HOUSING ASSEMBLY

Abstract

Embodiments provide a housing assembly including a housing having a plug-in side and enclosing an electromechanical component, the housing configured for mounting on a carrier, wherein the housing has a first assembly guide configured for engaging in a first plug-in slot guide arranged on the carrier, and wherein the plug-in side of the housing is guidable into a plugged-in position on the carrier by this engagement.

Claims

1-25. (canceled)

26. A housing assembly comprising: a housing having a plug-in side and enclosing an electromechanical component, the housing configured for mounting on a carrier, wherein the housing comprises a first assembly guide configured for engaging in a first plug-in slot guide arranged on the carrier, and wherein the plug-in side of the housing is guidable into a plugged-in position on the carrier by this engagement.

27. The housing assembly of claim 26, wherein the first assembly guide is shaped complementary to the first plug-in slot guide.

28. The housing assembly according to claim 26, wherein the first assembly guide is arranged on a side surface lateral to the plug-in side of the housing.

29. The housing assembly according to claim 28, wherein the first assembly guide is rail-shaped.

30. The housing assembly according to claim 28, wherein the first assembly guide forms a protrusion.

31. The housing assembly according to claim 28, wherein the housing has a second assembly guide on a further side surface lying laterally with respect to the plug-in side of the housing, and wherein the second assembly guide is configured for engaging in a second plug-in slot guide.

32. The housing assembly of claim 31, wherein the second assembly guide is disposed on a side surface of the housing opposite the first assembly guide.

33. The housing assembly according to claim 28, wherein assembly guides are arranged on each side surface of the housing lying laterally to the plug-in side, wherein each of the assembly guides is configured for engaging in matching plug-in slot guides of the carrier.

34. The housing assembly according to claim 28, wherein two openings for passages of electrical contact elements are arranged on a side surface of the housing, wherein an assembly guide is arranged between the openings, wherein the assembly guide is configured for electrical shielding of the electrical contact elements in an area between the openings.

35. The housing assembly according to claim 26, wherein an electrical plug is arranged in the plug-in side of the housing, and wherein the electrical plug is in electrical contact with a counter-plug in the carrier.

36. The housing assembly according to claim 26, wherein the housing has a base side arranged opposite the plug-in side, wherein the base side has at least two attachment points configured for being fastened to the carrier by screwing.

37. The housing assembly according to claim 26, wherein the plug-in side comprises at least one external fine guiding element provided to engage with a first fine positioning element arranged on the carrier, and wherein the plug-in side of the housing is even more precisely placeable in the plugged-in position on the carrier by this engagement.

38. The housing assembly according to claim 26, wherein the housing assembly is a contactor housing assembly comprising a contactor housing that houses a contactor.

39. A method for assembling the housing assembly according to claim 26, the method comprising: bringing the housing into a pre-insertion position in which the first assembly guide begins to engage the plug-in slot guide; and subsequently pushing the housing into the plugged-in position along an insertion direction guided by the inter-engaging assembly guide and plug-in slot guide.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein a direction of insertion is oriented in a direction of gravity.

41. The housing comprising: the housing assembly according to claim 26 without enclosing the electromechanical component, wherein the housing has a first housing component and a second housing component, the second housing component having a first guide groove, wherein the first housing component has a first complementary element, the first complementary element and the first guide groove being designed such that the housing components are connectable to form the housing by sliding one inside the other along a guide direction.

42. The housing according to claim 41, wherein the connection is a force-locking connection in a direction perpendicular to the guide direction.

43. The housing according to claim 42, wherein the force-locking connection is supported by a shape of the guide groove and a complementary shape of the complementary element.

44. The housing according to claim 41, further comprising a second guide groove and a second complementary element, the second complementary element being slidable into the second guide groove.

45. The housing according to claim 41, further comprising a securing means effecting a fixed connection of the first and second housing components in the guide direction.

46. The housing according to claim 45, wherein the securing means comprises two or more securing elements.

47. The housing according to claim 46, wherein securing elements comprise at least one hollow sleeve disposed in aligned holes in the first and second housing components.

48. The housing according to claim 41, wherein, when the first and second housing components are assembled, the housing comprises at least one latch by which the first and second housing components are latched together.

