JP4572571B2 - Electrical equipment housing - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a housing of an electric device, and more particularly to a structure of a housing that reduces vibrations generated by the operation of the electric device and improves the cooling performance when cooling the heated electric device.

Conventionally, a reactor provided in a power supply device tends to be enlarged in order to ensure necessary inductance. Therefore, in order to reduce the size of the power supply device, it is required to efficiently arrange the reactor. For example, a technique for reducing the size and weight by housing a reactor in a housing is disclosed. JP-A-7-177760 discloses an inverter device for reducing the size and weight. In this inverter device, a pair of transformers are juxtaposed on the lower side of the box, an inverter-side reactor to which the transformer is connected is juxtaposed on the top of the transformer, and a semiconductor unit is juxtaposed on the side of the reactor. This is a double system inverter device. In the inverter device, the semiconductor unit of the inverter on the other side is disposed on the side surface of the reactor on one side.

According to the inverter device disclosed in Patent Document 1, when the inverter on one side is in operation, the influence of the heat released from the transformer and reactor of the inverter on one side on the semiconductor unit of the inverter on one side is prevented. , Light weight and downsizing can be achieved.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-177760

  However, in the inverter device disclosed in Patent Document 1, the influence of heat is considered, but the influence of vibration is not considered. When a reactor becomes a vibration source, there is a problem that it is not possible to suppress the propagation of noise due to this vibration to the outside.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a casing of an electric device that can reduce vibration and improve cooling performance.

  The housing of the electrical device according to the first aspect is a housing that is mounted on a vehicle and houses an electrical device that generates at least one of vibration and heat accompanying operation. The casing includes a vibration suppressing member formed on the outer wall surface of the casing so as to increase the rigidity of the casing. The vibration suppressing member includes a cooling fin formed so as to have a surface area larger than at least a surface area of a wall surface on which the vibration suppressing member is provided.

  According to the first invention, the casing of the electric device (for example, the converter including the reactor) is a vibration suppressing member (for example, the reinforcing rib) formed on the outer wall surface of the casing so as to increase the rigidity of the casing. )including. The reinforcing rib includes a cooling fin formed to have a surface area larger than at least a surface area of a wall surface on which the reinforcing rib is provided. Thereby, the rigidity of a housing | casing is increased and the noise by the vibration which arises in a reactor with the action | operation of a converter is suppressed. Furthermore, since the reinforcing rib itself has the shape of a cooling fin having a large surface area on the wall surface on which the reinforcing rib is provided, heat generated in the reactor can be radiated to the outside of the housing via the cooling fin. Therefore, in the housing, it is possible to achieve both the reduction of vibration by the reinforcing rib and the improvement of the cooling efficiency. Therefore, it is possible to provide a housing for an electric device that can reduce vibration and improve cooling performance. In addition, since the cooling performance can be improved, mounting is allowed even if the heat capacity of the reactor is kept low, so that the reactor itself can be downsized.

  In the case of the electrical device according to the second aspect of the invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, the vibration suppressing member is provided integrally with the case.

  According to the second invention, the vibration suppressing member (for example, the reinforcing rib) is provided integrally with the housing. By integrally forming the reinforcing ribs on the housing, the rigidity of the housing can be increased and vibration can be reduced. Furthermore, the heat generated inside the housing can be efficiently radiated to the outside by the cooling fins provided on the reinforcing ribs.

  In the case of the electrical equipment casing according to the third aspect of the invention, in addition to the configuration of the first or second aspect of the invention, the cooling fin has a structure projecting to the outside of the wall surface.

  According to 3rd invention, a cooling fin is a structure which has the shape which protruded the outer side of the wall surface. Thereby, a cooling fin having a surface area larger than at least the wall surface can be formed on the vibration suppressing member (for example, the reinforcing rib). That is, the heat generated inside the housing can be efficiently radiated to the outside via the cooling fins.

  In the casing of the electric device according to the fourth invention, in addition to the configuration of any one of the first to third inventions, the electric device is a converter including a reactor.

