Closure element for a bore having an electrical element - Patent application

Abstract

A closure or fastening element (110) for insertion into a bore (11) of a component (10) includes a base (120) insertable into the bore (11), an expander body (130) having an internal opening (137) along a longitudinal axis (30) of the closure element (110), a tension bolt (132) connected to the expander body, and an electrical element (21) at least partially disposed within the opening of the expander body. The electrical element (21) is configured to transmit and / or receive electrical signals, and the expander body supports the base in a fitted state within the bore (11). The internal opening (137) is provided with an outlet (139) for the internal opening (137) toward an upper surface (123') of the expander body (130).

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a closure or fastening element for insertion into a bore in a component, the closure or fastening element comprising a base insertable into the bore, an expander body having an internal opening, a tension bolt connected to the expander body, and an electrical element at least partially disposed within the opening of the expander body, the electrical element configured to transmit and / or receive electrical signals, and the expander body supporting the base in a mated state. [Background technology]

[0002] Such closure or fastening elements are known for insertion into the bore of an engine or the like, which have a sleeve-shaped base body that can be inserted into the bore and an expander body that can be supported in the bore. Closure elements of this type are inserted into bores with different diameters and internal pressures for sealing purposes, particularly as mass-produced products.

[0003] Providing such a closure element with an electric element is known from the applicant's patent application WO 2007 / 024990. This closure element is to be inserted into a bore of a component, such as the bore of an engine, a valve block, a hydraulic unit, or a container. At least one electric element is provided, arranged in or on the element, each of which transmits and / or receives an electric signal. Advantageously, the electric elements are arranged such that, in the mated state, they are adjacent to a chamber formed in the bore and thus in contact with a medium contained in the bore, such as for measurement purposes. Thus, in addition to the actual sealing and / or fastening function, the element can be used to perform one or more measurements. Depending on the electric element used, the closure element is a housing for a sensor. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent No. 9,689,718 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The object of the present invention is to improve the availability of such electrical elements within a closure element. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] Based on the above-mentioned prior art, such an improvement in the usability of the closure or fastening element is achieved by the features of the closure element as set forth in claim 1.

[0007] Such a closure or fastening element for insertion into a bore of a component includes a base body insertable into the bore, an expander body having an internal opening along the longitudinal axis of the closure element, a tension bolt connected to the expander body, and an electrical element at least partially disposed within the opening of the expander body. The electrical element is configured to transmit and / or receive electrical signals, and the expander body supports the base body in a fitted state within the bore. The internal opening has an outlet toward an upper surface of the expander body, and there is an installation element mounted on the tension bolt configured to be connected to an installation tool for pulling the expander body back into the base body to secure the closure element within the bore.

[0008] The tension bolt is integrally connected to the spreader body, so it can be said that the spreader body comprises the head, which is the actual spreading element, and the tension bolt, without any clarity issues.

[0009] The internal opening may be a through bore and the electrical element may be provided inside a housing, the housing being disposed within the internal opening near the lower surface of the expander, in particular glued or injection molded.

[0010] The through bore can have a connecting cavity and a sensor cavity, the sensor cavity having a larger diameter to accommodate the housing of the electrical element relative to a shoulder between the connecting cavity and the sensor cavity, such shoulder improving the hermetic sealing effect of the housing within the cavity.

[0011] The housing may include one or more circumferential grooves for receiving seal rings.

[0012] The closure element may comprise two or more electrical connections, for example wires, connected to the electrical element and extending beyond the outlet of the internal opening for external connection to a controller.

[0013] The electrical connections may be provided on a cable, in particular a shielded cable, which may already be provided with a plug at the end opposite the electrical element for connecting the controller.

[0014] The electrical element may comprise a transceiver for wireless communication.

[0015] The further closure element has an electrical element including a transceiver for wireless communication. The internal opening can include a connection cavity and a sensor cavity, the sensor cavity near the lower surface of the expander body accommodating the housing of the electrical element, and the connection cavity on the opposite side of the expander body being separated from the sensor cavity by a signal transmission region within the expander body, the signal transmission region being adapted to allow wireless signal transmission through the signal transmission region and the connection cavity. Thus, the sensor cavity is physically separated from the connection cavity and therefore from the external environment.

