Electric feedthrough assembly with increased creepage distance

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to electric feedthrough assemblies, and in particular to electric feedthrough assemblies that can be attached to a housing for an E-compressor, an electric storage device, a pressure sensor, etc. In particular, the present invention relates to an electric feedthrough assembly suitable for high-voltage applications and, at the same time, having a minimum size.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention generally relates to electric feedthrough assemblies, and in particular to electric feedthrough assemblies that can be attached to a housing for an E-compressor, an electric storage device, a pressure sensor, etc. In particular, the present invention relates to an electric feedthrough assembly suitable for high-voltage applications and, at the same time, having a minimum size. Background Technology

[0002] An electric feedthrough assembly typically comprises a base body made of a metal material and containing at least one through hole disposed within the base body, wherein a pin, also made of metal, is disposed within the through hole. The pin is retained by an insulating material so as to be maintained in an electrically insulated manner. Subsequently, the pin can be electrically contacted. Such a feedthrough assembly can be employed in various applications, such as electrical storage devices like batteries, pressure sensors, etc. Preferably, the insulating material retains the pin within the through hole so that an oil-tight seal is achieved.

[0003] Various attempts have been made to optimize electric feedthrough assemblies to suit a wide range of applications. Recently, applications for feedthrough assemblies have tended to become smaller, and at the same time, as feedthroughs are applied in high-voltage distance environments, there is an increasing demand for small yet highly reliable, preferably low-cost, feedthrough assemblies. Such miniaturized feedthroughs can be used, for example, in electric compressors or e-compressors in hybrid or electric vehicles.

[0004] DE 11 2022 000 077 T5 relates to a sealed seal and its manufacturing process. The feedthrough assembly of DE 11 2022 000 077 T5 comprises three feedthroughs and can be used in an e-compressor in a hybrid or electric vehicle. To provide a compact design for the assembly as a whole, the feedthroughs are arranged in a straight line. However, in the compact design, the creepage distance is determined by the diameter of the insulating material of the feedthroughs. To increase the creepage distance, a cylinder made of rubber or plastic material is placed on the pin.

[0005] US 11 417 983 B2 also relates to a feedthrough assembly for automotive applications. As can be seen, the sealing material of such a feedthrough not only fills the opening in the base body of the assembly but also extends along the fin material in at least some embodiments. Additionally, US 11 417 983 B2 suggests that a sealing coating may be used, or that an additional insulating coating may be present between the fins of the feedthrough, preferably on both sides of the feedthrough. In this way, the creepage distance for creepage current is increased. However, such a design is expensive.

[0006] US 8 420 933 B2 relates to a high-pressure resistant hermetic seal terminal and a method for manufacturing the same. The hermetic seal described in US 8 420 933 B2 is part of a feedthrough assembly that can be used in household appliances, such as refrigerators. To increase the creepage distance, the opening exhibits a larger diameter in the surface area on both sides of the base body. Additionally, the sealing material extends beyond the surface of the base body and has a portion that surrounds the pins. However, since a compact and miniaturized design is not strictly required in such applications, the feedthrough is arranged in a triangular shape, and the distance between the pins is somewhat large.

[0007] In addition, Japanese patent application JP 2020 / 107575 A relates to a sealed seal for home appliances. Furthermore, the creepage distance is increased by an insulating material that forms a portion extending beyond the surface of a base body along a pin. However, this application does not address the problem of designing a miniaturized feed-through assembly.

[0008] Chinese Utility Model CN ​​212162147 U relates to a hermetic terminal using a composite glass material as an insulating material for a feedthrough. An inner layer and an outer layer of the insulating material are formed within the opening of the base body of the terminal and on the pin. Two different glass materials having different coefficients of thermal expansion must be used. Furthermore, this utility model does not address the issue of miniaturized design.

[0009] Generally, regarding electric feedthrough assemblies for e-compressors, it must be considered that the housing is exposed to temperature changes, temperature shocks, and / or vibrations over large temperature intervals, particularly in e-compressor applications.

[0010] Accordingly, in the prior art, to provide a suitable feed-through assembly, an assembly also referred to as a "housing part" may include plastic and / or rubber materials in the area of ​​the opening. The plastic and / or rubber materials serve as additional electrical insulation for the conductor or pin fixed to or supplied through the opening. Such plastic and / or rubber can also contribute to reducing the risk of short-circuit current, particularly in damp or humid environments, when a layer of water and / or dust, etc., may be formed on the surface of the insulating material, for example, glass or glass-ceramic material. Such a short circuit can occur when a film of a conductive material, such as water, wets the metal material of the housing and / or conductor. Such a water film, which wets the conductor as well as the metal material, can very easily occur in an e-compressor having e-compressor terminals. This is due to the fact that the e-compressor has very low temperatures, such as below 5°C or even below zero, while the ambient temperature can be higher than 20°C, for example, during the summer. In this case, a water film will be provided due to condensation. By additionally insulating the conductor from the metal material of the e-compressor housing, particularly from the cover in the form of the e-compressor terminal, the aforementioned short circuit caused by the conductive film can be prevented.

[0011] Electric compressors, or e-compressors, are widely used to support the operation of air conditioning systems in eco-friendly vehicles. Additionally, e-compressors are used in air conditioners, refrigerators, and other cooling systems. Electric and hybrid vehicles are equipped with battery-driven electric compressors. Electric compressors must be hermetically sealed and operate using their own internal motors. E-compressor terminals or feedthrough assemblies are critical components of the electric compressor and must be carefully designed and manufactured for optimal performance. E-compressor terminals enable the massive transfer of energy from the battery to the air conditioning compressor while simultaneously maintaining a reliable airtight seal to prevent refrigerant leakage. Electric compressors are subjected to harsh environmental conditions while meeting very high performance and durability requirements. Harsh environmental conditions include high pressure, high humidity, and vibration. Compressor terminals or feedthroughs must be able to withstand these adverse conditions without issues. To provide reliable airtightness over the long term, highly controlled and precise processes are required. In addition, the compressor terminal must provide very high insulation resistance and high voltage capability to support the development of future rapid charging technology. High current capability is also essential for enabling future 48V electrical systems.

[0012] However, none of the prior art literature cited above and below solves the problem of miniaturizing the feedthrough assembly while simultaneously ensuring a perfect seal, particularly a compression seal, and a large creepage distance. Miniaturization is closely related to smaller distances between pins.

[0013] US 2020388940 A discloses a hermetic compressor terminal for high power with improved sealing reliability. The hermetic terminal comprises a metal base having a through hole and an insulating material that seals a pin in the through hole of the metal base. To provide stable glass binding characteristics, the pin is composed of different layers. There are no special requirements regarding the shape of the through hole or the distance of the pin.

[0014] CN 113471753 A relates to a titanium alloy sealing connector, wherein a metal base comprises several through holes in which a pin or group of pins is sealed by a glass material. The through holes include counterbores to increase the contact area between the glass and the metal base. A compression sealing feedthrough is not disclosed. A feedthrough having a matching seal used to seal a component made of titanium or a titanium alloy does not have the problem of compression failure when the assembly is miniaturized.

[0015] KR 20110010642 A discloses a closed-type sealed power terminal feedthrough and solves the problem of feedthrough failure caused by surface microcracks on the pin. The metal base includes several openings in which the pin, including peripheral indentations, is sealed by an insulating material. There are no special requirements for the openings. However, the illustrated openings are created by a reshaped enlargement of the metal base and include a reshaped region having a larger diameter. A compression-sealed feedthrough is not disclosed.

[0016] Therefore, there is a demand for miniaturized electric feedthrough assemblies that can be used in applications requiring high precision and reliability, such as in applications like pressure sensors, e-compressors, or electrical energy storage devices. The problem to be solved

[0017] The objective of the present invention is to provide an electric feedthrough assembly that overcomes at least partially the problems of the prior art. means of solving the problem

[0018] The problem of the present invention is solved by the subject of the independent claims. Preferred or special embodiments are disclosed in the dependent claims, detailed description, and drawings of this application.

