Seal Housing, Cable Lug and System

Abstract

A seal housing for a cable lug comprising a cable entry extending in a longitudinal direction, and a dome extending in a transverse direction, transversely to the longitudinal direction, wherein the cable entry extends longitudinally towards the dome and terminates in the dome, the dome comprises a receptacle for the cable lug, and the dome comprises a transversely extending through channel which extends transversely, on both sides of the receptacle into a bottom region and a cover region, characterized in that the receptacle comprises latching means for mechanically receiving the cable lug.

Claims

1-33. (canceled)

34. Seal housing for a cable lug comprising: a cable entry extending in a longitudinal direction,; and a dome extending in a transverse direction, transversely to the longitudinal direction, wherein the cable entry extends in the longitudinal direction towards the dome and terminates in the dome, the dome has a cable lug receptacle for the cable lug, and the dome has a through channel extending in a transverse direction, which extends in the transverse direction, on both sides of the cable lug receptacle into a bottom region and a cover region, wherein the receptacle has latching means for mechanically receiving the cable lug wherein the latching means have an expanding receptacle extending in the transverse direction for an expanding tool exerting a radially outwards directed expanding force onto the latching means, wherein the latching means are pivotable transversely to the longitudinal direction and there is a free space in the cable lug receptacle for receiving the radially outwardly bent latching means when spread.

35. Seal housing according to claim 34, wherein the latching means are formed for positive latching with the cable lug in the longitudinal direction.

36. Seal housing according to claim 34, wherein the latching means are transversely pivotable in a resilient manner.

37. Seal housing according to claim 34, wherein the cable lug receptacle has an anti-twist protection which is arranged in the longitudinal direction opposite of the cable entry.

38. Seal housing according to claim 37, wherein the anti-twist protection has a projection extending in the longitudinal direction in the direction of the cable entry, the projection engaging in a detent groove of the cable lug.

39. Seal housing according to claim 37, wherein the anti-rotation device has a groove for receiving an end edge of a fastening region of the cable lug.

40. Seal housing according to claim 34, wherein the through channel is aligned with the cable lug receptacle such that a center axis of the dome passes through a center of a contact opening of a cable lug latched in the cable lug receptacle.

41. Seal housing according to claim 34, further comprising a circumferential sealing ring extending in the transverse direction and arranged in the cover region.

42. Seal housing according to claim 34, further comprising a flange extending radially outwards and arranged in the cover region on an end edge.

43. Seal housing according to claim 34, wherein the cover region is formed to receive a lid, the lid being positively fastened in the fastened state to the cover region in the transverse direction and/or a seal is arranged between an inner side of the lid and an end face of the cover region and/or between a lid wall and an outer peripheral surface of the cover region.

44. Seal housing according to claim 34, wherein the cable entry is separated from the through channel of the dome by a wall, the wall having an opening for the cable lug.

45. Seal housing according to claim 34, wherein the cable entry has a receiving region for a cable attached to the cable lug.

46. Seal housing according to claim 45, wherein a circumferential sealing ring is arranged on the inner wall of the seal housing in the receiving region.

47. Seal housing according to claim 45, wherein a grommet is arranged on the outer peripheral surface of the receiving region.

48. Seal housing according to claim 46, wherein the sealing ring has ribs spaced apart in the longitudinal direction, facing radially outwards and/or the sealing ring has ribs spaced apart in the longitudinal direction, facing radially inwards.

49. Seal housing according to claim 46, wherein the sealing ring has a sealing lip extending in the longitudinal direction on its end face facing away from the dome.

50. Seal housing according to claim 45, wherein an end cap is arranged on the receiving region, wherein the end cap embraces the receiving region on an outer peripheral surface.

51. Seal housing according to claim 50, wherein the end cap has a receptacle for a cable.

52. Seal housing according to claim 50, wherein the end cap has groove webs within the cable entry pointing in the longitudinal direction in the direction of the dome which span a groove into which the sealing lip is received.

