WO2010046281A1

WO2010046281A1 - Sealing element

Info

Publication number: WO2010046281A1
Application number: PCT/EP2009/063359
Authority: WO
Inventors: Heinz Peter Scherer; Andreas Woeber
Original assignee: Tyco Electronics Amp Gmbh
Priority date: 2008-10-20
Filing date: 2009-10-13
Publication date: 2010-04-29
Also published as: DE102008052346A1

Abstract

A sealing element (2) for the sealing of an intermediate space (4) between a cable or conductor (6) and a cable bushingpassage (8) with a sealing part (10), a guiding part (12) and a passage passage(14) for running the cable or conductor (6). The sealing part (10) includes an outer surface (20) for the sealing contact of a wall section (23) of the cable bushingpassage (8) and an inner surface (18), which encloses the passage passage (14), and the guiding part (12) is arranged between the outer surface (20) and the inner surface (18) of the sealing part (10).

Description

SEALING ELEMENT

The invention relates to a sealing element for the sealing of an intermediate space between a cable or conductor and a cable bushingpassage.

Conventional cable bushingpassages on housings generally have plug connectors or screw joints, to secure the cable. To seal the cable bushingpassage, sealing elements are provided, which are secured by way of the screw joint in the cable bushingpassage. Such designs consist of multiple parts and are therefore relatively complex and costly in terms of the manufacture and assembly. Alternatively, cable entries are overmoulded with sealing material. Here likewise, the assembly is complex and exchanging cables is complicated, since the overmould must be destroyed and then remanufactured.

The problem solved by the invention is namely, to provide a means of sealing cable bushingpassages on housings, which can be manufactured and assembled cost-effectively and which facilitates allows the simple exchange of cable or conductor. The invention also aims to provide an easy and cost-effective method of manufacturing such device and sealing cable bushingpassages on housings.

This problem is solved by a sealing element according to claim 1, a method of manufacturing such a sealing element according to claim 12 and a method of sealing a cable bushing passage according to claim 15. The invention further includes concerns an arrangement with a housing, a cable or conductor and a sealing element according to claim 10.

A sealing element based on the invention for the sealing of an intermediate space between a cable or conductor and a cable bushing passage includes a sealing part, a guiding part and an passage passage for running the cable or conductor, whereby the sealing part includes an outer surface for the sealing contact of a wall section of the cable bushingpassage and an inner surface, which encloses the passage, . Accordingly, the guiding part is being arranged between the outer and inner surfaces of the sealing part.

In a process to which this invention relatesaccording to the invention for manufacturing such sealing element, a minimum ofat least one of the guiding part and one the sealing part will respectively beis manufactured in a die-casting method. In a sealing element to which this invention relatesaccording to the invention, the guiding part fulfils the mechanical functions of guiding, centring and locking the sealing element in the cable outlet. The sealing part seals the sealing element with respect to the cable on the one hand and the cable bushingpassage on the other hand. Due to the fact that the guiding part and the sealing part are combined into a single sealing element, a sealing element is created, which reliably seals the cable bushingpassage and also offers the required mechanical stability at the same time. Such a sealing element is easy to manufacture with the process to whichaccording to the invention relates and easily operated during assembly.

In one embodiment, the guiding part is made harder than the sealing part. This allows the guiding part to excel in fulfilling the mechanical functions of guiding, centring and locking. The sealing part is made of softer material, which is optimally suited for sealing.

In a further embodiment, the sealing part partially encloses the guiding part. This allows the sealing part to excel in fulfilling the sealing function.

In an embodiment, the sealing part is designed to partially include a surface structure, a profile and/or at least one or more through-holes. These This allows a particularly firm and long-lasting bond between the guiding part and the sealing part.

In a further embodiment at least one of the outer surface and inner surface is designed to be partially contoured and/or undulatory and/or sawtooth-like. This improves the sealing, facilitates assembly and allows dimensional tolerances in terms ofare sealingly to be comparedcompensated. In particular, cables or conductors with sealing of various diametersvarious cross sections can be run through the outlet and the sealing element can be adapted to seal outlets of varying diameter. In addition, a factional bond is established between the sealing element and the cable or conductor or the surface of the cable outlet, which can absorb tractive forces.

In a further embodiment, the guiding part is equipped with a peripheral bead or an indentation. Such indentation allows the sealing element to be securely locked into the cable bushingpassage and helps counteract tractive forces where applicable.

In an embodiment, the sealing part is made of elastomer, for example silicon-based, and the guiding part of a thermoplastic or duroplastic material. In a further embodiment, the sealing element is manufactured in a die-casting process, particularly in a dual-component die-casting process. With such method, a sealing element based on theaccording to the invention can be manufactured particularly easily, rapidly and cost-effectively.