49. The housing according to claim 48, wherein the at least one latch is arranged on a side of the housing opposite the guide groove.

50. The housing according to claim 41, further comprising openings arranged on the housing such that they are suitable for guiding electrical contacts in the guide direction from an inside of the housing to an outside of the housing.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0113] The invention is described in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments. These exemplary embodiments are depicted in the following figures, which are not to scale. Lengths as well as relative and absolute dimensions can thus not be taken from the figures. Nor is the invention limited to the following embodiments.

[0114] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first exemplary embodiment of the housing in the assembled state housing an electromechanical component;

[0115] FIG. 2 shows a first perspective view of the first exemplary embodiment of the housing with the housing components being separated from each other along the insertion direction;

[0116] FIG. 3 shows a second perspective view of the first exemplary embodiment of the housing with the housing components being separated from each other along the insertion direction;

[0117] FIG. 4 shows a schematic cross-section of a first complementary element and guide groove;

[0118] FIG. 5 shows a second exemplary embodiment of the complementary element and guide groove in schematic cross-section;

[0119] FIG. 6 shows a third exemplary embodiment of the complementary element and guide groove in schematic cross-section;

[0120] FIG. 7 shows a first exemplary embodiment of two complementary elements and two guide grooves in schematic cross-section;

[0121] FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of a second exemplary embodiment of the housing in the assembled state, enclosing an electromechanical component;

[0122] FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of a third exemplary embodiment of the housing enclosing an electromechanical component;

[0123] FIG. 10 shows a schematic top view of the plug-in side of the third exemplary embodiment of the housing;

[0124] FIG. 11 shows a schematic top view of the plug-in side of a fourth exemplary embodiment of the housing;

[0125] FIG. 12 shows a schematic top view of the plug-in side of a fifth exemplary embodiment of the housing;

[0126] FIG. 13 shows a perspective view of a sixth exemplary embodiment of the housing enclosing an electromechanical component;

[0127] FIG. 14 shows a schematic top view of the plug-in side of the sixth exemplary embodiment of the housing;

[0128] FIG. 15 shows a cross-section through an exemplary embodiment of a housing assembly; and

[0129] FIG. 16 shows a top view of the exemplary embodiment of the housing assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

[0130] FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a first exemplary embodiment of a housing 1 according to the invention.

[0131] The housing 1 can be characterized by an internal orthogonal coordinate system spanned by x, y, z. The housing 1 is largely cuboidal with rounded corners and edges.

[0132] The housing 1 has a plug-in side 2 which is oriented parallel to the x-y plane of the internal coordinate system.

[0133] The housing is intended and suitable to be placed into a housing assembly with the plug-in side first. The surface normal of the plug-in side, which is parallel to the z-direction, can thus be defined as the insertion direction.

[0134] Opposite the plug-in side 2 is the base side 14. The other side surfaces are numbered as first side surface 3, as second side surface 4, which is opposite the first side surface 3, as third side surface 5 and as fourth side surface 6.

[0135] The housing 1 comprises a first housing component 7 and a second housing component 8 which enclose an electromechanical component, such as a contactor. However, it is noted here that the invention is not limited by the fact that an electromechanical component is enclosed within the housing. Furthermore, the two housing components 7 and 8, which may be regarded here as housing halves, need not be assembled. They are suited to be assembled.

[0136] The plug-in side 2 of the housing 1 has a plug 12 located in or at the plug-in side 2 which is suitable and intended to be plugged into a counterplug, as explained below.

[0137] Furthermore, the second housing component 8 has a first guide groove 17, which is shown in more detail below for FIGS. 2 and 3. The first guide grove 17 engages the first complementary element 16, which is shown in more detail together with the guide groove 17 below.

[0138] The housing 1 can be assembled from the first housing component 7 and the second housing component 8 by pushing the two housing components 7 and 8 together in the guide direction via the guide groove 17 and the complementary element 16 that engages in the guide groove 17. The direction of pushing together is here the guide direction and this is oriented parallel to the x-axis. The guide direction is oriented in the ?x direction (negative x direction).

[0139] The interlocking of the first guide groove 17 and the first complementary element 16 produces a force-locking connection of the housing 1 in all directions perpendicular to the guide direction.

