DE102022201035A1 - Inverters with optimized scalability - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an inverter (10) for powering an electric axle drive in an electric vehicle and/or a hybrid vehicle, comprising an intermediate circuit capacitor (14) which has a capacitor housing (142) on which a capacitor input (144) and a plurality of capacitor outputs (146A- C) are formed, a plurality of phase units (16A-C), each comprising one or more half-bridge modules (162A-C, 164A-C, 166A-C) for feeding a DC current to one of the capacitor outputs (146A-C) are electrically connected and lined up in each of the phase units (16A-C) along a row direction, the phase units (16A-C) being distributed along a circumferential direction of the capacitor case (142) or an inverter case (20) connected to the capacitor case (142). , multiple AC outputs (18A-C), each electrically connected to one of the phase units (16A-C) to provide multiple AC phase currents generated based on the DC current.

Description

The invention relates to an inverter for energizing an electric axle drive of an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle, a corresponding electric axle drive with such an inverter, and a corresponding vehicle with such an electric axle drive.

Purely electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles are known in the prior art, which are driven exclusively or in support of one or more electric machines as drive units. In order to supply the electric machines of such electric vehicles or hybrid vehicles with electric energy, the electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles include electric energy stores, in particular rechargeable electric batteries. These batteries are designed as DC voltage sources, but the electrical machines usually require an AC voltage. Therefore, power electronics with a so-called inverter are usually connected between a battery and an electrical machine (E-machine) of an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle.

Such inverters usually include semiconductor switching elements, which are typically formed from transistors, such as MOSFETs or IGBTs. In this context, it is known to design the semiconductor switching elements as so-called half-bridges, which have a high-side device and a low-side device. This high-side or low-side device comprises one or more semiconductor switching elements connected in parallel, which are controlled in a targeted manner during operation of the inverter in order to generate a plurality of phase currents of an AC current that are offset in time from a DC current fed into the input side of the half bridges, the phase currents each are themselves variable over time.

The inverters known from the prior art are limited in terms of their scalability due to their design. This makes it difficult for these known inverters to be widely used for different vehicle power classes.

It is an object of the invention to provide an inverter in order to at least partially eliminate the disadvantages mentioned above.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by the inverter, the electric axle drive and the vehicle according to the independent patent claims. Advantageous refinements and developments of the invention emerge from the dependent patent claims.

The invention relates to an inverter for operating an electric axle drive in an electric vehicle and/or a hybrid vehicle. The inverter includes an intermediate circuit capacitor, which has a capacitor housing. On the one hand, a capacitor input for connection to a DC voltage source, preferably via a DC input of the inverter connected in between, is formed on the capacitor housing. On the other hand, a plurality of capacitor outputs for connecting to a plurality of phase units are formed on the capacitor housing. The inverter comprises the phase units, preferably three phase units, to generate a three-phase alternating current. The phase units each include one or more half-bridge modules connected in parallel, which are electrically connected to one of the capacitor outputs for feeding in a DC current provided by the DC voltage source. This means that each phase unit is dedicated (or in a one-to-one correspondence) to a specific capacitor output. The electrical connection between the half-bridge modules and the capacitor outputs is preferably made using a number of DC busbars. A phase unit is therefore an assembly that is assigned to a specific phase and has at least one, preferably at least two, in particular three, half-bridge modules.

The half-bridge module within the meaning of the present invention is a modular bridge switching arrangement that includes a module high side and a module low side. A complete half-bridge is thus formed in each individual half-bridge module. The module high side and the module low side each comprise one or more semiconductor switching elements connected in parallel, which are preferably in the form of transistors, for example MOSFETs and/or IGBTs. In each of the phase units, the module highsides are connected in parallel to one another and form a common highside device for the entire phase unit. At the same time, the module lowsides in each of the phase units are also connected in parallel to one another and form a common lowside device for the entire phase unit. This means that depending on the power class of the electric or hybrid vehicle in which an electric axle drive is integrated with the inverter according to the invention, the maximum amount of current that can be carried by phase units can be scaled up or down by a suitable choice of the number of half-bridge modules per phase unit.

