IMPROVED TWO-PART BUS BAR SUPPORT INCLUDING A CLIP BETWEEN THE TWO PARTS.

Abstract

The invention relates to a support (10) for a bus bar (20) comprising two parts (11, 12) each having two surfaces (11a, 11b, 12a, 12b) preferably substantially planar and perpendicular to each other, arranged to form with the two surfaces of the other part among said two parts (11, 12), a through cavity or a passage; a base (11c, 12c) comprising a hole or a fixing means, and, a complementary shape (11f, 12f) to a shape (11f, 12f) of the other, among the two parts (11, 12), arranged to form together with said shape (11f, 12f) of the other among the two parts, a fastener (1112) between the two parts (11, 12). Advantageously, it is thus possible to obtain a support (10) for a bus bar (20) which is solid, reliable, easy and quick to assemble and inexpensive. Fig. 2

Description

Title of the invention: IMPROVED TWO-PART BUS BAR SUPPORT COMPRISING A CLIP BETWEEN THE TWO PARTS. Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a busbar support. In particular, the invention relates to a two-part busbar support for aircraft electrical systems. STATE OF THE PRIOR ART

[0002] Electricity occupies an increasingly important place in aircraft on-board systems, which are constantly evolving in terms of architecture, in particular to meet safety, mass, cost, environmental requirements, as well as industrialization and comfort needs. Thus, an aircraft comprises numerous electrical and electronic circuits requiring power supply lines and various signal transmission lines, useful for the flight functions of the aircraft. In this context, busbar type connections are frequently used, for example from on-board electrical generation systems to different electrical systems of the aircraft.

[0003] Such bus bars require reliable assembly and assembly operations can be lengthy and tedious to meet reliability requirements.

[0004] The situation can be improved. Statement of the invention

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a simple, reliable busbar support that is easy and quick to assemble and requires only a minimum of related elements or accessories such as, for example, screws, nuts or washers.

[0006] For this purpose, a bus bar support is proposed comprising two parts, each having:

[0007] - two surfaces, arranged to form with the two surfaces of the other part among said two parts, a through cavity or a passage, - a base comprising a hole or a fixing means, and, - a shape complementary to a shape of the other, among said two parts, arranged to form jointly with said complementary shape of the other among said two parts, an attachment between said two parts.

[0008] Advantageously, this makes it possible to obtain a simple, solid and reliable busbar support, easy and quick to assemble, inexpensive, while consequently limiting the FOD risks (acronym for "Foreign Object Debris", which designates a body foreigner present in a system).

[0009] The busbar support according to the invention may also include the following characteristics, considered alone or in combination:

[0010] - The two surfaces of each of the two parts are substantially flat and perpendicular to each other. Advantageously, such a configuration is particularly suitable for busbars having a generally square or rectangular section. - The attachment between the two parts includes a hook or has a hook-shaped profile, which simplifies assembly and creates a pivot point between the two parts of the support. - The bases of said two parts jointly form a flat sole, which advantageously allows the support to be simply fixed to a substrate in two stages (pre-assembly of a first part of the support, then assembly of the other part after positioning a bus bar on or against the first part). - The attachment between the two parts is configured to limit the movement of one of the two parts relative to the other of the two parts in at least two directions of movement perpendicular to each other, which simplifies assembly by defining an alignment and then limiting the movements of one part of the support relative to the other, thus creating a guide. - Both parts are made of insulating material, which advantageously reduces the risk of short circuits. - The insulating material is a polymer or elastomer with a melting temperature above 150°C. Thus, the material offers a good compromise between rigidity and flexibility and withstands high temperatures, created in particular by the Joule effect. - The through cavity or passage has a generally parallelepiped shape, particularly suitable for easy positioning and good support of busbars having a generally square or rectangular section.

[0011] The invention also relates to a busbar fixing assembly comprising a substrate, two screws or fixing means, and a busbar support as previously described, which is configured to receive a busbar positioned in the through cavity or passage of the support, when said two parts are assembled on the substrate. Such an assembly then makes it possible to obtain a solid and reliable fixing of a busbar relative to the substrate, with a minimum of connected elements.

