Electrical equipment, electrical equipment housing, and aircraft

Abstract

To provide electrical equipment, an electrical equipment housing, and an aircraft capable of withstanding the expansion force of gas inside the housing while maintaining the dry state of the gas inside the housing.SOLUTION: Electrical equipment includes an electrical component, a housing 5 that stores the electrical component, a cover 6 connected to the housing 5 and covering the opening of the housing 5, and a sealing portion 11 that seals between the opposing connecting surfaces of the housing 5 and the cover 6, and seals dry gas inside the housing 5 and the cover 6. The sealing portion 11 includes an elastic sealing material 12 and a moisture-proof sealing material 13 arranged outside the sealing material 12.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrical device, a housing of the electrical device, and an aircraft.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a power conversion device, which is one of electrical devices, mounted on an aircraft (a moving body). This power conversion device includes electrical components such as a power semiconductor module and a housing for storing the electrical components. The housing encloses a dry gas. Thereby, condensation inside the housing due to environmental changes is prevented, and malfunctions and deterioration of the electrical components are prevented.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Although not described in Patent Document 1, generally, the housing of an electrical device has a split structure. The housing includes a housing for storing electrical components and a cover connected to the housing and covering the opening of the housing. Therefore, it is necessary to provide a sealing material for sealing between the connection surfaces of the housing and the connection surfaces of the cover facing each other.

[0005] Here, if a dry gas is enclosed in the housing as described in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to provide a sealing material having moisture-proof properties. However, with only a moisture-proof sealing material, there is a possibility that the dry state of the gas inside the housing cannot be maintained. More specifically, for example, when the moving body moves to a high place, the pressure outside the housing of the electrical equipment mounted on the moving body decreases. As a result, the expansion force of the gas due to the difference between the pressure inside the housing and the pressure outside increases, and this expansion force of the gas acts on the sealing material. Since the moisture-proof sealing material does not have stretchability, it cannot withstand the expansion force of the gas and may be damaged. Therefore, there is a possibility that the dry state of the gas inside the housing cannot be maintained.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and one of the problems is to maintain the dry state of the gas inside the housing of the electrical equipment while withstanding the expansion force of the gas inside the housing of the electrical equipment.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, the configuration described in the claims is applied. The present invention includes a plurality of means for solving the above problems. For example, an electrical component, a housing for storing the electrical component, a cover connected to the housing and covering the opening of the housing, and a sealing portion for sealing between the connection surfaces of the housing and the cover facing each other. In an electrical equipment in which a dry gas is enclosed inside the housing and the cover, the sealing portion includes a first sealing material having stretchability and a second sealing material disposed outside the first sealing material and having moisture-proof properties.

Effects of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to maintain the dry state of the gas inside the housing of the electrical equipment while withstanding the expansion force of the gas inside the housing of the electrical equipment.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the power conversion device in the present embodiment.

[0011] The power conversion device 100 of the present embodiment is mounted on a moving body (not shown) such as an aircraft, a transportation device, or a construction machine, and includes a plurality of electrical components (in other words, components that function by being energized) and a housing 1 that houses the plurality of electrical components.

[0012] The plurality of electrical components constitute an electrical circuit and include, for example, a plurality of power conversion elements 2, a plurality of capacitors 3, and a substrate 4. The power conversion element 2 is, for example, an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT: Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor). The capacitor 3 is, for example, an electrolytic capacitor, a ceramic capacitor, a film capacitor, or a hybrid capacitor and is used for smoothing or filtering.

[0013] In addition, when a pressure valve (not shown) is provided to prevent damage to the capacitor 3, in order to prevent malfunction of the pressure valve, it is preferable to set the pressure inside the housing 1 when the power conversion device 100 stops operating to be slightly negative with respect to the atmospheric pressure.

[0014] The housing 1 includes a housing 5 that stores the above-described electrical components, and a cover 6 that is connected to the housing 5 and covers the opening of the housing 5. The housing 5 and the cover 6 are made of, for example, metal. Thereby, even when lightning strikes, it becomes difficult for the noise current due to the lightning strike to flow into the electrical components, preventing malfunction of the electrical components.

[0015] The housing 5 has a cooling passage 7 through which a refrigerant (specifically, water, mineral oil, fluorinate, vegetable oil, etc.) flows as a cooling means. The refrigerant in the cooling passage 7 cools the housing 5 and also cools the electrical components through the housing 5. Note that the cooling means may utilize a heat pipe or forced air cooling.

[0016] A plurality of through holes through which a plurality of bolts 10 are respectively inserted are formed in one of the flange portions 8 of the housing 5 and the flange portion 9 of the cover 6 (in this embodiment, the flange portion 9 of the cover 6), and a plurality of screw holes into which the plurality of bolts 10 are respectively screwed are formed in the other (in this embodiment, the flange portion 8 of the housing 5). Then, by inserting the plurality of bolts 10 through the through holes and screwing them into the screw holes, the flange portion 8 of the housing 5 and the flange portion 9 of the cover 6 are connected. Thereby, the connection surface (upper surface) of the housing 5 and the connection surface (lower surface) of the cover 6 face each other and are close to each other.

