JP7131198B2 - In-vehicle structure of power control device - Google Patents

Description

The technology disclosed in the present specification relates to an in-vehicle structure of a power control device that controls power supply to a traction motor.

An electric vehicle is equipped with a power control device that controls the power supplied to the driving motor. 2. Description of the Related Art An electric vehicle is known in which a power control device is fixed on a housing that accommodates a driving motor (for example, Patent Document 1). The power control device of Patent Literature 1 is supported above a housing with a gap through a bracket. It should be noted that the term "electric vehicle" in this specification includes a hybrid vehicle having both a driving motor and an engine, and an automobile in which the driving motor is driven by a fuel cell.

Bolts are attached at various positions on the housing of the power control device mounted on the electric vehicle. In the power control devices disclosed in Patent Documents 2 and 3, the bolt head is exposed on the bottom surface of the housing.

JP 2017-019460 A JP 2015-205597 A Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-032830

In a structure in which the power control device is supported above the housing via a bracket, the impact of a collision may deform the bracket, move the power control device downward, and contact the housing. If the cable connecting part is provided on the upper surface of the housing facing the power control device, the bolt head exposed at the bottom of the power control device may interfere with the cable connecting part and damage the cable connecting part. There is The present specification provides a technique for preventing the bolt head exposed on the underside of the power control device from interfering with the cable connection portion of the housing in the event of a collision.

This specification discloses an in-vehicle structure of a power control device. The in-vehicle structure includes a housing that accommodates a driving motor, a power control device that is fixed above the housing with a gap, and a cable that faces the power control device on the upper surface of the housing. and a bull connection. The bolt head is exposed at the lower part of the housing of the power control device, facing the cable connecting part. Next to the bolt head in the lower part of the housing, a rib is provided that protrudes below the bolt head. When the power control moves downwards on impact, the rib contacts the cable connection and the bolt head is prevented from contacting the cable connection. Details and further improvements of the technique disclosed in this specification are described in the following "Mode for Carrying Out the Invention".

1 is a perspective view of a front compartment in which a power control device is mounted; FIG. FIG. 4 is a side view of the power controller secured over the motor housing; 3 is an enlarged view of the range indicated by symbol III in FIG. 2; FIG. It is a figure when a power control device moves below. It is the perspective view which looked at the electric power control apparatus from the diagonally downward direction. It is a sectional view of a power control device. It is the perspective view which looked at the power control apparatus of the 1st modification from the diagonally downward direction. It is the perspective view which looked at the power control apparatus of the 2nd modification from diagonally below. It is the perspective view which looked at the power control apparatus of the 3rd modification from diagonally below. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX of FIG. 9; FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XI-XI of FIG. 10;

An in-vehicle structure of an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. The in-vehicle structure of the embodiment is applied to a hybrid vehicle 100. FIG. FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a front compartment 80 of a hybrid vehicle 100. As shown in FIG. The device layout in the front compartment 80 will be described with reference to FIG. The Front axis of the coordinate system in the drawing indicates the front of the vehicle. The Up axis of the coordinate system indicates above the vehicle. The Side axis indicates the vehicle width direction (left side of the vehicle). The meanings of the Front axis, Up axis, and Side axis are the same in other drawings.

The hybrid vehicle 100 includes an engine 82 and a motor 41 as drive sources. Motor 41 is housed in motor housing 40 along with gear set 42 . The motor housing 40 and the engine 82 are connected in the vehicle width direction and suspended between two side members 81 . In addition, in FIG. 1, one side member is hidden and cannot be seen.

The power controller 10 is secured on the motor housing 40 by brackets 43,45. The power control device 10 controls driving power of the motor 41 . Specifically, the power control device 10 converts the DC power of the power supply into driving power (AC power) for the motor 41 . The power control device 10 is arranged on the motor housing 40 in order to shorten the transmission distance of the drive power.

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the power controller 10 secured over the motor housing 40 . FIG. 2 shows one feature of the vehicle-mounted structure 2 of the power control device 10 . The power control device 10 is fixed with a gap Sp between the motor housing 40 and the front bracket 43 and the rear bracket 45 . A vibration isolating bush 44 is sandwiched between the housing 11 and the front bracket 43 of the power control device 10 , and a vibration isolating bush 46 is sandwiched between the housing 11 and the rear bracket 45 . The power control device 10 is not in direct contact with the motor housing 40 and is fixed above the motor housing 40 via brackets 43 and 45 and anti-vibration bushes 44 and 46 . Brackets 43 , 45 and anti-vibration bushes 44 , 46 reduce vibrations that housing 11 of power control device 10 receives from motor housing 40 .

