Electrical connection device

Abstract

Title: Electrical Connection Device The invention relates to an electrical connection device (1) configured to be assembled with a support (101) of an electronic module (100), in particular an inverter, this electrical connection device (1) comprising a body (2), in particular made of plastic, and electrical conductors (3), in particular in the form of conductive bars which are carried by the body (2), the body comprising at least two plate parts (5, 6, 7) each carrying at least one of the conductors, each plate part (5, 6, 7) comprising at least one positioning zone (10) of the electrical connection device (1) on the support (101), and these plate parts (5, 6, 7) being linked together by at least one elastically deformable junction (12) so as to allow one of the plate parts (5, 6, 7) to be positioned relative to the other part with a clearance,when the electrical connection device (1) is assembled on the support (101) of the electronic module. Figure for the abbreviation: Fig. 1,

Description

Title of the invention: Electrical connection device

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrical connection device configured to be assembled with a support of an electronic module, in particular an inverter. This inverter can be installed on a motor vehicle for example.

[0002] In many electronic modules, for example an inverter fitted to a motor vehicle, electrically conductive bars, also called "busbars" in English, are used, associated for example with different electrical phases. It is practical to provide these conductive bars on a common part, which facilitates the assembly of these conductive bars with the rest of the electronic module. This part includes positioning zones allowing its positioning on a support of the electronic module. When this common part which carries the conductive bars has relatively large dimensions, an assembly problem may arise in the sense that a part of large dimensions requires that the positioning zones be placed precisely relative to corresponding positioning rods on the support.If such a tolerance is not respected, then the assembly of the part with the electric bars may not be done correctly on the rest of the electronic module.

[0003] The invention makes it possible to overcome this difficulty.

[0004] The invention thus relates to an electrical connection device configured to be assembled with a support of an electronic module, in particular an inverter, this electrical connection device comprising a body, in particular made of plastic, and electrical conductors, in particular in the form of conductive bars (also called "busbars" in English) which are carried by the body, the body comprising at least two plate parts each carrying at least one of the conductors, each plate part comprising at least one zone for positioning the electrical connection device on the support, and these parts being linked together by at least one elastically deformable junction so as to allow placement of one of the parts relative to the other part with play, when the electrical connection device is assembled on the support of the electronic module.

[0005] Thanks to the invention, the electrical connection device which is made of several plate parts is less subject to tolerance constraints. Indeed, due to the elastically deformable junction, the plate parts which are provided with the positioning zones of the electrical connection device on the support can undergo a relative displacement of one of the plate parts relative to the other at the time of assembly of the electrical connection device on the support of the electronic module. This relative displacement between the plate parts makes it possible to compensate the impact of tolerances of the different parts of the assembly. The invention thus makes it possible, for example, to manufacture the electrical connection device and / or the electronic mode support with an acceptable tolerance in terms of industrial process. It is the elastically deformable junction which makes it possible to compensate for these tolerances with a clearance between the plate parts.

[0006] According to one aspect of the invention, the positioning zone on each plate part comprises an orifice configured for the passage of a positioning member such as a positioning rod which makes it possible to position the plate part with the support of the electronic module.

[0007] This rod is for example of the metallic type, linked to the support of the electronic module.

[0008] According to one aspect of the invention, the positioning rod is simply inserted into the orifice of the positioning zone. The positioning rod serves for temporary positioning (and not final fixing) of the electrical connection device on the support of the electronic module.

[0009] According to one aspect of the invention, all the positioning zones on the plate parts are formed by orifices.

[0010] According to one aspect of the invention, each plate part comprises at least two positioning zones, in particular each formed by an orifice.

[0011] According to one aspect of the invention, for each plate part, the positioning zones are spaced from each other in a direction of greater length of the plate part.

[0012] According to one aspect of the invention, the electrical connection device comprises three plate parts connected together, one after the other.

[0013] Thus the electrical connection device may comprise a plate part placed between the two other plate parts and being connected to these plate parts by the elastically deformable junction.

[0014] The electrical connection device thus comprises, in this case, two elastically deformable junctions each configured to connect two plate parts together.

[0015] According to one aspect of the invention, the plate parts are placed in a substantially coplanar manner.

[0016] In other words, the plate parts extend substantially in the same plane.

[0017] According to one aspect of the invention, the elastically deformable junction comprises a passage configured to be placed in line with a hollow column of the support of the electronic module.

[0018] This makes it possible to introduce a fixing member, for example a rod such as a screw, through the elastically deformable junction zone.

[0019] According to one aspect of the invention, the plate parts can thus comprise not only positioning orifices but also passages for, for example, screws which ensure the final retention of the plate parts on the support of the electronic module. The plate parts can thus cooperate with positioning rods and fixing screws.

