WO2015128171A1

WO2015128171A1 - Device for producing a sealed cable feed-through, and inverter

Info

Publication number: WO2015128171A1
Application number: PCT/EP2015/052520
Authority: WO
Inventors: Torsten Dingel; Swetlana LISITSCHEW; Nafiz Yasar; Michael UETZFELD-BRAND; Thomas Wiechers
Original assignee: Sma Solar Technology Ag
Priority date: 2014-02-28
Filing date: 2015-02-06
Publication date: 2015-09-03
Also published as: DE102014102745A1; CN206004055U; DE102014102745B4

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for providing a sealed feed-through of a cable (15) having a connector (16) through an opening (10') in a wall (10) of a housing. The device comprises: a movably mountable sliding element (14) having a mating connector (13), which mating connector corresponds to the connector (16) and is fixed in the sliding element (14); and a seal (17a) having a sealable passage (17a') for the cable (15). In a state in which the device is mounted on the opening (10'), the device (1) is designed in such a way that, in a first position of the sliding element (14), the connector (16) can be manually inserted into the mating connector (13) from outside the housing and, in a second position of the sliding element (14), the seal (17a) seals the opening (10') and the inserted cable (15). The device (1) can be used in particular in connection with an inverter, such as a photovoltaic inverter.

Description

DEVICE FOR PROVIDING A SEALED CABLE PROCESSING AND INVERTER

description

The invention relates to a device for providing a sealed passage of a cable through an opening in a wall of a housing, as well as a

Inverter, in particular a photovoltaic inverter, with such

Contraption.

In power electronic circuits, which are housed in a housing, there is regularly the problem of performing cables through the housing wall so that the housing remains sufficiently sealed against environmental influences. For this purpose, a variety of cable feedthroughs has been developed, with which cables can be led from an outside area into the interior of the housing without a

Tightness, expressed as protection class or IP protection class of the housing,

is impaired. Such feedthroughs can also be mounted on the housing without a cable being passed through, so that this implementation can take place at a later time. A widely used device for providing a sealed cable gland is an armored pipe thread, referred to for short as a PG gland. This is inserted into an opening in the housing and screwed with this sealing. Through the inner tube of the screw a cable is feasible. A cable enclosing the sealing ring is pressed to seal the implementation by means of a throw.

One embodiment of a sealed plug connection is disclosed in DE 10 2004 028 228, the sealed plug connection having a protective housing with a sealing cable passage into which a coupling element can be introduced. The protective housing also has means for a protected connection with a

Complementary housing to a second coupling element. Furthermore, in the

Utility Model DE 20 2009 015 718 shows a plug-in device with an adapter housing, which has a displaceable plug part. Another

Plug device according to the publication US2012 / 0141086 has a plug end piece, with the aid of which by means of a rotary movement an internal plug is inserted by means of a linear movement in an associated socket.

If a cable has a plug that is to be plugged into a corresponding mating connector inside the housing, a sufficient inner diameter must be provided in the implementation of the cable including the connector to the To be able to pass plug through the channel of the implementation. However, this creates the problem that it is possible, for example, to grasp with the finger in the interior of the housing and there to touch live parts. Therefore, a may

Attaching cables to this type of implementation are regularly performed only by the skilled person in a de-energized state of the power electronic device. However, this is relatively expensive in practice, since a specially trained specialist instructed and the device must generally be galvanically isolated from connected devices. Often it is also necessary to open the housing of the device to connect the plug with a mating connector located in the housing.

By the mating connector and - in the established connection between the plug and mating connector - and the plug are located inside the housing, inexpensive standard components can be used both for the plug and for the mating connector, to which no special requirements for an IP protection class are made have to. In this case, the IP protection class is determined by the housing of the

power electronic device - in conjunction with the sealed passage for the cable - provided. So far, however, this carries the risk of touching

live parts when connecting. To avoid the risk of touching live parts when making the connection between the plug and

To circumvent mating connector, commercially available connectors or mating connector are known, which are mounted in the wall of the housing. Here is the real one

Connection between plug and mating connector made outside the housing. However, in order to maintain a high IP protection class inside the housing, even if the plugs or mating connectors are mounted in the wall, they must be designed in such a way that they themselves provide the required IP protection class. Therefore, such plugs or mating plugs are generally quite expensive.

