JP2015195214A - Structure for terminal connection of motor and apparatus, motor, electric power steering device, vehicle, and industrial machinery - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve reliability when terminals of a motor and terminals of an apparatus are electrically connected.SOLUTION: A motor terminal connection structure 1 is a structure for electrically connecting a plurality of motor side terminals 3 included in a motor 30 and a plurality of apparatus side terminals 5 included in an apparatus 31. Each motor side terminal 3 has connection surfaces 3C, arranged in parallel, on a side of connection with the apparatus side terminals 5, and each apparatus side terminal 5 has connection surfaces 5C, arranged in parallel, on a side of connection with the motor side terminals 3. The connection surface 3C of each motor side terminal 3 and the connection surface 5C of each apparatus side terminal 5 are electrically connected together in an opposed state.

Description

  The present invention relates to a terminal connection structure between a motor and a device for electrically connecting a terminal of the motor and a terminal of the device, a motor using the terminal connection structure between the motor and the device, and a terminal connection between the motor and the device. The present invention relates to an electric power steering device in which an electric motor using a structure is an assisting electric motor.

  The electric motor is used in various applications such as a vehicle such as an electric power steering device or an industrial machine. The electric motor has a terminal for receiving supply of electric power from the outside of the electric motor and a terminal for taking out outputs from sensors included in the electric motor to the outside of the electric motor. The terminal of the electric motor is electrically connected to an external device such as a control device or a power source. As a structure for connecting terminals to each other, for example, a technique described in Patent Document 1 is known.

JP 2008-123922 A

  In electrically connecting the terminal of the motor and the terminal of the device, the connecting portion between the two generates heat due to the operation of the motor or rises in temperature due to an external influence. Since the connection part of the terminal of an electric motor and the terminal of an apparatus is used in such a condition and environment, reliability is requested | required for both connection. An object of this invention is to improve the reliability at the time of electrically connecting the terminal of an electric motor, and the terminal of an apparatus.

  The present invention has a structure in which a plurality of motor side terminals included in an electric motor and a plurality of device side terminals included in a device are electrically connected, and the plurality of motor side terminals are connected to the device side terminals. In the plurality of device side terminals, the connection surfaces on the side connected to the motor side terminals are arranged in parallel, and the connection surfaces of the plurality of motor side terminals and the A terminal connection structure between an electric motor and a device, wherein both are electrically connected with connection surfaces of a plurality of device-side terminals facing each other.

  In the terminal connection structure between the motor and the device, the connection surfaces of the plurality of motor side terminals are arranged in parallel, and the connection surfaces of the plurality of device side terminals are arranged in parallel. At this time, the positions of the two in the arrangement direction on the motor side and the like are adjusted so that the connection surface of the motor side terminal and the connection surface of the device side terminal are all in contact, and then the two are electrically connected. Even if both of the motor side terminal and the device side terminal move in the arrangement direction such as the motor side, both of them follow the above movement by bending, so that the contact surfaces of all the motor side terminals and all the devices Contact with the contact surface of the side terminal can be maintained. Stress is generated at the connecting portion between the motor side terminal and the device side terminal due to the springback that occurs when the motor side terminal and the device side terminal are joined together. However, this terminal connection structure between the electric motor and the device joins and electrically connects the motor side terminal and the device side terminal in a state in which both are in contact with each other, thereby generating the spring back and the stress resulting therefrom. Since it can suppress, the durable fall of the connection part of the electric motor side terminal resulting from the said stress and an apparatus side terminal can be suppressed. As a result, the terminal connection structure between the electric motor and the device can improve the reliability when the electric motor terminal and the device terminal are electrically connected.

  In the present invention, it is preferable that at least one of the plurality of electric motor side terminals and the plurality of device side terminals has a protrusion on a connection surface. By doing so, for example, when joining the motor side terminal and the equipment side terminal using pressure welding such as resistance welding, the current flowing through both can be reduced, so the energy at the time of joining can be reduced. Can be suppressed.