[0020] According to one aspect of the invention, in the case where the electrical connection device comprises three plate parts, the connection device comprises three pairs of positioning zones, each pair being associated with one of the plate parts.

[0021] According to one aspect of the invention, a total of 6 positioning zones can be provided on the plate parts.

[0022] This number of positioning zones represents a hyperstatic assembly which requires precise positioning of the different positioning zones. The fact of producing the electrical connection device in several parts makes it possible, thanks to possible clearances between the different plate parts, to make this hyper-static assembly.

[0023] According to one aspect of the invention, the elastically deformable junction is formed by a bridge of material between two neighboring plate parts.

[0024] According to one aspect of the invention, the plate parts are three in number and are arranged so as to form a V or a U.

[0025] According to one aspect of the invention, the elastically deformable junction zones are adjacent to an inner edge of the V or U.

[0026] The invention thus allows the branches of the V or U to bend towards each other.

[0027] According to one aspect of the invention, the electrical connection device has a symmetry with respect to a plane of symmetry, for example the plane of symmetry passes through the middle plate part placed between two other plate parts which are symmetrical to each other with respect to this plane of symmetry.

[0028] According to one aspect of the invention, the bridge of material forming the elastically deformable junction is adjacent to a slot which separates two neighboring plate parts.

[0029] This slot allows these two neighboring plate parts to move closer to or further away from each other when the elastically deformable junction zone is deformed.

[0030] According to one aspect of the invention, the slot is formed between two substantially parallel edges of the two neighboring plate parts.

[0031] According to one aspect of the invention, the material bridge has a substantially circular shape with a through orifice in its center.

[0032] According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the elastically de- formable comprises several bridges of material connecting two neighboring plate parts.

[0033] According to one aspect of the invention, these material bridges are arranged at different edge locations opposite the two neighboring plate parts.

[0034] The material bridges are, for example, solid strips of material.

[0035] According to one aspect of the invention, these strips of material can be relatively thin so that they can be deformed without breaking.

[0036] The play permitted by the elastically deformable junction according to the invention may come, for example, from a slight relative rotation of one of the plate parts with respect to the other.

[0037] According to one aspect of the invention, the relative rotation can reach for example an angle of 10 degrees at most, or can reach an angle of 5 degrees at most.

[0038] According to one aspect of the invention, the elastically deformable junction is formed at a corner of the plate portion so as to allow relative movement between two neighboring plate portions around the elastically deformable junction, for example in the manner of a pivot.

[0039] According to one aspect of the invention, the electrical connection device further comprises at least one guide block for guiding electrical signal pins.

[0040] According to one aspect of the invention, these electrical signal pins belong to the electronic module.

[0041] According to one aspect of the invention, this or these guide blocks are formed for example by bars with passages for the pins, bars fixed on the plate parts. This or these guide blocks are for example produced by overmolding, and / or based on resin.

[0042] According to one aspect of the invention, the conductive bars are embedded in the mass of the plate parts.

[0043] The conductive bars are in particular overmolded by the plastic material of the plate parts.

[0044] According to one aspect of the invention, the conductive bars have connection ends which extend beyond the material which forms the plate parts.

[0045] The invention also relates to an electronic module, in particular an inverter, comprising an electrical connection device as described above, configured to be assembled with a support of the electronic module to ensure the electrical connection of the phases of the electronic module, the support comprising in particular positioning rods configured to cooperate with positioning zones of the plate parts.

[0046] The invention also relates to a method of assembling an electronic module, in particular an inverter, comprising an electrical connection device such as described above, configured to be assembled with a support of the electronic module to ensure the electrical connection of the phases of the electronic module, the support comprising in particular positioning rods configured to cooperate with positioning zones of the plate parts, the method comprising the following step: - place the plate parts of the electrical connection device on the positioning rods of the support, possibly adjusting the relative position of the plate parts so that the positioning rods are opposite the positioning areas of the plate parts.

[0047] Other characteristics, details and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly on reading the description which follows on the one hand, and several exemplary embodiments given for informational and non-limiting purposes with reference to the appended schematic drawings on the other hand, in which:

[0048] [Fig-1] [Fig. 1] is a perspective representation of an electronic module according to the invention;

[0049] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a view of the electrical connection device of the module of the [Fig.l];

[0050] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a perspective representation of the body of the device of electrical connection shown in Figures 1 and 2;

[0051] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] is a cross-sectional representation of the connection device electric of [Fig.2];

[0052] [Fig.5] [Fig.5] is a representation of an electrical connection device according to another embodiment.

