JP6384431B2 - Power control device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a power control apparatus that converts electric power of a DC power source into driving power of a traveling motor.

  A power control device that converts electric power of a DC power source into driving power of a traveling motor may include a capacitor that smoothes the current of the DC power source. Since the rated power of the traveling motor is several tens of kilowatts, a capacitor having a large capacity is adopted as a capacitor for smoothing the current. It is desirable to discharge the capacitor before maintenance of the power control device. For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a power control device including a manual discharge device (referred to as “motor drive unit” in Patent Literature 1). The power control device of Patent Document 1 has a structure in which the cover of the power control device cannot be opened unless a manual discharge device is operated.

JP 2012-186893 A

  It is desirable to check with a voltmeter whether power remains in the capacitor before removing the cover of the power control device or before touching a component connected to the capacitor. Therefore, the inventors of the present application have proposed that the bus bar is arranged at a position where a part of the bus bar connected to the capacitor can be visually recognized from the through hole provided in the casing of the power control device. The through hole is, for example, a service hole for maintenance. If the bus bar connected to the capacitor is arranged at a position where it can be seen from the through hole, the voltage of the bus bar can be measured by inserting a probe of a voltmeter from the through hole. However, since both the probe and the bus bar are made of metal, the tip of the probe easily slides against the flat surface of the bus bar. The present specification provides a power control device having a structure that facilitates the work of measuring the voltage of a capacitor by inserting a probe from a through-hole provided in a housing.

  The power control apparatus disclosed in this specification is a device that converts electric power of a DC power source into driving power of a traveling motor. The power control apparatus includes a capacitor that smoothes the current of the DC power supply and a flat bus bar that is in conduction with the capacitor. A through hole is provided in a casing (a casing of the power control device) that houses the capacitor and the bus bar. A part of the flat surface of the bus bar is arranged at a position where it can be seen from the outside of the housing through the through hole. Moreover, the curved protrusion is provided in the flat surface of the bus bar in the range which can be visually recognized from the exterior of a housing | casing through a through-hole. The ridge is provided on a flat surface so that the inside of the curve can be seen when viewed through the through hole.

  According to the power control device having the above structure, the tip of the probe of the voltmeter inserted through the through hole can be locked inside the curve of the protrusion, and the voltage of the capacitor can be easily measured. Details and further improvements of the technology disclosed in this specification will be described in the following “DETAILED DESCRIPTION”.

It is a perspective view of the electric power control apparatus of an Example. It is a perspective view of the electric power control apparatus of an Example (state which removed the service hole cover and the connector). It is an enlarged view near a service hole. It is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the service hole (with the probe inserted). It is an enlarged view near a service hole (modification).

  A power control apparatus 2 according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the power control device 2. The power control device 2 is mounted on an electric vehicle, and converts the power of the battery into the driving power of the traveling motor. Specifically, the power control device converts the DC power of the battery into three-phase AC power. Three connectors 22, 23, and 24 are connected to the housing 3 of the power control device 2. The connector 22 is a cable connector that supplies battery power to the power control apparatus 2. The connector 24 is a cable connector that transmits three-phase AC power from the power control device 2 to the traveling motor. The power control device 2 also serves as a relay that sends battery power to the air conditioner. The connector 23 is a cable connector that transmits battery power from the power control device 2 to the air conditioner.

  The housing 3 of the power control device 2 is composed of a main body 3a and a cover 3b. As will be described later, the housing 3 accommodates a capacitor that smoothes the current supplied from the battery and a bus bar that is electrically connected to the capacitor. Although other parts are also accommodated in the housing 3, the description thereof is omitted. The current supplied from the battery is 10 amperes or more, and a large-capacity capacitor is employed to smooth such a large current. Prior to removing the cover 3b of the power control device 2, it is desirable to be able to confirm whether or not power remains in the large-capacity capacitor. The power control apparatus 2 of the embodiment can measure the voltage of the large-capacity capacitor before removing the cover 3b. The structure will be described next.

  FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the housing 3 with the three connectors 22, 23, 24 and the service hole cover 4 removed. The service holes 5, 7, and 9 are through holes provided in the housing 3 and are usually covered with a service hole cover 4. The service hole cover 4 is fixed to the cover 3 b of the housing 3 with bolts 11. The service hole 5 is provided for inserting a tool when the connector 22 is attached or detached. In other words, the service hole 5 is a through hole provided for maintenance of the power control device 2. Specifically, the service hole 5 is used as follows. The connector 22 is connected to a connector attachment port 6 provided in the housing 3. A power input terminal is disposed inside the connector mounting opening 6. In FIG. 2, the power input terminal is not shown. The power input terminal is a terminal for connecting a connector terminal of a power cable that transmits battery power. The connector 22 is provided with connector terminals, and the connector terminals and the power input terminals are fastened with bolts. After coupling the connector 22 to the connector mounting port 6, a bolt is inserted through the service hole 5, and then a socket wrench is inserted through the service hole 5 to tighten the bolt. The service hole 5 is a hole provided for inserting a terminal (housing side terminal) arranged in the connector attachment port 6 and a tool for attaching / detaching the connector side terminal. The service holes 7 and 9 are also provided for the same purpose as the service hole 5. The service hole 7 is provided for inserting a terminal (housing side terminal) disposed in the connector mounting port 8 and a tool for attaching / detaching the connector side terminal. The service hole 9 is provided for inserting a terminal (housing side terminal) disposed in the connector mounting port 10 and a tool for attaching / detaching the connector side terminal.

  FIG. 3 shows an enlarged view around the service hole 5. Inside the housing 3, the front ends of the bus bars 14 a and 14 b are arranged below the service hole 5. The “bus bar” is an elongated metal rod or an elongated metal plate for transmitting a large current. In this embodiment, the bus bar has a plate shape. The front end of the bus bar 14a is fixed with a bolt 15a, and the front end of the bus bar 14b is fixed with a bolt 15b. The front ends of the bus bars 14a and 14b correspond to power input terminals connected to the terminals on the connector side. The procedure for connecting the terminal on the connector side is as follows. The bolts 15a and 15b are removed, and the connector 22 is aligned with the connector mounting opening 6. If it does so, the terminal by the side of a connector will overlap with an electric power input terminal (the tip of bus bars 14a and 14b). The overlapped connector side terminal and power input terminal are tightened with bolts 15a and 15b. The detachment of the bolts 15a and 15b and the insertion of the socket wrench for tightening the bolts 15a and 15b are performed through the service hole 5.

  A part of another flat bus bar 13 is arranged in a range that can be seen from the outside of the housing 3 through the service hole 5. The bus bar 13 is connected to one electrode of the capacitor 12. The capacitor 12 is the capacitor for current smoothing described above. A curved ridge 16 is provided on the flat surface of the bus bar 13 within a range that can be visually recognized from the outside of the housing 3 through the service hole 5. As shown well in FIG. 3, the protrusion 16 is arranged so that the inside 17 of the curve can be seen when viewed through the service hole 5. More specifically, the protrusion 16 is curved when the flat surface of the bus bar 13 is viewed from the front. The protrusion 16 may be bent more sharply as it is expressed as bent.

  Another bus bar is arranged in a range that can be visually recognized from the outside of the housing 3 through the service hole 7, and the bus bar is connected to the other electrode of the capacitor 12. In order to distinguish from the bus bar 13, the bus bar connected to the other electrode of the capacitor 12 is hereinafter referred to as a bus bar B. The bus bar B is also provided with a protrusion similar to that of the bus bar 13. The tip of the voltmeter probe is applied to each of the bus bar 13 and the bus bar B, and the voltage of the capacitor 12 can be measured. FIG. 4 shows an enlarged view around the service hole 5 when the tip 32 of the probe 31 is brought into contact with the bus bar 13. The viewpoint in FIG. 4 is the same as the viewpoint in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the tip 32 of the probe 31 can be locked to the inner side 17 of the curve of the protrusion 16 of the bus bar 13. Since the tip 32 of the probe 31 can be locked to the inner side 17 of the curve of the protrusion 16, the probe can be easily held while the voltage of the capacitor 12 is measured. In addition, although illustration is abbreviate | omitted, the same protrusion is provided also in bus bar B (bus bar connected with the other electrode of the capacitor | condenser 12). It is also easy to hold the tip of the probe through the service hole 7 on the curved inner side of the protrusion provided on the surface of the bus bar B.

  An operator who maintains the power control device 2 can safely remove the cover 3b (see FIGS. 1 and 2) of the housing 3 after confirming that the voltage of the capacitor 12 is lower than a predetermined threshold.

