阅读说明：本技术 电气单元、插头以及制造插头的方法 (Electrical unit, plug and method for producing a plug ) 是由 埃内斯托·乔瓦尼·阿诺尔迪 保罗·林科尔恩·毛里诺 于 2020-03-25 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及电气单元、插头以及制造插头的方法,该电气单元比如是用于具有插入式连接的机动车辆的电动水泵(2)或电动散热器风扇(2′),其构造成使得能够简单且可靠地进行电接触,特别地,其特征在于通过以下事实实现：密封插头(1、1′)的线缆的独立导线(47)的裸露端部与接触舌片(50)之间的连接区域,并且可以确保充分的密封、特别是相对于沿着导线从所述单元的周围环境穿过插头(1、1′)进入至所述单元的外壳中的水分侵入确保充分的密封。在第二方面,开发了一种用于电气元件上的插入式连接的插头(1、1′)。在本发明的第三方面中,说明了一种制造用于电气单元(2、2′)的插入式连接的插头(1、1′)的方法。(The invention relates to an electrical unit, such as an electric water pump (2) or an electric radiator fan (2') for a motor vehicle with a plug-in connection, which is configured such that an electrical contact can be made simply and reliably, in particular, characterized by the fact that: the connection region between the exposed end of the individual wires (47) of the cable of the plug (1, 1 ') and the contact tongue (50) is sealed and a sufficient sealing can be ensured, in particular with respect to moisture ingress along the wires from the surroundings of the unit through the plug (1, 1') into the housing of the unit. In a second aspect, a plug (1, 1') for a plug-in connection on an electrical component is developed. In a third aspect of the invention, a method for producing a plug (1, 1 ') for plug-in connection of an electrical unit (2, 2') is described.)

1. Electrical unit for a motor vehicle, preferably an electric water pump (2) or an electric radiator fan (2 '), having a plug-in connection for electrical attachment to a vehicle electrical device, the electrical unit (2, 2') comprising a housing (20, 20 ') and a plug (1, 1'), in which housing (20, 20 ') an electric motor and an electronic device for actuating the electric motor are received, which electronic device is arranged on a printed circuit board and is connected to a contact socket, the plug (1, 1') providing the electronic device with a current supply or energy by means of an electrical contact between a contact tongue (50) of the plug (1, 1 ') and the contact socket, the contact between the contact socket and the contact tongue (50) taking place in a first end region (30) of the plug housing (34, 34'), the contact tongues (50) are in electrical contact with individual lines (47) of a supply line (46) of the vehicle electrical device and are held in an insulated manner, sealed in a central region (32) of a plug housing (34, 34 '), the plug housing (34, 34') further comprising a second end region (31), from which the individual lines (47) issue, and at least the first end region (30) of the plug (1, 1 ') is received in the housing (20, 20') of the electrical unit and preferably also the central region (32) of the plug (1, 1 ') is received in the housing (20, 20') of the electrical unit.

2. Electrical unit (2, 2 ') for a motor vehicle with plug-in connection according to claim 1, the plug (1, 1 ') being arranged in the region of the housing (20, 20 '), which region requires pressure equalization, and for ventilation purposes the plug (1, 1 ') having a ventilation duct (40), the ventilation duct (40) opening out into an inlet/outlet opening (42) in the second end region (31) starting from an inlet/outlet opening (41) in the first end region (30), and thus a balancing between the interior space of the housing and the exterior surroundings (U) of the housing (20, 20 ') is possible.

3. Electrical unit (2) for a motor vehicle with plug-in connection according to claim 2, at least one of the two inlet/outlet openings (41, 42) being closed by means of a membrane (44), preferably a Goerts membrane.

