CN117795833A

CN117795833A - Motor with a motor housing

Info

Publication number: CN117795833A
Application number: CN202280055131.2A
Authority: CN
Inventors: R·赫维; P·劳伦特; C·弗洛里安; B·哈里哈兰; V·马蒂厄; G·普拉卡什; M·普拉韦恩
Original assignee: Valeo Japan Co Ltd
Current assignee: Valeo Japan Co Ltd
Priority date: 2021-08-13
Filing date: 2022-08-09
Publication date: 2024-03-29
Also published as: WO2023017828A1

Abstract

The present invention provides a motor for a vehicle air conditioner. The electric machine has a first housing for housing the electric motor, a second housing for housing the inverter unit, a first connector having a first terminal pin, and a second connector having a second terminal pin. Both connectors are formed on the outer surface of the second housing, and both terminal pins are adapted to pass through the wall of the second housing toward the inverter unit. The motor includes a first electrical connection formed between the first terminal pin and the inverter unit within the second housing, and a second electrical connection formed between the second terminal pin and the inverter unit within the second housing. Further, the motor includes at least one partition wall formed between the first electrical connection and the second electrical connection within the second housing.

Description

Motor with a motor housing

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to an electric motor, and more particularly, to an electric compressor having an integrated inverter unit assembled in an inverter housing capable of preventing electromagnetic noise from leaking into the inverter unit.

Background

Typically, an electric machine, particularly an electric compressor, is provided in the AC circuit of the vehicle. The electric compressor includes a compression unit for compressing a refrigerant, an electric motor driving the compression unit, and an inverter assembly driving the electric motor in a controlled manner. Further, the housing is configured to house the respective components of the motor-driven compressor and is mechanically coupled together with various fasteners. In one example, a motor housing is provided to house an electric motor, and an inverter housing is provided to house an inverter unit. An electric motor provided in the compressor enables the compression unit to suck refrigerant from an inlet port formed on the motor housing to cool the electric motor by circulating the refrigerant through the motor housing. Typically, the motor housing is formed of an aluminum material in a cylindrical shape having openings on both sides. Further, the refrigerant enters the compression unit to be compressed, and flows out of the electric compressor through a discharge port formed on a rear cover coupled to one end of the motor housing. The electric motor is inserted from the other end of the motor housing and coupled with the inverter housing.

Further, the inverter unit is configured to control the motor, and the inverter housing further includes a High Voltage (HV) connector and a Low Voltage (LV) connector. The HV connector and the LV connector have HV terminal pins and LV terminal pins. The terminal pins of the HV and LV connectors are long enough so that the ends of the terminal pins can reach or contact the printed circuit board of the inverter unit disposed within the inverter housing. The HV terminal pin may supply power to an electric motor provided in the motor housing through the inverter unit, and the LV terminal pin may provide a control signal to the inverter unit. Generally, electromagnetic noise is generated by active components of an electric motor in an electric motor housing. In one example, electromagnetic noise (EMC noise) may be generated around the HV terminal pin due to the HV pin being subjected to a high voltage. Furthermore, there is a possibility of electromagnetic noise interaction between the LV terminal pin and the HV terminal pin, and such noise may affect the HV signal upon entering the filter component of the inverter unit. As a result, it adversely affects the control signal of the inverter unit, thereby causing abnormal operation of the inverter unit.

Accordingly, there remains a need for an electric machine that is provided with features that avoid electromagnetic noise interactions between the high voltage terminal pins and the low voltage terminal pins of the electric machine. In addition, protection is required between the high voltage terminal pins and the low voltage terminal pins within the motor inverter housing to avoid interaction of electromagnetic noise between the two pins. Further, there is a need for a motor provided with features that protect the inverter unit from electromagnetic noise.

Disclosure of Invention

In this specification, some elements or parameters, such as a first element and a second element, may be referenced. In this case, unless otherwise indicated, the index is used merely to distinguish and name similar but not identical elements. Priority should not be inferred from such an index, as these terms may be switched without departing from the invention. In addition, the index does not imply any order in which the elements of the invention are installed or used.

