SEALING ELEMENT FOR A PRESSURE SENSOR ASSEMBLY FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE AND PRESSURE SENSOR ASSEMBLY

Abstract

The invention relates to a sealing element (1) for a pressure sensor assembly (2) for a motor vehicle for crash detection with a pressure sensor unit (12) inside an assembly housing, wherein the pressure sensor unit (12) comprises a sensing element arranged inside a pressure sensor housing (11) for detecting an air pressure, and wherein the pressure sensor housing (11) has a pressure supply opening (13) for supplying the air pressure from a pressure inlet of the assembly housing to the sensing element. The sealing element (1) can be arranged between the pressure sensor housing (11) and an assembly housing wall, in order to seal the pressure supply opening (13) in relation to the inside of the assembly house, in such a way that the sealing element (1) encloses the pressure supply opening (13) and fluidically connects the pressure inlet with the pressure supply opening (13), wherein the sealing element (1) has a through-recess (3) running in an axial direction and a main body (4) having an outer wall (5) and an inner wall (6) surrounding the through-recess (3), as well as having a lower axial end (7) and an upper axial end (8), wherein the inner wall (6) of the main body (4) has a first wall section (9) widening towards the lower axial end (7), wherein the lower axial end (7) of the main body (4) faces the pressure sensor housing (11) in the assembled state, and wherein the first wall section (9) forms a contact surface (10) for contact with the pressure sensor housing (11), on which at least sections of the pressure sensor housing (11) rest in the assembled state. The invention also relates to a pressure sensor assembly (2) comprising a sealing element (1) of this type.

Claims

1. A sealing element for a pressure sensor assembly for a motor vehicle , the sealing element comprising: a main body, the main body comprising: a cylindrical bore disposed in an axial direction of the main body; an inlet coupled to a first end of the cylindrical bore, the inlet widening conically in the axial direction from the first end of the cylindrical bore; and a wall coupled to a second end of the cylindrical bore opposite the first end of the cylindrical bore, the wall comprising: a first wall section coupled to the second end of the cylindrical bore, the first wall section widening conically at a first angle in the axial direction from the second end of the cylindrical bore; and a second wall section coupled to the first wall section, the second wall section widening conically at a second angle in the axial direction from the first wall section, wherein the second angle is greater than the first angle .sub..

2. The sealing element according to claim 1, wherein the wall comprises: an inner wall coupled to the cylindrical bore, the inner wall comprising the first wall section and the second wall section, and the second wall section comprising a contact surface configured to contact a pressure sensor of the pressure sensor assembly; and an outer wall coupled to the contact surface, the outer wall extending between an upper axial end and a lower axial end of the main body.

3. The sealing element according to claim 2, wherein the main body is substantially formed as a hollow cylinder, and wherein the outer wall is formed as an outer peripheral wall and the inner wall is formed as an inner peripheral wall.

4. The sealing element according to claim 1, wherein the second angle is 90° to 160° , and wherein the first angle is 30° to 90°.

5. The sealing element according to claim 4, wherein the second angle is 120° to 135°.

6. The sealing element according to claim 5, wherein the first angle is 55° to 70°.

7. The sealing element according to claim 1, wherein the main body has an elastic form.

8. The sealing element according to claim 1, wherein the main body comprises a substantially plate-shaped support element which has a planar support surface for supporting the sealing element on a housing wall of the pressure sensor assembly .

9. The sealing element according to claim 1, wherein the substantially plate-shaped support element adjoins an upper axial end of the main body.

10. The sealing element according to claim 1, wherein the support element has a substantially rectangular shape .

11-12. (canceled)

13. The sealing element according to claim 1, wherein the inlet widening conically in the axial direction from the first end of the cylindrical bore comprises the inlet widening conically at a third angle in the axial direction from the first end of the cylindrical bore, and wherein of the angle is 90° to 160° .

14-15. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] Exemplary embodiments are described in greater detail below with reference to a drawing, wherein:

[0036] FIG. 1 shows a perspective representation of a sealing element in a view from below,

[0037] FIG. 2 shows a perspective representation of the sealing element according to FIG. 1 in a view from above,

[0038] FIG. 3 shows a perspective representation of the sealing element according to FIG. 1 in a cross-section, and

[0039] FIG. 4 shows a perspective sectional representation of a pressure sensor assembly with an integrated sealing element according to FIGS. 1 to 3.

[0040] Corresponding parts are always provided with the same reference numerals in all figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] In FIGS. 1 to 3, an exemplary embodiment of a sealing element 1 is depicted in different views in perspective representations. The sealing element 1 has an integral form and is formed for arrangement inside an assembly housing of a pressure sensor assembly 2 for a motor vehicle for crash detection.

