CN113394600B

CN113394600B - Cable connection structure

Info

Publication number: CN113394600B
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: 2023-06-30
Anticipated expiration: 2041-03-10
Also published as: JP2021144876A; CN113394600A

Abstract

The invention provides a cable connection structure, which can inhibit water from entering a connection part between a connector part of electric equipment arranged outside a vehicle and a connector part of a cable. The power conversion unit (30) and the DC cable (51) are connected by connectors (60, 70) that are fitted to each other. The unit-side connector (60) is provided with a connector-side tube (63) and an abutment portion (63 a) which is provided on the connector-side tube (63) and which abuts against the cable-side connector (70). The cable-side connector (70) is provided with a receiving portion (71 a) which is in contact with the contact portion (63 a), and a cable-side tube portion (71 b) which further protrudes from the receiving portion (71 a) and covers the connector-side tube portion (63) from the outer peripheral side with a predetermined gap therebetween in the radial direction. The surface of the space (S1) divided by the outer peripheral surface of the connector-side tube (63), the inner peripheral surface of the cable-side tube (71 b), and the receiving portion (71 a) has hydrophobicity.

Description

Cable connection structure

Technical Field

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

Background

Vehicles such as hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles that run on the 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 the 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 under a floor outside the vehicle interior, and a cable (DC line) extending from the battery is connected to the power conversion device.

Prior art literature

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

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

When the cable is connected to the electrical device disposed outside the vehicle, water may enter the connection portion between the connector portion of the electrical device and the connector portion of the cable. The sealing member restricts the penetration 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 occur in the connector portion.

The invention provides a cable connection structure, which can inhibit water from entering a connection part between a connector part of electric equipment arranged outside a vehicle and a connector part of a cable.

Means for solving the problems

The invention relates to a cable connection structure, which connects electrical equipment arranged outside a vehicle room with a cable, wherein,

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

the one connector portion includes:

an inner cylinder portion; a kind of electronic device with high-pressure air-conditioning system

An abutting portion provided on the inner tube portion and abutting against the other connector portion,

the other connector portion includes:

an outer tube portion that covers the inner tube portion from an outer peripheral side; a kind of electronic device with high-pressure air-conditioning system

A receiving portion which is positioned inside the outer tube portion and is abutted with the abutting portion,

the surface of the 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 hydrophobicity.

Effects of the invention

According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent water from entering the connection portion between the connector portion of the electrical device disposed outside the vehicle and the connector portion of the cable.

Drawings

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

Fig. 2 is a main part enlarged view of the main part of fig. 1 as seen from below.

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

Fig. 4 is a cross-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 view for explaining the water draining function.

Reference numerals illustrate:

30. a power conversion unit (electrical device);

51. direct current cable (cable);

60. a unit-side connector (one connector portion);

63a abutment;

63d exposed surface;

63e flange portions;

63. a connector side tube portion (inner tube portion);

70. a cable-side connector (another connector portion);

71a receiving part;

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

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, the front, rear, left, right, up and down of the vehicle are indicated by Fr, rr, L, R, U, and D in the drawings, respectively, according to the direction of view from the driver.

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 drive motor 5 that drives the front wheels 2, a left rear wheel drive motor 6L that drives the left rear wheels 3, a right rear wheel drive motor 6R that drives the right rear wheels 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 drive motor 5 is disposed in an engine room in front of the vehicle, and the rear

wheel drive motors

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

The battery unit 20 includes a rectangular parallelepiped case 21 that is long in the left-right direction in plan view, and a plurality of high-voltage batteries 22 that are housed in the case 21 and supply electric power to the

motors

5, 6L, 6R.

The power conversion unit 30 includes a rectangular parallelepiped housing 31 that is long in the left-right direction in plan view, and a plurality of inverters 32 that are housed in the housing 31 and convert electric power of the battery unit 20 when the electric power is supplied to the

motors

5, 6L, 6R.

As shown in fig. 2, the battery unit 20 is disposed inside the vehicle cabin, and the power conversion unit 30 is disposed outside the vehicle cabin. Specifically, the battery unit 20 is accommodated in a recess provided on the vehicle cabin 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, a connector of the power conversion unit 30 will be described with reference to fig. 2.

As shown in fig. 3 to 6, the power conversion unit 30 is electrically connected to other devices 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 drive motor 5 via a front three-phase cable 52, and supplies the three-phase power converted by the inverter 32 to the front wheel drive 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 >

The cable connection structure of the dc cable 51 will be described below 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, the power conversion unit 30 and the dc cable 51 are electrically connected by the

connectors

60 and 70 fitted to each other.