[0053] The features, variants and different embodiments of the invention may be combined with each other, in various combinations, provided that they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive. In particular, variants of the invention may be imagined comprising only a selection of features described below in isolation from the other features described, if this selection of features is sufficient to confer a technical advantage and / or to differentiate the invention from the prior art.

[0054] [Fig.l] shows an electronic module 100 forming part of an inverter on board a motor vehicle. The inverter is used to convert the direct electric current supplied by a battery into alternating current, which the electric motor needs to drive the wheels.

[0055] This electronic module 100 comprises an electrical connection device 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, configured to be assembled with a support 101 of the electronic module 100 to ensure the electrical connection of the phases of the electronic module 100. The support 101 is generally in the form of a half-shell in the bottom of which the electrical connection device 1 is arranged.

[0056] The support 101 comprises positioning rods 30 configured to cooperate with positioning zones 10 of the electrical connection device 1, as will be described in detail.

[0057] The electrical connection device 1 comprises a body 2, here made of plastic, and electrical conductors 3 in the form of electrically conductive bars (called “busbars” in English) which are carried by the body 2.

[0058] The body 2 comprises three plate parts 5, 6, 7 each carrying conductors 3.

[0059] The plate parts 5, 6, 7 comprise positioning zones 10 for the electrical connection device 1 on the support 101, and these plate parts 5, 6, 7 are connected to each other by elastically deformable junctions 12 so as to allow placement of one of the plate parts 5, 6, 7 relative to the other neighboring plate part with a clearance, when the electrical connection device 1 is assembled on the support 101 of the electronic module 100.

[0060] In the example described, the three plate parts 5, 6, 7 are connected to each other, one after the other.

[0061] Thus the plate part 6 is placed in the middle between the two other plate parts 5 and 7 and is connected to these plate parts 5 and 7 by two elastically deformable junctions 12, on each side of the plate part 6.

[0062] The electrical connection device thus comprises, in this case, two elastically deformable junctions 12.

[0063] The plate parts 5, 6, 7 are placed in a substantially coplanar manner.

[0064] In other words, the plate parts 5, 6, 7 extend substantially in the same plane.

[0065] The positioning zones 10 on the plate parts 5, 6, 7 each comprise an orifice 17 configured for the passage of a positioning rod 30 which makes it possible to position the plate parts 5, 6, 7 with the support 101 of the electronic module. The positioning zones 10 are for example 2 in number per plate part 5, 6, 7.

[0066] Each rod 30 is for example of the metallic type, linked to the support 101 of the electronic module.

[0067] Each positioning rod 30 is simply inserted into the orifice 17 of the positioning zone. The positioning rod 30 serves for temporary positioning (and not final fixing) of the electrical connection device 1 on the support 101 of the electronic module.

[0068] For each plate part 5, 6, 7, the positioning zones 10 are spaced from each other in a direction of greater length of the plate part 5, 6, 7.

[0069] As visible in [Fig.4] which is a view along arrow VI of [Fig.2], the elastically deformable junction 12 comprises a passage 18 configured to be placed in line with a hollow column 104 of the support 101 of the electronic module.

[0070] This makes it possible to introduce a fixing member, for example a rod such as a screw 109, through the passage 18 of the elastically deformable junction zone 12. The screw 109 is screwed onto the hollow column 104 of the support 101.

[0071] The elastically deformable junction 12 thus plays the role of a pivot point between two neighboring plate parts.

[0072] The screws 109 ensure the final maintenance of the plate parts 5, 6, 7 on the support 101 of the electronic module. The plate parts 5, 6, 7 can thus cooperate with positioning rods 30 and fixing screws 109.

[0073] The elastically deformable junction 12 is formed by a material bridge 33 between two neighboring plate parts 5, 6, 7.

[0074] The plate parts 5, 6, 7, three in number, are arranged so as to form a U (a U with three branches formed by the three plate parts). The elastically deformable junction zones 12 allow the branches of the U to flex towards each other.

[0075] The electrical connection device 1 has a symmetry with respect to a plane of symmetry SP passing through the middle plate part 6 placed between two other plate parts 5 and 7.

[0076] The material bridge 33 forming the elastically deformable junction 12 is adjacent to a slot 34 which separates two neighboring plate parts.

[0077] This slot 34 allows these two neighboring plate parts 5, 6, 7 to move closer to or further away from each other when the elastically deformable junction zone 12 is deformed.

[0078] The slot 34 is formed between two substantially parallel edges 35 of the two neighboring plate parts 5, 6, 7.

[0079] In another exemplary embodiment of the invention illustrated in [Fig.5], the elastically deformable junction 37 comprises several bridges of material 50 connecting two neighboring plate parts.

