DE102005040241A1 - Mains connection device for domestic appliances has a mains power feed and a means of distributing power internal to the appliances - Google Patents

Abstract

A mains connection device (1) has a mains power feed (2) and a means (3) of distributing power internal to appliances, which has a distributor board (3a). The mains power feed has a pair of plug-in elements. The second element (2b) of the pair is fixed on the distributor board and partly carried by an appliance's wall.

Description

The The present invention relates to the term claimed above and thus deals with the connection of household appliances such as dishwashers or washing machines with the AC mains.

Appliances such as dishwashers, dryers, Freezers or refrigerators that commonly referred to as "white goods" and to those specifically referenced by the present invention are now typically produced in large quantities in one place and then to a variety of countries exported. The devices are adapting to the respective market, what about the labels or connections As. For an appropriate adjustment is possible, this must be done required parts are kept in stock and installed. This is undesirable, because on the one hand the warehousing is expensive and on the other hand it is desirable preferably late in the morning To specify production process, where a particular product should be delivered.

in view of the still missing standardization of network connections one of the regularly for different countries to be changed Areas of those of the grid connection device with which the network performance supplied to the machine There are pumps, compressors, laundry drum motors and the like drive. Externally leads these to the mains power outlets; internal is at the mains connection device in the household appliance a device internal Power distribution means provided, which connected to the network power supply is. This arrangement must be for the household appliances such as white goods considered with the present application, in particular Dishwasher, Dryers, washing machines and the like at least moisture-proof or However, it will be designed to be tipproof, but it will domestic appliances necessary, if necessary also designed to be protected against splash water be. In terms of the definition of splashing water and splash water resistance noted that it was for different white devices currently different test methods give to the user safety too guarantee.

regardless the user's safety requirements, it is desirable a required flexibility with the least possible Guarantee additional costs to be able to.

The Object of the present invention is new to the commercial To provide application.

The solution this task will be more independent Claimed form. Preferred embodiments can be found in the dependent claims.

The present invention proposes Thus, in a first basic idea, a network connection device for household appliances with one Mains power supply and a device internal Power distribution means for which it is provided that the internal device Power distributor means a distribution board and the network power supply a pair of connectors includes, wherein one element of the pair is disposed on the distributor board and partially passed through the household appliance wall and with the counter element in solid, user-unrecoverable and preferably also sealing engagement.

The The present invention thus provides a considerable simplification the mains connection device by providing a distribution board, which already carries a male connector pair member to directly with this on the outside of the device to be able to provide a fixed connection with a counter element, which an adjustment of the household appliance for a specific application, such as by choice suitable plug only very late towards the end of production or even allowed on the packaging. Because the fixation is tight, So in for a specific household appliance required measure against Ingress of liquid protected, Nevertheless, the high security is guaranteed. It was recognized that such a permanent fixation of the male connector elements secure and secure with each other, that permanently the household appliance safety without a decision early on in production about the Place of sale or use of the household appliance would be.

The Main connection device can be used in particular for white goods devices, namely especially for Washing machines, freezers, Dryers and / or refrigerators. In these it is particularly surprising that by the simultaneous fixing of the plug element and The seal is achieved that, regardless of the aforementioned explicitly listed household appliances existing, vibration-generating engines a sufficient seal is guaranteed. The household appliance The present invention is in the preferred variant at the same time a splash and / or splash, but at least to be protected from moisture Device.

In the household appliance, control electronics or electrical systems are preferably provided, of which at least one part can be provided in the network connection device. Thus, filter elements such as noise filters may be provided on the distribution board and / or this can with power supplies, in particular Switching power supplies are built together to provide from there via suitable connection means both low voltages for power low-power control electronics, such as microprocessor controllers and the like on the one hand and higher currents and voltages on the other hand to the motor and / or pump supply and / or heating and / or cooling elements. The distribution board can be formed as a stamped grid, on which the connector element is in particular plugged, wherein at the same time low-current and / or electronic areas can also be provided on the stamped grid arrangement; these arrangements are known per se from the automotive field. In a preferred variant, however, the distribution board will be provided as a printed circuit board (PCB), with which the male connector element is electrically connected, in particular by soldering. In addition to this by soldering mitbewirkten mechanical stabilization of the plug element on the circuit board, which is formed for example of epoxy resin with copper lining, in addition a mechanical locking can be done, for example by penetrating into board recesses detent or latching hook.

The household appliance is preferably a stiffened bottom plate and the board can be arranged on it. This can optionally be realized via vibration-absorbing transitions.

