Protector structure for electrical components

Abstract

A protector structure of an inverter (1) as an example of an electrical component includes a protector (3) having a protection portion (31) and a mounting portion (32A) and a mounting portion (32B). The protector (3) has a necked portion (33A) between the protection portion (31) and the mounting portion (32A), and has a necked portion (33B) between the protection portion (31) and the mounting portion (32B).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to a protector structure of an electrical component. BACKGROUND

[0002] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. JP 2014-076685 A discloses a technique of installing a protector at a hypothetical breaking point as a measure to prevent breaking due to a collision.

[0003] A protector with high strength is able to stop a load from being input to a hypothetical breaking point at the time of a collision with a colliding object. However, if the strength of the protector is high, the protector is correspondingly difficult to deform. As a result, in this case, a collision load is concentrated on a mounting portion of the protector, and there is a possibility that a housing of the electrical component will be damaged in a portion where the mounting portion is provided. SUMMARY

[0004] The present application was achieved in view of such a problem, and an object thereof is to suppress breaking of a housing of an electrical component due to a collision load via a mounting portion of a protector.

[0005] A protector structure of an electrical component according to an embodiment of the present application includes a protector including: a protection portion that protects an electrical component from a collision with a colliding object; and a mounting portion that mounts the electrical component to a component including a housing. The protector has a low-strength portion between the protection portion and the mounting portion, the low-strength portion having a lower strength than the protection portion and the mounting portion. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0006] Figure 1 is a first view of an appearance of a protector structure of an inverter.

[0007] Figure 2 is a second view of an appearance of a protector structure of an inverter.

[0008] Figure 3 is a plan view of a protector.

[0009] Figure 4 is a side view of a protector.

[0010] Figure 5 is a first view of a diagram showing a configuration of a protector and a colliding object.

[0011] Figure 6 is a second view of a diagram showing a configuration of a protector and a colliding object.

[0012] Figure 7 is a view that explains a relationship between a configuration of a center of gravity of a protector and a prescribed region.

[0013] Figure 8 is a view that explains a relationship between a configuration of a protruding portion and a prescribed region.

[0014] Figure 9A is a first diagram of the first explanatory view regarding the deformation of the protector.

[0015] Figure 9B is a second diagram of the first explanatory view regarding the deformation of the protector.

[0016] Figure 10A is a first diagram of the second explanatory view regarding the deformation of the protector.

[0017] Figure 10B is a second diagram of the second explanatory view regarding the deformation of the protector.

[0018] Figure 10C is a third diagram of the second explanatory view regarding the deformation of the protector.

[0019] Figure 11A is a first diagram of the third explanatory view regarding the deformation of the protector.

[0020] Figure 11B is a second diagram of the third explanatory view regarding the deformation of the protector.

[0021] Figure 11C is a third diagram of the third explanatory view regarding the deformation of the protector.

[0022] Figure 12 is a diagram showing a first modification example of the protector.

[0023] Figure 13 is a diagram showing a second modification example of the protector.

[0024] Figure 14 is a diagram showing a third modification example of the protector.

[0025] Figure 15 is a diagram showing a fourth modification example of the protector.

[0026] Figure 16 is a diagram showing a fifth modification example of the protector.

[0027] Figure 17 is a diagram showing a sixth modification example of the protector.

[0028] Figure 18 is a diagram showing a seventh modification example of the protector. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present application will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0030] Figure 1 , Figure 2 is an appearance view of the protector structure of the inverter 1. Figure 3 is a plan view of the protector 3. Figure 4is a side view of the protector 3. In Figure 2 the protector structure is shown with the protector 3 removed.

[0031] The protector structure includes the inverter 1, the motor 2, and the protector 3. The inverter 1 is an example of an electrical component, and is disposed above the motor 2. The housing 11 of the inverter 1 is fixed to the housing 21 of the motor 2 by bolt coupling, whereby the inverter 1 and the motor 2 become an integrated structure.

[0032] The motor 2 constitutes a drive source of a vehicle. The motor 2 is housed in a motor room of the vehicle together with the inverter 1. The vehicle is a series hybrid vehicle that travels by driving the motor 2 using electric power generated by a generator using power of an internal combustion engine.

[0033] The protector 3 is disposed with respect to the inverter 1. The protector 3 is constituted by a plate-shaped member, and is disposed from the inverter 1 to the motor 2. The protector 3 has a protection portion 31, a mounting portion 32A and a necked portion 33A, and a mounting portion 32B and a necked portion 33B.

