Steering device for a motor vehicle

Abstract

A steering device for a motor vehicle is specified, having a housing and having a liquid sensor, comprising at least two electrical conductors, and at least one bridging element that is movably mounted and that is in a first position in the absence of liquid and is in a second position in the presence of liquid, a flow of current between the at least two electrical conductors being prevented in one of the two positions, and a flow of current between the at least two electrical conductors being enabled in the other of the two positions, and a tripping element made of a liquid-absorbing material that expands upon contact with a liquid and thereby moves the bridging element into the second position, the liquid sensor being arranged at least partially inside the housing.

Claims

1. A steering device for a motor vehicle, having a hollow housing and having a liquid sensor, comprising at least two electrical conductors, and at least one bridging element that is movably mounted and that is in a first position in the absence of liquid and is in a second position in the presence of liquid, a flow of current between the at least two electrical conductors being prevented in one of the two positions, and a flow of current between the at least two electrical conductors being enabled in the other of the two positions, and a tripping element made of a liquid-absorbing material that expands upon contact with a liquid and thereby moves the bridging element into the second position, the liquid sensor being arranged at least partially inside the housing.

2. The steering device as defined in claim 1, wherein the liquid sensor comprises a spring element that applies a spring force to the bridging element in the direction of the first position, the spring element preferably being an electrical conductor for state sensing.

3. The steering device as defined in claim 2, wherein the spring element is embedded in the tripping element, in particular in the liquid-absorbing material.

4. The steering device as defined in claim 3, wherein the tripping element and/or the bridging element is disk-shaped.

5. The steering device as defined in claim 4, wherein the liquid sensor has a cage surrounding the tripping element, the tripping element being accommodated, in particular, in the cage.

6. The steering device as defined in claim 5, wherein the bridging element is positioned in the first position on the cage.

7. The steering device as defined in claim 1, wherein the liquid sensor comprises a contact cap, made of an electrically conductive material, that is in direct contact with one of the electrical conductors or realized integrally therewith, and the tripping element, upon the absorption of liquid, being able to press the bridging element against the contact cap.

8. The steering device as defined in claim 7 to each other by means of a flexible electrical conductor.

9. The steering device as defined in claim 8, wherein a contact tab, to which the flexible electrical conductor can be fastened, is provided on the bridging element.

10. The steering device as defined in claim 8, wherein the liquid sensor has an additional conductor element that electrically connects the bridging element, in the first position, to one of the electrical conductors, the conductor element being interrupted when the bridging element moves from the first position into the second position.

11. The steering device as defined in claim 10, wherein a test conductor is provided, the bridging element, in the first position, electrically connecting the test conductor and one of the at least two electrical conductors to each other.

12. The steering device as defined in claim 11, wherein the cage is in direct contact with the test conductor, or is formed integrally therewith.

13. The steering device as defined in claim 11, wherein the test conductor is a stamped part having a bent-up tab, the tab being in contact with the bridging element when the bridging element is in the first position, at least one cutout being provided in the tripping element, and the tab extending through the cutout.

14. The steering device as defined in claim 13, wherein, for the purpose of being fixed in place, the liquid sensor comprises a retainer that has an adhesive surface, a latching element or a thread.

15. The steering device as defined in claim 14, wherein the liquid sensor is arranged at the lowest point of the housing.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further advantages and features of the present disclosure are given by the following description and by the following drawings, to which reference is made. There are shown in the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a steering device according to the present disclosure, having a liquid sensor,

(3) FIG. 2 shows a liquid sensor for a steering device according to the present disclosure according to a first embodiment, in a non-tripped state,

(4) FIG. 3 shows the liquid sensor from FIG. 2, in a tripped state,

(5) FIG. 4 shows a first view of the liquid sensor from FIG. 2, in an exploded representation in each case,

(6) FIG. 5 shows a second view of the liquid sensor from FIG. 2, in an exploded representation in each case,

(7) FIG. 6 shows a further exploded representation of the liquid sensor from FIG. 2,

(8) FIG. 7 shows the liquid sensor from FIG. 2, in a perspective view,

(9) FIG. 8 shows a bottom view of the liquid sensor from FIG. 2,

(10) FIG. 9 shows a further liquid sensor for a steering device according to the present disclosure, in an exploded representation,

(11) FIG. 10 is a first view of an intermediate product in the production of the liquid sensor from FIG. 9.

