Control device

Abstract

The invention relates to a control device (10), having a housing (12) in the interior (20) of which a circuit carrier (21) is arranged, the electric circuit of which can be contacted by means of a plug-connecting body (14) comprising electrical connecting elements (24), wherein the plug-connecting body (14) is accommodated in a plug receptacle (36) of the housing (12), with a sealing element (56, 58) being disposed therebetween which seals the plug-connecting body (14) with respect to the interior (20) of the housing (12).

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] control unit

[0003] Technical area

[0004] The invention relates to a control unit which, with regard to special installation positions of the control unit, is characterized by a particularly simple and effective prevention of the entry of media, in particular moisture or liquid, into the interior of the control unit using a simply designed sealing element.

[0005] State of the art

[0006] From DE 102007 038 538 A1 by the applicant, it is known to seal the housing of a control unit in the area of ​​a connector receptacle against a connector body by using a sealing element made of an elastic material. Such a sealing element, which is designed in particular in the form of a labyrinth seal, requires a relatively complex sealing element which represents a separate component. Furthermore, depending on the installation position of the control unit in a vehicle, it can happen that although media access to the interior of the control unit is prevented, moisture accumulates in the area of ​​the connector receptacle or cannot be removed from this area. In the long term, this can impair the functionality of the control unit. For example, the moisture can lead to corrosion if the housing ora housing element which is constantly exposed to moisture and is made of metal.

[0007] Furthermore, it is known from DE 202005 007 033 U1 in connection with the design of a housing of a headlight for a motor vehicle to form or arrange a lip-like sealing element on a housing element which prevents the entry of moisture into the interior of the headlight housing.

[0008] Disclosure of the invention

[0009] The control device according to the invention with the features of claim 1 has the advantage that, with a relatively simple design of its sealing element, it enables effective drainage of medium or moisture accumulating in the area of ​​the connector receptacle. The invention is based on the idea of ​​equipping the area of ​​the connector receptacle for the connector body with a media drain, so that, with a corresponding installation position of the control device, any medium accumulating in the area of ​​the connector receptacle is discharged from the area of ​​the connector receptacle to the environment via the media drain at a distance from the connector receptacle by gravity.

[0010] Against the background of the above explanations, a control device according to the invention with the features of claim 1 therefore has a housing in the interior of which a circuit carrier is arranged, the electrical circuit of which can be contacted by means of a plug connection body having electrical connection elements. The plug connection body is arranged together with a sealing element in a plug receptacle of the housing, wherein the sealing element seals the plug connection body towards the interior of the housing. The control device is characterized in that the housing has a media drain which is designed to discharge media located in the area of ​​the plug receptacle on the side of the sealing element facing away from the interior of the housing to the environment. Furthermore, the media drain has a drain channel which originates from the area of ​​the plug receptacle and opens into a media outlet at a distance from the plug receptacle.

[0011] Advantageous further developments of the control device according to the invention are listed in the subclaims. In a particularly preferred design of the media drain, the drainage channel is formed by a groove-like recess between two parallel transverse walls of the housing, and the sealing element is arranged between the two transverse walls. Such a design causes moisture entering the area of ​​the connector receptacle (from the outside) to collect in the area between the two transverse walls of the housing and be discharged via the groove-like recess and subsequently released into the environment.

[0012] In addition to or as a further development of the last suggestion, the media outlet can be formed through a recess in the housing. In conjunction with the groove-like recess or the two transverse walls of the housing, such a recess in the housing can be realized by shortening one of the transverse walls, creating a gap between the two transverse walls through which the medium (moisture or water) can be released into the environment.

[0013] Furthermore, it is particularly preferred for the design of a relatively simply designed sealing element which is also particularly easy to assemble that the sealing element is designed in the form of an elastically deformable sealing lip.

[0014] In a further development of such a sealing lip, the first variant can be designed as a monolithic component together with the plastic connector body. In other words, this means that the connector body is manufactured together with the sealing lip using an injection molding process, in which the connector connection elements for contacting the circuit carrier are simultaneously embedded in the connector body.

