Electrical feedthrough assembly

Abstract

We provide electrical feedthrough assemblies. [Solution] The electrical feedthrough assembly is mounted on a housing and comprises an electrical feedthrough 2 which is supplied to an opening 14 and has an opening for a conductor 12 in a fixing material 16 which seals the opening. The electrical feedthrough assembly comprises an insulating element 20 which is fixed by an electrically insulating adhesive material 40, and the insulating element comprises an insulating portion 22, each insulating portion having a conductor opening with an inner wall 25, the conductor is inserted into the conductor opening, and the insulating element is positioned such that a cavity 23 is formed between the insulating portion and the conductor in the conductor 12, and a gap 27' of a groove 27 is formed between the inner wall of the conductor opening and the surface of the conductor, allowing access from the cavity to the environment, the cavity is filled with adhesive material for attaching the insulating portion, and the inner wall 25 on the outside of the groove provides positioning and sealing and contacts the surface of the conductor.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention is preferably an electrical feed-through assembly configured as an electric compressor terminal, comprising at least one electrical feed-through, each electrical feed-through having an opening in a substrate for a conductor, the conductor being inserted through the opening and embedded in a fixing material that seals the opening of the electrical feed-through, and the electrical feed-through assembly further comprising at least one insulating element attached to the substrate by an adhesive material.

[0002] Housings for electronic components usually require a plurality of electrical feed-throughs, for example, to enable electrical connections from the outside to the inside of the housing that houses components of an electric compressor. The electrical feed-throughs should be fluid-tight or even air-tight in order to protect the components inside the housing from the environment and / or to contain gas or fluid within the housing. To provide such fluid-tight or air-tight feed-throughs for electrical conductors disposed within the openings of the housing, an airtight joint of glass and metal can be used. A fixing material, such as a glass material, is used to seal the opening and hold the conductor within the opening. The fixing material also provides electrical insulation between the conductor and the housing.

[0003] To provide additional electrical insulation between the housing and the conductor, it is known to dispose additional insulating elements in the electrical feed-throughs when there are two or more conductors between the conductors. The insulating element at least partially surrounds the conductor and increases the so-called creepage distance between the conductor and the housing and / or between two conductors. The insulating element for extending the creepage distance may be, for example, an insulating rubber or plastic sleeve or plastic cylinder that at least partially surrounds the conductor.

[0004] International Publication No. 2022259597 describes an airtight terminal having a metal substrate having at least one opening. A connecting lead is inserted into the opening, and a fixing material seals the opening. The terminal further comprises an insulating cylinder having at least one circumferential groove in its outer wall. The insulating cylinder is manufactured from an elastic rubber or plastic material having heat resistance and oil / refrigerant resistance and is airtightly bonded to the fixing material or substrate via an adhesive layer. Suitable plastic materials for the insulating cylinder include PBT (polybutylene terephthalate), PPS (polyphenylene sulfide), or PEEK (polyether ether ketone). Suitable rubber materials include HNBR (hydrogenated nitrile rubber) or EPDM (ethylene-propylene-diene rubber). Epoxy adhesive is used to bond insulating cylinders manufactured from PPS and EPDM.

[0005] U.S. Patent No. 4,984,973 relates to an airtight compressor of a type having an airtight housing, wherein an airtight terminal for conducting electric current is provided within the housing. The terminal provides an electrical insulation distance between the conductive pin and the metal body member of the airtight terminal. This is achieved by an electrical insulating cap member which is bonded to the outer surface of the metal body member by a thin, uniform layer of electrical insulating adhesive.

[0006] However, ensuring that the precise amount of adhesive is applied so that the insulating element is securely attached without any gas bubbles or gaps in the adhesive, and without excess adhesive overflowing onto other parts of the feedthrough, is difficult. Overflowing adhesive can block parts of the feedthrough assembly that are needed to be attached to the housing, or it can cover conductive parts intended for electrical contact with, for example, a connector. Furthermore, both gaps and bubbles can adversely affect the insulating properties of the insulator, and they can also allow contaminants and water to damage the connection.

[0007] Furthermore, the diameter of the conductor opening in the insulating element into which the conductor is inserted is selected to be small so that the insulating element is pressed against the conductor to seal it. However, moisture may penetrate between the conductor and the insulating element, potentially reducing the insulation resistance of the feedthrough.

[0008] The object of the present invention is to provide a feedthrough assembly that has at least one sealed conductor and an additional insulating element for extending the creepage distance between the conductor and the feedthrough substrate, is easy to manufacture, and has improved insulation resistance by enabling reliable connection of the insulating element.

[0009] Summary of the Invention An electrical feedthrough assembly is provided, comprising a substrate configured for mounting to a housing and comprising one or more electrical feedthroughs. Each electrical feedthrough has an opening in the substrate for a conductor, which is inserted through the opening and embedded in a fixing material that seals the opening of the electrical feedthrough. The electrical feedthrough assembly further comprises at least one insulating element attached to the substrate by an adhesive material, the insulating element preferably made from natural rubber, synthetic rubber, or silicone rubber, and the adhesive material preferably an electrically insulating adhesive material. The at least one insulating element comprises at least one insulating portion, and each electrical feedthrough has an assigned insulating portion. Each insulating portion has a conductor opening with an inner wall, and each conductor is inserted through the conductor opening, and the insulating element is configured and positioned such that a cavity is formed between the insulating portion and the conductor, preferably in a fixing material, extending along the conductor, and at least one gap is formed between the inner wall of the conductor opening and the surface of the conductor. The gap allows access to the environment from the cavity. The cavity is at least partially filled with an adhesive material for attaching the insulating portion. Furthermore, preferably, the cavity serves as a containment for the adhesive material. Preferably, at least one gap is realized in the form of at least one groove provided in the inner wall of the conductor opening. Preferably, the conductor opening of the insulating portion into which the conductor is inserted has a cylindrical portion, and the inner wall of the cylindrical portion of the conductor opening outside the at least one groove is in contact with the respective conductor surface. This allows for positioning of the components during assembly and ensures sealing.

[0010] The insulating element, in combination with an adhesive material, functions as an electrical insulator for the conductors of an electrical feedthrough. This additional electrical insulator increases the electrical insulation distance or creepage distance between the conductor and the substrate and / or between two conductors. Furthermore, a cavity provided inside the insulating element and extending along the conductor (meaning the cavity extends over a certain distance along the longitudinal direction of the conductor and is at least partially filled with adhesive material) provides a longer bonding insulation distance between the conductor and the insulator, increasing the insulation resistance. In other words, the adhesive material present within the cavity bonds the insulator to the conductor. Additionally, the insulating element may be fixed to the substrate and / or the fixing material via a layer of adhesive material.

[0011] Therefore, preferably, the cavity is at least partially filled with adhesive material so that the insulating portion is attached to the fixing material and bonded to the conductor via the adhesive material. In an advantageous embodiment, the fixing material may have protrusions of the fixing material, as described below.

[0012] Preferably, the cavity is at least partially filled with an adhesive material so that the insulator can be attached to the fixing material via the adhesive material and optionally bonded to the conductor via the adhesive material. In this variant, the fixing material preferably comprises a projection (also called a glass projection) of the fixing material extending into the cavity of the insulator. The projection is part of the fixing material extending along the conductor beyond the side surface of the substrate, surrounding the conductor and preferably in contact with it. Preferably, the projection is made of the same material as the fixing material and is therefore an integral part of the fixing material. The projection may be designed as a glass meniscus, in particular an arc-shaped glass meniscus. The glass projection or glass meniscus has a diameter that decreases continuously from the side surface of the substrate along the conductor, thereby forming an arc. In one variant, the insulator is attached only to the fixing material, and the extending projection may be beneficial in this case because there is no connection between the substrate and the conductor via the adhesive material.

[0013] Therefore, insulating elements contribute to reducing the risk of short circuits, especially in damp or humid environments. In such environments, layers of water and / or contaminants may accumulate on the surface of the feedthrough assembly, particularly on the surface of the fixing material that insulates the conductor from the substrate. Such water films that moisten the feedthrough assembly material are particularly likely to occur in electric compressors with feedthrough assemblies configured as electric compressor terminals. This is because the temperature of the electric compressor can be very low, for example, below 5°C or even below freezing, while the ambient temperature can exceed 20°C, for example, in summer. In such cases, condensation can form a water film. For example, in electric compressor applications, short circuits due to conductive water and / or contaminant films can be prevented by additionally insulating the conductor from the substrate material and therefore from the housing of the device containing the feedthrough assembly. An adhesive material that at least partially fills the cavity between the conductor and the insulating element prevents moisture that has entered between the conductor and the insulation from further penetrating toward the substrate.

[0014] The proposed cavity functions as a confinement for the adhesive material. The adhesive material is confined in a space that includes, in particular, the exposed surface of the fixing material, as well as portions of the surfaces of the conductor and insulating elements. The confined space may also comprise portions of the surface of the substrate. The adhesive material inside the cavity adheres the insulating portion to a specific portion of the conductor.

