JP2013090366A - Inverter unit - Google Patents

Abstract

An electrical connection from an inverter side to a connector can be more easily performed.
An inverter case 30 for accommodating an inverter 22 has a housing portion 32 for accommodating a high voltage connector 50 used for electrical connection between a cable 18 from a battery 16 and the inverter 22 side, the upper surface side of which is open. A cover for attaching to the inverter case 30 is provided so as to close the opening of the accommodating portion 32. Accordingly, the housing of the high voltage connector 50 in the housing portion 32 and the attachment of the cover 40 to the inverter case 30 can be performed by work from above the inverter case 30.
[Selection] Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to an inverter unit.

  Conventionally, a terminal block for electrically connecting a cable from the battery to the inverter side is provided inside, and a housing case having an insertion port formed on the outer surface, and a housing case attached to the end of the cable and Proposed electrical equipment comprising a connector whose terminals are connected to the terminal block when inserted into the insertion port, and an insulating member that is arranged in the storage case and closes the insertion port of the storage case when the connector falls off (For example, refer to Patent Document 1). In this electrical apparatus, by adopting such a configuration, it is possible to prevent the inside of the housing case from being exposed when the connector is dropped due to an external impact force.

JP 2011-134654 A

  In general, an inverter case that houses an inverter and a connector shell that houses a connector from a battery and a connector shell that is used for electrical connection between the inverter and the inverter are connected separately. When performing, it is necessary to house the connector in the connector shell (for example, work from above the case) and attach the connector shell to the inverter case (for example, work from the side of the case). It was complicated.

  The main object of the inverter unit of the present invention is to make electrical connection from the inverter side to the connector easier.

  The inverter unit of the present invention employs the following means in order to achieve the main object described above.

The inverter unit of the present invention is
An inverter unit that houses an inverter that drives a motor using electric power from a battery in a case,
In the case, a housing part for housing a connector used for electrical connection between the cable from the battery and the inverter side is formed such that an upper surface is opened,
Providing a cover for attaching to the case so as to close the opening of the accommodating portion;
This is the gist.

  In the inverter unit of the present invention, the housing portion for housing the connector used for electrical connection between the cable from the battery and the inverter side in the case housing the inverter that drives the motor using the electric power from the battery is provided on the upper surface. A cover for attaching to the case is provided so as to close the opening of the housing portion. Therefore, the connector is accommodated in the accommodating portion from above the case, the connector is electrically connected to the inverter side (for example, the connector terminal and the inverter side terminal are connected), and the cover is attached to the case from above the case. Thus, the inverter to the connector can be electrically connected and the inside of the case can be waterproofed. That is, electrical connection from the inverter to the connector can be performed by work from the upper surface side of the case. As a result, this operation can be performed more easily. In addition, unlike the case where the connector shell for housing the connector is configured separately from the case, the work of attaching the connector shell to the case is not required, and therefore the electrical connection work from the inverter to the connector is simplified. In addition, the number of parts such as bolts required for this work can be reduced. Furthermore, when this inverter unit is attached to the body of an automobile, the resistance to the ground (body) can be reduced and the performance of the electromagnetic shield can be improved compared to the case where the connector shell is configured separately from the case. Can be achieved. In addition, by attaching the cable from the battery to the connector, the cable and the inverter side can be electrically connected using the connector.

1 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of the configuration of a hybrid vehicle 10 equipped with an inverter unit 20 as an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of the configuration of an inverter unit 20. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a part of the inverter unit 20. It is a block diagram which shows the outline of a structure of the inverter unit 20B of a comparative example. It is a disassembled perspective view of a part of the inverter unit 20B.

  Next, the form for implementing this invention is demonstrated using an Example.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of the configuration of a hybrid vehicle 10 equipped with an inverter unit 20 as an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of the configuration of the inverter unit 20. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a part of the inverter unit 20.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the inverter unit 20 of the embodiment is mounted on the hybrid vehicle 10 together with an engine 12 that can output power for traveling, a motor 14 that can output power for traveling, a battery 16, and the like. An inverter 22 that drives the motor 14 using the electric power from the battery 16, an inverter case 30 that houses the inverter 22, and a cover 40 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) that closes an opening on the top surface of the inverter case 30; Is provided. The battery 16 and the inverter 22 are electrically connected to each other by using a cable 18 from the battery 16 and an inverter-side terminal 24 (see FIG. 3) electrically connected to the inverter 22 using a high-voltage connector 50 ( Via the electrical connection. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the high voltage connector 50 will be described first, and then the inverter case 30 and the like will be described.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the high-voltage connector 50 includes an insertion portion 52 for inserting the cable 18 from the battery 16 from the lower side in the figure, and the cable 18 is inserted into the insertion portion 52 for high-voltage use. And a terminal 54 that is electrically connected to the cable 18 when attached to the connector 50.