Each half-bridge module has multiple power connections for feeding in the DC current and outputting the phase currents, as well as multiple signal connections for transmitting control signals for driving the semiconductor switching elements. Preferably, the semiconductor switching elements, the power connections and the signal connections are covered with a current-insulating material so that only end sections of the power connections and/or signal connections protrude beyond several surfaces of the cover. The cladding can be formed by a casting compound that is created by overmolding the respective half-bridge modules. The end sections of the power connections and/or signal connections are also preferably bent vertically upwards, starting from a side surface of the casing, so that they can advantageously be contacted from above.

According to a first aspect of the invention, the half-bridge modules are arranged or lined up in each of the phase units along a row direction. According to the first aspect of the invention, the phase units are distributed along a circumferential direction of the capacitor case or an inverter case connected to the capacitor case or are fixed thereto. For example, the capacitor case and/or the inverter case has a rectangular, approximately square cross section in the horizontal direction. In this case, if the inverter comprises three phase units, each of the three phase units can be attached to one of three edges of the rectangular or square perimeter so that the respective row direction is parallel to the associated edge. However, the capacitor case and the inverter case may be formed with any cross-sectional shape in the horizontal direction. "Borders" may also mean different sections of a geometric shape, such as a circle or semicircle.

According to a second aspect of the invention, the half-bridge modules in each of the phase units are lined up along a transverse direction of the capacitor case or the inverter case. According to the second aspect of the invention, the phase units are distributedly attached to the capacitor case or the inverter case along a longitudinal direction perpendicular to the transverse direction.

The inverter further includes multiple AC outputs, each electrically connected to one of the phase units to provide multiple AC phase currents generated based on the DC current. Each phase unit is configured to generate one of the phase currents based on the DC current. The AC outlets preferably each include an AC power rail electrically connected to one or more AC power terminals of the associated phase unit.

According to the invention, an inverter is therefore implemented in which the intermediate circuit capacitor is simultaneously connected to a plurality of phase units and is therefore available to them. A compact design is achieved in this way, with the production costs being comparatively reduced.

According to one embodiment, the row directions of adjacent phase units are perpendicular or at an angle to one another. If the capacitor case or the inverter case has an exemplary rectangular cross-section horizontally, the phase units can each be arranged along one of the four edges. In this case, the row directions of adjacent phase units are perpendicular to each other. If the capacitor housing or the inverter housing has an exemplary horizontal cross-section with a plurality of edges angled towards one another, the phase units can each be arranged along these edges. In this case, the row directions of adjacent phase units are at an angle to one another.

According to a further embodiment, the phase units are arranged on a top side of the capacitor housing or the inverter housing. The top of the capacitor case or the inverter case extends along a horizontal plane and points vertically upwards. This measure enables an inverter with a particularly compact design, since the phase units spatially overlap vertically with the capacitor housing or the inverter housing. It is therefore not necessary to provide additional lateral space for placing the phase units.

According to a further embodiment, the AC outlets extend laterally beyond the top of the capacitor housing or the inverter housing at an additional edge of the capacitor housing or the inverter housing. When the capacitor case or the inverter case has an exemplary rectangular cross-section horizontally, the three phase units can be arranged on three of the four edges of the rectangular top of the capacitor case or the inverter case, respectively. At the fourth edge, the AC outputs or the AC busbars can be routed to the outside beyond the fourth edge in order to facilitate a lateral connection to the electric machine.

According to a further embodiment, the AC outputs are arranged in an inner area delimited by the row directions on the upper side of the capacitor housing or the inverter housing. When the phase units are each arranged along one of the edges of the capacitor case and the inverter case, respectively, the phase units can enclose an inner space. The interior space resulting from this creates a space that is particularly suitable for placing the AC outputs or AC busbars for the purpose of a top-side connection to the electric machine.

According to a further embodiment, the phase units are arranged on a top side of the inverter housing, which preferably accommodates or at least partially encloses the capacitor housing, on the outside of a top side of the capacitor housing. This arrangement of the phase units favors an advantageously flat design of the inverter.