The upper surface 401 of the motor housing 40 is inclined forward downward at an angle A, and the housing 11 of the power control device 10 is also supported by the motor housing 40 in an attitude inclined forward downward. Angle A is generally in the range of 10-30 degrees. Since the housing 11 is tilted forward and downward, when the vehicle collides, the brackets 43 and 45 are deformed, the housing 11 moves downward, and the housing 11 contacts the upper surface 401 of the motor housing 40. - 特許庁Sometimes.

Connectors 21 for six power cables 47 for transmitting the driving power of the motor 41 are provided on the side surface of the housing 11, and a connecting portion (cable connecting portion 49) for the power cables 47 is provided on the upper surface 401 of the motor housing 40. is provided. Motor housing 40 houses two three-phase AC motors, and power controller 10 supplies two sets of three-phase AC to the motors. Therefore, the power control device 10 and the motor housing 40 are connected by six power cables. Of the six power cables 47, only two on the right side are shown in FIG. 2, and the intermediate portions of the remaining four cables are omitted.

The cable connecting portion 49 protrudes upward from the upper surface 401 of the motor housing 40 . The cable connecting portion 49 is provided at a position facing the lower surface of the housing 11 of the power control device 10 . When the housing 11 moves downward due to the impact of the collision, the lower portion of the housing 11 comes into contact with the cable connecting portion 49 .

A cover 16 is fixed to the lower part of the housing 11 with a plurality of bolts 17 . The cover 16 is a member that closes the coolant channel provided in the lower part of the housing 11 . The cover 16 is fixed to the lower surface of the housing 11 with the gasket 14 interposed therebetween. The coolant channel, cover 16 and gasket 14 will be described later.

A bolt head of the bolt 17 is exposed at the bottom (lower surface) of the housing 11 . Some of the bolt heads of bolts 17 are located directly above cable connections 49 of motor housing 40 . If the housing 11 moves downward due to the impact of the collision, the bolt head of the bolt 17 may come into contact with the cable connecting portion 49 .

Since the bolt head is angular, the cable connecting portion 49 may be damaged if the bolt head comes into contact with it. Since the power cable 47 connected to the cable connecting portion 49 transmits a large amount of electric power for driving the driving motor, it is undesirable for the cable connecting portion 49 to be damaged in the event of a collision. Therefore, a rib 19 is provided next to the bolt head exposed on the bottom surface of the housing 11 in order to protect the cable connecting portion 49 .

FIG. 3 shows an enlarged view of the range indicated by symbol III in FIG. FIG. 4 shows a state in which the housing 11 of the power control device 10 has moved downward and the housing 11 and the cable connecting portion 49 are in contact with each other. As described above, ribs 19 are provided next to the bolt heads 17a exposed on the lower surface of the housing 11. As shown in FIG. The rib 19 is provided at a position facing the upper surface 49 a of the cable connecting portion 49 of the motor housing 40 . A lower end H2 of the rib 19 protrudes below a lower end H1 of the bolt head 17a. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, when the housing 11 moves downward, the rib 19 contacts the cable connecting portion 49, and the bolt head 17a is prevented from contacting the cable connecting portion 49. As shown in FIG. As indicated by an arrow P1 in FIG. 4, when the rib 19 contacts the cable connecting portion 49, a gap is secured between the cable connecting portion 49 and the bolt head 17a.

A portion of the lower surface of the rib 19 (inclined surface 19 a ) is inclined with respect to the upper surface 49 a of the cable connecting portion 49 . Due to this inclined surface 19 a , when the housing 11 moves forward while contacting the cable connecting portion 49 , the rib 19 smoothly slides down the front upper corner 49 b of the cable connecting portion 49 . The inclined surface 19 a prevents the moving rib 19 from damaging the cable connecting portion 49 . The remaining area of the lower surface of the rib 19 is flat, and when the rib 19 and the cable connecting portion 49 come into contact with each other, the lower surface of the rib 19 comes into surface contact with the upper surface 49 a of the cable connecting portion 49 and concentrates on the cable connecting portion 49 . Load is not applied.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the power control device 10 as seen obliquely from below. FIG. 5 is a view with the cover 16 removed. A coordinate system Front/Up/Side in the figure represents Front/Up/Side of hybrid vehicle 100 in a state where electric power control device 10 is mounted on hybrid vehicle 100 . Note that in FIG. 5, the downward direction in the drawing is the Up direction.

