Connector and cable protection cover

Abstract

To provide an art which enables improvement of ease of cable inspection while securing required protection performance of a connector and a cable.SOLUTION: The invention relates to a protection cover 40 of a connector 20 and a cable 30 connected to the connector 20 of an electric device 10 mounted on a vehicle. The protection cover includes: a first rigid protection member 42 configured to cover the connector 20; a second rigid protection member 50 configured to cover the cable 30 extending from the connector 20 at a position away from the connector 20; and a flexible connection member 60 which is provided at a gap G between the first rigid protection member 42 and the second rigid protection member 50 and connects the first rigid protection member 42 with the second rigid protection member 50 while deflecting in such a manner that the flexible connection member separates from the cable 30.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The technology disclosed in this specification relates to, for example, protective covers for connectors and cables of electrical equipment mounted in a vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] An electric vehicle is equipped with various electric devices such as motors and inverters for driving the wheels. For example, these electric devices are equipped with connectors for connecting cables that transmit high voltage power. A protective cover has been proposed to protect such connectors and cables from external factors (Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2013-66327 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, there are cases where the protective cover reduces visibility when checking for intrusion of foreign objects near the cable, or reduces the space available for inspecting the cable.

[0005] The present specification provides a technique for improving the ease of inspecting cables while ensuring the necessary protective performance of connectors and cables. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The technology disclosed in this specification is embodied in a protective cover for a connector of an electrical device mounted on a vehicle and a cable connected to the connector. The protective cover includes a first rigid protective member that covers the connector and a second rigid protective member that covers a cable extending from the connector at a position spaced apart from the connector. The protective cover further includes a flexible connecting member that is provided in a gap between the first rigid protective member and the second rigid protective member and connects the first rigid protective member and the second rigid protective member in a state where the flexible connecting member is bent so as to be away from the cable.

[0007] With this protective cover, the connector and the cable are protected from external impacts and intrusion of foreign objects by the first and second rigid protective members. Furthermore, the flexible connecting member interposed in the gap between these rigid protective members ensures visibility and accessibility of the cable in the vehicle. This protective cover protects the connector and the cable, while contributing to improved detectability of defects such as intrusion of foreign objects into the cable attached to the vehicle's electrical equipment and its vicinity.

[0008] Furthermore, such a protective cover can easily accommodate the bent shape of the cable. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a protective cover attached to the left side of an electric axle mounted on a vehicle, viewed from the front of the vehicle. [Diagram 2] 2 is a diagram of the protective cover shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the left side of the vehicle, with a cable cover and a connecting member of the protective cover partially cut away on the vehicle front side. FIG. [Diagram 3] 2A and 2B are diagrams showing a state in which an impact is input to the protective cover shown in FIG. 1 from the left side of the vehicle. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] One embodiment disclosed in this specification is a protective cover for a connector of an electrical device mounted on a vehicle and a cable connected to the connector, and may include a first rigid protective member covering the connector, a second rigid protective member covering the cable extending from the connector at a position away from the connector, and a flexible connecting member provided in the gap between the first rigid protective member and the second rigid protective member and connecting the first rigid protective member and the second rigid protective member in a bent state away from the cable.

[0011] In one aspect of the above embodiment, the connector may be attached to a side surface of the electric device in the vehicle width direction, and the flexible connecting member may be bent so as to bulge in the vehicle width direction. According to this aspect, when a load is input to the first rigid protection member or the second rigid protection member, the two are connected by the flexible connecting member, so that the load is unlikely to be transmitted to the other.

[0012] In one aspect of the above embodiment, the flexible connecting member may be a mesh-like sheet body. According to this aspect, it is possible to increase the flexibility of the flexible connecting member while ensuring the intrusion resistance of foreign matter. In addition, since the flexible connecting member is mesh-like, it contributes to improving visibility.

[0013] In one aspect of the embodiment, the electric device may be an electric drive module including at least a drive motor for a vehicle. According to this aspect, it is possible to protect a cable connected to the electric drive module of the vehicle and ensure ease of inspection.

[0014] Another embodiment disclosed in the present specification is an electric vehicle including an electric device and the protective cover provided for the electric device. According to this embodiment, a vehicle having excellent visibility of cables and ease of inspection is provided.