Preferably, the AC outputs each extend from the phase units in a direction away from the capacitor housing. This makes it easier to connect the AC outputs to the electric machine. More preferably, the inverter housing has a plurality of peripheral sides perpendicular to the top, with the AC outputs from the phase units being bent toward the peripheral sides at an angle, preferably a right angle. This measure advantageously utilizes the height of the inverter housing and enables the inverter to have a flat and, at the same time, laterally compact design.

According to a further embodiment, the phase units are each arranged on a peripheral side of the capacitor housing or the inverter housing. The capacitor housing or the inverter housing can be box-shaped, for example, and have four peripheral sides perpendicular to the upper side. The phase units preferably each have a driver device which is attached to the associated peripheral side of the capacitor housing or the inverter housing, with the inverter comprising a control device which is attached to a top side of the capacitor housing or the inverter housing. The inverter housing can be arranged between the phase units and the capacitor housing and can be designed as an intermediate plate. Such an arrangement of the phase units enables a laterally compact design of the inverter.

According to a further embodiment, the phase units each have a heat sink on which the half-bridge modules are attached. The heat sink is therefore a common heat sink for the half-bridge modules of the respective phase units. Depending on the number of half-bridge modules, the heat sink can be designed with a suitable dimension. This measure enables effective local cooling of the half-bridge modules. The various heat sinks are preferably spatially separated from one another.

According to a further embodiment, at least one of the phase units comprises at least three half-bridge modules. This measure enables an inverter whose maximum amount of electricity can be scaled particularly easily according to the power class of the electric or hybrid vehicle. For example, the multiple half-bridge modules can be used in the case of higher vehicle outputs, with each phase unit being assigned to a phase current. At lower vehicle powers, only part of the half-bridge modules, e.g. one or two out of three, can be used and the other half-bridge modules can be deactivated.

In the present invention, a bearing plate located between the phase units and the intermediate circuit capacitor - regardless of its shape - is referred to as an inverter housing. The bearing plate is preferably firmly connected to the outer housing of the inverter, which is not shown in the figures, and is therefore part of the housing. Alternatively, the component referred to as the inverter housing can be regarded as an independent part and accordingly named as a bearing plate or similar.

At least one cooling channel preferably runs in the inverter housing in order to conduct cooling fluid to the heat sinks. Then the inverter housing can also be called a cooling element.

In particular, the cooling medium can also be guided exclusively in the inverter housing. The heatsinks then only serve to spread the temperature, but are no longer really heatsinks.

The invention also relates to an electric axle drive with such an inverter and a vehicle with such an electric axle drive. This also results in the advantages already described in connection with the inverter according to the invention for the inverter according to the invention and the vehicle according to the invention.

The invention is explained below by way of example using the embodiments shown in the figures.

• 1 eine schematische Darstellung eines Wechselrichters gemäß einer allgemeinen Ausführungsform in einer Draufsicht,
• 2 eine schematische Darstellung eines Wechselrichters gemäß einer weiteren Ausführungsform in einer Seitenansicht,
• 3 eine schematische Darstellung eines Wechselrichters gemäß einer weiteren Ausführungsform in einer Draufsicht,
• 4 eine schematische Darstellung eines Wechselrichters gemäß einer weiteren Ausführungsform in einer Draufsicht,
• 5 eine schematische Darstellung eines Wechselrichters gemäß einer weiteren Ausführungsform in einer Perspektivansicht,
• 6 eine schematische Darstellung eines Wechselrichters gemäß einer weiteren Ausführungsform in einer Perspektivansicht,
• 7 eine schematische Darstellung des Wechselrichters aus 6 in einer Perspektivansicht,
• 8 eine schematische Darstellung des Wechselrichters aus 6 in einer weiteren Perspektivansicht,
• 9 eine schematische Darstellung eines Wechselrichters gemäß einer weiteren Ausführungsform in einer Perspektivansicht,
• 10 eine schematische Darstellung des Wechselrichters aus 9 in einer seitlichen Schnittansicht, wobei jeder Phaseneinheit ein Folienkondensator zugeordnet ist,
• 11 eine schematische Darstellung des Wechselrichters aus 9 in einer seitlichen Schnittansicht, wobei die Phaseneinheiten einen gemeinsamen Folienkondensator teilen.