53. Seal housing according claim 50, wherein the end cap latches with latching means on an outer peripheral surface of the receiving region.

54. Seal housing according to claim 34, wherein the bottom region is formed to receive a housing receptacle.

55. Seal housing according to claim 54, wherein the housing receptacle is part of a housing dome of an electrical add-on part.

56. Seal housing according to claim 34, wherein the housing receptacle comprises a through channel for receiving a contact element.

57. Seal housing according to claim 56, wherein a seal is arranged between the contact element and the inner wall of the through channel.

58. Seal housing according to claim 56, wherein the through channel extends in transverse direction into the dome.

59. Seal housing according to claim 34, wherein a seal is arranged on an end face of the bottom region, in particular a seal arranged on an end face of the bottom region engages around the end edges of the bottom region on both sides.

60. Seal housing according to claim 59, wherein the seal is arranged on the end face of the bottom region between the seal housing and the housing receptacle.

61. Seal housing according to claim 59, wherein the seal has ribs being spaced in transverse direction, facing radially inwards on the end face of the bottom region.

62. System including a seal housing according to claim 34 and further comprising: a cable lug with a connection region for an electrical cable and a fastening region for fastening in a receptacle of the seal housing, wherein the fastening region is formed as a flat part and at least one latching means is formed on its outer edge, as well as an expanding tool for engaging with the expanding receptacle and for exerting a radially outwardly directed expanding force onto the latching means.

Description

[0092] In the following, the subject matter is explained in more detail with reference to a drawing showing embodiments. In the drawing show:

[0093] FIG. 1a a top view of a cable lug according to an embodiment;

[0094] FIG. 1b a view of a cable lug according to FIG. 1a;

[0095] FIG. 1c a top view of a cable lug according to an embodiment;

[0096] FIG. 2 a schematic view of a seal housing with a cable lug according to an embodiment;

[0097] FIG. 3 another schematic view of a seal housing according to an embodiment;

[0098] FIG. 4 a partial section through a seal housing with a cable lug according to an embodiment;

[0099] FIG. 5 a longitudinal section through a seal housing with a cable lug according to embodiments;

[0100] FIG. 6 a schematic view of a cable lug with seal housing according to an embodiment;

[0101] FIG. 7 a schematic view of a cable lug with seal housing according to an embodiment.

[0102] FIG. 1a shows a cable lug 2 with a cable 4 attached thereto. The cable lug 2 has a connection region 2a and an fastening region 2b. As shown, the connection region 2a may be formed as a flat part to which the cable can be soldered or welded. However, it is also possible for the connection region 2a to have a screw-on surface, a crimp connection or the like.

[0103] In the connection region 2a, a stranded wire 4a of the cable is fastened, in particular fastened with a material bond. The stranded wire 4a of the cable is surrounded by an insulator 4b.

[0104] The material of the stranded wire 4a, which may be formed as a single strand or as a multi-strand, may be an aluminum material or a copper material. Accordingly, at least the surface of the connection region 2a, whether by the material of the cable lug 2 itself or by a coating, may be formed of the same or a similar material.

[0105] The cable lug 2 may be formed of a first material, for example aluminum material or copper material and may be coated with nickel material and/or tin material and/or further materials over the entire surface or, in particular, only in the region of the connection region 2a or only in the region of the fastening region. It is also possible for the cable lug 2 to be bimetallic, with the connection region 2a being formed from a copper material and the fastening region 2b being formed from an aluminum material. The combination of materials may also be the other way around.

[0106] The cable lug 2 extends longitudinally from the connection region 2a into the fastening region 2b. The fastening region 2b is formed in particular as a flat part

[0107] A contact opening 6 for receiving a contact element, as will be described below, is formed in the fastening region 2b. The contact opening 6 can be drilled, milled, punched, cut or the like. In particular, the contact opening 6 is centered on the fastening region 2b.

[0108] The fastening region 2b is delimited by a circumferential outer edge 8. The outer edge 8 extends laterally of the contact opening 6 and transitions into a front edge 8′.

