CN113394600A

CN113394600A - Cable connection structure

Info

Publication number: CN113394600A
Application number: CN202110262559.1A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 渡边奈穗子; 坂野溪帅
Original assignee: Honda Motor Co Ltd
Current assignee: Honda Motor Co Ltd
Priority date: 2020-03-12
Filing date: 2021-03-10
Publication date: 2021-09-14
Anticipated expiration: 2041-03-10
Also published as: CN113394600B; JP2021144876A

Abstract

The invention provides a cable connection structure which can prevent water from entering a connection part between a connector part of an electrical device arranged outside a vehicle cabin and a connector part of a cable. The power conversion unit (30) and the DC cable (51) are connected by connectors (60, 70) that fit into each other. The unit-side connector (60) is provided with a connector-side cylindrical section (63) and an abutment section (63a) which is provided on the connector-side cylindrical section (63) and which abuts against the cable-side connector (70). The cable-side connector (70) is provided with a receiving section (71a) that comes into contact with the contact section (63a), and a cable-side tube section (71b) that protrudes further from the receiving section (71a) and covers the connector-side tube section (63) from the outer peripheral side with a predetermined gap therebetween in the radial direction. The surface of a space (S1) defined by the outer peripheral surface of the connector side tube (63), the inner peripheral surface of the cable side tube (71b), and the receiving section (71a) has water repellency.

Description

Cable connection structure

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a cable connection structure for connecting an electric device disposed outside a vehicle cabin to a cable.

Background

Vehicles such as hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles that run with power of a motor generally include a battery that supplies electric power to the motor and a power conversion device (for example, an inverter) that converts electric power when electric power of the battery is supplied to the motor. For example, patent document 1 describes that a battery is disposed in a vehicle interior, a power conversion device is disposed below a floor outside the vehicle interior, and a cable (DC line) extending from the battery is connected to the power conversion device.

Prior art documents

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2018-52209

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

When the cable is connected to the electrical equipment disposed outside the vehicle interior, water may enter the connection portion between the connector portion of the electrical equipment and the connector portion of the cable. The sealing member restricts entry of water into the electrical equipment, but water may accumulate in a part of the connector portion on the atmosphere side of the sealing member, and rust may develop in the connector portion.

The invention provides a cable connection structure which can prevent water from entering a connection part between a connector part of an electrical device arranged outside a vehicle cabin and a connector part of a cable.

Means for solving the problems

The present invention is a cable connection structure for connecting an electric device disposed outside a vehicle compartment to a cable, wherein,

the electrical device and the cable are connected by fitting connector portions to each other,

one connector portion includes:

an inner cylinder part; and

an abutting portion provided on the inner cylindrical portion and abutting against the other connector portion,

the other connector portion includes:

an outer tube portion covering the inner tube portion from an outer circumferential side; and

a receiving portion located inside the outer tube portion and abutting against the abutting portion,

the surface of a space defined by the outer peripheral surface of the inner tube portion, the inner peripheral surface of the outer tube portion, and the receiving portion has water repellency.

Effects of the invention

According to the present invention, water can be inhibited from entering a connection portion between a connector portion of an electrical device disposed outside a vehicle interior and a connector portion of a cable.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of a main portion of the main portion of fig. 1 as viewed from below.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion a of fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along line B-B of fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion C of fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a water drainage function.

Description of reference numerals:

30 power conversion means (electric device);

51 dc cables (cables);

60 unit side connector (one connector portion);

63a abutting portion;

63d exposed surface;

63e flange part;

63a connector side cylindrical portion (inner cylindrical portion);

70 cable-side connector (the other connector portion);

71a receiving portion;

71b a cable side tube portion (outer tube portion);

and (S1) space.

Detailed Description

< vehicle >

Hereinafter, a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, front-rear, left-right, and up-down are taken in terms of directions viewed from the driver, and in the drawings, front of the vehicle is Fr, rear is Rr, left is L, right is R, upper is U, and lower is D.

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, a vehicle 1 according to the present embodiment includes, as a structure for driving front wheels 2 and rear wheels 3: a front wheel driving motor 5 that drives the front wheels 2, a left rear wheel driving motor 6L that drives the left rear wheel 3, a right rear wheel driving motor 6R that drives the right rear wheel 3, a battery unit 20 that supplies electric power to the

motors

5, 6L, 6R, and a power conversion unit 30 that converts electric power when the electric power of the battery unit 20 is supplied to the

motors

5, 6L, 6R. The front wheel driving motor 5 is disposed in an engine room in front of the vehicle, and the rear

wheel driving motors

6L and 6R are disposed below a floor panel 12 in the rear of the vehicle.

