DE102016114453B4 - Enclosure for electrical equipment and method of making such an enclosure - Google Patents

Abstract

Housing (220) for an electrical device (222) of a motor vehicle (100), having:- a first housing part (224) which at least partially surrounds the electrical device (222);- a second housing part (226) which surrounds the electrical device (222) at least partially surrounds, and which together with the first housing part (224) forms a central cavity (230) for accommodating the electrical device (222), - a closed fluid duct (232) which encloses the central cavity (230) in the area of a joint edge (228) of the first housing part (224) with the second housing part (226),- a number of recesses (234) in the fluid-guiding channel (232), which form an opening from the central cavity (230) to the outside - at least one electrical conductor (110) extending outwardly from the central cavity (230) through the at least one recess (234); and - a sealing means (236) which is received in the fluid conducting channel (232) for fluid sealing of the housing (220), the sealing means (236) being in positive connection with the first housing part (224), the second housing part (226) and the at least one electrical conductor (110), characterized in that the first and/or second housing part (224, 226) has a metallic layer as a diffusion barrier and/or ESD protection, the edge of which extends to the fluid guide channel ( 232) comes close.

Description

technical field

The present invention relates to a housing for an electrical device such as a power distributor or a control device for a motor vehicle and a method for producing such a housing.

State of the art

The present invention is explained below mainly in connection with power distributors, control devices and fuse boxes in motor vehicles. It goes without saying, however, that the present invention can be used in any application in which electrical lines are routed into a sealed housing, in particular when it comes to flat conductors, rails or sealing plugs.

The sealing of thin, wide rectangular geometries in the separation area of a housing (upper part to lower part) against water ingress (e.g. submersion tightness up to 300 mm water column for 30 minutes) in the interior of the housing is a function that is difficult to master given the current state of the art. Current solutions with sealing beads, complete encapsulation of the interior or similar are usually technically complex, expensive or not very robust.

An example is in the German utility model specification DE 20 2013 010 542 U1 to be found, which describes a housing with a plastic insert to protect electronics or other sensitive components from external mechanical or chemical influences.

the DE 10 2004 033 559 A1 discloses a sealing of a controller. the DE 103 40 974 A1 discloses a control unit and a method of manufacturing the same. the DE 10 2013 226 538 B4 discloses a housing for an electronic circuit arrangement and its manufacture. the DE 10 2013 225 442 A1 discloses a housing for electronic circuitry and its sealing. the U.S. 3,578,933 A discloses a corrosion resistant housing.

Description of the invention

It is therefore an object of the invention to create a seal for a housing for an electrical device with corresponding inlet and outlet lines using means that are as simple as possible in terms of construction.

The object is solved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims, the description and the accompanying figures.

A housing according to the invention for an electrical device of a motor vehicle consists of a first housing part and a second housing part. Each housing part at least partially surrounds the electrical device. Together, the first and second housing parts create a central cavity in which the electrical device is arranged. The electrical device is electrically coupled to at least one electrical conductor.

A closed fluid guide channel is formed in the housing. The fluid conducting channel encloses the central cavity. In this case, the fluid-guiding channel is arranged in the area of a joining edge of the two housing halves. A number of recesses are provided in the fluid-guiding channel, which create a breakthrough from the central cavity to the outside. In this case, the at least one electrical conductor is routed through the cutout and extends outwards from the central cavity through the cutout in the fluid duct. In a preferred embodiment, at least two recesses and at least two electrical conductors are provided. For fluid sealing of the housing, a sealant is provided which fills the fluid duct. In this case, the sealing means is in a form-fitting connection both with the first housing part, the second housing part and with the at least one electrical conductor.

The housing is essentially made in two parts. It is preferably made of a plastic such as a duroplastic or thermoplastic material. Alternatively, the housing can also be made of polyurethane, a metal, for example aluminum, gray cast iron or die-casting, or of sintered material, such as ceramics. Other materials are also conceivable if a corresponding fluid guide channel can be formed. A fluid guide channel can be understood to mean a receptacle for a sealing device or seal. The fluid conducting channel can be designed similar to a pipe or a shaft. The sealant is initially liquid or, better yet, viscous and therefore has fluid properties. Advantageously, the sealant can be injected into the fluid duct or run into it and fill it up completely. The viscosity of the sealant is to be selected so that the sealant from any production technology or tolerance-related gaps between the housing halves or in the Area of the recesses or between the electrical conductor and the housing halves, little or no flow to the outside or into the central cavity during the manufacturing process.

