Fluid transport device having an electric connecting device

Abstract

A fluid transport device (40) for transporting a fluid reducing agent (34) in a system (31) for the aftertreatment of exhaust gases (48) of a combustion engine (38) comprises a transport module (42) having a fluid pump (43) for transporting the fluid reducing agent (34); and a control module (41) having a control device (39) for controlling the operation of the transport module (42). The transport module (42) and the control module (41) are connected together by an electric connecting device (2). The electric connecting device (2) comprises: a plug element (4) having a base (8) in which electrical contact elements (22) with exposed ends are formed, and having a cover (45) with a collar (47) which surrounds the exposed ends of the contact elements (22); and a socket element (6) having electric sockets (24) which are designed to receive and make contact with the electrical contact elements (22). At least one region of each of the electrical contact elements (22) is coated with a hydrophobic coating (30) in order to inhibit penetration of a fluid along the contact elements (22) on account of capillary effects, and / or an elastic sealing element (14) is provided between the base (8) and the collar (47), said sealing element surrounding the contact element region (21) and sealing off the transition between the base (8) and the cover (45) in a fluid-tight manner.

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] title

[0003] Fluid conveying device with electrical connection device

[0004] The invention relates to a fluid delivery device with an electrical connection device. The invention also relates to a system for the aftertreatment of exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine, which comprises a fluid delivery device according to the invention, as well as to a motor vehicle with such a system for the aftertreatment of exhaust gases.

[0005] State of the art

[0006] To reduce the nitrogen oxides (NOx) contained in the exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine, particularly a diesel engine, a liquid reducing agent in the form of a urea-water solution (AdBlue®) is often injected into the exhaust system of the internal combustion engine. The reducing agent reacts with the nitrogen oxides contained in the exhaust gases in a catalyst located in the exhaust system of the internal combustion engine.

[0007] The liquid reducing agent is stored in a reservoir or tank and conveyed by a fluid delivery device containing a fluid pump to a dosing module with an injection device mounted on the exhaust system of the internal combustion engine. The injection device injects the reducing agent into the exhaust system in a metered manner.

[0008] The fluid delivery device can have a modular design. The fluid delivery device can, in particular, comprise a delivery module containing the fluid pump and a control module containing a control device for controlling the operation of the delivery module. The delivery module and the control module can be detachably connected to one another by an electrical connection device.

[0009] In such a fluid conveying device, there is a risk that fluids, for example water and / or fluid reducing agent, penetrate into the conveying module and / or the control module through openings or gaps formed in the electrical connecting device and cause damage there, e.g. electrical short circuits.

[0010] It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a modular fluid delivery device for delivering a fluid reducing agent for the aftertreatment of exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine, which is equipped with an improved electrical connection device that reduces the risk of fluid penetrating the modules of the fluid delivery device.

[0011] A modular fluid delivery device according to the invention for delivering a fluid reducing agent in a system for aftertreating exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine, in particular a diesel engine, comprises a delivery module with a fluid pump for delivering the fluid reducing agent and a control module with a control device which is designed to control the operation of the delivery module.

[0012] The conveyor module and the control module are detachably connected to each other by an electrical connector. The electrical connector comprises a plug element and a complementary socket element.

[0013] The plug element has a base in or on which electrical contact elements with exposed ends are formed, and a cover with a collar. The cover is arranged on the base such that the collar surrounds the exposed ends of the contact elements. The socket element comprises electrical sockets configured to receive and contact the electrical contact elements.

[0014] At least a portion of each of the electrical contact elements may be coated with a hydrophobic coating to inhibit or prevent fluid from penetrating along the contact elements due to capillary action.

[0015] Alternatively or additionally, an elastic sealing element can be provided between the base region and the collar, which surrounds the contact element region and provides a fluid-tight seal between the base region and the housing region. The elastic sealing element can, in particular, be arranged or attached to the base of the plug element.

[0016] Embodiments of the invention also include a system for the aftertreatment of exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine, in particular a diesel engine, comprising a dosing module mounted on an exhaust system of the internal combustion engine, which is designed to introduce, in particular inject, fluid reducing agent into the exhaust system of the internal combustion engine; and comprising a fluid conveying device according to the invention, which is provided for conveying the fluid reducing agent from a reservoir to the dosing module.