[0015] In a favorable modification, the cavity acts as a containment for the adhesive material, which is trapped within a space that includes the exposed surface of the fixed material and a portion of the surface of the insulating element. The adhesive material inside the cavity adheres the insulating portion to the fixed material and, if present, to its glass protrusions.

[0016] Within the scope of the present invention, it is advantageous to use an adhesive material between the insulating portion and the conductor portion to form a longer joint insulation distance. The adhesive material, which at least partially fills the cavity between the conductor and the insulating element, prevents moisture that has entered between the conductor and the insulating portion from further penetrating toward the substrate. This allows the insulation resistance of the assembly to be maintained even if moisture enters between the inner wall of the conductor opening and the conductor surface.

[0017] At least one gap between the inner wall of the conductor opening and the conductor surface allows access to the cavity from the outside, i.e., the environment. The gap functions as an air passage for ventilation. While applying adhesive and attaching the insulation to the feedthrough assembly, gases such as air trapped in the cavity and / or inside the adhesive material must be able to escape so that the adhesive material can move and rise along the conductor in the cavity when the insulation is fitted, and this is made possible by the air passage. This can be called "conductor ventilation." As a result, a long joint insulation distance is formed along the conductor. Further ventilation reduces the risk of voids such as air bubbles remaining in the adhesive material. Since the materials of the insulating element and the adhesive material act as electrical insulators for the conductor, any voids will weaken the insulating properties and must be avoided. Furthermore, the level of filling in the cavity can also be monitored through the gap.

[0018] Preferably, at least one gap between the inner wall and the conductor surface is in the range of 0.05 mm to 1 mm, preferably 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm, and particularly preferably 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm.

[0019] Preferably, the cavity is completely filled with adhesive material. Furthermore, it is particularly preferable that the adhesive material within the cavity does not contain gas bubbles, especially air bubbles trapped inside the adhesive material. To compensate for manufacturing tolerances, the volume provided by one or more gaps can be used as a reservoir for accommodating excess adhesive material after the cavity is completely filled. Therefore, it is preferable that the number and size of the gaps be configured to achieve a sufficiently large reservoir volume.

[0020] When the cavity is completely filled with adhesive material, the height of the adhesive material extending along the conductor can correspond to the height of the cavity. In one or more gaps, the height of the adhesive material may be even greater.

[0021] The conductor opening and conductor of the insulation may be configured and arranged such that there is at least one gap between the inner wall of the conductor opening and the surface of the conductor. For example, the dimensions and / or shape of the conductor opening and conductor can be selected accordingly. Preferably, the at least one gap is realized in the form of at least one groove provided in the inner wall of the conductor opening, allowing access from the cavity to the environment. In other words, at least one groove can be configured in the inner wall to provide a clearly defined air passage for ventilation. The cavity preferably ends at the height where at least one groove begins. The groove may be a recess in the inner wall.

[0022] Preferably, the conductor opening of the insulating portion into which the conductor is inserted may have a cylindrical portion. When the insulating portion is placed in the conductor, the inner wall contacts the conductor surface, which is free of gaps or grooves. Gaps or grooves provided in the inner wall of the conductor opening provide access from the cavity to the environment.

[0023] Preferably, the inner wall of the cylindrical portion of the conductor opening outside the groove is in contact with the respective conductor surface. Particularly preferable is that the inner wall of the conductor opening forms a seal with the conductor surface by pretension provided by the insulating material, except for the groove leading to the cavity.

[0024] As described above in relation to at least one gap, at least one groove can not only function as an air passage but also allow monitoring of the cavity filling level and / or provide a receptacle for accommodating excess adhesive material after the cavity is fully filled. Preferably, the groove can be partially widened to provide a larger receptacle for excess adhesive. In other words, the groove can have different shapes in sections, for example, a widened section that is deeper and / or wider than another section.

[0025] Preferably, the inner wall of each conductor opening formed has 1 to 10 grooves, preferably 2 to 8, and particularly preferably 4 to 6. If the insulating portion has exactly one cavity, the insulating portion therefore has 1 to 10 grooves, preferably 2 to 8, and particularly preferably 4 to 6. Preferably, the grooves are evenly distributed around the conductor opening and are arranged particularly symmetrically. This allows for uniform ventilation of the cavity. The inner wall subdivided by several grooves allows the insulating portion to be positioned during assembly. If several grooves are provided in the inner wall, the portions between these grooves form corresponding ribs of the inner wall that serve a positioning and sealing role. Generally, grooves may be introduced into the inner wall, or ribs may be placed in the wall, with the space between two ribs forming a groove.

[0026] Therefore, preferably, several grooves are provided in the inner wall, and the portions between these grooves form inner wall ribs for positioning and sealing.

[0027] Preferably, the depth of at least one groove is in the range of 0.05 mm to 1 mm, preferably 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm, and particularly preferably 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm. The depth allows for adjustment of the desired receiving area for the adhesive material.

[0028] The width of at least one groove is not particularly limited; it must be wide enough to provide sufficient ventilation. The width also depends on the desired containment for the adhesive material.

[0029] For example, depending on the shape of the cavity and / or the shape of the protrusion of the fixing material (if any), the thickness of the adhesive material between the components can vary. Preferably, the thickness of the adhesive material is not uniform or constant.

[0030] Generally, the shape of the cavity is not limited as long as the insulating part can be reliably joined to the conductor and / or the fixing material through the adhesive material, and the cavity can be sufficiently ventilated through at least one gap, preferably at least one groove. Preferably, the cavity has a tapered outer shape in the direction towards the tip of the conductor. In particular, the diameter of the cavity can decrease in the direction towards the tip of the conductor. Preferably, the tapered cavity communicates with at least one gap between the inner wall and the conductor surface, preferably with at least one groove provided on the inner wall of the conductor opening. This shape of the cavity serves as a suitable guide for the applied adhesive material when pressing the insulating element against the conductor and attaching it to the assembly. The adhesive material can move to the upper part of the cavity, so that the gas, such as air, trapped inside the cavity and / or inside the adhesive material can escape through the gap, preferably the groove. Therefore, there are particularly preferably no gas bubbles, such as air bubbles trapped inside the adhesive material, in the adhesive material inside the cavity.

[0031] Preferably, the cavity is conical or frustoconical in shape, with its diameter decreasing toward the tip of the conductor. Preferably, the conical or frustoconical cavity opens into at least one gap between the inner wall and the conductor, preferably into at least one groove provided in the inner wall. Such a cavity shape, tapering toward one side, allows the applied adhesive to move along the conductor toward the gap, preferably the groove, and at the same time, when the insulating element is pressed against the conductor to be attached to the assembly, any trapped gases, such as air, can escape through the gap, preferably the groove, so that the adhesive within the cavity is particularly preferably free of any gas bubbles, such as air bubbles trapped within the adhesive.

[0032] Preferably, each insulating portion has exactly one cavity, preferably a circumferential cavity extending around the conductor. In other words, it is preferable that the cavity completely surrounds the conductor. Thus, the adhesive material inside the cavity completely surrounds the conductor. This is advantageous for insulation resistance. Preferably, the circumferential cavity may be a tapering cavity, or it may be a conical or frustoconical cavity. However, the entire tapering cavity, preferably a conical or frustoconical cavity, may be divided into several compartments or parts by at least one partition wall, for example, to increase stability. In this case, each tapering compartment or part may open into at least one gap or groove provided in the inner wall of the conductor opening.

[0033] In general, the dimensions of the cavity, such as the maximum height and / or maximum width or diameter of the cavity, are not particularly limited and depend, for example, on the dimensions of the insulating element, especially the insulating portion, the dimensions of the feedthrough, and the overall design of the feedthrough assembly.

[0034] Preferably, the cavity may have a maximum height measured in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the conductor, which is in the range of 0.5 mm to 5.0 mm, preferably 1.0 mm to 4.0 mm, and particularly preferably 1.0 mm to 3.0 mm. It is preferable that the maximum height is reached in the contact area with the conductor.

[0035] Preferably, the maximum height of the cavity is at least twice, preferably at least three times, and preferably at least five times, the thickness of the adhesive layer between the contact portion of the insulating part and the substrate and / or fixing material.

[0036] The maximum diameter of the cavity is preferably 10% to 120% larger than the diameter of the conductor. Favorable lower limits may be 15%, 20%, or 30%. Favorable upper limits may be 100%, 75%, or 50%. The cavity diameter depends, among other things, on the overall design of the electrical feedthrough assembly. For example, the maximum diameter of the cavity may be larger when the contact portion of the insulation is in contact with the substrate than when it is in contact with an adhesive layer present on the fixing material. The maximum diameter may be present at the contact portion.

[0037] Generally, within the scope of this disclosure, the contact portion of the insulating part is the portion of the insulating part that is in contact with the substrate and / or fixing material directly or through a layer of adhesive material. Preferably, the width of the contact portion is in the range of 1 mm to 3 mm.

