JP2010083317A - Hybrid vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To more efficiently cool a motor driving unit including an inverter mounted on a hybrid vehicle. <P>SOLUTION: A hybrid automobile 20 includes an engine 22 arranged in an engine compartment 21 and capable of outputting power, a hybrid transformer axle 30 including motors MG1 and MG2 capable of inputting and outputting power and a power distribution mechanism, and a power control unit 40 including an inverter unit 45 capable of driving the motors MG1 and MG2 by using power from a battery 50. The power control unit 40 is opposed to a radiator grille 24, and is arranged in the engine compartment 21 so that a mounting surface of the inverter unit 45 may be substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a hybrid vehicle including an engine and an electric motor that can output power.

Conventionally, as a hybrid vehicle having an engine and a rotating electric machine each capable of generating power, an inverter that is disposed in the vicinity of the engine and the rotating electric machine and that can supply electric power from a battery to the rotating electric machine, and dissipates heat from the inverter. Possible inverter heat dissipation section, inverter outside air intake section that can take in the outside air that cools the inverter heat dissipation section, inverter cooling pipe through which the outside air that cools the inverter circulates, and outside air from the outside air intake section into the cooling pipe A device having a fan forcibly taken in is known (for example, see Patent Document 1). Conventionally, as an in-vehicle air conditioner, an air conditioner unit housed in a module box disposed in front of a wall portion extending in the vertical direction of the dash panel, a motor-in compressor or a module attached to the lower surface of the module box There is also known one provided with an inverter that is attached to the lower surface of the box and drives the motor of the motor-in compressor (for example, see Patent Document 2).
JP 2008-206228 A JP 2003-112519 A

  As in the hybrid vehicle described in Patent Document 1, by providing an external air intake portion for the inverter, a cooling pipe, and a fan to the vehicle body, the external air can be guided to the inverter and used for cooling. However, installing an external air intake section, cooling pipe, and fan dedicated to the inverter in the engine compartment is problematic in terms of space efficiency and cost in the engine compartment. May not be obtained.

  Therefore, the main object of the present invention is to more efficiently cool a motor drive unit including an inverter mounted on a hybrid vehicle.

  The hybrid vehicle according to the present invention adopts the following means in order to achieve the main object described above.

The hybrid vehicle according to the present invention is
An engine disposed in the engine compartment and capable of outputting power, a motor capable of outputting power, power storage means capable of exchanging power with the motor, and driving the motor using power from the power storage means In a hybrid vehicle equipped with a motor drive unit including a simple inverter,
The motor drive unit is disposed in the engine compartment so as to face a radiator grill and so that a mounting surface of the inverter is substantially orthogonal to a vehicle front-rear direction.

  As in this hybrid vehicle, if the motor drive unit is placed in the engine compartment so that it faces the radiator grille and the inverter mounting surface is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, it flows into the engine compartment via the radiator grille. Since the traveling wind to be applied can be favorably applied to the motor drive unit, the motor drive unit can be cooled more efficiently.

  Furthermore, the motor drive unit may include an electronic component arranged in parallel with the inverter so as to be positioned on the radiator grill side with respect to the inverter when arranged in the engine compartment. In this case, the electronic component may be, for example, a boost converter capable of boosting the voltage from the power storage means and supplying the boosted voltage to the inverter.

  The hybrid vehicle may further include a cooling unit that cools the motor drive unit using a refrigerant. In this way, if the motor drive unit is cooled while the running wind flowing into the engine compartment via the radiator grille and the refrigerant of the cooling means are used in combination, the motor drive unit can be made more efficient while suppressing the burden on the cooling means. It becomes possible to cool. In addition, when the motor drive unit includes electronic components arranged in parallel so as to be positioned on the radiator grille side with respect to the inverter, the electronic components are cooled by the traveling wind flowing into the engine compartment via the radiator grille. As a result, the cooling burden on the electronic components of the cooling means can be suppressed.

  Further, the cooling means enables heat exchange between the inverter and the refrigerant on the vehicle front side and vehicle rear side of the inverter, and heat exchange between the electronic component and the refrigerant on the vehicle rear side of the electronic component. It may include a refrigerant passage that makes it possible. Accordingly, the inverter is cooled on both the front side and the rear side of the vehicle by the refrigerant of the cooling means, and the electronic components are cooled on the rear side of the vehicle by the refrigerant of the cooling means and on the front side of the vehicle by the traveling wind from the radiator grille. It is possible to cool the motor drive unit more efficiently while using both the running air from the radiator grille and the refrigerant of the cooling means.

