JP2008022653A - Controller for electric motor and motor-operated power steering system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a controller for an electric motor which is easy to assemble into and remove from the electric motor. <P>SOLUTION: A support 50 at a substrate side and a support 220 at a motor side electrically in the controller for the electric motor connect conductive plates 61, 62 at the substrate side, and conductive plates 211, 212 at the motor side each other by mutual engagement. Then both supports 50, 220 position a base 20 at a predetermined position to the electric motor 100. Accordingly, current supply route is formed easily and securely at the electric motor 100, from a substrate SB for control, and the base 20 with respect to the electric motor 100 is readily positioned. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electric motor control device and an electric power steering device used in, for example, an electric power steering device.

An electric power steering apparatus includes an electric motor that generates auxiliary torque for a steering wheel of a vehicle, an electronic control unit (ECU) that controls driving of the electric motor, a battery that supplies driving current of the electric motor, and steering torque of the steering wheel. A wire harness that electrically connects the electric motor and the ECU, a connector, and the like (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Also, from the standpoints of reducing radiation noise, power loss, assembly man-hours, and the number of parts, the cable between the electric motor and ECU is omitted, and the control board, etc. is housed in the case and this case is integrated with the electric motor. There is known a technique for converting the information into the same (for example, see Patent Documents 2 to 4).
JP 2000-203437 A JP-A-2005-304203 JP 2004-103832 A JP 2000-166161 A

By the way, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 2, in order to fix the case housing the ECU to the electric motor, the case is positioned at a predetermined position of the electric motor, and bus bars provided on the ECU side and the motor side, respectively. In addition to connecting the conductive members called by welding or bolts, it is necessary to fix the case to the electric motor with bolts.
Further, when the bus bars are connected to each other by welding, bolts, or the like, there is a problem that it is not easy to remove only the ECU case when the ECU fails.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a control device for an electric motor that can be easily assembled to and removed from the electric motor, and an electric power using the same. The object is to provide a steering device.

An electric motor control device according to the present invention includes a control board on which a drive circuit for controlling the supply of drive current to the electric motor is formed, and holds the control board and is positioned at a predetermined position with respect to the electric motor. A substrate holding member fixed removably, a substrate side conductive member and a motor side conductive member that are electrically connected to each other to form a current supply path from the control substrate to the electric motor, and the substrate side conductive member And a motor-side support member and a motor-side support member that are integrally provided with a motor-side conductive member, and the substrate-side support member and the motor-side support member are fitted to each other to form the substrate. A board-side fitting part and a motor-side fitting part for electrically connecting the side conductive member and the motor side conductive member to each other and positioning the board holding body at a predetermined position with respect to the electric motor. It is characterized in.
According to this configuration, the motor side fitting part and the board side fitting part are formed on the board side support and the motor side support for electrically insulating the board side conductive member and the motor side conductive member, By fitting these, the board-side conductive member and the motor-side conductive member are in contact with each other to form a current supply path from the control board to the electric motor, and the board holder is positioned at a predetermined position with respect to the electric motor. Is positioned. In this state, the assembly is completed by fixing the substrate holder to the electric motor. In this way, the substrate holder can be easily assembled to the electric motor, and the substrate holder can be easily detached from the electric motor.

In the above configuration, the board-side fitting portion is formed in a concave shape so that the motor-side fitting portion is fitted and inserted into the inner periphery thereof, and the motor-side fitting portion and the board-side fitting portion are fitted. The connection part of the board | substrate side conductive member which protrudes inside the board | substrate side fitting part and the connection part of the motor side conductive member which protrudes from the motor side fitting part can be employ | adopted, and a board | substrate side conductive member can be employ | adopted The connecting portion of the motor-side conductive member is a flat plate portion that contacts the connecting portion of the substrate-side conductive member, and the flat plate portion is connected to the connecting portion of the substrate-side conductive member by elastic deformation force. It can be set as the structure which has an elastic deformation part to press. Preferably, the elastically deformable portion can be formed integrally with the flat plate portion.
According to this structure, the connection part of a board | substrate side conductive member and a motor side conductive member can be made to contact more reliably. Further, the substrate-side conductive member and the motor-side conductive member can be easily embedded in each support by insert molding.

