Modular drive inverter device

Abstract

The invention relates to a modular drive inverter device. The modular drive inverter device (100) has the following components, and the following components are stacked in sequence: at least one capacitor (1), a cooling device (2), at least a power module (3) and a drive control circuit board (4), wherein the modular drive inverter device (100) also has at least one interface (201; 401) arranged on its external area, and the interface is used to make the modular drive inverter device (100) contact with at least one external device (200; 300; 400) via an associated connecting device (202; 402).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a modular drive inverter device. Background Art

[0002] In order to control the electric machine, a converter is also used, wherein the electric machine is powered by a DC source but requires one or more AC phases. Such a converter also has a drive inverter, which converts the DC voltage from the converter into an AC voltage with the desired frequency. Such a drive inverter is advantageously used in electrically driven vehicles or vehicles with a hybrid drive.

[0003] In such electric drives in the automotive sector, the integration of the electric motor, transmission and drive inverter has previously been eliminated. As a result, the drive inverter has its own metal housing, for example made of aluminum die casting. It is suitable to integrate the coolant guide into the metal housing. However, this has the disadvantage that the design of the drive inverter, or more precisely the positioning of the components, is restricted. In addition, the positioning of the interfaces to external devices is also restricted as a result.

[0004] Furthermore, the scalability of the drive inverter is a problem. Several embodiments are known which already solve the described problem by a minimal installation of power modules. This means, for example, that instead of three semiconductor chips, only two components are used for each topology switch. This results in a simple, but extremely limited and cost-inefficient scalability. Summary of the invention

[0005] Therefore, the technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a modular drive inverter device which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages. This technical problem is solved according to the present invention by the features of the independent claim. Advantageous designs are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0006] A modular drive inverter device is proposed, which has the following components and the following components are stacked in the described order: at least one capacitor, a cooling device, at least a power module and a drive control circuit board, wherein the modular drive inverter device also has at least one interface arranged on an area outside thereof, the interface being used to make the modular drive inverter device contact with at least one external device via an associated connecting device.

[0007] By arranging interfaces on external areas of the drive inverter device, such as control circuit boards, capacitors, vehicle plugs or AC or DC connectors in a spatially flexible manner, the connecting components can also be arranged in a spatially flexible manner, thereby achieving optimized utilization of the structural space.

[0008] In one embodiment, the device has at least one connecting device, each of which can be connected to an associated interface to make contact between the modular drive inverter device and at least one external device as follows, that is, each interface can be connected to an associated connecting device for contacting at least one external device in a manner with at least a degree of freedom in the x-direction or the y-direction. This ensures that no interface is installed in such a way that the associated connecting device must adhere to a predetermined position or a predetermined path for connection.

[0009] In one embodiment, at least one of the interfaces is an electrical interface or a signal interface, and at least one of the DC connector, the AC connector, and the vehicle plug is provided as an external device. In another embodiment, at least one of the interfaces is a coolant connector, which is formed so that a cooling medium can be provided to the cooling device.

[0010] In one embodiment, each interface is arranged on the device in such a way that it can contact each associated connecting element so that the connecting element can be guided in the x-direction or in the y-direction or in the z-direction or in a combination of these directions to contact at least one external device. The additional degree of freedom in the z-direction can further optimize the use of the installation space.

[0011] In one embodiment, the control circuit board is a combined control and drive circuit board.

[0012] Furthermore, a mirrored modular drive inverter arrangement is proposed, wherein the described arrangement is produced in a single or multiple mirrored manner in the form of a unit, thereby making it possible to provide a higher efficiency.

[0013] Furthermore, a method is proposed for establishing contact between the described modular drive inverter device and at least one external device, wherein an interface is flexibly arranged on the device in such a way that contact of the interface with an associated connecting device is achieved with a degree of freedom in at least one of the x-direction, the y-direction or the z-direction or in a combination of these directions.

[0014] In one embodiment, the described device is manufactured in unit form in a single or multiple mirrored fashion.

[0015] In one embodiment, the unit can be divided into the described devices by structurally or literally cutting off the mirror-image modular drive inverter device on a predetermined line. For such a structural cutting off, in particular, two separate units for the drive inverter device are structurally provided from the outset, which are optionally manufactured independently of one another. For such a real cutting off, it is in particular provided that the drive inverter device is first provided as a unit and then is actually cut off on the line (for example by machine) within the scope of the production method in order to obtain two independent units.