  The motor drive unit may include a front cover that covers at least the electronic component from the front side of the vehicle and faces the radiator grille, and the surface of the front cover on the radiator grille side is at least in the vertical direction of the vehicle. A recess extending in the direction may be formed. When the motor drive unit is cooled using traveling wind flowing into the engine compartment via the radiator grill as in this hybrid vehicle, depending on the temperature state in the engine compartment, the temperature of the traveling wind, etc. Condensation may occur in the vicinity of the front cover located in the vicinity. Thus, if a recess extending at least in the vertical direction of the vehicle is formed on the surface of the front cover on the radiator grill side, the cover is covered by the recess. Moisture liquefied in the vicinity can be guided downward in the vehicle. As a result, it is possible to prevent moisture generated in the engine compartment from entering the inside of the cover and to achieve good component protection.

  The front cover may be made of a steel material. By forming the front cover with the steel material having high strength and elasticity in this way, it is possible to satisfactorily protect the components in the front cover, that is, the motor drive unit, even when an impact from the front of the vehicle is applied.

  Next, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described using examples.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a hybrid vehicle 20 as a hybrid vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. A hybrid vehicle 20 shown in the figure includes an engine 22 that can output power, a hybrid transaxle 30 that includes two motors MG1 and MG2 each capable of inputting and outputting power, and a power distribution mechanism, and motors MG1 and MG2. A power control unit 40 for driving and a battery 50 capable of exchanging power with the motors MG1 and MG2 via the power control unit 40 are provided.

  The engine 22 is an internal combustion engine that outputs power by receiving a hydrocarbon-based fuel such as gasoline or light oil, and is mounted in an engine compartment 21 defined at the front of the vehicle body. The engine 22 is controlled by a fuel injection amount, ignition timing, intake air amount, and the like by an engine electronic control unit (not shown).

  The motors MG1 and MG2 constituting the hybrid transaxle 30 are both known synchronous generator motors that operate as a generator and can operate as a motor. The power distribution mechanism constituting the hybrid transaxle 30 transmits power to the crankshaft that is the output shaft of the engine 22, the rotation shaft of the motor MG1 that mainly functions as a generator, and the drive wheels (front wheels in the embodiment). Connected to the drive shaft. In the embodiment, a single pinion type planetary gear mechanism in which the crankshaft of the engine 22 is connected to the carrier, the rotation shaft of the motor MG1 is connected to the sun gear, and the drive shaft is connected to the ring gear is adopted as the power distribution mechanism. And the rotating shaft of motor MG2 is connected to the drive shaft connected to the ring gear via a reduction gear mechanism or a transmission (not shown).

  The power control unit 40 converts the DC power from the battery 50 side into AC power and applies it to the motor MG1, or converts the AC power from the motor MG1 into DC power and supplies it to the battery 50 side. Or a second inverter that converts DC power from the battery 50 side into AC power and applies it to the motor MG2, or converts AC power from the motor MG2 into DC power and supplies it to the battery 50 side A boost converter, a capacitor, and a battery 50 that can boost the power from the battery 50 and supply the boosted power to the first and second inverters, and step down the power from the first and second inverters and supply the power to the battery 50. DC / DC converter that can step down the power from the battery and supply it to auxiliary batteries and other auxiliary machines, IPM for power control ( Emissions intelligent power management) module, including a motor electronic control unit for controlling the motors MG1 and MG2 via the first and second inverters and the like.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the battery 50 is mounted at a predetermined location, for example, below the rear seat, and is connected to the power control unit 40 via a power cable 52 laid along the side of the vehicle body. The battery 50 of the embodiment is configured as a nickel metal hydride secondary battery or a lithium ion secondary battery, and is managed by a battery electronic control unit (not shown).

  Furthermore, the hybrid vehicle 20 of the embodiment includes a hybrid electronic control unit (not shown) that controls the entire vehicle. This hybrid electronic control unit exchanges various information by communication with the above-mentioned engine electronic control unit, motor electronic control unit, battery electronic control unit, etc., and the amount of depression of the accelerator pedal operated by the driver The travel of the hybrid vehicle 20 is controlled based on the operation amount of the brake pedal and information from each electronic control unit. That is, when the hybrid vehicle 20 travels, the hybrid electronic control unit basically outputs a required torque to be output to the drive shaft based on the accelerator opening and the vehicle speed corresponding to the depression amount of the accelerator pedal of the driver. While calculating, the target rotation speed and target torque of the engine 22 and the target torque of the motors MG1 and MG2 are set so that torque based on this required torque is output to the drive shaft. In addition, the hybrid electronic control unit appropriately performs intermittent operation for automatically stopping and starting the engine 22, or performs motor traveling for causing the drive shaft to output a torque corresponding to the required torque only to the motor MG2. .

  FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an arrangement state of main devices in the engine compartment 21. As shown in the figure, the engine 22 is mounted horizontally in the engine compartment 21 so that the axial direction of the crankshaft coincides with the vehicle width direction. Hybrid transaxle 30 is connected to engine 22 and is disposed horizontally so that the axial directions of motors MG1 and MG2 and the power distribution mechanism coincide with the vehicle width direction. Further, the power control unit 40 is also mounted in the engine compartment 21 together with the engine 22 and the hybrid transaxle 30. In the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the power control unit 40 is disposed on the radiator grill 24 or behind the radiator grill 24 so that the traveling wind from the radiator grill 24 formed on the front portion of the engine compartment 21 is hit. It is installed in the vicinity of the hybrid transaxle 30 so as to face the radiator 25.

  Here, the power control unit 40 includes a capacitor case 41, an inverter case 42, and a front cover 43 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The capacitor case 41 and the inverter case 42 are housings made of aluminum alloy or the like cast by aluminum die casting so as to improve the vibration resistance of the power control unit 40. A capacitor 44 is accommodated inside the capacitor case 41, and a DC / DC converter 48 is attached to the vehicle rear side of the capacitor case 41. Further, in the inverter case 42, an inverter unit 45 including a first inverter for the motor MG1 and a second inverter for the motor MG2 is accommodated. In the embodiment, the inverter unit 45 is an inverter so that the board surfaces (mounting surfaces) of the first and second inverters are substantially perpendicular to the vehicle front-rear direction (when placed vertically) when the power control unit 40 is mounted on the vehicle. It is arranged inside the case 42. Further, a boost converter 46 including a reactor and the like is arranged in parallel on the vehicle front side of the inverter unit 45. The step-up converter 46 is also arranged so that the board surface (mounting surface) thereof is substantially orthogonal to the vehicle front-rear direction (when placed vertically) when the power control unit 40 is mounted on the vehicle.

  In the upper part of the inverter case 42 of the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, a positioning engagement portion 42x for positioning the fuse box 49 removed from a predetermined position of the power control unit 40 due to the replacement of the fuse. Is formed. By engaging an engaging portion (not shown) formed on the bottom surface of the fuse box 49 with the positioning engaging portion 42x, the fuse box 49 can be positioned (fixed) to the inverter case 42. This makes it possible to perform fuse replacement around the power control unit 40 that requires relatively careful handling without carrying the fuse box 49 separately to the workbench, thus improving the maintenance of the hybrid vehicle 20. Can be made.

  The front cover 43 is manufactured by, for example, press-molding a steel material such as an iron plate so as to ensure strength against impact from the front of the vehicle. The front cover 43 is located on the vehicle front side of the inverter case 42 when the power control unit 40 is mounted. It is fastened (fixed) to the inverter case 42 using a plurality of bolts so as to face the radiator grill 24 and cover the boost converter 46. Further, a recess 43a is formed on the surface of the front cover 43 by pressing so as to extend in the vehicle vertical direction and the vehicle width direction when the power control unit 40 is mounted on a vehicle (see FIG. 4). The front cover 43 accommodates a substrate 47 on which a motor electronic control unit, an IPM module, and the like are mounted together with the boost converter 46. As a result, the boost converter 46 and the substrate 47 as electronic components are covered by the front cover 43 from the front side of the vehicle in a state where the power control unit 40 is positioned on the radiator grill 24 side of the inverter unit 45 when the power control unit 40 is mounted on the vehicle. In the embodiment, the board 47 is also accommodated in the front cover 43 so that its mounting surface is substantially orthogonal to the vehicle front-rear direction when the power control unit 40 is mounted (so that it is in a vertically placed state). The board 47 is not necessarily accommodated in the front cover 43 and may be mounted in the inverter case 42 or on the vehicle rear side of the inverter case 42.

  For the hybrid transaxle 30 and the power control unit 40 of the embodiment, a hybrid cooling system 60 capable of cooling both using a refrigerant (liquid) such as LLC (long life coolant) is provided. The hybrid cooling system 60 includes a refrigerant pump 61 that pumps refrigerant to a refrigerant passage (water jacket) formed in the case of the hybrid transaxle 30 so as to surround the motors MG1 and MG2 and the power distribution mechanism, and a filler tank (not shown). The refrigerant that exchanges heat with the motors MG1, MG2, etc. of the hybrid transaxle 30 is radiated by the radiator 25. The refrigerant radiated by the radiator 25 is supplied to the refrigerant passage 42 a formed in the inverter case 42 after being used for cooling the DC / DC converter 48. As shown in FIG. 3, the refrigerant passage 42 a of the embodiment enables heat exchange between the inverter unit 45 and the refrigerant on the vehicle front side and the vehicle rear side of the inverter unit 45, and the vehicle rear side of the boost converter 46. Thus, the inverter case 42 is formed so as to enable heat exchange between the boost converter 46 and the refrigerant. The refrigerant that has passed through the refrigerant passage 42a is guided to the suction port of the refrigerant pump 61 through a filler tank (not shown).

