JP2005294215A - Interlock device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To ensure safety at an early stage of maintenance and inspection work of high voltage equipment.
An interlock device is provided so that an inverter unit cannot be exposed, and has a conductive upper lid 560 having a shape corresponding to the casing 500, and between the upper lid 560 and the casing 500. Interlock detection terminal 540 provided, conductive bolt 570 for fixing upper lid 560 to casing 500, and when upper lid 560 is fixed to casing 500 by bolt 570, interlock detection terminal 540 and casing 500. When the upper cover 560 is not fixed to the casing 500 with the bolt 570, the interlock detection terminal 540 and the casing 500 are not electrically connected to each other. An insulating member 580 that connects 540 and the housing 500 is formed.
[Selection] Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to an interlock device for high voltage equipment, and more particularly to an interlock device capable of performing maintenance and inspection by mechanically and electrically shutting off the high voltage equipment.

  In the structure of a hybrid vehicle or an electric vehicle, the breaker device and the high-voltage device are arranged in a space isolated from the passenger compartment and the cargo compartment, and are configured to be accommodated in a closed space covering the maintenance lid. When maintaining and inspecting high-voltage equipment, sufficient safety measures are indispensable to ensure safety against high voltages. For example, there is an interlock switch technology provided in the following high voltage equipment.

  Toyota Technical Publication (Issue No. 14136) (Non-Patent Document 1) discloses a PCU (Power Control Unit) interlock switch in which the mounting structure and wiring are simplified. This interlock switch is formed of a PCU case, a waterproof grommet, a wire harness, an interlock electrode, a PCU cover, and a bolt.

According to the PCU interlock switch disclosed in Non-Patent Document 1, the interlock switch is formed of an interlock electrode, a PCU cover, and a PCU case. Therefore, the mounting structure and wiring are simplified, and the cost and the number of assembling steps of the interlock switch are reduced as compared with the case where the connector type interlock switch is attached to the PCU cover via the bracket.
Akemi Kitami, Hitoshi Imura, “Interlock Switch of Power Control Unit”, Toyota Technical Publication Number 14136, January 31, 2003

  In the interlock switch provided in the high voltage device as described above, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, the connector structure provided in the upper cover 650 has a structure insulated between the upper cover 650 and the connector 660. Have. When the upper cover 650 is removed, the plug-in connector 660 is detached from the case side connector 670. At this time, a path from the insertion hole 640 to the insertion hole 680 via the insertion connector 660 is blocked. However, in the process of removing the upper cover by the operator, the conducting path is not interrupted until the insertion connector 660 of the upper cover is removed from at least one of the insertion holes 680 and 640, so that the interlock does not operate. In order for the worker to perform maintenance and inspection more safely, it is necessary to operate the interlock at an earlier stage than the work of removing the upper cover.

  Even in the interlock switch disclosed in Non-Patent Document 1, safety measures are taken in that the continuity of the PCU cover, the case, and the interlock electrode is cut off when the PCU cover is removed. It is possible to envisage a case where the

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an interlock device that can ensure safety at an early stage of maintenance and inspection work of high-voltage equipment.

  An interlock device according to a first aspect of the present invention is an interlock device provided in a conductive casing that houses a high-voltage device. The interlock device is provided so that a high-voltage device cannot be exposed, and includes a conductive upper lid having a shape corresponding to the casing, a terminal provided between the upper lid and the casing, and an upper lid. When the upper lid is fixed to the casing by the conductive fixing member for fixing to the casing and the fixing member, the terminal and the casing are electrically connected, and the upper lid is not fixed to the casing by the fixing member. And a connection means for connecting the terminal and the housing such that the terminal and the housing are electrically disconnected from each other.

  According to the first invention, the interlock device is provided so as to make the high voltage device (for example, the inverter unit) unexposed, and has a conductive shape having a shape corresponding to the conductive casing that houses the inverter. When the upper lid is fixed to the casing by the upper lid, a terminal provided between the upper lid and the casing, a conductive fixing member (for example, a bolt) for fixing the upper lid to the casing, and the bolt The terminal and the casing are connected so that the terminal and the casing are electrically connected and the terminal and the casing are electrically disconnected when the bolt is not fixed to the casing by the bolt. Connecting means. Thus, when the operator performs maintenance and inspection of the inverter unit, when the operator loosens the bolt, the terminal and the casing are electrically disconnected by the connecting means. For example, if control is performed so that the operation of the inverter unit is not permitted in accordance with the disconnection of the terminal and the housing, the operation of the inverter unit may be disabled in the work of loosening the bolt. it can. Therefore, it is possible to provide an interlock device that can ensure safety at an earlier stage in maintenance and inspection work of high-voltage equipment.

