CN107690237B

CN107690237B - Housing for an electrical device

Info

Publication number: CN107690237B
Application number: CN201710656145.0A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 皮奥特尔·考珀; 约翰·施维姆贝克
Original assignee: Lisa Draexlmaier GmbH
Current assignee: Lisa Draexlmaier GmbH
Priority date: 2016-08-04
Filing date: 2017-08-03
Publication date: 2021-04-02
Anticipated expiration: 2037-08-03
Also published as: CN107690237A; DE102016114453A1; DE102016114453B4

Abstract

The invention discloses a housing for an electrical device of a motor vehicle. The housing comprises a first housing part at least partially enclosing the electrical device and a second housing part at least partially enclosing the electrical device, and the second housing part forms together with the first housing part a central cavity for accommodating the electrical device and forms an enclosed fluid guiding channel which encloses the central cavity in the region of the joint edge of the first housing part and the second housing part and which has a plurality of voids which form indentations out of the central cavity. Furthermore, at least one electrical conductor is provided, which leads out of the central cavity through at least one of the recesses, and a sealing compound is provided, which is received in the fluid-conducting channel for fluid-tight sealing of the housing, wherein the sealing compound is connected to the first housing part, the second housing part and the at least one electrical conductor in a form-fitting manner.

Description

Housing for an electrical device

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a housing for an electrical device, such as a current distributor or a control device for a motor vehicle, and to a method for producing such a housing.

Background

The invention is explained below primarily in connection with a current distributor, a control device and a fuse box in a motor vehicle. It should be understood that the present invention can be used in a variety of applications in which electrical leads are guided into a sealed housing, particularly applications involving planar conductors, conductor rails, or sealed plugs.

The thin, wide rectangular geometry of the seal in the separation region (between the upper part and the lower part) of the housing, which prevents water from entering into the interior region of the housing (for example, immersion in water up to 300mm for more than 30 minutes), is a function which is difficult to handle according to the current state of the art. Complete casting of the interior space with the sealing bead, etc., is often technically expensive, costly or impractical.

An example is given in german utility model document DE 202013010542U 1, which describes a housing with an insert part made of plastic for protection against external mechanical or chemical influences for electronic components or further sensitive components.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a sealing of a housing for an electrical device with a corresponding feed-in and discharge in a manner that is as simple as possible in terms of construction.

The housing of the electrical device for a motor vehicle according to the invention comprises a first housing part and a second housing part. Each housing part itself at least partially encloses the electrical device. The first and second housing portions collectively form a central cavity within which the electrical device is disposed. The electrical device is electrically coupled with the at least one electrical conductor.

A closed fluid conducting channel is formed in the housing. The fluid directing channel surrounds the central cavity. The fluid guide channel is arranged in the region of the joint edge of the two housing halves. A plurality of recesses are provided in the fluid-conducting channel, said recesses allowing the central cavity to extend through to the outside. In this case, the at least one electrical conductor is guided through the recess and is guided out of the central cavity through the recess in the fluid guide channel. In a preferred embodiment at least two voids and at least two electrical conductors are provided. A sealant is provided for fluid-sealing the housing, said sealant filling the fluid-conducting channel. The sealing compound has a form-fitting connection to the first housing part, the second housing part and the at least one electrical conductor.

The housing is essentially constructed in two parts. The housing is preferably made of plastic, for example a thermosetting or thermoplastic plastic material. Alternatively, the housing can also be made of polyurethane, metal, such as aluminum, grey cast iron or die cast, or sintered material, such as ceramic. Additional materials are also contemplated as the corresponding fluid conducting channels may be constructed. A fluid guide channel can be understood as a receptacle for a sealing device or a seal. The fluid guide channel can be formed like a tube or a well. Thus, the sealant is initially liquid or better viscous flowing and therefore has fluid characteristics. Advantageously, the sealant can be injected into or flow into the fluid conducting channel and completely fill the fluid conducting channel. The viscosity of the sealant is selected such that during the production process the sealant flows not only or only in small amounts from possible gaps between the two halves of the housing, which are caused by production technology or tolerances, or in the region of the recesses or between the electrical conductor and the respective housing half into the central space.