  According to the fourth invention, the electric device is a converter including a reactor. Thereby, in the converter housing including the reactor that generates heat and vibration in accordance with the operation, the vibration generated in the reactor can be reduced by the vibration suppressing member (for example, the reinforcing rib) provided in the housing. Furthermore, the heat generated in the reactor can be efficiently radiated to the outside through the cooling fins formed on the reinforcing rib.

  In the case of the electrical device according to the fifth aspect of the invention, in addition to the configuration of any one of the first to fourth aspects of the invention, the case is provided with a cooling medium passage through which the cooling medium passes through a surface other than the wall surface.

  According to the fifth invention, the housing is provided with a cooling medium passage through which a cooling medium (for example, cooling water) passes through a surface other than the wall surface. A vibration suppressing member (for example, a reinforcing rib) provided to increase the rigidity of the housing includes a cooling fin that radiates heat inside the housing to the outside. For this reason, heat generated in an electric device (for example, a converter including a reactor) is divided into a path cooled by external air via a cooling fin and a path cooled by cooling water flowing in the cooling water passage. Therefore, since the contribution ratio of cooling by the cooling water is reduced, it is possible to improve the cooling performance of the electric device that generates heat due to other operations that come into contact with the cooling medium passage.

  In the casing of the electrical device according to the sixth aspect of the invention, in addition to the configuration of the fifth aspect, a cooling medium passage is provided below the casing. A heat sink is formed on the lower surface of the housing so as to increase the surface area of the cooling medium passage. Cooling fins are provided on the side surfaces of the housing.

  According to the sixth invention, the heat sink is formed on the lower surface of the casing so that the surface area of the cooling medium passage provided below the casing is increased. And the cooling fin is provided in the side surface of a housing | casing. As a result, heat generated in an electric device (for example, a converter including a reactor) is cooled by external air via cooling fins provided on the side surface of the casing and a heat sink provided on the lower surface of the casing. Thus, it is divided into a path cooled by the cooling water flowing in the cooling water passage. Therefore, since the contribution ratio of the cooling by the cooling water is reduced, it is possible to improve the cooling performance of the electric equipment that generates heat due to other operations that come into contact with the cooling medium passage.

  In the case of the electrical device according to the seventh aspect of the invention, in addition to the configuration of any one of the first to sixth aspects, the case further stores an electrical device that generates heat due to operation.

  According to the seventh invention, the casing further accommodates an electric device (for example, a power element) that generates heat in accordance with the operation. Thereby, the vibration suppressing member (for example, the reinforcing rib) provided in the housing dissipates the heat generated in the reactor and the power element stored in the housing to the outside through the cooling fin formed in the reinforcing rib. be able to. Therefore, the cooling performance of the power element can be improved in addition to the reactor.

  In the case of the electrical device according to the eighth aspect of the invention, in addition to the configuration of any one of the fourth to seventh aspects, the case houses the converter and the inverter. The converter includes a reactor that generates vibration and heat as it operates, and a power element that generates heat as it operates.

  According to the eighth invention, the housing houses the converter and the inverter. The converter includes a reactor that generates vibration and heat as it operates, and a power element that generates heat as it operates. Thereby, the vibration suppressing member (for example, the reinforcing rib) provided in the housing reduces the vibration generated by the operation of the reactor housed in the housing, and further via the cooling fin formed on the reinforcing rib. The heat generated in the reactor and the power element can be dissipated to the outside. Therefore, in addition to the reactor, the cooling performance of the power element can be improved.

  Hereinafter, a casing (specifically, a casing housing a converter) of an electrical device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated.

  In describing the casing of the electric device according to the present embodiment, first, the configuration of a hybrid vehicle on which the electric device is mounted will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a hybrid vehicle equipped with the housing of the electric device according to the present embodiment includes an engine 100, a generator 200, a PCU (Power Control Unit) 300, a battery 400, a motor 500, and these. And a hybrid ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 600 connected to all of the above. As described above, the housing of the electrical device according to this embodiment is applied to PCU 300. In the present embodiment, the present invention is not limited to a hybrid vehicle as long as it is a vehicle on which a converter including at least a reactor is mounted. That is, the present invention may be applied to an electric vehicle or a fuel cell vehicle.