The battery unit 20 includes a case 21 in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped elongated in the left-right direction in plan view, and a plurality of high-voltage batteries 22 accommodated in the case 21 and supplying electric power to the

motors

5, 6L, 6R.

The power conversion unit 30 includes a case 31 having a rectangular parallelepiped shape elongated in the left-right direction in a plan view, and a plurality of inverters 32 housed in the case 31 and configured to convert electric power of the battery unit 20 when the electric power is supplied to the

motors

5, 6L, and 6R.

As shown in fig. 2, battery unit 20 is disposed in the vehicle interior, and power conversion unit 30 is disposed outside the vehicle interior. Specifically, the battery unit 20 is housed in a recess provided on the vehicle compartment side of the floor panel 12, and the power conversion unit 30 is disposed behind the battery unit 20 and below the floor panel 12.

< connector of Power conversion Unit >

Next, referring to fig. 2, a connector of the power conversion unit 30 will be described.

As shown in fig. 3 to 6, the power conversion unit 30 is electrically connected to another device via a connector. The connectors included in the power conversion unit 30 include a dc cable connector 34, a front three-phase cable connector 35, and rear three-

phase cable connectors

36L and 36R.

The dc cable connector 34 is connected to the battery unit 20 via a dc cable 51, and inputs dc power supplied from the battery unit 20 to the plurality of inverters 32. The front three-phase cable connector 35 is connected to the front wheel driving motor 5 via a front three-phase cable 52, and supplies the three-phase power converted by the inverter 32 to the front wheel driving motor 5. The rear three-

phase cable connectors

36L and 36R are connected to the left and right rear

wheel drive motors

6L and 6R via a pair of rear three-

phase cables

53L and 53R, and supply the three-phase power converted by the inverter 32 to the left and right rear

wheel drive motors

6L and 6R.

< Cable connection Structure >

Hereinafter, a cable connection structure of the dc cable 51 will be described with reference to fig. 3 to 6. In the following description, the dc cable connector 34 is referred to as a unit-side connector 60, and the connector of the dc cable 51 is referred to as a cable-side connector 70.

As shown in fig. 3, a cable-side connector 70 provided at one end of the dc cable 51 is fitted to the unit-side connector 60 of the power conversion unit 30. In other words, power conversion unit 30 and dc cable 51 are electrically connected by

connectors

60 and 70 fitted to each other.

As shown in fig. 4, the unit-side connector 60 includes a connector side cylindrical portion 63 surrounding the unit-side electrical connection portion 62, and an abutting portion 63a provided on a distal end surface of the connector side cylindrical portion 63 and abutting against the cable-side connector 70. As shown in fig. 3, the connector side tube portion 63 is provided with a cutout portion 63b at a portion in the circumferential direction, and a 1 st unit side fixing portion 62a having a substantially triangular shape provided at the unit side electrical connection portion 62 is extended from the cutout portion 63 b. Further, in the connector side tube portion 63, a 2 nd unit side fixing portion 63c fastened to the power conversion unit 30 is provided extending on a side substantially opposite to the notched portion 63b in the circumferential direction. The unit 2-side fixing portion 63c is provided with a bolt through hole, not shown.

The bolt 65 penetrating the bolt through hole is fastened and coupled to the case 31 of the power conversion unit 30, and the 1 st unit-side fixing portion 62a is fastened and coupled to the case 31 of the power conversion unit 30 by a bolt 69, so that the unit-side connector 60 is fixed to the power conversion unit 30 in a manner that the unit-side electrical connection portion 62 is accommodated in the unit-side connector 60. Although the detailed description of the cell-side electrical connection portion 62 is omitted, the cell-side electrical connection portion 62 includes a terminal portion and a terminal support portion.

As shown in fig. 4, a groove 62b is formed in the outer peripheral surface of the cell-side electrical connection portion 62, and a seal ring 66 disposed in the groove 62b seals between the connector-side cylindrical portion 63 and the cell-side electrical connection portion 62.

The cell side electrical connection portion 62 is provided with a cell side extension 62c protruding from the contact portion 63a of the connector side cylindrical portion 63. A groove 62d is formed in the outer peripheral surface of the unit-side extension 62c, and in a state where the cable-side connector 70 is connected, a space between the cable outer 71 of the cable-side connector 70 and the unit-side extension 62c is sealed by a seal ring 67 disposed in the groove 62 d.

