Abstract:
A control device for pressurized fluids includes a valve mechanism actuated by a first device incorporating electromagnets in a first housing, and a second device incorporating a circuit board for controlling the valve mechanism in a second housing. Pins on the first device and sockets on the second device automatically form an electrical plug-type connection when the housings are joined. Each socket is received in a first portion of a through-hole provided in a mount supported on the circuit board such that it extends into a corresponding through-hole in the circuit board. A second portion of each through-hole in each mount has a funnel-shaped guide opening toward the pins. A pressure sensor supported by the circuit board forms a plug-type engagement with a port extending from the valve mechanism when the housings are joined. Contacts extend from the sensor into holes in the circuit board.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed generally to a control device for pressurized fluids and, in particular, to a control device having an improved electric plug-type connection arranged and constructed to provide improved positional accuracy and stability. 
     A conventional control device of the general type under consideration (for example, Device No. 884 009 650 0 of WABCO GmbH, the assignee of the present application) includes first and second housing components which are joined together. An electrically controllable valve mechanism disposed in the first housing component is actuated by means of electronic circuitry disposed in the second housing component. Female connector sockets and male connector pins, which together form an electric plug-type connection when the two housing components are joined, electrically connect the valve mechanism to the electronic circuitry. 
     It is desired to improve the structure and arrangement of the electric plug-type connection in a control device of the type under discussion to achieve improved positional accuracy and stability. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Generally speaking, in accordance with the present invention, a control device for pressurized fluid is provided. The control device includes first and second housing components arranged and constructed to be removably coupled together. A first electric device including a pair of electromagnets is disposed in the first housing component in communication with inlet and outlet valves. Electrical connector pins extend from the electromagnets. A second electric device including a circuit board and electrical contacts is disposed in the second housing component and controls the valves in the first housing component. The electrical contacts in the second housing component are arranged and constructed to receive the electrical connector pins extending from the electromagnets in the first housing component. The connector pins and contacts form an electrical connection when the first and second housing components are joined together. 
     Mounts for the electrical contacts in the second housing component are provided on the side of the circuit board opposite the connector pins. The mounts may be formed from two parts that are fastened together and may be latched to the circuit board. The mounts have through-holes for receiving the electrical contacts. The through-holes in the mounts are oriented substantially coaxially with through-holes in the circuit board. The electrical contacts are disposed in the through-holes in the mounts such that they extend through the through-holes in the circuit board where they may be soldered to the conductor tracks disposed on the circuit board. The through-holes in the mounts may be provided with regions flaring in the form of a funnel in the direction of the connector pins allocated thereto. The funnels function as entry guides for the connector pins. 
     A pressure sensor may be disposed in the second housing component such that it forms a plug-type engagement with a port extending from the inlet valve when the first and second housing components are joined together. The pressure sensor is supported by the circuit board in the second housing component. Electrical contact elements extend from the pressure sensor through holes in the printed circuit board where they may be soldered to the conductor tracks disposed on the circuit board. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved device for controlling the flow of pressurized fluid. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a control device for pressurized fluid in which the structure and arrangement of the electric plug-type connection is improved to provide improved positional accuracy and stability. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved control device for pressurized fluid that may be assembled more efficiently and in less time than a conventional control device. 
     Still other objects and advantages of the present invention will in part be obvious and will in part be apparent from the specification. 
     The present invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the constructions hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is had to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of a control device for pressurized fluids constructed in accordance with the present invention, and 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional detail view of the mount portion of the control device depicted in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the inventive control device depicted in FIG. 1 in which the male and female electrical contacts are disposed in transposed position. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to the drawing figures where like reference numerals are used for corresponding parts, FIG. 1 shows a control device for pressurized fluid generally indicated as  56  constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Control device  56  has a housing including a first housing component  3  and a second housing component  13 . First housing component  3  and second housing component  13  can be detachably joined to one another by fasteners (not shown) such as, for example, screws. Second housing component  13  functions as a cover for housing  3 ,  13 . 
     A valve mechanism comprising two controllable valves—an inlet valve  4  and an outlet valve  38 —is disposed in first housing component  3 . It should be appreciated that the invention is not necessarily limited to a dual-valve arrangement. 
