Device for electrically connecting power distribution plates and electrical power distribution system provided with such a connection device

Abstract

A device for electrically connecting power distribution plates, comprises a connector fastened to one end of a first plate and comprising power contacts for a second plate. The connector comprises a pair of separate electrical connection parts which together electrically connect two power busbars of the first plate to two power busbars of the second plate and each includes a base for electrically connecting and mechanically fastening the part to a power busbar of the first plate and a power contact branch extending from the base and intended to interact with a power busbar of the second plate.

Claims

1. A device electrically connecting dual-polarity power distribution plates (13, 14), comprising a connector (12) fastened to one end of a first dual-polarity power distribution plate (14) and comprising power contacts for a second dual-polarity power distribution plate (13), wherein: the connector (12) comprises a pair of separate electrical connection parts (18, 19) which together electrically connect two power busbars (16b, 17b) of the first dual-polarity power distribution plate (14) to two power busbars (16a, 17a) of the second dual-polarity power distribution plate (13), the device further comprising: a first electrical connection part (18) comprising three different parts, wherein said first electrical connection part (18) comprises: a first power contact branch (21a); a first base (20a) fixed at a first end of the first power contact branch (21a); and a first deformable metal strip (22a) fixed at a second end of the first power contact branch (21a), opposite to the first end of the first power contact branch (21a), wherein the first base (20a) electrically connects and mechanically non-reversibly rigidly fastens said first electrical connection part (18) to a first power busbar (16b) of the first dual-polarity power distribution plate (14), wherein the first power contact branch (21a) extends from the first base (20a) towards the second dual-polarity power distribution plate (13); and wherein the first deformable metal strip (22a) electrically connects said first power busbar (16b) of the first dual-polarity power distribution plate (14) to a first power busbar (16a) of the second dual-polarity power distribution plate (13); the first electrical connection part (18) being elastically deformable only at its first deformable metal strip (22a); and a second electrical connection part (19) comprising three different parts, wherein said second electrical connection part (19) comprises: a second power contact branch (21b); a second base (20b) fixed at a first end of the second power contact branch (21b); and a second deformable metal strip (22b) fixed at a second end of the second power contact branch (21b), opposite to the first end of said second power contact branch (21b), wherein the second base (20b) electrically connects and mechanically non-reversibly rigidly fastens said second electrical connection part (19) to a second power busbar (17b) of the first dual-polarity power distribution plate (14), wherein the second power contact branch (21b) extends from the second base (20b) towards the second dual-polarity power distribution plate (13), and wherein the second deformable metal strip (22b) electrically connects the second power busbar (17b) of the first power distribution plate (14) to the second power busbar (17a) of the second power distribution plate (13), the second electrical connection part (19) being elastically deformable only at its second deformable metal strip (22b), wherein the first and second power busbars (16b, 17b) of the first dual-polarity power distribution plate (14) are connected to two different potential levels and are located between the first and second electrical connection parts (18, 19), wherein the first and second power busbars (16a, 17a) of the second dual-polarity power distribution plate (13) are connected to two different potential levels and are located between the first and second electrical connection parts (18, 19).

2. The device according to claim 1, in which the first and second electrical connection parts (18, 19) are made of metal.

3. The device according to claim 1, in which the first deformable metal strip (22a) and the second deformable metal strip (22b) are elastically deformable conductive strips.

4. The device according to claim 3, in which the first and second deformable metal strips (22a, 22b) are fastened to their respective power contact branches (21a, 21b).

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second dual-polarity power distribution plates (14, 13), each comprise a respective insulating plate (15b, 15a) and wherein two pairs of the power busbars (16b and 17b, 16a and 17a) are provided on two mutually opposite faces of said respective insulating plates (15b, 15a).

6. The device according to claim 5, in which the first power bar (16b) of the first dual-polarity power distribution plate (14) and the first power bar (16a) of the second dual-polarity power distribution plate (13) have one polarity, and the second power bar (17b) of the first dual-polarity power distribution plate (14) and the second power bar (17a) of the second dual-polarity power distribution plate (13) has another polarity.

7. The device according to claim 5, in which the first and second electrical connection parts (18, 19) are fastened on either side of the first power distribution plate (14).

8. The device according to claim 5, in which each pair of the first and second power busbars (16a and 17a, 16b and 17b) are bonded or screwed to a respective insulating plate (15a, 15b).

