Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical... – For electronic systems and devices
Utility Patent
1998-11-11
2001-01-02
Thompson, Gregory (Department: 2835)
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...
For electronic systems and devices
C361S827000
Utility Patent
active
06169654
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a housing for electric componentry comprising the housing itself, at least one electric connection element passing through a wall of the housing and connected to the electric componentry inside the housing, a second electric connection element which is connected to the first electric connection element, and electric connection cables connected to the second electric connection element, the electric connection cables being arranged on an outer surface of the housing.
A housing of this type is known from DE 41 02 265 A1 (U.S. Pat. No. 5,311,398).
Housings of this type are used on installation sites where they are subjected to external electromagnetic and environmental influences. It is expected of such a housing that the electric componentry contained within be securely protected from such interfering influences. When such a housing is installed on a motor vehicle body or in the engine space of a motor vehicle, for example, it is particularly important that the housing and the parts connected to it, such as, the plug-in electric connectors, be leakproof and that they maintain this characteristic over time. In practical use of such housings and plug-in connectors under the conditions described above, it often happens, however, that leakage occurs due to the unplugging and the plugging back in of the plug-in connectors, or due to the tensile load on the connectors, or due to nicks in the insulation on the cables connected to the plug-in connectors.
The known housing mentioned above meets some of these requirements and furthermore offers the possibility of achieving particularly compact construction when a plug-in connector with a coupling direction parallel to the plane of the housing surface is used.
In the known housing, however, it is a disadvantage that the electric connection cables emerging from the coupling part of the plug-in connectors are either not fastened at all, or that their fastening is effected at a distance from the plug-in connector. The responsibility of selecting an appropriate fastening point for the connection cables is therefore left to the user or to the installer of the electronic apparatus. If the selection of this fastening point is poorly made, it is possible that mechanical loads on the electric connection cables transmitted to the coupling portion of the plug-in connection, such as tensile loads or vibrations, may affect the leakproof character of the plug-in connection. It is a further disadvantage that with this type of fastening of the electric cables additional auxiliary means, such as separate fastening elements or mounting tools, are needed to effect the fastening. Furthermore, assembly of the fastening elements is a separate and additional step apart from the assembly of the housing itself.
It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a housing for electric componentry in a space-saving embodiment with simplified and less expensive assembly, and which provides for the fastening of the electric connection cables in such manner that the leakproof character of the plug-in connection is ensured over time.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A housing for electric componentry comprises a closed frame in which said electric componentry is received, a first electric connection element which is connected to the electric componentry and passes through a wall of the frame, a second electric connection element which is connected to the first electric connection element, and an electric connection cable which is connected to the second electric connection element. A fastening element fastens the electric connection cable to the frame of the housing in such manner that the cable lies substantially parallel to a flat outer surface of the frame. At least a part of the fastening element for the cables is integral with the housing. Preferably, the housing includes a cover which is attached by a hinge to the frame. Further, the fastening element comprises first and second parts which bear upon each other with the electric connection cable therebetween. One of these parts of the fastening element is-integral with the cover of the housing, so that the electric connection cable is fastened to the housing in proper fashion merely by closing the cover of the housing.
One advantage of the housing of the present invention consists in the fact that the electric connection cable is fastened by a fastening element which is at least partially integral with the housing, so that on the one hand, the design of the housing already provides for a particularly well-suited fastening point, and on the other hand, the expenditure in work and money for the fastening device which is absolutely necessary for purposes of strain relief of the connection cable, is minimized. In addition, the user/installer of the housing is relieved of the chore of selection of a suitable fastening point for the connection cable.
Due to the fact that the housing is designed so as to have a zone in which the electric connection, cables are placed parallel to the plane extension of the housing surface and are also fastened thereon, the mechanical load on the electric connection cables is reduced to a minimum. This type of fastening makes it possible to avoid tensile forces as well as bending forces which could occur as a result of a lateral movement of the electric connection cables if the fastening point is poorly selected. After assembly, the frame, the first and the second electric connection elements, the first part of the fastening element and part of the electric connection cable constitute a compact unit, the elements of which can no longer alter their positions relative to each other. As a result, the housing is especially suitable at sites of installation where a good leakproof character is required, such as in the engine space or on the body of a motor vehicle.
Furthermore, since a part of the fastening element is integral with the housing, it is possible to combine the manufacturing process of these two elements into one common production step.
In an advantageous further development of the invention, the housing is designed with a cover for the first and the second electric connection elements. Such a cover has the advantage that the first and second electric connection elements as well as a segment of the electric connection cables are protected from environmental influences, such as water spray or falling rocks. This cover can be made integrally with a second portion of the fastening means in a particularly advantageous manner, whereby the two portions of the fastening means are designed so that they bear upon each other. In addition to the advantage of further simplification of the manufacturing process in a one-piece design of the second portion of the fastening means and the cover, this embodiment also offers the advantage that the second portion of the fastening means enhances the first portion of the fastening means and its advantageous effects.
A simplification in fastening the electric connection cables by the fastening means as well as in the assembly of the cover is achieved through an advantageous further development of the invention whereby the fastening of the electric connection cables is effected solely by the closing of the cover. This simplified fastening of the electric connection cables enables the omission of certain assembly steps insofar as such steps are required with conventional fastening means, such as screw connections. Furthermore, accidental wrong installation of parts of the fastening means is avoided, as is failure to install them at all.
In an especially advantageous embodiment of the invention, the first and the second parts of the fastening means are made so as to receive a sleeve surrounding the electric cables in a positive manner, e.g., by means of grooves in the first and second parts of the fastening means adapted to grip the corrugated outer surface of the sleeve. Thus, any force acting on the connection cables as might occur with non-positive locking fastening means, e.g., in the form
Corcoran Thomas
Groger Jens
Kaess Harald
Krusel William
Risse Rainer
Proskauer Rose LLP
Thompson Gregory
WABCO GmbH
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