Busbar for electric motor
By integrating busbars into a heat sink with a single printed circuit board, the issues of high costs and overheating in electric motors are addressed, achieving reduced size and improved cooling with enhanced thermal conductivity.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- PCT/EP2025/067270
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2024-07-24
- Filing Date
- 2025-06-19
- Publication Date
- 2026-01-29
AI Technical Summary
Existing electric motors, particularly those with power ratings greater than 800 W, face issues of high industrialization costs due to multiple components and overheating of busbars, which necessitate larger cross-sections and create space constraints.
Integration of busbars into a heat sink with a single printed circuit board that integrates both power and control electronics, using a busbar with three sections, where the third section is housed within the heat sink, and insulating bodies to enhance cooling and reduce component count.
This configuration reduces motor size, improves cooling, lowers costs, and minimizes space constraints by integrating busbars into the heat sink, while maintaining thermal conductivity and reducing the number of components.
Smart Images

Figure EP2025067270_29012026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
Busbar for electric motor technical field [ooi] The invention relates to electric motors, in particular brushless motors, mainly for the field of motor-fan units and preferably for electric motors with a power rating greater than 800 W. Previous technique
[0002] It is known in the state of the art that an electric motor typically consists of a control electronic board and a power electronic board. This distinction presents the drawback of multiple components and therefore a higher industrialization cost, which could be improved. Furthermore, increasing the power of an electric motor leads to problems such as the overheating of busbars and necessitates larger cross-sections for these busbars, which also creates space constraints within the electric motor. The invention described here aims to address, at least partially, these problems. Description of the invention
[0003] The present invention thus relates to an electric motor, particularly for a motor-fan unit, preferably with a power rating greater than 800 W, comprising: - a heat sink, - a printed circuit board mounted on the heat sink, - a stator comprising at least one phase, at least one busbar configured to electrically connect at least one phase of the stator to the printed circuit board, said busbar comprising three sections, including a first section for connection to at least one phase of the stator, a second section for connection to the printed circuit board, and a third junction section between the first and second sections, characterized in that the heat sink comprises at least one housing in which the third section of the omnibus bar.
[0004] This has the advantage of reducing the size of the electric motor and allowing for better cooling of at least one busbar due to its at least partial integration into the heat sink. The invention also offers the additional advantage of a single printed circuit board that integrates both the power electronics and the control electronics, thus reducing the number of components in the motor and consequently lowering costs.
[0005] By "logé" we understand that the third section of the busbar is entirely contained within at least one housing of the heat sink.
[0006] According to one aspect of the invention, the heat sink is made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy in order in particular to guarantee the thermal conductivity and the weight of the electric motor.
[0007] According to one aspect of the invention, at least one bus bar is a low impedance conductor, in particular made of copper or a copper alloy.
[0008] According to one aspect of the invention, the electric motor is of the brushless type.
[0009] According to one aspect of the invention, the electric motor comprises several busbars, preferably two, and even more preferably three. If the electric motor comprises two busbars, it also comprises two stator phases. Similarly, if the electric motor comprises three busbars, then it also comprises three stator phases. It is thus understood that the electric motor comprises as many stator phases as busbars.
[0010] According to one aspect of the invention, the third section of at least one busbar extends mainly in a plane parallel to the printed circuit board and the second and third sections of at least one busbar extend perpendicularly to this plane.
[0011] According to one aspect of the invention, the third section of the less a bus bar is electrically insulated by an electrically insulating body, in particular made of thermoplastic material.
[0012] According to one aspect of the invention, the electrically insulating body is entirely contained within at least one housing of the heat sink.
[0013] According to one aspect of the invention, the electrically insulating body is overmolded onto the third section of the busbar.
[0014] According to one aspect of the invention, the electrically insulating body is attached and held onto the third section of the busbar by a fastening device.
[0015] According to one aspect of the invention, the fastening device comprises a snap-on device or crimped studs or tightly mounted studs.
[0016] According to one aspect of the invention, in the configuration of an electric motor according to the invention comprising several busbars, the electrically insulating bodies of the busbars are joined by insulating bridges, preferably made of the same material as the electrically insulating bodies. It is thus understood that the heat sink in this configuration comprises a single housing for the third sections of the busbars.
[0017] According to one aspect of the invention and alternatively, the insulating material bridges are made of a different material than the electrically insulating bodies.