  In the present invention, the plurality of motor side terminals and the plurality of device side terminals have a protrusion extending in a predetermined direction on the connection surface of the motor side terminal, and on the connection surface of the device side terminal, It is preferable to have a protrusion that extends in a direction intersecting with the protrusion on the connection surface of the electric motor side terminal. By doing in this way, even if the positional deviation between the electric motor side terminal and the equipment side terminal occurs, the protrusions intersect to absorb the positional deviation, and the electric motor side terminal and the equipment side terminal are connected. It can be reliably joined and electrically connected.

  In the present invention, the plurality of electric motor-side terminals include, on a connection surface, a first protrusion extending in a predetermined direction and a second protrusion extending in a direction different from the first protrusion. The plurality of device-side terminals include, on a connection surface, a third protrusion that extends in a direction intersecting the first protrusion, and a fourth protrusion that extends in a direction intersecting the second protrusion. It is preferable to have. By doing in this way, the 1st projection part and the 3rd projection part are electrically connected, and the 2nd projection part and the 4th projection part are electrically connected. For this reason, since the number of connection points increases, the reliability is further improved.

  The present invention is an electric motor in which a terminal is connected by a terminal connection structure between the electric motor and a device. Since this electric motor has a terminal connection structure between the electric motor and the device, it is possible to improve the reliability when the electric motor terminal and the device terminal are electrically connected.

  The present invention includes the electric motor that applies an auxiliary steering force to a steering mechanism of a vehicle, and drives and controls the electric motor based on a steering auxiliary command value calculated using at least a steering torque and a vehicle speed for the steering mechanism. This is an electric power steering device. In this electric power steering apparatus, the electric motor and devices such as a control device are electrically connected by a terminal connection structure between the electric motor and the device. For this reason, the reliability at the time of electrically connecting the terminal of an electric motor and the terminal of an apparatus can be improved, and the reliability of an electric power steering device can be improved.

  The present invention can improve the reliability when electrically connecting a terminal of an electric motor and a terminal of a device.

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a terminal connection structure between an electric motor and a device according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a motor-side terminal included in the motor. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a device-side terminal included in a device connected to the electric motor. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a state when a plurality of electric motor side terminals and a plurality of device side terminals are joined. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a state when the electric motor side terminal and the equipment side terminal are joined. FIG. 8 is an enlarged view showing a joint portion when the motor side terminal and the equipment side terminal are joined. FIG. 9 is a side view showing a state when the motor side terminal and the device side terminal are joined. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a terminal connection structure in which an electric motor and a device are brought close to each other and a connection surface of a motor side terminal and a device side terminal connection surface are brought into contact and electrically connected. FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a terminal connection structure in which an electric motor and a device are brought close to each other and a connection surface of the motor-side terminal and a device-side terminal connection surface are brought into contact with each other to be electrically connected. FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a terminal connection structure according to a modification of the present embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a connection portion of a terminal connection structure according to a modification of the present embodiment. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a connection portion of a terminal connection structure according to a modification of the present embodiment. FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an electric power steering apparatus including the electric motor according to the present embodiment.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Embodiments (embodiments) for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited by the contents described in the following embodiments. The constituent elements described below include those that can be easily assumed by those skilled in the art, those that are substantially the same, and those that are equivalent. Furthermore, the constituent elements described below can be appropriately combined. In addition, various omissions, substitutions, or changes of components can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

  FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a terminal connection structure between an electric motor and a device according to the present embodiment. A terminal connection structure (hereinafter referred to as a terminal connection structure) 1 between an electric motor and a device includes a motor-side terminal 3 that is a plurality of terminals included in the motor 30 and a device (in this embodiment, for example, an electronic control device including a computer). This is a structure for electrically connecting the equipment side terminals 5 which are a plurality of terminals 31. The electric motor side terminal 3 and the equipment side terminal 5 are, for example, elongated metal bars, and are bus bars used for power supply and the like.

