Connection arrangement, especially for use in electric or hybrid vehicles

Description

State of the art

[0001] The invention relates to a connection arrangement, in particular for use in electric vehicles or hybrid vehicles, comprising 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 carrying high electrical currents are interconnected. Due to these high currents, the current-carrying elements connecting these components must have correspondingly low electrical resistance and therefore require large cross-sections and / or materials with high electrical conductivity. In such configurations, current is typically supplied via busbars, and the electrical and / or electronic components are interconnected via these busbars.

[0003] To connect electrical and / or electronic components, flat connection contacts, such as busbars or cable lugs, 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 in the area where they overlap, for example, by screws. If high currents flow through the connection, maintaining low electrical material resistance and low electrical contact resistance is essential to minimize overall electrical losses. Disclosure of the invention

[0004] According to the invention, a connection arrangement, particularly for use in electric vehicles or hybrid vehicles, is proposed. The connection arrangement comprises a first planar contact for electrically contacting a first electrical and / or electronic component and a second planar contact for electrically contacting a second electrical and / or electronic component, wherein the first planar contact and the second planar contact overlap in an overlap area and bear against each other in the overlap area, wherein the first planar contact and the second planar contact are connected in the overlap area by means of a connecting element.According to the invention, an insulating layer is arranged between the connecting element and the first flat connecting contact, which electrically insulates the first flat connecting contact from the connecting element, and an insulating layer is arranged between the connecting element and the second flat connecting contact, which electrically insulates the second flat connecting contact from the connecting element. Advantages of the invention

[0005] Compared to the prior art, the connection arrangement with the features of the independent claim has the advantage that the connecting element is electrochemically isolated from the flat connection contacts. This advantageously reduces the risk of corrosion and simultaneously ensures a good and stable connection between the first flat connection contact and the second flat connection contact throughout the entire service life of the connection arrangement. Furthermore, a good connection with minimal preload loss due to settling or creep behavior is ensured. Further advantageous embodiments and developments of the invention are enabled by the features specified in the dependent claims.

[0006] According to an advantageous embodiment, the insulating layer is formed on the connecting element and / or on the first flat terminal contact and / or on the second flat terminal contact. The insulating layer can, for example, advantageously be formed as a coating on the connecting element and / or on the first flat terminal contact and / or on the second flat terminal contact. The insulating layer can, for example, be formed by a material bond on the connecting element and / or on the first flat terminal contact and / or on the second flat terminal contact.

[0007] According to an advantageous embodiment, the insulating layer is formed from a silicate and / or a phosphate and / or a nitride and / or an oxide. Such an insulating layer provides particularly good electrochemical separation of the connecting element from the flat terminal contacts. This advantageously reduces the risk of corrosion and simultaneously ensures a good and stable connection between the first flat terminal contact and the second flat terminal contact throughout the entire service life of the connection assembly.

[0008] According to an advantageous embodiment, the connecting element projects through a first recess in the first flat terminal contact and through a second recess in the second flat terminal contact, with the insulating layer arranged around the first recess and / or around the second recess. A connecting element designed in this way allows for a suitably stable and reliable electrical contact between the two terminal contacts. The connecting element rests, for example, indirectly against the terminal contacts around the recess, with the insulating layer interposed. The insulating layer thus separates the connecting element from the terminal contacts and electrically insulates it from them.This prevents current flow between the connecting element and the connection contacts, thus preventing galvanic corrosion in the area where the connecting element is in indirect contact with the connection contacts.

[0009] According to an advantageous embodiment, the connecting element is designed as a screw connection with a screw and, in particular, with a screw bushing and / or a washer. The screw bushing can, for example, be a nut. The insulating layer can be arranged between the head of the screw and the flat connection contacts, and / or the insulating layer can be arranged between the screw bushing and washer and the flat connection contacts. The connection contacts can advantageously be connected to each other simply, securely, and releasably by means of a screw connection. The screw connection advantageously presses the connection contacts together in the overlap area, so that the connection contacts are electrically connected to each other in the overlap area. The screw connection advantageously comprises a screw with a head and a screw bushing.The screw socket can, for example, be a nut. The screw head rests indirectly against the first terminal contact, with the insulating layer in between. The screw socket rests indirectly against the second terminal contact, with the insulating layer in between. Furthermore, a washer can be placed between the screw head and the first terminal contact and / or between the screw socket and the second terminal contact.

[0010] According to an advantageous embodiment, the connecting element is completely covered by the insulating layer. This ensures in a simple way that the connecting element is electrically insulated from the connecting elements at all points where it could come into electrically conductive contact with them. Furthermore, the connecting element, completely surrounded by the insulating layer, is electrically insulated from electrolytes, such as water with dissolved salts.

[0011] According to an advantageous embodiment, the first flat connection contact and / or the second flat connection contact are made of copper.

[0012] According to an advantageous embodiment, the connecting element is made of steel.

[0013] According to an advantageous embodiment, the first flat connection contact is designed as a busbar or as a cable lug and / or the second flat connection contact is designed as a busbar or as a cable lug.