  The power generated by the engine 100 is divided into two paths by the power split mechanism 700. One is a path for driving the wheel 900 via the speed reducer 800. The other is a path for generating power by driving the generator 200.

  The generator 200 generates AC power using the power of the engine 100 divided by the power split mechanism 700. The power generated by the generator 200 is based on the running state of the vehicle and the state of charge (SOC) of the battery 400. It is used properly according to the. For example, during normal traveling or sudden acceleration, the electric power generated by the generator 200 is used as it is to drive the motor 500. On the other hand, when the SOC of battery 400 is lower than a predetermined value, the electric power generated by generator 200 is converted from AC to DC by inverter 302 of PCU 300, and the voltage is adjusted by converter 304, and then battery 400 Stored in

  The motor 500 is a three-phase AC motor. The motor 500 is driven by at least one of the electric power stored in the battery 400 and the electric power generated by the generator 200. When motor 500 is driven by the power stored in battery 400, the voltage value of the DC power discharged from battery 400 is boosted by converter 304, and the boosted DC power is temporarily stored by a capacitor (not shown). After being stored and smoothed, the inverter 302 converts the DC power from AC power to AC power, and power is supplied to the motor 500. When the motor 500 is driven by the power generated by the generator 200, the power is generated by the generator 200 and AC power is supplied to the motor 500 as it is. The driving force of the motor 500 is transmitted to the wheels 900 via the speed reducer 800. Accordingly, the motor 500 assists the engine 100 to cause the vehicle to travel, or causes the vehicle to travel only by the driving force from the motor 500.

  On the other hand, when the hybrid vehicle is in regenerative braking, the motor 500 is driven by the wheels 900 via the speed reducer 800, and the motor 500 is operated as a generator. As a result, the motor 500 acts as a regenerative brake that converts braking energy into electric power. The electric power generated by the motor 500 is stored in the battery 400 via the inverter 302.

  Hybrid ECU 600 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 602 and a memory 604. The CPU 602 performs arithmetic processing based on the traveling state of the vehicle, the accelerator opening, the amount of depression of the brake pedal, the shift position, the SOC of the battery 400, the map and program stored in the memory 604, and the like. Thereby, hybrid ECU 600 controls devices mounted on the vehicle so that the vehicle is in a desired traveling state.

  As shown in FIG. 2, PCU 300 includes a converter 304 that is a step-up chopper, a smoothing capacitor 240, and an inverter 302. Converter 304 includes a reactor 220 and a step-up intelligent power module (hereinafter referred to as step-up IPM) 230.

  Boost IPM 230 includes transistors 231 and 232 and diodes 241 and 242. Transistors 231 and 232 are connected in series between power supply line 203 and ground line 202. The transistor 231 has a collector connected to the power supply line 203 and an emitter connected to the collector of the transistor 232. The emitter of transistor 232 is connected to earth line 202. Diodes 241 and 242 are connected between the collectors and emitters of the transistors 231 and 232, respectively, so that current flows from the emitter side to the collector side.

  Reactor 220 has one end connected to power supply line 201 and the other end connected between transistor 231 and transistor 232, that is, between the emitter of transistor 231 and the collector of transistor 232. Smoothing capacitor 240 is connected between power supply line 203 and earth line 202.

  Inverter 302 includes U-phase arm 253, V-phase arm 254, and W-phase arm 255. U-phase arm 253, V-phase arm 254, and W-phase arm 255 are connected in parallel between power supply line 203 and ground line 202. The U-phase arm 253 includes transistors 233 and 234 connected in series, the V-phase arm 254 includes transistors 235 and 236 connected in series, and the W-phase arm 255 includes transistors 237 and 237 connected in series. 238. Further, diodes 243 to 248 that flow current from the emitter side to the collector side are connected between the collectors and emitters of the transistors 233 to 238, respectively.

