CN111433980A

CN111433980A - Connecting device for connecting at least one sensor line to an electrical connection line

Info

Publication number: CN111433980A
Application number: CN201880078893.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: S·利奥波德
Original assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
Current assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
Priority date: 2017-12-06
Filing date: 2018-10-15
Publication date: 2020-07-17
Also published as: WO2019110175A1; DE102017222007A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a connecting device for connecting at least one sensor line to an electrical connecting line. The connecting device comprises a plastically deformable sleeve and an elastically deformable sleeve (24) arranged inside the sleeve, wherein the sleeve (24) comprises at least one through opening (38) for receiving a coupling section electrically coupling the sensor wire and the wire end of the connecting wire to each other. According to the invention, the through-opening (38) has at least one first constriction (40a, 40b) which is preferably circumferential in the circumferential direction and is directed radially inward with respect to the through-opening (38).

Description

Connecting device for connecting at least one sensor line to an electrical connection line

Technical Field

The invention relates to a connecting device for connecting at least one sensor line to an electrical connection line according to the preamble of claim 1.

Background

Internal combustion engines mostly comprise one or more temperature sensors for sensing the current operating temperature, for example in the region of the exhaust system of the internal combustion engine. In this case, the sensor and the associated sensor lines which transmit the sensor signals are subjected to various environmental influences, in particular relatively high temperatures, severe vibrations and moisture. The sensor line is electrically coupled via the coupling section to a connecting line, which transmits the sensor signal to the respective electronic device.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the invention is to provide a connecting device of the type mentioned at the outset which allows the coupling section to be better protected against environmental influences and which has a long service life.

This object is achieved by a connecting device having the features of claim 1. Further developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims. Furthermore, features that are important for the invention are also present in the following description and the figures. The features can be essential to the invention both individually and in various combinations.

The sleeve is arranged in the sleeve and comprises at least one through-opening for receiving a coupling section, which electrically couples the sensor line and the line end of the connecting line to one another, the through-opening having at least one first constriction (Einschn ü rung) which preferably surrounds in the radial direction and points radially inward with respect to the through-opening.

The constriction serves to exert an increased force on at least one of the elements when the coupling section or the sensor wire or the connecting wire is inserted into the through-opening and thereby to cause a raised seal against moisture and gases. This can be implemented, for example, in a corresponding design at 10^-2To 10^-6And this is achieved in a desired typical temperature range, a predetermined number of temperature changes and/or a predetermined duration. Likewise, a capillary barrier (Kapillarsperre) is created by geometry.

Furthermore, the sensor line, the connecting line and the coupling section are held securely in position by the constriction and in this case transmit vibrations to these elements only in a damped manner. The relative movement of the sensor wire, the connecting wire and/or the coupling section with respect to one another is reduced or set completely prevented (for example to below 30 μm). The sleeve thus provides a retaining function and a sealing function with respect to the sensor line, the connecting line and/or the coupling section. The sleeve is designed, in particular thermally, such that no critical tensile stresses occur in the coupling section on the sensor line, the connecting line or the sleeve.

In a first embodiment, it is provided that the first constriction forms a sealing lip which is designed for interacting with the outer side of the sensor line or the connecting line. Such a sealing lip is shaped in such a way that it is pressed or embedded, for example locally, with a certain (small) depth into the insulating material of the sensor line and/or the connecting line, so that an increased surface pressure and thus an improved sealing action are provided. In this connection, such a sealing lip can preferably have a cross section forming a narrow sealing edge which establishes an almost linear contact between the sealing lip and the sensor line, the connecting line and/or the coupling section. The sealing action is improved overall by such a sealing lip.

In a development of this, it is provided that the through-opening has at least two first constrictions, which preferably directly adjoin one another, and form a respective sealing lip. This improves the sealing action again. In addition, a relatively stable support for bending moments is thereby additionally achieved.

It is furthermore possible that the through-opening has at least one second constriction which is arranged remote from the first constriction and preferably surrounds it. Such a second constriction serves as a guide, holding and/or stabilizing lip, by means of which the connecting line and/or the sensor line is guided in particular in a certain manner up to the coupling section. This prevents or at least reduces the possibility of bending of the sensor line and/or the connecting line directly outside the connecting device, which could lead to undesired deformation or movement of the respective line in that region which is sealed by the above-mentioned sealing constriction.

It is also advantageous if the outer side of the sleeve has at least one, preferably circumferential, third constriction which is directed radially inward with respect to the outer side. The third constriction can be configured in the type of a circumferential groove. A certain mobility of the sleeve inside the sleeve is thermally provided by said third constriction.

This applies in particular when the sleeve has at least two third constrictions which, viewed in the axial direction of the sleeve, are arranged in front of or behind the first sealing lip.