[0012] Another object of the invention is an aircraft comprising a busbar support as mentioned above or a busbar fixing assembly as mentioned above.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the aircraft comprises at least one electric propulsion motor. Brief description of the drawings

[0014] The above-mentioned features of the invention, as well as others, will appear more clearly on reading the following description of an exemplary embodiment, said description being made in relation to the attached drawings, among which:

[0015] [Fig-1] is a perspective view of a two-part bus bar support according to one embodiment;

[0016] [Fig.2] represents the two parts of the bus bar support already shown in [Fig.l], in the approaching position, during an initial phase of mounting the support around a bus bar;

[0017] [Fig.3] represents the two parts of the bus bar support already shown in [Fig.l], and [Fig.2], during an attachment phase between the two parts of the support, around a bus bar;

[0018] [Fig.4] represents the bus bar support already shown in [Fig.l], [Fig.2] and [Fig.3] at the end of mounting the support around a bus bar, and,

[0019] [Fig.5] illustrates an aircraft comprising a busbar support as already shown in [Fig.l] to [Fig.4].

[0020] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0021] [Fig. 1] illustrates a bus bar support 10. The term "bus bar" here designates a rigid element for distributing electrical energy within an electrical circuit, as commonly called "busbar" in English, or "bus-bar" in the French version. The bus bar support 10 comprises two parts 11 and 12 arranged to be assembled facing and in contact with each other, and to be able to bear and be fixed on a common substrate (support). The two parts 11 and 12 of the bus bar support 10 are configured to form, after assembly (mounting), a through cavity 14 intended to support and maintain a bus bar in a fixed or substantially fixed position. The term "through cavity" here designates an opening or a passage arranged in the bus bar support 10 after assembly, through which a bus bar can be positioned.In other words, the through opening, or passage, is a space or volume left free, available in the assembled support 10, to house and maintain a portion of bus bar there. According to one embodiment, each of the two parts 11 and 12 has two surfaces perpendicular to each other jointly forming an angle in the material so that the two angles thus formed define a through cavity or passage 14 of generally parallelepipedal shape. Such a shape is particularly suitable for supporting a bus bar of square or rectangular section.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the two parts 11 and 12, configured to jointly form the busbar support 10, are independent and movable relative to each other before assembly of the support 10. According to a variant, and to facilitate assembly and positioning operations of the support, the two parts 11 and 12 can be kept connected to each other, but movable relative to each other, before assembly of the support 10, for example by means of a tab made of flexible material. In this case, they are movable relative to each other although not being totally independent. This latter configuration advantageously allows an operator to be able to quickly grasp the two parts 11 and 12 with a single movement in order to assemble the busbar support 10.

[0023] According to one embodiment, each of the two parts 11 and 12 has a base, which offers a flat bearing surface allowing fixing on a substrate, as well as a vertical sub-part comprising surfaces at least partially defining the through cavity or passage 14, in combination with surfaces of the vertical sub-part of the other part among the two parts 11 and 12 of the bus bar support 10. According to the example described, each of the parts 11 and 12 of the bus bar support 10 therefore takes an overall square shape consisting of its horizontal base and its vertical sub-part. According to one embodiment, the parts 11 and 12 may each comprise a reinforcing rib joining its base and its vertical sub-part, for example a rib joining an edge of the base to an edge of the vertical sub-part.The two parts 11 and 12 of the busbar support are configured so that after assembly the two bases together form a sole of the busbar support 10 and the two vertical sub-parts are arranged opposite each other, preferably partially leaning against each other (in contact with each other). The overall right-angled shape of each of the two parts 11 and 12 is advantageously simple and makes each of the parts light and easy to grip for an operator during assembly. Furthermore, a configuration of the support with the two parts 11 and 12 having an overall right-angled shape allows, depending on the dimensions and tolerances chosen for the assembled support, to clamp the busbar or not. According to an example configuration, a held busbar is held clamped between the two parts 11 and 12 of the support 10.According to another example of configuration, the dimensions and / or tolerances of each of the two parts are such that a bus bar carried by the support is free in translation through the cavity or opening 14 (sliding connection). In the latter case, it is advantageously possible to accept phenomena of expansion or even relative movements, without exerting unnecessary constraints on the support 10. According to an embodiment of the invention, the bus bar support 10 is configured to support a bus bar of rectangular section in a position in which the . rectangular section is arranged vertically, which allows each of the parts to exert pressure, when the busbar is pinched, over a larger surface area than if the busbar were positioned in a position in which its rectangular section is arranged horizontally. Obviously, according to a variant, and for reasons of space, for example, the busbar can be positioned between the parts 11 and 12 of the support 10 in a position in which its rectangular section is arranged horizontally.