  The electric motor 30 receives power supply, takes out the regenerated electric power, and takes out the detection value of a rotation angle detection sensor such as a resolver that detects the rotation angle of the input / output shaft that rotates about the rotation center axis Zr. Therefore, a plurality of electric motor side terminals 3 are provided. The device 31 is a control device that controls the operation of the electric motor 30, and includes a plurality of device-side terminals 5 for supplying electric power to the electric motor 30 and acquiring the detection value of the rotation angle detection sensor. Yes. The material of the motor side terminal 3 and the equipment side terminal 5 is a metal, but the kind of metal is not particularly limited, and an appropriate material depending on the means for joining the motor side terminal 3 and the equipment side terminal 5 May be used. Moreover, it is preferable to determine the length of the electric motor side terminal 3 and the apparatus side terminal 5 in consideration of the variation of both clearances.

  The plurality of electric motor side terminals 3 are attached to the electric motor side terminal block 2 by fastening means such as screws. The plurality of device-side terminals 5 are attached to the device-side terminal block 4 by, for example, fastening means such as screws. The means for attaching the motor side terminal 3 to the motor side terminal block 2 and the means for attaching the equipment side terminal 5 to the equipment side terminal block 4 are not limited to this. Moreover, the electric motor side terminal block 2 and the apparatus side terminal block 4 should just have the function to attach and support a terminal, and may be a thing like a board | substrate. As for the some motor side terminal 3, the connection surface 3C in the side connected with the apparatus side terminal 5 is arranged in parallel. Further, the plurality of device side terminals 5 are arranged such that the connection surfaces 5C on the side connected to the motor side terminals 3 are arranged in parallel. The terminal connection structure 1 electrically connects the connection surfaces 3C of the plurality of electric motor side terminals 3 and the connection surfaces 5C of the plurality of device side terminals 5 to each other.

  The plurality of electric motor side terminals 3 and the plurality of apparatus side terminals 5 are joined together by joining means such as welding and soldering, and are electrically connected. When both are connected, the connection surface 3C of the motor-side terminal 3 and the connection surface 5C of the device-side terminal 5 are opposed to each other, and then the motor-side terminal 3 and the device-side terminal 5 are viewed from the surface opposite to the connection surfaces 3C and 5C. Pressure. After doing in this way, the connection surface 3C of the electric motor side terminal 3 and the connection surface 5C of the apparatus side terminal 5 are joined by welding etc., and both are electrically connected.

