Fixing device for a current rail
By combining the C-shaped design of the clamp with the elastic clamping protrusion, the problem of fixing the flexible current rail is solved, achieving stable connection and insulation protection, and avoiding damage to the insulation material.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202610580414.9
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2025-05-05
- Filing Date
- 2026-04-29
- Publication Date
- 2026-11-06
AI Technical Summary
Existing technologies are difficult to effectively fix flexible current rails, especially those with rectangular cross-sections, and the insulation is easily damaged under vibration conditions, leading to potential short-circuit risks.
The clamp adopts a C-shaped cross-section design, using clamping protrusions made of elastic material and a rigid sleeve. The current rail is clamped to the carrier element by fixing screws, ensuring stable fixation and avoiding damage to the insulation material.
It achieves simple and safe fixing of flexible current rails, avoids damage to insulation materials under vibration and impact, and ensures reliable connection of current rails.
Smart Images
Figure CN123040630A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a fixing device for fixing a current rail to a carrier element, wherein the fixing device includes a clamp and a fixing device, wherein the clamp receives the current rail and the clamp can be fixed to the carrier element by means of the fixing device. Background Technology
[0002] This type of mounting device is used to secure the current rail to a carrier element, such as the carrier element of a vehicle's traction battery.
[0003] In the traction battery of a vehicle, current rails with rectangular cross-sections are used to achieve structurally optimized and cost-effective electrical connections between components within the traction battery.
[0004] In vehicle traction batteries, it is known to use cable connectors to secure current rails with rectangular cross-sections. However, cable connectors have the following disadvantages: current rails with rectangular cross-sections and therefore flat surfaces cannot be properly clamped, and the insulation of the current rails may be damaged by the cable connectors during vibrations in the traction battery operation.
[0005] In vehicle traction batteries, it is known that current rails with rectangular cross-sections are fixed to insulating brackets using fixing screws that pass through holes in the current rails. However, this fixing method using fixing screws is generally not suitable for flexible current rails, as these rails can only have holes for fixing screws at their ends. Furthermore, for insulated current rails, the insulation must be removed in the hole area.
[0006] However, flexible current rails, especially those with rectangular cross-sections, offer the possibility of achieving a cost-effective and space-efficient wiring solution within the vehicle's traction battery.
[0007] However, flexible current rails, especially those with rectangular cross-sections, must be fixed inside the traction battery to avoid contact with other components of the traction battery, thereby eliminating the risk of damage to the insulation of the current rail due to vibration, which could lead to a short circuit in the traction battery. Summary of the Invention
[0008] The objective of this invention is to provide a fixing device of the type described at the beginning, which enables the simple and safe fixing of current rails with rectangular cross-sections, particularly flexible current rails with rectangular cross-sections.
[0009] The present invention solves this problem by means of a clamp having a C-shaped cross-section, wherein the clamp includes a substrate, a first clamping protrusion disposed on the substrate, and a second clamping protrusion disposed on the substrate, wherein the substrate and the two clamping protrusions form a rectangular receiving space for receiving a rectangular track cross-section for receiving a current rail, wherein the substrate has a mounting surface for abutting against a carrier element, and wherein the clamping protrusions are made of an elastic material, particularly an elastic rubber material or an elastic plastic material, wherein the first clamping protrusion and the second clamping protrusion are respectively provided with abutting surfaces arranged opposite to the mounting surface for fixing a device, wherein the fixing device is configured to fix the clamp to the carrier element and to elastically deform the clamping protrusions toward the substrate.
[0010] The clamp of the fixing device according to the invention has a C-shaped cross-section, in which a rectangular current rail can be received and clamped by means of two clamping protrusions. The fixing device of the fixing device according to the invention has a dual function: on the one hand, it is used to fix the clamp and thus assemble it onto the carrier element; on the other hand, it is used to elastically deform the elastic clamping protrusions toward the substrate, thereby clamping the current rail placed in the receiving space of the clamp, so that a current rail with a rectangular cross-section, especially an elastic current rail with a rectangular cross-section, can be securely and easily fixed onto the carrier element inside the traction battery using the fixing device according to the invention.