[0024] The portion 11 of the busbar support 10 comprises a base 11e and the portion 12 of the busbar support 10 comprises a base 12c. According to one embodiment, each of the bases 11e and 12c comprises a through hole allowing screw fixing, on a support (substrate), of the portion which comprises it. According to a variant, the base may not comprise a through hole configured for screw fixing, and then comprise another fixing means adapted for stable fixing on a substrate. For example, a means for fixing a base may be in the form of a clip, a hook configured to be inserted into a perforation of a substrate, or one or more glued surfaces of the base. According to one embodiment, the base 11e comprises a through hole (not visible in the figure) and the base 12c comprises a through hole 12d.According to the example shown, the through hole 12d is a bore configured to allow the base 12c to be fixed to a substrate by means of a screw or a bolt. According to a further variant, one of the two parts (for example the part 12) of the busbar support 10 has a base (12c, according to the example) comprising a hole or means for fixing to a substrate, and the other of the two parts (11, according to the example described here) has a through hole or means of fixing provided for fixing to the other (i.e. the part 12) of the two parts. When the fixing of the bases is provided by means of fixing screws, a hole in each of the two bases is however preferable, in order to allow a vertical position of a screwdriver-type tool and easy access for this tool, held by an operator, during an operation of assembling the support 10.

[0025] Each of the two parts 11 and 12 further has a shape complementary to a shape of the other of the two parts 11 and 12 to jointly form a fastening (or a fastening system) of the two parts 11 and 12 between them. According to one embodiment, the part 11 of the busbar support 10 has a hook shape 1 If complementary to a rim 12f arranged in the part 12, the two shapes 1 If and 12f being arranged to operate together a fastening system between the two parts 11 and 12 of the busbar support 10. According to a variant, the shape 1 If is a hook with a non-return element and the shape 12f is a complementary shape (for example a loop of material, a bore or an opening) into which the non-return hook 1 If is inserted, or vice versa. These examples of fastening are not limiting and various complementary shapes respectively arranged in the parts 11 and 12 of the bus bar support 10 can cooperate to achieve a partial or total fixing of the two parts 11 and 12 between them, before fixing on a common substrate of the two parts 11 and 12. For example, the shapes 1 If and 12f can have hollow cylindrical elements (each comprising a bore) aligned and through which an axis can be integrated during assembly, to achieve a hinge-type pivot connection between the two parts 11 and 12, and facilitate the achievement of a clamping of a bus bar, by the support 10, after complete assembly of the support 10 around the bus bar, then on the substrate.

[0026] Cleverly, each of the two parts 11 and 12 is configured to have a shape complementary to a shape of the other of the two parts 11 and 12, and jointly form the support 10 having a through cavity 14 or a passage 14 intended to receive (i.e. to support, hold or clamp) a bus bar in a predetermined position while being linked to the other part by a fastener or a fastening system, after assembly.

[0027] According to one embodiment, one of the parts 11 and 12 is arranged so as to have a shape allowing stable positioning of a bus bar on this part before positioning of the other of the parts 11 and 12, so as to facilitate assembly. According to an example of a shape facilitating the installation of a bus bar, the vertical sub-part of one of the parts has a horizontal plane and a vertical plane configured to respectively place and lean a bus bar there. The vertical part of the other of the parts 11 and 12 then has complementary planes, for example a vertical plane and a horizontal plane delimiting the through opening or passage 14, of overall parallelepiped shape.

[0028] [Fig.2] illustrates an initial step of assembling the two parts 11 and 12 of a support 10 for fixing a bus bar in which the parts 11 and 12 of the support 10 are brought closer to each other after a bus bar 20 has been positioned against two surfaces 12a and 12b of the part 12, perpendicular to each other, and forming an angle making it possible to wedge, possibly precisely, the bus bar 20. According to the example described in [Fig.2], the bus bar 20 is of rectangular section arranged vertically and the complementary shapes 1 If, arranged in the upper end of the vertical sub-part of the part 11 on the one hand, and 12f, arranged in the upper end of the vertical sub-part of the part 12, on the other hand, are respectively of the hook and rim type (projecting edge). According to an example of assembly, the part 12 of the support 10 may already be fixed to a common substrate, for example by means of a screw, a bolt, or even a fixing clip.The common substrate may be a printed circuit board, or a sidewall or mechanical support of a housing of an electrical module, as non-limiting examples. The respective shapes of hook and flange are . advantageously complementary to form a partial or complete attachment system (or more generally an attachment) 1112 between the two parts 11 and 12 of the bus bar support 10. Advantageously, a hook-type attachment 1112 thus created makes it possible to limit the relative movements of the parts 11 and 12 between them, and to create a quasi-pivot connection between the two parts 11 and 12 of the bus bar support 10 as shown in [Fig. 3]. Indeed, once the hook shape 1 If of the part 11 is engaged on the edge 12f of the part 12, the backward movement of the part 11 towards its original position (before bringing the two parts together) is limited, which makes it possible to operate a form of rapid guidance towards the final position of the part 11 (after assembly of the part 11 opposite the part 12 and against the latter) of the bus bar support 10.Advantageously, the final positioning of the part 11 of the bus bar support 10 in the configuration shown in [Fig. 4] operates a framing or a pinching of the bus bar 20, which then occupies the through cavity 14 formed by the two assembled parts 11 and 12. The parts 11 and 12 of the bus bar support 10 thus jointly form a guide and / or a vice for the bus bar 20, depending on the dimensions and / or tolerances chosen. To do this, and according to the example described, the part 11 also has two surfaces 11a and 11b, perpendicular to each other and forming an angle (a square) for positioning the bus bar 20.According to one embodiment, one or other of the parts 11 and 12 is made of a polymer material and the other of the parts is made of an elastomeric material, at least slightly deformable, the mechanical characteristics (and the dimensions) of which make it possible to pressurize the two parts 11 and 12 against surfaces of the bus bar 20 after assembly of the bus bar support 10. In other words and according to such a configuration, the bus bar 20 is then pinched between the two parts 11 and 12 of the bus bar support 10. Once the assembly configuration shown in [Fig.4] has been produced, that is to say when the base 11c of the part 11 is positioned in abutment on the substrate carrying the part 12, the assembly of the parts 11 and 12 on the substrate can be finalized by fixing the part 11 on the substrate if the part 12 was already fixed there, or by fixing the two parts 11 and 12 on the substrate, otherwise.