[0018] According to one aspect of the invention, the insulating material bridges came from the material of the insulating bodies.
[0019] According to one aspect of the invention and alternatively, the insulating material bridges are elements attached to the insulating bodies.
[0020] According to one aspect of the invention, the electrically insulating bodies are distinct from one another. In other words, in this configuration, there is no material bridge joining the electrically insulating bodies, either in pairs or all together. In this configuration, it is possible to house all the insulating bodies in a single compartment of the heat sink or to distribute the insulating bodies in two or three compartments. in the heat sink.
[0021] According to one aspect of the invention, the electrically insulating body, at least one bus bar and / or the insulating material bridges include a centering device.
[0022] In the case of several busbars, for example three busbars for a three-phase motor, the centering device can be common to the busbars when they are joined by insulating material bridges or specific to each electrically insulating body if they are distinct from each other.
[0023] According to one aspect of the invention, the centering device comprises at least one centering pin, preferably two centering pins.
[0024] According to one aspect of the invention, the centering pin(s) are made of material from electrically insulating bodies or from bridges of insulating material.
[0025] According to one aspect of the invention, the electrically insulating body of at least one bus bar and / or the insulating material bridges comprise at least one bearing surface on the heat sink and at least one bearing surface on the printed circuit board.
[0026] According to one aspect of the invention, each electrically insulating body comprises a bearing surface on the heat sink and a bearing surface on the printed circuit board.
[0027] According to one aspect of the invention, each insulating material bridge comprises a bearing surface on the heat sink and a bearing surface on the printed circuit board.
[0028] According to one aspect of the invention, the support surfaces are configured to hold the electrically insulating body or bodies in place and prevent them from moving in the heat sink housing or housings when the printed circuit board is mounted on the heat sink.
[0029] According to one aspect of the invention, the bearing surfaces on the heat sink and on the printed circuit board are protruding and flat surfaces, extending from the electrically insulating bodies or the insulating material bridges and in the respective direction of the heat sink. thermal or printed circuit board.
[0030] According to one aspect of the invention, the bearing surface(s) on the printed circuit board are placed at the junction of the first and third sections.
[0031] According to one aspect of the invention, at least one busbar is made of at least two elements, at least the first section being attached to and assembled onto the third section. The second section may be made from the same material as the third section.
[0032] According to one aspect of the invention, the first section is tightly mounted and then secured to the third section, in particular by electric welding.
[0033] According to one aspect of the invention, the elements of at least one busbar have current-carrying cross-sections of different dimensions or shapes. In this configuration, the first and third sections are bars with rectangular current-carrying cross-sections, and the second section is a pin with a circular current-carrying cross-section.
[0034] According to one aspect of the invention, at least one busbar is a single piece. In other words, the busbar(s) are each made from a single piece of material.
[0035] According to one aspect of the invention, the heat sink comprises at least one through-hole through which the first phase connection section of the stator passes through the heat sink. It is understood that the stator is located on one side of the heat sink and that the printed circuit board is located on a second side of the heat sink, opposite the first side.
[0036] According to one aspect of the invention, the heat sink comprises a single through orifice for the plurality of bus bars.
[0037] According to one aspect of the invention and alternatively, the heat sink comprises a through-hole via an omnibus bar.
[0038] According to one aspect of the invention, the through orifice(s) are sealed with a common sealing gasket or each by a sealing gasket.
[0039] According to one aspect of the invention, the sealing gasket(s) are insulating washers. These parts, known to those skilled in the art, are add-on parts, notably made from rubber or elastomers.
[0040] According to one aspect of the invention, the sealing joint(s) are filler joints cast into the through-holes. This type of joint consists of filling the through-hole(s) into which the first sections of the busbars have been pre-assembled with a liquefied plastic product. The seal is achieved upon solidification of the plastic product.
[0041] According to one aspect of the invention, the second section connecting to the printed circuit board passes through the printed circuit board. The second section is soldered to the printed circuit board traces by selective wave soldering.
[0042] According to one aspect of the invention, the printed circuit board comprises a plurality of MOSFETs. Some of the MOSFETs are connected to busbars, the busbars being configured to mount the connected MOSFETs in a dispersed manner on the printed circuit board. Preferably, these MOSFETs are dispersed in a region near the periphery of the printed circuit board. This has the advantage of distributing heat sources across the printed circuit board, as MOSFETs are power components that generate heat during operation, which must be limited to avoid damaging the electric motor components most sensitive to high temperatures.