[0016] Furthermore, the electrical element may comprise an NFC transceiver, the further NFC transceiver being arranged in the connection cavity.

[0017] Instead of relying on induction-based energy transfer, electrical elements for wireless transceivers can include batteries as an energy source.

[0018] The electrical element may comprise one or more sensors, in particular a temperature sensor and / or a pressure sensor.

[0019] The closure element may have an outlet of the internal opening oriented beyond the installation element of the spreader and towards the upper surface of the tension bolt.

[0020] In particular, the mounting element may be a mounting groove.

[0021] Further embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.

[0022] Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the drawings, which are intended to illustrate, but not to limit, preferred embodiments of the present invention. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1] 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a pre-assembled closure element for contactless sensing of a fluid. [Figure 2] Detail area II of FIG. 1 is shown. [Figure 3] 10 shows a cross-sectional view of another pre-assembled closure element for contactless sensing of fluids. [Figure 4] 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the pre-assembled closure element of FIG. 3 with a sensor and cable connection. [Figure 5] 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a pre-assembled closure element for sensing contact with a fluid. [Figure 6] 6 shows a cross-sectional view of the closure element of FIG. 5 when not assembled into a component. [Figure 7] 7 shows a cross-sectional view of the closure element of FIG. 6 within a bore of a component. [Figure 8]7 shows a cross-sectional view of the closure element of FIG. 6 with electrical elements and electrical connections installed. [Figure 9] 9 shows a cross-sectional view of the closure element of FIG. 8 within a bore of a component. [Figure 10] 10 shows a cross-sectional view of another pre-assembled closure element for sensing contact with a fluid. [Figure 11] 11 shows a cross-sectional view of the closure element of FIG. 10 with a sensor and cable connection. [Figure 12] 10 shows a cross-sectional view of another pre-assembled closure element for wireless communication and fluid contact detection. [Figure 13] 13 shows a cross-sectional view of the closure element of FIG. 12 with a sensor. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] Figure 1 shows an element 110 that serves as a closure element for insertion into a bore 11 of a component 10, as shown in Figure 7. The component 10 may be, among others, an engine, a valve block, a hydraulic unit or a vessel.

[0025] The closure element 110 is made in one piece and consists of a sleeve-shaped base body 120 that can be inserted into the bore 11 and whose outer periphery 121 fits snugly against the inner surface of the bore 11 when installed, and an expander body 130 that can support the base body 120 within the bore 11.

[0026] The spreader 130 comprises a head 131 and a tension bolt 132. The tension bolt 132 comprises an installation element, here an installation groove 133. The installation groove 133 is adapted to be gripped by a complementary installation clamp to hold the tension bolt 132 in particular in a form-closure or form-fit and to pull the tension bolt 132 in its longitudinal direction so that the spreader 130 can be inserted and supported in the base body 120. In other words, the figure shows part of an installation unit with the installation groove and the clamping tool.

[0027] The head 131 has a completely flat lower surface 135 and a conical outer head surface 134 adapted to be fixedly mounted against the inner surface 122 of the base body 120 in the assembled state. A mounting groove 133 is provided in the pre-assembled spreader body 130 in an area positioned above the upper flat surface 123 of the base body 120.

[0028] The installation element 133 as part of the installation unit can in other embodiments be a bayonet mount that includes a bayonet closure groove in the spreader body 130 as a female receptor, where the installation tool includes a male side with one pin or radial pin that engages with the bayonet female receptor. The installation tool can also be a threaded connector with an external thread on the spreader body and an internal thread on the installation tool.

[0029] A common feature of the mounting elements is that they are part of a two-part mounting unit adapted to apply a tensile force to the spreader 130 in its longitudinal direction and are movable.

