device

Abstract

For a device (1) comprising a first busbar (11) for electrically contacting a first electrical and / or electronic component and a second busbar (21) for electrically contacting a second electrical and / or electronic component, wherein the first busbar (11) and the second busbar (21) overlap in an overlap area (5) and rest against each other in the overlap area (5) and are electrically connected to each other, wherein the busbar (11) and the second busbar (21) are mechanically connected in the overlap area (5) by means of a connecting element (30), wherein the connecting element (30) comprises a screw (31) with a screw head (32) and a screw sleeve (35), wherein the first busbar (11) and the second busbar (21) are arranged between the screw head (32) of the screw (31) and the screw sleeve (35),wherein a first recess (12) is formed in the first busbar (11) and a second recess (22) is formed in the second busbar (21), wherein the first recess (12) and the second recess (22) lie one above the other in the overlap area (5) and the screw (31) projects through the first recess (12) and the second recess (22), wherein the screw sleeve (35) is screwed onto a thread (33) of the screw (31), it is proposed that the device (1) further comprises a retaining part (40) for holding the screw sleeve (35), wherein a receiving opening (41) is formed in the retaining part (40), wherein the screw sleeve (35) is arranged at least partially in the receiving opening (41),wherein the screw sleeve (35) has a non-circular outer contour (36) at least in one plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (L) of the screw (31) and an inner contour (42) of the receiving opening (41) is formed at least partially complementary to the non-circular outer contour (36) of the screw sleeve (35) such that the screw sleeve (35) engages in the receiving opening (41) with the non-circular outer contour (36) in a rotationally secure manner.

Description

State of the art

[0001] The invention relates to a device having the features of the preamble of independent claim 1.

[0002] In power electronics, for example, in electric or hybrid vehicles, electrical and / or electronic components that carry high electrical currents are interconnected. Due to the high electrical currents, the current-carrying elements connecting the electrical and / or electronic components must have correspondingly low electrical resistance and thus large cross-sections and / or materials with high electrical conductivity. For example, in such arrangements, current is carried via busbars, and the electrical and / or electronic components are connected via busbars.

[0003] To connect electrical and / or electronic components to each other, flat connection contacts, such as busbars, which form the electrical connections of the electrical and / or electronic components, are electrically connected to each other. The flat connection contacts overlap and are connected to each other, for example, by screwing, in the overlapping area. Disclosure of the invention

[0004] According to the invention, a device is proposed. The device comprises a first busbar for electrically contacting a first electrical and / or electronic component and a second busbar for electrically contacting a second electrical and / or electronic component, wherein the first busbar and the second busbar overlap in an overlap region and rest on one another in the overlap region and are electrically connected to one another. The busbar and the second busbar are mechanically connected in the overlap region by means of a connecting element. The connecting element comprises a screw with a screw head and a screw sleeve. The first busbar and the second busbar are arranged between the screw head of the screw and the screw sleeve.wherein a first recess is formed in the first busbar and a second recess is formed in the second busbar, wherein the first recess and the second recess lie one above the other in the overlap region and the screw protrudes through the first recess and the second recess, wherein the screw sleeve is screwed onto a thread of the screw. According to the invention, the device further comprises a holding part for holding the screw sleeve, wherein a receiving opening is formed in the holding part, wherein the screw sleeve is at least partially arranged in the receiving opening, wherein the screw sleeve has a non-circular outer contour at least in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the screw, and an inner contour of the receiving opening is at least partially formed complementarily to the non-circular outer contour of the screw sleeve,that the screw sleeve with the non-circular outer contour engages in the receiving opening in a rotationally secure manner. Advantages of the invention

[0005] Compared to the prior art, the device with the features of claim 1 has the advantage that the device can be manufactured, that the screw connection can be tightened in the device and thus the busbars can be connected to one another, even if only the screw head of the screw connection is accessible to a tool. When assembling components in power electronics, it is usual for two busbars to first be connected to one another using the screw connection and for the screw to be tightened before the busbars connected in this way are further installed, for example in a housing. Depending on the installation situation of the busbars, it may also be necessary for the busbars to first be arranged in other components, such as a housing, and only then can they be screwed together. This is made possible by the device with the features of claim 1.The screw sleeve is inserted into the receiving opening in the holding part. The busbars are then arranged on top of it. The busbars can be fed into the connection area in the screwing direction or radially to the screw, for example. Once the busbars are arranged relative to the holding part, the screw is pushed through the recesses in the busbars and screwed into the screw sleeve. The receiving opening secures the screw sleeve against twisting and holds the screw sleeve firmly. The holding part serves as a holder for the screw sleeve before and during screwing. The screw sleeve can move in the receiving opening in the holding part in the longitudinal direction of the screw. During screwing, the threaded sleeve is pulled out of the receiving opening and clamps the busbars together.

