JP2008005601A - Terminal block structure and electrical apparatus, manufacturing method therefor, and vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a terminal block structure and an electrical apparatus, a manufacturing method therefor, and a vehicle wherein the ingress of foreign matter into a housing and the outflow of oil from the housing are prevented and the reliability of a sealability test on the housing is enhanced. <P>SOLUTION: The terminal block structure includes: the housing for housing a bus bar 143, having an opening 2000; and a terminal block 210 attached to the opening 2000 and electrically connecting together the bus bar 143 in the housing and a cable. The bus bar 143 is electrically connected with a stator coil of a motor generator. The opening 2000 is closed by the terminal block 210. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  More particularly, the present invention relates to a terminal block structure including a terminal block attached to an opening of a housing, an electric device including the structure, a manufacturing method thereof, and a vehicle.

  In Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-295810 (Patent Document 1), a turbopump motor in which a terminal is disposed at the tip of a terminal block having a communication path communicating between the inside and the outside of a stator sealed container so as to close the communication path. The structure of the terminal portion is disclosed.

  Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-156150 (Patent Document 2) discloses a seal member that seals a gap between an exterior box of a high-voltage electrical equipment cooling device and a cable penetrating an opening of the box.

Further, in Japanese Patent No. 3606064 (Patent Document 3), two seal portions are provided in a fitting portion of the cooling water jacket supply / discharge pipe to the motor case, and the inside of the case is provided at an intermediate portion between the two seal portions. A transmission structure provided with a pressure relief portion that communicates with the outside is disclosed.
JP 2000-295810 A JP 2003-156150 A Japanese Patent No. 3606064

  In the structure described in Patent Document 1, since the sealing performance is ensured by the connection between the terminal block and the terminal, the sealing performance of the stator hermetic container cannot be ensured when the terminals are not coupled. Therefore, in a state before the terminals are joined, foreign matter tends to enter the stator sealed container. In another aspect, when oil is supplied into the stator hermetic container before the terminals are coupled, there is a concern that the oil flows out of the container. In yet another aspect, when the sealability test of the stator hermetic container is performed in a state before the terminals are coupled, it is necessary to attach the temporary closing member and perform the test. There is a concern that reliability may be reduced.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to prevent foreign matter from entering the housing, prevent oil from flowing out of the housing, and reliability of the housing sealability test. It is an object of the present invention to provide a terminal block structure, an electric device, a manufacturing method thereof, and a vehicle that are improved in performance.

  A terminal block structure according to the present invention includes a housing having an opening and accommodating an electrical component, and a terminal block attached to the opening and electrically connecting the electrical component in the housing and external wiring. The opening is closed by the terminal block.

  According to the above configuration, since the opening can be closed by attaching the terminal block to the housing, it is possible to ensure the hermeticity of the housing before the terminal block and the terminal are coupled. As a result, it is possible to prevent foreign matter from entering the housing, prevent oil from flowing out of the housing, and improve the reliability of the housing sealing test.

  In the terminal block structure, preferably, the terminal block includes a flange portion located on the outer surface of the housing, and a seal portion is provided between the flange portion and the outer surface of the housing. As a result, the housing can be reliably sealed with a simple structure.

  In the terminal block structure, in one aspect, the electrical component is electrically connected to the stator coil of the rotating electrical machine, and oil is supplied into the housing. In this aspect, the entrance of foreign matter into the housing of the rotating electrical machine and the outflow of the lubricating / cooling oil of the rotating electrical machine from the housing are prevented, and the reliability of the sealing performance test of the housing of the rotating electrical machine is improved. Can be made.

  The electrical device according to the present invention includes the terminal block structure described above. As a result, it is possible to obtain an electric device in which foreign matter is prevented from entering and oil is prevented from flowing out and the housing is securely sealed.

  A method for manufacturing an electrical device according to the present invention is a method for manufacturing an electrical device in which an electrical component is stored in a housing including first and second case members, and the electrical component is stored in the first case member. The step of closing the opening by assembling the terminal block to the first case member having the opening on the side surface, and electrically connecting the electrical component in the first case member and the terminal block. And a step of assembling the second case member to the first case member in which the electrical component is housed to form a sealed housing.

