Patent Application
20220190688
This nonprovisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. ยง 119(a) to German Patent Application No. 10 2020 133 073.1, which was filed in Germany on Dec. 11, 2020, and which is herein incorporated by reference.
The present invention relates to a device with a housing electrically conductive at least in regions, with an electrical circuit in the housing, with an electrically conductive connection between an electrically conductive region of the housing and the circuit, and with a holder made up of an insulator, which is arranged in the housing and to which at least parts and/or components of the electrical circuit are attached.
Devices with a housing and an electrical circuit arranged in the housing are indispensable in everyday life. It is also known that housings of such devices are electrically conductive and are electrically connected to the circuit enclosed by the housing. As a result, electromagnetic radiation emanating from the electrical circuit can be reduced and the electromagnetic compatibility of the device can be improved. It is possible to connect the housing to a protective conductor in order to reduce the risk of an electric shock if a voltage between ground and the housing drops due to a fault.
It is known from the prior art to connect the housing and electrical circuits via cables. To this end, the cables must be connected to the circuit on the one hand and to the housing on the other. This is time-consuming.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a device such that an electrical connection between the housing and the circuit is possible with simple means and, if possible, without additional assembly effort.
This problem is solved according to the invention in that at least one electrically conductive spring element, which is attached in or to the holder and which has a first end protruding beyond the holder and bearing against the housing with a spring force, is provided for establishing the electrically conductive connection between the electrically conductive region of the housing and the circuit.
When a device of the invention is assembled, the holder and the housing are connected such that the initially relaxed spring element is elastically deformed and tensioned and, due to the tension, bears against the housing, so that an electrically conductive connection is made between the housing and the spring element. The spring element attached to or in the holder can then be connected to the circuit in any desired manner. The spring element advantageously has a second end which protrudes beyond the holder and is electrically conductively connected to the circuit. Not only can the circuit, a component, and/or a part of the circuit be connected to the second end in an electrically conductive manner, they can also be attached to the second end.
The second end of the spring element can form a press-fit pin. Such press-fit pins are known, for example, from so-called press-fit connections, with which, for example, circuit boards can be attached and electrically connected at the same time. For this purpose, the circuit boards can have holes into which the press-fit pins are inserted.
Thus, the circuit of a device of the invention can also have a circuit board which is attached to the press-fit pins of the spring elements and is electrically connected to the press-fit pins.
The circuit board can be attached to the housing independently of the press-fit pins. Thus, the circuit board can already be connected to the housing before the holder and housing are put together. During assembly, the connection between the second ends of the spring elements and the circuit board can then be made.
The housing can have multiple parts. The circuit board can then be attached in a first housing part of the housing before assembly. The first housing part may be a housing cover.
The holder of a device of the invention can be a plastic injection-molded part. At least one part or a component of the circuit can be injection molded completely or partially in this plastic injection-molded part.
The device of the invention can have an electric motor. The stator of the motor, in particular a stator core, can be completely or partially embedded in the holder. The stator and in particular stator windings can be part of the electrical circuit provided in the housing.
The spring elements can be electrically insulated from other parts or components of the circuit that are completely or partially enclosed by the plastic of the holder. However, it is also possible for an electrical connection to be made with these parts or components.
The device of the invention can be a pump.
Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitive of the present invention, and wherein:
The device of the invention, of which parts are shown in
Holder 2 can have a plurality of first domes 21 which protrude upwards from the overmolding of ring 100. These first domes 21 have a tapered end 210. A shoulder on which circuit board 3 is disposed is formed between tapered end 210 and the remaining part of first dome 21. In addition, tapered ends 210 pass through holes in circuit board 3. This makes it possible to position circuit board 3 on holder 2.
Components which are connected to one another by conductor tracks of circuit board 3 are attached to circuit board 3. These conductor tracks and components form parts of a circuit which also includes stator 1 of the motor.
Holder 2 also can have a plurality of second domes 22. Spring elements 4 made of metal are embedded in this second dome 22. A first end 41 and a second end 42 of these spring elements 4 protrude out of each second dome 22. First ends 41 protrude laterally outward out of second domes 22. These first ends 41 protrude beyond ring 100 of stator core 10 and holder 2. These first ends 41 are elastically deformable. Second ends 42 of spring elements 4 protrude upwards out of second domes 22. These second ends 22 form press-fit pins which are pressed into holes in circuit board 3. Circuit board 3 is attached thereby with the press-fit pins and thus to holder 2.
Only a first housing part 51 of the housing of the device is shown. This first housing part 51 is a hood or at least similar to a hood and has a circumferential outer wall and an end-face wall. The outer wall encloses a space which has a diameter that is larger than the outer diameter of holder 2 or ring 100 of stator core 10, but smaller than a circular line defined by first ends 41 of spring elements 4 when these protrude outwards undeformed and not tensioned. First housing part 41 is made of an electrically conductive plastic.
This first housing part 41 is slipped over the arrangement made up of holder 2, stator 1, spring elements 4, and circuit board 3. As a result, first ends 41 of spring elements 4 are pressed inward. As a result, first ends 41 of spring elements 4 bear against the inside of first housing part 51. As a result, first ends 41 bear fixedly against first housing part 51 and a conductive connection is established between first housing part 51 and circuit board 3 via spring elements 4. Preferably, a conductor track of the circuit board is contacted by spring elements 4.
The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are to be included within the scope of the following claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2020 133 073.1 | Dec 2020 | DE | national |
