PROTECTION DEVICE FOR HIGH VOLTAGE CONNECTOR

Abstract

Protective device (6) for a high-voltage connector (4) of a motor (2) for a motor vehicle (1), the motor (2) comprising a housing (3) on which said high-voltage connector (4) and a breather (5) are integrated. The protective device (6) comprises a protective shell (7) for said connector (4), means for attaching said protective device (6) to the housing (3) of the motor (2), a bracket (9) for supporting at least the breather (5), and means for attaching said breather (5) to said bracket (9). Figure for the abbreviation: Fig 4

Description

Title of the invention: PROTECTION DEVICE FOR HIGH VOLTAGE CONNECTOR technical field

[0001] The present invention relates generally to the electrical safety of a motor vehicle, and in particular to the protection of a high-voltage connector of a motor vehicle engine.

[0002] A high-voltage connector allows an electrical connection to be established between a motor vehicle charging network and the motor and between the motor and the battery.

[0003] The connector is therefore subjected to significant voltages and currents that could present a danger in the event of a vehicle impact, if the connector becomes accessible. Indeed, as illustrated in [Fig. 1], connector 4 is integrated directly onto the engine casing and is easily accessible should an operator need to perform maintenance.

[0004] When a vehicle undergoes a severe impact, a safety mechanism minimizes the risk of short circuits in the vehicle and the connector currents are cut off.

[0005] However, when a vehicle experiences a minor impact, the safety mechanism is not necessarily triggered, but the connector may be left exposed. In such a situation, the connector is still subjected to significant voltages and currents that are not interrupted by the safety mechanism.

[0006] Thus, the connector can generate risks of electrocution in the event of minimal shocks to the vehicle.

[0007] Furthermore, the engine includes a breather 5 which includes a bracket 11 fixed to the engine housing. The breather 5 is positioned on the bracket 11, near the connector 4. The connector can hardly be protected locally in such a configuration.

[0008] This architecture does not guarantee to sufficiently minimize the electrical risks associated with the connector. Description of the invention

[0009] The present invention aims to provide a solution that addresses the aforementioned problems.

[0010] The invention therefore relates to a protective device for a high-voltage connector voltage of a motor vehicle engine, the engine comprising a housing on which the high-voltage connector and a breather are integrated. The protection device comprises a protective cover for the connector and fastening means. said engine casing protection device, a support intended to support at least the breather, and means for fixing said breather to said support.

[0011] Advantageously, the means for fixing said protective device to the engine casing comprise at least three screws.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the screws have a length between 15 millimeters and 20 millimeters, preferably between 17 millimeters and 20 millimeters and a diameter between 2 millimeters and 8 millimeters, preferably between 5 millimeters and 7 millimeters.

[0013] Advantageously, the screws comprise a length of 18 millimeters and a diameter of 6 millimeters.

[0014] Advantageously, the length of the breather is between 300 millimeters and 400 millimeters and in particular between 340 millimeters and 360 millimeters.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the means for fixing the breather to the support include at least one fir tree clip.

[0016] According to a second embodiment, the means for fixing the breather to the support include at least one clip mechanism and / or at least one hose clamp.

[0017] Advantageously, the protective device has a thickness of between 1 millimeter and 5 millimeters, preferably between 2 millimeters and 3 millimeters.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the support is intended to support another engine component, in addition to the breather.

[0019] Advantageously, the protection device includes several supports intended to support the breather and at least one other engine component.

[0020] The invention also relates to a motor comprising a protection device as defined above.

[0021] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising a protective device as defined above. Brief description of the drawings

[0022] Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, given solely by way of non-limiting example and made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0023] - Figure 1 schematically represents an engine comprising a breather arranged on a support and adjacent to a connector, according to the prior art;

[0024] - Figure [Fig. 2] schematically represents a motor vehicle comprising a motor and a protective device;

[0025] - Figure 3 schematically represents the connector connected to the charging cables of the engine and battery cables; and

[0026] - Figure 4 schematically represents a protection device integrated on the connector of a motor of the [Fig.l]. Detailed description

[0027] In [Fig.2], a motor vehicle designated by the numerical reference 1 is shown. The motor vehicle is inscribed in an orthogonal coordinate system X, Y, Z. The X axis designates the front-to-rear longitudinal direction of vehicle 1, the Y axis designates the transverse direction oriented to the left of vehicle 1 observed from the front, along the X direction, and the Z axis designates the vertical direction, oriented upwards of vehicle 1. Vehicle 1 is a hybrid or electric motor vehicle.

[0028] The vehicle 1 includes an engine 2 which includes a casing 3 on which is integrated a high voltage connector 4. Motor 2 is preferably an electric motor coupled with a reducer comprising gears.

[0029] Figure 3, on which elements identical to those described previously with reference to Figure 1 bear the same reference numerals, illustrates the architecture of the high-voltage connector 4 integrated into the housing 3 of the motor 2. The high-voltage connector 4 is positioned on the front part of the housing 3 of the motor 2, facing outwards from the vehicle 1. The connector 4 links the charging network of the vehicle 1 to the motor 2, and then the motor 2 to the battery. The connector 4 handles high voltages and significant currents that could present a danger in the event of an impact, if the connector becomes accessible, particularly to an operator.

