Electrical connection device

Abstract

To accurately assemble components holding a bus bar to an electronic module.SOLUTION: An electrical connection device (1) assembled to a supporting body (101) of an electronic module (100) that is an inverter has a plastic body (2), and an electrical conduction body (3) that is a bus bar shape held by the body (2). The body has at least two plate parts (5, 6, 7) holding at least one of conduction bodies, the plate parts (5, 6, 7) have at least one area (10) for positioning the electrical connection device (1) on the supporting body (101), and when the electrical connection device (1) is assembled on the supporting body (101), the plate parts (5, 6, 7) are mutually connected to at least one joint part (12) elastically deformable so that one of the plate parts (5, 6, 7) may be arranged with play with respect to the remaining plate parts.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] Many electronic modules, such as inverters provided in motor vehicles, use busbars associated with, for example, different electrical phases. It is advantageous to provide these busbars in a common component, which makes it easier to assemble the busbars to the rest of the electronic module. This component includes a positioning area that enables positioning of the component on the support of the electronic module. This common component that holds the busbar, when presenting relatively large dimensions, may pose an assembly problem in that a component with significant dimensions needs to be correctly positioned with respect to corresponding positioning rods on the support in the positioning area. If such tolerances are not observed, the component holding the busbar may not be accurately assembled to the rest of the electronic module.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0003] The present invention makes it possible to solve this problem.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0004] Accordingly, the present invention relates to an electrical connection device configured to be assembled to a support of an electronic module, in particular an inverter, said electrical connection device comprising in particular a body made of plastic and a conductor, in particular in the form of a bus bar, held by the body, the body comprising at least two plate portions each holding at least one of the conductors, each plate portion comprising at least one region for positioning the electrical connection device on a support, said plate portions being connected to each other by at least one elastically deformable joint so that when the electrical connection device is assembled on a support of an electronic module, one of the plate portions can be arranged with play relative to the remaining plate portions.

[0005] According to the present invention, an electrical connection device made in a plurality of plate portions is less subject to tolerance constraints. The elastically deformable joint enables the plate portions provided with regions for positioning the electrical connection device on a support to undergo relative movement with respect to the remainder of one of the plate portions when the electrical connection device is assembled on a support of an electronic module. This relative movement between the plate portions makes it possible to compensate for the effects of tolerances of different parts of the assembly. Thus, the present invention makes it possible to manufacture, for example, the electrical connection device and / or the support of the electronic module with acceptable tolerances from the point of view of industrial processes. The elastically deformable joint makes it possible to compensate for these tolerances by the play between the plate portions.

[0006] According to one aspect of the present invention, the positioning region on each plate portion comprises an orifice configured to receive a positioning member, such as a positioning rod, capable of positioning the plate portion on a support of an electronic module.

[0007] This rod is, for example, made of metal and is connected to a support of the electronic module.

[0008] According to one aspect of the present invention, the positioning rod is simply inserted into the orifice within the positioning area. The positioning rod is used for the temporary positioning (not permanent fastening) of the electrical connection device on the support of the electronic module.

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

[0010] According to one aspect of the present invention, each plate portion includes at least two positioning areas, each of which is particularly formed by an orifice.

[0011] According to one aspect of the present invention, in each plate portion, the positioning areas are spaced apart from each other along the direction of the maximum length of the plate portion.

[0012] According to one aspect of the present invention, the electrical connection device includes three plate portions connected to each other in sequence.

[0013] Thus, the electrical connection device can include one plate portion that is disposed between the other two plate portions and is connected to these plate portions by an elastically deformable joint.

[0014] Therefore, in this case, the electrical connection device includes two elastically deformable joints each configured to connect two plate portions to each other.

[0015] According to one aspect of the present invention, the plate portions are arranged so as to be on substantially the same plane.

[0016] In other words, the plate portions extend within substantially the same plane.

[0017] According to one aspect of the present invention, the elastically deformable joint includes a passage configured to be arranged alongside the hollow column of the support of the electronic module.

[0018] This enables a fastening member, for example a rod such as a screw, to be inserted into the elastically deformable joint portion.

[0019] According to one aspect of the present invention, in this way the plate part can also comprise, in addition to the positioning orifice, a passage for a screw for permanently fixing the plate part to the support of the electronic module, for example. For this reason, the plate part can interact with the positioning rod and the fastening screw.