[0019] The present invention therefore relates to an electric feedthrough assembly, particularly for attachment to a housing, comprising a base body having first and second sides, wherein the base body comprises at least two through holes and at least two pins disposed within the through holes, and the at least two pins are electrically insulated from the base body by an insulating material and sealed in the through holes so as to form at least two feedthroughs in the base body. The coefficient of thermal expansion of the insulating material is smaller than the coefficient of thermal expansion of the base body so as to provide a compression-sealed feedthrough. At least one of the through holes is configured as a stepped through hole having at least one surface portion and a middle portion adjacent to the side of the base body, wherein the surface portion has a first diameter and the middle portion has a second diameter smaller than the first diameter. Preferably, the through hole has a circular shape. The distance between the at least two pins, determined as the distance between the center point of one pin and the center point of another pin, is within the range of 1.2 times or more and 1.6 times or less the second diameter of the at least one through hole in the middle portion of the through hole. Insulating material is present in both the surface portion and the middle portion of at least one of the through holes.

[0020] This arrangement configuration has many advantages. The distance between at least two pins may be in the range of 1.2 to 1.6 times the second diameter, i.e., the diameter of at least one through hole in the middle portion of the through section. Additionally, the distance between at least two pins may be at least 1.3 times the second diameter, preferably 1.5 times or less, and for example, 1.4 times. This means that the two pins are spaced very close to each other. This enables a very compact overall design of the electrical feedthrough assembly. However, a disadvantage of placing the pins very close together in this way is that, as with a compact design, the creepage distance provided by the insulating material may be too small, so the feedthrough may not be suitable for applications with high voltage distances. A small creepage distance is caused by the small distance between two adjacent pins. However, in the electric feedthrough assembly of the present invention, this is resolved by forming at least one through hole such that at least one surface portion is formed having a diameter greater than the diameter of the intermediate portion, i.e., a first diameter, which is larger than the second diameter. As a result, a stepped through hole is provided. The surface portion filled with insulating material increases the creepage distance between the base body and the pin by increasing the insulation distance between the base body and the pin. This helps prevent electrical short circuits and insulation degradation caused by fine metal powder (such as wear debris or chips from the drive system inside the compressor) adhering between the metal base body and the pin, for example. Thus, in the case of at least one stepped through hole, a small distance between adjacent pins with a larger creepage distance can be realized compared to a simple through hole, i.e., a through hole having only a single diameter.

[0021] Since the middle portion serves to provide pressure to the insulating material, and the material of the base body has a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) greater than that of the insulating material, the middle portion of the through hole is an important feature of the through hole of the feedthrough assembly of the present invention, which contributes to securing the pin within the through hole and sealing it tightly by forming a compression seal, whereas the surface portion having a larger first diameter expands the creepage distance. If the distance between at least two pins is less than 1.2 times the second diameter, the middle portion cannot provide sufficient pressure to the insulating material to seal it tightly. Instead, plastic deformation may occur in the material of the base body. If the distance between at least two pins is greater than 1.6 times the second diameter, the overall design of the feedthrough assembly becomes too large.

[0022] Surprisingly, the inventors have discovered that by designing the feedthrough assembly of the present invention in this manner, it is possible to miniaturize the feedthrough assembly while simultaneously providing a sealed seal. Prior to the feedthrough assembly of the present invention, base bodies were frequently formed in such a manner that, in order to provide a sealed feedthrough assembly, the base body was designed to have a greater thickness in the area of ​​the through hole than in other parts of the base body. That is, to provide high compression, the base body was reinforced in terms of thickness in the area adjacent to the through hole.

[0023] Within the scope of the present invention, the portion of the base body that provides compression to hermetically seal the feedthrough has been reduced to provide a larger creepage distance. Surprisingly, the inventors have discovered that by doing so, not only is the creepage distance increased, but sufficiently high compression is still achievable. Thus, surprisingly, it is possible to provide a hermetically sealed feedthrough assembly with a large creepage distance and, accordingly, a compact design suitable for high-voltage applications.

[0024] The base body, insulating material, and fins form a metal-insulating-feedthrough that closes the through hole of the base body. Preferably, the formed feedthrough is hermetically sealed. The hermetic tightness is such that, particularly at a differential pressure of 1 bar, the helium leakage rate is preferably < 1.10 -7 mbar·l / s, more preferably < 1.10 -8 mbar·l / s, and most preferably < 1.10 -9 It is understood to mean that it is mbar·l / s.

[0025] Preferably, the insulating material is present within the surface and intermediate portions of the through hole so that the surface of the base body and the surface of the insulating material are coplanar at the boundary between the stepped through hole and the base body. However, it is also possible for a small gap to form between the surface of the base body and the insulating material at the boundary of the through hole. However, this can be a problem for high-voltage applications.

[0026] In the sense of the present disclosure, a stepped through hole is understood to refer to a through hole configured to include at least two parts having different diameters.

[0027] Preferably, at least one surface portion of the stepped through hole has a height less than or equal to half the thickness of the base body. Thus, it is possible for the remaining intermediate portion to provide sufficient compression for a tight seal. However, it is conceivable that the height of the surface portion may even be greater than half the thickness of the base body.

[0028] In the sense of the present disclosure, if the stepped through hole has a surface portion having a larger diameter on both sides, the “intermediate portion” is the part of the through hole that will be located at the central section of the stepped through hole. In this case, it is preferable that the height of the surface portion is less than half the thickness of the base body. If the stepped through hole has a surface portion having a larger diameter on only one side, the “intermediate portion” will extend from the central section of the through hole to the other side of the base body opposite to the side having the surface portion. In this case, it is preferable that the height of the surface portion is less than or equal to half the thickness of the base body.

[0029] The electric feed-through assembly of the present invention may generally include only two through holes and consequently two pins, but the electric feed-through assembly of the present invention is highly suitable for an assembly including three or more pins and through holes arranged in a line that may preferably be an arched line or a straight line. Alternatively, the pins may also be arranged in a triangular or rectangular shape or a circular shape.

[0030] According to one preferred embodiment, three or more pins and through holes are arranged in a straight line. Accordingly, according to one embodiment, at least three through holes and / or pins are arranged in a straight line, and preferably, in this case, the assembly comprises at least three pins / through holes arranged in a straight line such that the pitch, i.e., the distance between at least two pins (here, the distance between two pins immediately adjacent to each other), which is determined as the distance between the center point of one pin and the center point of another pin (i.e., an adjacent pin), is 1.2 times or more and 1.6 times or less the diameter of at least one through hole in the middle portion of the through hole, i.e., the second diameter of at least one through hole in the middle portion, or summarized as the "second diameter" or middle portion diameter. Preferably, the pitch is the same among all pins of such a straight-line assembly. A straight-line assembly according to the present invention may preferably comprise at least three pins.

[0031] According to an alternative advantageous embodiment, three or more pins and / or through holes are arranged in an arched line. Thus, according to one embodiment, at least three through holes and / or pins are arranged in an arched line, and preferably, in this case, the assembly comprises at least three pins / through holes arranged in an arched line such that the pitch—that is, the distance between at least two pins (here, the distance between two pins immediately adjacent to each other) determined as the distance between the center point of one pin and the center point of another pin (i.e., an adjacent pin)—is between 1.2 times and 1.6 times the diameter of at least one through hole in the middle portion of the through hole, i.e., the "second diameter." Preferably, the pitch is the same among all pins of such an arched line assembly. An arched line assembly according to the present invention may preferably comprise at least three pins.

[0032] According to one embodiment, all through holes of an electric feedthrough assembly are configured as stepped through holes, each having at least one surface portion having a first diameter adjacent to the side of a base body and an intermediate portion having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter. In this case, it is preferable that the height of the at least one surface portion is less than or equal to half the thickness of the base body. Preferably, all surface portions having the first diameter are formed on the same side of the base body. This is advantageous because, in this case, the creepage distance for all pins of the electric feedthrough assembly is increased. Preferably, the surface portions are formed identically, which is advantageous for the overall design and manufacturing.

[0033] According to one embodiment, at least one through hole is formed as a stepped through hole, wherein the at least one through hole includes a surface portion formed on both sides of the base body, and two first diameters are larger than the second diameter of the middle portion of the at least one through hole, and preferably the surface portion is formed equally on both sides of the base body. In other words, in this case, at least one through hole is configured as a stepped through hole on the first side and the second side of the base body. Preferably, the surface portion having the first diameter is formed equally on both sides of the base body. It is preferable that the height of the surface portion is less than half the thickness of the base body. As described above, forming at least one through hole as a stepped through hole on both sides of the base body is advantageous because the creepage distance on both sides of the assembly is increased in this manner.

[0034] According to one embodiment, all through holes are formed as stepped through holes, comprising surface portions formed on both sides of a base body, and having two first diameters larger than the second diameter of the middle portion of at least one through hole. Preferably, the surface portions are formed identically on each side.

