Protective structure for a high-voltage unit

Abstract

Protective structure for a high-voltage unit (7) in a vehicle (1) equipped with the high-voltage unit (7), which is equipped with: a passenger compartment (4), a receiving space (5) for receiving the high-voltage unit (7) in an approximately central part of the receiving space (5), a dashboard (6) which separates the passenger compartment (4) from the receiving compartment (5), wherein the high-voltage unit (7) is arranged in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle (1) in front of the dashboard (6), and a high-voltage cable (9) connected to the high-voltage unit (7), where the high-voltage cable (9) is guided from a rear part on the side of the passenger compartment (4) in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle (1) towards a side surface of the vehicle (1) along a wall surface of the dashboard (6) on the side of the receiving compartment (5), viewed from a top view of the vehicle (1), the cable is guided in a U-shape in a space (15) between the dashboard (6) and the high-voltage unit (7) on the way to this high-voltage unit (7). is connected to a side surface of the high-voltage unit (7), and a positive terminal cable (+) (11) and a negative terminal cable (-) (12) includes characterized by the fact that the high-voltage cable (9) is shaped such that a first part (9A) of the high-voltage cable (9), which is guided in a lateral direction of the vehicle (1) along the wall surface of the dashboard (6) on the side of the receiving compartment (5), is equipped with a protective element (16) serving as a fixed point of the high-voltage cable (9), and the first part (9A) and a second part (9B) of the high-voltage cable (9), which is connected to the high-voltage unit (7), run substantially parallel to each other in the lateral direction of the vehicle (1), and the positive terminal cable (+) (11) is guided on the inside of the negative terminal cable (-) (12).

Description

Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a high-voltage unit in a vehicle such as an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle, in particular to a protective structure for a high-voltage unit in which high-voltage cables are guided. Technical background

[0002] Recently, much attention has been focused on environmentally friendly vehicles, particularly electric vehicles (EVs), hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), and similar vehicles. Such an environmentally friendly vehicle is equipped with a motor to propel the vehicle as well as a high-voltage unit.

[0003] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 6, a vehicle 101, such as an electric vehicle (EV) or a hybrid vehicle (HEV), has a passenger compartment 104 (a space in which a driver or a driver with a passenger can be seated), a receiving compartment (105) in front of the passenger compartment 104 when viewed against the forward / reverse longitudinal direction of the vehicle and configured to receive a high-voltage unit 107, which in turn consists of an inverter, a motor and the like, a dashboard 104, configured to separate the passenger compartment 104 from the receiving compartment 105 when extending in the width direction of the vehicle, and high-voltage cables 109 which are connected to the high-voltage unit 107 and extend in the rear direction of the vehicle.In the configuration described above, the high-voltage cables 109 consist of a positive terminal cable (+) 111 and a negative terminal cable (-) 112, connected to a connecting section 110 in the rear area of ​​the high-voltage unit 107, extending from there at an almost right angle from the high-voltage unit 107 to the instrument panel 106, and covered with a protective element (protector) 116 between the high-voltage unit 107 and the instrument panel 106. State of the art document Patent specification

[0004] Patent specification 1: Japanese patent disclosure JP 2007 - 223 461 A

[0005] A mounting structure for an electrical system and an electrically powered vehicle according to patent specification 1 is constructed such that a cable is connected in a receiving compartment of a hybrid vehicle to a connector located on a surface of a control unit facing an air purifier. Further prior art can be found in the publications JP 2006 - 199 051 A, DE 10 2010 035 858 A1, US 2005 / 0162 015 A1, EP 0 787 626 A2 and US 2007 / 0119 637 A1. Disclosure of the invention Problems to be solved by the invention

[0006] However, according to Fig. 7. In the prior art, the high-voltage cables 109 are routed almost perpendicularly from the dashboard 106, making it impossible to create a sufficient reserve length. Therefore, if a vehicle body 102 enters crumple zones 102R and 102L due to a frontal impact on the vehicle (corresponding to the hollow arrow P in Fig. 7) is compressed by the acting external force, the high-voltage cables 109 of the movement (in Fig. 7 (illustrated by the hollow arrow Q) cannot follow the high-voltage unit 107, so that a break in the high-voltage cables 109 is to be feared.