[0016] Further features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments of the invention with the aid of drawings showing details according to the invention, and from the claims. Individual features can be realized individually or in any desired combination in a plurality in variants of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0018] Figure 1 A simplified diagrammatic representation of an apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0019] Figure 2 Detailed views showing the device according to different embodiments of the invention and two variants;

[0020] Figure 3a and Figure 3b A diagram showing the scalability of a device according to one specific embodiment of the present invention is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] exist Figure 1 , a basic embodiment of a modular drive inverter device 100 is shown in the figure. The device 100 has a cooling device 2 which is designed as a cooling plate in this embodiment and is arranged as a central element between one or more semiconductor modules or power modules 3 and a capacitor 1. This cooling plate 2 is used to cool the power modules or semiconductor modules 3 on one side and, if necessary, the capacitor 1 on the other side. A combined drive and control circuit board 4 can be mounted above the power module 3 itself.

[0022] This basic concept allows integration in the transmission housing with flexible (i.e. adaptable to the available installation space) contact with external devices such as vehicle plugs, AC or DC connections, coolant connections, etc. If necessary, a plastic housing can be added for sealing (against dust, moisture, etc.) and / or for contact protection.

[0023] Furthermore, a very good cost / performance ratio is achieved due to the simple geometry, which allows cooling from both sides of the cooling plate, i.e. on the side with the capacitor 1 and on the side with the power module 3. The central arrangement of the cooling plate 2 also allows simpler tolerance calculations, since the cooling plate 2 serves as a central element for positioning.

[0024] By means of the stacked arrangement of the components, a degree of freedom or freedom in the positioning of these components in the x-direction or y-direction and in other embodiments in the z-direction is achieved. The vehicle plug 300, the DC connection 200, the AC connection 400 and the coolant connection can thus be flexibly positioned on the device 100 or the associated interfaces 201, 401, depending on requirements. In the z-direction, the described interfaces 201 and 401 can also be flexibly adjusted in at least one direction, respectively. As interfaces 201, 401, connector pieces for electrical contact (i.e., for example, the DC connection 201 and / or the AC connection 401) and cooling connectors (not shown) for providing a cooling medium, for example as a coolant, to the cooling device 2 and connectors (not shown) for the vehicle plug 300 (which can be implemented as signal connectors or busbars) are used. By means of Figure 2 Connecting means 202 or 402 shown in FIG. 4 and arranged on interfaces 201 , 401 can connect external devices that provide, for example, direct current or alternating current 200 or 400 or a cooling medium, or vehicle plug 300 to device 100 .

[0025] Figure 2 An advantageous embodiment is shown in which the described device 100 is designed as a core module and is arranged on a support plate 101. In addition, it is shown here with the aid of two contact variants V1 and V2 that the concept can be flexibly adapted to the most diverse requirements and available installation space, due to the flexible positioning possibilities of the interfaces 201, 401 based on the stacked arrangement of the components 1 to 4, and also the flexible positioning of the associated connecting means 202, 402.

[0026] As in Figure 2 As shown in the two variants V1 and V2 in FIG, the different interfaces 201, 401 can be arranged in the most different ways, preferably on the outside of the device, depending on the requirements. The variants V1 and V2 shown are to be regarded only as examples, since the interfaces 201, 401 can be positioned (as far as possible) without restrictions so that they are accessible in the x, y and z directions, so that, depending on the available construction space and the type of guidance of the connecting elements 202, 402, an optimized wiring or an optimized connection path can be used.

[0027] In order to establish contact between the described modular drive inverter device 100 and at least one external device (which may be a DC connection 200, an AC connection 400, a vehicle plug 300 or a coolant connection), connecting elements 202, 402 are fixed to interfaces 201, 401, which are used for corresponding contact or power supply.

[0028] In order to make the best possible use of the available structural space, these connecting means 202, 402 are arranged substantially freely, that is to say with certain degrees of freedom, in all directions, that is to say in the x-direction, the y-direction and the z-direction. Figure 2 As shown for two variants V1 and V2. It can be seen here that in variant V1, one or more connecting elements 202 extend in both the x-direction and the y-direction in only one plane in order to make the DC interface 201 contact the DC connector 200. In addition, in variant V1, one or more connecting elements 402 extend in the x-direction, the y-direction and the z-direction in order to make the AC interface 401 contact the AC connector 400. In variant V2, one or more connecting elements 202 and one or more connecting elements 402 extend in the x-direction, the y-direction and the z-direction, wherein it can be seen here that one or more connecting elements 202 are bent downward in the z-direction directly after contacting the interface 202 for contacting the DC connector 200 and are guided parallel to the outside of the device 100, so that very little space is required compared to variant V1 except for the device 100. It can also be seen that both in variant V1 and in variant V2, vehicle plug 300 and one or more connecting elements 402 are arranged on the same side of device 100, thereby also saving space. This is possible because one or more connecting elements 402 can be connected to the associated interface 201, 401 in such a way that the connecting elements can be arranged and guided flexibly in the x, y and z directions, because the stacked arrangement of the components allows this.