[0015] Hereinafter, the vehicle protective cover disclosed in this specification will be described with reference to the drawings as appropriate. In this specification, the vehicle is an electric vehicle. The electric vehicle is not particularly limited, but examples thereof include vehicles that drive the drive wheels by a motor, such as a battery electric vehicle (BEV), a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), and a fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV).

[0016] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a connector 20, a cable 30, and a protective cover 40 in an electric axle 10 mounted on a vehicle, and shows the protective cover 40 as a cross-sectional view seen from the front side of the vehicle. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the protective cover 40 as seen from the left side (L direction) of the vehicle side, with a cable cover 50 and a connecting member 60 shown in a partially broken state on the front side of the vehicle. In Figs. 1 and 2, the vehicle width direction is indicated by X, the vehicle front-rear direction is indicated by Y, and the vehicle up-down direction is indicated by Z. In the following description, unless otherwise specified, the up-down direction, the left-right direction, and the front-rear direction refer to the up-down direction, the left-right direction, and the front-rear direction of the vehicle.

[0017] The protective cover 40 protects the cable 30 attached to the electric axle 10 mounted on the vehicle and the connector 20 to which the cable 30 is connected.

[0018] The electric axle 10 is an electric module including an inverter 12, a motor 14, and a transmission. The electric axle 10 is disposed, for example, near the center of a front compartment of a vehicle. The electric axle 10 is an example of an electric device in this specification. The electric axle 10 includes, for example, an inverter 12 in an upper portion thereof that generates drive power for driving the motor 14, and includes the motor 14 in a lower portion thereof. The electric axle 10 includes an inverter case 12a that houses the inverter 12, and a motor case 14a that houses the motor 14.

[0019] In this specification, the electric device is not particularly limited, but may be preferably an electric device that is supplied with high voltage power (more than about 60 V DC, more than 30 V AC) because there is a higher demand for improved safety. Note that the electric device is not limited to an electric drive module such as the electric axle 10, and may be a motor, an inverter, an A / C compressor, etc.

[0020] The inverter case 12a is provided with a connector 20. The connector 20 electrically connects the cables 30 to the inverter 12. The connector 20 includes one or more (for example, six) terminals (not shown) on a terminal block 100 attached to the left side wall of the inverter case 12a of the vehicle, and cable joints 22 capable of connecting inverter-side plugs 32 of the six cables 30 to each of the six terminals.

[0021] Although not shown, six terminals are arranged in the front-rear direction on the terminal block 100. These terminals are connected to the inverter 12. The cable joint 22 is provided, for example, by being inserted into an unillustrated socket formed on the lower side of the six terminals of the terminal block 100. The cable joint 22 has six insertion openings 22a into which the inverter 12-side plugs 32 of the six cables 30 can be inserted. The cable joint 22 extends diagonally downward to the left away from the inverter case 12a, and its lower end serves as the insertion opening 22a. The plugs 32 of the six cables 30 are inserted into the six insertion openings 22a, so that the six cables 30 are connected to the terminals on the terminal block 100.

[0022] The motor case 14a is provided with a connector 24. The connector 24 electrically connects the cables 30 to the motor 14. The connector 24 includes six terminals (not shown) on a terminal block 120 attached to the upper wall of the motor case 14a, and cable joints 26 that can connect plugs 34 on the motor 14 side of the six cables 30 to the respective terminals.

[0023] Although not shown, six terminals are arranged in the front-rear direction on the terminal block 120. These terminals are connected to the motor 14. The cable joint 26 is inserted into an unillustrated socket formed on the left side of the six terminals of the terminal block 120. The cable joint 26 has six insertion holes 26a into which the inverter 12 side plugs 34 of the six cables 30 can be inserted. The cable joint 26 extends substantially horizontally leftward from the center of the vehicle away from the motor case 14a, and its left end portion serves as the insertion hole 26a. The plugs 34 of the six cables 30 are inserted into the six insertion holes 26a, so that the six cables 30 are connected to the terminals on the terminal block 120.

[0024] Each of the multiple cables 30 is connected to the connectors 20, 24 in the above manner. Each cable 30 is formed by bundling multiple electric wires, has a large overall diameter of about several tens of millimeters, and is flexible.

[0025] As described above, each cable 30 includes a plug 32 that can be electrically connected to the connector 20 of the inverter case 12a. Each cable 30 includes a plug 34 that can be electrically connected to the connector 24 of the motor case 14a.

