JP2013138570A - High voltage apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce manufacturing costs and achieve miniaturization by simplifying an interlock mechanism.SOLUTION: A high voltage apparatus 10 mounted on a vehicle includes: a housing 30 in which a through hole 36 for interlocking is formed; a protector 32 detachably attached to the housing 30 via a fastening member 38 and covering an opening of the housing 30 to protect the inside; and an interlock connector 50 detachably inserted into the through hole 36 and coupled to an internal connector 48 provided at a control board 34. The interlock connector 50 includes a bracket 58 for overhanging. When the interlock connector 50 and the internal connector 48 are connected, conduction of an interlock circuit is established, and the bracket 58 covers the fastening member from the outside so that safety measures are taken.

Description

  The present invention relates to a high-voltage device that is electrically connected to an electric motor of a vehicle, and more particularly to an improvement in an interlock mechanism of the device.

  In recent years, in consideration of environmental problems, vehicles such as an electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, and a fuel cell vehicle that travel with the output of an electric motor have attracted attention. Such a vehicle is equipped with a high-voltage device such as an inverter device that controls electric power exchanged between the electric motor and the battery, as well as a battery that can be charged and discharged as a power source connected to the electric motor.

  Since the inspection or maintenance work of the high-voltage device is usually performed by removing the protector that protects the high-voltage region inside the housing from the housing of the high-voltage device, safety measures against electric accidents are taken. As a safety measure, there may be provided an interlock circuit that cuts off the power supplied to the high-voltage device when the protector is removed from the housing.

  The following Patent Document 1 discloses a high voltage unit having a main body in which a high voltage unit is housed, first and second openings provided on the surface of the main body, and first and second lids covering these openings, respectively. Cases are listed. The first and second lids are provided with first and second interlock connectors, respectively. The second lid is attached to the second opening so that the second interlock connector extends to the first opening, and the first interlock connector is interposed between the second interlock connector and the conductive member. The interlock switch is turned off by attaching the first lid to the first opening so as to be conductive.

JP 2010-246321 A

  The interlock circuit as described in Patent Document 1 includes two opening / closing lids, two interlock connectors attached to these opening / closing lids, and a conductive member that conducts the two interlocks. In such a configuration, the structure becomes complicated and man-hours are required, and the manufacturing cost naturally increases.

  In general, when an inverter device is mounted on an automobile or the like, the inverter device is downsized because there is not enough room for installation in the vehicle. However, in the configuration as described above, the structure becomes complicated and the number of parts increases, so that there is a problem that downsizing becomes difficult.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a high-voltage device that can simplify the interlock mechanism, reduce the manufacturing cost, and reduce the size.

  The present invention relates to a high-voltage device mounted on a vehicle, and is detachably attached to the housing of the high-voltage device in which a through-hole for interlocking is formed via a fastening member. And a protector that protects the inside and an interlock connector that is detachably inserted into the through hole and is coupled to an internal connector provided on a control board of a high-voltage device. A bracket is included, and when the interlock connector and the internal connector are connected, conduction of the interlock circuit is achieved and the bracket covers the fastening member from the outside.

  Moreover, an interlock connector can be provided in the line which electrically connects the control board of the high voltage apparatus accommodated in a housing | casing, and the control part which controls a vehicle.

  The line may be a wire harness, and the interlock connector may be configured as a part of the wire harness.

  According to the high voltage device of the present invention, the interlock mechanism can be simplified, the manufacturing cost can be reduced, and the size can be reduced.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the electric vehicle which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the high voltage apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the high voltage apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is detail drawing which shows the connection state of an internal connector and an interlock connector.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a high-voltage device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As an example, an electric vehicle that travels with the output of an electric motor is cited, and a high-voltage device mounted on the vehicle will be described. The present invention can be applied not only to an electric vehicle but also to a vehicle that travels with the output of an internal combustion engine and an electric motor, that is, a high-voltage device for a hybrid vehicle or a high-voltage device for a fuel cell vehicle.

  First, the configuration of the electric vehicle 12 on which the high voltage device 10 according to the present embodiment is mounted will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an electric vehicle 12 according to the present embodiment.

  The electric vehicle 12 has an electric motor 14 as a prime mover. Drive wheels 18 are connected to the electric motor 14 via a power transmission mechanism 16. The power of the electric motor 14 is transmitted to the drive wheels 18 through the power transmission mechanism 16 and the electric vehicle 12 travels.