[0038] Preferably, the insulating element is configured and arranged such that the contact portion of each insulating part contacts the substrate and / or the fixing material and / or the adhesive material to form a contact region, preferably a circumferential contact region. One end of the cavity extends between the contact region and the conductor.

[0039] Preferably, the insulating elements are configured and arranged so that the contact portion of each insulating part can directly contact the substrate. Thus, the formed cavity is sealed against the surface of the substrate. Then, at least one gap or groove is the main air passage for ventilation of the cavity and adhesive material.

[0040] Preferably, the insulating element is configured and positioned so that the contact portion of each insulating part contacts an adhesive material, which is preferably provided as a layer covering the fixing material and / or the portion of the substrate around the feedthrough opening. In such a configuration, if the insulating element is configured and positioned so that an additional air passage is formed for each insulating part, it may be advantageous that the upper wall of the additional air passage is formed by the insulating element. The additional air passage can completely surround the contact portion of each insulating part.

[0041] Preferably, the pocket for the adhesive material is defined by the substrate and the fixing material, and the opening is located within the pocket. Such an arrangement is advantageous because the pocket provides space or a dwelling for accommodating the adhesive material. In particular, the pocket can accommodate all excess adhesive material that is not needed to connect the contact portion of the insulating part to the substrate and / or the fixing material. Thus, any spillage of adhesive material onto other parts of the substrate, such as parts that can function as sealing surfaces, is avoided. The provided dwelling can compensate for errors in the metering of the adhesive material.

[0042] Preferably, the contact portion of the insulating part may include a projection that extends into the pocket such that a space is formed between the side wall of the pocket and the side wall of the projection, and the adhesive material fills the space at least partially.

[0043] The contact area, particularly its protrusions (if any), can function as a displacement body that displaces the adhesive material, thereby helping to ensure that the adhesive material enters the cavity.

[0044] The shape of the insulating element may preferably be selected such that, when the insulating element is attached to the substrate, there is always a space between the surface that constitutes the contact portion of the insulating part and the fixing material and / or the substrate. This ensures that there is always a layer of adhesive material having a predetermined minimum thickness present between the fixing material and / or the substrate and the contact portion. The shape of the insulating element may include further protrusions intended to directly abut the substrate to set a predetermined relative position between the insulating element and the substrate.

[0045] Preferably, the thickness of the adhesive layer between the contact portion of the insulating part and the substrate and / or fixing material may be in the range of 0.05 mm to 1 mm, preferably 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm, and particularly preferably 0.2 mm to 0.3 mm. Preferably, the above thickness refers to the thickness of the adhesive layer within the pocket.

[0046] Preferably, the width of the contact portion may be in the range of 1 mm to 3 mm. This width ensures that, in combination with materials common for insulating elements, sufficient dielectric strength is provided to the insulating portion surrounding the conductor.

[0047] Therefore, it is preferable to select the material and shape of the insulating element, particularly the thickness of the material surrounding the conductor, so that a predetermined dielectric strength is achieved. Similarly, it is preferable to select the adhesive material and the width and / or height of the layer formed by the adhesive material, for example, within a pocket, so that a predetermined dielectric strength is achieved. For example, the width of the insulating element material and / or the width of the adhesive material surrounding the conductor is preferably selected to be in the range of 0.1 mm to 2 mm, more preferably 0.2 mm to 1 mm. These features refer in particular to the adhesive material layer, for example, the layer within a pocket defined by the substrate and fixing material. In the cavity region, the contained adhesive material provides additional insulation and dielectric strength, and the above dimensions can also be applied to the thickness of the adhesive material around the conductor inside the cavity.

[0048] The contact portion of the insulating element may preferably be configured and positioned so that the entire surface of the adhesive material facing the insulating element does not come into contact with it. Thus, a portion of the surface of the adhesive material remains open, allowing any gas, such as air, to leave the adhesive material and enter (further) air passages.

[0049] As described above, the feedthrough assembly may preferably have additional air passages in addition to the air passages provided by the “conductor ventilation” of the present invention, which are provided by at least one gap, preferably a groove, as described above, to form a connection from the surface of the adhesive material to the surrounding environment, thus allowing any gases, such as air, that may be trapped within the adhesive material to escape laterally. This may be called “lateral ventilation.” This reduces the risk of voids, such as air bubbles, remaining in the adhesive. Since the insulating element material and the adhesive material function as electrical insulators for the conductor, any voids can weaken the insulating properties, and therefore it is advantageous to avoid any voids or bubbles. In other words, in addition to the “conductor ventilation” of the present invention, there may be additional “lateral ventilation” by additional air passages within the region of the conductor provided by the air passages provided by at least one gap, preferably a groove (as described above).

[0050] As described above, the pocket for the adhesive material can be defined by the substrate and the fixing material, the opening is located within the pocket, and preferably the contact portion of the insulating part may have a projection extending into the pocket such that a space is formed between the side wall of the pocket and the side wall of the projection. The contact portion and the adhesive material may be arranged such that the adhesive material is in direct contact with the contact portion and not in contact with the side wall of the projection. Alternatively, the adhesive material is arranged such that the adhesive material fills the space at least partially. Preferably, the projection extends into the pocket over a distance in the range of 0.05 mm to 0.5 mm. For example, a range of 0.1 mm to 0.2 mm is preferred.

[0051] Preferably, the pockets and / or protrusions (if any) may have inclined sidewalls. The inclined sidewalls of the pockets reduce the risk of trapping voids or air bubbles within the adhesive material.

[0052] In embodiments where the pocket has an inclined side wall, it is preferable that the protrusion of the insulating portion having a contact portion has a shape that matches the shape of the inclined side wall. The shape of the contact portion is preferably the same as the shape of the pocket, but the dimensions of the contact portion are preferably selected to be smaller than the dimensions of the pocket so that there is always a space between the side wall of the pocket and the side wall of the protrusion of the insulating portion. This space ensures that no seal is formed between the side wall and the insulating portion, so that all air trapped in the adhesive material can escape.

[0053] Preferably, the width of the additional air passage may be in the range of 0.2 mm to 1 mm. For example, the width of the additional air passage is 0.5 mm. Preferably, the height of the additional air passage is in the range of 0.2 mm to 1 mm. For example, the height of the additional air passage is 0.5 mm. These dimensions provide an additional air passage of sufficient size to allow any trapped gases, such as air, to escape from the adhesive material and to provide space for accommodating excess adhesive material.

[0054] Preferably, the insulating element comprises one insulating section for each electrical feedthrough and is formed as a single, integrated element. Alternatively, the electrical feedthrough assembly comprises one insulating element for each electrical feedthrough, and each insulating element has one insulating section. In the latter case, the number of insulating elements corresponds to the number of conductors.

[0055] Preferably, at least one of the insulating portions of the insulating element may have an outer cylindrical portion that extends along a portion of the conductor and includes a conductor opening. Preferably, the outer cylindrical portion may have annular grooves and / or annular ribs on its outer surface, particularly on its outward-facing wall, which can be used to provide a seal together with a connector that can be attached to the conductor.

[0056] Such connectors can be secured in place by annular protrusions or annular grooves. Furthermore, annular ribs, annular protrusions, or annular grooves can provide a seal to prevent contaminants or fluids from entering the space between the conductor and the cylindrical portion when the connector is installed. Annular ribs, annular rings, annular protrusions, and / or annular grooves can be arranged to form an annular ring or annular groove. It is also possible to arrange a fitting ring on the outward-facing wall of the cylindrical portion. Such a fitting ring can be secured, for example, in an annular groove located on the outward-facing wall of the extension portion.

[0057] Preferably, an annular slot surrounding the conductor opening may be provided on the upper surface of the insulating portion. This slot further increases the creepage distance between the substrate and the conductor.

[0058] Preferably, the assembly comprises at least one additional insulating element located on the substrate face opposite to at least one insulating element. In other words, the feedthrough assembly may have an additional insulator on a second opposite side of the substrate. In such a case, this additional insulator may be configured similarly to the insulating elements on the first surface of the substrate, or differently (e.g., without cavities and gaps or grooves for ventilation). For example, it is also possible to provide a single insulating element as a single integral element on the first surface and one insulating element for each conductor on the second surface.

[0059] The insulating element and / or further insulating element is preferably made from an elastic material, in particular from natural rubber or synthetic rubber, especially from fluoroelastomers, ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber, hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber (HNBR), or silicone rubber.

[0060] More suitable materials for insulating elements include thermoplastic or thermosetting plastic materials.

[0061] With respect to an electric compressor housing to which an electric feedthrough assembly can be mounted, the insulating element may be located on the side facing the outside of the housing. Additionally or alternatively, the insulating element may be located on the side facing the inside of the housing. In particular, the assembly may have two insulating elements, one located on the side facing the outside and the other on the side facing the inside. In this case, the second insulating element may be configured and located in correspondence with the insulating element described above, or otherwise, for example, at least one insulating portion may be configured and located without cavities and / or gaps, preferably grooves provided in the inner wall of a conductor opening.