  As described above, in the hybrid vehicle 20 of the embodiment, the power control unit 40 is disposed in the engine compartment 21 so as to face the radiator grill 24 and so that the mounting surface of the inverter unit 45 is substantially orthogonal to the vehicle longitudinal direction. . Thereby, since the traveling wind flowing into the engine compartment 21 via the radiator grille 24 can be favorably applied to the power control unit 40, the power control unit 40 can be cooled more efficiently. In addition, the hybrid vehicle 20 of the embodiment includes a hybrid cooling system 60 that cools the power control unit 40 using a refrigerant, and the traveling wind flowing into the engine compartment 21 via the radiator grill 24 and the hybrid cooling system. By cooling the power control unit 40 while using together with 60 refrigerants, the power control unit 40 can be cooled more efficiently while suppressing the burden on the hybrid cooling system 60.

  Furthermore, the power control unit 40 of the hybrid vehicle 20 of the embodiment is an electronic component that is arranged in parallel with the inverter unit 45 so as to be positioned on the radiator grill 24 side of the inverter unit 45 when disposed in the engine compartment 21. The boost converter 46 and the substrate 47 are included. Therefore, the boost converter 46 (especially a reactor or the like) and the substrate 47 can be cooled by the traveling wind flowing into the engine compartment 21 via the radiator grille 24, and the cooling burden on the boost converter 46 and the like of the hybrid cooling system 60 can be suppressed. it can. Further, the hybrid cooling system 60 enables heat exchange between the inverter unit 45 and the refrigerant on the vehicle front side and the vehicle rear side of the inverter unit 45, and the boost converter 46 and the refrigerant on the vehicle rear side of the boost converter 46. It includes a refrigerant passage 42a that enables heat exchange. Thus, the inverter unit 45 is cooled on both the vehicle front side and the rear side by the refrigerant of the hybrid cooling system 60, and at the vehicle rear side by the refrigerant of the hybrid cooling system 60 and by the traveling wind from the radiator grill 24. The boost converter 46 can be cooled on the side. As a result, it becomes possible to cool the power control unit 40 more efficiently while using the traveling wind from the radiator grille 24 and the refrigerant of the hybrid cooling system 60 in combination.

  The power control unit 40 includes a front cover 43 that covers electronic components such as the boost converter 46 and the board 47 from the front side of the vehicle and faces the radiator grille 24. On the surface of the front cover 43 on the radiator grille 24 side, A recess 43a extending in the vehicle vertical direction and the vehicle width direction is formed. Thereby, even if dew condensation occurs near the front cover 43 located in the vicinity of the radiator grille 24, the water liquefied near the cover can be guided downward in the vehicle by the recess 43a. Therefore, in the hybrid vehicle 20 of the embodiment, it is possible to prevent the moisture generated in the engine compartment 21 from entering the inside of the front cover 43 and to achieve good component protection. Further, by forming the front cover 43 with a steel material having high strength and elasticity, the front cover 43 is cracked compared to the case where a cover (case) made of an aluminum material is used even if an impact from the front of the vehicle is applied. Therefore, the boost converter 46 and the substrate 47 in the front cover 43, that is, the power control unit 40 can be well protected. Furthermore, it is possible to further increase the strength of the front cover 43 by forming the concave portion 43a in the front cover 43 made of steel.

  The hybrid vehicle 20 transmits the power of the motor MG2 to the drive shaft connected to the drive wheels (front wheels) via a reduction gear mechanism and a transmission. It is not limited. That is, the present invention may be applied to an apparatus that outputs the power of the motor MG2 to an axle (in the embodiment, an axle connected to a rear wheel) different from the drive shaft.