[0035] Preferably, if there are two or more surface portions having a larger diameter (i.e., a first diameter) in the feedthrough assembly according to one embodiment, all surface portions are formed identically. Accordingly, preferably, if at least one through hole includes a surface portion formed on both sides of the base body, two surface portions are formed identically on both sides of the base body. Additionally, if the through holes of all assemblies include at least one surface portion having a diameter (i.e., a first diameter) larger than the diameter of the middle portion of each through hole formed on one side of the base body (i.e., a second diameter of the through hole)—that is, if all through holes are configured as stepped through holes adjacent to the side of the base body, each having at least one surface portion having a first diameter and a middle portion having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter—the surface portions are preferably formed identically. This is advantageous in terms of the overall assembly design.

[0036] Generally, without being limited to any embodiment of the present invention, if an electric feedthrough assembly comprises two or more through holes as disclosed and / or so-called "stepped through holes" according to any embodiment of the electric feedthrough assembly, it is preferable that these through holes be formed identically. However, in other advantageous embodiments, the through holes may be formed differently from one another, and / or at least one through hole may have a surface portion on the first side that is different from a surface portion on the second side, etc. of the base body.

[0037] The upper limit of the diameter of the surface portion (i.e., the first diameter) depends on the overall design of the feedthrough assembly. Generally, each feedthrough is formed individually, and a surface portion design may be considered in which the diameter of the surface portion or the diameters (i.e., the diameter(s) of the surface portion or the so-called "first diameter") is sufficiently large to provide an increased creepage distance, while at the same time a bar on the side of the base body remains to form a barrier between the insulating material of one feedthrough and the insulating material of an additional feedthrough adjacent to at least one feedthrough. However, it may also be considered to design the surface portions of adjacent feedthroughs so that the surface portions and the insulating materials of the surface portions merge with each other.

[0038] Generally, without being limited to any of the specific embodiments described herein, through holes are formed to have a circular cross-section, of course, within the limits of standard manufacturing tolerances. That is, the middle portion and surface portion(s) of the through holes have a circular cross-section characterized by having a diameter. At least one of the through holes is formed as a stepped through hole, as described in more detail above. The stepped through hole comprises at least two portions, one of which is positioned on the side (or side) of the base body and has a first diameter, and the other portion is positioned on the middle portion and has a second diameter smaller than the first diameter.

[0039] As described above, if the through hole has only one surface portion having a larger diameter, the middle portion and its diameter extend to the side of the base body opposite the side having the surface portion.

[0040] According to one embodiment, the base body has a thickness of 2 mm or more and / or 6 mm or less, and the middle section has a height of 1 mm or more and / or 4 mm or less. In this way, the base body can apply sufficient pressure to the insulating material to ensure a tight seal, while simultaneously providing sufficient expansion of the creepage distance for high voltage and / or high power applications. Preferably, the thickness of the base body is 2.5 mm or more, more preferably 3 mm or more. Additionally, the thickness of the base body is preferably 5.5 mm or less, more preferably 5 mm or less. Additionally, it is preferable for the middle section to have a height of 1.5 mm or more, preferably 2 mm or more, and more preferable for the middle section to have a height of 3.5 mm or less, preferably 3 mm or less.

[0041] The height of the surface portion depends on the overall design of the feedthrough assembly and may preferably be less than or equal to half the thickness of the base body. It is desirable that the height of at least one surface portion be 0.2 mm or more, preferably 0.3 mm or more, or 0.5 mm or more. A specific minimum height is advantageous because otherwise there is a risk of the glass on the surface portion peeling off. In some variations—particularly those in which through holes have surface portions on both sides of the base body—an advantageous upper limit for the height of the surface portion may be 1.0 mm or 0.7 mm. An advantageous range for the height of the surface portion may be 0.2 mm to 1.0 mm or 0.3 mm to 0.7 mm.

[0042] As additionally mentioned above, the electric feedthrough assembly of the present invention generally includes a feedthrough formed as a compression seal, that is, the coefficient of thermal expansion of the insulating material is smaller than the coefficient of thermal expansion of the base body so that a compression seal feedthrough is formed. According to one embodiment, the insulating material and the base body may form a material-to-material bond, and as a result, a very tight seal is formed, which may even be a hermetic seal. However, according to additional embodiments, a form-lock connection may also be formed, which may also be a hermetic seal. In both cases, it is preferable that the insulating material be provided as a preform that closely matches the shape of the through hole.

[0043] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the electric feedthrough assembly comprises glass as an insulating material. The insulating material comprises glass, is composed of glass, or is manufactured of glass. Preferably, the surface of the glass may be at least partially an untreated surface, and preferably at least partially a heat-polished surface as described in detail below. Such embodiments in which the insulating material comprises glass, is composed of glass, or is manufactured of glass are highly advantageous. For example, during the manufacture of the assembly, the insulating material may be provided in the form of a preform that may comprise glass powder or be composed of glass powder, such as in the form of pellets of glass powder that can be pre-sintered to provide sufficient mechanical stability for handling, for example, even during manufacture. The preform may preferably be formed to closely match the shape of the through hole of the base body. The preform may generally, without being limited to a special embodiment in which the insulating material is glass, also preferably include a through hole for inserting a pin. A preform can generally be placed within a through hole of a base body, without being limited to any specific embodiment of the present invention, and a pin can be inserted into the through hole of the preform. Subsequently, the preform and the pin can be heated so that the glass melts and comes into contact with and / or wets the surfaces of the base body and the pin. Upon heating, a material-to-material bond can be formed between both the insulating material and the pin, and between the insulating material and the base body. However, this is not strictly necessary, and it has been discovered by the inventors that a form-lock connection can be formed by forming the through hole as a stepped through hole and by matching the shape of the preform to the shape of the stepped through hole.Surprisingly, in this method, it is still possible to form a very tight seal without forming a melt-reaction zone between the insulating material, particularly the glass material, and the materials of both the base body and the fin.

[0044] According to one embodiment of a feedthrough assembly in which the insulating material includes or consists of glass, the glass material will melt upon heating. In this case, the glass material flows to wet the surfaces of the base body and the fin, and in this case, reacts with the material of the base body and / or the fin to form a so-called melt-reaction zone. In this case, a material-to-material bond may be formed. However, this is not necessarily required. As described above, molten glass generally flows to contact and / or wet the material of the base body and the fin, so that a very tight seal is formed and the fin is sealed by the insulating material within the through hole. However, forming a preform to closely match the shape of the through hole, particularly a stepped through hole, generally ensures that a close connection is formed as a material-to-material bond or a form-lock connection. In this way, a glass-to-metal seal that is preferably hermetically sealed can be produced.

[0045] Where the insulating material includes, is composed of, or is manufactured from glass, preferably the surface of the glass is at least partially an untreated surface, and preferably at least partially a heat-polished surface. This untreated, preferably heat-polished, surface has high chemical resistance and is also very smooth, with a surface roughness (R) of 0.80 μm or less, preferably 0.75 μm or less, and preferably 0.70 μm or less. a ) and / or surface roughness (R) of 1.10 μm or less, preferably 0.80 μm or less, more preferably 0.60 μm or less, even more preferably 0.50 μm or less, most preferably 0.40 μm or less.z It is desirable to have ). Preferably, surface roughness (R a ) is 0.001 μm or greater and / or surface roughness (R z ) is 0.001 μm or greater. (R a ) and / or (R z A favorable lower limit for ) may be 0.01 μm. This provides an opportunity to apply such an electric feedthrough assembly to highly corrosive environments, as the untreated surface of the glass has higher chemical resistance compared to a chemically or mechanically treated surface, as mentioned. In one embodiment, surface roughness (R a ) may also be 0.30 μm or less, preferably 0.10 μm or less, more preferably 0.05 μm or less. In one embodiment, surface roughness (R z ) may also be 0.20 μm or less, preferably 0.10 μm or less, more preferably 0.05 μm or less. Here, R a represents the arithmetic mean surface roughness, and R z represents the maximum peak-trough height of the surface profile and can be measured according to DIN EN ISO 4287:1984.

[0046] In the sense of the present disclosure, glass is understood as an inorganic material obtained from a melting process, that is, an amorphous material after melting. In the sense of the present disclosure, glass may be a completely amorphous material, or, in some cases, a crystallizable or at least partially crystallized glass which may also be referred to as a so-called "glass ceramic."

