Electric-powered vehicle

Abstract

To provide a technique that can prohibit a connector from being easily detached with a simple structure.SOLUTION: An electric-powered vehicle comprises an electric-powered unit fixed to a vehicle body and having a motor for running, and an electric power control device fixed to the vehicle body, above the electric-powered unit. A lower surface of the electric power control device is faced with an upper surface of the electric-powered unit through a predetermined gap, and cable extending from the electric-powered unit is detachably connected to the lower surface of the electric power control device, through a connector.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] This specification discloses an electric vehicle equipped with a motor for driving. The electric vehicle referred to here includes, for example, a battery electric vehicle (BEV), a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), and a fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV). [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes an electric vehicle. In this electric vehicle, a power conversion device is attached via a bracket to an electric unit that incorporates a driving motor. A cable extending from the driving motor is detachably connected to the side of the power conversion device via a connector. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-108218 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In order to deal with the easy removal of a connector, it is conceivable to add an interlock function to the connector. However, adding an interlock function leads to the complication of the connector. This specification provides a technology that can prevent the easy removal of a connector with a simple structure. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The electric vehicle disclosed in this specification comprises an electric unit fixed to a vehicle body and having a motor for driving, and a power control device fixed to the vehicle body above the electric unit, the underside of the power control device facing the upper side of the electric unit via a specified gap, and a cable extending from the electric unit is detachably connected to the underside of the power control device via a connector.

[0006] In the above-mentioned configuration, the connector is disposed between the power control device and the electric unit, which are opposed vertically. Since the connector is disposed hidden in the gap, removal of the connector is prohibited or extremely difficult. With a simple structure, removal of the connector can be substantially prohibited, and an additional interlock function is not required.

[0007] Details and further improvements of the technology disclosed in this specification are described in the following "Forms for Carrying Out the Invention". [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a front view showing the internal structure of the electric vehicle. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the electric vehicle. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a bottom view showing the internal structure of the electric vehicle. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] (Structure of electric vehicle 2; Figures 1 to 3) The electric vehicle 2 includes an electric unit 10 and a power control device 20. The electric unit 10 and the power control device 20 are disposed, for example, in a front compartment of the electric vehicle 2. The electric unit 10 is a unit that includes a motor 12 for driving, and includes, for example, a gearbox and the like in addition to the motor 12. The motor 12 is a three-phase AC motor.

[0010] The power control device 20 is a device that controls the power supplied to the motor 12. The power control device 20 includes, for example, an inverter that converts DC power from a battery (not shown) into AC power suitable for driving the motor 12. In addition to the inverter, the power control device 20 includes, for example, a circuit for charging the battery, a DC-DC converter, and the like.

[0011] The electric unit 10 and the power control device 20 are fixed to the vehicle body. In the drawing, a member 30 for fixing the power control device 20 to the vehicle body is shown, but a member for fixing the electric unit 10 to the vehicle body is not shown.

[0012] 1 and 2, the power control device 20 is fixed to a member 30 of the vehicle body above the electric unit 10. Specifically, the power control device 20 is fixed to a beam 32 that spans between the pair of members 30. As shown in FIG. 1, a lower surface 20a of the power control device 20 faces an upper surface 10a of the electric unit 10 with a predetermined gap 40 therebetween.

[0013] Two types of cables 22 and 24 extending from the electric unit 10 are connected to the power control device 20. The cable 22 supplies three-phase AC power from the power control device 20 to the motor 12. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the cable 22 has three wires corresponding to the three phases of the three-phase AC.

[0014] Furthermore, cable 24 is a cable having a different function from cable 22, and is, for example, a cable extending from a neutral point in a star-coupled motor 12, which is a three-phase AC motor. For example, a boost circuit can be configured by connecting a switching element of an inverter in power control device 20 to a coil of motor 12 via cable 24. The boost circuit is used to charge a battery with power from an external DC power source (for example, a commercial power source).

[0015] As shown in Figs. 1 to 3, cable 22 is connected to side surface 20b of power control device 20. Cable 22 is connected to side surface 20b via a fastening member such as a bolt. Side surface 20b is a surface in the width direction of electric vehicle 2. Meanwhile, cable 24 is detachably connected to a lower surface 20a of power control device 20 via connector 26. Connector 26 includes, for example, a male terminal provided at one end of cable 24 and a female terminal provided on the lower surface 20a. Cable 24 is connected to power control device 20 by inserting the male terminal into the female terminal. In a modified example, a female terminal may be provided at one end of cable 24 and a male terminal may be provided on the lower surface 20a.

[0016] 3, the cable 24 is routed by a plurality of brackets 50. The plurality of brackets 50 are fixed to a vehicle body member 30, a beam 32 fixed thereto, or the electric unit 10, etc.

[0017] (Effects of this embodiment) For example, a comparative example is assumed in which the cable 24 is detachably connected to the side surface 20b or the top surface of the power control device 20 via a connector. In this comparative example, for example, during maintenance of the electric vehicle 2, a worker may come into contact with the connector. If a worker comes into contact with the connector, the connector may be accidentally removed. To deal with such easy removal of the connector, it is assumed that an interlock function is added to the connector. However, adding an interlock function is a factor that leads to the connector becoming more complicated.

[0018] According to the configuration of this embodiment, the connector 26 is disposed between the power control device 20 and the electric unit 10, which face each other vertically. The connector 26 is disposed hidden in the gap 40, which makes it impossible or extremely difficult to remove the connector 26 as is. With a simple structure, removal of the connector 26 can be substantially prevented, and an additional interlock function can be eliminated.

[0019] (Correspondence) The electric vehicle 2 is an example of an "electric vehicle". The electric unit 10, the motor 12, and the upper surface 10a are examples of an "electric unit", a "motor", and an "upper surface", respectively. The power control device 20 and the lower surface 20a are examples of a "power control device" and an "lower surface", respectively. The gap 40 is an example of a "gap". The cable 24 and the connector 26 are examples of a "cable" and a "connector", respectively. [Explanation of symbols]

[0020] 2:Electric vehicle 10: Electric unit 10a:Top surface 12: Motor 20: Power control device 20a: Bottom surface 20b: Side 22: Cable 24: Cable 26: Connector 30: Materials 32: Beam 40: Gap 50: Bracket

Claims

[Claim 1] an electric unit fixed to a vehicle body and having a motor for driving the vehicle; an electric power control device fixed to the vehicle body above the electric unit; Equipped with a lower surface of the power control device faces an upper surface of the electric unit via a predetermined gap; An electric vehicle, wherein a cable extending from the electric unit is detachably connected to the underside of the power control device via a connector.

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