Show it:

• 1 a schematic representation of an inverter according to a general embodiment in a plan view,
• 2 a schematic representation of an inverter according to a further embodiment in a side view,
• 3 a schematic representation of an inverter according to a further embodiment in a plan view,
• 4 a schematic representation of an inverter according to a further embodiment in a plan view,
• 5 a schematic representation of an inverter according to a further embodiment in a perspective view,
• 6 a schematic representation of an inverter according to a further embodiment in a perspective view,
• 7 a schematic representation of the inverter 6 in a perspective view,
• 8th a schematic representation of the inverter 6 in another perspective view,
• 9 a schematic representation of an inverter according to a further embodiment in a perspective view,
• 10 a schematic representation of the inverter 9 in a side sectional view, with each phase unit being assigned a film capacitor,
• 11 a schematic representation of the inverter 9 in a side sectional view, with the phase units sharing a common film capacitor.

Identical objects, functional units and comparable components are denoted by the same reference symbols across the figures. These objects, functional units and comparable components are designed to be identical in terms of their technical features, unless the description explicitly or implicitly states otherwise.

1 12 shows a schematic representation of an inverter 100 according to a general embodiment in an exemplary plan view. Inverter 100 includes a link capacitor 14, multiple phase units 16A-C, and multiple AC outputs 18A-C.

The intermediate circuit capacitor 14 has a capacitor housing 142, which has a rectangular, in particular square, cross section in the plane of the drawing with four edges 1422A-C, 1423. At least one film capacitor (“coil”) is arranged inside the capacitor housing 142 , with at least one interference suppression capacitor (“Y capacitor” or “electrolytic capacitor”) preferably additionally being able to be contained in the capacitor housing 142 . The intermediate circuit capacitor 14 also has a capacitor input 144 with a positive-pole connection 144a and a negative-pole connection 144b in order to feed in a DC current generated by means of a DC voltage source (not shown here), which preferably has a vehicle battery.

The phase units 16A-C are mounted on a top 1424 of the capacitor case 142. FIG. In this case, the phase units 16A-C each include a plurality (here, for example, three) half-bridge modules 162A-C, 164A-C, 166A-C. Each of the half-bridge modules 162A-C, 164A-C, 166A-C is a modular bridge switching arrangement that includes a module high side and module low side, not shown in detail here. Thus, a full half-bridge is accomplished in each individual half-bridge module 162A-C, 164A-C, 166A-C. The module high side and the module low side each comprise one or more semiconductor switching elements connected in parallel, which are preferably in the form of transistors, for example MOSFETs and/or IGBTs. In each of the phase units 16A-C, the module highsides are connected in parallel with one another and form a common highside device for the entire phase unit 16A-C. At the same time, the module lowsides in each of the phase units 16A-C are also connected in parallel with one another and form a common lowside device for the entire phase unit 16A-C. This means that depending on the performance class of the electric or hybrid vehicle in which an electric axle drive with the inverter 100 according to the invention is integrated, the maximum amount of current that can be carried by phase units can be increased by a suitable choice of the number of half-bridge modules 162A-C, 164A-C, 166A-C per phase unit 16A-C scalable up or down.

Each half-bridge module 162A-C, 164A-C, 166A-C has a number of power connections, not shown in detail here, for feeding in the DC current and for outputting the phase currents, as well as a number of signal connections, not shown in detail here, for transmitting control signals for driving the semiconductor switching elements. The semiconductor switching elements, the power connections and the signal connections are preferably covered with a current-insulating material, so that only end sections of the power connections and/or of the signal connectors extend beyond several surfaces of the fairing. The cladding can be formed by a casting compound that is created by overmolding the respective half-bridge modules 162A-C, 164A-C, 166A-C. The end sections of the power connections and/or signal connections are also preferably bent vertically upwards, starting from a side surface of the casing, so that they can advantageously be contacted from above.

