component

Abstract

To provide a component suitable for connection with bus bars which have a high temperature.SOLUTION: A component 1 includes a first region 3 through which a bus bar 14 passes and a second region 4 in which a discrete device 13 is arranged. The first region 3 and the second region 4 are separated from one another by a cooling region 5 thermally decoupling the first region 3 from the second region 4. The first region 3 includes a tube 8 which passes though the first region 3 and extends and which is suitable for housing at least one bus bar 14 therein. The tube 8 is dimensioned such that an internal wall 15 of the tube 8 and the at least one bus bar 14 are separated from one another by an air layer 16. The air layer 16 between the internal wall 15 of the tube 8 and the bus bar 14 contributes to thermal insulation, in addition to the cooling region 5. By the air layer 16, heat emitted by the bus bar 14 is damped and transmitted to the internal wall 15 of the tube 8.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The invention relates to a component which can be used, for example, in applications in the automotive sector and as an EMC filter (EMC=Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC)). [Background technology]

[0002] In the automotive field, various demands are made on such components: they must be as light as possible to achieve weight optimization and compactness, and they are always connected to connectors or busbars that may be subject to high temperatures and / or vibrations, and therefore should be as insensitive as possible to high temperatures or mechanical interferences. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The present invention aims to provide an improved component, for example suitable for connection to a high temperature connector or busbar.

[0004] The solution for achieving the above object is the component according to claim 1 of the present invention.

[0005] A component is proposed having a first region suitable for passing at least one busbar and a second region in which at least one discrete element is provided, the first region and the second region being separated from each other by a cooling region that thermally insulates the first region from the second region.

[0006] The component may in particular be a filter component. In the automotive field, the filter component may be connected to a connector or a busbar that may be subject to high temperatures and / or vibrations. The filter component proposed in this application is less susceptible to high temperatures because the first and second regions are separated from each other by a cooling region that thermally insulates the first and second regions. According to this embodiment, the second region of the filter component can also be protected from vibrations of its busbar.

[0007] The filter component may be configured to vary the electrical signal in amplitude and phase as a function of frequency, thus reducing or suppressing undesired signal components.

[0008] The thermal isolation of the first and second regions ensures that the at least one discrete element is not subjected to excessive temperatures, even if the busbar is very hot. The cooling region can thus protect the at least one discrete element from the excessive temperatures of the busbar. The component therefore does not need to have a structural upper limit on the temperature of the busbar in order to protect the at least one discrete element. Precisely, the component can also be used in combination with very hot busbars.

[0009] The first and second regions may be spatially separated from one another by a cooling region, where the first region may be adjacent to the cooling region on one side and the second region may be adjacent to the cooling region on the other side. The component may comprise a housing, and the first region, the second region and the cooling region may all be disposed within the housing.

[0010] The busbars do not necessarily have to be part of the component - in fact, components may be manufactured and sold without busbars - the busbars may be part of a component of the application, for example, another member that is connected to the component.

[0011] The first area may comprise a conduit, and at least one busbar may pass through the conduit. The first area may be suitable for passing a plurality of busbars, for example two busbars. The first area may comprise a separate conduit for each busbar.

[0012] Passing the at least one busbar through the first region causes the at least one busbar to extend from a first end of the first region to a second end of the first region, wherein the at least one busbar can extend into a housing of the component.

[0013] The second area may comprise a printed circuit board (PCB), on which at least one discrete component may be provided.

[0014] The second region may comprise a plurality of discrete elements. The discrete elements may be, for example, capacitors or other elements, for example resistors. The discrete elements may be components of a filter circuit. More discrete elements may be provided on the printed circuit board.

[0015] The cooling zone can be considered to be thermally isolated from the first zone and the second zone when it ensures that the temperature in the second zone is lower than in the first zone. Thermal isolation of the two zones can then be achieved when the first zone is heated by a busbar. For example, when a current flows through the busbar, a temperature much higher than 100° C. can be reached in the first zone. The second zone is considered to be thermally isolated from the first zone when the temperature in the second zone is at least 10° C. lower than the temperature in the first zone. Preferably, the temperature in the second zone is at least 25° C. lower than the temperature in the first zone. Alternatively, the second zone is considered to be thermally isolated from the first zone when the temperature in the second zone is at least 40° C. lower than the temperature in the first zone.

[0016] The cooling area can be configured to absorb and dissipate heat emitted from the first area. In this way, it can be ensured that the first area heats the second area only to a small extent. For this purpose, the cooling area can be filled with a material used as a thermal insulator. The cooling area can be filled with air, for example. Alternatively or in addition to an air filling, the cooling area can have a layer made of plastic. Both the air and the plastic layer are used as thermal insulators that do not completely transfer the heat emitted from the first area to the second area.