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

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

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

The unit-side electrical connection portion 62 is provided with a unit-side extension portion 62c protruding from the contact portion 63a of the connector-side tube 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 peripheral portion 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 includes a cable-side electrical connection portion 72 disposed on the inner peripheral side of the cable housing portion 71. The cable-side electrical connection portion 72 is configured to include a terminal portion and a terminal support portion, and is configured to be fitted to a terminal portion of the unit-side electrical connection portion 62 by the terminal portion of the cable-side electrical connection portion 72, so that electric power can be transmitted and received between the dc cable 51 and the power conversion unit 30.

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

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

If water is immersed in and accumulated in this region, the periphery of the region S2 may rust. Therefore, as shown in fig. 5, the surface of the 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 portion 71a has hydrophobicity. "hydrophobic" refers to the property of the raw material surface to repel water, and "having hydrophobicity" refers to having been subjected to a hydrophobic treatment. The hydrophobic material used for the hydrophobic treatment includes a hydrophobic material such as a fluororesin, a silicone resin, or the like.

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

The unit-side electrical connection portion 62 includes an exposed surface 63d extending continuously from the surface of the divided space S1 to the opposite side of the contact portion 63a on the outer peripheral surface of the connector-side tubular portion 63. The exposed surface 63d has hydrophilicity. "hydrophilic" means a property that does not repel water or easily affinity with water contrary to the hydrophobicity, and "having hydrophilicity" means having been subjected to hydrophilic treatment. The hydrophilic material used for the hydrophilic treatment includes, for example, organic low-molecular hydrophilizing agents, organic high-molecular hydrophilizing agents, inorganic coating hydrophilizing agents (red-box type コ red-box type green-box hydrophilizing agents), and the like.

In this way, since the exposed surface 63d extending continuously from the surface dividing the space S1 to the opposite side from the contact portion 63a on the outer peripheral surface of the connector-side tube portion 63 of the unit-side electrical connection portion 62 has hydrophilicity, water that has entered the space S1 can be sucked in a direction away from the space S1, and water that has entered the space S1 can be further suppressed.

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

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

The exposed surface 63d has a flange 63e extending from the connector-side tube 63 to the outer diameter side. Therefore, the water droplets sucked on the exposed surface 63d are guided by the flange 63e and fall downward.

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

connectors

60, 70. Therefore, the dc cable 51 preferably includes one fixing portion fixed to the power conversion unit 30 or does not include a fixing portion fixed to the power conversion unit 30. In the present embodiment, the dc cable 51 does not include a fixing portion to be fixed to the power conversion unit 30. Therefore, the water droplets can be positively discharged from the space S1 by the vibration at the time of the vehicle running.

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

connectors

60 and 70. 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, 70.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be appropriately modified or improved.

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

phase cables

53L and 53R.

In this specification, at least the following matters are described. Note that, although the components and the like corresponding to the above embodiments are shown in parentheses, the present invention is not limited thereto.

(1) A cable connection structure connects an electric device (power conversion unit 30) disposed outside a vehicle with a cable (DC cable 51), wherein,

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

the one connector portion (unit-side connector 60) includes:

an inner tube (connector side tube 63); a kind of electronic device with high-pressure air-conditioning system

An abutting portion (abutting portion 63 a) provided on the inner tube portion and abutting against the other connector portion (cable-side connector 70),

the other connector portion includes:

an outer tube (cable-side tube 71 b) that covers the inner tube from the outer peripheral side; a kind of electronic device with high-pressure air-conditioning system

A receiving portion (receiving portion 71 a) which is positioned inside the outer tube portion and is in contact with the contact portion,

the surface of the 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 hydrophobicity.

According to (1), the surface of the space defined by the outer circumferential surface of the inner tube portion of the one connector portion, the inner circumferential surface of the outer tube portion of the other connector portion, and the receiving portion of the other connector portion has hydrophobicity, so that 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 63 d) extending continuously from a surface dividing the space to a side opposite to the contact portion on the outer peripheral surface of the inner tube portion,

the exposed surface has hydrophilicity.

According to (2), since the exposed surface extending continuously from the surface dividing the space to the opposite side from the contact portion on the outer peripheral surface of the inner tube portion of one connector portion has hydrophilicity, water that has entered the space can be sucked in a direction away from the space, and water that has entered the space can be further suppressed.

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

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

According to (3), since the exposed surface has the flange portion extending from the inner tube portion to the outer diameter side, water accumulated on the exposed surface can be guided by the flange portion and can be dropped downward.

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

the cable has one fixing portion fixed to the electric device or does not have the fixing portion.

According to (4), the cable is provided with one fixing portion fixed to the apparatus or is not provided with the fixing portion, so that water is more easily discharged from the space by vibration of the cable.

Claims

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

the one connector portion includes:

the other connector portion includes:

the surface of the 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 hydrophobicity,

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

the exposed surface has a hydrophilic property and,

the exposed surface has a flange portion extending from the inner tube portion to an outer diameter side.

2. The cable connection structure according to claim 1, wherein,