JP2021005616A - Capacitor module - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a capacitor module capable of gripping it with a robot arm of an automatic carrying apparatus with a high space efficiency.SOLUTION: A capacitor module comprises: a case housing a capacitor element; and a bus bar fastened to a terminal base projected to an upper surface of the case. The bus bar comprises: a fastening part overlapped with the upper surface of the terminal base; and an erected surface extended toward the upper surface of the case from the fastening part. A projection extended toward the erected surface is provided at one part of a side surface of the terminal base opposite to the erected surface. At the time of an automatic carry of the capacitor module, the case can be gripped with a robot arm by inserting the robot arm into a space between a lower surface of the projection and the upper surface of the case. Also, after the arrangement of the case at a prescribed position by the automatic carry, the bus bar is fastened to the terminal base. Since the erected surface of the bus bar covers the projection, the projection does not expand an outer form of the case.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The techniques disclosed herein relate to capacitor modules.

For example, a power control device that supplies driving power to a motor for traveling an electric vehicle includes a capacitor module. The capacitor module includes a capacitor element for smoothing, a case for accommodating the capacitor element, and a bus bar for connecting the capacitor element and other circuits. Patent Document 1 discloses a capacitor module (in Patent Document 1, simply referred to as a capacitor) that is fixed to a substrate such as a chassis by using a mounting leg provided in a metal case. In the capacitor module of Patent Document 1, the mounting legs can be attached to a predetermined position of the metal case by providing a protrusion on the metal case accommodating the capacitor element.

JP-A-6-36964

In recent years, for example, automation of a process of arranging an electric component such as a capacitor module at a predetermined position by using an automatic transfer device has been advanced. When arranging the capacitor module in the automatic transfer device, the robot arm of the automatic transfer device may grip the capacitor module and move it to a predetermined position. The capacitor module disclosed in Patent Document 1 is not provided with a portion to be gripped by a robot arm in a metal case. Therefore, when the capacitor module disclosed in Patent Document 1 is arranged by the automatic transfer device, a grip portion protruding from the outer shape of the capacitor module is required. The grip portion protruding from the outer shape enlarges the outer shape of the capacitor module. The present specification provides a capacitor module that can be gripped by a robot arm of an automatic transfer device in a space-efficient manner.

The capacitor module disclosed in the present specification includes a case for accommodating a capacitor element and a bus bar fastened to a terminal block protruding from the upper surface of the case. The bus bar includes a fastening portion that overlaps the upper surface of the terminal block, and an elevation portion that extends from the fastening portion toward the upper surface of the case. A protrusion extending toward the elevation portion is provided on a part of the side surface of the terminal block facing the elevation portion of the capacitor module disclosed in the present specification.

The terminal block of the above-mentioned capacitor module is provided with a protrusion extending toward the elevation portion of the bus bar. There is a space on the lower surface of the protrusion and the upper surface of the case. By inserting the robot arm into the space between the lower surface of the protrusion and the upper surface of the case during automatic transfer of the capacitor module, the case can be gripped by the robot arm. Further, after the case is arranged at a predetermined position by automatic transportation, the bus bar is fastened to the terminal block. Since the elevation of the bus bar covers the protrusions, the protrusions do not enlarge the outer shape of the case. That is, according to the capacitor module disclosed in the present specification, it can be gripped by the robot arm during automatic transfer in a space-efficient manner.

Further, by extending the protrusion from the terminal block to the elevation portion of the bus bar, the space where the elevation portion of the bus bar vibrates becomes smaller due to the protrusion. That is, according to the capacitor module disclosed in the present specification, the protrusion suppresses the vibration of the elevation portion of the bus bar.

Details of the techniques disclosed herein and further improvements will be described in the "Modes for Carrying Out the Invention" below.

It is a plan view of the capacitor module of an embodiment. It is a side view of the capacitor module of the embodiment. It is a partial cross-sectional view of the capacitor module of an Example along the line III-III of FIG. It is a partially enlarged view of the range of line IV of FIG. 2 which shows the state at the time of transporting the case provided in the capacitor module of an Example.