4. A plug (1, 1 '), the plug (1, 1 ') being for plug-in connection on an electrical unit (2, 2 '), the plug (1, 1 ') comprising a plug housing (34, 34 ') made of plastic, the plug housing (34, 34 ') having a first end region (30), a second end region (31) and a central region (32), a plurality of contact tongues (50) being provided, the plurality of contact tongues (50) comprising a first end region (51), a second end region (53) and a central region (52), and at least the central region (52) of the plurality of contact tongues (50) being held in the first end region (30) in an encapsulated manner by plastic, and a plurality of individual wires (47) of a multi-core cable (46) leading out from the second end region (31) of the plug housing (34, 34 '), the plurality of individual conductors (47) comprising an insulated encapsulation (47b) and an exposed end region (47a), and the individual conductors (47) are connected and electrically contacted in a central region (32) of the plug housing (34, 34') by means of the exposed end regions (47a) to a first end region (51) of the contact tongue (50) or to a first end region (51) of the contact tongue (50), and the contact points between the individual conductors (47) and the contact tongues (50) at least in the central region of the plug housing are impregnated with a sealing material (60, 61), preferably a resin (60), or is retained by overmoulding, sealing or embedding by a thermoplastic material (61), and the plug (1, 1') further comprises strain relief means for the separate conductor (47).

5. Plug (1, 1') according to claim 4, the plug housing (34) being constructed as a plate-like element from a molded plastic material, and the central region (32) of the plug housing (34) having a window-like recess (33), and the window-like recess (33) being filled with a sealing potting compound (60), the contact points/electrical contacts between the contact tongues (50) and the individual conductors (47) being constructed in the window-like recess (33).

6. Plug (1, 1') according to claim 4 or 5, the second end region (31) of the plug housing (34) having a plurality of through-holes (35) in which the individual conductors (47) are held in a lead-through manner and in which an integral bonding connection for the strain relief means is formed between an insulating encapsulation (47b) of the individual conductors (47) and the plug housing (34) in the region of the through-holes (35).

7. Plug (1, 1 ') according to claim 4, the plug housing (34') being formed as a plate-like element having the first end region (30) and an integrally formed lateral leg (36), the lateral leg (36) forming a central region (32) and a second end region (31), a U-shaped recess (37) being formed between the first end region (30) and the lateral leg (36), and an elongated recess (38) being configured in the first end region (30), the second end region (53, 54) of the contact tongue (50) being positioned in the elongated recess (38).

8. A plug (1, 1 ') according to claim 7, the contact points between the U-shaped recess (37) and the contact tongues (50) and the separate wires (47), the side regions of the plug housing (34, 34 ') delimiting the U-shaped recess (37) and the elongated recess (38) of the first end region of the plug housing (34, 34 ') being overmoulded by the thermoplastic material, whereby a sealing is achieved by means of the thermoplastic material, such that the end (54) of the contact tongues (50) at least in the first end region (30) remains free to contact a contact socket, and the strain relief means are formed by means of the embedding of the separate wires (47) in the thermoplastic material (61).

9. Plug (1, 1') according to one of claims 4 to 8, the contact between the contact tongue (50) and the individual conductor (47) being realized by a soldered connection.

10. Plug (1, 1') according to one of claims 4 to 8, the contact between the contact tongue (50) and the individual conductor (47) being realized by a crimp connection (C).

11. Plug (1, 1 ') according to one of the preceding claims, the plug housing (34, 34') comprising a venting/pressure equalization duct (40), the venting/pressure equalization duct (40) opening out into an inlet/outlet opening (42) arranged in the second end region (31) starting from an inlet/outlet opening (41) arranged in the first end region (30).

12. Plug (1, 1') according to claim 11, at least one of the two inlet/outlet openings (41, 42), preferably the inlet/outlet opening (41) located in the first end region (30), being sealed by a membrane (44), preferably a golts membrane.

13. Method for manufacturing a plug (1, 1 '), the plug (1, 1 ') being used for a plug-in connection on an electrical unit, such as a water pump (2) or a radiator fan (2 '), having the following method steps:

a) providing a plurality of contact tongues (50) made of an electrically conductive material, the contact tongues (50) having a first end region (51), a central region (52) and a second end region (53), the second end region (53) preferably comprising an end (54) bent at 90 degrees,

b) providing a mold for producing a plug housing (34, 34 ') from a plastic material, the plug housing (34, 34') having a first end region (30), a central region (32) with a window-like recess (33) and a second end region (31) with a through-opening (35) for a separate conductor (47),

c) inserting the contact tongue (50) into the mould such that, after the moulding process, the contact tongue (50) remains in a first end region (30) of the plug housing (34, 34') such that the contact tongue (50) is encapsulated by plastic in its central region (52), the second end region (53, 54) is freely accessible, and a first end region (51) of the contact tongue (50) is arranged in the window-shaped section (33),