[0042] FIG. 1 shows a perspective representation of the sealing element 1 in a view from below. The sealing element 1 has a through-recess 3 running in an axial direction and comprises a main body 4 substantially formed as a hollow cylinder having an outer peripheral wall 5 and an inner peripheral wall 6 surrounding the through-recess 3, as well as having a lower axial end 7 and an upper axial end 8. In this case, the inner peripheral wall 6 of the main body 4 has a first wall section 9 widening conically towards the lower axial end 7. That is to say, the first wall section 9 of the inner peripheral wall 6 of the main body 4 is arranged on the lower axial end 7 of the main body 4.

[0043] In this case, the first wall section 9 forms a contact surface 10 for contact with a pressure sensor housing 11 of a pressure sensor unit 12 arranged inside the assembly house. In the assembled state, at least sections of the pressure sensor housing 11 thus rest on the contact surface 10.

[0044] The first wall section 9 of the main body 4 of the sealing element 1 which widens conically towards the lower axial end 7, in the unassembled state, makes possible a sufficiently secure sealing function, wherein, for this purpose, a relatively small corresponding surface on the pressure sensor housing 11 is in contact with the surface of the sealing element 1 and, consequently, is covered or overlaid by the surface of the sealing element 1. In particular, this makes possible a high variability with respect to an installation position of the sealing element 1 in relation to the position of the pressure sensor housing 11 and, in particular, to the position of a pressure supply opening 13 of the pressure sensor housing 11, with which a sufficiently secure sealing function is guaranteed and the covering or overlaying of the pressure supply opening 13 is prevented.

[0045] Moreover, the inner peripheral wall 6 of the main body 4 has a second wall section 14 widening conically towards the first wall section 9, wherein the second wall section 14 directly adjoins the first wall section 9. The second wall section 14 has a second opening angle 16 which is smaller with respect to a first opening angle 15 of the first wall section 9. In other words, the first opening angle 15 is thus larger than the second opening angle 16. The first opening angle 15 is 127° and the second opening angle 16 is 63°.

[0046] The first opening angle 15 with a value of 127° is particularly suitable for guaranteeing a secure sealing function, wherein, for this purpose, a particularly small corresponding surface on the pressure sensor housing 11 is in contact with the surface of the sealing element 1 and is, consequently, covered by the sealing element 1 in the assembled state. The second opening angle 16 having a value of 63° additionally guarantees that the pressure supply opening 13 is, in the assembled state, not covered or overlaid or is only covered or overlaid to an insignificant extent by the surface of the sealing element 1. Overall, such a configuration consequently further promotes the variability of the installation position of the sealing element 1 and, therefore, a large tolerance range and the probability is further increased that the pressure supply opening 13 is not covered or overlaid by the surface of the sealing element 1 in the assembled state.

[0047] Moreover, the main body 4 has an elastic form, as a result of which the sealing element 1 can be braced between the pressure sensor housing 11 and an assembly housing wall of the assembly housing and can therefore be arranged in as fixed a position as possible. In addition, the elastic deformability of the main body 4 further contributes to the fact that the main body 4 in the assembled state of the sealing element 1 is contacted with the pressure sensor housing 11, resulting in a certain deformation, in such a way that the covering or overlaying of the pressure supply opening 13 by the surface of the sealing element 1 is prevented as far as possible or the extent of the coverage or overlaying is at least reduced.

[0048] Furthermore, the sealing element 1 comprises a substantially plate-shaped support element 17 which directly adjoins the upper axial end 8 of the main body 4.

[0049] The support element 17 has a planar support surface 18 for supporting the sealing element 1 on the assembly housing wall. This can be seen in FIG. 2 on the basis of a perspective representation of the sealing element 1 in a view from above.

[0050] In the assembled state of the sealing element 1, the support element 17 with its support surface 18 consequently rests, in a sealing manner, on the assembly housing wall which is likewise configured in particular in a planar manner in the region of the support surface 18.

[0051] As can likewise be clearly seen in FIG. 2, the support element 17 has a square basic shape having rounded corners, wherein the section of the through-recess 3 of the sealing element 1 running through the support element 17 lies in the center of the support element 17. Such a configuration makes the support element 17 and, therefore, the sealing element 1 as a whole relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture and assemble.

[0052] The through-recess 3 has, in the support element 17, a first inlet section 19 which widens conically towards the support surface 18. In this case, a third opening angle 20 of the first inlet section 19 is 125°. This represents a particularly suitable compromise between a sufficiently secure sealing function and a sufficiently large tolerance range with regard to production and installation tolerances.

[0053] The through-recess 3 in the support element 17 in a second inlet section 21 is additionally configured as a cylindrical bore, wherein the second inlet section 21 adjoins the upper axial end 8 of the main body 4. In this case, the second inlet section 21 lies directly between the first inlet section 19 of the support element 17 and the second wall section 14 of the main body 4, as a result of which the cylindrical bore consequently fluidically connects the first inlet section 19 of the support element 17 with the section of the through-recess 3 formed in the main body 4.