In view of the foregoing, embodiments of the present invention herein provide an electric machine, particularly an electric compressor for a vehicle air conditioner. The electric machine comprises a first housing adapted to house the electric motor, and a second housing adapted to house the inverter unit. Here, the inverter unit is configured to control the electric motor. Further, the motor includes a first connector having a first terminal pin and a second connector having a second terminal pin. The first connector is formed on an outer surface of the second housing, and the second connector is formed on the outer surface of the second housing in the vicinity of the first connector. Further, the first terminal pin and the second terminal pin are adapted to pass through a base wall of the second housing toward the inverter unit. The motor further includes a first electrical connection and a second electrical connection formed inside the second housing. The first electrical connection is formed between the first terminal pin and the inverter unit in the second housing, and the second electrical connection is formed between the second terminal pin and the inverter unit in the second housing. Further, the motor includes at least one partition wall formed between the first electrical connection and the second electrical connection within the second housing.

In one embodiment, the partition wall is integrally formed on an inner surface of the base wall of the second housing.

In another example of the above embodiment, the partition wall is coupled to an inner surface of the base wall of the second housing.

In another embodiment, the partition wall is coupled to a printed circuit board of the inverter unit.

In one example, at least one of the first and second electrical connections is an electrical conductor connected between the respective terminal pin and the printed circuit board of the inverter unit.

In another example, at least one of the first and second electrical connections is a bus bar connected between the respective terminal pin and the printed circuit board of the inverter unit.

In yet another example, at least one of the first and second electrical connections is a pin extending from one end of the respective first and second terminal pins to a printed circuit board of the inverter unit.

Further, the partition wall is an aluminum wall.

Drawings

Additional features, details and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description of the invention which follows. A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an electric machine according to an embodiment of the invention;

fig. 2 shows a schematic view of a second housing of the motor, showing the connector of fig. 1;

FIG. 3A shows a cross-sectional view of the second housing of FIG. 2 at plane L-L';

fig. 3B shows an enlarged view of a cross-sectional view of the second housing of fig. 3A, depicting the divider and the printed circuit board.

Fig. 4A shows an exploded view of the second housing of fig. 1, depicting an inverter unit, electrical connections and a dividing wall;

FIG. 4B is a schematic view of the second housing of FIG. 1, depicting the location of the dividing wall;

FIG. 5A illustrates another cross-sectional view of the second housing of FIG. 2 at plane L-L' in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; and

fig. 5B shows another cross-sectional view of the second housing of fig. 2 at plane L-L' according to another embodiment of the invention.

Detailed Description

It must be noted that the figures disclose the invention in a sufficiently detailed manner for practicing it, which figures help to better define the invention if desired. However, the invention should not be limited to the embodiments disclosed in the specification.

The present invention relates to an electric motor, and more particularly, to an electric compressor provided in an air conditioning circuit of a vehicle. Generally, an electric compressor includes a motor housing provided with an electric motor and an inverter housing provided with an inverter unit. The motor housing and the inverter housing are coupled together to enable connection between the electric motor and the inverter unit. Further, an electric motor is connected to the compression unit to compress the refrigerant flowing therein. In order to achieve a fluid-tight connection between the motor housing and the inverter housing, a rubber-coated metal gasket is provided between the motor housing and the inverter housing. Further, the inverter housing is provided with a High Voltage (HV) connector having a high voltage terminal pin and a Low Voltage (LV) connector having a low voltage terminal pin. In some examples, the HV connector and the LV connector are proximate to each other. Since electromagnetic noise is generated around the HV terminal pin, there is a possibility that electromagnetic noise between the LV terminal pin and the HV terminal pin interacts, and such noise may affect the HV signal when entering the filter component of the inverter unit. As a result, it adversely affects the control signal of the inverter unit, thereby causing abnormal operation of the inverter unit. To avoid this, a partition wall is provided between the HV pin and the LV pin. The partition wall is in turn connected to the ground of the vehicle to compensate for electromagnetic noise generated in the inverter housing. Further, the position and function of the partition wall are explained with reference to the following drawings.

Fig. 1 shows a block diagram of an electric machine 100 according to an embodiment of the invention. In the present embodiment, the electric machine 100 is an electric compressor, in particular an inverter-integrated motor-driven electric compressor 100. The motor 100 is disposed in a refrigerant circuit of the vehicle. Generally, the motor 100 is disposed in a refrigerant circuit of a vehicle to compress a refrigerant flowing therein. The electric machine 100 comprises a first housing 102 adapted to house an electric motor 104, a second housing 202 adapted to house an inverter unit 204, and a third housing 120 adapted to house a compression unit 122. Further, the first housing 102, the second housing 202, and the third housing 120 are integrally fastened by fastening means (not shown) such as bolts so as to form a housing of the motor 100. In one example, the first housing 102, the second housing 202, and the third housing 120 are formed from metal, particularly from aluminum die casting.

