Liquid leakage detection structure and motor controller

Abstract

The utility model discloses a liquid leakage detection structure and a motor controller, the liquid leakage detection structure comprises a housing, a sealing member, a heat conduction plate and a detection assembly, a water channel for cooling liquid to flow is formed in the housing, and the outer wall surface of the housing is provided with an opening communicated with the water channel and an annular groove surrounding the opening; partial structure of the sealing piece is limited in the annular groove; the heat conducting plate is connected with the shell, covers the opening and shields the sealing piece so as to abut against the sealing piece to seal the opening; the detection assembly comprises a detection piece and a circuit board, a detection pin of the detection piece extends into the annular groove and extends to the side, away from the opening, of the sealing piece, and the circuit board is electrically connected with the detection piece. The utility model aims to reduce the omission ratio of cooling liquid leakage detection and avoid the consequences seriously endangering personal safety, such as short circuit, sparking and the like, caused by liquid leakage.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of vehicle safety, in particular to a liquid leakage detection structure and a motor controller. Background Art

[0002] The power module is a key component in the motor controller, which can realize the inversion of DC to AC and drive the motor. Since the power module generates a lot of heat, it is often necessary to design a heat dissipation structure to ensure the normal operation of the power module. The general design is to install the power module on the water channel shell to dissipate heat. Since there is coolant in the water channel shell, if a reasonable sealing design is not performed, the coolant will leak directly from the installation gap between the water channel shell and the power module, thereby causing a short circuit in the internal components of the motor controller, causing the motor controller to work abnormally or even burn out.

[0003] The conventional sealing design is to design a seal installation groove on the water channel housing, and the seal is installed in the groove. When the power module is installed above the water channel housing, the seal is compressed by a certain squeezing effect, which can effectively prevent the coolant from leaking outward, thereby achieving the seal between the water channel housing and the power module. However, the seal will wear or age after long-term use or under the influence of high temperature, pressure and other factors, resulting in reduced sealing performance, which in turn causes coolant leakage, which to a certain extent affects the cooling effect of the motor controller and damages the normal operation of the motor controller. In order to be able to promptly determine whether the coolant is leaking, the existing solution is to set a humidity sensor or a potentiometer sensor at a location prone to leakage, and determine whether there is leakage at the location prone to leakage through sensor detection.

[0004] However, this detection method can usually only detect a certain area or a certain point. If the detection effect needs to be guaranteed, multiple sensors need to be set up to monitor at multiple locations. However, this still cannot guarantee that when the coolant flows out from other areas where no sensors are set, it can be discovered in time, which not only increases the manufacturing cost, but also affects the performance of the motor controller and the safety of the vehicle. Utility Model Content

[0005] The main purpose of the utility model is to provide a leakage detection structure and a motor controller, aiming to reduce the missed detection rate of coolant leakage detection.

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the utility model proposes a liquid leakage detection structure and a motor controller, comprising:

[0007] A shell, wherein a water channel for cooling liquid to flow is formed inside the shell, and an opening communicating with the water channel and an annular groove surrounding the opening are formed on the outer wall of the shell;

[0008] A sealing assembly, the sealing assembly comprising a sealing member and a heat conducting plate, wherein at least a portion of the sealing member is confined within the annular groove; the heat conducting plate is connected to the housing, the heat conducting plate covers the opening and at least partially shields the sealing member and abuts against the sealing member to seal the opening; and

[0009] The detection component comprises a detection member and a circuit board, the detection pin of the detection member extends into the annular groove and extends into a side of the sealing member away from the opening, and the circuit board is electrically connected to the detection member.

[0010] Optionally, the leakage detection structure includes a first barrier portion, which is arranged in the annular groove and around the opening to divide the annular groove into a sealing groove around the opening and a detection groove around the sealing groove, and the detection groove is adjacent to the sealing groove and is used to receive coolant overflowing from the sealing groove; the sealing member is limitedly installed in the sealing groove; the detection pin of the detection member at least partially extends into the detection groove.

[0011] Optionally, the leakage detection structure also includes a second barrier portion, which is arranged in the detection groove and divides the detection groove into a drainage groove arranged around the sealing groove and a liquid collecting groove connected to the drainage groove, and the drainage groove is used to drain the coolant into the liquid collecting groove; the detection pin of the detection member at least partially extends into the liquid collecting groove.

