Electrical Connection for Motor Vehicle Cable

Abstract

A connection comprising, a connecting part, a sleeve materially bonded to the connecting part and having a through-opening extending in a longitudinal direction, and a bolt connected to the sleeve and having a bolt shank and a bolt flange, the bolt being crimped with its bolt shank in the longitudinal direction in the through-opening of the sleeve, the bolt is arranged with its bolt flange in a recess arranged at a front face of the sleeve, characterized in that the sleeve is connected to the connecting part by its front face located at the front face end.

Claims

1-12. (canceled)

13. A connection comprising: a connecting part; a sleeve materially bonded to the connecting part and having a through-opening extending in a longitudinal direction; and a bolt connected to the sleeve and having a bolt shank with a hole extending in a longitudinal direction of the bolt shank and a bolt flange, wherein the bolt is press-fitted with its bolt shank in the longitudinal direction in the through-opening of the sleeve, the bolt being arranged with its bolt flange in a recess arranged at a front face end of the sleeve, wherein the sleeve is materially bonded to the connecting part with its front face located at the front face end.

14. The connection according to claim 13, wherein the bolt with its collar-shaped, radially outwardly projecting bolt flange is mounted at least partially circumferentially on a circumferential shoulder in the recess of the sleeve.

15. The connection according to claim 13, wherein the recess arranged at the front face end of the sleeve encloses the through-opening of the sleeve.

16. The connection according to claim 13, wherein the hole is a blind hole that extends in the longitudinal direction of the bolt between two front face ends of the bolt.

17. The connection according to claim 13, wherein the hole is a through-hole that extends in the longitudinal direction of the bolt between two front face ends of the bolt.

18. The connection according to claim 13, wherein the hole has an internal thread that extends only partially over the longitudinal extent of the bolt.

19. The connection according to claim 13, wherein the bolt shank is knurled at least in sections on its outer lateral surface, in particular in an area adjacent to the bolt flange, and the knurled part is press-fitted into the through-opening.

20. The connection according to claim 13, wherein the bolt is pressed into the through-opening in a non-rotatable manner.

21. The connection according to claim 13, wherein the bolt flange is arranged in the recess in the longitudinal direction at a distance from the front face.

22. The connection according to claim 13, wherein the sleeve is formed of a copper material and/or that the bolt is formed of steel.

23. The connection according to claim 13, wherein the sleeve is friction-welded, in particular full-area friction-welded, in particular rotary friction-welded, to the connecting part with the front face located at the front face end.

24. The connection according to claim 13, wherein a connection part with an opening is placed over the hole of the bolt and is clamped to the sleeve by a screw via the thread in the hole of the bolt, so that the connection part is in direct contact with the end of the sleeve distal to the recess.

25. The connection according to claim 24, wherein the connecting part, the sleeve, the bolt and the connection part are encapsulated in a common housing, the connecting part and the connection part being guided out of the housing in a moisture-tight manner.

Description

[0037] The subject matter is explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing showing embodiments. The drawing shows:

[0038] FIG. 1a-d various connecting parts according to embodiments;

[0039] FIG. 2a, b views of sleeves according to embodiments;

[0040] FIG. 3a-c top views of front faces of sleeves with recesses according to embodiments;

[0041] FIG. 4 a view of a bolt according to an embodiment;

[0042] FIG. 5a, b top views of bolt flanges according to embodiments;

[0043] FIG. 6a-c cross-sections of bolt shanks according to embodiments;

[0044] FIG. 7a-c the production of a connection according to an embodiment.

[0045] FIG. 8 a view of a bolt according to an embodiment;

[0046] FIG. 9a, b top views of bolt flanges according to embodiments;

[0047] FIG. 10a-c cross-sections of bolt shanks according to embodiments;

[0048] FIG. 11a-c the production of a connection according to an embodiment.

[0049] FIG. 1a shows a first connecting part according to an embodiment. The connecting part 2 in the example shown is a flat conductor. The connecting part in all variants presented here can be formed from a copper material or an aluminum material.