It is furthermore proposed that the outer side of the sleeve has a preferably circumferential bead, which is preferably adjacent to the axial end of the sleeve. This elevation is responsible for an additional retaining function in certain specific applications.

The sleeve is preferably made of an elastomeric material and/or the sleeve is preferably made of a metallic material. These materials provide the desired elasticity and plasticity well.

An inexpensive and reliable embodiment provides that the coupling section comprises a coupling sleeve.

Furthermore, the sleeve may have a substantially circular outer contour and the sleeve has a substantially circular cross-section. This results in cheap manufacturability and processability. The outer diameter of the sleeve and the inner diameter of the corresponding sleeve, into which the sleeve is inserted with a small clearance or even with an interference fit, are selected such that, for example, an annular, constricted plastic deformation of the sleeve reaches the sensor line, the connecting line and/or the coupling section through the sleeve.

Drawings

Embodiments of the present invention are exemplarily explained below with reference to the drawings. Shown in the drawings are:

FIG. 1: a schematic cross-sectional view of a connection device with a sleeve, two sensor wires, one coupling section and two connection wires; and

FIG. 2: fig. 1 is a schematic sectional view of the bushing before it is inserted into the connecting device.

Detailed Description

In fig. 1, the connecting device has the general reference numeral 10. The connecting device serves, for example, to connect two sensor lines 12 to corresponding connecting lines 14. The sensor line 12 is associated with a temperature sensor 16, which may comprise a thermistor, for example. The temperature sensor 16 may be arranged, for example, in the exhaust system of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, in the battery region of an electric drive of an electrically driven motor vehicle, or the like. The temperature sensor is always used to sense the temperature, which is preferably used to control and monitor the drive of the motor vehicle.

For this purpose, the signal of the temperature sensor 16 is first transmitted via the sensor line 12 to the connecting line 14. The connecting line leads the sensor signal, for example, further to a signal converter or directly to an input of an electronic device 18, which is shown in fig. 1 by way of example and only schematically, and which may be, for example, an engine or a battery controller.

The actual electrical and mechanical connection of the sensor line 12 to the connecting line 14 is effected by a corresponding coupling section 20, for example in the form of a metal sleeve, which is referred to below as a coupling sleeve, for example. The coupling section can either be fixedly connected to the sensor line 12 and the connecting line 14, for example by means of corresponding solder points or by clamping, for example by plastic pressing of the end region of the coupling sleeve 20, or can be fixedly connected to only one of the two line types (sensor line 12 or connecting line 14) while the other line type is connected to the coupling sleeve 20 by means of a corresponding plug. If necessary, both conductor types can also be connected to the coupling sleeve 20 by means of plugs.

The sensor wire 12 is mostly relatively short. This results in the coupling sleeve 20 being arranged relatively close to the temperature sensor 16 and thus also relatively close to the environment in which the temperature sensor 16 is present. However, at the location on which the temperature sensor 16 is arranged, there are sometimes environmental conditions which may impair a durable and reliable electrical connection of the connecting line 14 and the sensor line 12 to the coupling section 20. These environmental conditions may include, for example, high temperatures, severe vibration, and chemical influences, such as humidity. In order to protect the coupling sleeve 20 and the connection of the coupling sleeve to the sensor line 12 and the connecting line 14 against such environmental influences, the initially mentioned connecting device 10 is provided, which is now explained in more detail.

As can be seen in fig. 1, the connection device 10 comprises an outer sleeve 22 having a generally substantially circular cross-section and a sleeve 24 received inside the sleeve 22. Obviously, the concept "sleeve" is understood here without limitation. Rather, the sleeve is understood here to mean any, for example, generally cylindrical component in which the coupling section or here in particular the coupling sleeve 20 is at least partially received. It is also obvious that the sleeve and the sleeve can also have other cross-sectional shapes in embodiments that are not shown, for example polygonal cross-sectional shapes. The outer sleeve 22 may be made of a plastically deformable material, such as a metallic material, for example. The sleeve 24 may in turn be made of an elastically deformable material, such as an elastomeric material, such as rubber or the like.

It can also be seen from fig. 1 that the sleeve 24 is shorter in the axial direction than the sleeve 22, in the view at the left end of the sleeve 22 a retaining insert 26 is fixed in the sleeve 22, which retains or fixes the sensor line 12 such that it can reach the coupling sleeve 20 in a pull-decoupled manner, the retaining insert 26 may also be formed by a housing of a so-called "MI L cable", it being possible to see in the right-hand region of fig. 1 of the connection device 10 that the connection line 14 present there comprises a metallic and electrically conductive core 28 and at least outside the coupling sleeve 20 an insulation 30, for example of a plastic material, arranged around the coupling sleeve, an end sleeve 32 also being inserted in the right-hand end region of the outer sleeve 22.