The invention also includes an arrangement with a housing, a cable bushingpassage, a cable or conductor and a sealing element to which the invention relatesaccording to the invention, whereby the sealing element is fitted into the cable bushingpassage and the cable or conductor is fitted into the outlet such that the cable bushingpassage is perfectly sealed. Through such arrangement, a cable bushingpassage can be sealed particularly easily, cost- effectively and reliably; at the same time, the cable or conductor can easily be exchanged where required.

In an embodiment of such an arrangement to which the invention relatesaccording to the invention, at least one of the inner surface and the outer surface of the sealing element are arranged such that they establish a factional bond with the surface of the cable bushingpassage or with the cable or conductor, which helps counteracts the tractive forces in a longitudinal direction acting onof the cable or conductor in a longitudinal direction. Through such arrangement, a cable or conductor can be reliably locked into a cable bushingpassage.

In a method to which the invention relatesaccording to the invention of for manufacturing a sealing element in accordance withaccording to the invention, at least one of the guiding part and the sealing part are is manufactured in a die-casting process. Through such die-casting process, the guiding part and/or sealing part can be manufactured particularly easily and cost-effectively.

In an embodiment of such method, the guiding part used whenfor manufacturing the sealing parts is overmoulded with sealing material. This allows the sealing part to be manufactured particularly easily and in a good positive fit with the guiding part.

In a further embodiment, the sealing element is manufactured in a dual-component die-casting process. With such dual-component die-casting process, a sealing element based onaccording to the invention can be manufactured particularly easily, rapidly and cost-effectively.

In a method to which the invention relatesaccording to the invention for the sealing of a cable bushingpassage, a sealing element based onaccording to the invention is incorporated inserted into the cable bushingpassage. In an embodiment of such method, a cable or conductor is guided via an outlet included formed in the sealing element. This allows a cable or conductor to be guided into a housing and also ensures reliable sealing of the housing at the same time. The cable can be guided through the passageoutlet, before or after the sealing element has been inserted into the cable bushingpassage.

In a further embodiment, the sealing element is locked by a press fit or an indentation in the cable bushingpassage. This locking allows the cable bushingpassage to be particularly reliably sealed, and since it avoids the risk of the sealing element inadvertently coming loose of the cable bushingpassage.

The invention is further described in the following illustrative examples shown in more detail in figures 1 to 5.

Figure 1 shows a sectional view of a cable bushingpassage, through which a cable or conductor is guided, whereby the intermediate space between the cable bushingpassage and the cable or conductor with a sealing element to which the invention relates is sealed with a sealing element according to the invention.

Figure 2 shows a sectional view of a further illustrative example of a cable bushingpassage, through which a cable or conductor is guided, whereby the intermediate space between the cable bushingpassage and the cable or conductor is sealed with an alternative illustrative example of a sealing element to whichaccording to the invention relates.

Figure 3 shows a front view of a sealing element in accordance withaccording to the invention.

Figure 4 shows an axial sectional view of a sealing element in accordance withaccording to the invention.

Figure 5 shows a junction box for a solar module with two cable bushingpassages, which are respectively sealed with a sealing element to which the invention relatesaccording to the invention. Figure 1 shows an edgea section through a vertically running housing wall 22 with a cable bushingpassage 8. The housing wall 22 includes a space for the cable bushingpassage 8 and also includes a horizontally running wall section 23, on the other side of the housing illustrated to the left of Figure 1, which encloses a rotationally symmetric passage passagesupport nozzle 24 around axle A of the cable bushingpassage 8. In alternative illustrative examples, the passage passagesupport nozzles are designed with a square, hexagonal or octagonal cross-section and/or are on the inner surface of the housing. A cable or conductor 6 runs horizontally along axle A of the passage passagesupport nozzle 24. The external diameter of the cable or conductor 6 is smaller than the inner diameter of the passage passagesupport nozzle 24, so that an intermediate space 4 remains between the cable or conductor 6 and the wall section 23 of the passage passagesupport nozzle 24. In this intermediate space 4, a sealing element 2 based on the invention is incorporated.

The sealing element 2 includes a guiding part 12, which incorporates a base unit

12a at its outer end, which is fitted into the passage passagesupport nozzle 24 and which completely encloses the cable or conductor 6 on the external end of the passage passagesupport nozzle 24 illustrated on the left. The base unit 12a is equipped with section 12c on its external end along its outline illustrated on the left, so that another an external part of the base unit 12a is laid out on the front side of the wall section 23 of the passage passagesupport nozzle 24 and an internal part of the base unit 12a is enclosed between the wall section 23 of the passage passagesupport nozzle 24 and the cable or conductor 6.