Advantageously, the fundamental difficulties of sealing complex geometries such as edges or longer straight sections can be overcome in a stable manner. The electrical conductor can therefore have a substantially rectangular or oval cross-sectional geometry. Advantageously, no separately manufactured sealing separate parts are required, whereby cost advantages can be achieved. The sealant can be introduced by commercial dosing equipment.

In a preferred embodiment, the sealant can flow during installation and then harden. Thus, the viscosity of the sealant used herein changes from the time of manufacture to the time of manufacture into a product. The sealant can be a two-component material. The sealant can be, for example, silicone, adhesive, polyurethane foam, or the like. The characteristics of the potting compound as a sealant depend on the viscosity required for the geometry (and therefore on the flow), the material and surface area of the conductor tracks, the temperature of use and the material of the housing parts.

The sealant can be a foamed second plastic. In a preferred embodiment, a polyurethane casting is used as the sealant. Further, the encapsulant can have at least 50% volume percent silicone. When silicone is used as the sealant, it may be particularly advantageous for the sealant to have at least 80% by volume silicone.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if the housing part is made of the first plastic. The housing part can therefore be produced particularly cost-effectively. In particular, the housing part can be manufactured as an injection-molded thermoplastic, for example PA6GF 30.

The electrical conductor can have a substantially rectangular cross-sectional geometry. Thus, planar conductors or conductor rails can be involved. The electrical conductor can be shaped to have a contour. Thus, the electrical conductor has a wave shape or a substantially rectangular shape. Here, the ratio of the width (b) to the height (h) is at least 2:1, in particular at least 5:1, in particular at least 10:1, in particular at least 20: 1. Height is understood here to mean the thickness of the electrical conductor. Alternatively, the electrical conductor can also be formed as a sealing plug in the region of the fluid-conducting channel. As already discussed in part, the sealing compound bears particularly well against the corners and the central region of the long rectangular side of the electrical conductor without the difficult-to-find press geometries in comparison with conventional sealing bodies.

It is also advantageous in one embodiment to form at least one sealing wall perpendicular to the fluid-conducting channel on the edge of the recess. The sealing wall substantially rests on the electrical conductor. The wall thickness of the side walls delimiting the fluid conducting channel is enlarged by the sealing wall. Advantageously, the inward entry of the sealant into the central space or the outward exit of the sealant during the introduction is thereby reduced, since the sealant has to flow through a longer gap and thus a greater reaction force acts on the sealant. The sealing wall can be arranged vertically outward or also in the direction of the central cavity. In order to intensify the positive effect, in the case of a planar conductor formed as a rectangle, it is possible to provide sealing walls lying against each other on all four sides.

At least one mounting lug can be formed on the first housing part and additionally or alternatively on the second housing part. The mounting lug can be understood here as a mounting tab or a fastening eyelet. The mounting lugs serve to fix the housing or the electrical conductor, for example, in the vehicle. Advantageously, the mounting lugs are arranged parallel to the electrical conductors in order to additionally support said electrical conductors. In particular, mounting openings in the form of notches are also provided in the mounting lugs and in the electrical conductor when the mounting lugs are arranged parallel to the electrical conductor. When a notch is also provided in the electrical conductor, this notch should overlap the notch in the mounting lug. In addition, an electrical connection of the conductor to the electrical conductor can also be formed in this way, for example by using a cable shoe.

By means of the metal layer, in particular in the form of a film, a diffusion barrier and additionally or alternatively an ESD protection can be provided in the housing. For this purpose, a metal layer is provided in the housing part, so that the pressure tightness with respect to gases is particularly increased and electromagnetic radiation is shielded.

In order to form the fluid-conducting channel, the housing part forms a double wall in the region of the seam edge, wherein the fluid-conducting channel is formed between two walls of the double wall. Thus, one housing part can be formed in the region of the seam edge in the form of a double wall, and the other housing part closes the fluid-conducting channel approximately as a cover. The fluid-conducting channel for the sealant can thus be formed particularly simply and inexpensively.

