Adapter Plug and Electronics Module comprising an Adapter Plug

Abstract

An adapter plug and an electronics housing includes an adapter plug of this kind, and a valve comprising an electronics housing of this kind. The valve has at least one electric actuator. The adapter plug has at least one receptacle for an actuator-side electrical contact element and a receptacle for an electronics-side electrical contact element. The two receptacles are electrically connected to one another. A main body of the adapter plug is designed for insertion into a recess of a wall portion of the electronics housing, which wall portion faces the actuator. The main body can be fastened to an edge of the recess with tolerance or play so as to be able to compensate for positional deviations of the at least one actuator relative to the electronics housing.

Claims

1. An adapter plug, comprising: a main body; at least one actuator-side receptacle for at least one actuator-side electrical contact element; and at least one electronics-side receptacle for at least one electronics-side electrical contact element, wherein the at least one actuator-side receptacle and the at least one electronics-side receptacle are electrically connected to one another, wherein the main body is configured for insertion into a recess of an actuator-side wall portion of an electronics housing, wherein the main body is further configured to be inserted into the recess with tolerance or play relative to an edge of the recess in relation to displacement in the x-direction and/or displacement in the y-direction and/or displacement in the z-direction and/or pivoting about the x-direction and/or pivoting about the y-direction and/or pivoting about the z-direction and can be fastened to the edge.

2. The adapter plug according to claim 1, further comprising a securing mechanism configured to hold the adapter plug loosely on the edge.

3. The adapter plug according to claim 1, further comprising an insulation cover fastened to the main body, wherein: the at least one actuator-side receptacle and the at least one electronics-side receptacle are formed on an electrical connection component, and the insulation cover is arranged on the electronics side of the electrical connection component.

4. The adapter plug according to claim 1, further comprising an elastic element provided on the actuator side, wherein the elastic element is configured to act as a damper in order to tension the main body in the z-direction.

5. The adapter plug according to claim 4, wherein: the tolerance compensation by displacement in the z-direction is achieved by relaxation of the elastic element, and the tolerance compensation by displacement counter to the z-direction is achieved by tensioning of the elastic element.

6. The adapter plug according to claim 4, wherein the elastic element includes a spring with a spring plate.

7. The adapter plug according to claim 5, wherein: the main body has two pairs of ribs which are arranged opposite one another and extend in the x-direction and counter to the x-direction, the recess has two pairs of edge portions which are arranged opposite one another and extend counter to the x-direction and in the x-direction, and the ribs are configured to be brought into contact with an actuator-side side of the associated edge portion.

8. The adapter plug according to claim 7, wherein the ribs are further configured to be tensioned against the associated edge portion by way of the elastic element.

9. The adapter plug according to claim 7, wherein the tolerance compensation in the x-direction and counter to the x-direction is achieved by sliding one rib of each pair in the direction of the associated edge portion and by simultaneously pulling the other rib of the pair in the direction away from the associated edge portion.

10. The adapter plug according to claim 8, wherein the tolerance compensation in the y-direction and counter to the y-direction is achieved by laterally displacing the ribs relative to the associated edge portions.

11. The adapter plug according to claim 7, wherein: the tolerance compensation in the z-direction is achieved by simultaneously moving the ribs of both pairs towards the associated edge portions, and the tolerance compensation counter to the z-direction is achieved by simultaneously removing the ribs of both pairs from the associated edge portions.

12. The adapter plug according to claim 7, wherein the rotary tolerance compensation in the x-direction and counter to the x-direction is achieved by simultaneously removing the two ribs of precisely one pair from the associated edge portions.

13. The adapter plug according to claim 7, wherein the rotary tolerance compensation in the y-direction and counter to the y-direction is achieved by removing precisely one rib of each of the two pairs from the associated edge portion.

14. The adapter plug according to claim 7, wherein the rotary tolerance compensation in the z-direction and counter to the z-direction is achieved by pivoting the ribs relative to the associated edge portions.

