Apparatus for Connecting a Shared DC Bus Link
First Claim
1. A connector system configured to share a direct current (DC) bus between a first power converter and a second power converter, the connector system, comprising:
- a first DC bus stab having a plug portion and a mounting portion configured to be mounted to a first printed circuit board (PCB), wherein the first PCB is mounted within the first power converter;
a second DC bus stab having a plug portion and a mounting portion configured to he mounted to a second PCB, wherein the second PCB is mounted within the second power converter;
a first connector assembly including a first receptacle configured to receive the plug portion of the first DC bus stab and a second receptacle configured to extend exterior to the first power converter;
a second connector assembly including a first receptacle configured to receive the plug portion of the second DC bus stab and a second receptacle configured to extend exterior to the second power converter; and
a bus bar assembly including;
a bus bar having a first end configured to be inserted into the second receptacle of the first connector assembly and a second end configured to be inserted into the second receptacle of the second connector assembly, anda non-conductive housing enclosing at least a portion of the bus bar between the first end and the second end.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for connecting a shared DC bus between multiple power converters is disclosed. The DC bus includes a positive and a negative rail across which the DC voltage is present. A pair of DC bus stabs is mounted to a PCB within the power converter. Each DC bus stab is electrically connected to either the positive or negative rail. A connector assembly is mounted to the housing of the power converter such that a first receptacle engages a plug portion of the DC bus stab. The connector assembly also includes a second receptacle extending to the exterior of the power converter. The connector assembly is positioned on each power converter such that a known distance, or one of a number of known distances, is established between adjacent connector assemblies. A DC bus assembly extends between and is plugged into the second receptacle of the two adjacent connector assemblies.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A connector system configured to share a direct current (DC) bus between a first power converter and a second power converter, the connector system, comprising:
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a first DC bus stab having a plug portion and a mounting portion configured to be mounted to a first printed circuit board (PCB), wherein the first PCB is mounted within the first power converter; a second DC bus stab having a plug portion and a mounting portion configured to he mounted to a second PCB, wherein the second PCB is mounted within the second power converter; a first connector assembly including a first receptacle configured to receive the plug portion of the first DC bus stab and a second receptacle configured to extend exterior to the first power converter; a second connector assembly including a first receptacle configured to receive the plug portion of the second DC bus stab and a second receptacle configured to extend exterior to the second power converter; and a bus bar assembly including; a bus bar having a first end configured to be inserted into the second receptacle of the first connector assembly and a second end configured to be inserted into the second receptacle of the second connector assembly, and a non-conductive housing enclosing at least a portion of the bus bar between the first end and the second end. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6)
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2. The connector system of claim I wherein:
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the first connector assembly further includes a third receptacle, wherein the third receptacle is configured to extend outside the first power converter, the second connector assembly further includes a third receptacle, wherein the third receptacle is configured to extend outside the second power converter, the bus bar of the bus bar assembly is a first bus bar, the bus bar assembly includes a second bus bar having a first end configured to be inserted into the third receptacle of the first connector assembly and a second end configured to be inserted into the third receptacle of the second connector assembly, and the non-conductive housing encloses at least a portion of the second bus bar between the first end and the second end.
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7. A connector for a device configured to share at least one power rail, the connector including:
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a stab having a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is configured to be mounted to a printed circuit board (PCB) to establish an electrical connection with a first power rail within the device; and a connector assembly including a first receptacle configured to receive the second portion of the stab and a second receptacle configured to extend outside of a housing for the device, wherein the second receptacle is configured to receive a first bus bar in a first portion of the second receptacle, to receive a second bus bar in a second portion of the second receptacle, and to establish an electrical connection between the first bus bar, the second bus bar, and the first power rail within the device. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A connector for a shared DC bus, wherein the shared DC bus includes a positive rail and a negative rail, the connector including:
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a first DC bus stab having a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is configured to be mounted to a printed circuit board (PCB) and electrically connected to the positive rail of the DC bus; a second DC bus stab having a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is configured to be mounted to the PCB and electrically connected to the negative rail of the DC bus; a first connector assembly including a first receptacle configured to receive the second portion of the first DC bus stab and a second receptacle, wherein the second receptacle is configured to receive a first bus bar in a first portion of the second receptacle, to receive a second bus bar in a second portion of the second receptacle, and to establish an electrical connection between the first bus bar, the second bus bar, and the positive rail of the DC bus via the first connector assembly and the first DC bus stab; and a second connector assembly including a first receptacle configured to receive the second portion of the second DC bus stab and a second receptacle, wherein the second receptacle is configured to receive a third bus bar in a first portion of the second receptacle, to receive a fourth bus bar in a second portion of the second receptacle, and to establish an electrical connection between the third bus bar, the fourth bus bar, and the negative rail of the DC bus via the second connector assembly and the second DC bus stab. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification