JP6119996B2 - Service plug structure and vehicle equipped with the same - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a structure of a service plug mounted on a vehicle.

  In recent years, automobiles using a fuel cell as a driving energy source have attracted attention and are being prototyped as one approach to environmental problems. A fuel cell usually includes a fuel cell stack including a cell stack in which a required number of cells that generate electricity by an electrochemical reaction between a fuel gas and an oxidizing gas are stacked, and the outside of the fuel cell stack is covered with a stack case. Configured.

  A fuel cell vehicle equipped with this fuel cell is equipped with a storage battery for traveling, and an electric circuit from the storage battery is provided with a high voltage device such as an inverter or a converter. In order to safely perform maintenance and inspection work for such a high voltage device, a service plug for interrupting energization between the storage battery and the high voltage device is provided (for example, see Patent Document 1 below).

  In general, for this type of service plug, a service plug including a base portion fixed to a stack case and a plug body that can be pulled out from the base portion is known. In this service plug, a connector, which is a portion where the plug body and the base portion are fitted, is provided with, for example, a sealing material for forming a shaft seal to ensure sealing performance.

JP 2011-228076 A

  By the way, the fuel cell is required to be downsized as a whole including the service plug and to be installed in a narrow space. In particular, a fuel cell mounted on a fuel cell vehicle is generally installed in a space below a floor panel. The service plug is arranged on the upper surface side of the fuel cell stack so that an operator can easily access from above the floor panel. In this case, in order to effectively use the space below the floor panel, the service plug is desirably arranged in the center tunnel. In addition, since a protective column for suppressing deformation of the vehicle at the time of a side collision is arranged on the rear side of the driver seat and the passenger seat below the floor panel, from the viewpoint of workability, the front side of the vehicle ( It is desirable to install the service plug so that it can be operated from the driver's and passenger's side.

  However, when the service plug is placed in the center tunnel and the service plug is provided so that it can be operated from the front side of the vehicle, the sealing material provided on the connector of the service plug is used for the high-pressure car wash when the vehicle is running. There was a risk that water or rainwater would adhere. Further, when the operator handles the service plug, there is a risk of touching the sealing material provided on the connector, and as a result of dust and dirt adhering to the sealing material, the sealing performance may be deteriorated.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and prevents water and rainwater from adhering to the seal portion provided on the connector of the service plug when the vehicle is running or during high-pressure car washing. An object of the present invention is to provide a service plug structure capable of ensuring good workability.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the service plug structure according to the present invention includes an interlock having a female connector portion and a male connector portion fitted to the female connector portion, and the male side of the interlock. In the service plug structure of a service plug in which a seal material is provided on the outer periphery of the connector part, a rib having a shape larger than the outer diameter of the male connector part is provided at the base part of the male connector part. To do.

  According to the present invention, the sealing material is provided on the outer periphery of the male connector part, and the rib having a shape larger than the outer diameter of the male connector part is provided at the base part of the male connector part. Since the ribs are provided in this manner, it is possible to prevent water and rainwater from running on the vehicle or during high-pressure car washing from adhering to the sealing material provided in the male connector portion. In addition, when the operator handles the service plug, the rib can be used as a handle at the time of work, so that it is possible to prevent the seal material provided on the male connector portion from being touched.

  In the service plug structure according to the present invention, it is also preferable that the rib is provided so as to protrude downward in the vehicle height direction in a state where the service plug is mounted on the vehicle.

  According to this preferable aspect, it is possible to prevent water splashed from below the vehicle from adhering to the sealing material provided in the male connector portion. For this reason, it can prevent more reliably that the water and rain water at the time of vehicle driving | running | working, etc. at the time of high-pressure car washing adhere to the sealing material provided in the male connector part.

  In the service plug structure according to the present invention, it is also preferable that the interlock includes a sensor that detects a fitting state between the female connector portion and the male connector portion.

  According to this preferred aspect, it is possible to prevent the fuel cell from being erroneously started even though the fitting between the female connector portion and the male connector portion is released. .

  Further, the service plug structure according to the present invention is configured such that the electrical circuit is closed by being fitted to a female connector having a female terminal connected to the electrical circuit, and the fitting is released from the female connector. A service plug structure of a service plug that opens the electric circuit by the interlock having the female connector portion and the male connector portion fitted to the female connector portion, and provided in the interlock, A male connector having a male terminal connected to the female connector by fitting with the female connector; and provided on an outer periphery of the male connector; the male connector and the female connector And a rib that is provided at a base portion of the male connector portion and has a shape larger than the outer diameter of the male connector portion.

  According to the present invention, the outer periphery of the male connector part is provided with a sealing material that closes the gap between the female connector part and the male connector part on the outer periphery of the male connector part. Ribs having a larger shape are provided. Since the ribs are provided in this manner, it is possible to prevent water and rainwater from running on the vehicle or during high-pressure car washing from adhering to the sealing material provided in the male connector portion. Further, when the worker handles the service plug, the rib can be used as a handle at the time of work, so that the worker can be prevented from touching the sealing material.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, while driving | running | working a vehicle, the water and rain water at the time of a high pressure car wash can prevent attaching to the sealing material provided in the connector of the service plug, and ensuring favorable workability | operativity. A service plug structure that can be provided can be provided.

It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of arrangement | positioning of the fuel cell and service plug in a fuel cell vehicle. It is a perspective view which shows the outline of a structure of the service plug provided with the service plug structure which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view showing the outline of the service plug structure concerning the embodiment of the present invention.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In order to facilitate the understanding of the description, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals as much as possible in the drawings, and redundant description is omitted.

  First, a fuel cell vehicle 1 equipped with a service plug 110 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an arrangement example of the fuel cell 2 and the service plug 110 in the fuel cell vehicle 1.

  The fuel cell system according to the present invention can also be applied to various mobile bodies (robots, ships, aircrafts, etc.) other than fuel cell vehicles. Moreover, the fuel cell system according to the present invention can also be applied to a stationary power generation system used as a power generation facility for buildings (houses, buildings, etc.). In the following description, unless otherwise specified, “forward” indicates the forward direction of the fuel cell vehicle 1 (direction indicated as FR in FIG. 1 and the like), and “rearward” indicates the reverse direction of the fuel cell vehicle 1. Indicates the direction. Further, “right side” indicates the right side when the fuel cell vehicle 1 faces the forward direction, and “left side” indicates the left side when the fuel cell vehicle 1 faces the forward direction.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a fuel cell vehicle 1 has a fuel plug 2 disposed on the front side thereof, for example, and a service plug placed above a fuel cell case 200 in which a fuel cell stack (not shown) is housed. 110 is arranged. The fuel cell 2 is a device that generates electric power for running the fuel cell vehicle 1, and is disposed below the floor panel of the fuel cell vehicle 1. A part (upper part) of the fuel cell 2 is arranged inside a center tunnel (not shown) formed between the driver's seat 8 and the passenger seat 9.

  The fuel cell 2 has a configuration in which a fuel cell stack formed by stacking a plurality of fuel cells (single cells) and electrically connecting them in series is housed in a fuel cell case 200. The unit cell is, for example, a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, and has an air electrode on one surface of an electrolyte membrane made of an ion exchange membrane, a fuel electrode on the other surface, and further includes an air electrode and a fuel electrode. It has a structure having a pair of separators so as to be sandwiched from both sides. In this case, hydrogen gas is supplied to the hydrogen gas passage of one separator, the oxidizing gas is supplied to the oxidizing gas passage of the other separator, and electric power is generated by the chemical reaction of these reaction gases.

  Next, the electrical configuration of the fuel cell 2 will be described. The fuel cell stack accommodated in the fuel cell case 200 is sandwiched between a first current collector (not shown) and a second current collector (not shown) arranged at both ends in the stacking direction. The first current collector and the second current collector are both metal plates formed in substantially the same shape as the cross-sectional shape of the fuel cell stack.

  The first current collector is disposed along the right end surface of the fuel cell stack and is connected to the cathode electrode of the single cell located at the right end. The second current collector is disposed along the left end surface of the fuel cell stack, and is connected to the anode of a single cell located at the left end. That is, the first current collector and the second current collector function as a pair of electrode terminals for extracting power from the fuel cell stack.

  The fuel cell 2 has two current paths (not shown) for outputting the electric power extracted from the fuel cell stack to the outside, and a first output terminal (not shown) at the end of each current path. ) And a second output terminal (not shown). The first output terminal is connected to the first current collector through one current path, and the second output terminal is connected to the second current collector through the other current path.

