JP2018528741A - In particular an electrical connection device between an electric motor for a motor vehicle compressor and the supply unit of the motor - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates in particular to an electrical connection device between an electric motor for a motor vehicle compressor and a motor supply unit. The device includes a connection plug 62, which provides a blind attachment of the motor to the supply unit by mechanical contact and electrical connection between the connection plug 62 and the connector 52 of the supply unit 5. An apparatus formed from a flexible metal sheet configured to enable. [Selection] Figure 5

Description

  The invention relates to an electrical connection device between an electric motor and a supply unit of the motor. The invention also relates to a motor comprising the device and an assembly formed from the motor and its supply unit. The invention is particularly applicable to the field of compressors, especially electric compressors, for example for circulating refrigerant in a vehicle air conditioning circuit.

  Conventionally, an electric compressor includes a compression mechanism driven by an electric motor to pressurize the refrigerant in the air conditioning circuit. To supply the electric motor, the compressor further includes an inverter that converts the available current into a current suitable for the compressor motor. For example, the inverter can convert direct current into three-phase alternating current.

  In order to establish an electrical connection between the motor and the inverter, various solutions based on wired assemblies have been proposed. However, such a solution is difficult to adapt to low voltage, high amperage supply current. In fact, in such a scenario, it is necessary to use a wire with a large cross-sectional area, making it impossible to use a connector that allows the motor to be easily assembled to the inverter.

  The present invention proposes to overcome the disadvantages mentioned above and, for this purpose, in particular to an electrical connection device between an electric motor for a motor vehicle compressor and the supply unit of the motor, said device comprising: A flexible metal configured to allow blind mounting of the motor to the supply unit by mechanical contact and electrical connection between the connection plug and the connector of the supply unit Formed from a sheet.

  By using a conductor formed in the metal sheet, it is possible to provide a connection plug having a large cross-sectional area in a limited space. Moreover, the connection plug can be formed to allow blind mounting. Moreover, due to the small space requirements of the plug, the load loss is limited to the case of fluid circulating around the motor, as in the case of electric compressors for motor vehicles. The flexibility of the metal sheet also provides a solution that can effectively withstand vibration.

According to an additional feature of the invention, which can be used together or individually,
The device comprises a conductor intended to be electrically connected to several windings of the motor;
The connecting plug is electrically connected to the conductor;
The conductor is constituted by a metal sheet;
The metal sheet is ring-shaped;
The metal sheet has a substantially rectangular cross section;
The device is configured such that the large cross-sectional side of the metal sheet is oriented along the longitudinal axis of the rotor of the motor after mounting;
The device comprises pins electrically connected to the conductor, each of the pins intended to be connected to one of the windings of the motor;
The pin is L-shaped, after installation, one of the L arms is oriented radially and the other of the L arms is oriented along the longitudinal axis of the rotor of the motor; For the purpose of
The device includes a plurality of the conductors each coupled to the connection plug;
The conductors are arranged concentrically;
The connecting plug is angularly offset from one conductor to the next,
-Said connecting plugs are located in the same angular area of less than 90 °, or indeed less than 45 °, or even less than 30 °
The connecting plug has a different angular orientation;
The connector (s) and the connecting plug (s) are overmolded, in particular with an electrically insulating material, to form a single assembly;
The connection plug comprises a contact portion that contacts a connector of the supply unit and a connection portion configured to provide a mechanical contact established flexibly between the device and the supply unit; Including
The connecting portion includes a U-shaped region;
The contact is configured such that the mechanical contact can be established by a translational movement along the longitudinal axis of the rotor of the motor;
-The contact part comprises an end intended to contact and contact the connector of the connection unit;
The contact part comprises one or more side surfaces intended to contact the side wall of the connector of the connection unit;
The side surface is located in a curved region of the contact portion;
The contact is configured to allow attachment in a translational motion followed by a rotational motion;
The contact includes a housing that engages a connector of the supply unit in translation along the longitudinal axis of the rotor of the motor;
The contact includes a housing for securing a connector of the supply unit;
The engagement housing and the fixed housing are in communication with each other, allowing the connector of the supply unit to pass from one to the other by rotational movement about the longitudinal axis of the rotor of the motor;
The contact housing includes a recessed area configured to allow multi-point contact with the connector of the supply unit;

  The invention also relates to a motor comprising a connection device as described above and an assembly formed from said motor and its supply unit.