Advantageously, fundamental difficulties in sealing complex geometries such as edges or longer straight sections can be robustly overcome. The electrical conductor can thus essentially have a rectangular or oval cross-sectional geometry. It is advantageous that no separate sealing parts are required, which means that cost advantages can be achieved. The sealant can be applied using commercially available dosing systems.

In a preferred embodiment, the sealant is flowable at the time of assembly and then hardens. For example, the sealant used here varies in viscosity from the time of manufacture to the finished product. The sealant can be a two-component material. The sealant can be, for example, a silicone, an adhesive, a PU foam or the like. The properties of a casting compound as a sealant depend on the viscosity required for the geometry (i.e. the flow calculation), the material and the surface of the busbars, the operating temperature and the material of the housing parts.

The sealant can be a foamed, second plastic. In a preferred embodiment, a polyurethane potting compound is used as a sealant. Furthermore, the sealant can contain at least 50 percent by volume of silicone. When using silicone as a sealant, it can be particularly advantageous if the sealant contains at least 80 percent by volume silicone.

It is also advantageous if the housing parts are made from a first plastic. In this way, the housing parts can be produced in a particularly cost-efficient manner. In particular, the housing parts can be manufactured as an injection molded thermoplastic, such as PA6 GF30.

The electrical conductor can have a substantially rectangular cross-sectional geometry. It can be a flat conductor or a busbar. In this case, the electrical conductor can be contour-shaped. The electrical conductor can thus have a wavy shape or an essentially rectangular shape. The ratio of width (b) to height (h) can be at least 2:1, in particular at least 5:1, in particular at least 10:1, in particular at least 20:1. The height is to be understood here as the thickness of the electrical conductor. Alternatively, the electrical conductor can also be designed as a sealing plug in the area of the fluid-guiding channel. As already explained in part, the sealant nestles particularly well against the corners and in the central areas of the long rectangular side of the electrical conductor, in comparison to conventional sealing bodies, without pressing geometries that are difficult to find.

It is also favorable if, in one embodiment, at least one sealing wall is formed at the edge of the cutout perpendicular to the fluid duct. The sealing wall is then essentially in contact with the electrical conductor. The wall thickness of the side wall delimiting the fluid duct is increased by the sealing wall. This advantageously reduces the risk of the sealant escaping inwards into the central cavity or outwards during introduction, since this would have to flow through a longer gap and a greater counterforce would therefore act on the sealant. The sealing wall can be arranged perpendicular to the outside or in the direction of the central cavity. In order to increase the positive effect, an adjacent sealing wall can be provided on all four sides in the case of a rectangular flat conductor.

At least one mounting lug can be formed on the first and additionally or alternatively on the second housing part. A mounting lug can be understood to mean a mounting tab or a fastening eye. The mounting lug is used to attach the housing or the electrical conductor, for example in a motor vehicle. The mounting lug is advantageously arranged parallel to the electrical conductor in order to additionally support it. In particular, a mounting opening in the form of an opening can also be provided in the mounting lug and if this is arranged parallel to the electrical conductor. If an opening is also provided in the electrical conductor, it should overlap with the opening in the mounting lug. In addition, an electrical connection between a line and the electrical conductor can be established here, for example using a cable lug.

According to the invention, a diffusion barrier and additionally or alternatively ESD protection are provided in the housing by means of a metallic layer, in particular in the form of a film. For this purpose, a metallic layer is then provided in the housing parts, so that in particular the pressure tightness for gases is increased and electromagnetic radiation is shielded.

To form the fluid duct, the housing parts can be double-walled in the area of the joining edge, with the fluid duct being formed between the two walls of the double wall. Thus, one housing part can be double-walled in the area of the joining edge and the other housing part can close the fluid-guiding channel as a kind of cover. In this way, the fluid guide channel for the sealant can be formed in a particularly simple and cost-effective manner.

