sealing lip for sealing. The sealing lip can be moulded onto the sealing protrusion. In this case, an embodiment has proven to be particularly advantageous, in which the sealing lip is injection moulded onto the sealing protrusion. This is particularly advantageous, since the cover, and thus the sealing protrusion, is usually designed as a plastics material moulded part, in particular a plastics material injection moulded part. Thus, the sealing lip, for example made of an elastomeric plastics material, can be injection moulded directly onto the sealing protrusion in a two-component injection moulding process. The component carrier is also usually a plastics material moulded part, in particular a plastics material injection moulded part. The associated conductive track or conductive track structure can be surrounded by the plastics material, for example by inserting a punch grid into a plastics material injection moulding tool for producing the component carrier and over-molding it with the plastics material of the component carrier. In principle, other production methods are of course also conceivable, for example the conductive track is glued to the component carrier (also made of a plastics material) as a conductive track film.

[0016]

[0016] In order to optimise the sealing effect of the sealing lip provided on the sealing projection, the sealing lip may be connected to the sealing projection transversely to the assembly direction. However, alternatively or additionally, it is also possible to connect the sealing lip to the sealing projection in the assembly direction. In the first case, the sealing lip thus has an extension transversely to the assembly direction and in the second case corresponds to the extension of the sealing lip in the assembly direction. Both cases are possible.

[0017]

[0017] The sealing projection is generally designed as a bayonet pin or at least one bayonet pin. It is also possible to use two or more bayonet pins arranged at a distance, which together with the cover ensures that the receptacle or the remaining free area in the receptacle is sealed. In this connection, the bayonet pin or two or more bayonet pins can be equipped with a sealing formation. The sealing formation can be a soft area provided on the associated bayonet pin. This soft area can be defined in a similar manner to the sealing lip, for example by injecting an elastomeric plastic material.

[0018]

[0018] In another advantageous variant, the bayonet pin and the receptacle are provided with corresponding chamfers, so that when the cover is integrated with the component carrier, the chamfer on the bayonet pin automatically slides along the corresponding or opposing chamfer on the receptacle, thus ensuring the desired sealing of the receptacle.

[0019]

[0019] As a result, an electrical component assembly for a motor vehicle is obtained which has particular advantages in terms of production and assembly. These advantages are generally observed in all applications of the component assembly in question. Typically, such a component assembly is used together with an electric motor drive, which can be placed inside the housing for the lock of the motor vehicle. In this case, the component carrier may coincide with the wall of the associated housing. It is also conceivable to design the component carrier separately from the housing.

[0020]

[0020] In any case, the component in question can be placed in the receptacle of the component carrier and at the same time the desired electrical connection to the conductive track or conductive track structure is established. The free area inside the receptacle thus recognized is then sealed so that the cover closing the component carrier sealingly engages with the receptacle via its sealing projections. These are the main advantages. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0021]

[0021] The invention will now be explained in more detail with the aid of drawings which show exemplary embodiments only. [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows a variant of the first embodiment of an electrical component assembly for an automobile according to the invention. [Figure 2A] FIG. 2A shows a further second variant. [Figure 2B] FIG. 2B shows a further second variant. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment. [Figure 4A] FIG. 4A shows a fourth embodiment. [Figure 4B] FIG. 4B shows a fourth embodiment.

[0022] Detailed Description of the Invention

[0023]

[0022] These figures show an automotive electrical component assembly. Within the scope of the exemplary embodiment, and in a non-limiting manner, the electrical component assembly is an electrical component in the form of an electrical switch 1. The electrical component assembly in question is therefore accommodated as a whole in a housing 2, 3, which may for example be a drive housing for accommodating an electric motor drive therein. According to this exemplary embodiment, the automotive electrical component assembly together with its electrical components or switch 1 is accommodated in a lock housing 2, 3. The lock housing 2, 3 is a lock housing 2, 3 of a vehicle door lock, which may accommodate a lock mechanism (not shown) and an actuating lever assembly in addition to the switch 1. The switch 1 can for example be used to query the position of a rotary latch as part of the lock mechanism.

[0024]

[0023] For this purpose, an electrical component or switch 1 is held by a component carrier 2, embedded with conductive tracks 4, merely indicated for electrical contact with the component 1, and mounted inside a housing 2, 3. In the present embodiment, the component carrier 2 is a component of the lock housing 2, 3, but this is by way of example and not of limitation. In fact, the lock housing 2, 3 in question consists, on the one hand, of a base or component carrier 2 and, on the other hand, of a cover 3 which closes over the base or component carrier 2.

[0025]

[0024] The switch 1 is not only mounted on the component carrier 2 but also in electrical contact with the conductive tracks 4. This can be done using a so-called insulation displacement connection, i.e. generally by electrically coupling a plug connection 1a on the switch 1 with a connecting piece 4a of the associated mating plug connector or conductive track 4. For this purpose, the connecting piece 4a of the conductive track 4 or the mating plug connector 4a penetrates the front side of the component carrier 2, as the conductive track 4 would otherwise be embedded in the component carrier 2. In practice, the component carrier 2 is a plastic material injection-molded part into which the conductive track 4 is embedded, for example as a stamped part, during the plastic material injection-molding process.