     Inlet valve  4  and outlet valve  38  are actuated by a first electric device which is formed by a first electromagnet  7  allocated to inlet valve  4  and a second electromagnet  37  allocated to outlet valve  38 . First and second electromagnets  7 ,  37  are disposed in first housing component  3  where they are separated from inlet valve  4  and from outlet valve  38  by a housing wall  5 , the movable actuators of electromagnets  7 ,  37  that cooperate with inlet valve  4  and outlet valve  38  being guided via through-holes disposed in the housing wall. Sealing elements are disposed between electromagnets  7 ,  37  and the regions of housing wall  5  bounding the through-holes. In this way, first housing component  3  is constructed as a closed housing for inlet valve  4  and outlet valve  38 . 
     Inlet valve  4  and outlet valve  38  each have one pressurized-fluid inlet chamber and one pressurized-fluid outlet chamber. The pressurized-fluid inlet chamber of inlet valve  4  is in communication with a pressurized-fluid source (not shown), such as a compressed-air accumulator, via a pressurized-fluid inlet  2 . The pressurized-fluid outlet chamber of inlet valve  4 , which is denoted by reference number  40 , is in communication with a load point (not shown), such as a brake cylinder of a vehicle brake system, via a pressurized-fluid outlet  1 . The pressurized-fluid inlet chamber of outlet valve  38  is also in communication with pressurized-fluid outlet  1  of inlet valve  4 . The pressurized-fluid outlet chamber of outlet valve  38 , which is denoted by reference number  39 , is in communication with a pressurized-fluid sink, such as the atmosphere. Inlet valve  4  may be provided with an additional pressurized-fluid port  6 , which extends from pressurized-fluid outlet chamber  40  of inlet valve  4  toward second housing component  13 . 
     A frame  18 , which functions as a mount for a second electric device  26 , is disposed in second housing component  13 . Frame  18  is preferably formed from plastic. 
     On the side of first housing component  3  facing second housing component  13 , projections  9 ,  36  extend toward second housing component  13  such that they make contact with the inside of frame  18  when first housing component  3  is joined with second housing component  13 . Projections  9 ,  36  function to align the first and second housing components  3 ,  13  with one another when the two housing components are joined together. 
     Each of the two electromagnets  7 ,  37  is provided with a plurality of electrical contact elements which extend toward a component of second electric device  26  preferably designed as a printed circuit board  31 . The electrical contact elements are desirably constructed as elastically deformable connector pins which function as male components  8 .  10 ,  34 ,  35  of an electric plug-type connection. 
     A first mount  11  and a second mount  33  for electrical contact elements are arranged on that side of circuit board  31  which faces male components  8 ,  10 ,  34 ,  35 . The electrical contact elements are formed like a pot and serve as female components  16 ,  14 ,  27 ,  29  for the electric plug-type connection. Mounts  11 ,  33  are desirably formed from an electrically nonconductive material such as, for example, plastic. 
     As shown in FIG. 2, first mount  11  has a through-hole  49   a ,  49   b  allocated to each of male components  8 ,  10  of first electromagnet  7 . Each through-hole  49   a ,  49   b  is oriented in the direction of the longitudinal axis of male components  8 ,  10 . Each through-hole  49   a ,  49   b  has at its end facing away from printed circuit board  31  a region flaring in the form of a funnel toward male components  8 ,  10  allocated thereto. The funnel portions of each through-hole  49   a ,  49   b  function as entry guides  17 ,  15  for male components  8 ,  10 . Female components  16 ,  14  are disposed in the region of each through-hole  49   a ,  49   b  adjoined by the funnel portions so that their open ends adjoin entry guides  17 ,  15 , respectively. 
     Referring now to FIG. 1, second mount  33 , which is preferably structurally the same as mount  11 , has through-holes  49   a ,  49   b  which are each allocated to male components  34 ,  35  of second electromagnet  37  and which are each oriented in the direction of the longitudinal axis of male components  34 ,  35 . Each of through-holes  49   a ,  49   b  has at its end facing away from printed circuit board  31  a region flaring in the form of a funnel toward male components  34 ,  35  allocated thereto. The funnel portions of each through-hole  49   a ,  49   b  in second mount  33  function as entry guides  28 ,  30  for male components  34 ,  35 . Female components  27 ,  29  are disposed in the region of each through-hole  49   a ,  49   b  adjoined by the funnel portions so that their open ends adjoin entry guides  28 ,  30 . 
