Laminated bus assembly and coupling apparatus for a high power electrical switching converter

An apparatus comprising:

• an electrical device;
• a laminated bus assembly that includes a plurality of conductive layers including a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer, and a third conductive layer, a first dielectric layer positioned intermediate between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer, a second dielectric layer positioned intermediate between said second conductive layer and said third conductive layer, and an insulator layer positioned between said third conductive layer and said electrical device;
• a device coupler for electrically coupling the electrical device to the laminated bus assembly, said device coupler comprising
• a bolt having a head and a threaded portion;
• a threaded receptacle in said electrical device for receiving said threaded portion of said bolt;
• a coupling engagement hole defined in said first conductive layer;
• a passage hole defined in said second conductive layer and an insulator ring formed around said passage hole;
• and
• a bushing comprising a conductive material, said bushing defining a bolt passage hole for passage of said bolt, said bushing also including
• an engageable section having a shape for engaging with said coupling engagement hole, and
• a passage section having a shape for passing through said passage hole;
• so that when said bolt is tightened into the threaded receptacle, electrical connections are formed between said engageable section in said bushing and said coupling engagement hole, between said shoulder in said first one conductive layer and an adjacent portion of said conductive layer, and between said device contact section on said bushing and said threaded receptacle.

A laminated bus assembly including a coupling mechanism for electrically coupling an electrical device to a low impedance laminated bus assembly in a high power switching converter that includes a plurality of switch pairs each including a +DC switch and a -DC switch to convert between AC power on an AC power line that has a plurality of phases and DC power from a DC device, said laminated bus assembly comprising:

• a first plane having a plurality of AC bar conductors positioned therein, including an AC bar conductor for each phase of AC power;
• a second plane including a -DC bar conductor;
• a third plane including a +DC bar conductor;
• a plurality of dielectric layers laminated between the first, second, and third planes;
• a -DC coupler for coupling the -DC bar conductor to each -DC switch, including a first conductive bushing;
• a +DC coupler for coupling the +DC bar conductor to each +DC switch, including a second conductive bushing;
• a +AC switch coupler for coupling each +AC bar conductor to each +DC switch, including a first plurality of conductive bushings;
• and
• a -AC switch coupler for coupling each -AC bar conductor to each -DC switch, including a second plurality of conductive bushings.