In the above configuration, a configuration in which a signal terminal electrically connected to the drive circuit is embedded in the substrate-side support body can be employed.
According to this configuration, the board-side support can be shared with the signal terminals, so that the number of parts can be reduced.

  An electric power steering apparatus according to the present invention includes an electric motor that generates auxiliary torque for a steering wheel of a vehicle, a control board on which a drive circuit that controls the supply of drive current to the electric motor is formed, and a control A substrate holding member that accommodates the substrate and is detachably fixed to a predetermined position with respect to the electric motor; a substrate-side conductive member that is electrically connected to each other to form a current supply path from the control substrate to the electric motor; A motor side conductive member, and a substrate side and a motor side support made of an electrically insulating resin on which the substrate side and the motor side conductive member are integrally provided, and the substrate side and the motor side support are fitted to each other. As a result, the board-side conductive member and the motor-side conductive member are brought into contact with each other, and the board-side fitting portion and the module for positioning the board holding body at a predetermined position with respect to the electric motor. Having a data side fitting portion, it is characterized in that.

  According to the present invention, the assembly of the substrate holder to the electric motor is facilitated, and the removal of the substrate holder from the electric motor is facilitated.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a control device and an electric motor according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the control device and the electric motor, and FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the control device and the electric motor. FIG. 5 is an external perspective view of the substrate side support and the conductive member, FIG. 6 is a perspective view including a cross section of the substrate side support and the conductive member, and FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the substrate side support and the conductive member. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the motor-side support and the conductive member, and FIG. 9 shows a fitting portion of the motor-side support and a connection portion of the motor-side conductive member. FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective view, FIG. 10 is a top view of the connecting portion of the motor side conductive member, and FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the periphery of the bracket of the electric motor.
Note that the output shaft of the electric motor 100 is connected to a gear of a vehicle power steering device (not shown) to generate auxiliary torque of the steering wheel.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the electric motor 100 includes a bracket 110 disposed at one end of the output shaft 130 in the axial direction, a housing 120 formed in a cylindrical shape fixed to the bracket 110, and the like. The components necessary for the motor, such as permanent magnets and windings, are built in the interior surrounded by the bracket 110 and the housing 120. As the electric motor 100, for example, a brushed DC motor is used.

The bracket 110 is formed with a fixing portion 111 for fixing a base 20 (to be described later) serving as a substrate holder projecting, and a mounting seat surface 111 f formed on the fixing portion 111 is substantially parallel to the axis of the output shaft 130. They are arranged in parallel.
Further, the bracket 110 is formed with a flange portion 112 having through holes for fixing to other members by fastening means such as bolts on both sides of the output shaft 130.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the control device 10 that controls the drive of the electric motor 100 includes a base 20, a cover 30, and a control board SB on which a drive circuit that controls the supply of drive current to the electric motor 100 is formed. A power transistor 40 included in a drive circuit that controls the supply of drive current to the electric motor 100, a board-side conductive member that is electrically connected to each other to form a current supply path from the control board SB to the electric motor 100, and Substrate side conductive plates 61 and 62 and motor side conductive plates 211 and 212 (see FIG. 3 or FIG. 4) as motor side conductive members, electric power in which the substrate side conductive plates 61 and 62 and motor side conductive plates 211 and 212 are embedded. It has the board | substrate side support body 50, the motor side support body 200, etc. which are made of insulating resin.

The base 20 is formed in a plate shape by die casting using a metal material having a high thermal conductivity such as an aluminum alloy, for example, and has support pillars 21 erected at the four corners of the upper surface, from one end to the side. The protruding portion 22 includes a mounting portion 22 attached to the mounting seat surface 111 f of the electric motor 100, a heat radiating portion 25 that is thicker than other portions and that conducts heat from the power transistor 40.
The support column 21 supports the control substrate SB at the tip portion thereof. The control substrate SB is fixed to the support column 21 by screwing the bolt BT into the support column 21 via the control substrate SB.

