Electronics cup for a sensor housing, sensor housing for a sensor, and sensor
The electronic cup with a snap hook and sealing element addresses sensor reliability issues in harsh environments by providing secure, reliable, and maintenance-optimized mounting and sealing, simplifying sensor assembly and reducing complexity.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- PCT/EP2025/069406
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2024-07-09
- Filing Date
- 2025-07-08
- Publication Date
- 2026-01-15
AI Technical Summary
Existing sensors face reliability issues due to exposure to harsh environmental conditions, such as high temperatures and vibrations, which can compromise the integrity of electronic components, leading to complex designs and increased maintenance needs.
An electronic cup for a sensor housing with a snap hook and sealing element that securely holds the electronic unit in place, providing a defined position and ensuring reliable sealing and easy mounting, even under vibration and temperature fluctuations, through a two-component injection molding process.
Facilitates simpler, faster, and more cost-effective sensor mounting and maintenance by ensuring the electronic components remain securely positioned and sealed, enhancing reliability and reducing complexity.
Smart Images
Figure EP2025069406_15012026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] Electronic cup for a sensor housing, sensor housing for a sensor and sensor
[0002] The invention relates to an electronic cup for a sensor housing, a sensor housing for a sensor and a sensor.
[0003] In analytical measurement technology, particularly in water management, environmental analysis, and industrial applications (e.g., food technology, biotechnology, and pharmaceuticals), as well as for a wide variety of laboratory applications, measured parameters such as pH, conductivity, or the concentration of analytes (e.g., ions or dissolved gases) in a gaseous or liquid medium are of great importance. These parameters can be measured and / or monitored using electrochemical sensors, such as optical, potentiometric, amperometric, voltammetric, or coulometric sensors, or conductivity sensors.
[0004] It is crucial that the sensors function reliably in all areas of operation, especially where they are exposed to harsh environmental conditions such as high temperatures, strong vibrations, and humidity. The electronic components integrated into the sensors represent a potential weak point when used in these environments. One way to protect electronic components from vibrations, for example, is to bolt them to a housing. However, this approach has the disadvantage of resulting in a more complex component design. Furthermore, it increases the sensor's complexity and maintenance requirements.
[0005] It is therefore an object of the invention to propose a sensor with electronic components which is reliable, robust and maintenance-optimized.
[0006] This problem is solved according to the invention by an electronic cup for a sensor control housing according to claim 1. The electronic cup according to the invention extends along a first axis and has a first cup end and a second cup end, wherein a cup wall is formed from the first cup end to the second cup end, which extends around the first axis and a cup bottom is arranged at the second cup end, wherein an axial first connector opening is formed in the cup bottom and an axial first connector opening is surrounded by a sealing element, wherein a snap hook is arranged on the cup wall.
[0007] The electronic cup according to the invention enables an electronic unit to be securely and reliably held within the sensor housing. The electronic cup thus facilitates easy mounting and maintenance of the sensor. Because the electronic cup rests precisely against the sensor housing, its position is clearly defined and static. Furthermore, the elasticity of the cup wall, the snap-in hook, and an excess of material create a preload, ensuring that the electronic cup remains securely in place even under vibration and temperature fluctuations, and that the electronic connectors are reliably sealed. This makes sensor mounting simpler, faster, and more cost-effective.
[0008] According to one embodiment of the invention, the snap hook has a nose which extends radially away from the first axis in a direction, and a nasal cavity with a bearing surface which is arranged transversely to the first axis.
[0009] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the sealing element has a first sealing lip which extends radially in a direction to the first axis, and a second sealing lip which extends longitudinally in a direction to the first axis.
[0010] According to one embodiment of the invention, the sealing element and at least the cup bottom are manufactured by a two-component injection molding process. According to another embodiment of the invention, the cup wall has an inner surface facing the first axis, wherein at least two guide elements extending longitudinally to the first axis are arranged on the inner surface of the cup wall.
[0011] According to one embodiment of the invention, the guide element has a retaining element which is suitable for holding the electronic unit in an axial direction.
[0012] According to one embodiment of the invention, the cup bottom has an outer bottom surface which faces away from the first cup end and has a stop with a stop surface circumferential to the axial first plug opening.
[0013] According to one embodiment of the invention, the cup wall has an outer surface facing away from the first axis with two supports, wherein the supports are arranged radially to each other and to the snap hook by more than 90° around the first axis.
[0014] The above-mentioned problem is also solved by a sensor control housing for a sensor according to claim 9.
