JP2010012962A - Power supply device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily access to an electric functional component stored in a storage case of an electric energy storage device, and to prevent a short circuit or the like in maintaining the electric functional component. <P>SOLUTION: A power supply device for a vehicle includes a driving battery and the electric energy storage device. The electric energy storage device is fixed to a vehicular floor after being stored and fixed to the storage case. In the inside of the storage case, the electric energy storage device and the electric functional component are stored and arranged in such a manner that the electric functional component is mounted on the upper part of the electric energy storage device. A part of the upper surface of the storage case is covered with a removable service lid so as to be openable. The service lid has an open part in order to always execute the function of a plug capable of cutting the electric circuit of the electric energy storage device by pulling it out. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicular power supply device, and more particularly to a vehicular power supply device that can easily perform maintenance of electrical functional components housed in a storage case of an electrical energy storage device.

In order to improve the overall efficiency of the vehicle (fuel cell vehicle) driven by electricity or to supplement the load response characteristics of the fuel cell, which is a driving battery for driving the vehicle, 2. Description of the Related Art A vehicle employing a hybrid system equipped with an electrical energy storage device such as a secondary battery or a capacitor (electric double layer capacitor) is known. This vehicle is equipped with a vehicle power supply device that includes a drive battery for driving the vehicle and an electrical energy storage device that can receive power generated by the drive battery.
As a result, the vehicle power supply device assists the power generated by the fuel cell, which is a driving battery, with the power from the electrical energy storage device, particularly in the transient response region, and the regenerative power from the drive motor during vehicle deceleration. In addition, the power generated by a fuel cell, which is a driving battery, is received by an electrical energy storage device, which contributes to improved vehicle power performance and system efficiency.
The electrical energy storage device comprising a capacitor or the like for storing electrical energy is generally housed in a housing case made of metal or non-conductor from the viewpoint of electrical safety.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventional vehicle power supply apparatuses include a low-voltage power supply component and a high-voltage power supply component incorporated in a single storage case to reduce electrical loss and reduce costs.
JP 2004-114775 A

Conventional vehicle power supply devices include a main switch for a high-voltage battery, an interlock lever that is directly linked to the main switch and restricts removal of the terminal block cover, and the operation of the interlock lever according to the state of the main switch. And a stopper wall that is urged toward an operation restricting position with respect to the interlock lever, so that a malfunction of the main switch can be prevented when the lock is released.
JP 2006-134854 A

Incidentally, secondary batteries, capacitors, and the like, which are electrical energy storage devices, are stored in a storage case made of metal or a non-conductive material. On the other hand, in general, in addition to storing the electrical energy storage device in the storage case, in order to cut off the connection between the electrical energy storage device and the fuel cell as a driving battery, or the electrical energy storage device and the drive motor. It houses electrical functional parts such as relays and voltmeters. When maintaining such an electrical functional component, it is necessary to open the storage case of the electrical energy storage device.
However, generally an electrical energy storage device is a large component. For this reason, it is not easy and difficult to open the storage case of the electrical energy storage device and perform maintenance of the internal electrical functional parts. Also, not only the electrical functional parts area that requires maintenance, but also if the entire storage case is opened, the electrical energy storage device (including the inter-cell connection terminal part of the storage device) will be opened, and a short circuit etc. There was a possibility that the risk of increased.

  An object of the present invention is to easily access an electrical functional component housed in a storage case of an electrical energy storage device, and to prevent a short circuit or the like when maintaining the electrical functional component.

  The present invention provides a power supply device for a vehicle including a driving battery for driving the vehicle and an electric energy storage device capable of receiving power generated by the driving battery, wherein the electric energy storage device is provided in a storage case. After being stored and fixed, it is fixed to the vehicle floor, and the storage case houses the electrical energy storage device and electrical functional parts for the electrical energy storage device, and the upper part of the electrical energy storage device And a part of the upper surface of the storage case is covered with a removable service lid so that the storage case can be opened, and the service lid is removed to remove the electric power of the electrical energy storage device. It is characterized by having an opening for making it possible to always execute the function of a plug capable of cutting a circuit.

  According to the vehicle power supply device of the present invention, the plug that can cut the electric circuit of the electric energy storage device can be inserted and removed regardless of the open / closed state of the service lid of the storage case. And short circuit can be prevented. Further, the vehicle power supply device of the present invention can easily access the internal electric functional parts by opening the service lid of the storage case, and can easily maintain the electric functional parts.