It can also be seen from fig. 1 that the sleeve 24 and the end sleeve 32 are held in the outer sleeve 22 by a segmented plastic deformation of the outer sleeve 22. The corresponding plastic deformation sections have the

reference numerals

34 and 36 in fig. 1. The plastic deformation 34 is relatively centered with respect to the sleeve 22 as seen in the axial direction, while the plastic deformation 36 is located at the right edge of the sleeve 22. The plastically

deformable portions

34 and 36 may be circumferential, but may also comprise only a single, and preferably deformed, singular sections arranged opposite each other.

The plastic deformation is characterized by a deformation radially inward, i.e., directed toward the sleeve 24, by which the sleeve 24 is deformed radially inward and by which it engages in a corresponding recess of the end sleeve 32. Obviously, in further embodiments, not shown, other numbers and other shapes of plastic deformations of the outer sleeve can also be selected, which connect the outer sleeve to the sleeve in a loss-proof manner and which apply a radial pressure force to the sleeve, which pressure force is transmitted to the through-opening and from there further to the coupling section or the sensor line or the connecting line.

Fig. 2 shows the sleeve 24 in the uninstalled state. The sleeve is here configured as an elongate and overall substantially cylindrical body with two through-openings 38 extending axially through the sleeve 24. In the installed state (fig. 1), the coupling sleeve 20 and the end section of the connecting line 14 adjacent to the coupling sleeve 20 are received in the through-opening.

The two through openings 38 are identically formed. Therefore, only the through opening below fig. 2 of the two through openings 38 is described below for the sake of brevity. In fig. 2, for reasons of simplicity, only the lower through-opening 38 is provided with corresponding reference numerals. The through-opening 38 has an inner diameter which corresponds approximately to the outer diameter of the connecting line 14 or the outer diameter of the coupling sleeve 20, if appropriate with a small play, in order to simplify the insertion of the connecting line 14 or the coupling sleeve 20 into the through-opening 38.

The through-opening 38 has a first constriction 40a, which is here exemplary circumferential in the circumferential direction and is directed radially inward with respect to the through-opening 38, and a further first constriction 40b, which is arranged adjacent to this first constriction and is directed radially inward with respect to the through-opening 38. The two

first constrictions

40a and 40b are designed as sealing lips which, in the installed state shown in fig. 1, are pressed particularly easily into the outer side of the insulation 30 of the connecting line 14, as a result of which an increased surface pressure is generated locally at this point and thus an increased sealing action is provided.

In general, therefore, the sealing

lips

40a and 40b are designed for coaction with the outer side of the connecting lead 14. The

first constrictions

40a and 40b are responsible for sealing against the ingress of moisture and for improved damping or decoupling of the connecting lead 14 against vibrations, for example. Obviously, in other embodiments, not shown, only one first constriction or more than two first constrictions may be present in order to realize additional sealing points. The cross-section of the sealing lip can also be drawn differently than in fig. 2.

Relatively far from the two

first constrictions

40a and 40b, the through-opening 38 has, in the region of the right end in fig. 2, a second constriction 42 which is preferably circumferential again in the circumferential direction and points radially inward. The second constriction forms a stabilizing, guiding and retaining lip, by means of which the connecting line 14 is guided in a manner up to the coupling sleeve 20 or at least up to the

first constrictions

40a and 40b and retained. This prevents or at least reduces the possibility of bending of the connecting line 14 directly outside the connecting device 10 (as is shown by way of example in fig. 1) leading to undesired deformation or movement of the connecting line 14 in that region which is sealed by the above-mentioned

first sealing constrictions

40a and 40 b. Obviously, in other embodiments, not shown, such a stabilizing, guiding and retaining lip can also be present at another axial position of the through-opening, for example at another end, and if necessary also a plurality of stabilizing, guiding and retaining lips can be provided, for example directly adjacent to one another. The cross-section of the stabilizing, guiding and retaining lip can also be drawn differently than in fig. 2.

The outer side 43 of the sleeve 24, which is essentially cylindrical in itself, likewise has two constrictions which preferably run in the circumferential direction and which point radially inward with respect to the outer side 43, which are referred to below as third constrictions and have the

reference numerals

44a and 44 b. Viewed in the axial direction of the sleeve 24, one third constriction 44a is arranged to the left of the first constriction 40a on the left in fig. 2, and the other third constriction 44b is arranged to the right of the first constriction 40b on the right in fig. 2.

In this connection, the two

third constrictions

44a and 44b are shaped in the form of encircling grooves, wherein the cross-sectional shape of the grooves is configured such that a continuous transition from the outer side 43 of the sleeve 24 to the

third constrictions

44a and 44b is ensured, and wherein the

third constrictions

44a and 44b themselves also have an always continuous cross-sectional curve without edges or abrupt diameter changes or the like. In principle, however, additional cross-sectional curves can also be considered when this is advantageous for specific application purposes.