The capacitor module of the embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view of the capacitor module 10 of the embodiment. The capacitor module 10 includes a case 2, a first subbus bar 4, a second subbus bar 6, a main bus bar 8, a third subbus bar 16, a first bolt 14, and a second bolt 12. The capacitor module 10 is an electrical component connected to a voltage converter (not shown). The capacitor module 10 is an electric component that constitutes a power control unit (Power Control Unit: PCU) for driving an electric vehicle or the like. Although not shown or described here, the capacitor module 10 is housed in an aluminum PCU case together with other electrical components such as a voltage converter, a reactor, and a laminated unit in which switching elements are laminated.

In the case 2 of the capacitor module 10, the terminal block 20 projects from a part of the upper surface (that is, the surface on the positive side in the Z-axis direction) on the positive side in the X-axis direction. Further, two types of capacitor elements, a filter capacitor element (not shown) and a smoothing capacitor element, are housed in the case 2 of the capacitor module 10. The filter capacitor element suppresses and smoothes the pulsation of the input current of the voltage converter. The smoothing capacitor element suppresses the pulsation of the output current of the voltage converter and smoothes it. The details of the technique in which each capacitor suppresses the pulsation of the current will be omitted here. In the following, the positive side in the Z-axis direction may be simply referred to as the upper side, and the negative side in the Z-axis direction may be simply referred to as the lower side.

As shown in FIG. 1, the capacitor module 10 includes a first subbus bar 4 and a second subbus bar 6 on the positive side in the X-axis direction. Both the first subbus bar 4 and the second subbus bar 6 are made of a copper plate, and conduct the smoothing capacitor element in the case 2 and the peripheral electric devices (not shown). The first subbus bar 4 is fastened to the terminal block 20 of the case 2 with the first bolt 14 on the upper surface of the terminal block 20 of the case 2. Similarly, the second sub-bus bar 6 is fastened to the terminal block 20 of the case 2 with the second bolt 12 on the upper surface of the terminal block 20 of the case 2, but the main bus bar 8 is between the second sub-bus bar 6 and the second bolt 12. Is sandwiched.

The main bus bar 8 is also made of a copper plate like the first and second sub bus bars. As described above, the main bus bar 8 is fastened to the upper surface of the terminal block 20 protruding from the upper surface of the case 2 together with the second sub bus bar 6 with the second bolt 12. The main bus bar 8 electrically connects the smoothing capacitor element in the case 2 and the voltage converter.

Further, the capacitor module 10 includes a third subbus bar 16 on the positive side in the Y-axis direction and the negative side in the X-axis direction. The third subbus bar 16 is a copper plate having a plurality of through holes. A plurality of terminals of a laminated unit (not shown) housed in the PCU case together with the capacitor module 10 are inserted into each of the plurality of through holes of the third subbus bar 16. The third subbus bar 16 electrically connects the filter capacitor element in the case 2 and the laminated unit.

Further, the case 2 is provided with a first seat surface 3 at the end on the negative side in the X-axis direction, a second seat surface 5 on the side surface on the negative side in the Y-axis direction, and a third seat on the end on the positive side in the X-axis direction. It has a surface 7. Although not shown here, the case 2 is fastened to the PCU case with bolts penetrating these seating surfaces.

The shape of the case 2 will be further described with reference to FIG. As described above, the terminal block 20 projects from the upper surface of the case 2. A first subbus bar 4 is fastened to the upper surface of the terminal block 20 on the negative side in the X-axis direction with a first bolt 14. Further, on the upper surface of the terminal block 20, a second sub bus bar 6 and a main bus bar 8 are fastened to the positive side in the X-axis direction with a second bolt 12. Further, on the lower side of the case 2, a substrate 18 for connecting to each electric component in the PCU case is provided.