[0080] These material bridges 50 are arranged at different edge locations opposite the two neighboring plate parts 5, 6, 7.

[0081] The material bridges 50 are, for example, solid strips of material.

[0082] These strips of material 50 can be relatively thin so that they can be deformed without breaking.

[0083] The play permitted by the elastically deformable junction 12; 37 according to the invention may come, for example, from a slight relative rotation of one of the plate parts 5, 6, 7 relative to the other.

[0084] The relative rotation can reach for example an angle of 10 degrees at most, or can reach an angle of 5 degrees at most.

[0085] The elastically deformable junction 12; 37 is formed at a corner of the portion in plate 5,6,7 so as to allow relative movement between two neighboring plate parts around the elastically deformable junction 12; 37, for example in the manner of a pivot.

[0086] The electrical connection device 1 further comprises guide blocks 39 for guiding electrical signal pins. These electrical signal pins belong to the electronic module. This or these guide blocks 39 are formed for example by strips with passages for the pins, strips fixed on the plate parts. This or these guide blocks are for example produced by overmolding, and / or based on resin.

[0087] The conductive bars 3 are embedded in the mass of the plate parts 5, 6, 7.

[0088] The conductive bars 3 are in particular overmolded by the plastic material of the plate parts 5,6,7, and have connecting ends which extend beyond the material which forms the plate parts 5,6,7.

Claims

Claims

1. Electrical connection device (1) configured to be assembled with a support (101) of an electronic module (100), in particular an inverter, this electrical connection device (1) comprising a body (2), in particular made of plastic, and electrical conductors (3), in particular in the form of conductive bars which are carried by the body (2), the body comprising at least two plate parts (5, 6, 7) each carrying at least one of the conductors, each plate part (5, 6, 7) comprising at least one positioning zone (10) of the electrical connection device (1) on the support (101), and these plate parts (5, 6, 7) being connected together by at least one elastically deformable junction (12) so as to allow placement of one of the plate parts (5, 6, 7) relative to the other part with a clearance, when the electrical connection device (1) is assembled on the support (101) of the module electronics.

2. Electrical connection device (1) according to the preceding claim, in which the positioning zone (10) on each plate part comprises an orifice (17) configured for the passage of a positioning member such as a positioning rod (30) which makes it possible to position the plate part with the support of the electronic module, this rod being for example of the metallic type, linked to the support of the electronic module.

3. Electrical connection device (1) according to the preceding claim, in which each plate part (5, 6, 7) comprises at least two positioning zones (10), in particular each formed by an orifice (17).

4. Electrical connection device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the electrical connection device (1) comprises three plate parts (5, 6, 7) connected together, one after the other, and two elastically deformable junctions (12; 37) each configured to connect two plate parts together.

5. Electrical connection device (1) according to the preceding claim, in which the elastically deformable junction (12; 37) comprises a passage (18) configured to be placed in line with a hollow column (104) of the support (101) of the electronic module.

6. Electrical connection device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the elastically deformable junction (12; 37) is formed by a bridge of material (33; 50) between two neighboring plate parts.

7. Electrical connection device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the bridge of material forming the elastically deformable junction is adjacent to a slot (34) which separates two neighboring plate parts, and this slot in particular allows these two neighboring plate parts to move closer to or further away from each other when the elastically deformable junction zone is deformed.

8. Electrical connection device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the elastically deformable junction comprises several material bridges (50) connecting two neighboring plate parts.

9. An electrical connection device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the elastically deformable junction (12; 37) is formed at a corner of the plate portion so as to allow relative movement between two neighboring plate portions around the elastically deformable junction, for example in the manner of a pivot.

10. Electrical connection device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the conductive bars (3) are in particular overmolded by the plastic material of the plate parts.

11. Electronic module (100), in particular an inverter, comprising an electrical connection device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, configured to be assembled with a support (101) of the electronic module to ensure the electrical connection of the phases of the electronic module, the support (101) comprising in particular positioning rods configured to cooperate with positioning zones (10) of the plate parts (5, 6, 7).

12. Method for assembling an electronic module (100), in particular an inverter, comprising an electrical connection device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, configured to be assembled with a support (101) of the electronic module to ensure the electrical connection of the phases of the electronic module, the support comprising in particular positioning rods (30) configured to cooperate with positioning zones of the plate parts, the method comprising the following step: - placing the plate parts (5, 6, 7) of the electrical connection device on the positioning rods (30) of the support, possibly by adjusting the relative position of the plate parts (5,6,7) so that the positioning rods are opposite the positioning areas of the plate parts.

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