[0017] In this way, it is ensured that the at least one discrete element provided in the second area is not damaged by the heat emitted by the busbar. Correspondingly, the cooling area also allows the component to be used in applications where the busbar is extremely heated, as is the case, for example, in the automotive field. In that field, busbars have a current rating of 3 A / mm 2 and even higher current densities, which are associated with significant heating of the busbars.

[0018] The at least one discrete element may be a capacitor. The second region may comprise a plurality of discrete elements, in which case the discrete elements may be a plurality of capacitors. The second region may also comprise other discrete elements, such as resistors.

[0019] In the first region, at least one inductor may be provided, the inductor surrounding the busbar when the busbar passes through the first region. The inductor may be a magnetic core. The inductor may in particular be a ferrite core or a nanocrystalline core. The inductor may surround the conduit, the at least one busbar being able to pass through the conduit. If the first region comprises a number of conduits through which each busbar can pass, the inductor may surround all the conduits of the first region.

[0020] The first region may include a plurality of inductors connected to at least one discrete element, and possibly more discrete elements. The inductors and the at least one discrete element may be connected to form an LC filter circuit.

[0021] The first region may comprise a conduit extending through the first region and adapted to accommodate a busbar. The first region may comprise a plurality of conduits, each adapted to accommodate a busbar. The conduits may be adapted to guide the busbar and to provide electrical contact between the busbar and the component.

[0022] The conduit can be sized such that the inner wall of the conduit and the busbar are separated from each other by an air gap. In addition to the cooling area, the air gap between the inner wall of the conduit and the busbar also contributes to the thermal insulation of the busbar. The air gap can ensure that the level of heat emitted by the busbar is reduced and transferred to the inner wall of the conduit.

[0023] The at least one discrete element may be electrically connected to the conduit by a cable or a printed circuit board (PCB). The connection of the at least one discrete element by a cable can be constructed in such a way that the vibrations of the busbar are not completely transmitted to the discrete elements. Precisely, the connection of the conduit and the discrete elements by a cable can ensure a mechanical isolation between the busbar and these elements. For this purpose, the cable may have a sufficient clearance. If the at least one discrete element is connected to the conduit by means of a PCB rather than a cable, the PCB can also ensure that the vibrations of the busbar are not completely transmitted to the discrete elements. The PCB is generally flexible and can absorb and reduce the vibrations accordingly.

[0024] In particular for applications in the automotive field, the busbars may be subjected to mechanical interferences such as vibrations or very large mechanical forces, and the embodiment of the component in which the conduits and the discrete elements are connected by cables allows the discrete elements to be protected from these mechanical interferences and forces.

[0025] The cable may extend through the cooling area. If the cable is significantly heated by the busbar at its connection point, the cable can be cooled in the cooling area to completely prevent the heat emitted by the busbar from being transferred to the discrete element. Correspondingly, the cooling area can ensure that there is an electrical connection between the discrete element and the busbar without the element overheating. Because the cooling area does not significantly increase the volume of the component, the cooling area can still achieve a miniaturization of the component.

[0026] The conduit may include insulating material and conductive contacts for connection to the cable. Correspondingly, the conduit can provide isolation of the busbar from other components of the component.

[0027] The cable can be connected to the conduit in such a way as to mechanically isolate the first and second regions, so that vibrations of the busbar and forces acting on the busbar are not transmitted to the at least one discrete element, thus preventing mechanical damage and increasing the service life.

[0028] A spring-loaded connection part may connect the cable and the conduit and may, for example, comprise a screw including a spring mechanism.

[0029] The component may comprise at least one busbar arranged in the first region. According to this embodiment, the busbar is a component of the component. In an alternative embodiment, the busbar is not a component of the component. Rather, in this case, the busbar is a component of another member connected to the component.

[0030] The busbars may be constructed of copper or aluminum. A component may include multiple busbars, for example two.

[0031] The component may be a filter component, for example an EMC filter.

[0032] Advantageous aspects are described below, which have been numbered sequentially for ease of reference. Features of these aspects may also be considered as independent features, without depending on combination with the particular aspect on which they are based.

[0033] 1. A first area suitable for passing at least one busbar; a second region in which at least one discrete element is provided, The filter component, wherein the first region and the second region are separated from one another by a cooling region that thermally isolates the first region from the second region.

[0034] 2. The filter component of embodiment 1, wherein the cooling region is filled with air.

[0035] 3. The filter component of any of the above aspects, wherein the cooling region has a layer constructed from plastic.

[0036] 4. The filter component of any of the above aspects, wherein at least one discrete element is a capacitor.

[0037] 5. A filter component according to any of the above aspects, wherein at least one inductor is provided in the first region, and the inductor surrounds the at least one busbar when the at least one busbar passes through the first region.

