Split electrical feedthrough

Abstract

The present invention relates to a split electrical feed-through (1, 10) for electrically contacting a heating conductor (2) through a housing, comprising a heating conductor (2) and an insulating section (3), the insulating section (3) having an electrical conductor (6, 11), insulating means (7), and an outer sleeve (8), the electrical conductor (6, 11) and the insulating means (7) being arranged inside the outer sleeve (8), the electrical conductor (6, 11) being electrically insulated from the outer sleeve (8) by the insulating means (7), the heating conductor (2) being attached to the electrical conductor (6, 11) at a preset angle, the heating conductor (2) and the insulating section (3) being formed from two different elements that are permanently connected to each other by a joining process, preferably brazing, and the heating conductor (6, 11) having a notch through which the electrical conductor of the insulating section can be introduced, and relates to a split electrical feed-through (1, 10).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a split electrical feed-through for electrically contacting a heating conductor through a housing, comprising a heating conductor and an insulating section, the insulating section having an electrical conductor, insulating means, and an outer sleeve, the electrical conductor and the insulating means being arranged inside the outer sleeve, the electrical conductor being electrically insulated from the outer sleeve by the insulating means, and the heating conductor being attached to the electrical conductor at a preset angle.

[0002] Background Art Today, electrical heating elements are usually used to heat the exhaust gas in the exhaust gas section located behind the internal combustion engine or the exhaust gas flowing in the exhaust gas section. In this case, the goal is to reach the temperature threshold at which effective conversion of harmful substances entrained in the exhaust gas can be carried out as quickly as possible. This is necessary because the catalytically active surface of the catalyst assembled in the exhaust gas section, which is used for exhaust gas aftertreatment, can only enable sufficient conversion of various harmful substances for the first time after reaching the minimum temperature, the so-called light-off temperature.

[0003] Known solutions in the prior art include so-called heating catalysts having a metal structure or a ceramic structure coated with a metal that is connected to a voltage source and can be heated using ohmic resistance.

[0004] To electrically contact the heatable structure, an electrical conductor must be introduced through the housing of the exhaust gas section or the housing of the catalyst arranged in the exhaust gas section at at least one point. In this case, it must be ensured that the feed-through is gas-tight and that electrical insulation is provided between the housing and the electrical conductor and that sufficient durability is guaranteed. The electrical conductor is usually formed from a solid, solid material, such as a metal pin.

[0005] German Patent Invention No. 102012110098 discloses a method for fabricating an electrical feed-through for powering an electrical exhaust gas heating device in a motor vehicle. The feed-through has an outer tube with an inner chamber penetrated by an electrical conductor. The electrical conductor projects beyond the outer tube at at least one end face of the outer tube. The electrical conductor is surrounded by an insulating material in the inner chamber of the outer tube. In this case, the feed-through is formed by cutting a compacted bar to a specified length, and in this case, by a machining process, the regions functioning as the outer tube and the regions functioning as the insulating material are removed, thus forming an electrical feed-through of a desired length with a desired overhang amount of the electrical conductor beyond the outer tube.

[0006] Methods for fabricating electrical feed-throughs known in the prior art have the disadvantage, in particular, that the compacted bars used are extremely expensive because they have a multi-layer structure. Moreover, due to the machining process for exposing the electrical conductor and cutting the electrical feed-through to a specified length, approximately two-thirds of the main part of the bar is not used in the machining process and thus is wasted. This makes the manufacturing process particularly laborious and expensive.

[0007] Summary, Problem, Solution, Advantage of the Invention Therefore, the problem of the present invention is to provide a split-type electrical feed-through and an appropriate manufacturing method that enable simple and inexpensive fabrication of an electrical feed-through with at least equally good technical characteristics.

[0008] The problem regarding the split-type electrical feed-through is solved by the split-type electrical feed-through having the features described in claim 1.

[0009] One embodiment of the present invention is a split electrical feedthrough for electrically contacting a heating conductor through a housing, comprising a heating conductor and an insulating section, the insulating section having an electrical conductor, insulating means, and an outer sleeve, the electrical conductor and the insulating means being disposed inside the outer sleeve, the electrical conductor being electrically insulated from the outer sleeve by the insulating means, the heating conductor being attached to the electrical conductor at a preset angle, the heating conductor and the insulating section being formed from two different elements continuously connected to each other by a joining process, and the heating conductor having a notch into which the electrical conductor of the insulating section can be introduced, relates to a split electrical feedthrough.

[0010] The electrical feedthrough is used to guide an electrical conductor through an exhaust gas pipeline or a housing of a catalyst. In this case, the feedthrough must be able to withstand the generated temperature and be gas-tight so that the exhaust gas does not escape. In this case, the electrical conductor is required to be guided while being electrically insulated from the housing so that no short circuit occurs.