Even with the solution disclosed in the document DE10 2004 028 228, in principle a connection between a plug and a coupling element can be produced without the risk of touching live parts. Therefore, it is not absolutely necessary there to put the power electronic device in a de-energized state. However, this is paid for by one of the housing of the device

protruding protective housing. As a result, the required space for the housing of the power electronic device is increased and it will be undesirable

Restrictions generated for the mounting location of the power electronic device. Thus, for example, the power electronic device can be mounted together with the building protective housing only a considerable distance from a wall projection. Furthermore, the protruding protective housing provides an attack surface for

Damage.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a device for providing a

sealed lead-through for a cable with plug, with the introduction or removal of such a cable by a layman or in a

live state of the power electronic device can be made without causing a hazard. The device should be designed as inexpensively as possible and increase the space required for the power electronic device space as little as possible.

This object is achieved by a device with the features of the independent

Claim 1 solved. Advantageous embodiments are described in the dependent claims. The device may preferably be used for inverters, in particular for photovoltaic inverters.

According to the invention, a device for providing a sealed

Passing a cable having a plug through an opening in a wall of a housing a sliding mountable sliding element with a mating connector corresponding to the plug, fixed in the sliding element and a seal with a sealable passage for the cable. In a state mounted on the opening, the device is arranged such that in a first position of the sliding element, the plug can be manually introduced from an outer side of the housing into the mating connector and in a second position of the sliding element the seal seals the opening and the inserted cable. By this design, the mating connector on the one hand easily accessible, on the other hand blocks the sliding element at any time the engagement in the interior of the housing.

The expression "in an opening-mounted state" is to be understood as meaning that, in this state, the bushing can be mounted both directly connected to the opening, in particular using the opening geometry, and in an area comprising the opening. For this purpose, the sliding element can be displaced by means of a guide between the first position and the second position, In particular, the guide can have a guide rail along which the sliding element is movable The guide rail can hereby function as a separate component as part of the housing or as part of a printed circuit board Be executed housing.

In the manufactured state of the connection between plug and mating connector, the connection is located inside the housing. It therefore requires no additional space outside of the housing, but uses in many cases anyway still available free space inside the housing. If now the connection between plug and mating connector already before mounting the power electronic device on his

Destination takes place, therefore, almost no additional space to the actual housing of the power electronic device is required or provided. Even in the event that the connection is made at a power electronic device already mounted at its destination, the installation space to be provided in addition to the housing can be reduced to a tolerable level by suitable design of the displaceable sliding element.

In an advantageous embodiment, the sliding element is designed such that it presses the seal in the second position for sealing the opening against the wall of the housing. In this way it is achieved that the seal seals not only the cable but also the opening.

For ease of operation of the sliding element this may comprise a pin over which the sliding element can be manually moved along its guide. In a preferred embodiment of the device, the pin in the second position of the sliding element projects through its own passage in the seal. Accordingly, the pin is sealed by the seal with, but still remains accessible from the outside.

In a further embodiment, the device has a fixed with the opening

mountable holding element. The guide of the sliding element is in this case provided by a continuous channel of the holding element, which surrounds the sliding element on the circumference, so that the sliding element is movable in the interior of this channel. The seal can in this case be designed so that they are in the second position of the

Sliding element on the one hand to the cable and on the other hand to the inside of the continuous channel of the holding element seals. For sealing, in this embodiment, in the second position of the sliding element, a cover can be attached to the retaining element. The seal is pressed together to seal the opening of the cover together with the holding element and seals so from an introduced into the device cable.

As an alternative to a one-piece seal, the seal may also comprise a first sealing element and a second sealing element. The first sealing element serves to seal the cable with respect to the sliding element or the retaining element and the second

Sealing element seals the wall of the housing relative to the sliding element or the holding element. If no cable is inserted in one of the sealable passages, a blind plug may be provided to adequately seal the passage.