[0007] As also in Fig. As shown in Figure 8, the distance from the high-voltage unit 107 to the protective element (protector) 116 is short, which makes it difficult to differentiate between the length L1 of the positive terminal cable (+) 111 and the length L2 of the negative terminal cable (-) 112 of the high-voltage cables 109, thus creating a risk of incorrect assembly.

[0008] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 9, since the connecting part 110 for the high-voltage cables 109 is located behind the high-voltage unit 107 when viewed from one direction of the vehicle, when an external force is applied from the front of the vehicle (corresponding to the hollow arrow P in Figure 9) Fig. 7) It is feared that the positive terminal cable (+) 111 and the negative terminal symbol (-) 112 will simultaneously touch the vehicle body 102, resulting in a short circuit.

[0009] In view of the prior art described above, an objective of the present invention is to provide a protective structure for a high-voltage unit in a vehicle which is able to prevent faulty assembly of components, breakage of the high-voltage cables and the occurrence of short circuits even when an external force acts on the vehicle from the front. Means of solving the problems

[0010] This problem is solved by a protective structure for a high-voltage unit in a vehicle equipped with the high-voltage unit according to claim 1.

[0011] A preferred embodiment of the invention, equipped with a protective structure for a high-voltage unit, has a passenger compartment, a receiving compartment for receiving the high-voltage unit in front of the passenger compartment in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, a dashboard which separates the passenger compartment from the receiving compartment, and a high-voltage cable connected to the high-voltage unit. wherein the high-voltage cable is routed from a rear section on the passenger compartment side longitudinally along the vehicle towards a side surface of the vehicle along a wall surface of the dashboard on the side of the receiving compartment, in a space between the dashboard and the high-voltage unit on the

[0012] The path to this high-voltage unit is led in a U-shape, is connected to a side surface of the high-voltage unit, includes a positive terminal cable and a negative terminal cable, and is shaped in such a way that a part of the high-voltage cable, which is routed along the wall surface of the dashboard on the side of the recording compartment, and a part which is connected to the high-voltage unit, run essentially parallel to each other, and the positive terminal cable is routed on the inside of the negative terminal cable.

[0013] It may be preferable if the high-voltage unit is an inverter.

[0014] It is still advantageous if the high-voltage unit with the protective structure is used in vehicles such as electric vehicles or hybrid vehicles. Modes of operation of the invention

[0015] In a vehicle with a protective structure for a high-voltage unit according to the present invention, a connection part of the high-voltage cable is provided on a side surface of the high-voltage unit, and the high-voltage cable has a U-shape between the high-voltage unit and the dashboard. For this reason, the high-voltage cables can be protected from incorrect installation, and furthermore, breakage of the high-voltage cable and short circuits of the cable can be prevented even when an external force acts from the front of the vehicle. Brief description of the drawings Fig. Figure 1 is a schematic top view of a front part of a vehicle containing a high-voltage unit with a protective structure according to an embodiment of the invention. Fig. 2 is a schematic plan view of the front of the vehicle in the event that an external force is applied to the vehicle from its front according to Fig. 1 has an effect. Fig. Figure 3 is a clear diagram showing a curved state of high-voltage cables in Fig. 1 represents the high-voltage unit shown. Fig. Figure 4 is a clear diagram showing how the high-voltage cables are routed. Fig. Figure 5 is a clear diagram showing how a positive terminal cable (+) is placed on the inside of a negative terminal cable (-) for the given routing of the high voltage cables. Fig. Figure 6 is a schematic plan view of the front of a vehicle according to a prior art example. Fig. Figure 7 is a plan view of the front of the vehicle in the event that an external force is applied to the front of the vehicle according to Fig. 6 affects the vehicle. Fig. Figure 8 is a clear diagram illustrating a state in which the high-voltage cables come into contact with each other. Best way to implement the invention

[0016] In order to achieve the objectives of preventing short circuits of high-voltage cables, as well as preventing breakage of the high-voltage cables and the occurrence of short circuits even when an external force is applied to a vehicle from the front, the invention provides a protective structure for a high-voltage unit which is able to place a connecting part or terminal part for the high-voltage cables on a side surface of the high-voltage unit and to guide the high-voltage cables between the high-voltage unit and the dashboard in the shape of a U. [Example of implementation]

[0017] Fig. Figures 1 to 5 show an embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] In the following description, terms such as "front / back (forward / backward)", "right / left" and the like refer to the direction of travel of a vehicle 1 as the forward direction.