The mounting portion 22 is fixed to the mounting seat surface 111f of the electric motor 100 by a bolt BT. Thus, the base 20 is disposed substantially parallel to the axis of the electric motor 100, and the base 20 is as shown in FIG. The housing 120 is spaced apart from the housing 120 by a predetermined distance. For this reason, the base 20 (control device) is not easily affected by heat and vibration from the electric motor 100.
The heat dissipating part 25 is formed thicker than the other parts, so that the heat capacity is increased and the heat from the power transistor 40 is efficiently absorbed. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a heat radiation fin 26 is formed on the back surface side of the heat radiation portion 25, so that heat from the power transistor 40 can be efficiently discharged to the outside.

  The control substrate SB has various components such as a capacitor and a filter mounted on both sides thereof, and the power transistor 40 is electrically connected thereto. In addition, conductive plates 91 and 92 (to be described later) for supplying power from a battery (not shown) and substrate-side conductive plates 61 and 62 for supplying a drive current to the electric motor 100 are electrically connected.

The cover 30 is fixed to the base 20 so as to cover the control substrate SB, and has a fitting portion 31 formed so as to be fitted to the outer shape of the substrate-side support 50. The cover 30 and the base 20 constitute a case for accommodating the control substrate SB.
The material for forming the cover 30 is not particularly limited, but from the viewpoint of shielding noise emitted from the control substrate SB, particularly the power transistor 40, it is preferable to use a magnetic material.

Here, the structure of the substrate side support 50 and the substrate side conductive plates 61 and 62 will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the substrate-side support 50 is formed in a substantially cubic shape, and includes substrate-side conductive plates 61 and 62, conductive plates 91 and 92 for supplying power from a battery (not shown), and various types. Signal terminal groups 90A and 90B for transmitting signals are respectively embedded and integrally provided. That is, the board-side support 50 covers and supports the board-side conductive plates 61 and 62, the power supply conductive plates 91 and 92, and the signal terminal groups 90A and 90B, respectively, except for the electrical connection portion. ing.
The substrate-side conductive plates 61 and 62, the conductive plates 91 and 92, and the signal terminal groups 90A and 90B are embedded in the substrate-side support 50 by insert molding when the substrate-side support 50 is injection-molded. The

As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, recesses 55 </ b> A and 55 </ b> B are formed in the substrate side support 50. One end portions of the signal terminal groups 90A and 90B protrude upward from the bottom surfaces of the recesses 55A and 55B. The recesses 55A and 55B and the signal terminal groups 90A and 90B constitute a female connector into which a signal line male connector (not shown) is fitted.
Further, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the substrate-side support 50 is formed with a recess 56, and one end portions of the conductive plates 91 and 92 protrude from the bottom surface of the recess 56 toward the upper surface side. ing. The recess 56 and one end of the conductive plates 91 and 92 constitute a female connector into which a male connector for supplying power from a battery (not shown) is fitted.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the substrate-side support 50 is formed with a fitting recess 51 on the lower surface side for fitting a fitting portion 210 (described later) of the motor-side support 200. Flat connection portions 61A and 62A, which are one end portions of the board-side conductive plates 61 and 62, protrude in parallel from the fitting recess 51 (see also FIG. 4).
Further, the substrate side support 50 is formed with fixing holes 57 for the control substrate SB at a plurality of locations, and is fixed to the control substrate SB by fastening means such as bolts (not shown).

  The substrate-side conductive plates 61 and 62 are made of a conductive material such as a copper plate, and as can be seen from FIG. 5 to FIG. The other end protrudes from one side surface of the substrate-side support 50 in the same manner as the conductive plates 91 and 92 and the signal terminal groups 90A and 90B. These other end portions are electrically connected to the control substrate SB described above.