[0015] In an alternative embodiment, however, it can also be provided that the sealing lip is designed as a separate component from the plastic connector body and is connected to the connector body by a material-to-material connection. Such a design has the advantage that the sealing lip can optionally be made of a different material or can be optimized with regard to its sealing function. Regarding the material-to-material connection, this can, for example, consist of a laser-welded joint between the two aforementioned elements or of the use of an adhesive.

[0016] To simplify and optimize the drainage of moisture or liquid into the media drain area, the connector receptacle features a wall section in the contact area with the sealing lip that runs at an angle to the plane of the connector body. This angled wall section also enables particularly simple and secure installation of the housing, as the sealing lip inevitably conforms to the angled wall when joined to the housing.

[0017] A further preferred structural design of the control unit provides that the plug connection body rests on the transverse wall facing away from the interior of the housing with a first contact section arranged perpendicular to the transverse walls and has at least one first wall section arranged parallel to the transverse walls, which projects into the recess.

[0018] A preferred development in connection with the last proposal provides that a housing section rests in the plug connection body in the region of a second contact section arranged perpendicular to the transverse walls, which is arranged on the transverse wall facing away from the interior of the housing. In particular, it can also be provided that the plug connection body forms a U-shaped receptacle for the transverse wall and the housing section in the region of the two contact sections.

[0019] There are also various options regarding the structural design of the housing. It is preferred that the housing be formed from a cup-like base element and a cover element that closes the base element. In particular, it can be provided that the base element is formed as a cast part (typically made of aluminum) and the cover element as a sheet metal part.

[0020] Furthermore, the control unit can be easily installed if the plug receptacle is formed by a U-shaped cutout on the base element.

[0021] Further advantages, features and details of the invention will become apparent from the description of preferred embodiments of the invention and from the drawings.

[0022] Short description of the drawings

[0023] Fig. 1 shows a side view of a typical installation position of a control unit designed according to the invention in a vehicle,

[0024] Fig. 2 the control unit of Fig. 1 in a perspective view,

[0025] Fig. 3 shows a partial area of ​​the housing of the control unit in a perspective view,

[0026] Fig. 4 a side view of a plug connection body of the control unit,

[0027] Fig. 5 a section in the area of ​​the connector body in a mounted state in the control unit and

[0028] Fig. 6 and

[0029] Fig. 7 perspective views of details in the area of ​​an upper and lower seal of the plug connection body according to the illustration in Fig. 5.

[0030] Embodiments of the invention The same elements or elements with the same function are provided with the same reference numerals in the figures.

[0031] The control unit 10 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is intended in particular, but not restrictively, for use in a motor vehicle. The control unit 10 has a multi-part housing 12 with a plug connection body 14 made of plastic and produced by injection molding. The plug connection body 14 protrudes from an end face 15 of the cuboid-shaped housing 12. The end face 15 of the housing 12 forms a plane 19 which runs perpendicular to the plane of the drawing in Fig. 1. Fig. 1 also shows that the control unit 10, in one possible installation situation in the motor vehicle, can be pivoted by an angle a of a maximum of 15° relative to the plane 19, i.e. the control unit 10 or the housing 12 is tilted with respect to a vertical plane V.Such an arrangement is described, for example, in ISO 20653 and is further defined by IP protection classes, whereby the invention aims at a cost-effective interim solution for an IPK2 connector or an alternative to an IPX7 connector.

[0032] As can be seen particularly from a combined view of Figs. 1 to 3 and 5, the housing 12 has a trough-shaped base element 16, which is tightly closed by means of a (flat) cover element 18. The base element 16 is designed in particular as a cast part, for example made of aluminum, while the cover element 18 is made of sheet metal and is designed as a stamped / embossed part.