An electrical or electronic device is disposed within the housing. The electrical or electronic devices are typically contacted by at least two electrical conductors. The joint edges of the two housing parts run advantageously parallel or in a plane spanned by the electrical conductors. In this case, a partial region of the at least one electrical conductor is observed in the region of the flow conducting channel.

The two housing halves are connected to one another, for example by latching, screwing, casting or gluing. In a preferred embodiment, the two housing halves are connected to each other by at least one snap-on connection. The detent connection can here alternatively be designed in a non-detachable manner to prevent manipulation, or in a manner that can be detached without destruction, for example for inspection or maintenance purposes.

The latching connection can be formed by a substantially circumferential latching contour. The circumferential detent contour can therefore be interrupted in sections, for example in the region of corners or rounded portions, in order to compensate for tolerances. For space-saving optimization, the first latching element can be formed in the structure of the first housing part for the fluid conducting channel. A mating latching element can be formed in the second housing part and, in the installed state, engages into the structure of the fluid guide channel to produce a latching connection.

Alternatively, the latching connection can be formed by latching elements of one housing part and mating latching elements of the other housing part. It is thus possible to provide latching lugs on the outer contour, which engage and latch at the edges of the mating latching elements as respective housing halves.

In order to be able to improve the tightness of the housing by better bonding of the sealant to the housing parts or the electrical conductors, it is possible to provide a microstructured structuring or measures to increase the surface tension, such as plasma treatment, corona treatment or primer treatment, on the surface which is in contact with the sealant. The microstructured configuration enables the features of the housing or electrical conductor to support bonding with respect to the sealant. Thus, a microstructured formation can be formed on the surface in the region of the fluid-conducting channels. Advantageously, the sealant is connected to the microstructured formation in a form-fitting manner. The microstructured configuration can increase the roughness of the surface. The microstructured formations can be regularly formed or almost randomly formed in the form of grooves or trenches. The microstructured formations can be produced, for example, by laser cutting.

For introducing the sealing agent, an introduction mouth connected to the fluid guide channel can be provided on one of the housing parts. Furthermore, at least one riser can be formed on one of the housing parts. Preferably, the position of the introduction mouth and additionally or alternatively the position of the riser is determined from the flow simulation. For the sake of simplicity, only one introduction mouth is provided in an optimum manner. From the calculation of the flow simulation, one or more risers can be given. Preferably, the introduction mouth or riser is arranged in or near a curved region of the flow guiding channel.

Furthermore, a sealing element is arranged in the region of the recess. The sealing element can be a soft component. Here, the sealing element can be formed from the first plastic or alternatively from a third plastic different from the sealant. The sealing element supports the sealing of the fluid conducting channel to form a seal with the sealant. Furthermore, the sealing element supports a mounting tolerance compensation of the interspace and at least partially closes the interspace.

The concept of the invention can also be transferred to a manufacturing method in which the above described variants of the housing are made.

In one embodiment, in a first step, an electrical device, for example a current distributor or a safety device for a motor vehicle, is provided. The electrical device has at least one electrical conductor. Two housing halves are arranged around the electrical conductor, the housing halves forming a central cavity in which an electrical device is arranged and a fluid conducting channel. The fluid guide channel is interrupted by at least one void. The electrical conductor is guided through this gap such that the electrical conductor is guided outwards from the central cavity. Finally, a sealant is introduced into the fluid directing channel to seal the central cavity from the exterior.

Drawings

Advantageous embodiments will be explained hereinafter with reference to the drawings. The figures are as follows:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a current distributor within an on-board network of an automobile according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2a is a simplified perspective view of a housing according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2b is a simplified perspective view of the housing shown in FIG. 2a without the cover;

FIG. 2c is a schematic cross-sectional view of a housing according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2d is a partial cross-sectional view of a housing according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3a is a top view of the housing shown in FIG. 2 a;

FIG. 3b is a side view of the housing shown in FIG. 2 a;

FIG. 4a is a cross-sectional view of the housing illustrated in FIG. 3a along a cross-sectional line indicated at AA;

FIG. 4b is a cross-sectional view of the housing illustrated in FIG. 3a along the section line indicated at BB;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a housing according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the housing shown in FIG. 5;

fig. 7a to 7e are sectional views for explaining mounting steps of the housing shown in fig. 5; and

fig. 8 is a flow chart of a method of producing a housing according to an embodiment of the invention shown in the preceding figures.