  In the terminal connection structure 1, the connection surfaces 3 </ b> C and 5 </ b> C are parallel to the plurality of motor side terminals 3 and the plurality of device side terminals 5. When the connection surface 3C of the motor side terminal 3 and the connection surface 5C of the device side terminal 5 are opposed to each other, the plurality of motor side terminals 3 and the plurality of device side terminals 5 are brought close to each other and overlapped with each other. Then, in a state where the connection surface 3C of the motor-side terminal 3 and the connection surface 5C of the device-side terminal 5 face each other, the two connection surfaces 3C and 5C are brought into contact with each other in the direction orthogonal to the connection surfaces 3C and 5C. Let In this state, by joining the two together by welding or the like, the motor side terminal caused by the spring back generated due to excessive clearance between the connection surface 3C of the motor side terminal 3 and the connection surface 5C of the device side terminal 5 It is possible to suppress the stress generated at the connection portion between 3 and the device-side terminal 5. When the electric motor 30 is driven, distortion may occur in both due to thermal expansion due to heat generation of the electric motor side terminal 3 and the equipment side terminal 5 or thermal expansion due to an external influence. When the stress due to the springback is generated in the electric motor side terminal 3 and the equipment side terminal 5, there is a risk that the durability of the electric motor side terminal 3 and the equipment side terminal 5 may be lowered along with the distortion due to the thermal expansion or the like. Since the terminal connection structure 1 can suppress the stress generated in the connection portion between the motor side terminal 3 and the device side terminal 5 due to the spring back, the durability of the motor side terminal 3 and the device side terminal 5 is reduced. Can be suppressed. Next, the electric motor side terminal 3 and the equipment side terminal 5 in the terminal connection structure 1 will be described in more detail.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a motor-side terminal included in the motor. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a device-side terminal included in a device connected to the electric motor. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. In the present embodiment, at least one of the plurality of motor side terminals 3 and the plurality of device side terminals 5 has projections (projections) on the connection surfaces 3C and 5C. In the present embodiment, both the electric motor side terminal 3 and the device side terminal 5 have the protrusions 6 and the protrusions 7, respectively. The protrusions 6 and 7 can be provided by, for example, pressing.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the electric motor side terminal 3 has a protruding portion 6 extending in a predetermined direction on the connection surface 3 </ b> C. The protruding portion 6 is a portion protruding from the connection surface 3C. In this example, the electric motor side terminal 3 has two protrusions 6, but the number of protrusions 6 is not limited to two. The two protrusions 6 are parallel to each other, but may not be parallel. The motor side terminal 3 has a terminal block mounting portion 3B for mounting on the motor side terminal block 2 at one end. The protrusion 6 is provided at the other end of the electric motor side terminal 3, that is, at the end opposite to the terminal block mounting portion 3B.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the device-side terminal 5 has a protrusion 7 extending on the connection surface 5 </ b> C in a direction intersecting with the protrusion 6 of the connection surface 3 </ b> C of the motor-side terminal 3. The protrusion 7 is a portion protruding from the connection surface 5C. In this example, the device-side terminal 5 has one protrusion 7, but the number of protrusions 7 is not limited to one. The device side terminal 5 has a terminal block attaching portion 5B for attaching to the device side terminal block 4 at one end. The protrusion 7 is provided at the other end of the device-side terminal 5, that is, at the end opposite to the terminal block mounting portion 5B. The protrusions 6 and 7 have a substantially trapezoidal cross section, but the cross-sectional shape of the protrusions 6 and 7 is not limited to this. For example, the cross section may be a semicircular shape or a substantially triangular shape.

  FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a state when a plurality of electric motor side terminals and a plurality of device side terminals are joined. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a state when the electric motor side terminal and the equipment side terminal are joined. FIG. 8 is an enlarged view showing a joint portion when the motor side terminal and the equipment side terminal are joined. FIG. 9 is a side view showing a state when the motor side terminal and the device side terminal are joined. When the plurality of motor side terminals 3 and the plurality of device side terminals 5 are electrically connected, the connection surface 3C of each motor side terminal 3 and the connection surface 5C of the device side terminal 5 are opposed to each other. At this time, as shown in FIG. 8, the protrusion 6 on the connection surface 3 </ b> C of the motor-side terminal 3 and the protrusion 7 on the connection surface 5 </ b> C of the device-side terminal 5 are opposed to each other.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 8, the motor-side terminal 3 and the device are arranged so that the projection 6 of the connection surface 3 </ b> C of the motor-side terminal 3 and the projection 7 of the connection surface 5 </ b> C of the device-side terminal 5 are pressed against each other. A pressing force P is applied to the side terminal 5. In this state, the electric motor side terminal 3 and the equipment side terminal 5 are welded. Specifically, an electric current is passed between the projection 6 on the connection surface 3C of the motor-side terminal 3 and the projection 7 on the connection surface 5C of the device-side terminal 5 to melt them and join them by welding. That is, in this embodiment, the projections 6 and 7 are joined together by resistance welding. The current flows through the contact portion W between the protrusions 6 and 7, but since the contact area between the two is small, the electrical resistance at the contact portion W of both becomes high. As a result, the protrusions 6 and 7 can be melted and joined without excessively increasing the current (welding current) that flows during welding. The protrusions 6 and 7 are not necessarily provided, but by providing at least one of the protrusions 6 and 7, as described above, the electric motor side terminal 3 and the apparatus side terminal 5 are joined by resistance welding. In this case, the welding current can be reduced.

