Plug arrangement with improved sealing

Abstract

The present invention relates to a plug arrangement of an electronics arrangement, comprising: a plug connector (2) which has a connector neck (20), a connector flange (21) and an electrical contact (22); a housing (4) which has a through-opening (42), the connector flange (21) being located on an inner side (40) of the housing (4) and the connector neck (20) being routed through the through-opening (42) of the housing (4); a seal (5) which provides fluid-tight sealing between the plug connector (2) and the housing (4) on the inner side (40) of the housing (4); and a peripheral groove (43) which is on the inner side (40) of the housing (4) and runs all the way around the through-opening (42), the seal being made of a hardened, liquid sealing material and sealing material being located in the groove (43), between the connector flange (21) and the inner side (40) of the housing, and between the through-opening (42) and the connector flange (21), with the result that the seal (5) substantially has a U-shaped profile in cross section.

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] title

[0003] Plug-in assembly with improved sealing

[0004] State of the art

[0005] The present invention relates to a plug-in arrangement of an electronics arrangement with an improved seal, wherein a liquid sealant that has hardened in the final state is used for sealing, and to an electronics arrangement with a plug-in arrangement according to the invention.

[0006] In electronic assemblies, such as vehicle control units or similar devices, components must be electrically connected to each other using cables. These components are typically housed in enclosures to protect them from external influences. Particularly in automotive applications, wet, humid, and / or salty environments can occur. Electrical contact with electronic components is usually established using connectors. These connectors must be routed into the enclosure, and several configurations are possible. A connector can be mounted externally on the outside of an enclosure, with electrical contacts passing through an opening in the enclosure into the interior. Alternatively, the connector can be mounted internally on the inside of the enclosure, with a connector neck passing through the opening in the enclosure.Such an arrangement is shown in Figure 3. Here, a seal must be created between a connector flange 21 and an inner surface 40 of the housing 4. This is often achieved using a liquid sealant, which is applied between the inner surface 40 and a connector flange 21 that holds the contacts 22 of the connector. For sealing, a liquid sealant is applied to the inner surface 40 of the housing 4, and the connector is moved towards the inner surface 40 of the housing so that the liquid sealant 5 is displaced, as indicated by arrows A. It was observed that no sealing material is present in a gap 3 between the connector neck 20 and the through-hole 42 on the housing 4, as the liquid sealant is essentially displaced to the outside. As a result, water 6 can be present in the gap 3 and, due to the standing water, lead to corrosion problems.This water can be particularly salty in winter, which can lead to corrosion undermining the sealing point between the inside 40 of the housing and the connector flange 21.

[0007] Disclosure of the invention

[0008] In contrast, the connector assembly according to the invention with the features of claim 1 has the advantage that a reliable seal between a connector and a housing is possible on an inner surface of the housing. This allows the connector to be inserted through a through-hole in the housing and, in particular, enables a gap between the connector and the through-hole to be reliably sealed by a sealing material. This makes it possible, in particular, to use the connector assembly in humid environments or in vehicles. According to the invention, this is achieved by the connector assembly comprising a connector with a connector neck, a connector flange, and an electrical contact.The connector assembly further comprises a housing with a through-hole, wherein the connector flange is arranged on the inside of the housing and the connector neck extends through the through-hole of the housing. A groove is arranged on the inside of the housing. The groove completely surrounds the through-hole in the circumferential direction. If the through-hole is preferably cylindrical, the groove is preferably annular around the cylindrical through-hole. A seal is also provided, which seals between the connector and the housing. The seal material is arranged both in the groove, between the connector and the housing, and in the gap in the through-hole between the connector neck and the housing.The seal is initially a liquid seal applied in a ring shape to the inside of the housing or to the housing-facing side of the connector flange. After the connector is inserted into the housing, the liquid sealant hardens, creating a fluid-tight seal between the connector and the housing. Sealant is applied both in the groove and in the gap between the connector neck and the through-hole. In cross-section, the seal is therefore U-shaped in its final, hardened state.

[0009] By providing a circumferential groove on the inside of the housing, the liquid sealant must work at both an edge of the groove and an edge of the gap between the connector neck and the through-hole in order to flow around these edges. The groove prevents the liquid sealant from escaping directly during the joining process, ensuring that the sealant is also forced into the gap between the connector neck and the through-hole, filling it completely. Therefore, even with a connector sealed on the inside of the housing, no standing water remains in the gap between the connector neck and the through-hole, as the gap is filled by the sealant.

[0010] Thus, in one joining step, a liquid sealing material can be used, which is partially displaced into the groove in the housing and partially into the gap between the through-hole in the connector neck during the joining step and then hardens in these positions.

[0011] The dependent claims describe preferred embodiments of the invention.

[0012] Preferably, a 90° angle is formed on the inside of the housing at the transition to the through-hole in the housing and / or at the transition to the groove in the housing. This creates a sharp edge at the transition between the inside of the housing and the through-hole and / or the groove. This sharp edge enhances the effect that, during the joining process, the liquid sealant is forced into both the groove and the gap between the connector neck and the through-hole.