[0050] The connecting part 2 has a longitudinal axis 4, a vertical axis 6 and a transverse axis 8. The connecting part 2 can have one or more flat connecting surfaces, which runs in particular parallel to a plane spanned by two of the axes 4-8.

[0051] The connecting part 2 according to FIG. 1b may be shaped as a round conductor. A connecting area 10 may be provided at a front end or in the course of the conductor. The connecting area 10 may be formed as a flattening. In particular, the connecting area 10 is formed from the round conductor by upsetting or pressing.

[0052] FIG. 1c shows a connecting part 2 as a stranded conductor, in which case a connecting area 10 is also formed at the front face. The stranded conductors can be compacted in the connecting area 10 and in particular welded or soldered together.

[0053] FIG. 1d shows a connecting part 2 as a braided strip. The connecting area 10 can be formed in the course of the braided band or at a front face end. The strands of the braid can be joined to one another in the connecting area 10, in particular joined to one another with a material bond, for example by means of ultrasonic welding or resistance welding. The embodiments described for the embodiments according to FIGS. 1a-d can be combined as desired for different connection parts 2.

[0054] A sleeve is now proposed for connecting a connecting part 2 to a connection part.

[0055] FIG. 2a shows a sleeve 12. The sleeve 12 has a longitudinal axis 14. The sleeve 12 has a through-opening 16. The through-opening 16 extends from a first front face end 18a to a second front face end 18b. The longitudinal axis 14 extends between the two front face ends 18a, b. In the region of a front face end 18a, the sleeve 12 has a recess 20. The recess 20 is preferably circumferentially bordered by the outer lateral surface of the sleeve 12. In the region of the recess 20, in particular centrally in the recess 20, the through-opening 16 is provided.

[0056] FIG. 2b shows the sleeve 12 in a longitudinal section. The recess 20 can be seen. It can also be seen that the sleeve 12 surrounds the recess 20 circumferentially. The through-opening 16 extends from the recess 20 toward the front end 18b.

[0057] Sleeve 12 is preferably made of a copper material or aluminum material. In particular, sleeve 12 is made of the same material as the connecting part 2. Materials can in particular be alloys, such as brass as a copper alloy.

[0058] The outer lateral surface as well as the cross-section of the recess 20 as well as of the through-opening 16 can be round or angular, in particular circular, elliptical or polygonal in shape.

[0059] FIGS. 3a-c show various embodiments of the sleeve in a plan view. In FIG. 3a, the outer lateral surface of the sleeve 12 is octagonal. The recess 20 is adapted in cross-section thereto and is also octagonal. Inside the recess 20, the through-opening 16 is arranged with a round cross-section.

[0060] FIG. 3b shows a further embodiment in which the outer lateral surface of the sleeve 12 as well as the recess 20 are round, in particular circular. The through-opening 16 within the recess 20, on the other hand, is hexagonal in shape.

[0061] FIG. 3c shows, in contrast to FIG. 3b, the through-opening 16 with a star-shaped cross-section. A wide variety of shapes can be combined with one another.

[0062] FIG. 4 shows a bolt 22. The bolt 22 has a longitudinal axis 24. The bolt 22 has a bolt head 26 and a bolt shank 28. The bolt shank 28 extends along the longitudinal axis 24. The bolt shank 28 may have a first region 28a and a second region 28b. The first portion 28a is preferably inserted into the through-opening 16, and the second portion 28b extends beyond the front end 18b. In the region 28a, the bolt shank 28 may be knurled in the direction of the longitudinal axis 24, whereas the region 28b of the bolt shank 28 may be threaded.