Next, the structure of the motor side support 200 and the motor side conductive plates 211 and 212 will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 8, the motor-side support body 200 is formed of an annular portion 200A formed in an annular shape and a protruding portion 200B extending outward from the annular portion 200A. A fitting projection 210 having a rectangular cross section is formed at the tip of 200B. The fitting projection 210 is fitted into the fitting recess 51 of the substrate-side support 50 described above.
Motor side conductive plates 211 and 212 are embedded in the motor side support 200. That is, the motor-side support 200 covers the motor-side conductive plates 211 and 212 except for the electrical connection portions, and supports them.
The motor-side conductive plates 211 and 212 are embedded in the motor-side support 200 by insert molding when the motor-side support 200 is injection-molded.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the motor-side conductive plates 211 and 212 are each formed in a predetermined shape from a conductive material such as a copper plate by press working or the like. The conductive plates 61 and 62 are connected to the connecting portions 61A and 62A, respectively, and the other end is electrically connected to a brush (not shown) of the electric motor 100 via a connecting member called pigtail.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the connection portions 211 </ b> A and 212 </ b> A of the motor side conductive plates 211 and 212 protrude from the tip of the fitting convex portion 210 of the motor side support 200 and are arranged in parallel.
Each of the connecting portions 211A and 212A has a flat plate portion 213 formed in a flat plate shape, and an elastic deformation portion 214 that protrudes from both sides of the flat plate portion 213 and is curved in a cylindrical shape. The flat plate portion 213 and the elastic deformation portion 214 are formed by sheet metal processing, and the elastic deformation portion 214 is thinner than the flat plate portion 213 so as to be easily processed.
When the fitting convex portion 210 of the motor side support 200 is fitted and inserted into the fitting concave portion 51 of the substrate side support 50, the connecting portions 211A and 212A, as shown in FIG. 62 flat connecting portions 61A and 61B are inserted between the flat plate portion 213 and the elastic deformation portion 214, and the elastic deformation portion 214 is elastically deformed. Thereby, since the elastic deformation part 214 presses the flat connection parts 61A and 61B against the flat plate part 213, the flat connection parts 61A and 61B and the flat plate part 213 are reliably electrically connected.

As shown in FIG. 11, the motor-side support 200 is provided between the back surface of the bracket 110 and the housing 120, and is sandwiched between the bracket 110 and the housing 120 that are fastened by the bolts BT. Incorporated into. The output shaft of the electric motor 100 passes through the central portion of the annular portion 200A of the motor-side support 200.
When the motor-side support 200 is incorporated in the electric motor 100, the fitting convex portion 210 projects from the mounting seat surface 111 f of the bracket 110 as shown in FIG. 3. The connecting portions 211A and 212A of the motor-side conductive plates 211 and 212 protrude from the front end surface of the fitting convex portion 210.

Next, a procedure for assembling the control device 10 to the electric motor 100 will be described.
First, as shown in FIG. 11, when the electric motor 100 is assembled, the motor-side support 200 is assembled to the electric motor 100 in advance.
Further, the control device 10 is assembled separately from the electric motor 100 by assembling the power transistor 40, the substrate SB, the substrate-side support 50, the cover 30 and the like on the base 20.
Then, the fitting convex portion 210 of the motor side support body 200 is fitted and inserted into the fitting concave portion 51 of the substrate side support body 50. At this time, the connecting portions 61A and 61B of the board-side conductive plates 61 and 62 are guided by the fitting of the fitting concave portion 51 and the fitting convex portion 210, and the connecting portions 211A and 212A of the motor-side conductive plates 211 and 212 are connected. Connected to.
At the same time, the control device 10 is positioned at a predetermined position with respect to the electric motor 100 by fitting the fitting concave portion 51 and the fitting convex portion 210. That is, the base 20 is positioned at a position where the mounting portion 22 can be fixed to the mounting seat surface 111f of the bracket 110 by the bolt BT.
The control device 10 is easily separated from the electric motor 100 by releasing the bolt BT from the mounting seat surface 111f of the bracket 110.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the electric motor 100 is controlled from the control board SB by fitting the fitting concave portion 51 of the substrate side support 50 and the fitting convex portion 210 of the motor side support 200. The current supply path to the electric motor 100 can be easily and reliably formed, and the positioning of the base 20 with respect to the electric motor 100 can be facilitated, and the assembly of the control device 10 to the electric motor 100 is facilitated. Moreover, since only the control device 10 can be easily separated from the electric motor 100 when the control device 10 breaks down, the maintainability is also improved.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the control device 10 and the electric motor 100 are used in the electric power steering device has been described. Is possible.

