US 12,136,500 B2
Electrical busbar and method of fabricating the same
James Dawson, Carol Stream, IL (US); Jason Degen, Carol Stream, IL (US); and Neal Devine, Carol Stream, IL (US)
Assigned to Eaton Intelligent Power Limited, Dublin (IE)
Filed by Eaton Intelligent Power Limited, Dublin (IE)
Filed on Mar. 18, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/699,033.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/234,320, filed on Aug. 18, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0058367 A1, Feb. 23, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H01B 5/02 (2006.01)
CPC H01B 5/02 (2013.01) 27 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A busbar for electrically connecting components in a power distribution system, the busbar comprising:
a plurality of conductors with: (i) a first end, (ii) a second end, (iii) an intermediate portion, wherein the first end, the second end, and the intermediate portion are integrally formed with one another, and wherein the plurality of conductors are initially stacked to provide an unfused reference rigidity; and
wherein the intermediate portion is subject to a selective fusion process and includes:
a first segment having fused conductors that provide a first segment rigidity;
a second segment having un-fused conductors that provide a second segment rigidity, wherein said second segment rigidity substantially matches the un-fused reference rigidity; and
a third segment having fused conductors that provide a third segment rigidity that is: (i) greater than the second segment rigidity, and (ii) less than the first segment rigidity.