9. The device according to claim 5, in which the first and second electrical connection parts (18, 19) are fastened to the first dual-polarity power distribution plate (14) by means of screwing or crimping.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent on reading the following description, which is given solely by way of non-limiting example and with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

(2) FIGS. 1 and 2, of which mention has already been made, illustrate the arrangement of a device for electrically connecting power distribution plates according to the prior art;

(3) FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate the structure of an electrical connection device according to one embodiment of the invention; and

(4) FIG. 5 illustrates another mode of implementation of an electrical connection device according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(5) FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate one exemplary embodiment of a device for electrically connecting power distribution plates according to one embodiment of the invention.

(6) The electrical connection device, denoted by the general numerical reference 12, is intended to provide the electrical connection of two dual-polarity power distribution plates 13 and 14.

(7) Specifically, as may be seen, each power distribution plate 13 and 14 includes an insulating plate, such as 15 (individually, 15a or 15b), for example made of polychlorobiphenyl (PCB) and two power busbars 16 (individually, 16a or 16b) and 17 (individually, 17a or 17b) fastened to, for example by bonding or screwing, or else mounted by force on, two mutually opposite faces of the corresponding insulating plate 15.

(8) These two busbars are intended to be set to two different potential levels VD1 and VD2. They are, for example, made of aluminium or of copper.

(9) Regarding the electrical connection device, the latter comprises a connector consisting of a pair of connection parts 18 and 19 each comprising, at one end, a base, such as 20a, 20b, for electrically connecting and mechanically fastening the power busbars of one of the plates 14 to a contact branch 21 (individually, 21a or 21b) extending from the base 20 in the direction of the other plate.

(10) Stated otherwise, the two connection parts 18 and 19 each provide the electrical connection of a busbar of one of the plates to a busbar of the other plate. The busbars are thus fastened, by one of their ends, on either side of the first distribution plate 14 and are electrically connected, by their other end, to the other plate 13.

(11) The connection parts may be made of metal, for example of aluminium or of copper.

(12) As may be seen, electrical contacts produced in the form of elastically deformable metal strips, such as 22 (individually, 22a or 22b), or in the form of electrical joints or plungers interposed between the branches 21 and the power busbars 16 and 17 are advantageously used. The strips are shaped so as to provide close contact with the power busbars that is sufficient to withstand the vibratory environment to which the connection devices are subjected, while allowing ease of connection.

(13) These electrical contacts are for example fastened to the branches 21, for example by welding or by screwed clip-fastening.

(14) The connection parts 18 and 19 may be fastened to the plate 14 by any suitable means.

(15) In one embodiment, this fastening is achieved by brazing, screwing or crimping or using a pin riveted to the connection parts and to the distribution plates.

(16) They may also be force-fitted to the first plate by providing pads on the connection parts.

(17) Advantageously, two fastening points are used, for example two pins that are riveted in order to prevent any rotation of the connection device with respect to the distribution plate to which it is fastened.

(18) Of course, the connection parts may be formed as a single part with the power busbars without departing from the scope of the invention.

(19) As will be appreciated, the invention that has just been described allows the simultaneous electrical connection of two power busbars using a single electrical connection device, thereby optimizing the volume used and decreasing manufacturing costs.

(20) An electrical connection device according to the invention does indeed allow currents to be carried between the distribution plate busbars at two different potentials V.sub.D1 and V.sub.D2 (arrows F1 and F2).

(21) It has also been shown that the electrical connection device according to the invention allows improved insertion of the power plates insofar as only one connector is necessary to connect the power busbars.

(22) Lastly, the superposition of the two polarities in a non-inductive network makes it possible to limit line inductances.

(23) Lastly, the invention that has just been disclosed is not limited to the embodiment described.

(24) Specifically, in the embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the two connection parts are fastened to the first plate which includes two power busbars 16 and 17 fastened to two mutually opposite faces of an insulating plate 15.

(25) In the embodiment of FIG. 5, in which elements identical to those described above bear the same numerical references, the connection device, which includes two connection parts 18 and 19 each having a base 20 and a contact branch 21 provided with its metal strip 22, provides the electrical connection of two plates 14 and 14 at a single potential to a plate 13 at two potentials.

(26) The plate 13 at two potentials, which comprises the insulating plate and the two power busbars 16 and 17, is connected to the two contact branches 21, as described above with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

(27) The plates at a single potential each have a single power busbar, such as 23, fastened to a single insulating plate, such as 24.

(28) The base 20 is thus provided on the side of the connection part facing the power busbar to which it is fastened.