Vehicle

Abstract

This utility model relates to a vehicle comprising: a battery pack, wherein battery modules are housed within a battery casing; an inverter, wherein inverter structural components are housed within an inverter casing; and a power cable, comprising multiple wires housed within a conduit, electrically connecting the battery pack and the inverter. The internal space of the battery casing and the internal space of the inverter casing are connected via the internal space of the conduit. A breathing membrane is provided on the inverter casing, the breathing membrane being positioned higher than the upper surface of the battery casing. Using this utility model, water splashing onto the breathing membrane can be prevented.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to a vehicle. Background Technology

[0002] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-169414 discloses a vehicle that, by providing a raised portion on a battery pack and installing a breathing membrane on that raised portion, can keep the breathing membrane above the water surface when driving on flooded roads.

[0003] However, in the vehicle disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-169414, since a breathing membrane is installed on the battery pack located below the vehicle floor, there is room for improvement in preventing water from splashing onto the breathing membrane when the vehicle is driving on flooded roads. Utility Model Content

[0004] This utility model was made in view of the above-mentioned technical problems, and its purpose is to provide a vehicle that can suppress water splashing onto the breathing membrane when driving on flooded roads, compared with the case of setting a breathing membrane on the battery pack.

[0005] The vehicle of this utility model includes: a battery pack, which is formed by housing battery modules within a battery casing; an inverter, which is formed by housing inverter structural components within an inverter casing; and a power cable, which is formed by housing multiple wires within a conduit, electrically connecting the battery pack and the inverter. The internal space of the battery casing and the internal space of the inverter casing are connected through the internal space of the conduit. A breathing membrane is provided on the inverter casing, and the breathing membrane is positioned higher than the upper surface of the battery casing.

[0006] Therefore, when the vehicle of this invention is driven on flooded roads, it can suppress water splashing onto the breathing membrane, compared to the case where a breathing membrane is installed in the battery pack.

[0007] Alternatively, the vehicle of this invention can also be configured such that a first connector connected to the battery housing is provided at the battery pack side end of the tube, and the first connector is provided with a first through hole that connects the internal space of the battery housing to the internal space of the tube; and a second connector connected to the inverter housing is provided at the inverter side end of the tube, and the second connector is provided with a second through hole that connects the internal space of the inverter housing to the internal space of the tube.

[0008] Therefore, the internal space of the battery casing and the internal space of the inverter casing can be connected in a simple structure so that ventilation can be carried out through the internal space of the tube.

[0009] The vehicle of this invention has the following effect: when driving on flooded roads, it can suppress water splashing onto the breathing membrane compared to the case where a breathing membrane is installed in the battery pack. Attached Figure Description

[0010] Figure 1 This is a diagram showing the general configuration of the vehicle involved in the implementation method.

[0011] Figure 2 It is a cross-sectional view showing the approximate structure of the battery pack and inverter connected by power cables.

[0012] Figure 3 A cross-sectional view of a power cable with multiple wirings installed inside the conduit. Detailed Implementation

[0013] The following describes the embodiments of the vehicle according to this utility model. However, this utility model is not limited to these embodiments.

[0014] Figure 1 This is a diagram showing the general configuration of the vehicle 1 involved in the embodiment.

[0015] like Figure 1 As shown, the vehicle 1 according to the embodiment includes a battery pack 2 and an inverter 3. The battery pack 2 is located below the floor panel of the vehicle 1. The inverter 3 is located at a higher position in the vehicle's longitudinal direction than the battery pack 2 (and higher in the vehicle's height direction than the battery pack 2). The battery pack 2 and the inverter 3 are electrically connected via a power cable 4. The battery pack 2 supplies power to the drive source, such as a motor, used to propel the vehicle 1 via the inverter 3.

[0016] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view showing the schematic structure of the battery pack 2 and the inverter 3, which are electrically connected by the power cable 4. Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of power cables 4, consisting of multiple wirings 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, and 67, installed within the internal space 400 of conduit 41. Additionally, in... Figure 2 The diagram only shows wiring 61 out of the multiple wirings 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, and 67.

[0017] like Figure 2 As shown, the battery pack 2 is configured to house the battery module 21 within the internal space 200 of the battery housing 20. The inverter 3 is configured to house the inverter structural components 31 within the internal space 300 of the inverter housing 30.

[0018] like Figure 2As shown, one end of wiring 61, i.e., the end on the battery pack 2 side, is mounted to terminal 22, which is electrically connected to battery module 21. The other end of wiring 61, i.e., the end on the inverter 3 side, is mounted to terminal 32, which is electrically connected to inverter structural component 31. Similarly, wirings 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, and 67, other than wiring 61, also have their ends on the battery pack 2 side and the inverter 3 side mounted to the terminals electrically connected to battery module 21 and inverter structural component 31, respectively. Thus, battery pack 2 is electrically connected to inverter 3 via power cable 4.

