Heat dissipation and sealing configuration for junction assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11670929-B2
Application number	US-202117337160-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 2, 2021
Priority date	Jun 2, 2021
Publication date	Jun 6, 2023
Grant date	Jun 6, 2023

Abstract

A junction assembly is disclosed herein. The junction assembly includes a junction housing configured to support a phase bar assembly. A heatsink contacts at least a portion of the junction housing and a busbar is arranged adjacent to the junction housing. At least one fastener attaches the junction housing, the heatsink, and the busbar to each other. At least one heatsink seal is provided at an interface defined between the heatsink and the junction housing.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A junction assembly comprising:
a junction housing configured to support a phase bar assembly;
a heatsink contacting at least a portion of the junction housing;
a busbar arranged adjacent to the junction housing;
at least one fastener attaching the junction housing, the heatsink, and the busbar to each other; and
at least one heatsink seal provided at an interface defined between the heatsink and the junction housing.

2. The junction assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the junction housing includes a first junction housing and a second junction housing, and a junction housing seal is arranged between the first junction housing and the second junction housing.

3. The junction assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one blind clinch nut is arranged in the busbar, and the at least one blind clinch nut is configured to engage the at least one fastener.

4. The junction assembly according to claim 3 , wherein the at least one blind clinch nut includes two blind clinch nuts, and the two blind clinch nuts are arranged between a respective pair of phase leads in the busbar.

5. The junction assembly according to claim 4 , wherein the two blind clinch nuts are molded with the busbar.

6. The junction assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one busbar seal arranged in an interface defined between the busbar and the junction housing.

7. The junction assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising a dielectric coating arranged at an interface between the heatsink and at least a portion of a phase bar assembly arranged within the junction housing.

8. The junction assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising an O-ring seal arranged at an interface defined around a periphery of the at least one fastener and the heatsink.

9. The junction assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the heatsink includes at least one recess dimensioned to receive the at least one fastener, such that the at least one fastener is positioned below a top surface of the heatsink in an installed state.

10. The junction assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one fastener extends between opposing end faces of the junction housing.

11. The junction assembly according to claim 1 , wherein a bottom surface of the heatsink contacts at least one main phase bar body arranged inside of the junction housing.

12. The junction assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the junction assembly has a sealing rating of IP69K.

13. The junction assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one fastener consists of two fasteners.

14. A junction assembly comprising:
a junction housing configured to support a phase bar assembly, the junction housing including a first junction housing and a second junction housing with a junction housing seal arranged therebetween;
a heatsink arranged directly in contact with a first side of the junction housing, and at least one heatsink seal arranged in contact with the heatsink and the junction housing;
a busbar arranged directly in contact with a second side of the junction housing, and at least one busbar seal arranged between the busbar and the junction housing; and
at least one nut molded with the busbar and at least one fastener configured to matingly engage with the at least one nut, the at least one fastener being configured to attach the junction housing, the heatsink, and the busbar to each other.

15. The junction assembly according to claim 14 , further comprising a dielectric coating arranged at an interface between the heatsink and at least a portion of a phase bar assembly arranged within the junction housing.

16. A method of providing heat dissipation for a junction assembly, the method comprising:
arranging a heatsink in contact with at least a portion of a junction housing that supports a phase bar assembly;
providing at least one heatsink seal at an interface between the heatsink and the junction housing;
applying a dielectric coating to at least a portion of the interface between the heatsink and the phase bar assembly;
fastening the heatsink to the junction housing and to a busbar using at least one fastener and at least one nut.

17. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the at least one nut is a blind clinch nut that is molded with the busbar.

18. The method according to claim 17 , wherein the at least one nut is arranged between two phase leads in the busbar.

19. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the junction housing includes a first junction housing and a second junction housing, the method further comprising arranging at least one junction housing seal between the first junction housing and the second junction housing.

20. The junction assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one fastener extends completely through the junction housing.

Assignees

• Schaeffler Technologies Ag

Inventors

• Pfeifer Jacob

Classifications

• H02G5/08

  Connection boxes therefor · CPC title

• H02G5/10 Primary

  Cooling · CPC title

• B60L15/007 Primary

  Physical arrangements or structures of drive train converters specially adapted for the propulsion motors of electric vehicles · CPC title

• B60Y2306/05

  Cooling · CPC title