Electrical earth connection and method of producing contact areas for the electrical earth connection

• US 8,191,923 B2
• Filed: 12/04/2009
• Issued: 06/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dr Ing hc F Porsche AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Dr Ing hc F Porsche AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Bachmann, Mike
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Freedman, Laura
• Application Number:
  US12/631,418
• Publication Number:
  US 20100184312A1
• Time in Patent Office: 914 Days
• Field of Search: 294/60, 295/250.2, 295/251.1, 280/728.1, 280/728.2, 280/735, 307/10.1, 411/429, 411/431, 361/799, 439/92, 439/97
• US Class Current: 280/728.2
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/64 Connections between or with conductive parts having primarily a non-electric function, e.g. frame, casing, rail
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49948 Multipart cooperating fastener [e.g., bolt and nut]

Abstract

A holder for a controller housing of a central airbag unit is arranged on a central tunnel of the vehicle and fixed using fastening bolts by union nuts. A blank paint-free contact area is created around the fastening bolts by the union nuts being mounted on the fastening screws before a painting process. After a painting process, the union nuts are removed from the screws and the controller housing is mounted on the contact areas and secured by the union nuts.

Claims

1. An electrical earth connection configuration, comprising:

a central tunnel of a frame structure;

a holder having union nuts and fastening bolts which protrude upward;

a controller housing of a central airbag unit of a motor vehicle, said controller housing disposed on said central tunnel by said holder, and said controller housing being fastened to said fastening bolts by said union nuts;

a first electrical earth connection being joint welds electrically connecting said holder to said central tunnel; and

a second electrical earth connection electrically connecting said controller housing of the central airbag unit to said holder, said second electrical earth connection being defined by paint-free blank contact areas on said holder, said paint-free blank contact areas are disposed on said holder around a foot end of said fastening bolts as a support area for said controller housing.

2. The electrical earth connection configuration according to claim 1, wherein said fastening bolts are composed of a steel material and are compressed at said foot end by said holder which is composed of an aluminum material, and said fastening bolts having a projecting threaded portion for receiving said union nuts.

3. The electrical earth connection configuration according to claim 1, wherein:

said holder has bent portions and is composed of an aluminum material;

said central tunnel is composed of an aluminum material; and

said holder is connected to said central tunnel by said welds, said welds are disposed on said bent portions of said holder which are directed towards said central tunnel.

4. The electrical earth connection configuration according to claim 3, wherein said weld is a metal inert gas weld.

5. The electrical earth connection configuration according to claim 1, wherein said paint-free blank contact areas defining said second electrical earth connection between said holder and said controller housing of the airbag unit each have an outer contour corresponding to an end-face outline contour of said union nuts.

6. The electrical earth connection configuration according to claim 1, wherein an electrical earth connection is established from said controller housing, via said contact areas on said holder, via said welds, via said central tunnel, to a vehicle body.