Contact rail device for an at least partly electrically driven motor vehicle

Abstract

A contact rail device for an at least partly electrically driven motor vehicle. The contact rail device comprises at least one busbar for electrical contact-connection of an electric machine to a supply device for the electric machine In this case, the busbar comprises at least one compensation bow for compensation of temperature-dependent changes in length.

Claims

1. A contact rail device for an at least partly electrically driven motor vehicle comprising: a plurality of busbars for electrical contact-connection of an electric machine to a supply device for the electric machine, wherein: each busbar comprises at least two compensation bows for compensation of temperature-dependent changes in length of the busbar, the plurality of busbars have different lengths and the at least two compensation bows are disposed at different positions along the length of the busbars with respect to the supply device, and the at least two compensation bows of each busbar is formed in an S-shape that comprises at least two oppositely oriented C-bows per busbar with a folded edge in between each of the at least two oppositely oriented C-bows.

2. The contact rail device as claimed in claim 1, wherein, for each busbar, the busbar and the at least two compensation bows are formed in one piece.

3. The contact rail device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each compensation bow is produced by at least one bending process.

4. The contact rail device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each busbar is manufactured from copper or a copper alloy.

5. The contact rail device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each busbar is of solid form.

6. The contact rail device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the supply device comprises an inverter device.

7. The contact rail device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of busbars comprises three busbars, wherein the three busbars each provide an electrical contact-connection for a respective phase of the electric machine.

8. The contact rail device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a length dimension of each busbar extends in a direction between the electric machine and the supply device for the electric machine.

9. A motor vehicle, which is at least partly electrically driven, comprising an electric machine and a supply device for the electric machine and a contact rail device having a plurality of busbars for electrical contact-connection of the electric machine to the supply device, wherein: each busbar comprises at least one compensation bow for compensation of temperature-dependent changes in length, the plurality of busbars have different lengths and the at least two compensation bows are disposed at different positions along the length of the busbars with respect to the supply device, and the at least two compensation bows of each busbar is formed in an S-shape that comprises at least two oppositely oriented C-bows per busbar with a folded edge in between each of the at least two oppositely oriented C-bows.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further advantages and features of the present invention emerge from the exemplary embodiment, which is discussed below with reference to the appended figure.

(2) In the figures:

(3) FIG. 1 shows a highly schematic diagram of a motor vehicle having a contact rail device according to aspects of the invention; and

(4) FIG. 2 shows a schematic perspective illustration of a contact rail device according to aspects of the invention from obliquely above.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(5) FIG. 1 shows a contact rail device 1 according to aspects of the invention, which in this case is used in a motor vehicle 100 formed as an electric vehicle 103.

(6) The contact rail device 1 in this case comprises three busbars 2. The busbars 2 shown here are not true to scale and are illustrated in very highly enlarged fashion for the purpose of better illustration. The busbars 2 serve in each case as a high-voltage line 12 for contact-connection of an electric machine 3 to a supply device 4.

(7) The electric machine 3 is in this case formed as an electric motor 23, which serves as a drive 101 of the electric vehicle 103. In this case, a transmission device 102 is connected downstream of the electric motor 23. An electrical energy store formed as a traction battery 104 is provided for the purpose of supplying energy to the drive 101.

(8) The supply device 4 is in this case an inverter device 14, which has one or more inverter elements 24. The inverter device 14 serves here to convert a DC voltage supplied by a traction battery 104 to an AC voltage. The inverter device 14 is in this case secured to the electric machine.

(9) In the configuration shown here, the electric machine 3 is formed, for example, as a three-phase AC machine. To this end, each phase 13 of the machine 3 is contact-connected to its own busbar 2. The busbars are contact-connected to corresponding connections of the inverter device 14.

(10) Depending on the operating situation of the motor vehicle 100 or of the machine 3, the busbars 2 have different temperatures. The busbars 2 can expand and contract due to the influence of temperature. As a result, the busbars 2 exert a mechanical force on the contact-connected components. In order to reduce said mechanical force, the busbars 2 are in this case furnished with in each case one compensation bow 5. The compensation bow 5 is in this case formed as an S-bow 15.

(11) FIG. 2 illustrates a busbar 2 of the contact rail device 1 according to aspects of the invention in more detail. In this case, the busbar 2 comprises a compensation bow 5 formed as an S-bow 15.

(12) The busbar 2 is formed here as a solid copper part 32. The compensation bow 5 is in this case of the same piece of material as the solid copper part 32. To produce the compensation bow 5, the busbar 2 is deformed and, for example, bent by a corresponding deformation process, for example.

(13) The S-bow 15 is in this case provided by two oppositely oriented C-bows 45. Between the C-bows 45, the compensation bow 5 is furnished here with an additional geometry 35. The additional geometry 35 is formed, for example, as a folded edge.

(14) In this case, an electrical connection device 22 is provided at one end of the busbar 2. Said electrical connection device serves, for example, to connect the busbar 2 to the electric machine and/or to the supply device 4. The connection device 22 is in this case formed as a recess or a through-hole. Other types of connection devices 22 are also possible.

(15) In the section of the busbar 2 shown here, the other end is not shown in any more detail. At least one connection device 22 can also be provided at this end.