[0062] For example, when the proposed electrical feedthrough assembly is connected to the housing of an electric compressor, it is preferable to use HNBR rubber or silicone rubber for the insulating element on the side of the assembly facing the inverter. It is also preferable to use HNBR rubber for the insulating element facing the motor.

[0063] In principle, the adhesive material can be selected from any known electrically insulating adhesive material. Preferably, the adhesive material is an epoxy adhesive, acrylate adhesive, polyurethane adhesive, or silicone adhesive.

[0064] Preferably, the substrate material is a metal. More preferably, the substrate material comprises steel, particularly stainless steel, most preferably structural steel, preferably microalloy steel, and most preferably structural steel in the form of microalloy steel. Microalloy steel is a type of alloy steel containing small amounts of alloying elements (0.05-0.15%), including niobium, vanadium, titanium, molybdenum, zirconium, boron, and rare earth metals. These are used to refine the microstructure of the crystal grains or to promote precipitation hardening. The yield strength of microalloy steel is 275-750 MPa without heat treatment. Weldability is good and can be further improved by reducing the carbon content while maintaining strength. Fatigue life and wear resistance are superior to similar heat-treated steels. Cold-worked microalloy steel does not require as much cold working as other carbon steels to achieve the same strength, and this also results in greater ductility. By using microalloy steel as a material, high bending stiffness and strength can be provided.

[0065] To improve resistance to high-voltage flashover, the edges of the through-holes can be rounded or chamfered. Such a configuration reduces the presence of sharp edges and therefore lowers the electric field strength.

[0066] Preferably, the substrate includes means for improving resistance to bending. These means are preferably selected from raised regions and / or raised edges in which the opening is located within the raised region. However, deformation forms of the substrate without means for improving resistance to bending are possible and may be advantageous, i.e., such a substrate may be plate-like and flat.

[0067] Such a raised region may be a single region containing all the openings of the substrate. In an alternative embodiment, the substrate may comprise a plurality of separate raised regions, in which case each raised region contains a single opening. The raised regions may be formed, for example, on a plate-like precursor of the substrate by a stamping process that forms the substrate.

[0068] The raised edge and the base may be constructed as a single part, or the raised edge may be constructed as a separate part that can be joined to the base by fusion. The advantage of the raised edge being a separate part is that the manufacturing of both parts—the base and the raised edge—can be planned separately.

[0069] However, in an alternative embodiment, the substrate is reshaped to provide a raised edge. Such a reshaping process may involve, for example, stamping a plate-like precursor element to form the substrate.

[0070] Preferably, in embodiments in which the substrate includes a raised portion surrounding and / or comprising an electrical feedthrough through-opening, and in which an insulating element is positioned on a conductor on the side of the substrate having the raised portion, it may be preferable that the insulating element includes a skirt. The skirt is configured to surround at least a portion of the side wall of the raised portion, thereby forming an additional further air passage between the side wall and the surrounding skirt. This additional further air passage allows any air trapped within the adhesive material to escape, while the skirt provides a barrier between a given location of the adhesive material and the sealing area of ​​the substrate. The sealing area then remains clean and free of adhesive material, as all excess adhesive can be trapped by the skirt.

[0071] When the substrate comprises multiple separated raised regions, each raised region surrounding a single opening, it may be preferable for the insulating portion of the insulating element to have a skirt. When the insulating element comprises several insulating portions and is formed as a single, integrated element, the skirts of adjacent insulating portions may be formed integrally, that is, some insulating portions may be formed integrally.

[0072] Preferably, the conductor material is metal. More preferably, the conductor may have a central core made of stainless steel, Ni-Fe material, or Fe-Cr material, or a copper core surrounded by stainless steel or Ni-Fe material.

[0073] The fixing material is preferably selected from glass, ceramic, or glass-ceramic material. Preferably, the fixing material is a glass material, thereby providing a glass-metal seal (GTMS) between the substrate, conductor, and fixing material.

[0074] Preferably, the substrate, at least one conductor, and the fixing material form a compression seal. Therefore, the first thermal expansion coefficient of the substrate is preferably selected to be greater than the second thermal expansion coefficient of the fixing material. Preferably, to obtain a compression seal, the difference in the first thermal expansion coefficients is at least 2 ppm / K, and more preferably at least 5 ppm / K. The third thermal expansion coefficient of the conductor material is preferably selected to be approximately equal to or less than the second thermal expansion coefficient of the fixing material. If the difference is less than 2 ppm / K, the two thermal expansion coefficients are considered approximately equal.

[0075] As an alternative to compression sealing, the substrate material, fixing material, and conductor material may be selected such that their respective coefficients of thermal expansion are approximately equal, with differences of less than 2 ppm / K being considered approximately equal.

[0076] Preferably, the seal formed between the opening in the substrate, the fixing material, and the conductor is a hermetic seal. In particular, 1.10 -7 Better He leakage rate than mbar l / s, especially 1.10 -8 A feedthrough with a pressure difference of mbar l / s is considered airtight.

[0077] Preferably, the substrate may have adhesive regions having a roughness for bonding with an adhesive material, preferably adhesive regions located within a pocket.

[0078] Areas with roughness may be provided, for example, by stamping or embossing to enhance the adhesion of the adhesive material. Roughness can also be provided by rolled textured sheet material or by rolled texture with a tool stamping process. Good adhesion improves the connection between the substrate material and the adhesive material. Additionally or alternatively, structures such as tenons and / or pins and / or spigots can be provided within the adhesive area. Furthermore, structures such as embossed rings and / or ring-shaped grooves can be formed to improve adhesion. Such tenons can be formed from a sheet, ultimately in the form of a mushroom-shaped head. Embossed rings can also be provided around the fixing material into which the conductor is inserted through the substrate. In any case, the surface structure of the substrate within the adhesive area can improve the connection of the adhesive to the substrate. In addition to, or alternatively to, structuring a portion of the substrate surface, such structures may also be provided on a portion of the surface of the insulating element.

[0079] Preferably, a portion of the substrate surface may be configured as a sealing region. In the sealing region, the substrate surface is preferably smooth and flat. In particular, in the sealing region, the substrate surface is preferably flat with a flatness of at least 0.1 mm, preferably at least 0.07 mm, and most preferably 0.01 mm to 0.07 mm. Such a smooth and / or flat region promotes the formation of a good and highly airtight seal. The surface roughness is preferably R z It is 10 μm or less.

[0080] Preferably, the feedthrough assembly base includes mounting means for facilitating the attachment of the feedthrough assembly to the housing or a portion of the housing of a device such as an electric compressor. Preferably, the mounting means are configured as mounting holes or screw holes, and the base preferably includes at least two such holes. The base may additionally or alternatively include centering means, such as protrusions or recesses, to facilitate the precise positioning of the base and, consequently, the feedthrough assembly, to the housing or a portion of the housing of the device.

[0081] The substrate may be configured to have an elongated shape, in which all the openings for the conductors are arranged in a straight line. However, other configurations are also possible, such as a circular substrate in which the openings are evenly distributed along a circle, or an arc-shaped substrate in which the openings are arranged along a straight line or a curved line.

[0082] In one variant, it may be preferable that the fixing material is positioned such that, at least on the side facing the insulating element, the fixing material does not extend beyond at least one opening in the substrate. In particular, in this variant, a glass meniscus surrounding the conductor and extending beyond the substrate should be avoided. In such a configuration, the fixing material can be positioned coplanar with the surface of the opening, or it can be recessed relative to the surface of the opening.

[0083] By positioning the fixing material so that it does not extend beyond the substrate, the conductor can be bent without the risk of damaging the fixing material. For example, if glass material is used as the fixing material, a glass meniscus formed to surround the conductor and extend beyond the opening may be subjected to strong forces when the conductor is bent, which could cause cracks or damage to the glass. Therefore, the proposed arrangement of the fixing material allows the conductor to be bent as needed. Furthermore, there is considerable variation in the shape of such glass meniscuses, which can make it difficult to determine the exact amount of adhesive material to use.

[0084] Alternatively, in one variant, the fixing material extends onto the substrate in a region that fills and surrounds the opening, in which case the fixing material may preferably be arranged such that there is no glass meniscus surrounding the conductor. In such a configuration, the fixing material covering a portion of the substrate surface functions as an additional electrical insulator.

[0085] In one modified form, the fixing material may preferably have glass projections, preferably glass meniscuses, surrounding the conductor and extending into the cavity of the insulating portion. The cavity can compensate for variations in the shape and / or volume of the glass projections, preferably glass meniscuses, as well as the volume of the adhesive material. It is also possible to provide glass projections or glass meniscuses on both sides of the substrate.

[0086] Preferably, the electrical feedthrough assembly is configured as an electric compressor terminal, and the base is configured to be mounted on the housing of the electric compressor.

