EP0980119B1 - Mountable housing - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an insertion housing according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such insertion housings are used for example in motor vehicles to attach electrical contact means to the motor vehicle. The contacting means are arranged in a housing, which are supplied to the associated electrical lines.

To anchor this insertion housing a recess is provided in a body panel, in which the housing is used. The attachment of the housing in the recess takes place in that the housing is supported on one side of the sheet and connected to a holding part which is connected from the other side of the sheet forth with the housing part and in turn is supported there on the sheet. A disadvantage of this configuration is that the mounting of the insertion requires access from both sides of the sheet forth. However, such access is often difficult or impossible. The installation of such an insert housing is correspondingly expensive.

An insert housing of the aforementioned type is known from EP-A-0 575 072. In this insertion of the holding part is locked against the opening of the plate and the housing part from the other side of the plate forth through the opening and in turn with locked the holding part. A release of the connection from the sides of the housing part ago is not possible. Simple installation is only possible via the snap-lock connection.

The invention has the object of developing the insertion of the aforementioned type so that these disadvantages do not occur. In particular, should be possible in addition to a simple and quick installation, the connection from the sides of the housing to solve her back and to use other than snap-locking connections.

This object is solved by the features of claim 1.

This configuration of the insert housing, this can be mounted from one side of the plate. The assembly is very easy. After insertion of the insert housing in the recess from the side of the housing part, the spreading elements are spread from the same side, so that they engage behind the plate. As a result, the insertion housing is fixed to the plate. The mounting of the insertion housing according to the invention can thus also take place when the plate is accessible only from one side.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the holding part and the housing part are mutually movably connected to each other and the expansion elements resiliently biased against a recess extending through the peripheral portion of the housing part, the cross section of such is stepped formed, that the spreading elements are spread when moving toward each other of the housing part and the holding part. After insertion of the insert housing into the recess and suitable fixing of the holding part so the spreading of the spreading can be done simply by the fact that the housing part is further pressed into the recess. As a result, the housing part and the holding part move towards each other and the spreading are spread by the gradation of the housing part. The actuation of the spreading is characterized particularly simple.

The determination of the holding part after insertion of the insert housing in the recess takes place according to a further embodiment of the invention in that the holding part has on the side of the housing part on the plate supporting support elements. This type of fixing the holding part is inexpensive and makes a separate item dispensable. Also, no changes must be made to the plate for fixing the holding part.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, three successive stages are provided on the peripheral portion of the housing part, with a first stage, on which the spreading elements are in their retracted position, a second stage on which the spreading elements occupy a free-engaging behind the plate intermediate position, and a third stage on which abut the spreading elements on the plate. This three-stage embodiment has the advantage that the insertion after, the insertion into the recess can be brought into an intermediate position in which the insert housing already fixed to the plate, but not yet definitively fixed. Achieving the intermediate position is done in particular manually, by the housing part is further pressed into the recess after insertion of the insertion housing, so that the spreading elements spread apart. The fixing in the end position then takes place by means of a suitable tool. By this configuration, the insertion can be set in a simple manner before final fixing to the plate already so that the insert no longer unintentionally detached from the plate.

By a provided according to a further embodiment of the invention end stop, which cooperates with the inner circumference of the recess, the end position of the insert housing and in particular the relative position of the housing part and the holding part to each other clearly defined. An over-spreading of the spreading is excluded.

To support the housing part on the plate, this has a circumferential collar according to a further embodiment of the invention. This is structurally inexpensive and ensures safe support.

The collar is provided according to a further embodiment of the invention on its side facing the plate with a particular molded, elastic seal. As a result, on the one hand a sealing of the recess in the plate is achieved and on the other hand a fixed tension of the insert housing in the installed position.

About a detachable lid, which is provided on the housing part, the interior of the housing is accessible in a suitable manner to accommodate there, for example, contacting elements.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, guide edges are provided in particular on the holding part, which cooperate with the edge of the recess for positioning the insert housing in the recess. This further facilitates the insertion of the insert housing and ensures that it is properly positioned.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, a housing part and the holding part in the insertion direction of the inserting body by cross, centrally arranged fixing screw for connecting the two parts is provided. By rotating a connecting screw arranged in this way, the housing part and the holding part can advantageously be moved towards one another to reach their end position. Preferably, the connecting screw also serves for pre-assembly of the housing part and the holding part to each other. The pre-assembled insert housing is inserted into the recess provided, brought by exerting a pressure on the housing part in the intermediate position in which the spreading engage behind the plate and thereby prevent inadvertent release of the insertion of the plate, and then by turning the connecting screw in the End position brought in which the insert housing is fixed to the plate.