In In a preferred variant, the male connector pair is at least three-pole, with the element on the distribution board more than three Pole can own, of which in the standard operation of the household appliance but only three are used. At least one in standard mode unused pole will remain so. This can be used to possibly only the household appliance on the typically mating connector formed as a special plug anyway; beautiful already adapted by a corresponding pin assignment of the plug to different voltages, for example by connecting cables be guided to certain transformer windings or the like. It can free pins or poles, moreover used for purposes such as maintenance and / or repair and / or diagnosis or the like additional connections for one Service technician needed Measuring device and the like to provide. This is possible, please include, because the connector element connection only for Consumers, especially without tools, must be insoluble.

In In a particularly preferred variant, the Verteilerplatinenmontierte Element be feasible in a first position through the device wall of the household appliance and locked in a second position with and at this. These Lock preferably prevents a game of the element. So on the one hand, the mounting is made by a wall material on all sides surrounded hole allows and on the other hand prevents after mounting the Verteilerplatinenmontierten Elementes the same and thus in particular also the distributor board is mobile. The lock of the printed circuit board mounted element thus at the same time fixes the distributor board inside the household appliance.

The Lock on the device wall is preferably secured against external pressure.

at the same time can an apron inside be provided, which is too far pushing through the printed circuit board element in the first (implementation) position, which is taken during assembly, and at the same time pulling the distributor board mounted element to the outside, such as when trying of loosening the connector pair connection occurs prevented and the other against the penetration of spray and / or splash water into the device in particular Way protects.

While it possible is, the Steckerverbinderlemente in different ways, such as by screwing or bayonet-like in for the consumer without foreknowledge and / or tool insoluble To connect to what is understood in the present case as an "unresolvable intervention" There is a preferred connection in the locking of the parts together.

It is particularly preferred when the insertable complementary counter element at the home appliance closer End side of the connection cable a handle body made of softer material, in particular made of flexible PVC, in which an insert harder Material is provided, the use of harder material contacts the power cord can firmly define their position and with the circuit board mounted or Verteilerplatinenmontierten Element is to connect, being especially for consumers unsolvable is latched and then where the connection area between the Pair elements of a sealing structure formed from the softer element is sealed.

The Sealing structure can in particular by one around the transition be realized circumferential sealing lip or the like.

The Invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the drawings described. In this is shown by:

1 a mains connection device for a (not shown) household appliance shortly before the mating of a freely movable element with an element of an element pair to a soldered circuit board;

2 a plan view of the power cord belonging to the power cord, here at the power connector connection end with he recognizable sealing lip edge around a hard material insert;

3 a partially translucent view in perspective of the counter-element handle body;

4 a further view of a connector pair with recognizable Verrastungselementen;

5 a further view of the male connector pair just before the contact closure;

6 the male connector pair seen from the other direction after the contact closure with reduced for the sake of clarity illustrated book depth;

7 the plug-in socket from another perspective view;

8th the plug-in socket of 7 partially for showing the cutting edges provided therein in section;

9 the knife blades shown without base body of the insertion sleeve and soldered to the circuit board with opposite mating contacts, which are also shown without the body fixing them;

10 the mating contacts shown in the cut base body made of hard material;

11 a schematically illustrated example of a toothing, as seen from the outside, through which a here shown in the plane of Hausgerätewandung Verteilerplatinenmontiertes connector pair element can be pushed through a wall (upper part of the picture, in the arrow direction) and then (lower part of the picture), by moving parallel to the wall (see arrow), to spend in a rest position, in which a safeguard against inwardly pressing forces is given.

To 1 includes a general with 1 designated mains connection device 1 for home appliances a network power feeder 2 and a device-internal power distribution means 3 for this, a distributor board 3a includes, wherein the network power supply 2 is formed with a pair of plug-in elements and an element 2 B of the couple on the distribution board 3a fixed and partially guided through the device wall of the household appliance, cf. 5 , Reference number 4 and there tight with the counter element 2a of the couple giving to the network power supply 2 belongs, is connected.

in the In the present case, the household appliance is a washing machine, the currents up to 16A to be supplied from the luminous flux network are. The only exemplified and mentioned washing machine is designed to be flood proof.

The power connection device 1 is designed so that at standard pressure and / or tensile forces on externally accessible elements, in particular the counter element 2a no damage or solution of the connector elements from each other occurs.