[0033] The housing 12 forms an interior space 20 in which at least one circuit carrier 21 in the form of a printed circuit board 22 is arranged, which forms an electrical circuit. The electrical circuit or the printed circuit board 22 can be electrically contacted via the plug connection body 14, in particular by means of a mating connector on the wiring harness side (not shown). For this purpose, the plug connection body 14 has - as is known per se from the prior art - a plurality of wire-shaped electrical connection elements 24 or connection pins, which are contacted in a known manner with the circuit of the printed circuit board 22. The end of the respective connection element 24 facing away from the printed circuit board 22 opens into the region of a circumferential connector collar 25 of the plug connection body 14 (Fig. 5). The plug connection body 14 can thus be mechanically and electrically contacted in a known manner via the mating connector (not shown).

[0034] According to the illustration in Fig. 3, the base element 16 has a (flat) housing base 26 which is delimited at the edges by side walls 27, 28. On the side facing the plug connection body 14, the base element 16 also has two transverse walls 31, 32 arranged parallel to one another and at a first distance a from an end face 29 of the housing base 26. The two transverse walls 31, 32 each have a cutout 33, 34 which together form a plug receptacle 36 for receiving the plug connection body 14. As can be seen in particular from Fig. 3, the two U-shaped cutouts 33, 34 extend from an upper end face 38 of the base element 16 in the direction of the housing base 26 and end at different distances from the housing base 26. The two cutouts 33, 34 each have a rectangular shape. Optionally, a third transverse wall 35 can be provided to provide EMC shielding for the interior 20.

[0035] Between the two transverse walls 31, 32 and the housing base 26, a recess with a U-shaped cross section in the form of a groove 39 is formed as a component of a media drain 40 or drainage channel. While the transverse wall 32 facing the interior 20 extends between the two side walls 27, 28, the first transverse wall 31 ends at a second distance b (Figs. 2, 3) from the side wall 28. As a result, a recess 42 is formed between the side wall 28 and the end face of the transverse wall 31 in an end region of the media drain 40, which recess marks a media outlet 44 through which medium can be discharged or released into the environment of the control unit 10. This also means, however, that the media drain 40 ends or opens at a distance from the plug receptacle 36.

[0036] As can be seen from a synopsis of Figs. 4 to 7, the plug connection body 14 has two mutually parallel contact sections 46, 48 which are delimited by collar-shaped wall sections 50, 52 which extend perpendicular to the contact sections 46, 48 and parallel to the transverse walls 31, 32. As a result, the contact sections 46, 48, together with the wall sections 50, 52, each form U-shaped cross sections on the plug connection body 14 for the base element 16 and the cover element 18. The lower contact section 46 in the drawing plane of Fig. 5 rests on the outer transverse wall 31 facing away from the inner transverse wall 32, with the wall section 52 being arranged between the two transverse walls 31, 32 (Fig. 6). In contrast, the upper contact section 48 is arranged in contact with an end wall 54 of the cover element 18 running parallel to the transverse walls 31, 32, as shown in Figs. 5 and 7.Furthermore, from a joint view of Figs. 4, 6, and 7, it can be seen that the end face of the plug connection body 14 facing the interior 20, starting from the wall section 52, has a sealing element 56, 58 at least on the side facing the base element 16 and the cover element 18. Preferably, the two sealing elements 56, 58 are designed in the form of sealing lips 59 and are formed monolithically with the plug connection body 14. However, it is also conceivable for the sealing elements 56, 58 to be manufactured separately and connected to the plug connection body 14 by a material-to-material connection. In particular, a laser welding process or an adhesive is used as the material-to-material connection.

[0037] The two sealing elements 56, 58 interact, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, with the wall section 60, 62 of the base element 16 and the cover element 18, respectively, extending at an oblique angle ß to the plane of the plug connection body 14 and to the plane 19.

[0038] In addition, it is mentioned that corresponding sealing elements 56, 58 can also be provided or formed on the two sides of the plug connection body 14 running perpendicular to the wall sections 50, 52.