(12) FIG. 11 is a second view of an intermediate product in the production of the liquid sensor from FIG. 9,

(13) FIG. 12 is a third view of an intermediate product in the production of the liquid sensor from FIG. 9,

(14) FIG. 13 is a fourth view of an intermediate product in the production of the liquid sensor from FIG. 9

(15) FIG. 14 shows a side view of the liquid sensor from FIG. 9,

(16) FIG. 15 shows the liquid sensor from FIG. 9, in the assembled state,

(17) FIG. 16 shows a bridging element of the liquid sensor according to FIG. 9, in a detail view,

(18) FIG. 17 shows a liquid sensor according to a further embodiment according to the present disclosure, in a non-tripped state,

(19) FIG. 18 shows the liquid sensor from FIG. 17, in a triggered state,

(20) FIG. 19 shows an exploded representation of the liquid sensor from FIGS. 17 and 18, and

(21) FIG. 20 shows a bottom view of the liquid sensor according to FIGS. 17 to 19.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(22) FIG. 1 shows a steering device 10 according to the present disclosure for a motor vehicle. The steering device 10 comprises a hollow housing 12, and a liquid sensor 14, which is mounted partially inside the housing 12.

(23) The presence of water or other liquid in the steering device 10 can be detected by means of the liquid sensor 14.

(24) For this purpose, the liquid sensor 14 is mounted at the lowest point in the housing 12, where liquid that has entered the steering device 10 collects.

(25) If water ingress has been ascertained, a warning signal is emitted to a vehicle passenger, with the instruction to visit a vehicle service station and/or to stop the vehicle.

(26) FIG. 2 shows a liquid sensor 14 according to a first embodiment, in a non-tripped state, i.e. in the absence of liquid. The liquid sensor 14 is suitable, in particular, for use in the steering device 10 according to the present disclosure.

(27) The liquid sensor 14 comprises two electrical conductors 16, 18 that can be connected to a circuit or controller, and a bridging element 20. The bridging element 20 may also be regarded as a switch that can open or close a current path between the electrical conductors 16, 18.

(28) The bridging element 20 is movably mounted. More precisely, the bridging element 20 is mounted so as to be displaceable in the liquid sensor 14.

(29) In the absence of liquid, the bridging element 20 is in a first position, as shown in FIG. 2, In the case of the embodiment represented, a flow of current between the at least two electrical conductors 16, 18 is prevented when the bridging element 20 is in the first position. In particular, the bridging element 20 is connected to one of the two electrical conductors 16 when the bridging element 20 is in the first position, and is spaced apart from the other electrical conductor 18.

(30) The first conductor 16 is, for example, a chassis ground contact, and the second conductor 18 is a signal contact.

(31) To enable the bridging element 20 to move from a first position into a second position, the first conductor 16 comprises a flexible electrical conductor 22. In the case of the embodiment represented in FIG. 2, the flexible electrical conductor 22 is a spring element 23, in particular a coil spring.

(32) The spring element 23 may exert a bias upon the bridging element 20 and hold it, with a defined force, in the first position.

(33) In the presence of liquid, the bridging element 20 is moved, in particular contrary to the biasing force of the spring 23, from the first position into a second position, which is shown in FIG. 3. In the second position, a flow of current is possible between the two electrical conductors 16, 18, since the bridging element 20 is electrically connected to the electrical conductor 18.

(34) In order to move the bridging element 20 from the first position into the second position, the liquid sensor 14 comprises a tripping element 24. The tripping element 24 is made of a liquid-absorbing material that expands upon contact with liquid. This is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, with FIG. 3 showing the tripping element 24 in an expanded state, in comparison with FIG. 2.

(35) In the exemplary embodiment shown, the flexible conductor 22 is embedded in the tripping element 24. When the bridging element 20 is displaced by the expansion of the tripping element 24, the flexible conductor 22 becomes stretched.

(36) In addition to the two electrical conductors 16, 18, the liquid sensor 14 comprises a test conductor 26, the bridging element 20, in the first position, electrically connecting the test conductor 26 and the electrical conductor 16 to each other. The test conductor 26 serves, by means of application of current to the liquid sensor 14, to ascertain whether the liquid sensor 14 is in working order.

(37) In order to guide the expansion of the tripping element 24 in a direction in a controlled manner, the liquid sensor 14 has a cage 28 surrounding the tripping element 24.

(38) The shape of the cage 28 can be seen in detail in FIGS. 4 and 5, which each show an exploded representation of the liquid sensor 14 represented in FIGS. 2 and 3. In particular, the cage 28 is in the shape of a cylindrical sleeve, having cutouts 30 through which liquid can reach the tripping element 24.

(39) In the exemplary embodiment represented, the cage 28 is realized integrally with the test conductor 26. However, the two components may also be realized separately from each other. In both cases the cage 28 and the test conductor 26 are connected to each other in an electrically conductive manner.

