CONNECTING APPARATUS

Abstract

A connecting apparatus (interface) for connecting a component to a further component includes at least one electrical connecting device for producing an electrical connection and at least one hydraulic connecting device for producing a hydraulic connection. The connecting apparatus is configured in such a way that an electrical connection and a hydraulic connection of the connecting apparatus to a component can be produced simultaneously.

Claims

1. A connecting apparatus for connecting a component to a further component, comprising at least one electrical connecting device for producing an electrical connection, and at least one hydraulic connection means for producing a hydraulic connection, wherein the connecting apparatus is configured such that an electrical connection and a hydraulic connection of the connecting apparatus to a component can be produced substantially simultaneously.

2. The connecting apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one mechanical connecting device is provided in order to secure the connecting apparatus to a component, wherein the mechanical connecting device is configured as a positive-locking and/or a non-positive-locking connection.

3. The connecting apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the electrical connecting device is configured as a plug-in connection or as a contact connection.

4. The connecting apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the hydraulic connection is configured as a plug-in connection.

5. The connecting apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one positioning means is provided in order to align the connecting devices of the connecting apparatus with respect to a corresponding counter-connecting device of a component.

6. The connecting apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting apparatus is an integral part of a component.

7. A component having a connecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the component is a cooling liquid container or a pump of a cooling system of a motor vehicle.

8. A system for connecting a component to a further component, comprising a first component, a second component, and a connecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first component and the second component are connectable to one another by means of the connecting apparatus such that during a connection operation, an electrical connection and a hydraulic connection of the first component to the second component can be produced substantially simultaneously, and wherein the connecting apparatus is configured as a separate component or as an integral part of the first and/or the second component.

9. A method for connecting a first component to a second component with a system according to claim 8, wherein an electrical connection and a hydraulic connection of the first component to the second component is produced substantially simultaneously by means of the connecting apparatus in a single pass.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that the first component and the second component are connected to one another by a linear movement and/or a rotational movement by means of a mechanical connecting device of the connecting apparatus.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0046] The present invention will be described below on the basis of an embodiment shown in the figures. The figures show:

[0047] FIG. 1 a schematic perspective view of a first component, for example a cooling liquid pump, with a connecting apparatus according to the invention,

[0048] FIG. 2 a schematic perspective view of a second component, for example a cooling liquid container with two ports for receiving the connecting apparatus according to the invention and the first component, and

[0049] FIG. 3 a further schematic perspective view of a further exemplary embodiment of the connecting apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0050] In the following, a connecting apparatus 1 according to the invention for connecting a first component to a second component (FIGS. 1 to 3) is described in more detail.

[0051] In the present exemplary embodiment, the first component is, for example, a cooling liquid pump 2 and the second component is, for example, a cooling water container 3.

[0052] However, the connecting apparatus 1 according to the invention is suitable for any connections in which one or more hydraulic and one or more electrical connections are to be formed.

[0053] According to this exemplary embodiment, the connecting apparatus 1 is approximately bowl-shaped and has a base wall 4 and a radially circumferential side wall 5.

[0054] In the region of the side wall 5, the base wall 4 forms a first connecting wall 6 for connecting to the cooling liquid pump 2.

[0055] The opposite side of the base wall 4 forms a second connecting wall 7 for connecting to the cooling liquid container 3.

[0056] The sidewall 5 forms a first mechanical connecting device 8, via which the connecting apparatus 1 can be connected to a radially circumferential casing wall (mechanical counter-connecting device) of the cooling liquid pump 2 in the manner of plug-in connection in a positive-locking manner and/or non-positive-locking manner.

[0057] Furthermore, a first hydraulic connecting device 9 (not shown/obstructed) is provided on the second connecting wall 7 in the form of a sealingly designed through-opening, for example in the manner of a socket (or plug), via which device a hydraulic connection of the connecting apparatus 1 to the cooling liquid pump 2 can be produced.

[0058] In addition, a first electrical connecting device 10 (not shown/hidden) is provided on the second connecting wall 7 in a transition region between the base wall 4 and the side wall 5. In the present exemplary embodiment, the first electrical connecting device 10 is configured as a socket (or plug) via which an electrical connection of the connecting apparatus 1 to the cooling liquid pump 2 can be produced.