Preferably, the sealed passage corresponds to at least one seal according to an IP protection class 54. The term "at least" is to be understood such that on the one hand both the protection against dust and the protection against water may be higher sufficient if the protection class of

Carrying out only one type of protection - either protection against water or protection against dust - is higher.

In the following the invention is illustrated by means of figures, of which

Fig. 1 is an exploded view of a first embodiment of a

device according to the invention,

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of

device according to the invention in the mounted state,

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the first embodiment of the invention

Device in mounted condition,

Fig. 4 is an exploded view of a second embodiment of a

Device according to the invention and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of

inventive device in the assembled state shows.

Fig. 1 shows the individual components of a device 1 for providing a sealed cable gland in the form of an exploded view. Through an opening 10 'in a wall 10, which is part of a housing, a sliding element 14 is slidably mounted. A cable 15 or a plurality of cables, each having a plug 16, in this case a USB plug, can be inserted into the sliding element 14 through a front opening from an outer side of the housing. The cable (s) 15 may be inserted through slots in associated passages 17a 'in a seal 17a, the seal 17a sealing the front opening of the slide member 14. To increase the sealing effect, the seal 17a by means of a

Cover plate 19 against the front opening, for example by means of screws pressed. Here, the screws can be provided on the one hand only for pressing the seal 17a with the sliding element. In this case, corresponding threaded holes are provided in the sliding member 14 and the screws end within However, in an advantageous embodiment, the screws together with the cover plate serve both to compress the seal 17a and at the same time to compress the sliding element 14 with the wall 10. In this case, through holes in the sliding element 14 and threaded holes in the wall 10th (Not shown in Fig. 1) provided, in which engage the screws.

Inside the sliding element 14 is a mating connector 13, here a double USB socket, for receiving the or the plug 16. The mating connector 13 is mounted on a support 13 'and can be fixed in the sliding element 14, for example by hooking. The mating connector 13 is designed, for example, by means of a ribbon cable

Connecting cable 18 connected to a power electronic circuit inside the housing. For easier manual insertion of the plug or the plug 16 in the mating connector 13 13 lateral openings in the sliding element 14 are provided in the mounting region of the mating connector. The carrier 13 'has projections 13 ", which in

engage corresponding recesses on the inside of the sliding element 14, so that the mating connector 13 is moved along with movement of the sliding element 14 with this. That is, the relative position of mating connector 13 and sliding element 14 to each other is maintained even with movement of the sliding element 14. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the mating connector 13 mounted on the carrier 13 'is fixed indirectly in the sliding element via hooking of the carrier 13'. Alternatively, however, it is also possible that the mating connector 13 itself has corresponding projections and is fixed not only indirectly via the carrier 13 ', but directly via a hooking of the projections attached to it in the sliding element 14. Furthermore, in the in Fig. 1

illustrated embodiment, the sliding element 14 and the fixable in the sliding element 14 carrier 13 'designed as separate components. It is essential for making the connection between the plug 16 and mating connector 13 that the mounted on the support 13 'mating connector 13 moves with movement of the sliding element 14 with this. Therefore, at least when the connection is made, the carrier 13 'which can be fixed by means of the sliding element 14 and the mating connector 13 mounted on the carrier 13' is actually fixed to the sliding element 14. Of course, it is also within the scope of the invention that the sliding element 14 'is made in one piece with the carrier 13'. For example, the sliding element 14 together with the carrier 13 ', on which the mating connector 13 is mounted, be designed as a one-piece plastic injection-molded part. In this respect, the term includes one in the

Sliding element 14 fixed mating connector 13 in the invention, both the multi-piece design in the form of separate components of the carrier 13 'and sliding element 14 and the one-piece design of the carrier 13' and sliding element 14 a. The sliding element 14 has on the inside a complementary contour into which a Guide rail 12 slidably engages. In this way, a positive guidance of the sliding element 14 is ensured, which allows a linear movement of the sliding element 14 out of the opening 10 'out or into the opening 10' into, perpendicularly but largely suppressed. The guide rail 12 is mounted in this embodiment on an inner part 1 1 inside the housing. The inner part 1 1 may be part of the housing, part of a printed circuit board inside the housing or a separate component.