[0087] A method for manufacturing an electrical feedthrough assembly described herein is also disclosed. This method is - Providing a substrate assembly comprising a substrate having at least one feedthrough having at least one conductor embedded in a fixing material inserted through an opening in the substrate that provides a glass-to-metal seal (GTMS), - A step of providing an insulating element having at least one insulating portion, wherein each electrical feedthrough has an assigned insulating portion, and each insulating portion has a conductive opening having an inner wall and a cavity, - The step of applying adhesive material to the bonding area of ​​the base assembly, - A step of placing an insulating element on a substrate assembly, wherein a conductor is inserted through the conductor opening of each insulating part of the insulating element, and the insulating element moves along the conductor within the cavity, so that a cavity is formed between the insulating part, the conductor and the substrate, and is pressed into a pre-applied adhesive material that can at least partially fill the cavity, thereby and simultaneously, a trapped gas, such as air, can escape through at least one gap formed between the inner wall of the conductor opening and the conductor, and Includes.

[0088] Preferably, in order to achieve at least one gap, the inner wall of the conductor opening is structured so that a groove is formed.

[0089] In the method of the present invention, the gap connecting the cavity to the environment functions as an air passage for ventilation. While the insulating part is positioned on a substrate assembly comprising a substrate, a fixing material, and a conductor, gases such as air trapped in the cavity and / or inside the adhesive material can escape, thereby allowing the adhesive material to move and rise along the conductor in the cavity. As a result, the insulating part is bonded to the conductor surface over a certain distance via the adhesive material present in the cavity. Furthermore, ventilation reduces the risk of voids, such as air bubbles, remaining in the adhesive material and / or cavity. Preferably, air bubbles are not trapped in the cavity so that the adhesive in the cavity does not contain voids or bubbles. Since the insulating element material and adhesive material function as electrical insulators for the conductor, all voids weaken the insulating properties. The method of the present invention allows for the secure mounting of the insulating element, preferably without any gas bubbles or voids in the adhesive material, and without excess adhesive material overflowing to other parts of the feedthrough during assembly.

[0090] Since the adhesive material can move and rise within the cavity along the conductor, a longer bonding insulation distance is created between the conductor and the insulating part. Furthermore, the filling level within the cavity can also be monitored through the gap during the placement process.

[0091] Preferably, the insulating element may be configured such that additional air passages are formed around each contact portion of the insulating part.

[0092] Optionally, the substrate may be inverted and each assembly step repeated to place additional insulating elements on the opposite side of the substrate.

[0093] The electrical feedthrough assemblies described herein are particularly suitable for use as connection terminals for electric compressors. The feedthrough assemblies may be configured as part of the housing of the electric compressor, or they may be attached to the housing for the electric compressor, or to a part of the housing.

[0094] Therefore, a further aspect of the present invention is to provide an electric compressor comprising one of the electric feedthrough assemblies described herein.

[0095] It should be understood that the features described above and those described below can be used not only in the combinations shown in each case, but also in other combinations or individually, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0096] Preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown in the drawings and described in more detail below, where the same reference numerals refer to the same or similar components or elements. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0097] [Figure 1a] This is a cross-sectional view of a first exemplary embodiment of a feedthrough assembly comprising a substrate and an insulating element. [Figure 1b] This is a cross-sectional view of another section of the first exemplary embodiment of the feedthrough assembly. [Figure 2a] This is a perspective view showing a second exemplary embodiment of a feedthrough assembly comprising a substrate and an insulating element. [Figure 2b] Figure 2a is a cross-sectional side view showing an embodiment of the feedthrough assembly. [Figure 3a] This is a perspective view showing a third embodiment of a feedthrough assembly comprising a substrate and an insulating element. [Figure 3b] Figure 3a is a cross-sectional side view showing a third embodiment of the feedthrough assembly. [Figure 4] This is a cross-sectional side view showing a fourth embodiment of the feedthrough assembly. [Figure 5] This is a top view of an insulating element of a further embodiment of a feedthrough assembly. [Figure 6] This is a cross-sectional view of another further embodiment of the feedthrough assembly. [Figure 7] Figure 6 shows one modified embodiment.

[0098] Figure 1a shows a cross-section of a first exemplary embodiment of the feedthrough assembly 1. The feedthrough assembly 1 may comprise several feedthroughs, one of which, in the illustrated example, is shown, an electrical feedthrough 2. Each electrical feedthrough 2 has an opening 14 in the substrate 10 and a conductor 12 inserted through the respective opening 14. A fixing material 16 secures the conductor 12 and seals the opening 14.

[0099] The feedthrough assembly 1 further includes an insulating element 20 attached to the substrate 10 to enhance the electrical insulation, which will be described in more detail below.

[0100] As can be seen from the cross-sectional view in Figure 1a, the conductor 12 is inserted through the opening 14 in the substrate 10 and held in place by a fixing material 16. The fixing material 16 is selected from, for example, glass and is electrically insulating. Furthermore, the fixing material 16 in this example is positioned to seal each of the openings 14. In this example, the fixing material 16 does not protrude beyond the openings 14. In particular, the fixing material 16 here surrounds the conductor 12 and does not form a glass meniscus that extends beyond the substrate 10.

[0101] To further improve the electrical insulation between the substrate 10 and the conductor 12, an insulating element 20 is provided. In the exemplary embodiment shown in Figure 1a, the insulating element 20 is mounted on the top surface of the substrate 10. However, the insulating element 20 can be located on the bottom surface of the substrate 10, and it is also possible to provide two insulating elements 20, one mounted on the bottom surface of the substrate 10 and the other mounted on the top surface of the substrate 10.

[0102] In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the insulating element 20 comprises an insulating portion 22 for the feedthrough 2 and its conductor 12. The insulating portion 22 has a conductor opening 24 (not shown here, see Figure 5) having an inner wall 25, through which the conductor 12 is inserted.

[0103] To attach the insulating element 20 to the substrate 10 and / or fixing material 16, an adhesive material 40 is used here to form a layer between the contact portion 26 of the insulating part 22 and the substrate 10 and / or fixing material 16. In another advantageous embodiment not shown, the insulating part 22 may be configured such that its contact portion 26 is in direct contact with the substrate 10.

[0104] As can be seen from the figure, the insulating element 20 is configured and positioned such that a cavity 23 extending along the conductor 12 is formed between the insulating portion 22 and the conductor 12, and at least one gap 27' is formed between the inner wall 25 of the conductor opening 24 and the surface of the conductor 12, allowing access from the cavity 23 to the surrounding environment. The cavity 23 is at least partially filled with adhesive material 40. The adhesive material 40 present in the cavity 23 additionally adheres the insulating portion 22 to the conductor 12. Thus, the adhesive material 40 between the insulating portion 22 and a portion of the conductor 12 creates a longer bonding insulation distance compared to the conventional technique without a cavity. This configuration and design ensure the insulation resistance of the assembly even if moisture penetrates between the inner wall 25 of the conductor opening 24 and the conductor surface.

[0105] At least one gap 27' provided between the inner wall 25 of the conductor opening 24 and the conductor 12 allows access from the cavity 23 to the outside. The gap 27' functions as an air passage for ventilation. While the insulating portion 22 is pressed against the conductor 12 to attach the insulating element 20 to the feedthrough assembly 1, gases such as air trapped in the cavity 23 and the adhesive material 40 can escape to the environment along the conductor 12 ("conductor ventilation"), and as a result, the previously applied adhesive material 40 can move along the conductor 12 and rise within the cavity 23 to form the joint insulation distance. Furthermore, this reduces the risk of voids such as air bubbles remaining in the adhesive material 40, and as a result, the adhesive material 40 in the cavity 23 is, particularly preferably, free of gas bubbles, such as air bubbles trapped inside the adhesive material. In addition, the filling level of the cavity 23 can be monitored through the gap 27', and depending on the number and size of the gaps, a dwelling for excess adhesive material may be provided.

[0106] In this example, the cavity 23 is completely filled with adhesive material 40, meaning that the height of the adhesive material within the cavity corresponds to the height of the cavity. In gaps 27' or multiple gaps, the height of the adhesive material may be even greater.

[0107] As shown in Figure 1a, the cavity 23 is preferably a circumferential cavity extending around the conductor 12. It has an outer shape that tapers toward the end of the conductor 12, leading to at least one gap 27' between the inner wall 25 and the conductor 12. This tapering shape provides a good guide for the applied adhesive material 40 when the insulating element 20 is pressed against the conductor 12 for mounting to the assembly. The adhesive material 40 can move along the conductor 12 toward the gap, thereby simultaneously allowing trapped gases, such as air, to escape through the gap.

[0108] Here, the cavity 23 is, exemplary, a conical or frustoconical cavity whose diameter decreases in the direction toward the tip of the conductor 12. Of course, other cavity shapes, such as cylindrical or asymmetrical shapes or any other suitable shape, are also possible. Here, the conical or frustoconical cavity 23 opens into at least one gap 27' between the inner wall 25 and the conductor 12.

