Abstract:
A current distribution device for a high-voltage network, in particular in a motor vehicle, includes at least two first connections that can be locked in such a way that, after a locking device is closed, a connector plugged into the connection can no longer be removed, wherein the first connections have a first locking plate as a common locking device.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is the U.S. National Stage of International Application No. PCT/EP2011/004523, filed Sep. 8, 2011, which designated the United States and has been published as International Publication No. WO 2012/059153 and which claims the priority of German Patent Application, Serial No. 10 2010 050 124.7, filed Nov. 3, 2010, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 119(a)-(d). 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a current distribution device for a high-voltage network, in particular in a motor vehicle, having at least two first connections which can be interlocked so that after a locking device is closed, a connector plugged into the connection can no longer be removed. 
     In high-voltage systems, for example in motor vehicles, especially in hybrid vehicles, it is known to protect connectors that are plugged into current distribution device from being accidental unplugged and/or slipping out. In this way, the safety of the current distribution device is to be increased. For this purpose, locking devices are known in which, for example, a projection formed on a metal sheet engages in a groove on the connector (frequently referred to as a sleeve). The connector having such a typically annular groove is thus fully inserted into the connection, so that the groove is located at a certain height. The locking device with the projection engaging in the groove is then moved, for example, on a surface supporting the connection until the projection engages in the groove and thus protects the connector from being accidentally pulled out and/or slipping out. 
     Current distribution devices for high-voltage systems usually include a plurality of such connections, for example six such connections for one motor vehicle. However, it is very cumbersome to operate the locking device associated with this connection after each insertion of a connector, making the assembly during each connection of the high-voltage contacts time-consuming and labor-intensive. Even when the connections are implemented as screw connections, the system is rather complex because each connector must be successively screwed into the connection. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a current distribution device for a high-voltage network, which enables a less time-consuming assembly and potentially enhances safety. 
     This object is attained with a current distribution device according to the invention of the aforementioned type in that the first connections have a first locking plate forming a common locking device. 
     According to the invention, a large-area locking plate is used which when moved engages simultaneously in all the grooves of the connectors plugged into the first connections. It is thus sufficient to initially insert all the first contacts and to then interlock the connectors in the first connections in a single operation by displacing the locking plate. The locking plate thus interlocks simultaneously a plurality of high-voltage contacts, preventing them from slipping out. This allows a quicker assembly because a locking device does not need to be separately operated for each first connection. 
     Specifically, the first locking plate may be displaceable between an open position and a closed position and is configured in the closed position for engagement in a locking recess, in particular a groove, of a connector inserted in a first connection. It should be noted here that, aside from a circumferential groove on the connector, other locking recesses are also feasible, for example directional locking recesses or grooves, if the connector must be plugged in a certain direction. A control element may be provided for moving the locking plate between the two positions, for example a pin and the like, to provide a good grip and for movement between the positions. 
     According to a particular advantageous embodiment, the first locking plate may be held in the positions with an elastic bias. This means that an elastic means is provided, which clearly defines the open position and the closed position; in other words, there are two well-defined nominal positions, namely the open position and the closed position. This provides a kind of locking mechanism which not only pre-defines the positions, but also provides protection against accidental slippage and/or displacement of the locking plate, which could cause unlocking. 
     Specifically, at least one groove extending in the displacement direction and having a center step may be provided in the connection-side surface of the current distribution device, wherein the first locking plate which covers the groove is supported by a spring which is biased when crossing the step outside the positions. The elastic means is in this case a spring, particularly a leaf spring, which is fastened to the locking plate such that the spring is located in the open position and the closed position in the intended region of the groove without a step, in particular in the relaxed state. When the locking plate is displaced, the spring slides on the step and is thus biased, meaning that a resistance must be overcome until the spring finally relaxes on the other side of the step when reaching the other position. Clearly defined positions can thus be realized in a simple manner. 
