WO2008025635A2

WO2008025635A2 - Housing for an electrical assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2008025635A2
Application number: PCT/EP2007/057974
Authority: WO
Inventors: Martin Eichler; Rudolf Schmidt
Original assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH
Priority date: 2006-08-29
Filing date: 2007-08-01
Publication date: 2008-03-06
Also published as: WO2008025635A3; RU2435339C2; DE202006013231U1; EP2060162A2; RU2009108210A

Abstract

A housing for an electrical assembly comprises a shell (1) and a cover (20), which closes an open side of the shell (1). An opening (7) for a connection cable of the electrical assembly is formed in a wall of the shell (1), and a first sleeve (26), which is provided with a first slit (27) which is open at the edge, of the cover is anchored in the opening (7).

Description

Housing for an electrical assembly

The present invention relates to a housing for an electrical assembly, in particular a housing which is suitable for the assembly of a prefabricated assembly.

In the mass production of large-size electrical appliances, especially domestic appliances such as stoves, refrigerators or freezers, dishwashers, etc., efforts are being made to reduce the manufacturing effort by using as far as possible prefabricated electrical assemblies. In this case, cables that supply different modules can be combined in sections to form a cable harness. If such an assembly is to be housed in a housing, the cable must be led out. This may be enabled in a clamshell housing in that, from the facing edges of the two shells, at least one is provided with a notch through which, when the housing shells are assembled and the assembly is placed between the shells, the cable passes. However, there is the problem that when the housing is to be mounted on a wall of the device, and the edges of the shells between which the cable is led out, the wall does not touch directly, the cable remains visible. In order to insert the cable into the wall, the wall must have a large opening through which not only the cable but also the assembly connected thereto pass. To reclose this hole after installation is complicated, and the visible cable is technically and aesthetically unsatisfactory.

In order to hide the cable over its entire length behind the wall of the device, it is conceivable that one for passing the assembly sufficiently large

To form an opening both in the wall of the device and in a shell of the housing and to place the shell on the wall so as to obscure the wall opening.

However, this solution is still unsatisfactory, since it offers no way that

To fix cables and to protect the connection of the cable to the assembly against tensile or bending loads. If on one side of the wall a flowable or particulate insulation material is introduced, this can be due to the roomy

Openings also reach the other wall side and in the housing. The object of the invention is to provide a housing for an electrical assembly, on the one hand has a sufficiently large opening to pass the assembly together with a cable connected thereto, but on the other hand, a fixation of the cable in the opening and preferably even a seal with the opening minimal work required.

The object is achieved by providing in a housing for an electrical assembly with a shell and a cover closing an open side of the shell, in which an opening for a connecting cable of the electrical assembly is formed in a wall of the shell, one with an open-edge first Slot provided first sleeve of the lid is anchored in the opening. By the sleeve is inserted into the opening, it performs two tasks simultaneously, on the one hand, the fixation of the lid on the shell, whereby a closed housing is obtained, on the other hand, the fixation of the connecting cable in the opening, since the connecting cable, although the Sleeve engages in the opening, can only extend through the slot of the latter.

In order to ensure a precise, firm anchoring of the lid, the first sleeve is preferably guided in a second sleeve of the shell surrounding the opening.

This second sleeve is preferably provided on at least part of its length with an open-edge second slot through which the cable extends when the lid is mounted. If an overlapping region of the two slots is dimensioned such that it is filled by the cable extending through the opening, the intermeshing sleeves additionally achieve a sealing effect, for example with respect to insulation material.

A clamping of the cable in the two slots favors the sealing effect and also leads to a discharge of the connection between the cable and electrical assembly relative to outside the housing acting on the cable tensile forces.

In order to be able to anchor the lid quickly and easily, the first sleeve preferably bears on its edge facing away from the lid a latching projection which engages behind an edge of the second sleeve facing away from the lid. In order to facilitate insertion into the second sleeve and in particular the latching, the first sleeve may have a plurality of slots distributed over its circumference. Of these slots, generally one is the above-mentioned first slot through which the cable passes.

Preferably, the first sleeve fills the free cross section of the second sleeve so that a medium to be sealed against can not penetrate between the sleeves.

A round cross-section of the sleeves is useful to facilitate insertion, since it allows in an initial phase of insertion of the sleeves into each other, a relative rotation of the sleeves.

If the shell is provided with a circumferential sealing lip, the shell as a whole can be inserted tightly into a wall opening.

A cable holder encircling the housing makes it possible to clearly accommodate any excess lengths of the cable.

For fixing and / or fixing the position of the lid to the shell, the lid preferably carries a contact with side walls of the shell in its interior engaging circumferential ridge.

Preferably, the cover is articulated by a hinge in a fixedly connected to the second sleeve base part and a pivotable against the base flap. By the flap can be swung open, access to the interior of the shell, for example, to repair the head accommodated therein, is possible.