An electrical or electronic device is arranged within the housing. This is usually contacted via at least two electrical conductors. The joining edge of the two housing parts advantageously runs parallel or in a plane spanned by the electrical conductor or conductors. A partial area of the at least one electrical conductor in the area of the feedthrough through the fluid duct is to be considered.

The two housing halves are connected to one another, for example by means of latching, screwing, casting or gluing. In a preferred exemplary embodiment, the two housing halves are connected to one another via at least one snap-in connection. The latching connection can alternatively be non-releasable to prevent manipulation or non-destructively releasable, for example for testing or repair purposes.

The snap-in connection can be formed by a snap-in profile that is essentially circumferential. A peripheral locking profile can be partially interrupted, for example in the area of corners or curves, in order to compensate for tolerances. To optimize installation space, a first latching element can be formed within the structure for the fluid guide channel of the first housing half. The counter-locking element can be formed in the second housing part and, in the assembled state, can engage in the structure of the fluid-guiding channel in order to establish the locking connection.

Alternatively, the latching connection can be formed by a plurality of latching elements of one housing part and a plurality of counter-latching elements of the other housing part. Thus, latching lugs can be provided on the outer contour, which engage over an edge as a counter-latching element of the corresponding housing half and latch there.

In order to improve the tightness of the housing by better bonding of the sealant to the housing parts or the electrical conductor, microstructuring or a measure that increases the surface tension, such as plasma treatment, corona treatment or primer treatment, can be provided on a surface that comes into contact with the sealant . The microstructuring creates a connection-supporting property of the housing or the electrical conductor in relation to the sealant. A microstructuring can thus be formed on a surface in the region of the fluid conducting channel. The sealant is advantageously in a positive connection with the microstructuring. The microstructuring can increase the roughness of the surfaces mentioned. This can be regularly structured in the form of grooves or grooves, or it can be more or less random. The microstructuring can be produced, for example, by means of laser ablation.

In order to introduce the sealant, a filler neck connected to the fluid duct can be provided on one of the housing parts. In addition, at least one riser can be formed on one of the housing parts. The position of the filler neck and, additionally or alternatively, the riser is preferably determined on the basis of a flow simulation. For reasons of simplification, only one filler neck is optimally provided. According to a calculation of the flow simulation, there can be one or more risers. Preferably, filler necks or risers may be located in or adjacent to a kinked area of the fluid conducting channel.

Furthermore, a sealing element can be arranged in the area of the recess. The sealing element can be a soft component. In this case, the sealing element can be formed from the first plastic or, alternatively, from a third plastic that is different from the sealing means. The sealing element supports a sealing of the fluid conducting channel to form a seal by means of the sealant. Furthermore, a sealing element supports an assembly tolerance compensation of the recess and at least partially closes it.

The inventive idea can also be implemented in a manufacturing process in which a variant of a housing described above is manufactured.

In one embodiment, an electrical device such as a power distributor or a fuse for a motor vehicle is provided in a first step. The electrical device has at least one electrical conductor. Two housing halves are arranged around this, forming a central cavity in which the electrical device is arranged and a fluid-guiding channel. The fluid guide channel is interrupted by at least one recess. The electrical conductor is routed through this recess, so that it is routed outwards from the central cavity. Finally, a sealant is introduced into the fluid duct to seal off the central cavity from the outside.

character list

• 1 eine schematische Darstellung eines Stromverteilers in einem Bordnetz eines Kraftfahrzeuges gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel der vorliegenden Erfindung;
• 2a eine vereinfachte dreidimensionale Darstellung eines Gehäuses gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel der vorliegenden Erfindung;
• 2b eine vereinfachte dreidimensionale Darstellung des in 2 gezeigten Gehäuses ohne Deckel;
• 2c eine schematische Schnittdarstellung eines Gehäuses gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiels der vorliegenden Erfindung;
• 2d einen Ausschnitt einer Schnittdarstellung eines Gehäuses gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiels der vorliegenden Erfindung;
• 3a eine Aufsicht des in 2a gezeigten Gehäuses;
• 3b eine Seitenansicht des in 2a gezeigten Gehäuses;
• 4a eine Schnittdarstellung an der mit AA gekennzeichneten Schnittlinie des in 3a dargestellten Gehäuses;
• 4b eine Schnittdarstellung an der mit BB gekennzeichneten Schnittlinie des in 3a dargestellten Gehäuses;
• 5 eine Schnittdarstellung eines Gehäuses gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel der vorliegenden Erfindung;
• 6 Eine Explosionsdarstellung des in 5 gezeigten Gehäuses;
• 7a - 7e Schnittdarstellungen zur Illustration von Montageschritten des in 5 gezeigten Gehäuses; und
• 8 ein Ablaufplan eines Verfahrens zum Herstellen eines der in den vorangegangenen Figuren gezeigten Gehäuses gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel der vorliegenden Erfindung.