[0006] Further advantageous embodiments and developments of the inventions are made possible by the features specified in the subclaims.

[0007] According to an advantageous embodiment, the inner contour of the receiving opening is complementary to the outer contour of the screw sleeve in the plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the screw. This ensures that the screw sleeve is held securely in the receiving opening when the screw is screwed in.

[0008] According to an advantageous embodiment, it is provided that the connecting element and the holding part are arranged in an interior space of a housing.

[0009] According to an advantageous embodiment, the connecting element, the busbars, and the holding part are electrically insulated from the housing. Thus, the screw sleeve remains in electrical contact with the holding part even after tightening, without the voltage being transferred to the housing.

[0010] According to an advantageous embodiment, the first busbar and / or the second busbar are held by the holding part. The busbars can, for example, protrude through recesses in the holding part and can thereby be adjusted relative to the holding part and the screw sleeve. Thus, the holding part can ensure that the first recess in the first busbar, the second recess in the second busbar, and the screw sleeve overlap. This ensures that the screw can be screwed through the recesses in the busbars into the screw sleeve during assembly of the device. This enables simple assembly of the device.

[0011] According to an advantageous embodiment, the screw extends through the screw sleeve into a collecting cavity formed in the holding part, with an end of the screw facing away from the screw head being arranged in the collecting cavity. The collecting cavity serves to collect particles and debris that arise between the screw and the screw sleeve during the screwing process.

[0012] According to an advantageous embodiment, the collecting cavity is designed to be closed in the direction away from the screw sleeve. This prevents the particles collected by the collecting cavity from reaching other locations in the housing and causing damage to electrical and / or electronic components.

[0013] According to an advantageous embodiment, the holding part is mechanically attached to the housing, wherein the attachment is designed as an electrically insulating attachment. Thus, the holding part is aligned relative to the housing and attached to it, so that a predefined position of the screw sleeve and the busbars is achieved in the housing. At the same time, the high currents of the busbars are not transmitted to the housing.

[0014] According to an advantageous embodiment, it is provided that at least one support surface surrounding the screw is formed on the holding part, which support surface is complementary to a bearing surface formed on the screw sleeve and surrounding the screw, wherein the support surface and the bearing surface are spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal axis of the screw in the state in which the screw is tightened.

[0015] According to an advantageous embodiment, it is provided that the non-circular outer contour and / or the inner contour is designed as a hexagon or as a square. Short description of the drawings

[0016] An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawing and explained in more detail in the following description. It shows Fig. 1 an embodiment of the device. Embodiments of the invention

[0017] Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a device 1. The device 1 comprises a first busbar 11, a second busbar 21, a connecting element 30, a holding part 40 and a housing 50.