d) producing the plug housing (34, 34') with the shaped contact tongues (50) in the mould by a plastic forming method, preferably by a casting method, an injection moulding method or a transfer moulding method,

e) providing a multi-core supply cable (46) having a plurality of individual conductors (47), said individual conductors (47) comprising an insulated enclosure (47b) and an exposed end region (47a),

f) inserting the individual conductor (47) through the through-hole (35) in the second end region (31) of the plug housing (34, 34'),

g) an electrically conductive connection is produced between the individual conductors (47) and a first end region (51) of the contact tongue (50),

h) by supplying heat and/or pressure, an integral joint and/or a non-rigid connection is produced between the encapsulation (47b) of the separate conductor (47) and the through-hole (35),

i) a seal (60) is produced in the window-like recess (33) by casting a sealing potting compound, preferably a resin, into the window-like recess (33).

14. Method for manufacturing a plug (1, 1 '), the plug (1, 1 ') being used for a plug-in connection on an electrical unit, such as a water pump (2) or a radiator fan (2 '), having the following method steps:

a) providing a plurality of contact tongues (50) made of an electrically conductive material, the contact tongues (50) having a first end region (51), a central region (52) and a second end region (53), the second end region (53) preferably comprising ends (54) offset by 90 degrees,

b) providing a multi-core supply cable (46) having a plurality of individual conductors (47), said individual conductors (47) comprising an insulated enclosure (47b) and an exposed end region (47a),

c) an electrically conductive connection is produced between the individual conductors (47) and a first end region (51) of the contact tongue (50),

d) providing a mold for producing a plug housing (34, 34 ') from a plastic material, the plug housing (34, 34') having a first end region (30) and laterally integrally formed legs (36), a U-shaped recess (37) configured between the legs (36), and a second end region (31), the first end region (30) comprising an elongated recess (38), the legs (36) having a central region (32),

e) inserting the contact tongue (50) with the connected separate core (47) into the mold such that the contact tongue (50) remains in a first end region (50) of the plug housing (34') after the molding process such that the contact tongue (50) is encapsulated by plastic in its central region (52) and the second end region (53, 54) is arranged in the elongated recess (38) such that the second end region (53, 54) is freely accessible and the first end region (51) of the contact tongue (50) with the connected separate core (47) is arranged in the U-shaped recess (37),

f) producing the plug housing (34') with the shaped contact tongues (50) in the mould by a plastic forming method, preferably by a casting method, an injection moulding method or a transfer moulding method,

g) producing a seal (61) by: the contact points between the U-shaped recess (37) and the contact tongues (50) and the individual wires (47), the side regions of the plug housing (34 ') delimiting the U-shaped recess (37) and the elongated recess (38) of the first end region (30) of the plug housing (34 ') are overmoulded with a thermoplastic material such that at least the ends (54) of the second end region of the contact tongues (50) remain free to come into contact with the contact sockets and a strain relief is formed by means of the embedding of the individual wires (47) in the thermoplastic material and the second end region of the plug housing (34 ') is increased.

15. Method for manufacturing a plug (1, 1 ') according to claim 13 or 14, the plug housing (34, 34') being manufactured with a venting duct (40), the venting duct (40) starting from an inlet/outlet opening (41) in a first end region (30) of the plug housing (34, 34 ') opening into an inlet/outlet opening (42) in a second end region (31) of the plug housing (34, 34').

16. Method for manufacturing a plug (1, 1') according to claim 15, in a further method step a seal, preferably a golts membrane (44), for sealing against environmental influences is applied to at least one of the inlet/outlet openings (41, 42), preferably to the inlet/outlet opening (41) in the first end region.

17. The method of claim 16, said applying being performed by an ultrasonic welding process.

18. Method for manufacturing a plug (1, 1') according to claim 13 or 14, the contact tongues (50) being fed in an automatic manner starting from a reel.

Technical Field

The invention relates to an electrical unit, such as an electric water pump or an electric radiator fan for a motor vehicle with a plug-in connection, to a plug for a plug-in connection on an electrical unit of this type, and to a method for manufacturing a plug for a plug-in connection on an electrical unit of this type.