[0043] The invention also relates to a method for assembling an electric motor, particularly for a motor-fan unit, preferably with a power rating exceeding 800 W, comprising a heat sink, a printed circuit board mounted on the heat sink, and a stator comprising at least one busbar configured to electrically connect at least one phase of the stator to the printed circuit board. The busbar comprises three sections, the first of which is a section for connecting to at least one phase of the stator. stator, a second section for connection to the printed circuit board and a third section for junction between the first section and the second section, said method comprising the following step: - house the third section of the busbar in a housing of the heat sink so as to minimize the distance between the heat sink and the printed circuit board. Brief description of the drawings
[0044] Other features, details and advantages of the invention will become clearer upon reading the description given below by way of example in conjunction with drawings in which: - Figure 1 is a schematic view of an electric motor according to the invention; - Figure 2 is a schematic view of the omnibus bars in Figure 1; - Figure 3 is a schematic view of omnibus bars of Figure 1 and 2, comprising an electrically insulating body according to the invention; - Figure 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an electric motor according to the invention.
[0045] It should first be noted that while the figures illustrate the invention in detail for its implementation, they can, of course, also serve to further define the invention where necessary. It should also be noted that these figures only show a few examples of embodiments of the invention. Detailed description
[0046] Figure 1 illustrates an electric motor 100, particularly for a fan-motor unit, preferably with a power rating exceeding 800 W, comprising: a heat sink 1, a printed circuit board 2 mounted on the heat sink 1 and schematically represented by dashed lines for better visibility, a stator (not shown) comprising at least one phase, at least one busbar 3 configured to electrically connect at least one phase of the stator to the printed circuit board 2, said busbar 3 comprising three sections 31, 32, 33, of which a first section 31 connects to at least one phase of the stator, a second section 32 connects to the printed circuit board 2, and a third section 33 connects the first section 31 to the second section 32, characterized in that the heat sink 1 comprises at least one housing 11 in which is housed at least in part the third section 33 of the bus bar 3. Figure 2 illustrates in particular the different sections 31, 32 and 33 of the bus bars.
[0047] As can be seen in Figures 1 and 4, the third section 33 of the busbar 3 is entirely contained within at least one housing 11 of the heat sink 1.
[0048] The heat sink 1 is made of aluminium or an aluminium alloy in order in particular to guarantee the thermal conductivity and the weight of the electric motor 100.
[0049] At least one busbar 3 is a low impedance conductor, in particular made of copper or a copper alloy.
[0050] The 100 electric motor is of the brushless type.
[0051] The electric motor 100 comprises several busbars 3, preferably two busbars 3, and even more preferably three busbars 3, as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3. If the electric motor 100 comprises two busbars 3, it also comprises two stator phases. Similarly, if the electric motor 100 comprises three busbars 3, then it also comprises three stator phases. It is thus understood that the electric motor 100 comprises as many stator phases as there are busbars 3.
[0052] The third section 33 of the at least one bus bar 3 extends mainly in a plane parallel to the printed circuit board 2 and the second and third sections 32, 33 of the at least one bus bar 3 extend perpendicular to this plane.
[0053] The third section 33 of at least one busbar 3 is electrically insulated by an electrically insulating body 34, in particular made of thermoplastic material. The electrically insulating body 34 is particularly visible in Figure 3 and is masked in Figure 2 for better visibility of the busbar sections 3.
[0054] Figure 4 shows that the electrically insulating body 34 is entirely contained within at least one housing 11 of the heat sink 1.
[0055] The electrically insulating body 34 is overmolded onto the third section 33 of the omnibus bar 3.
[0056] The electrically insulating body 34 is attached and held on the third section 33 of the busbar 3 by a fixing device.
[0057] The fastening device includes a snap-on device or crimped studs or tightly mounted studs.
[0058] In a configuration such as illustrated in figures 1 to 3 of an electric motor 100 according to the invention comprising several bus bars 3, the electrically insulating bodies 34 of the bus bars 3 are joined together by insulating material bridges 35, preferably made of the same material as the electrically insulating bodies 34. It is thus understood that the heat sink 1 in this configuration comprises a single housing 11 to house the third sections 33 of the bus bars 3.
[0059] Alternatively, and not illustrated, the insulating material bridges 35 are made of a different material than the electrically insulating bodies 34-
[0060] The insulating material bridges 35 came from the material of the insulating bodies 34.