     Advantageously, the locking plate may have at least one guide aperture, with which a guide pin which is located on the connection-side surface engages for guiding the first locking plate. The travel of the first locking plate is then clearly defined by a simple guiding device, enabling secure interlocking. When an embodiment is selected where the locking plate is to be guided, for example, under spring bias across a central step in a groove in the surface, the pin may be thickened on the side distal from the surface, which prevents the first locking plate from being lifted, which is thus guided horizontally. Typically, linear travel between the closed position and the open position is desired. It should be noted that, optionally in addition, other guide means may be provided. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, at least one second connection may be provided, in particular a pilot line connection, which has its own second locking plate. The high-voltage contact on the second connection is thus part of the pilot line monitoring of the high-voltage network, in particular in the motor vehicle. When high-voltage is not present at the second connection at the high-voltage connection and/or when the connector is removed from the second connection, this is monitored by a controller and the entire high-voltage system is de-energized. 
     According to a particularly advantageous feature of the present invention, by providing a separate second locking plate on the second connection, it may not be possible to open the second locking plate when a connector is inserted into the second connection and/or the second locking plate is closed. The fact that a contact is established on the second connection, meaning that the pilot line monitoring keeps the high-voltage network at a high voltage, prevents the first locking plate from being moved into the open position, so that work on the first connections can only be performed when the contacts of the second connection have not received a connector, and the high-voltage network is therefore de-energized. This further improves the safety because, on one hand, the pilot line connection must be inserted last and, on the other hand, the connectors can only be pulled out of the first connections when the pilot line connection was previously disconnected. For this reason, it is advantageous to link the possibility for opening the first locking plate to the presence of a connector in the second connection. The remaining high voltage contacts on the first connections can then only be removed by first removing the voltage. This measure significantly enhances safety. 
     Specifically, the inserted connector in the second connection and/or the second locking plate may mechanically block the closed first locking plate, i.e., the closed first locking plate already abuts the closed second locking plate or, preferably, the inserted connector in the second connection so that the first locking plate can no longer be displaced and thus opened. The first locking plate can be mechanically displaced for opening only when the connector inserted in the second connection is removed and/or the second locking plate is moved to an open position 
     It should also be noted here that, when the connector inserted into the second connection is mechanically blocked and the extension of the first locking plate would preclude displacement into an open state due to the second locking plate, the first locking plate may be raised in the region of the second connection and of the second locking plate, so that it can be pushed over the second locking plate without causing mechanical blocking. However, it should also be noted that raising the first locking plate in the region of the second connection may already be beneficial, so that the first locking plate cannot be moved through engagement in a circumferential groove of a connector inserted into the second connection, wherein for example the second locking plate engages in this groove or another latching receptacle. 
     The current distribution device according to the invention may advantageously be used in a motor vehicle. It may therefore be constructed as an adapter plate to be attached to power electronics of a motor vehicle and may include bus bars to be inserted into corresponding connections of the power electronics. For example, when power electronics is arranged in a housing in the motor vehicle, an embodiment is conceivable, wherein the power electronics includes a connection system capable of mechanically supporting the adapter plate and at the same time contacting the bus bars of the adapter plate, so that the adapter plate abuts the housing of the power electronics and provides the first connections and optionally the at least one second connection. It will be understood that additional mechanical mounting means may also be used. 
     Specifically, five first connections maybe provided for an electric machine and/or a high-voltage battery of the motor vehicle and/or a second connection adjacent to the pilot line may include connections for an additional high-voltage device, in particular an air conditioning compressor. In a hybrid vehicle, a high-voltage network with a high-voltage battery is typically provided for operating an electric traction machine which can be used both as a motor and as a generator when operating an also installed internal combustion engine. Thus, five first connections may be provided, wherein two of these connections may be associated with the high-voltage battery and three other connections with the electric machine. The second connector may, in addition to the pilot line function, also have a current-carrying function, for example, by closing four individual contacts, wherein two of the contacts are associated with the pilot line and another two contacts are associated with another high-current load, in particular an air conditioning compressor. 