The drawings are only schematic representations and are intended to be only illustrative of the present invention. Identical or functionally identical elements are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of an automobile 100 with an on-board network 102. The on-board network includes a battery 104, a current distributor 106, and two loads 108 connected by electrical conductors 110. In an embodiment, the current distributor 106 additionally comprises a passive or active safety device. The safety device is in another embodiment designed as an electronic safety device.

The load 108 illustrated herein is exemplary and representative of a variety of electrical loads. The electrical conductor 110 between the battery 104 and the current distributor 106 is formed here as a conductor rail which has a rectangular cross section as a metal planar conductor.

Fig. 2a to 2d show a variant of the first embodiment of the housing 220 of the invention. In the simplified perspective view in fig. 2a, a housing 220 for an electrical device in a motor vehicle is shown. The electrical device can be, for example, a variant of the current distributor 106 shown in fig. 1.

The substantially square housing includes a first housing portion 224 and a second housing portion 226 that are joined at a seam edge 228. Three voids 234 are formed within the housing 220, each on three different sides of the housing 220. An electrical conductor 110, each in the form of a planar conductor track, is guided through the recess 234.

At two opposite corners of the second housing part 226, a feed-in mouth 242 and a feed-out 244 are formed, respectively, which feed-in mouth 242 and feed-out 244 communicate with the fluid-conducting channel 232 for the sealant 236, which is not visible in fig. 2 a. The sealant can be introduced or better injected through the introduction nozzle 242, while the air vent 224 enables the escape of air so that all central cavities within the fluid movement passage can be filled with sealant.

Abutting the outer wall of the electrical conductor perpendicular to the housing abutting the voids 234 forms a sealing wall 246 and a mounting lug 248 is formed for each void 234. The mounting lugs 248 are shown disposed below the electrical conductors 110 and are formed to support the electrical conductors 110. Here, a mounting lug 248 and two sealing walls 246 which are connected to the mounting lug and which are perpendicular to the mounting lug 248 and project toward the side walls of the housing 220 are formed on the first housing part 224. A third sealing wall 246 of each electrical conductor is formed on the second housing portion 226, wherein the third sealing wall 246 is U-shaped perpendicular to the respective side wall of the housing 220. In this case, the two legs of the U rest against the two further sealing walls 246, and the base of the U rests against the electrical conductor 110.

Mounting openings 250 in the form of recesses 250 or bores are provided on one of the electrical conductors 110 and on the associated mounting lug 248. The mounting opening is provided for a wire connection, for example a wire connection through a cable shoe. For this, the housing 220 may optionally be screwed onto the vehicle. The threaded connection can also be used for fixing cable shoes or the like, so that a dual function is achieved.

Fig. 2b shows the housing 220 without the second housing part 226 acting as a cover. Now, the fluid guide channel 232 described above is well visible as well as the central cavity 230. The electrical devices to which the three electrical conductors 110 are connected are not shown.

The three electrical conductors 110 open out in a plane, in which the joint edges 228 shown in fig. 2a are oriented parallel. In an embodiment not shown, the seam edge 228 lies exactly in this plane spanned by the electrical conductors.

Furthermore, a schematic view of a geometric cross section of the electrical conductor 110 with a width b and a height h is shown in fig. 2 b. The narrowest of the three illustrated electrical conductors here has an aspect ratio of about 10:1, the middle one has an aspect ratio of about 20:1, and the widest of the three electrical conductors 110 has an aspect ratio of about 30: 1. In other words, the illustrated sealing method is suitable in particular when the electrical conductor has a cross-sectional form which leads to a jump in the sealing pressure, for example a square, rectangular or oval cross-section.

The first housing half 110 is designed as a double wall in the region of the fluid-conducting channel. Thus, the first housing half realizes three bounding side walls of the fluid conducting channel 232 which is substantially square in cross-section. The absent fourth side wall of the fluid directing channel 232 is formed by the second housing portion 236 shown in fig. 2 a.