[0061] Alternatively, and not illustrated, the insulating material bridges 35 are elements attached to the insulating bodies 34.
[0062] According to a configuration not shown, the electrically insulating bodies 34 are separate from one another. In other words, in this configuration, there is no material bridge joining the electrically insulating bodies 34, either in pairs or all together. In this configuration, it is possible to house all the insulating bodies 34 in a single housing 11 of the heat sink 1 or to distribute the insulating bodies 34 in two or three housings 11 in the heat sink 1.
[0063] As illustrated in Figure 3, the electrically insulating body 34 of at least one bus bar 3 and / or the insulating material bridges 35 include a centering device. The centering device's function is to ensure proper pre-assembly of at least one bus bar 3 before welding. IO
[0064] In the case of several busbars 3, for example three busbars 3 for a three-phase motor, the centering device can be common to the busbars 3 when they are joined by the insulating material bridges 35 or specific to each electrically insulating body 34 if they are distinct from each other.
[0065] The centering device includes at least one centering pin 36, preferably two centering pins 36. Figure 4 illustrates how at least one centering pin 36 interacts with the printed circuit board 2.
[0066] The centering pin(s) 36 came from the material of the electrically insulating bodies 34 or from the bridges of insulating material 35.
[0067] The electrically insulating body 34 of at least one bus bar 3 and / or the insulating material bridges 35 comprise at least one bearing surface 37 on the heat sink 1 and at least one bearing surface 38 on the printed circuit board 2 as particularly illustrated in Figure 4.
[0068] Each electrically insulating body 34 includes a bearing surface 37 on the heat sink 1 and a bearing surface 38 on the printed circuit board 2.
[0069] Each insulating material bridge 35 includes a bearing surface 37 on the heat sink 1 and a bearing surface 38 on the printed circuit board 2.
[0070] The bearing surfaces 37, 38 are configured to hold in place the electrically insulating body(ies) 34 and prevent them from moving in the housing(s) 11 of the heat sink 1 when the printed circuit board 2 is mounted on the heat sink 1.
[0071] The bearing surfaces 37, 38 on the heat sink 1 and on the printed circuit board 2 are protruding and flat surfaces, extending from the electrically insulating bodies 34 or the insulating material bridges 35 and in the respective direction of the heat sink 1 or the printed circuit board 2.
[0072] The bearing surface(s) 38 on the printed circuit board 2 are placed at the junction of the first and third sections 31, 33.
[0073] At least one omnibus bar 3 is made of at least two elements 301, 302, at least the first section 31 is brought and assembled on the third section 33. The second section 32 may have come from material of the third section 33.
[0074] The first section 31 is tightly mounted and then secured to the third section 33, notably by electric welding.
[0075] Elements 301 and 302 of at least one busbar 3 have current-carrying sections of different dimensions or shapes. In this configuration, the first and third sections 31 and 33 are bars with rectangular current-carrying sections, and the second section is a pin with a circular current-carrying section.
[0076] Alternatively, at least one busbar 3 is monolithic. In other words, the busbar(s) 3 are each made from a single piece of material.
[0077] As shown in Figure 4, the heat sink 1 includes at least one through hole 12 through which the first section 31 of connection to the phases of the stator passes through the heat sink 1. It is understood that the stator is placed on one first side of the heat sink 1 and that the printed circuit board 2 is placed on a second side of the heat sink 1, opposite the first side.
[0078] The heat sink 1 includes a single through orifice 12 for the plurality of bus bars 3.
[0079] Alternatively, the heat sink 1 includes a through orifice 12 per bus bar 3.
[0080] The orifice(s) through 12 are sealed with a common sealing gasket or each by a sealing gasket 4.
[0081] The sealing gasket(s) 4 are insulating washers. These parts, familiar to those skilled in the art, are add-on parts, notably made from rubber or elastomers.
[0082] Alternatively, the seal(s) 4 are filling seals cast into the through-holes 12. This type of seal consists of filling the through-hole(s) 12 with liquefied plastic product. which were pre-assembled the first sections 31 of the omnibus bars 3. The seal being obtained by solidification of the plastic product.
[0083] The second section 32 connects to the printed circuit board 2 passes through the printed circuit board 2. The second section 32 is soldered to the printed circuit board tracks by selective wave soldering.
