JP2006327251A - Power circuit opening and closing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a power circuit opening and closing device capable of realizing favorable working efficiency while securing working safety. <P>SOLUTION: A circuit terminal T1 connected to a high voltage system and a circuit terminal T2 connected to a low voltage system are arranged in close proximity to each other on a side surface of an equipment box 20. The circuit terminal T1 is equivalent to a first relay circuit arranged at an intermediate position of a main battery, and the circuit terminal T2 is equivalent to a second relay circuit arranged between a negative electrode terminal of an auxiliary battery and a body earth. The circuit terminal T2 and the negative electrode terminal of the auxiliary battery SB are connected to each other by wiring. A connecting terminal 64 is separated from the circuit terminals T1, T2 by extracting it from the equipment box 20 with a service plug grip 66 erected. At this time, a connecting state of the connecting terminal 64 and the circuit terminals T1, T2 is released to make the circuit terminals T1, T2 non-conductive to each other. The two relay circuits made non-conductive shuts off the main battery and the auxiliary battery. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a power supply circuit switching device for supplying or cutting power to a load by connecting or disconnecting a power supply circuit, and more particularly to a power supply circuit switching device for opening and closing a power supply circuit having a plurality of power supplies.

  Usually, in vehicles such as EV (Electric Vehicle) and HV (Hybrid Vehicle), the driving force by electric energy is converted to three-phase AC power by converting DC power supplied from a high-voltage main battery by an inverter. It is obtained by rotating a phase AC motor. When the vehicle is decelerating, regenerative energy obtained by regenerative power generation of the three-phase AC motor is stored in the main battery, so that the vehicle travels without waste.

  Further, in the vehicle, an auxiliary battery that supplies electric power to auxiliary electric components such as a lighting device, an ignition device, and an electric pump is mounted in addition to the high-voltage main battery. The auxiliary battery is charged by the electric power generated by the alternator or the electric power from the main battery. In particular, when the auxiliary battery is charged with power from the main battery, the voltage is stepped down by the DC / DC converter.

  In a vehicle equipped with a power supply circuit consisting of a high-voltage main battery, a power supply circuit switchgear (service plug) that opens the high-voltage circuit and shuts off the circuit current is used to prevent electric shocks during inspection and maintenance. (See, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  Patent Document 1 discloses a service plug including a circuit container and a detachable plug that is detachable from the circuit container. According to this, the circuit housing body has female terminals, each of which is a plurality of circuit terminals that are electrically connected to the high-voltage electric wire, and the detachable plug includes a lever that is rotatably connected to the plug body, and a plug And a male terminal that is a short-circuit terminal protruding from the main body.

For attaching the detachable plug, the male terminal is fitted into the female terminal by short-circuiting the female terminal by holding the lever and inserting the male terminal into the terminal insertion hole. As a result, the high voltage circuit is closed. In order to remove the detachable plug, the male terminal is separated from the female terminal by pulling out the lever. As a result, the high voltage circuit is opened and the circuit current is cut off.
JP 2004-114775 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-144429

  However, in a vehicle equipped with an auxiliary battery separately from the high-voltage main battery, the high-voltage circuit is shut off by pulling out the service plug as described above during inspection and maintenance, whereas the auxiliary battery is In general, the low-voltage circuit using the power source is cut off by manually removing the service plug with a tool after the service plug is pulled out. Therefore, the work becomes complicated, resulting in a decrease in work efficiency.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a power supply circuit switching device capable of realizing good work efficiency while ensuring work safety.

  The power supply circuit switching device according to the present invention electrically connects or disconnects the power supply circuit and the load. The power supply circuit has a plurality of power supply systems each of which receives power supplied from a plurality of power supplies and drives a load. The power supply circuit switchgear ensures electrical connection between the plurality of power supply systems in response to being operated in the first state, and the plurality of power supply systems in response to being operated in the second state. The circuit interruption member which interrupts | blocks at once is provided.

  According to the present invention, since a plurality of power supply systems of the power supply circuit are shut off at a time according to the operation state of the power supply circuit switching device, it is possible to ensure work safety and high work efficiency during inspection and maintenance. be able to.

  Preferably, the circuit breaker member is provided between each of the plurality of power supplies and the load, and is shared by the plurality of relay circuits and the plurality of relay circuits that electrically connect or block each of the plurality of power supply systems and the load. And a connection terminal for bringing a plurality of relay circuits into a conductive state or a non-conductive state at a time.