     Desirably, the length of each of female components  16 ,  14 ,  27 ,  29  is such that the closed ends of female components  16 ,  14 ,  27 ,  29  project from each through-hole  49   a ,  49   b  of mounts  11 ,  33  and extend through printed circuit board  31  via holes  52  which are oriented substantially coaxially with the through-holes of mounts  11 ,  33  when mounts  11 ,  33  bear with their sides facing away from male components  8 ,  10 ,  34 ,  35  on circuit board  31 . Printed circuit board  31  may be connected to external electric devices via connector pins  12 ,  32  disposed on frame  18 . 
     A pressure sensor  21  is disposed in second housing component  13 . Pressure sensor  21  can be connected to additional pressurized-fluid port  6  of pressurized-fluid outlet chamber  40  of inlet valve  4  via a pressurized-fluid port  42  and a tubular connecting component  25 . Additional pressurized-fluid port  6  and the end of connecting component  25  facing it are arranged and constructed so that they form a pressurized-fluid plug-type connection when housing components  3 ,  13  are joined together. 
     Desirably, pressure sensor  21  is disposed on a disk-shaped mount  41  made of electrically nonconductive material such as, for example, plastic. A rim region  19  of mount  41  has molded-on members  23 ,  24  which are formed as supports and which function to brace mount  41  against printed circuit board  31 . Molded-on members  23 ,  24  are oriented substantially in the direction of the longitudinal axis of mount  41  and of pressure sensor  21 , and extend toward printed circuit board  31 . 
     Pin-like electrical contact elements  20 ,  22  extending toward printed circuit board  31  are also disposed in rim region  19  of mount  41 . Electrical contact elements  20 ,  22  extend through holes  54 ,  55 , respectively, in printed circuit board  31  when mount  41  bears with its molded-on members  23 ,  24  against printed circuit board  31 . With their ends placed directly on or in mount  41 , electrical contact elements  20 ,  22  are connected to the electric component of pressure sensor  21 ; and with their opposing ends guided through printed circuit board  31 , they are connected by soldering to the conductor tracks disposed on printed circuit board  31 . 
     Preferably, pressurized-fluid port  42  of pressure sensor  21  is not disposed directly on pressure sensor  21 , but on the side of mount  41  facing away from pressure sensor  21 . 
     When first housing component  3  is joined with second housing component  13 , male components  8 ,  10 ,  34 ,  35  engage entry guides  17 ,  15 ,  28 ,  30  of female components  16 ,  14 ,  27 ,  29  allocated thereto, and connecting component  25  for the pressurized-fluid connection engages an entry guide of additional pressurized-fluid port  6  only when projections  9 ,  36  of first housing component  3  have been sufficiently inserted into second housing component  13  such that the two housing components  3 ,  13  are aligned with one another. After this rough centering of housing components  3 ,  13 , male components  8 ,  10 ,  34 ,  35  and female components  16 ,  14 ,  27 ,  29  of the electric plug-type connection are also coaxially aligned at least approximately with one another. Similarly, connecting component  25  and additional pressurized-fluid port  6  have also undergone alignment by rough centering such that they face one another in at least approximate coaxial relationship. 
     Referring to FIG. 2, mount  11  for the electrical contact elements formed as female components  16 ,  14  comprises a first mount component  43  and a preferably pot-shaped second mount component  44 , which are detachably joined to one another. Desirably, tongue-like molded-on members  45 ,  46  of first mount component  43  are used to join first mount component  43  to second mount component  44 . Tongue-like molded members  45 ,  46  are oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of each of first mount component  43  and second mount component  44  and extend toward second mount component  44 . Tongue-like molded-on members  45 ,  46  each have a nose-like projection. The nose-like projections extend transversely relative to the longitudinal axis of each of first mount component  43  and second mount component  44  toward second mount component  44 , and, after first mount component  43  and second mount component  44  have been joined together, each engages a step-like recess  47 ,  48  of second mount component  44  allocated thereto. First mount component  43  and second mount component  44  then bear against one another substantially with their sides facing one another. 