  Further, in the process of fastening the bolt, when the operator fastens the bolt, the terminal and the housing are electrically connected by the connecting means. For example, when control is performed so that the operation of the inverter unit is permitted in accordance with the connection between the terminal and the housing, the operation of the inverter unit can be permitted in the operation of fastening the bolt. . Therefore, at the end of the maintenance and inspection work of the high-voltage equipment, the operation of the inverter unit can be disabled after the cover is attached until the bolt fastening work is performed. Therefore, safety can be ensured in maintenance and inspection work of high-voltage equipment.

  The interlock device according to the second invention further includes control means for controlling the operation of the high-voltage device in addition to the configuration of the first invention. The control means includes means for controlling the operation of the high-voltage device not to be permitted when the terminal and the housing are disconnected.

  According to the second aspect of the invention, when the terminal and the casing are in a disconnected state, control is performed so that the operation of the high voltage device is not permitted. Accordingly, when the operator loosens the bolt, the terminal and the housing are electrically disconnected from each other, so that the operation of the inverter unit can be disabled in the operation of loosening the bolt. Therefore, safety can be ensured at an earlier stage in maintenance and inspection work of high-voltage equipment.

  In the interlock device according to the third invention, in addition to the configuration of the first or second invention, the connection means includes an insulator having a recess-shaped groove provided between the upper lid and the housing. . The insulator contracts with a force greater than a predetermined force. The terminal is provided in the groove and has a shape whose thickness is at least thinner than the depth of the groove. The upper lid is fixed by a fixing member so that a force more than a predetermined force is generated in the insulator.

  According to the third invention, the connecting means includes an insulator having a recess-shaped groove provided between the upper lid and the housing. The insulator contracts with a force greater than a predetermined force. The terminal is provided in the groove of the insulator and has a shape whose thickness is thinner than at least the depth of the groove. The upper lid is fixed by a fixing member (for example, a bolt) so that a force exceeding a predetermined value is generated in the insulator. When the upper lid is fixed to the housing with a bolt so that a force exceeding a predetermined value is generated, the insulator contracts. A terminal is provided in the groove of the insulator having the concave groove. Since the terminal is thinner than the depth of the groove, the terminal and the upper lid do not come into contact with each other unless the upper lid is fixed to the casing with bolts. When the bolt is fastened, the insulator contracts and the terminal and the upper lid come into contact with each other. Therefore, it conducts from the bolt attached to the upper lid to the housing. In this way, the terminal and the housing can be electrically connected. When the operator loosens the bolt, the insulator returns to its original shape due to elasticity, so that the terminal and the upper lid are separated. In this way, the terminal and the housing can be electrically disconnected.

  Hereinafter, an interlock device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated.

  In the following, an inverter unit in which an inverter circuit is housed in a housing according to the present invention will be described. This inverter circuit converts DC power supplied from a secondary battery mounted on a vehicle into three-phase AC power, and supplies it to a motor generator that is a three-phase rotating electrical machine. Note that the present invention is not limited to an inverter circuit as long as it is a high-voltage device. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, a case where it is mounted on a hybrid vehicle will be described. However, the present invention is not limited to a hybrid vehicle, and can be widely applied to general vehicles including electric vehicles and fuel cell vehicles. . Further, in the following description, the term “operators” includes general users such as vehicle drivers and passengers, and maintenance personnel at maintenance shops.

  The vehicle on which the inverter unit according to the present embodiment is mounted is a hybrid vehicle on which an engine and a motor are mounted, and the driving motor is mounted on the front side and the rear side and is supplied by a secondary battery. It is driven by the electric power.

  Referring to the block diagram shown in FIG. 1, this vehicle includes a secondary battery 100 such as a nickel metal hydride battery, a front motor generator 700 and a rear motor generator 800 that are motor generators for traveling, and an engine for starting the engine. Starter generator 900, inverter unit 550 for supplying electric power to motor generators 700 and 800 and starter generator 900, system main relay 200 provided between secondary battery 100 and inverter unit 550, and system main relay HV_ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 300 that controls 200 and housing 500 that houses inverter unit 550 are included. In addition, HV_ECU 300 and interlock detection terminal 540 are electrically connected.

  Front motor generator 700 is connected to the front wheel drive shaft of the vehicle, and drives the front wheels with electric power supplied from secondary battery 100 via inverter unit 550 or is driven by the front wheels to perform regenerative power generation. Rear motor generator 800 is connected to the rear wheel drive shaft of the vehicle, and drives the rear wheels with electric power supplied from secondary battery 100 via inverter unit 550 or is driven by the rear wheels to perform regenerative power generation. The regenerated power is used to charge the secondary battery 100.

