Abstract:
An electrical shielding system for an electrical plug connecting includes: a first shielding element; and a second shielding element. The first shielding element and the second shielding element are configured to be plugged into each other, so that the two shielding elements are mechanically and electrically connected. The second shielding element includes a base body and a contacting body which are movable in relation to each other. The electric shielding system further includes a flexible element via which the base body and the contacting body are mechanically coupled to each other.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an electrical shielding system and an electrical plug connection. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Plug connections in vehicles must be partially shielded in order to protect other components in the vehicle, such as a control unit or the radio, from electromagnetic radiation. For example, the two plug components (such as the plug and socket) of a shielded plug connection include shielding elements which are plugged into each other when connecting together the plug connection and which accommodate the electrical contacts which are connected in their interior. An electrical connection of the two shielding elements may also be carried out via the contacting point of the two shielding elements. 
     During the operation of the vehicle, a plug connection may be subjected to considerable vibration exposure. The vibration exposure may cause the shielding elements in a shielded plug connection to move in relation to each other. This may result in wear of the contacting point of the shielding elements and thus to an increased transitional resistance between the two shielding elements. This may result in the premature failure of the shielding and/or the plug connection. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the present invention is to provide a long-lasting shielding for an electrical connection which is subjected to vibration exposure. 
     One aspect of the present invention relates to an electrical shielding system for an electrical plug connection. The electrical shielding system is designed to shield the interior of an electrical connection, i.e., at least to attenuate electromagnetic radiation which is radiated by the electrical connection, with respect to the surroundings. 
     According to one specific embodiment of the present invention, the shielding system includes a first shielding element and a second shielding element, the first shielding element and the second shielding element being designed to be plugged into each other, so that the two shielding elements are mechanically and electrically connected. The two shielding elements may include bodies made of an electrically conductive material such as copper, which at least partially surround an electrical connection. The shielding elements may be designed as shielding metal sheets. 
     For example, the shielding elements may be attached to plug components of the plug connection, and when connecting together the plug connection, may be connected at the same time as electrical contacts of the plug connection. When connecting together, the first shielding element and the second shielding element may be connected to each other via a contacting point, in which the second shielding element is clamped into the first shielding element. 
     The second shielding element includes a base body and a contacting body which are movable in relation to each other. The base body may be designed to be connected in a mechanically rigid manner to a plug component. The contacting body may carry the contacting point for the first shielding element. 
     Furthermore, the electrical shielding system includes a flexible element via which the base body and the contacting body are mechanically coupled. At least one of the two shielding elements includes a flexible mechanical connection which is able to absorb shaking movements and vibrations, in order to relieve the contacting point and/or to protect it from relative movements. The flexible element may also be electrically conductive and/or may electrically couple the base body and the contacting body. 
     In other words, the second shielding element is designed as two parts, the contacting point for the first shielding element being isolated from the base body and being connected to a flexible element. As a result, the contacting point is mechanically decoupled from the rest of the shielding. In this way, relative movements and thus premature wear of the contacting point may be prevented. 
     According to one specific embodiment of the present invention, the flexible element includes a flexible strip which at least partially surrounds the base body and the contacting body. The flexible element may be a hose or a strip made up of an electrically conductive fabric or mesh work. 
     According to one specific embodiment of the present invention, the flexible element includes a spring element. The spring element may, for example, include a strip of a metal sheet which is bent in such a way that it has a spring effect. For example, the strip may be S-shaped. 
     According to one specific embodiment of the present invention, the flexible element includes a line or a cable. The line or the cable may be connected to the base body and the contacting body, for example, via soldering, welding, or riveting. 
     According to one specific embodiment of the present invention, the flexible element is connected to the contacting body and the base body. The flexible strip, the spring element, and the line may be attached at one end to the contacting body and attached at the other end to the base body. For example, the flexible element may be soldered and/or welded at these points. 