[0013] Preferably, the groove has a rectangular cross-section, particularly a square cross-section. It is further preferred that the volume of the groove is equal to the volume of the gap. This ensures that the same amount of liquid sealing material is placed in the groove and the gap.

[0014] The joining process and sealing performance are further improved if the groove and flange of the connector overlap at least partially in the axial direction of the connector. Thus, the connector flange terminates in the area below the groove, preferably in the middle of the groove. Particularly preferably, the connector flange completely covers the groove in the axial direction.

[0015] The connector preferably comprises a knife strip with a plurality of parallel electrical contacts as its electrical contact.

[0016] Furthermore, the present invention relates to an electronics assembly comprising a connector assembly according to the invention. The electronics assembly is particularly preferably a control unit for a vehicle. Due to the sealing according to the invention, the connector can be positioned in all possible directions within the housing of an electronics assembly, i.e., upwards, downwards, or laterally. Preferably, all connectors of the electronics assembly are sealed on an inner side of the housing with a U-shaped seal.

[0017] The invention further relates to a method for manufacturing a plug-in assembly comprising a connector and a housing, wherein a liquid sealing material is used for a material-bonded and fluid-tight seal between the connector and the housing. The liquid sealing material is arranged between the connector and the housing, and a connector neck of the plug connection is inserted into a through-hole in the housing. During the joining process, the liquid sealing material is displaced between the connector flange and the inside of the housing such that the liquid sealing material is forced into a groove formed on the inside of the housing and a gap between the through-hole and the connector flange, so that in the cured state of the seal, the seal forms a substantially U-shaped profile in cross-section.The liquid sealing material can either be applied to the inside of the housing around the through-hole or arranged around the connector neck on the side facing the inside of the housing at the connector flange.

[0018] This allows the use of a liquid sealing material which, during the joining process, moves into both the gap between the connector neck and the through-hole and into the groove on the inside of the housing, providing a secure seal between the connector and the housing without any pockets where water could collect and cause corrosion problems.

[0019] Brief description of the drawings

[0020] A preferred embodiment of the invention is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawing. The drawing shows:

[0021] Figure 1 shows a schematic sectional view of a plug-in arrangement according to a preferred embodiment of the invention in the assembled state.

[0022] Figure 2 is a schematic sectional view of the plug-in arrangement of

[0023] Figure 1 before the connector is attached to the housing and

[0024] Figure 3 shows a schematic sectional view of a plug-in arrangement according to the prior art.

[0025] Preferred embodiments of the invention

[0026] With reference to Figures 1 and 2, a plug-in assembly 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention and a method according to the invention for manufacturing the plug-in assembly 1 are described in detail below. As can be seen from Figure 1, the plug-in assembly 1 comprises a connector 2 and a housing 4.

[0027] The connector 2 comprises a connector neck 20, a connector flange 21, and a plurality of electrical contacts 22 in the form of a terminal block. A plurality of electrical contacts are arranged in series.

[0028] As can be seen from Figure 1, the connector 2 is sealed on an inner surface 40 of the housing 4 by means of a seal 5.

[0029] The connector neck 20 is guided through a through-opening 42 in the housing 4. The connector flange 21 is aligned parallel to the housing wall of the housing 4.

[0030] As can be seen in Figure 1, a gap 3 is thus present between the through-opening 42 of the housing 4 and the connector neck 20. In this embodiment, the gap 3 is annular, since the connector neck 20 and the through-opening 42 are cylindrical. However, it is also conceivable that the connector neck 20 is rectangular in cross-section and the through-opening 42 is correspondingly rectangular.

[0031] In the so-called inner arrangement of the connector 2 on the inside 40 of the housing 4, there is a risk in the prior art that liquid, especially salty liquid in winter, may collect in the gap 3, which can cause a corrosion problem on the seal 5 or the housing and / or the connector 2.

[0032] According to the invention, a circumferential groove 43 is formed on the inner side 40 of the housing 4. The groove 43 has a square cross-section.

[0033] The groove 43 extends around the through-opening 42 of the housing 4. A liquid-applied sealing material is used as the seal 5, which is cured in the final state shown in Figure 1. The seal 5 provides a seal between an inner area 7 inside the housing 4 and an outer surface 8. Figure 2 shows an intermediate state of the plug-in assembly 1 during the manufacturing process. Here, a liquid seal 5' is applied in a ring shape around the through-opening 42 on the inner surface 40 of the housing 4. The liquid seal 5' can, for example, be sprayed on as a liquid sealing ring.

[0034] The liquid seal 5' is arranged between the groove 43 and the through-opening 42, as shown in Figure 2. To connect the connector 2 to the housing 4, the connector 2 is guided towards the liquid seal 5', as indicated by arrow A in Figure 2. Since the seal is liquid in this state, the liquid sealing material spreads, as indicated by arrows B and C in Figure 1, partly towards the through-opening 42 and partly towards the groove 43.