The network power supply has on its socket-side end to the respective national plug standard adapted connector side, it being understood that one and the same household appliance for delivery to different countries, each with different network power supplies 2 can be connected. For this purpose, the power line of the network power supply 2 on the plug-in side, with corresponding, country-to-country varying ends, while all network power supplies intended for different countries 2 household appliance side have a regardless of the national socket standard from country to country the same and in particular a special form corresponding training.

The exemplary embodiment shown in the embodiment is only three poles, so offers the ability to connect phase, neutral and ground to the appliance; It should be noted, however, that several poles can be provided, in particular for the connection of the household appliance during manufacture or later field use for maintenance and repair purposes, in which there are next to and / or in place of power lines and diagnostic or maintenance devices are connected , It should be noted, moreover, that in place of only three poles, several, in particular four poles can be provided, for example by appropriate internal wiring of only three of the four poles optional connection of the household appliance to a three-phase light network with ground conductor, neutral and 120V conductors or, alternatively, ground conductors, neutral and 240V conductors. Regardless of the internal wiring of the four poles only exemplarily mentioned here is the outer contour of the element regularly 2 B at the network power supply 2 remain identical.

The element 2 B the network power supply now has a handle body 2a1 on, made of soft PVC material is injection molded and on the power cord side passes in a custom-formed pull and buckling relief, as in 2b2 indicated. In the handle body is formed in the soft PVC material made of a harder plastic insert 2b3 provided in which in turn formed from Kupferberylliumblech actual contact terminals 2b4 are arranged. The arrangement of Kupferberylliumkontakte 2b4 , which may optionally be formed from another conductor, and their connection with the actual strands of the power cord can be done in a conventional manner, for example by crimping. As can be seen, but the contacting of the contacts 2b4 in the element 2a1 through the mating contacts preferably by a translational movement, ie insertion allows.

On the hard material 2b3 that the contact elements 2b4 carries are at spaced locations 2b5 . 2b6 , Which are drawn in the present example as possible on the opposite narrow sides, provided latching hooks, which engage in corresponding recesses 2a6 on the complementary element, cf. 4 , can occur and a tool-free release of the counter element 2 B prevent from the complementary element of the Steckerelemetepair. At the same time are on the hard material 2b3 , which is embedded in the PVC grip body after eight of a protruding connector bridge, side guides 2B7 . 2b8 . 2B9 . 2B10 provided, which are arranged asymmetrically around the handle body, to prevent insertion in a wrong position and the rest require the correct alignment of the elements of the pair with each other. In the transition area between the hard use 2b3 , which may be formed, for example, hard, glass fiber reinforced plastic, and the handle body formed of softer material 2a1 is a lip 2B11 formed circumferentially, which in pushing together the plug element pair in a preferred variant sealingly on and / or in or around the edge 2A11 the socket 2a is pressable and then one about those sealing effect, which is due to the hidden position of the contacts 2b4 in the hard material results in still providing sealing against splash or splash water.

The circuit board side to be provided element 2a has a corresponding arrangement of each formed by cutting contacts to the respective blade receptacles 2b4 of the element 2 B to connect in good electrical connection. The contact elements shown here as cutting 2a4 are in the hard plastic material, which may in particular be the same from which the hard use of the handle body is formed, formed base body of the counter-element 2a firmly embedded and stand in the assembled state on the device wall respectively the recess, while inside the contacts, preferably in one piece, pass over into soldering areas, with which the knife edges 2a4 can be soldered on a circuit board. This is as 2a4 ' for a knife edge 2a4 in 4 shown.

Like from the 4 As can be seen, the fixation of the knife edges on the printed circuit board must not be limited to a single solder point. In the illustrated embodiment, two solder bumps are already led to the circuit board in order to solder the plug element at two points. On the one hand, this improves the electrical properties and, on the other hand, better secures the knife edge in its spatial position. It should be noted, however, that additionally and / or alternatively also further fastening possibilities can be provided, for example latching hooks for latching the element to be soldered onto the board or otherwise to be connected thereto. These snap hooks can be made of plastic on the base body of the element 2a be formed (not shown).

At the base body 2 are guides for the recesses 2B7 to 2B10 intended; that the number and arrangement of the guide recesses 2B7 to 2B10 and the correspondingly associated, complementary guides are only examples, of course.

In 1 it can be further seen that the base body 2a on the through the device wall passing through Buchsenwandung 2a1 , which serves to receive the protruding grip body insert on the counter element, from an edge or an apron 2a2 is surrounded, which rests in use of the inside of the device wall and stops here any still penetrating splash of water from injection into the device interior and in particular from emergence or dripping on the board.