[0109] At the lateral outer edges 8, the fastening region 2b has a recess 10b formed as a recess. In the example shown, the recess 10b is on both sides of the contact opening 6.

[0110] It can be seen that the recess 10b, starting from the front edge 8′, is offset inwardly with a steep flank and extends in the direction of the connection region 2a with a flatter flank towards the outer edge 8.

[0111] The steep edge facing the front edge 8′ allows the cable lug 2 to be latched in a seal housing, as will be described below.

[0112] At the front edge 8′, the cable lug 2 has a further twist protection 12 formed as a recess. A detent lug can engage in this, as will be described below.

[0113] FIG. 1b shows the cable lug 2 in a view. It can be seen that the contact opening 6 is a hole. The strands 4a of the cable 4 are welded onto the connection region 2a, in particular by means of friction welding, e.g. ultrasonic welding, in which the strands 4a are compacted to the cable lug 2 during welding.

[0114] FIG. 1c shows an embodiment of a cable lug 2 corresponding to FIG. 1a, whereby, in contrast to FIG. 1a, a projection 10b is provided and the anti-twist protection 12 is also formed as a projection. These can interact with corresponding recesses in the seal housing. It can be seen that on the protrusions 10b, starting from the front edge 8′, first a flat flank extends outward and then a steep flank extends toward the outer edge 8′. The flat flank allows the cable lug 2 to slide into the receptacle of the seal housing. The steep flank allows the cable lug 2 to latch into a recess of the seal housing.

[0115] FIG. 2 shows the cable lug 2 installed in a seal housing 14. It can be seen that the seal housing 14 has a cable entry 16 extending in a longitudinal direction 18. The longitudinal direction 18 can also be understood as a longitudinal axis and runs in particular coaxially with the longitudinal axis of the cable 4. Transverse to the longitudinal direction 18, a through channel 20 of a dome 22 runs in a transverse direction 24. The transverse direction 24 can also be understood as a vertical axis or transverse axis. The dome 22 has a bottom region 22a and a cover region 22b.

[0116] It can be seen that the cable 4 is inserted into the cable entry 16 through an end cap 26. The end cap 26 is attached to a receiving portion 16a of the cable entry 16.

[0117] A seal 28 is disposed on the inner peripheral surface of the receiving portion 16a and the outer peripheral surface of the insulator 4b.

[0118] Starting from the cable entry 16, the cable lug 2 is inserted into the cable entry 16 and the dome 22 along the longitudinal direction 18, which is the insertion direction. As will be described in more detail below, the cable lug 2 engages with its fastening region 2b within the receptacle of the dome 22.

[0119] As will be described in more detail below, the bottom region 22a is sealed by a sealing ring 30. Similarly, as will be described in further detail below, the cover region 22b is sealed by a sealing ring 32.

[0120] The seal 28 and the sealing rings 30, 32, may be made of soft components and provided as separate components from the seal housing 14. As a result, the seals 28, 30, 32 can be removed from the seal housing 14 and the latter can be recycled, if necessary, in accordance with the material, when it is replaced.

[0121] FIG. 3 shows the seal housing 14 with the end cover 26 fitted onto the receiving region 16a. It can be seen that the end cap 26 engages with a clip fastener 26a relative to the seal housing 14. The clip fastener 26a is formed such that the end cap 26 is pressed against the receiving portion 16a with a force.

[0122] Further, it can be seen that a lid 34 is disposed on the cover region 22b of the dome 22. The cover 34 locks relative to the seal housing 14 and is pressed against the cover region 22b with a force. A housing receptacle 36 is provided at the bottom region 22a. The housing receptacle 36 is bolted to the dome 22 or the bottom region 22a, so that the housing receptacle 26 is pressed against the bottom region 22a with a force.

[0123] In this assembled state, the seal housing 14 is sealed and a connection between a contact element and the cable lug 2 within the receptacle of the dome 22 is protected from water.