In fig. 2b, it can be seen that a latching contour without the relevant reference numerals is provided on the outer side wall of the fluid-conducting channel 232, said latching contour 232 being arranged inside the fluid-conducting channel 232. This makes it possible to save installation space, as will be discussed later.

Further aspects according to the invention are shown in simplified cross-sectional illustrations in fig. 2c and 2 d. The electrical conductor 110 coupled to the electrical device 222 is illustrated in fig. 2c, which shows how the electrical conductor 110 forms an electrical connection out of the central cavity 230. The

housing parts

224, 226 are configured as double walls in the region of the fluid guide channel 232, wherein the side walls of the first housing part 224 forming the fluid guide channel 232 overlap the side walls of the second housing part 226 forming the fluid guide channel 232. A sealant 236 is disposed within the fluid guide channel 232.

The sealant 236 is a viscous flow in an embodiment, which then hardens. The viscosity is selected such that the viscous flow is well distributed within the fluid guide channel 232, but does not or only slightly penetrate into the central cavity 230 or outwardly through the unavoidable seam gaps.

By using a sealing element made of a two-component material or rubber, for example, the seam gap can be reduced in the region of the gap and therefore a sealant with a lower viscosity can be used.

Fig. 2d shows a cross section of the electrical conductor 110 through a through-section of the fluid guiding channel 232, wherein the

housing parts

224, 226 and the surface of the electrical conductor 110 facing the fluid guiding channel 232 have a

microstructured formation

238, 240 in the region of the flow guiding channel to improve the sealing effect. In the case of using a substantially silicone resin as the sealant 236, less sealant 236 is required than when using PU foam or the like. The problem of the necessity of a surface treatment to improve the adhesion is dealt with in part only by experimental methods by the

microstructured formations

238, 240 for improving the sealability. Further methods for improving the adhesion or for increasing the surface tension are also conceivable.

Fig. 3a shows a top view and fig. 3b shows a side view of the exemplary embodiment of the invention shown in fig. 2a and 2 b. The sections AA and BB shown in top view are shown in the subsequent fig. 4a and 4 b. The construction of the mounting lug 248 and in particular of the latching connection 350 according to the preferred embodiment is thus shown more clearly.

The U-shaped sealing wall 246 formed on the second housing part is well visible in the top view in fig. 3 a. As is evident in the side view of fig. 3b, the mounting lug 248 forms, together with the two sealing walls 246 formed on the first housing part, a U-shape in which the electrical conductor 110 is arranged. The escape of viscous flowing sealant is reduced or even completely avoided by the sealing wall 246 and mounting lug(s) 248. This is a synergistic effect of the geometric relationship, tolerances, and viscosity of the sealant as it is introduced into the fluid directing channel 232.

The sectional view in fig. 4a shows a section in the top view in fig. 3a, characterized by AA. A portion to form the fluid guide passage 232 is formed in the two case halves 224, 226 in the form of a double wall. In the first housing portion 224, the fluid directing channel 232 is a ridge that bulges outward from the central cavity 230. A mounting lug 248 is formed substantially perpendicular to the outer wall of the fluid directing channel 232, the mounting lug 248 extending away from the housing 220 substantially parallel to the electrical conductor 110. Here, a spacing is provided between the electrical conductor 110 and the mounting lug 248, which spacing is of the order of half the thickness (height h) of the electrical conductor 110. A sealing wall 246 is formed on the second housing part 226 in the region of the side walls forming the fluid guide channel 232 comparable to the mounting lugs 248, said sealing wall 246 resting on the electrical conductor 110. The side walls of the second housing part 226 forming the fluid guide channel 232 or the side walls of the double wall of the second housing part 226 in the region of the fluid guide channel 232 and forming said fluid guide channel 232 are arranged relative to the first housing part 224 such that the side walls of the second housing part 226 forming the fluid guide channel 232 are arranged in the mounted state within the fluid guide channel 232 or within the central cavity 230.