[0034] The protection portion 31 protects the inverter 1 from a collision object. The collision object is a vehicle component disposed in the motor room, and in the present embodiment, refers to a master cylinder 4 described later. The protection portion 31 has a flat plate shape, and constitutes a protector surface of the protector 3.

[0035] A receiving portion 13 that is raised from the surroundings is provided at a portion of the housing 11 opposite the protection portion 31. The receiving portion 13 is a portion that is raised from the wall surface of the housing 11 in which the receiving portion 13 is provided. The receiving portion 13 is constituted by a grid-shaped rib. The housing 11 can also be configured without the receiving portion 13.

[0036] The mounting portion 32A is mounted on the housing 11. The mounting portion 32A becomes a state mounted by a bolt that is a fixing member. As shown in Figure 4 , the mounting portion 32A has a contact portion 321A that contacts the housing 11, and is mounted in a state in which the contact portion 321A is in surface contact with the housing 11.

[0037] The contact portion 321A is formed around a bolt hole, and is in surface contact with the mounting portion 111 of the housing 11 as shown in Figure 2 . Two of the contact portion 321A and the mounting portion 111 are provided.

[0038] The mounting portion 32A thus configured is mounted on the housing 11 in a state in which at least a portion is in surface contact with the housing 11. Such a mounting portion 32A is grasped as a mounting portion by interposing a necked portion 33A that is a low-strength portion between the protection portion 31 and the mounting portion 32A.

[0039] A necking-out section 33A is provided between the protective portion 31 and the mounting portion 32A. The necking-out section 33A is necked relative to both the protective portion 31 and the mounting portion 32A. Therefore, the strength of the necking-out section 33A is lower than that of the case where it has the same width as the narrower of the protective portion 31 and the mounting portion 32A, and also lower than that of the case where it is not necked relative to either the protective portion 31 or the mounting portion 32A. The width direction can be a direction orthogonal to the thickness direction of the protector 3 and the extension direction of the necking-out section 33A.

[0040] In this constricted neck 33A, the impact strength of the collision between the object and the protective part 31 is lower than that between the protective part 31 and the mounting part 32A. Therefore, when the object collides with the protective part 31, the protector 3 is prone to deformation in the constricted neck 33A.

[0041] The neck 33A has a double-neck shape that is necked on both sides relative to the protective part 31 and the mounting part 32A. The neck 33A is connected to the central part of the mounting part 32A at a position that is more inward in the width direction than the two contact parts 321A.

[0042] The protector 3 is configured such that a neck 33A is connected to a mounting part 32A. In this case, the strength of the neck 33A can be adjusted by adjusting the width of the neck 33A, thus making it easy to adjust the strength of the neck 33A of the protector 3.

[0043] Mounting part 32B is mounted on the housing 21 of the motor 2. Mounting part 32B is mounted by bolts. Figure 4 As shown, the mounting portion 32B has a contact portion 321B that contacts the housing 21, allowing it to be mounted in a state where it contacts the surface of the housing 21 via the contact portion 321B. The contact portion 321B is formed around the bolt hole and... Figure 2 The mounting portion 211 of the housing 21 shown is in contact with the surface. One contact portion 321B and one mounting portion 211 are each provided.

[0044] A necking-out portion 33B is disposed between the protective portion 31 and the mounting portion 32B. The necking-out portion 33B is necked relative to both the protective portion 31 and the mounting portion 32B. For example... Figure 3 As shown, the neck 33B has a single neck shape that is necked on one side relative to the protective portion 31 and the mounting portion 32B. The contact portion 321B formed around the bolt hole overlaps with a region that is wider in the width direction than the connection portion between the mounting portion 32B and the neck 33B. Like the neck 33A, the neck 33B can also have a double neck shape. The protector 3 is configured such that one neck 33B is connected to one mounting portion 32B.

[0045] like Figure 3As shown, corner portions 34A and 34B, which are formed in a constricted shape, are formed on the protector 3. Corner portion 34A is formed at the connection position between the protector 31 and the constricted neck 33A, and at the connection position between the constricted neck 33A and the mounting portion 32A. Corner portion 34B is formed at the connection position between the protector 31 and the constricted neck 33B, and at the connection position between the constricted neck 33B and the mounting portion 32B.

[0046] Stress tends to concentrate at corners 34A and 34B. Therefore, the strength of the protector 3 in resisting impacts from objects onto the protective portion 31 is further reduced by corners 34A and 34B. A total of four corners 34A are formed at the aforementioned connection locations, and a total of three corners 34B are formed at the aforementioned connection locations. Mounting portions 32A and 32B constitute mounting portions for mounting the housing 11 and housing 21, which are components including the housing 11.