The electric motor 104 disposed in the first housing 102 includes a stator and a rotor (not shown in fig. 1). Further, the rotation shaft 106 is connected to the rotor, and the rotation shaft 106 extends into the third housing 120 to be coupled with the compression unit 122. The first housing 102, which is a motor housing, is formed in a cylindrical shape with openings on both sides to accommodate the electric motor 104. Further, one end of the first housing 102 is coupled to a third housing 120 having a compression unit 122. The electric motor 104 is inserted from the other end of the first housing 102 and coupled with the second housing 202 having the inverter unit 204. When the electric motor 104 is energized, the rotary shaft 106 drives the compression unit 122 provided in the third housing 120.

The compression unit 120 provided in the third housing 122 includes a fixed scroll and an orbiting scroll for compressing a refrigerant flowing therein. In one example, the fixed scroll is fixedly integrally formed with the third housing 120. The orbiting scroll is rotatably coupled to an eccentric pin formed by a rotation shaft 106 extending from the first housing 102. The orbiting scroll is adapted to compress refrigerant at a compression space defined between the fixed scroll and the orbiting scroll when the rotation shaft 106 is rotated by the electric motor 104. In other words, the refrigerant in the compression space is compressed by the orbiting motion of the orbiting scroll with respect to the fixed scroll. Further, a suction port 124 is integrally formed with the first housing 102 for sucking the refrigerant into the motor 100. The refrigerant drawn from the suction port 124 at the first housing 102 may flow through the electric motor 104 to cool the electric motor 104 or absorb heat generated by the electric motor 104 and enter the third housing 120 for the compression process. Thereafter, the compressed refrigerant is discharged from the motor 100 through the discharge port 126 integrally formed with the third casing 120.

The inverter unit 204 accommodated in the second housing 202 as an inverter housing is adapted to drive the electric motor 104 in a controlled manner. In one example, the inverter unit 204 may also be referred to as an inverter assembly. The inverter unit 204 includes a plurality of electronic components mounted on a printed circuit board to perform a desired operation. The circuit board is powered by an external power source, such as a battery of the vehicle. The second housing 202 has an outer surface 210A and an inner surface 210B, and connectors 206, 208 are provided on the outer surface 210A of the second housing 202. Further, the geometry and location of the connectors 206, 208 will be described by the following figures.

Further, the seal terminal 128 is disposed on an end wall or outer surface 210A of the second housing 202 and is adapted to couple with the electric motor 104. The inverter unit 204 generates controlled inputs for the electric motor 104 and transmits these inputs to the electric motor 104 through the airtight terminal 128. Further, the input generated by the inverter unit 204 may control the speed of the electric motor 104, thereby controlling the compression unit 122.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic view of the second housing 202, illustrating the connectors 206, 208 of fig. 1. In this example, the connectors 206, 208 are a first connector 206 and a second connector 208. The first connector 206 may be a high voltage connector and the second connector may be a low voltage connector. In particular, the first connector 206 and the second connector 208 are formed on an outer surface 210A of the second housing 202 and are adjacent to each other. Further, the second housing 202 may include a base wall 210 having an outer surface 210A and an inner surface 210B. Here, the inner surface 210B of the base wall 210 represents a surface facing the inverter unit 204, and the outer surface 210A of the base wall 210 represents a surface facing away from the inverter unit 204. In addition, the base wall 210 is clearly shown in the following figures. The base wall 210 may be provided with a side wall 210C formed at the periphery of the base wall 210 to define a space in the second housing 202 to receive the inverter unit 204.

As described above, the first connector 206 and the second connector 208 are formed on the outer surface 210A of the base wall 210 of the second housing 202. In other words, as shown in fig. 1, the first connector 206 and the second connector 208 protrude from the base wall 210 facing the first housing 102. Although the first connector 206 and the second connector 208 are formed on the outer surface 210A facing the first housing 102, the first connector 206 may be defined on the outer surface 210A facing the first housing 102 and the second connector 208 may be defined on the wall 210D facing away from the first housing 102. Here, the wall refers to a cover for closing the second housing 202 when the inverter unit 204 is assembled. Furthermore, the first connector 206 comprises at least one first terminal pin 206A adapted to be electrically connected to the inverter unit 204, and the second connector 208 comprises at least one second terminal pin 208A adapted to be electrically connected to the inverter unit 204.