[0017] The housing 1 is filled with a dry gas. The dry gas is, for example, dry air, nitrogen, argon, carbon dioxide, or nitrogen dioxide, and is a gas having a water vapor pressure lower than the saturated water vapor pressure when the temperature drops to a predetermined value (for example, -70°C) due to environmental changes. Thereby, condensation inside the housing 1 due to environmental changes is prevented, and malfunctions and deterioration of the electrical components are prevented.

[0018] Note that the dry gas may contain oxygen as a gas with high electron affinity and may have an oxygen concentration higher than the oxygen concentration in the atmosphere (21%). Alternatively, the dry gas may contain carbon dioxide, sulfur hexafluoride, carbon monoxide, or a halogen-based gas as a gas with high electron affinity. Thereby, the discharge of the electrical component may be suppressed and the insulation property may be improved.

[0019] The housing 1 includes a sealing portion 11 that seals between the connection surface of the housing 5 and the connection surface of the cover 6. The sealing portion 11 includes a sealing material 12 (first sealing material) having elasticity and a sealing material 13 (second sealing material) disposed outside the sealing material 12 and having moisture resistance. Note that the sealing material 12 having elasticity has waterproofness but not moisture resistance, and the sealing material 13 having moisture resistance has no elasticity.

[0020] The sealing material 12 is filled in a groove 14 formed at the connection surface of the housing 5 (in this embodiment, positioned inside the bolt 10). Considering the case where the connection surface of the cover 6 is rough, it is preferable that the sealing material 12 has a shape and material that are more easily deformed three-dimensionally than an O-ring. The sealing material 12 is, for example, synthetic rubber, elastomer, polymer gel, mortar, or clay. As a specific example of the sealing material 12, from the viewpoint of shortening the curing time, a two-component curing type or ultraviolet curing type silicone rubber, or a two-component curing type or ultraviolet curing type urethane may be used.

[0021] The sealing material 13 is attached to the outside of the housing 5 and the cover 6 so as to straddle the connection surface of the housing 5 and the connection surface of the cover 6 (boundary). The sealing material 13 is, for example, a metal film, and as a specific example thereof, an aluminum vapor deposition film may be used. Alternatively, the sealing material 13 is, for example, asphalt roofing. Alternatively, the sealing material 13 is, for example, a resin film, and as a specific example thereof, a film made of polyvinyl, polypropylene, polyethylene, nylon, or polyvinylidene chloride may be used. Alternatively, the sealing material 13 is, for example, a resin, and as a specific example thereof, a two-component curable or ultraviolet curable epoxy resin may be used, or polyvinyl, polypropylene, polyethylene, nylon, or polyvinylidene chloride may be used.

[0022] The effect of the sealing portion 11 of the housing 1 of the present embodiment will be described.

[0023] For example, when the moving body moves to a high place, the pressure outside the housing 1 of the power conversion device 100 mounted on the moving body decreases. As a result, the expansion force of the gas due to the difference between the pressure inside the housing 1 and the pressure outside increases. This gas expansion force acts on the inner sealing material 12 among the sealing materials 12 and 13 constituting the sealing portion 11, but does not act on the outer sealing material 13. Since the sealing material 12 has elasticity, it can withstand the expansion force of the gas. However, although the sealing material 12 has waterproofness, it does not have moisture-proofness. On the other hand, since the sealing material 13 does not have elasticity but has moisture-proofness, the dry state of the gas inside the housing 1 can be maintained. Therefore, according to the sealing portion 11 of the housing 1 of the present embodiment, it is possible to maintain the dry state of the gas inside the housing 1 while withstanding the expansion force of the gas inside the housing 1. As a result, it is possible to prevent failures and deterioration of electrical components.

[0024] In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the sealing material 12 is a shape or material that is more easily deformed three-dimensionally than an O-ring has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, if the connection surface of the cover 6 is not rough, the sealing material 12A may be an O-ring as in the modified example shown in FIG. 2.

[0025] Further, in the above-described embodiment, the sealing material 12 is disposed in the groove 14 formed on the connection surface of the housing 5, and the sealing material 13 is described by taking the case where it is attached to the outside of the housing 5 and the cover 6 as an example, but it is not limited thereto. For example, as in the modification shown in FIG. 3, the sealing material 13A may be disposed in another groove 16 formed so as to be located outside the groove 14 (in this modification, outside the bolt 10) on the connection surface 15 of the housing 5. Further, for example, as in the modification shown in FIG. 4, the sealing material 12 may be disposed in a groove 14A formed on the connection surface 17 of the cover 6 (in this modification, so as to be located inside the bolt 10). The sealing material 13A may be disposed in another groove 16A formed so as to be located outside the groove 14 or 14A (for example, outside the bolt 10) on the connection surface 17 of the cover 6. Note that the sealing material 13A is, for example, a resin, and as a specific example thereof, a two-component curable or ultraviolet curable epoxy resin may be used, or polyvinyl, polypropylene, polyethylene, nylon, or polyvinylidene chloride may be used. Even in the above-described modifications, the same effects as those of the above-described embodiment can be obtained.

