ELECTRICAL CURRENT FEED-THROUGH

Abstract

A current feed-through for an electrically heatable catalytic converter, wherein the catalytic converter has in the interior thereof at least one electrical conductor, which is electrically contactable by the current feed-through, having a central electrically conductive element, which is guided from the interior of the catalytic converter through the outer housing wall thereof, having an electrical insulation layer, which surrounds the electrically conductive element on its radial outer face, and having a metallic sleeve, in which the electrically conductive element and the electrical insulation layer is received, wherein at the current feed-through or directly adjacently to the current feed-through there is arranged a device for reducing the heat conduction from the interior of the catalytic converter along the current feed-through to a contact face arranged outside the catalytic converter.

Claims

1. A current feed-through for an electrically heatable catalytic converter, wherein the catalytic converter has in the interior thereof at least one electrical conductor, which is electrically contactable by the current feed-through, the current feed-through comprising: a central electrically conductive element, which is guided from the interior of the catalytic converter through an outer housing wall of the catalytic converter; an electrical insulation layer which surrounds the central electrically conductive element on a radial outer face of the central electrically conductive element; a metallic sleeve in which the central electrically conductive element and the electrical insulation layer re received; and a device for reducing the heat conduction from the interior of the catalytic converter along the current feed-through to a contact face arranged outside the catalytic converter; wherein the device is arranged at the current feed-through or directly adjacent to the current feed-through;

2. The current feed-through of claim 1, the central electrically conductive element further comprising a pin.

3. The current feed-through of claim 1, the device further comprising at least one portion of reduced thermal conductivity at the electrically conductive element.

4. The current feed-through of claim 1, the device further comprising a heat shield.

5. The current feed-through of claim 4, wherein the heat shield is arranged on the outer side of the housing wall to shield the contact face.

6. The current feed-through of claim 4, wherein the heat shield is arranged on the inner side of the housing wall.

7. The current feed-through of claim 1, device further comprising an additional thermal mass, which is thermally connected to the current feed-through.

8. The current feed-through of claim 1, the device further comprising an individual cooling rib, which is thermally connected to the current feed-through.

9. The current feed-through of claim 1, the device further comprising a plurality of cooling ribs, which are thermally connected to the current feed-through.

10. The current feed-through of claim 1, the device further comprising a significantly reduced diameter, at least in some portions, of the central electrically conductive element.

11. The current feed-through of claim 1, the device further comprising an extended electrically conductive element.

12. The current feed-through of claim 1, the device further comprising a segment of the current feed-through in which a phase change of a material is executed in order to convert thermal energy.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] The invention will be discussed in more detail below on the basis of exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings. In the drawings:

[0026] FIG. 1 shows a view of a current feed-through with a heat shield,

[0027] FIG. 2 shows a view of a current feed-through with a diameter that is reduced in some portions, and

[0028] FIG. 3 shows a view of a current feed-through with a segment of reduced thermal conductivity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0029] The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.

[0030] FIG. 1 shows a current feed-through 1. This is formed from an electrically conductive pin 2, which is surrounded at least in some portions by an electrically non-conductive insulation layer 3. In the region of the insulation layer 3 there is additionally arranged a metallic sleeve 4, in which the electrically conductive pin 2 and the insulation layer 3 are received.

[0031] The right-hand end 5 of the pin 2 forms what is known as the hot end, which protrudes into the catalytic converter (not shown) and is in electrically conductive contact with the electrical conductor in the catalytic converter. The left end 6 forms what is known as the cold end, which forms the contact region outside the catalytic converter.

[0032] Furthermore, the heat shield 7 is seen, which is arranged on the side of the metal sleeve 4 and the insulation layer 3 facing the cold end 6. The heat shield 7 serves to reduce the heat radiation from the catalytic converter (not shown) and from the direction of the hot end 5 of the current feed-through 1. The heat shield 7 is formed for example by a metal sheet. Alternatively or additionally, it may also be a thermally insulating material.

[0033] FIG. 2 shows an alternative embodiment of the current feed-through 8, wherein the current feed-through 8 has a region of reduced diameter 9. For example, a material of low specific electrical resistance is used in this region 9, so that the same electrical conductivity is achieved, in spite of the modified diameter. The region of smaller diameter 9 is likewise arranged on the side of the current feed-through 8 facing the cold end 6. A further possibility here would be to save the material of the current feed-through 1 at a point 9 and to fill the created groove with an alternative material which has a lower thermal conductivity and an equivalent electrical conductivity.

[0034] FIG. 3 shows a further alternative embodiment of a current feed-through 10, wherein in this exemplary embodiment there is formed a segment 11 of reduced thermal conductivity. For this purpose, for example, a material deviating from the rest of the pin is used to produce this segment.

[0035] The different features of the individual exemplary embodiments may also be combined with one another. The exemplary embodiments in FIGS. 1 to 3 are not of a limiting nature and serve for illustrating the concept of the invention.

[0036] The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.