[0011] Due to the C-shaped cross-section of the clamp and the elastic material of the clamping protrusion, the clamp can be securely clamped onto the current rail before assembly to prevent loss, thereby enabling simple assembly on the carrier element with the aid of fixing devices.
[0012] According to an advantageous configuration of the invention, the first clamping protrusion has a first side recess for clamping current rails arranged in a rectangular receiving space, and the second clamping protrusion has a second side recess for clamping current rails arranged in the rectangular receiving space. This enables reliable clamping of the current rails in the receiving space of the clamp.
[0013] According to an advantageous configuration of the invention, a gap is formed between the end faces of the clamping protrusions arranged facing each other for guiding the current rail into the receiving space. This allows the current rail to be easily placed into the receiving space of the clamp.
[0014] According to an advantageous configuration of the invention, the clamping protrusion is fixed to the substrate. The clamp, consisting of the substrate and the clamping protrusion, can be constructed in a multi-piece manner, i.e., constructed as a multi-piece component, wherein the clamping protrusion is made of an elastic material, especially an elastic rubber material or an elastic plastic material, and is fixed to the substrate in a suitable manner.
[0015] According to an advantageous configuration of the invention, the clamping protrusion is integrally constructed on the substrate, wherein the clamp is made of an elastic material, particularly an elastic rubber material or an elastic plastic material. Therefore, the clamp, consisting of the substrate and the clamping protrusion, is integrally constructed, i.e., constructed as a one-piece component, wherein the substrate and the clamping protrusion are made of an elastic material, particularly an elastic rubber material or an elastic plastic material.
[0016] According to an advantageous configuration of the invention, the fixing device includes a first fixing screw and a second fixing screw, wherein the clamp has a first receiving hole for receiving the first fixing screw in the region of the first clamping protrusion, and a second receiving hole for receiving the second fixing screw in the region of the second clamping protrusion. This allows for a simple implementation: when assembled onto a carrier element, the two clamping protrusions elastically deform toward the substrate by means of the corresponding fixing screws, thereby enabling reliable clamping of the current rail in the receiving space of the clamp with minimal structural effort for the fixing device.
[0017] According to an advantageous configuration of the invention, a first receiving hole is constructed in a first rigid sleeve arranged in the holder, and a second receiving hole is constructed in a second rigid sleeve arranged in the holder. By screwing the fixing screw into the respective sleeves arranged in the holder, elastic deformation of the clamping protrusion can be easily generated due to the rigidity of the sleeve and the elasticity of the clamping protrusion, which results in clamping of the current rail placed in the receiving space.
[0018] According to an advantageous configuration of the invention, these sleeves are constructed as metal sleeves, particularly steel sleeves. Such metal sleeves have a small structural complexity and can be easily arranged and fixed in clamping protrusions, for example, when the clamping protrusions or clamps are implemented as injection-molded components, they are injection-molded over them during the injection molding process.
[0019] According to an advantageous configuration of the invention, these sleeves have a length smaller than the height of the clamp. Therefore, these sleeves are slightly shorter than the height of the clamp. When the clamp is assembled by tightening the retaining screw, the clamp is compressed within the defined distance in the area of the clamping protrusion and securely clamps the current rail placed in the receiving space. These sleeves prevent the elastic material from being over-compressed and thus damaged when the retaining screw is tightened. The retaining screw can be tightened to the rated torque, thereby ensuring reliable and reproducible fixation of the clamp and therefore the current rail in the traction battery.
[0020] The present invention also relates to a traction battery, particularly a lithium-ion traction battery, for ground transport vehicles, said traction battery comprising at least one current rail and at least one fixing device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a clamp is configured to hold the current rail within the traction battery. Using the clamp according to the invention, a current rail having a rectangular cross-section, particularly a flexible current rail having a rectangular cross-section, can be laid and secured in the vehicle's traction battery in a simple and safe manner.