[0017] Embodiments of the invention also include a motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine, in particular with a diesel engine, which is equipped with a system according to the invention for aftertreating exhaust gases of the internal combustion engine.

[0018] In a fluid conveying device according to the invention, a hydrophobic coating applied to the contact elements prevents or inhibits fluid, in particular fluid reducing agent, from penetrating or creeping along the contact elements due to capillary effects and thus from passing from the conveying module into the control module or into the contact area of ​​the electrical connecting device, which could result in electrical short circuits and / or other damage.

[0019] A sealing element according to the invention prevents water, moisture and / or dirt from entering the conveyor module at the interface between the base of the plug element and the cover, in particular when the plug element and the socket element are not connected to each other, and leading to electrical short circuits or other damage there.

[0020] The electrical connection device of a fluid conveying device according to the invention therefore provides improved protection against damage that can be caused by fluids penetrating the conveying module and / or the control module through the electrical connection device. In one embodiment, the hydrophobic coating comprises silicone. The coating can, in particular, comprise Semicosil 949 UV-A and / or Semicosil 949 UV-B. Silicones, in particular Semicosil 949 UV-A and Semicosil 949 UV-B, have proven particularly suitable for providing a coating that inhibits or prevents moisture from creeping along the contact elements.

[0021] In one embodiment, the elastic sealing element is made of a material comprising an ethylene propylene diene rubber ("EPMD").

[0022] In one embodiment, the electrical contact elements are arranged in a two-dimensional matrix arrangement, and the elastic sealing element is designed as a sealing ring that extends around the two-dimensional matrix arrangement. In this way, the interface between the base and the cover can be sealed fluid-tight particularly easily and reliably.

[0023] In one embodiment, the electrical contact elements are designed as cylindrical contact pins or as tongue-shaped contact pins.

[0024] In one embodiment, the sealing ring has an oval shape. The sealing ring can, in particular, have two curved regions, for example, two semicircular regions, and two linear regions that connect the two curved regions. Such a sealing ring is particularly well suited for reliably sealing the interface between the base of the plug element and the cover in a fluid-tight manner.

[0025] In one embodiment, the sealing ring is designed as an o-ring, an r-ring, or a D-ring.

[0026] In one embodiment, the base of the plug element has a step formed between a lower base region and an upper base region, and the elastic sealing element is arranged on this step on the lower base region such that it surrounds the upper base region. With the aid of such a step, the sealing element can be attached to the plug element particularly easily and securely. In one embodiment, at least one region of each of the electrical contact elements coated with the hydrophobic coating is enclosed by the material of the plug element or enclosed in the material of the plug element.

[0027] In this way, the coating applied to at least one area of ​​each of the electrical contact elements is reliably protected by the material of the plug element from abrasion and other negative influences that could impair the function of the coating.

[0028] An embodiment of the invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0029] Short the Fi,

[0030] Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine and an exhaust gas aftertreatment system.

[0031] Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a delivery module for exhaust gas aftertreatment with a plug element.

[0032] Figure 3 shows an enlarged perspective view of the connector element.

[0033] Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a socket element matching the plug element.

[0034] Figure 5 shows a schematic sectional view through an electrical connection device.

[0035] An embodiment of the invention is described below with reference to the accompanying figures.

[0036] Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a motor vehicle 60 with an internal combustion engine 38, in particular a diesel engine, and with an exhaust aftertreatment system 30 designed to aftertreat the exhaust gases 48 of the internal combustion engine 38. The exhaust aftertreatment system 30 comprises a catalyst 50 arranged in an exhaust system 36 of the internal combustion engine 38, and a system 31 for introducing a fluid reducing agent ("fluid") 34, in particular an aqueous urea solution (AdBlue®), stored in a reservoir 32, into the exhaust system 36 of the internal combustion engine 38.

[0037] During operation of the exhaust gas aftertreatment system 30, reducing agent 34 is withdrawn from the reservoir 32 via a fluid line 33 and supplied by a fluid conveying device 40 under increased pressure via a suitable fluid line ("pressure line") 20 to a dosing module 44 arranged on the exhaust line 36 of the internal combustion engine 38

[0038] The dosing module 44 comprises an injection device designed and configured to inject the reducing agent 34 into the exhaust system 36 in a metered manner as a spray 46. In the exhaust system 36, the injected reducing agent 34 mixes with the exhaust gases 48 of the internal combustion engine 38 flowing through the exhaust system 36 and reacts with the nitrogen oxides contained in the exhaust gases 48 to form water and nitrogen in the catalyst 50 provided downstream of the dosing module 44 in the exhaust system 36.