The vehicular power supply device according to the present invention can easily access the electric functional parts, and the upper part inside the storage case in which the electric energy storage device is stored in order to prevent a short circuit or the like during maintenance. An electrical function component is placed on the top of the storage case, and a part of the upper surface of the storage case is covered with a removable service lid, and the service lid has an opening that can always perform the function of a plug that can cut the electrical circuit. Is provided.
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 to 6 show an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a storage case, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a storage case with a part cut away, and FIG. 3 is a state with a service lid removed. 4 is a plan view of the storage case with the service lid attached, FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the service lid, and FIG. 6 is a system configuration diagram of the vehicle power supply device.
In FIG. 6, reference numeral 1 denotes a vehicle power supply device. The vehicle power supply device 1 includes a drive motor 2 that drives the vehicle, and includes a fuel cell 3 that is a drive battery connected in parallel to the drive motor 2 and a capacitor 4 that is an electrical energy storage device. . The fuel cell 3 and the capacitor 4 are connected to the drive motor 2 via the inverter 5. The fuel cell 3 is a driving battery that generates electric power for driving the vehicle, and generates electric power by receiving supply of hydrogen gas as a fuel and air as an oxidant. The inverter 5 converts the DC power generated by the fuel cell 3 into three-phase AC power and outputs it, and controls the drive motor 2. The driving force generated by the drive motor 2 is transmitted to the drive wheels via the transmission, and causes the vehicle to travel.
The capacitor 4 is an electrical energy storage device that assists in power supply from the fuel cell 3 to the inverter 5 and accepts power generated by the fuel cell 3 and regenerative power from the inverter 5 during vehicle deceleration. In addition to the drive control of the drive motor 2, the inverter 5 performs regenerative control that converts the negative torque of the drive motor 2 into electric power when the vehicle is decelerated.

The vehicle power supply device 1 includes a first relay 6 that is an electric functional component for a fuel cell between a fuel cell 3 and an inverter 5, and an electric functional component for a capacitor between the capacitor 4 and the inverter 5. A second relay 7 is provided. The vehicle power supply device 1 is a high-voltage wiring of a high-voltage system, and a main high-voltage wiring 8 for driving a vehicle that is a main high-voltage bus between the inverter 5 and the first relay 6 and the second relay 7. The fuel cell 3 and the first relay 6 are connected by a fuel cell high voltage wiring 9 that is a fuel cell bus, and the capacitor 4 and the second relay 7 are connected by a capacitor high voltage that is a capacitor bus. They are connected by wiring 10. The first relay 6 is a relay for separating the fuel cell high voltage wiring 9 from the main high voltage wiring 8. The second relay 7 is a relay for separating the capacitor high voltage wiring 10 from the main high voltage wiring 8.
In a state where the first relay 6 and the second relay 7 are connected together, the bus voltages of the main high voltage wiring 8, the fuel cell high voltage wiring 9, and the capacitor high voltage wiring 10 are the same. However, when the first relay 6 and the second relay 7 are opened, there may be a difference in bus voltage among the main high voltage wiring 8, the fuel cell high voltage wiring 9, and the capacitor high voltage wiring 10. .
A high voltage auxiliary machine 11 is also connected to the main high voltage wiring 8. The high voltage auxiliary machines 11 are composed of various auxiliary machines driven by high voltage, such as an air compressor for supplying compressed air to the fuel cell 2 and an air conditioner compressor for a vehicle air conditioner. It is connected to the high voltage wiring 8. In addition, the main high-voltage wiring 8 includes a backflow prevention diode 12 for preventing a backflow of current to the fuel cell 2.
The fuel cell high-voltage wiring 9 includes, as electrical functional parts, a first voltmeter 13 that measures the voltage across the terminals of the fuel cell 3 and a first ammeter 14 that measures the generated current of the fuel cell 2. I have. The capacitor high-voltage wiring 10 includes a second voltmeter 15 that measures the voltage across the terminals of the capacitor 4 and a second ammeter 16 that measures the charge / discharge current of the capacitor 4 as electrical functional components. Yes.
The capacitor 4 is provided with a precharge circuit 17 for charging the capacitor 4 while limiting a charging current. The precharge circuit 17 is connected to the main high voltage wiring 8 and the capacitor high voltage wiring 10 in parallel with the second relay 7. In many cases, the precharge circuit 17 generally includes a semiconductor element for limiting current, a limiting resistor, or a semiconductor element capable of switching control. The precharge circuit 17 is configured to prevent the overcurrent that may occur when the second relay 7 is connected when the voltage value of the capacitor bus 10 is lower than the voltage value of the main high voltage bus 8. It is an electrical functional component intended to charge the capacitor 4 while limiting the current before connecting the relay 7.