  A first relay (not shown) and a first service plug (not shown) are sequentially provided from the first current collector side in the middle of the current path connecting the first current collector and the first output terminal. Has been placed. In addition, a second relay (not shown) and a second service plug (not shown) are sequentially provided from the second current collector side in the middle of the current path connecting the second current collector and the second output terminal. Has been placed.

  The first service plug and the second service plug are integrally formed to constitute one service plug 110. The service plug 110 is one of the safety devices, and when the operator operates the plug body 130, the first current collector and the first output terminal, and the second current collector and the second output. Any terminal can be electrically cut off.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the service plug 110 is disposed above the fuel cell case 200 and at a central portion in the left-right direction of the fuel cell vehicle 1. In the present embodiment, the service plug 110 is disposed in a center tunnel (not shown) provided between the driver's seat 8 and the passenger seat 9 in a plan view of the fuel cell vehicle 1, for example. An operator can electrically cut off the plug body 130 of the service plug 110 by manually operating the plug body 130 toward the vehicle front side (FR direction in FIG. 1).

  Below the floor panel of the fuel cell vehicle 1, protective pillars (not shown) for suppressing deformation of the vehicle at the time of a side collision are arranged along the left-right direction of the fuel cell vehicle 1.

  Below the floor panel, a fuel tank (not shown) electrically connected to the fuel cell 2 described above, a DC-DC converter (not shown), an inverter (not shown), and traction A motor (not shown) is provided.

  The fuel tank is a tank for storing hydrogen gas supplied to the fuel cell 2 and is disposed in the fuel cell vehicle 1. The flow rate of the hydrogen gas supplied from the fuel tank to the fuel cell 2 is controlled by a control device (not shown), a flow rate adjusting valve, and the like according to the required power determined by the accelerator opening and the like.

  The DC-DC converter is a direct-current voltage converter, and has a function of boosting the direct-current voltage (output voltage of the fuel cell stack) of electric power input from the fuel cell 2 to the inverter.

  The inverter has a function of converting DC power output from the DC-DC converter into three-phase AC power and supplying it to the traction motor. The inverter is designed to operate by receiving an input voltage of, for example, 650 V, which is larger than the output voltage of the fuel cell 2. The DC-DC converter plays the role of filling the difference between the output voltage of the fuel cell 2 and the input voltage at which the inverter can operate.

  The traction motor is an electromagnetic motor that receives a supply of three-phase AC power output from an inverter and generates a driving force for running the fuel cell vehicle 1. The driving force generated by the traction motor is adjusted by a control device (not shown) calculating required power based on the accelerator opening and the like, and controlling the output power of the fuel cell 2 and the output power of the inverter based on the required power. The

  Next, the configuration of the service plug 110 provided in the fuel cell vehicle 1 described above will be further described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an outline of the configuration of the service plug 110.

  The service plug 110 functions as a current breaker that connects or cuts off the electric circuit from the outside of the fuel cell case (not shown in FIG. 2). For example, an operator operates the service plug 110 during maintenance to operate the electric circuit. By setting the shut-off state, safety against high voltage of the fuel cell 2 is ensured.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the service plug 110 includes a base portion 120 installed above a fuel cell case (not shown in FIG. 2), and a plug body 130 that is detachably held with respect to the base portion 120. And. Further, as will be described later, an interlock (not shown in FIG. 2) is disposed on the front side of the service plug 110. The service plug 110 can be output from the fuel cell 2 when the plug body 130 is attached to the base portion 120, but is electrically disconnected when the plug body 130 is pulled away from the base portion 120. It becomes.

  When the plug body 130 is pulled away from the base portion 120 from the interior of the fuel cell vehicle 1, the plug body 130 is accessed from the front seat (driver seat 8 or passenger seat 9). In the present embodiment, since the grip portion 131 is disposed in front of the service plug 110, it is possible to perform an operation of pulling the plug body 130 away from the base portion 120 from the front seat.