Background

For example, an electric water pump or an electric radiator fan is understood as an electrical unit of a motor vehicle.

An electric water pump is known, for example, from US 9360015B1 and is driven by an electric motor comprising a stator and a rotor. The rotor is connected to a pump impeller for moving the fluid. Fluid enters the pump through an inlet in the volute, contacts the pump impeller, and moves through an outlet in the volute. The rotor and stator of the electric machine are housed in a housing connected to a volute. The electronics of the motor are housed on a Printed Circuit Board (PCB). The printed circuit board includes electronic components that electronically control the operation of the motor. The current supply or energy is transmitted via a plug which is connected to the wiring harness of the vehicle electrical device. Here, the electrical contact is made through the conductive contact tongues of the plug, which are electrically connected to the individual wires/cores of the wiring harness, which are in electrical contact with the corresponding conductive contact sockets of the printed circuit board. The contact between the printed circuit board and the plug is usually designed as a plug-in connection, wherein the plug and the contact tongues arranged on the end side are at least partially inserted into the housing of the water pump and establish a connection to the printed circuit board.

Electrically powered radiator fans are also known in various embodiments and include a fan impeller axially disposed on a drivable shaft and a fan motor for driving, the fan impeller and fan motor being disposed in a housing. Electronics to control operation of the motor are also located within the housing. In the case of a radiator fan, the power supply or energy is also transmitted through a plug connected to the wiring harness of the vehicle electrical equipment.

In the case of plug-in connections of this type, in particular in applications in motor vehicles, the production of a sufficient seal of the plug and/or of the plug-in connection is problematic, which firstly protects the contact regions in the plug which are present between the contact tongues and the wire ends of the cable, and furthermore, between the individual wires of the plug and/or the cable and the plug carrier/plug housing which receives the wires, a sufficient seal against environmental influences, in particular moisture, is present, with the result that moisture and/or gas can be prevented from entering the pump housing from the surroundings of the pump housing and/or from the surroundings of the radiator fan into the housing of the radiator fan via the plug.

Disclosure of Invention

In a first aspect, the invention aims to construct an electrical unit, such as a water pump or a radiator fan of a motor vehicle with a plug-in connection, so as to achieve a simple and reliable electrical contact, in particular characterized in that the connection region between the contact tongues and the exposed ends of the individual wires of the cable of the plug is sealed and a sufficient sealing can be ensured, in particular with respect to moisture ingress along the wires from the surroundings of the unit through the plug into the housing of the unit.

In a second aspect, the object is to develop a plug for a plug-in connection on an electrical unit, such as a water pump or a radiator fan; in particular, the plug should have a strain relief and have a seal, in particular a moisture-proof seal, in the electrical contact region between the contact tongues and the wire ends of the cable, and the plug can ensure a sufficient seal, in particular with respect to moisture ingress along the wires from the surroundings of the unit through the plug into the plug housing in the direction of the contact tongues.

In a third aspect of the invention, another object is considered to be a method of manufacturing a plug for a plug-in connection of an electrical unit. In particular, an inexpensive, rapid and automatable method is to be provided.

The sealing measures described below provide sealing against environmental influences. In the context of the present invention, environmental influences are understood to mean atmospheric influences, such as pollutants, dust, moisture, oil and electrostatic discharges.

The object of the first aspect is achieved by the features of claim 1.

The object of the second aspect is achieved by the features of claim 4. In particular, the sealing in the electrical connection region between the exposed end of the individual wires of the cable in the plug and the contact tongues is improved here. Furthermore, a seal, that is to say a seal between the cable sheath, the outer sheath of the wires and the plug housing, is achieved in the longitudinal direction of the cable or the individual wires, as a result of which penetration of environmental influences in the region of the plug into the plug-in connection and into the housing of the unit, for example a water pump or a radiator fan, is avoided.

Furthermore, the plug according to the invention is configured such that the individual wires of the cable are integrated in the plug housing in a strain-free manner. This is achieved due to the following factors: the individual wires are inserted through corresponding holes of the plug housing and due to a heat treatment/hot pressing operation a non-rigid/integral bonded connection is established between the plug housing introduced into the pass-through area and the individual wires.