     In addition to the current distribution device, the present invention also relates to a motor vehicle, particularly a hybrid vehicle, which includes a high-voltage network with a current distribution device according to the invention. All statements relating to the current distribution device can be applied analogously to the vehicle according to the invention, thus allowing the benefits described therein to be achieved. In particular, an embodiment of the current distribution device in the form of an adapter plate to be attached to power electronics of the motor vehicle is advantageous, as described above. In particular, in an embodiment with a second pilot line connection that can be separately interlocked, wherein the first locking plate can be opened only when a connector is not present on the pilot line connection, the present invention not only improves handling and reduces the time needed for installation, but also increases the safety in the motor vehicle according to the invention. 
     It should be noted here that it is frequently necessary especially in motor vehicles, to be able to visually inspect the assembly state and in particular the state of locking devices of a current distribution device. Therefore, an opening or aperture may also be provided in the second locking plate of the current distribution device through which information provided on a surface of the current distribution device may be viewed when the second locking plate is in the closed position. Such information may, for example, be a point having a specific color, for example a signal color, such as yellow; however, other configurations are conceivable. Alternatively, partial information may be provided on the second locking plate as well as on a surface of the current distribution device, with the partial information complementing each other to form a total information in the closed position of the second locking plate. For example, a colored line may be used which is continuous in the closed position of the second locking plate. 
     It should also be noted at this point that in other applications, for example when only be first locking plate is provided, an optical marker of this type may also be provided for the first locking plate; in addition, such optical markers may be provided for both the first and the second locking plate. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
       Further advantages and details of the present invention will become apparent from the exemplary embodiments hereinafter described and from the drawings, which show in: 
         FIG. 1  a motor vehicle according to the invention, 
         FIG. 2  a perspective view of a current distribution device according to the present invention, 
         FIG. 3  a sectional view through the current distribution system according to the present invention, 
         FIG. 4  is a partial view of the current distribution device with an open second locking plate, and 
         FIG. 5  is a partial view of the current distribution device with a closed second locking plate. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  shows an motor vehicle  1  according to the present invention, here a hybrid vehicle. It is composed of an electric traction machine  3  in addition to a conventional internal combustion engine  2 , wherein the two driving machines can be connected via a separating clutch  4 . The electric machine  3  can also be operated in generator mode. 
     The electric motor  3  is supplied from a high-voltage network  5  having a high voltage battery  6 , wherein part of the high-voltage network  5  is formed of an air conditioning compressor  8  in addition to power electronics  7 . 
     A current distribution device  10  according to the present invention realized as an adapter plate  9  is attached to the power electronics  7 , wherein the current distribution device  10  has connections for the electric machine  3 , the high-voltage battery  6  and the air conditioning compressor  8 . The line  11  to the air conditioning compressor  8  also carries pilot line signals, which are monitored by a control device  12 . When high voltage is not present on line  11 , the entire high-voltage system  5  is de-energized. 
       FIGS. 2 and 3  show the current distribution device  10  in more detail. The current distribution device  10  has first connections  13  and a second connection  14  disposed on a top surface  5 . Connectors  15 ,  16 ,  17  are here shown in all connections, wherein the connector  15  is associated with the electric machine  3 , the connectors  16  are associated with the high voltage battery  6  and the connector  17 , which includes the pilot lines, is associated with the air conditioning compressor  8 . All connectors  15 - 17  have a circumferential groove  19  forming a locking receptacle  18  which is located at a certain height when the connectors  15 - 17  are inserted. 