[0030] The expander 130 and the base body 120 placed thereon can be placed together in the bore 11. By applying a force to the tension bolt 132 and the expander body 130 away from the component 10, the expander body 130 can be pressed into the base body 120 in such a way that it generates a radial pressure on the inner wall 122 of the base body 120, pressing the outer surface 121 of the base body 120 firmly against the wall of the bore 11 to be closed.

[0031] The tension bolt 132 has a central cavity 137 that extends into the head 131 beyond the mounting groove area 133. The central cavity 137 forms a blind hole. With reference to Figure 4, it will be explained that the electrical component within the electrical component housing 20 is positioned on the bottom surface 138 of this cavity 137.

[0032] 2 shows detail area II of FIG. 1 as a portion of the base body 120 facing the expander 130. The sleeve-shaped base body 120 has a larger internal head-accommodating opening with an inner surface 122 for receiving the head 131 of the expander 130, and an internal bolt-accommodating opening 140 having three adjacent portions 143, 141, 143 as viewed from the upper surface 123 of the base body 120. The intermediate portion 141 has a cylindrical surface configured to contact the outer surface 136 of the bolt portion of the head 131 below the installation groove area 133 as a guide to allow pre-assembly of the closure element (and electrical element 20) as shown in FIG. 1. Inclined conical sections 142 are provided on both sides adjacent to the intermediate portion 141, followed by outer portions 143. The small angle θ shown in Figure 2, which can have a value between 1 and 10 degrees, preferably between 3 and 7 degrees, in particular 5 degrees, relates to the conical sections 142 that connect two cylindrical sections with a smaller inner diameter 141 to another cylindrical section with a larger inner diameter 143. These sections shown in Figure 2 are only required for pre-assembly purposes. The expression smaller diameter section 141 relates to the inner diameter of the cylindrical section 141, which has a smaller inner diameter than the two outer sections 143 with a larger inner diameter and can therefore more easily accept the spreader 130.

[0033] The electrical element is disposed within the housing 20 within an internal cavity 137 disposed within the hollow expander 130, as shown for a similar embodiment in Figure 4. The electrical element transmits and / or receives electrical signals via (at least) two electrical connections 23 and is preferably held within the expander 130 by a form fit. The form fit of the housing 20 allows the electrical element 21 within the housing to not be subjected to direct pressure, which is essentially absorbed by the housing 20.

[0034] FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of another pre-assembled closure element 210 for contactless fluid sensing. This embodiment is similar to the embodiment of FIG. 1; only the different features are numbered differently, such as the base body 220 and the spreader body 230, while the tension bolt 132 with its mounting groove region 133 still bears the reference numerals from the first embodiment. The main difference lies in the complementary shape of the head 231 and the base inner surface. The outer head surface 234 has a rounded tapered region 235 toward the outer surface 136 of the tension bolt 132. The rounded tapered region 235 abuts the complementary surface 225 of the base body 220 in the assembled state. The area of ​​the inner opening 140 can be constructed as shown in FIG. 2.

[0035] Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the pre-assembled closure element 210 of Figure 3 with the sensor and cable connections. The housing 20 of the electrical element 21 (shown as an insert within the housing 20) is a sensor with two electrical connections 23, shown here as part of the cable 22. The housing 20 is placed in the bottom of the cavity 137 and can be glued.

[0036] FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of a pre-assembled closure element 310 for detecting contact with a fluid at a depth in a bore beyond the closure element 310, FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of the closure element 310 of FIG. 5 when not assembled into a component 10, and FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of the closure element 310 of FIG. 6 within the bore 11 of a component 10.

[0037] The closure element 310 comprises a base body 320 and an expander body 330, which are constructed and interact as in the above-described embodiments. The cavity in the expander body 330 is a through-bore with a sensor cavity 337' that opens at its underside 335 into the bore and a connection cavity 337 that leads to the mounting groove region 133. The connection cavity 337 has a smaller diameter so that a shoulder 338 appears at the transition to the sensor cavity 337'. An electrical element can be fixedly positioned in the sensor cavity 337', especially if it is protected by the housing 20. This embodiment allows direct contact between the electrical element 21, especially the sensor, and the fluid in the bore 11, by means of an electrical connection that extends beyond the connection cavity 337, as shown in Figures 8 and 9.