The cable-side connector 70 has a cable-side electrical connection portion 72 disposed on the inner peripheral side of the cable outer 71. The cable-side electrical connection portion 72 includes a terminal portion and a terminal support portion, and is configured to be able to transmit and receive electric power between the dc cable 51 and the power conversion unit 30 by fitting the terminal portion of the cable-side electrical connection portion 72 and the terminal portion of the unit-side electrical connection portion 62.

A predetermined annular gap is provided between the cable side electrical connection portion 72 and the cable outline portion 71, and the gap is fitted into the cell side extension 62c of the cell side electrical connection portion 62. A recess 72a is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the cable-side electrical connection portion 72, and the inner peripheral surface of the cable-side electrical connection portion 72 and the cell-side extension 62c are sealed by a seal ring 68 disposed in the recess 72 a. The outer peripheral surface of the cell-side extension 62c and the cable jacket 71 are sealed by the seal ring 67.

The distal end portion of the cable jacket portion 71 includes a receiving portion 71a that comes into contact with the contact portion 63a of the connector side tube portion 63, and a cable side tube portion 71b that further protrudes from the receiving portion 71a and covers the connector side tube portion 63 from the outer peripheral side with a predetermined space S1 therebetween in the radial direction.

In this way, the connector side cylindrical portion 63 and the cell side electrical connection portion 62 are sealed by the seal ring 66, and the cable jacket 71 and the cell side extension 62c are sealed by the seal ring 67. Therefore, even when power conversion unit 30 is disposed outside the vehicle compartment, water does not enter power conversion unit 30 and dc cable 51. However, it is assumed that water enters a region S2 sandwiched between the seal rings 66 and 67 between the cell-side electrical connection portion 62 (cell-side extension 62c) and the connector-side tube portion 63 and the cable jacket 71 located on the outer peripheral side of the cell-side electrical connection portion 62 (cell-side extension 62c) via a space S1 between the connector-side tube portion 63 and the cable-side tube portion 71 b.

If water enters and accumulates in this area, rust may form around the area S2. Therefore, as shown in fig. 5, the surface of the space S1 defined by the outer peripheral surface of the connector side tube portion 63, the inner peripheral surface of the cable side tube portion 71b, and the receiving portion 71a has water repellency. "hydrophobicity" refers to the property of the surface of the raw material to repel water, "having hydrophobicity" refers to having been subjected to a hydrophobic treatment. The hydrophobic material used for the hydrophobic treatment includes hydrophobic materials such as fluorine resin, silicone resin, and the like.

In this way, the surface of the space S1 defined by the outer peripheral surface of the connector side tube portion 63 of the unit side electrical connection portion 62, the inner peripheral surface of the cable side tube portion 71b of the cable side connector 70, and the receiving portion 71a of the cable side connector 70 has water repellency, and therefore water that has entered the space S1 can be discharged to the outside.

The cell-side electrical connection portion 62 includes an exposed surface 63d extending continuously from the surface defining the space S1 to the opposite side of the contact portion 63a on the outer peripheral surface of the connector-side cylindrical portion 63. The exposed surface 63d has hydrophilicity. "hydrophilic" refers to a property of not repelling water or easily having affinity with water as opposed to hydrophobicity, "having hydrophilicity" refers to having been subjected to hydrophilic treatment. The hydrophilic material used for the hydrophilic treatment includes, for example, hydrophilic materials such as organic low-molecular type hydrophilizing agent, organic high-molecular type hydrophilizing agent, inorganic coating type hydrophilizing agent (e.g., コ (a type of restriction instrument).

In this way, since the exposed surface 63d of the outer peripheral surface of the connector side cylindrical portion 63 of the cell side electrical connection portion 62, which extends continuously from the surface defining the space S1 to the opposite side from the contact portion 63a, has hydrophilicity, it is possible to suck water entering the space S1 in a direction away from the space S1 and further suppress water entering the space S1.

Here, the drainage function of the water in the space S1 will be described with reference to fig. 6.

As shown in fig. 6 (a), when water droplets enter the space S1, the outer peripheral surface of the connector side tube portion 63 that defines the cell side electrical connection portion 62 of the space S1, the inner peripheral surface of the cable side tube portion 71b of the cable side connector 70, and the receiving portion 71a of the cable side connector 70 have water repellency. Therefore, as shown in fig. 6 (b), the water droplets are drawn to the outside from the space S1. In particular, since the exposed surface 63d extending continuously from the surface defining the space S1 to the side opposite to the contact portion 63a has hydrophilicity, the water droplets are attracted to the exposed surface 63 d.