(40) When the bridging element 20 is in the first position, it rests on the cage 28. The bridging element 20 is thus in direct contact with the test conductor 26 if the latter is realized integrally with the cage 28.

(41) The spring element 23 in this case can apply a biasing force to the bridging element 20, toward the cage 28 and, in the absence of liquid, hold the bridging element 20 in bearing contact with the test conductor 26.

(42) The liquid sensor 14 furthermore comprises a contact cap 32, made of an electrically conductive material, that is in direct contact with the electrical conductor 18 or realized integrally therewith. The contact cap 32 closes off the liquid sensor 14 in one direction.

(43) The contact cap 32 likewise comprises cutouts 33 to enable liquid to enter the liquid sensor 14.

(44) When the tripping element 24 expands upon the absorption of liquid, the tripping element 24 presses the bridging element 20 against the contact cap 32, and thus establishes electrical contact between the bridging element 20 and the electrical conductor 18. In this state, which is illustrated in FIG. 3, a flow of current is possible between the two conductors 16, 18 via the bridging element 20.

(45) The possible current paths S1, S2 through the liquid sensor 14 are additionally illustrated in FIG. 6. The current path S1 is closed when the bridging element 20 is in the first position and runs, via the conductor 16 and the bridging element 20, to the test conductor 26. The current path S2 is closed when the bridging element 20 is in the second position and runs, via the conductor 6 and the bridging element 20, to the electrical conductor 18.

(46) The liquid sensor 14 is connected, for example, to a control unit, not represented, the control unit being able to ascertain, on the basis of the flow of current through the liquid sensor 14, i.e. through the electrical conductors 16, 18, whether or not water has entered the steering device 10.

(47) In order to fix the liquid sensor 14 to the housing 12 of the steering device 10, the liquid sensor 14 has a retainer 34. In the exemplary embodiment represented, the retainer 34 comprises a thread 36, by means of which the liquid sensor 14 can be directly screw-connected in the housing 12 of the steering device, as represented in FIG. 1.

(48) However, the retainer 34 may also have other fastening means, for example an adhesive surface or a latching element.

(49) It can be seen in FIG. 5 that the thread 36 is part of a threaded sleeve 38, the electrical conductors 16, 18, 26 extending through the threaded sleeve 38.

(50) To simplify the fitting of the liquid sensor 14, a hexagonal portion 39 is provided. In particular, this allows the liquid sensor 14 to be fitted by use of a hexagon wrench or other suitable tool.

(51) FIG. 7 shows the liquid sensor 14 from FIGS. 2 to 6, in a perspective view.

(52) FIG. 8 shows a cross section through the liquid sensor 14.

(53) The liquid sensor 14 can only be used once. Once the liquid sensor 14 has been tripped, it must be replaced.

(54) Illustrated in an exploded representation in FIG. 9 is a liquid sensor 14 for a steering device 10 according to the present disclosure, according to a further embodiment.

(55) In the following, the same reference numerals are used for identical structures, having identical functions, that are known from the above embodiment, and to that extent reference is made to the preceding explanations and, in order to avoid repetitions, the following explains the differences between the respective embodiments.

(56) The liquid sensor 14 as shown in FIG. 9 has a two-part housing 40, having a cover 56, and having a base part 57, in which inlet openings 42 are provided, through which liquid can enter the interior of the housing 40.

(57) Arranged on an inner base 44 of the housing 40 are an electrical conductor 16 and a test conductor 26, the conductors 16, 26 each respectively being embedded in a depression 46 in the inner base 44 of the housing 40. The depressions 46, however, are optional.

(58) The electrical conductor 16 and the test conductor 26 extend by a short distance out of the housing 40, as can be seen, for example in FIG. 14, in order to simplify electrical contacting of conductors 16, 26.

(59) Arranged on the inner base 44 of the housing 40 is a disk-shaped tripping element 24 made of a liquid-absorbing material, and resting thereon, in turn, in particular congruently, is a likewise disk-shaped bridging element 20. The tripping element 24 has a thickness of, for example, 10 mm, in particular 7 mm.

(60) Arranged in the tripping element 24 are two cutouts 48, via which the bridging element 20 can be in contact with the electrical conductors 16, 26 when the bridging element 20 is in the first position.

(61) For this purpose, the electrical conductor 16, which constitutes the chassis ground conductor, comprises a flexible electrical conductor 22, in particular a wire 50, which is fastened at one end to the bridging element 20 and remains in contact with the bridging element 20 even if the latter is moved into the second position.

(62) For this purpose, a tab 52, which is shown more clearly in FIGS. 13 and 15, is provided on the bridging element 20. The flexible electrical conductor 22 is fastened to the tab 52.