  An intermediate point of each phase arm is connected to each phase end of each phase coil of motor 500. That is, the motor 500 is a three-phase permanent magnet motor, and is configured such that one end of three coils of U, V, and W phases is commonly connected to the middle point, and the other end of the U-phase coil is the transistors 233 and 234. The other end of the V-phase coil is connected to the intermediate point of the transistors 235 and 236, and the other end of the W-phase coil is connected to the intermediate point of the transistors 237 and 238, respectively.

  Converter 304 includes a reactor 220 and a step-up IPM 230. Converter 304 receives a DC voltage supplied from battery 400 between power supply line 201 and earth line 202, and boosts the DC voltage and outputs it to power supply line 203 by switching control of transistor 232. Smoothing capacitor 240 smoothes the DC voltage of power supply line 203 and supplies the smoothed voltage to inverter 302. Inverter 302 converts the DC voltage of power supply line 203 into an AC voltage to drive motor 500 or generator 200.

  Further, the inverter 302 converts the AC voltage generated by the motor 500 or the generator 200 into a DC voltage and supplies it to the smoothing capacitor 240. Smoothing capacitor 240 smoothes the DC voltage from motor 500 or generator 200 and supplies it to converter 304. Converter 304 steps down the DC voltage from smoothing capacitor 240 and supplies it to battery 400 and the like.

  In this way, the PCU 300 boosts the DC voltage from the battery 400 to drive the motor 500 or the generator 200 and supplies the power generated by the motor 500 or the generator 200 to the battery 400 or the like.

  As shown in FIG. 3, reactor 220 includes a core 221 and a coil 222. The core 221 includes straight portions 2210 and 2212 and curved portions 2211 and 2213. Both ends 229A and 229B of the coil 222 are connected to other electric elements as described with reference to FIG.

  The curved portion 2211 has a gap 223 between the curved portion 2211 and the straight portion 2212, and has a gap 224 between the curved portion 2211 and the straight portion 2212. The curved portion 2213 has a gap 225 between the straight portion 2212 and a gap 226 with the straight portion 2210. The coil 222 is wound around the straight portions 2210 and 2212.

  When a direct current flows through the coil 222 in the direction indicated by the arrow, a magnetic flux is generated in the core 221, and the generated magnetic flux passes through the gap 223 in the direction of the arrow 227 and propagates through the curved portion 2211. Then, the magnetic flux passes through the gap 224 in the direction of the arrow 228, propagates through the straight portion 2212, and passes through the gap 225 in the direction of the arrow 228. The magnetic flux further propagates through the curved portion 2213 and passes through the gap 226 in the direction of the arrow 227. As described above, when a direct current flows through the coil 222, the magnetic flux circulates in the core 221.

  When the PCU 300 drives the motor 500 or the generator 200, the transistor 232 of the boost IPM 230 is turned on / off as described with reference to FIG. When transistor 232 is turned on, a direct current flows through a closed circuit including power supply line 201, reactor 220, transistor 232, earth line 202, and battery 400. Then, magnetic flux is generated in the core 221 of the reactor 220, and the curved portions 2211, 2213 are drawn in the direction of the straight portions 2210, 2212. Further, when the transistor 232 is turned off, no magnetic flux is generated in the core 221, so that the curved portions 2211 and 2213 do not receive an attractive force from the linear portions 2210 and 2212.

  Therefore, when the transistor 232 is turned on / off, the curved portions 2211 and 2213 of the core 221 of the reactor 220 move in the direction of the straight portions 2210 and 2212 or return to the original positions and vibrate. Alternatively, the core 221 itself vibrates by expanding and contracting due to the magnetic force based on the magnetic flux. Thus, the reactor 220 through which the high-frequency current switched by the transistor passes becomes a vibration source.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a converter 304 including a reactor 220 and a step-up IPM 230, a smoothing capacitor 240, and an inverter 302 (power module) corresponding to a “power supply unit” that constitutes a main part of the PCU 300 are provided as a “casing”. The PCU case 306 is stored. Furthermore, the power supply lines 201 and 203 and the earth line 202 are appropriately arranged so as to realize the connection relationship shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the PCU case 306 includes a housing 308 that houses the converter 304, a housing 322 that houses the inverter 302, and a housing 326 that houses the capacitor 240.