A housing 11 of the power control device 10 has a flow path (refrigerant flow path 12) through which a refrigerant flows in its lower portion. The coolant channel 12 is divided into a supply channel 121 and a discharge channel 122 in the lateral direction (Side direction) by the partition plate 13 . The supply path 121 communicates with the supply port 18 a provided on the front surface 112 of the housing 11 , and the discharge path 122 communicates with the discharge port 18 b provided on the front surface 112 of the housing 11 . The partition plate 13 extends from the front to the rear and ends in the middle. The supply path 121 and the discharge path 122 are connected at a U-turn portion 123 at the rear portion of the coolant flow path 12 . A refrigerant circulation device (not shown) is connected to the supply port 18a and the discharge port 18b, and the refrigerant is supplied from the supply port 18a. The refrigerant supplied from the supply port 18a passes through the supply path 121, the U-turn portion 123, and the discharge path 122, and is discharged from the discharge port 18b. The coolant is water or a liquid such as LLC (Long Life Coolant). An electrical part that generates a large amount of heat is arranged inside the housing 11 so as to face the coolant channel 12 . The heat of the electrical components is absorbed by the coolant passing through the coolant flow path 12 .

The coolant channel 12 provided in the lower part of the housing 11 is open at the bottom (bottom of the coolant channel 12). A gasket 14 is arranged on the lower surface 115 of the housing 11 so as to surround the coolant channel 12 . The open bottom surface of the coolant channel 12 is covered with a cover 16 . The cover 16 is attached to the lower surface 115 of the housing 11 with the gasket 14 interposed therebetween. Cover 16 is attached to lower surface 115 with a plurality of bolts 17 . A plurality of bolt holes 18 into which the bolts 17 are screwed are provided in the lower surface 115 of the housing 11 so as to surround the gasket 14 .

The gasket 14 may be a metal gasket or a rubber gasket. Alternatively, the gasket 14 may be a FIPG (Formed In Place Gasket).

Two ribs 19 are provided on the cover 16 . Each rib 19 is provided so as to be adjacent to each of the two bolts that fix the front portion of the cover 16 among the plurality of bolts 17 that fix the cover 16 .

FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of the housing 11 cut along a plane including the Front axis and the Up axis in the figure. FIG. 6 is a sectional view cut along a section passing through the supply port 18a. As described above, the electrical component 90 is arranged inside the housing 11 so as to face the coolant channel 12 . The electric component 90 is, for example, a reactor or a capacitor.

A rib 19 is provided on the cover 16 . The rib 19 is provided behind and adjacent to the bolt 17 positioned foremost among the plurality of bolts 17 for fixing the cover 16 . Rib 19 is positioned directly below gasket 14 . The gasket 14 and the rib 19 are arranged so as to overlap when viewed from the normal direction of the lower surface 115 (the direction of the dashed line VL in the figure). The rib 19 also contributes to improving the strength of the cover 16 pressing the gasket 14. As shown in FIG. A rib 19 reinforces the cover directly below the gasket 14 , and the rib 19 contributes to improvement in sealing performance of the refrigerant flow path 12 by the gasket 14 .

(First Modification) FIG. 7 shows a power control device 10a of a first modification. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the power control device 10a as seen obliquely from below. 7 corresponds to FIG. 5, but the coolant channel 12 (see FIG. 5) provided on the lower surface 115 of the housing 11 is closed with a cover 26. FIG. The cover 26 is fixed to the lower surface 115 of the housing 11 with a plurality of bolts 17. As shown in FIG. The cover 26 is provided with a rib 29 that extends along the edge of the cover 26 . The ribs 29 pass beside each of the plurality of bolts 17 . Further, the rib 29 protrudes downward from the bolt head in the same manner as the rib 19 of the power control device 10 described above. As with the previous power control device 10 , when the power control device 10 a is secured onto the motor housing 40 , the bolt 17 at the front end of the power control device 10 a is positioned above the cable connection 49 . A rib reinforcing portion 29a is provided on the rib 29 behind the bolt 17 at the front end of the power control device 10a. The rib reinforcing portion 29a extends rearward from the rib 29. As shown in FIG. The rib reinforcing portion 29a has the same height as the rib 29, but is provided with an inclined surface 29b at its rear portion. The rib 29 is provided so as to overlap a ring-shaped gasket (see FIG. 5) sandwiched between the lower surface 115 of the housing 11 and the cover 26 when viewed from the normal direction of the cover 26. there is The ribs 29 of the power control device 10a also have the same effect as the power control device 10 of the embodiment.