[0054] In the assembled state of the sealing element, the first inlet section 19 faces the assembly housing wall in such a way that the first inlet section 19 faces an outlet opening of a pressure channel that passes through the assembly housing wall and fluidically connects a pressure inlet of the assembly housing with the through-recess 3 of the sealing element 1, wherein the outlet opening of the pressure channel and the first inlet section 19 of the through-recess 3 lie coaxially with respect to one another.

[0055] The configuration of the through-recess 3 in the support element 17 makes it possible for the air pressure to be reliably supplied from the pressure inlet of the assembly housing via the through-recess 3 of the sealing element 1 to the pressure sensor unit 12 within a large tolerance range with regard to production and installation tolerances.

[0056] Essential structural configurations of the sealing element 1 are again clearly depicted in FIG. 3, on the basis of a perspective representation of the sealing element 1 in a cross-section.

[0057] The substantially hollow cylindrical main body 4 and the substantially plate-shaped support element 17, which directly adjoins the upper axial end 8 of the main body 4, as well as the through-recess 3 running in an axial direction can be seen here.

[0058] In addition, the first wall section 9, which widens conically towards the lower end 7, and the second wall section 14, which widens conically towards the first wall section 9, of the inner peripheral wall 6 of the main body 4 can be clearly seen. The first opening angle 15 of the first wall section 9 at 127° is obviously larger than the second opening angle 16 of the second wall section 14 at 63°.

[0059] The first inlet section 19, which widens conically towards the support surface 18 of the support element 17, and the second inlet section 21 of the through-recess 3 in the support element 17, which is configured as a cylindrical bore, can also be seen.

[0060] FIG. 4 shows a perspective sectional representation of a pressure sensor assembly 2 having an integrated sealing element 1 according to FIGS. 1 to 3.

[0061] The pressure sensor assembly 2 for a motor vehicle for crash detection comprises a schematically depicted pressure sensor unit 12 inside a module housing (not depicted), wherein the pressure sensor unit 12 has a sensing element (not depicted) arranged inside a pressure sensor housing 11 for detecting an air pressure in the interior of a vehicle side door. The pressure sensor housing 11 has a pressure supply opening 13 for supplying the air pressure from a pressure inlet of the module housing to the sensing element, wherein the sealing element 1 for sealing the pressure supply opening 13 in relation to the inside of the module housing is arranged between the pressure sensor housing 11 and a module housing wall (not depicted) in such a way that the sealing element 1 encloses the pressure supply opening 13 and fluidically connects the pressure inlet with the pressure supply opening 13.

[0062] In this case, sections of the pressure sensor housing 11 rest on the contact surface 10 of the main body 4 of the sealing element 1, which contact surface is formed by the first wall section 9, as a result of which a sufficiently secure sealing function is guaranteed, stressing a relatively small surface on the pressure sensor housing 11, which is in contact with the surface of the sealing element 1. This makes possible a high variability with respect to the installation position of the sealing element 1 in relation to the position of the pressure sensor housing 11 and, in particular, to the position of the pressure supply opening 13 of the pressure sensor housing 11, with which a sufficiently secure sealing function is guaranteed and covering or overlaying of the pressure supply opening 13 is prevented. The second wall section 14 of the main body 4 of the sealing element 1 additionally contributes to the fact that the pressure supply opening 13 is not covered or overlaid by the surface of the sealing element 1.

[0063] Moreover, the planar support surface 18 of the support element 17 of the sealing element 1 rests in a sealing manner on the assembly housing wall. The first inlet section 19 of the through-recess 3, which widens conically towards the support surface 18, faces the assembly housing wall in such a way that the first inlet section 19 faces an outlet opening (not depicted) of a pressure channel (not depicted) that passes through the assembly housing wall and fluidically connects a pressure inlet of the assembly housing with the through-recess 3 of the sealing element 1, wherein the outlet opening of the pressure channel and the first inlet section 19 of the through-recess 3 lie coaxially with respect to one another. The configuration of the through-recess 3 in the support element 17 makes it possible for the air pressure to be reliably supplied from the pressure inlet of the assembly housing via the through-recess 3 of the sealing element 1 to the pressure sensor unit 12 within a large tolerance range with regard to production and installation tolerances.

[0064] Thanks to the elastic form of the main body 4, the sealing element 1 is braced between the pressure sensor housing 11 and the assembly housing wall with a certain elastic deformation, in particular of the main body 4, and is therefore arranged in a fixed position. In addition, the elastic deformation, in particular of the main body 4, further contributes to the main body 4 being contacted with the pressure sensor housing 11 in such a way that the covering or overlaying of the pressure supply opening 13 by the surface of the sealing element 1 is prevented.