Power distribution module using buss bar

• US 20080180884A1
• Filed: 01/31/2007
• Published: 07/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TE Connectivity Solutions GmbH (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Original Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Inventors: Parrish, Jeffrey David
• Granted Patent: US 7,649,731 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/624
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0238 Electrical distribution centers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/949 Junction box with busbar for plug-socket type interconnection with receptacle

Abstract

A power distribution module includes a housing having multiple channels, and a plurality of buss bars received within the housing for distributing power between multiple electrical components. The buss bars have terminals that are selectively positionable within respective ones of the channels based on a predetermined arrangement of the electrical components.

Claims

1. A power distribution module comprising:

a housing having multiple channels; and

a plurality of buss bars received within the housing for distributing power between multiple electrical components, the buss bars include terminals being selectively positionable within respective ones of the channels based on a predetermined arrangement of the electrical components.

2. A power distribution module in accordance with claim 1, wherein each buss bar has a first position within the housing based on a first arrangement of the electrical components and a second position within the housing based on a second arrangement of the electrical components.

3. A power distribution module in accordance with claim 1, wherein the plurality of buss bars comprises a first buss bar having a first configuration and being positionable within a first number of channels and a second buss bar having a second configuration and being positionable within a second number of channels.

4. A power distribution module in accordance with claim 1, wherein each buss bar includes an elongated base strip and multiple terminals extending from a top of the base strip.

5. A power distribution module in accordance with claim 1, wherein each buss bar includes an elongated base strip, and wherein the housing includes slots interconnecting each channel, the base strip being received within the slots.

6. A power distribution module in accordance with claim 1, wherein the channels are arranged in a grid pattern having rows and columns, at least one of the buss bars only received in channels within one of a single column and a single row.

7. A power distribution module in accordance with claim 1, wherein the channels are arranged in a grid pattern having rows and columns, at least one of the buss bars received in channels within at least one of multiple columns and multiple rows.

8. A power distribution module in accordance with claim 1, wherein the buss bars are configured to bend to extend in more than one direction.

9. A power distribution module in accordance with claim 1, wherein the buss bars are removably mounted within the housing.

10. A power distribution module in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one of the buss bars are configured to directly connect to a power connector.

11. A power distribution module in accordance with claim 1, wherein the channels are further configured to receive jumper terminals directly connected to jumper wires for interconnecting predetermined ones of the electrical components.

12. A power distribution module for distributing power to multiple electrical components, the power distribution module comprises:

a housing defining multiple component areas configured to receive respective ones of the components in a predetermined arrangement, the housing having a matrix of channels, wherein at least one channel is positioned in each component area, the channels being configured to receive respective ones of the components;

a buss bar having terminals being received within the channels of at least two component areas, the buss bar being selectively positionable within the housing based on the arrangement of the components for interconnecting respective ones of the components.

13. A power distribution module in accordance with claim 12, wherein the buss bar has a first position within the housing for interconnecting a first component area and a second component area and a second position within the housing for interconnecting a third component area and one of a fourth component area and the first component area.

14. A power distribution module in accordance with claim 12, wherein the buss bar includes an elongated base strip and multiple tabs integrally formed with the base strip, the terminals being mounted to the tabs.

15. A power distribution module in accordance with claim 12, wherein each terminal has substantially identical dimensions.

16. A power distribution module in accordance with claim 12, wherein the housing comprises an upper housing having upper channel portions and a lower housing having lower channel portions, the buss bar being received within at least one of the upper and lower channel portions.

17. A power distribution module in accordance with claim 12, wherein the channels are arranged in rows and columns, the buss bar received in channels within one of a single column and a single row.

18. A power distribution module in accordance with claim 12, wherein the channels are arranged in rows and columns, the buss bar received in channels within at least one of multiple columns and multiple rows.

19. A power distribution module in accordance with claim 12, wherein the buss bar includes an elongated base strip being aligned only with the respective channels receiving the terminals.

20. A power distribution module in accordance with claim 12, further comprising a set of plugs configured to seal unused channels.