Power distribution module using buss bar

• US 7,649,731 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2007
• Issued: 01/19/2010
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Gandhi; Jayprakash N
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOFFBERG, ROBERT JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US11/700,990
• Publication Number:
  US 20080180884A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,084 Days
• Field of Search: 361/622, 361/624, 361/626, 361/775, 174/254, 439/76.2, 439721-722, 439/949
• 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;

a plurality of buss bars received within the housing for distributing power between multiple electrical components, the buss bars include a base strip with multiple mounts; and

terminals coupled to selected ones of the mounts such that the terminals are selectively positionable within respective ones of the channels based on a predetermined arrangement of the electrical components wherein the housing extends along a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis, the housing includes slots extending between and open to the channels in both longitudinal directions and in lateral directions, the base strips being received within corresponding slots and wherein each of the base strips extends in the longitudinal direction, in the lateral direction, or in both the longitudinal and the lateral directions.

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 the channels are arranged in a grid pattern having rows and columns, at least one of the buss bars received in channels within multiple columns and multiple rows.

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

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

7. A power distribution module in accordance with claim 1, wherein the channels are discrete from one another and receive the terminals in a one-to-one relationship.

8. A power distribution module in accordance with claim 1, wherein the terminals are discrete from one another and individually coupled to a selected one of the mounts.

9. A power distribution module in accordance with claim 1, wherein the mounts represent one of a male connection and a female connection, the terminals being configured to be coupled to the mounts.

10. A power distribution module in accordance with claim 1, wherein the mounts comprise tabs extending outward from the base strip, the terminals include female connections at the end thereof for coupling to selected tabs.

11. A power distribution module in accordance with claim 1, wherein the housing comprises an upper housing and a lower housing, the upper housing having upper channel portions and the lower housing having lower channel portions, the upper and lower channel portions cooperating to define the channels, wherein the buss bars are received in both the upper and lower channel portions.

12. A power distribution module in accordance with claim 1, wherein the base strip of at least one of the buss bars has a right angle bend such that the base strip is received in both a longitudinally extending slot and in a laterally extending slot.

13. A power distribution module in accordance with claim 1, wherein the buss bar has a power connector interface to directly connect the buss bar to a power connector for the power distribution module.

14. A power distribution module in accordance with claim 1, wherein the channels extend entirely through the housing such that the channels have first and second open ends, the channels receiving a portion of the electrical components through the first open end, the channels being configured to receive a contact terminated to an end of a jumper wire through the second open end, wherein the contact is configured to be mated to the electrical component within the channel.

15. A power distribution module in accordance with claim 1, wherein the base strip includes a top and a bottom, the mounts extending from the top, the buss bar having a power connector interface at the bottom of the base strip, the power connector interface being configured to be directly connected to a power connector for the power distribution module.

16. A power distribution module in accordance with claim 1, wherein the base strip is aligned only with the respective channels receiving the terminals.

17. A power distribution module in accordance with claim 1, wherein the channels are open at a bottom of the housing, the power distribution module further comprising a set of plugs received within selected channels at the bottom of the housing to seal the selected channels.

18. A power distribution module in accordance with claim 1, wherein the buss bars are selectively positioned within the housing such that a plurality of the channels are unobstructed by any buss bar.