The potting compound, which seals the connection between the individual conductors and the contact tongues, which is made of resin, forms a seal in the region, and furthermore it is a barrier for preventing atmospheric influences, such as moisture, from penetrating from the surroundings of the electrical unit through the plug to the housing of the electrical unit.

In another embodiment that achieves the objects of the first and second aspects, the exposed end of the individual wire is connected to the contact tongue by a crimp connection. The crimped connection produces a reliable connection between the end of the wire and the contact tongue. In the case of the exemplary embodiment, the seal between the individual conductors and the contact tongues is produced by a thermoplastic material which encloses the connection region and at the same time is partially embedded in the main support of the plug housing. As a result, in addition to the above-mentioned sealing function, a strain relief of the individual wires is achieved, which is produced by the bonding between the plastic encapsulation of the individual wires and the thermoplastic material.

In a further development of the invention, it is provided that the plug-in connector has a pressure compensation line which makes possible a pressure compensation between the interior of the housing of the electrical unit, such as a water pump or a radiator fan, and the surroundings of the electrical unit, such as a water pump or a radiator fan. By means of the advantageous development, ventilation/pressure equalization can be provided in the plug in an integrated manner, so that a separate pressure equalization device at another location of the housing can be dispensed with.

The pressure equalization duct is advantageously provided with a membrane, preferably a golts membrane, in the region of the inlet and/or outlet opening. As a result, a seal is also achieved in that region of the pressure equalization device, which establishes a connection between the interior of the housing and the surroundings of the electrical unit, in relation to environmental influences such as moisture.

The inlet and/or outlet opening with the membrane is further advantageously arranged in a region of the plug which is located inside the housing after assembly with an electrical unit, such as a water pump or a radiator fan. In this position, the membrane is arranged in a protected position in the housing of the pump or radiator fan.

In a third aspect, the invention is achieved by a method for manufacturing a plug according to claim 13 or 14.

In particular, the method can be carried out in a rapid and automated manner. This can be achieved by the fact that: according to a first exemplary embodiment of the plug, in a first method step, the contact tongues are fed from the reel. The seal is advantageously produced as a barrier in the contact region between the end of the line and the contact tongue by pouring the mixture during casting.

According to a refinement of the method according to the invention, the film for sealing the pressure equalization channel is fed in a manner starting from a roll. As a result, the application of the membrane in the area of the inlet opening and the outlet opening is greatly simplified, since no separate membrane element has to be grasped and applied.

The fixing of the membrane is preferably carried out by means of an ultrasonic welding method.

The method according to the invention is significantly simplified according to a second design variant of the plug according to the invention, in particular by forming a crimp connection between the wire end and the contact tongue. The sealing and strain relief in the region of the conductor and the plug housing is thereby achieved quickly and reliably by overmoulding the conductor in a region of the main support, which forms the receptacle for the contact tongues, and in the region of the crimped connection with the contact tongues. The crimp connection contacts the region of the tongue. Thermoplastic materials are preferably used as materials.

In the case of the method according to the second exemplary embodiment, the barrier region for sealing the contact point between the individual line and the contact tongue and the second end region of the plug are furthermore advantageously realized by means of a thermoplastic material. As a result, the manufacturing method can be optimized, in particular in terms of time. The curing time required in the case of using a casting resin is eliminated.

Drawings

The invention will be described hereinafter on the basis of exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1 illustrates an exemplary electric water pump according to the present invention,

figure 2 illustrates a cross-section of an exemplary electric water pump,

fig. 3 shows a detail of the housing of the water pump in a front view, with a plug-in attached plug,

fig. 4 shows a detail of the housing of the water pump in a rear view, with the plug attached in a plug-in connection,

figures 5a to 5f show method steps for producing a first embodiment of a plug for a plug-in connection,

figure 6 shows a plug according to the invention manufactured according to figures 5a to 5f in a three-dimensional view from below,

figure 7 shows a plug according to the invention after the method steps of figures 5d and 5e in a view from below in a sectioned state,

fig. 8 shows a plug according to the invention in a further rotated perspective view of a partial view after the method steps of fig. 5d and 5 e.