[0026] 1, when the cable 30 connects between the first connector 20 and the second connector 24, due to the relative positions of the first connector 20 and the second connector 24, the cable 30 extends from the lower end of the connector 20 downward and left, and then bends toward the center of the vehicle and curves toward the connector 24 along a substantially horizontal direction. That is, the cable 30 has a substantially L-shape with a bent portion P bent at the leftmost side.

[0027] The protective cover 40 covers the left side of the connector 20 including six terminals (not shown) and the cable joint 22 on the terminal block 100, and the cable 30. The protective cover 40 includes a connector cover 42, a cable cover 50, and a connecting member 60.

[0028] The connector cover 42 covers the left side of the connector 20. The connector cover 42 includes a terminal cover portion 44 and a joint cover portion 46.

[0029] The terminal cover part 44 is formed to bulge leftward to form a space that mainly surrounds six terminals corresponding to the multiple cables 30. The joint cover part 46 extends diagonally downward to the left from a lower end edge 44a of the terminal cover part 44 to cover the cable joint 22. The terminal cover part 44 and the joint cover part 46 are each formed of a highly rigid steel plate of a predetermined thickness to constitute an integrated connector cover 42. The connector cover 42 is fixed to the left wall of the inverter case 12a by, for example, bolting at flat flange parts 48 provided on the front and rear end edges of the terminal cover part 44. The connector cover 42 is an example of a first rigid protection member in this specification.

[0030] The cable cover 50 covers the left side of the cable 30 at a predetermined distance from the plug 32. The cable cover 50 also covers the left side of the cable 30 near the bent portion P and below it.

[0031] The cable cover 50 is disposed generally along the lower end edge 42a of the connector cover 42, at a predetermined distance below and to the left of the lower end edge 42a. The cable cover 50 is a generally plate-shaped body having an upper edge 50a that is along the vicinity of the bending portion P of the six cables 30. The cable cover 50 is disposed in a portion of the connector cover 42 to the left of the left end edge 42a. A portion of the cable cover 50 is fixed, for example, by being bolted to the left side wall of the motor case 14a. The cable cover 50 is an example of a second rigid protection member in this specification.

[0032] The connecting member 60 is provided in the gap G between the connector cover 42 and the cable cover 50. The connecting member 60 is a flexible mesh-like sheet body formed of metal wires. The connecting member 60 has a mesh size that can block foreign matter, such as water droplets or small foreign matter, that may cause problems with the cable 30 from entering from the left side. The connecting member 60 is also formed thin enough to cover the gap G while forming a sufficient space around the cable 30. The connecting member 60 is an example of a flexible connecting member described in this specification.

[0033] The connecting member 60 mainly covers the plug 32 of the cable 30 and the vicinity of the bent portion P and the left side of the lower portion thereof. The connecting member 60 also has an open portion 60a in an open state on the vehicle front side of the gap G between the connector cover 42 and the cable cover 50. The connecting member 60 is also provided in the gap G in a state where it is bent to the left side so as to be separated from the plug 32 of the cable 30 and the like. Therefore, a sufficient space is formed in the vicinity of the gap G around the plug 32 of the cable 30 and the vicinity of the bent portion P from the front to the rear of the vehicle.

[0034] The connecting member 60 is fixed at its upper edge 62 to the joint cover portion 46 of the connector cover 42, for example by bolting, and the lower edge 64 of the connecting member 60 is fixed to the upper edge portion 50a of the cable cover 50, for example by bolting.

[0035] Next, a description will be given of the function of the protective cover 40. According to the protective cover 40, the connector cover 42 and the cable cover 50 can protect the connector 20 and the portion of the cable 30 away from the connector 20 from various external inputs entering from the vehicle exterior direction of the protective cover 40.

[0036] 1 and 2, by covering the gap G extending in the front-rear direction between the connector cover 42 and the cable cover 50 with a flexible connecting member 60 in a bent state, the cable 30 near the gap G can be seen from the opening 60a, and a space that allows access for inspection can be easily secured. Therefore, the protective cover 40 not only protects the connector 20, the cable 30, etc., but also improves the ease of inspecting the connector 20 and the cable 30.