[0020] According to one aspect of the present invention, if the electrical connection device comprises three plate parts, the electrical connection device comprises three pairs of positioning areas, each pair being associated with one of the plate parts.

[0021] According to one aspect of the present invention, six positioning areas can be provided in the plate part.

[0022] By setting the number of the positioning areas to this number, a highly fixed assembly that requires accurate positioning of various positioning areas can be obtained. By manufacturing the electrical connection device in a plurality of parts, it becomes possible to manufacture this highly fixed assembly due to the play that can occur between various plate parts.

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

[0024] According to one aspect of the present invention, there are three plate parts arranged to form a V or a U.

[0025] According to one aspect of the present invention, the elastically deformable joint portion is adjacent to the inner edge of the V or the U.

[0026] For this reason, the present invention enables the arms of the V or the U to curve towards each other.

[0027] According to one aspect of the present invention, the electrical connection device has symmetry with respect to a symmetry plane. For example, the symmetry plane passes through a central plate portion disposed between two other plate portions that are symmetric to each other with respect to this symmetry plane.

[0028] According to one aspect of the present invention, a material bridge forming an elastically deformable joint is adjacent to a slot separating two adjacent plate portions.

[0029] This slot enables the two adjacent plate portions to approach or separate from each other when the elastically deformable joint deforms.

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

[0031] According to one aspect of the present invention, the material bridge is substantially circular and has a through hole at its center.

[0032] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the elastically deformable joint comprises a plurality of material bridges connecting two adjacent plate portions.

[0033] According to one aspect of the present invention, the material bridges are disposed at different facing edge positions on two adjacent plate portions.

[0034] The material bridge is, for example, a small piece of hard material.

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

[0036] The play allowed by the elastically deformable joint according to the present invention can occur, for example, by slightly rotating one of the plate portions relative to the others.

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

[0038] According to one aspect of the present invention, the elastically deformable joint is formed at the corner of the plate part so as to enable relative movement between two adjacent plate parts around the elastically deformable joint, for example, like a pivot axis.

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

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

[0041] According to one aspect of the present invention, the guide block is formed, for example, by a small piece having a passage for the pins, and the small piece is fastened to the plate part. The guide block is manufactured, for example, by overmolding and / or using resin.

[0042] According to one aspect of the present invention, the bus bar is embedded in the plate part.

[0043] The bus bar is overmolded, in particular, by the plastic of the plate part.

[0044] According to one aspect of the present invention, the bus bar has a connection end portion that extends beyond the material forming the plate part.

[0045] The present invention also relates to an electronic module, in particular an inverter, comprising the above-described electrical connection device configured to be assembled to a support of the electronic module to provide an electrical connection of the phase of the electronic module, wherein the support comprises a positioning rod configured to interact with a positioning region of the plate part.

[0046] The present invention also relates to a method for assembling an electronic module, in particular an inverter, the electronic module comprising the above-described electrical connection device configured to be assembled to a support of the electronic module to provide an electrical connection of the phase of the electronic module, the support comprising a positioning rod configured to interact with a positioning region of a plate portion, the method comprising optionally adjusting the relative position of the plate portion such that the positioning rod faces the positioning region of the plate portion, and placing the plate portion of the electrical connection device on the positioning rod of the support.

[0047] Further features, details, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by reading the following description and several exemplary embodiments provided as non-limiting illustrations, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0048]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0049] The features, modifications, and various embodiments of the present invention can be combined with each other in various combinations as long as they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive. In particular, if this selection of features provides a technical advantage and / or is sufficient to distinguish the present invention from the prior art, it is possible to envision a modification of the present invention that includes only the selection of the features described below, independent of the other features described.

[0050] 1 represents an electronic module 100 forming part of an inverter installed in a motor vehicle, which is used to convert the direct current supplied by the battery into the alternating current required by the electric motor to drive the wheels.

[0051] Said electronic module 100 comprises an electrical connection device 1 according to one exemplary embodiment of the invention, configured to be assembled on a support 101 of the electronic module 100 in order to provide electrical connections of the phases of the electronic module 100. The support 101 generally has the form of a half-shell, on the bottom of which the electrical connection device 1 is arranged.