[0140] Furthermore, the housing has openings on the first side surface 3, which in this case are openings with load current circuit contacts 10, the load current circuit contacts being guided through the openings. The load current circuit contacts can be the load current circuit contacts of a contactor. A shield 11 is arranged between the openings with the load current circuit contacts 10. This shield 11 represents a means for electrical shielding of the contacts from each other. The load current circuit contacts can here simply push through the openings in the first housing component 7 when the housing components 7 and 8 are assembled, since the openings are oriented perpendicular to the guide direction, i.e. in the y-z plane.

[0141] Furthermore, the housing has a total of four attachment points, namely two first attachment points 9 and two second attachment points 9 in each case. All attachment points 9 and 9 are arranged in areas projecting from the cuboid housing, and the projecting areas are preferably flat within the x-y plane. The attachment points 9 and 9 are suitable and intended for the housing to be attached to an external element, such as a carrier, by screwing, as shown in more detail below.

[0142] The first attachment points 9 are formed by inserting a metal hollow sleeve 13 into aligned holes in the first housing component 7 and the second housing component 8, which are part of an overlap area of the first housing component 7 and the second housing component 8 explained in more detail below. The hollow sleeves are oval in the present exemplary embodiment, but may also be circular.

[0143] The second attachment points 9 can also have corresponding hollow sleeves.

[0144] The first attachment points 9 with the hollow sleeves 13 serve as a securing means. In particular, the hollow sleeves 13 can be understood as a securing element. The securing created in this way prevents the first housing component 7 and the second housing component 8 from being displaced against each other in the guide direction (i.e. parallel to the x-direction).

[0145] Thus, the first guide groove 17 the first complementary element 16 and the securing ensure a force-locking connection of the two housing components in all three spatial directions.

[0146] In principle, the housings 1 shown here and below can be manufactured by any process.

[0147] Preferably, however, an injection molding process is used. Preferably, the injection molding process a starting compound that includes a polymer component and glass wool is used. The polymer component can be, for example, polyamide, but is preferably polybutylene terephthalate (PPT). Furthermore, glass wool can be used in the starting material in a proportion by weight of 20 wt. % to 40 wt. %, and preferably 30 wt. %, in order to provide a housing 1 that is largely temperature-resistant.

[0148] The dimensions of the housing 1 can basically be varied as required depending on the electromechanical component to be housed.

[0149] Preferably and suitable for a variety of applications, the plug-in side 2 has an area of 25 to 100 cm.sup.2. A depth of the housing in the direction perpendicular to the plug-in side 2 can be 4 to 10 cm. In general, however, the features described herein are also applicable to housings that deviate from these dimensions.

[0150] For example, for a plug-in side with the dimensions mentioned above, a plug 12 can have an area of 10 to 600 mm.sup.2.

[0151] FIG. 2 shows the first exemplary embodiment of the housing 1 in perspective view, with the housing components shown spaced apart or separated from one another along the opposite guide direction. That is, the first housing component 7 is shown displaced from the second housing component 8 in the x-direction. This makes it easier to show the guide groove 17 in the overlap area 142. All other components, unless otherwise indicated, correspond to those shown in FIG. 1.

[0152] There is no electromechanical component in the housing 1 in this illustration. The inside of the housing is empty and no load current circuit contacts are shown in the holes 10. Furthermore, instead of a plug, the housing 1 has a free space 12 for a plug, into which a plug can be inserted. Alternatively, wiring could be routed through the free space 12.

[0153] FIG. 2 clearly shows that the base side 14 of the housing 1 in the assembled state is formed by an overlapping part of the first housing component 7 and the second housing component 8. These overlapping parts are referred to as the overlap area 141 of the first housing component 7 and the overlap area 142 of the second housing component 8, respectively.

[0154] In the present exemplary embodiment, the entire side of the first housing component 7 facing away from the viewer here is the overlap area 141 of the first housing component 7.

[0155] For the second housing component 8, the overlap area 142 is marked by the dashed line. In the assembled state, the overlap area 141 and the overlap area 142 overlap when viewed in the z-direction as the viewing direction.

[0156] Furthermore, in the overlap area 142, the first guide groove 17 is formed, which is provided and suitable for the first complementary element 16 to engage in. In other words, the first complementary element 16 can be pushed into the first guide groove 17 along the guide direction (here x-direction).