  According to the above method, since the opening is closed by assembling the terminal block to the first case member of the housing, it is possible to ensure the hermeticity of the housing before the terminal block and the terminal are coupled. it can. As a result, entry of foreign matter into the housing can be prevented.

  Preferably, the method for manufacturing the electrical device further includes a step of confirming the sealing performance of the sealed housing.

  In the method for manufacturing an electrical device according to the present invention, the sealing property of the housing is ensured before the terminal block and the terminal are joined. Therefore, a highly reliable housing seal test can be performed.

  Preferably, the method for manufacturing an electric device further includes a step of supplying oil into the housing and performing an operation test on the electric device.

  In the method for manufacturing an electrical device according to the present invention, the sealing performance of the housing is ensured by the terminal block before the sealing performance is confirmed. Therefore, oil can be prevented from flowing out from the inside of the housing after the operation test.

  A vehicle according to the present invention includes the above-described electrical device and the electrical device manufactured by the above-described electrical device manufacturing method. As a result, it is possible to prevent foreign matter from entering and oil from flowing out, and to obtain a vehicle including an electric device in which the housing is securely sealed.

  In the present specification, “vehicle” includes any of a hybrid vehicle, a fuel cell vehicle, and an electric vehicle.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a terminal block structure in which foreign matter is prevented from entering the housing, oil is prevented from flowing out of the housing, and the reliability of the housing sealability test is improved.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. Note that the same or corresponding portions are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof may not be repeated.

  Note that in the embodiments described below, when referring to the number, amount, and the like, the scope of the present invention is not necessarily limited to the number, amount, and the like unless otherwise specified. In the following embodiments, each component is not necessarily essential for the present invention unless otherwise specified. In addition, when there are a plurality of embodiments below, it is planned from the beginning to appropriately combine the features of each embodiment unless otherwise specified.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing an example of the structure of a drive unit including a terminal block structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the drive unit 1 is a drive unit mounted on a hybrid vehicle, and includes a motor generator 100, a housing 200, a speed reduction mechanism 300, a differential mechanism 400, and a drive shaft receiving portion 500. Consists of.

  The housing 200 includes a case 200A and a cover 200B. A closed housing 200 is configured by combining the case 200A and the cover 200B. Motor generator 100, reduction mechanism 300 and differential mechanism 400 are housed in housing 200.

  The motor generator 100 is a rotating electric machine having a function as an electric motor or a generator. The motor generator 100 is a rotary shaft 110 that is rotatably attached to the housing 200 via a bearing 120, a rotor 130 that is attached to the rotary shaft 110, and a stator. 140.

  Rotor 130 has a rotor core and a magnet embedded in the rotor core. The rotor core is configured by stacking plate-like magnetic bodies such as iron or iron alloy. For example, the permanent magnets are arranged at substantially equal intervals in the vicinity of the outer periphery of the rotor core.

  The stator 140 includes a ring-shaped stator core 141, a stator coil 142 wound around the stator core 141, and a bus bar 143 connected to the stator coil 142. Bus bar 143 is connected to one end of cable 800 </ b> A via terminal block 210 provided in housing 200. The other end of the cable 800A is connected to the PCU 600. One end of a cable 800B is connected to the PCU 600. The other end of the cable 800B is connected to the battery 700. Thereby, battery 700 and stator coil 142 are electrically connected.

  The stator core 141 is configured by laminating plate-like magnetic bodies such as iron or iron alloy. A plurality of teeth portions (not shown) and slot portions (not shown) as recesses formed between the teeth portions are formed on the inner peripheral surface of the stator core 141. The slot portion is provided so as to open to the inner peripheral side of the stator core 141.

  Stator coil 142 including three winding phases, U-phase, V-phase, and W-phase, is wound around the tooth portion so as to fit into the slot portion. The U phase, V phase, and W phase of the stator coil 142 are wound so as to deviate from each other on the circumference. Bus bar 143 includes a U phase, a V phase, and a W phase corresponding to the U phase, V phase, and W phase of stator coil 142, respectively.