[0084] Printed circuit board 2 includes a plurality of MOSFETs (metal oxide semiconductor field-effect transistors). Some of the MOSFETs are connected to the bus bars 3. These bus bars 3 are configured to mount the connected MOSFETs in a dispersed manner on printed circuit board 2. Preferably, these MOSFETs are dispersed in a part near the periphery of printed circuit board 2. This has the advantage of distributing the heat sources on printed circuit board 2, as MOSFETs are power components that produce heat during use, which must be limited in order not to damage the components of the electric motor 100 that are most sensitive to high temperatures.
[0085] The invention also relates to a method for assembling an electric motor 100, particularly for a motor-fan unit, preferably with a power rating exceeding 800 W, comprising a heat sink 1, a printed circuit board 2 mounted on the heat sink 1, and a stator comprising at least one busbar 3 configured to electrically connect at least one phase of the stator to the printed circuit board 2, said busbar 3 comprising three sections, including a first section 31 for connection to at least one phase of the stator, a second section 32 for connection to the printed circuit board 2 and a third section 33 for junction between the first section 31 and the second section 32, said method comprising the following step:
[0086] house the third section 33 of the busbar 3 in a housing 11 of the heat sink 1 so as to minimize the distance between the heat sink 1 and the printed circuit board 2.
Claims
DEMANDS [Claim i] Electric motor (100), in particular for a motor-fan unit, preferably with a power rating greater than 800 W, comprising: - a heat sink (i), - a printed circuit board (2) mounted on the heat sink (1), - a stator comprising at least one phase, - at least one busbar (3) configured to electrically connect at least one phase of the stator to the printed circuit board (2), said busbar (3) comprising three sections (31, 32, 33) of which a first section (31) for connection to at least one phase of the stator, a second section (32) for connection to the printed circuit board (2) and a third section (33) for junction between the first section (31) and the second section (32), characterized in that the heat sink (1) comprises at least one housing (11) in which at least part of the third section (33) of the busbar (3) is housed.
2. Electric motor (100) according to the preceding claim, wherein the third section (33) of the at least one bus bar (3) extends principally in a plane parallel to the printed circuit board (2) and the second and third sections (32, 33) of the at least one bus bar (3) extend perpendicular to this plane.
3. Electric motor (100) according to the preceding claim, wherein the third section (33) of at least one busbar (3) is electrically insulated by an electrically insulating body (34), in particular made of thermoplastic material.
4. Electric motor (100) according to the preceding claim, wherein the electric motor (100) comprises several busbars (3), the electrically insulating bodies (34) of the busbars (3) being joined together by insulating material bridges (35), made preferably of the same material as the electrically insulating bodies (34).
5. Electric motor (100) according to claim 3, wherein the electric motor (100) comprises several busbars (3), the electrically insulating bodies (34) being distinct from one another.
6. Electric motor (100) according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the electrically insulating body (34) at least one busbar (3) and / or the insulating material bridges (35) comprise a centering device.
7. Electric motor (100) according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the electrically insulating body (34) of at least one busbar (3) and / or the insulating material bridges (35) according to claim 4 comprise at least one bearing surface (37) on the heat sink (1) and at least one bearing surface (38) on the printed circuit board (2).
8. Electric motor (100) according to the preceding claim, wherein each electrically insulating body (34) comprises a bearing surface (37) on the heat sink (1) and a bearing surface (38) on the printed circuit board (2).
9. Electric motor (100) according to the preceding claim, wherein the bearing surfaces (37, 38) on the heat sink (1) and on the printed circuit board (2) are protruding and flat surfaces, extending from the electrically insulating bodies (34) or the insulating material bridges (35) and in the respective direction of the heat sink (1) or the printed circuit board (2).
10. A method for assembling an electric motor (100), particularly for a motor-fan unit, preferably with a power rating exceeding 800 W, comprising a heat sink (1), a printed circuit board (2) mounted on the heat sink (1), a stator comprising at least one busbar (3) configured to electrically connect at least one phase of the stator to the printed circuit board (2), said busbar (3) comprising three sections, including a first section (31) for connection to at least one phase of the stator, a second section (32) for connection to the printed circuit board (2), and a third section (33) for junction between the first section (31) and the second section (32), said process comprising the following step: - house the third section (33) of the bus bar (3) in a housing (11) of the heat sink (1) so as to minimize the distance between the heat sink (1) and the printed circuit board (2).
Citation Information
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