[0012] Optionally, a portion of the outer wall surface of the shell is recessed toward the inside of the water channel to form the liquid collecting tank;

[0013] The detection component also includes a heat-conducting material, and the heat-conducting material is filled in the liquid collecting tank.

[0014] Optionally, the detection element is a thermistor.

[0015] Optionally, the liquid leakage detection structure further comprises a water retaining cofferdam, the water retaining cofferdam is arranged on the top wall of the shell, and the water retaining cofferdam is arranged around the notch of the liquid collecting tank.

[0016] Optionally, the bottom wall of the drainage trough is inclined from a side away from the liquid collecting trough to a side close to the liquid collecting trough.

[0017] Optionally, the housing has a liquid inlet end and a liquid outlet end that are arranged opposite to each other, and the detection component is arranged near the liquid outlet end or at the liquid outlet end; or

[0018] The shell has a liquid inlet end and a liquid outlet end which are arranged opposite to each other, and the liquid leakage detection structure includes two detection components which are respectively arranged close to the liquid inlet end and the liquid outlet end.

[0019] Optionally, the circuit board is located on a side of the heat conducting plate facing away from the housing.

[0020] The utility model also provides a motor controller, comprising the liquid leakage detection structure as described above.

[0021] The coolant leakage detection of the utility model is to open an annular groove on the outside of the opening, set the seal limiter in the annular groove to seal the opening together with the heat conduction plate, and at the same time, set the detection pin of the detection member in the annular groove on the outside of the seal. After the seal is worn or aged, the coolant leaked from any position of the opening will cross the seal to fill the annular groove, so that the detection member can judge whether the coolant is leaking according to the change of the liquid level in the annular groove, so as to take corresponding measures to repair or deal with it, avoiding damage to the equipment or the environment. Compared with the existing scheme, this detection method can ensure that the coolant can be detected by the detection member when it flows out from all directions of the opening. It not only has low manufacturing cost, but also can effectively guarantee the safety performance of the motor controller and the safety performance of the vehicle. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the utility model or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the utility model. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings without paying creative work.

[0023] Figure 1 A structural schematic diagram of an embodiment of a liquid leakage detection structure provided by the utility model;

[0024] Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a liquid leakage detection structure provided by the utility model;

[0025] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the liquid leakage detection structure provided by the utility model.

[0026] Description of Figure Numbers:

[0027]

[0028]

[0029] The realization of the purpose, functional features and advantages of the utility model will be further explained in conjunction with embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of the utility model to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the utility model. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the utility model, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the utility model, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the utility model.

[0031] It should be noted that all directional indications in the embodiments of the present invention (such as up, down, left, right, front, back...) are only used to explain the relative position relationship, movement status, etc. between the components under a certain specific posture (as shown in the accompanying drawings). If the specific posture changes, the directional indication will also change accordingly.

[0032] In addition, the descriptions of "first", "second", etc. in the present utility model are only used for descriptive purposes and cannot be understood as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of the indicated technical features. Therefore, the features defined as "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of the features. In addition, the technical solutions between the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but they must be based on the ability of ordinary technicians in this field to implement them. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or cannot be implemented, it should be deemed that such a combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection required by the present utility model.

[0033] After a pure electric vehicle has been used for a long time, the coolant is prone to leaking, which will affect the cooling effect of the motor controller to a certain extent. When the coolant contacts the internal components of the motor controller, it will also cause damage, affecting the normal operation of the motor controller, and may even cause safety accidents such as smoke, fire, and explosion. The reason for the coolant leakage is mostly due to the wear or aging of the seals due to long-term use or the influence of high temperature, pressure and other factors, resulting in a decrease in sealing performance, which in turn leads to coolant leakage.

[0034] In view of this, the utility model provides a leakage detection structure 1000, aiming to reduce the missed detection rate of coolant leakage detection.

[0035] See also Figures 1 to 3The utility model discloses a liquid leakage detection structure 1000, comprising a shell 1, a sealing member 2, a heat conducting plate 3 and a detection assembly 4, wherein a water channel 11 for cooling liquid to flow is formed inside the shell 1, and an opening communicating with the water channel 11 and an annular groove 12 surrounding the opening are formed on the outer wall surface of the shell 1; a part of the structure of the sealing member 2 is limited in the annular groove 12; the heat conducting plate 3 is connected to the shell 1, and the heat conducting plate 3 covers the opening and shields the sealing member 2 so as to abut against the sealing member 2 to seal the opening; the detection assembly 4 comprises a detection member 41 and a circuit board 42, a detection pin of the detection member 41 extends into the annular groove 12 and extends into a side of the sealing member 2 away from the opening, and the circuit board 42 is electrically connected to the detection member 41.