  The cable 800A is a three-phase cable including a U-phase cable, a V-phase cable, and a W-phase cable. U-phase, V-phase and W-phase of bus bar 143 are connected to U-phase cable, V-phase cable and W-phase cable in cable 800A, respectively.

  The power output from the motor generator 100 is transmitted from the speed reduction mechanism 300 to the drive shaft receiving portion 500 via the differential mechanism 400. The driving force transmitted to the drive shaft receiving portion 500 is transmitted as a rotational force to a wheel (not shown) via a drive shaft (not shown), thereby causing the vehicle to travel.

  On the other hand, during regenerative braking of the hybrid vehicle, the wheels are rotated by the inertial force of the vehicle body. Motor generator 100 is driven via drive shaft receiving portion 500, differential mechanism 400 and reduction mechanism 300 by the rotational force from the wheels. At this time, the motor generator 100 operates as a generator. The electric power generated by motor generator 100 is stored in battery 700 via an inverter in PCU 600.

  2 and 3 are sectional views showing a terminal block structure according to a comparative example. Here, FIG. 2 shows a state in which the connector 810 at the tip of the cable 800A is connected to the terminal block 210, and FIG. 3 shows a state before the connector 810 is connected to the terminal block 210.

  2 and 3, the terminal block 210 includes an insulating portion 211 serving as a pedestal and a conductive portion 212 serving as a terminal. In this comparative example, the terminal block 210 is attached to the case 200A from the inside of the case 200A (from the direction of the arrow DR2). The terminal block 210 is attached to the case 200A so that the conductive portion 212 is located in the opening 2000 provided in the case 200A. The conductive portion 212 of the terminal block 210 is fixed to the bus bar 143 with a bolt 900. Thereby, the terminal block 210 and the bus bar 143 are electrically connected.

  Connector 810 includes a terminal 811. Connector 810 is attached to case 200A from the outside of case 200A (from the direction of arrow DR1). Thereby, the opening part 2000 is obstruct | occluded. Further, the terminal 811 of the connector 810 is fitted to the conductive portion 212 of the terminal block 210. Thereby, the terminal block 210 and the cable 800 </ b> A are electrically connected via the connector 800.

  An O-ring 1000 is provided between the connector 810 and the outer surface of the case 200A. Therefore, the housing 200 is sealed by connecting the connector 810 to the terminal block 210.

  As described above, in the terminal block structure according to the comparative example, the opening 2000 is closed by connecting the connector 810 to the terminal block 210. The connector 810 is connected to the terminal block 210 when the drive unit 1 is assembled and then assembled to the vehicle. Therefore, the opening 2000 is not closed until the connector 810 is connected after assembling the drive unit 1. For this reason, after the drive unit 1 is assembled, it is important to prevent foreign matter from entering the housing 200 through the opening 2000. In addition, after assembly of the drive unit 1, oil may be supplied into the housing 200 to check the operation of the drive unit 1. However, before the connector 810 is connected, the oil is prevented from flowing out from the opening 2000. It is important to. Further, after the drive unit 1 is assembled, a sealing performance test for confirming the sealing performance of the housing 200 may be performed. Here, a closing member for closing the opening 2000 can be temporarily attached to the case 200A, but the cost increases by the amount of manufacturing the closing member. Further, when the drive unit 1 is used, the opening portion 2000 is closed by the connector 810. Therefore, even if the sealing property test of the housing 200 is performed using a temporarily attached closing member, the sealing property of the housing 200 is not always accurate. May not be evaluated.

  4 and 5 are sectional views showing the terminal block structure according to the present embodiment. 4 shows a state in which the connector 810 at the end of the cable 800A is connected to the terminal block 210, and FIG. 5 shows a state before the connector 810 is connected to the terminal block 210.

  4 and 5, terminal block 210 according to the present embodiment includes an insulating portion 211 surrounding the terminal, a conductive portion 212 serving as a terminal, and a flange portion 213 positioned outside the case 200A. . In the terminal block structure according to the present embodiment, terminal block 210 is attached to case 200A from the outside of case 200A (from the direction of arrow DR1). The terminal block 210 is attached to the case 200A so that the flange portion 213 is positioned on the outer surface of the case 200A. Thereby, the opening part 2000 is obstruct | occluded.