[0038] FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view of the closure element 310 of FIG. 6 with the housing 20 of the electrical element 21 and the electrical connection 23 assembled. The electrical connection 23 extends inside the cable 22, which may have approximately the diameter of the opening cavity 337. The cable 22 may be shielded. Here, a portion of the housing 20 of the electrical element 21 (and the electrical element 21 itself) extends beyond the lower surface 335 of the expander 330. FIG. 9 shows a cross-sectional view of the closure element 310 of FIG. 8 inside the bore 11 of the component 10, with the housing 20 of the electrical element 21 extending beyond the lower surface 335 into the fluid in the bore 11. In the mated state, the electrical element 21 is positioned adjacent to the cavity formed in the bore 11 and thus comes into contact with a medium contained therein, such as for measurement purposes.

[0039] This electrical element 21, shown here diagrammatically, can also be made in the form of a plate or in any other form, and its electrical connections 23 can be provided in a different number, in particular three or more, or can be arranged differently from those shown.

[0040] Depending on the application, the electrical element 21 can be a sensor, an actuator, a transducer, a chip, a measurement converter, etc. For example, the pressure and / or the temperature of a medium in an engine block as component 10 can be determined by permanent or controlled acquisition.

[0041] An O-ring 339 is shown schematically in a circumferential groove in housing 20 pressing against the hollow cylindrical wall of sensor cavity 337' for enhanced sealing function of housing 20. Of course, more than one O-ring 339 may be provided.

[0042] FIG. 10 shows a cross-sectional view of another pre-assembled closure element 410 for detecting contact with a fluid. FIG. 11 shows a cross-sectional view of the closure element 410 of FIG. 10 with the electrical element 20 and the cable connection 22. The difference between the embodiment of FIG. 10 and the embodiments of FIGS. 5 to 9 lies in the through bore and the connection and sensor cavity 437, which have the same cross section along the longitudinal axis of the cavity. FIG. 10 shows the pre-assembled state without the electrical element housing 20, while FIG. 11 specifically shows the installation of the electrical element housing 20. When the closure element 410 is mated in the bore, the expander 430 is inserted into the base body 420. This also applies radial pressure to the electrical element housing 20, thereby withstanding any fluid pressure from inside the bore.

[0043] To prevent damage to the sensor, cavity sealing can be performed in advance using a sensor cage or embedding structure. Such an embedding structure can be provided by plastic injection molding the electrical element 21 with the cable 23 into the base 430. The electrical element 21 (which may include the sensor housing 20 (which is smaller than the cavity)) is placed in the base 430. If the electrical element 21 includes a wire-based transmission connection, the cable 22 is also placed in the base 430. This pre-assembled element is then placed in an injection molding machine, and the cavity 337 and 337' or 437 is at least partially filled with injected material, sealing the bore. Injection molding can also be used to place the electrical element 21 in embodiments with the cavity 137 or 537'. For more reliable pre-assembly, the housing 20 can also be first glued into the cavity 437, and the housing 20 may include a groove with an O-ring 339 or another sealing element.

[0044] FIG. 12 shows a cross-sectional view of another pre-assembled closure element 510 for wireless communication and fluid contact detection, and FIG. 13 shows a cross-sectional view of the closure element 510 of FIG. 12 with the housing 20 of the electronic element 21. The expander body 530 in this embodiment has a sensor cavity 537′ only in the lower surface 535 of the expander body 530, into which the housing 20 of the electronic element 21 is fixed. The electronic element 21 is configured for wireless connection to an external controller (not shown), similar to how the previous electrical element 20 was connected to the electrical connection 23 with such a controller. The sensor cavity 537′ in the expander body 530 is provided for measuring the distance from the bore 11 via a blind hole cavity 537 opening on the upper surface of the expander body 530. There is a small distance within the expansion body 530 between the bottom of the blind hole cavity 537 and the inner wall of the sensor cavity 537' that allows for wireless transmission because the small distance between the two cavities 537 and 537' is thin enough to reduce the Faraday effect of the aluminum material that makes up 538.