[0038] 6. The filter component of any of the above aspects, wherein the first region comprises a conduit extending through the first region and adapted to accommodate at least one busbar.

[0039] 7. The filter component of any preceding aspect, wherein the conduit is sized to separate an inner wall of the conduit and the at least one busbar from each other by an air gap.

[0040] 8. The filter component of any of aspects 6 or 7, wherein the at least one discrete element is electrically connected to the conduit by a cable or a printed circuit board.

[0041] 9. The filter component of any of the above aspects, wherein the cable extends through the cooling region.

[0042] 10. The filter component of any of aspects 8 or 9, wherein the conduit comprises an insulating material and conductive contacts for connection to a cable.

[0043] 11. The filter component according to any one of aspects 8 to 10, wherein the cable can be connected to the conduit so as to mechanically isolate the first region and the second region.

[0044] 12. The filter component according to any one of aspects 8 to 11, wherein a cable and a pipe can be connected by a spring-loaded connecting part.

[0045] 13. The filter component of any of the above aspects, comprising at least one busbar disposed in the first region.

[0046] 14. The filter component according to any of the above aspects, which is an EMC filter. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0047] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of components according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of components according to the second embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a component according to a second embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 shows the components and their connections to a motor and other members. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0048] Figure 1 shows Component 1. Component 1 is a filter component.

[0049] The component 1 includes a housing 2. The internal cavity of the housing 2 is divided into a first region 3, a second region 4, and a cooling region 5. The cooling region 5 is provided between the first region 3 and the second region 4. The component 1 also includes a heat sink 6, and the housing 2 is fixed to the heat sink. The heat sink 6 can dissipate heat from the housing 2. The heat sink 6 also includes an opening 7 that allows the component 1 to be mechanically fixed.

[0050] The first area 3 is configured to guide two busbars to pass through the first area 3, in which the busbars are not constituent elements of the component 1 but belong to an external member connectable to the component 1. The first area 3 comprises two conduits 8, each of which can pass through each of the conduits 8.

[0051] The conduit 8 is provided with insulating and conductive contacts 9 to which cables 10 are respectively connected. The contacts 9 and the cables 10 allow electrical contact to be made to a busbar provided in the conduit 8. As an alternative to the cables 10, the contacts 9 of the conduit 8 can be contacted by means of a printed circuit board (PCB).

[0052] 1, each conduit 8 comprises two conductive contacts 9. In alternative embodiments, each conduit 8 may comprise only one contact 9, or more than two.

[0053] The conduit 8 has a rectangular cross section, in that it has four side walls, adjacent side walls being perpendicular to each other, the side walls being made of insulating material and a conductive contact 9 being provided on one of the side walls.

[0054] The first area 3 also has two inductors 11. The inductors 11 are annular magnetic cores made of ferrite. Alternatively, the inductors 11 may be nanocrystalline cores. Each of the inductors 11 surrounds two of the conduits 8. Correspondingly, the inductors 11 can alternate with the busbars provided in the conduits 8 by inductive coupling when a current flows through the busbars.

[0055] The second region 4 has a printed circuit board 12. The printed circuit board 12 is provided with a plurality of discrete elements 13. The discrete elements 13 are capacitors.

[0056] The printed circuit board 12 is electrically connected to a cable 10 which is connected to a contact 9 of the conduit 8. Correspondingly, discrete components 13 are also connected to the busbars.

[0057] The discrete elements 13 and the inductors 11 form a filter circuit. In alternative embodiments, the number of discrete elements 13 and the number of inductors 11 can be varied. The component 1 comprises at least one inductor 11 or at least one capacitor. The component 1 may comprise multiple inductors 11 and / or multiple discrete elements 13, e.g. multiple capacitors.

[0058] The cable 10 connecting the conduit 8 and the printed circuit board 12 has a certain clearance and is not subjected to stress. Correspondingly, the cable 10 does not transmit vibrations or forces acting on the conduit 8 to the printed circuit board 12 and the discrete components 13, or at least transmits them only to a very small extent. Correspondingly, the cable 10, which is not subjected to mechanical stress, can protect the discrete components 13 from being damaged by forces acting on the conduit 8 or on the busbars provided in the conduit 8.

[0059] The component 1 also comprises the above-mentioned cooling area 5. For the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the cooling area 5 is filled with air. Alternatively or additionally, a layer of material used as thermal insulation may be provided in the cooling area 5. The cooling area 5 ensures thermal isolation between the second area 4 and the first area 3. In the first area 3, high temperatures can occur due to the busbars becoming very hot. In applications in the automotive field, currents of e.g. 3 A / mm 2 Higher current densities than those in the first region 3 are commonly found. The cooling region 5 ensures that these temperatures are only transferred in a moderate manner to the second region 4, so that when the first region 3 is heated, the temperature of the second region 4 is at least 10° C., preferably at least 25° C., lower than the temperature of the first region 3.