[0011] The insulating section of the split feedthrough is configured to enable the electrical conductor to be electrically insulated and guided to the outside through a housing of a catalyst or an exhaust gas pipeline. For this purpose, the outer sleeve may be continuously connected, for example welded, to the housing. The insulating means arranged to coaxially surround the electrical conductor insulates the electrical conductor from the outer sleeve.

[0012] The electrical conductor is electrically conductively connected to the heating conductor of the split electrical feedthrough. According to the invention, the electrical conductor, preferably formed by a metal pin, and the heating conductor are connected to each other at a presettable angle. That is, in particular, the electrical conductor and the heating conductor are not connected to each other on the end face side, but rather the electrical conductor is preferably attached to the outer surface on the side of the heating conductor. Such a bent configuration is extremely advantageous, especially when the configuration space is very limited in many cases, and a particularly space-saving configuration can be formed.

[0013] The heating conductor preferably has a notch, for example a hole, into which the electrical conductor may be inserted and may be continuously connected to the heating conductor. The notch provided in the heating conductor may form a press fit portion together with the electrical conductor, for example. Further, the notch may taper, for example, in a conical shape, whereby as the insertion depth increases, the force acting radially on the electrical conductor generated by the insertion is increased.

[0014] The electrical conductor and the heating conductor may preferably be welded or brazed to each other.

[0015] It is particularly advantageous if the heating conductor has a solder pool inside the notch. This is particularly advantageous for preparing the solder material required for the brazed joint and thus for forming the brazed joint particularly easily. In this case, the solder pool is dimensioned such that it can provide a sufficient amount of solder to form a full-surface connection between the electrical conductor and the heating conductor.

[0016] It is also advantageous if the notch is formed by a hole and the solder pool is formed on the end face formed in the heating conductor of the hole. For this purpose, the hole may have, for example, a further small notch that forms the original solder pool.

[0017] A preferred embodiment is characterized in that the notch tapers conically from the opening of the hole towards the end face. This is advantageous for obtaining a certain tightening effect between the electrical conductor and the heating conductor in advance by insertion, and thus for forming a stronger connection part.

[0018] Also, it is also suitable that the central axis of the heating conductor is arranged at an angle of 60° to 120°, particularly preferably about 90°, with respect to the central axis of the electrical conductor. In particular, connecting at an angle of 90° to each other is advantageous for forming a structure as compact as possible. In the case of a connection part formed at an angle different from 90°, in order to ensure a connection part that fits exactly at the desired angle, the central axis of the hole forming the notch may be tilted by an appropriate angle.

[0019] Moreover, it is advantageous that the insulating section is formed from a plurality of members, and in particular, the electrical conductor is divided and formed from at least two members. Preferably, the insulating section may be formed from a plurality of members. This facilitates the assembly of the electrical feed-through. In this case, the member that functions as the contact of the insulating section, particularly the electrical conductor in the insulating section, with respect to the heating conductor is formed separately from the member arranged between the electrical conductors of the insulating means.

[0020] Both of these members may be aligned with each other during production, optionally using auxiliary tools, and may be fixed to each other pointwise, for example, by a welded joint. Subsequently, in a subsequent soldering process, both members may be connected to each other over the entire surface. For this purpose, preferably, one of the two members has a solder reservoir that is dimensioned sufficiently to accommodate the required amount of solder. This solder reservoir may be formed, for example, by a hole in the electrical conductor.

[0021] Furthermore, it is advantageous that members of the electrical conductor are mutually engageable and can be durably connected to each other by a joining process. By engaging with each other, it is possible to easily achieve positioning of both members relative to each other. Also, in order to provide a durable connection by a soldering process, a solder reservoir may be provided in one of the members.

[0022] Also, it is expedient if at least one of the members of the electrical conductor has a solder reservoir, and this solder reservoir is arranged in the region where both members of the electrical conductor are applied to each other.

[0023] Moreover, it is advantageous if the solder reservoir is dimensioned such that it can solder both members of the electrical conductor to each other over the entire surface.

[0024] The problem regarding a method for manufacturing a split electrical feedthrough is solved by a method having the features of claim 10.

[0025] One embodiment of the invention is a method for manufacturing a split electrical feedthrough, the method comprising fixing both members of the electrical conductor to each other by a welding process and connecting both members of the electrical conductor and the electrical conductor itself to each other to a heating conductor by a subsequent soldering process. In this way, an electrical feedthrough can be easily manufactured and can be advantageously used especially in a narrow space situation.

[0026] Advantageous refinements of the invention are described in the dependent claims and in the following description of the drawings.