An advantageous exemplary embodiment of the invention is explained below with reference to the accompanying figures. Show it:

• 1 a schematic representation of a current distributor in a vehicle electrical system of a motor vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention;
• 2a a simplified three-dimensional representation of a housing according to an embodiment of the present invention;
• 2 B a simplified three-dimensional representation of the in 2 housing shown without cover;
• 2c a schematic sectional view of a housing according to an embodiment of the present invention;
• 2d a detail of a sectional view of a housing according to an embodiment of the present invention;
• 3a a supervision of the in 2a housing shown;
• 3b a side view of the in 2a housing shown;
• 4a a sectional view at the section line marked AA of the in 3a housing shown;
• 4b a sectional view at the section line marked BB of the in 3a housing shown;
• 5 a sectional view of a housing according to an embodiment of the present invention;
• 6 An exploded view of the in 5 housing shown;
• 7a - 7e Sectional views to illustrate the assembly steps of the in 5 housing shown; and
• 8th a flow chart of a method for producing one of the housings shown in the previous figures according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The figures are only schematic representations and only serve to explain the invention. Elements that are the same or have the same effect are provided with the same reference symbols throughout.

1 shows a schematic representation of a motor vehicle 100 with a vehicle electrical system 102. The vehicle electrical system includes a battery 104, a current distributor 106 and two loads 108, which are connected via electrical conductors 110. In one embodiment, the power distributor 106 additionally includes passive or active fuses. In a further exemplary embodiment, these are designed as electronic fuses.

The loads 108 shown here are to be seen as examples and represent a large number of electrical consumers. In this case, the electrical conductor 110 between the battery 104 and the current distributor 106 is in the form of a busbar which, as a metallic flat conductor, has a rectangular cross section.

The figures 2a until 2d 12 show variants of a first exemplary embodiment of a housing 220 of the present invention. In the simplified three-dimensional representation in 2a a housing 220 for an electrical device in a motor vehicle is shown. The electrical device can, for example, be a variant of an in 1 act shown current distributor 106.

The essentially cuboid housing comprises a first housing part 224 and a second housing part 226 which are joined together at a joining edge 228 . Three recesses 234 are formed in the housing 220, one on each of three different sides of the housing 220. An electrical conductor 110 in the form of flat conductor rails is guided through the recesses 234 in each case.

A filler neck 242 and a riser 244 are formed on each of two opposite corners of the second housing part 226, which are equipped with an in 2a not visible fluid guide channel 232 for a sealant 236 are connected. The sealant can be filled in or, better, injected, via the filler neck 242; the riser 244 allows air to escape, so that all cavities in the fluid guide channel can be filled by the sealant.

Abutting against the electrical conductors, sealing walls 246 and a mounting lug 248 for each recess 234 are formed perpendicularly on the outer walls of the housing adjacent to the recesses 234 . The mounting lug 248 is arranged below the electrical conductor 110 in the illustration and is designed to support it. The mounting lug 248 and two of them are connected ßende and perpendicular to the mounting lug 248 and to the side wall of the housing 220 standing sealing walls 246 are formed on the first housing part 224. A third sealing wall 246 for each electrical conductor is formed on the second housing part 226 , the third sealing wall 246 being U-shaped and perpendicular to the corresponding side wall of the housing 220 . The two legs of the U are in contact with the other two sealing walls 246 and the base of the U nestles against the electrical conductor 110 .