[0030] Connector 4 comprises a lower portion, an upper portion, a front portion and two lateral portions which must be protected.

[0031] As illustrated in [Fig.4], the motor 2 further comprises a breather 5. The breather 5 is a component of the ventilation system of a reducer associated with the motor 2, allowing atmospheric pressure to be brought to the reducer to promote its lubrication by the moving oil.

[0032] The breather 5 comprises a body 5a, a lower portion 5b and an upper portion 5c. The breather 5 is a flexible tube extending substantially vertically along the Z-axis, from an intermediate zone of the motor 2 to an upper zone above the motor 2. The length of the breather 5 is 350 millimeters.

[0033] The vehicle 1 also includes a protective device 6 for the connector 4 of the motor 2. Generally, when a vehicle 1 is subjected to a severe impact, a safety mechanism (not shown in the figures) minimizes the risk of short circuits in the vehicle, and the currents to connector 4 are interrupted. Thus, the protective device 6 minimizes the risk of electric shock by protecting connector 4 in the event of minor impacts to the vehicle 1.

[0034] The protection device 6 includes a protective shell 7 for the connector 4, means for fixing the protection device 6 to the housing 3 of the engine 2, a support 9 for supporting the breather 5 and means for fixing said breather 5 to said support 9.

[0035] The protective shell 7 forms a solid enclosure around the connector 4. The shape of the shell 7 is complementary to the external shape of the connector 4. The shell 7 essentially forms a hollow rectangular structure open on one side, designed to fit onto the connector 4. The shell 7 thus comprises a base 7a extending along the Z-axis, a lower extension 7b extending along the Z-axis, and three lateral extensions 7c, 7d, 7e extending along an X or Y axis. The base 7a essentially protects the front portion of the connector 4, the lower extension 7b essentially protects the lower portion of the connector 4, and the lateral extensions 7c, 7d, 7e protect the lateral and upper portions of the connector 4, respectively.

[0036] According to the illustrated embodiment, the means for fixing 8 of the protective device 6 to the housing 3 of the engine 2 comprise three fixing points and in particular three screws.

[0037] The screws are M6 screws, that is to say they comprise a length of 18 millimeters and a diameter of 6 millimeters.

[0038] The support 9 intended to support the breather 5 consists of an extension of material of the protective shell 7 and in particular of the upper lateral portion 7c of the shell 7. The support 9 forms a platform extending along the Z axis.

[0039] When the protective device 6 is assembled to the engine 2, the base 7a of the shell 7 is away from the housing 3 of the engine 2 and the support 9 is close to the housing 3 of the engine 2.

[0040] The means for attaching the breather 5 to the support 9 comprise two attachment points, in particular two fir tree clips. A first fir tree clip is positioned on the flexible body 5a of the breather 5 and a second fir tree clip is positioned on the upper portion 5c of the breather 5.

[0041] According to an embodiment not illustrated, the means for fixing 10 of the breather 5 to the support 9 comprise two clip mechanisms and / or two hose clamps.

[0042] Generally, the thickness of the protective device 6 is between 1 millimeter and 5 millimeters, preferably between 2 millimeters and 3 millimeters.

[0043] Of course, we do not depart from the scope of the invention when the protective device 6 has a different composition. It is thus possible to design a protective device 6 in which the support 9 is intended to support the breather 5 and another component of the engine 2. It is also possible to design a protective device 6 comprising several supports 9, each intended to support one or several components of the engine 2 or surrounding parts. In addition, the protective device 6, and in particular the shell 7, may comprise a structure of different shape.

Claims

Demands

1. Protective device (6) for high voltage connector (4) of a motor (2) for a motor vehicle (1), the motor (2) comprising a housing (3) on which is integrated said high voltage connector (4) and a breather (5), characterized in that it comprises a protective shell (7) of said connector (4), means of fixing (8) said protective device (6) to the housing (3) of the motor (2), a support (9) intended to support at least the breather (5), and means of fixing (10) said breather (5) to said support (9).

2. Protective device (6) according to claim 1, wherein the means for fixing said protective device (6) to the housing (3) of the engine (2) comprise at least three screws.

3. Protective device (6) according to claim 2, wherein the screws have a length of between 15 millimeters and 20 millimeters, preferably between 17 millimeters and 20 millimeters and a diameter of between 2 millimeters and 8 millimeters, preferably between 5 millimeters and 7 millimeters.

4. Protective device (6) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the means for fixing (10) the breather (5) to the support (9) comprise at least one fir clip.

5. Protective device (6) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the means for fixing (10) the breather (5) to the support (9) comprise at least one clip mechanism and / or at least one clamp.

6. Protective device (6) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising a thickness of between 1 millimeter and 5 millimeters, preferably between 2 millimeters and 3 millimeters.

7. Protective device (6) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the support (9) is intended to support another component of the engine (2), in addition to the breather (5).

8. Protective device (6) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, comprising several supports (9) for supporting the breather (5) and at least one other engine component (2).

9. Motor (2) comprising a protection device (6) according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. Motor vehicle (1) comprising a protective device (6) according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

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