[0052] The support 101 comprises a positioning rod 30 configured to interact with a positioning area 10 of the electrical connecting device 1, as will be explained in detail below.

[0053] The electrical connection device 1 comprises a body 2, here made of plastic, and electrical conductors 3 in the form of busbars carried by the body 2.

[0054] The body 2 comprises three plate portions 5 , 6 , 7 each carrying an electrical conductor 3 .

[0055] The plate parts 5, 6, 7 have an area 10 for positioning the electrical connection device 1 on the support 101, and these plate parts 5, 6, 7 are connected to each other by elastically deformable joints 12 so that when the electrical connection device 1 is assembled on the support 101 of the electronic module 100, one of the plate parts 5, 6, 7 can be positioned with play relative to the remaining adjacent plate parts.

[0056] In the example shown, the three plate sections 5, 6, 7 are connected to one another in turn.

[0057] In this way, the plate portion 6 is arranged in the center between the remaining two plate portions 5 and 7, and both sides of the plate portion 6 are connected to the plate portions 5 and 7 by two elastically deformable joints 12.

[0058] Therefore, in this case, the electrical connection device comprises two elastically deformable joints 12.

[0059] The plate portions 5, 6, and 7 are arranged such that they are in substantially the same plane.

[0060] In other words, the plate portions 5, 6, and 7 extend in substantially the same plane.

[0061] The positioning regions 10 on the plate portions 5, 6, and 7 each comprise an orifice 17 configured to receive a positioning rod 30 that enables positioning of the plate portions 5, 6, and 7 on the support 101 of the electronic module. For example, there are two positioning regions 10 for each of the plate portions 5, 6, and 7.

[0062] Each rod 30 is, for example, made of metal and is connected to the support 101 of the electronic module.

[0063] Each positioning rod 30 is simply inserted into the orifice 17 within the positioning region. The positioning rod 30 is used for temporary positioning (not permanent fastening) of the electrical connection device 1 on the support 101 of the electronic module.

[0064] In each of the plate portions 5, 6, and 7, the positioning regions 10 are spaced apart from each other along the direction of the maximum length of the plate portions 5, 6, and 7.

[0065] As shown in FIG. 4, which is a view along the arrow V1 in FIG. 2, the elastically deformable joint 12 comprises a passage 18 configured to be arranged alongside the hollow column 104 of the support 101 of the electronic module.

[0066] This enables a rod such as a fastening member, for example a screw 109, to be inserted into the passage 18 of the elastically deformable joint 12. The screw 109 is screwed into the hollow column 104 of the support 101.

[0067] In this way, the elastically deformable joint 12 functions as a pivot point between two adjacent plate portions.

[0068] The screw 109 permanently fixes the plate portions 5, 6, 7 onto the support 101 of the electronic module. For this purpose, the plate portions 5, 6, 7 can interact with the positioning rod 30 and the fastening screw 109.

[0069] The elastically deformable joint 12 is formed by a material bridge 33 between two adjacent plate portions 5, 6, 7.

[0070] The three plate portions 5, 6, 7 are arranged so as to form a U-shape (a U-shape having three sections formed by the three plate portions). The elastically deformable joint 12 enables the arms of the U-shape to curve towards each other.

[0071] The electrical connection device 1 has symmetry with respect to a symmetry plane SP passing through the central plate portion 6 arranged between the remaining two plate portions 5 and 7.

[0072] The material bridge 33 forming the elastically deformable joint 12 is adjacent to a slot 34 separating two adjacent plate portions.

[0073] This slot 34 enables the two adjacent plate portions 5, 6, 7 to approach or separate from each other when the elastically deformable joint 12 deforms.

[0074] The slot 34 is formed between two substantially parallel edges 35 of two adjacent plate portions 5, 6, 7.

[0075] In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 5, the elastically deformable joint 37 comprises a plurality of material bridges 50 that connect two adjacent plate portions.

[0076] These material bridges 50 are arranged at different facing edge positions on two adjacent plate portions 5, 6, 7.

[0077] The material bridges 50 are, for example, small pieces of hard material.

[0078] These small pieces of material 50 can be made relatively thin so that they can be deformed without breaking.

[0079] The play allowed by the elastically deformable joints 12, 37 according to the present invention can occur, for example, by slightly rotating one of the plate portions 5, 6, 7 relative to the others.