[0035] The relative movement between the connector 2 and the housing 4 distributes the liquid sealing material, allowing it to flow into both the gap 3 between the connector neck 20 and the through-hole 42 and into the groove 43.

[0036] As can be seen in Figure 2, a first edge 44 is formed at a transition from the inside 40 to the groove 43 and a second edge 45 is formed at a transition from the inside 40 to the through opening 42.

[0037] The first edge 44 and the second edge 45 are each formed at a 90° angle.

[0038] Thus, during the joining process, the liquid sealant must work to flow both into the groove 43 around the first edge 44 and into the gap 3 around the second edge 45. The groove 43 prevents too much liquid sealant from simply escaping from the area between the connector flange and the inside of the housing 4 into the interior 7, but also displaces some of the liquid sealant over the second edge 45 into the gap 3. This fills the gap 3 with liquid sealant.

[0039] Thus, in its hardened state, the seal 5 has a U-shape in cross-section.

[0040] One leg of the U in the groove 43 is smaller in the axial direction XX of the connector 2 than the leg in the gap 3, which preferably corresponds to the thickness of the housing 4.

[0041] This prevents water, moisture, or similar substances from accumulating permanently in the gap 3, particularly in the case of connectors 2 that protrude from the housing on a top side. The two 90° angles on the first and second edges 44, 45 ensure that the liquid sealant has to act on both edges during the joining process, thus filling both the groove 43 and the gap 3 with liquid sealant.

[0042] As can be seen further in Figure 1, there is a partial overlap 9 in the axial direction XX of the plug assembly between the plug flange 21 and the groove 43. This partial overlap thus covers the first edge 44, which further increases the tendency of the liquid sealing material to fill the groove 43.

[0043] Thus, the present invention can ensure that, according to the inventive idea, all connectors on an electronic housing or the like are sealed to the housing from the inside, so that no sealing is required on an outside 41 of the housing 4. This allows, in particular, the standardization of connectors 2, which can significantly reduce manufacturing costs if all connectors are sealed from the inside. Furthermore, assembly errors of the connector or incorrect, especially reversed, installation of an electronic housing can be avoided.

Claims

Claims 1. A plug-in arrangement of an electronic assembly comprising a connector (2) with a plug neck (20), a plug flange (21) and an electrical contact (22), a housing (4) with a through-hole (42), wherein the plug flange (21) is arranged on an inner surface (40) of the housing (4) and the plug neck (20) extends through the through-hole (42) of the housing (4), a seal (5) providing a fluid-tight seal between the connector (2) and the housing (4) on the inner surface (40) of the housing (4), and a circumferential groove (43) on the inner surface (40) of the housing (4) completely surrounding the through-hole (42), wherein the seal (5) is made of a cured, liquid sealing material, with sealing material in the groove (43), between the plug flange (21) and the inner surface (40) of the housing, and between the through-hole (42) and the connector flange (21) is arranged,so that the seal (5) essentially has a U-profile in cross-section.

2. Plug-in arrangement according to claim 1, wherein a first edge (44) is formed on the groove (43) at the transition of the groove (43) to the inner side (40) and / or wherein a second edge (45) is formed at the transition from the inner side (40) to the through-opening (42).

3. Plug-in arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the first edge (44) and / or the second edge (45) form a 90° angle.

4. Plug-in arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the groove (43) has a rectangular cross-section, in particular a square cross-section.

5. Plug-in arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a volume of the groove (43) is equal to a volume of the gap (3).

6. Plug arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the plug flange (21) in the axial direction (XX) in the direction of the connector (2) at least partially, in particular completely, covers the groove (43) on a cover (9).

7. Plug arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the electrical contact (42) of the connector (2) is an electrical knife strip with a plurality of electrical contacts in series.

8. Electronic arrangement, in particular control unit of a vehicle, comprising a plug arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims.

9. Method for manufacturing a plug-in assembly (1) of an electronic assembly comprising a connector (2) and a housing (4), comprising the steps: Applying a liquid seal (5') to an inner surface (40) of the housing (4) around a through-hole (42) which is designed to receive a plug neck (20) of the connector (2), and Relative movement between the connector (2) and the housing (4) such that the connector (2) is joined to the inside (40) of the housing (4), wherein during the joining process the liquid seal (5') is displaced radially towards the connector and radially away from the connector, the liquid seal (5') being displaced into a groove (43) surrounding the through-hole (42) and a gap (3) between the connector flange (21) and the through-hole (42) over a first edge (44) on the groove (43) and a second edge (45) on the through-hole (42), so that the seal (5) has a U-profile in the cured state.

10. Method according to claim 9, wherein the liquid seal (5') is applied to the inside (40) of the housing (4) and / or to a The inner surface (40) of the connector flange (21) is applied.

11. Method according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the connector (2) is fixed to the inside (40) of the housing (4) by means of the seal (5) in a materially bonded manner.

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