Busbar for power conversion applications

• US 8,772,634 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2011
• Issued: 07/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Beaupre, Richard Alfred, Smolenski, Joseph Lucian
• Primary Examiner(s): Mayo, III, William H
• Application Number:
  US13/036,750
• Publication Number:
  US 20120217032A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,226 Days
• Field of Search: 174/59, 174/68.1, 174/68.2, 174/70.B, 174/71.B, 174/72.B, 174/99.B, 174/99.R, 174/71, 174/72
• US Class Current: 174/32
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 5/005 Laminated bus-bars
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/003 Constructional details, e.g. physical layout, assembly, wiring or busbar connections

Abstract

A busbar for power conversion applications that includes two planar conductors that have terminal locations; a first planar insulator located between the planar conductors; two impedances elements that are electrically connected to each of the planar conductors, wherein the impedance elements each extend in a plane that is non-coplanar from the planar conductors, further wherein the impedance elements are configured so as to define a gap between them; and a second planar insulator is located in the gap. A power conversion assembly that connects an energy source and a power switch to the busbar.

Claims

1. A busbar comprising:

a first planar conductor having a plurality of terminal locations;

a second planar conductor having a plurality of terminal locations;

a first planar insulator located between the first planar conductor and the second planar conductor;

a first impedance element electrically connected to the first planar conductor, wherein the first impedance element extends in a plane that is non-coplanar from the first planar conductor;

a second impedance element electrically connected to the second planar conductor, wherein the second impedance element extends in a plane that is non-coplanar from the second planar conductor, further wherein the first impedance element and the second impedance element are configured so as to define a gap therebetween; and

a second planar insulator located in the gap, wherein the second planar insulator is coplanar with the first impedance element.

2. The busbar of claim 1 wherein one of the first planar and the second planar conductor is made of a material comprising one of copper, aluminum, silver, and gold.

3. The busbar of claim 1 wherein the first planar conductor, the second planar conductor, and the first planar insulator are substantially parallel.

4. The busbar of claim 1 wherein the gap is in a range from about 1 mil to about 70 mil.

5. The busbar of claim 1, wherein one of the first impedance element and the second impedance element is L-shaped.

6. The busbar of claim 5, wherein the first impedance element and the second impedance element are substantially parallel.

7. The busbar of claim 1, wherein one of the first impedance element, the second impedance element, and the second planar insulator are substantially parallel.

8. The busbar of claim 1, wherein one of the first planar insulator and the second planar insulator is comprised of a polyimide, epoxy-glass, and polytetrafluoroethylene.

9. The busbar of claim 1, wherein the first impedance element and the second impedance element are substantially parallel.

10. The busbar of claim 1, wherein one of the first impedance element and the second impedance element are substantially perpendicular to the first planar conductor and the second planar conductor.

11. The busbar of claim 1, wherein the first impedance element and the second impedance element are removably attached to the first planar conductor and the second planar conductor.

12. The busbar of claim 1, wherein the first impedance element and the second impedance element are fixedly attached to the first planar conductor and the second planar conductor.

13. The busbar of claim 1, wherein the plurality of terminal locations is configured to connect to one of an energy source and a power switch.

14. The busbar of claim 13, wherein the energy source comprises one of a capacitor and an electrochemical battery.

15. The busbar of claim 1, wherein the first impedance element and the second impedance element are connected to the first planar conductor and the second planar conductor substantially in a current path of the first planar conductor and the second planar conductor.

16. The busbar of claim 1, wherein the gap has a uniform thickness between the first impedance element and the second impedance element.

17. The busbar of claim 1, wherein the second planar insulator is normal to the first planar conductor.

18. The busbar of claim 1, wherein the first impedance element and the second impedance element are normal to the first planar conductor and the second planar conductor.

19. The busbar of claim 1, wherein the first planar conductor and the first impedance element are electrically insulated from the second planar conductor and the second impedance element.

20. The busbar of claim 1, wherein the second planar insulator fills the gap.

21. The busbar of claim 20, wherein the second planar insulator entirely fills the gap.

22. An power conversion assembly comprising:

a busbar comprising;

a first planar conductor having a plurality of terminal locations;

a second planar conductor having a plurality of terminal locations;

a first planar insulator located between the first planar conductor and the second planar conductor;

a first impedance element electrically connected to the first planar conductor, wherein the first impedance element extends in a plane that is non-coplanar from the first planar conductor;

a second impedance element electrically connected to the second planar conductor, wherein the second impedance element extends in a plane that is non-coplanar from the second planar conductor, further wherein the first impedance element and the second impedance element are configured so as to define a gap therebetween; and

a second planar insulator located in the gap, wherein the second planar insulator is non-planar with the first planar conductor and the second planar conductor;

an energy source connected to the busbar; and

a power switch connected to the busbar.

23. The assembly of claim 22 the power switch comprising one of a mechanical element and a solid state element.

24. The assembly of claim 23, wherein the solid state element comprises one of a single switch, a halfbridge, a six-pack, and a multi-switch device.

25. The assembly of claim 22, wherein the energy source comprises a plurality of capacitors or a plurality of electrochemical batteries.

26. The assembly of claim 22, further comprising a load electrically connected to the power switch.