Electrical connectors – Having resilient housing for sealing with coupled connector
Patent
1997-12-09
1999-06-15
Burr, Edgar
Electrical connectors
Having resilient housing for sealing with coupled connector
29622, 29745, 29747, H01R 1352
Patent
active
059115882
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to relays that are plugged into plug bases and, more specifically, to a combination relay and plug base whereby the connection between the relay and the plug base is waterproof and secure. In this context, relay is also understood to mean a so-called relay module, in which further circuit elements, such as resistors and diodes with the associated conductor tracks, are arranged in the housing in addition to the actual relay system.
A large number of possibilities have already been described for the sealing of relay housings, for example the potting of housing gaps with liquid and subsequently curable potting compound. It is also known (DE 43 37 505 C1) to coat wall regions between base or baseplate, on the one hand, and cap, on the other hand, with an elastomer layer using the two-component injection-molding process and thus to achieve the desired sealing when the housing parts are pressed onto one another.
If, however, a relay is inserted into a plug base, as is customary in motor vehicles, for example, then the plug connection between relay and plug base remains unprotected, even if the relay itself is sealed. Since such plug bases, particularly in the engine compartment of motor vehicles, are frequently exposed to severe fouling or moisture, it has been customary to date to insert additional sealing rings between relay and plug base in order to protect the plug connection.
EP 0 400 434 B1 furthermore discloses, for the connection of an electrical module, in particular of a relay, using an additional encasing housing, into which the relay is inserted. The encasing housing has a seal on two sides, namely, on the one hand, in the region of the plug connection, where a radial seal is provided in a region of overlap between plug base and encasing housing, and, on the other hand, on the opposite, open housing side, where a closure cover is tightly inserted by means of a sealing ring that is introduced. However, such an encasing housing causes a considerable additional outlay in terms of production and materials, quite apart from the large space requirement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a simple seal between a plug-in relay and the associated plug base, the seal requiring only slight structural changes and managing without additional individual parts, such as sealing rings and the like, during plug-in mounting.
According to the invention, this aim is achieved in that at least one of the two housings is composed of a dimensionally stable thermoplastic and, in an edge zone which faces the other housing and encloses the plug pins and plug-in openings, carries a sealing ring made of an elastomer and integrally formed in one piece, and in that the two housings are connected to one another in a positively locking and/or force locking manner by means of wall elements engaging one over the other, with elastic deformation of the sealing ring.
Since the housing caps of such relays and also the housings of plug holders are generally produced from a dimensionally stable thermoplastic material in any case, the additional integral forming of a thermoplastic, elastomeric sealing ring using the two-component injection-molding process causes only a slight additional outlay in terms of production. The respective other housing, in other words the one which does not carry the sealing ring, remains completely unchanged in any event. If the sealing ring is integrally formed on the plug base, the cap of the relay housing could even be composed of metal.
Depending on the individual conditions, the sealing ring may either be integrally formed on the relay cap and form its lower edge, or it may be recessed into the planar top side of the plug base opposite the edge of the relay cap. Alternatively, said ring may be integrally formed as a radial seal in the region of overlap between plug base and relay cap on one or the other part.
In an embodiment, the combination relay/plug base includes a relay with a
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Burr Edgar
Nolan, Jr. Charles H.
Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
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