[0021] This invention has a number of advantages.
[0022] The fixing device according to the invention enables simple and stable fixing of current rails, especially flexible current rails with rectangular cross-sections, to a load-bearing element, such as in the traction battery of a vehicle.
[0023] The fixing device according to the invention can also effectively prevent damage to the insulating material of the current rail fixed in the clamp during impact and vibration.
[0024] The clamp according to the invention eliminates the need for holes in the current rail, thus securing the current rail to the carrier element.
[0025] The fixing device according to the invention also enables the use of long current rails, or even flexible current rails with multiple bends, in the traction battery of a vehicle.
[0026] In the fixing device according to the invention, the clamp can be pre-assembled on the current rail, thereby allowing the clamp to be assembled onto the carrier element very efficiently and easily.
[0027] Due to the elastic material and its associated elastic properties, the clamp can be easily adapted to the tolerances of the current rails, such as with respect to the thickness of the insulation layer and / or the dimensions of the current rails.
[0028] As long as the elastic material of the clamp is electrically insulating and an insulated current rail is used, double or enhanced insulation can be easily achieved at the connection point of the clamp to the carrier element. Attached Figure Description
[0029] Further advantages and details of the invention are exemplarily described in detail with reference to embodiments shown in the schematic drawings. Herein lies: Figure 1 A perspective view of the clamp of the fixing device according to the present invention. Figure 2 : Figure 1 The longitudinal section of the clamp, Figure 3 : Figure 1 Another longitudinal section of the clamp, Figure 4According to the fixing device of the present invention, it has a current rail clamped on the bearing element, and Figure 5 : Figure 4 A cross-sectional view of the fixing device and the current rail. Detailed Implementation
[0030] exist Figures 1 to 5 The image shows a fixing device 1, which can be used to fix the current rail 2 to the bearing element 3.
[0031] The load-bearing element 3 is a component of the traction battery 4, which is, for example, a lithium-ion traction battery of a ground transport vehicle.
[0032] The fixing device 1 includes a clamp 5 and a fixing device 6, wherein the clamp 5 receives the current rail 2 and the clamp 5 can be fixed to the carrier element 3 by means of the fixing device 6.
[0033] The carrier element 3 is preferably arranged inside the traction battery 4, so that the current rail 2 is held inside the traction battery 4 by means of the clamp 5.
[0034] Figure 4 and Figure 5 The clamp 5 and the fixing device 6 of the fixing device 1 in the assembled state are shown, wherein the clamp 5 receives the current rail 2 and the clamp 5 is fixed to the carrier element 3 of the traction battery 4 by means of the fixing device 6.
[0035] Figures 1 to 3 The clamp 5 of the fixing device 1 is shown separately as a single part.
[0036] The clamp 5 has a C-shaped cross-section. For this purpose, the clamp 5 includes a substrate 10, a first clamping protrusion 11a disposed on the substrate 10, and a second clamping protrusion 11b disposed on the substrate 10.
[0037] The first clamping protrusion 11a is disposed on the first columnar raised portion 10a located on the upper side OS of the substrate 10, and the second clamping protrusion 11b is disposed on the second columnar raised portion 10b located on the upper side of the substrate 10.
[0038] The substrate 10 and the two clamping protrusions 11a and 11b together with the upper side OS of the substrate 10, the lower side US of the clamping protrusions 11a and 11b and the side surface SF of the columnar raised portions 10a and 10b form a rectangular receiving space AR for receiving the rectangular track cross section SQ of the current rail 2.
[0039] Two clamping protrusions 11a and 11b are arranged facing each other, wherein the two end faces Sa and Sb of the clamping protrusions 11a and 11b are spaced apart from each other and form a gap 15 for guiding the current rail 2 into the receiving space AR.
[0040] The substrate 10 has a mounting surface MF for abutting against the carrier element 3, which is formed by the lower side US of the substrate 10.