In the vehicle power supply device 1, a bidirectional DC / DC converter 18 is connected to the main high voltage wiring 8 in parallel with the capacitor 4. On the low voltage side of the bidirectional DC / DC converter 18, a vehicle auxiliary machine 20 such as a headlamp, a radio, a water pump, etc. Is connected to an auxiliary battery 21 for driving. The bidirectional DC / DC converter 18 converts the power from the fuel cell 3 and the capacitor 4 or the voltage of the regenerative power from the inverter 5 into a voltage (usually 12V system) for driving the vehicle accessories 20. On the contrary, the voltage of the auxiliary battery 21 (usually 12V battery) is converted into a voltage for driving the high voltage auxiliary machinery 11 or for auxiliary charging of the capacitor 4.
The bidirectional DC / DC converter 18 is not limited to the bidirectional type, and may include both a step-up DC / DC converter and a step-down DC / DC converter in parallel. In the vehicle power supply device 1, the drive motor 2 and the inverter 5 are connected by a three-phase electric wire 22.
The vehicle power supply device 1 includes an inverter 5, a first relay 6, a second relay 7, a high voltage auxiliary machine 11, a first voltmeter 13, a first ammeter 14, a second voltmeter 15, The second ammeter 16, the precharge circuit 17, the bidirectional DC / DC converter 18, and the vehicle auxiliary machinery 20 are connected to the control unit 23. The control unit 23 controls the system based on information collected from each sensor and data stored in the internal memory.

As described above, the vehicle power supply device 1 includes the fuel cell 3 that is a driving battery and the capacitor 4 that is an electrical energy storage device that can receive the power generated by the fuel cell 3. Generally, the chargeable voltage of unit cells such as the capacitor 4 and the secondary battery is as low as about 1V to 3V. For this reason, in the electrical energy storage device aiming at vehicle driving assistance, a module in which these unit cells are connected in series of about 100 to several hundreds is used.
The capacitor 4 of this embodiment is also modularized by connecting a plurality of unit cells in series, and has a withstand voltage of several hundred volts. The capacitor 4 includes a plug 24 for electrically dividing the capacitor 4 at an intermediate portion of the modules connected in series. The plug 24 can be disconnected to disconnect an electric circuit at an intermediate portion of the capacitor 4 at the time of maintenance or the like, thereby reducing contact, short circuit between terminals, and the like.
Accordingly, the capacitor 4 includes the second relay 7, the second voltmeter 15, the second ammeter 16, the precharge circuit 17, and the plug 24 which are electrical functional components in addition to the series connection of the unit cells. Yes.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the capacitor 4 of the vehicle power supply device 1 is stored and fixed in the storage case 25 and then fixed to the vehicle floor 26. The vehicle floor 26 is, for example, a luggage floor at the rear of the vehicle. The storage case 25 includes storage portions 27 and 28 arranged in two upper and lower stages, and a cover portion 29 fixed to the storage portions 27 and 28. The storage units 27 and 28 are formed in an elongated square tray shape in which the upper storage unit 28 is longer than the lower storage unit 27. The upper storage portion 28 is arranged in parallel with the upper portion of the lower storage portion 27 so that one end in the longitudinal direction protrudes from one end in the longitudinal direction of the lower storage portion 27, and is connected to the lower storage portion 27 by the connecting portion 30. ing. The cover portion 29 includes an elongated rectangular plate-shaped upper surface portion 31 that covers the upper portions of the storage portions 27 and 28, a side surface portion 32 that covers each side portion of the storage portions 27 and 28, and each end portion of the storage portions 27 and 28. A long square lid shape is formed from the covering end surface portion 33. A fixing bracket 34 is attached to the lower end of the side surface portion 32.
The storage case 25 stores and fixes the capacitor 4 that is modularized by connecting a plurality of unit cells in series in the upper and lower storage sections 27 and 28, and covers the storage sections 27 and 28 so as to cover the capacitor 4. The portion 29 is covered and fixed by the fixing bolt 40. The storage case 25 to which the capacitor 4 is fixed is fixed to the vehicle floor 26 by a fixing bolt via a fixing bracket 34 provided at the lower end of the cover portion 29. Therefore, the capacitors 4 are arranged and mounted in the storage case 25 in a two-stage stack.
Inside the storage case 25, together with the capacitor 4, a second relay 7, a second voltmeter 15, a second ammeter 16, a precharge circuit 17, a plug 24, which are electrical functional components for the capacitor 4. Storing. The capacitor 4 is housed over the entire region in the longitudinal direction of the lower housing portion 27 and is housed over the region on the other side from the substantially longitudinal center of the upper housing portion 28. The second relay 7, the second voltmeter 15, the second ammeter 16, the precharge circuit 17, and the plug 29, which are electrical functional components, are arranged in the longitudinal direction where the capacitor 4 of the upper storage portion 28 is not stored. In the remaining area on the side. In the remaining area, a part of the main high voltage wiring 8 which is a high voltage wiring for driving the vehicle connected to the second relay 7 is routed. The main high-voltage wiring 8 connected to the second relay 7 in the storage case 25 has a connection end for connection to the main high-voltage wiring 8 on the inverter 5 side at the bottom of one longitudinal end of the upper storage section 28. It protrudes downward from.