[0045] The closure element 10 can comprise a base body arranged in the graduated bore 11 and a separate sleeve-shaped expander body 530 that can be pressed into the base body 520. The expander body 530 is pressed in such a way that the base body 520 is pressed radially outward against the inner wall of the bore 11 and its protruding annular outer ribs or the like are pressed into the material of the bore wall by plastic deformation in order to provide a secure retention and sealing.

[0046] The housing 20 of the electric element 21 is arranged in a base body 530, which is advantageously also in the form of a sleeve, so that the electric element 20 fastened in the latter can, as it were, come into contact with the medium located in the bore. The lower opening of the base body can preferably be provided with a funnel shape, so that the electric element 20 is advantageously exposed to the medium over its entire underside.

[0047] One feature is that, since both the expander and the base body are made in the form of a sleeve, the electrical element 21 is also configured to perform a sealing function for this closing element. This offers the advantage that the electrical connections 23 of the electrical element 21 are freely accessible from the outside. However, in principle, the expander can also be closed at the top.

[0048] 12 and 13 show a further exemplary embodiment of an element with a predetermined mounting groove area of ​​an integral closure disk as the head of a tension bolt that can be pulled to provide tension, similar to that of Fig. 8. The closure disk can be spread by the axial force of the tension bolt and thus pressed radially against the inner wall of the bore of the component 10 to be closed.

[0049] According to the invention, the housing 20 of the electric element 21 is arranged in the opening of the closing disk, which is also shown diagrammatically. This opening for receiving the housing 20 of the electric element 21 is long enough to extend downward through the predetermined installation groove area, so that after the spreader is retracted within the base, a continuous opening is created on the underside of the spreader. The housing 20 of the electric element 21 is securely inserted into the bore 11, facing inwardly adjacent to the chamber formed in the latter. The receiver of the electric element 21 can be located inside or outside the cavity 537, and therefore may or may not have an electrical connection leading to the outside. A receiver or transceiver can also be located in the bore 537.

[0050] The present invention is fully demonstrated by the above exemplary embodiments. However, other versions may also be disclosed. Thus, two or more such electric elements 21 may be integrated into the closure element 110, 210, 310, 410, or 510, for example, by integrating one electric element into the base or the expander body and arranging the second electric element below the base, whereby this second electric element may also have an annular shape. The other element arranged above the latter may have a cylindrical or similar shape, so that there may also be a connection to the interior of the engine, for example, to measure the temperature of the medium in the chamber on the one hand and the pressure of the medium in the chamber on the other hand.

[0051] Furthermore, in the mated state, the electrical element 20 may not be directly adjacent to the chamber formed in the bore, but may protrude into the bore or into the interior of the component, for example by lines carrying sensors or the like.

[0052] Furthermore, within the framework of the present invention, there is the further advantage that the electrical element 20 can be replaced if it breaks down or needs to be replaced with a different electrical element, so that, for example, the element 10 can be removed from the bore 11 by means of a removal device and a new electrical element 20 can be fitted to a new element.

[0053] Generally, the bore 11, the respective element and therefore also the electrical element 21 are formed with a circular cross section, however, in theory it is also possible to provide these elements with a rectangular or polygonal cross section. [Explanation of symbols]