[0047] Figure 5 , Figure 6 This is a diagram showing the configuration of protector 3 and the collision object. Figure 5 This indicates the view of these configurations from above. Figure 6 This indicates how these configurations are viewed from the side.

[0048] like Figure 5 As shown, the master cylinder 4, which serves as the collision object, is positioned further rearward than the inverter 1. Figure 6 As shown, the inverter 1 is tilted towards the front of the vehicle. In this state, the protrusion 41, which serves as a collision part, is positioned at a position that overlaps with the inverter 1 when viewed in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

[0049] Therefore, if the inverter 1 moves rearward during a vehicle collision, the protrusion 41 will collide with the inverter 1. Furthermore, in order to protect the inverter 1 from such collisions with the protrusion 41, a protector 3 is provided opposite to the protrusion 41 in the vehicle's longitudinal direction.

[0050] use Figure 2 The mesh size of the bearing portion 13 is set to be smaller than the collision cross-section of the protrusion 41. The collision cross-section is the cross-section of the portion that can contact the protection portion 31 during a collision, for example, a longitudinal cross-section (a cross-section formed by a plane orthogonal to the extending direction of the protrusion 41). The collision cross-section may also be a cross-section formed by a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Alternatively, the collision cross-section may also be a cross-section formed by a plane connecting the ribs that form the mesh of the bearing portion 13.

[0051] Therefore, even if the bearing part 13 is composed of mesh-shaped ribs, the load can be borne by the sturdy ribs when an impact load is input from the protrusion 41 to the bearing part 13 via the protection part 31.

[0052] Figure 7This diagram illustrates the relationship between the center of gravity G of the protector 3 and the region R. Region R is the area surrounded by the outer edge of the region formed by the roots of the necks 33A and 33B connected to the protection part 31, that is, the connecting bases of the protection part 31 connected to the mounting parts 32A and 32B. The center of gravity G of the protector 3 is located within region R.

[0053] Therefore, the collision load input to the protector 3 is well balanced and transmitted to the mounting parts 32A and 32B. As a result, the protector 3 is difficult to tilt or deform under the input load.

[0054] Figure 8 This diagram illustrates the relationship between the configuration of the protrusion 41 and the region R. The region R and the protrusion 41 overlap when viewed along the vehicle's longitudinal direction. Therefore, in the event of a vehicle collision, the protrusion 41 readily collides with the protective portion 31 within the region R, and the collision load is effectively and evenly transferred to the mounting portions 32A and 32B.

[0055] Next, the main effects of this embodiment will be explained.

[0056] Figure 9A , Figure 9B This is the first explanatory diagram regarding the deformation of protector 3. In Figure 9A , Figure 9B In this section, the case where the housing 11 does not have a support part 13 will be explained.

[0057] like Figure 9A As indicated by the hollow arrow, when a collision load is input to the protection unit 31, the input load is transferred from the protection unit 31 to the mounting unit 32A and the mounting unit 32B.

[0058] The inverter 1 of this embodiment has a protector structure including a protector 3, which includes a protection part 31, a mounting part 32A, and a mounting part 32B. The protector 3 has a neck 33A, which serves as a low-strength section, between the protection part 31 and the mounting part 32A, and a neck 33B, which also serves as a low-strength section, between the protection part 31 and the mounting part 32B.

[0059] Based on such a structure, such as Figure 9B As shown, the protector 3 deforms at the constricted necks 33A and 33B, and the protective portion 31 is pressed in by the load and comes into contact with the housing 11. As a result, the load is also distributed to the protective portion 31 and is not concentrated at the mounting portions 32A and 32B. Therefore, with this structure, damage to the housing 11 caused by the impact load via the mounting portion 32A can be suppressed.

[0060] In this embodiment, the neck 33A, which is a low-strength part, is a neck that is necked relative to the protective part 31 and the mounting part 32A, and the neck 33B, which is a low-strength part, is a neck that is necked relative to the protective part 31 and the mounting part 32B.

[0061] With this structure, optimal load distribution of collision loads can be achieved by adjusting the widths of the necks 33A and 33B. Furthermore, with this structure, the protector 3 is also prone to deformation due to the stress concentration at the corners 34A and 34B, thereby helping to suppress damage to the shell 11 caused by collision loads.

[0062] Figure 10A to Figure 10C This is the second explanatory diagram regarding the deformation of protector 3. Figure 10A to Figure 10C It is along Figure 9A Arrow A indicates the view of protector 3; housing 11 is hidden behind housing 21. Figure 10A to Figure 10C The mounting section 32A and the necked section 33A are omitted from the illustration. Figure 10A to Figure 10C In this section, the case where the housing 11 does not have a support part 13 will be explained.

