Connector intended to make an electrical connection between an electric motor and an inverter and system comprising such a connector

Abstract

The invention relates to a connector intended to make an electrical connection between an electric motor and an inverter, the connector comprising: - a plurality of connection elements, each connection element being intended to fit with a complementary electrical connection element of the electric motor in order to electrically connect them to each other; and - a plurality of connection pins, each connection pin being electrically connected to one of the connection elements and configured to pass through an orifice provided in a housing of the inverter in order to come into contact with a track of an electrical interconnection bar of the inverter, the orifice being provided in a wall of an inverter casing comprising the inverter. Figure for the abstract: 2

Description

Title of the invention: Connector intended to make an electrical connection between an electric motor and an inverter and system comprising such a connector Technical field

[0001] The invention relates to the field of electric rotary machines for electric vehicles, for example an electric motor, and to the electrical devices connected to these machines in an electric vehicle, for example an electric battery or an inverter. In particular, the invention relates to connectors between the electric rotary machines and the electrical devices of electric vehicles. Technological background

[0002] An electric motor for an electric vehicle is generally powered by alternating current. An inverter is therefore required to transform the direct current power supply from the electric battery to the alternating current power supply to run the alternating current electric motor.

[0003] Generally, the inverter, the electric battery and the electric motor are positioned and connected together within the same housing on board the vehicle. However, it is possible that the electric motor, the electric battery and the motor are not assembled together at the same time.

[0004] For example, it is possible that the AC electric motor is already previously mounted in a motor housing and that one then seeks to subsequently connect the inverter with the electric motor.

[0005] It is then often difficult to make the connection between the inverter and the electric motor. Summary of the invention

[0006] One idea behind the invention is to facilitate the electrical connection between an inverter and an electric motor.

[0007] According to one embodiment, the invention provides a connector intended to make an electrical connection between an electric motor and an inverter, the connector comprising: - a plurality of connection elements, each connection element being intended to fit together with a complementary electrical connection element of the electric motor in order to electrically connect them to each other; and - a plurality of connection pins, each connection pin being electrically connected to one of the connection elements and configured to pass through an orifice provided in a housing of the inverter in order to come into contact with a track of an electrical interconnection bar of the inverter, the hole being provided in a wall of an inverter housing comprising the inverter.

[0008] Thanks to these characteristics, the connector allows an easier connection between the electric motor and the inverter.

[0009] The double connection of the plurality of connection elements of the connector with the complementary electrical connection elements of the electric motor and the connection pins of the connector with the electrical interconnection bar of the inverter is easier than the direct connection between the inverter and the electric motor.

[0010] Thanks to the connector facilitating the connection, it is possible to make a blind connection of the inverter with the electric motor. The assembly operations are thus facilitated.

[0011] Furthermore, it is possible to only connect the plurality of connection elements of the connector with the complementary electrical connection elements of the electric motor in a first step; then, in a second step, to connect the connection pins of the connector with the electrical interconnection bar of the inverter. The reverse is also possible: in a first step, only connect the connection pins of the connector with the electrical interconnection bar of the inverter; then, in a second step, connect the plurality of connection elements of the connector with the complementary electrical connection elements of the electric motor. This makes it possible not to directly connect the inverter with the electric motor.

[0012] According to embodiments, such a connector may comprise one or more of the following characteristics.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the connection elements and the connection pins each comprise an insulating body and electrical conductors, each insulating body being made in particular of a plastic material such as polymers.

[0014] Thus, the connector is more flexible than the inverter housing, the inverter and / or the electric motor, which makes it possible to compensate for play between the inverter and the electric motor.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the invention also provides a system comprising an inverter housing, a connector according to the invention fixed to the inverter housing, an inverter housed inside the inverter housing and an electrical interconnection bar which is housed inside the inverter housing, is electrically connected to the inverter and comprises tracks, the inverter housing comprising a plurality of orifices; each orifice being positioned opposite one of the tracks of the electrical interconnection bar; each connection pin of the connector passing through one of the orifices and being in contact with one of the tracks.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the inverter housing forms a cover intended to close a motor housing inside which an electric motor is housed.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the connection elements of the connector are each adapted to fit together with a complementary electrical connection element of the electric motor during a closing movement of the motor housing by the inverter housing.