[0047] According to a more preferred embodiment, the insulating material includes an extension of the insulating material such that the insulating material extends along at least one pin and over at least one of the sides of the base body and, preferably, completely surrounds the pin, said extension has a third diameter (i.e., extension diameter) that is smaller than or equal to the diameter of the at least one surface portion (i.e., first diameter) or smaller than or equal to the diameter of the middle portion of the through hole (i.e., middle portion diameter or second diameter), and said third diameter of the extension decreases continuously from the side of the base body along at least one pin to form an arc. Preferably, the extension of the insulating material contacts at least one pin.

[0048] These embodiments are highly advantageous because the creepage distance, i.e., the insulation distance, is further increased. In the prior art, the increase in creepage distance was achieved by using an organic component, for example, such as rubber, to form a compression seal and by implementing a component made of a material other than the insulating material over the through hole; however, according to the present embodiment, the creepage distance is increased by the insulating material itself, for example, made of glass, and melted during manufacturing to form an extension that contacts the pin along at least one pin, preferably by surface tension and / or capillary force. To provide the extension, a preform of the insulating material may be correspondingly formed so that the preform includes the extension. Where the insulating material includes glass, is composed of glass, or is manufactured of glass, the surface of the extension preferably has an untreated surface that further improves the chemical stability of the feedthrough assembly.

[0049] In the sense of the present disclosure, the expression “the extension completely surrounds the pin” refers to an extension that forms a conical structure around the pin along the circumference of the pin and, accordingly, without any holes or openings in the extension. However, since the pin must be electrically connected, the extension does not cover the entire surface of the pin.

[0050] According to a highly preferred embodiment, the extension has a height of 1.5 mm or more, preferably 2.0 mm or more, preferably 3 mm or more and / or 10 mm or less, preferably 7 mm or less.

[0051] Preferably, according to one embodiment, the electric feedthrough assembly comprises two extensions of insulating material formed on both sides of a base body, and / or all pins of the assembly comprise extensions of insulating material. This is advantageous to the overall design, particularly when considering creepage distances. Preferably, for each of the above variations, each extension may be formed on the same side of the base body for each pin, and / or the two extensions of insulating material are formed on both sides of the base body for each pin. This is advantageous to the overall design.

[0052] Generally, according to one embodiment, not all pins of the electric feedthrough assembly may have extensions of insulating material. That is, according to one embodiment, several pins, though not all, include at least one extension of insulating material, and such at least one extension of insulating material may be formed on different sides of the base body with respect to different pins.

[0053] According to another embodiment, at least one surface portion has a diameter (i.e., a first diameter) that decreases along its height from the side of the base body toward the middle portion of the through hole. In other words, the surface portion of the stepped through hole has a conical cross-sectional shape in this particular embodiment. Of course, all surface portions on all pins and on both sides of the base body can generally be formed in the manner described above, without being limited to any of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention disclosed in detail. Also, generally, all through holes can be formed identically, that is, formed to have a conical cross-sectional shape surface portion formed identically. However, the shapes can also differ from one another and / or differ from one another with respect to the side of the base body. In an advantageous variation, at least one surface portion has a constant diameter (i.e., a first diameter) along its height from the side of the base body toward the middle portion of the through hole. In other words, the surface portion of the stepped through hole has a cylindrical cross-sectional shape in this particular embodiment.

[0054] According to another embodiment, at least one pin comprises a nickel-plated (or "Ni-plated") or oxidized surface. In the sense of the present disclosure, "Ni-plated" refers to a Ni coating formed on a surface, for example, in a galvanic process common to those skilled in the art. Preferably, all of the surface of the pin, i.e., a portion of the surface of the pin in contact with the insulating material, may be Ni-plated (or coated). This means, in other words, that the Ni-plated (or coated) pin may be used before forming the feedthrough assembly of the present invention. The nickel layer provides corrosion protection and provides a contact layer for better contact.

[0055] In the sense of the present disclosure, Ni plating is understood to refer to a coating (or plating) obtained preferably in a wet-chemical process, preferably in an electrochemical plating method known in the prior art. Although commonly referred to simply as "Ni plating" or "nickel plating," the coating may contain elements other than nickel, and as a result, a nickel alloy is produced. For example, the coating may contain elements other than nickel, such as cobalt, or zinc, or iron. In a preferred embodiment, the nickel layer does not contain phosphorus. Typically, the film thickness of the nickel layer is 1 μm or more and 15 μm or less, preferably 2 μm or more and 8 μm or less.

[0056] Additionally, according to a further embodiment of the present invention, at least one pin, and preferably all pins, and a base body comprise a Ni-plated surface. Here, in the context where the surface(s) of the pin(s) and the base body are Ni-plated, the surface is understood to relate to the chemical properties / composition of the surface (rather than the lateral or geometric face of the base body). Preferably, the Ni plating is performed before forming the electric feedthrough assembly of the present invention.

[0057] Generally, using Ni-plated pins before assembling a feedthrough assembly has been very difficult until now. Unless special measures are taken, the Ni-plated surface does not easily wet the molten glass, so that a strong bond is not formed between the Ni-plated surface and the glass material. However, in the case of the feedthrough assembly of the present invention, which is formed as a compression seal and includes stepped through holes, the compression seal can be formed in such a very easy yet efficient manner, so it is now possible to form a tight seal even when using Ni-plated pins. This is also advantageous because the Ni plating of the base body and / or pin(s) can be achieved before assembling the feedthrough assembly. This means that there is no need to perform Ni plating after assembly, which is advantageous in that the surface of the insulating material does not undergo any chemical treatment used in known subsequent nickel plating processes that affect the surface of the insulating material. As a result, the surface quality, particularly the surface roughness, of the outer surface of the insulating material resulting from the assembly process, especially the surface of the glass in a partially untreated state, can be preserved.

[0058] In the sense of the present disclosure, an untreated surface is understood as a surface that has not undergone any surface treatment, such as chemical treatment, e.g., chemical etching, mechanical treatment, etc., after formation. Preferably, said surface is a heat-polished surface at least partially, that is, at least in part. This means that the surface is formed at least partially without contact with any other parts, such as machine parts, materials, and / or molds, etc. In other words, that the surface of an insulating material is at least partially a heat-polished surface means that the surface is formed at least partially without contact.

[0059] Generally, in a preferred embodiment, the insulating material comprises glass, is composed of glass, or is manufactured of glass, and the surface of the glass is an untreated surface, preferably at least partially a heat-polished surface.

[0060] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the material of the base body is a metal. Preferably, the base body comprises steel, preferably stainless steel. In an advantageous embodiment, the material of the base body comprises structural steel, preferably microalloy steel, 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 to 0.15%) including niobium, vanadium, titanium, molybdenum, zirconium, boron, and rare earth metals. These are used to refine the grain microstructure or to facilitate precipitation hardening. The yield strength of the unheat-treated microalloy steel is 275 to 750 MPa. Weldability is good and can even be 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; thereby, ductility is also increased. By using fine alloy steel as a material, high bending stiffness and strength can be provided.

[0061] According to another embodiment, the material of the pin is metal. Preferably, the pin comprises or is composed of stainless steel, Ni-Fe material, or Fe-Cr material, or the pin comprises a central core made of copper and surrounded by stainless steel or surrounded by Ni-Fe material.

[0062] According to another embodiment, the insulating material is 8 * 10 -6 / K to 12 * 10 -6 It has a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) (or α) of / K. For example, insulating materials are 9 to 10 * 10 -6It may be an alkali silicate glass containing CaO having a CTE in the range of / K. In the context of the present disclosure, the coefficient of thermal expansion is specified as a linear coefficient of thermal expansion. Where the detailed description relates to the linear coefficient of thermal expansion of the glass, it is the nominal average linear coefficient of thermal expansion according to ISO 7991, in particular ISO 7991:1987-12, and is determined by static measurements (using a push rod dilatometer). The linear coefficient of thermal expansion of the glass is determined by a dilatometer. Generally, unless otherwise specified, the value is determined in a temperature range of 20°C to 300°C.

[0063] In the sense of the present disclosure, the compression seal is understood to be associated with the electric feedthrough assembly in which the base body is selected to apply compression to the insulating material to seal the feedthrough, and the CTE of each component, namely, at least one pin of the electric feedthrough assembly and a metal part such as a base body. To obtain such a compression seal, particularly a glass-to-metal seal, the coefficient of thermal expansion of the base body (CTE as further described above) is selected to be greater than the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of the insulating material, so that during cooling after the heat treatment in which the insulating material is melted and glazed in the through hole, the thermal shrinkage of the base body is stronger than that of the insulating material. As a result, a compression force is permanently applied to the insulating material by the base body. This compression force applies a preload to the insulating material and ensures a particularly durable seal.