     The groove  19  serves to lock the connectors  15 - 17 , to prevent them from being accidentally pulled out or from slipping out. To realize a corresponding locking device, a first locking plate  20  common for all connections  13  is provided, with locking projections  21  which engage in the closed position of the first locking plate  20  in the groove  19 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     The first locking plate  20  has a clearly defined open position and a clearly defined closed position, and is held in both positions with an elastic bias. The first locking plate  20  can be switched between the positions by moving along the arrow  22 . As can be seen, the first locking plate  2  has guide openings  23 , with a corresponding guide pin  24  disposed on the connection-side surface of the current distribution device  10  engaging with a corresponding guide opening  23 . 
     At the same time, grooves  25  with a center step  26  are provided in the connection-side surface below the first locking plate  20 , in which a spring  27  attached to the first locking plate  20  engages, which spring  27  does not come to rest on the step  26  in the open and closed position and is therefore relaxed. When the first locking plate  20  is to be displaced, the spring  27  must be pushed onto the step  26  and is thereby tensioned, so that an elastic counter-force must be overcome, which clearly defines, on one hand, the open and closed position and, on the other hand, prevents the first locking plate  20  from accidentally slipping. To prevent a change in height of the first locking plate  20 , the guide pins  24  have in their respective upper portion a thickened portion which also horizontally guides the locking plate  20 . 
     An operating element  28  allows easy gripping of the first locking plate  20 , and thus simple displacement. 
     A dedicated locking device in the form of a second locking plate  29  is associated with the second connection  14 ; the second locking plate  29  also has a guide opening  30  with which a guide pin  31  engages. The second locking plate  29  is thus displaceable between an open and a closed position along the arrow  32 , wherein the closed position is illustrated in  FIG. 2 . In order to clearly define the open position and the closed position also in the second locking plate  29  and to generate an elastic counter-torque, which holds the second locking plate  29  in the current position, a spring  33  is attached to the current distribution device  10 , which cooperates with the profiled surface of the second locking plate  29 , which has two depressions  35  separated by a step  34  defining the two positions. This can be clearly seen in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 . 
     The second locking plate  29  also includes a control element  40  for easier operation. 
     The first locking plate  20  is shaped so that it abuts in its closed position the connector  17  inserted in the second connection  14 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , and is mechanically blocked by this connector  17 . The first locking plate  20  can then only be opened when no connector  17  is inserted into the second connection  14 . 
     It should be noted here that the first locking plate  20 , as can be seen from  FIG. 2 , is raised in the area of the second connection  14  so that it is prevented from engaging in the groove  19  of the connector  17 , but can on the other hand be displaced across the second locking plate  29  for opening. 
     Consequently, the first connections  13  must first be inserted before the second connection  14  can be inserted, and the connectors  15 ,  16  cannot be removed without beforehand removing the connector  17  in the second connection  14  representing a pilot line connection. This will contribute to the overall safety. The pilot line connection  14  must always be inserted last, but must be disconnected first, so that the high-voltage network  5  is de-energized when the first connections  13  are inserted. 
     As already explained with reference to  FIG. 1 , the current distribution device  10  according to  FIGS. 2 and 3  is implemented as an adapter plate  9  which can be arranged on a power electronics  7 . Accordingly, the current distribution device  10  includes bus bars  36  and mechanical connectors  37 , with which the adapter plate  9  may be secured and connected to the power electronics  7 . 
     Especially with motor vehicles, a technician must have an easy way to visually check whether the second locking plate  29  is closed. For this reason, an optical marker is provided in the present exemplary embodiment, which will be described in more detail with reference to  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
       FIG. 4  shows the second locking plate  29  in an open position. As can be seen, the second locking plate  29  has a recess  38 . When the second locking plate  29  is then closed, as illustrated in  FIG. 5  showing the closed state, the recess  38  is located above clearly identifiable optical information or a marker  39 , which is realized here as a yellow dot. 
       FIGS. 4 and 5  also show again clearly how the first locking plate  20  abuts the connector  17  and is mechanically blocked by the connector  17 . 
     It should be noted here again that there are, of course, other possibilities of visually indicating clearly to the technician whether a locking plate  20 ,  29  is open or closed, for example via a green line and the like that can be matched to other optical information.