[0015] The sensor control housing according to the invention comprises:
[0016] - a sensor housing extending along a first axis and having a first housing end and a second housing end, wherein the sensor housing is open at the first housing end, wherein a mounting area is formed at the first housing end and the sensor housing has a first connector opening, wherein the sensor housing has an inner housing wall facing the first axis which has a cavity, wherein a first connector is arranged in the first connector opening,
[0017] - an electronic cup according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the snap hook is complementary to the cavity,
[0018] - an electronic unit, with at least one second connector, wherein the electronic unit is arranged in the electronic cup such that the second connector extends through the axial first connector opening and touches the first sealing element, wherein the electronic cup is arranged in the sensor housing such that the snap hook engages in the cavity and the second connector is connected to the first connector.
[0019] According to one embodiment of the invention, the cup wall of the electronic cup has an outer cup wall facing away from the first axis with two supports, wherein the supports are arranged radially around the first axis by more than 90° to each other and relative to the snap hook, wherein the snap hook and the two supports span a circle with a circle diameter, wherein the sensor housing has an inner diameter which is smaller than the circle diameter, so that the electronic cup is clamped in the sensor housing.
[0020] The above-mentioned problem is also solved by a sensor according to claim 11.
[0021] The sensor according to the invention comprises: a sensor element, a sensor control housing, wherein the sensor element is connected to the first connector.
[0022] The invention is explained in more detail with reference to the following description of figures. The figures show:
[0023] - Fig. 1 : a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of an electronic cup according to the invention,
[0024] - Fig. 2: a detailed perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a snap hook,
[0025] - Fig. 3: a detailed sectional drawing of the snap hook from Figure 2,
[0026] - Fig. 4: a detailed sectional drawing of the base of the electronics cup from Figure 1, - Fig. 5: a detailed perspective view of an embodiment of a retaining element,
[0027] - Fig. 6: a sectional drawing of an embodiment of a sensor,
[0028] - Fig. 7: a top view of an embodiment of a sensor with the sensor control housing from Figure 6.
[0029] The electronic cup 30 according to the invention for a sensor control housing 1 is shown in Figure 1. The sensor control housing 1 for a sensor 2 will be discussed later. The sensor 2 will also be described in detail below.
[0030] The electronic cup 30 extends along a first axis X and has a first cup end 31 and a second cup end 32. A cup wall 33 extends from the first cup end 31 to the second cup end 32, surrounding the first axis X. The cup wall 33 is preferably substantially cylindrical. A cup base 34 is arranged at the second cup end 32. This means that the electronic cup 30 has a sleeve shape with an open axial end and an end closed by the cup base 34. The electronic cup 30 is preferably made of a plastic. This allows the electronic cup 30 to be deformable.
[0031] The cup wall 33 has an inner surface 36 facing the first axis X and an outer surface 42 facing away from the first axis X. The cup base 34 has an outer surface 37 and an inner surface 44. The inner surface 36 and the inner surface 44 of the cup wall face the interior of the electronic cup 30.
[0032] The cup base 34 preferably has a stop 38 with a stop surface 39 on its outer surface 37 (see Figure 4). The stop surface 39 is annular and is suitable for contacting the sensor housing 10.
[0033] The cup base 34 is preferably elastically designed so that it exerts a spring effect on the electronic cup 30 in the direction of the first axis X when the electronic cup 30 is inserted into the sensor housing 10. In this case, the electronic cup 30 preferably sits on the annular stop 38. Thanks to the spring effect of the cup base 34, a snap hook 70 of the electronic cup 30 is pressed axially into a cavity 17 of the sensor housing 10, so that the electronic cup 30 is held under tension in the sensor housing 10. This prevents the electronic cup 30 from moving axially in the event of vibrations.
[0034] The cup wall 33 preferably has two supports 43 on the outer side 42 of the cup wall, wherein the supports 43 are arranged radially around the first axis X by more than 90° to each other and relative to the snap hook 70 (see Figure 1 and Figure 6).
[0035] The snap hook 70 and the two supports 43 of the electronic cup 30 define a circle K with a diameter DK (see Figures 6 and 7). The sensor housing 10 preferably has an inner diameter DI that is smaller than the diameter DK, so that the electronic cup 30 is clamped in the sensor housing 10 (see Figure 6). Thus, the electronic cup 30 has an interference fit with respect to the sensor housing 10. In this case, the electronic cup 30 is sufficiently elastic that it is possible to insert the electronic cup 30 into the sensor housing 10 despite the interference fit.