[0019] In Fig. 1 contains a vehicle 1, which is, for example, an electric vehicle (EV) or a hybrid vehicle (HEV), a vehicle body (body) 2, a right front headlight 3R and a left front headlight 3L.

[0020] The vehicle 1 contains a passenger compartment 4, a receiving compartment 5 located in front of the passenger compartment 4 in relation to one direction of travel of the vehicle, and a dashboard 6 extending in the width direction of the vehicle, separating the passenger compartment 4 from the receiving compartment 5.

[0021] A rectangular inverter 8 is housed as a high-voltage unit 7 in approximately the central part of the mounting space 5. Alternatively, another electrical component, such as a motor, can also serve as the high-voltage unit 7. In the case of a hybrid vehicle (EV), a motor is typically housed in the mounting space 5.

[0022] The inverter 8 has a connection part 10 for high-voltage cables 9 on the left side surface (the right side in Fig. 1) The high-voltage cables 9 comprise a positive terminal cable (+) 11 and a negative terminal cable (-) 12, which run from a rear section on one side of the passenger compartment in the forward / reverse (i.e., longitudinal or driving) direction of the vehicle to the left side surface 14 of the vehicle, which is a side surface of the vehicle. The cables are routed along a wall surface 13 of the instrument panel 6 on the side of the passenger compartment. Within a space 15 between the instrument panel 6 and the inverter 5, they are laid (bent) into a U-shape on their way to this inverter 8, and they are connected to the connecting part 10 on the left side surface of the inverter 8 and to a battery installed on the passenger compartment side in the rear of the vehicle. In such a configuration, the positive terminal cable (+) 11 is routed on the inside of the negative terminal cable (-) 12.

[0023] As in the Fig. As can be seen from 1 to 15, the high-voltage cables 9 are also shaped such that a part or section 9a, which is guided along the wall surface 13 of the instrument panel 6 on the side of the recording room, and a part or section B, which is connected to the inverter 8, run substantially parallel to each other.

[0024] Part 9a of the high-voltage cable 9, which runs along the wall surface 13 of the dashboard 6 on the side of the recording compartment, is equipped with a protective element (protector) 16. The protective element 16 serves as a fixed point for the high-voltage cable 9.

[0025] Regarding the U-shape of the high-voltage cables 9 according to Fig. As regards 3, the high-voltage cables 9 (the positive terminal cable (+) 11 and the negative terminal cable (-) 12), which have large conductor cross-sections (D1 and D2), do not bend easily on their own, but they do have strong deflections and exhibit a large difference between a deflection r1 of the inner positive terminal cable (+) 11 and the deflection r2 of the outer negative terminal cable (-) 12.

[0026] The length L1 of the positive terminal cable (+) 11 and the length L2 of the negative terminal cable (-) 12 correspond to the circumferences πr of semicircles due to the U-shaped routing of the high-voltage cables 9. This results in a large difference between the bend r1 of the positive terminal cable (+) 11 and the bend r2 of the negative terminal cable (-) 12, and thus inevitably leads to a significant difference L1 < L2. Therefore, by routing the high-voltage cables 9 connected to the inverter's connection part 8 in a "U" shape, it is possible to choose significantly different lengths for L1 of the positive terminal cable (+) 11 and L2 of the negative terminal cable (-) 12.

[0027] As a result, a greater excess length can be provided for the high-voltage cables 9 than in the conventional design by providing a difference between the length L1 of the positive terminal cable (+) 11 and the length L2 of the negative terminal cable (-) 12 of the high-voltage cables 9, so that it is possible to protect the cables from incorrect assembly when the high-voltage cables 9 are connected to the inverter 8.

[0028] Furthermore, according to Fig. 4. Since the cables 9 have a length tolerance, the length of the high-voltage cables 9 can be increased from the protective element 16, which serves as a fixed point, to the inverter 8. Therefore, if an external force acts from the front of the vehicle (in Fig. 2 (illustrated by the hollow arrow P), this causes a compression of the crumple zones 2R and 2L in the vehicle body 2 and thus a movement of the inverter 8 inside the vehicle to the rear (in Fig. 2 (illustrated by the hollow arrow Q). Even in this case, the high-voltage cables 9 can move easily and follow the movement of the inverter, so that it is possible to prevent a break in the high-voltage cable 9.