  The connector 810 includes a terminal 811 as in the above-described comparative example. Connector 810 is connected to terminal block 210 from the outside of case 200A (from the direction of arrow DR1). Thereby, the terminal block 210 and the cable 800 </ b> A are electrically connected via the connector 800.

  An O-ring 1000 is provided between the flange portion 213 of the terminal block 210 and the outer surface of the case 200A. Therefore, the housing 200 is sealed by attaching the terminal block 210 to the case 200A.

  As described above, in the terminal block structure according to the present embodiment, opening 2000 is closed by attaching terminal block 210 to case 200A. Therefore, when the drive unit 1 is assembled, the opening 2000 is closed, and foreign matter can be prevented from entering the housing 200 from the opening 2000. In addition, even when oil is supplied into the housing 200 and the operation of the drive unit 1 is checked after the drive unit 1 is assembled, the terminal block 210 can prevent the oil from flowing out from the opening 2000. In addition, after the drive unit 1 is assembled, even when a sealability test for confirming the sealing property of the housing 200 is performed, the test can be performed under the same conditions as when the drive unit 1 is used without using a separate closing member. . Therefore, the manufacturing cost of the drive unit 1 can be reduced and the reliability of the sealing performance test can be improved.

Next, the manufacturing method of the drive unit 1 is demonstrated using FIG.
First, in step 0 (hereinafter abbreviated as S0), each component of the drive unit 1 including the bus bar 143 is accommodated in the case 200A. Next, in S10, the terminal block 210 is assembled to the case 200A. Thereby, the opening part 2000 provided in case 200A is obstruct | occluded. At S20, bus bar 143 in case 200A and conductive portion 212 of terminal block 210 are fixed by bolt 900. Thereby, the bus bar 143 and the terminal block 210 are electrically connected. At S30, cover 200B is assembled to case 200A to form housing 200. Here, since the opening 2000 formed in the case 200A is closed by the terminal block 210, the sealed housing 200 is formed by assembling the cover 200B to the case 200A.

  At S40, a test for confirming the sealing performance of the sealed housing 200 is performed. Here, as described above, since the opening portion 2000 of the case 200A is closed by the terminal block 210, the same state as when the drive unit 1 is used is realized at the stage of performing the sealability confirmation test. Therefore, it is possible to perform a sealing test of the housing 200 with high reliability.

  Next, oil is supplied into the housing 200 at S50, and an operation test of the drive unit 1 is performed at S60. Thereafter, in S70, the drive unit 1 is transported from a place where the operation test of the drive unit 1 is performed to a place where the drive unit 1 is assembled to the vehicle. This transportation is performed in a state where the oil in the housing 200 is not drained after the operation test. As described above, since the hermeticity of the housing 200 is ensured before the terminal block 210 and the connector 810 are joined, the drive unit 1 is transported without removing the oil after the operation test. However, the outflow of oil from the inside of the housing 200 can be suppressed.

  In S80, connector 810 is inserted into terminal block 210 from the outside of sealed housing 200, and terminal 811 of connector 810 and conductive portion 212 of terminal block 210 are joined. Thereby, cable 800A and motor generator 100 are electrically connected. As described above, the drive unit 1 is assembled to the vehicle.

  According to the terminal block structure according to the present embodiment, it is possible to close the opening 2000 of the housing 200 by attaching the terminal block 210 to the housing 200, so that the terminal block 210 and the connector 810 are not yet connected. The sealing property of the housing 200 can be ensured in the state (that is, the state of FIG. 5). As a result, foreign matter can be prevented from entering the housing 200, oil can be prevented from flowing out of the housing 200, and the reliability of the sealability test of the housing 200 can be improved.

  Further, by providing the O-ring 1000 between the flange portion 213 of the terminal block 210 and the outer surface of the housing 200, the hermeticity of the housing 200 can be reliably ensured with a simple structure.

