Load connectors for power panel assemblies

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10879658-B2
Application number	US-201816119442-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 31, 2018
Priority date	Aug 31, 2018
Publication date	Dec 29, 2020
Grant date	Dec 29, 2020

Abstract

A power panel for an electrical system includes a chassis having chassis slots for power modules, a bus body coupled to the chassis to connect the power panel to a power source, and first and second module connectors. The first and second module connectors are fixed relative to the bus body to connect the power modules to the bus body. The second module connector is movable relative to the first module connector to accommodate position of the power modules in the chassis slots. Electrical cabinets, power panels, and methods of seating power modules in power panels are also described.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A power panel for an electrical system, comprising:
a chassis having chassis slots for power modules;
a flexible bus body coupled to the chassis to connect the power panel to a power source; and
first and second module connectors fixed relative to the bus body to connect the power modules to the bus body, wherein the second module connector is movable relative to the first module connector to accommodate position of the power modules in the chassis slots.

2. The power panel as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first module connector is radially free and axially free relative to a first of the chassis slots.

3. The power panel as recited in claim 1 , wherein the second module connector is radially free and axially free relative to a second of the chassis slots.

4. The power panel as recited in claim 1 , wherein the bus body has a flexible body spanning the chassis slots, the flexible body comprising a ribbon stack.

5. The power panel as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a terminal arranged on an end of the bus body for connecting the bus body to a power supply, the terminal fixed relative to the chassis.

6. The power panel as recited in claim 5 , further comprising a buckle connecting the terminal in series with the bus body, the terminal brazed to the buckle.

7. The power panel as recited in claim 6 , wherein the bus body includes a ribbon segment captive within the buckle and electrically connected to the terminal by the buckle.

8. The power panel as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first module connector includes a plug body fixed relative to the bus body.

9. The power panel as recited in claim 8 , further comprising a buckle connecting the plug body in series with the bus body.

10. The power panel as recited in claim 9 , wherein the plug body is brazed to the buckle.

11. The power panel as recited in claim 9 , wherein the bus body includes a braided segment captive within the buckle and electrically connected to the plug body by the buckle.

12. The power panel as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a cover having plug apertures, the cover enclosing the bus body, the first module connector extending through a first of the plug apertures and movably supported relative to the cover, and the second module connector extending through a second of the plug apertures and movably supported relative to the cover.

13. The power panel as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a clip seated about the module connector and axially spaced apart from the cover to provide axial float to the module connector.

14. The power panel as recited in claim 13 , wherein the aperture and module connector are tolerance to one another to allow radial float of the module connector relative to the cover.

15. The power panel as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a power module seated one of the chassis slots, the power module in electrical communication with the bus body by one of the first and second power module connectors.

16. A electrical cabinet, comprising:
a power panel as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first module connector is radially free and axially free relative to a first of the chassis slots, wherein the second module connector is radially free and axially free relative to a second of the chassis slots, and wherein the bus body has a flexible body spanning the laterally spanning the chassis slots;
a terminal arranged on an end of the bus body for connecting the bus body to a power supply, the terminal fixed relative to the chassis; and
a cover having plug apertures, the cover enclosing the bus body, the first module connector extending through a first of the plug apertures and movably supported relative to the cover, and the second module connector extending through a second of the plug apertures and movably supported relative to the cover.

17. The electrical cabinet as recited in claim 16 , wherein the first module connector includes a plug body fixed relative to the bus body, wherein the bus body includes a ribbon segment captive within the buckle and electrically connected to the plug body by the buckle.

18. The electrical cabinet as recited in claim 16 , wherein the ribbon segment is doubled with another ribbon segment captive within the buckle.

19. The electrical cabinet as recited in claim 16 , wherein the ribbon segment includes a singular ribbon segment captive within the buckle.

20. A method of seating a power module in a power panel, comprising:
at a chassis having chassis slots, a flexible bus body coupled to the chassis, and first and second module connectors fixed relative to the bus body, the second module connector movable relative to the first module connector;
seating a power module in a first of chassis slots; and
sliding the power module along the chassis slot and into abutment with the second module connector, wherein sliding the power module includes moving the second module connector relative to the first module connector with the sliding movement of the power module.

Assignees

• Hamilton Sundstrand Corp

Inventors

• Yang Nhia
• Wavering Jeffrey T
• Jackson Stephen E

Classifications

• H01R25/162 Primary

  Electrical connections between or with rails or bus-bars (rails having primarily a non electrical function H01R4/64) · CPC title

• H02B1/202

  Cable lay-outs · CPC title

• H01R13/02

  Contact members · CPC title

• H01R13/502

  composed of different pieces (H01R13/514 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01R4/02

  Soldered or welded connections {(H01R4/625, H01R4/723, H01R12/59 take precedence)} · CPC title