[0014] Furthermore, according to the invention, an electrical and / or electronic assembly comprising a connection arrangement according to the invention is proposed. The electrical and / or electronic assembly further comprises a first electrical and / or electronic component and a second electrical and / or electronic component, wherein the first planar connection contact is configured as an electrical connection of the first electrical and / or electronic component and the second planar connection contact is configured as an electrical connection of the second electrical and / or electronic component. Brief description of the drawings

[0015] An embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawing and is explained in more detail in the following description. It shows Fig. 1 a cross-section through an embodiment of the connection arrangement according to the invention. Embodiments of the invention

[0016] Fig. 1 Figure 1 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of the electrical and / or electronic assembly 100 with an embodiment of the connection arrangement 1. The connection arrangement 1 can be used in all applications where high currents must be carried via contact connections and power losses must be kept to a minimum. The connection arrangement 1 can be used, for example, in systems carrying high currents, such as in power electronics, electric vehicles, or hybrid vehicles. For example, the connection arrangement 1 can be used in power electronics, converters, or batteries.

[0017] The connection arrangement 1 comprises a first planar connection contact 11, which can, for example, be an electrical connection of a first electrical and / or electronic component 10. Furthermore, the connection arrangement 1 comprises a second planar connection contact 21, which can, for example, be an electrical connection of a second electrical and / or electronic component 20. The electrical and / or electronic components 10, 20 can be, for example, inverters, converters, DC / DC converters, capacitors such as intermediate circuit capacitors, batteries, or other electronic and / or electrical components used in electric or hybrid vehicles.

[0018] The first electrical and / or electronic component 10 is electrically connected to the second electrical and / or electronic component 20. This electrically conductive connection is established via the flat contact points 11 and 21. Specifically, the first flat contact point 11 is electrically connected to the second flat contact point 21. The first flat contact point 11 rests flatly, and in particular directly, on the second flat contact point 21.

[0019] The flat terminal contacts 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 flat terminal contact 11 can be made of the same material as the second flat terminal contact 21. However, the first flat terminal contact 11 and the second flat terminal contact 21 can also be made of different materials. The flat terminal contacts 11, 21 are flat, at least in the area where they overlap. In the overlap area, the flat terminal contacts 11, 21 have five flat contact surfaces on which they abut each other, thus establishing an electrically conductive connection between them.The planar connection contacts 11, 21 are arranged parallel to each other with respect to their planar extent planes. In the in . Fig. 1 In the illustrated embodiment, the planar connection contacts 11, 21 are designed as busbars 11, 21. In the context of this application, a busbar 11, 21 is understood to be an electrically conductive planar conductor, for example, an electrically conductive strip or a conductive bar. Fig. 1 A cross-section perpendicular to the plane of extension of the busbars 11, 21 is shown. A busbar can thus, for example, be a busbar. The busbars 11, 21 can, for example, be bent or curved, or even have a curved or stepped profile. The busbars 11, 21 are made of an electrically conductive material, for example, a metal such as copper. The busbars 11, 21 are, for example, formed in one piece. The busbars 11, 21 are, for example, formed entirely from the same material. The busbars 11, 21 are, for example, formed as stamped parts. In the embodiment shown in the figure, each of the busbars 11, 21 has a constant thickness along its longitudinal extension, 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 along its longitudinal extent, for example perpendicular to the current direction. The connection contacts 11, 21 can also be designed, for example, as cable lugs.

[0020] As in Fig. 1 As shown, the connection arrangement 1 further comprises a connecting element 30. The connecting element 30 establishes a mechanical connection between the first planar terminal contact 11 and the second planar terminal contact 21. In the Fig. 1 In the illustrated embodiment, the connecting element 30 is designed as a screw connection. The connecting element 30 comprises, for example, a screw 31 and a screw bushing 33. The screw bushing 33 is designed, for example, as a nut. The screw 31 passes through the connection contacts 11 and 21 in the overlap area 5 where the connection contacts 11 and 21 overlap. For this purpose, a first recess 12 is formed in the first flat connection contact 11 and a second recess 22 is formed in the second flat connection contact 21. The screw 31 projects through the first recess 12 of the first flat connection contact 11 and through the second recess 22 of the second flat connection contact 21. The screw 31 is spaced apart from the first flat connection contact 11 and the second flat connection contact 21 in the recesses 12 and 22 and does not touch them.A head is formed at one end of the screw 31. At the other end of the screw 31, the end furthest from the first end, a screw bushing 33 is screwed onto a thread of the screw 31. The screw 31 and the screw bushing 33 thus press the first flat terminal contact 11 and the second flat terminal contact 21 against each other. The first flat terminal contact 11 rests directly on the second flat terminal contact 21, so that an electrically conductive connection is established between the two terminal contacts 11 and 21. As shown in the figure in... Fig. 1 In the illustrated embodiment, the connecting element 30 can, in addition to the screw 31 and the threaded bushing 33, comprise one or more washers 32, which can, for example, be placed under the head of the screw 31 or under the threaded bushing 33. The connecting element 30 can, for example, be made of a metal, such as steel. Steel has an advantageously high e-model.