Fig. 3A and 3B show cross-sectional views of the second housing 202 of fig. 2 at plane L-L'. The cross-sectional view of the second housing 202 shown in fig. 3A depicts the inverter unit 204 and the connections between the inverter unit 204 and the first terminal pin 206A and the second terminal pin 208A. As described above, the side wall 210C is formed on the periphery of the base wall 210 of the second housing 202 to define the space 212 that receives the inverter unit 204. The first terminal pin 206A and the second terminal pin 208A may pass through a base wall 210 of the second housing 202 toward the inverter unit 204. In other words, the first terminal pin 206A and the second terminal pin 208A may reach the space 212 defined inside the second housing 202. In one example, the first and second terminal pins 206A, 208A are long enough to pass through the base wall 210 of the second housing 202 and reach the space 212 defined by the base wall 210 and the side wall 210C.

The motor 100 further includes an electrical connection established between the connector and the inverter unit 204. In particular, the electrical connections may be a first electrical connection 302 and a second electrical connection 304. The first electrical connection 302 is formed between the first terminal pin 206A of the first connector 206 and the inverter unit 204 within the second housing 202, so that a high voltage can be supplied to the inverter unit 204 through the first terminal pin 206A. Similarly, a second electrical connection 304 is formed between the second terminal pin 208A of the second connector 208 and the inverter unit 204 within the second housing 202 such that a low voltage signal may be received at the inverter unit 204. As shown in fig. 3A-B, a first electrical connection 302 and a second electrical connection 304 are formed inside the second housing 202. Since the first connector 206 and the second connector 208 are formed near each other, the first electrical connection 302 is near the second electrical connection 304.

As described above, electromagnetic noise is generated around the first electrical connection portion 302 or the first terminal pin 206A as a high-voltage terminal. Since the first electrical connection 302 is in the vicinity of the second electrical connection 304, such electromagnetic noise may interact with the second electrical connection 302, which may decisively influence the function of the inverter unit 204. To avoid such a problem, at least one partition wall 306 is formed between the first electrical connection portion 302 and the second electrical connection portion 304 within the second housing 202. The partition wall 306 may be connected to the ground of the vehicle so that electromagnetic noise may be grounded without affecting the function of the inverter unit 204. In one example, the separation wall 306 is made of aluminum or any other conductive material. In this example, the partition wall 306 extends between the inner surface 210B of the base wall 210 and the printed circuit board 214 of the inverter unit 204, as shown in fig. 3B.

As shown in fig. 3B, the partition wall 306 extends from the inner surface 210B of the base wall 210 of the second housing 202. In this embodiment, the partition wall 306 is integrally formed with the inner surface 210B of the base wall 210 of the second housing 202 so as to extend toward the printed circuit board 214 of the inverter unit 204. The height of the dividing wall 306 is less than the distance between the inner surface 210B of Yu Jibi 210 and the printed circuit board 214. Preferably, the gap G between the end of the partition wall 306 and the printed circuit board 214 is designed to be small but greater than zero in consideration of the insulation standard of the motor 100 and the stacking tolerance of the related components. In this example, the gap G is about 1mm. Since the partition wall 306 is provided between the first electrical connection portion 302 and the second electrical connection portion 304, electromagnetic noise generated around the first electrical connection portion 302 does not reach the second electrical connection portion 304, but is grounded through the partition wall 306, so that the control function of the inverter unit 204 is not affected.

Fig. 4A and 4B illustrate different views of the second housing 202 of fig. 1. In this example, fig. 4A is an exploded view of the second housing 202, depicting the inverter unit 204, the electrical connections 302, 304, and the dividing wall 306. Fig. 4B is a schematic diagram of the second housing 202 of fig. 1, depicting the location of the divider wall 306. As shown in fig. 4A, a partition wall 306 is formed between the first electrical connection portion 302 and the second electrical connection portion 306 so as to isolate the first electrical connection portion 302 from the second electrical connection portion 304. In one example, the separation wall 306, along with the side wall 210C and other designs disposed on the base wall 210, are configured to form a chamber structure such that the second electrical connection 304 is not affected by electromagnetic noise present around the first electrical connection 302.

In a preferred example, at least one of the first electrical connection 302 and the second electrical connection 304 is a cable connected between the respective terminal pin 206A, 208A and the printed circuit board 214 of the inverter unit 204. It is possible that both the first electrical connection 302 and the second electrical connection 304 are electrical conductors. As shown in fig. 3A-B, the first electrical connection 302 is a cable connected between the first terminal pin 206A and the inverter unit 204, and the second electrical connection 304 is a pin extending between the second terminal pin 208A and the inverter unit 204.