(63) The flexible electrical conductor 22 in this case extends through one of the cutouts 48 in the tripping element 24.

(64) In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 9, the test conductor 26 is a stamped part having a bent-up tab 54, the tab 54 likewise extending through one of the cutouts 48.

(65) A further electrical conductor 18, which constitutes the signal contact, is arranged on the cover 56 of the two-part housing 40, as can be seen in FIG. 10.

(66) FIGS. 10 to 13 each show intermediate products in the production of the liquid sensor 14.

(67) FIG. 14 shows the liquid sensor 14 from FIG. 9 in a side view, with the tripping element 24 and the cover 56 concealed for greater clarity of illustration. The fastening of the flexible electrical conductor 22 to the tab 52 of the bridging element 20, and the contact between the test conductor 26 and the bridging element 20, are thus more clearly visible in FIG. 13.

(68) In FIG. 14 the bridging element 20 is shown in the first position. In the presence of liquid, the bridging element 20 is lifted by the expanding tripping element 24 and pressed against an inner face of the cover 56, an electrical contact being established between the bridging element 20 and the electrical conductor 18, enabling the presence of liquid to be detected.

(69) The contact between the bridging element 20 and the test conductor 26 is broken as soon as the bridging element 20 is moved from the first position toward the second position.

(70) FIG. 15 shows the liquid sensor 14 from FIG. 9 in an assembled state. In this case, the cover 56 and the base part 57 are connected to each other by a clamping connection. This makes the liquid sensor 14 particularly easy to assemble. However, it is also possible for the cover 56 and the base part 57 to be glued together or screw-connected.

(71) FIG. 16 shows the bridging element 20 in a detail view. In particular, the tab 52 bent out of the bridging element 20 is clearly visible in FIG. 16.

(72) A further embodiment of a liquid sensor is illustrated in FIGS. 17 to 20.

(73) Unlike the previously explained embodiments, in the case of this embodiment the presence of liquid is ascertained on the basis of a broken electrical circuit.

(74) FIG. 17 shows the liquid sensor 14 in a non-tripped state. In this case, the bridging element 20 is in the first position.

(75) In this state, the bridging element 20 is connected to the electrical conductor 18, on the one hand, via a flexible electrical conductor 22, in particular a wire.

(76) In addition, the bridging element 20 is connected to the electrical conductor 16 via an additional conductor element 58. An end of the conductor element 58 that is spaced apart from the electrical conductor 18 is in this case fixedly connected to the bridging element 20.

(77) In the case of the state represented in FIG. 17, a flow of current is possible between the electrical conductors 16, 18. As along as this is the case, no significant ingress of water has occurred.

(78) FIG. 18 shows the liquid sensor 14 from FIG. 17 in a tripped state. In this case, the bridging element 20 has been moved into the second position by the expansion of the tripping element 24.

(79) The conductor element 58 has been interrupted by the movement of the bridging element 20 from the first position into the second position, such that, in the tripped state, a flow of current between the electrical conductors 16, 18 is prevented.

(80) For this purpose, the conductor element 58 has, for example, a region 62 of reduced strength. The region 62 may be a point or a section along the conductor element 58.

(81) In particular, the region 62 of reduced strength is such that current can reliably flow through the conductor element 58 when the bridging element 20 is in the first position, and the conductor element 58 can be interrupted so easily that the bridging element 20 is not restrained in the first position by the conductor element 58 upon expansion of the tripping element 24.

(82) The region 62 of reduced strength is, for example, a region in which a cross section of the conductor element 58 is reduced in comparison with the cross section in the rest of the conductor element 58, for example by means of a notch.

(83) The conductor element 58 in this case may be somewhat flexible, to the extent that a slight expansion of the tripping element 24 is possible without interrupting the flow of current. This prevents ingress of water being detected in the case of just very small amounts of water.

(84) It is also conceivable that the reduced strength is achieved in that the conductor element 58 is in two parts and, in order to create a closed circuit, the two parts 58a, 58b of the conductor element 58 only lie loosely against each other. In this case, however, the flow of current is interrupted even in the case of a slight expansion of the tripping element 24.

(85) FIG. 19 shows the liquid sensor 14 from FIGS. 17 and 18 in an exploded representation. This representation shows an insulation element 60, in which the electrical conductors 16, 18 are embedded, and thus insulated from each other.

(86) FIG. 20 shows a cross section through the liquid sensor 14 according to FIGS. 17 to 19.

(87) In the case of the embodiment according to FIGS. 17 to 20, the contact cap 32 does not necessarily have to be made of an electrically conductive material, since in the case of this embodiment it has a purely mechanical function. In particular, the contact cap 32 forms a stop for the bridging element 20 when the latter is in the second position.