[0041] In the illustrated embodiment, two clamping protrusions 11a and 11b are integrally formed on the substrate 10, wherein the clamp 5 is made of an elastic material, such as an elastic rubber material or an elastic plastic material.
[0042] The first clamping protrusion 11a has a contact surface AFa arranged opposite to the mounting surface MF for fixing the device 6. The contact surface AFa is formed on the upper side of the first clamping protrusion 11a or the columnar raised portion 10a.
[0043] The second clamping protrusion 11b has a contact surface AFb arranged opposite to the mounting surface MF for fixing the device 6. The contact surface AFb is formed on the upper side of the second clamping protrusion 11b or the columnar raised portion 10b.
[0044] The fixing device 6 is configured to fix the clamp 5 to the carrier element 3 and to elastically deform the clamping protrusions 11a and 11b toward the substrate 10.
[0045] For this purpose, the first clamping protrusion 11a forms a first side recess on its lower side US for clamping the current rail 2 arranged in the rectangular receiving space AR, and the second clamping protrusion 11b forms a second side recess on its lower side US for clamping the current rail 2 arranged in the rectangular receiving space AR.
[0046] In the illustrated embodiment, the fixing device 6 includes a first fixing screw 6a and a second fixing screw 6b. The clamp 5 has a first receiving hole 15a for receiving the first fixing screw 6a in the region of the first clamping protrusion 11a, and a second receiving hole 15b for receiving the second fixing screw 6b in the region of the second clamping protrusion 11b.
[0047] The first receiving hole 15a is constructed in the first rigid sleeve 16a arranged in the clamp 5. In the illustrated embodiment, the first sleeve 16a is arranged in the columnar elevating portion 10a. The second receiving hole 15b is constructed in the second rigid sleeve 16b arranged in the clamp 5. In the illustrated embodiment, the second sleeve 16b is arranged in the columnar elevating portion 10b.
[0048] Sleeves 16a and 16b can be constructed as metal sleeves, such as steel sleeves. Alternatively, sleeves 16a and 16b can be constructed as plastic sleeves with greater rigidity than the material of the resilient clamp 5.
[0049] Sleeves 16a and 16b are arranged in the clamp 5 with their lower sides flush with the mounting surface MF.
[0050] Sleeves 16a and 16b each have a length L, which is less than the height H of the clamp 5. The height H of the clamp 5 extends from the mounting surface MF on the lower side US of the clamp 5 to the abutment surfaces AFa and AFb on the upper side of the clamp 5.
[0051] The difference between the height H of the clamp 5 and the length L of the rigid sleeves 16a and 16b forms a deformation amount DW. When the fixing screws 6a and 6b are screwed in, the clamping protrusions 11a and 11b can elastically deform downward toward the upper side OS of the substrate 10 by this deformation amount. The fixing screws are directly or with the aid of washers against the contact surfaces AFa and AFb of the clamping protrusions 11a and 11b. As a result, the current rail 2 placed in the receiving space AR is clamped in the receiving space AR by the downwardly deformed clamping protrusions 11a and 11b and thus fixed.
[0052] Due to its C-shape and elastic material, the clamp 5 can be securely clamped onto the current rail 2 before being assembled onto the carrier element 3, wherein the current rail 2 can be guided into the receiving space AR through the gap 15 between the two clamping protrusions 11a, 11b. This allows the clamp 5 and the current rail 2 to be easily assembled onto the carrier element 3.
[0053] When assembling the clamp 5 (in which the current rail 2 is placed in the receiving space AR), two fixing screws 6a and 6b are inserted into the receiving holes 15a and 15b, and then the clamp 5 is secured to the carrier element 3 by tightening the fixing screws 6a and 6b. By tightening the fixing screws 6a and 6b, the clamping protrusions 11a and 11b are compressed by a defined deformation amount DW and the current rail 2 is securely clamped in the receiving space AR. The rigid sleeves 16a and 16b here prevent the elastic material of the clamp 5 from being over-compressed and thus damaged. When assembling the clamp 5 onto the carrier element 3, the fixing screws 6a and 6b can be tightened to the rated torque.