  The protruding portion 6 of the electric motor side terminal 3 and the protruding portion 7 of the device side terminal 5 are joined at two locations and are electrically connected. For this reason, the reliability in the connection part of the electric motor side terminal 3 and the apparatus side terminal 5 improves. In addition, the protrusion part should just be provided in at least one of the electric motor side terminal 3 and the apparatus side terminal 5. FIG. Moreover, since the protrusion part 7 is extended in the direction which cross | intersects the protrusion part 6, even if the position shift of the electric motor side terminal 3 and the apparatus side terminal 5 generate | occur | produces, the protrusion parts 6 and 7 cross | intersect. By this, the said position shift is absorbed, the electric motor side terminal 3 and the apparatus side terminal 5 can be joined reliably, and can be electrically connected. In addition, the joining method of the electric motor side terminal 3 and the apparatus side terminal 5 can use the pressure welding represented by the resistance welding mentioned above, the fusion welding represented by arc welding, the brazing welding represented by soldering, etc. .

  10 and 11 are perspective views of a terminal connection structure in which an electric motor and a device are brought close to each other and a connection surface of a motor side terminal and a device side terminal connection surface are brought into contact and electrically connected. This terminal connection structure 101 makes the connection surface 103C of the motor side electrode 103 attached to the motor side terminal block 102 and the connection surface 105C of the device side terminal 105 attached to the device side terminal block 104 face each other. The direction orthogonal to the connection surfaces 103C and 104C is a direction parallel to the direction orthogonal to the rotation center axis Zr of the electric motor. In such a terminal connection structure 101, the motor-side terminal block 102 and the device-side terminal block 104 are brought close to each other and the connection surfaces 103C and 104C are brought into contact with each other. In the terminal connection structure 1, the plurality of motor side electrodes 103 are arranged so that the respective connection surfaces 103 </ b> C are on the same plane, and the plurality of device side terminals 105 are arranged so that the respective connection surfaces 105 </ b> C are on the same plane. Is done. Therefore, when the motor side electrode 103 and the device side terminal 105 are electrically connected, the connection surfaces 103C of all the motor side electrodes 103 and the connection surfaces 105C of all the device side terminals 105 are not in contact with each other. It becomes easy to become.

  When the motor side electrode 103 and the device side terminal 105 are joined and electrically connected by welding or the like in this state, at least one of the motor side electrode 103 and the device side terminal 105 is deformed and connected. Since the motor side electrode 103 and the device side terminal 105 are made of metal, when they are connected in a deformed state, a force to return to the original state after welding is applied to the connecting portion by the spring back that is a characteristic of the metal (indicated by arrow E in FIG. 11). Direction). As a result, stress continues to act on the connecting portion. In this state, when further distortion occurs due to thermal expansion due to heat generation of the connection portion due to operation of the motor and thermal expansion of the motor side electrode 103 and the device side terminal 105 due to external influences, the motor side electrode 103 and the device side terminal 105 are generated. There is a risk of lowering the durability at the connecting portion.

  In the terminal connection structure 1, the connection surfaces 3 </ b> C of the plurality of motor side terminals 3 are arranged in parallel, and the connection surfaces 5 </ b> C of the plurality of device side terminals 5 are arranged in parallel. For this reason, when the electric motor side terminal 3 and the equipment side terminal 5 are brought into contact with each other, the electric equipment side terminal 3 or the equipment is arranged in a direction in which they are arranged (terminal arrangement direction, a direction indicated by arrows Da and Db in FIG. 6). What is necessary is just to move the side terminal 5 and to make both contact. At this time, after adjusting both positions in the terminal arrangement direction so that the protrusions 6 on the connection surface 3C of the motor-side terminal 3 and the protrusions 7 on the connection surface 5C of the device-side terminal 5 are all in contact with each other, Are electrically connected. Even if both of the motor side terminal 3 and the device side terminal 5 move in the terminal arrangement direction, both of them follow the above movement by bending, so that the protrusions 6 of all the motor side terminals 3 and all the terminals Contact with the protrusion 7 of the device side terminal 5 is maintained. As described above, the terminal connection structure 1 is relatively easy to adjust when the projections 6 of all the motor-side terminals 3 and the projections 7 of all the device-side terminals 5 are in contact with each other, and all the projections. It is also easy to reliably contact 6 and 7. Furthermore, since the terminal connection structure 1 can be joined and electrically connected in a state where all the protrusions 6 and 7 are in contact with each other, the electric motor side terminal 3 and the equipment side terminal 5 are caused by springback. The stress generated in the connection portion can be reduced.