The

third constriction

44a and 44b, by means of which a certain mobility of the sleeve 24 relative to the outer sleeve 22 can be thermally provided, can also be referred to as a "temperature compensation groove". Thus, temperature fluctuations acting on the connection device 10 as a whole do not lead, or at least do not lead to a large extent, to a reduction in the sealing and/or damping. Obviously, in other embodiments, not shown, only a single third constriction or more than two third constrictions may also be present, and said third constrictions may also be present at further axial locations on the outside of the sleeve, in order to provide a certain mobility at the further locations to compensate for thermal loads.

A bulge 46, which in turn preferably runs in the circumferential direction, is present on the outer side 43 relatively close to and in this connection adjacent to the right end of the sleeve 24 in fig. 2. This bulge 46 forms an outer holding lip, wherein it also has, like the

third constrictions

44a and 44b and the

first constrictions

40a and 40b and the second constrictions 42 present in the through-opening 38, a cross-sectional shape which starts continuously from the outer side 43 and has no interruption caused by a sudden change in diameter. This elevation 46 is responsible for an additional holding function in certain special applications. It is clear that in a further, not shown embodiment of the sleeve, such elevations can also be present at further points on the outside in order to provide a corresponding additional retaining function there. Obviously, in other embodiments, other cross-sections for the elevations can also be selected.

The sleeve 24 as a whole is preferably designed in such a way that it holds the coupling section 20 in the desired position over the entire frequency range of the vibrations occurring during operation (for example 0 to 3kHz), protects the coupling section against the occurring vibrations, transmits the occurring vibrations only in a damped manner to the coupling section 20, and therefore does not allow relative movements or at least does not allow significant relative movements. Such a relative movement may be limited to a maximum of 30 μm, for example. The sleeve 24 is preferably thermally designed such that no critical tensile stresses occur in the region of the coupling section 20 on the sensor line 12 or the connecting line 40, and the bearing points 24 (or more precisely the bearing lines) of the sleeve 24 are not subjected to critical tensile loads in the axial direction.

Obviously, as already explained above, the outer diameter of the sleeve 24 is also selected with respect to the position and diameter of the through-opening 38 such that the central plastic deformation 34 penetrates through the material of the sleeve 24 until the through-opening 38 is effective and there causes an additional radial compression of the sleeve 24 onto the coupling section 20 and/or the sensor line 12 and/or the connecting line 14. The first constriction described above is preferably designed such that a defined tightness, which may be, for example, 10, is achieved in the final, i.e., installed state^-2To 10^-6Wherein the respective value depends on the actual design of the sleeve 24 and/or the outer sleeve 22, and wherein the respective value should be fulfilled over a determined temperature range and also over a determined time (duration and number of temperature changes). Also produced by the geometry described aboveSo called "capillary barrier".

Claims

1. Connecting device (10) for connecting at least one sensor wire (12) with an electrical connection wire (14), comprising a sleeve (22) and a sleeve (24) arranged inside the sleeve (22), characterized in that the sleeve (24) comprises at least one through-opening (38) for receiving a coupling section (20) which electrically couples the sensor wire (12) and a wire end of the connection wire (14) to each other, and in that the through-opening (38) has at least one first constriction (40a, 40b) which is preferably circumferential in the circumferential direction and which is directed radially inward with respect to the through-opening (38).

2. The connecting device (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that the first constriction (40a, 40b) forms a sealing lip which is designed for co-action with the outside of the sensor lead or the connecting lead (14).

3. The connecting device (10) according to claim 2, characterised in that the through opening (38) has at least two first constrictions (40a, 40b) adjacent to each other forming respective sealing lips.

4. The connection device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the through-opening (38) has at least one second constriction (42) arranged away from the first constriction (40a, 40b) and preferably encircling in the circumferential direction.

5. The connecting device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an outer side (43) of the sleeve (24) has at least one, preferably circumferential, third constriction (44a, 44b) which is directed radially inward with respect to the outer side (43) and which preferably surrounds in the circumferential direction.

6. The connecting device (10) according to claim 5, characterised in that it has at least two third constrictions (44a, 44b) which, viewed in the axial direction of the sleeve (24), are arranged in front of or behind the first sealing lips (40a, 40 b).

7. The connecting device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outer side (43) of the sleeve (24) has a preferably circumferential ridge (46), which is preferably adjacent to an axial end of the sleeve (24).

8. The connection device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sleeve (24) is made of an elastically deformable elastomeric material and/or the sleeve (22) is made of a plastically deformable metallic material.

9. The connection device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the coupling section (20) comprises a coupling sleeve.

10. The connection device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sleeve (24) has a substantially circular outer contour and the sleeve (22) has a substantially circular cross-section.