[0029] In addition, power scalability can be achieved either conventionally by adding semiconductor modules or power modules 3 or by increasing the number of modules. Figure 3a and 3b Shown in. Figure 3a An arrangement is shown which is arranged on a support plate 101 and which has six phases as a unit (which is formed by an arrangement consisting of two times three phases). By structural or actual disconnection 600 (for example sawing or cutting) at a suitable point, two separate arrangements each having three phases can be separated without impairing the described advantageous properties of the individual arrangements. This means that the described approach enables a simple mirroring of the three-phase variant, so that higher powers can be produced and more modules can be arranged in a row or even built in separate units.

[0030] Reference numerals list

[0031] 100 Modular drive inverter unit

[0032] 100a; 100b Mirror image modular drive inverter device

[0033] 1 Capacitor

[0034] 2 Cooling equipment

[0035] 3 Power Module

[0036] 4 Drive control circuit board

[0037] 200 External device; DC connector

[0038] 201 Interface

[0039] 202 Connectors

[0040] 300 External equipment; vehicle plug

[0041] 400 External equipment; AC connector

[0042] 401 Interface

[0043] 402 Connectors

[0044] 600 cut off

Claims

1. A modular drive inverter device (100), wherein the modular drive inverter device comprises the following components and the following components are stacked in sequence: - at least one capacitor (1), - cooling equipment (2), - at least a power module (3) and - a drive control circuit board (4), wherein The modular drive inverter device (100) further comprises at least one interface (201; 401) and at least one connecting device (202; 402) arranged on an external area thereof, wherein the interface (201; 401) is used to connect the modular drive inverter device (100) via an associated connecting device (202; 402) is in contact with at least one external device (200; 300; 400), wherein each of the at least one connecting device (202; 402) can be connected to an associated interface in the interface (201; 401) on the one hand and to at least one external device (200; 300; 400) on the other hand in the following manner so that the modular drive inverter device (100) is in contact with the at least one external device (200; 300; 400), that is, each interface in the interface (201; 401) can be connected to the associated connecting device (202; 402) for contacting the at least one external device (200; 300; 400) in a manner accompanied by at least a degree of freedom along the x-direction or the y-direction.

2. The modular drive inverter device (100) according to claim 1, wherein: At least one of the interfaces (201; 401) is an electrical interface or a signal interface, and at least one of the DC connector (200), the AC connector (400) and the vehicle plug (300) is provided as an external device (200; 300; 400).

3. The modular drive inverter device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein: At least one of the interfaces (201; 401) is a coolant connection, which is formed to be able to provide a cooling medium to the cooling device (2).

4. The modular drive inverter device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein: Each of the interfaces (201; 401) is arranged on the device (100) in such a way that the interface can contact each attached connecting device (202; 402), so that the connecting device (202; 402) can be guided in the x-direction or in the y-direction or in the z-direction or in a combination of these directions to contact the at least one external device (200; 300; 400).

5. The modular drive inverter device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein: The drive control circuit board (4) is a combined control and drive circuit board.

6. A mirror-image modular drive inverter device (100a; 100b), wherein: The modular drive inverter device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5 is manufactured in a unit form in a single or multiple mirroring manner.

7. A method for establishing contact between a modular drive inverter device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5 and at least one external device (200; 300; 400), wherein: The interface (201; 401) is flexibly arranged on the device (100) in such a way that contact between the interface (201; 401) and the associated connecting device (202; 402) can be made with a degree of freedom along at least one of the x-direction, the y-direction or the z-direction or along a combination of these directions.

8. A method for manufacturing a mirrored modular drive inverter device (100a; 100b), wherein: The modular drive inverter device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5 is manufactured in a unit form in a single or multiple mirroring manner.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein: By disconnecting (600) the mirrored modular drive inverter devices (100a; 100b) at a predetermined line, the unit can be divided into modular drive inverter devices (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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