  Inverter case 30 is formed by aluminum die casting, and is fixed (grounded) to the body of hybrid vehicle 10. As shown in FIG. 3, in this inverter case 30, in addition to a main body portion 31 for accommodating the inverter 22, a housing portion 32 for housing the high voltage connector 50 is formed protruding from the main body portion 31 to the side surface side. Has been. The housing portion 32 is opened at the top, and the high voltage connector 50 can be inserted into the housing portion 32 from the insertion portion 52 side so as to be housed in the housing portion 32. Also, an opening 34 is formed below the housing portion 32 so that the insertion portion 52 protrudes downward when the high voltage connector 50 is housed. Further, in the accommodating portion 32, an inverter side terminal 24 and the like electrically connected to the inverter 22 are disposed.

  The cover 40 is formed in a substantially flat plate shape larger than the opening of the housing part 32 of the inverter case 30 and can be attached to the inverter case 30 so as to close the opening of the housing part 32. By attaching the cover 40 to the inverter case 30, the inside of the inverter case 30 can be waterproofed.

  In the inverter unit 20 of the embodiment thus configured, the high voltage connector 50 is accommodated in the accommodating portion 32 from above the inverter case 30 and attached to the accommodating portion 32 with the bolt 42, and the terminal 54 of the high voltage connector 50 is bolted. 44, the inverter 40 is connected to the inverter side terminal 24, and the cover 40 is attached to the inverter case 30 from the upper side of the inverter case 30 with the bolt 46, thereby electrically connecting the inverter 22 to the high voltage connector 50 and the inside of the inverter case 30. Can be waterproofed. In other words, in the embodiment, electrical connection from the inverter 22 to the high voltage connector 50 can be performed only from the top of the inverter case 30. The electrical connection between the cable 18 and the high voltage connector 50 can be made by inserting and attaching the cable 18 to the insertion portion 52 of the high voltage connector 50.

  FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of the configuration of the inverter unit 20B of the comparative example, and FIG. 5 is a partial exploded perspective view of the inverter unit 20B. The inverter unit 20B of the comparative example includes an inverter 22, an inverter case 30B that accommodates the inverter 22, a connector shell 32B that is configured separately from the inverter case 30B and accommodates the high-voltage connector 50, and the connector shell 30. A shell cover 33 </ b> B that closes the upper side and a cover 40 </ b> B that closes an opening on the upper surface of the inverter case 30 (a connection point between the inverter-side terminal 24 and the terminal 54 of the high-voltage connector 50) are provided. The connector shell 32B is composed of a lower surface and side walls in three directions, and an opening is formed on the lower surface so that the insertion portion 52 protrudes downward when the high voltage connector 50 is accommodated. In the inverter case 30B, a side opening 35B into which the terminal 54 of the high voltage connector 50 can be inserted is formed on the side surface, and the connection work of the terminal 54 of the high voltage connector 50 to the inverter side terminal 24 is performed on the upper surface. An upper surface opening 36B for performing is formed. The cover 40B is formed in a substantially flat plate shape larger than the upper surface opening 36B of the inverter case 30B, and can be attached to the inverter case 30B so as to close the upper surface opening 36B.