[0018] The first busbar 11 serves to contact a first electrical and / or electronic component (not shown in the figure), which can also be arranged in the housing 50, for example. The second busbar 21 serves to contact a second electrical and / or electronic component (not shown in the figure), which can also be arranged in the housing 50, for example. The first electrical and / or electronic component is electrically conductively connected to the second electrical and / or electronic component. The electrically conductive connection between the first electrical and / or electronic component and the second electrical and / or electronic component is established via the busbars 11, 21. For this purpose, the first busbar 11 is electrically conductively connected to the second busbar 21.For this purpose, a first contact surface of the first busbar 11 rests, in particular directly, on a second contact surface of the second busbar 21. The busbars 11, 21 are flat, at least in the region where they overlap. In the overlap region 5, the busbars 11, 21 have contact surfaces at which the busbars 11, 21 abut one another, so that an electrically conductive connection is established between the busbars 11, 21. The busbars 11, 21 are arranged plane-parallel to one another with respect to their planar extension planes. In the context of the present application, a busbar 11, 21 is understood to mean an electrically conductive planar conductor, for example an electrically conductive bar or an electrically conductive strip. A busbar can thus be a busbar, for example. The busbars 11, 21 can, for example, also be bent or curved or even run in a curved or stepped manner.The busbars 11, 21 are made of an electrically conductive material, for example a metal such as copper. Copper has an advantageously low material resistance. The first busbar 11 can be made of the same material as the second busbar 21. However, the first busbar 11 and the second busbar 21 can also be made of different materials. The busbars 11, 21 are, for example, formed in one piece. The busbars 11, 21 are, for example, made entirely of the same material. The busbars 11, 21 are, for example, formed as stamped parts. In the exemplary embodiment shown in the figure, each of the busbars 11, 21 has a thickness of the busbar 11, 21 that is constant over a longitudinal extent of the busbars 11, 21, for example perpendicular to the current direction.Furthermore, in the embodiment shown in the figure, each of the busbars 11, 21 has a constant width of the busbar 11, 21 over a longitudinal extent of the busbars 11, 21, for example perpendicular to the current direction.

[0019] As in Fig. 1, the device 1 further comprises a connecting element 30. The connecting element 30 establishes a mechanical connection between the first busbar 11 and the second busbar 21. The connecting element 30 is designed as a screw connection element. The connecting element 30 comprises a screw 31 and a screw sleeve 35. The screw sleeve 35 is designed, for example, as a screw nut. The screw sleeve 35 has an internal thread into which the screw 31 is screwed. In this exemplary embodiment, the internal thread runs completely through the screw sleeve 35. However, the internal thread can also run only partially through the screw sleeve 35, for example. The screw 31 is guided through the busbars 11, 21 in the overlap region 5, in which the busbars 11, 21 overlap.For this purpose, a first recess 12 is formed in the first busbar 11 and a second recess 22 is formed in the second busbar 21. The screw 31 projects through the first recess 12 of the first busbar 11 and through the second recess 22 of the second busbar 21. The screw 31 extends along a longitudinal axis L of the screw 31. The longitudinal axis L of the screw 31 runs perpendicular to the first contact surface of the first busbar 11 and perpendicular to the second contact surface of the second busbar 21. A screw head 32 is formed on one end of the screw 31. At the other end of the screw 31, the screw sleeve 35 is screwed onto a thread 33 of the screw 31. The screw 31 and the screw sleeve 35 thus press the first busbar 11 and the second busbar 21 together. The first contact surface of the first busbar 11 is pressed against the second contact surface of the second busbar 21.Thus, an electrically conductive connection is established between the two busbars 11, 21. In addition to the screw 31 and the screw sleeve 35, the connecting element 30 can comprise, for example, one or more washers, which can be placed, for example, under the screw head 34 of the screw 31 or under the screw sleeve 35. The connecting element 30 can be made of a metal, for example, steel.

[0020] The device 1 further comprises a holding part 40. The holding part 40 serves as a holder for the screw sleeve 35. A receiving opening 41 is formed in the holding part 40. The screw sleeve 35 is inserted into the receiving opening 41. The screw sleeve 35 can be inserted into the receiving opening 41 of the holding part 40, in particular before the busbars 11, 21 are mounted in the device 1. In this exemplary embodiment, the screw sleeve 35 can, for example, only be inserted into the receiving opening 41 of the holding part 40 in one insertion direction of the screw sleeve 35. The insertion direction of the screw sleeve 35 corresponds to the direction in which the screw 31 is screwed into the screw sleeve 35. The receiving opening 41 and the screw sleeve 35 are covered by the busbars 11, 21, in particular after the busbars 11, 21 have been mounted in the device 1.The longitudinal axis L of the screw 31 runs through the first recess 12 of the first busbar 11, the second recess 22 of the second busbar 21, and the receiving opening 41 of the holding part 40. At least one support surface 44 is formed in the holding part 40. The support surface 44 serves to support the screw sleeve 35 on the holding part 40 before the screw 31 is screwed into the screw sleeve 35. Before the screw 31 is screwed into the screw sleeve 35, a support surface 37 of the screw sleeve 35 rests on the support surface 44. The support surface 44 surrounds the receiving opening 41. The support surface 44 is arranged transversely, in particular perpendicularly, to the longitudinal direction L of the screw 31. The support surface 37 of the screw sleeve 35 surrounds the screw 31. The support surface 37 is designed to be complementary to the support surface 44, so that the support surface 37 and the support surface 44 lie flat against one another before the screw 31 is screwed into the screw sleeve 35.The support surface 44 is formed transversely to the longitudinal direction L of the screw 31, in particular perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L of the screw 31. The support surface 44 and / or the bearing surface 37 are, for example, annular. The support surface 44 and / or the bearing surface 37 extend annularly around the longitudinal direction L of the screw 31. The support surface 44 and / or the bearing surface 37 form an annular collar. The support surface 44 provides a seat for the screw sleeve 35. When the screw 31 is screwed into the screw sleeve 35, the screw sleeve 35 is lifted in the receiving opening 41. In the process, the bearing surface 37 moves away from the support surface 44. When the screw 31 is screwed into the screw sleeve 35, the bearing surface 37 and the support surface 44 are spaced apart from one another.