[0039] The exhaust gas aftertreatment system 30 comprises a plurality of sensors 52, 54, 56, for example temperature sensors 52, 54, which are arranged upstream and downstream of the catalyst 50 on or in the exhaust line 36, and a nitrogen oxide sensor (“NO x -Sensor”) 56, which is arranged downstream of the catalyst 50 in the exhaust system 36.

[0040] The sensors 52, 54, 56 deliver their measurement results to a control unit 58, which is designed to control the components of the exhaust gas aftertreatment system 30, in particular the fluid conveying device 40 and the dosing module 44, in such a way that the nitrogen oxides contained in the exhaust gases 48 of the internal combustion engine 38 are reduced to nitrogen and water as best as possible.

[0041] The fluid delivery device 40 comprises a fluid delivery module 42 with a fluid pump 43 for delivering the fluid reducing agent 34 and a control module 41 with a control device 39 designed to control the operation of the delivery module 42. The delivery module 42 and the control module 41 are connected to one another by a detachable electrical connection device 2, which is designed in particular as a plug-in connection. In the connected or plugged-in state, the electrical connection device 2 enables electrical energy and control commands to be transmitted from the control module 41 to the delivery module 42. The electrical connection device 2 can also enable signals, e.g. sensor signals, to be transmitted from the delivery module 42 to the control module 41.

[0042] The electrical connection device 2 comprises a plug element 4 ("male connector") with electrical contact elements 22, see Figure 3, and a socket element 6 ("female connector"), see Figure 4, with electrical sockets 24, which are designed to receive and contact the electrical contact elements 22 of the plug element 4 when the plug element 4 and the socket element 6 are connected to one another, in particular "plugged together".

[0043] The plug element 4 can be provided on the conveyor module 42, and the socket element 6 can be formed on the control module 41, as shown in Figure 1. It is also possible for the plug element 4 to be provided on the control module 41, and for the socket element 6 to be formed on the conveyor module 42.

[0044] Figure 2 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the conveyor module 42 with a plug element 4.

[0045] The conveyor module 42 has a cover 45 (“cover”), which is arranged on the upper side of the conveyor module 42 facing the viewer and which closes the conveyor module 42. A region of the cover 45 is formed with a protruding collar 47, which surrounds a plug element 4 having a plurality of contact elements 22.

[0046] Figure 3 shows an enlarged perspective view of the plug element 4 without the cover 45.

[0047] The plug element 4 has a base 8, which is made, in particular, of plastic. The base 8 can be made, for example, of PA6 or PPA6. The base 8 can be reinforced with glass fibers embedded in the plastic.

[0048] The base 8 is step-shaped and comprises in particular a lower base region 8a and an upper base region 8b, which is arranged on the lower base region 8a.

[0049] The lower base region 8a and the upper base region 8b each have two curved outer regions 10a, 10b, each of which is particularly formed in the shape of a half cylinder. The lower base region 8a and the upper base region 8b each have a linear central region 12a, 12b extending between the two curved outer regions 10a, 10b and connecting the two curved outer regions 10a, 10b to each other.

[0050] The upper base region 8b has smaller dimensions than the lower base region 8a, so that a stepped projection is formed on the lower base region 8a around the upper base region 8b. An elastic sealing element 14, in particular a sealing ring, is arranged on the stepped projection.

[0051] The sealing ring can be an o-ring, an r-ring, a D-ring or a sealing ring that has a different cross-section.

[0052] The shape of the sealing element 14 is adapted to the shape of the base 8. The sealing element 14 has, in particular, two outer curved regions 16, for example, two semicircular regions arranged on the curved outer regions 10a, 10b of the lower base region 8a, and two linear regions 18 arranged on the central region 12 of the lower base region 8a and connecting the two curved regions 16 of the sealing element 14 to each other.

[0053] A contact element region 21 with a plurality of contact elements 22 is formed on the upper base region 8b.