As shown in FIG. 3, the cover portion 29 of the storage case 25 is formed with an open portion 41 having a rectangular shape in a portion on one side from the substantially longitudinal center of the upper surface portion 31. The open part 41 is a main high voltage which is a second relay 7, which is an electrical functional component, a second voltmeter 15, a second ammeter 16, a precharge circuit 17, a plug 24, and a high voltage wiring for driving the vehicle. It is formed on the upper surface portion 31 that is located above the region on one side in the longitudinal direction of the upper storage portion 28 that stores the wiring 8. As shown in FIG. 4, the cover 29 of the storage case 25 is provided with a removable long rectangular plate-shaped service lid 42 that covers the opening 41. The service lid 42 covers the open portion 41 and is attached to the upper surface portion 31 with a fixture 43 so as to cover a region on one side in the longitudinal direction of the upper storage portion 28 storing the electrical functional component and the high voltage wiring. Is provided.
The service lid 42 has an opening 44 as shown in FIG. The opening 44 is for making it possible to always execute the function of the plug 24 that can disconnect the electric circuit of the capacitor 4 by removing the service lid 42 in a state where the service lid 42 is attached. As shown in FIG. 4, the opening 44 is formed in the service lid 42 above the plug 24 housed in a region on one side in the longitudinal direction of the upper housing portion 28. An operator can access the plug 24 through the opening 44 and perform the extraction operation.

Thus, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in the vehicle power supply device 1, after the capacitor 4 is stored and fixed in the storage case 25, the capacitor 4 is fixed to the vehicle floor 26. The capacitor 4 and the second relay 7, the second voltmeter 15, the second ammeter 16, the precharge circuit 17, the plug 24, and the high-voltage wiring for driving the vehicle, which are electrical functional components for the capacitor 4. A part of the main high voltage wiring 8 is accommodated, and an electrical functional component and a high voltage wiring are mounted on the upper part of the capacitor 4. As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the vehicular power supply device 1 is covered with a removable service lid 42 so that a part of the upper surface of the storage case 25 can be opened, and the service lid 42 is removed to remove the capacitor 4. An opening 44 is provided for enabling the function of the plug 24 capable of cutting the electrical circuit to be always executed.
As a result, the vehicular power supply device 1 can insert and remove the plug 24 that can cut the electric circuit of the capacitor 4 regardless of the open / closed state of the service lid 42 of the storage case 25. The electrical circuit of the capacitor 4 can be disconnected by removing the plug 24, and contact and maintenance of the electrical functional component can be prevented. Further, since the vehicular power supply device 1 can easily access the internal electric functional parts by opening the service lid 42 of the storage case 25, the electric functional parts can be easily maintained. Moreover, the vehicle power supply device 1 can be operated without opening all the storage case 25 of the capacitor 4 when performing maintenance, checking, replacement, etc. of each part, and thus the workability can be greatly improved. it can.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the service lid 42 includes a wall portion 45 surrounding the plug 24 in the opening 44. As shown in FIG. 1, the wall portion 45 is formed in a square tube shape that hangs around the periphery of the opening of the service lid 42 positioned above the plug 24 so as to surround the periphery of the plug 24.
As a result, the vehicle power supply device 1 has the main high-voltage wiring in which the service lid 42, the fixing member, the tool, etc. are stored in the storage case 25 by mistake when an operator or a maintenance person attaches the service lid 42. 8 is not touched. For this reason, this power supply device 1 for vehicles can contribute to the reliability improvement in the system which drives a vehicle using a high voltage.