[0157] The extent of the first guide groove 17 and the first complementary element 16 in the guide direction (?x-direction) can be defined as the length of the first complementary element 16 and the first guide groove 17, respectively. The width of these components is defined perpendicular to the x-direction, i.e. parallel to the y-direction, in each case.

[0158] The end of the guide groove 17 in the guide direction (?x-direction), starting from the nearest edge of the housing 1, can be understood as a depth stop up to which the housing components 7 and 8 are pushed into one another and thus remain in a fixed position relative to one another after this pushing together.

[0159] Furthermore, the second housing component 8 has a plug-in area 15, which is a lowered area of the second housing component 8 onto which a corresponding area of the first housing component is plugged to provide additional stability.

[0160] Furthermore, the second housing component 8 has holes 9b which, when assembled, align with holes 9a in the first housing component 7. A hollow sleeve 13 can then be inserted into these holes as shown in FIG. 1.

[0161] Furthermore, the housing 1 of FIG. 2 can have structural components 18 on the inside, which, for example here as lamellar ribs, reinforce the mechanical stability of the housing 1.

[0162] FIG. 3 shows another view of the first exemplary embodiment of the housing 1, looking at the base side 14.

[0163] All components of the housing 1 correspond to those shown in FIG. 2. In particular, however, the shape of the first guide groove 17 can be reproduced here. This has undercuts in which the corresponding complementary element 16 engages. In the present exemplary embodiment, the complementary element 16 and the guide groove 17 behave as positive and negative.

[0164] The complementary element 16 shown here is larger in its width (y-direction) than in the guide direction (?x-direction). For example, a width of the complementary element 16 can correspond to between 20% and 80% of the width of the base side.

[0165] In the case of a single complementary element 16 and a single guide groove 17, a length can be basically arbitrary. In the form shown, it corresponds to between 10 and 90% of the corresponding extension of the base side in the same direction. In principle, the longer the guide groove 17 is, the more stable the connection can be, in particular with respect to torsion.

[0166] The shape of the guide groove 17 and the complementary element 16 associated therewith can be manifold and is not further restricted as long as it allows the first and second housing components to be pushed or guided into one another as described above. FIGS. 4 to 6 show various exemplary embodiments of the complementary element 16 and the guide groove 17 in schematic cross-sections of the overlap area 141 of the first housing component 7 and the overlap area 142 of the second housing component 8.

[0167] FIG. 4 shows a first guide groove 17 corresponding to the guide groove of the first exemplary embodiment. The guide groove 17 has a trapezoidal shape and is recessed in the overlap area 142 of the second housing component 8, with the shorter of the parallel sides of the trapezoid being oriented in the direction of the contact surface of the overlap areas 141 and 142. Due to the trapezoidal shape, it has undercuts. The complementary element 16 is formed on the overlap area 141 of the first housing component 7 and engages in the undercuts with its shape that is complementary to the shape of the guide groove 17, thus preventing the housing components from falling apart or being taken apart in all directions perpendicular to the guide direction, that is, in all directions within the representation plane of the cross section. The guide groove 17 and the complementary element 16 thus establish a force-locking connection in all directions perpendicular to the guide direction.

[0168] The first complementary element 16 does not necessarily have to be completely or continuously formed along the entire length of the first guide groove 17 in the guide direction. For example, the first complementary element 16 can have interruptions in the guide direction. Preferably, however, both the first complementary element 16 and the first guide groove 17 are formed continuously in the guide direction, so that uniform guiding can be facilitated when the housing components are pushed together.

[0169] The first guide groove 17 does not necessarily have to be continuous either. It could also be formed with increased thickness in partial areas of the overlap area 142 of the second housing component 8 and not in other, flatter areas. However, a continuously formed first guide groove 17 is also preferable here for the previously mentioned reasons.

[0170] Also, as shown in FIG. 5, the first complementary element 16 does not necessarily have to replicate the complete shape of the first guide groove 17 such as positive to negative in order to be considered complementary with respect to its shape. Accordingly, in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the first complementary element 16 is formed as two wings, each of which engages the trapezoidal undercut of the first guide groove 16.

[0171] Thus, the amount of material required for the first complementary element 16 can be reduced.