[0063] The cross-section of the bolt head 26, as shown in FIGS. 5a and b, may be adapted to a cross-section of the recess 20. For example, FIG. 5a shows a bolt head 26 with an octagonal cross-section, whereas FIG. 5b shows a bolt head 26 with a star-shaped cross-section. These and other cross sections are conceivable. The cross sections of bolt head 26 and recess 20 can be congruent with each other, so that bolt head 26 can be positively received in recess 20. This positive fit results in an anti-rotation lock of the bolt 22 in the through-opening 16, so that the bolt 22 can be screwed to the sleeve 12 via the thread in the area 28b.

[0064] In addition to various cross-sections of the bolt head as shown in FIGS. 5a, b, the bolt shank 28 may also have a cross-section that is not circular, particularly in the region 28a. For example, FIG. 6a shows a bolt shank 28 in region 28a that is oval. FIG. 6b shows a bolt shaft 28 in a cross-section in region 28a that is triangular, and FIG. 6c shows a corresponding quadrangular cross-section.

[0065] The through-opening 16 as well as the cross section of the bolt shaft 22 in the area 28a may be congruent to each other. Also, it is possible for the knurling in area 28a to be such that its maximum diameter is slightly larger than the diameter of the through-opening 16 so that when the bolt 22 is pushed into the through-opening 16, an interference fit is formed between the bolt 26 in area 28a and the through-opening 16. In this case, the knurling can lead to plastic deformation of the inner lateral surface of the through-opening 16.

[0066] FIGS. 7a-c illustrate the production of a connection according to the subject matter. First (FIG. 7a), the bolt 22 is inserted into the sleeve 12 so that the bolt head 26 is recessed in the recess 20. The bolt shank 28 has its region 28a within the through-opening 16, whereas the bolt shank 28 has its region 28b protruding from the front end 18b of the sleeve 12.

[0067] After the bolt 22 has been inserted into the through-opening 16, the sleeve 12 is joined to the connecting part 2 in the region of the front face end 18a, in particular welded (FIG. 7b). Here, a welding tool can press the sleeve 12 against the connecting area 10 by means of friction welding and cause the joining partners to melt by the rotational energy introduced. Resistance welding can also be performed.

[0068] After the sleeve 12 has been welded onto the connecting part 2, a connection part 30, which may be shaped in accordance with a connecting part described herein or in a shape deviating therefrom, can be fastened to the bolt 22, in particular screwed. The connection part 30 is in particular a cable, in particular as described in FIGS. 1a-d.

[0069] The connection part 30 has a through-opening 32. With the through-opening 32, the connection part 30 is fitted onto the bolt 22, in particular the bolt shaft 28 in the region 28b. A nut 34 is then screwed onto the bolt 22. During screwing, the nut 34 presses the connection part 30 against the front face end 18b of the sleeve 12.

[0070] The bolt 22 is preferably formed from a harder material than the sleeve 12, which means that the nut 34 can be screwed on with a higher tightening torque than if the bolt 22 were formed from the material of the sleeve 12. In particular, the sleeve 12 is made of a copper material or aluminum material and the bolt 22 is made of a steel material.

[0071] FIG. 8 illustrates a bolt 42. The bolt 42 has a longitudinal axis 44. The bolt 42 has a bolt flange 46 and a bolt shank 48. The bolt shank 48 extends along the longitudinal axis 44. The bolt shank 48 may have a knurl 48a on its outer peripheral surface. The bolt shank may include a hole 48b, particularly a through-hole. The bolt 48 is inserted into the through-opening 16. The bolt 48 has a longitudinal extension corresponding to that of the through-opening 16 such that, in the inserted state, the bolt 48 is flush with the front face of the sleeve 12 on the front face opposite the recess 20. An internal thread may be provided in the hole 48b over at least parts of the longitudinal extent of the bolt 48. In particular, the internal thread is in an area remote from the bolt flange 46, but may extend to or into the bolt flange 46.

[0072] The bolt flange 46 may be adapted in its cross-section, as shown in FIGS. 9a and b, to a cross-section of the recess 20. For example, FIG. 9a shows a bolt flange 46 with an octagonal cross-section, whereas FIG. 9b shows a bolt flange 46 with a star-shaped cross-section. These and other cross sections are conceivable. The cross sections of bolt flange 46 and recess 20 can be congruent with each other, so that bolt flange 46 can be positively received in recess 20. This positive fit results in an anti-rotation fit of the bolt 42 in the through-opening 16, so that the bolt 42 can be screwed to the sleeve 12 via the internal thread.