[0036] The coolant leakage detection 1000 of the utility model is to open an annular groove 12 on the outside of the opening, limit the seal 2 in the annular groove 12 to seal the opening together with the heat conducting plate 3, and at the same time, set the detection pin of the detection member 41 in the annular groove 12 on the outside of the seal 2. After the seal 2 is worn or aged, the coolant leaked from any position of the opening will cross the seal 2 to fill the annular groove 12, so that the detection member 41 can judge whether the coolant is leaking according to the change of the liquid level in the annular groove 12, so as to take corresponding measures to repair or deal with it, and avoid damage to the equipment or the environment. Compared with the existing scheme, this detection method can ensure that the coolant can be detected by the detection member 41 when it flows out from all directions of the opening. It not only has low manufacturing cost, but also can effectively guarantee the safety performance of the motor controller and the safety performance of the vehicle.

[0037] In order to prevent the seal 2 from being damaged or failing due to incorrect installation or position displacement, thereby further causing leakage of coolant, in one embodiment of the present application, the leakage detection structure 1000 includes a first barrier portion 5, which is arranged in the annular groove 12 and around the opening to separate the annular groove 12 into a sealing groove 121 and a detection groove 122 arranged around and adjacent to the sealing groove 121, and the detection groove 122 is used to receive the coolant overflowing from the sealing groove 121; the seal 2 is limitedly installed in the sealing groove 121; the detection pin of the detection member 41 at least partially extends into the detection groove 122. Such a configuration can ensure its correct position during assembly to ensure the sealing performance and life of the seal 2.

[0038] It should be added that, in the present application, the sealing groove 121 and the detection groove 122 can be directly connected or not connected. Separating the sealing groove 121 and the detection groove 122 can avoid interference with the sealing performance during the detection process, ensure the accuracy of the detection result, and facilitate maintenance and management, which is conducive to the maintenance and replacement of the seal 2 and the detection component 4. In addition, the design of separating the sealing groove 121 and the detection groove 122 can ensure the integrity and stability of the sealing groove 121, which is conducive to ensuring the sealing performance and life of the seal. It should be noted that since the detection groove 122 is used to receive the seal from inside and outside the sealing groove 121, In order to prevent the coolant from overflowing, the notch of the detection groove 122 should at least be lower than the notch of the sealing groove 121 during design and manufacture, so that the coolant can overflow the notch of the sealing groove 121 and enter the detection groove 122; and if the sealing groove 121 and the detection groove 122 are arranged to be connected, the sealing groove 121 and the detection groove 122 can be designed to be connected through a connecting groove or a connecting channel, so that the coolant can enter the detection groove 122 through the connecting groove or the connecting channel, so as to simplify the system structure and shorten the detection path system, thereby accurately controlling the flow direction of the coolant and further improving the leakage detection accuracy and detection efficiency.

[0039] In one embodiment of the present application, the leakage detection structure 1000 also includes a second barrier portion 6, which is arranged in the detection groove 122 and divides the detection groove 122 into a drainage groove 1221 arranged around the sealing groove 121 and a liquid collecting groove 1222 connected to the drainage groove 1221, and the drainage groove 1221 is used to drain the coolant into the liquid collecting groove 1222; the detection pin of the detection member 41 at least partially extends into the liquid collecting groove 1222. By opening a drainage groove 1221 on the shell 1 equipped with the coolant, the coolant leaked from the opening is guided to the collecting groove 1222, and at the same time, the signal is transmitted to the circuit board 42 according to the detection pin of the detection component 41 so that the user can judge whether there is a coolant leak in the shell 1. The drainage groove 1221 can effectively collect the coolant into the collecting groove 1222 to avoid the diffusion and mixing of the leaked coolant, thereby making it easier to monitor the change of the liquid level. Combined with the monitoring of the detection component 41, the coolant leakage can be discovered in time, which can improve the accuracy of leakage detection, and can further reduce the missed detection rate to ensure the safe operation of the equipment.