According to additional features that can be used together or individually,
The connector is constituted by a connection plug;
The connecting plug of the supply unit comprises a core made of a first metal material and a skin made of a second metal material;
The first material is copper;

  According to one aspect of the invention, the assembly further includes a compressor driven by the motor to form an electrical compression device.

  The invention will be understood more clearly on reading the description that follows, which is provided purely as a non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the compression apparatus by this invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the motor and connection device of the compression device of FIG. 1 in a position where the motor is assembled with respect to its supply unit. Figure 3 shows the same view as Figure 2 in the assembled position. The same view as FIG. 3 is shown in a perspective view. The conductors and connection plugs of the connection device of the previous figure are shown schematically in an axial view and after planarization. 1 shows a longitudinal section of an embodiment of a connection plug of a connection device according to the invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the present invention relates to a compression apparatus. FIG. 1 must therefore at least schematically show that the end of the shaft drives the compression system. The latter can be used to compress fluids of various properties and can be attached to any type of device, whether mobile or stationary. However, it is specifically aimed at circulating the refrigerant in the air conditioning circuit of a motor vehicle, which is intended to be mounted directly or indirectly on the chassis.

  The electric compressor according to the present invention includes a compressor (not shown), an electric motor or machine 3 for driving the compressor, and a current converter 5 attached to the machine. The conversion device 5 is configured to allow the electric machine 3 to be powered and controlled. It therefore serves as a motor supply unit.

  The compressor is preferably a scroll compressor or vane compressor or indeed a piston compressor, these examples being purely exemplary and in no way limiting the scope of the invention. The electric machine 3 is, for example, a three-phase electric motor. The converter 5 is, for example, an inverter, i.e. a device that can be used, for example, to convert direct current sent by a battery into alternating current, in particular into three-phase alternating current.

  The compressor may include a casing in which the compression member is accommodated. The electric machine 3 includes a casing 30 in which the stator 34 and the rotor 32 of the electric machine are accommodated. The casing is in particular cylindrical and hollow. They extend longitudinally along a longitudinal axis shared by the compressor shaft and the electric machine rotor. The compressor casing and / or the electrical machine casing 30 are made of, for example, aluminum or an aluminum alloy.

  The electric machine 3 is preferably configured to be mounted on a support, in particular on the chassis, drive motor or gear box of the equipped vehicle. The stator 32 includes a body 36 that is angularly spaced from one another and provided with teeth 38 having notches 40 therebetween. The main body 36 of the stator 32 is formed, for example, by laminating a large amount of metal sheets. The stator 32 further includes a winding 42 that is placed around each tooth 38 and occupies the notch 40. The windings 42 are preferably connected to each other by a three-phase triangle-triangular attachment (since there is no neutral point) (two connection types need to be included).

  The compression device is preferably configured such that the refrigerant passes through the electric machine 3 and contacts the conversion device 5 to cool them. A fluid passage can preferably be provided between the electric machine 3 and the compressor 1.

  The conversion device 5 includes a main body 50 configured to be attached to the electric machine 3. In other words, the main body 50 of the conversion device and the casing 30 of the electric machine 3 are two separate parts mounted on each other.

  In this case, the conversion device 5 is attached to the electric machine 3 like a cantilever. It has, for example, a cylindrical shape, in particular coaxial with the casing of the compressor and / or electric machine 3.

  In particular, the conversion device includes current conversion means (not shown) housed in the main body 50. The conversion means may include, for example, a transistor bridge attached to a printed circuit board. The device further includes an electrical connector 52 for supplying power to the electrical machine 3, in this case three connectors for a three-phase power source. They are for example connecting plugs in the form of substantially straight rods, in particular arranged at the vertices of a triangle.

  The body 50 is preferably a one-piece assembly, particularly manufactured by casting. It can be configured to facilitate cooling of the conversion means.

  The power grid supplying power to the electric machine is in this case supplied with a relatively low voltage, for example less than 60 V, and in particular means the use of a high amperage current during the spike.

  According to one aspect of the invention, an electrical connection device 60 is provided between the electric motor 3 and the motor supply unit 5. It is therefore located between the electric motor 3 and the supply unit 5.