  In the power control device 2 of the embodiment, a part of the flat surface of the bus bar 13 connected to the capacitor 12 is disposed at a position where it can be seen from the outside of the housing 3 through the service hole 5. The bus bar 13 is provided with a ridge 16 curved to a flat surface within a range that can be visually recognized from the outside of the housing 3 through the service hole 5. The ridge 16 is provided on the flat surface of the bus bar 13 so that the inner side 17 of the curve can be seen when viewed through the service hole 5. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the protrusion 16 of the embodiment is L-shaped. That is, the curvature of the ridge 16 is bent more sharply as it is expressed as a bend. The curvature of the ridge is not limited to the L-shape. FIG. 5 shows a modification of the protrusion. The protrusion 116 shown in FIG. 5 has a U-shape. The protrusion 116 is provided on the flat surface of the bus bar 13 connected to the capacitor 12. The protrusion 116 is provided on the flat surface of the bus bar 13 so that the inner side 117 of the curve can be seen when viewed through the service hole 5. Thus, the ridge may have a gentle curve. In the structure of FIG. 5, when measuring the voltage of the capacitor 12, the operator can keep the probe of the voltmeter on the inner side 117 of the U-shaped protrusion 116 of the bus bar 13. The curved shape of the ridge may be a J-shape or a C-shape in addition to the illustrated L-shape (curved shape close to being expressed as a bend) or U-shape.

  Points to be noted regarding the technology described in the embodiments will be described. In the embodiment, both the bus bar 13 and the bus bar B connected to the both electrodes of the capacitor 12 have protrusions on the flat surface of the bus bar as long as they are visible from the service hole. The protrusion may be provided only on one of the bus bars connected to each of both electrodes of the capacitor. If only one bus bar has a curved protrusion, it becomes easy to lock the probe to the bus bar, and the operator can concentrate on the work of applying the probe to the other bus bar. .

  A part of the flat surface of the bus bar 13 of the embodiment is perpendicular to the opening surface of the service hole 5 within a range that can be visually recognized from the service hole 5. And the protrusion 16 is provided in the flat surface perpendicular | vertical with respect to the opening surface of the service hole 5. As shown in FIG. If the flat surface is perpendicular to the opening surface of the service hole 5, the tip 32 of the probe 31 must be inclined with respect to the flat surface as shown in FIG. 4. Both the bus bar 13 and the tip 32 of the probe 31 are made of metal. When the tip 32 of the metal probe 31 is applied to the flat surface of the metal bus bar, the tip of the probe easily slips, and it is difficult to hold the tip of the probe at one place on the flat surface. In the power control apparatus according to the embodiment, the curved protrusion 16 is provided on a flat surface perpendicular to the opening surface of the service hole 5. Moreover, the protrusion 16 is provided so that the inner side 17 of the curve can be seen when viewed through the service hole 5. In a layout in which the inner side 17 of the curve is visible when viewed through the service hole 5, the tip of the probe is located on the inner side 17 of the curve of the protrusion and the flat surface of the bus bar 13 when inserted through the service hole 5. Just hit the bottom of the dent composed of. Therefore, the above-described structure is convenient for holding the probe 31 while the tip is in contact with the bus bar 13.

  The protrusion is convenient for locking the probe, and also serves as a mark for the operator to identify the bus bar to which the probe should be applied. The ridge is formed at the same time when the bus bar is manufactured by press working. Or you may form a protrusion with a weld bead.

  The service hole 5 of the embodiment corresponds to an example of a “through hole” in the claims. The battery mentioned in the embodiment is an example of the “DC power supply” in the claims. The capacitor 12 corresponds to an example of the “capacitor for smoothing the current of the DC power supply” in the claims. The bus bar 13 corresponds to an example of “a flat bus bar electrically connected to the capacitor” in the claims. The ridges 16, 116 correspond to an example of “a ridge provided on a flat surface within a range that can be visually recognized from the outside of the housing through the through hole” in the claims.

  Specific examples of the present invention have been described in detail above, but these are merely examples and do not limit the scope of the claims. The technology described in the claims includes various modifications and changes of the specific examples illustrated above. The technical elements described in this specification or the drawings exhibit 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 technology exemplified in this specification or the drawings can achieve a plurality of objects at the same time, and has technical usefulness by achieving one of the objects.

2: Power control device 3: Housing 3a: Main body 3b: Cover 4: Service hole covers 5, 7, 9: Service holes 6, 8, 10: Connector mounting port 12: Capacitors 13, 14a, 14b: Bus bars 11, 15a 15b: bolt 16, 116: protrusion 17, 117: inner side 22, 23, 24 of protrusion curvature: connector 31: probe

Claims (1)

It is a power control device that converts the power of the DC power source into the driving power of the traveling motor,
A capacitor for smoothing the current of the DC power supply;
A flat bus bar in conduction with the capacitor;
A housing that houses the capacitor and the bus bar, and that is provided with a through hole;
With
A part of the flat surface of the bus bar is arranged at a position where it can be seen from the outside of the housing through the through hole,
A curved ridge is provided on the flat surface in a range that can be seen from the outside of the housing through the through hole, and the ridge is flat so that the inside of the curve can be seen when viewed through the through hole. Provided on the surface,
The power control apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned.

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