On the right, on the base unit 12a, an oblong guiding section 12b of the guiding part 12 is connected in this embodiment. The guiding section 12b extends along the intermediate space 4 between the cable or conductor 6 and the wall section 23 of the passage passagesupport nozzle 24. In doing so, the guiding section 12b does not completely fill the intermediate space between the cable or conductor 6 and the wall section 23 of the passage passagesupport nozzle 24. In the illustrative example shown in Fig. 1, the guiding part 12 is also rotationally symmetrical around axle A. In alternative illustrative examples, guiding part 12 may include a square, hexagonal or octagonal cross- section.

Guiding section 12b is enclosed at the sides, which do not connect to the base unit 12a, by a sealing part 10. This means the sealing part 10 completely fills both the remaining space between the guiding section 12b and the wall section 23 of the passage passagesupport nozzle 24 (area 10a) and also that between the cable or conductor 6 and the guiding section 12b (area 10b), so that the cable bushingpassage 8 is completely secured in placesealed. The sealing part 10 includes an elastic material, so that a factional bond exists between the sealing part 10 and the cable or conductor 6 or the wall section 23 of the passage passagesupport nozzle 24, which counteracts tractive force in an axial direction of the cable, without this resulting in any movement of the cable or conductor 6 within the sealing element 2 or of the sealing element 2 in the passage passagesupport nozzle 24. In addition, to enhance the ability to offset the tractive force, the guiding part may also incorporate a peripheral bead or indentation, which corresponds to and functions with the relevant depressions or elevations on wall section 23. The sealing element 10 is pressed in an exemplary embodiment with a certain friction into the cable outlet and can therefore withstand absorb strain relief forces to a certain extent.

In the event that comparatively high strain relief forcess have to be withstoodabsorbed, where required, additional strain relief can be provided via the cable or conductor 6. With this in mindTo that purpose, the cable or conductor 6 can e.g. be welded, crimped or otherwise attached to an internal contact part secured in the housing.

The guiding part 12 should preferably incorporate a harder material than the sealing part 10 in order to provide the sealing element 2 with increased stability for guiding, centring and locking processes. In particular this means the sealing element 2 has increased resistance to radial forces, which would be exerted when the cable or conductor 6 is pulled in a sideways direction.

In the illustrative example shown in Figure 1, the surface of the guiding section 12b includes contours in the form of indentations 15. The contoured surface of the guiding section 12b, with indentations 15, allows an interlocking and stable blond to be formed between the sealing part 10 and the guiding part 12, which further enhances the stability and strength of the sealing element 2.

Figure 2 shows a section through a further illustrative example of a cable bushingpassage 8 with a sealing element 2. The attributes relevant to those of Figure 1 are indicated with the same reference signs.

In the illustrative example shown in Figure 2, a limit stop 26 is included at the housing end of the passage passagesupport nozzle on the housing side 24, so that the cable bushingpassage 8 in the area of the vertically running housing wall 22 has a smaller diameter than in the area of the passage passagesupport nozzle 24. The insertion depth of the sealing element 2 in the passage passagesupport nozzle 24 is limited in this illustrative example, because the front side of the sealing element 2 on the housing side impacts with this limit stop 26. In contrast to the illustrative example shown in Figure 1, the base unit 12a shows no distance 12c to the its outer end of which is averted from the housing wall

22.

In the illustrative example shown in Figure 2, the guiding section 12b includes a number of openings or through-holes 16, through which the sealing part 10 extends. The surface of the guiding section 12b including openings helps form a particularly interlocking and stable bond between the sealing part 10 and the guiding part 12, whereby the stability and strength of the sealing element 2 are enhanced still further.

Figure 3 shows a front view of a sealing element 2 in accordance withaccording to the invention. The sealing element 2 shown in Figure 3 is cylindrical with a circular outer surface 20. In the front view shown in Figure 3, only the base unit 12a of the guiding part 12 is visible. In the middle of the circular base unit 12a, the passage passagel4 is includedformed in the middle of the circular base unit 12a, which and is limited by a circular inner surface 18 of the sealing part 10.

Figure 4 shows a section along the B-B line in Figure 1. In theThe external area of Figure 4 shows the circular wall section 23, of the passage passagesupport nozzle 24of the circular wall section 23 is apparent. The sealing element 2 is designed to belocated inside the circular wall section 23, which limits abuts the circular wall section 23 with the external area 10a of the sealing part 10. In the external area 10a of the sealing parts 10, a the guiding section 12b of the guiding part 12 is also circular and located around axle A. An inner area 10b of the sealing part 10 is contained in the guiding part 12. In the middle of the inner area 10b of the sealing part 10, the passage passage 14 is includedformed.