  The connection device 60 includes one or more connection plugs 62a, 62b and 62c, in this case including three, one for each phase of the motor, but only one of the connection plugs 62 in FIG. It is shown. The connection plug is intended to enable circulation of current supplied from the supply unit 5 to the motor. They are each formed from a flexible metal sheet. Furthermore, they allow blind mounting of the motor to the supply unit by mechanical contact and electrical connection between each connection plug 62 and the combined connector 52, as will be described in greater detail below. Composed.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the apparatus includes one or more conductors 64a, 64b and 64c intended to be electrically connected to a number of windings 42 of the motor, in which case 3 One for each phase of the motor. Each connection plug 62a, 62b and 62c is electrically connected to one of the conductors 64a, 64b and 64c. The conductors 64a, 64b, and 64c are each formed of a metal sheet that forms a bus bar. In this case, the metal sheet has a ring shape. It may have a rectangular cross section.

  The connection plugs 62a, 62b and 62c are preferably angularly offset from one conductor 64a, 64b and 64c to the next conductor. In this case they are located in the same angular area of less than 90 °, or indeed less than 45 °, or even less than 30 °.

  As more clearly shown in FIG. 1 (or FIG. 4), the apparatus is configured such that the larger cross-sectional side of the metal sheet is oriented along the longitudinal axis of the rotor 32 of the motor after installation. .

  Similarly, as shown in FIG. 1, the conductors 64a, 64b and 64c and the connecting plug (s) form a single assembly having a crown shape, centered on one end of the rotor 32 in this case. For this purpose, it is overmolded with an electrically insulating material 68.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the device may include a pin 66 electrically connected to the conductors 64a, 64b and 64c. Each of the pins 66 is intended to be connected to one of the windings 42 of the motor 3. The pin 66 is in this case L-shaped, and after installation, one of the L arms is oriented radially and the other of the L arms is along the longitudinal axis of the rotor 32 of the motor 3. Oriented. The radial arm is attached to one of the conductors 64 a, 64 b and 64 c, in particular brazed and / or welded, while the other arm is attached to one of the ends of the winding 42.

  The motor in this case includes 15 windings 42, and for the desired mounting, each conductor 64a, 64b and 64c is connected to 10 windings 42 of the motor 3 by one of the pins 66. Is done. The conductors 64a, 64b and 64c are arranged concentrically, for example.

  Each connection plug 62a, 62b and 62c is established with a contact 5 that contacts the connector 52a, 52b and 52c to which the supply unit is coupled, and a flexibility 5 between the connection device and the supply unit. And a connection 72 configured to provide mechanical contact.

  The connecting portion 72 includes a radial portion connected to the conductors 64 a, 64 b and 64 c, and an angularly extending portion located between the radial portion and the contact portion 70. The connecting portion 72, particularly the angularly extending portion, may include a U-shaped region 74 that improves its flexibility.

  The contact portion 70 is configured to allow attachment in a translational motion followed by a rotational movement, preferably also referred to as a bayonet attachment. The contact portion 70 includes a housing 75 that engages the connector 52 of the supply unit in translation along the longitudinal axis of the rotor of the motor. The contact portion further includes a housing 76 that fixes the connector 52. The engagement housing 75 and the fixed housing 76 communicate with each other so that the connector 52 of the supply unit can pass from one to the other by rotational movement about the longitudinal axis of the rotor of the motor.

  In other words, the engagement housing 75 guides the connectors 52a, 52b and 52c in a translational motion during the first stage of motion as shown in FIG. Are introduced into the fixed housings 76 of the connection plugs 62a, 62b and 62c, respectively.

  In this case, the engagement housing 75 and the stationary housing 76 are formed by the omega shape of the contact portion 70 and the omega shape opening and bottom, respectively. Such an omega shape helps to fix the connectors 52a, 52b and 52c by snap-fitting to the connection plugs 62a, 62b and 62c. After fixing, a dowel not shown here can be used to lock the rotation of the motor casing 30 and the main body 50 of the supply unit, and the dowel is open to each of these parts when the openings face each other. Inserted into the section.

  In order to allow limited angular space requirements, the connecting plugs 62a, 62b and 62c preferably have different angular orientations. In this case, the connection plugs 62a and 62c of the inner and outer conductors 64a and 64c are oriented in a direction that can be described as counterclockwise, whereas the connection plug 62b of the intermediate conductor 62b is oriented in a direction that can be described as clockwise. Is done. In addition, the connection plugs may have different shapes. In this case, the connection plugs 62a and 62c of the inner and outer conductors 64a and 64c are formed identically, and the substantially flat connection portions 72 are on both sides of the U-shaped region 74 at their angularly extending portions. However, the connecting plug 62b of the intermediate conductor 64b has a different shape, and the substantially round connecting portion 75 is in the angularly extending portion. It is further observed that one of the two connecting plugs of the inner and outer conductors 64a and 64c, in this case the outer plug 62a, is angularly placed between the other plug 62c of the two plugs and the third plug 62b. Can be done.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the fixed housing 76 includes a recessed area 80 configured to allow multipoint contact with the coupled connector 64 of the supply unit 5. The recessed areas 80 are in this case distributed substantially at 90 ° to each other.