[0021] The receiving opening 41 of the holding part 40 has an inner contour 42. The inner contour 42 of the receiving opening 41 faces an outer contour 36 of the screw sleeve 35. The inner contour 42 surrounds the screw sleeve 35. The outer contour 36 of the screw sleeve 35 is not circular in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L of the screw 31. The outer contour 36 of the screw sleeve 35 is hexagonal in this example. The inner contour 42 of the receiving opening 41 is complementary to the outer contour 36 of the screw sleeve 35. The inner contour 42 is not circular. The inner contour 42 is hexagonal, for example. The outer contour 36 of the screw sleeve 35 engages in the inner contour 42 of the receiving opening 41. The outer contour 36 can bear directly or indirectly against the inner contour 42. The outer contour 36 can also be spaced from the inner contour 42 by a gap.The outer contour 36 of the screw sleeve 35 engages in the receiving opening 41 in a manner that is secure against rotation about the longitudinal axis L of the screw 31. The screw sleeve 35 is thus arranged in the receiving opening 41 of the holding part 40 in a manner that is secure against rotation about the longitudinal axis of the screw 31. Due to this anti-twist nature of the screw sleeve 35 and thus of the internal thread of the screw sleeve 35, the screw 31 can be screwed into the internal thread of the screw sleeve 35 without the screw sleeve 35 twisting.

[0022] Furthermore, in the embodiment shown in the figure, a collecting cavity 43 is formed in the holding part 40. The collecting cavity 43 forms a space into which an end of the screw 31 facing away from the screw head 32 projects. The screw sleeve 35 is arranged between the busbars 11, 21 and the collecting cavity 43. The receiving opening 41 is arranged between the busbars 11, 21 and the collecting cavity 43. The collecting cavity 43 is, for example, directly adjacent to the receiving opening 41. The screw 31 projects through the screw sleeve 35 into the collecting cavity 43. The end 34 of the screw 31 facing away from the screw head 32 is arranged in the collecting cavity 43. The collecting cavity 43 is closed in the direction facing away from the screw sleeve 35. For example, the collecting cavity 43 is only open at the receiving opening 41.The inner wall of the collecting cavity 43 is spaced from the end 34 of the screw 31 located in the collecting cavity 43. The inner wall of the collecting cavity 43 does not touch the end 34 of the screw 31 located in the collecting cavity 43. The screw 31 is not in direct contact with the holding part 40.

[0023] The holding part 40 has elements by which the first busbar 11 and / or the second busbar 21 are held. The first busbar 11 and / or the second busbar 22 can, for example, be inserted through openings 47, such as gaps, in the holding part 40. The openings 47 can, for example, have an opening cross-section that is complementary to a cross-section of the respective busbar 11, 21. The busbar 11, 21 can, for example, be guided by the opening 47 in the holding part 40 and thus adjusted in the device 1. This ensures that the busbars 11, 21 are arranged in the correct positions in the device 1.