The structure for fastening the terminal block 20 and the main bus bar 8 will be further described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the capacitor module 10 along the line III-III of FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the terminal block 20 projects upward from the case upper surface 2a of the case 2. The terminal block 20 includes a terminal block upper surface 20a, nuts 20b and 20c, and a protrusion 20d. The upper surface of the nut 20b is open to the upper surface 20a of the terminal block, and the first subbus bar 4 is fastened to the terminal block 20 by screwing with the first bolt 14 inserted from the upper side. The upper surface of the nut 20c is opened to the upper surface 20a of the terminal block, and the second sub bus bar 6 and the main bus bar 8 are fastened to the terminal block 20 by screwing with the second bolt 12 inserted from the upper side. As described above, the smoothing capacitor element 2b is housed in the case 2. Therefore, there is no space in the main body of the case 2 for inserting and screwing the bolts. Therefore, in the case 2 of the capacitor module 10 of the embodiment, the bolts for fastening the main bus bar 8, the first sub bus bar 4, and the second sub bus bar 6 are screwed by projecting the terminal block 20 from the case upper surface 2a. Secure a space to do.

The main bus bar 8 extends from the fastening portion 8a overlapping the terminal block upper surface 20a, the elevation portion 8b extending from the fastening portion 8a toward the case upper surface 2a, and extending from the elevation portion 8b to the positive side in the X-axis direction along the case upper surface 2a. It is provided with a connecting portion 8c. As described above, the fastening portion 8a is fastened together with the second subbus bar 6 by the second bolt 12. The fastening portion 8a has a through hole through which the second bolt 12 is inserted. The main bus bar 8 is fastened to the terminal block 20 by inserting the second bolt 12 through the through hole of the fastening portion 8a and screwing it into the nut 20c of the terminal block 20. Further, by extending the elevation portion 8b toward the case upper surface 2a, the capacity in the PCU case in which the capacitor module 10 (see FIG. 1) is housed can be effectively used. Further, as described above, the connection portion 8c is connected to a voltage converter (not shown).

As described above, the capacitor module 10 of the embodiment is housed in the PCU case. In order to cope with the automation of the manufacturing process in recent years, it is necessary to arrange the capacitor module 10 in the PCU case by the automatic transfer device. Hereinafter, the structure adopted by the capacitor module 10 of the embodiment will be described in order to enable automatic transfer with space efficiency.

As shown in FIG. 3, the terminal block 20 is provided with a protrusion 20d extending toward the elevation portion 8b of the main bus bar 8 on the upper side surface on the positive side in the X-axis direction. The tip of the protrusion 20d is in contact with the elevation portion 8b. Further, by providing the protrusion 20d, a space SP exists under the protrusion 20d.

Here, a step of arranging the capacitor module 10 of the embodiment in the PCU case will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a partial side view showing a situation in which the case 2 of the capacitor module 10 is arranged in the PCU case by using the robot arm 22 of the automatic transfer device. As shown in FIG. 4, when the case 2 is arranged in the PCU case, the main bus bar 8 (see FIG. 3) is not fastened to the terminal block 20. As shown in FIG. 4, the robot arm 22 is inserted into the space SP below the protrusion 20d of the terminal block 20. The robot arm 22 is a part of equipment for arranging the case 2 in the PCU case in the automatic transfer process. The robot arm 22 grips the case 2 with the protrusion 20d of the terminal block 20 from below. Further, the robot arm 24 shown in FIG. 1 grips the first seat surface 3 of the case 2 from below at the same time as the robot arm 22. The robot arms 22 and 24 lift the case 2 upward and move it to a predetermined position of the PCU case. After moving the case 2 to a predetermined position of the PCU case, the robot arms 22 and 24 release the grip and start the work of transporting, for example, another capacitor module. After that, the case 2 is fixed to the PCU case, and parts such as the main bus bar 8 (see FIG. 3) are arranged from the upper surface of the case 2, and the first and second bolts and the like are fastened to the terminal block 20. The capacitor module 10 is completed.