[0021] The connecting element 30 is made of a different material than the first flat terminal contact 11 and / or the second flat terminal contact 21. Components made of different materials that are in electrically conductive contact can become electrodes in a liquid medium. The liquid medium, for example water with dissolved salts, acts as an electrolyte. An electrochemical reaction takes place, which can lead to corrosion of the connecting arrangement 1. To prevent corrosion, the following is used in the Fig. 1 In the illustrated connection arrangement 1, the electrical contact between the flat terminal contacts 11, 21 and the connecting element 30, which is made of a different material than the flat terminal contacts 11, 21, is prevented. For this purpose, the connection arrangement 1 comprises at least one insulating layer 40. The insulating layer 40 is arranged between the terminal contacts 11, 21 and the connecting element 30 and electrically insulates the terminal elements 11, 21 from the connecting element 30. The insulating layer 40 can, for example, comprise a phosphate and / or a silicate and / or a nitride and / or an oxide. The insulating layer 40 can, for example, be a continuous, continuous layer. However, the insulating layer 40 can also be divided into several separate regions. The insulating layer 40 can also comprise several layers arranged one above the other.The connection arrangement 1 can also comprise several insulating layers 40. The insulating layers 40 can be applied, for example, by means of physical vapor deposition (PVD), chemical vapor deposition (CVD), sputtering, electroless deposition, dip coating or spray coating to the first planar connection contact 11 and / or to the second planar connection contact 21 and / or to the connecting element 30.

[0022] The insulating layer 40 can, for example, be applied locally to the first flat terminal contact 11 and / or to the second flat terminal contact 21 and / or to the connecting element 30. If the connecting element 30 is, as in the Fig. 1In the illustrated embodiment, designed as a screw connection element, the insulating layer 40 can, for example, be arranged and / or applied to the head of the screw 31, the screw bushing 33, and / or the washer 32. The insulating layer 40 can be arranged and / or applied locally to the screw 31, the screw bushing 33, and / or the washer 32. However, the insulating layer 40 can also completely cover the screw 31, the screw bushing 33, and / or the washer 32.

[0023] Of course, other embodiments and hybrid forms of the illustrated embodiments are also possible.

Claims

1. Connecting arrangement (1), in particular for use in electric vehicles or hybrid vehicles, comprising a first areal connection contact (11) for electrical contacting of a first electrical and / or electronic component (10), and comprising a second areal connection contact (21) for electrical contacting of a second electrical and / or electronic component (20), wherein the first areal connection contact (11) and the second areal connection contact (21) overlap in an overlap region (5) and bear areally on one another in the overlap region (5), wherein the first areal connection contact (11) and the second areal connection contact (21) are connected in the overlapping region (5) by means of a connecting element (30), wherein, between the connecting element (30) and the first areal connection contact (11), there is arranged an insulating layer (40) which electrically insulates the first areal connection contact (11) from the connecting element (30), characterized in that, between the connecting element (30) and the second areal connection contact (21), there is arranged an insulating layer (40) which electrically insulates the second areal connection contact (21) from the connecting element (30).

2. Connecting arrangement according to Claim 1, characterized in that the insulating layer (40) is formed on the connecting element (30) and / or on the first areal connection contact (11) and / or on the second areal connection contact (21).

3. Connecting arrangement according to either of the preceding claims, characterized in that the insulating layer (40) is formed from a silicate and / or a phosphate and / or a nitride and / or an oxide.

4. Connecting arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting element (30) projects through a first cutout (12) in the first areal connection contact (11) and through a second cutout (22) in the second areal connection contact (21), wherein the insulating layer (40) is arranged around the first cutout (12) and / or around the second cutout (22).

5. Connecting arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting element (30) is in the form of a screw connection with a screw (31) and in particular with a screw bushing (33) and / or with a washer (32), wherein the insulating layer (40) is arranged between a head of the screw (31) and the areal connection contacts (11, 21) and / or the insulating layer (40) is arranged between the washer (32) and the areal connection contacts (11, 21) and / or the insulating layer (40) is arranged between the screw bushing (33) and the areal connection contacts (11, 21).

6. Connecting arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting element (30) is covered completely by the insulating layer (40).

7. Connecting arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first areal connection contact (11) and / or the second areal connection contact (21) are / is formed from copper.

8. Connecting arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting element (30) is formed from steel.

9. Connecting arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first areal connection contact (11) is in the form of a conductor bar or cable lug and / or the second areal connection contact (21) is in the form of a conductor bar or cable lug.

10. Electrical and / or electronic assembly (100) comprising a connecting arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electrical and / or electronic assembly (100) further comprises a first electrical and / or electronic component (10) and a second electrical and / or electronic component (20), wherein the first areal connection contact (11) is in the form of an electrical connection of the first electrical and / or electronic component (10) and the second areal connection contact (21) is in the form of an electrical connection of the second electrical and / or electronic component (20).