Figur 1

eine Explosionsdarstellung des erfindungsgemäßen Einsetzgehäuses mit zugehörigem Blech,

Figur 2

einen Ausschnitt aus dem erfindungsgemäßen Einsetzgehäuse in einer ersten Position,

Figur 3

der Ausschnitt von Figur 2 in einer zweiten Position und

Figur 4

der Ausschnitt von Figur 2 in einer dritten Position.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawing and will be described below. They show, in a schematic representation in each case:

FIG. 1

an exploded view of the insert housing according to the invention with associated sheet,

FIG. 2

a detail of the insertion housing according to the invention in a first position,

FIG. 3

the detail of Figure 2 in a second position and

FIG. 4

the detail of Figure 2 in a third position.

The insertion housing according to the invention comprises a housing part 1 and a holding part 2, which are connected to one another via a screw 3 and a nut 4. The housing part 1 comprises two spaced apart parallel columns 5, which are interconnected via a head part 6. The head part 6 has a circumferential collar 7, and can be closed by a detachable cover 8. The connecting screw 3 is guided with the interposition of an O-ring 9 through an opening 10 in the lid 8 and an opening 11 in the head part 6 between the columns 5 and extends through an opening 12 in the center of the holding part 2 through and can there with the mother 4 are connected.

Both the interior of the columns 5 and the interior of the head part 6 are formed for receiving contacting elements, via which electrical connection lines can be connected to each other. A portion of the leads is guided from below into the columns 5 to the contacting elements, while the other part between the cover 8 and the head part 6 of the housing part 1 is supplied. The circumferential collar 7 is formed so that it can be supported on the edge of a recess 20 of a sheet 21. At its the sheet 21 facing Side, the collar 7 also has a seal 13, via which the recess 20 is sealed when inserted insert.

The holding part 2 has two spreading elements 14, which are arranged symmetrically to the central opening 12. The spreading elements 14 cooperate with stepped portions 15 of the housing part 1, which are provided below the collar 7 and are formed so that they can pass through the recess 20 in the sheet 21.

As can be seen in particular in Figures 2 to 4, the stepped portion 15 of the housing part 1 on three successive stages 16, 17 and 18, which correspond to a bottom-increasing from the bottom diameter of the stepped portion 15. In the preassembled position of the housing part 1 shown in Figure 2 with the holding part 2 are the spreading elements 14, of which only one is shown, with a stop surface 19 at the bottom step 16 at. The diameter of the lowest stage 16 is designed so that the spreading elements 14 are in their retracted position, in which the pre-assembled insert housing can be inserted into the recess 20 in the sheet 21. The insert housing rests with support elements 22 on the plate 21, which are provided on the holding part 2. In addition, wall portions 23 are provided on the holding part 2, which serve as guide elements to position the insertion in the position shown.

In the intermediate position shown in Figure 3, spreading 14 are based with their stop surface 19 each in the second stage 17 on the housing part 1 from whose cross-section is chosen so large that the spreading elements 14 are spread apart and the plate 21 'engage behind. In this position, the spreading elements 14 are under bias. The position shown is achieved in that on the housing part 1 from above, as indicated by arrow I, pressure is applied. Since the holding part 14 is supported on the sheet 21 via the support elements 22, the housing part 1 and the holding part 2 are moved against each other and thereby transferred the spreading elements 14 of the first stage 16 in the second stage 17. The grading is designed so that the housing part 1 rests in the intermediate position with the provided on the collar 7 seal 13 on the plate 21. In this position, the insert housing on the plate 21 is already anchored so that the housing can no longer be inadvertently detached from the plate 21.