[0037] In addition, since the connecting member 60 also has a certain degree of external input blocking ability, it is possible to suppress the intrusion of water or foreign matter from the outside of the vehicle even in the gap G. In addition, since the connecting member 60 is a mesh-like sheet body, it is possible to ensure a certain degree of visibility of the connector 20 and the cable 30 from above the vehicle via the connecting member 60.

[0038] 3(a) and 3(b), for example, when a load is input from the left side of the vehicle and a member to the left of the cable cover 50 moves toward the connector 20 or the cable 30, the input of the load to the connector 20 or the cable 30 is suppressed by the connector cover 42 or the cable cover 50. Furthermore, because the connecting member 60 is flexible, the load input to the connector cover 42 or the cable cover 50 is less likely to be transmitted to the cable cover 50 or the connector cover 42. Therefore, simultaneous damage to both the connector 20 and the cable 30 is suppressed.

[0039] Although not shown in the figure, even when a load is input to the connector 20 or the cable 30 from a direction other than the left side of the vehicle, such as the front of the vehicle, the presence of the connecting member 60 similarly makes it difficult for this load to be transmitted to the cable cover 50 or the connector cover 42.

[0040] Furthermore, by providing connector cover 42 and cable cover 50 in this manner via connecting member 60, it becomes possible to design the shapes and arrangement of connector cover 42 and cable cover 50 that can more reliably protect connector 20 and cable 30 in accordance with the anticipated input mode of external load.

[0041] In the embodiment described above, the connector cover 42 of the inverter 12 is the first rigid protective member, and the cable cover 50 of the cable 30 connected to the inverter 12 is the second rigid protective member, but this is not limited to this. The first rigid protective member and the second rigid protective member may be any member that protects the connector and cable of the electrical device to which the protective cover is applied.

[0042] Although the connector 20 is described as having terminals on the terminal block 100, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the connector 20 may have terminals on the inverter case 12a without the terminal block 100 being interposed.

[0043] In addition, the cable 30 is connected to the connector 20 via the plug 32, but this is not limited to this. One end of the cable 30 may be connected to the connector 20 without the plug 32.

[0044] According to the above description, the present specification includes the following configurations. [1] A protective cover for a connector of an electrical device mounted on a vehicle and a cable connected to the connector, A first rigid protective member covering the connector; a second rigid protective member covering the cable extending from the connector at a position spaced from the connector; a flexible connecting member provided in a gap between the first rigid protective member and the second rigid protective member, and connecting the first rigid protective member and the second rigid protective member in a state where the flexible connecting member is bent so as to be away from the cable; A protective cover. [2] The connector is attached to a side surface of the electrical device in a vehicle width direction, The protective cover described in [1], wherein the connecting member has a bent shape so as to bulge in the vehicle width direction. [3] The protective cover according to [1] or [2], wherein the connecting member is a mesh-like sheet body. [4] The protective cover according to any one of [1] to [3], wherein the electrical device is a unit including at least a drive motor for the vehicle. [5] An electric vehicle, Electrical equipment and A protective cover according to any one of [1] to [4] provided for the electrical device; An electric vehicle equipped with [Explanation of symbols]

[0045] 10 electric axle, 12 inverter, 12a inverter case, 14 motor, 14a motor case, 20, 24 connector, 22, 26 cable joint, 22a, 26a insertion port, 30 cable, 32, 34 plug, 40 protective cover, 42 connector cover, 44 terminal cover portion, 46 joint cover portion, 50 cable cover, 60 connecting member, 100, 120 terminal block, G gap, P cable bending portion

Claims

1. A protective cover for a connector of an electrical device mounted on a vehicle and a cable connected to the connector, a first rigid protective member covering the connector; a second rigid protective member covering the cable extending from the connector at a position spaced from the connector; a flexible connecting member provided in a gap between the first rigid protective member and the second rigid protective member, and connecting the first rigid protective member and the second rigid protective member in a state where the flexible connecting member is bent so as to be away from the cable; A protective cover.

2. The connector is attached to a side surface of the electrical device in a vehicle width direction, The protective cover according to claim 1 , wherein the connecting member is bent so as to bulge in the vehicle width direction.

3. The protective cover according to claim 1 , wherein the connecting member is a mesh sheet.

4. The protective cover according to claim 1 , wherein the electrical device is a unit including at least a drive motor for the vehicle.

5. An electric vehicle, Electrical equipment and The protective cover according to claim 1 provided for the electrical device; An electric vehicle equipped with

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