     Mount  11 , which comprises first mount component  43  and second mount component  44 , is preferably provided with a plurality of through-holes oriented in the direction of its longitudinal axis. For the sake of simplicity, only one through-hole  49   a ,  49   b  is depicted in the drawings. The connection point between first mount component  43  and second mount component  44  is, at the same time, the connection point between through-hole portion  49   b  disposed in first mount component  43  and through-hole portion  49   a  disposed in second mount component  44 . 
     Through-hole portion  49   b  disposed in first mount component  43  is provided with entry guide  15  for male component  10 , which entry guide flares in the form of a funnel toward male component  10 . At the narrowest point of entry guide  15 , the passage cross section is preferably equal to or smaller than the cross section of the hole in female component  14 . 
     Through-hole portion  49   a  disposed in second mount component  44  has on its side facing first mount component  43  a region  50  flaring conically toward first mount component  43 . Female component  14  is disposed in through-hole portion  49   a  such that its closed end projects out of through-hole  49   a ,  49   b  on the side of second mount component  44  facing away from first mount component  43 . At its open end facing first mount component  43 , female component  14  has a collar  51  which bears against conically flaring region  50  of through-hole portion  49   a . Collar  51  prevents female component  14  from slipping out of through-hole  49   a ,  49   b  away from first mount component  43  and, once first mount component  43  and second mount component  44  have been joined together, first mount component  43  prevents female component  14  from slipping out of through-hole  49   a ,  49   b  toward first mount component  43 . Preferably, rod-like or leaf-like spring elements  53  are disposed in female component  14  so that they are oriented in the direction of the longitudinal axis of female component  14  and are convex toward the imaginary centerline of female component  14 . 
     First housing component  3 , containing inlet valve  4  and outlet valve  38  as well as the first electric device comprising electromagnets  7 ,  37 , is assembled together with second housing component  13 , containing second electric device  26  and pressure sensor  21 , by aligning second housing component  13  roughly with first housing component  3  and bringing its open end which faces the open end of first housing component  3  up against first housing component  3 . In this process, projections  9 ,  36  of first housing component  3  come into contact, via a partial region of their outer surfaces, with the corresponding regions of the inside wall of frame  18  disposed in second housing component  13 . In this stage of assembly, first housing component  3  and second housing component  13  automatically become aligned with one another. Male components  8 ,  10 ,  34 ,  35  formed as connector pins and funnel-shaped entry guides  17 ,  15 ,  28 ,  30  of female components  16 ,  14 ,  27 ,  29  formed as connector sockets, as well as the funnel-shaped entry guide of additional pressurized-fluid port  6  and the end region of connecting component  25  allocated thereto, then face one another in at least approximately exact position. During further movement of second housing component  13  toward first housing component  3 , male components  8 ,  10 ,  34 ,  35  become inserted automatically into corresponding entry guides  17 ,  15 ,  28 ,  30  of female components  16 ,  14 ,  27 ,  29 . At the same time, the free end region of connecting component  25  becomes inserted automatically in the entry guide of additional pressurized-fluid port  6 . In this way, the electric plug-type connection and the pressurized-fluid plug-type connection are automatically established. 
     If a male component  8 ,  10 ,  34 ,  35  were not accurately facing its corresponding female component  16 ,  14 ,  27 ,  29 , then, during further movement of second housing component  13  toward first housing component  3  male component  8 ,  10 ,  34 ,  35  in question would be guided by entry guide  17 ,  15 ,  28 ,  30  to its corresponding female component  16 ,  14 ,  27 ,  29  for insertion therein. Similarly, if connecting component  25  were not accurately facing additional pressurized-fluid port  6 , connecting component  25  would be guided into additional pressurized-fluid port  6  by the entry guide of port  6 . When second housing component  13  is seated on first housing component  3 , the electric plug-type connection and the pressurized-fluid plug-type connection are established. First housing component  3  and second housing component  13  are then firmly fastened to one another, for example, by screws. 
     The forces occurring during deflection of male components  8 ,  10 ,  34 ,  35  are absorbed by first mount component  43  (provided with entry guides  17 ,  15 ,  28 ,  30 ) of mounts  11 ,  33  for female components  16 ,  14 ,  27 ,  29 , and are transferred to second mount component  44 , female components  16 ,  14 ,  27 ,  29  and printed circuit board  31 . Rod-like or leaf-like spring elements  53  disposed in the interior of female components  16 ,  14 ,  27 ,  29  securely contact male components  8 ,  10 ,  34 ,  35 , but are not subjected to the forces acting on first mount component  43 , second mount component  44 , female components  16 ,  14 ,  27 ,  29  and printed circuit board  31 . 