  To further facilitate contact, the distal end of the connection plug may include teeth 82 spaced apart from each other along the connectors 52a, 52b and 52c (see FIG. 4).

  As an application, as shown in FIG. 6, the contact portion 70 is configured to allow the mechanical contact established by a translational motion along the longitudinal axis of the rotor of the motor indicated by arrow 84. Is done. In other words, the contact portion 70 also guides the connector 52 and ensures contact with the plug 62.

  The contact portion 70 includes an end portion 86 intended to contact and contact the connector 52 of the connection unit. The contact portion 70 also includes one or more side surfaces 88 intended to contact the side wall 90 of the connector 52 of the connection unit. The side surface 88 is located in a curved region of the contact portion 70.

  Particularly in this configuration, the connector 52 and the supply unit 5 preferably include a core 92 made of a first metal material, for example copper, and a skin 94 made of a second metal material, for example steel.

  In these two embodiments, it is understood that blind mounting of the motor 3 to the supply unit 5 is possible with removal. In addition, the use of plugs made of metal sheets made of, for example, copper alloys for contact is effective in passing a good level of flexibility and current while having limited space requirements. To provide both a simple cross section. The vibration resistance provided by using a metal sheet that is optionally reinforced by the U-shape that can be provided is another advantage of the present invention.

3 Electric motor 5 Supply unit 52 Connector 62 Connection plug

Claims (15)

  In particular, an electrical connection device between an electric motor (3) for a motor vehicle compressor and a supply unit (5) of the motor (3), comprising a connection plug (62), wherein the connection plug (62) Configured to allow blind mounting of the motor to the supply unit (5) by mechanical contact and electrical connection between the connection plug (62) and the connector (52) of the supply unit (5). Formed from a shaped flexible metal sheet.   Including a conductor (64) intended to be electrically connected to several windings (42) of the motor (3), and the connecting plug (62) being electrically connected to the conductor (64) The apparatus according to claim 1, connected to   3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the conductor (64) consists of a metal sheet in the form of a ring.   The metal sheet has a substantially rectangular cross section, and the large cross section side of the metal sheet is oriented along the longitudinal axis of the rotor (32) of the motor (3) after installation. The apparatus according to claim 3.   Including pins (66) electrically connected to the conductor (64), each of the pins (66) being connected to one of the windings (42) of the motor (3); The apparatus according to claim 2 or 3.   The apparatus according to any of claims 2 to 4, comprising a plurality of said conductors (64a, 64b and 64c) each coupled to said connecting plug (62a, 62b and 62c).   The device according to claim 6, wherein the conductors (64a, 64b and 64c) are arranged concentrically.   The device according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the connecting plugs (62a, 62b and 62c) are angularly offset from one conductor (64a, 64b and 64c) to the next conductor.   9. Apparatus according to any of claims 2 to 8, wherein the conductor (s) (64) and the connecting plug (s) (62) are overmolded to form a single assembly. .   The connection plug (62) is established with flexibility between a contact portion (70) that contacts the connector (52) of the supply unit (5) and the device and the supply unit (5). 10. A device according to any preceding claim, comprising a connection (72) configured to provide mechanical contact.   11. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the contact portion (70) is configured such that the mechanical contact can be established by translational movement.   11. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the contact (70) is configured to allow attachment in a translational motion followed by a rotational motion.   The contact portion (70) includes a housing (75) that engages the connector (52) of the supply unit (5) in translational movement, and the contact portion is the connector (5) of the supply unit (5). 52), and the engagement housing (75) and the fixed housing (76) are in communication with each other, and the connector (52) of the supply unit (5) is rotated by one movement. The device according to claim 12, which allows passage from one to the other.   14. Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the stationary housing (76) includes a recessed area (80) configured to allow multi-point contact with the connector (52) of the supply unit (5).   15. A motor assembly comprising the connection device according to claim 1 and a motor supply unit.

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