[0124] The manner in which the cable lug 2 locks into the seal housing 14 is shown schematically in FIG. 4. FIG. 4 shows a top view of a seal housing 14 with a partial longitudinal section. It can be seen that the cable lug 2 is inserted with its fastening region 2b into the receptacle of the dome 22. The resilient elements 10a on the guide rails 38 engage with recesses 10b of the cable lug 10.

[0125] Also to be seen is that transversely extending receptacles 11 are formed on the resilient elements 10a. A spreading tool can engage in the receptacles 11 to spread the resilient elements 10a radially outwardly. The resilient elements 10b thus release the recess 10b and the cable lug 2 can be pulled out of the housing.

[0126] To prevent the housing from twisting, radially outwardly extending webs 13 are provided which can engage a housing dome.

[0127] A portion of a guide rail 38 is shown. Within this guide rail 38, at the base of the groove, is a projection 40 which engages with the anti-rotation protection 12.

[0128] It can also be seen that the end cap 26 engages behind a projection 42 of the seal housing 14.

[0129] FIG. 5 shows a longitudinal section through a seal housing 14 with a cable lug 2. At the receiving region 16a, the cable 4 with the insulator 4a is inserted into the cable entry 16. Circumferentially surrounding the cable 4 is the seal 28.

[0130] It can be seen that the seal 28 has ribs 28a pointing radially outwards. The ribs 28a are spaced from one another in the longitudinal direction 18. The ribs 28a engage optional grooves 16b of the receiving portion 16a or abut the inner peripheral surface of the receiving portion 16a. The grooves 16b are arranged circumferentially on the inner peripheral surface of the receiving region 16a and, in particular, are complementary to the ribs 28.

[0131] Apart from the ribs 28a, radially inwardly facing ribs 28b are further arranged on the seal 28 and are also spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction 18. The radially inwardly facing ribs 28b are also preferably circumferential. The seal 28 is compressed by the inserted cable 4, the ribs 28a are pressed against the inner peripheral surface of the receiving region 16a and the ribs 28b are pressed against the insulator 4b of the cable 4.

[0132] Pointing longitudinally 18 away from the dome 22, a sealing lip 28c is provided on the seal 28. The sealing lip 28c is also preferably circumferential. The sealing lip 28c is received by a groove 26a disposed on the end cap 26. In the connected state, the groove 26a of the end cap 26 points into the interior of the receiving region 16a. Furthermore, the end cover 26 circumferentially engages around an end edge of the receiving region 16a.

[0133] The inserted cable lug 2 extends through a wall 44 between the cable entry 16 and the through channel 20. In the through channel 20, the cable lug 2 is engaged with its fastening region 2b, as shown in FIG. 4.

[0134] At the bottom region 22a, a housing receptacle 36 is fitted onto the dome 22. The housing receptacle 36 has a through channel 36a for receiving a contact element 46. In the present case, the contact element 46 is a bolt. The contact element 46 can be inserted into the dome 22 in the transverse direction 24 through the through channel 36. A seal 46a arranged on the contact element 46, in particular a sealing ring, thereby comes into engagement with a groove 36b running around the inner wall of the through channel 36a. The seal 46a thus seals the through channel 36a. The contact element 46 can also be overmolded with the housing receptacle 36. In this case, the seal 46a can be omitted. In this case, the contacting surface is much closer to the contact element.

[0135] The contact element 46 is pushed through the contact opening 6 of the cable lug 2 during insertion in the transverse direction 24. On the side of the cable lug 2 opposite the bottom region 22a, the contact element 46 is fixed, in particular screwed, to the cable lug by a nut 48.

[0136] For sealing the bottom region 22a, the seal 30 runs circumferentially along a front edge of the bottom region 22a. In this connection, the seal 30 may be provided on the inner side of the bottom region 22a with ribs 30a spaced-apart from one another which point radially inwards. These ribs 30a engage with circumferential grooves 36c on the outer peripheral surface of the through channel 36a. Also, the outer peripheral surface of the passageway 36a may be smooth.