[0172] FIG. 6 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a first guide groove 17 and a first complementary element 16, in which, unlike to the previous examples, there are no oblique undercuts here, but instead the first guide groove 17 and the first complementary element 16 have a T-shape and thus have undercuts parallel to the base side 14 of the housing 1.

[0173] The cross-section in FIG. 7 shows an exemplary embodiment in which both a first guide groove 17 and a second guide groove 17 are provided. The complementary first complementary element 16 and the second complementary element 16 engage in these grooves.

[0174] These structures can, for example, be arranged symmetrically to a symmetry plane of the housing. With these, stability against torsion can be achieved, which would otherwise have to be achieved with a single very wide complementary element.

[0175] Preferably, in the case of two guide grooves and complementary elements, their respective extent in the guide direction can be greater than their width.

[0176] Analogously, other complementary elements and guide grooves can also be provided in principle.

[0177] FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention or housing 1.

[0178] All components as described for FIG. 1 are provided here. In addition, the housing has a latching 19 in the plug-in side 2.

[0179] This latching 19 comprises openings which are located here in the first housing component 7. Hook-shaped elements of a latching element engage in these openings, which also comprise resilient parts and flexible parts. These are part of the second housing component 8 or are attached to it.

[0180] The hook-shaped parts engage in the openings and allow an additional mechanically stable connection of the first housing component 7 and the second housing component 8. In particular, it is thus possible to prevent the two housing components from gapping open by the latching 19 forming a connection between the housing components, which is arranged opposite the connection formed by first guide groove 17 and first complementary element 16.

[0181] FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of a third exemplary embodiment of the housing 1.

[0182] The third exemplary embodiment of the housing 1 corresponds to the previous exemplary embodiments except for the following features.

[0183] The housing 1 of the present third exemplary embodiment has a first assembly guide 21 on the third side surface 5. Furthermore, a fourth assembly guide 24 is arranged on the first side surface 3 of the housing. The further assembly guides (second assembly guide 22 and third assembly guide 23) are formed in the present exemplary embodiment, but cannot be seen due to the perspective view.

[0184] That is, all four side surfaces 3, 4, 5, and 6 of the housing 1 have assembly guides. The assembly guides are elongated in the z-direction and are accordingly oriented in this direction. They are suitable and intended to be inserted into and guided in corresponding plug-in slot guides in a direction defined as the insertion direction. Accordingly, the assembly guides are about 20 to 90% in length of the recess of the lateral surface on which they are arranged, and preferably 50 to 80%. Furthermore, the assembly guides are oriented as flat elements perpendicular to the side surface they are attached to.

[0185] For the purpose of easier engagement in a plug-in slot guide, the assembly guides can have an insertion bevel on the side of the plug-in side 2, i.e. they can be beveled.

[0186] FIG. 10 shows a schematic top view of the plug-in side of the third exemplary embodiment of the housing 1.

[0187] All four assembly guides 21, 22, 23, 24 can be seen here.

[0188] In principle, as shown in FIG. 11 in schematic plan view on a fourth exemplary embodiment, a housing 1 with only one first assembly guide 21 according to the invention is also possible, as long as this is provided to engage in a corresponding plug-in slot guide in order to guide the housing 1 onto a plug-in slot or to bring it into a plug-in position on a carrier. Here, the single first assembly guide 21 is preferably not arranged on the first side surface 3 of the housing 1, which is the side surface with openings for load current circuit contacts in the examples used herein. Thus, the single first assembly guide 21 may be explicitly attached to the housing in addition to a shield.

[0189] Otherwise, the features of the housing 1 may correspond to those of the preceding exemplary embodiments, for example, the housing as shown in FIG. 10.

[0190] As shown in FIG. 12, an exemplary embodiment of the housing 1 with a first assembly guide 21 and a second assembly guide 22 is also provided. Here, the first assembly guide 21 is arranged opposite the second assembly guide 22. For example, the first assembly guide 21 is arranged on the second side surface of the housing and, correspondingly, the second assembly guide 22 is arranged on the first side surface of the housing.

[0191] The advantage of two assembly guides may be that one guide is more precise and stable than in the case of only one assembly guide. However, the advantage of two assembly guides over four assembly guides may be that the number of structures and thus the weight of the housing 1 can be reduced. Also, a mold for manufacturing may be less complex.