  According to this, since a plurality of relay circuits respectively arranged in a plurality of power supply systems can be made non-conductive at a time by operating connection terminals shared by these relay circuits, the work is simplified. Is possible.

  Preferably, the connection terminal is engaged with the relay contacts of each of the plurality of relay circuits at the time of operation to the first state, thereby bringing the plurality of relay circuits into a conductive state at a time and switching to the second state. At the time of operation, the plurality of relay circuits are brought into a non-conductive state at a time by being removed from the relay contacts.

  Furthermore, a plurality of relay circuits can be made conductive or non-conductive at a time by a simple operation of fitting or removing the connection terminal from the relay contact.

  Preferably, the circuit breaker member further includes an operation member coupled to the connection terminal and for manually operating fitting or withdrawal of the connection terminal and the relay contact.

According to this, the operation of the connection terminal can be easily performed manually.
Preferably, the plurality of power supply systems includes a first power supply system including a first power supply that supplies power for driving the vehicle, and a second power supply that supplies power for driving the low-voltage device mounted on the vehicle. And a second power supply system. The circuit breaker member is provided with a second relay circuit for shutting off the second power system close to the first relay circuit disposed in the first power system, and the first and second relays. The relay contacts of the circuit are arranged in parallel with each other with respect to the connection terminals.

  According to this, it is possible to cope with the conventional service plug provided in the high voltage circuit with only a slight design change of adding a relay contact for the auxiliary battery, so that the work efficiency can be improved easily and inexpensively. Can be achieved.

  According to the present invention, since a plurality of power supply systems of the power supply circuit are shut off at a time in accordance with the operation of the power supply circuit switching device, it is possible to ensure work safety and high work efficiency during inspection and maintenance. .

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a power supply device provided with a power supply circuit switching device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  Referring to FIG. 1, the power supply device includes main battery MB, system relays SR1 to SR3, boost converter 40, inverter 42, DC / DC converter 46, auxiliary battery SB, and control device 50. Prepare.

  AC motor M1 is a drive motor for generating torque for driving drive wheels of a hybrid vehicle or an electric vehicle. In the hybrid vehicle, AC motor M1 is not a motor for driving the drive wheels, but has a function of a generator driven by the engine, and operates as an electric motor for the engine. It may be a motor that can perform the following.

  The main battery MB has a structure in which, for example, many nickel metal hydride batteries are connected in series. In addition, the main battery MB may be a lead storage battery, a lithium ion battery, a capacitor, or a fuel cell.

  When system relays SR1 to SR3 are turned on (conducted) by signal SE from control device 50, DC voltages from main battery MB are supplied to boost converter 40 and DC / DC converter 46.

  Boost converter 40 boosts the DC voltage supplied from main battery MB based on signal PWMC from control device 50 and supplies the boosted voltage to inverter 42.

  When the DC voltage is supplied from boost converter 40, inverter 42 converts AC voltage into AC voltage based on signal PWMI from control device 50, and drives AC motor M1. As a result, AC motor M1 is driven to generate the commanded torque. Current sensor 44 detects motor current MCRT flowing in each phase of AC motor M <b> 1 and outputs the detected motor current MCRT to control device 50.

  DC / DC converter 46 steps down the DC voltage supplied from main battery MB via system relays SR1 and SR2 in accordance with a control signal from control device 50, and reduces the reduced DC voltage to auxiliary battery SB and Supply to auxiliary electrical load. Auxiliary battery SB is, for example, a lead storage battery. In addition, an auxiliary electric load that is driven by power supplied from the auxiliary battery SB includes a load 54 such as a lighting device, an air conditioner, a power window, and an audio, and an electronic control device (ECU) that controls traveling of the vehicle. ; Electrical Control Unit).

  The power supply device further includes a relay circuit 60 and a fuse element FS connected in series to the main battery MB, and a relay circuit connected between the negative electrode of the auxiliary battery SB and the ground potential as a power supply circuit switching device according to the present invention. 62 and a service plug SP for turning on / off the relay circuits 60 and 62.