  Thus, in the terminal connection structure 1, when the electric motor side terminal 3 and the apparatus side terminal 5 are made to contact and join by welding etc., each protrusion part 6 and 7 should just oppose and contact. . Therefore, according to the terminal connection structure 1, even if the clearance C between the motor side terminal block 2 and the equipment side terminal block 4 in the direction orthogonal to the rotation center axis Zr shown in FIG. If the two are opposed and in contact with each other, the electric motor side terminal 3 and the equipment side terminal 5 can be reliably electrically connected. That is, the terminal connection structure 1 reliably connects the motor-side terminal 3 and the device-side terminal 5 even if the positioning accuracy between the motor-side terminal block 2 and the device-side terminal block 4 in the direction orthogonal to the rotation center axis Zr is low. It is possible to reduce the stress due to electrical connection and the springback. As a result, the terminal connection structure 1 is configured such that the electric motor side terminal block 2 and the device side terminal block 4 are aligned in the direction orthogonal to the rotation center axis Zr, and the electric motor side terminal 3 and the device side terminal 5 are positioned in the terminal arrangement direction. It is possible to reduce the labor required for alignment. Furthermore, the terminal connection structure 1 improves the reliability of the connection part by reducing the stress caused by the springback and suppressing the decrease in the durability of the connection part between the motor side terminal 3 and the equipment side terminal 5. be able to.

  In particular, the terminal connection structure 1 is applied to a case where the clearance between the motor-side terminal 3 and the device-side terminal 5 varies due to the accuracy of the reference portion used for positioning the motor 30 and the device 31. It is effective. If the terminal connection structure 1 is applied in such a case, the motor side terminal 3 and the device side terminal 5 can be brought into contact with each other even if the clearance between the motor 30 and the device 31 varies. Can be reliably bonded, and the reliability of the connection between the two can be improved.

(Modification)
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a terminal connection structure according to a modification of the present embodiment. FIG. 13 and FIG. 14 are diagrams showing a connection portion of a terminal connection structure according to a modification of the present embodiment. The terminal connection structure 1a is the same as the terminal connection structure 1 described above, but the protrusions of the motor side terminal 3a and the device side terminal 5a are different.

  In the terminal connection structure 1a, the motor-side terminal 3a includes, on the connection surface 3Ca, a first protrusion 6A that extends in a predetermined direction and a second protrusion 6B that extends in a direction different from the first protrusion 6A. Have. The device-side terminal 5a has a third protrusion 7A extending on the connection surface 5Ca in a direction intersecting the first protrusion 6A and a fourth protrusion extending in a direction intersecting the second protrusion 6B. 7B. In the present modification, only one of the motor side terminal 3a and the device side terminal 5a is shown, but like the terminal connection structure 1 described above, the terminal connection structure 1a includes the motor side terminal 3a and the device side terminal. A plurality of 5a are provided.

  In this modification, the number of the first protrusions 6A, the second protrusions 6B, the third protrusions 7A, and the fourth protrusions 7B may be at least one, and the number is not limited. In the present embodiment, there are two first protrusions 6A of the motor-side terminal 3a and fourth protrusions 7B of the device-side terminal 5a, and the second protrusion 6B of the motor-side terminal 3a and the device-side terminal 5a. The number of the third protrusions 7A is one. Thus, in this modification, the number of the first protrusions 6A and the third protrusions 7A is different, and the number of the second protrusions 6B and the fourth protrusions 7B are different.