  The service plug 110 includes a base portion 120 and a plug main body 130, and a pair of protrusions 151, 151 protruding from the left and right side surfaces of the base portion 120, respectively, are formed on the left and right side surfaces of the plug main body 130. The plug body 130 is held by the base portion 120 in a state where the guide grooves 161 and 161 are engaged. The pair of guide grooves 161 and 161 of the plug main body 130 are formed to extend in the vehicle front-rear direction, and the pair of convex portions 151 and 151 are slidable within the guide grooves 161 and 161. For this reason, the operator can slide the plug body 130 forward of the vehicle according to the guidance of the pair of guide grooves 161 and 161.

  Next, the base unit 120 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the base portion 120 includes a female connector portion (not shown) fitted to a male connector portion (not shown in FIG. 2) of the plug main body 130, and the female connector portion. A female terminal housing part (not shown) provided and opened to the vehicle front side (FR direction in FIG. 2) and a female terminal (not shown) provided inside the female terminal housing part are provided.

  The female connector portion is a member that is provided on the front side of the base portion 120 and is fitted to the male connector portion (not shown in FIG. 2) of the plug main body 130. As will be described later, when the female connector portion is fitted to the male connector portion of the plug main body 130, the sealing material (see FIG. (Not shown in FIG. 2) is in close contact with each other to form a shaft seal.

  The female terminal housing portion is provided in the female connector portion described above, and has a shape opened to the vehicle front side (FR direction in FIG. 2). The female terminal accommodating portion accommodates a female terminal (not shown) connected to a male terminal (not shown in FIG. 2) provided on the plug main body 130.

  The female terminal is provided on the male connector portion of the plug body 130 when the female connector portion of the base portion 120 and the male connector portion (not shown in FIG. 2) of the plug body 130 are fitted. This is a member connected to a male terminal (not shown in FIG. 2). The female terminal is connected to the electric circuit, and the female terminal is short-circuited by bringing the male terminal into contact with the female terminal, and the electric circuit is closed. The electrical circuit is opened when the female terminal is separated from the male terminal.

  Next, the service plug structure 11 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically showing the structure of the interlock 140 provided in the service plug 110.

  As shown in FIG. 3, an interlock 140 is disposed in front of the service plug 110. The interlock 140 includes a male connector 310, a male terminal 331, a female connector (not shown), and a female terminal (not shown).

  The interlock 140 is a sensor for the control device of the fuel cell vehicle 1 to detect the state (presence / absence) of the plug main body 130, and has a built-in switch (not shown) that is switched ON / OFF according to the presence / absence of the plug main body 130. ing. In other words, the interlock 140 is a sensor for detecting a fitting state between the female connector portion and the male connector portion 310, and is in a fitting state between the female connector portion and the male connector portion 310. There is a built-in switch that switches on and off accordingly. As a result, it is possible to prevent the fuel cell 2 from being erroneously started even though the plug body 130 is pulled out.

  The male connector part 310 of the interlock 140 shown in FIG. 3 will be described. The male connector part 310 is a member fitted to a female connector part (not shown) of a base part (not shown in FIG. 3). The male connector part 310 is provided with a sealing material 320 on its outer periphery, and this sealing material 320 is not shown when the male connector part 310 and a female connector part (not shown) are fitted. It comes to press-contact inside. More specifically, the sealing material 320 closes a gap between the outer peripheral surface 310a of the male connector portion 310 and the inner peripheral surface of the female connector portion (not shown), and axially seals between the two. In the present embodiment, for example, packing is used as the sealing material 320, but any material having a function of sealing a gap between the outer peripheral surface 310 a of the male connector portion 310 and the inner peripheral surface of a female connector portion (not shown). Other seal structures can also be used.

  The male terminal 331 of the interlock 140 shown in FIG. 3 will be described. The male terminal 331 is provided in the male terminal accommodating portion 330 inside the male connector portion 310. The male terminal accommodating portion 330 has a shape that opens to face a female connector portion (not shown) of a base portion (not shown in FIG. 3), and the male terminal 331 extends to the vehicle rear side. , Provided so as to extend toward the female connector side. Therefore, when the male connector portion 310 and the female connector portion are fitted, the male terminal 331 is inserted into the female connector portion, and the male terminal 331 is provided inside the female connector portion. It is electrically connected to a female terminal.