The phase units 16A-C also each include a heat sink 168A-C, preferably formed of aluminum or copper. As shown here by way of example, in each phase unit 16A-C the heat sink 168A-C is acted upon by all half-bridge modules 162A-C, 164A-C, 166A-C from above, so that the heat sink 168A-C acts as a common cooler for all half-bridge modules 162A-C, 164A-C, 166A-C of the respective phase unit 16A-C. The semiconductor switching elements (not shown here) of the respective half-bridge modules 162A-C, 164A-C, 166A-C are preferably mounted on a multi-layer substrate (not shown here) which comprises an upper metal layer, a lower metal layer and an insulating layer arranged in between. The bottom metal layer is also preferably bonded to the heat sink 168A-C on top of the heat sink 168A-C to provide thermal coupling between the heat sink 168A-C and the semiconductor switching elements mounted on the top metal layer.

A plurality of positive-pole and negative-pole DC busbars 152A-C, 154A-C are arranged between the intermediate circuit capacitor 14 and the phase units 16A-C, which are each electrically connected to a positive-pole or negative-pole capacitor output 146A-C, 148A-C of the intermediate circuit capacitor 14 or are in one piece are trained. The preferred one-piece construction of the DC bus bars 152A-C, 154A-C and the capacitor outlets 146A-C, 148A-C are shown in a side sectional view in FIG 2 visible as an example. The DC bus bars 152A-C, 154A-C extend in the respective phase unit 16A-C along a row direction in which the half-bridge modules 162A-C, 164A-C, 166A-C are arranged side by side or in a row. This large-area design of the DC busbars 152A-C, 154A-C enables a comparatively low current density on the DC side, so that the heat caused by the DC current is reduced and the inverter 100 is better protected against overheating.

The DC current is fed into the half-bridge modules 162A-C, 164A-C, 166A-C of the phase units 16A-C via the DC busbars 152A-C, 154A-C. For this purpose, the DC busbars 152A-C, 154A-C are electrically connected to the plus-pole or minus-pole DC power connections (not shown here) of the half-bridge modules 162A-C, 164A-C, 166A-C. The phase currents generated by switching the semiconductor switching elements installed in the half-bridge modules 162A-C, 164A-C, 166A-C based on the fed-in DC current are taken out of the half-bridge modules 162A-C, 164A-C, 166A-C each routed into an AC power rail 183A-C. As in 1 shown by way of example, the AC busbars 183A-C each include a plurality of module-side contacts, with each half-bridge module 162A-C, 164A-C, 166A-C being assigned two contacts. The respective phase current is therefore created by combining several branch currents of the half-bridge modules 162A-C, 164A-C, 166A-C and flows over an elongated section of the associated AC busbar 183A-C to an AC output 18A-C. The AC outputs 18A-C are, as in 1 shown by way of example, are each formed integrally with the AC bus bars 183A-C. Alternatively, a two-part design, in which the AC outputs 18A-C are each designed as a lug attached to an end section of the associated AC busbars 183A-C, is also conceivable.

The phase units 16A-C are located at an edge 1422A-C of the capacitor case 142, respectively. The AC outlets 18A-C extend laterally beyond the capacitor case 142 at an additional or fourth edge 1423 thereof. This arrangement of the phase units 16A-C enables efficient use of space, so that a compact design of the inverter 100 is realized.

As in 1 shown by way of example, three half-bridge modules 162A-C, 164A-C, 166A-C are contained in at least one of the phase units 16A-C, preferably in all (three) phase units 16A-C. This arrangement enables a particularly high scalability of the currents that can be carried by the phase units 16A-C. In the case of lower vehicle power classes, for example, a single half-bridge module 162A-C, 164A-C, 166A-C can be used per phase unit 16A-C.

In 2 the inverter 100 is off 1 is shown schematically in a side sectional view, with the inverter 100 adopting a modified structure. An inverter housing 20 is namely arranged between the phase units 16A-C and the intermediate circuit capacitor 14 (or the capacitor housing 142). The inverter case 20 has a plate shape and therefore can be understood as an intermediate plate. The inverter housing 20 is occupied by the phase units 16A-C, in particular the heat sinks 168A-C, on the upper side and by the intermediate circuit capacitor 14 on the lower side and can act as a cooling reservoir for these components. Furthermore, in 2 a control device 12 is shown with a printed circuit board. The control device 12 comprises a number of electronic components mounted on the printed circuit board for driving the individual semiconductor switching elements of the phase units 16A-C.