[0064] In the case of compressed glass versus metal seals, the difference between the coefficient of thermal expansion of the base body (CTE as further explained above) and the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of the insulating material is preferably at least 2 * 10 -6 / K, and more preferably, the difference is at least 5 * 10 -6It may be / K. In an advantageous embodiment, it is preferable that the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of the base body be selected to be at least 5%, particularly at least 10%, preferably at least 20%, and in some variations, preferably at least 50% greater than the coefficient of thermal expansion of the insulating material. It is preferable that the coefficient of thermal expansion of the fin material be selected to be less than or nearly equal to the coefficient of thermal expansion of the insulating material. The difference between the two coefficients of thermal expansion is 2 * 10 -6 If it is less than / K, it is considered almost identical.

[0065] As long as the values ​​for the coefficient of expansion are mentioned above and below in relation to pressure glazing on the material, these values ​​represent the linear coefficient of thermal expansion (α) in the temperature range of 20 to 300°C typically given in relation to glass-metal feedthroughs.

[0066] Preferably, the electric feedthrough assembly is configured to be attached to a housing for an e-compressor, an electric storage device, a pressure sensor, etc.

[0067] The electric feedthrough assembly described herein is particularly suitable for use as a connection terminal for an electric compressor. The feedthrough assembly may be configured as part of the housing of the electric compressor, or may be attached to the housing of the electric compressor or to a part of the housing of the electric compressor.

[0068] Accordingly, another aspect of the present invention is to provide an electric compressor comprising any one of the electric feedthrough assemblies described herein.

[0069] It should be understood that the features mentioned above and the features described below may be used not only in the combinations shown in each case, but also in other combinations or alone without departing from the scope of the present invention. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0070] The present invention will now be further described with reference to the following drawings. In the drawings: FIGS. 1 through 9 are schematic and not scaled drawings of an electric feedthrough assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 10 and FIGS. 11 are drawings of finite element simulations of plastic strain of an electric feedthrough assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0071] FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a portion of an electric feedthrough assembly (1) according to one embodiment of the present invention. The electric feedthrough assembly (1) is particularly suitable for being attached to a housing, preferably a housing for an e-compressor, an electric storage device, a pressure sensor, etc. Generally, the electric feedthrough assembly (1) comprises at least two through holes (5) and at least two pins (7) disposed within the through holes (5), the pins (7) being electrically insulated from the base body (3) by an insulating material (9) and sealed in the through holes (5), so that at least two through holes (2) are formed in the base body (3), but FIG. 1 illustrates only one through hole (5) (or feedthrough (2) respectively). Generally, in the case of the electric feedthrough assembly (1) according to the present invention, the coefficient of thermal expansion of the insulating material (9) is smaller than the coefficient of thermal expansion of the base body (3) so that a compression seal feedthrough (2) is provided, without being limited to any of the special embodiments shown in any drawing of the present application and / or described within the scope of the present invention.

[0072] FIG. 1 - as well as FIG. 2 through 6 - schematically and not illustrated in scale at least one through hole (5) configured as a stepped through hole, that is, having at least one surface portion (11) adjacent to the side of the base body (3) or the side (33) and having a first diameter (a) (not shown herein) and an intermediate portion (13) having a second diameter (a2) (not shown herein) smaller than the first diameter (a1). Generally, dimensions such as diameter, height, thickness, etc. are exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 9. In FIG. 1, the height (h1) (not shown herein) of at least one surface portion (11) is, for example, less than half the thickness (t) of the base body (3), and the distance between at least two pins, determined as the distance between the center point of one pin (7) and the center point of another pin (7), is in the range of 1.2 times or more and 1.6 times or less the second diameter (a2) (not shown herein) of at least one through hole (5) in the middle portion (13) of the through hole. Insulating material (9) is present in both the surface portion (11) and the middle portion (13) of the through hole (5). The distance between the pins (7) is further described below with reference to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, which are a plan view and a cross-sectional view, respectively, of an electric feedthrough assembly (1) containing several pins (5). Here, it should be noted that, as with all drawings, FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 are schematic and are not drawn to scale.

[0073] The distance between the pins (7) is the center point of each pin, for example, in FIG. 7, the center point (c p It is the distance between ), or alternatively, and in relation to Fig. 8, the centerline of Fig. 8 (c l It is the distance between ).

[0074] In the illustration of FIG. 1, a surface portion (11) having a first diameter larger than the middle portion (13) of the through hole (5) is formed on the side portion (33) of the base body (3). Generally, the base body (3) is formed in a plate shape, that is, its width and length (extending in the left-right direction in the illustration of FIG. 1 to 6) in a direction perpendicular to the pin (7)) are greater than its thickness (t). The plate shape of the base body (3) can also be seen in both FIG. 7 and FIG. 8.

[0075] In this embodiment, the height (h1) of the surface portion (11) is less than half the thickness (t) of the base body (3). Generally, without being limited to any of the specific embodiments, examples, and exemplary drawings of the electric feedthrough assembly of the present invention, in an embodiment having only one surface portion (11), the height of the surface portion (11) may be less than or equal to half the thickness (t) of the base body (3) (or even greater). A tight seal can be achieved due to the pressure of the base body (3) against the insulating material (9) in the region of the middle portion (13a).

[0076] Now, with respect to FIG. 1, the insulating material (9) fills both the surface portion (11) and the middle portion (13) without forming any gap. As can be seen in the exemplary illustration of the electric feedthrough assembly (1) of FIG. 1, the surface of the insulating material (9) and the base body (3) are coplanar on both sides (or sides) (31, 33) of the base body (3). Here, with respect to the base body (3), it is necessary to note that the "surface" is related to the visible side of the base body (3), that is, in summary, the side or side (31, 33). In all drawings of the present invention, the side (33) is the lower side of the base body (3), but it should be noted that this does not necessarily correspond to the side that is the "lower" or "inner" side of the electric feedthrough assembly (1) for future use.

[0077] As can be seen in the exemplary illustration of FIG. 1, at the side (33) of the base body (3), the creepage distance between the pin (7) and the base body (3) is longer than at the side (31), because the surface portion (11) of the through hole (5) is filled with insulating material (9), which is a general effect of the surface portion (11) in any feedthrough assembly of the present invention and is not limited to any of the specific embodiments, examples, or exemplary drawings of the electric feedthrough assembly of the present invention.

[0078] FIG. 2 is a drawing of another electric feedthrough assembly (1) according to one embodiment. Here, in addition to the surface portion (11) of the feedthrough (2), the insulating material (9) includes an extension (15) of the insulating material so as to extend along at least one pin (7) beyond any one of the sides (31, 33) of the base body (3) and completely surround the pin. As can be seen, the extension (15) contacts the pin (7). The extension (15) has a third diameter (a3) ​​(not shown herein), wherein the third diameter is smaller than the first diameter (a1) (not shown herein) of at least one surface portion (11) of the through hole (5). In this example, the maximum value of the third diameter (a3) ​​is as large as the second diameter (a2) (not shown herein) of the middle portion (13). The third diameter (a3) ​​of the extension portion (15) continuously decreases along at least one pin (7) from the side (31) of the base body (3) to form an arc.

[0079] As can be seen exemplarily in FIG. 2, at the side (31) of the base body (3), the creepage distance between the pin (7) and the base body (3) is extended due to the extension (15) of the insulating material (9), which is a general effect of the extension (15) in any feedthrough assembly of the present invention and is not limited to any particular embodiment, example, or exemplary drawing of the electric feedthrough assembly of the present invention. To further extend the creepage distance, a stepped through hole having a surface portion and an extension may be combined (e.g., as shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 5, FIG. 6).

[0080] In the illustration of FIG. 2, an extension (15) of the insulating material (9) is formed on the side (31) of the base body (3) and a surface portion (11) is formed on the side (33); however, generally, without being limited to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the extension (15) of the insulating material (9) may be formed on the same side of the base body (3) that includes the surface portion (11), that is, on the side (33) instead of the side (31) in the exemplary illustration of the electric feedthrough assembly (1) of FIG. 3.

[0081] FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of an electric feedthrough assembly (1). Here, the feedthrough assembly (1) includes two extensions (9) of an insulating material (9) formed on both sides (31, 33) of a base body (3).

