High voltage distribution box with pre-molded lead frame

• US 6,545,861 B1
• Filed: 11/20/2001
• Issued: 04/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: FCI Americas Technology Incorporated (FCI)
• Original Assignee: FCI Americas Technology Incorporated (FCI)
• Inventors: Dziurlikowski, Thomas, McLachlan, Raymond Bruce, Hayes, Earl James
• Primary Examiner(s): CHERVINSKY, BORIS LEO
• Application Number:
  US09/989,053
• Time in Patent Office: 504 Days
• Field of Search: 361/601, 361/624-631, 361/632, 361/640-644, 361/646, 361/823, 361/826, 361/828, 439/76.2, 439/250, 439/251, 174/250, 174/251, 174/521
• US Class Current: 361/642
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2085/208 specially adapted for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 1/18 Disposition or arrangement of fuses for switchgear having a withdrawable carriage H02B11/26
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 1/48 Mounting of devices therein

Abstract

A vehicle high voltage electrical distribution box including a housing and a lead frame assembly. The lead frame assembly is located in the housing. The lead frame assembly includes bus bars and an over molded frame which has been over molded onto the bus bars to connect the bus bars to each other.

Claims

1. An electrical distribution box comprising:

a housing;

a lead frame assembly located in the housing, the lead frame assembly comprising bus bars and an over molded frame which has been over molded onto the bus bars to connect the bus bars to each other;

wherein the frame is comprised of molded polymer material and the frame further comprises three orthogonal support sidewalls, at least two orthogonal open sides, and dividers extending from two of the orthogonal support sidewalls towards the two orthogonal open sides.

2. An electrical distribution box as in claim 1 wherein the second orthogonal support sidewall comprises pairs of holes therethrough.

3. An electrical distribution box as in claim 2 wherein the second orthogonal support sidewall comprises separator shelves extending inward between respective pairs of the holes.

4. An electrical distribution box as in claim 1 wherein the bus bars comprise sections with apertures therethrough, and wherein the sections of the bus bars extend uncovered from the frame at holes through two of the orthogonal support sidewalls.

5. An electrical distribution box as in claim 1 wherein a first one of the bus bars has a general L shape and extends along a first one and a second one of the orthogonal support sidewalls.

6. An electrical distribution box as in claim 5 wherein a second one of the bus bars has a general L shape and extends along the first one and a third one of the orthogonal support sidewalls.

7. An electrical distribution box as in claim 6 wherein a third one of the bus bars has a general L shape and extends along the third orthogonal support sidewall and the second orthogonal support sidewall.

8. An electrical distribution box as in claim 7 wherein the second and third bus bars comprise fuse terminals attached thereto, the fuse terminals extending from the third orthogonal support sidewall.

9. An electrical distribution box as in claim 1 further comprising electrical fuse terminals connected to the bus bars, the electrical fuse terminals being adapted to removably receive electrical fuses therein.

10. A vehicle high voltage electrical distribution box comprising:

a housing adapted to be mounted to a vehicle and having holes for conductors to pass therethrough; and

a lead frame assembly located inside the housing, the lead frame assembly comprising;

a plurality of electrical bus bars; and

a molded frame permanently and stationarily connecting the bus bars to each other wherein the frame comprises three orthogonal support sidewalls, at least two orthogonal open sides, and dividers extending from second and third ones of the orthogonal support sidewalls towards the two orthogonal open sides.

11. A vehicle high voltage electrical distribution box as in claim 10 wherein the second orthogonal support sidewall and a first one of the orthogonal support sidewalls comprise pairs of holes therethrough.

12. A vehicle high voltage electrical distribution box as in claim 11 wherein the first and second orthogonal support sidewalls comprise separator shelves extending inward from the first and second orthogonal support sidewalls between respective pairs of the holes.

13. A vehicle high voltage electrical distribution box as in claim 11 wherein the bus bars comprise sections with apertures therethrough, and wherein the sections of the bus bars extend uncovered from the frame at the holes through the first and second orthogonal support sidewalls.