[0036] The snap hook 70 is arranged on the cup wall 33 (see Figures 1 to 3). The snap hook 70 is located on an outer surface 42 of the cup wall, i.e., a side extending radially away from the first axis X. The snap hook 70 is, for example, part of the cup wall 33, i.e., formed integrally with the cup wall 33. The snap hook 70 has a lug 71 extending radially away from the first axis X. The snap hook 70 also has a lug 72 with a first bearing surface 73 arranged transversely to the first axis X. The first bearing surface 73 forms a stop towards the first cup end 31 (see Figure 3). Preferably, the lug 72 has a second bearing surface 78 arranged transversely to the first axis X. The second bearing surface 78 forms a stop towards the second cup end 32 (see Figure 3).The second contact surface 78 prevents, for example, a screwdriver from being pushed too deeply or past the nose cavity 72. It therefore serves as a stop for the screwdriver when disassembling the electronics cup 30. A nose tip 77 forms a radial end of the nose 71 in a direction away from the first axis X.
[0037] Figure 1 shows an embodiment of the snap hook 70, which has a one-piece nose 71. Figure 2 shows an embodiment of the snap hook 70, which has a nose 71 with two nose elements. The nose cavity 72 allows, for example, a screwdriver to be used to grasp the snap hook 70 in order to move it inwards, i.e., towards the first axis X, and thus unlock it. "Unlocking" here means that the snap hook 70 is moved out of the cavity 17 of the sensor housing 10. Thanks to the first contact surface 73, the electronic cup 30 can then be lifted out of the sensor housing 10 by generating a levering motion with the screwdriver. According to this embodiment, the nose cavity 72 is preferably designed as a cavity that extends partially into the cup wall 33.
[0038] Figures 2 and 3 show a detailed alternative embodiment of the snap hook 70 with a nose 71, which has a first nose element 74 and a second nose element 75. The two nose elements are spaced apart from each other so that a tool, for example a screwdriver, can be inserted into the nasal cavity 72 arranged between the nose elements 74, 75.
[0039] Figure 3 shows a sectional view of the snap hook 70 depicted in Figure 2. The contact surface 73, which is part of the nasal cavity 72, is particularly visible here.
[0040] According to all embodiments of the snap hook 70, it preferably has a guide surface 76 which extends gradually from the cup wall 33 to the nose tip 77. The guide surface 76 thus forms a kind of ramp. This allows the electronic cup 30 to be easily inserted into the sensor housing 10.
[0041] Figure 4 shows a section through the electronics cup 30 in the region of the cup base 34. An axial first connector opening 35 for the passage of an electrical connector is formed in the cup base 34. The axial first connector opening 35 is surrounded by a sealing element 60. In other words, the sealing element 60 delimits the axial first connector opening 35. The sealing element 60 thus extends around the first axis X. The stop 38 preferably extends around the axial first connector opening 35 and the sealing element 60 in an annular manner. The sealing element 60 comprises an elastomer, so that the sealing element 60 is deformable.
[0042] The sealing element 60 preferably has a first sealing lip 61 extending in a direction opposite the first axis X. The first sealing lip 61 is suitable for contacting an electrical connector to seal an electronic unit 50 arranged in the electronic cup 30 against liquids. When the electronic unit 50 is inserted into the electronic cup 30, the first sealing lip 61, together with a connector of the electronic unit 50, seals the electronic cup 30 tightly. Thus, the cup bottom 34 is sealed fluid-tight. This makes it possible to retain a liquid potting compound in the electronic cup 30 until the potting compound has hardened.
[0043] The sealing element 60 preferably has a second sealing lip 62, which extends in one direction longitudinally to the first axis X. The second sealing lip 62 extends outwards from the electronics cup 30, i.e., it is located on the outer surface 37 of the base. The second sealing lip 62 is designed to come into contact with a housing to seal against moisture, liquids, and dust. Due to the elasticity of the sealing element 60, and in particular the second sealing lip 62, a spring effect is generated in the direction of the first axis X when the electronics cup 30 is pressed into the sensor housing 10, so that the electronics cup 30 is held under tension in the sensor housing 10. This prevents the electronics cup 30 from moving axially under vibration.