[0082] FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of an electric feedthrough assembly (1). Here, the through hole is formed as a stepped through hole comprising surface portions (11) formed on both sides (31, 33) of a base body (3), each having a first diameter (a1) (not shown) that is larger than the second diameter (a2) (not shown) of the middle portion (13) of the through hole (5). Here, both surface portions (11) are formed identically on both sides (31, 33) of the base body (3). In a variation, the surface portions may differ from each other. As illustrated herein, the height (h1) (not shown) of the surface portion (11) is less than half the thickness (t) (not shown) of the base body (3). The middle portion (13) has a height (h2) (not shown). Here, it should be noted that the intermediate portion is a part of the base body that provides compression to seal the feedthrough in a hermetic manner, which is a general effect of the intermediate portion (13) in any feedthrough assembly of the present invention and is not limited to any of the specific embodiments, examples, and exemplary drawings of the electric feedthrough assembly of the present invention. Of course, the surface portion (11) provides an enlarged creepage distance with respect to the pin (7), and in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 4, on both sides (31, 33) of the electric feedthrough assembly (1). As already stated above, this enlargement of creepage distance is a general effect of the surface portion (11) in any feedthrough assembly of the present invention and is not limited to any of the specific embodiments, examples, and exemplary drawings of the electric feedthrough assembly of the present invention.

[0083] Another embodiment of the electric feedthrough assembly (1) is illustrated in FIG. 5. Here, as in FIG. 4, at least one through hole (5) is formed as a stepped through hole comprising surface portions (11) formed on both sides (31, 33) of the base body (3). However, in addition to the surface portions (11) of the sides (31), the electric feedthrough assembly (1) comprises an insulating material (9), wherein the insulating material includes an extension (15) of the insulating material such that the insulating material (9) extends along the pin (7) beyond the sides (31) of the base body (3) and completely surrounds the pin (7). As can be seen, the extension contacts the pin (7) and has a third diameter (a3) ​​(not shown here), the third diameter being smaller than or equal to the first diameter (a1) (not shown here) of the surface portion (11) formed on the side (31) of the base body (3) in the example illustrated in FIG. 5. The third diameter (a3) ​​(not shown here) decreases continuously along the pin (7) from the surface of the base body (3) to form an arc.

[0084] Finally, FIG. 6 illustrates another embodiment of an electric feedthrough assembly (1) comprising surface portions (11) on each side (31, 33) of the base body (3) as well as two extensions (15) of the insulating material (9) of the feedthrough (2).

[0085] Generally, in the case of a stepped through hole comprising surface portions (11) formed on both sides (31, 33) of a base body (3) without being limited to any of the special embodiments, examples, and exemplary drawings of the electric feedthrough assembly of the present invention, the surface portions (11) may be formed equally or differently in terms of diameter (a1) and / or height (h1).

[0086] FIG. 7 is a plan view of an electric feedthrough assembly (1) according to one embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment that is schematically illustrated and not illustrated to scale, the feedthrough assembly (1) comprises three feedthroughs (2) each comprising an insulating material (9), preferably a glass material, which electrically insulates the pin (7) from the base body (3) and seals the pin (7) within the through hole (5). Additionally, the electric feedthrough assembly (1) comprises a mounting bore (17). Furthermore, in the electric feedthrough assembly (1) illustrated herein, to further illustrate the distance (d) between the pins (7) which are aligned in a straight line, the center point (c) of the pins (7) p ) are indicated. The distance (d) between at least two pins (7) is the center point (c) of one pin (7). p The center point (c) of ) and another pin (7) p The distance (d) between them is determined as such, and this distance is within the range of 1.2 times or more and 1.6 times or less the second diameter (a2) (not shown herein) of at least one through hole (5) in the middle portion of the through hole formed as a stepped through hole. Preferably, the distance between all pins of the electric feedthrough assembly (1) of the present invention is within the range of 1.2 times or more and 1.6 times the second diameter (a2) of at least one through hole (5). More preferably, all through holes (5) of the electric feedthrough assembly (1) of the present invention are formed as so-called stepped through holes, comprising a surface portion having a first diameter (a1) (not shown herein) that is larger than the second diameter (a2) (not shown herein) in the middle portion of each through hole (5). More preferably, generally, all through holes (5) of the electric feedthrough assembly (1) of the present invention are formed identically.

[0087] FIG. 7 also illustrates a plate-shaped base body (3) with an overall elongated shape, which means that the length (l) of the base body (3) is greater than the width (w).

[0088] For example, and with reference to FIG. 8, an electric feedthrough assembly (1) according to another embodiment is schematically illustrated and not illustrated in scale. An elongated plate-shaped base body (3) can be identified such that the thickness (t) of the base body (3) is smaller than the length (l) of the base body (3). In the sense of the present disclosure, "elongated" may be understood to indicate that the length (l) of the base body (3) is greater than the width (w) (see FIG. 7). The electric feedthrough assembly (1) includes three through holes (5) such that three feedthroughs (2) are created by insulating the pin (7) in each through hole (5) with an insulating material (9), preferably a glass material. Additionally, a surface portion (11) of the through hole (5) is formed on the side (33) of the feedthrough assembly (1). Here, it should be noted that all through holes (5) and consequently all surface portions (11) of the electric feedthrough assembly (1) of FIG. 8 are formed identically, of course, within the limits of standard manufacturing tolerances. Additionally, in the present embodiment, for all feedthroughs (2), the insulating material (9) includes two extensions (15) formed on both sides (31, 33) of the base body (3).

[0089] Of course, the extension (15) of the insulating material (9) may be formed on only one of the sides (31, 33) of the base body (3), and the extension (15) may also generally be formed on the sides (31, 33) of the base body (3) that include the surface portion (11) of the through hole (5). Generally, any combination of the extension (9) and the surface portion (11) is possible. However, it may be preferable to form the extension (15) on the sides (31, 33) of the base body (3) that include the surface portion (11). As a result, a long creepage distance is provided. Also, and preferably, all through holes (5) and all feedthroughs (2) of the electric feedthrough assembly (1) are formed identically within the limits of standard manufacturing tolerances.

[0090] In a favorable example, the base body is 10–14 * 10 -6 It may include stainless steel having a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) in the range of / K, and the insulating material is 8 to 10 * 10 -6 Glass with a CTE in the / K range (e.g., 9~10 * 10 -6 It may include alkali silicate glass containing CaO having a CTE in the / K range, and the pin is 9~10 * 10 -6 It may include a metal having a CTE in the / K range. To provide a compression seal feedthrough, the coefficient of thermal expansion of the base body is selected to be greater than the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of the insulating material, so that during cooling after the heat treatment in which the insulating material is melted and glazed in the through hole, the thermal shrinkage of the base body is stronger than that of the insulating material.

[0091] However, in order to form a tightly compression-sealed feedthrough (2), the distance (d) between adjacent pins (7) cannot be arbitrarily chosen to be small for a specific diameter of the through hole. To provide a compression seal, it is important that a sufficient minimum wall thickness or minimum cross-section of the base body remains between the two adjacent through holes (5). If the minimum wall thickness or cross-section is too small, plastic deformation may occur in the base body (3). Therefore, as described above and further described with reference to FIGS. 10 and FIGS. 11, the distance (d) between the two pins (7), which is determined as the distance between the center point of one pin and the center point of the other pin, is important to be within a range of at least 1.2 times the second diameter (a2) of at least one through hole (5) in the middle portion (13) of the through hole. Since the through hole is configured as a stepped through hole, the surface portion (11) filled with insulating material (9) having a large first diameter (a) provides a long creepage distance between the base body (3) and the pin (7).