     According to one specific embodiment of the present invention, a stop is formed between the contacting body and the base body which delimits a movement of the base body in the direction of the contacting body when connecting together the first shielding element and the second shielding element. The stop may, for example, be formed with the aid of an edge of the base body, which may be placed on a shoulder of the contacting body. It is also possible that the stop is formed with the aid of a projection on the contacting body, which may rest on the base body. The end stop may protect the shielding system from the application of excessive pressure during attachment. 
     According to one specific embodiment of the present invention, the first shielding element includes a tubular section and the contacting body of the second shielding element includes an additional tubular section which may be clamped via the tubular section, so that a mechanical and electrical connection may be established between the first shielding element and the second shielding element. The two shielding elements may have tubular areas or sections which may be plugged into each other and clamped to each other. 
     According to one specific embodiment of the present invention, the base body of the second shielding element includes a tubular section which is attached to a tubular section of the contacting element and is movable in relation to it. The two parts of the second shielding element may be positioned relative to each other via an overlapping area (i.e., a loose fit). The tubular section of the contacting element may be movable in all directions relative to the base body. 
     According to one specific embodiment of the present invention, the base body of the second shielding element includes an opening in which a tubular section of the contacting body is accommodated and is movable within it. For example, the base body may provide an opening having a tubular section. It is also possible that the base body includes a flat metal sheet through which the contacting body is guided in such a way that it may be moved in all directions in relation to the flat metal sheet. 
     Another aspect of the present invention relates to an electrical plug connection for establishing an electrical connection between a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact. For example, the plug connection may be designed to connect a unit, such as an electric drive, of a vehicle to other components of the vehicle, such as a battery. 
     According to one specific embodiment of the present invention, the electrical plug connection includes a first plug component having the first electrical contact and a second plug component having the second electrical contact, the first plug component and the second plug component being designed to be plugged into each other and to establish the electrical connection between the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact. 
     According to one specific embodiment of the present invention, the electrical plug connection includes a shielding system as described above and below, in which the first shielding element is attached to the first plug component and the second shielding element is attached to the second plug component, so that when connecting together the plug components, the first shielding element and the second shielding element are plugged into each other and form an electrical shielding for the electrical connection formed from the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact. Such shielded plug connections may be used at attachment points having higher vibration profiles, for example, directly on an electric drive. 
     According to one specific embodiment of the present invention, the first plug component is attached to an electrical device or unit of a vehicle. The second plug component may be a plug on a cable harness of the vehicle. However, the two-part shielding element or the contacting point may generally be present on the unit side or the plug side. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a plug connection according to one specific embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  shows a cross-sectional view of a shielding system according to an additional specific embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  shows a three-dimensional view of the shielding system from  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Identical or similar parts are generally provided with the same reference numerals. 
       FIG. 1  shows a plug connection  10  which includes two plug components  12 ,  14 , each of which includes a contact element  16 ,  18  in the form of a pin  16  and a corresponding contact  18 . 
     Plug component  12  is, for example, mechanically connected to a control unit or a unit of a vehicle, for example, an electric drive. Plug component  14  is, for example, a cable harness plug  14  which is connected to a cable harness of the vehicle. 
     The two contact elements  16 ,  18  are surrounded by a shielding system  20  which includes a first shielding element  22  which is (mechanically rigidly) connected to plug component  12  and which is used as a shield on the control unit side or the unit side. 
     First shielding element  22  surrounds a contact point between contact elements  16 ,  18 , via which an electrical connection between contact elements  16 ,  18  is established. For example, electrical signals and/or electric currents, for example, even high-power currents, may be conducted via this electrical connection. For example, the electrical connection may be used to conduct electric currents for the electric drive of a vehicle. 
     Furthermore, shielding system  20  includes a second shielding element  24  which is configured in two parts and which includes a contacting body  26  and a base body  28  which are mechanically coupled to a flexible element  30 . Base body  28  and contacting body  26  may be moved in relation to each other, but are mechanically coupled to each other via flexible element  30 . 
     Second shielding element  24  is used as a cable harness-side shield and is (mechanically rigidly) connected to plug component  14  via base body  28 . Contacting body  26  is thus flexibly coupled to plug component  14  via flexible element  30 . 