The exposed surface 63d has a flange 63e extending radially outward from the connector side tube 63. Therefore, the water droplets collected on the exposed surface 63d are guided by the flange 63e and fall downward.

In order to facilitate the suction of the water droplets from the space S1 to the outside or to drop the water droplets from the flange portion 63e, it is conceivable to displace the interval between the

connectors

60, 70. Therefore, dc cable 51 preferably has one fixing unit fixed to power conversion unit 30 or no fixing unit fixed to power conversion unit 30. In the present embodiment, dc cable 51 does not include a fixing portion fixed to power conversion unit 30. Therefore, the water droplets can be actively discharged from the space S1 by the vibration when the vehicle is running.

The dc cable 51 is preferably fixed to a member different from the power conversion unit 30, for example, the bottom plate 12 or the like, at a position apart from the

connectors

60 and 70, by a stay (ステー) or the like. In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 2, the dc cable 51 is fixed to the cross member 13 by the stay 14 at a position apart from the

connectors

60 and 70.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and modifications, improvements, and the like can be appropriately made.

For example, although the connection structure of the dc cable 51 has been described in the above embodiment, the present invention can be preferably applied to cables disposed outside the vehicle, such as the front three-phase cable 52 and the rear three-

phase cables

53L and 53R.

In addition, at least the following matters are described in the present specification. Although the components and the like according to the above-described embodiment are shown in parentheses, the present invention is not limited to these.

(1) A cable connection structure for connecting an electric device (power conversion unit 30) disposed outside a vehicle compartment to a cable (DC cable 51),

the electrical equipment and the cable are connected by fitting the connector parts (unit-side connector 60 and cable-side connector 70) to each other,

one connector section (unit-side connector 60) includes:

an inner tube portion (connector side tube portion 63); and

an abutting portion (abutting portion 63a) which is provided in the inner cylindrical portion and abuts against the other connector portion (cable-side connector 70),

the other connector portion includes:

an outer tube portion (cable side tube portion 71b) that covers the inner tube portion from the outer circumferential side; and

a receiving portion (receiving portion 71a) which is located inside the outer tube portion and which abuts against the abutting portion,

the surface of a space (space S1) defined by the outer peripheral surface of the inner tube portion, the inner peripheral surface of the outer tube portion, and the receiving portion has water repellency.

According to (1), since the surface of the space defined by the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylindrical portion of the one connector portion, the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylindrical portion of the other connector portion, and the receiving portion of the other connector portion has water repellency, water that has entered the space can be discharged to the outside.

(2) The cable connection structure according to (1), wherein,

the one connector portion includes an exposed surface (exposed surface 63d) extending continuously from a surface defining the space to a side opposite to the contact portion on the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylindrical portion,

the exposed surface has hydrophilicity.

According to (2), since the exposed surface of the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylindrical portion of the one connector portion, which extends continuously from the surface defining the space to the opposite side to the contact portion, has hydrophilicity, it is possible to suck water entering the space in a direction away from the space and further suppress water entering the space.

(3) The cable connection structure according to (2), wherein,

the exposed surface has a flange portion (flange portion 63e) extending from the inner cylindrical portion to the outer diameter side.

According to (3), since the exposed surface has the flange portion extending from the inner cylindrical portion toward the outer diameter side, the water collected on the exposed surface can be guided by the flange portion to fall downward.

(4) The cable connection structure according to any one of (1) to (3),

the cable may be provided with a fixing portion fixed to the electrical device or may not be provided with the fixing portion.

According to (4), the cable has one fixing portion fixed to the device or no fixing portion, and therefore water is more easily discharged from the space by the vibration of the cable.

Claims

1. A cable connection structure for connecting an electric device disposed outside a vehicle compartment to a cable,

one connector portion includes:

an inner cylinder part; and

the other connector portion includes:

2. The cable connection structure according to claim 1,

the one connector portion includes an exposed surface extending continuously from a surface defining the space to a side opposite to the contact portion on the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylindrical portion,

the exposed surface has hydrophilicity.

3. The cable connection structure according to claim 2,

the exposed surface has a flange portion extending from the inner cylindrical portion toward an outer peripheral side.

4. The cable connection structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3,