     It should be understood that male components  8 ,  10 ,  34 ,  35  may also be disposed on second electric device  26  disposed in second housing component  13 , and female components  16 ,  14 ,  27 ,  29  with entry guides  17 ,  15 ,  28 ,  30  may be disposed on first electric device disposed in first housing component  3  as depicted in FIG.  3 . 
     At least one housing component  3  or  13  may be formed as a closed housing, from which connector pins functioning as male components are brought out, or in the wall of which are disposed sockets with entry guides functioning as female components. The closed housing and the housing component open at one end, or two independently closed housings, or even two housing components open at one end, may be regarded according to the invention as two housing components which form one housing when joined together. 
     According to the invention, mounts  11  and  33  for female components  16 ,  14 ,  27 ,  29  may also include latching mechanisms, which latch or snap into corresponding recesses of printed circuit board  31 . The latching mechanisms may also be disposed on printed circuit board  31 , in which case mounts  11 ,  33  are provided with the corresponding recesses. 
     Because of the unique structure and arrangement of mounts  11 ,  33  and of female components  16 ,  14 ,  27 ,  29  disposed thereon, and because of the unique structure and arrangement of mount  41  for pressure sensor  21  on printed circuit board  31 , it is easy to insert components on printed circuit board  31  from one side. Electrical connections between female components  16 ,  14 ,  27 ,  29  and the printed circuit disposed on printed circuit board  31 , as well as electrical connections between the electric component of pressure sensor  21  and the printed circuit may be made simply by wave soldering in a single work cycle. 
     As indicated above, it is desirable that each of the contact elements formed as female components  16 ,  14 ,  27 ,  29  projecting out of mounts  11 ,  33  extend in the direction of its longitudinal axis so far into through-hole  52  allocated thereto in printed circuit board  31  that its free end projects some distance out of through-hole  52  on the side of printed circuit board  31  facing away from mounts  11 ,  33 . This arrangement is particularly advantageous where contact between the female components  16 ,  14 ,  27 ,  29  and the printed circuit is to be established by wave soldering. However, it should be appreciated that, according to the present invention, it is also possible to size each female component  16 ,  14 ,  27 ,  29  so that it extends only so far into through-hole  52  allocated thereto in printed circuit board  31  that its free end remains inside the through-hole. Contact between the female components and the printed circuit may then be achieved by suitable soldering methods other than wave soldering or by appropriate mechanical means. 
     Likewise, electrical contact elements  20 ,  22  of pressure sensor  21  maybe sized such that their free ends either remain inside holes  54 ,  55  allocated thereto in printed circuit board  31  or project some distance out of holes  54 ,  55  on the side of printed circuit board  31  facing away from pressure sensor  21 . 
     Because of the soldered joint, the contact elements formed as female components  16 ,  14 ,  27 ,  29  are held together with their mounts  11 ,  33  on the substantially flat component formed as printed circuit board  31 . This is also the case with regard to pressure sensor  21  and its mount  41 . 
     Additionally, according to the present invention, electrical contact elements  20 ,  22  of pressure sensor  21  may be integrated into molded-on members  23 ,  24  of mount  41  for pressure sensor  21 , for example, by guiding them through channel-like holes in molded-on members  23 ,  24  of mount  41 . 
     Also, according to the present invention, any latching mechanisms used to join mount  41  to printed circuit board  31  may be disposed on mount  41  and or on the substantially flat component formed as printed circuit board  31 . For this purpose, an extension through a hole allocated thereto in printed circuit board  31  may be disposed on each of molded-on members  23 ,  24 . The extension can be formed, for example, by a stepped structure on the free end of the molded-on member. A nose-like projection may be disposed at the free end of the extension oriented transversely relative to the longitudinal axis of the extension and overlapping the portion of printed circuit board  31  bounding the hole in the circuit board after printed circuit board  31  and mount  41  have been joined together. 
     It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained, and since certain changes may be made in the above constructions without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 
     It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.