  Relay circuit 60 and fuse element FS are arranged at an intermediate position of main battery MB composed of a large number of series-connected batteries. Relay circuit 60 and fuse element FS become non-conductive when service plug SP is removed at the time of inspection and maintenance or when an accident occurs, and shuts off the high voltage system at an intermediate position of main battery MB. Thereby, the worker who performs maintenance does not accidentally touch the high voltage, and work safety is ensured.

  Relay circuit 62 is arranged between the negative electrode of auxiliary battery SB and the ground (body earth) by the vehicle body. Similar to the relay circuit 60, the relay circuit 62 becomes non-conductive when the service plug SP is removed at the time of inspection and maintenance or when an accident occurs, and cuts off the low-voltage system.

  Here, conventionally, in the maintenance work of the entire power supply device, first, the service plug provided in the high voltage system is removed, the high voltage system is shut off, and work safety is ensured. In general, the battery SB is removed, and maintenance and inspection work for each electrical component is performed. The removal of the auxiliary battery SB is performed manually by the operator using a tool, which is troublesome and reduces work efficiency.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, the relay circuit 62 for connecting / disconnecting the auxiliary battery SB is also provided in the low voltage system, and the relay circuit 60 and the relay circuit 62 are once operated by one operation of the service plug SP. It is set as the structure which becomes non-conductive. According to this, each voltage system can be cut off efficiently while ensuring work safety.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the vehicle 100 on which the power supply device of FIG. 1 is mounted.
Referring to FIG. 2, battery pack 10 has, for example, a rectangular box shape, and is disposed on the floor surface of a luggage space (both not shown) located at the rear portion of rear seat of vehicle 100. . The battery pack 10 has a structure in which a main battery MB formed by stacking a plurality of batteries is accommodated in a housing that is an exterior member of the battery pack 10. Note that a gap as a cooling air flow path is formed between the stacked batteries and between the battery and the casing so that the cooling air can be circulated.

  The device box 20 is disposed adjacent to the side surface of the battery pack 10. The equipment box 20 has a structure in which a plurality of circuit parts shown in FIG. 1 are integrally stored in a housing 22 that is an exterior member. More specifically, the equipment box 20 includes system relays SR1 to SR3 connected to the main battery MB, a boost converter 40, a DC / DC converter 46, and a battery ECU (Electrical Control Unit) that controls charging / discharging of the main battery MB. ) And a sensor for detecting a battery temperature, a voltage between terminals, and a charge / discharge current value of the main battery MB.

  The auxiliary battery SB is disposed in the vicinity of the battery pack 10. The auxiliary battery SB is connected to the DC / DC converter 46 accommodated in the equipment box 20 and is connected to an auxiliary electric load (not shown).

  Thus, by integrating the circuit parts connected to the main battery MB and arranging them in the vicinity of the battery pack 10, the wiring length between the main battery MB and the circuit parts can be shortened, and the wiring resistance is reduced.

  The main battery MB and the boost converter 40, the inverter 42, and the AC motor M1 (not shown) in the device box 20 are coupled by a power cable 34 that is a high-voltage and large-current electric wire. The power cable 34 is made of, for example, an insulation coating shield wire, and is floated from the body ground in order to ensure safety against an electric shock accident.

  A circuit terminal T1 connected to the high voltage system and a circuit terminal T2 connected to the low voltage system are further arranged on the side surface of the housing 22 of the device box 20 in close proximity.

  The circuit terminal T1 corresponds to the relay circuit 60 arranged at an intermediate position of the main battery MB. The circuit terminal T1 ensures the conduction state of the relay circuit 60 in a state where the service plug SP (not shown) is attached. On the other hand, the circuit terminal T1 makes the relay circuit 60 non-conductive in a state where the service plug SP is removed.

  The circuit terminal T2 corresponds to the relay circuit 62 arranged between the negative terminal of the auxiliary battery SB and the body ground. Connection between the circuit terminal T2 and the negative terminal of the auxiliary battery SB is made by wiring 32 as shown in FIG. Similarly to the circuit terminal T1, the circuit terminal T2 ensures the conduction state of the relay circuit 62 with the service plug SP attached. On the other hand, the circuit terminal T2 makes the relay circuit 62 non-conductive in a state where the service plug SP is removed.