[0044] The sealing element 60 and at least the cup base 34 are preferably manufactured using a two-component injection molding process. This has the advantage that the sealing element 60 is firmly bonded to the cup base 34, eliminating the need for separate seals. This is particularly advantageous when the sealing element 60 has both sealing lips 61 and 62. In this case, the use of two sealing elements can even be omitted. Thanks to the sealing element 60, the electronics cup 30 is optimally sealed against the sensor housing 10, preventing moisture and dust from reaching the second connector 51 of the electronics unit 50 or the first connector 18 of the sensor housing 10. This is especially important when analog signals are transmitted via connectors 18 and 51, as corrosion of the connectors would otherwise interfere with the analog signals.
[0045] As shown in Figure 1, the electronics cup 30 preferably has at least two guide elements 40. The guide elements 40 are arranged on the inner surface 36 of the cup wall. The two guide elements 40 extend longitudinally along the first axis X. The guide elements 40 are preferably designed as rails or grooves in the inner surface 36 of the cup wall. The guide elements 40 are arranged opposite each other on the inner surface 36 of the cup wall. This allows, for example, a circuit board 52 of the electronics unit 50 to be inserted into the guide elements 40. Preferably, four guide elements 40 are formed on the inner surface 36 of the cup wall.
[0046] Preferably, at least one guide element 40 has a retaining element 41, which is suitable for holding the electronic unit 50 in an axial direction. The retaining element 41 is positioned axially such that it only engages the electronic unit 50 when the latter is inserted into the guide elements 40 up to the cup bottom 34. For this purpose, the retaining element 41 is, for example, spaced from the cup bottom 34 at a distance corresponding to the axial length of the electronic unit 50, in particular the circuit board 52 of the electronic unit 50. Figure 7 shows the circuit board 52 inserted into the guide element 40.
[0047] According to the embodiment shown in Figure 1, a retaining element 41 is arranged at one axial end of at least one guide element 40, i.e., at the first cup end 31. The retaining element 41 is, for example, an elastic hook.
[0048] According to an embodiment of the retaining element 41 shown in Figure 5, it is designed as a window in the cup wall 33. This allows, for example, the circuit board 52 to engage in the window when the circuit board 52 is arranged in the guide element 40. Figure 6 shows the sensor control housing 1. The sensor control housing 1 for the sensor 2 comprises a sensor housing 10, the electronic cup 30 described above, and the electronic unit 50.
[0049] The sensor housing 10 extends along the first axis X and has a first housing end 11 and a first housing end 12. The sensor housing 10 is open at the first housing end 11, and a mounting area 13 is formed at the first housing end 11. The sensor housing 10 has a first connector opening 14.
[0050] The sensor housing 10 has an inner housing wall 16 facing the first axis X, which has a cavity 17 shown enlarged in Figure 3. The cavity 17 and the snap hook 70 are complementary to each other.
[0051] Figure 6 shows a first connector 18 arranged in the first connector opening 14. The first connector 18 preferably has an explosion barrier, making it suitable for use in potentially explosive atmospheres. The first connector 18 is preferably a 7-pin analog connector, meaning that analog signals are transmitted via this connector.
[0052] The electronic unit 50 has at least one second connector 51 (see Figure 6). The second connector 51 is suitable for connection to the first connector 18. The second connector 51 is arranged at an axial end of the electronic unit 50 such that it can be plugged in axially. The second connector 51 is preferably a 7-pin analog connector, i.e., analog signals are transmitted via this connector.
[0053] The electronic unit 50 is arranged in the electronic cup 30 such that the second connector 51 extends through the axial opening of the first connector 35 and contacts the sealing element 60 (see Figure 6). The electronic cup 30 is arranged in the sensor housing 10 such that the snap hook 70 engages in the cavity 17 and the second connector 51 is connected to the first connector 18.
[0054] Figure 6 schematically shows the sensor 2 with the sensor control housing 1 described above. The sensor 2 has a sensor element 3, which is connected, for example, to the first connector 18 of the sensor housing 10 via a third connector 4. Of course, it is also possible to connect the sensor element 3 directly to the first connector 18 of the sensor housing 10, for example, by welding.