By means of the guide rail 12, the sliding element 14 can be moved between a first position and a second position. That stands out in the first position

Sliding element 14 far out of the opening 10 'in the wall 10 of the housing to the outside that the or the plug 16 can be manually inserted by means of the lateral openings in the sliding element 14 in the respective mating connector 13. Here, the sliding element 14 is secured against complete withdrawal from the opening 10 ', for example via a mechanical stop. Therefore, the interior of the housing is secured against reaching in the first position of the sliding element 14. Thus, a contact of live components inside the housing during production of the electrical connection between the plug 16 and mating connector 13 is reliably avoided.

In addition to the seal 17a, which serves to seal the cable 15 with respect to the sliding element 14, a second seal 17b is provided, which seals the sliding element 14 against the wall 10 in the region of the opening 10 '. The second seal 17b can be realized as a separate component or as a molded onto the surface of the sliding element 14 seal. The second seal 17b is particularly advantageous when a sufficient seal between sliding element 14 and wall 10, e.g. due to roughness profiles of the wall 10 and the sliding member 14, can not be made without another tool. In the context of the invention, however, it is also possible that the adjoining roughness profiles, for example due to a sufficient elasticity of the sliding element 14, solely by the

Sliding element 14 can be compensated. In this case, the surface of the sliding element 14 fits under compression sufficiently to the roughness profile of the wall 10 and thus provides even without independent seal 17b for a sufficient seal between the sliding element 14 and wall 10. In the context of this invention, therefore, the seal 17a As the first sealing element of a two-part seal having the sealing elements 17a and 17b, and to be understood as the only sealing element of a one-piece seal of the device 1.

In the second position, the sliding element 14 is pushed so far into the opening 10 'and fixed there, for example by means of a screw on the wall 10, that the opening 10 'is completely sealed by the sliding member 14 by means of the second seal 17b. At the same time, the cable or cables 15 are sealed by the seal 17a relative to the sliding element 14. In the second position of the sliding element 14, the device thus ensures a sufficient sealing of the cable bushing through the wall 10 of the device in the mounted state. This can be the

Device-specific IP protection class maintained even when made connection between the plug 16 and mating connector 13.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the device 1 according to FIG. 1 in a second position of the sliding element 14 in the assembled state. In Fig. 3 are in one

Sectional view of the device 1 further details of the arrangement of the various

Components of the device 1 and the seal of the cable 15, and the opening 10 'in the wall 10 of the housing shown. The embodiment of the plug 16 and the mating plug 13 in FIGS. 1 to 3 as a USB plug or as a USB double socket can, of course, be replaced by other plug-in connection systems for communication purposes or for the transmission of electrical power. As an alternative to a plug 16, a USB memory stick can also be inserted into the USB socket in the interior of the sliding element.

4, a second embodiment of the device 1 according to the invention is shown in an exploded view. Again, the mating connector 13 is inserted from behind into the sliding element 14 and fixed by corresponding projections 13 "on the support 13 ', which engage in recesses on the inside of the sliding element 14, relative to the sliding element 14. In Fig. 4 are carrier 13' In the context of the invention, however, it is also possible here for the sliding element 14 to be integral with the carrier 13 'in one piece, for example, as shown in FIGS In the second embodiment, the sliding member 14 is not adapted for direct mounting to the opening 10 'of the wall 10. Instead, a two-part holding member 20, 20' is mounted in the opening such that a Part 20 arranged substantially in the interior of the housing and a further part 20 'is mounted substantially on the outside For example, parts are joined together by bolting and seal the opening 10 'completely outwards. Optionally, a second seal (not shown in FIGS. 4 and 5) may be provided here on the outside or on the inside, which is pressed against the wall 10 via the screwed two-part holding element 20, 20 'and thus also at a relatively high level

Surface roughness of the wall 10 ensures adequate sealing. Therefore, in the context of the invention in this embodiment of the device 1, the Seal 17 a both as the first sealing element of a two-part seal, as well as the only sealing element of a one-piece seal of the device 1 are understood. By the holding element 20, 20 ', a continuous channel is provided, in which the sliding element 14 is introduced, so that the channel surrounding the sliding element 14 circumferentially. At the same time, the holding element 20, 20 'provides a guide for the preferably torsion-proof displacement of the sliding element, as well as a mechanical stop for avoiding complete pulling out of the sliding element 14.