A mounting opening 250 in the form of an opening 250 or a borehole is provided in one of the electrical conductors 110 and the associated mounting lug 248 . The assembly opening is provided for a line connection, for example via a cable lug. The housing 220 can optionally be screwed to a motor vehicle via this. The screw connection can also be used to attach a cable lug or similar, so that a dual function can be implemented.

2 B shows the housing 220 without the second housing part 226 acting as a cover. The already mentioned fluid guide channel 232 and the central cavity 230 can now be clearly seen. An electrical device to which the three electrical conductors 110 would be connected is not shown.

The three electrical conductors 110 span a plane to which the in 2a shown joining edge 228 is aligned parallel. In an exemplary embodiment that is not shown, the joining edge 228 lies precisely in this plane spanned by the electrical conductors.

Additionally is in 2 B an identification of the geometric cross sections of the electrical conductors 110 with width b and height h indicated. The narrowest of the three electrical conductors shown has a width to height ratio of approximately 10:1, the middle one has a ratio of approximately 20:1 and the widest of the three electrical conductors 110 has a ratio of approximately 30:1. In other words, the sealing method shown is particularly suitable if the electrical conductor has a cross-sectional shape that leads to sealing pressure jumps, such as a square, rectangular or oval cross-section.

The first housing half 110 is double-walled in the area of the fluid-guiding channel. The first half of the housing thus creates three delimiting side walls of the fluid guide channel 232, which is essentially square in cross section. The missing fourth side wall of the fluid guide channel 232 is replaced by the in 2a illustrated second housing part 236 is formed.

In 2 B a latching profile without an associated reference number can already be seen on the outer side walls of the fluid-guiding channel 232, which are arranged inside the fluid-guiding channel 232. In this way, as will be explained later, installation space can be saved.

In the simplified sectional views in 2c and 2d Illustrated are further aspects in accordance with the present invention. In 2c An electrical conductor 110 is shown attached to an electrical device 222 as it provides an electrical connection from the central cavity 230 to the outside. The housing parts 224, 226 are double-walled in the region of the fluid duct 232, with the side walls of the first housing part 224 forming the fluid duct 232 overlapping with the side walls of the second housing part 226 forming the fluid duct 232. A sealant 236 is arranged inside the fluid-guiding channel 232 .

In one exemplary embodiment, the sealant 236 is a viscous mass which then hardens. The viscosity is selected in such a way that the mass is well distributed in the fluid guide channel 232, but does not or only slightly penetrates through the unavoidable joining slots into the central cavity 230 or to the outside.

By using sealing elements made of, for example, a 2K material or rubber in the area of the recess, the joining slots can be reduced and thus a sealant with a lower viscosity can be used.

2d shows a section of the passage of an electrical conductor 110 through a fluid duct 232, with both the surface of the housing parts 224, 226 facing the fluid duct and the electrical conductor 110 in the area of the fluid duct having a microstructuring 238, 240 in order to to improve the sealing effect. When using essentially silicone as the sealant 236, this is less necessary than when using PU foam or the like. The question of the need for an adhesion-improving treatment of the surface by microstructuring 238, 240 to improve the tightness can only be answered experimentally in some cases. Other methods for improving adhesion or increasing the surface tension are also conceivable here.

3a shows a supervision and 3b a side view of the in 2a and 2 B already illustrated embodiment of the present invention. Sections AA and BB shown in plan are in the following 4a and 4b shown. The design of the mounting lug 248 and in particular the design of the latching connection 350 based on a preferred exemplary embodiment.

In the supervision in 3a the U-shaped sealing walls 246 formed on the second housing part are clearly visible. In the side view in 3b It can be seen that the mounting lug 248 together with the two sealing walls 246 formed on the first housing part forms a U in which the electrical conductor 110 is arranged. The sealing walls 246 and the mounting lug(s) 248 reduce or even completely prevent the viscous sealant from escaping. This is a combination of the geometric relationships, tolerances and the viscosity of the sealant at the time it is filled into the fluid conducting channel 232.

