Vehicle electrical system

Abstract

The invention relates to an electrical system for a vehicle, comprising: an electrical connection device (5) for connecting a power supply device (4) and at least one electrical / electronic device (2, 3) to each other; filtering means (6) associated with the electrical connection means (5) for limiting at least interference voltages and / or currents generated by the electrical / electronic devices (2, 3); and at least one elastic connection element (16), which is made of an electrically conductive material and is interposed between the electrical connection device (5) and the filter device (6), for supplying the filter device (6) with an electrical current supplied through the electrical connection device (5).

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This patent application claims the priority of Italian Patent Application No. 102023000026124 filed on December 6, 2023, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] The invention relates to a vehicle electrical system.

[0004] In particular, the present invention relates to a vehicle electrical system, which comprises: at least one electrical / electronic device; a power supply device for powering the electrical / electronic device, typically a battery; an electrical connection device for connecting the power supply device and the electrical / electronic device to each other; and a filtering device associated with the electrical connection device for at least limiting interference voltages and / or currents generated by the electrical / electronic device itself. Background Art

[0005] Generally speaking, the electrical connection device includes a bus bar provided with a plurality of conductor bars made of a metal material such as copper or aluminum; the filtering device includes a passive EMC (electromagnetic compatibility) filter provided with a printed circuit board and a plurality of electronic components mounted on the printed circuit board and electrically connected to each other through the printed circuit board, in particular capacitors and inductors.

[0006] Known vehicle electrical systems of the type described above present several disadvantages which are primarily due to the fact that the electrical connection between the conductor bars of the electrical connection device and the printed circuit board of the filter device is achieved by connecting the conductor bars to the printed circuit board by means of soldering or fixing screws, involving a relatively long, complex and expensive production process and which may be impaired by thermal expansion phenomena to which the conductor bars are subjected. Summary of the invention

[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle electrical system which does not suffer from the above-mentioned disadvantages and which can be produced in a simple and economical manner.

[0008] According to the present invention, there is provided a vehicle electrical system as claimed in the accompanying claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings showing non-limiting embodiments of the invention, in which:

[0010] Figure 1 A preferred embodiment of a vehicle electrical system according to the present invention is schematically shown;

[0011] Figure 2 yes Figure 1A schematic perspective view of a detail of a vehicle electrical system;

[0012] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 Schematic exploded perspective view of details;

[0013] Figure 4 yes Figure 2 and Figure 3 a perspective view of the details of

[0014] Figure 5 and Figure 6 yes Figure 2 Two schematic perspective views of a variant of the detail. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] Reference Figure 1 , numeral 1 indicates an entire vehicle electrical system installed in a road vehicle (not shown).

[0016] The electrical system comprises a first electrical / electronic device 2; a second electrical / electronic device 3; and a power supply device 4 for supplying power to the devices 2 and 3, typically a battery.

[0017] The electrical system 1 further comprises electrical connection means 5 for connecting the power supply means 4 and the device 2 to each other, and filtering means 6 associated with the means 5 for at least limiting interference voltages and / or currents generated by the device 2 .

[0018] The device 5 comprises a busbar 7 having a plurality of strips 8 (in this case two strips 8) made of conductive material, each strip having an input 9 connected to the device 4 and an output 10 connected to the apparatus 2. In particular, the strips 8 extend along respective longitudinal axes, preferably parallel to each other.

[0019] The device 6 includes a passive EMC (Electromagnetic Compatibility) filter provided with a printed circuit board 11 in a flat shape and a plurality of electronic components 12 mounted on the printed circuit board 11 and electrically connected to each other through the printed circuit board 11 .

[0020] In this particular case, the electronic components 12 comprise a plurality of capacitors 13 mounted on the printed circuit board 11 and a pair of inductors 14 having a tubular shape mounted through the printed circuit board 11 and extending around the strip 8, in particular around a respective longitudinal axis.

[0021] The electrical system 1 is also provided with a plurality of electrical connection members 15 for powering the filter means 6 with the current supplied through the bars 8 of the electrical connection means 5 .

[0022] Each member 15 comprises an elastic connection element defined by a shaped leaf spring 16 made of conductive material, interposed between the electrical connection means 5 and the filtering means 6 and having a first end 17 fixed (in this case soldered) to the printed circuit board 11 and a second end 18 electrically connected to the associated strip 8 by mechanical interference.

[0023] In more detail:

[0024] Each strip 8 is electrically connected to the printed circuit board 11 by interposing three springs 16; and

[0025] Each strip 8 extends substantially in a vertical receiving plane perpendicular to the printed circuit board 11 and parallel to the printed circuit board 11 , ie it does not intersect the printed circuit board 11 .

[0026] In use, the electrical connection between the strip 8 of the electrical connection means 5 and the printed circuit board 11 of the filtering means 6 allows the filtering means 6 to at least limit the interfering voltages and / or currents caused by the device 2 so as to ensure relatively correct operation of the device 3 .