The sectional view in fig. 4b shows a section in the top view in fig. 3a, characterized by BB. The cross section therefore runs through the wall section without the electrical conductor 110, whereby the latching connection 350 is clearly visible. The latching connection 350 is formed in the exemplary embodiment shown by a substantially circumferential latching contour 352. Here, the latching contour 352 is formed on a straight part of the housing, whereas the latching contour 352 is interrupted in the corner. The latching connection 350 is formed by a first latching element 352 and a second latching element 354, the first latching element 352 being formed on the first housing part 224 on a side wall of the wall section forming the fluid guide channel 232, and the second latching element 354 being formed on the second housing part 226 on a side wall of the wall section forming the fluid guide channel 232. In the illustrated embodiment, the latching elements are formed as prismatic projections on the side walls, so that mounting and dismounting can be effected. The prismatic projections have an angle of between 10 ° and 80 °, preferably an angle of between 15 ° and 45 °, particularly advantageously an angle of between 18 ° and 30 °. Here, the sides required for mounting have different angles than the sides required for holding. In a not shown embodiment, the sides required for the retention each have an angle of more than 80 °, in particular of more than 90 °. As a result, the latching

elements

354, 356 are hooked into one another in a nested manner and can be easily secured against non-destructive removal.

The lower first housing part 224 in the illustration is designed as a double wall in the region of the fluid-conducting channel 232. The outwardly directed side walls are formed here so as to project outwardly from the housing structure. The first latching element 354 is directed inwardly on the outer side wall. The upper, in the illustration, second housing part 226 is designed as a cover for housing 220. The part of the housing part that is a double wall of the first housing part 224 forms a counterpart element of the side wall of the fluid guiding channel 232, and three wall parts directed substantially in parallel are formed on the second housing part 226. A second latch element 356 is formed on a first side wall of the second housing portion 226. The inner side wall of the first housing part 224, which partly forms the fluid guide channel 232, is flanked by two side walls of the second housing part 226.

Fig. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of a housing according to another embodiment of the invention. As a special optional feature, a sealing element 560 is arranged here at least in the region of the interspace 234. The sealing element 560 is preferably an element made of plastic, for example. The sealing element 560 is used for sealing and for tolerance compensation. Thus, the opening created by the construction or manufacture is closed and then, for example, a low tack sealant 236 is introduced. The following figures additionally show that the introduction nozzle and the riser can therefore be dispensed with, since alternative methods of introducing the sealant can be used.

Fig. 6 shows an exploded perspective view of the housing shown in fig. 5. The sealant 236', 236 "is illustrated as a two-part component, since it is introduced in two working steps as emphasized from fig. 7a to 7 e. But are typically combined into one "component" and surround the electrical conductor 110 in one piece. The housing illustrated in fig. 5 to 7e is similar to the previously described and illustrated embodiments, with the difference that, for example, when applying the low-viscosity sealant 236, an additional sealing element 560 is provided, which sealing element 560 is arranged at least in the region of the recess. In the illustrated embodiment, the sealing element 560 is formed as a double-walled frame and is disposed within the fluid guide channel 232.

In the case of a correspondingly thixotropic sealing compound 236, as illustrated and explained in the preceding exemplary embodiments, the additional sealing element 560 can be dispensed with and corresponding cost advantages can be used.

Fig. 7a to 7e show sectional illustrations for explaining the mounting steps of the housing shown in fig. 5 and 6. In a first step a first housing part 224 is provided (fig. 7 a). A sealant 236' (fig. 7b) is then introduced within the fluid-guiding channel or rather within the region of the fluid-guiding channel 232 which has prevented the outflow of fluid without the aid of the second housing part 226. In a next working step, the electrical conductor 110 is usually arranged together with an electrical device 222 electrically coupled thereto (fig. 7 c). Now, at least one sealing element 560 is arranged and a second portion of the sealant 236 "is introduced (fig. 7 d). Finally, the fluid directing channel 232 and the housing 220 are enclosed by the second housing portion 226.

A method for producing a housing according to an embodiment of the invention shown in the preceding figures is generally illustrated as a flow chart in fig. 8. For easier reference, the reference numerals introduced in the preceding figures are used here, even though fig. 8 shows only four method steps S1, S2, S3, S4. In contrast to the illustration, the individual method steps can be configured in a parallel order or else in a serial order.