15. An electronics module, comprising an electronics housing configured to fasten to a hydraulic unit which has a valve housing and at least one electric actuator, wherein at least one recess is provided in an actuator-side wall portion of the electronics housing into which recess an adapter plug according to claim 1 is inserted.

16. The adapter plug according to claim 9, wherein the tolerance compensation in the y-direction and counter to the y-direction is achieved by laterally displacing the ribs relative to the associated edge portions.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] An exemplary embodiment of an adapter plug according to the disclosure and of an electronics module according to the disclosure is shown in the figures.

[0041] In the figures:

[0042] FIG. 1 shows a perspective illustration of the electronics module according to the disclosure,

[0043] FIG. 2 shows a perspective illustration of the hydraulic unit according to the disclosure,

[0044] FIG. 3 shows an illustration from the side of the electronics module according to the disclosure from FIG. 1 with two adapter plugs according to the disclosure in accordance with the exemplary embodiment together with the hydraulic unit according to the disclosure from FIG. 2,

[0045] FIG. 4 shows a perspective illustration of the adapter plug according to the disclosure from the previous figures, and

[0046] FIG. 5 shows a sectional illustration of the adapter plug according to the disclosure from the previous figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0047] FIG. 1 shows a perspective illustration of the electronics module 1 according to the disclosure. The electronics module 1 is configured for use with a hydraulic unit 2 (see FIG. 2).

[0048] The electronics module 1, together with a hydraulic unit 2, forms an electrically actuated 4/3-way valve, the valve gate of which (not shown) is received in an approximately cuboidal valve housing 4 and is displaceable by two electric actuators 6 acting against one another. The actuators 6 have circular-cylindrical housings, the outer circumference of which in each case has a base arranged on it on the side facing the electronics module 1. Two flat plugs 10 are provided on each base and extend in the direction of the electronics housing 3.

[0049] FIG. 3 shows a partly sectional view from the side of the electronics module 1 according to the disclosure from FIG. 1 with two adapter plugs 12 according to the disclosure together with the hydraulic unit 2.

[0050] Each adapter plug 12 is associated with an actuator 6 or one of its bases or two flat plugs 10 thereof (see FIG. 2). Each adapter plug 12 receives two flat plugs 10 and connects them to two lines (not shown), which are connected to printed circuit boards (not shown) of the electronics module 1.

[0051] In each of the two recesses 18 of a base 20 of the electronics housing 3, there are arranged two pairs of mutually opposed edge portions 22, which extend in the direction of the adapter plug 12 or its main body 14. In the right-hand recess 18 in FIG. 3, a pair of these edge portions 22 can be seen. A fastening with play and tolerance and additionally also a securing means of the main body 14 acts on this total of two pairs of edge portions 22.

[0052] The securing means of each main body 14 has four leg-like snap-in hooks 16 formed opposite one another in pairs, wherein only one pair of snap-in hooks 16 is shown at each of the adapter plugs 12 shown in section in FIG. 3.

[0053] In the adapter plug 12 shown on the left in FIG. 3, it can be seen that a damper is arranged centrally between the four snap-in hooks 16 and is formed by a spring 24 and a spring plate 26. The spring 24 is clamped between the spring plate 26 and a contact region of the main body 14. The spring 24 is supported via the spring plate 26 on the base of the actuator 6 and tensions the adapter plug 12 over its main body 14 in the z-direction (upwardly in FIG. 3).

[0054] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the adapter plug 12 according to the disclosure from FIG. 3. Pairs of ribs 28 formed integrally on the main body 14 extend in the x-direction or counter to the x-direction below the two pairs of edge portions 22 of each recess 18 (from FIG. 3). In the shown exemplary embodiment, the four ribs 28 also have the support ribs 28a extending in the y-direction or counter to the y-direction.

[0055] In FIG. 3, the two adapter plugs 12 are shown in each case in their uppermost position, or what is known as the starting position. In this starting position, the adapter plugs 12 are tensioned by the springs 24 (only visible at the left adapter plug 12). In this starting position, the ribs 28 and the connection ribs 28a bear against the actuator-side sides of the associated edge portions 22. In FIG. 3, two connection ribs 28a can be seen only at the right-hand adapter plug 12.