3 10 shows an inverter 101 according to a further embodiment in a schematic plan view. The inverter case 20 may have protrusions on one side. In this embodiment, too, the inverter 101 comprises, by way of example, three phase units 16A-C, two of which phase units 16A,C on two opposite edges 206A,C of the foot-side section and one phase unit 16B on a head-side edge which is essentially perpendicular to the edges 206A,C 206A are arranged. Because the heat sinks 168A-C each have an elongate shape along the row direction of the half-bridge modules 162A-C, 164A-C, 166A-C.

The inverter 101 off 3 shows the in 1 Inverter 100 shown in a slightly lower level of detail. The phase units 16A-C are electrically connected to the DC busbars 152A-C, 154A-C on the DC side and to the AC busbars 183A-C on the AC side. In this embodiment, the DC bus bars 152A-C, 154A-C and the capacitor outputs 146A-C, 148A-C are preferably formed in two parts. To set up the two-part design, refer to the side sectional view of the individual half-bridge modules 162A-C, 164A-C, 166A-C in 10 referred. A plurality of openings are provided in each of the DC busbars 152A-C, 154A-C for passing the signal connections 167 through at the top. The AC bus bars 183A-C also have several module-side contacts for connecting to the AC power connections of the half-bridge modules 162A-C, 164A-C, 166A-C and an elongated section that extends to the AC outlets 18A-C extend. The AC outputs 18A-C protrude laterally beyond an edge 207 of the inverter housing 20 on the foot side.

In 4 an inverter 102 according to a further embodiment is shown in a schematic plan view. Again, the phase units 16A-C are similar to the one in 3 shown embodiment on the inverter housing 20 is arranged. In the embodiment according to 4 the phase units 16A-C are arranged in a triangular shape. Correspondingly, the two opposite edges 206A, C, on which one of the phase units 16A-C is arranged, do not extend as in the case of FIG 3 shown embodiment parallel, but angled to each other. This design enables an inner area 205 enclosed by the phase units 16A-C on the upper side 202 of the inverter housing 20. The AC outputs 18A-C are arranged in the inner area 205, which promotes a compact construction of the inverter 102.

5 10 shows an inverter 103 according to a further embodiment in a schematic perspective view. Here the phase units 16A-C are per se similar to those in FIGS 1 until 3 embodiment shown formed. In contrast to the embodiment there, the phase units 16A-C are arranged around the intermediate circuit capacitor 14. For this purpose, the intermediate circuit capacitor 14 is pulled into the inverter housing 20 . The inverter housing 20 is U-shaped and has three legs 206A-C, with adjacent legs 206A,B and 206B,C being perpendicular to one another. The phase units 16A-C are arranged on these legs 206A-C. Alternatively, the inverter housing 20 can have a recess in which the intermediate circuit capacitor 14 is accommodated. The phase units 16A-C are also located on three edges 1422A-C of the capacitor case 142. FIG. In contrast to the in 1 However, in the embodiment shown, the phase units 16A-C are laterally separated from the top 1424 of the capacitor case 142 . The AC bus bars 183A-C are bent from the phase units 16A-C to a peripheral side 204A-C of the inverter housing 20, respectively. As in 5 shown schematically and by way of example, the AC bus bars 183A-C are partially clad with a current insulating material, preferably overmolded with an injection molding material.

The 6-8 FIG. 1 shows an inverter 104 according to another embodiment. In contrast to that in the 1 until 3 In the embodiment shown, the phase units 16A-C are arranged at the level of the side walls of the intermediate circuit capacitor 14. They are aligned perpendicular to the top. In this case, the inverter housing 20 has a box shape with a top 202 and three peripheral sides 204A-C perpendicular to the top 202, on which the phase units 16A-C are attached. The top 202 and peripheral sides 204A-C define an interior of the inverter housing 20 in which the link capacitor 14 is housed. As in the other embodiments, the DC busbars 152A-C, 154A-C are arranged in an electrically connecting manner between the phase units 16A-C and the intermediate circuit capacitor 14 .

