# US 9,004,303 B2 · Housing for electrical operating means > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,004,303 B2 - Document ID: US9004303B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/601,297 - Filed: 2008-02-22 - Published: 2010-08-12 - Granted: 2015-04-14 - Earliest claimed: 2007-05-25 - Assignees: Cooper Crouse-Hinds GmbH - Applicants: Gerhard Schwarz; Reiner Naumann - Inventors: Gerhard Schwarz; Reiner Naumann - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9004303B2 ## CPC - H02K 5/136: explosion-proof - H05K 5/063: {sealed by a labyrinth structure provided at the joining parts} - H02K: DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES (dynamo-electric relays H01H53/00; conversion of DC or AC input power into surge output power {H03K3/53}) - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ## Abstract The invention relates to a housing (1) for an electrical operating means such as a light, plug-in device, measuring instrument, switch, distributor, or the like, having at least one first and one second housing part (2,3) that can be assembled with one another in an explosion-proof fashion. Each housing part has one joining surface (4,5); when the housing parts are assembled, said joining surfaces are in contact with one another, forming a penetration-proof gap (6). In order to provide a novel structure of joining surfaces by means of which a corresponding penetration-proof gap is formed independently of the cross-sectional shape of the housing parts and to be able to substantially unite the advantages of both joining surfaces and the housing mentioned above, the joining surfaces run substantially perpendicular relative to the rest of the housing parts and surface profiles (7, 8) are formed in said joining surfaces, the penetration-proof gap being formed between said surface profiles. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A housing (1) for an electrical operating medium, comprising: a first housing part (2) comprising a first joining surface (4) that extends substantially perpendicular relative to a first remainder of the first housing part (2), wherein the first joining surface (4) comprises a first surface profile (7) that is non-linear, wherein the first surface profile (7) is spiral-shaped in a profile direction (12); a second housing part (3) comprising a second joining surface (5) that extends substantially perpendicular relative to a second remainder of the second housing part (3), wherein the second joining surface (5) comprises a second surface profile (8) that is non-linear, wherein the second surface profile (8) is spiral-shaped in a profile direction (12), wherein the first surface profile (7) and the second surface profile (8), when the first housing part (2) and the second housing part (3) are assembled, without additional components, form a penetration-proof gap (6) to meet requirements for an explosion-proof enclosure, wherein the first surface profile (7) and the second surface profile (8) are formed complementary with respect to each other, and wherein the first joining surface (4) is joined with the second joining surface (5) when the first housing part (2) is coupled to the second housing part (3). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The housing according to claim 1, wherein the first joining surface (4) is formed as part of a first flange surface (9) projecting from the first housing part (2) in a substantially radially outward manner. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The housing according to claim 1, wherein the first joining surface (4) is formed to surround the first housing part (2). ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The housing according to claim 1, wherein the first housing part (2) has a circular cross-section. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The housing according to claim 1, wherein the first housing part (2) is produced of a metal, specifically of light metal, at least in a region of the first joining surface (4). ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The housing according to claim 1, wherein the first housing part (2) is produced of a plastic material at least in a region of the first joining surface (4). ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The housing according to claim 5, wherein the first housing part has at least one coating of a plastic material. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The housing according to claim 1, wherein the first surface profile (7) is produced specifically by machining the first joining surface (4). ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The housing according to claim 1, wherein the spiral-shaped first surface profile (7) has a substantially similar profile depth (13) as the spiral-shaped second surface profile (8) in the profile direction (12) along the shape of the spiral. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The housing according to claim 1, wherein the first housing part (2) and the second housing part (3) are connected to each other detachably in a region of the first joining surface (4) and the second joining surface (5), and specifically outside the first surface profile (7) and the second surface profile (8). ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The housing according to claim 1, wherein the first surface profile (7) is projecting relative to the rest of the first joining surface (9). ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The housing according to claim 1, wherein the first surface profile (7) is recessed relative to the rest of the first joining surface (4). ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The housing according to claim 1, wherein the first surface profile (7) is sawtooth-shaped in the profile direction (12) along the shape of the spiral. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The housing according to claim 1, wherein the first surface profile (7) has a substantially similar profile height (14) as the second surface profile (8) perpendicular to the profile direction (12) along the shape of the spiral. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The housing according to claim 1, wherein the first housing part (2) with the first joining surface (4) is produced from a casting, and wherein the first surface profile (7) is produced simultaneously with the first housing part (2) and the first joining surface (4) during the casting.