Busbar laminate assembly

• US 6,244,876 B1
• Filed: 03/11/1999
• Issued: 06/12/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Inventors: Saka, Yuuji
• Primary Examiner(s): Reichard, Dean A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, DHIRUBHAI R
• Application Number:
  US09/265,898
• Time in Patent Office: 824 Days
• Field of Search: 174/59, 174/68.1, 174/68.2, 174/70.B, 174/71.B, 174/72.B, 439/949, 439/76.2
• US Class Current: 439/76.2
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 5/005 Laminated bus-bars
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/4092 Integral conductive tabs, i.e. conductive parts partly detached from the substrate

Abstract

The present invention provides a busbar laminate assembly structure. The invention includes a plurality of busbars each having a bent portion, and a plurality of terminal strips, a respective of the plurality of terminal strips depending from a respective bent portion of the busbar. Additionally, a plurality of insulation plates are provided, a respective insulation plate located above a respective busbar and adapted to electrically isolate each respective busbar. The insulation plates include a through-hole adapted to accept a terminal strip therethrough, and a fastening hole adapted to fasten a terminal strip is provided, the fastening hole being provided in the insulation plate farthest from the bent portion of the terminal strip.

Claims

1. A busbar laminate assembly comprising:

a plurality of busbars, each having a bent portion;

a plurality of terminal strips, a respective terminal strip depending from a respective bent portion of each busbar of said plurality of busbars;

a plurality of insulation plates, a respective insulation plate located above a respective said busbar and adapted to electrically isolate said each said respective busbar;

at least one of said plurality of insulation plates including a through-hole adapted to accept one of said plurality of terminal strips therethrough; and

at least one of said plurality of insulation plates including a fastening hole adapted to fasten said one of said plurality of terminal strips, said fastening hole provided on one of said plurality of insulation plates at a position furthest from the bent portion of one of said plurality of busbars.

2. The busbar laminate assembly according to claim 1, wherein a width of said fastening hole is no greater than a thickness of the terminal strip.

3. The busbar laminate assembly according to claim 1, wherein an area of said fastening hole is no greater than a cross-sectional area of the terminal strip.

4. The busbar laminate assembly according to claim 1, wherein a width of said fastening hole is less than a thickness of the terminal strip.

5. The busbar laminate assembly according to claim 1, wherein an area of said fastening hole is less than the cross-sectional area of the terminal strip.

6. The busbar laminate assembly according to claim 1, wherein said fastening hole includes a tapered opening adapted to facilitate the insertion of said one of said plurality of terminal strips.

7. A busbar laminate assembly comprising:

a plurality of busbars each having a bent portion, a plurality of terminal strips, each of said plurality of terminal strips depending from a respective bent portion of each busbar;

a plurality of insulation plates, a respective insulation plate located above a respective busbar and adapted to electrically isolate each respective busbar;

at least one of said plurality of insulation plates including a through-hole adapted to accept a terminal strip therethrough; and

at least one of said terminal strips including a protrusion adapted to press-fit the terminal strip within said through-hole.

8. The busbar laminate assembly according to claim 7, wherein a width of said through hole is no greater than a thickness of the terminal strip.

9. The busbar laminate assembly according to claim 7, wherein an area of said through hole is no greater than a cross-sectional area of the terminal strip.

10. The busbar laminate assembly according to claim 7, wherein a width of said through hole is less than a thickness of the terminal strip.

11. The busbar laminate assembly according to claim 7, wherein an area of said through hole is less than a cross-sectional area of the terminal strip .

12. The busbar laminate assembly according to claim 7, wherein said protrusion includes a tapered surface adapted to facilitate insertion of said terminal strip.

13. The busbar laminate assembly according to claim 7, wherein each said terminal strip has a tip, and wherein said protrusion of said at least one terminal strip is positioned a predetermined distance from the tip.

14. The busbar laminate assembly according to claim 13, wherein said protrusion includes a tapered surface adapted to facilitate insertion of said terminal strip.