[0059] An outer casing wall of the side wall 5 forms a second mechanical connecting device 11 for connecting the connecting apparatus 1 in the manner of a plug-in connection to a corresponding connecting recess 12 (mechanical counter-connecting device) of the cooling liquid container 3.

[0060] A sealingly designed nozzle is also provided on the second connecting wall 7, which forms a second hydraulic connecting device 13. In this way, the connecting apparatus 1 is hydraulically connectable to a corresponding hydraulic port 14 (hydraulic counter-connecting device) of the cooling liquid container 3.

[0061] A second electrical connecting device 15 is provided on an edge region of the base wall 4 of the second connecting wall 7 in the region of the side wall 5, via which device the connecting apparatus 1 can be electrically connected to a correspondingly configured electrical port 16 (electrical counter-connecting device) of the cooling liquid container 3. Accordingly, the electrical port 16 is configured as a socket.

[0062] In the region of the second hydraulic connecting device 13, a positioning means 17 is integrally formed on the second connecting wall 7. The positioning means 17 is designed as a web extending in the radial direction. However, the positioning means 17 can have any suitable structural design.

[0063] In the connecting recess 12, the cooling liquid container 3 comprises a counter-positioning means 18 configured so as to correspond to the positioning means 17. Accordingly, the counter-positioning means 18 is configured as a groove extending from the hydraulic port 14 in a radially outward direction.

[0064] According to a further exemplary embodiment (not shown), it is provided that the connecting apparatus 1 is an integral part of a component, for example of the cooling liquid pump 2 or the cooling liquid container 3.

[0065] Furthermore, according to the present invention, a system is provided in which a first component, for example a cooling liquid pump 2, can be connected to a second component, for example a cooling liquid container 3, via the connecting apparatus 1.

[0066] According to a further exemplary embodiment of the connecting apparatus 1, an impeller of the cooling liquid pump 2 can be exposed and form the second hydraulic connecting device 13, wherein the hydraulic port of the cooling liquid container must accordingly be configured so as to be sealingly receptive.

[0067] According to a method according to the invention, a cooling liquid pump 2 comprising a connecting apparatus 1 according to the invention is introduced through its second connecting wall 7 into a connecting recess 12 of a cooling liquid container 3.

[0068] Upon insertion of the connecting apparatus 1 into the connecting recess 12, an electrical, hydraulic, and mechanical connection are simultaneously made between the connecting apparatus 1 and the cooling liquid pump 2 and cooling liquid container 3, respectively.

[0069] According to the method according to the invention, it is thus generally provided that an electrical and a hydraulic connection of a first component to a second component is produced substantially simultaneously for connecting a first component to the system described above by means of the connecting apparatus.

[0070] The first component and the second component can be connected to one another by a linear movement and/or a rotational movement by means of a mechanical connecting device of the connecting apparatus in order to produce the electrical and hydraulic connection of the first component to the second component.

[0071] A connection of the connecting apparatus to a component can be produced through a positive-locking and/or a non-positive-locking connection by means of the connecting apparatus.

[0072] Accordingly, the connecting apparatus can be produced with a component, for example via a screw connection and/or a plug connection and/or a latch connection and/or an integral connection, preferably manufactured in a 2-component injection molding process.

[0073] If the connecting apparatus is embodied as a separate component, it accordingly comprises a first electrical connecting device and a second electrical connecting device as well as a first hydraulic connecting device and a second hydraulic connecting device and preferably a first mechanical connecting device and a second mechanical connecting device, such that the connecting apparatus is configured as an interface between two components and is electrically, hydraulically, and preferably mechanically connectable to both components in order to connect the two components to one another accordingly.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0074] 1 Connecting apparatus [0075] 2 Cooling liquid pump [0076] 3 Cooling liquid container [0077] 4 Base wall [0078] 5 Side wall [0079] 6 First connecting wall [0080] 7 Second connecting wall [0081] 8 First mechanical connecting device [0082] 9 First hydraulic connecting device [0083] 10 First electrical connecting device [0084] 11 Second mechanical connecting device [0085] 12 Connecting recess [0086] 13 Second hydraulic connecting device [0087] 14 Hydraulic port [0088] 15 Second electrical connecting device [0089] 16 Electrical port [0090] 17 Positioning means [0091] 18 Counter-positioning means