[0060] Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of a component 1 according to a second embodiment. The component 1 according to the second embodiment differs from the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 in that it comprises two busbars 14 which are constituent elements of the component 1. The busbars 14 can be connected to other members by corresponding connectors. The busbars 14 extend parallel to each other, and each of the busbars 14 is provided in exactly one pipe 8. Each busbar 14 is connected to two conductive contacts 9, which are respectively contacted to the second region 4 by a cable 10. The busbars 14 may be made of copper or aluminum.

[0061] 3 is a cross-sectional view of two conduits 8 of the component 1 according to the second embodiment. The conduits 8 are sized to have an air gap 16 between the busbars 14 provided in the conduits 8 and the inner wall 15 of the conduits 8. The air gap 16 serves as a thermal insulator and ensures that the inner wall 15 of the conduits 8 is heated to a lesser extent than if the busbars 14 were directly against the inner wall 15.

[0062] 4 shows the connection of the component 1 according to the first embodiment to a motor 17 and to another member 18. The other member 18 is here an inverter.

[0063] The further member 18 comprises two busbars 14 passing through the component 1. For the embodiment shown, each busbar 14 is electrically connected to the second region 4 by four contacts 9 each.

[0064] 4 further shows that the contacts may be closed by means of a spring-loaded connection part 19, in particular a spring-loaded screw-in connection part. The spring-loaded connection part 19 can cushion the forces acting on the busbar 14 and ensure that these forces are not transmitted to the printed circuit board 12. The spring-loaded connection part 19 can also cushion the weight of the busbar 14, reducing the load on the second region 4 and the connector of the further member 18. [Explanation of symbols]

[0065] 1. Components 2. Housing 3. The First Region 4. The Second Region 5 Cooling area 6 Heat sink 7 aperture 8 conduit 9. Contact 10 Cable 11 Inductors 12 Printed Circuit Board 13 Discrete elements 14 busbar 15 Inner wall 16 Air Layer 17 Motor 18 Other materials 19 Spring-loaded connecting parts

Claims

1. A component (1) having a first area (3) suitable for passing at least one busbar (14) and a second area (4) in which at least one discrete element (13) is provided, the first region (3) and the second region (4) are separated from each other by a cooling region (5) that thermally insulates the first region (3) from the second region (4); the first area (3) comprises a conduit (8) extending through the first area (3) and adapted to accommodate at least one busbar (14); The conduit (8) is sized to separate an inner wall (15) of the conduit (8) and the at least one busbar (14) from each other by an air gap (16); The air layer (16) between the inner wall (15) of the pipe (8) and the busbar (14) contributes to thermal insulation in addition to the cooling area (5), and the heat radiated by the busbar (14) is reduced by the air layer (16) and transferred to the inner wall (15) of the pipe (8); The at least one discrete element (13) is electrically connected to the pipeline (8) by a cable (10), the cable (10) having a sufficient length such that vibrations of the busbar (14) are not transmitted to the discrete element (13).

2. Component (1) according to claim 1, wherein the cooling area (5) is filled with air.

3. Component (1) according to claim 1, wherein the cooling area (5) comprises a layer made of plastic.

4. 2. The component (1) of claim 1, wherein at least one of the discrete elements (13) is a capacitor.

5. The component (1) of claim 1, wherein at least one inductor is provided in the first region (3), and when at least one busbar (14) passes through the first region (3), the inductor surrounds the at least one busbar (14).

6. The component (1) according to claim 1, wherein the cable (10) extends through a cooling area (5).

7. Component (1) according to claim 1, wherein the conduit (8) comprises an insulating material and a conductive contact (9) for connection to the cable (10).

8. Component (1) according to claim 1, wherein the cable (10) is connectable to the conduit (8) by means of a spring-loaded connecting piece (19).

9. Component (1) according to claim 1, comprising at least one busbar (14) provided in said first region (3).

10. Component (1) according to claim 1, which is a filter component.

11. Component (1) according to claim 1, which is an EMC filter.

12. A component (1) having a first area (3) suitable for passing at least one busbar (14) and a second area (4) in which at least one discrete element (13) is provided, the first region (3) and the second region (4) are separated from each other by a cooling region (5) that thermally insulates the first region (3) from the second region (4); the first area (3) comprises a number of conduits (8) each suitable for accommodating one busbar (14); The at least one discrete element (13) is electrically connected to the pipeline (8) by a cable (10), the cable (10) having a sufficient length such that vibrations of the busbar (14) are not transmitted to the discrete element (13).

13. Component (1) according to claim 12, wherein an inductor surrounds all the conduits (8) of the first region (3).

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