[0080] The relative rotation can reach an angle of, for example, up to 10 degrees or up to 5 degrees.

[0081] The elastically deformable joints 12, 37 are formed at the corners of the plate portions 5, 6, 7 so as to allow relative movement between two adjacent plate portions around the elastically deformable joints 12, 37, for example, like a pivot axis.

[0082] The electrical connection device 1 further comprises a guide block 39 for guiding electrical signal pins. The electrical signal pins belong to an electronic module. The guide block 39 is formed, for example, by a small piece having a passage for the pins, and the small piece is fastened to the plate portion. The guide block is manufactured, for example, by overmolding and / or using resin.

[0083] The conductor 3 is embedded in the plate portions 5, 6, 7.

[0084] The conductor 3 is overmolded, in particular, by the plastic of the plate portions 5, 6, 7 and has connection ends that extend beyond the material forming the plate portions 5, 6, 7.

Claims

1. 1. An electrical connection device (1) adapted to be assembled on a support (101) of an electronic module (100), in particular an inverter, said electrical connection device (1) comprising a body (2), in particular made of plastic, and electrical conductors (3), in particular in the form of bus bars, carried by said body (2), said body comprising at least two plate parts (5, 6, 7) each carrying at least one of said electrical conductors, each plate part (5, 6, 7) comprising at least one area (10) for positioning said electrical connection device (1) on said support (101), said plate parts (5, 6, 7) being connected to one another by at least one elastically deformable joint (12) in such a way that, when said electrical connection device (1) is assembled on said support (101) of the electronic module, one of said plate parts (5, 6, 7) can be positioned with play relative to the remaining plate parts.

2. 2. The electrical connection device (1) of claim 1, wherein the area (10) on each plate portion is provided with an orifice (17) configured to receive a positioning member, such as a positioning rod (30), enabling the plate portion to be positioned on the support of the electronic module, the positioning rod being, for example, metal, and connected to the support of the electronic module.

3. 3. An electrical connection device (1) according to claim 2, wherein each plate portion (5, 6, 7) comprises at least two positioning areas (10), in particular each formed by said orifices (17).

4. 4. The electrical connection device (1) according to claim 1, comprising three plate parts (5, 6, 7) connected to each other in sequence and two elastically deformable joints (12, 37) each configured to connect two plate parts to each other.

5. 5. The electrical connection device (1) according to claim 4, wherein the elastically deformable joint (12, 37) comprises a passage (18) configured to be arranged alongside a hollow post (104) of the support (101) of the electronic module.

6. 6. Electrical connection device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the elastically deformable joint (12, 37) is formed by a material bridge (33, 50) between two adjacent plate parts.

7. 7. An electrical connection device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the material bridge forming the elastically deformable joint adjoins a slot (34) separating two adjacent plate parts, said slot enabling in particular the two adjacent plate parts to move closer to or farther away from each other when the elastically deformable joint is deformed.

8. 8. Electrical connection device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the elastically deformable joint comprises a number of material bridges (50) connecting two adjacent plate portions.

9. 9. An electrical connection device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the elastically deformable joints (12, 37) are formed at the corners of the plate parts to allow relative movement between two adjacent plate parts around the elastically deformable joint, for example a pivot axis.

10. 10. Electrical connection device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the electrical conductor (3) is overmolded by the plastic, in particular in the plate portion.

11. An electronic module (100), in particular an inverter, comprising an electrical connection device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, configured to be assembled on a support (101) of the electronic module for providing an electrical connection of the phases of the electronic module, the support (101) comprising positioning rods configured to interact with positioning areas (10) of the plate parts (5, 6, 7).

12. A method for assembling an electronic module (100), in particular an inverter, comprising an electrical connection device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, configured to be assembled on a support (101) of said electronic module for providing an electrical connection of the phases of said electronic module, said support comprising positioning rods (30) configured in particular to interact with positioning areas (10) of plate parts (5, 6, 7), said method comprising the steps of: optionally comprising a step of positioning the plate parts (5, 6, 7) of the electrical connection device on the positioning rod (30) of the support by adjusting the relative positions of the plate parts (5, 6, 7) so that the positioning rod faces the positioning area of ​​the plate parts (5, 6, 7).

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