[0063] First of all, Figure 10C Please provide an explanation. Figure 10C This is a comparative example. The comparative example represents a case where the region R and protrusion 41 are not repeated when viewed along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. In this case, during a vehicle collision, the load is easily applied to a position in the protective part 31 that deviates from region R. Moreover, when such a load is applied, the protector 3 deforms tilted, and the protective part 31 comes into uneven contact with the housing 11. As a result, the distribution of the load transmitted from the protective part 31 to the housing 11 becomes uneven.

[0064] Figure 10A , Figure 10B This describes the situation in this embodiment. In this embodiment, the center of gravity G of the protector 3 is located within region R. Furthermore, when viewed along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, region R and protrusion 41 overlap. Based on these structures, the load input into region R can be effectively and evenly transferred to mounting portions 32A and 32B.

[0065] Therefore, in this embodiment, such as Figure 10B As shown, the protective part 31 does not significantly disrupt its posture and is pressed into contact with the housing 11 by the input load. As a result, the load transmitted from the protective part 31 to the housing 11 can be evenly distributed, thus more appropriately suppressing the concentration of collision load on the mounting part 32A.

[0066] Figure 11A to Figure 11C This is the third explanatory diagram regarding the deformation of protector 3. Figure 11A ,Figure 11B This indicates the situation where a load is input into area R of the protection unit 31 during a vehicle collision.

[0067] like Figure 11A , Figure 11B As shown, the housing 11 has a bearing portion 13. With this structure, the input load is well balanced and transmitted to the mounting portions 32A and 32B, and further distributed to the bearing portion 13. Therefore, in this case, it is also possible to achieve a uniform distribution of the load transmitted to the housing 11.

[0068] Figure 11C This indicates the location in the protection unit 31 that deviates from region R when the collision load is input. In this case, with Figure 10C In the same case, the protector 3 deforms at an angle relative to the input load. However, when the housing 11 has a bearing portion 13, the protector 31 comes into contact with the bearing portion 13 before tilting significantly.

[0069] Therefore, with such a structure, even when the collision load is input to a position in the protection section 31 that deviates from the region R, it is possible to achieve a uniform distribution of the load transmitted to the housing 11.

[0070] In this embodiment, the bearing portion 13 is composed of mesh-shaped ribs. In addition, the size of the mesh is set to be smaller than the size of the longitudinal cross-section of the protrusion 41.

[0071] With this structure, the load transmitted from the protective part 31 can be uniformly distributed to the housing 11 by the strong ribs bearing the load, and weight reduction can be achieved.

[0072] Protector 3 can also be configured as follows.

[0073] Figure 12 This is a diagram showing a first modified example of protector 3. (As shown...) Figure 12 As shown, the protector 3 can also have thin-walled portions 35A and 35B instead of the necked necks 33A and 33B. The thin-walled portions 35A and 35B are examples of low-rigidity parts; by setting their thickness to be thinner than that of the protector 31 and the mounting portions 32A and 32B, their strength is set to be lower than theirs. Even with the protector 3 configured in this way, damage to the housing 11 caused by impact loads via the mounting portion 32A can be suppressed.

[0074] Figure 13 This is a diagram showing a second variation of protector 3. (As shown...) Figure 13As shown, the protector 3 can replace the necked sections 33A and 33B by having curved portions 36A and 36B. The curved portions 36A and 36B are examples of low-rigidity parts; by having a curved shape, their strength is set lower than that of the protector 31 and the mounting portions 32A and 32B. Even with this configuration of the protector 3, damage to the housing 11 caused by impact loads via the mounting portion 32A can be suppressed.

[0075] Figure 14 This diagram shows a third variation of the protector 3. In this example, two necks 33A are provided between the protective portion 31 and the mounting portion 32A, while no necks 33B are provided between the protective portion 31 and the mounting portion 32B. The necks 33A are connected to the two ends of the mounting portion 32A, and the portion between the two necks 33A is hollow. Each neck 33A has a single neck shape relative to the mounting portion 32A.

[0076] The mounting portion 32A extends along the width direction and extends at both ends to the opposite side to the necked-out portion 33A. Bolt holes are provided on each extended portion. The protector 3 has a contact portion 321A on the back side of each extended portion. The necked-out portion 33A connects to both ends of the mounting portion 32A, thus connecting the mounting portion 32A at a position where two contact portions 321A are provided in the width direction. In such a protector 3, the necked-out portion 33A can also form a low-strength section.