[0054] In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, the contact elements 22 are designed as tongue-shaped contact pins, each with a rectangular cross-section. In other embodiments not shown in the figures, the contact elements 22 can be cylindrical. The contact elements 22 can also have a different cross-section.

[0055] In the exemplary embodiment shown in the figures, the contact elements 22 are arranged in a rectangular, two-dimensional matrix arrangement in two parallel rows of contact elements 22. In other exemplary embodiments not shown in the figures, the contact elements 22 can also be arranged in other arrangements.

[0056] To seal the conveyor module 42 in a fluid-tight manner, the cover 45 (see Figure 2), not shown in Figure 3, is arranged on the base 8 such that the sealing element 14 fluid-tightly seals the transition or interface between the base region 8 and the cover 45. The sealing element 14 can, in particular, be slightly compressed.

[0057] Figure 4 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a socket element 6 which is designed to be arranged on the plug element 4 shown in Figure 3 in order to electrically connect the control module 41 to the conveyor module 42.

[0058] The socket element 6 has a plurality of sockets 24 arranged and configured to receive the contact elements 22 of the plug element 4. Electrical contacts 26 (not visible in Figure 4) are provided in the sockets 24, which electrically contact the contact elements 22 when the contact elements 22 are inserted into the sockets 24.

[0059] A channel 25 is formed in the socket element 6, extending around the sockets 24. The channel 25 is provided to receive the protruding collar 47 of the cover 45 of the plug element 4 when the plug element 4 and the socket element 6 are connected to each other.

[0060] Figure 5 shows a schematic sectional view through an electrical connection device 2 according to an embodiment of the invention along the line AA shown in Figure 2 in a connected or plugged-in state. The electrical connection device 2 comprises the plug element 4 shown at the bottom in Figure 5 and the socket element 6 shown at the top in Figure 5.

[0061] The lower part of Figure 5 shows the base 8 with the lower base region 8a and the upper base region 8b, through which the contact elements 22 extend. The upper ends of the contact elements 22 are inserted into the sockets 24 of the socket element 6 such that they contact the electrical contacts 26 of the socket element 6.

[0062] The annular sealing element 14 is arranged on the previously described circumferential step formed between the lower base portion 8a and the upper base portion 8b.

[0063] The cover 45 with the protruding collar 47 is arranged on the sealing element 14. The collar 47 surrounds the upper ends of the contact elements 22, as shown in Figure 2.

[0064] When the plug element 4 and the socket element 6 are connected to each other, as shown in Figure 4, the protruding collar 47 of the cover 45 is inserted into the channel 25 formed in the socket element 6 and surrounding the sockets 24. Through the mechanical interaction of the protruding collar 47 with the channel 25, the plug element 4 and the socket element 6 are aligned and fixed with respect to each other without mechanical stress on the contact elements 22 and the sockets 24.

[0065] The sealing element 14 seals the transition between the base 8 and the cover 45 in a fluid-tight manner, so that no moisture can penetrate into the delivery module 42 through the interface between the cover 45 and the base region 8. The sealing element 14 also prevents fluid reducing agent 34 from escaping from the delivery module 42 through the interface between the cover 45 and the base 8 and entering the control module 41.

[0066] A second sealing element 49 is provided at the upper end of the collar 47. The second sealing element 49 fluid-tightly seals the gap between the collar 47 and the boundary of the channel 25. Areas of the contact elements 22 located within the lower base region 8a are coated with a hydrophobic coating 30. The coating 30 is designed to inhibit or prevent fluid, for example, water and / or fluid reducing agent 34, from penetrating or creeping along the contact elements 22, particularly due to capillary effects, and thus from passing from the delivery module 42 into the control module 41.

[0067] The coating 30 can be made of silicone or a silicone-based material. In particular, the coating 30 can comprise a mixture of Semicosil 949 UV-A and Semicosil 949 UV-B.

[0068] The hydrophobic coating 30 is surrounded by the plastic material from which the base 8 is formed. The hydrophobic coating 30 can, in particular, be embedded in the plastic material of the base 8, so that the coating 30 is protected from abrasion and other damage by the plastic material.