  The rib 350 provided in the male side connector part 310 of the interlock 140 shown in FIG. 3 is demonstrated. The rib 350 has a shape larger than the outer diameter of the male connector part 310 and is provided at the base part 310 b of the male connector part 310. More specifically, the rib 350 is provided in the root portion 310b so that the outer diameter of the rib 350 is larger than at least the outer diameter D of the male connector portion 310 in the vehicle height direction. In the case of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the rib 350 is provided so as to protrude downward in the vehicle height direction from the lower end 311 of the male connector portion 310. The rib 350 is formed of, for example, a plate-like member that protrudes downward from the lower end 311 of the male connector portion 310. The rib 350 provided in this way is connected to the male connector portion 310 when the male connector portion 310 is fitted to the female connector portion (not shown) of the base portion (not shown in FIG. 3). It is located on the front side in the vehicle front-rear direction (FR direction in FIG. 3) relative to the sealing material 320 that closes the gap with the female connector portion (not shown). In the present embodiment, the rib 350 has a shape that protrudes only below the lower end 311 of the male connector portion 310, but also protrudes upward from the root portion 310b of the male connector portion 310. Moreover, it may have the shape which protruded from the base part 310b of the male side connector part 310 also to the left and right.

  By providing the ribs 350 in this way, it is possible to prevent water and rainwater from running on the vehicle or during high-pressure car washing from adhering to the sealing material 320 provided in the male connector portion 310. Further, when the operator handles the service plug 110, the rib 350 can be used as a handle at the time of work, and therefore, it is possible to prevent the seal material 320 provided on the male connector portion 310 from being touched.

  The embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to specific examples. However, the present invention is not limited to these specific examples. In other words, those specific examples that have been appropriately modified by those skilled in the art are also included in the scope of the present invention as long as they have the characteristics of the present invention. For example, each element included in each of the specific examples described above and their arrangement, material, condition, shape, size, and the like are not limited to those illustrated, but can be changed as appropriate. Moreover, each element with which embodiment mentioned above is provided can be combined as long as technically possible, and the combination of these is also included in the scope of the present invention as long as the characteristics of the present invention are included.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Fuel cell vehicle 2 Fuel cell 11 Service plug structure 110 Service plug 120 Base part 130 Plug main body 140 Interlock 200 Fuel cell case 310 Male side connector part 320 Sealing material 330 Male terminal accommodating part 331 Male terminal 350 Rib

Claims (5)

Service plug service in which an interlock having a female connector part and a male connector part fitted to the female connector part is arranged, and a seal material is provided on the outer periphery of the male connector part in the interlock In the plug structure,
A service plug structure, wherein a rib having a shape larger than an outer diameter of the male connector part is provided at a base part of the male connector part.   2. The service plug structure according to claim 1, wherein the rib is provided to protrude downward in a vehicle height direction in a state where the service plug is mounted on the vehicle.   The service plug structure according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the interlock includes a sensor that detects a fitting state between the female connector portion and the male connector portion. Service plug service that closes the electrical circuit by being mated with a female connector having a female terminal connected to the electrical circuit, and opens the electrical circuit by being unfitted with the female connector A plug structure,
An interlock having the female connector portion and a male connector portion fitted to the female connector portion;
A male connector part having a male terminal connected to the female terminal by being fitted to the female connector part and provided in the interlock;
Provided on the outer periphery of the male connector portion, a sealing material that closes a gap between the male connector portion and the female connector portion, and provided at a base portion of the male connector portion, and an outer diameter of the male connector portion A service plug structure comprising a rib having a larger shape. Equipped with a service plug that closes the electrical circuit by being fitted to a female connector part having a female terminal connected to the electrical circuit, and opens the electrical circuit by being released from the female side connector part Vehicle,
The service plug is arranged in a center tunnel below the floor panel of the vehicle,
The service plug includes a base portion having the female connector portion and a plug body having a male connector portion that fits into the female connector portion,
A grip part capable of interrupting the electric circuit by pulling the plug body away from the base part is provided on the front side of the vehicle in the service plug,
An interlock for detecting a fitting state between the male connector part of the plug body and the female connector part of the base part ;
Provided on the outer periphery of the male connector portion, a sealing material that closes a gap between the male connector portion and the female connector portion, and provided at a base portion of the male connector portion, and an outer diameter of the male connector portion A vehicle equipped with a service plug , characterized in that a rib having a larger shape is provided.

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