[0040] In order to facilitate real-time control of the temperature of the motor controller, a temperature sensor is generally used to measure the temperature of the coolant and indirectly monitor the temperature of the motor controller. In the prior art, a detection hole for the internal water channel 11 is provided on the water channel 11 housing 1. The temperature sensor needs to pass through the detection hole to extend into the water channel 11 to contact the coolant, thereby measuring the temperature of the coolant. The housing 1 of the temperature sensor and the detection hole are sealed with a seal 2 to prevent coolant leakage. However, in this case, additional grooves are required, which increases the risk of coolant leakage. To solve the above problems, please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 In one embodiment of the present application, part of the outer wall of the housing 1 is recessed toward the inside of the water channel 11 to form the liquid collecting groove 1222; the detection component 4 also includes a heat conductive material 43, and the heat conductive material 43 is filled in the liquid collecting groove 1222. In this way, the temperature of the coolant can be transferred to the heat conductive material 43 through the housing 1, and then the temperature of the heat conductive material 43 can be measured by using the detection component 4 to measure the temperature of the coolant. There is no need to open an additional groove to place a temperature sensor to avoid leakage of the coolant. The temperature sensor can be a thermistor 411 or an infrared temperature sensor.

[0041] In order to save costs, in one embodiment of the present application, the detection element 41 is a thermistor 411, so that the leakage of the coolant can be detected while the temperature of the coolant is measured. Specifically, the thermistor 411 and the heat-conducting material 43 are placed in the liquid collecting tank 1222, and the thermistor 411 transmits the resistance signal to the circuit board 42 through two pins or leads. The coolant temperature is transmitted to the thermistor 411 through the housing 1, and the resistance value of the resistor changes according to the change of temperature, thereby reflecting the temperature of the coolant. At the same time, the water channel 11 housing 1 is equipped with a heat sink 43. The cooling liquid in the water channel 11 shell 1 contacts the heat sink. A sealing groove 121 and a drainage groove 1221 are provided on the water channel 11 shell 1. The drainage groove 1221 is arranged around the outer side of the sealing groove 121. The heat sink, the seal 2 and the sealing groove 121 form a sealing structure. When the sealing structure fails, the cooling liquid overflows from the water channel 11 shell 1 over the seal 2 to the drainage groove 1221. The drainage groove 1221 drains the cooling liquid to the thermistor 411. The two pins of the thermistor 411 are short-circuited, resulting in abnormal resistance, thereby judging whether the cooling liquid is leaking.

[0042] See also Figure 3When temperature detection is not required, the thermistor 411 and the thermal conductive material 43 do not need to be set, and two pin needles 412 can be used to be inserted into the liquid collecting tank 1222, which also has the function of leakage detection. Under normal circumstances, the resistance at both ends of the pin needle 412 is infinite. When the coolant flows into the liquid collecting tank 1222, the resistance between the two pin needles 412 will be significantly reduced due to the conductivity of the coolant, thereby judging whether the coolant is leaking.

[0043] In order to facilitate the introduction of the coolant from the drainage groove 1221 into the liquid collecting groove 1222, the bottom wall of the drainage groove 1221 can be inclined. In one embodiment of the present application, the bottom wall of the drainage groove 1221 is inclined from the side away from the liquid collecting groove 1222 to the side close to the liquid collecting groove 1222. This design helps to guide the coolant to flow smoothly to the liquid collecting groove 1222, and can improve the fluidity of the liquid, reduce the risk of blockage, avoid accumulation or retention in the drainage groove 1221, and ensure that the liquid can be effectively drained into the liquid collecting groove 1222.

[0044] Since the coolant flows from the liquid inlet end to the liquid outlet end in the housing 1, under normal working conditions, the coolant is easy to overflow through the opening in the direction of the liquid outlet end or the liquid inlet end of the housing 1. Taking this situation into consideration, in one embodiment of the present application, the housing 1 has a liquid inlet end and a liquid outlet end that are relatively arranged, and the detection component 4 is arranged close to the liquid outlet end or the liquid inlet end. In another embodiment of the present application, the leakage detection structure 1000 includes two detection components 4, and the two detection components 4 are respectively arranged close to the liquid inlet end and the liquid outlet end. In this way, the detection component 4 can monitor the flow state of the coolant in a timely and rapid manner, thereby facilitating the taking of necessary measures to avoid coolant overflow and other potential problems, thereby ensuring the normal operation and safety of the equipment or system.