  In the terminal connection structure 1a, two first protrusions 6A and one third protrusion 7A intersect. Also, one second protrusion 6B and two fourth protrusions 7B intersect. The first and third protrusions 6A and 7A are joined at two locations, and the second and fourth projections 6B and 7B are joined and electrically connected at two locations. By doing in this way, since the electric motor side terminal 3a and the apparatus side terminal 5a are electrically connected in multiple places, reliability improves.

  The terminal connection structures 1, 1 a according to the present embodiment and the modifications thereof can be electrically connected to each other when the electric motor side terminal 3 and the device side terminal 5 have substantially the same dimensions. Moreover, since the flat electric motor side terminal 3 and the apparatus side terminal 5 can be electrically connected, it is suitable also for the use which sends a large electric current. As described above, the terminal connection structures 1 and 1a according to the present embodiment and the modifications thereof are suitable for electrically connecting the motor-side terminal 3 and the device-side terminal 5 having substantially the same dimensions and a flat plate shape.

(Electric power steering device)
FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an electric power steering apparatus including the electric motor according to the present embodiment. The electric power steering device 10 includes a steering wheel 11, a steering shaft 12, a steering force assist mechanism 13, a universal joint 14, a lower shaft 15, a universal joint 16, A pinion shaft 17, a steering gear 18, and a tie rod 19 are provided. The electric power steering apparatus 10 includes an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 20, a torque sensor 21a, and a vehicle speed sensor 21b.

  The steering shaft 12 includes an input shaft 12a and an output shaft 12b. The input shaft 12a has one end connected to the steering wheel 11 and the other end connected to the steering force assist mechanism 13 via the torque sensor 21a. The output shaft 12 b has one end connected to the steering force assist mechanism 13 and the other end connected to the universal joint 14. In the present embodiment, the input shaft 12a and the output shaft 12b are made of a magnetic material such as iron.

  The lower shaft 15 has one end connected to the universal joint 14 and the other end connected to the universal joint 16. The pinion shaft 17 has one end connected to the universal joint 16 and the other end connected to the steering gear 18. The steering gear 18 includes a pinion 18a and a rack 18b. The pinion 18 a is connected to the pinion shaft 17. The rack 18b meshes with the pinion 18a. The steering gear 18 is configured as a rack and pinion type. The steering gear 18 converts the rotational motion transmitted to the pinion 18a into a linear motion by the rack 18b. The tie rod 19 is connected to the rack 18b.

  The steering force assist mechanism 13 includes a speed reducer 22 and an electric motor 30. The reduction gear 22 is connected to the output shaft 12b. The electric motor 30 is connected to the speed reducer 22 and generates auxiliary steering torque. In the electric power steering device 10, a steering column is configured by the steering shaft 12, the torque sensor 21 a, and the speed reduction device 22. The electric motor 30 gives auxiliary steering torque to the output shaft 12b of the steering column. That is, the electric power steering apparatus 10 of this embodiment is a column assist system.

  The torque sensor 21a detects the driver's steering force transmitted to the input shaft 12a via the steering wheel 11 as a steering torque. The vehicle speed sensor 21b detects the traveling speed of the vehicle on which the electric power steering device 10 is mounted.

  The ECU 20 is electrically connected to the electric motor 30, the torque sensor 21a, and the vehicle speed sensor 21b. The ECU 20 controls the operation of the electric motor 30. Moreover, ECU20 acquires a signal from each of the torque sensor 21a and the vehicle speed sensor 21b. That is, the ECU 20 acquires the steering torque T from the torque sensor 21a, and acquires the traveling speed V of the vehicle from the vehicle speed sensor 21b. The ECU 20 is supplied with electric power from a power supply device (for example, a vehicle-mounted battery) 24 with the ignition switch 23 turned on. The ECU 20 calculates an assist steering command value of the assist command based on the steering torque T and the traveling speed V. Then, the ECU 20 adjusts the current value supplied to the electric motor 30 based on the calculated auxiliary steering command value.