In another example, at least one of the first electrical connection 302 and the second electrical connection 304 is a bus bar connected between the respective terminal pin 206A, 208A and the printed circuit board 214 of the inverter unit 204. Both the first electrical connection 302 and the second electrical connection 304 are bus bars.

In yet another example, at least one of the first electrical connection 302 and the second electrical connection 304 is a pin conductor that extends from one end of the respective terminal pin 206A, 208A to the printed circuit board 214 of the inverter unit 204. It is possible that both the first electrical connection 302 and the second electrical connection 304 are pins. In the case where the electrical connection portions 302, 304 are pins, the electrical connection portions 302, 304 may be integrally formed with the first terminal pin 206A and the second terminal pin 208A. In this case, the first electrical connection 302 may be integrally formed with the first terminal pin 206A and the second electrical connection 304 may be integrally formed with the second terminal pin 208A.

Fig. 5A illustrates another cross-sectional view of the second housing 202 of fig. 2 at plane L-L' in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the partition wall 306 is a separate element provided between the first electrical connection portion 302 and the second electrical connection portion 304. Here, the partition wall 306 is coupled to the inner surface 210B of the base wall 210 of the second housing 202. The partition wall 306 may be coupled to the base wall 210 of the second housing 202 by screws or any other connection means (e.g., rivets).

Fig. 5B illustrates another cross-sectional view of the second housing 202 of fig. 2 at plane L-L' in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the partition wall 306 is a separate element provided between the first electrical connection portion 302 and the second electrical connection portion 304. Here, the partition wall 306 is coupled to the printed circuit board 214 of the inverter unit 204 provided in the second housing 202. The divider 306 may be coupled to the printed circuit board 214 by screws or any other connection means (e.g., rivets).

As described above, the separation wall 306 may act as a barrier or conductor to ground electromagnetic noise generated around the high voltage terminal 206A and the first electrical connection 302. Therefore, such noise does not affect the control signal flowing through the second electrical connection 304, so that the function of the inverter unit 204 is not affected. As a result, malfunction of the motor 100 can be avoided.

All of the above embodiments are merely for the purpose of explaining the invention, and further embodiments and combinations thereof are possible. Therefore, the present invention should not be limited to the above-described embodiments.

Claims

1. An electric machine (100), comprising:

a first housing (102) adapted to house an electric motor (104);

-a second housing (202) adapted to house an inverter unit (204), wherein the inverter unit (204) is configured to control the electric motor (104);

a first connector (206) having first terminal pins (206A) formed on an outer surface (210A) of the second housing (202);

a second connector (208) having a second terminal pin (208A) formed on the outer surface (210A) of the second housing (202) in the vicinity of the first connector (206), wherein the first terminal pin (206A) and the second terminal pin (208A) are adapted to pass through a base wall (210) of the second housing (202) towards the inverter unit (204), characterized in that,

a first electrical connection (302) formed between the first terminal pin (206A) and the inverter unit (204) within the second housing (202);

a second electrical connection (304) formed between the second terminal pin (208A) and the inverter unit (204) within the second housing (202); and

at least one partition wall (306) formed between the first electrical connection (302) and the second electrical connection (304) within the second housing (202).

2. The electric machine (100) of claim 1, wherein the partition wall (306) is integrally formed on an inner surface (210B) of the base wall (210) of the second housing (202).

3. The electric machine (100) of claim 1, wherein the partition wall (306) is coupled to an inner surface (210B) of the base wall (210) of the second housing (202).

4. The electric machine (100) of claim 1, wherein the partition wall (306) is coupled to a printed circuit board of the inverter unit (204).

5. The electric machine (100) of claims 1 to 4, wherein at least one of the first electrical connection (302) and the second electrical connection (304) is an electrical conductor connected between a respective terminal pin and a printed circuit board of the inverter unit (204).

6. The electric machine (100) of claims 1 to 4, wherein at least one of the first electrical connection (302) and the second electrical connection (304) is a bus bar connected between the respective terminal pin (206A, 208A) and a printed circuit board (214) of the inverter unit (204).

7. The electric machine (100) of claims 1-4, wherein at least one of the first electrical connection (302) and the second electrical connection (304) is a pin extending from one end of the respective first terminal pin (206A) and second terminal pin (208A) to a printed circuit board (214) of the inverter unit (204).

8. The electric machine (100) of any of the preceding claims, wherein the partition wall (306) is an aluminum wall.