[0137] The housing receptacle 36 circumferentially engages the seal 30 at the end surface.

[0138] The housing receptacle 36 may include a circumferential collar facing toward the cover portion 22b. This collar may project beyond the seal 30 in the transverse direction 24. This protects the seal 30 from splashing water.

[0139] In the cover region 22b, after the nut 48 has been tightened, a lid 34 is placed on the seal housing 14. In the process, the seal 24 is pressed by the lid 34 against the end face of the dome 22. The housing 14 is thus sealed. The lid can also be screwed into place. This is shown in FIG. 7

[0140] FIG. 6 schematically shows a sealing of the seal housing 14 as described in connection with FIG. 5. It can be seen that a projection 52 pointing outward in the transverse direction 24 is provided on an end face 50 of the cover region 22b. This protrusion 52 comes into engagement with the seal 28, thereby sealing the lid 34 with respect to the dome 22.

[0141] In FIG. 6, it can further be seen that the seal 30 has a circumferential radially inwardly facing projection 30a on the outer peripheral surface of the base portion 22a, which engages a recess 22a′ on the outer peripheral surface of the base portion 22a. The housing recess 36 presses the seal 30 against the outer mantle surface of the bottom region 22a. Further, the seal 30 also has spaced apart ribs 30c in the region of the inner peripheral surface of the bottom region 22, which are pressed against the inner peripheral surface of the bottom region 22.

[0142] FIG. 7 shows another alternative of a seal housing 14. It can be seen that the lid 34 is formed as a screw lid. The lid 34 has a circumferential lid edge 34a. The lid rim 34a extends in the transverse direction 24 beyond the thread 34b. A sealing ring 35 is provided between the lid edge 34a and the cover region 22b.

[0143] In the area of the cable entry 16, a grommet 29 lies around the outer peripheral surface of the cable entry 16. The grommet 29 engages with a circumferential groove 16c on the outer peripheral surface of the cable entry 16. The grommet 29 may be formed as a bellows. The grommet 29 rests against the insulator 4b of the cable 4.

[0144] In the bottom region 22a, the seal 30 circumferentially engages the front edge of the seal housing 14 according to FIG. 6. Unlike in FIG. 6, the seal 30 does not rest against the contact element 46. Rather, the contact element 46 is guided in a sealed manner in the housing receptacle 36. The seal 30 is in circumferential contact with the outer peripheral surface of the housing receptacle 36. The housing receptacle 36 has an outer collar 36b that preferably circumferentially engages around the seal 30.

[0145] By means of the arrangement shown, it is possible to protect a cable connection between a cable lug and a contact element against moisture.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0146] 2 Cable lug [0147] 2′ Connection region [0148] 2b Fastening region [0149] 4 Cable [0150] 4a Stranded wire [0151] 4b Insulator [0152] 6 Contact opening [0153] 8 Outer edge [0154] 8′ Front edge [0155] 10 Latching means [0156] 12 Anti-twist protection [0157] 14 Seal housing [0158] 16 Cable entry [0159] 18 Longitudinal direction [0160] 20 Through channel [0161] 22 Dome [0162] 22a Bottom region [0163] 22a′ Recess [0164] 22b Cover region [0165] 24 Transverse direction [0166] 26 End cap [0167] 26a Clip closure [0168] 28 Gasket [0169] 28a,b Ribs [0170] 29 Grommet [0171] 30, 32 Gasket [0172] 34 Lid [0173] 34a Lid rim [0174] 34b Thread [0175] 36b Collar [0176] 36 Housing receptacle [0177] 36a Through channel [0178] 36b Groove [0179] 38 Guide groove [0180] 40 Protrusion [0181] 42 Protrusion [0182] 44 Wall [0183] 46 Contact element [0184] 46a Gasket [0185] 48 Nut [0186] 50 end face [0187] 52 Projection