[0027] The invention will be described in detail below based on a plurality of embodiments with reference to the drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0028]

Figure 1

Figure 2

[0029] Preferred embodiment of the invention In FIG. 1, a split electrical feedthrough 1 is shown. In this case, this feedthrough 1 has a heating conductor 2 and an insulating section 3. The heating conductor 2 is formed as a metal pin and has a radially extending notch 4 in the heating conductor 2. This notch 4 may be formed, for example, by a hole. At the bottom of the notch 4, a solder reservoir 5 is provided that can accommodate a defined amount of solder used to solder the heating conductor 2 to the electrical conductor 6 of the insulating section 3.

[0030] In the upper part of FIG. 1, the heating conductor 2 is shown separated from the insulating section 3. This insulating section 3 has a central electrical conductor 6, and this electrical conductor 6 is coaxially surrounded by insulating means 7, for example, oxide ceramics. An outer sleeve 8 follows this insulating means 7, and this outer sleeve 8 is preferably made of metal and may be used to attach the feedthrough 1 to an outer housing.

[0031] In the lower part of FIG. 1, the electrical conductor 6 is inserted into the notch 4, and thus a connection is formed between the insulating section 3 and the heating conductor 2.

[0032] By forming the notch 4 to extend radially in the heating conductor 2, it has been achieved that the insulating section 3 is arranged at a 90° angle with respect to the central axis of the heating conductor 2.

[0033] Figure 2 shows a similar electrical feed-through 10, where, unlike in Figure 1, the electrical conductor 11 is formed from two members. In the upper part of Figure 2, the electrical conductor 11 has a plug connection 12, and in this case, a solder pool is provided in the notch of this plug connection 12. By inserting the two parts of the electrical conductor 11 into each other and then brazing, a continuous connection can be formed.

[0034] Connecting the lower part of the electrical conductor 11 to the heating conductor 2 is carried out in the same manner as in the embodiment of Figure 1.

[0035] The various different features of the individual embodiments may be combined with each other.

[0036] The embodiments of Figures 1 to 2 do not have particularly limiting features and are useful for clarifying the idea of the present invention.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0037] 1 Split electrical feed-through 2 Heating conductor 3 Insulation section 4 Notch 5 Solder pool 6 Electrical conductor 7 Insulating means 8 Outer sleeve 10 Split electrical feed-through 11 Electrical conductor 12 Plug connection

Claims

1. A split electrical feed-through (1, 10) for making electrical contact with a heating conductor (2) through a housing, comprising a heating conductor (2) and an insulating section (3), the insulating section (3) having an electrical conductor (6, 11), insulating means (7), and an outer sleeve (8), the electrical conductor (6, 11) and the insulating means (7) being disposed inside the outer sleeve (8), the electrical conductor (6, 11) being electrically insulated from the outer sleeve (8) by the insulating means (7), and the heating conductor (2) being attached to the electrical conductor (6, 11) at a preset angle, in the split electrical feed-through (1, 10). The heating conductor (2) and the insulating section (3) are formed from two different elements that are continuously connected to each other by a joining process, and the heating conductor (6, 11) has a notch for introducing the electrical conductor of the insulating section, characterized by the split electrical feed-through (1, 10).

2. The split electrical feed-through (1, 10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the heating conductor (6, 11) has a solder pool (5) inside the notch (4).

3. The split electrical feed-through (1, 10) according to claim 2, characterized in that the notch (4) is formed by a hole, and the solder pool (5) is formed on the end face of the hole formed in the heating conductor (2).

4. The split electrical feed-through (1, 10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the notch (4) tapers conically from the opening of the hole towards the end face.

5. The split electrical feed-through (1, 10) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the central axis of the heating conductor (6) is arranged at an angle of 60° to 120°, particularly preferably about 90°, with respect to the central axis of the electrical conductor (6, 11).

6. The split electrical feed-through (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the insulating section is formed from a plurality of members, and in particular the electrical conductor (11) is formed from at least two split members.

7. The split electrical feedthrough (10) according to claim 6, wherein the members of the electrical conductor (11) are mutually engageable and can be continuously connected to each other by a joining process.

8. The split electrical feedthrough (10) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein at least one of the members of the electrical conductor (11) has a solder reservoir, and the solder reservoir is arranged in a region where both of the members of the electrical conductor (11) are applied to each other.

9. The split electrical feedthrough (10) according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the solder reservoir is dimensioned such that it can solder both of the members of the electrical conductor (11) to each other over the entire surface.

10. In a method for assembling the split electrical feedthrough (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, A method, characterized in that both of the members of the electrical conductor (11) are fixed to each other by a welding process, and both of the members of the electrical conductor (11) and the electrical conductor (11) itself are connected to each other to the heating conductor (2) by a subsequent soldering process.

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