Figures 9a to 9c show method steps for producing a plug of a plug-in connection of a second embodiment,

fig. 10 shows a perspective view of a radiator fan with a plug according to a second exemplary embodiment, an

Fig. 11 shows a view of the interior of a radiator fan with a fan wheel and a mounted plug.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 and 2 show an electric water pump known from the prior art. Which is driven by a motor comprising a stator 24 and a rotor 26. The rotor 26 is connected to a pump impeller 28 for moving the fluid. Fluid enters the water pump through an inlet 12 in the volute 10, contacts the pump impeller 28, and moves through an outlet 14 in the volute 10. The rotor 26 and stator 24 of the motor are housed in a housing 20 connected to the volute 10. The electronics required for actuating the motor are housed on a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) and connected to the contact receptacle. By means of a plug-in connection between the printed circuit board or the contact socket and the contact tongues of the plug 1, current or energy is transmitted for the electronic device. The contact tongues are electrically connected with the individual conductors of the wiring harness/supply line 46 and are held in the plug 1 in a sealed and insulated manner. During assembly, the plug 1 with the contact tongues 30 arranged on the end sides is at least partially inserted into the housing of the water pump. Here, the contact tongues are inserted into contact sockets on a printed circuit board and an electrical contact is established between the plug 1 and the printed circuit board. The drawing does not show a plug-in connection of a contact receptacle comprising a plug 1 or a contact tongue and a printed circuit board.

Fig. 1 and 2 show the arrangement of the plug 1, 1' on the housing 20 of the pump 2 only in a diagrammatic manner. As already mentioned at the outset, the plug 1, 1' can be brought into electrical contact with a plurality of corresponding plug-in contacts/contact sockets of an electrical unit in a motor vehicle in order to form a plug-in connection.

Fig. 3 and 4 show the plug 1 in the installed state of a plug-in connection on the housing element 20 of the water pump 2. The printed circuit board with the corresponding plug-in contacts/contact sockets is not shown. As can be seen from the figure, in the mounted state, the first end region 30 of the plug 1 is located inside the outer shell 20 of the water pump 2 and the opposite second end region 31 with the supply cable 46 protrudes outwards from the outer shell 20 of the water pump 2. The first end region 30 of the plug 1 is preferably arranged in the region of the water pump, which comprises an air space and requires pressure equalization. In order to make pressure balancing possible, the plug 1 is provided with a pressure balancing conduit 40; the pressure equalization conduit 40 is arranged in the following manner: starting from an inlet or outlet opening 41 arranged in the first end region 30 of the plug, the pressure equalization duct 40 leads to an inlet or outlet opening 42 arranged in the second end region 31 of the plug 1. As a result, after the plug 1 is mounted in the housing 20, a connection is established between the air space in the housing 20 and the surrounding space U of the water pump 2 in the motor vehicle. The inlet/outlet 41 arranged on the first end region 30 of the plug 1 is covered by a membrane 44, preferably a Gore-Tex membrane, and thus forms a ventilation opening which likewise prevents moisture penetration. Due to the arrangement of the membrane 44 within the housing 20, the membrane 44 is not affected by the outside. Alternatively, the membrane 44 may also be arranged on the inlet/outlet opening 42 located on the second end region 31.

Fig. 5a to 5f show a method according to the invention for producing a plug 1 for a plug-in connection on a water pump 2 in a first embodiment.

In a first method step according to fig. 5a, a contact tongue 50 is first provided, which contact tongue 50 establishes an electrical contact with the separate core 47 of the current supply line/cable 46 of the vehicle electrical device. Here, the number of contact tongues 50 corresponds to the number of individual wires/cores 47 of the current-supply cable 46 to be contacted. The contact tongues 50 are made of an electrically conductive material and are designed as elongated contact pins having a first end region 51, a central region 52 and a second end region 53. The second end region 53 has an end 54 that is angularly offset by 90 degrees. The contact pins are arranged parallel to one another at a distance and are connected to one another in the first end region 51 via a transverse web 55. The contact tongues/contact pins 50 are received on the reel in a stored manner and the contact tongues are separate and can be provided in the required number, i.e. four contact tongues 50 are arranged parallel to each other according to the illustration.