[0055] Reference symbol list
[0056] 1 Sensor control housing
[0057] 2 Sensor
[0058] 3 Sensor element
[0059] 4 third plug
[0060] 10 sensor housings
[0061] 11 first end of housing
[0062] 12 second end of housing
[0063] 13 Mounting area
[0064] 14 first plug opening
[0065] 15 second plug opening
[0066] 16 Inner wall of the housing
[0067] 17 Cavity
[0068] 18 first plug
[0069] 30 electronic mugs
[0070] 31 first cup end
[0071] 32 second cup end
[0072] 33 cup wall
[0073] 34 Cup bottom
[0074] 35 axial first plug opening
[0075] 36 Cup wall inside
[0076] 37 Ground exterior
[0077] 38 stops
[0078] 39 Stop surface
[0079] 40 guide element
[0080] 41 Holding element
[0081] 42 Cup wall outer side
[0082] 43 support
[0083] 44 Cup bottom inside 50 Electronic unit
[0084] 51 second plug
[0085] 52 circuit boards
[0086] 60 sealing element
[0087] 61 first sealing lip
[0088] 62 second sealing lip
[0089] 70 snap hooks
[0090] 71 Nose
[0091] 72 Nasal cavity
[0092] 73 first contact surface
[0093] 74 first nose element
[0094] 75 second nose element
[0095] 76 guide surface
[0096] 77 Tip of the nose
[0097] 78 second support surface
[0098] DA outer diameter
[0099] DI inner diameter
[0100] X first axis
Claims
Patent claims 1. Electronic cup (30) for a sensor control housing (1), wherein the electronic cup (30) extends along a first axis (X) and has a first cup end (31) and a second cup end (32), wherein a cup wall (33) is formed from the first cup end (31) to the second cup end (32), which extends about the first axis (X), and a cup bottom (34) is arranged at the second cup end (32), wherein an axial first connector opening (35) is formed in the cup bottom (34), and an axial first connector opening (35) is surrounded by a sealing element (60), and wherein a snap hook (70) is arranged on the cup wall (33).
2. Electronic cup (30) according to claim 1, wherein the snap hook (70) has a nose (71) which extends radially away from the first axis (X) in a direction, and a nasal cavity (72) with a bearing surface (73) which is arranged transversely to the first axis (X).
3. Electronic cup (30) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the sealing element (60) has a first sealing lip (61) which extends radially in a direction to the first axis (X) and a second sealing lip (62) which extends longitudinally in a direction to the first axis (X).
4. Electronic cup (30) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sealing element (60) and at least the cup bottom (34) are manufactured by a two-component injection molding process.
5. Electronic cup (30) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cup wall (33) has an inner cup wall surface (36) which faces the first axis (X), wherein at least two guide elements (40) which extend longitudinally to the first axis (X) are arranged on the inner cup wall surface (36).
6. Electronic cup (30) according to claim 4, wherein the guide element (40) has a retaining element (41) which is suitable for holding the electronic unit (50) in an axial direction.
7. Electronic cup (30) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cup bottom (34) has a bottom outer surface (37) which faces away from the first cup end (31) and has a stop (38) circumferential around the axial first plug opening (35) with a stop surface (39).
8. Electronic cup (30) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cup wall (33) has an outer cup wall surface (42) facing away from the first axis (X) with two supports (43), wherein the supports (43) are arranged radially to each other and relative to the snap hook (70) by more than 90° about the first axis (X).
9. Sensor control housing (1) for one sensor (2) comprising: - a sensor housing (10) extending along a first axis (X) and having a first housing end (11) and a second housing end (12), wherein the sensor housing (10) is open at the first housing end (11), wherein a mounting area (13) is formed at the first housing end (11), and the sensor housing (10) has a first connector opening (14), wherein the sensor housing (10) has an inner housing wall (16) facing the first axis (X), which has a cavity (17), wherein a first connector (18) is arranged in the first connector opening (14), - an electronic cup (30) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the snap hook (70) is complementary to the cavity (17), - an electronic unit (50), with at least one second connector (51), wherein the electronic unit (50) is arranged in the electronic cup (30) such that the second connector (51) extends through the axial first connector opening (35) and contacts the first sealing element (60), wherein the electronic cup (30) is arranged in the sensor housing (10) such that the snap hook (70) engages in the cavity (17) and the second connector (51) is connected to the first connector (18).
10. Sensor control housing (1) according to claim 9, wherein the cup wall (33) of the electronic cup (30) has an outer cup wall surface (42) facing away from the first axis (X) with two supports (43), wherein the supports (43) are arranged radially to each other and relative to the snap hook (70) by more than 90° about the first axis (X), wherein the snap hook (70) and the two supports (43) span a circle (K) with a circle diameter (DK), wherein the sensor housing (10) has an inner diameter (DI) which is smaller than the circle diameter (DK), so that the electronic cup (30) is clamped in the sensor housing (10).
11. Sensor (2) comprising: - a sensor element (3), - a sensor control housing (1 ) according to claim 9, wherein the sensor element (3) is connected to the first connector (18).