According to a variant of the manufacturing method shown in fig. 8, an electrical device 222 is provided in a first step S1. In a subsequent step S2, the first housing part 224 and the second housing part 226 are arranged such that the

housing parts

224, 226 themselves at least partially enclose the electrical device 222, and such that the two

housing parts

224, 226 together form a central cavity 230 for accommodating the electrical device 222 and together form a closed fluid guide channel 232, which fluid guide channel 232 encloses the central cavity 230 in the region of the seam edge 228 of the first housing part 224 and the second housing part 226. The fluid conducting channel has a plurality of voids 234, the voids 234 forming indentations outwardly from the central cavity 230 to conduct through a respective one of the electrical conductors 110. In a further step S3, at least one electrical conductor 110 is arranged in such a way that the electrical conductor 110 is guided out of the central cavity 230 through the at least one recess 234. Step S2 can of course be performed before step S2. In a final step S4, a sealant 236 is introduced within the fluid guide channel 232 for sealing the central cavity 230 from the atmosphere surrounding the housing 220.

In an alternative variant, the first housing part 224 is provided in a first step to introduce a first portion of the sealant to the portion of the fluid conducting channel 232 already within the first housing part 224 in a subsequent step. In a now subsequent step, the electrical device 222 and the at least one electrical conductor 110 are arranged such that the electrical device 222 is arranged in the subsequently formed central cavity and the at least one electrical conductor 110 is guided through the gap 234. The step of introducing the sealant 236 onto the introduced sealant 236 is now performed again, and then the second housing portion 226 is provided and arranged in the last step. Together, the two

housing parts

224, 226 complete the fluid conducting channel 232 after the second housing part 226 is arranged, wherein the sealant 236 is arranged. Thus, the central cavity is sealed from the atmosphere by fluid and/or gas.

List of reference numerals

100 automobile

102 vehicle network

104 cell

106 current distributor, safety device and control electronic device

108 load

110 electrical conductors, conductor rails

220 shell

222 electric device

224 first housing part

226 second housing part

228 seam edge

230 central cavity

232 fluid guide channel

234 gap

236 sealant

238 microstructured texture

240 microstructured texture

242 filling nozzle

244 riser

246 sealing wall

248 mounting lug

250 mounting opening, gap

b width of

h height

350 snap lock connection

352 latch profile

354 first latching element

356 Secondary latching element, mating latching element

560 sealing element

S1 provides

S2 arrangement

S3 arrangement

S4 introduction

Claims

1. A housing (220) for an electrical device (222) of an automobile (100), the housing (220) having:

-a first housing part (224) at least partially enclosing the electrical device (222);

-a second housing part (226) at least partially enclosing the electrical device (222), the second housing part (226) forming together with the first housing part (224) a central cavity (230) for accommodating the electrical device (222),

-a closed fluid guiding channel (232) enclosing the central cavity (230) in the area of a seam edge (228) of the first housing part (224) and the second housing part (226),

-a plurality of voids (234) within a fluid guide channel (232), the voids forming indentations outward from the central cavity (230);

-at least one electrical conductor (110) leading out from the central cavity (230) through at least one interstice (234); and

-a sealant (236) received into the fluid guiding channel (232) for fluid sealing of the housing (220), wherein the sealant (236) is connected in a form-fitting manner with the first housing part (224), the second housing part (226) and the at least one electrical conductor (110).

2. The housing (220) of claim 1, wherein the sealant (236) is flowable upon installation and then hardens.

3. The housing (220) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first housing part (224) and/or the second housing part (226) is made of a first plastic.

4. A housing (220) according to claim 3, characterized in that the first housing part (224) and/or the second housing part (226) are made of injection molded thermoplastic.

5. The housing (220) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the electrical conductor (110) has a substantially rectangular cross-sectional geometry.

6. The housing (220) of claim 5, wherein the ratio of the width (b) to the height (h) of the cross-section of the electrical conductor is at least 2: 1.

7. The housing (220) of claim 5, wherein the ratio of the width (b) to the height (h) of the cross-section of the electrical conductor is at least 5: 1.

8. The housing (220) of claim 5, wherein the ratio of the width (b) to the height (h) of the cross-section of the electrical conductor is at least 10: 1.