In a second method step according to fig. 5b, the contact tongues 50 are inserted into a mold and in the molding method the plug housing 34 is formed from a plastic material, preferably cast or transfer-molded from a thermosetting plastic material. The mold for producing the plug housing 34 is configured such that the plug housing 34 is substantially configured as a plate-shaped element having a first end region 30 and an opposite second end region 31. Between the first end region 30 and the second end region 31, the plug housing 34 has a central region 32, which central region 32 comprises a window-like recess 33. The second end region 31 is configured with through holes 35, the through holes 35 being spaced apart in parallel for receiving individual wires 47. After the molding method, the contact tongues 50 remain in the first end region 30, so that the contact tongues 50 are overmolded in their central region 52, so that the angularly offset ends 54 of the second end region 53, starting from the plate-like element, freely project outwards. Starting from the first end region 30 of the plug housing 34, the first end region 51 of the contact tongue projects freely into the window-like recess 33.

Furthermore, the plug housing 34 is configured with a ventilation duct 40, which ventilation duct 40 extends from an inlet/outlet opening 42 into an inlet/outlet opening 41, which inlet/outlet opening 42 is arranged in the longitudinal direction in the second end region 31, which inlet/outlet opening 41 is configured to be offset by 90 degrees in the first end region 30.

After molding of the plug housing 34, the plug housing 34 is removed from the mold with the embedded contact tongues 50 and the transverse connections 55 between the contact tongues 50 are removed.

In a subsequent method step 5c, the inlet/outlet opening 41 in the first end region 30 is covered by a membrane 44, preferably a golts membrane, by an ultrasonic welding method.

Fig. 5d shows a next method step, in which the individual conductors 47 of the supply line 46 (according to exemplary embodiment 4) are inserted with their exposed ends 47a through the through-openings 35 in the second end region 31 and soldered onto the exposed first end region 51 of the contact tongues 50 to establish an electrical contact.

Thereafter, by applying heat and/or pressure in said region, a strain-resistant connection is produced between the individual conductors 47 in the through-holes 35, as a result of which the encapsulation 47b of the individual conductors 47 melts and an integral bonding connection with the plastic material of the plug housing 34 is achieved (fig. 5e shows the plug housing from the upper side).

After the strain-resistant connection between the individual conductors 47 and the plug housing 34 has been produced in the second end region 31 of the plug housing, in a final method step according to fig. 5f, an insulating and sealing material 60, preferably a resin, is cast into the window-like depression 33 and distributed there completely. As a result, the soldered contact points between the individual conductors 47 and the contact tongues 50 are completely overmolded and embedded by material, so that protection against environmental influences and/or sealing is achieved. In particular, the region overmoulded with resin creates a barrier 60, as a result of which, starting from the second end region 31 of the plug 1 which is exposed to the environment U in the mounted state, no environmental influences, such as moisture, can pass along the individual wires 47 into the plug housing 34 to the first end region 30 of the plug 1, which first end region 30 is arranged in the housing 20 of the water pump 2.

Fig. 6 shows the finished plug 1 in a perspective view from below of the free, angularly offset end 54 of the contact tongue 50 and the welded contact point between the individual wires/cores 47 of the supply line in the central region 32 of the plug 1 and the contact tongue, which is embedded in the potting compound 60.

The illustration of fig. 7 shows, by means of an arrow P1, a barrier 60, which barrier 60 is formed in the window-like recess 33 by the potting compound. Furthermore, the area of the strain relief means forming the individual wires 47 is marked by an arrow P2. On the right hand side of the figure is shown a supply cable 46 formed by a separate conductor 47 and comprising an encapsulation 46 a.

The partial view of fig. 8 shows the course of a ventilation hole with an inlet opening and an outlet opening.

Fig. 9a to 9c show a further method according to the invention for producing a plug for a plug-in connection on a water pump in a second embodiment.