     Contacting body  26  has a contacting point  32  or a contacting area  32  via which contacting body  26  is mechanically coupled to first shielding element  22 . Contacting point  32  may, for example, be a clamp. 
     The force of contacting point  32  via which contacting body  26  is supported on first shielding element  22  (for example, a clamping force and/or frictional force) is greater than the force which is necessary to deform flexible element  30 . 
     Exactly like contact elements  16 ,  18 , shielding elements  22 ,  24  and in particular contacting body  26 , base body  28 , and flexible element  30  are made from an electrically conductive material such as copper. 
     Shielding elements  22 ,  24  are connected to each other in an electrically conductive manner (but insulated from contact elements  16 ,  18 ) and connected to ground. Base body  28  is electrically connected to a ground conductor  34  of plug component  14 ; contacting body  26  is electrically connected to base body  28  via flexible element  30 ; first shielding element  22  is electrically connected to contacting body  26  via contacting point  32 ; and first shielding element  22  is connected to a ground conductor  36  of plug component  12 . 
     An end stop  38  is present between the base body and the contacting body, which is used to delimit a direction of movement of base body  28  in relation to contacting body  26 . In this way, contacting body  26  may be attached to the first shielding element with the aid of base body  28 . Applying excessive pressure to the plug connection is also prevented. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , first shielding element  22  includes a tubular section  40  which surrounds contact element  16 . 
     Contacting body  26  of second shielding element  24  includes a tubular section  42  which surrounds an area of first shielding element  22  and may thus be understood to be a shielding sleeve  42 . Tubular section  42  has contacting point  32  on its internal side. 
     Contacting body  26  has an additional, second tubular section  44 , which may have a smaller diameter than first tubular section  42 . The two tubular sections  42 ,  44  are rigidly connected to each other. 
     Base body  28  has a tubular section  46  which may have the same diameter as first tubular section  42  of contacting body  26 . Tubular section  46  of base body  28  is pushed over tubular section  44  of contacting body  26 . A small gap is present between the two tubular sections  44 ,  46  as a loose fit  48 . 
     Generally, contacting body  26  is accommodated in an opening  52  in base body  28  which is provided by tubular section  46 . 
     End stop  38  is formed by an edge  48  of tubular section  42  and by an edge  50  of tubular section  46 . 
     Flexible element  30  may include a hose and/or a strip which is/are connected to base body  28  and contacting body  26 . For example, a hose may surround base body  28  and contacting body  26 . 
       FIG. 2  shows an additional specific embodiment of a shielding system  20 . In contrast to the specific embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , base body  28  of second shielding element  24  is partially designed as a flat metal sheet which runs essentially orthogonally to the extension direction of tubular sections  40 ,  42  and has an opening  52  in which contacting body  26  is movably accommodated. 
     Flexible element  30  is designed as a spring element  30  which is formed in such a way that it allows a three-dimensional movement of contacting body  26  in relation to base body  28 . The spring element protrudes from an outer side of contacting body  26 . 
     Spring element  30  is, for example, designed as a sheet metal strip bent in an S-shape which may be formed from the sheet metal material of contacting body  26 . Spring element  30  is attached to base body  28 , for example, with the aid of welding. However, it is also possible that spring element  30  only rests on base body  28 . 
     First shielding element  22  and contacting body  26  have a plurality of contacting points  32  via which contacting body  26  may be clamped via the first shielding element. 
     A stop  38  is formed by a projection  54  which protrudes from the outer side of contacting body  26 . Similarly to spring element  30 , stop  38  may be a sheet metal strip which may be formed from the sheet metal material of contacting body  26 . 
     As is apparent from  FIG. 3 , a shielding system  20  may include a plurality of spring elements  30  and/or a plurality of projections  54 . 
     In addition, it should be noted that “including” does not exclude any other elements or steps, and “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. It should also be noted that features or steps which have been described with reference to one of the above exemplary embodiments may also be used in combination with other features or steps of other exemplary embodiments described above.