9. The housing (220) of claim 5, wherein the ratio of the width (b) to the height (h) of the cross-section of the electrical conductor is at least 20: 1.

10. The housing (220) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one sealing wall (246) perpendicular to the fluid guide channel (232) is formed on the edge of the interspace (234), the sealing wall (246) resting on the electrical conductor (110).

11. The housing (220) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that mounting lugs (248) are formed on the first housing part (224) and/or the second housing part (226), the mounting lugs (248) being arranged parallel to the electrical conductors (110) for fixing the electrical conductors (110) and the housing (220).

12. The housing (220) of claim 11, wherein one overlapping mounting opening (250) is formed in each electrical conductor (110) and in the mounting lug (248).

13. Housing (220) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first housing part (224) and/or the second housing part (226) have a metal layer as a diffusion barrier and/or ESD protection, the edge of which reaches as far as the fluid conducting channel (232).

14. Housing (220) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first housing part (224) and/or the second housing part (226) are configured as double walls in the region of the seam border (228) to form a fluid guide channel (232).

15. The housing (220) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first housing part (224) and the second housing part (226) are butted such that the seam edge (228) runs substantially parallel to a plane spanned by the electrical conductors (110) guided through the interspace.

16. The housing (220) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first housing part (224) and the second housing part (226) are butted by a snap lock connection (350).

17. Housing (220) according to claim 16, characterized in that the latching connection (350) is formed by a circumferential latching contour (352).

18. The housing (220) as claimed in claim 17, characterized in that the first latching element (354) is configured in the structure of the first housing part (224) for the fluid guide channel (232) and the second latching element (356) is configured as a counterpart latching element of the second housing part (226) and thereby engages in the structure for the fluid guide channel (232).

19. The housing (220) of claim 16, wherein a snap lock connection (350) is formed by a plurality of snap lock elements (354) of the first housing portion (224) and a plurality of snap lock elements (356) of the second housing portion (226).

20. The housing (220) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a microstructured formation (238) is formed on at least one surface of the electrical conductor (110) and/or of the first housing part (224) and/or of the second housing part (226) in the region of the fluid-conducting channel (232), wherein the sealant (236) is connected to the microstructured formation (238) in a form-fitting manner.

21. Housing (220) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one of the housing parts (224, 226) has a shaped filling mouth (242) connected with the guide channel (232) for introducing the sealant (236).

22. The housing (220) according to claim 21, wherein the filling nozzle (242) is arranged in a curved region of the fluid conducting channel (232) and wherein at least one riser (244) connected to the fluid conducting channel is arranged and formed in one of the housing parts (224, 226).

23. A housing (220) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the sealant (236) is a foamed second plastic and/or a silicone having a volume percentage of at least 50%.

24. A housing (220) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the sealant (236) is a polyurethane casting.

25. Housing (220) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a sealing element (560) made of a third plastic different from the first plastic and/or from the sealant (236) is arranged at least in the region of the interspace (234), which sealing element (560) at least partially closes the interspace (234) as a seal and/or as an installation tolerance compensation.

26. A method for producing a housing (220) for an electrical device (222) of a motor vehicle (100), comprising the following method steps:

-providing an electrical device (222) (S1);

-arranging the first housing part (224) and the second housing part (226) such that the first housing part (224) and the second housing part (226) each at least partially enclose the electrical device (222), and such that the two housing parts (224, 226) together form a central cavity (230) for accommodating the electrical device (222), and form a jointly closed fluid guiding channel (232) which encloses the central cavity (230) in the region of a seam edge (228) of the first housing part (224) and the second housing part (226), and the fluid guiding channel (232) has a plurality of voids (234) in its region, which voids form a gap (S2) outwards from the central cavity (230);

-arranging at least one electrical conductor (110) such that the electrical conductor (110) is led out (S3) from the central cavity (230) through at least one void (234); and

-introducing a sealant into the fluid guiding channel (232) for fluid sealing of the housing (220), wherein the sealant (236) is connected in a form-fitting manner with the first housing part (224), the second housing part (226) and the at least one electrical conductor (110) (S4).