  The electric vehicle 12 includes a power control unit (hereinafter referred to as “PCU (Power Control Unit)”) 20 and a battery 22. The electric motor 14 is electrically connected to the battery 22 via the PCU 20.

  The PCU 20 mounted on the electric vehicle 12 corresponds to the high voltage device 10 to which a high voltage of, for example, several hundred volts is applied, and includes a converter and an inverter (both not shown). The inverter has a three-phase bridge circuit including six switching elements, and converts DC power into three-phase AC power or converts three-phase AC power into DC power by the switching operation of these switching elements. Device. The converter is a device that includes a reactor and a switching element, repeatedly stores and discharges energy in the reactor by a switching operation of the switching element, and converts an input voltage to obtain an output voltage. In the present embodiment, the case where the PCU 20 includes an inverter and a converter has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and the PCU 20 may be either a converter or an inverter.

  The battery 22 is a chargeable / dischargeable secondary battery, and is composed of, for example, a nickel metal hydride battery or a lithium ion battery. Of course, the battery 22 may be configured by a chargeable / dischargeable battery other than the secondary battery, for example, a capacitor.

  The electric power stored in the battery 22 is boosted by the PCU 20 and converted from direct current to alternating current, and then supplied to the electric motor 14 to drive the electric motor 14. Further, the electric power generated by the electric motor 14 at the time of regeneration is converted from alternating current to direct current by the PCU 20, and after being stepped down, is sent to the battery 22 and stored therein.

  Next, the configuration of the high voltage device 10 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the high-voltage device 10. The high voltage device 10 includes a housing 30 of the high voltage device 10 and a protector 32 that is detachably attached to the housing 30.

  The housing 30 houses a control board 34 that controls the high voltage device 10 together with the high voltage device 10. The housing 30 is formed with an interlocking through hole 36.

  The protector 32 is a member that covers the opening of the housing 30 and protects the inside thereof, and is fastened to the housing 30 via a fastening member 38 (shown in FIG. 3). The protector 32 according to the present embodiment is a member that protects a terminal (not shown) that is provided in the housing 30 and electrically connects the high-voltage device 10 and the electric motor 14. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and any other high voltage region in the housing 30, for example, the high voltage device 10 and the external device (battery 22) can be used as long as an electrical accident during work can be prevented. The terminal may be protected.

  The high voltage device 10 includes a signal line 42 that is a cable that electrically connects the control board 34 and the control unit 40 that controls the electric vehicle 12 and transmits signals between them. The control unit 40 is an ECU (Electronically Control Unit) and controls the high voltage device 10 and the electric motor 14 according to the situation of the electric vehicle 12. When the vehicle is a hybrid vehicle, the control unit 40 can be at least one of a hybrid ECU or an engine ECU.

  Further, the high voltage device 10 includes a signal line 44 that is a cable that electrically connects the control board 34 and the battery 22 and transmits a signal therebetween. The signal lines 42 and 44 are wire harnesses and have a signal connector 46 in the middle of the path to the control board 34. The signal connector 46 is detachably attached to a receiving port (not shown) of the connector exposed at the time of connection with the housing 30. Connection of the signal connector 46 achieves conduction of the signal line 42 between the control board 34 and the control unit 40 and conduction of the signal line 44 between the control board 34 and the battery 22.

  The high-voltage device 10 includes an internal connector 48 provided on the control board 34 and an interlock connector 50 that is detachably inserted into the through hole 36 and can be coupled to the internal connector 48. The internal connector 48 is connected to the signal lines 42 and 44 by an interlock circuit (broken line in FIG. 2) in the control board 34. The interlock connector 50 has a conductor for conducting the interlock circuit. When the interlock connector 50 and the internal connector 48 are combined, the interlock circuit is conducted and the circuit from the control unit 40 to the battery 22 is achieved. Continuity is achieved. On the other hand, when the interlock connector 50 and the internal connector 48 are separated, the conduction of the interlock circuit is interrupted. Then, the supply of power to the high-voltage electrical device 10 is stopped by this interruption of conduction. This power supply stop command can be output to the battery 22 by the control unit 40 that has detected the interruption of conduction through the signal line 42.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the interlock circuit is configured to be connected from the signal line 42 to the signal line 44 via the internal connector 48 and the interlock connector 50 has been described. The present invention is not limited to this, and another connector provided on the control board 34 between the signal lines 42 and 44, for example, a power system connector or a drive system connector may be interposed.