As described above, the capacitor module 10 creates a space SP by the protrusion 20d, which enables the robot arm 22 to grip the space SP in the automatic transfer process. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, when the capacitor module 10 is completed, the protrusion 20d and the space SP are covered with the main bus bar 8. In other words, the protrusion 20d does not enlarge the outer shape of the capacitor module 10. That is, according to the capacitor module 10 disclosed in the present specification, it is possible to enable automatic transfer with space efficiency by utilizing the dead space. Further, as described above, the case 2 of the capacitor module 10 has the protrusion 20d of the terminal block 20 located on the positive side in the X-axis direction and the negative side in the Y-axis direction of the case 2 and the X of the case 2 during automatic transfer. It is gripped by the first bearing surface 3 (see FIG. 1) located on the negative side in the axial direction and the positive side in the Y-axis direction. By gripping the opposite portions of the case 2 in this way, the target position with respect to the center of gravity of the case 2 can be gripped, so that the case 2 of the capacitor module 10 is difficult to rotate in the automatic transfer process. .. Therefore, the capacitor module 10 can efficiently perform automatic transfer.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the main bus bar 8 is bent into an L shape. When vibration is applied to the main bus bar 8 from the outside, stress due to vibration is concentrated on the corners of the L-shape, and the main bus bar 8 may be damaged. As shown in FIG. 3, the protrusion 20d included in the terminal block 20 of the capacitor module 10 disclosed in the present specification has the tip of the protrusion 20d in contact with the elevation portion 8b of the main bus bar 8. That is, the vibration of the elevation portion 8b of the main bus bar 8 is suppressed by the protrusion 20d.

The points to be noted in the examples are described below. The protrusion 20d of the embodiment is provided at a position along the terminal block upper surface 20a of the terminal block 20, but the technique disclosed in the present specification is not limited thereto, and the protrusion 20d is, for example, the terminal block 20. It may extend from the central portion of the side surface of the main bus to the elevation portion 8b of the main bus bar 8. Further, although the tip of the protrusion 20d and the elevation portion 8b are in contact with each other, a gap may be provided between the tip of the protrusion 20d and the elevation portion 8b depending on the manufacturing variation of the case 2 and the main bus bar 8.

Further, the main bus bar 8 included in the capacitor module 10 of the embodiment has an L-shape in which the fastening portion 8a and the elevation portion 8b are bent at substantially right angles, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the fastening portion 8a and the elevation portion are not limited to this. The technique disclosed in the present specification can also be applied to a main bus bar having an angle of part 8b of 120 degrees and 135 degrees. Further, depending on the arrangement of peripheral parts to which the main bus bar 8 is connected, the main bus bar 8 may extend from the terminal block 20 in the negative direction in the Y-axis direction, for example. In that case, the case 2 can be automatically conveyed by extending the protrusion 20d toward the elevation of the main bus bar 8 on the negative side in the Y-axis direction.

Further, the terminal block 20 included in the capacitor module 10 of the embodiment includes nuts 20b and 20c opened on the upper surface 20a of the terminal block, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a nut inserted into the terminal block 20. There may be.

Although specific examples of the present invention have been described in detail above, these are merely examples and do not limit the scope of claims. The techniques described in the claims include various modifications and modifications of the specific examples illustrated above. The technical elements described herein or in the drawings exhibit their technical usefulness alone or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of filing. In addition, the techniques illustrated in the present specification or drawings can achieve a plurality of purposes at the same time, and achieving one of the purposes itself has technical usefulness.

2: Case 2a: Case upper surface 2b: Smoothing capacitor element 3: First seat surface 4: First subbus bar 5: Second seat surface 6: Second subbus bar 7: Third seat surface 8: Main bus bar 8a: Fastening portion 8b: Standing Surface 8c: Connection 10: Capacitor module 12: 2nd bolt 14: 1st bolt 16: 3rd subbus bar 18: Board 20: Terminal block 20a: Terminal block top surface 20b, 20c: Nut 20d: Protrusion 22, 24: Robot Arm SP: Space

Claims (1)

A capacitor module including a case for accommodating a capacitor element and a bus bar fastened to a terminal block protruding from the upper surface of the case.
The bus bar includes a fastening portion that overlaps the upper surface of the terminal block, and an elevation portion that extends from the fastening portion toward the upper surface of the case.
A capacitor module in which a protrusion extending toward the elevation portion is provided on a part of a side surface of the terminal block facing the elevation portion.

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