[0029] As further in the Fig. 4 and Fig. As shown in Figure 5, since the inverter 8 and the high-voltage cables 9 are fixedly attached to their bearing points, a fixed distance C can be maintained between a positive terminal (+) 17 and a negative terminal (-) 18. In an arrangement where the high-voltage cables 9 are arranged in a U-pattern, the areas most likely to come into contact with each other first are the base of the positive terminal (+) 17 and the positive cable (+) 11.

[0030] Since the high-voltage cables 9 are attached to a side surface of the inverter 8, it is thus possible to prevent contact between the connecting part 10 for the high-voltage cables 9 and the vehicle body 2 when an external force is applied from the front (corresponding to the hollow arrow P in Fig. 2) acts in the forward / reverse direction (direction of travel) of the vehicle, even if the crumple zones 2R and 2L in the vehicle body 2 come into effect.

[0031] As mentioned above, the U-shaped routing of the high-voltage cables 9 also means that the positive terminal cable (+) 11 is located on the inside of the U-shape, so that when an external force is applied from the front of the vehicle (in Fig. 2 (indicated by the hollow arrow P) even when the crumple zones 2R and 2L of the vehicle body are compressed, two different segments of the positive terminal cable (+) 11, which have the same polarity, come into contact with each other. This makes it possible to prevent a short circuit between the positive terminal cable (+) 11 and the negative terminal cable (-) 12 of the high-voltage cables 9.

[0032] If, in the above-described configuration, the negative terminal cable (-) 12 were routed on the inside of the positive terminal cable (+) 11 by swapping the positions of the positive terminal cable (+) 11 and the negative terminal cable (-) 12, different segments of the negative terminal cable (-) 12 could come into contact with each other.

[0033] Furthermore, this embodiment is extremely effective when the high-voltage unit 107 is the inverter 108. Moreover, the present embodiment can be used very effectively in high-voltage units of vehicles such as electric vehicles or hybrid vehicles. Industrial applicability

[0034] The laying structure of the high-voltage cables according to the invention is also applicable to cables that are connected to other parts of a system, for example a 12V battery. Reference sign 1 vehicle 2 Vehicle body 3R right headlight 3L left headlight 4 passenger compartment 5 Recording room 6 Dashboard 7 High-voltage unit 8 inverters 9 high-voltage cables 10 Connecting part 11 Positive cable (+) 12 negative cables (-) 13 Side wall of the recording room 14 left side surface of the vehicle body 15 Room 16 protective elements 17 Positive terminal (+) 18 Negative terminal (-)

Claims

[1] Protective structure for a high-voltage unit (7) in a vehicle (1) equipped with the high-voltage unit (7), which is equipped with: a passenger compartment (4), a receiving space (5) for receiving the high-voltage unit (7) in an approximately central part of the receiving space (5), a dashboard (6) which separates the passenger compartment (4) from the receiving compartment (5), wherein the high-voltage unit (7) is arranged in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle (1) in front of the dashboard (6), and a high-voltage cable (9) connected to the high-voltage unit (7), where the high-voltage cable (9) is guided from a rear part on the side of the passenger compartment (4) in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle (1) towards a side surface of the vehicle (1) along a wall surface of the dashboard (6) on the side of the receiving compartment (5), viewed from a top view of the vehicle (1), the cable is guided in a U-shape in a space (15) between the dashboard (6) and the high-voltage unit (7) on the way to this high-voltage unit (7). is connected to a side surface of the high-voltage unit (7), and a positive terminal cable (+) (11) and a negative terminal cable (-) (12) includes characterized by , that the high-voltage cable (9) is shaped such that a first part (9A) of the high-voltage cable (9), which is guided in a lateral direction of the vehicle (1) along the wall surface of the dashboard (6) on the side of the receiving compartment (5), is equipped with a protective element (16) serving as a fixed point of the high-voltage cable (9), and the first part (9A) and a second part (9B) of the high-voltage cable (9), which is connected to the high-voltage unit (7), run substantially parallel to each other in the lateral direction of the vehicle (1), and the positive terminal cable (+) (11) is guided on the inside of the negative terminal cable (-) (12). [2] Protection structure for a high-voltage unit (7) according to claim 1, wherein the high-voltage unit (7) is an inverter (8). [3] Protective structure for a high-voltage unit (7) according to claim 1, wherein the high-voltage unit (7) is arranged in an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle.

Images