[0054] 10 Components 11 Bore 12 Top of the component 13 Inner surface of bore 20 Housing for electrical elements 21 Electrical Elements 22 Cable 23 Electrical Connections 30 Longitudinal Axis 110 Closure element 120 Sleeve-shaped base 121 120 exterior 122 The inside of 120 123 120 top Top of 123' 130 130 Expanded Body 131 130 Head 132 130 tension bolt 133 Installation groove area 134 Outer head surface of 131 135 131 flat underside 136 132 exterior 137 Cavity in 130 138 137 bottom 140 120 / 220 inner opening 141 Middle section (smaller inner diameter) 142 Inclined Section 143 outer part (larger inner diameter) 210 Closure Elements 220 Base 225 complementary surface of substrate 220 230 Expanded Body 231 230 Head 234 Outer head surface of 231 235 Rounded tapered surface 310 Closure Elements 320 Base 330 Expanded Body 335 Underside of 330 337 Connection cavity in 330 337' Sensor cavity in 330 338 Shoulder 339 O-ring 410 Closure Elements 420 Base 430 Expanded Body 435 Underside of 430 437 Connection cavity in 430 510 Closure element 520 Base 530 Expanded Body 535 Underside of 530 537 Blind hole cavity in 530 537' Sensor cavity in 530 538 Transmission Area

Claims

1. A closure or fastening element (110, 210, 310, 410, 510) for insertion into a bore (11) of a component (10), comprising: a base (120, 220, 320, 420, 520) insertable into the bore (11); an expander (130, 230, 330, 430, 530) having an internal opening (137, 337, 337', 437, 537, 537') along the longitudinal axis (30) of the closure element; a tension bolt (132) connected to the expander; and an electric element (21) at least partially disposed within the opening of the expander, the electric element (21) being configured to transmit and / or receive electric signals, the expander supporting the base in a fitted state within the bore (11); The closure element or fastening element (110, 210, 310, 410, 510) is characterized in that the internal opening (137) is provided with an outlet (139) of the internal opening (137) towards the upper surface (123') of the expander (130), and there is an installation element (133) provided on the tension bolt (132) configured to be connected to an installation tool for pulling the expander back into the base body to fix the closure element in the bore.

2. 2. A closure element according to claim 1, wherein the internal opening (337, 337'; 437) is a through bore, the electrical element (21) is provided inside a housing (20), and the housing (20) is arranged, in particular glued, in the internal opening (337, 337'; 437) near the underside (335) of the expander (330).

3. 3. The closure element according to claim 2, wherein the housing (20) is glued or fixed in the internal opening by injection molding.

4. 4. A closure element as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein the through bore has a connection cavity (337) and a sensor cavity (337'), the sensor cavity (337') having a larger diameter relative to a shoulder (338) between the connection cavity (337) and the sensor cavity (337') to accommodate the housing (20) of the electrical element (21).

5. A closure element according to claim 4, wherein the housing (20) comprises one or more grooves for accommodating a sealing ring (339).

6. A closure element according to any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising two or more electrical connections (23) connected to the electrical element (21) and extending beyond the outlet (139) of the internal opening.

7. 7. Closure element according to claim 6, wherein the electrical connection (23) is provided on a cable (22), in particular a shielded cable.

8. 8. Closure element according to claim 7, wherein the cable (22) is provided with a plug at the end opposite the electrical element (21).

9. Closure element according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the electrical element (21) comprises a transceiver for wireless communication.

10. 2. The closure element of claim 1, wherein the electrical element (21) comprises a transceiver for wireless communication, the internal opening (537, 537') comprises a connection cavity (537) and a sensor cavity (537'), the sensor cavity (537') near the lower surface (335) of the expander (530) accommodates a housing (20) of the electrical element (21), and the connection cavity (537) on the opposite side of the expander (530) is separated from the sensor cavity (537') by a signal transmission region (538) within the expander (530), the signal transmission region (538) being adapted to enable wireless signal transmission through the signal transmission region (538) and the connection cavity (537).

11. The closure element according to claim 10, wherein the electrical element (21) comprises an NFC transceiver, and a further NFC transceiver is arranged in the connection cavity (537).

12. A closure element according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the electrical element (21) comprises a battery.

13. Closure element according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the electric element (21) comprises one or more sensors, in particular a temperature sensor and / or a pressure sensor.

14. 13. A closure element according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the outlet (139) of the internal opening (137) is oriented beyond the installation element (133) of the expander (130) towards the upper surface (123') of the tension bolt (132).

15. The closure element according to claim 14, wherein the locating element is a locating groove (133).

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