In the front region, the sliding element 14 has a pin 21, with which a manual displacement between the first and the second position is facilitated. Preferably, the pin 21 is guided and sealed in the second position by an associated passage 17a "in a seal 17a, where the seal 17a is made as a multi-hole seal, passing through the other holes 17a 'corresponding cables 15. Passages through which no The seal 17a is crimped, for example, by a collar 22 in the channel of the retaining element 20, 20 'and effectively seals the channel, the cables 15 and the pin 21. The device 1 according to FIG is shown in Fig. 5 in the mounted state and in position of the sliding element 14 according to its second position in a perspective view.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 device

10 wall

10 'opening

1 1 inner part

12 guide rail

13 mating connector 3 'carrier

13 "lead

14 sliding element

15 cables

16 plugs

17a, 17b seal

17a ', 17a "passage

18 connection cable

19 cover

20 holding element

20 'retaining element

21 pen

22 wrap

Claims

claims:

1 . Device (1) for providing a sealed passage of a cable (15) having a plug (16) through an opening (10 ') in a wall (10) of a housing

- A sliding mountable element (14) with a to the plug (16) corresponding, in the sliding element (14) fixed mating connector (13) and

a seal (17a) with a sealable passage (17a ') for the cable (15), the device (1) being arranged in a state mounted on the opening (10') such that in a first position of the sliding element (17) 14), the plug (16) can be inserted manually from an outer side of the housing into the mating connector (13) and in a second position of the sliding element (14) the seal (17a) seals the opening (10 ') and the inserted cable (15) ,

2. Device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the sliding element (14) is displaceable by means of a guide between the first position and the second position.

3. Device (1) according to claim 2, wherein the guide of the sliding element (14) has a guide rail (12) along which the sliding element (14) is movable.

4. Device (1) according to claim 3, wherein the guide rail (12) is designed as a separate component, as part of the housing or as part of a printed circuit board in the housing.

5. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sliding element (14) has a pin (21), which in the second position of the sliding element (14) by a further passage (17a ") of the seal (17a) protrudes.

6. Device (1) according to claim 2, wherein the device has a with the opening (10 ') fixedly mountable holding element (20, 20') and wherein the guide of the

Sliding element (14) by a continuous channel of the holding element (20, 20 ') is provided, which surrounds the sliding element (14) circumferentially.

7. Device (1) according to claim 6, wherein the seal (17a) seals in the second position of the sliding element (14) on the one hand to the cable (15) and on the other hand to the inside of the continuous channel of the holding element (20, 20 ').

8. Device (1) according to any one of claims 6 and 7, wherein in the second position of the sliding element (14) a cap (22) on the holding element (20, 20 ') is mounted, wherein the seal (17 a) for sealing the Opening (10 ') of the cap (22) and the holding element (20, 20') is pressed.

9. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the seal (17 a) for sealing the cable (15) relative to the sliding element (14) or the

Holding element (20, 20 ') is provided and wherein the device (1) in addition a further seal (17b) for sealing the opening (10') in conjunction with the

Sliding element (14) or the holding element (20, 20 ').

10. Device (1) according to claim 9 in conjunction with one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the sliding element (14) is designed such that it the further seal (17 b) in the second position to seal the opening (10 ') against Press the wall (10) of the housing.

1 1. Device (1) according to claim 9 in conjunction with one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the holding element (20, 20 ') is designed in two parts and screwed together, and wherein the further seal (17 b) for sealing the opening (10 ') is pressed by one of the two parts of the holding element (20, 20') against the wall (10) of the housing.

12. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sealed passage corresponds to at least one seal according to an IP protection class 54.

13. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the device

additionally has a blind plug for closing the sealable passage (17a ') if no cable (15) is inserted in the sealable passage (17a').

14. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 13, wherein in the sliding element (14) fixed mating connector (13) on a support (13 ') is mounted.

15. Inverter, in particular photovoltaic inverter, with a device (1) for providing a sealed passage according to one of the preceding claims.