As in 6 shown schematically, is on the top 202 of the inverter housing 20, the control device 12 with a substantially parallel to Top 202 aligned main circuit board provided. The main circuit board is connected by means of several in 7-8 shown positioning elements 2022 attached to the inverter housing 20 and aligned. The control device 12 is designed to generate control signals for driving the individual semiconductor switching elements installed in the half-bridge modules 162A-C, 164A-C, 166A-C. At the same time, the phase units 16A-C each have a driver device 170A-C, which comprises a circuit board aligned essentially parallel to the associated peripheral side 204A-C. The driver device 170A-C is designed to transmit the control signals of the control device 12 to the semiconductor switching elements.

The AC power rails 183A-C of the inverter 104 also have a plurality of module-side contacts that are electrically connected to the AC power terminals of the half-bridge modules 162A-C, 164A-C, 166A-C. As in the views of 7-8 shown in more detail, two of the three AC bus bars 183A,C run from the phase units 16A-C first along the top and extend laterally beyond the peripheral side 204B on which the middle phase unit 16B is arranged.

9-11 FIG. 1 shows an inverter 105 according to a further embodiment. In 9 the inverter 105 is shown in a schematic perspective view. The individual phase units 16A-C are intrinsically connected to the in 3 embodiment shown formed similar. The inverter housing 20 is also arranged here between the phase units 16A-C on the one hand and the intermediate circuit capacitor 14 on the other. However, the phase units 16A-C are mounted on the top 202 of the inverter case 20 distributed along a longitudinal direction of the inverter case 20 . In each of the phase units 16A-C, the half-bridge modules 162A-C, 164A-C, 166A-C are lined up along a transverse direction that is essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The capacitor case 142 has an L-shape with a plate portion 143a and an end wall 143b. The inverter case 20 is arranged on the plate portion 143a and is limited at its end by the end wall 143b. This measure enables a particularly compact design of the inverter 105. The AC busbars 183A-C are, as in 9 shown schematically, partially covered with a current-insulating material, preferably overmolded with a current-insulating injection molding material.

The schematic lateral sectional views in 10-11 each show an internal structure of the intermediate circuit capacitor 14. The in 10 The intermediate circuit capacitor 14 shown has three film capacitors 145A-C corresponding to the number of phase units 16A-C, which are each electrically connected to a positive-pole power line 141 AC and a negative-pole power line 149A-C.

Both power lines 141A-C, 149A-C are electrically connected to the respective film capacitor 145A-C on two vertically opposite sides of the latter. Although not shown here, at least one interference suppression capacitor can also be provided in the intermediate circuit capacitor 14 and electrically connected to the power lines 141A-C 149A-C and to a ground line.

the inside 11 In contrast, the intermediate circuit capacitor 14 shown has a single film capacitor 145 as a common film capacitor for all three phase units 16A-C. A positive power line 141 and a negative power line 149 are electrically connected to the common film capacitor 145 . At least one interference suppression capacitor can also be provided here.

At the in 9-11 In the configurations of the intermediate circuit capacitor 14 shown, in which the phase units 16A-C are each assigned their own film capacitor 145A-C, all phase units 16A-C share a common film capacitor 145.

Reference List

100-105

inverter

12

control device

14

intermediate circuit capacitor

141, 141A-C

positive power lines

142

capacitor case

1422A-C

edges

1423

additional (fourth) margin

1424

top

1426

perimeter pages

143a

plate section

143b

end wall

144

capacitor input

145, 145A-C

film capacitors

146A-C, 148A-C

capacitor outputs

149, 149A-C

negative power lines

152A-C, 154A-C

DC busbars

16A-C

phase units

162A-C, 164A-C, 166A-C

half-bridge modules

167

signal connections

168A-C

heatsink

170A-C

driver setup

18A-C

AC outputs

182A-C

fairing/overmolding

183, 183A-C

AC busbars

20

inverter housing

202

top

2022

positioning elements

204A-C

perimeter pages

205

interior

206A-C

edges

207

extra edge

Claims (16)