[0045] Furthermore, in an embodiment of the present application, the leakage detection structure 1000 further includes a water retaining weir 7, which is disposed on the top wall of the housing 1, and the water retaining weir 7 is disposed around the notch of the liquid collecting tank 1222. This design can help prevent leakage or overflow. By providing the water retaining weir 7, the liquid can be guided to the liquid collecting tank 1222 to prevent the liquid from flowing out of the housing 1 and causing damage or safety risks. The design of the water retaining weir 7 helps control the flow direction of the coolant, ensuring that the liquid effectively flows and is collected inside the housing 1, while improving the stability and reliability of the system.

[0046] In an embodiment of the present application, the circuit board 42 is located on the side of the heat conducting plate 3 away from the housing 1. With such a configuration, the circuit board 42 can be mounted on the heat conducting plate 3 so that the heat conducting plate 3 can be used to effectively conduct heat, help dissipate heat, and maintain the normal operating temperature of the circuit board 42. At the same time, the space between the circuit board 42 and the housing 1 also helps to isolate the circuit board 42 from the external environment, improve the stability and safety of the circuit board 42, and ensure the normal operation and long-term stability of the circuit board 42.

[0047] The present application also provides a motor controller, including a liquid leakage detection structure 1000. The specific structure of the liquid leakage detection structure 1000 refers to the above embodiment. Since the motor controller adopts all the technical solutions of all the above embodiments, it has at least all the beneficial effects brought by the technical solutions of the above embodiments, which are not described one by one here.

[0048] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and does not limit the patent scope of the present invention. All equivalent structural changes made by using the contents of the present invention specification and drawings under the inventive concept of the present invention, or directly / indirectly applied in other related technical fields are included in the patent protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A liquid leakage detection structure, characterized in that: include: A shell, wherein a water channel for cooling liquid to flow is formed inside the shell, and an opening communicating with the water channel and an annular groove surrounding the opening are formed on the outer wall of the shell; A sealing assembly, the sealing assembly comprising a sealing member and a heat conducting plate, wherein at least a portion of the sealing member is confined within the annular groove; the heat conducting plate is connected to the housing, the heat conducting plate covers the opening and at least partially shields the sealing member and abuts against the sealing member to seal the opening; as well as The detection component comprises a detection member and a circuit board, the detection pin of the detection member extends into the annular groove and extends into a side of the sealing member away from the opening, and the circuit board is electrically connected to the detection member.

2. The liquid leakage detection structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The leakage detection structure includes a first barrier portion, which is arranged in the annular groove and around the opening to divide the annular groove into a sealing groove around the opening and a detection groove around the sealing groove, the detection groove is adjacent to the sealing groove and is used to receive the coolant overflowing from the sealing groove; the sealing member is limitedly installed in the sealing groove; the detection pin of the detection member at least partially extends into the detection groove.

3. The liquid leakage detection structure according to claim 2, characterized in that: The leakage detection structure also includes a second barrier portion, which is arranged in the detection groove and divides the detection groove into a drainage groove arranged around the sealing groove and a liquid collecting groove connected to the drainage groove, and the drainage groove is used to drain the coolant into the liquid collecting groove; the detection pin of the detection member at least partially extends into the liquid collecting groove.

4. The liquid leakage detection structure according to claim 3, characterized in that: A portion of the outer wall surface of the shell is recessed toward the inside of the water channel to form the liquid collecting tank; The detection component also includes a heat-conducting material, and the heat-conducting material is filled in the liquid collecting tank.

5. The liquid leakage detection structure according to claim 4, characterized in that: The detection element is a thermistor.

6. The liquid leakage detection structure according to claim 3, characterized in that: The liquid leakage detection structure further comprises a water retaining weir, which is arranged on the top wall of the shell and surrounds the notch of the liquid collecting tank.

7. The liquid leakage detection structure according to claim 3, characterized in that: The bottom wall of the drainage trough is inclined from a side away from the liquid collecting trough to a side close to the liquid collecting trough.

8. The liquid leakage detection structure according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The housing has a liquid inlet end and a liquid outlet end which are arranged opposite to each other, and the detection component is arranged near the liquid outlet end or the liquid inlet end; or The shell has a liquid inlet end and a liquid outlet end which are arranged opposite to each other, and the liquid leakage detection structure includes two detection components which are respectively arranged close to the liquid inlet end and the liquid outlet end.

9. The liquid leakage detection structure according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The circuit board is located at a side of the heat conducting plate facing away from the housing.

10. A motor controller, characterized in that: The invention comprises the liquid leakage detection structure as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9.

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