The sectional view in 4a shows the section marked AA from the top view in 3a . In both housing halves 224, 226, a section is formed with a double wall in order to form the fluid-conducting channel 232. In the case of the first housing part 224, the fluid conducting channel 232 forms a bulge from the central cavity 230 outwards. A mounting lug 248 is formed essentially perpendicular to an outer wall of the fluid conducting channel 232 and extends away from the housing 220 essentially parallel to the electrical conductor 110 extends. A distance of the order of half the thickness (height h) of the electrical conductor 110 is provided between the electrical conductor 110 and the mounting lug 248 . Comparable to the mounting lug 248 , a sealing wall 246 is formed on the second housing part 226 in the region of the side walls forming the fluid duct 232 , which sealing wall bears against the electrical conductor 110 . The side walls that form the fluid duct 232, or the double-walled side wall of the second housing part 226 that forms in the area of the fluid duct 232 and forms it, is arranged relative to the first housing part 224 in such a way that the side walls of the second housing part 226 that form the fluid duct 232 are in the mounted position State within the fluid guide channel 232 or within the central cavity 230 are arranged.

The sectional view in 4b shows the section marked BB from the top view in 3a . The section runs through a wall section without an electrical conductor 110, as a result of which the snap-in connection 350 can be clearly seen. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the latching connection 350 is formed by an essentially peripheral latching profile 352 . The locking profile 352 is formed on the straight sections of the housing, whereas it is interrupted in the corners. Latching connection 350 is formed by a first latching element 352, which is formed on a side wall of the wall section forming fluid duct 232 on first housing part 224, and a second latching element 354, which is formed as a counter-latching element 354 on a side wall of the wall section forming fluid duct 232 is formed on the second housing part 226 is formed. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the latching elements are designed as prismatic projections on the side walls, so that assembly and disassembly is possible. The prismatic projections have an angle between 10° and 80°, preferably an angle between 15° and 45°, particularly advantageously an angle between 18° and 30°. In this case, the leg required for assembly can have a different angle from the leg required for holding. In an exemplary embodiment that is not shown, the leg required for holding has an angle of more than 80°, in particular an angle of more than 90°. As a result, the latching elements 354, 356 hook into one another and non-destructive disassembly can be prevented in a simple manner.

The lower first housing part 224 in the illustration is double-walled in the area of the fluid-guiding channel 232 . The outwardly directed side wall is designed so as to protrude outwards from the housing structure. The first latching element 354 is oriented inwardly on the outer side wall. The upper second housing part 226 in the illustration is designed as a cover for the housing 220 . Three substantially parallel wall sections are formed on the second housing part 226 as counter elements to the side walls of the double-walled housing section of the first housing part 224 that partially form the fluid duct 232 . A second latching element 356 is formed on a first side wall of the second housing part 226 . The inner side wall of the first housing part 224, which partially forms the fluid duct, is bordered on both sides by two side walls of the second housing part 226.

5 shows a sectional view of a housing according to a further embodiment of the present invention. A sealing element 560 is arranged here at least in the area of the recess 234 as a special, optional feature. The sealing element 560 is preferably an element made of plastic, for example. The sealing element 560 is used for sealing and as tolerance compensation. In this way, a design-related or production-related opening is closed before a low-viscosity sealant 236, for example, is filled in. The following figures also show that the filler necks and risers are thus dispensed with as an alternative method of applying the sealant can be used.

6 shows an exploded view of the in 5 housing shown. Here, the sealant 236 ', 236''shown as a two-part component, since it, as from 7a until 7e is introduced in two work steps. As a rule, however, it will combine to form a “component” and enclose the electrical conductors 110 in one piece. This in 5 until 7 The housing shown is similar to the previously described and shown embodiment, with the difference that, for example, when using a low-viscosity sealant 236, an additional sealing element 560 is provided, which is arranged at least in the area of the recesses. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the sealing element 560 is designed as a double-walled frame and is arranged in the fluid-guiding channel 232 .

With a correspondingly thixotropic sealant 236, as shown and explained in the previous exemplary embodiments, the additional sealing element 560 can be dispensed with and a corresponding cost advantage can be used.