Inverter (10) for energizing an electric axle drive in an electric vehicle and/or a hybrid vehicle, comprising: - an intermediate circuit capacitor (14), which has a capacitor housing (142) on which a capacitor input (144) and a plurality of capacitor outputs (146A-C) are formed, - multiple phase units (16A-C), each comprising one or more half-bridge modules (162A-C, 164A-C, 166A-C) electrically connected to one of the capacitor outputs (146A-C) for feeding a DC current and in each of the phase units (16A-C) are lined up along a row direction, the phase units (16A-C) being distributed along a circumferential direction of the capacitor housing (142) or of an inverter housing (20) connected to the capacitor housing (142), - multiple AC outputs (18A-C), each electrically connected to one of the phase units (16A-C) to provide multiple AC phase currents generated based on the DC current. Inverter (10) after claim 1 wherein the phase units (16A-C) are each disposed along one of a plurality of edges (1422A-C, 206A-C) of the capacitor case (142) or the inverter case (20). Inverter (10) after claim 1 or 2 , wherein the row directions of adjacent phase units (16A-C) are perpendicular or angled to each other. Inverter (10) according to one of Claims 1 until 3 , wherein the phase units (16A-C) are arranged on a top (1424, 202) of the capacitor housing (142) or the inverter housing (20). Inverter (10) after claim 4 wherein the AC outlets (18A-C) extend laterally beyond the top (1424, 202) at an additional edge (1423, 207) of the capacitor case (142) or the inverter case (20). Inverter (10) after claim 4 , wherein the AC outlets (18A-C) are arranged in an inner region (205) delimited by the row directions on the upper side (1424, 202). Inverter (10) according to one of Claims 1 until 3 , wherein the phase units (16A-C) are arranged on a top (202) of the inverter housing (20), which accommodates or at least partially encloses the capacitor housing (142), on the outside of a top (1424) of the capacitor housing (142). Inverter (10) after claim 7 , wherein the AC outputs (18A-C) each extend from the phase units (16A-C) in a direction away from the capacitor housing (142). Inverter (10) after claim 8 , wherein the inverter housing (20) has a plurality of peripheral sides (204A-C) perpendicular to the top (202), the AC outputs (18A-C) from the phase units (16A-C) at an angle, preferably a right angle, to the Circumferential sides (204A-C) are bent. Inverter (10) according to one of Claims 1 until 3 , wherein the phase units (16A-C) are each arranged on a peripheral side (1426A-C) of the capacitor housing (142). Inverter (10) after claim 10 , wherein the phase units (16A-C) each have a driver device (170A-C) which is attached to the associated peripheral side (1426A-C) of the capacitor housing (142), wherein the inverter (10) comprises a control device (12), mounted on a top (1424) of the capacitor case (142). Inverter (10) for energizing an electric axle drive in an electric vehicle and/or a hybrid vehicle, comprising: - an intermediate circuit capacitor (14) which has a capacitor housing (142) on which a capacitor input (144) and a plurality of capacitor outputs (146A-C) are formed, - a plurality of phase units (16A-C), each comprising one or more half-bridge modules (162A-C, 164A-C, 166A-C) electrically connected to one of the capacitor outputs (146A-C) and in each of the phase units (16A-C) along for injecting a DC current are lined up in a transverse direction, the phase units (16A-C) being distributed along a longitudinal direction of the capacitor housing (142) or of an inverter housing (20) connected to the capacitor housing (142) and attached thereto, - a plurality of AC outputs (18A-C) , each electrically connected to one of the phase units (16A-C) to provide a plurality of AC phase currents generated based on the DC current. Inverter (10) according to one of Claims 1 until 12 , wherein the phase units (16A-C) each have a heat sink (168A-C) on which the half-bridge modules (162A-C, 164A-C, 166A-C) are mounted. Inverter (10) according to one of Claims 1 until 13 , wherein at least one of the phase units (16A-C) comprises at least three half-bridge modules (162A-C, 164A-C, 166A-C). Electric axle drive for a vehicle, in particular an electric vehicle or hybrid vehicle, comprising an electric machine, a transmission device and an inverter (10) according to one of Claims 1 until 14 . Vehicle, in particular electric vehicle or hybrid vehicle, comprising an electric axle drive claim 15 .

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