[0019] like Figure 3 As shown, multiple wirings 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, and 67 are housed within the internal space 400 of the cylindrical tube 41. Furthermore, gaps are formed between the wirings within the tube 41 along its length.

[0020] A circular plate-shaped first connector 42A is provided on one end side of the battery pack 2 along the length direction of the tube 41. The first connector 42A is connected to the battery housing 20 (the aforementioned front side wall) via a connection mechanism (not shown) through an O-ring 45A, which serves as a sealing member, in a manner that covers an opening 23 on the front side wall of the battery housing 20 in the vehicle longitudinal direction.

[0021] Furthermore, a first retaining member 43A is provided on the first connector 42A. The first retaining member 43A is detachable from the first connector 42A and is used to retain the connected wiring 61 and other wiring. The first retaining member 43A is provided with a first through hole 44A that communicates with the internal space 400 of the tube 41. Therefore, when the first connector 42A is connected to the battery housing 20, the internal space 200 of the battery housing 20 and the internal space 400 of the tube 41 are connected through the first through hole 44A.

[0022] A circular plate-shaped second connector 42B is provided on the inverter 3 side, which is the other end side, along the length direction of the tube 41. The second connector 42B is connected to the inverter housing 30 (the aforementioned rear side wall) via a connection mechanism (not shown) through an O-ring 45B, which serves as a sealing member, in a manner that covers an opening 33 on the rear side wall of the inverter housing 30 in the vehicle longitudinal direction.

[0023] Furthermore, a second retaining member 43B is provided on the second connector 42B. The second retaining member 43B is detachable from the second connector 42B and is used to retain the connected wiring 61 and other wiring. The second retaining member 43B is provided with a second through hole 44B that communicates with the internal space 400 of the tube 41. Therefore, when the second connector 42B is connected to the inverter housing 30, the internal space 300 of the inverter housing 30 and the internal space 400 of the tube 41 are connected through the second through hole 44B.

[0024] Therefore, in the vehicle 1 according to the embodiment, the internal space 200 of the battery housing 20 and the internal space 300 of the inverter housing 30 can be connected in a simple structure so that ventilation can be carried out through the internal space 400 of the pipe 41.

[0025] Furthermore, in the vehicle 1 described in the embodiment, a breathing membrane 5 is provided on the side wall 30a of the inverter housing 30. The breathing membrane 5 is, for example, a porous membrane such as Gore-Tex (registered trademark), which can prevent liquid ingress and allow gas to enter and exit.

[0026] Here, if the elevation of vehicle 1 changes or the temperature inside battery pack 2 fluctuates, a pressure difference is generated between battery pack 2 and the external environment. Therefore, to prevent battery pack 2 from expanding or collapsing, air (gas) is introduced and released through the breathing membrane 5. Furthermore, only a ventilation rate (speed) is needed to adjust for the pressure changes inside battery pack 2 caused by slow changes such as elevation or temperature variations. Therefore, a small cross-sectional area is sufficient for the flow path used to ventilate within pipe 41; a large area is not required.

[0027] In the vehicle 1 described in the embodiment, a breathing membrane 5 is provided on the side wall 30a of the inverter housing 30, at a position higher than the upper surface 20a of the battery pack 2 in the vehicle height direction. Therefore, when the vehicle 1 described in the embodiment travels on flooded roads, water splashing onto the breathing membrane 5 is suppressed compared to the case where the breathing membrane 5 is provided on the battery pack 2. Furthermore, compared to the case where the breathing membrane 5 is provided in the battery pack 2, the vehicle 1 described in the embodiment can suppress water splashing onto the breathing membrane 5 even in deeper flooded roads. Additionally, in the vehicle 1 described in the embodiment, for example, it is not necessary to raise the floor panel above the battery pack 2 as in the case where a raised portion is provided on the upper part of the battery housing 20 and the breathing membrane 5 is provided on that raised portion, thus preventing the interior space of the vehicle 1 from becoming narrower.

Claims

1. A vehicle, characterized in that, have: A battery pack is formed by housing battery modules within a battery casing. An inverter is a device whose structural components are housed within an inverter housing; and The power cable, consisting of multiple wires housed within a conduit, electrically connects the battery pack and the inverter. The internal space of the battery casing is connected to the internal space of the inverter casing through the internal space of the pipe. A breathing membrane is provided on the inverter housing, and the breathing membrane is positioned higher than the upper surface of the battery housing.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that, A first connector is provided at the end of the tube on the battery pack side to connect with the battery housing. The first connector is provided with a first through hole that connects the internal space of the battery housing with the internal space of the tube. A second connector is provided at the inverter side end of the tube to connect with the inverter housing, and a second through hole is provided on the second connector to connect the internal space of the inverter housing with the internal space of the tube.

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