PRESSURE COMPENSATION ELEMENT HAVING SPRING ELEMENT, CASING AND ELECTRONIC CONTROL DEVICE

Abstract

A pressure compensation element for casings includes a connecting body in the form of a hollow body, a membrane seat having a contact surface for a membrane and an impact protection device. The membrane seat is arranged on the connecting body wherein the impact protection device is coupled to the connecting body. The membrane is arranged on the contact surface between the impact protection means and the membrane seat. The connecting body has a first opening arranged on a first free end, and a second opening leading to the contact surface of the membrane seat, wherein a spring element is arranged inside the second opening abutting the contact surface. The spring element provides a support contour for the membrane.

Claims

1. A pressure compensation element (100) for a casing, with a connecting body (110) in the form of a hollow body (150), with a membrane seat (120) having a contact face (125) for a membrane (130), and with an impact protection (140), wherein the membrane seat (130) is arranged on the connecting body (110) and the impact protection (140) is coupled to the connecting body (110); wherein the membrane (130) is arranged on the contact face (125) between the impact protection (140) and the membrane seat (120); wherein the connecting body (110) has a first opening (160) arranged on a first free end, and a second opening (170) leading to the contact face (125) of the membrane seat (120); and wherein a spring element (180) is arranged inside the second opening (170), abutting the contact face (125), which spring element can be elastically deflected by the membrane (130) and forms a supporting contour (185) for the membrane (130).

2. The pressure compensation element (100) as claimed in the preceding claim, wherein the two openings (160, 170) constitute end portions of a cavity penetrating the hollow body (150), the membrane (130) is curved inward into the cavity under the elastic deformation of the spring element (180) when a reduced pressure prevails in the cavity relative to a side of the membrane (130) facing away from the cavity, and the membrane (130) is pressed back into its starting position under the spring force of the spring element (180) when the reduced pressure in the cavity diminishes.

3. The pressure compensation element (100) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the supporting contour (185) of the spring element (180) and the contact face (125) of the membrane seat (120) lie in one surface.

4. The pressure compensation element (100) as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the supporting contour (185) of the spring element (180) and the contact face (125) of the membrane seat (120) are formed curved.

5. The pressure compensation element (100) as claimed in one of claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the membrane (130) is configured such that, in its starting state, the membrane lies by form fit on the surface.

6. The pressure compensation element (100) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the impact protection (140) lies at least in portions on the membrane (130) and constitutes a positional fixing of the membrane (130).

7. The pressure compensation element (100) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hollow body (150) has at least one sealing element (190) between the first opening (160) and the membrane seat (120), wherein the sealing element (190) is configured to seal the connecting body (110) against the casing.

8. The pressure compensation element (100) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one catch element (200) is formed abutting the first opening (160) on the hollow body (150), wherein the catch element (200) secures the seat of the connecting body (110) on the casing.

9. The pressure compensation element (100) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the membrane seat (120), the membrane (130) and the impact protection (140) each have a rectangular outer contour.

10. The pressure compensation element (100) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spring element (180) is formed between two mutually opposing regions of the second opening (170) such that, on a reduced pressure in the casing interior, the spring element (180) is pressed into the second opening (170) by the membrane (130), and that when the reduced pressure in the casing interior diminishes, the membrane (130) is pressed back into its starting state by the spring element (180).

11. The pressure compensation element (100) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spring element (180) has an S-shape.

12. The pressure compensation element (100) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first opening (160) and the second opening (170) lie opposite each other at the two ends of the hollow body (150).

13. A casing with a pressure compensation element (100) as claimed in any of the preceding claims.

14. An electronic control unit with a casing according to the preceding claim.

Description

[0025] Further features, possible applications and advantages of the invention arise from the following description of the exemplary embodiment of the invention in connection with figures.

[0026] These show:

[0027] FIG. 1 a diagrammatic, perspective, exploded view of a pressure compensation element according to the invention;

[0028] FIG. 2 a diagrammatic, perspective, detail view of a connecting body of the pressure compensation element in FIG. 1, and

[0029] FIG. 3 a diagrammatic, perspective view of the pressure compensation element in FIG. 1 in assembled state.

[0030] FIG. 1 shows a pressure compensation element 100 in a perspective, exploded view. The pressure compensation element 100 shown in FIG. 1 is suitable for use in a casing (not shown) for electrical devices, and comprises a connecting body 110, a membrane 130, and an impact protection 140 configured as a lid, which is coupled to the connecting body 110 by means of snap connectors. The connecting body 110 is configured as a hollow body 150 and can be connected to the casing. At a free end, the hollow body 150 has a first opening 160 and a second opening 170 leading to a membrane seat 120, these openings being the end portions of a cavity penetrating through the hollow body 150 in the longitudinal direction.

[0031] When the pressure compensation element 100 is connected to the casing, the first opening 160 leads to the interior of the casing. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the first opening 160 is arranged opposite the second opening 170, wherein in principle the two openings 160, 170 may also be arranged differently.