  The housing of the electrical device according to the present embodiment is not particularly limited as long as it is a housing of an electrical device that generates at least one of vibration and heat with operation. For example, the housing of the electrical device according to this embodiment is a housing 308 that houses converter 304. That is, the housing 308 of the converter 304 according to the present embodiment is characterized in that vibration generated in the reactor 220 included in the converter 304 is reduced, and heat generated in the reactor 220 is efficiently radiated to the outside. Have.

  Hereinafter, the structure of casing 308 of converter 304 according to the present embodiment will be described in detail. Inside the housing 308, a reactor 220 and a step-up IPM 230 including transistors 231 and 232 are housed. Reactor 220 and boost IPM 230 are separated by a partition plate 316. Reactor 220 is fixed by molding resin or the like inside housing 308. The casing 308 is provided with reinforcing ribs 314 formed on the outer side wall surface at least on the reactor 220 side so as to increase the rigidity of the casing 308. The reinforcing rib 314 is a member that suppresses noise caused by vibration generated by the operation of the reactor 220 propagating to the wall surface and resonating and vibrating by increasing the rigidity of the wall surface.

  The reinforcing rib 314 includes cooling fins 310 that are integrally provided on the housing 308 so as to protrude outward from the housing 308. The shape of the cooling fin 310 is not particularly limited as long as it has a surface area larger than the area of the wall surface on which the reinforcing rib 314 is provided. In the present embodiment, for example, the reinforcing rib 314 includes a plurality of cooling fins 310 provided in a band shape on the outside of the housing 308 and a plurality of connection portions formed so as to connect the cooling fins 310. 312 is included.

  Cooling water passages 320 and 324 through which cooling water is passed as a cooling medium are provided at the bottom of the housing 308 that houses the converter 304. In the present embodiment, the lower portion of the housing 308 forming the cooling water passages 320 and 324 is not particularly limited as long as it is a heat sink having a surface area larger than the area of the lower surface of the housing 308. For example, a heat sink formed of a plurality of cooling fins provided so as to protrude downward in a strip shape is provided. The cooling water flowing through the cooling water passages 320 and 324 is circulated by an electric pump (not shown) or the like. The reactor 220 housed in the housing 308 is provided so as to be positioned above the cooling water passage 320. Further, the boost IPM 230 housed in the housing 308 is provided so as to be positioned above the cooling water passage 324. At this time, the cooling water passage 324 is formed to be downstream of the cooling water passage 320.

  An operation of casing 308 of converter 304 according to the present embodiment based on the above structure will be described.

  When the reactor 220 is activated, that is, when the transistor 232 is turned on / off, the curved portions 2211, 2213 of the core 221 of the reactor 220 move in the direction of the straight portions 2210, 2212 or return to the original positions. Vibrate. The generated vibration propagates from the reactor 220 to the housing 308 through the resin that fixes the reactor 220. At this time, since the rigidity of the outer wall surface of the housing 308 is improved by the reinforcing ribs 314, noise due to vibration of the housing 308 itself is not generated. Further, when the reactor 220 is operated, that is, when a current flows through the coil 222, the reactor 220 generates heat. The heat generated in the reactor 220 is divided into a path that is transmitted to the casing 308 via the resin that fixes the reactor 220 and is transmitted to the reinforcing rib 314, and a path that is transmitted from the casing 308 to the cooling water passage 320. The heat transferred to the reinforcing rib 314 is cooled by the cooling fin 310 by contact with external air. On the other hand, the heat transmitted from the housing 308 to the cooling water passage 320 is cooled by the cooling water flowing through the cooling water passage 320. In the cooling water passage 320, the cooling water including the heat of the reactor 220 flows through the downstream cooling water passage 324. At this time, heat generated in the transistors 231 and 232 included in the boost IPM is transmitted from the housing 308 to the cooling water passage 324. The heat transmitted to the cooling water passage 324 is cooled by the cooling water flowing through the cooling water passage 324.