1 is an external perspective view of a control device and an electric motor according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is the external appearance perspective view which looked at the control apparatus and the electric motor from the other direction. It is a disassembled perspective view of a control device and an electric motor. It is the disassembled perspective view seen from the other direction of the control apparatus and the electric motor. It is an external appearance perspective view of a board | substrate side support body and an electrically-conductive member. It is a perspective view containing the cross section of a board | substrate side support body and an electrically-conductive member. It is the perspective view seen from the other direction containing the cross section of a board | substrate side support body and an electrically-conductive member. It is a perspective view of a motor side support body and a conductive member. It is an expansion perspective view which shows the fitting part of a motor side support body, and the connection part of a motor side electrically-conductive member. It is a top view of the connection part of a motor side electrically-conductive member. It is a disassembled perspective view of the bracket periphery of an electric motor.

Explanation of symbols

10 ... Control device 20 ... Base (substrate holder)
30 ... Cover 40 ... Power transistor 50 ... Substrate side support 51 ... Fitting recess (Substrate side fitting portion)
61, 62 ... Substrate side conductive plate (Substrate side conductive member)
61A, 62A ... connecting portions 91, 92 ... conductive member 100 ... electric motor 110 ... bracket 120 ... housing 200 ... motor side support 210 ... fitting convex portion (motor side fitting portion)
211, 212 ... Substrate side conductive plate (Substrate side conductive member)
211A, 212A ... connection part

Claims (6)

A control board on which a drive circuit for controlling the supply of drive current to the electric motor is formed;
A substrate holder that holds the control substrate and is detachably fixed to the electric motor at a predetermined position;
A board-side conductive member and a motor-side conductive member that are electrically connected to each other to form a current supply path from the control board to the electric motor;
A substrate-side support and a motor-side support made of an electrically insulating resin in which the substrate-side conductive member and the motor-side conductive member are integrally provided;
The substrate side and the motor side support are electrically connected to each other and the substrate holding member is positioned at a predetermined position with respect to the electric motor by fitting together. It has a board side fitting part and a motor side fitting part,
A control apparatus for an electric motor. The board side fitting portion is formed in a concave shape so that the motor side fitting portion is fitted and inserted into the inner periphery thereof,
The motor protruding from the motor side fitting portion and the connecting portion of the board side conductive member protruding into the board side fitting portion by the fitting of the motor side fitting portion and the board side fitting portion. The control device for an electric motor according to claim 1, wherein a connection portion of the side conductive member is connected. The connection part of the substrate-side conductive member is formed in a flat plate shape,
The connection part of the motor side conductive member has a flat plate part that contacts the connection part of the substrate side conductive member, and an elastic deformation part that presses the flat plate part against the connection part of the substrate side conductive member by elastic deformation force. The control device for an electric motor according to claim 2. The electric motor control device according to claim 3, wherein the elastic deformation portion is integrally formed with the flat plate portion. 5. The electric motor control according to claim 1, wherein a signal terminal that is electrically connected to the drive circuit is integrally provided on the substrate-side support body. 6. apparatus. An electric motor for generating auxiliary torque for a steering wheel of a vehicle;
A control board on which a drive circuit for controlling the supply of drive current to the electric motor is formed;
A substrate holder that houses the control substrate and is detachably fixed to the electric motor at a predetermined position;
A board-side conductive member and a motor-side conductive member that are electrically connected to each other to form a current supply path from the control board to the electric motor;
A substrate side and a motor side support made of an electrically insulating resin on which the substrate side and the motor side conductive member are integrally provided;
The substrate side and the motor side support are fitted to each other to bring the substrate side conductive member and the motor side conductive member into contact with each other and position the substrate holder at a predetermined position with respect to the electric motor. Having a fitting part and a motor side fitting part,
An electric power steering device.

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