(Second Modification) FIG. 8 shows a power control device 10b of a second modification. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the power control device 10b as seen obliquely from below. 8, the coolant channel 12 (see FIG. 5) is closed with a cover 26, as in FIG. The cover 26 of this modified example is the same as the cover 26 of the first modified example except that the ribs 29 have different structures. The cover 26 includes three molten metal flow ribs 29c in addition to two rib reinforcing portions 29a. The cover 26 is molded by die casting. The mold for molding the cover 26 is provided with melt flow grooves for efficiently flowing the molten metal over the entire mold. Each molten metal flow rib 29c is formed by solidifying the molten metal in the molten metal flow groove.

Each molten metal flow rib 29c extends in the lateral direction (Side direction). Each rib reinforcing portion 29a extends in the front-rear direction (front direction). The two rib reinforcing portions 29a are perpendicular to the molten metal flow rib 29c positioned on the frontmost side among the three molten metal flow ribs 29c. The groove serving as the basis of the molten metal flow rib 29c facilitates molten metal flow when molding the two rib reinforcing portions 29a (that is, a plurality of ribs). The rib reinforcing portion 29a and the molten metal flow rib 29c may not be strictly perpendicular. For example, the angle between the rib reinforcing portion 29a and the molten metal flow rib 29c may be 90 degrees or less. good. Generally speaking, the rib reinforcing portion 29a and the molten metal flow rib 29c may intersect. Also, the number of rib reinforcing portions 29a is not limited to two, and three or more may be provided.

In addition, the strength of the rib reinforcing portion 29a is improved by intersecting the rib reinforcing portion 29a and the molten metal flow rib 29c. As described above, the rib reinforcing portion 29a is provided for the purpose of coming into contact with the cable connecting portion 49 and sliding down the housing 11 forward in the event of a vehicle collision. By improving the strength of the rib reinforcing portion 29a, it is possible to prevent the rib reinforcing portion 29a from being distorted when it comes into contact with the cable connecting portion 49, thereby appropriately achieving the above object.

(Third Modification) FIGS. 9 to 11 show a power control device 10c of a third modification. FIG. 9, like FIG. 5, is a view with the cover 16 removed. FIG. 10 shows a cross-sectional view of the housing 11 cut along a plane (a plane taken along line XX in FIG. 9) containing the Side axis and the Up axis in the figure. 10 is a section through rib 19. FIG. FIG. 11 shows a cross-sectional view taken along a plane (a plane taken along line XI-XI in FIG. 10) containing the Up axis and the Front axis in the figure. FIG. 11 is a section through rib 19 and fin 13a. This modification is the same as the embodiment except that the configuration of the coolant flow path 12 is different. In this modified example, fins 13 a are provided in the supply path 121 and fins 13 b are provided in the discharge path 122 . The fins 13a and 13b are provided on the bottom surface of the coolant channel 12 (that is, the surface facing the cover 16).

As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, one of the two ribs 19 is positioned below the fin 13a. The fins 13a and the ribs 19 are arranged so as to overlap when viewed from the normal direction of the lower surface 115 (the direction of the dashed line VL in FIG. 11). The other of the two ribs 19 is similarly positioned below the fin 13b. As noted above, ribs 19 contact cable ties 49 in the event of a vehicle crash. Therefore, stress concentrates on the portion of the cover 16 where the ribs 19 are provided. If the cover 16 is distorted by the stress, the coolant may leak from the coolant channel 12 . However, since the ribs 19 are positioned below the fins 13a, the cover 16 is supported by the fins 13a in the event of a collision. Therefore, the cover 16 can be prevented from being distorted, and the refrigerant can be prevented from leaking from the refrigerant channel 12 .

Some features of the techniques described in the examples are listed below. In the in-vehicle structure 2 of the embodiment, the cable connecting portion 49 is positioned below the housing 11 of the power control device 10 (10a). The cable connecting portion 49 is arranged at a position facing the housing 11 . A bolt head 17 a is exposed at a position facing the cable connecting portion 49 in the lower portion of the housing 11 . A rib 19 (29) protruding downward from the bolt head 17a is provided next to the bolt head 17a in the lower portion of the housing 11. As shown in FIG. A rib 19 (part of rib 29 ) is also provided at a position facing cable connecting portion 49 . The rib 19 (29) prevents the bolt head 17a from coming into contact with the cable connecting portion 49 when the housing 11 moves downward due to the impact of the collision.

The rear lower surface (inclined surface 19 a ) of the rib 19 is inclined with respect to the upper surface 49 a of the cable connecting portion 49 . This inclination prevents the rib 19 (housing 11 ) moving downward from damaging the cable connecting portion 49 . The rib 29 of the power control device 10a of the modified example is also provided with a rib reinforcing portion 29a extending rearward from the annular rib 29 behind the bolt 17 at the front end of the housing 11, and the rear lower surface ( The inclined surface 29b) is inclined.