[0109] Further optional and advantageous features are described below, which may also be advantageous for other embodiments of the feedthrough assembly.

[0110] In general, without being limited to a particular embodiment, at least one gap 27' can be realized in the form of at least one groove 27 provided in the inner wall 25 of the conductor opening 24, as can be seen and described in Figures 2a, 3a, and 5. In other words, at least one groove can be configured in the inner wall 25 to allow access to the cavity 23 and provide a clearly defined air passage for ventilation. Inside the insulating portion 22, the cavity ends at the height where at least one groove begins.

[0111] The substrate 10 and the fixing material 16 can form pockets 18, and all insulating portions 22 have contact portions 26 facing their respective pockets 18. Here, the contact portions 26 have protrusions 30. Naturally, a variant without such protrusions is also possible. The adhesive material 40 is housed within the pockets 18 and directly contacts the contact surfaces 26 of the contact portions 26 (in this case, the protrusions 30) of the insulating portions 22. In this example, the fixing material 16 is essentially flat and does not form a glass meniscus, so an essentially flat surface of the fixing material 16 is provided, which transitions into the sidewalls of the pockets 18 provided by the substrate 10 without any steps or gaps.

[0112] In one modified form (for example, shown in Figures 6 and 7), the fixing material 16 may have a glass projection 17, for example in the form of a glass meniscus, surrounding the conductor 12 and extending into the cavity 23 of the insulating portion 22. The cavity can compensate for variations in the shape and / or volume of the glass projection, as well as the volume of the adhesive material 40. Glass projections formed on the other side of the substrate, or on both sides of the substrate, are also possible. The glass projection can be realized in combination with or without a pocket 18. The same applies when the glass projection is designed as a glass meniscus, preferably an arc-shaped glass meniscus.

[0113] The contact surface 26 of the insulating portion 22 is configured and positioned so as not to cover the entire surface of the adhesive material 40 facing the insulating element 20. A portion of the surface of the adhesive material 40 remains uncovered. Thus, an additional air passage 28 is formed surrounding the contact portion 26 and the protrusion 30 and, consequently, the conductor 12. The side walls of the additional air passage 28 are defined by the side walls of the protrusion 30, and the concave region of the insulating element 20 defines the upper wall of the additional air passage 28. The additional air passage 28 also opens to the surrounding environment of the electrical feedthrough assembly 1 so that any gas or air can escape to the sides ("side ventilation"). This additionally supports the adhesive material 40 to form an essentially gapless, void-free structure, e.g., a layer. In this embodiment, the insulating portion 22 has a skirt 36 that surrounds the raised region 50 of the substrate 10 and also forms an additional air passage 37. The skirt 36 serves as an additional means for accommodating excess adhesive material 40 while still allowing gas or trapped air to escape into the surrounding environment. Further details of the additional air passage 28 are described in relation to Figures 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b and 4.

[0114] To improve the resistance of the base 10 to deflection and bending, the base 10 is provided with a raised region 50 on one side (here, the upper side) and a corresponding concave region 52 on the other side (here, the lower side). In this illustrated example, the base 10 has one raised region 50 for each electrical feedthrough 2. Alternatively, as shown in Figures 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b and 4, the raised region 50 can be configured as a single raised region 50, with all electrical feedthroughs 2 located within the raised region 50.

[0115] Naturally, a flat base 10 without raised and / or concave regions is possible. That is, in further embodiments (not shown), an insulating element 20 having a cavity 23 inside the insulating portion 22 can be attached to a plate-shaped flat base.

[0116] Figure 1b shows a first exemplary embodiment described in relation to Figure 1a, but the cross-sections are located in different positions so that the gap 27' or groove 27 in the inner wall 25 of the conductor opening 24 is not cut. The conductor opening 24 of the insulating portion 22 into which the conductor 12 is inserted has a cylindrical portion. As can be seen from the figure, the inner wall 25 of the cylindrical portion of the conductor opening 24 outside the gap 27' or groove 27 shown in Figure 1a is in contact with the conductor surface. In other words, in the region of the conductor opening of the insulating portion outside at least one gap or groove, the inner wall 25 is in contact with the conductor surface, thereby ensuring that the components are centered relative to each other during assembly and that the insulating portion 22 seals the conductor 12.

[0117] Generally, when a gap 27' or groove 27 is provided in the inner wall 25 of the conductor opening 24, the portion between these gaps 27' or groove 27 forms a corresponding rib 29 of the inner wall, which serves the roles of positioning, centering, and sealing. Generally, to provide a groove, the groove may be introduced into the inner wall of the conductor opening (for example, in the form of a notch or recess), or ribs may be arranged in the wall, with the space between the two ribs forming the groove.

[0118] Figure 2a is a perspective view showing a second exemplary embodiment of the feedthrough assembly 1.

[0119] In the illustrated example, the feedthrough assembly 1 comprises three electrical feedthroughs 2. Each electrical feedthrough 2 has an opening 14 in the substrate 10 (see Figure 2b) and a conductor 12 inserted through the respective opening 14. Fixing material 16 secures the conductor 12 and seals the opening 14. In the illustrated example, the substrate 10 comprises two perforations 19 for mounting the feedthrough assembly 1 to a housing (not shown). The feedthrough assembly 1 also comprises an insulating element 20 for further enhancing electrical insulation, which will be described further with reference to Figure 2b.

[0120] Figure 2b shows the feedthrough assembly 1 of Figure 2a in a cross-sectional view along line AA in Figure 2a.

[0121] As can be seen in Figure 2b, each of the three conductors 12 is inserted through an opening 14 in the substrate 10 and held in place by a fixing material 16. The fixing material 16 is selected from, for example, glass and is electrically insulating. Furthermore, in this example, the fixing material 16 is positioned so as not to protrude beyond the opening 14. In the embodiments of Figures 2a and 2b, the substrate 10 has an elongated shape with the three openings 14 aligned in a straight line. Other configurations are also possible, for example, in which multiple openings 14 are evenly distributed along a circle. In this example, the substrate 10 has a raised region 50 on its upper surface and a concave region 52 corresponding to the bottom surface of the substrate 10 to improve the resistance of the substrate 10 to bending and flexing. The raised region 50 is configured as a single raised region 50, and all electrical feedthroughs 2 are located on the raised region 50.

[0122] To further improve the electrical insulation between the substrate 10 and the conductor 12, an insulating element 20 is provided. In the exemplary embodiments shown in Figures 2a and 2b, the insulating element 20 is attached to the top surface of the substrate 10. However, the insulating element 20 may also be located on the bottom surface of the substrate 10, and it is also possible to provide two insulating elements 20, one attached to the bottom surface of the substrate 10 and the other attached to the top surface of the substrate 10, as shown in Figure 4, for example.

[0123] In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the insulating element 20 comprises a total of three insulating sections 22, one for each feedthrough 2 and each conductor 12. Each insulating section 22 has a conductor opening with an inner wall 25, and each conductor 12 is inserted through its respective conductor opening 24. Furthermore, in this example, the insulating section 22 of the second embodiment has a common upper wall with a slot 32, further increasing the creepage distance between two adjacent conductors 12.

[0124] To attach the insulating element 20 to the base 10 and / or fixing material 16, an adhesive material 40 is used to form a layer between the contact portion 26 of the insulating part 22 and the base 10 and / or fixing material 16.

[0125] As can be seen from the figure, the insulating element 20 is configured and positioned such that in either case a cavity 23 extending along the conductor 12 is formed between the insulating portion 22 and the conductor 12, and in either case at least one gap 27' is formed between the inner wall 25 of the conductor opening 24 and the surface of the conductor 12, allowing access from the cavity 23 to the surrounding environment. The cavity 23 is filled with adhesive material 40. The adhesive material 40 present in the cavity 23 additionally adheres the insulating portion 22 of the insulating element 20 to the conductor 12 for a specified distance. The adhesive material 40 between the insulating portion 22 and the portion of the conductor 12 creates a longer bonding insulation distance for each feedthrough 2.

[0126] As can be seen from Figures 2a and 2b, at least one gap 27' is realized in the form of at least one groove 27 provided in the inner wall 25 of the conductor opening 24 (see also Figure 5). In the illustrated example, four grooves 27 are provided in the inner wall 25 and distributed around the conductor opening 24, forming an air passage for ventilation. Naturally, the number, size, dimensions, and arrangement of the grooves may differ in other advantageous embodiments.

[0127] Looking at one feedthrough 2, the conductor opening 24 of the insulating section 22 into which the conductor 12 is inserted has an inner cylindrical portion 39 (not shown here, see Figure 4). When the insulating section 22 is positioned on the conductor 12, the inner wall 25 of the inner cylindrical portion 39 contacts the conductor 12 where there are no grooves. Since the inner wall 25 is provided with several grooves 27, some portions of the inner wall 25 remain between the grooves 27, contacting the surface of the conductor 12 and thereby forming ribs 29 (see Figure 2a) that serve to position and seal. It is particularly preferable that the inner wall 25 of the conductor opening 24 forms a seal with the conductor, except for the grooves 27 leading to the cavity 23, due to the pretension provided by the insulating material.

