Electrical connection assembly

• US 8,995,133 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2012
• Issued: 03/31/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Wieland, Andrew D., Harmelink, Gregory K., Clements, Neal D., Larsen, Kevin B., Oenick, John N.
• Primary Examiner(s): SMITH, COURTNEY L
• Application Number:
  US13/664,514
• Publication Number:
  US 20140118950A1
• Time in Patent Office: 881 Days
• Field of Search: 361/622, 361/627, 361/633, 361/637, 361/648, 361/659, 361668-669, 361675-678, 361/679.46, 361/679.54, 361/688, 361/704, 361/707, 361709-710, 361/713, 361/730, 361/752, 361/831
• US Class Current: 361/713
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20927 Liquid coolant without phase change

Abstract

An electrical connection assembly includes a metal housing and an electrical module having a plurality of electrical components mounted on a component base. The base is supported on the housing. A socket conducts electrical current from a pin of a cable to the electrical components. A heat sink member conducts heat directly from the socket to the metal housing. An electrically insulating thermally conducting pad is positioned between the housing and an end of the heat sink member. A current sensor has a cylindrical body which surrounds a portion of the socket.

Claims

1. An electrical assembly, comprising:

a metal housing having a lower part and a side wall;

a component base mounted on the lower part of the housing and having an end part which is spaced apart from the side wall;

an electrical module having a plurality of electrical components mounted on the component base;

a socket for conducting electrical current to the electrical components, the socket extending through the side wall, the end part of the component base being positioned between the lower part and an end portion of the socket;

a heat sink member for conducting heat from the socket to the metal housing lower part, the heat sink member having a first end positioned between the end portion of the socket and the end part of the base, and having a second end positioned between the end part of the base and the side wall;

an electrically insulating thermally conducting pad positioned between the housing lower part and the second end of the heat sink member;

a support member positioned between the end part of the base and the side wall, the support member having a base mounted to the housing lower part and having a hollow part which receives a portion of the socket; and

a current sensor, the current sensor having a body which surrounds a portion of the socket.

2. The electrical connection assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the connector comprises a hollow socket.

3. The electrical connection assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the electrical module comprises a power inverter.

4. The electrical connection assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the support member hollow part is positioned between the current sensor and the side wall.

5. The electrical connection assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the support member forming a recess which receives a portion of the current sensor.