[0024] Furthermore, the device 1 comprises a housing 50. In the Fig.1, only a section of the housing 50 is shown. The housing 50 has an interior space 51. The busbars 11, 21 are at least partially arranged in the housing 50. The busbars 11, 21 protrude, for example, into the housing 50. However, the first busbars 11 and / or the second busbar 21 can also be arranged entirely in the housing 50, for example. At least the areas of the busbars 11, 21 that are connected to one another by means of the connecting means 30 are arranged in the housing 50. The screw 31 is at least partially arranged in the housing 50. The screw sleeve 35 is arranged in the housing 50. The holding part 40 is arranged in the housing 50. The housing 50 is, for example, closed on the side of the screw sleeve 35, as viewed from the connecting element 30.The housing 50 has, for example, as viewed from the connecting element 30, an opening on the side of the screw head 32 through which the screw 31 can be screwed into the screw sleeve 35. The screw 31 is screwed into the screw sleeve 35 toward a closed housing wall of the housing 50. The holding part 40 is mechanically fastened to the housing 50. The holding part 40 is fastened to the housing 50 in such a way that the holding part 40 is electrically insulated from the housing 50. The holding part 40 is arranged between a, in particular closed, housing wall of the housing 50 and the busbars 11, 21.

[0025] Of course, further embodiments and mixed forms of the embodiments shown are also possible.

Claims

[1] Device (1) comprising a first busbar (11) for electrically contacting a first electrical and / or electronic component and a second busbar (21) for electrically contacting a second electrical and / or electronic component, wherein the first busbar (11) and the second busbar (21) overlap in an overlap region (5) and rest on one another in the overlap region (5) and are electrically connected to one another, wherein the busbar (11) and the second busbar (21) are mechanically connected in the overlap region (5) by means of a connecting element (30), wherein the connecting element (30) comprises a screw (31) with a screw head (32) and a screw sleeve (35), wherein the first busbar (11) and the second busbar (21) are arranged between the screw head (32) of the screw (31) and the screw sleeve (35),wherein a first recess (12) is formed in the first busbar (11) and a second recess (22) is formed in the second busbar (21), wherein the first recess (12) and the second recess (22) lie one above the other in the overlap region (5) and the screw (31) projects through the first recess (12) and the second recess (22), wherein the screw sleeve (35) is screwed onto a thread (33) of the screw (31), , characterized byin that the device (1) further comprises a holding part (40) for holding the screw sleeve (35), wherein a receiving opening (41) is formed in the holding part (40), wherein the screw sleeve (35) is at least partially arranged in the receiving opening (41), wherein the screw sleeve (35) has a non-circular outer contour (36) at least in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (L) of the screw (31) and an inner contour (42) of the receiving opening (41) is at least partially formed complementarily to the non-circular outer contour (36) of the screw sleeve (35) in such a way that the screw sleeve (35) engages with the non-circular outer contour (36) in the receiving opening (41) in a rotationally secure manner. [2] Device according to claim 1, characterized by that the inner contour (42) of the receiving opening (41) in the plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (L) of the screw (31) is complementary to the outer contour (36) of the screw sleeve (35). [3] Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the connecting element (30) and the holding part (40) are arranged in an interior space (51) of a housing (50). [4] Device according to claim 3, characterized by that the connecting element (30), the busbars (11,21) and the holding part (40) are electrically insulated from the housing (50). [5] Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the first busbar (11) and / or the second busbar (21) are held by the holding part (40). [6] Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the screw (31) projects through the screw sleeve (35) into a receiving cavity (43) formed in the holding part (40), wherein an end (34) of the screw (31) facing away from the screw head (32) is arranged in the receiving cavity (43). [7] Device according to claim 6, characterized bythat the collecting cavity (43) is closed in the direction away from the screw sleeve (35). [8] Device according to one of claims 3 to 7, characterized by that the holding part (40) is mechanically fastened to the housing (50), wherein the fastening is designed as an electrically insulating fastening. [9] Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that at least one support surface (44) is formed on the holding part (40) which surrounds the screw (31) and is complementary to a bearing surface (37) formed on the screw sleeve (35) and surrounds the screw (31), wherein the support surface (44) and the bearing surface (37) are spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal axis (L) of the screw (31) in the state in which the screw (31) is tightened. [10] Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the non-circular outer contour (36) and / or the inner contour (42) is designed as a hexagon or as a square.

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