  Next, a connection structure between the housing 30, the protector 32, and the interlock connector 50 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a configuration of the high-voltage device 10 according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a detailed view showing a connection state between the internal connector 48 and the interlock connector 50.

  The high voltage apparatus 10 includes a fastening member 38 that fastens the protector 32 to the housing 30. The fastening member 38 is a bolt, for example. The housing 30 has four mounting seats 54 in which screw holes 52 into which the fastening members 38 are screwed are formed. The protector 32 is formed with four insertion holes 56 corresponding to the mounting seats 54 for inserting the fastening members 38. Note that the number of the mounting seats 54 and the insertion holes 56 is an example, and the present invention is not limited to the number of the mounting seats 54 and the insertion holes 56. In the high voltage device 10 configured as described above, first, the position of the protector 32 is determined so that the protector 32 covers the opening of the housing 30, and the fastening member 38 is screwed into the screw hole 52 through the insertion hole 56. Thus, the protector 32 is attached and fixed to the housing 30.

  The interlock connector 50 according to the present embodiment has a bracket 58 projecting outward. The bracket 58 is formed so as to cover the fastening member 38 when the interlock connector 50 and the internal connector 48 are connected. In other words, the bracket 58 is formed so as to cover the insertion hole 56 from the outside when the interlock connector 50 and the internal connector 48 are connected. In FIG. 3, the bracket 58 is formed so as to cover one fastening member 38, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and the bracket 58 covers two or more fastening members 38. It may be formed.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the interlock connector 50 is inserted into the through hole 36 of the housing 30 and connected to an internal connector 48 provided on the control board 34. By this connection, the interlock circuit becomes conductive. At this time, the gap between the through holes 36 is sealed by the seal 60, and the housing 30 is sealed.

  As described above, the interlock connector 50 is provided with the conductor constituting the interlock circuit. Therefore, when the interlock connector 50 is removed from the housing 30, the power supplied to the high voltage device 10 is cut off by the operation of the interlock circuit. Furthermore, the interlock connector 50 of this embodiment is provided with a bracket 58 that covers the fastening member 38. With such a simple configuration, unless the interlock connector 50 is removed from the protector 32, it is impossible to loosen the fastening member 38 and remove the protector 32 from the housing 30. That is, when the protector 32 is removed from the housing 30 in order to inspect or maintain the high-voltage device 10, the interlock connector 50 is always removed from the protector 32, so that the power supply to the high-voltage electrical device 10 is stopped. That is, safety measures are surely taken. Therefore, it can prevent that the user or maintenance worker of a vehicle accidentally touches the site | part to which the high voltage in the housing | casing 30 was applied, and can aim at the improvement of work safety as a result. And since such safety | security improvement is realizable with the above simple structures, while reducing manufacturing cost, size reduction can also be achieved.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the interlock connector 50 constitutes a part of the interlock circuit of the control board 34 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. The interlock connector 50 can be provided on the signal line 42 that electrically connects the control board 34 and the control unit 40. That is, by providing the signal connector 46 according to the present embodiment with the bracket 58 that covers the fastening member 38, the interlock connector 50 can be substituted.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 High voltage apparatus, 12 Electric vehicle, 14 Electric motor, 16 Power transmission mechanism, 18 Drive wheel, 20 PCU, 22 Battery, 30 Case, 32 Protector, 34 Control board, 36 Through-hole, 38 Fastening member, 40 Control part, 42,44 signal line, 46 signal connector, 48 internal connector, 50 interlock connector, 52 screw hole, 54 mounting seat, 56 insertion hole, 58 bracket, 60 seal.

Claims (3)

In high-voltage equipment mounted on vehicles,
A housing of a high-voltage device in which a through-hole for interlocking is formed;
A protector that is detachably attached to the housing via a fastening member and covers the opening of the housing to protect the inside;
An interlock connector that is detachably inserted into the through-hole and is coupled to an internal connector provided on a control board of a high-voltage device;
Have
The interlock connector includes an overhanging bracket,
When the interlock connector and the internal connector are connected, conduction of the interlock circuit is achieved and the bracket covers the fastening member from the outside.
High voltage equipment characterized by that. The high voltage device according to claim 1,
The interlock connector is provided on a line that electrically connects a control board of a high-voltage device housed in the housing and a control unit that controls the vehicle.
High voltage equipment characterized by that. The high voltage apparatus according to claim 2,
The line is a wire harness, and the interlock connector is configured as a part of the wire harness.
High voltage equipment characterized by that.

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