  In addition, an interlock reed switch IRL is disposed on the side surface of the housing 22 in the vicinity of the circuit terminals T1 and T2. As will be described later, the interlock reed switch IRL detects whether or not the service plug SP is attached and outputs the detection result to the control device 50. When the control device 50 detects that the interlock reed switch IRL is turned off and determines that the service plug SP is removed, the control device 50 generates and outputs a signal SE for turning off the system relays SR1 to SR3. Thereby, system relays SR1 to SR3 are turned off, and main battery MB is disconnected from the high voltage system.

The detailed structure of the service plug according to the present invention will be described below.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view for explaining a mounting form of the service plug.

  Referring to FIG. 3, service plug SP includes a connection terminal 64, a service plug grip 66, and a service plug cover 68.

  The service plug grip 66 is coupled to the connection terminal 64 so as to be rotatable about 90 degrees. Specifically, the service plug grip 66 is folded on the connecting portion with the connection terminal 64 as a fulcrum and held on the upper surface of the service plug cover 68 in a state where the service plug SP is mounted.

  Further, when the service plug SP is removed, the service plug grip 66 is raised as shown in FIG. That is, the service plug SP cannot be removed unless the service plug grip 66 is raised. Then, after removing the service plug SP, the fuse plug FS is exposed by removing the service plug cover 68.

  In the state where the service plug grip 66 is erected as shown in FIG. 3, the interaction between the magnet embedded in the service plug grip 66 and the interlock reed switch IRL attached to the housing 22 of the equipment box 20 The interlock reed switch IRL is turned off. The control device 50 (not shown) detects that the interlock reed switch IRL is turned off, and determines that the service plug grip 66 has been raised. When control device 50 determines that service plug grip 66 has been raised, control device 50 generates and outputs signal SE for turning off system relays SR1 to SR3. Thereby, the power supply from the main battery MB to the load is cut off.

  On the other hand, in a state where the service plug SP is mounted, the connection terminal 64 is fitted to the circuit terminals T1 and T2 on the device box 20 side. At this time, the conductive member provided in the connection terminal 64 is electrically connected to the circuit terminals T1 and T2 to conduct the circuit terminals T1 and T2, respectively. At this time, the service plug grip 66 is folded to fix the connection state between the conducting member and the circuit terminals T1 and T2, and the conduction between the circuit terminals T1 and T2 is maintained. Thereby, conduction of relay circuits 60 and 62 is ensured, and power is supplied to the load from each of main battery MB and auxiliary battery SB.

  Further, the connection terminal 64 is separated from the circuit terminals T1 and T2 by raising the service plug grip 66 and pulling it out from the equipment box 20. At this time, the connection state between the conductive member provided in the connection terminal 64 and the circuit terminals T1, T2 is released, and the circuit terminals T1, T2 become non-conductive. Thereby, relay circuits 60 and 62 are rendered non-conductive, and main battery MB and auxiliary battery SB are cut off.

  4 and 5 are cross-sectional views showing the detailed structure of the service plug SP. Specifically, FIGS. 4A and 4B are a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 3 and an equivalent circuit diagram thereof. FIGS. 5A and 5B are a schematic cross-sectional view as seen from the direction B of FIG. 4A and an equivalent circuit diagram thereof.

  With reference to FIG. 4A, the service plug SP includes a conductive member 640 disposed along the inner wall of the connection terminal 64.

  The circuit terminal T1 is disposed on the side surface of the device box 20 and has current-carrying portions 70 and 72 provided on two opposing side surfaces so as to be electrically separated from each other. This constitutes a relay contact in the relay circuit 60 of FIG.

  When the service plug SP is mounted and the connection terminal 64 and the circuit terminal T1 are fitted, the conductive member 640 and the energization units 70 and 72 are electrically connected. This corresponds to the relay contact of FIG. 4B being closed, and the circuit terminal T1 is made conductive.

  In the state where the service plug SP is mounted, the connection terminal 64 is also fitted with the circuit terminal T2. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5 (a), the circuit terminal T2 is arranged in parallel with the circuit terminal T1 and is provided on each of two opposing side surfaces so as to be electrically separated from each other. 74,76. This constitutes a relay contact in the relay circuit 62 of FIG.