[0032] The membrane seat 120 has a contact face 125 to which the second opening 170 leads. A spring element 180 abutting the contact face 125 is formed inside the second opening 170. A surface of the spring element 180 transforming into the contact face 125 forms a supporting contour 185 for the membrane 130. The supporting contour 185 and the contact face 125 of the membrane seat 120 together lie in one surface which, in the exemplary embodiment shown, is configured with a single curvature, namely formed as a portion of a cylinder casing surface. The spring element 180 is formed between two mutually opposing regions of the second opening 170, such that when a reduced pressure prevails in the casing interior due to dirt particles on the membrane 130, it is deformed elastically inward into the second opening 170 by the membrane 130, and when the reduced pressure in the casing interior diminishes, the membrane 130 is pressed back by the spring element 180 into its starting state, so that the dirt particles deposited on the membrane 130 are in motion and break down, whereby the permeability of the membrane 130 is restored. The spring element 180, in top view onto the second opening 170, has an S-shape.

[0033] Accordingly, the membrane 130 is also configured curved in a pressure-balanced starting state and follows the surface containing the supporting contour 185 of the spring element 180 and the contact face 125 of the membrane seat 120, such that the membrane 130 lies by form fit on the contact face 125 and the supporting contour 185. The impact protection 140 lies at least in portions on the membrane 130 such that, in addition to protecting the membrane 130 from the impact of foreign bodies or fluids, it assumes the function of securing the position of the membrane 130.

[0034] In particular, the membrane 130 is fixed by force fit by means of the impact protection 140 and the membrane seat 120. The membrane is preferably not otherwise attached, in particular the membrane 130 is not held by a weld or adhesive joint. Advantageously, in this case it can be removed from the membrane seat 120 and from the impact protection 140 without destruction. Thus the membrane 130 can be changed comparatively easily. This embodiment is also suitable for other exemplary embodiments of the pressure compensation element 100.

[0035] As shown in particular in FIG. 2, in a detail view of the connecting body 110, the second opening 170 leads to the curved membrane seat 120. The second opening 170 contains the spring element 180 which, in top view onto the second opening 170, is configured curved corresponding to an S-contour. It forms an also S-shaped supporting contour 185 such that a gas-permeable membrane 130, also formed curved, can lie directly on the membrane seat 120 and the supporting contour 185 of the spring element 180. The impact protection 140 is arranged above the membrane 130 so that direct spraying of the membrane 130 by a fluid can be largely prevented.

[0036] The impact protection 140 has catch elements 145 and can be connected thereby, as shown in FIG. 3, to the connecting body 110 such that firstly the position of the membrane 130 can be secured and secondly simple installation and removal of the impact protection 140 and hence also replacement of the membrane 130 can be guaranteed.

[0037] If, despite the impact protection 140 fitted, the membrane 130 is exposed to various solid particle deposits, a reduced air pressure will form inside the device during a temperature falling phase, whereby the membrane 130 is drawn into the second opening 170 against the pretensioned spring element 180. When the air in the casing interior heats up, for example due to operation of an electrical device, the resulting reduced air pressure will diminish. The pretension of the spring element 180 guarantees that the spring element 180 and hence the membrane 130 are returned to their original position. The solid particle deposits on the membrane 130 break down under the movement of the membrane 130, so that the air permeability of the membrane 130 is restored.

[0038] In principle, both the membrane seat 120 and the membrane 130 may be configured differently, wherein the membrane seat 120 described in the exemplary embodiment shown, and the membrane 130, have an outer contour rectangular in top view and are configured curved. Due to the rectangular outer contour, optimum use of the membrane material on automated production of the membrane 130 can be guaranteed. Furthermore, due to its larger surface area, the rectangular membrane 130 has a higher elasticity than for example a round membrane cross-section, whereby the service life of the membrane 130 is extended and hence the total costs for the pressure compensation element 100 can be reduced.

[0039] The connecting body 110 abutting the first opening 160 on the hollow body 150 has catch elements 200, wherein the catch elements 200 secure the seat of the connecting body 110 on the casing when the pressure compensation element 100 is mounted on the casing (not shown). Furthermore, in the exemplary embodiment shown, the connecting body 110 has two sealing elements 190, wherein the number of sealing elements 190 is variable and may be structured flexibly depending on the production process and area of use. The sealing elements 190 may either be applied additionally to the hollow body 150 or produced directly with the hollow body 150 in one production process. It is advantageous if the entire connecting body 110and hence the hollow body 150, the sealing elements 190 and the membrane seat 120are produced integrally in the injection molding process. In principle, it is also conceivable that the connecting body 110 also comprises the impact protection 140 and this is mounted foldably on the hollow body 140. In this case, a common production process would be possible in which both the connecting body 110 with the sealing elements 190 and the impact protection 140 are injection-molded, whereby amongst others production costs could be saved.

[0040] As well as the exemplary embodiment shown and described, further embodiments are conceivable which may comprise further derivations and combinations of features. The invention is not restricted to the exemplary embodiments by the description referring thereto. Rather, the invention comprises each new feature and each combination of features, which includes in particular any combination of features in the exemplary embodiments and the claims.