[0018] Thus, it is possible to blindly assemble the inverter with the electric motor while closing the motor housing, which further facilitates the assembly operations.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the connection elements of the connector are configured to fit together with the complementary electrical connection elements in mutually parallel fitting directions and the inverter casing is configured to close the motor casing in a closing movement directed in a closing direction; the closing direction being parallel to the fitting directions.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the inverter housing and the motor housing are configured so that there is only one relative closing position.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the invention also provides a method of assembling a system according to the invention, the method comprising the following step: - pre-position the inverter housing relative to the motor housing so that the connection elements of the connector are opposite the complementary electrical connection elements in mutually parallel interlocking directions; - moving the inverter housing relative to the motor housing in a closing movement directed in a closing direction parallel to the nesting directions to a relative closing position in which the inverter housing closes the motor housing and the connection elements of the connector are nested with the complementary electrical connection elements of the electric motor. Brief description of the figures

[0022] The invention will be better understood, and other aims, details, characteristics and advantages thereof will appear more clearly during the following description of several particular embodiments of the invention, given solely for illustrative and non-limiting purposes, with reference to the appended drawings.

[0023] [Fig. 1] is a schematic representation of a motor housing which is closed by an inverter housing inside which an inverter 300 is housed and in which an electric motor and an electric battery are housed, the electric motor and the inverter being electrically connected by means of a connector.

[0024] [Fig. 2] shows an exploded perspective view of an inverter housing and a connector intended to make an electrical connection between an electric motor and a inverter.

[0025] [Fig.3] is a partial sectional view along axis III-III of [Fig.2].

[0026] [Fig.4] is a schematic representation of an engine casing which is closed by a inverter housing inside which an inverter is housed and in which an electric motor and an electric battery are housed, the electric motor and the inverter being electrically connected by a first connector and the electric battery and the inverter being electrically connected by a second connector. Description of the embodiments

[0027] An electric or hybrid vehicle is equipped with an electric mechanical propulsion. This electric propulsion comprises an electric motor 510, an electric battery 600 and an inverter 300.

[0028] The inverter 300 converts the direct current, supplied by the electric battery 600 into alternating current, which the electric motor 510 needs to drive the wheels of the electric vehicle.

[0029] For this purpose, it is therefore necessary to electrically connect the electric motor 510 with the inverter 300 and the electric battery 600 with the inverter 300.

[0030] A connector 100, as illustrated in [Fig.2], is, in particular, intended to make this electrical connection between the electric motor 510 and the inverter 300 as illustrated schematically in [Fig.l] (the connection between the electric battery 600 and the inverter 300 is not shown in [Fig.l]).

[0031] As illustrated in [Fig.2], the connector 100 comprises a plurality of connection elements 10 and a plurality of connection pins 12 which are each electrically connected to one of the connection elements 10. In an advantageous embodiment, the electric motor 510 is supplied in three-phase and the connector 100 comprises three connection elements 10 and three connection pins 12 which each correspond to one of the three phases U, V, W.

[0032] For example, in [Fig. 3], there is illustrated a connection element 10 and a connection pin 12 forming part of the connector 100.

[0033] The connection elements 10 and the connection pins 12 each comprise an insulating body and electrical conductors, each insulating body being made, for example, of a plastic material such as a polymer. For example, each insulating body is formed of polyphenylene sulfide (abbreviated to PPS), and in particular of polyphenylene sulfide filled with 30% glass fiber, or of polybutylene terephthalate (abbreviated to PBT).

[0034] The connection elements 10 make it possible to connect the connector 100 to the electric motor 510. As illustrated in [Fig.3], the connection element 10 is intended to be positioned opposite a complementary electrical connection element 20 of the 510 electric motor to be connected with the 300 inverter.

[0035] The electrical connection between the connection element 10 of the connector 100 and the complementary electrical connection element 20 of the electric motor 510 can be made by a male-female assembly. In this case, according to a first embodiment, the connection element 10 of the connector 100 can be the male assembly element or, according to a second embodiment, the complementary electrical connection element 20 can be the male element of the assembly.

[0036] For example, in [Fig. 3], the complementary electrical connector 20 of the motor is the male element of the assembly and is inserted inside the connection element 10.