[0128] As the insulating element 20 is attached to the feedthrough assembly 1 by the adhesive material 40 applied thereto, and the insulating portion 22 of the insulating element 20 is pressed against the conductor 12, gases such as air trapped inside the cavity 23 and inside the adhesive material 40 can escape to the environment along the conductor 12 through the groove 27 ("conductor ventilation"), so that the previously applied adhesive material 40 can move and rise along the conductor 12 within the cavity 23. As a result, the insulating portion is bonded to the conductor portion.

[0129] Here, the cavity 23 is exemplary, constructed and molded in the same manner as the cavity described above in relation to the first embodiment. Of course, this is not necessarily required. The general design and function of cavities and gaps (grooves in this case), as well as advantageous further developments and variations, have already been described in relation to the introduction and the first embodiment.

[0130] Furthermore, the insulating portion 22 of the insulating element 20 is also attached to the base 10 and / or the fixing material 16 by adhesive material 40. Here, the base 10 and the fixing material 16 form a pocket 18, and all insulating portions 22 have contact portions 26 facing each pocket 18—in this case, comprising protrusions 30. The adhesive material 40 is contained within the pocket 18 and is in direct contact with each contact portion of the insulating portion 22 or with the contact surface 26 of the protrusions 30.

[0131] Similar to the first embodiment, the second embodiment also includes a further air passage 28 surrounding the contact portion 26 or projection 30 and thus the conductor 12 for “lateral ventilation” of the adhesive material 40, as described in relation to Figure 1a. Here, the insulating element 20 or insulating portion 22 does not have a skirt surrounding the raised region 50 of the substrate 10. Part of the surface of the adhesive material 40 remains uncovered, and gas can leak from the adhesive material 40 and enter the further air passage 28.

[0132] Figure 3a is a perspective view showing a third exemplary embodiment of the feedthrough assembly 1. In the illustrated example, the feedthrough assembly 1 comprises three electrical feedthroughs 2. Each electrical feedthrough 2 has an opening 14 (see Figure 3b) in the substrate 10 and a conductor 12 inserted through the respective opening 14. A fixing material 16 (see Figure 3b) secures the conductor 12 and seals the opening 14. In the illustrated example, the substrate 10 has two perforations 19 for mounting the feedthrough assembly 1 to a housing (not shown). The feedthrough assembly 1 additionally comprises three insulating elements 20—one insulating element 20 for each electrical feedthrough 2—to enhance electrical insulation. The insulating elements 20 will be described further with reference to Figure 3b.

[0133] Figure 3b shows the feedthrough assembly 1 of Figure 3a in a cross-sectional view along line AA of Figure 3a. The feedthrough assembly 1 of the third exemplary embodiment is similar to the second exemplary embodiment described with respect to Figures 2a and 2b, except for the configuration of the insulating element 20. Instead of a single insulating element 20 having three insulating sections 22, the third exemplary embodiment of Figures 3a and 3b comprises three insulating elements 20, each insulating element 20 having a single insulating section 22.

[0134] As described above, each insulating element 20 includes a cavity 23 and at least one gap—in this example, four grooves 27—within its insulating portion 22, in order to bond the insulating portion 22 to the respective conductor 12 by adhesive material 40 inside the cavity 23, and thereby provide a longer insulating distance along the conductor 12.

[0135] As can be seen from Figure 3b, the additional air passage 28 is open, meaning that, unlike the second embodiment, it does not have an upper wall.

[0136] Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional side view of a fourth exemplary embodiment of the feedthrough assembly 1. Similar to the embodiments described with respect to Figures 2a and 2b, the electrical feedthrough assembly 1 comprises three electrical feedthroughs 2, each electrical feedthrough 2 having an opening 14 in the substrate 10 through which a conductor 12 is inserted. A fixing material 16 seals each opening 14 and holds the conductor 12.

[0137] In this fourth exemplary embodiment, the electrical feedthrough assembly 1 comprises two insulating elements 20, 20'. One insulating element 20 is located on the bottom surface of the substrate 10, and the additional insulating element 20' is located on the top surface of the substrate 10.

[0138] To improve the mechanical stability of the substrate 10, the substrate 10 is provided with a concave region 52 and a corresponding raised region 50. The three electrical feedthroughs 2 are located within the concave region 52 and the corresponding raised region 50. Alternatively, the substrate 10 may have one raised region 50 for each electrical feedthrough 2, as described in relation to Figure 1a, or the substrate may be flat.

[0139] The insulating element 20 positioned on the bottom surface is configured in this example as a single insulating element having three insulating portions 22. Each insulating portion 22 has a contact portion 26—in this case, a protruding portion 30—that comes into direct contact with the adhesive material 40.

[0140] The insulating element 20 is configured and positioned such that in either case a cavity 23 extending along the conductor 12 is formed between the insulating portion 22 and the conductor 12, and in either case at least one gap, in this case at least one groove 27, is formed between the inner wall 25 of the conductor opening 24 and the surface of the conductor 12, allowing access from the cavity 23 to the surrounding environment. The cavity 23 is filled with adhesive material 40. The adhesive material 40 present in the cavity 23 additionally adheres the insulating portion 22 of the insulating element 20 to the conductor 12. The adhesive material 40 between the insulating portion 22 and the portion of the conductor 12 creates a longer bonding insulation distance for each feedthrough 2. As can be seen in the figure, the groove 27 is provided in the inner wall 25 of the conductor opening 24, which forms an air passage for ventilation. Outside the groove 27, the inner wall 25 is in contact with the surface of the conductor 12, and thus a seal is formed between the conductor 12 and the insulating portion 22 for each feedthrough 2.

[0141] Here, the side wall of the contact portion 26, where the protrusion 30 is provided, defines the side wall of a further air passage 28, and the recess of the insulating element 20 defines the upper wall of the further air passage 28. To increase the height of the further air passage 28, the insulating portion 22 of the insulating element 20' is provided with a step 35.

[0142] In the example shown in Figure 4, the fixing material 16 is not coplanar with the surface of the opening 14, but is concave, thus forming a pocket 18 for accommodating the adhesive material 40. Any excess adhesive material 40 can be accommodated inside the pocket 18. In the case of the insulating element 20, a skirt 36 is provided that surrounds the raised region 50 and forms an additional air passage 37. The skirt 36 functions as an additional means for accommodating excess adhesive material 40 while still allowing any gases or trapped air to escape to the surrounding environment.

[0143] Further insulating elements 20' positioned on the upper surface are also configured as a single insulating element 20 having three insulating portions 22. Each insulating portion 22 has a contact portion 26 that is in direct contact with the adhesive material 40. The side walls of the contact portions define the side walls of further air passages 28, and the concave portions of the further insulating elements 20' define the upper walls of the further air passages 28. In this example, each insulating portion 22 includes an outer cylindrical portion 38 that extends along the respective conductor 12. In the example shown in Figure 4, the outer cylindrical portion 38 is provided with an annular rib 34, which may be used to form a seal between the insulating portion 22 and a connector (not shown) attached to the respective conductor 12.

[0144] In this example, the additional insulating element 20' does not have a cavity 23, gap 27', or groove 27 within its insulating portion 22. Therefore, the inner wall 25 of the conductor opening 24 merely forms a mechanical seal between the conductor 12 and the insulating portion 22. The insulating portion 22 is not bonded to the conductor 12. Of course, the insulating portion 22 of the additional insulating element 20 may have cavities, gaps, and / or grooves, in particular as described above.

[0145] In further embodiments (not shown), the insulating element 20 and / or further insulating element 20' may comprise three insulating elements 20, each insulating element 20 having a single insulating portion 22.

[0146] Further details shown in Figure 4 have already been explained in relation to Figures 1a to 3b. To avoid repetition, please refer to the explanation above.

[0147] Figure 5 shows a top view of an insulating element 20 of a further exemplary embodiment of the electrical feedthrough assembly 1. The insulating element 20 in this embodiment has three insulating sections 22. In another embodiment, the insulating element 20 may have a different number of insulating sections 22.

[0148] The insulating element 20 shown in Figure 4 is constructed as a single component made of an electrical insulating material. The insulating element 20 can be obtained as a molded part, for example, by injection molding.

[0149] Each insulating section 22 has a conductive opening 24 with an inner wall 25. The inner wall 25 is provided with grooves 27 (four grooves in this example) leading to cavities provided inside each insulating section 22. Here, the grooves 27 are evenly distributed around the opening 24 to allow uniform ventilation while the insulating element 20 is mounted to the assembly's feedthrough. Naturally, various numbers, shapes, dimensions, and arrangements of grooves are possible and advantageous. Between the grooves 27, portions of the inner wall 25 remain, forming ribs 29.