  The above configuration is summarized as follows. That is, the terminal block structure according to the present embodiment has an opening 2000 and housing 200 in which bus bar 143 as an “electrical part” is accommodated, and bus bar 143 in housing 200 that is attached to opening 2000. And a terminal block 210 that electrically connects the cable 800 </ b> A as “external wiring”. Bus bar 143 is electrically connected to stator coil 142 of motor generator 100, and oil is supplied into housing 200. Then, the opening 2000 is closed by the terminal block 210.

  The terminal block 210 includes a flange portion 213 positioned on the side surface of the housing 200, and an O-ring 1000 serving as a “seal portion” is provided between the flange portion 213 and the outer surface of the housing 200.

  The manufacturing method of the drive unit 1 as the “electric device” according to the present embodiment includes a bus bar as an “electric part” in the housing 200 including the case 200A as the “first and second case members” and the cover 200B. 143 is a manufacturing method of the drive unit 1, and as shown in FIG. 6, as shown in FIG. 6, the step (S 0) of storing the bus bar 143 in the case 200 A and the terminal block 210 in the case 200 A having the opening 2000 on the side surface. The step of closing the opening 2000 by assembling (S10), the step of electrically connecting the bus bar 143 and the terminal block 210 in the case 200A (S20), and the case 200A in which the bus bar 143 is housed are covered. 200B is assembled to form a sealed housing 200 (S30), and the sealed housing 200 is sealed. A step (S40) for confirming the performance, a step (S50, S60) for supplying an oil into the housing 200 and performing an operation test of the drive unit 1, and a transport of the drive unit 1 without removing the oil after the operation test. A step of performing (S70) and a step of electrically connecting the cable 800A and the bus bar 143 by connecting the cable 800A as "wiring" from the outside of the sealed housing 200 to the terminal block 210 (S80).

  In the present embodiment, an example in which “electrical equipment” is the drive unit 1 has been described. However, the scope of “electrical equipment” is not limited to this, and a terminal block structure similar to that of the present embodiment is used, for example. It is also possible to apply to the PCU 600.

  Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, 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, 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 roughly an example of the structure of the drive unit containing the terminal block structure which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing (the 1) which shows the terminal block structure which concerns on a comparative example. It is sectional drawing (the 2) which shows the terminal block structure which concerns on a comparative example. It is sectional drawing (the 1) which shows the terminal block structure which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing (the 2) which shows the terminal block structure which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart explaining the manufacturing method of the electric equipment which concerns on one embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Drive unit, 100 Motor generator, 110 Rotating shaft, 120 Bearing, 130 Rotor, 140 Stator, 141 Stator core, 142 Stator coil, 143 Busbar, 200 Housing, 200A Case, 200B Cover, 210 Terminal block, 211 Insulating part, 212 Conductivity Part, 213 flange part, 300 speed reduction mechanism, 400 differential mechanism, 500 drive shaft receiving part, 600 PCU, 700 battery, 800A, 800B cable, 810 connector, 811 terminal, 900 bolt, 1000 O-ring, 2000 opening.

Claims (8)

A housing having an opening and accommodating an electrical component;
A terminal block attached to the opening and electrically connecting an electrical component in the housing and an external wiring;
A terminal block structure in which the opening is closed by the terminal block. The terminal block includes a flange portion located on an outer surface of the housing;
The terminal block structure according to claim 1, wherein a seal portion is provided between the flange portion and an outer surface of the housing. The electrical component is electrically connected to a stator coil of a rotating electrical machine;
The terminal block structure according to claim 1, wherein oil is supplied into the housing.   An electric device comprising the terminal block structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3. A method of manufacturing an electrical device in which electrical components are housed in a housing including first and second case members,
Storing the electrical component in the first case member;
Closing the opening by assembling a terminal block to the first case member having an opening on the side surface;
Electrically connecting the electrical component in the first case member and the terminal block;
And a step of forming the sealed housing by assembling the second case member to the first case member in which the electric component is housed.   The method for manufacturing an electrical device according to claim 5, further comprising a step of confirming a sealing property of the sealed housing.   The method for manufacturing an electrical device according to claim 5, further comprising a step of supplying oil into the housing and performing an operation test of the electrical device.   A vehicle comprising the electric device according to claim 4 and the electric device manufactured by the method for manufacturing an electric device according to any one of claims 5 to 7.

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