  The terminal (motor side terminal) of the electric motor 30 and the terminal (equipment side terminal) of the ECU 20 are electrically connected by the terminal connection structure 1 (see FIG. 7 etc.) or the terminal connection structure 1a (see FIG. 12 etc.) according to this embodiment. Connected. For this reason, since the durability reduction of the connection part between terminals is suppressed and the connection reliability improves, the terminal connection structures 1 and 1a are required to have high reliability like the electric power steering device 10. It is suitable for the device.

  The electric power steering device 10 is configured as described above. The steering force of the driver (driver) input to the steering wheel 11 is transmitted to the speed reduction device 22 of the steering force assist mechanism 13 via the input shaft 12a. At this time, the ECU 20 acquires the steering torque T input to the input shaft 12a from the torque sensor 21a, and acquires the traveling speed V from the vehicle speed sensor 21b. Then, the ECU 20 controls the operation of the electric motor 30. The auxiliary steering torque created by the electric motor 30 is transmitted to the speed reducer 22. The steering torque (including auxiliary steering torque) output via the output shaft 12 b is transmitted to the lower shaft 15 via the universal joint 14 and further transmitted to the pinion shaft 17 via the universal joint 16. The steering force transmitted to the pinion shaft 17 is transmitted to the tie rod 19 via the steering gear 18 to steer the steered wheels.

1, 1a, 101 Terminal connection structure between motor and device (terminal connection structure)
2,102 Motor side terminal block 3, 3a, 103 Motor side terminal 3B Terminal block mounting part 3C, 3Ca, 5C, 5Ca, 103C, 105C Connection surface 4 Device side terminal block 5, 5a, 105 Device side terminal 5B Terminal block mounting Portions 6 and 7 Protruding portion 6A First protruding portion 6B Second protruding portion 7A Third protruding portion 7B Fourth protruding portion 10 Electric power steering device 11 Steering wheel 12 Steering shaft 13 Steering force assist mechanism 14 Universal joint 15 Lower shaft 16 Universal Joint 17 Pinion shaft 18 Steering gear 19 Tie rod 21a Torque sensor 21b Vehicle speed sensor 22 Deceleration device 23 Ignition switch 30 Electric motor 31 Equipment

Claims (8)

It is a structure that electrically connects a plurality of motor side terminals that the motor has and a plurality of device side terminals that the device has,
The motor-side terminal has a connection surface connected to the device-side terminal and an opposite surface paired with the connection surface, and the connection surfaces of the plurality of motor-side terminals are parallel to each other in the same direction. Arranged in
The device side terminal has a connection surface connected to the electric motor side terminal, and an opposite surface to be paired with the connection surface,
A terminal connection structure between an electric motor and a device in which the connection surface of the electric motor side terminal and the connection surface of the device side terminal corresponding to the electric motor side terminal are electrically connected to each other.   The terminal connection structure between the motor and the device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of motor side terminals and the plurality of device side terminals has a protrusion on a connection surface.   The plurality of motor side terminals and the plurality of device side terminals have a protrusion extending in a predetermined direction on the connection surface of the motor side terminal, and the motor side terminal on the connection surface of the device side terminal The terminal connection structure of the electric motor and apparatus of Claim 1 which has a projection part extended in the direction which cross | intersects the projection part of this connection surface. The plurality of electric motor-side terminals have, on the connection surface, a first protrusion extending in a predetermined direction and a second protrusion extending in a direction different from the first protrusion.
The plurality of device-side terminals include, on a connection surface, a third protrusion that extends in a direction intersecting the first protrusion, and a fourth protrusion that extends in a direction intersecting the second protrusion. The terminal connection structure of the electric motor and apparatus of Claim 1 which has.   The electric motor by which a terminal is connected by the terminal connection structure of the electric motor of any one of Claim 1 to 4, and an apparatus.   The electric motor according to claim 5, wherein an auxiliary steering force is applied to a steering mechanism of a vehicle, and the electric motor is driven and controlled based on a steering auxiliary command value calculated using at least a steering torque and a vehicle speed for the steering mechanism. Electric power steering device.   A vehicle comprising the electric motor according to claim 5.   An industrial machine comprising the electric motor according to claim 5.

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