[0056] Again, with reference to FIG. 4, it can be seen that an insulation 30 is provided in the y-direction between two connection ribs 28a for a protective conductor (not shown) running therein. It is thus ensured that, during the mounting process and in operation, there is no accidental contact between the protective conductor received therein and the electronics housing 3 if the latter is fabricated electrically conductively, for example from die-cast aluminum.

[0057] The regions in which a particular edge portion 22 of the recess 18 of the base of the electronics housing 3 is inserted with play can be seen in the y-direction in front of and behind the insulation 30 clearly visible in FIG. 4. A snap-action hook 16 is thus arranged above each edge portion 22, and a rib 28 and connection web (i.e. a support rib 28a) are arranged beneath each edge portion 22.

[0058] Furthermore, a securing means for the damper is shown centrally on the adapter plug 12 with respect to an X-Y plane, which damper consists of four snap-action hooks 32, which will be explained in greater detail with reference to FIG. 5.

[0059] The shown adapter plug 12 (in the installed position, at the top) is contacted with the electronics of the electronics module 1 by means of the two insertion openings 34, which are formed in respective insulation covers 36. Both insulation covers 36 are distanced from one another in the y-direction and are rotated relative to one another through 180 degrees and are fastened to the main body 14 by snap-action connection.

[0060] For example, the two adapter plugs 12 can firstly be inserted with play in a base of the electronics housing 3, then the electronics accommodated in the main portion of the electronics housing 3 can be connected by means of lines and the insertion openings 34 to the two adapter plugs 12. The main portion and the base of the electronics housing 3 can then be connected to one another sealingly. The electronics module 1 is thus created as intermediate product and lastly can be placed easily onto the flat plugs 10 of the actuators 6 (see FIG. 3).

[0061] FIG. 5 shows a sectional view of the adapter plug 12 according to the disclosure from the previous figures.

[0062] From the spring plate 26, there extends integrally in the z-direction a cylindrical guide body for the spring 24, and at the guide body end portion remote from the spring plate 26 (in the installed position, the upper end portion) there are formed integrally the four snap-action hooks 32, which engage behind the contact portion 38 of the main body 14, which contact portion is designed for the spring 24. The damper thus formed is thus prevented from being able to detach from the main body 14.

[0063] Insertion bevels 40 for the flat plugs 10 are provided in pairs on the side of the main body 14 facing the actuator 6 (in the installed position, the lower side). The flat plugs 10 are then introduced into symmetrical prong-like spring contacts 42.

[0064] The spring contacts 42 are formed together with push-in terminals 44 on metallic connection components, which are inserted into the main body 14 and, similarly to the insulation covers 36, are rotated relative to one another through 180 degrees.

[0065] An adapter plug and an electronics module comprising an adapter plug of this kind, and a valve comprising an electronics module of this kind are disclosed. The valve has at least one electric actuator. The adapter plug has a pair of receptacles for a pair of actuator-side electrical contact elements and a pair of receptacles for a pair of electronics-side electrical contact elements. A main body of the adapter plug is designed for insertion into a recess of a wall portion of the electronics housing, which wall portion faces the actuator. The main body can be fastened to an edge of the recess with tolerance or play so as to be able to compensate for positional deviations of the at least one actuator relative to the electronics housing.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0066] 1 electronics module [0067] 2 hydraulic unit [0068] 3 electronics housing [0069] 4 valve housing [0070] 6 actuator [0071] 10 actuator-side contact element/flat plug [0072] 12 adapter plug [0073] 14 main body [0074] 16 securing means/snap-action hook [0075] 18 recess [0076] 20 base [0077] 22 edge portion [0078] 24 spring [0079] 26 spring plate [0080] 28 rib [0081] 28a support rib [0082] 30 insulation [0083] 32 snap-action hook [0084] 34 insertion opening [0085] 36 insulation cover [0086] 38 contact portion [0087] 40 insertion bevel [0088] 42 actuator-side receptacle/spring contact [0089] 44 electronic-side receptacle/push-in terminal