[0037] Other types of assembly between the connection element 10 of the connector 100 and the complementary electrical connection element 20 are possible. For example, by screwing

[0038] The connection pins 12 make it possible to connect the connector 100 to the interconnection bar 34 of the inverter 300.

[0039] The inverter 300 and the interconnection bar 34 are housed inside an inverter housing 400. A wall 30 of the inverter housing 400 comprises a plurality of orifices 32. [Fig. 3] illustrates a portion of the wall 30 of the inverter housing 400 comprising an orifice 32.

[0040] As illustrated in [Fig. 3], each connection pin 12 is configured to pass through the orifice 32 and come into contact with one of the tracks 341 of the electrical interconnection bar 34 of the inverter 300.

[0041] According to one embodiment, the tracks 341 integrate contact zones with the connection pins which are elastic: this makes it possible to avoid hyper-static assembly of the connector 100 with the inverter 300. This may in particular be a flexibility loop.

[0042] Thus, the connector 100 makes it possible to electrically connect the complementary electrical connection element 20 of the electric motor 510 with the electrical interconnection pin 34 connected to the inverter 300.

[0043] The connector 100 thus facilitates the assembly of the inverter 300 to the electric motor 510 of an electric vehicle since it allows non-coaxial electrical elements to be connected. Indeed, as illustrated in [Fig. 3], the complementary electrical connection element 20 is not necessarily aligned with the corresponding track 341.

[0044] In addition, the connector 100 makes it possible to compensate for, or recover, a clearance between the inverter 300 and the electric motor 510.

[0045] The connector 100 may be attached to an inverter housing 400 and only connected to the interconnection bar 34. [Fig. 2] illustrates such an inverter housing 400.

[0046] In [Fig.2], the inverter housing 400 comprises the inverter 300 housed within it and an interconnection bar 34 - comprising a plurality of tracks 341 - electrically connected strictly to the inverter 300.

[0047] The inverter casing 400 comprises a plurality of orifices 32 and each of these orifices 32 is positioned opposite one of the tracks 341 of the electrical interconnection bar 34. Thus, each connection pin 12 of the connector 100 passes through one of the orifices 32 and is then in contact with one of the tracks 341.

[0048] The inverter housing 400 is then ready to be connected to the electric motor 510. Thanks to the connector 100, this connection with the electric motor 510 can be made during a blind assembly between the inverter housing 400 and a motor housing 500 inside which the electric motor 510 and the electric battery 600 are housed.

[0049] The inverter casing 400 then forms a cover intended to close this motor casing 500. The connection elements 10 of the connector 100 are each adapted to fit with a complementary electrical connection element 20 of the electric motor 510 during the closing movement of the motor casing 500 by the inverter casing 400.

[0050] For example, the connection elements 10 of the connector 100 fit together with the complementary electrical connection elements 20 in mutually parallel fitting directions.

[0051] In order to be able to connect the connection elements 10 of the connector 100 with the complementary electrical connection elements 20 of the motor, the closing direction in which the inverter housing 400 is configured to close the motor housing 500 must be parallel to the nesting directions.

[0052] For this purpose, the inverter casing 400 is pre-positioned relative to the motor casing 500 so that the connection elements 10 of the connector 100 are opposite the complementary electrical connection elements 20 of the electric motor 510 in mutually parallel fitting directions.

[0053] Thus, during a closing movement in which the inverter casing 400 is moved relative to the motor casing 500 in a closing direction parallel to the fitting directions, the connection elements 10 of the connector 100 fit with the complementary electrical connection elements 20. Thus, the inverter casing 400 and the motor casing 500 are in a relative closing position in which the inverter casing 400 closes the motor casing 500.

[0054] Thus, the assembly of the inverter 300 with the electric motor 510 can be carried out blindly since the closing movement of the motor casing 500 by the inverter casing 400 makes it possible to fit the connection elements 10 of the connector 100 with the complementary electrical connection elements 20 of the electric motor 510.

[0055] According to one embodiment, the inverter housing 400 and the motor housing are configured so that there is only one relative closing position.

[0056] According to one embodiment, the electrical connection element(s) comple- 20 are fixed to the engine casing 500 by a threaded assembly.

[0057] A second connector 100 can also be used to connect the inverter 300 with the electric battery 600. [Fig.4] illustrates this embodiment.