FIG. 4 shows the end position of the insertion housing. The expansion elements 14 are based with their stop surface 19 in the region of the third stage 18 of the housing part 1, whose cross section is even greater than that of the second stage 17. The end position is determined by a stop 24, which is provided on each expansion element 14 and is supported on the inner circumference of the recess 20 of the sheet 21. In this position, the seal 13 is compressed at the edge 7 of the housing part 1, so that the insert housing defined under tension on the sheet 21 and the recess 20 is sealed.

The position shown in Figure 3 is achieved in that the screw 3 is further screwed into the nut 4. As a result, the housing part 1 and the holding part 2 continue to move against each other until the stop 24 abuts against the recess 20. The tightening of the screw 3 takes place in particular with a defined torque. By the compressed seal 13 and the spread apart Spreading elements 14, the insert housing in the plate 21 is permanently and securely attached.

The insertion housing according to the invention is thus first preassembled by the housing part 1 and the holding part 2 are connected to each other via the connecting screw 3 and the nut 4, after previously the contacting elements were inserted into the housing part 1. In this preassembled position, the insert housing is inserted into the recess 20 of the sheet 21, wherein the guide wall portions 23 ensure that the insertion is in the correct position. Now pressure is exerted on the housing part 1 in particular by hand until the expansion elements 14 engage in the second stage 17. Then, the screw 3 is tightened and thereby the spreading elements 14 spread further until they are in the third stage 18 and the stops 24 abut the inner circumference of the recess 20. Thus, the insert housing is attached to the plate 21 and is in its final position.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

housing part

2

holding part

3

connecting screw

4

mother

5

pillar

6

headboard

7

Federation

8th

cover

9

O-ring

10

recess

11

recess

12

recess

13

poetry

14

spreader

15

Section of 6

16

first stage

17

second step

18

third step

19

stop surface

20

recess

21

sheet

22

support element

23

wall section

24

attack

I

print direction

Claims (10)

1. Insertion housing which can be inserted into a cut-out (20) of a plate (21), in particular of a metal sheet of a motor vehicle body, and fixed there, comprising a housing part (1), in particular for the reception of contacting elements, and a holding part (2) which can be connected, in particular screwed, to the housing part (1) for the fixing of both parts (1, 2) to the plate (21), wherein the holding part (2) has at least two spreading elements (14) which face away from one another and which are movable between a retracted position in which the holding part (2) can be passed through the cut-out (20) and a spreading position in which the spreading elements (14) engage behind the plate (21) for the supporting of the holding part (2).
   characterised in that
   the housing part (1) is supported on the one side of the plate (21) and the holding part (2) is supported on the other side of the plate (21); and in that the spreading elements (14) are movable via means accessible from the side of the housing part (1)
2. Insertion housing in accordance with claim 1 characterised in that the holding part (2) and the housing part (1) are mutually movably connected to one another; and in that the spreading elements (14) are elastically biased against a peripheral section (15) of the housing part (1) which engages through the cut-out (20) and of which the cross-section is formed in steps such that the spreading elements (14) are spread when the housing part (1) and the holding part (2) move toward one another.
3. Insertion housing in accordance with claim 2 characterised in that the holding part (2) has support elements (22) which are supported on the plate (21) on the side of the housing part (1).
4. Insertion housing in accordance with claim 2 or claim 3 characterised in that three successive steps (16, 17, 18) are provided, with a first step (16) on which the spreading elements (14) are located in their retracted position, a second step (17) on which the spreading elements (14) adopt an intermediate position which freely engages behind the plate (21) and a third step (18) on which the spreading elements (14) lie in contact at the plate (21).
5. Insertion housing in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the spreading elements (14) have a final abutment (24) which cooperates with the inner periphery of the cut-out (20).
6. Insertion housing in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the housing part (1) has a circumferential collar (7) for the supporting at the plate (21).
7. Insertion housing in accordance with claim 6, characterised in that the collar (7) has an elastic seal (13), in particular sprayed on, at its side facing the plate (21).
8. Insertion housing in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the housing part (1) has a releasable cover (8).
9. Insertion housing in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that guide edges (23) are provided in particular at the holding part (2) which cooperate with the edge of the cut-out (20) for the positioning of the insertion housing in the cut-out (20).
10. Insertion housing in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a centrally arranged securing screw (3) which engages through the housing part (1) and the holding part (2) in the insertion direction of the insertion housing is provided for the connection of the two parts (1, 2).

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