Variable connection retention system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10879659-B2
Application number	US-201916383148-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 12, 2019
Priority date	Apr 12, 2019
Publication date	Dec 29, 2020
Grant date	Dec 29, 2020

Abstract

A variable connection retention system for a busbar. The retention system comprises of a dielectric overmold base. A main busbar is nested within overmold and engages a mating busbar. The overmold base includes a floating retention nut that displaces axially which engages the main busbar to the mating busbar when torque is applied.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A busbar retention system for a mating interface comprising:
a base;
a first mating component disposed within the base;
a second mating component; and
a fastener assembly configured to attach the first mating component to the second mating component, wherein the fastener assembly includes a fastener and a floating retention nut located within an opening in the base, wherein the floating retention nut is configured to be movable along the length of the fastener has a non-circular shape exterior shape and wherein the base includes a non-circular opening matching the shape of the retention nut so that the retention nut is prevented from rotating; and

wherein the floating retention nut includes an exterior surface in contact with the opening in the base and an interior surface surrounding the fastener and wherein the opening in the base includes a plurality of axially extending inwardly projecting ribs that contact the exterior surface of the floating retention nut to thereby resist axial movement and retain the floating retention nut in position while permitting axial movement of the floating retention nut upon the application of a torque applied to the fastener resulting in an axial force applied to the floating retention nut.

2. The retention system of claim 1 , wherein the second mating located component is between the first mating component and the base.

3. The retention system of claim 1 , wherein the fastener assembly further includes a nut retention bracket engaged to the fastener.

4. The retention system of claim 3 , wherein a torque applied configured to tighten the fastener assembly causes an axial movement of the floating retention nut.

5. The retention system of claim 1 , wherein the first mating component is a main busbar.

6. The retention system of claim 5 , wherein the second mating component is a mating busbar.

7. The retention system of claim 6 , wherein the base is a dielectric overmold.

8. A retention system for busbars comprising:
a dielectric base;
a main busbar nested within the base;
a first mating busbar;
a first opening located on the main busbar;
a first fastener configured to attach the main busbar to the first mating busbar, wherein the first fastener extends through the first opening;
a first washer located adjacent to the first opening, wherein the first washer is engaged to the first fastener and the main busbar; and
a first floating retention nut located within an opening in the base that is axially aligned with the first opening, wherein the first floating retention nut is configured to be movable along the axial length of the first fastener and maintain engagement with the first mating busbar;
wherein first floating retention nut has a non-circular shape exterior shape and wherein the base includes a non-circular opening matching the shape of the retention nut so that the retention nut is prevented from rotating; and
wherein the first floating retention nut includes an exterior surface in contact with the opening in the base and an interior surface surrounding the fastener and wherein the opening in the base includes a plurality of axially extending inwardly projecting ribs that contact the exterior surface of the first floating retention nut to thereby resist axial movement and retain the first floating retention nut in position while permitting axial movement of the first floating retention nut upon the application of an axial force associated with tightening of the fastener.

9. The retention system of claim 8 , wherein the base is a dielectric overmold.

10. The retention system of claim 8 , further comprising:
a secondary busbar;
a second mating busbar;
a second opening located on the secondary busbar;
a second fastener configured to attach the secondary busbar to the second mating busbar, wherein the second fastener extends through the second opening;
a second washer located adjacent to the second opening, wherein the second washer is engaged to the second fastener and the secondary busbar; and
a second floating retention nut within the base, wherein the first floating retention nut is configured to be movable along the length of the first fastener to engage the main busbar and the second mating busbar.

11. The retention system of claim 10 , wherein the second mating busbar is thinner than the first mating busbar.

12. The retention system of claim 10 , wherein a first torque applied to the first fastener causes a first axial movement of the floating retention nut towards the first busbar.

13. The retention system of claim 12 , wherein a second torque applied to the second fastener causes a second axial movement of the second floating retention nut towards the second busbar.

14. A busbar assembly comprising:
a base;
a plurality of primary busbars nested within the base;
a plurality of mating busbars, wherein each mating busbar are adjacent to each corresponding primary busbar of the plurality of primary busbars;
a plurality of openings, wherein each opening of the plurality of openings are located on each corresponding primary busbar of the plurality of primary busbars;
a plurality of fasteners, wherein each fastener of the plurality of fasteners are configured to attach each of the primary busbars to each corresponding mating busbar of the plurality of mating busbars;
a plurality of floating retention nuts within the base, wherein each floating retention nut of the plurality of floating retention nuts is configured to move along the length of a corresponding fastener of the plurality of fasteners to maintain engagement with one of the plurality of mating busbars;
wherein each of the plurality of floating retention nuts has a non-circular shape exterior shape and wherein the base includes a plurality of corresponding non-circular openings and wherein each of the openings in the base matches the shape of the retention nut so that the retention nut is prevented from rotating; and
wherein the each of the floating nuts includes an exterior surface in contact with the corresponding opening in the base and an interior surface surrounding the corresponding fastener and wherein the corresponding opening in the base includes a plurality of axially extending inwardly projecting ribs that contact the exterior surface of the floating retention nut to thereby resist axial movement and retain the floating retention nut in position while permitting axial movement of the floating retention nut upon the application of an axial force associated with tightening of the fastener.

15. The assembly of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of mating busbars includes at mating busbars having at least two different thicknesses.

16. The retention system assembly of claim 15 , wherein the thicknesses are measured along each longitudinal axis of each fastener of the plurality of fasteners.

Assignees

• Karma Automotive Llc

Inventors

• Nguyen Khanh
• Niu Geng

Classifications

• H01R25/162 Primary

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

• H01R4/34 Primary

  Conductive members located under head of screw · CPC title

• H01R25/161

  Details · CPC title

• H02G5/025

  Supporting structures · CPC title

• H02G5/007 Primary

  Butt joining of bus-bars by means of a common bolt, e.g. splice joint (electrically conductive connections characterised by contacting members H01R4/58) · CPC title