[0192] FIGS. 13 and 14 show a sixth exemplary embodiment of a housing 1, which may largely correspond to the housing 1 shown in FIG. 9.

[0193] However, one of the assembly guides, in this case the fourth assembly guide 24, is also formed as a shield 11 at the same time. This can represent an electrical shielding between contacts, such as load current circuit contacts of a contactor.

[0194] In order to act efficiently as a shield, the fourth assembly guide 24 is more planar than the other assembly guides, for example than the first assembly guide 21. More planar in this case means that the length, i.e. in this case the extension along the first side surface, can be approximately the same as the length of the other assembly guide, but the height, i.e. in this case the x-direction, i.e. the extension in the direction normal to the first side surface, is preferably greater than for the other assembly guides.

[0195] FIGS. 15 and 16 each show a schematic cross-section of a housing assembly using, for example, a housing 1 as shown in FIG. 9 or FIG. 10. The cross-sectional line is indicated here in FIG. 10 by the line AB indicated there.

[0196] FIG. 16 shows a schematic top view looking at the base side of housing 1.

[0197] The cross-section in FIG. 15 is simplified in that the attachment points on the flat components of the housing 1 projecting from the housing core are not shown here in order to make the other components more visible.

[0198] The housing assembly has a carrier 26 in or on which, for example, a circuit board or printed circuit board can be arranged. Furthermore, the housing assembly has an electromechanical component 25, for example a contactor, which is arranged or enclosed in the housing 1.

[0199] In particular, it can be seen how the assembly guides 21 and 24 engage in corresponding plug-in slot guides 27, which are arranged on the carrier 26. The assembly guides 21 and 24 preferably have an insertion bevel on the side oriented towards the plug-in side 2. In this case, the plug-in slot guides 27 are also beveled, namely at the end facing away from the carrier 26. Furthermore, a notch representing the complementary shape of the plug-in slot guide to the assembly guide may be wider at the beveled end than would be necessary for a complementary shape to the assembly guide. Thus, in a pre-insertion position, which is the position in which the assembly guide starts to engage the plug-in slot guide in an insertion process, this engagement can be facilitated.

[0200] Further shown in the housing assembly shown here are the power circuit contacts 10 and power circuit cables 101, which are parts of the power circuit and to which the electromechanical component is connected.

[0201] Furthermore, the housing 1 has a plug 12 on or in the plug-in side. This plug 12 is electrically connected to the electromechanical component 25, which may in particular be a contact for a control circuit.

[0202] The plug 12 has a shape which is complementary to a counterplug 121 which is arranged on the carrier as part of the slot. Thus, an electrical connection of a control unit to the control circuit thus formed can be established.

[0203] As schematically illustrated by the corresponding triangular shape of the plug 12, an external fine guiding element can be provided and arranged on the plug 12 as part of the plug-in side 2. This engages in a fine positioning element in the slot so that the plug 12 and the counterplug 121 fit exactly into one another. Alternatively, an external fine guide can also be arranged in the vicinity of the plug in the plug-in side 2.

[0204] Thus, the basic positioning of the housing in plugged-in position can be ensured with a positioning accuracy of approximately up to 2 mm by the assembly guides 21, 22, 23 and 24 and the plug-in slot guides 27, and more precise positioning for electrical contacting can additionally be supported by the external fine guide. Thus, the plug-in side can be positioned even more precisely, facilitating efficient engagement of the plug 12 with the counterplug 121.

[0205] FIG. 16 shows a corresponding top view of the base side of the housing in the housing assembly.

[0206] The components correspond to those in FIG. 15, with the attachment points 91 additionally shown here. The attachment points 91 can correspond to the attachment points 9 or 9 from the previous examples, but here they also have screwing. These may also include washers.

[0207] These screwing can be screwed into corresponding retaining bolts, which can be arranged on the carrier.

[0208] Thus, in addition to the four mounting and plug-in slot guides, the housing 1 can be firmly fixed in a plugged-in position by the corresponding screwing.

[0209] In applications such as mobile applications, the z-direction preferably corresponds to the direction of gravity, as this allows the assembly and plug-in slot guides to absorb acceleration and deceleration forces that occur perpendicular to the direction of gravity particularly efficiently.