[0150] When the insulating portion 22 is positioned on the conductor, the ribs 29 contact the conductor surface where the grooves 27 are not present. The ribs 29 assist in positioning and sealing. The grooves 27 connect the cavity 23 inside the insulating portion 22 to the surrounding environment, allowing gases, such as air, trapped in the cavity and / or adhesive material 40 to escape while the insulating element 20 is attached to the feedthrough assembly. Furthermore, the level of adhesive material filling inside the cavity can be monitored through at least one groove 27, and at least one groove 27 can provide a dwelling for accommodating excess adhesive material after the cavity is fully filled.

[0151] Figure 6 shows another exemplary embodiment of an electrical feedthrough assembly 1 having at least two grooves 27, where the inner wall 25 of the conductor opening contacts and positions the conductor surface outside the groove 27, providing a seal (not shown). The feedthrough assembly 1 of this exemplary embodiment is similar to the first exemplary embodiment described with respect to Figures 1a and 1b, except in particular the configuration of the fixing material 16. Instead of a flat arrangement, the fixing material 16 here forms a projection / glass projection 17 that surrounds the conductor 12 and extends beyond the substrate 10 into the cavity 23 of the insulating portion 22. Generally, the glass projection is preferably an extended portion of the fixing material, i.e., an integrated portion of the fixing material. In this embodiment, the glass projection 17 is designed as a glass meniscus, here an arc-shaped glass meniscus. The glass projection 17 has a diameter that decreases continuously along the conductor 12 from the substrate 10 side, thereby forming an arc. The glass projection 17 of the fixing material 16 is in contact with the conductor 12.

[0152] As can be seen from the figure, the cavity 23 serves as a confinement for the adhesive material 40, which is trapped in a space that includes the exposed surface of the fixing material 16 (including its glass projection 17) and a portion of the surface of the insulating element 20. Depending on the height of the glass projection 17—where "height" is the extension of the glass projection or glass meniscus measured in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the conductor—the confinement provided by the cavity 23 may also include a portion of the surface of the conductor 12. The cavity 23 can compensate for variations in the shape and / or volume of the glass projection 17, as well as the volume of the adhesive material 40. In the illustrated embodiment, the cavity 23 is completely filled with adhesive material 40, and the groove 27 is also filled with adhesive material, so that the insulating portion 22 is fixed to the fixing material 16 and bonded to the conductor 12 via the adhesive material 40.

[0153] Figure 7 shows a modified embodiment of the embodiment in Figure 6, where, similar to the embodiments shown in Figures 1a and 1b, at least one groove 27 is not filled with adhesive material 40. However, the cavity 23 is only partially filled with adhesive material 40 here. In this modified embodiment, the insulating portion 22 is fixed to the fixing material 16 and its glass projection 17, but not to the conductor 12. The substrate 10 and the conductor 12 are not connected via adhesive material 40.

[0154] Generally, when considering embodiments having glass protrusions, it is possible to have glass protrusions 17 formed on the other side of the substrate, or glass protrusions formed on both sides of the substrate. The glass protrusions 17 can be implemented in combination with or without pockets 18.

[0155] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to preferred examples of embodiments, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications are possible. [Explanation of symbols]

[0156] 1. Electrical feedthrough assembly 2 Electrical feedthrough 10 Base 12 Conductors 14 Opening 16 Fixed material 17 (glass projection), preferably a glass meniscus 18 pockets 19 Perforation 20, 20' insulating element 22 Insulation part 23 Cavity 24 Conductor opening 25 24 interior wall 26 Contact area 27 Groove 27' Gap 28 Further air passages 29 Ribs 30 Protrusion 32 slots 34 Annular Ribs 35 steps 36 Skirt 37. Further air passages in the skirt 38 Outer cylindrical portion 39 24 Inner cylindrical portion 40 Adhesive materials 50 raised area 52 Concave area

Claims

1. In particular, an electric feedthrough assembly (1) for an electric compressor, The electrical feedthrough assembly (1) comprises a base (10) configured for mounting to a housing and includes at least one electrical feedthrough (2), each electrical feedthrough (2) having an opening (14) in the base (10) for a conductor (12), the conductor (12) being inserted through the opening (14) and embedded in a fixing material (16) that seals the opening (14) of the electrical feedthrough (2), and the electrical feedthrough assembly (1) comprises, The device further comprises at least one insulating element (20, 20') made of natural rubber, synthetic rubber, or silicone rubber, which is attached to the substrate (10) by an electrically insulating adhesive material (40), The at least one insulating element (20, 20') comprises at least one insulating portion (22), each electrical feedthrough (2) has an assigned insulating portion (22), each insulating portion (22) has a conductor opening (24) having an inner wall (25), and each conductor (12) is inserted through the conductor opening (24). In an electrical feedthrough assembly (1), the insulating elements (20, 20') are configured and arranged such that a cavity (23) extending along the conductor (12) is formed between the insulating portion (22), the conductor (12), and the fixing material (16), The cavity (23) is at least partially filled with the adhesive material (40) for attaching the insulating portion (22), and the cavity functions as a containment for the adhesive material (40). At least one gap (27') is formed between the inner wall (25) of the conductor opening (24) and the surface of the conductor (12), allowing access from the cavity (23) to the environment. The at least one gap (27') is realized in the form of at least one groove (27) provided in the inner wall (25) of the conductor opening (24), The conductor opening (24) of the insulating portion (22) into which the conductor (12) is inserted has a cylindrical portion, and the inner wall (25) of the cylindrical portion of the conductor opening (24) outside the at least one groove (27) is in contact with the respective conductor surfaces. An electrical feedthrough assembly (1) characterized by the following.

2. (i) The insulating portion (22) is attached to the fixing material (16) and bonded to the conductor (12) via the adhesive material (40), or (ii) The insulating portion (22) is attached to the fixing material (16) via the adhesive material (40), preferably the fixing material (16) has a projection (17), characterized in that, the electrical feedthrough assembly (1) according to claim 1.

3. The inner wall (25) has 1 to 10, preferably 2 to 8, and particularly preferably 4 to 6 grooves (27). The depth of the at least one groove (27) is in the range of 0.05 mm to 1 mm, preferably 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm, and particularly preferably 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm. An electrical feedthrough assembly (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by at least one of the following.

4. An electrical feedthrough assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that several grooves (27) are provided in the inner wall (25), and the portions between the grooves (27) form ribs (29) of the inner wall (25) for positioning and sealing.

5. The following features, The cavity (23) completely surrounds the conductor (12). The cavity (23) has an outer shape that tapers towards the tip of the conductor (12). The cavity (23) is a cone-shaped or frustoconical cavity whose diameter decreases in the direction toward the tip of the conductor (12). An electrical feedthrough assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by at least one of the following:

6. An electrical feedthrough assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a pocket (18) for the adhesive material (40) is defined by the substrate (10) and the fixing material (16), and the opening (14) is located within the pocket (18).

7. The electrical feedthrough assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the insulating elements (20, 20') are arranged such that the contact portion (26) of each insulating part (22) is in contact with the adhesive material (40), and preferably, an additional air passage (28) is formed for each insulating part (22), the upper wall of the additional air passage (28) is formed by the insulating elements (20, 20'), and the additional air passage (28) completely surrounds the contact portion (26) of each insulating part (22).

8. The insulating element (20, 20') is provided with one insulating section (22) for each electrical feedthrough (2) and is formed as a single, integrated element, or The electrical feedthrough assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the electrical feedthrough assembly (1) comprises one insulating element (20, 20') for each electrical feedthrough (2), and each insulating element (20, 20') has one insulating portion (22).

9. The substrate (10) includes means for improving resistance to bending, and the means are The opening (14) is located within the raised region (50), and / or Raised edge An electrical feedthrough assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it is selected from among.

10. The electrical feedthrough assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the substrate (10), the at least one conductor (12), and the fixing material (16) form a compression seal.

11. The fixing material (16) does not extend beyond the at least one opening (14) in the substrate (10) on the side facing the insulating element (20, 20'), or The fixing material (16) is on the same plane as the opening (14), or The fixing material (16) extends on the substrate (10) in the region surrounding the opening (14), and preferably the fixing material (16) does not have a glass meniscus surrounding the conductor (12), or The fixing material (16) surrounds the conductor (12) and has glass protrusions, preferably glass meniscuses, that extend into the cavity (23). An electrical feedthrough assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. The electrical feedthrough assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the assembly (1) comprises at least one further insulating element (20') located on the opposite side of the substrate (10) from the at least one insulating element (20).

13. The electrical feedthrough assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the insulating elements (20, 20') are made from a fluoroelastomer, ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber, hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber (HNBR), or silicone rubber.

14. The electrical feedthrough assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the electrical feedthrough assembly (1) is configured as an electric compressor terminal, and the base (10) is configured to be attached to the housing of the electric compressor.

15. An electric compressor comprising an electric feedthrough assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 14.

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