7a until 7e show sectional views to illustrate the assembly steps of the in 5 and 6 housing shown. In a first step, the first housing part 224 is provided ( 7a ). A sealant 236' is then introduced into the fluid-guiding channel or, more precisely, in the area of the fluid-guiding channel 232, which already prevents a fluid from flowing out without the intervention of the second housing part 226 ( 7b ). In a next work step, the electrical conductors 110 are arranged, usually together with the electrical device 222 electrically coupled to the electrical conductors ( 7c ). The at least one sealing element 560 is now arranged and a second part of the sealant 236'' is filled in ( 7d ). Finally, the fluid guide channel 232 and the housing 220 are closed by means of the second housing part 226 .

A method for manufacturing a housing shown in the previous figures according to an embodiment of the present invention is in 8th shown as a general flow chart. For ease of reference, the reference numerals introduced in the previous figures will continue to be used here, even if 8th shows only four method steps S1, S2, S3, S4. Contrary to what is shown, individual method steps can be carried out in parallel or in a different order.

According to the 8th In the variant of the manufacturing method shown, an electrical device 222 is provided in a first step S1. In the subsequent step S2, a first housing part 224 and a second housing part 226 are arranged in such a way that the housing parts 224, 226 individually at least partially surround the electrical device 222 and that the two housing parts 224, 226 together form a central cavity 230 for accommodating the electrical Form device 222 and form a common closed fluid guide channel 232, which encloses the central cavity 230 in the region of a joint edge 228 of the first housing part 224 with the second housing part 226. The fluid-guiding channel has a number of recesses 234, which form an opening outward from the central cavity 230 for the passage of an electrical conductor (110) in each case. In a further step S3, the at least one electrical conductor 110 is arranged in such a way that it extends from the central cavity 230 through the at least one recess 234 to the outside. Step S2 can of course also be carried out before step S2. In a final step S4, a sealant 236 is introduced into the fluid duct 232 to seal off the cavity 230 from the atmosphere surrounding the housing 220.

In an alternative variant, a first housing part 224 is provided in a first step in order to introduce a first part of the sealant into the part of the fluid conducting channel 232 that is already in the first housing part 224 in the subsequent step. In the step that now follows, the electrical device 222 and at least one electrical conductor 110 are arranged in such a way that the electrical device 222 is arranged in the cavity that is formed later and the at least one electrical conductor 110 is guided through a protrusion 234. A step of introducing the sealant 236 onto the sealant 236 that has already been introduced now follows again, before the second housing part 226 is provided and arranged in a last step. After arranging the second housing part 226, both housing parts 224, 226 jointly create the fluid-guiding channel 232 in which the sealing means 236 is arranged. The cavity is thus fluid and/or gas-tight with respect to the atmosphere.

reference list

100

motor vehicle

102

electrical system

104

battery

106

Power distributor, safety device, control electronics

108

load

110

electrical conductor, conductor rail

220

Housing

222

electrical facility

224

first housing part

226

second housing part

228

joining edge

230

central cavity

232

fluid guide channel

234

recess

236

sealant

238

microstructuring

240

microstructuring

242

filler neck

244

riser

246

sealing wall

248

mounting nose

250

Assembly opening, breakthrough

b

Broad

H

Height

350

snap connection

352

locking profile

354

first locking element

356

second locking element, counter-locking element

560

sealing element

S1

Provide

S2

arrange

S3

arrange

S4

bring in

Claims (18)