In order not to affect the flexibility of the lid, the above-mentioned web is advantageously interrupted at the level of the joint.

In particular, the cable bushing can serve to accommodate a temperature sensor in the hollow body, which, for example, in a refrigeration device for the Temperature control of the interior can serve. Alternatively, a lighting means for illuminating the interior can be accommodated in the housing.

The invention is also an electrical device with a device housing, in which a housing of the type described above is inserted, preferably a household appliance, in particular a refrigerator, with an interior enclosing device housing, in which such a housing is mounted on an inner wall of the device housing ,

Further features of the invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments with reference to the accompanying figures. Show it:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a shell forming a first part of the housing according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the concave side of the shell of Fig. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a section along the plane designated by G-G in FIG. 2; FIG.

FIG. 4 shows a section along the plane designated J-J in FIG. 2; FIG.

FIG. 5 shows a section along the plane designated H-H in FIG. 2; FIG.

FIG. 6 shows a section along the plane designated by C-C in FIG. 2; FIG.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a lid of the housing;

8 shows a plan view of the side of the cover facing the molded part;

FIG. 9 shows a section along the plane designated B-B in FIG. 8; FIG.

10 shows the shell and the cover in the assembled state in a section along a sectional plane corresponding to FIG. 3 or FIG. 8; FIG. and Fig. 1 1 a. Section through a modified embodiment of the housing, mounted in a wall.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a shell 1 of the housing according to the invention, which is intended to be mounted in an inner container wall of a foam-insulated refrigerator. The figure shows a view of the insulating foam layer facing side of the shell 1. The shell comprises an elliptical in outline base plate 2 from which protrude several, the base plate 2 stiffening and the molded body 1 anchored in the foam layer ribs 3. The base plate 2 is surrounded by a circumferential, rigid side wall 4. The side wall 4 is connected at its in Fig. 1 not visible, facing away from the base plate 2 edge with a skirt 5 concentrically surrounding it, which in turn is surrounded by a flat conical flexible sealing lip 6.

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of an interior space of the shell 1 delimited by the base plate 2 and the side wall 4. A circular opening 7 is formed in the base plate 2 adjacent to a longitudinal end of the base plate 2 and offset from a longitudinal center plane G-G. The opening 7 is bordered by a projecting into the interior of the sleeve 8. In the sleeve 8, a slot 9 is formed, which is open to a side facing away from the base plate 2 edge of the sleeve 8. Fig. 2 shows a cable 10 which extends through the opening 7, is inserted into the slot 9 and is connected to a temperature sensor 1 1, which is fixed in position by protruding from the base plate 2 in the interior webs 12. At one of the opening 7 opposite longitudinal end of the base plate 2, a projecting into the interior of the column 13 is formed, which carries a latching projection 14.

On the circumferential skirt 5, as can be seen in the sections of Figures 3 and 4, three locking lugs 15 distributed. When inserting the molded body 1 in a suitably shaped opening of a refrigeration device inner container or other suitable wall, the locking lugs 15 are first pressed under elastic deformation of the skirt 5 against the side wall 4 and move back after passing the opening, so that the inner container wall between the Locking lugs 15 on the one hand and the elastically deformed sealing lip 6 on the other hand is clamped, as can be seen in the later even more precisely dikutierten Fig. 1 1. The voltage applied to the inner container wall outer edge of the sealing lip 6 ensures foam-tightness of the connection between the inner container wall and the shell 1.

In the figures 1, 5 and 6, a recess 16 of the base plate 2 can be seen, which extends from a slot 9 opposite edge region of the opening 7 to an edge of the base plate 2. This indentation 16 makes it possible to guide the cable 10 through the opening 7 while avoiding strong curvature.

Four extending from the skirt 5, each one of the side wall 4 facing projection 17 supporting arms 18 define between them and the side wall 4 a Kabelführungsweg on which the emerging from the opening 7 cable 10 can be wrapped around the side wall 4 one or more times. Such an attachment of the cable 10 is useful when the cable 10 is passed through the heat insulating foam layer on a short path, since the wound around the side wall 4 portion of the cable is exposed to substantially the same temperature as the temperature sensor 1 1 and this before a Falsification of the measured value by in the cable 10 itself passed through the insulating foam layer heat protects. In addition, when the cable 10 is wound around the side wall 4, a relief of the connection between the cable 10 and temperature sensor 1 1 is achieved against acting on the extending away from the shell portion of the cable 10 tensile forces.