  The starter generator 900 has both a starter motor function and an alternator function. The engine is started during the intermittent operation of the engine, and power generation assistance by the front motor generator 700 is performed.

  System main relay 200 cuts off power supply from secondary battery 100 to inverter unit 550 based on a control signal from HV_ECU 300.

  PCU may be used instead of inverter unit 550 according to the present embodiment, and high voltage equipment such as an inverter and a converter is accommodated in PCU.

  Secondary battery 100, inverter unit 550, front motor generator 700, rear motor generator 800 and starter generator 900 are connected by a three-phase power cable. The inverter unit 550 and the front motor generator 700 are connected by a three-phase power cable 610 via a connector 510 of the inverter unit 550, and the inverter unit 550 and the rear motor generator 800 are connected via a connector 520 of the inverter unit 550. The inverter unit 550 and the starter generator 900 are connected by the three-phase power cable 630 via the connector 530 of the inverter unit 550.

  Thus, the three-phase power cables 610, 620, 630 connected to the inverter unit 550 are connected to the inverter unit 550 by the connectors 510, 520, 530.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the housing 500 is provided with an insulating member 580, an interlock detection terminal 540, and an upper lid 560.

  Upper lid 560 is formed of a conductive member and has a shape corresponding to housing 500. When the upper lid 560 is attached to the housing 500, the inverter unit 550 housed in the housing 500 cannot be exposed. An insulating member 580 is provided between the housing 500 and the upper lid 560. The casing 500 is formed of a conductive member and is grounded.

  The insulating member 580 is an insulator and is formed of an elastic member. The insulating member 580 is not particularly limited, but is formed of a material such as rubber, for example. The insulating member 580 contracts when the upper lid 560 and the casing 500 are fixed with a predetermined force or more. The insulating member 580 has a concave groove. An interlock detection terminal 540 is provided in the concave groove. The shape of the interlock detection terminal 540 is not particularly limited, but in the present embodiment, for example, it is a round terminal. The thickness of the interlock detection terminal 540 is thinner than the depth of the concave groove. Therefore, when the housing 500 and the upper lid 560 are not fixed, the upper lid 560 and the interlock detection terminal 540 do not come into contact with each other because they have a gap.

  Upper lid 560 and housing 500 are fixed by fastening a plurality of bolts. A bolt 570 that is fastened to a place where at least the interlock detection terminal 540 is provided among the plurality of bolts has conductivity.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, when the upper lid 560 is not fixed to the housing 500 by the bolt 570, a gap is formed between the upper lid 560 and the interlock detection terminal 540. This is because the interlock detection terminal 540 is thinner than the depth of the groove provided in the insulating member 580. As a result, the upper lid 560 and the interlock detection terminal 540 do not contact each other.

  When the bolt 570 is fastened to the housing 500 and a force exceeding a predetermined value is generated, the upper lid 560 is fixed to the housing 500. At this time, the insulating member 580 is elastically deformed by being sandwiched between the upper lid 560 and the housing 500. That is, the insulating member 580 contracts. As shown in FIG. 3B, when the upper lid 560 and the housing 500 are fixed by the bolts 570, the interlock detection terminal 540 comes into contact with the upper lid 560. When the interlock detection terminal 540 comes into contact with the upper lid 560, an electrically connected state is established in a path from the interlock detection terminal 540 to the housing 500 via the upper lid 560 and the bolt 570.

  That is, the predetermined force is a force by which the insulating member 580 contracts to such an extent that the interlock detection terminal 540 and the upper lid 560 come into contact with each other.

  The HV_ECU 300 detects whether the interlock detection terminal 540 and the housing 500 are electrically connected or not connected, and controls the operation of the inverter unit 550 according to each state. Specifically, when HV_ECU 300 determines that interlock detection terminal 540 and housing 500 are in an electrically connected state, HV_ECU 300 controls to permit operation of inverter unit 550. On the other hand, when HV_ECU 300 determines that interlock detection terminal 540 and housing 500 are in the electrically disconnected state, HV_ECU 300 performs control so that operation of inverter unit 550 is not permitted.

  A control structure of a program executed by HV_ECU 300 shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

  In step (hereinafter, step is abbreviated as S) 1000, HV_ECU 300 determines whether or not interlock detection terminal 540 and housing 500 are connected. Whether or not it is in a connected state is not particularly limited, but in the present embodiment, for example, it is performed by detecting a change in current at interlock detection terminal 540. That is, the HV_ECU 300 applies a predetermined voltage to the interlock detection terminal 540. At this time, since the casing 500 is grounded, a current flows in response to the interlock detection terminal 540 and the casing 500 being connected. Therefore, HV_ECU 300 determines whether or not it is in a connected state based on, for example, a change in current at interlock detection terminal 540.