  In the inverter unit 20B of this comparative example, the high voltage connector 50 is mounted on the connector shell 32B from above the connector shell 32B by mounting the shell cover 33B on the connector shell 32B after the high voltage connector 50 is placed on the connector shell 32B from above. Is accommodated in the connector shell 32B (the terminal 54 of the high voltage connector 50 protrudes from the opening side surface of the connector shell 32B), and the terminal 54 of the high voltage connector 50 is connected to the side opening 35B of the inverter case 30B. The connector shell 32B is attached to the side surface of the inverter case 30 with a bolt 43B so that it can be connected to the inverter-side terminal 24, and the terminal 54 of the high-voltage connector 50 is connected with the bolt 44B from the upper surface opening 36B of the inverter case 30B. By attaching to the inverter side terminal 24 and attaching the cover 40B to the inverter case 30 with the bolt 46B from above the inverter case 30B, the inverter 22 and the high voltage connector 50 are electrically connected and the inside of the inverter case 30B is waterproofed. be able to. The electrical connection between the cable 18 and the high voltage connector 50 can be made by inserting and attaching the cable 18 to the insertion portion 52 of the high voltage connector 50. In this comparative example, in the electrical connection from the inverter 22 to the high voltage connector 50, work from above the inverter case 30 (accommodation of the high voltage connector 50 in the connector shell 32B) and from the side surface side of the inverter case 30B. The above work (attachment of the connector shell 32B to the inverter case 30B) is required, and the work becomes relatively complicated. Further, since the inverter case 30B and the connector shell 32B are configured separately, the number of work steps and the number of parts such as bolts required for the work are relatively large in the electrical connection from the inverter 22 to the high voltage connector 50. . Furthermore, the path of the shield line to the ground (body) becomes relatively long as the connector shell 32B-inverter case 30B-body, and the resistance between the connector shell 32B and the inverter case 30B becomes a bolt, so that the resistance tends to increase. (Shield performance is likely to deteriorate).

  On the other hand, in the embodiment, since the housing portion 32 having an upper opening is formed in the inverter case 30 and the cover 40 for covering the housing portion 32 is provided, the following effects are produced. First, in the electrical connection from the inverter 22 to the high voltage connector 50, the work can be performed from above the inverter case 30, so that the work can be performed more easily than in the comparative example. Further, unlike the comparative example, the work of attaching the connector shell 32B to the inverter case 30 is not required, and therefore the work of electrical connection from the inverter 22 to the high voltage connector 50 is simplified (the number of work steps is reduced). And the number of parts such as bolts required for this work can be reduced as compared with the comparative example. Furthermore, as compared with the comparative example, the path of the shield line to the ground (body) can be shortened as the inverter case 30B-body and the shield performance can be improved. In addition, in the embodiment, if the cover 40 is removed from the inverter case 30, the high voltage connector 50 can be detached from the housing portion 32, so that the removal of the high voltage connector 50 is easier than in the comparative example. Can be done.

  According to the inverter unit 20 of the embodiment described above, the high voltage connector 50 used for electrical connection between the cable 18 from the battery 16 and the inverter 22 side is accommodated in the inverter case 30 that accommodates the inverter 22. The housing portion 32 is formed with an opening on the upper surface side, and a cover for attaching to the inverter case 30 is provided so as to close the opening of the housing portion 32. Therefore, electrical connection from the inverter 22 to the high voltage connector 50 is performed. It can be done more easily.

  In the inverter unit 20 of the embodiment, the hybrid vehicle 10 is mounted together with the engine 12 that can output the driving power, the motor 14 that can output the driving power, the battery 16, and the like. It is good also as what is mounted with a motor, a battery, etc. in a non-electric vehicle.

  The correspondence between the main elements of the embodiment and the main elements of the invention described in the column of means for solving the problems will be described. In the embodiment, the inverter 22 corresponds to an “inverter”, the inverter case 30 corresponds to a “case”, the housing portion 32 corresponds to a “housing portion”, and the cover 40 corresponds to a “cover”.

  The correspondence between the main elements of the embodiment and the main elements of the invention described in the column of means for solving the problem is the same as that of the embodiment described in the column of means for solving the problem. Therefore, the elements of the invention described in the column of means for solving the problems are not limited. That is, the interpretation of the invention described in the column of means for solving the problems should be made based on the description of the column, and the examples are those of the invention described in the column of means for solving the problems. It is only a specific example.

  As mentioned above, although the form for implementing this invention was demonstrated using the Example, this invention is not limited at all to such an Example, In the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention, it is with various forms. Of course, it can be implemented.

  The present invention is applicable to inverter unit manufacturing industries and the like.

  10 automobiles, 12 engines, 14 motors, 16 batteries, 18 cables, 20, 20B inverter units, 22 inverters, 24 inverter side terminals, 30, 30B inverter cases, 32 housing parts, 32B connector shells, 33B shell covers, 34 openings , 35B side opening, 36B top opening, 40, 40B cover, 42, 42B, 43B, 44, 44B, 46, 46B bolt, 50 high voltage connector, 52 insertion part, 54 terminals.

Claims (1)

An inverter unit that houses an inverter that drives a motor using electric power from a battery in a case,
In the case, a housing part for housing a connector used for electrical connection between the cable from the battery and the inverter side is formed such that an upper surface is opened,
Providing a cover for attaching to the case so as to close the opening of the accommodating portion;
Inverter unit.

Images