In contrast to the above-described production method, according to the second embodiment of the plug 1a (shown in fig. 9 a), in a first method step the contact tongues 50 are connected to the exposed ends 47a of the individual wires 47 of the supply line 46 via the crimp sections C on the first end regions 51 of the contact tongues 50 and are thus electrically contacted. As already described above, the contact tongues 50 are made of an electrically conductive material and are configured as elongated contact pins having a first end region 51, a central region 52 and a second end region 53. The second end region 53 has an end 54 that is offset at a 90 degree angle. The contact pins are arranged parallel to one another at a distance and are connected to one another in the first end region 51 via a transverse web 55, and are designed for producing a crimp C. The contact tongues/contact pins 50 are received in a stored manner on the reel and the contact tongues are separate and can be provided in the required number, i.e. four contact tongues 50 are arranged parallel to each other according to the illustration.

In a second method step according to fig. 9b, the contact tongues 50 with the individual conductors 47 crimped onto the contact tongues 50 are inserted into a mold and in the molding method the plug housing 34' is molded from a plastic material, preferably cast or transfer molded from a thermosetting plastic material. Here, the mold for producing the plug housing 34 'is configured such that the plug housing 34' is formed substantially as a plate-like element between the first end region 30 and the laterally integrally formed legs 36. The plug housing 34' has a U-shaped recess 37 between the first end region 30 and the laterally integrally formed leg 36. Furthermore, an elongated recess 38 and a plurality of grooves 39 connecting the elongated recess 38 with the U-shaped recess 37 are formed in the first end region 30.

After the molding method, the contact tongues 50 remain in the first end region 30, so that the contact tongues 50 are overmolded in their central region 52, so that the angularly offset ends 54 of the second end region 53 start from the plate-like element freely projecting outwards and are located in the elongated recesses 38 of the first end region 30. Starting from the first end region 30 of the plug housing 34', the first end region 51 of the contact tongue 50 projects freely into the U-shaped recess 37 with the individual conductors 47 crimped onto the contact tongue 50.

Furthermore, the plug housing 34' is configured with a ventilation duct 40, which ventilation duct 40 extends from an inlet/outlet opening 42 into an inlet/outlet opening 41, which inlet/outlet opening 42 is arranged in the longitudinal direction in the lateral leg 36, which inlet/outlet opening 41 is configured to be offset by 90 degrees in the first end region 30.

The left-hand view of fig. 9b shows the plug 1' from below after the above-described moulding method. The right-hand view shows the plug 1' in a method step in a plan view.

In a subsequent method step shown in fig. 9c, the plug housing 1 'is overmolded in the region of the U-shaped recess 37 with the side regions 36 of the contact housing 34' adjoining the U-shaped recess 37, with the contacts of the contact tongues and the individual conductors 47, and with the first end region 30 of the plug housing 34 'in the region of the elongated recess 38 and the groove 39 with a thermoplastic material, and the second end region 31 of the plug 1' is completely constructed. The second end region 31 extends from the U-shaped recess 37 in the direction of the supply cable 46.

As can be seen from the right-hand view of fig. 9c, the elongated recess 38 is injection molded in the following manner: so that the angularly offset end of the contact tongue 54 remains free. By over-molding the above-described regions, a strain-resistant connection is achieved by adhesion between the individual wires 47 and the thermoplastic material 61 molded on the plug housing 34'. Furthermore, the crimp contact between the individual conductors and the contact tongues is completely overmolded and embedded by the material 61, so that protection and/or sealing against environmental influences is achieved. In particular, the region overmoulded with the thermoplastic material 61 creates a barrier 61 between the legs, as a result of which, starting from the overmoulded second end region 31 of the plug 1 'which is exposed to the environment in the mounted state, no environmental influence, such as moisture, can pass along the individual wires 47 into the plug housing 34' to the first end region 30 of the plug, which first end region 30 is arranged in the housing 20 of the water pump 2.

The membrane 44 may be welded to the inlet/outlet opening 41 in the first end region 30 by ultrasonic welding, before or after injection molding with a thermoplastic material.

Fig. 10 and 11 show a radiator fan 2 'as an electrical unit with a mounted plug 1' according to a second exemplary embodiment. As can be seen from the illustration in fig. 10, at least a first end region of the plug housing 34 'is received in the interior space of the radiator fan in a manner enclosed by the housing 20'. It goes without saying that the plug 1 of the first exemplary embodiment can also be inserted into the housing 20' so as to form a plug-in connection with corresponding plug-in contacts on a printed circuit board of an electronic device.