[0092] The dimensions of the surface portion (11), the middle portion (13), and the extension portion (15) will now be further described with reference to FIG. 9, which is schematically illustrated and not illustrated in scale. As illustrated in FIG. 9, both height (h1) and height (h2) extend along the thickness (t) of the base body (3). The two heights represent the height of each portion formed within the through hole (2). The diameters (a1, a2, and a3) are the lateral dimensions of the surface portion (11) (or, as illustrated in FIG. 9, the through hole (2) includes two surface portions (11) formed on each side (31, 33) of the base body (3), thus the surface portions (11) as in FIG. 9), the middle portion (13), and the extension portion (15), respectively. Here, in the illustration of FIG. 9, both surface portions (11) of the through hole (2) are formed to have the same diameter (a1) and height (h1), but it should be noted that generally, the surface portions (11) may have different diameters (a1) and / or heights (h1) without being limited to the illustration of FIG. 9. The diameter (a1) may also be simply referred to as the "first diameter" or the diameter of the surface portion (11) within the scope of the present invention. FIG. 9 additionally illustrates a middle portion (13) of the through hole (2) having a diameter (a2), which is also referred to as the "second diameter" or the "second diameter of the middle portion (13)" in the sense of the present disclosure. Of course, the first and second diameters (a1, a2) can also be understood as the first diameter (a1) of the through hole (2) in the surface portion of the through hole and the second diameter (a2) of the through hole (2) in the middle portion (13) of the through hole. Additionally, the diameter (a3) ​​is a lateral dimension of the extension (15) of the insulating material (9). In the sense of the present disclosure, the diameter (a3) ​​is also referred to as the "third diameter."As can be seen in the city of Fig. 9, the diameter (a3) ​​changes along the height of the pin (7), is smaller than or equal to the diameter (a1) near the side of the base body (3) (here: side (31)) (or is smaller than or equal to the diameter (a2) if the surface portion (11) is not formed on the side of the base body (3) where the extension (15) is formed), and gradually decreases along the length of the pin (9).

[0093] Also, it should be noted here that, preferably, the through hole (2) is formed to have a circular (or round) shape, so a1, a2, and a3 are referred to as “diameters” here. However, if the through hole (2) has a shape other than a circular shape, in the sense of the present disclosure, “diameters” is understood to represent the maximum lateral dimension of the through hole (2) parallel to the sides (31, 33) of the base body (3). Also, generally, the sides (31, 33) of the base body (3) are parallel to each other as shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, FIGS. 8, and FIGS. 9.

[0094] FIGS. 10 and FIGS. 11 each illustrate, as perspective views from below, a cross-section (longitudinal cross-section passing through a pin) passing through two feedthroughs (2) of an electric feedthrough assembly (1) according to an embodiment of the present invention. The total length of the illustrated scale is 10.0 mm in each case. The results of a finite element simulation illustrating the plastic strain of a base body (3) between two adjacent stepped through holes (5) with respect to the distance (d) between two different pins (7) are shown, where the distance (d) is the center point (c) of one pin (7). p ) - In the illustrated cross-section, the centerline (c l Converted to - the center point (c) of the other pin (7) p ) - that is, centerline(c l ) - is determined as the distance between.

[0095] This simulation shows an electric feedthrough assembly (1) comprising a base body (3) (steel, CTE of 12.0 ppm / K), an insulating material (9) (glass, CTE of 9.6 ppm / K), and a fin (7) (stainless steel, CTE of 10.9 ppm / K), thereby simulating a compression feedthrough. This simulation shows a setting temperature (T) of the glass, which is in the range of 600°C to 22°C for a given glass. set Estimates the difference in CTE from the vicinity of ) to room temperature. T set For each glass, T set = T f - 1 / 3(T f - T g It can be determined as ), where T g is the transition temperature, and T f is the expansion softening point, which is the temperature (i.e., the peak of the curve) at which the thermal expansion curve of the glass stops rising and begins to fall as the temperature increases. In FIGS. 10 and FIGS. 11, in each case, the large diameter of the stepped hole (corresponding to the diameter (a1) of the surface portion (11) of the stepped hole in FIGS. 1 to 9) is estimated to be 10.0 mm, and the small diameter of the stepped hole (corresponding to the diameter (a2) of the middle portion (13) of the stepped hole in FIGS. 1 to 9) is estimated to be 8.5 mm. Here, the height of the surface portion (11) is approximately half the thickness (t) of the base body (3).

[0096] When the distance (d) between adjacent pins (7) is reduced (i.e., the pin pitch is reduced), the plastic strain in the base body (3) is analyzed in terms of the 0.2% offset yield strength, which is a known material property of the metal. In the case of a plastic strain greater than 0.2% (0.2% offset yield strength rule), it is presumed that yielding / deformation has occurred. In fact, if plastic deformation occurs in the base body of the compression seal feedthrough, the base body cannot provide sufficient compression to the insulating material into which the pins are inserted, and as a result, there is a risk of leakage and failure to form the compression seal.

[0097] FIG. 10 shows the results of a finite element simulation for the case where the distance (d) between two pins (7) is 13.2 mm. As can be seen, in the region of the base body (3) remaining between adjacent stepped through holes (5), the maximum strain is 0.001 or less (corresponding to ≤ 0.1%). This applies to both Section A remaining between the intermediate parts (13) having the small diameter (a2) (8.5 mm) of the stepped through holes (5) and Section B remaining between the surface parts (13) having the large diameter (a1) (10.0 mm) of the stepped through holes (5). Accordingly, this simulation result shows that a pin pitch of 13.2 mm is safe in terms of plastic strain according to the 0.2% offset yield stress / strength. There is no permanent plastic deformation in the base body (3).

[0098] FIG. 11 shows the results of a finite element simulation for the case where the distance (d) between two pins (7) is 11.0 mm. As can be seen, because the pin pitch is smaller compared to FIG. 10, the area of ​​the base body (3) remaining between adjacent stepped through holes (5) is narrower. Looking at the area of ​​the base body (3) remaining between adjacent stepped through holes (5), in section A remaining between the intermediate parts (13) having a small diameter (a2) (here 8.5 mm) of the stepped through holes (5), the maximum strain is still less than 0.001 (corresponding to <0.1%). In the case of section A, the distance (d) between two pins (7) is 1.3 times the diameter (a2). Because of this "1.3-relationship," no permanent plastic deformation occurs in the base body (3). However, in section B remaining between surface portions (13) having a large diameter (a1) (here 10.0 mm) of stepped through holes, the strain increases above 0.002 (corresponding to >0.2%). Consequently, the 0.2% threshold of plastic strain is exceeded, and yielding will occur in the base body (3). In the case of section B, the distance (d) between the two pins (7) is 1.1 times the diameter (a1). Because of this "1.1-relationship," permanent plastic deformation occurs in the base body (3), shown in dark gray in section B.

[0099] In other words, in a feed-through assembly with a pin pitch of 11.0 mm and a through hole with a diameter of 8.5 mm, no permanent plastic deformation will occur. The base body material will be subjected to normal loads. However, because the diameter of the through hole is small, the creepage distance between the pin and the base body will be small. In contrast, in a feed-through assembly with a pin pitch of 11.0 mm and a through hole with a diameter of 10.0 mm (which would be better in terms of creepage distance), permanent plastic deformation will occur in the section of the base body where the through holes are closest to each other. The base body material will be subjected to excessive loads. As a result, compression will be compromised in this area, and consequently, the risk of leakage will increase.

[0100] Accordingly, according to the present invention, at least one of the through holes (5) is configured as a stepped through hole having at least one surface portion (11) and a middle portion (13) adjacent to the side portions (31, 33) of the base body (3), wherein the surface portion (11) has a first diameter (a1) and the middle portion (13) has a second diameter (a2) smaller than the first diameter (a1), and the center point (c) of one pin (7) p The center point (c) of ) and another pin (7) p It is important that the distance (d) between at least two pins (7), which is determined as the distance between them, is at least 1.2 times the second diameter (a2) of at least one through hole (5) in the middle part (13) of the through hole.

[0101] The inventors have discovered that by designing the feedthrough assembly of the present invention in this manner, it is surprisingly possible to minimize the feedthrough assembly by reducing the pin pitch while simultaneously providing a closed seal with an increased creepage distance (at least on one side of the base body). This is possible because, even though there is less compression due to plastic deformation of the base body (3) in section B, the compression of the base body (3) to the insulating material (9) in section A is sufficient to provide a closed seal. However, a longer creepage distance is achieved by the insulating material (9) by the large diameter (a1) of the stepped through hole in the sealing portion (11), i.e., the section with less compression.

[0102] The electric feedthrough assembly of the present invention enables a miniaturized, very compact overall design of these components by positioning the fins close together, while simultaneously, the insulating material provides sufficient or even improved creepage distance through at least one stepped through hole and, preferably, through an extension. Accordingly, the electric feedthrough assembly is designed and manufactured to enable the massive transfer of energy from the battery to the air conditioning compressor while simultaneously maintaining a reliable airtight seal to prevent any leakage, particularly of the refrigerant, and thus can be used as a component in the electric compressor. Furthermore, electric compressors are subject to high pressure, high humidity, and vibration. The feedthrough assembly of the present invention can withstand these adverse conditions. Additionally, for example in a 48V electrical system, it possesses very high insulation resistance and high voltage capability.