Fig. 7 shows a perspective view of a lid 20 which is provided to be mounted on the mold body 1 and to close the inner cavity thereof. The same cover 20 can be seen in FIG. 8 in a plan view on its inside and in FIG. 9 in a section along the plane labeled B-B in FIG. 8. The molded from a flexible plastic material cover 20 carries on its side facing the molded body 1 a circumferential ridge 21 which is provided to engage in frictional and positive contact with the side walls 4 in the interior of the molded body 1. The web 21 is interrupted at two points 22 to define a crease line 23 which divides the lid into a base part 24 and a flap 25.

The base member 24 carries a circular sleeve 26 whose diameter is dimensioned to exactly fill the sleeve 8 of the molding 1, and in the two diametrically opposite, facing away from the base member 24 edge of the sleeve 26 out open slots 27, 28 are formed. On the side remote from the base part 24 edge of the sleeve 26, a locking projection 29 is further formed.

The flap 25 is provided with a latching hook 30.

Shaped body 1 and lid 20 are joined by the sleeve 26 of the lid is inserted into the sleeve 8 of the molding until the locking projection 29 has completely passed through the sleeve 8 and hooks on the outside of the base plate 2. This assembled state is shown in FIG. The length of the slots 9, 27 is dimensioned such that a cross-sectional area on which both overlap in the latched state corresponds exactly to the cross-section of the cable 10 passed or preferably has a slight undersize in order to clamp the cable 10 in the slots 9 To ensure 27. The latching hook 30 of the flap 25 engages in the assembled state behind the locking projection 14 of the column 13. If in this state, the housing wall of the refrigerator is filled with foam, although foam can penetrate into the interior of the sleeve 26, but he can not pass the cable 10 over the (outside the sectional plane of Fig. 10 lying) slots 9, 27 happen. When the foam sets and thereby fills the interior of the sleeve 26, it is no longer possible, the locking of the sleeves 26, 8 to solve each other, and the lid 20 is permanently anchored to the molded body 1. Nevertheless, it remains possible to open the cover 20 by the engagement of the latching hook 30 is released by pulling on the flap 25 on the locking projection 14 and the flap 25 is pivoted open. Thus, if necessary, repair work on the exposed over the open flap 25 temperature sensor 1 1 can be made.

Fig. 1 1 shows a modified embodiment of the housing mounted in an opening 32 which is cut to fit the outline of the skirt 4 in an inner container wall 31 of a refrigerator. Latches 15 abut an inner side of the wall 31; on the opposite side of the foam wall 31, the sealing lip 6 is elastically flattened and thus prevents insulating foam to penetrate to the opening 32.

The shell 1 is provided here to receive an unrepresented light source, for example a printed circuit board equipped with white light-emitting diodes, and the cover 20 is formed from a translucent plastic material. The dimensions of the lid 20 are relatively larger than those of the lid of Figures 7 to 10, so that the edges the lid 20 completely hide the opening of the wall 31 and the shell 1 held therein. An intermediate space between the edges of the lid 20 and the wall 31 is filled with a ring 33 extending around the skirt 5, so that the edges of the wall opening 32 are not visible from any direction when the lid 20 is closed.

Claims

protection claims

A housing for an electrical assembly having a shell and an open side of the shell (1) closing the lid (20), wherein an opening (7) for a connection cable of the electrical assembly in a wall of the shell (1) is formed and a is anchored with an open-edge first slot (27) provided first sleeve (26) of the lid in the opening (7).

2. Housing according to claim 1, characterized in that the first sleeve (26) in a the opening (7) surrounding the second sleeve (8) of the shell (1) is guided.

3. Housing according to claim 2, characterized in that the second sleeve (8) is provided on at least part of its length with an open-edge second slot (9), and in that an overlap region of the two slots (9, 27) of a through the Opening (7) extending cable (10) is filled.

4. Housing according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first sleeve (26) on its side facing away from the cover (20) edge carries a latching projection (29) which faces away from the cover (20) edge of the second sleeve ( 8) engages behind.

5. Housing according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first sleeve (26) has a plurality of distributed over its circumference slots (27, 28).

6. Housing according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first sleeve (26) fills the free cross section of the first sleeve (8).

7. Housing according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sleeves (8, 26) each have a round cross-section.

8. Housing according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shell (1) is provided with a circumferential sealing lip (6).

9. Housing according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shell (1) with a circumferential cable holder (5, 18) is provided.

10. Housing according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover (20) in contact with side walls (4) of the shell (1) in the interior of which engaging circumferential web (21).

1 1. Housing according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the cover (20) by a hinge (23) in a fixed to the second sleeve (26) connected to the base part (24) and against the base part (24) pivotable flap (25) is articulated.

12. Housing according to claim 10 and claim 1 1, characterized in that the web (21) at the level of the joint (23) is interrupted.

13. Housing according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electrical assembly is a temperature sensor (1 1).

14. Housing according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the electrical assembly comprises a lighting means.

15. Household appliance with an enclosing an interior device housing, characterized in that on an inner wall of the device housing, a housing according to one of the preceding claims is attached.