[0073] In addition to various cross-sections of the bolt flange according to FIGS. 9a, b, the bolt shank 48, in particular in the region of the knurling 48a, may also have a cross-section that is not circular. Thus, FIG. 10a shows a bolt shank 48 that is oval. FIG. 10b shows a bolt shank 48 in a cross-section that is triangular, and FIG. 10c shows a corresponding quadrangular cross-section.

[0074] The through-opening 16 as well as the cross section of the bolt shaft 48 may be congruent to each other. Also, it is possible for the knurling 48a to be such that its maximum diameter is slightly larger than the diameter of the through-opening 16 so that when the bolt 42 is pushed into the through-opening 16, an interference fit is formed between the bolt 46 and the through-opening 16. Here, the knurling 48a may result in plastic deformation of the inner lateral surface of the through-opening 16.

[0075] FIGS. 11a-c illustrate the production of an objective connection. First (FIG. 11a), the bolt 42 is inserted into the sleeve 12 so that the bolt flange 46 is recessed in the recess 20. The bolt shank 48 lies within the through-opening 16, and the bolt shank 48 has a length equal to the length of the through-opening. As a result, the bolt shank 48 lies with its front face flush with the outer front face 18b of the sleeve 12. Also, the bolt shank 48 may be shorter so that it recedes behind the front face 18b of the sleeve 12.

[0076] After the bolt 42 has been inserted into the through-opening 16, the sleeve 12 is joined, in particular welded, to the connecting part 2 in the region of the front face 18a (FIG. 11b). Here, a welding tool can press the sleeve 12 against the connecting area 10 by means of friction welding and cause the joining partners to melt by the rotational energy introduced. Resistance welding can also be performed.

[0077] After the sleeve 12 has been welded onto the connecting part 2, a connection part 30, which may be shaped in accordance with a connecting part described herein or in a shape deviating therefrom, can be fastened to the bolt 42, in particular screwed. The connection part 30 is in particular a cable, in particular as described in FIGS. 1a-d.

[0078] The connection part 30 has a through-opening 32, and with the through-opening 32, the connection part 30 is aligned with the bolt 42 and the sleeve 12 such that the through-opening 32 is aligned with the hole 48b. A screw 50 is then screwed into the hole 48b of the bolt 42 with the internal thread. As the bolt 50 is screwed into place, it presses the connecting member 30 against the front end 18b of the sleeve 12.

[0079] The bolt 42 is preferably formed of a harder material than the sleeve 12, which results in the screw 50 being able to be screwed with a higher tightening torque than if the bolt 42 were formed of the material of the sleeve 12. In particular, the sleeve 12 is formed of a copper material or aluminum material and the bolt 42 is formed of a steel material.

[0080] An electrical connection between the connection part 30 and the connecting part 2 is made in particular via the sleeve 12. The bolt 22 preferably serves to mechanically fix the connection part 30 to the sleeve 12, which in turn is joined to the connecting part 2 in the region of the front face end 18a by a material bond.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0081] 2 Connecting part [0082] 4 Longitudinal axis [0083] 6 Vertical axis [0084] 8 Transverse axis [0085] 10 Connection area [0086] 12 Sleeve [0087] 14 Longitudinal axis [0088] 16 Through opening [0089] 18a, b End face [0090] 20 Recess [0091] 22, 42 Bolt [0092] 24, 44 Longitudinal axis [0093] 26, 46 Bolt flange [0094] 28, 48 Bolt shank [0095] 28a, b Range [0096] 48a Knurling [0097] 48b Hole with thread [0098] 30 Connecting part [0099] 32 Through-hole [0100] 34 Nut [0101] 50 Screw