[0029] Advantageously, the use of insulating materials for the manufacture of the two parts 11 and 12 of the bus bar support makes it possible to reduce the risks of short circuit, in particular in the presence of an electrically conductive foreign body.

[0030] According to one embodiment, the materials used for the manufacture of the parts 11 and 12 of the bus bar support 10 have a melting temperature greater than 150°C, which makes it possible to protect them from any consequent deformation at a bus bar temperature less than or equal to 150°C.

[0031] [Fig. 5] represents an aircraft 1 comprising the particular busbar support 10 lly adapted to the needs of energy transport in a bus bar, between an electric generator or an electric energy reservoir on the one hand, and a module of an aircraft consuming electric energy, on the other hand. According to one embodiment, the aircraft 1 is an aircraft comprising one or more electric motors adapted to its propulsion, which requires a significant transport of electric energy between current sources and the motor(s), in particular, and consequently a possible increased use of bus bar type conductors in the aircraft 1.

[0032] The invention is not limited to the embodiments and examples described but relates more broadly to any bus bar support arranged in two parts having a through opening after assembly for holding a bus bar, an attachment system between the two parts by cooperation of complementary shapes respectively arranged in each of the two parts, and a means of attachment to a substrate located in a base of each of the two parts.

Claims

Claims

1. Support (10) for a bus bar (20) comprising two parts (11, 12) each having: - two surfaces (11a, 11b, 12a, 12b) arranged to form with the two surfaces (11a, 11b, 12a, 12b) of the other part (11, 12) among said two parts (11, 12), a through cavity or a passage (14), - a base (11c, 12c) comprising a hole (11d, 12d) or a fixing means, and, - a complementary shape (11f, 12f) to a shape (11f, 12f) of the other (11, 12), among said two parts (11, 12), arranged to form jointly with said shape (11f, 12f) of the other among said two parts (11, 12), a fastener (1112) between said two parts (11, 12).

2. Bus bar support (10) according to the preceding claim, in which said two surfaces of each of the two parts (11, 12) are substantially flat and perpendicular to each other.

3. Busbar support (10) according to one of claims 1 and 2 wherein the attachment (1112) between the two parts (11, 12) comprises a hook (1 If) or has a hook-shaped profile (1 If).

4. Busbar support (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the bases (11c, 12c) of said two parts (11, 12) jointly form a flat sole.

5. A busbar support (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the attachment (1112) between the two parts (11, 12) is configured to limit the movement of one of said two parts relative to the other of said two parts in at least two directions of movement perpendicular to each other.

6. Bus bar support (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said two parts (11, 12) are made of insulating material.

7. The busbar support (10) of claim 6, wherein the insulating material is a polymer or elastomer having a melting temperature greater than 150°C.

8. A busbar support (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 12. 7, in which the through cavity (14) or the passage (14) has a generally parallelepiped shape.

9. A busbar fixing assembly comprising a substrate, two screws or two fixing means and a busbar (20) support (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 8 configured to receive a busbar positioned in said through cavity (14) or the passage (14) of the support (10), when said two parts (11, 12) are assembled on said substrate.

10. An aircraft (1) comprising a busbar (20) support (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 8 or a busbar attachment assembly (20) according to claim 9.

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