Housing (220) for an electrical device (222) of a motor vehicle (100), having: - a first housing part (224) which at least partially surrounds the electrical device (222); - a second housing part (226) which at least partially surrounds the electrical device (222) and which, together with the first housing part (224), forms a central cavity (230) for accommodating the electrical device (222), - a closed fluid Guide channel (232), which encloses the central cavity (230) in the region of a joint edge (228) of the first housing part (224) with the second housing part (226), - a number of recesses (234) in the fluid guide channel (232), forming an aperture outwardly from the central cavity (230); - At least one electrical conductor (110) extending from the central cavity (230) through the at least one recess (234) to the outside; and - a sealing means (236) which is accommodated in the fluid conducting channel (232) for fluid sealing of the housing (220), the sealing means (236) being in positive connection with the first housing part (224), the second housing part (226) and the at least one electrical conductor (110), characterized in that - the first and/or second housing part (224, 226) has a metallic layer as a diffusion barrier and/or ESD protection, the edge of which extends to the fluid guide channel ( 232) comes close. Housing (220) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the sealant (236) is flowable at the time of assembly and then hardens. Housing (220) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first housing part (224) and/or the second housing part (226) is made from a first plastic, in particular an injection-molded thermoplastic. Housing (220) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electrical conductor (110) has a substantially rectangular cross-sectional geometry, in particular the ratio of width (b) to height (h) being at least 2: 1, in particular at least 5: 1, in particular at least 10:1, in particular at least 20:1. Housing (220) according to any one of the preceding claims 2 until 4 , characterized in that at the edge of the at least one recess (234) at least one sealing wall (246) is formed perpendicular to the fluid guide channel (232), which rests on the electrical conductor (110). Housing (220) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a mounting lug (248) is formed on the first and/or second housing part (224, 226) and is arranged parallel to the electrical conductor (110), preferably in the electrical conductor (110) and in the mounting lug (248) an overlapping mounting opening (250) for fastening the electrical conductor (110) and the housing (220). Housing (220) according to any one of the preceding claims any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first and/or the second housing part (224, 226) is double-walled in order to form the fluid-guiding channel (232) in the area of the joining edge (228). Housing (220) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first and second housing parts (224, 226) are joined together in such a way that their joining edges (228) are essentially parallel to one of the electrical conductors (110) routed through the recess spanned level run. Housing (220) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first housing part (224) and the second housing part (226) are joined together by means of a latching connection (350). Housing (220) according to claim 9 , characterized in that the latching connection (350) is formed by an essentially peripheral latching profile (352), in particular wherein a first latching element (354) is formed within the structure of the first housing half (224) for the fluid guide channel (232) and a second latching element (356) is designed as a counter-latching element of the second housing part (226) and thus engages in the structure for the fluid guide channel (232). Housing (220) according to claim 9 , characterized in that the latching connection (350) is formed by a plurality of latching elements (354) of one housing part (224) and a plurality of counter-latching elements (356) of the other housing part (226). Housing (220) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that on at least one surface of the electrical conductor (110) and/or the first housing half (224) and/or the second housing half (226) in the region of the fluid duct (232 ) a microstructure (238) is formed, wherein the sealant (236) is in a positive connection with the microstructure (238). Housing (220) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the housing parts (224, 226) has a molded-on filler neck (242) connected to the guide channel (232) for introducing the sealant (236). Housing (220) according to Claim 13 , characterized in that the filler neck (242) is arranged in a bend area of the fluid guide channel (232), and that in one of the housing parts (224, 226) at least one riser (244) connected to the fluid guide channel is arranged and formed . Housing (220) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sealing means (236) is a foamed, second plastic and/or has at least 50 percent by volume silicone. Housing (220) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sealing means (236) is a polyurethane potting compound. Housing (220) according to any one of the preceding claims 3 until 16 , characterized in that at least in the region of the at least one recess (234) there is a sealing element (560) made of a third plastic that is different from the first plastic and/or from the sealing means (236), which as a seal and/or to compensate for assembly tolerances the at least one recess (234) at least partially closes. Method for producing a housing (220) for an electrical device (222) of a motor vehicle (100), with the following steps: - providing (S1) the electrical device (222); - Arranging (S2) a first housing part (224) and a second housing part (226) so that each housing part (224, 226) at least partially surrounds the electrical device (222) and that the two housing parts (224, 226) together have a central cavity (230) for accommodating the electrical device (222) and form a common closed fluid duct which encloses the central cavity (230) in the region of a joint edge (228) of the first housing part (224) and the second housing part (226), and which has a number of recesses (234) in the area of the fluid-guiding channel (232), which form a breakthrough from the central cavity (230) to the outside; - Arranging (S3) at least one electrical conductor (110) so that it extends outwards from the central cavity (230) through the at least one recess (234); - Introduction (S4) of a sealant into the fluid guide channel (232) for fluid sealing of the housing (220), the sealant (236) being in a positive connection with the first housing part (224), the second housing part (226) and the at least one electrical conductor (110); and - attaching a metallic layer as a diffusion barrier and/or ESD protection to the first and/or second housing part (224, 226), wherein the Edge of the metallic layer up to the fluid guide channel (232).

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