[0039] During assembly of the control unit 10, the printed circuit board 22 provided with the plug connection body 14 is inserted (from above) into the base element 16. The plug connection body 14 thereby reaches the area of ​​the plug receptacle 36 and is inserted in the direction of the base element 16 until the contact section 46 rests on the transverse wall 31. The sealing element 56 simultaneously comes into operative connection with the wall section 60 of the base element 18 and forms a seal at this point in the direction of the interior space 20 of the housing 12. After the printed circuit board 22 and the plug connection body 14 have been joined to the base element 16, the cover element 18 is then placed onto the base element 16. The other contact section 48 thereby comes into operative connection with the wall section 62 of the cover element 18 and also forms a media-tight connection there in the direction of the interior space 20.

[0040] When the control unit 10 is installed (Fig. 1), any medium accumulating in the area of ​​the connector receptacle 36 flows through the media drain 40 or the channel 39 toward the recess 42 or the media outlet 44, where it can be released into the environment. Due to the installation situation, this occurs solely through the effect of gravity on the medium. The control unit 10 described so far can be modified or altered in a variety of ways without deviating from the inventive concept.

Claims

Claims 1. A control device (10) comprising a housing (12), in the interior (20) of which a circuit carrier (21) is arranged, the electrical circuit of which can be contacted by means of a plug connection body (14) having electrical connection elements (24), wherein the plug connection body (14) and a sealing element (56, 58) are arranged in a plug receptacle (36) of the housing (12), and wherein the sealing element (56, 58) seals the plug connection body (14) in the direction of the interior (20) of the housing (12), characterized in that the housing (12) has a media outlet (40) which is designed to discharge media located in the region of the plug receptacle (36) on the side of the sealing element (56, 58) facing away from the interior (20) of the housing (12) to the environment, wherein the media outlet (40) has a drainage channel which extends from the region of the plug receptacle (36) and opens into a media outlet (44) at a distance from the plug receptacle (36).

2. Control device according to claim 1, characterized in that the drainage channel is formed by a groove-like depression (39) between two parallel transverse walls (31, 32) of the housing (12), and that the sealing element (56, 58) is arranged between the two transverse walls (31, 32).

3. Control device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the media outlet (44) is formed by a recess (42) on the housing (12).

4. Control device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the sealing element (56, 58) is designed in the form of an elastically deformable sealing lip (59).

5. Control device according to claim 4, characterized in that the sealing lip (59) is designed as a monolithic component together with the plug connection body (14) made of plastic.

6. Control device according to claim 4, characterized in that the sealing lip (59) is designed as a component separate from the plug connection body (14) made of plastic and is connected to the plug connection body (14) by a material connection.

7. Control device according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the plug receptacle (36) has, in a contact area with the sealing lip (59), a wall section (60, 62) extending at an oblique angle (ß) to the plane of the plug connection body (14).

8. Control device according to one of claims 2 to 7, characterized in that the plug connection body (14) rests with a first contact section (46) arranged perpendicular to the transverse walls (31, 32) on the transverse wall (31) facing away from the interior (20) of the housing (12) and has at least one first wall section (52) arranged parallel to the transverse walls (31, 32) which projects into the recess (39).

9. Control device according to claim 8, characterized in that in the plug connection body (14) in the region of a second contact section (48) arranged perpendicular to the transverse walls (31, 32), which the transverse wall (31) facing away from the interior (20) of the housing (12), an end wall (54) of the housing (12) rests on.

10. Control device according to claim 9, characterized in that the plug connection body (14) forms a U-shaped receptacle for the transverse wall (31) and the end wall (54) of the housing (12) in the region of the two contact sections (46, 48).

11. Control device according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the housing (12) is formed from a cup-like base element (16) and a cover element (18) closing the base element (16).

12. Control device according to claim 11, characterized in that the plug receptacle (36) is formed by U-shaped cutouts (33, 34) on the base element (16).

13. Control device according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the base element (16) is designed as a cast part and the cover element (18) is designed as a sheet metal part.

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