[0103] In addition to e-compressors, the electric feedthrough assembly of the present invention can be used in other applications where strict requirements exist, for example, regarding airtightness, temperature resistance, thermal shock resistance, etc. In particular, the electric feedthrough assembly of the present invention can be used in pressure sensors and in electrical storage devices such as batteries, accumulators, and capacitors. Explanation of the symbols

[0104] 1: Electric feedthrough assembly 2 : Feedthrough 3 : Base Body 5: Through hole 7 : Pin 9: Insulating material 11: Surface part 13 : Middle part 15: Extension of the insulating material (9) 17 : Mounting bore 31, 33: Sides of the base body (3) c p : Center point c l : Center line d: distance between pins, pitch t : thickness of base body (3) w : Width of base body (3) l : Length of base body (3) a1: First diameter, diameter of the surface portion (11) a2: second diameter, diameter of the middle part (13) a3 : Third diameter, diameter of the extension (15) h1 : Height of the surface portion (11) h2 : height of the middle part (13) A: Section of the base body (3) between the through holes (5) B: Section of the base body (3) between the through holes (5)

Claims

Claim 1 An electric feedthrough assembly (1) comprises a base body (3) having first and second sides (31, 33), wherein the base body (3) comprises at least two through holes (5) and at least two pins (7) disposed within the through holes (5), wherein at least two pins are electrically insulated from the base body (3) by an insulating material (9) and sealed at the through holes (5) so as to form at least two feedthroughs (2) in the base body (3), wherein the coefficient of thermal expansion of the insulating material (9) is smaller than the coefficient of thermal expansion of the base body (3) so as to provide a compression-sealed feedthrough, and at least one of the through holes (5) is configured as a stepped through hole having at least one surface portion (11) and a middle portion (13) adjacent to the sides (31, 33) of the base body (3), wherein the surface portion (11) has a first diameter (a1) and the middle portion (13) has a second diameter smaller than the first diameter (a1). An electric feedthrough assembly (1) having a diameter (a2), wherein the insulating material (9) is present in both the middle portion (13) of the through hole (5) and the at least one surface portion (11), wherein the distance (d) between at least two pins (7), determined as the distance between the center point (cp) of one pin (7) and the center point (cp) of another pin (7), is in the range of 1.2 times or more and 1.6 times or less the second diameter (a2) of at least one through hole (5) in the middle portion (13) of the through hole, wherein the base body (3) has an elongated plate shape in which the length (l) is greater than the width (w), and the electric feedthrough assembly (1) has three or more pins (7) and through holes (5) arranged in a straight line or an arched line. Claim 2 An electric feedthrough assembly (1) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one surface portion (11) of the through hole (5) has a height (h1) that is less than or equal to half the thickness (t) of the base body (3). Claim 3 In claim 1 or 2, (i) all through holes (5) are configured as stepped through holes having at least one surface portion (11) having a first diameter (a1) adjacent to the side portions (31, 33) of the base body (3) and a middle portion (13) having a second diameter (a2) smaller than the first diameter (a1), or (ii) at least one through hole (5) is formed as a stepped through hole such that the surface portions (11) formed on both sides (31, 33) of the base body (3) include two first diameters (a1) larger than the second diameter (a2) of the middle portion (13) of the at least one through hole (5), or (iii) all through holes (5) are configured such that at least one surface portion (11) having a first diameter (a1) adjacent to the side portions (31, 33) of the base body (3) and An electric feedthrough assembly (1) configured as a stepped through hole having a middle portion (13) having a second diameter (a2) smaller than a first diameter (a1), wherein at least one through hole (5) is formed as a stepped through hole to include two surface portions (11) having a second diameter (a1) larger than the second diameter (a2) of the middle portion (13) of at least one through hole (5) formed as a surface portion (11) on both sides (31, 33) of a base body (3). Claim 4 An electric feedthrough assembly (1) wherein, in claim 1 or 2, all through holes (5) are formed as stepped through holes comprising a surface portion (11) formed on both sides (31, 33) of a base body (3) and having two first diameters (a1) larger than the second diameter (a2) of the middle portion (13) of at least one through hole (5). Claim 5 An electric feedthrough assembly (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein (i) the intermediate part (13) has a height of 1 mm or more and 4 mm or less, or (ii) the base body (3) has a thickness (t) of 2 mm or more and 6 mm or less, or (iii) the intermediate part (13) has a height of 1 mm or more and 4 mm or less, and the base body (3) has a thickness (t) of 2 mm or more and 6 mm or less. Claim 6 In claim 1 or 2, the electrical feedthrough assembly (1) wherein the insulating material (9) comprises glass, is composed of glass, or is manufactured of glass. Claim 7 In claim 6, the surface of the glass is at least partially an untreated surface, and the untreated surface is a surface that has not undergone any surface treatment since its formation, in an electric feedthrough assembly (1). Claim 8 In claim 7, the surface roughness of the untreated surface is (i) 0.80 μm (R a ) or less, or (ii) 1.00 µm (R z ) or less, or (iii) 0.80 µm (R a ) or less and 1.00 µm (R z Electric feedthrough assembly (1) that is less than or equal to ) Claim 9 An electric feedthrough assembly (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the insulating material (9) includes an extension (15) of the insulating material (9) such that the insulating material (9) extends beyond at least one of the sides (31, 33) of the base body (3) along at least one pin (7) and surrounds the pin, the extension (15) of the insulating material (9) contacts at least one pin (7), and the extension (15) has a third diameter (a3) ​​that is smaller than or equal to the first diameter (a1) of the at least one surface portion (11) or smaller than or equal to the second diameter (a2) of the middle portion (13) of the through hole (5), and the third diameter (a3) ​​of the extension (15) decreases continuously from the sides (31, 33) of the base body (3) along at least one pin (7) to form an arc. Claim 10 An electric feedthrough assembly (1) according to claim 9, wherein the height of the extension part (15) is (i) 1.5 mm or more, or (ii) 10 mm or less, or (iii) 1.5 mm or more and 10 mm or less. Claim 11 In claim 9, (i) the electric feedthrough assembly (1) comprises two extensions (15) of insulating material (9) formed on both sides (31, 33) of the base body (3), or (ii) all pins (7) of the electric feedthrough assembly (1) comprise extensions (15) of insulating material (9), or (iii) the electric feedthrough assembly (1) comprises two extensions (15) of insulating material (9) formed on both sides (31, 33) of the base body (3), and all pins (7) of the electric feedthrough assembly (1) comprise extensions (15) of insulating material (9). Claim 12 An electric feedthrough assembly (1) wherein, (i) each extension (15) of the insulating material (9) is formed on the same side (31, 33) of the base body (3) for each pin (7), or (ii) two extensions (15) of the insulating material (9) are formed on both sides (31, 33) of the base body (3) for each pin (7), or (iii) each extension (15) of the insulating material (9) is formed on the same side (31, 33) of the base body (3) for each pin (7), and two extensions (15) of the insulating material (9) are formed on both sides (31, 33) of the base body (3) for each pin (7). Claim 13 An electric feedthrough assembly (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one surface portion (11) has a first diameter (a1) that decreases along its height from the side portion (31, 33) of the base body (3) toward the middle portion (13) of the through hole (5), or the at least one surface portion (11) has a constant first diameter (a1) along its height from the side portion (31, 33) of the base body (3) toward the middle portion (13) of the through hole (5). Claim 14 An electric feedthrough assembly (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one pin (7) comprises a Ni-plated or oxidized surface. Claim 15 An electric feedthrough assembly (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one pin (7) and the base body (3) comprises a Ni-plated surface. Claim 16 In claim 1 or 2, the electric feedthrough assembly (1) comprises one or more of the following features: - the base body (3) comprises steel, or stainless steel, or structural steel; - at least one pin (7) comprises a central core made of stainless steel, or Ni-Fe material, or Fe-Cr material, or copper, and surrounded by stainless steel or surrounded by Ni-Fe material; - the insulating material (9) comprises 8 * 10 -6 / K to 12 * 10 -6 It has a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of / K. Claim 17 In paragraph 1 or 2, the electric feedthrough assembly is configured to be attached to a housing for an e-compressor, an electric storage device, a pressure sensor, etc. (1). Claim 18 An electric compressor comprising an electric feedthrough assembly (1) according to paragraph 1 or 2.

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