  If it is determined that the connection is established (YES in S1000), the process proceeds to S2000. If not (NO in S1000), the process proceeds to S3000.

  In S2000, HV_ECU 300 permits system main relay 200 to operate to supply high voltage power. Thereafter, the process returns to S1000.

  In S3000, HV_ECU 300 does not permit the operation of supplying high-voltage power to system main relay 200. Thereafter, the process returns to S1000.

  An operation of interlock device and HV_ECU 300 according to the present embodiment based on the above-described structure and flowchart will be described.

  When the bolt 570 that fastens the inverter unit 550 and the upper lid 560 is not removed, the insulating member 580 is elastically deformed and contracts, and the interlock detection terminal 540 and the upper lid 560 come into contact with each other. Therefore, the interlock detection terminal 540 and the housing 500 are electrically connected. When HV_ECU 300 determines that interlock detection terminal 540 and housing 500 are in the connected state (YES in S1000), HV_ECU 300 permits the operation of supplying high-voltage power to system main relay 200 (S2000).

  On the other hand, when the operator removes the bolt 570 that fastens the inverter unit 550 and the upper lid 560 mounted on the vehicle, the insulating member 580 returns to its original shape due to its elasticity. At this time, the interlock detection terminal 540 and the upper lid 560 are separated. Therefore, the interlock detection terminal 540 and the housing 500 are electrically disconnected from each other. If HV_ECU 300 determines that interlock detection terminal 540 and housing 500 are not connected (NO in S1000), HV_ECU 300 does not permit the operation of supplying high-voltage power to system main relay 200 (S3000). At this time, even if the HV_ECU 300 detects an operation request for the inverter unit 550, the HV_ECU 300 does not transmit a control signal instructing power supply to the system main relay 200.

  As described above, according to the interlock device according to the present embodiment, when the operator performs maintenance and inspection of the inverter unit, when the operator loosens the bolt, the insulating member returns to its original shape due to elasticity. Thus, the terminal and the casing are electrically disconnected. And if it controls so that operation of an inverter unit is not permitted according to a terminal and a case becoming a disconnection state, it will be in the state where operation of an inverter unit is not permitted in the work which loosens a bolt. it can. Therefore, it is possible to provide an interlock device that can ensure safety at an earlier stage in maintenance and inspection work of high-voltage equipment.

  Further, in the process of fastening the bolt, when the operator fastens the bolt, the insulating member contracts and the terminal and the housing are electrically connected. Then, if the control is performed so that the operation of the inverter unit is permitted in accordance with the connection between the terminal and the housing, the operation of the inverter unit can be permitted in the operation of fastening the bolt. . Therefore, at the end of the maintenance and inspection work of the high-voltage equipment, the operation of the inverter unit can be disabled after the upper lid is attached until the bolt fastening work is performed. Therefore, safety can be ensured in maintenance and inspection work of high-voltage equipment.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

It is a figure which shows the power train of the vehicle by which the inverter unit which concerns on embodiment of this invention is mounted. It is a figure which shows the general view of the interlock apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the 3-3 cross section of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the control structure of the program performed by HV_ECU. It is a figure which shows the external appearance of the conventional interlock apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

  100 secondary battery, 200 system main relay, 300 HV_ECU, 500 housing, 510, 520, 530 connector, 540 interlock detection terminal, 550 inverter unit, 560 top cover, 570 volts, 580 insulating member, 610, 620, 630 3 Phase power cable, 700 Front motor generator, 800 Rear motor generator, 900 Starter generator.

Claims (3)

An interlock device provided in a conductive housing for storing high-voltage equipment,
A conductive top cover provided in such a manner that the high voltage device cannot be exposed, and having a shape corresponding to the housing;
A terminal provided between the upper lid and the housing;
A conductive fixing member for fixing the upper lid to the housing;
When the upper lid is fixed to the casing by the fixing member, the terminal and the casing are electrically connected. When the upper lid is not fixed to the casing by the fixing member, the terminal and the An interlock device comprising: connection means for connecting the terminal and the housing such that the housing is electrically disconnected. The interlock device further includes control means for controlling the operation of the high voltage device,
The interlock device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit includes a unit for controlling the operation of the high-voltage device so as not to be permitted when the terminal and the housing are disconnected. The connecting means includes an insulator provided between the upper lid and the housing, and having a recessed groove.
The insulator shrinks with a force greater than a predetermined value,
The terminal is provided in the groove, and has a shape whose thickness is thinner than at least the depth of the groove,
The interlock device according to claim 1, wherein the upper lid is fixed by the fixing member so that a force greater than the predetermined force is generated in the insulator.

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