[0069] In a fluid conveying device 40 according to the invention, which is equipped with an electrical connection device 2 according to the invention, both the sealing element 14 and the hydrophobic coating 30 prevent fluid from passing through the electrical connection device 2 from the conveying module 42 into the control module 41. Likewise, an electrical connection device 2 according to the invention prevents or inhibits moisture from penetrating the conveying module 42 through the electrical connection device 2.

[0070] Electrical short circuits and other damage that may be caused by fluid penetrating uncontrollably into the delivery module 42 or the control module 41 can be prevented in this way.

[0071] The electrical connection device 2 shown in the figures is designed with both a sealing element 14 and a hydrophobic coating 30 of the contact elements 22. The invention also encompasses embodiments in which only one of these two measures is implemented for sealing the electrical connection device 2. That is, the invention also encompasses embodiments in which a sealing element 14 according to the invention is arranged between the base region 8 and the cover 45, but in which the contact elements 22 are not coated with a hydrophobic coating 30.

[0072] The invention also includes embodiments in which the contact elements 22 are coated with a hydrophobic coating 30, but in which no sealing element 14 is provided between the base region 8 and the cover 45.

Claims

1. A fluid delivery device (40) for delivering a fluid reducing agent (34) in a system (31) for the aftertreatment of exhaust gases (48) of an internal combustion engine (38), in particular a diesel engine, wherein the fluid delivery device (40) comprises: a delivery module (42) with a fluid pump (43) for delivering the fluid reducing agent (34); and a control module (41) with a control device (39) for controlling the operation of the delivery module (42); wherein the delivery module (42) and the control module (41) are connected to one another by an electrical connection device (2), and wherein the electrical connection device (2) comprises: a plug element (4) with a base (8), in or on which electrical contact elements (22) with exposed ends are formed, and with a cover (45) with a collar (47), wherein the cover is arranged on the base such that the collar (47) surrounds the exposed ends of the contact elements (22);and a socket element (6) with electrical sockets (24) which are designed to receive and contact the electrical contact elements (22); wherein at least one region of each of the electrical contact elements (22) is coated with a hydrophobic coating (30) in order to inhibit the penetration of a fluid along the contact elements (22); and / or wherein an elastic sealing element (14) is provided between the base (8) and the collar (47), which elastic sealing element (14) surrounds the contact element region (21) and seals the transition between the base (8) and the cover (45) in a fluid-tight manner; wherein the elastic sealing element (14) is arranged in particular on the base (8).

2. Fluid conveying device (40) according to claim 1, wherein the hydrophobic coating (30) comprises silicone, in particular Semicosil 949 UV-A and / or Semicosil 949 UV-B.

3. Fluid conveying device (40) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the elastic sealing element (14) comprises an ethylene-propylene-diene rubber.

4. Fluid conveying device (40) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the electrical contact elements (22) are arranged in a two-dimensional matrix arrangement and wherein the elastic sealing element (14) is designed as a sealing ring which extends around the two-dimensional matrix arrangement.

5. Fluid conveying device (40) according to claim 4, wherein the elastic sealing element (14) has an oval shape, and / or wherein the elastic sealing element (14) has two curved regions (16), in particular two semicircular regions, and two linear regions (18) which connect the two curved regions (16) to one another.

6. Fluid conveying device (40) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the plug element (4) is formed with a step and wherein the elastic sealing element (14) is arranged on the step.

7. Fluid conveying device (40) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein electrical contact elements (22) are designed as cylindrical contact pins or as tongue-shaped contact pins.

8. Fluid conveying device (40) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least a region of each of the electrical contact elements (22) coated with a hydrophobic coating (30) is enclosed by the material of the plug element (4).

9. A system (31) for the aftertreatment of exhaust gases (48) of an internal combustion engine (38), in particular a diesel engine, comprising a dosing module (44) attached to an exhaust system (36) of the internal combustion engine (38), which is designed to introduce fluid reducing agent (34) into the exhaust system (36) of the internal combustion engine (38); and a fluid conveying device (40) for conveying the fluid reducing agent (34) from a storage container (32) to the dosing module (44); wherein the fluid conveying device (40) is a fluid conveying device (40) according to one of claims 1 to 8.

10. Motor vehicle (60) with an internal combustion engine (38), in particular with a diesel engine, and with a system (31) for aftertreating exhaust gases (48) of the internal combustion engine (38) according to claim 9.

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