[0077] In this case, when the roots of the neck 33A and the mounting portion 32B are connected to each other, a strip-shaped region is formed, but region R is the region surrounded by the outer edge of the region formed by connecting these roots to each other. Therefore, region R is formed by the outer boundary line of this strip-shaped region.

[0078] Therefore, in this case, region R is the region surrounded by the outer edge of the region formed by the roots of the two necks 33A and the mounting portion 32B that are connected to the protection portion 31, that is, the connecting bases in the protection portion 31 that are connected to the mounting portion 32A and the mounting portion 32B.

[0079] The protector 3 can be configured such that the center of gravity G is located within such a region R. Furthermore, the arrangement of region R and protrusion 41 can be the same as in this embodiment. These conditions also apply to the variations described below.

[0080] Figure 15 This figure shows a fourth variation of the protector 3. In this example, the mounting portion 32A has an inverted T-shaped form. The central extension of the mounting portion 32A extends to the opposite side of the necked-out neck 33A. Bolt holes are provided in the central extension of the mounting portion 32A, and not in the extensions on both sides.

[0081] In this example, in addition to the central extension in the width direction that is fixed by bolts, the mounting portion 32A also has contact portions 321A on both sides in the width direction that contact the housing 11. The necks 33A are connected to the mounting portion 32A at a position further in the width direction than the two contact portions 321A on both sides, thus having a double-necked shape relative to the mounting portion 32A. In such a protector 3, the necks 33A can also form a low-strength part.

[0082] Figure 16 This figure shows a fifth variation of the protector 3. In this example, a neck 33B is provided between the protective portion 31 and the mounting portion 32B, while no neck 33A is provided between the protective portion 31 and the mounting portion 32A. The neck 33B has a single neck shape relative to the mounting portion 32B. The protector 3 has a contact portion 321B on the entire single side (back side) of the mounting portion 32B, which overlaps with a region that is wider in the width direction than the width of the connection portion between the mounting portion 32B and the neck 33B. In such a protector 3, the neck 33B can also form a low-strength section.

[0083] Figure 17 This figure shows a sixth variation of the protector 3. In this example, a neck 33A is provided between the protective portion 31 and the mounting portion 32A, while no neck 33B is provided between the protective portion 31 and the mounting portion 32B. The mounting portion 32A extends in the width direction and extends at both ends to the opposite side to the neck 33A side, and bolt holes are provided on the extended portion. The protector 3 has a contact portion 321A on the back side of each extended portion, and the neck 33A is connected to the central portion of the mounting portion 32A, thereby connecting to the mounting portion 32A at a position further inward in the width direction than the two contact portions 321A. In such a protector 3, the neck 33A can also form a low-strength part.

[0084] Figure 18 This figure shows a seventh variation of the protector 3. In this example, the upper part and one side part of the protective portion 31 are connected to the mounting portion 32A via necks 33A. The necks 33A have a single neck shape relative to the mounting portion 32A, and the necks 33B have a single neck shape relative to the mounting portion 32B. The protector 3 has a contact portion 321A on the entire back side of the mounting portion 32A, and a contact portion 321B on the entire back side of the mounting portion 32B. In such a protector 3, the necks 33A and 33B can also form a low-strength section.

[0085] The embodiments of the present invention have been described above. However, the above embodiments are merely examples of the application of the present invention and are not intended to limit the technical scope of the present invention to the specific structures of the above embodiments.

[0086] For example, in the above embodiment, the inverter 1 was described as an electrical component. However, the electrical component may also be a DC-DC converter, a charging port, a junction box that has the function of distributing high-voltage paths, etc.

Claims

1. A protector structure for an electrical component, comprising a protector, said protector having: A protective section, which shall protect electrical components from impact by an object and is located between the electrical components and the object; The mounting section mounts the protective section onto a component containing the electrical components, wherein... The protective part has a flat plate shape. The protector has a low-strength portion, i.e., a neck, between the protective portion and the mounting portion, which has a lower strength than both the protective portion and the mounting portion, and has multiple mounting portions serving as the mounting portion. The housing has a support portion that is raised higher than the surrounding area in the part opposite to the protective portion. The supporting part is composed of grid-shaped ribs. The size of the mesh in the grid shape is smaller than the size of the collision cross section of the colliding object.

2. The protector structure for electrical components as described in claim 1, wherein, The center of gravity of the protector is located within a region surrounded by the outer edge of the area formed by the connecting bases that connect the protector to the plurality of mounting portions.

3. The protector structure for electrical components as described in claim 1, wherein, The area surrounded by the outer edge of the area formed by the connecting bases that connect the protective part and the plurality of mounting parts overlaps with the collision part of the collision object when viewed in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

Images