  In this configuration, the circuit terminals T1 and T2 are simultaneously fitted with the connection terminal 64 when the service plug SP is mounted. At this time, also in the circuit terminal T2, the conductive member 640 and the energization parts 74 and 76 are electrically connected similarly to the circuit terminal T1. That is, in the relay circuits 60 and 62 of FIG. 5B, the relay contacts are simultaneously closed, and the circuit terminals T1 and T2 are both in a conductive state.

  According to this, it is clear that the connection terminal 64 and the circuit terminals T1, T2 are brought into a non-fitted state at a time and the circuit terminals T1, T2 are made non-conductive by detaching the service plug SP. Therefore, the high voltage system and the low voltage system can be shut off at a time by removing the service plug SP once.

  Further, the service plug SP according to the present invention has a configuration in which the installation location is not changed and the circuit terminal and the conductive member are added to the conventional service plug arranged only for the main battery MB. Therefore, the work efficiency can be improved easily and inexpensively without any significant design change.

  As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, by attaching the service plug SP, the high-voltage system and the low-voltage system are turned on at once, and the service plug SP is removed, so that the high-voltage system And the low voltage system is shut off at once. Therefore, the work at the time of inspection and maintenance can be simplified and the work efficiency can be improved with respect to the conventional power supply apparatus which has been individually shut off. Further, since the worker only needs to perform the operation of attaching / detaching the service plug SP, it is clear that work safety is ensured.

  In the present embodiment, the configuration in which two power supply systems are shut off at a time has been described. However, a power supply device having two or more power supply systems is also provided with additional circuit members and conductive members arranged on connection terminals, respectively. By adopting such a configuration, the same effect can be obtained.

  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.

  The present invention can be used for a power supply circuit switching device for cutting off each power supply system of a power supply device including a plurality of power supplies.

It is a schematic block diagram of the power supply device provided with the power supply circuit switching device according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective schematic diagram of the vehicle carrying the power supply device of FIG. It is a perspective view for demonstrating the attachment form of a service plug. It is sectional drawing which shows the detailed structure of a service plug. It is sectional drawing which shows the detailed structure of a service plug.

Explanation of symbols

  10 battery pack, 20 device box, 22 housing, 32 wiring, 34 power cable, 40 boost converter, 42 inverter, 44 current sensor, 46 DC / DC converter, 50 control device, 54 load, 60, 62 relay circuit, 64 Connection terminal, 66 Service plug grip, 68 Service plug cover, 70, 72, 74, 76 Current-carrying part, 100 Vehicle, 640 Conductive member, FS fuse element, IRL interlock reed switch, M1 AC motor, MB main battery, SB Auxiliary battery, SR1-SR3 system relay, SP service plug, T1, T2 circuit terminals.

Claims (5)

A power circuit switching device for electrically connecting or disconnecting a power circuit and a load,
Each of the power supply circuits has a plurality of power supply systems that each receive supply of power from a plurality of power supplies to drive the load,
The power supply circuit switchgear is
In response to being operated in the first state, electrical connection of each of the plurality of power supply systems is ensured, and in response to being operated in the second state, the plurality of power supply systems are connected at a time. A power supply circuit switching device comprising a circuit blocking member for blocking. The circuit breaker member is
A plurality of relay circuits provided between each of the plurality of power supplies and the load, and electrically connecting or disconnecting each of the plurality of power supply systems and the load;
The power supply circuit switching device according to claim 1, further comprising a connection terminal shared by the plurality of relay circuits and configured to turn on or turn off the plurality of relay circuits at a time.   The connection terminal is engaged with the relay contacts of each of the plurality of relay circuits during operation to the first state, thereby bringing the plurality of relay circuits into a conductive state at a time, and the second state. The power supply circuit switching device according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of relay circuits are brought into a non-conducting state at a time by being removed from the relay contact during the operation. The circuit breaker member is
The power supply circuit switching device according to claim 3, further comprising an operation member coupled to the connection terminal for manually operating fitting or removal of the connection terminal and the relay contact. The plurality of power supply systems include a first power supply system including a first power supply that supplies power for driving the vehicle, and a second power supply that supplies power for driving the low-voltage device mounted on the vehicle. A second power supply system,
The circuit shut-off member is provided with a second relay circuit for shutting off the second power supply system in close proximity to the first relay circuit disposed in the first power supply system, and the first and The power circuit switching device according to claim 4, wherein relay contacts of the second relay circuit are arranged in parallel with each other with respect to the connection terminal.

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