[0026] Further, in the above-described embodiment, it is described that the moving body on which the power conversion device 100 is mounted is an aircraft, a transportation device, a construction machine, or the like. Specific examples thereof will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7. The multi-passenger aircraft 101A shown in FIG. 5 or the small-passenger aircraft 101B shown in FIG. 6 includes a plurality of drive devices 102A. The small-passenger aircraft 101C shown in FIG. 7 includes a plurality of drive devices 102A and 102B. The drive device 102A includes a power conversion device 100 that converts the power of a secondary battery (not shown), an electric motor 103 that rotates with the power converted by the power conversion device 100, and a propulsion fan (not shown) that is rotated by the electric motor 103 and generates forward thrust. The drive device 102B includes a power conversion device 100 that converts the power of a secondary battery (not shown), an electric motor 103 that rotates with the power converted by the power conversion device 100, and a propulsion fan (not shown) that is rotated by the electric motor 103 and generates upward thrust.

[0027] In the above description, the case where the present invention is applied to the power conversion device 100 which is one of the electrical devices has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the present invention may be applied to other electrical devices.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0028] 1 Housing 2 Power conversion element 3 Capacitor 4 Substrate 5 Housing 6 Cover 11 Sealing portion 12, 12A Sealing material (first sealing material) 13, 13A Sealing material (second sealing material) 14, 14A Groove 15 Connection surface 16, 16A Other groove 17 Connection surface 100 Power conversion device (electrical device) 101A, 101B, 101C Aircraft

Claims

1. An electrical device comprising an electrical component, a housing for storing the electrical component, a cover connected to the housing and covering an opening of the housing, and a sealing portion for sealing between opposing connection surfaces of the housing and the cover, wherein a dry gas is enclosed inside the housing and the cover. The electrical device, wherein the sealing portion includes a first sealing material having elasticity and a second sealing material disposed outside the first sealing material and having moisture-proof property.

2. The electrical device according to Claim 1, wherein the first sealing material is disposed in a groove formed on the connection surface of the housing or the connection surface of the cover.

3. The electrical device according to Claim 2, wherein the second sealing material is attached to the outside of the housing and the cover so as to straddle between the connection surface of the housing and the connection surface of the cover.

4. The electrical device according to Claim 2, wherein the second sealing material is disposed in another groove formed so as to be located outside the groove on the connection surface of the housing or the connection surface of the cover.

5. The electrical device according to Claim 2, wherein the first sealing material is synthetic rubber, elastomer, polymer gel, mortar, or clay.

6. The electrical device according to Claim 3, wherein the second sealing material is a metal film, a resin film, or asphalt roofing.

7. The electrical device according to Claim 3 or 4, wherein the second sealing material is epoxy resin, polyvinyl, polypropylene, polyethylene, nylon, or polyvinylidene chloride.

8. A housing of an electrical device comprising a housing for storing an electrical component, a cover connected to the housing and covering an opening of the housing, and a sealing portion for sealing between opposing connection surfaces of the housing and the cover, wherein a dry gas is enclosed inside the housing and the cover. The housing of the electrical device, wherein the sealing portion includes a first sealing material having elasticity and a second sealing material disposed outside the first sealing material and having moisture-proof property.

9. The housing of the electrical device according to Claim 8, The housing of the electrical device is characterized in that the first sealing material is disposed in a groove formed in the connection surface of the housing or the connection surface of the cover.

10. In the housing of the electrical device according to claim 9, The housing of the electrical device is characterized in that the second sealing material is attached to the outside of the housing and the cover so as to straddle between the connection surface of the housing and the connection surface of the cover.

11. In the housing of the electrical device according to claim 9, The housing of the electrical device is characterized in that the second sealing material is disposed in another groove formed so as to be located outside the groove in the connection surface of the housing or the connection surface of the cover.

12. In the housing of the electrical device according to claim 9, The housing of the electrical device is characterized in that the first sealing material is synthetic rubber, an elastomer, a polymer gel, mortar, or clay.

13. In the housing of the electrical device according to claim 10, The housing of the electrical device is characterized in that the second sealing material is a metal film, a resin film, or asphalt roofing.

14. In the housing of the electrical device according to claim 10 or 11, The housing of the electrical device is characterized in that the second sealing material is an epoxy resin, polyvinyl, polypropylene, polyethylene, nylon, or polyvinylidene chloride.

15. An aircraft equipped with the electrical device according to claim 1.

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