  Here, the correspondence between the main elements of the above-described embodiments and modifications and the main elements of the invention described in the column of means for solving the problems will be described. That is, in the above-described embodiment and modification, the engine 22 that is disposed in the engine compartment 21 and that can output power corresponds to an “engine”, and at least one of the motors MG1 and MG2 constituting the hybrid transaxle 30. Corresponds to the “electric motor”, the battery 50 capable of exchanging electric power with the motors MG1 and MG2 corresponds to the “power storage means”, faces the radiator grill 24, and the mounting surface of the inverter unit 45 is substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Thus, the power control unit 40 disposed in the engine compartment 21 corresponds to a “motor drive unit”. Further, the boost converter 46 and the substrate 47 that are included in the power control unit 40 and are disposed in the engine compartment 21 so as to be positioned on the radiator grille 24 side with respect to the inverter unit 45 correspond to “electronic components”. The hybrid cooling system 60 that cools the power control unit 40 using the refrigerant corresponds to “cooling means”, and enables heat exchange between the inverter unit 45 and the refrigerant on the vehicle front side and the vehicle rear side of the inverter unit 45. In addition, the refrigerant passage 42a formed in the inverter case 42 so as to enable heat exchange between the boost converter 46 and the refrigerant on the vehicle rear side of the boost converter 46 corresponds to a "refrigerant passage", and at least the boost converter 46 is Cover from the front side of the vehicle and pair with the radiator grille 24 And a front cover 43 made of steel recess 43a is formed to extend in the vehicle vertical direction to the plane of the radiator grille 24 side corresponds to the "front cover".

  However, the “internal combustion engine” is not limited to the engine 22 that outputs power by receiving a hydrocarbon-based fuel such as gasoline or light oil, and may be of any other type such as a hydrogen engine. The “motor” is not limited to the synchronous generator motor such as the motors MG1 and MG2, and may be any other type such as an induction motor. The “storage means” is not limited to the secondary battery such as the battery 50, and may be any other type such as a capacitor. The “motor drive unit” may be of any type as long as it includes an inverter that can drive the motor using electric power from the power storage means. The “cooling means” may be of any type as long as it can cool the motor drive unit using a refrigerant. In any case, the correspondence between the main elements of the embodiments and the modified examples and the main elements of the invention described in the column of means for solving the problems is the same as the means for the embodiments to solve the problems. Since this is an example for specifically explaining the best mode for carrying out the invention described in the column, the elements of the invention described in the column for means for solving the problems are not limited. In other words, the examples are merely specific examples of the invention described in the column for means for solving the problem, and the interpretation of the invention described in the column for means for solving the problem is described in the description of the column. Should be done on the basis.

  The embodiments of the present invention have been described above using the embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Needless to say.

  The present invention can be used in the manufacturing industry of hybrid vehicles.

1 is a perspective view showing a hybrid vehicle 20 as a hybrid vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an arrangement state of main devices in an engine compartment 21. It is a schematic diagram which shows the power control unit 40 of an Example. It is a perspective view which shows the power control unit 40 of an Example.

Explanation of symbols

  20 Hybrid vehicle, 21 Engine compartment, 22 Engine, 24 Radiator grill, 25 Radiator, 30 Hybrid transaxle, 40 Power control unit, 41 Condenser case, 42 Inverter case, 42a Refrigerant passage, 42x Positioning engagement part, 43 Front cover, 43a Concave part, 44 condenser, 45 inverter unit, 46 boost converter, 47 substrate, 48 DC / DC converter, 49 fuse box, 50 battery, 52 power cable, 60 hybrid cooling system, 61 refrigerant pump, MG1, MG2 motor.

Claims (6)

An engine disposed in the engine compartment and capable of outputting power, a motor capable of outputting power, power storage means capable of exchanging power with the motor, and driving the motor using power from the power storage means In a hybrid vehicle equipped with a motor drive unit including a simple inverter,
The hybrid vehicle characterized in that the motor drive unit is disposed in the engine compartment so as to face a radiator grill and so that a mounting surface of the inverter is substantially orthogonal to a front-rear direction of the vehicle. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 1,
The hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the motor drive unit includes an electronic component arranged in parallel with the inverter so as to be positioned on the radiator grill side with respect to the inverter when arranged in the engine compartment. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 2,
A hybrid vehicle further comprising cooling means for cooling the motor drive unit using a refrigerant. In the hybrid vehicle according to claim 3,
The cooling means enables heat exchange between the inverter and the refrigerant on the vehicle front side and vehicle rear side of the inverter, and enables heat exchange between the electronic component and the refrigerant on the vehicle rear side of the electronic component. A hybrid vehicle including a refrigerant passage. In the hybrid vehicle according to any one of claims 2 to 4,
The motor drive unit includes a front cover that covers at least the electronic component from the front side of the vehicle and faces the radiator grill. A recess extending at least in the vertical direction of the vehicle is formed on a surface of the front cover on the radiator grill side. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the hybrid vehicle is formed. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 5,
The hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the front cover is made of steel.

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