[0026]

[0025] For this purpose, the component or switch 1 is placed in a receptacle 5 which completely or partly surrounds the switch 1, as shown in Figure 1. In this case, the switch 1 or component, as a rule part of the component carrier 2, completely fills the receptacle 5 in question, with the exception of a free area 6. In the free area 6, an electrical contact is made between the plug connector 1a of the switch 1 and the connecting piece of the conductive track 4, i.e. the mating plug connector 4a.

[0027]

[0026] According to the invention, the receptacle 5 or the free area 6 remaining at this point can be closed by a sealing projection 3a on the cover 3 of the component carrier 2. As soon as the cover 3 is integrated with the component carrier 2 to form a housing or locking housing 2, 3, said sealing projection 3a on the cover 3 directly and sealingly engages with the receptacle 5 or the remaining free area 6. The component carrier 2 and the cover 3 are integrated along an assembly direction M shown in Figure 1. Figure 1 illustrates this principle. When the cover 3 is fitted, the sealing projection 3a seals the free area 6. The housing of the switch 1 then closes the remaining area of ​​the receptacle 5 except for the free area 6, so that the receptacle 5 is also completely closed.

[0028] 2A and 2B, it can be seen that the sealing projection 3a is equipped for this purpose with, for example, a circumferential sealing lip 7. In this embodiment, the sealing lip 7 is molded onto the sealing projection 3a. In fact, an embodiment has proven to be particularly preferred in which the sealing lip 7 is not made exclusively of a flexible rubber-elastic plastic material. The sealing lip 7 can also be molded into the cover 3 or into the sealing projection 3a during production, in which case a so-called two-component plastic material injection molding process is used.

[0029] 2A and 2B, it can be seen that the flexible sealing lip 7 has an extension that is approximately transverse to the assembly direction M. In this way, as shown in the assembled position in Fig. 2B, the sealing lip 7 abuts on the one hand against the housing of the switch 1 and on the other hand against the wall of the receptacle 5 of the component carrier 2. In any case, it is possible to reliably seal the entire receptacle 5 or the free area 6 remaining at this point.

[0030] 4A and 4B, the sealing lip 7 is designed to be connected again to the sealing projection 3a, for example by being molded or injection molded thereon. In this case, however, the extension of the sealing lip 7 in the assembly direction M is connected to said sealing projection 3a. It can also be seen that the sealing projection 3a is in each case designed as at least one bayonet pin. The bayonet pin or the sealing projection 3a remaining at this point and the receptacle 5 or the free area 6 can be equipped with corresponding chamfers 8, 9, which can also be found in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1. The chamfer 8 is provided on the sealing projection 3a, while the corresponding counter chamfer 9 is part of the receptacle 5.

[0031] 4A, 4B, the sealing lip 7 is connected in the assembly direction M not only to the sealing projection 3a and the bayonet pin implemented at this point, but also to the chamfer 8 formed at this point. In this way, the sealing lip 7, in the assembled state, abuts against the counter chamfer 9 of the receptacle 5, as shown in the diagram in FIG. 4B, and together with the corresponding contact between the chamfer 8 and the counter chamfer 9, ensures that the gap remaining at this point is closed.

[0032]

[0031] In the variant according to Fig. 3, two or more spaced bayonet pins are now provided as sealing projections 3a. The associated bayonet pins can furthermore be equipped with a sealing formation 10. This sealing formation 10 can be an area of ​​elastomer or rubber-like plastic material additionally injected onto the bayonet pin or the sealing projection 3a, so as to deform when the sealing projection 3a is integrated into the receptacle 5 and to close the sealing projection 3a provided here or any remaining gaps between the sealing projection 3a and the receptacle 5. [Explanation of symbols]

[0033] 1...electrical switch, 1a…plug connection, 2…Component carrier, 3…Cover, 3a…bayonet pin or sealing projection, 2,3…Housing, 4...conductive track, 4a…connection piece, 5...Receptacle, 6...free area, 7…sealing lip, 8…Beveled part, 9…opposite chamfered portion, 10...Sealing forming part, M...Assembly direction.

Claims

1. An automotive electrical component assembly comprising an electrical component (1) and a component carrier (2) having conductive tracks (4) for electrical contact with said component (1), An automotive electrical component assembly, in which the component (1) is housed in a receptacle (5) in the component carrier (2) without a potting compound, comprising:

1. An electrical component assembly for an automobile, comprising: a cover (3) of the component carrier (2) provided with a sealing protrusion (3a) for sealingly engaging with a receptacle (5), the cover (3) being sealingly engaged with the receptacle (5) via the sealing protrusion (3a) when the cover (3) is integrated with the component carrier (2) in an assembly direction (M).

2. Assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that said sealing projection (3a) comprises at least one sealing lip (7).

3. Assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that said sealing lip (7) is moulded onto said sealing projection (3a).

4. Assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that said sealing lip (7) is injection moulded onto said sealing projection (3a).

5. 5. An assembly according to claim 2, wherein the sealing lip (7) is connected to the sealing projection (3a) transversely to and / or along the assembly direction (M).

6. Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sealing projection (3a) is designed as at least one bayonet pin.

7. 7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein there are two or more spaced bayonet pins.

8. Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said sealing projection (3a) comprises a sealing formation (10).

9. Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sealing projection (3a) and the receptacle (5) are equipped with corresponding chamfers (8, 9).

10. Assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover (3) and the component carrier (2) are designed as plastic material moulded parts, in particular as plastic material injection moulded parts.

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