  As described above, according to the housing structure of the electric device according to the present embodiment, the housing of the converter including the reactor is formed on the outer wall surface of the housing so that the rigidity of the housing is increased. Includes reinforcing ribs. The reinforcing rib includes a cooling fin formed to have a surface area larger than at least a surface area of a wall surface on which the reinforcing rib is provided. Thereby, the rigidity of a housing | casing is increased and the noise by the vibration which arises in a reactor with the action | operation of a converter is suppressed. Furthermore, since the reinforcing rib itself has the shape of a cooling fin having a large surface area on the wall surface on which the reinforcing rib is provided, heat generated in the reactor can be radiated to the outside of the housing via the cooling fin. Therefore, in the housing, it is possible to achieve both the reduction of vibration by the reinforcing rib and the improvement of the cooling efficiency. Therefore, it is possible to provide a housing for an electric device that can reduce vibration and improve cooling performance. In addition, since the cooling performance can be improved, mounting is allowed even if the heat capacity of the reactor is kept low, so that the reactor itself can be downsized.

  Further, the casing is provided with a cooling water passage through which cooling water passes through a surface other than the wall surface. Therefore, the heat generated in the converter including the reactor is divided into a path cooled by external air through the cooling fins and a path cooled by the cooling water flowing in the cooling water passage. Therefore, since the contribution rate of cooling by the cooling water is reduced, the cooling performance of the transistor that comes into contact with the cooling water passage and is further included in the converter and generates heat due to operation can be improved.

  Preferably, the housing 308 mounted in the engine room is mounted at a position downstream of the cooling air from the radiator. In this way, the cooling performance can be further improved by the cooling fins 310.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

It is a control block diagram which shows the whole structure of a vehicle. It is an electric circuit diagram which shows the principal part of PCU (power supply device) shown by FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the reactor shown in FIG. 2. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the planar layout of PCU (power supply device) shown by FIG. It is a perspective sectional view showing the structure of the housing of the converter concerning this embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  100 Engine, 200 Generator, 201, 203 Power line, 202 Ground line, 220 Reactor, 221 Core, 222 Coil, 2210, 2212 Straight part, 2211, 2213 Curved part, 223, 224, 225, 226 Gap, 227, 228 Arrow 229A, 229B both ends, 230 step-up IPM, 231 to 238 transistor, 240 smoothing capacitor, 241 to 248 diode, 253 U-phase arm, 254 V-phase arm, 255 W-phase arm, 300 PCU, 302 inverter, 304 converter, 306 PCU Case, 308, 322, 326 Case, 310 Cooling fin, 312 connection part, 314 Reinforcement rib, 316 Partition plate, 320, 324 Cooling water passage, 400 Battery, 500 mode , 600 ECU, 602 CPU, 604 memory, 700 power split device, 800 reduction gear, 900 wheels.

Claims (5)

A housing that is mounted on a vehicle and houses an electrical device that generates at least one of vibration and heat associated with operation, the electrical device including a reactor that generates vibration and heat during operation, and heat generated during operation. A converter including a power element for generating
Including a vibration suppressing member formed on the outer wall surface of the casing so as to increase the rigidity of the casing;
The vibration suppression member, seen including a cooling fin is formed to have a larger surface area than the surface area of the wall is at least the vibration suppressing member provided,
Below the housing, a first cooling medium passage for allowing a cooling medium to pass therethrough and a second cooling medium passage downstream of the first cooling medium passage are provided,
The first coolant passage is located below the reactor,
The second coolant passage is located below the power element;
A heat sink is formed on the lower surface of the housing so that the surface areas of the first coolant passage and the second coolant passage increase.
A housing of an electrical device , wherein the cooling fin is provided on a side surface of the housing.   The casing of the electric device according to claim 1, wherein the vibration suppressing member is provided integrally with the casing.   The casing of the electric device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cooling fin has a structure protruding outward from the wall surface. Wherein the housing, electrical equipment causing accompanied not heat the working is further accommodated, the housing of the electrical device according to any one of claims 1-3. The housing of the electric device according to claim 4, wherein the housing houses an inverter in addition to the converter.

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