[0027] Figure 5 and Figure 6 The variant shown differs from the variant shown in the previous figures only in that:

[0028] Each strip 8 extends substantially in a receiving plane parallel to the printed circuit board 11 and parallel to the printed circuit board 11, ie it does not intersect the printed circuit board 11; and

[0029] Each strip 8 is provided with a plurality of appendages 19 distributed along the strip 8 and projecting laterally therefrom in order to couple to the relative spring 6 by mechanical interference and to electrically connect the strip 8 and the printed circuit board 11 to each other.

[0030] Thus, advantageously, but not in a limiting manner, in these embodiments, the springs 6 are not inserted precisely between the strip 8 and the printed circuit board 11, but they are arranged between the printed circuit board 11 and the lateral attachment 19. In this way, the installation and the verification of the correct contact are simpler, since they are more easily visible and testable.

[0031] In particular, each appendix 19 extends at least partially along a direction transverse to the respective longitudinal axis of the strip 8 .

[0032] In detail, the longitudinal axis of the strip 8 is parallel to the printed circuit board 11 .

[0033] Preferably and if Figure 5 and Figure 6As shown in the non-limiting embodiment of , each strip 8 comprises a plurality of attachments 19 (three in the example shown here), each attachment 19 being coupled to a corresponding spring 6 to electrically connect the strip 8 and the printed circuit board 11 to each other.

[0034] In particular, at least one pair of appendages 19 is located on the same side of the strip 8. More specifically, some appendages 19 (two) are located on the same side of the strip 8, while other appendages 19 (one) are located on the opposite side. The fact of having appendages 19 on opposite sides of the strip 8 avoids torsional moments of the strip 8 due to the springs 6. In practice, the strip 8 is preferably in contact with at least three springs 6 that are not located on the same straight line, thereby defining a coupling plane defined by three contact points, at least one of which is located on a different straight line than the other two contact points.

[0035] exist Figure 5 and Figure 6 In a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, the appendages 19 of the strip 8 that is furthest from the printed circuit board are S-shaped, with a (central) portion that projects toward the printed circuit board 11. In this way, there is compensation for the greater distance of the upper strip 8 from the printed circuit board 11, the springs 6 of which are reached by the appendages 19 of the upper strip 8, which project beyond the thickness of the lower strip 8 until they reach the springs 6 of the printed circuit board 11.

[0036] Advantageously, but not in a limiting manner, the distal portion of the attachment 19 (i.e. the portion not attached to the strip) is at least partially parallel to the printed circuit board 11. In particular, said distal portion is parallel to the printed circuit board 11 and to the corresponding proximal portion of the attachment 19 (i.e. attached to the strip 8).

[0037] Preferably, but not in a limiting manner, the appendix 19 is made in one single piece with the corresponding strip 8 .

Claims

1. A vehicle electrical system, comprising: At least one electrical / electronic device (2, 3); a power supply device (4) for supplying power to the electrical / electronic device (2, 3); an electrical connection device (5) for connecting the power supply device (4) and the electrical / electronic device (2, 3) to each other; a filter device (6) associated with the electrical connection device (5) for at least limiting interference voltage and / or current generated by the electrical / electronic device (2, 3); and an electrical connection mechanism (15) for supplying power to the filter device (6) using current supplied through the electrical connection device (5); characterized in that the electrical connection mechanism (15) includes at least one elastic connection element (16), which is made of conductive material and is inserted between the electrical connection device (5) and the filter device (6).

2. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that Each elastic connection element (16) comprises a spring which is fixed to the filter device (6) and is subjected to a force in a compressive manner by the electrical connection device (5).

3. The system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The electrical connection device (5) comprises a bus bar (7).

4. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that The filtering device (6) comprises a passive EMC (electromagnetic compatibility) filter.

5. The system according to claim 4, characterized in that The filter device (6) comprises a printed circuit board (11) and a plurality of electronic components (12), in particular capacitors (13) and inductors (14), mounted on the printed circuit board (11) and electrically connected to each other through the printed circuit board (11).

6. The system according to claim 5, characterized in that The electrical connection device (5) comprises at least one conductor strip (8) installed between the power supply device (4) and the electrical / electronic device (2, 3); each elastic connection element (16) is inserted between the printed circuit board (11) of the filter device (6) and the relevant conductor strip (8).

7. The system according to claim 6, characterized in that Each electrical connection element (16) comprises a shaped leaf spring having a first end (17) fixed to the printed circuit board (11) and a second end (18) electrically connected to the associated conductor strip (8) by mechanical interference.

8. The system according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that: The filtering device (6) comprises at least one annular inductor (14) mounted on the printed circuit board (11), and each conductor strip (8) extends through the inductor (14).

9. The system according to any one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that The conductor strip (8) extends parallel to the printed circuit board (11).

10. The system according to any one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that Each conductor bar (8) is provided with at least one appendage (19) protruding from said conductor bar (8) so as to interfere with the associated elastic connecting element (16).

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