A coolant channel 12 is provided in the lower part of the housing 11 . The bottom of the coolant channel 12 is open, and the opening is closed with a cover 16 (26). The cover 16 (26) is fixed to the lower surface of the housing 11 with a gasket 14 arranged to surround the coolant channel 12 interposed therebetween. The cover 16 ( 26 ) is fixed to the housing 11 with bolts 17 . The rib 19 (29) is provided on the cover 16 (26). The rib 19 (26) is located behind the bolt 17 in the front row and adjacent to the bolt head 17a and below the gasket 14. As shown in FIG. Ribs 19 (29) provided in the cover 16 (26) below the gasket 14 reinforce the cover. Since the cover 16 is reinforced directly under the gasket 14, leakage of refrigerant becomes difficult.

Some features of the techniques described in the second and third modifications are listed below. In the second modified example, the rib 29 includes a rib reinforcing portion 29a and a molten metal flow rib 29c intersecting the rib reinforcing portion 29a. As a result, the strength of the rib reinforcing portion 29a is improved, and the purpose of the rib reinforcing portion 29a, which is to allow the housing 11 to slide forward in the event of a vehicle collision, can be achieved.

In the second modification, the melt flow rib 29c intersects with each of the plurality of rib reinforcing portions 29a extending in parallel. As a result, the molten metal flows smoothly when molding the two rib reinforcing portions 29a.

In the third modified example, a coolant channel 12 is provided in the lower portion of the housing 11 . A fin 13 a is provided in the coolant channel 12 . A bolt 17 fixes a cover 16 that closes the coolant channel 12 . The ribs 19 are provided on the cover 16 and positioned below the fins 13a. It is possible to prevent the cover 16 from being distorted at the time of collision and prevent the coolant from leaking from the coolant channel 12 .

Although specific examples of the present invention have been described in detail above, 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 in the drawings exhibit technical usefulness alone or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims as of the filing. In addition, the techniques exemplified in this specification or drawings can simultaneously achieve a plurality of purposes, and achieving one of them has technical utility in itself.

2: In-vehicle structure 10, 10a, 10b, 10c: Power control device 11: Housing 12: Refrigerant channel 13: Partitions 13a, 13b: Fins 14: Gasket 16: Cover
17: Bolt 17a: Bolt head 18: Bolt hole 18a: Supply port 18b: Discharge port 19: Rib 19a: Inclined surface 21: Connector 26: Cover
29: Rib 29a: Rib reinforcing portion 29b: Inclined surface 29c: Flushing rib 40: Motor housing 41: Motor 42: Gear set 43: Front bracket 44, 46: Anti-vibration bushing 45: Rear bracket 47: Power cable 49: Cable Connection Part 80: Front Compartment 81: Side Member 82: Engine 90: Electric Parts 100: Hybrid Vehicle

Claims (7)

a housing that accommodates a motor for running;
a power control device fixed above the housing with a gap therebetween;
a cable connecting portion provided at a position facing the power control device on the upper surface of the housing;
and
A bolt head is exposed at a position facing the cable connection part in the lower part of the housing of the power control device, and is adjacent to the bolt head in the lower part of the case and faces the cable connection part. An in-vehicle structure for a power control device, wherein a rib protruding downward from the bolt head is provided at a position where the bolt head is located. 2. The in-vehicle structure according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the lower surface of said rib is inclined with respect to the upper surface of said cable connecting portion. A coolant channel is provided in the lower part of the housing,
The bolt having the bolt head fixes the cover that closes the coolant channel and faces the lower surface of the lower part of the housing with a gasket that surrounds the coolant channel sandwiched therebetween. and
3. The vehicle structure according to claim 1, wherein said rib is provided on said cover, and said rib is positioned below said gasket. A coolant channel is provided in the lower part of the housing,
A fin is provided in the coolant channel,
The bolt having the bolt head fixes a cover that closes the coolant channel,
3. The vehicle structure according to claim 1, wherein said ribs are provided on said cover and positioned below said fins. The bolts fix the cover facing the lower surface of the housing lower part across a gasket arranged to surround the coolant flow path,
5. The in-vehicle structure according to claim 4, wherein said ribs are located below said fins and said gaskets. The vehicle-mounted structure according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein the ribs include a first rib and a second rib that intersects the first rib. 7. The vehicle structure according to claim 6 , wherein said second rib intersects each of the plurality of parallel extending first ribs.

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