[0054] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown.
[0055] The dimensions of the clamp 5 and the receiving space AR can be adapted to other current rails 2.
[0056] Sleeves 16a and 16b can be constructed as metal sleeves or rigid plastic sleeves.
[0057] The clamp 5 can be manufactured as a two-component plastic part, having a combination of a substrate 10 made of soft plastic and clamping protrusions 11a, 11b and sleeves 16a, 16b made of hard plastic.
[0058] The current rail 2 can be constructed as an insulated current rail with an insulating part. If the clamp 5, which is constructed of a plastic component, has corresponding insulating characteristics, the insulating part of the current rail 2 can be omitted if necessary.
Claims
1. A fixing device (1) for fixing a current rail (2) to a carrier element (3), wherein, The fixing device (1) includes a clamp (5) and a fixing device (6), wherein the clamp (5) receives the current rail (2) and the clamp (5) can be fixed to the carrier element (3) by means of the fixing device (6), characterized in that the clamp (5) has a C-shaped cross-section, wherein the clamp (5) includes a base plate (10), a first clamping protrusion (11a) arranged on the base plate (10) and a second clamping protrusion (11b) arranged on the base plate (10), wherein the base plate (10) and the two clamping protrusions (11a, 11b) form a rectangular receiving space for receiving the current rail (2) with a rectangular track cross-section (SQ). The base plate (10) has a mounting surface (MF) for abutting against the support element (3), and the clamping protrusions (11a; 11b) are made of an elastic material, especially an elastic rubber material or an elastic plastic material, wherein the first clamping protrusion (11a) and the second clamping protrusion (11b) are respectively provided with abutting surfaces (AFa; AFb) arranged opposite to the mounting surface (MF) for the fixing device (6), wherein the fixing device (6) is configured to fix the clamp (5) on the support element (3) and cause the clamping protrusions (11a, 11b) to elastically deform toward the base plate (10).
2. The fixing device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first clamping protrusion (11a) has a first side recess for clamping the current rail (2) arranged in the rectangular receiving space (AR), and the second clamping protrusion (11b) has a second side recess for clamping the current rail (2) arranged in the rectangular receiving space (AR).
3. The fixing device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, A gap (15) is formed between the end faces (Sa, Sb) of the clamping protrusions (11a, 11b) arranged facing each other for guiding the current rail (2) into the receiving space (AR).
4. The fixing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The clamping protrusions (11a, 11b) are fixed on the substrate (10).
5. The fixing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The clamping protrusions (11a, 11b) are integrally constructed on the substrate (10), wherein the clamp (5) is made of an elastic material, particularly an elastic rubber material or an elastic plastic material.
6. The fixing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The fixing device (6) includes a first fixing screw (6a) and a second fixing screw (6b), wherein the clamp (5) has a first receiving hole (15a) for receiving the first fixing screw (6a) in the region of the first clamping protrusion (11a) and a second receiving hole (15b) for receiving the second fixing screw (6b) in the region of the second clamping protrusion (11b).
7. The fixing device according to claim 6, characterized in that, The first receiving hole (15a) is constructed in a first rigid sleeve (16a) arranged in the clamp (5), and the second receiving hole (15b) is constructed in a second rigid sleeve (16b) arranged in the clamp (5).
8. The fixing device according to claim 7, characterized in that, The sleeves (16a, 16b) are constructed as metal sleeves, particularly steel sleeves.
9. The fixing device according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that, The sleeve (16a; 16b) has a shorter length (L) than the height (H) of the clamp (5).
10. A traction battery (4), particularly a lithium-ion traction battery, for use in a ground transport vehicle, said traction battery comprising at least one current rail (2) and at least one fixing device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The clamp (5) is configured to hold the current rail (2) within the traction battery (4).