It is not shown that at the same time just above the edge 2a2 and, for example, spaced about twice the housing wall thickness, locking elements are provided which in certain areas further from the Buchsenrandung 2a protrude than in immediately adjacent areas, so can form a stamp stamp edge-like Zackung. The housing wall has a complementary breakthrough, which may for example also be toothed, which makes it possible in a first position, if the farther from the edge of the socket 2a1 protruding projections can penetrate through the respective recesses in the housing wall, until the rear skirt 2a2 abuts the same from the inside, to pierce the device wall and, after transverse displacement, so a parallel displacement of the skirt 2a2 in the plane of the housing wall, when the lugs no longer coincide with the respective recesses in the Housing wall come to rest on this against pressure from outside to inside. In this way it is achieved that no forces are transmitted to the board via tensile forces exerted on the handle body and in particular by the latching hooks on the connector element transition to the connector, but rather of the splashback 2a2 transferred to the housing wall and are absorbed by this, while under pressure on the handle body, the forces can also be introduced into the housing wall.

The described compound is used in the manufacture of a household appliance as follows:
First, a variety of distribution boards is prefabricated, all of which, regardless of the later site, the same outer shape. Thereafter, this board is installed in a variety of household appliances, the attachment on the one hand to the device wall by the Umgriff same between splashback and the parallel thereto, with structures close above the same on the base body of the element 2 B is fixed, it should be noted that, deviating from the above sizing proposed the double housing wall thickness, where appropriate, to achieve a play-free fixing of smaller distances are possible and it can additionally be fixed the circuit board at a suitable location inside the device, for example on a molded plastic base plate , The machine can be completely finished, without requiring an early determination of the destination and thus the standards to be observed. This is especially true with appropriate design of the controls, displays, etc .. During the production, moreover, a machine test can be done using the network power supply, which is particularly easy, since during production can be dispensed with a latching a network power supply without further notice.

immediate before closing the household appliance packaging can then, for example, by merely putting one with suitable Mating power cord provided the fixing where to export the machine.

Of the User is then at startup of the household appliance the in the last manufacturing moment enclosed cable in the correct execution in the Insert the socket and latch it with it. After that is the Connection for no longer solvable, the machine easily safe and to the respective country customized.

Claims (14)

A mains connection device for household appliances with a network power supply and an internal power distribution means thereto, characterized in that the device internal power distribution means comprises a distributor board and the network power supply comprises a connector pair, wherein one element of the pair is arranged on the distributor board and partially guided by the household appliance wall and there with the counter element close to the unsolvable engagement. Power supply device for household appliances the preceding claim, characterized in that the household appliance is a white goods device, and in particular as a washing machine, freezer, dryer or Refrigerator trained is. Mains connection device according to one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the household appliance is a splash and / or splash water and / or moisture to be protected is. Mains connection device according to one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the household appliance a control and / or filter electrics and / or electronics and at least part of them and / or a power supply, in particular a switching power supply, on the conductor distribution board is arranged. Mains connection device according to one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the filter and / or adjustment elements are provided on the board. Mains connection device according to one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the household appliance comprises a stiffened plastic bottom plate and the distributor board is arranged thereon. Mains connection device according to one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the connector pair at least one provides three-pole power line connection, wherein preferably the Verteilerplatinenmontierte element formed more than three poles is, but in the standard mode of the household appliance beside the used too at least one unused pole is present. Mains connection device according to one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the distributor board mounted element on a punched grid arrangement and / or a punched grid circuit board combination is provided and / or soldered on a circuit board. Mains connection device according to one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the distributor board mounted element in a first orientation by the device wall feasible and in a second Alignment is locked at this. Mains connection device according to one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the locking of pressure against the outside is supported. Mains connection device according to one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that at the distributor board mounted element a Spray and / or splash protection apron is provided to the Elements implementing seal against splash and / or splash water. Mains connection device according to one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the complementary mating element with the distributor board mounted Element is locked. Mains connection device according to one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the to the distributor board mounted male connector element complementary Counter element a handle body of soft material, in particular PVC, in the network power supply, and one, from the handle body particularly protruding, use of harder material therein, the use of harder Material is designed to be with the distributor board mounted Element connected, in particular for consumers inextricably locked and the connection area of the pair elements of one sealed sealing structure formed of the softer material becomes. Mains connection device according to one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the sealing structure is one around the transition between the sealing elements surrounding the pair elements and / or a pressing projection includes.