[0058] In this case, the connector 100 intended to make the electrical connection between the electric motor 510 and the inverter 300 of the electric vehicle is a first connector 100.

[0059] In this same case, in a manner analogous to the electric motor 510, the electric battery 600 comprises a plurality of complementary connection elements 20 adapted to be connected with the plurality of connection elements 10 of the connector 100.

[0060] As illustrated in [Fig.4], a second interconnection bar 34 may be provided to connect the inverter 300 with the second connector 100. The interconnection bar 34 connecting the inverter 300 with the first connector 100 is then a first interconnection bar 34.

[0061] In a similar manner to the first connector 100, the second connector 100 can be electrically connected to the inverter 300, i.e. the connection pins 12 of this second connector 100 are in contact with a track 341 of a connection bar 34 of the inverter 300.

[0062] Although the invention has been described in connection with several particular embodiments, it is quite obvious that it is in no way limited thereto and that it includes all the technical equivalents of the means described as well as their combinations if these fall within the scope of the invention.

[0063] The use of the verb “comprise”, “comprise” or “include” and its conjugated forms does not exclude the presence of other elements or other steps than those stated in a claim.

[0064] In the claims, any reference sign in parentheses cannot be interpreted as a limitation of the claim.

Claims

Claims

1. A connector (100) for making an electrical connection between an electric motor (510) and an inverter (300), the connector comprising: - a plurality of connection elements (10), each connection element (10) being intended to fit with a complementary electrical connection element (20) of the electric motor in order to electrically connect them to each other; and - a plurality of connection pins (12), each connection pin being electrically connected to one of the connection elements (10) and configured to pass through an orifice (32) in order to come into contact with a track (341) of an electrical interconnection bar (34) of the inverter, the orifice (32) being provided in a wall (30) of an inverter housing (400) comprising the inverter (300).

2. Connector according to claim 1, in which the connection elements (10) and the connection pins (12) each comprise an insulating body and electrical conductors, each insulating body being in particular made of a plastic material such as polymers.

3. A system comprising an inverter housing (400), a connector according to claim 1 or 2 attached to the inverter housing, an inverter (300) housed inside the inverter housing and an electrical interconnection bar which is housed inside the inverter housing, is electrically connected to the inverter (300) and comprises tracks (341), the inverter housing (400) comprising a plurality of holes (32); each hole (32) being positioned opposite one of the tracks (341) of the electrical interconnection bar (34); each connection pin (12) of the connector passing through one of the holes and being in contact with one of the tracks (341).

4. System according to the preceding claim in which the inverter casing (400) forms a cover intended to close a motor casing inside which an electric motor is housed.

5. System according to the preceding claim, in which the connection elements (10) of the connector (100) are each adapted to fit with a complementary electrical connection element (20) of the electric motor during a closing movement of the motor housing by the inverter housing (400).

6. System according to one of claims 4 or 5, in which the elements connection elements (10) of the connector are configured to fit together with the complementary electrical connection elements (20) in mutually parallel fitting directions and in which the inverter housing (300) is configured to close the motor housing in a closing movement directed in a closing direction and in which the closing direction is parallel to the fitting directions.

7. The system of claim 4 to 6, further comprising a motor housing and an electric motor (510) housed in the motor housing, the electric motor comprising complementary electrical connection elements (20); the inverter housing (300) and the motor housing configured to be positioned in a relative closed position in which the connection elements (10) of the connector are fitted with the complementary electrical connection elements (20) of the electric motor (510).

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the inverter housing (300) and the motor housing (500) are configured such that there is only one relative closed position.

9. System according to the preceding claim in which the complementary electrical connection element(s) (20) are fixed to the engine casing by a threaded assembly.

10. A method of assembling a system according to claim 7, the method comprising the following step: - pre-positioning the inverter housing (400) relative to the motor housing so that the connection elements (10) of the connector (100) are opposite the complementary electrical connection elements (20) in mutually parallel interlocking directions; - moving the inverter housing (400) relative to the motor housing in a closing movement directed in a closing direction parallel to the interlocking directions to a relative closing position in which the inverter housing (300) closes the motor housing and the connection elements (10) of the connector are interlocked with the complementary electrical connection elements (20) of the electric motor.

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