Further, the storage case 25 is connected to the second relay 7, the second voltmeter 15, the second ammeter 16, the precharge circuit 17, the plug 24, and the second relay 7 which are the electrical functional components. A service lid 42 is detachably disposed on the upper surface portion 31 of the cover portion 29 that covers an area in which a part of the main high-voltage wiring 8 for driving the vehicle is housed. That is, the service lid 42 is positioned on the upper surface of the storage case 25 on the side where the main high-voltage wiring 8 for driving the vehicle is routed.
Thus, since the main high-voltage wiring 8 is routed in the vicinity of the removable service lid 42, the vehicle power supply device 1 can be easily connected to an electrical functional component or an electrical energy storage device.

Furthermore, the storage case 25 is composed of a second relay 7, a second voltmeter 15, a second ammeter 16, a precharge circuit 17, a plug 24, and a high voltage wiring for driving the vehicle, which are electrical functional parts. A service lid 42 is detachably provided in an open portion 41 formed on the upper surface portion 31 of the cover portion 29 that covers the upper side of an area in which a certain capacitor high voltage wiring 10 is accommodated. As a result, the service lid 42 has an area equivalent to the area where the electric functional parts and the high-voltage wiring are mounted. As a result, the vehicle power supply device 1 is located above the electric functional parts that need to be maintained. Since it can be opened by removing the service lid 42, maintenance (including inspection and replacement) can be easily performed. On the other hand, the power supply device 1 for vehicles cannot improve the safety of the capacitor 4 that is not required for daily maintenance by simply opening the service lid 42. Is possible.

In the above-described embodiment, the fuel cell 3 is used as the driving battery, but a nickel hydrogen battery or a lithium ion battery can be used. In the above-described embodiment, the capacitor 4 is used as an electric energy storage device for assisting the fuel cell 3, but a nickel hydride secondary battery or a lithium ion secondary battery can be used.
Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the capacitors 4 are arranged in a two-stage stack in the storage case 25. However, this is not limited to two stages, and may be arranged in a single plane or in three or more stages. You may do it. Even when the capacitor 4 has three or more stages, the same effect can be obtained by providing the service lid 42 above the electric functional parts such as the second relay 7. Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the service lid 42 is disposed on the upper portion 31 of the storage case 25.
Furthermore, it is not limited to the above-described embodiment, at least a vehicle having a function of an electrical energy storage device (for example, an electric vehicle using only a lithium ion battery as a power source, a lithium ion battery or a nickel metal hydride battery, The present invention can be applied to any power source device for a vehicle equipped with a hybrid engine composed of an internal combustion engine.

  The power supply device for a vehicle according to the present invention can easily access electric functional parts and prevents a short circuit or the like during maintenance, and can be applied to an industrial machine other than a vehicle equipped with a driving battery. Can be applied.

It is a perspective view of the storage case which shows the Example of the power supply device for vehicles. It is the perspective view of the storage case which cut off a part which shows the Example of the power supply device for vehicles. It is a principal part top view of the storage case of the state which removed the service lid which shows the Example of the power supply device for vehicles. It is a principal part top view of the storage case of the state which attached the service lid which shows the Example of the power supply device for vehicles. It is a perspective view of the service lid which shows the Example of the power supply device for vehicles. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a vehicle power supply device.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vehicle power supply device 2 Drive motor 3 Fuel cell 4 Capacitor 5 Inverter 7 Second relay 8 Main high voltage wiring 10 Capacitor high voltage wiring 15 Second voltmeter 16 Second ammeter 17 Precharge circuit 24 Plug 25 Storage Case 26 Vehicle floor 27/28 Storage part 29 Cover part 31 Upper surface part 41 Open part 42 Service lid 44 Open part 45 Wall part

Claims (4)

In a vehicle power supply device comprising a drive battery for driving a vehicle and an electrical energy storage device capable of receiving the generated power of the drive battery,
The electrical energy storage device is stored and fixed in a storage case, and then fixed to the vehicle floor.
Inside the storage case, the electrical energy storage device and an electrical functional component for the electrical energy storage device are stored, and the electrical functional component is mounted on top of the electrical energy storage device,
A part of the upper surface of the storage case is covered with a removable service lid so that it can be opened,
The vehicular power supply device according to claim 1, wherein the service lid includes an opening for allowing a function of a plug capable of disconnecting an electric circuit of the electric energy storage device by being extracted at all times.   The vehicle power supply device according to claim 1, wherein the service lid includes a wall portion surrounding the periphery of the plug in the opening portion.   The said service lid is located in the upper surface of the said storage case in the side by which the high voltage wiring for vehicle drive is routed, The Claim 1 or Claim 2 characterized by the above-mentioned. Vehicle power supply device.   The vehicular power supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the service lid has an area equivalent to a region where the electric functional component is mounted.

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