The inner surface 18 of the sealing part 10, which sees limits the latter limited by from the passage passage 14, includes a surface structure not visible in Figure 4, such as a contour or undulatory form for example. This enhances the bond between a cable or conductor 6 inserted into the passage passagel4 and the inner area 10b of the sealing part 10, which means counteracts tensile loads can be counteracted to a certain extent. Such a surface structure also makes it possible to compare compensate variations in the diameter of the cable or conductor 6, to improve the impermeability of the passage passage between the cable or conductor 6 and the sealing part 10 and facilitate the assembly of the same.

Also the outer surface 20 of the external sealing area 10a of the sealing parts 10 incorporates a surface structure not visible in Figure 4, to enhance the form-fit between the wall section 23 of the passage passagesupport nozzle 24 and the sealing part 10 and to adapt fit the sealing part 10 in interlocking manner with into the passage passagesupport nozzle 24 with differing diameters. Figure 5 shows a perspective view of a junction box 28 for a solar module. The junction box 28 includes two passage passagesupport nozzles 24 on the front side with cable bushingpassages, through which a cable 6 is guided into the inside 30 of the junction box 28. The inside 30 of the junction box 28 contains various components, which are not shown in Figure 6. In each of the two passage passagesupport nozzles 24, a respective sealing element 2 based onaccording to the invention is inserted, which enclosesd the respective cable 6 and seals the cable bushingpassage.

Claims

1. Sealing element (2) for the sealing of an intermediate space (4) between a cable or conductor (6) and a cable bushingpassage (8) with a sealing part (10), a guiding part (12) and a passage passage(14) for running the cable or conductor (6), whereby the sealing part (10) includes an outer surface (20) for the sealing contact of a wall section (23) of the cable bushingpassage (8) and an inner surface (18), which encloses the passage passage (14), and whereby the guiding part (12) is arranged between the outer surface (20) and the inner surface (18) of the sealing parts (10).

2. Sealing element (2) according to claim 1, whereby the guiding part (12) is designed to be harder than the sealing part (10).

3. Sealing element (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, whereby the sealing part (10) encloses the guiding part (12) at least partially.

4. Sealing element (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, whereby the guiding part (12) includes an elongated guiding section (12b), which runs along the intermediate space (4) between the cable or conductor (6) and the wall section (23) of the cable bushingpassage (8) and is partially enclosed by the sealing part (10).

5. Sealing element (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, whereby the guiding part (12) includes at least partially a surface structure, a contour (15) and/or at least one through-hole (16).

6. Sealing element (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, whereby at least one of the outer surface (20) and the inner surface (18) are at least partially contoured, undulatory and/or sawtooth-shaped.

7. Sealing element (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, whereby the guiding part (12) includes a peripheral bead or an indentation.

8. Sealing element (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, which is manufactured in a die-casting process, particularly in a dual-component die-casting process.

9. Sealing element (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, whereby the guiding part includes a thermoplastic or duroplastic material and/or the sealing part includes elastomer.

10. Arrangement with a housing (28) with a cable bushingpassage (8), a cable or conductor (6) and a sealing element (2) according to claims 1 to 9, whereby the sealing element (2) fits into the cable bushingpassage (8) and the cable or conductor (6) is inserted fitted into the passage passage (14) such that the cable bushingpassage (8) is completely sealed.

11. Arrangement according to claim 10, whereby at least one of the inner surface (18) and the outer surface (20) of the sealing element (2) is designed such that it creates a frictional bond with the wall section (23) of the cable bushingpassage (8) or with the cable or conductor (6), which counteracts tractive forces in the lengthwise direction of the cable or conductor (6).

12. Method of manufacturing a sealing element (2) according to any one of the claims 1 to 9, whereby at least one of a the guiding part (12) and a the sealing part (10) are manufactured in a die-casting process.

13. Method according to claim 12, whereby the guiding part (12) of for manufacturing the sealing parts (10) is overmoulded with sealing material.

14. Method according to claim 12 or 13, whereby the sealing element (2) is manufactured in a dual-component die-casting process.

15. Method for the sealing of a cable bushingpassage (8), whereby a sealing element (2) according to any one of the claims 1 to 9 is inserted into the cable bushingpassage (8).

16. Method for the sealing of a cable bushingpassage (8) according to claim 15, whereby a cable or conductor (6) is guided by through a passage passage (14) formed in the sealing element (2).

17. Method for the sealing of a cable bushingpassage according to any one of the claims 15 or 16, whereby the sealing element (2) is locked by a press fit or an indentation in the cable bushingpassage (8).