Vehicle cable routing structure

Abstract

To provide a vehicle cable routing structure capable of efficiently routing cables including a power cable while securing safety.SOLUTION: A charging cable 6 for connecting the charging port and the high-voltage battery 2 and a high-voltage cable 7 for connecting the high-voltage component and the high-voltage battery 2 are wired in the wiring space S. Routing space S is formed between high-power battery 2 and suspension member 20 disposed behind high-power battery 2. The charging cable 6 and the high-power cable 7 extend in the vehicle width direction in the routing space S. In the routing space S, the charging cable 6 is disposed closer to the suspension member 20 than the high-voltage cable 7.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle cable routing structure. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a cable routing structure for an electric vehicle. In this routing structure, a high-voltage cable is routed to electrically connect a high-voltage battery mounted below the vehicle floor to a high-voltage component mounted above the floor. The high-voltage component is a PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) heater installed inside an air conditioning unit. The high-voltage cable extends in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle and passes through an insertion hole formed in a floor panel midway along its routing path. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2014 / 045754 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the cable routing structure disclosed in Patent Document 1, high-voltage cables are routed in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, but depending on the relative positions of the high-voltage battery and high-voltage components, it may not be possible to ensure sufficient routing space in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle. It is necessary to efficiently route high-voltage cables even in a narrow routing space. Meanwhile, safety considerations are also required for high-voltage cables that carry high-voltage current.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle cable routing structure that can efficiently route cables, including high-voltage cables, while ensuring safety. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In one aspect of the present invention, a vehicle cable routing structure includes a charging cable connecting a charging port to a high-power battery and a high-power cable connecting a high-power component to the high-power battery, the charging cable being routed within a routing space. The routing space is formed between the high-power battery and a vehicle component located in front of or behind the high-power battery. The charging cable and the high-power cable extend in the vehicle width direction within the routing space. Within the routing space, the charging cable is located closer to the vehicle component than the high-power cable. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the vehicle cable routing structure of the present invention, cables including high-voltage cables can be efficiently routed while ensuring safety. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a cable routing structure according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, a vehicle cable routing structure according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In describing the connection structure, up, down, left, right, front, and rear are based on the state of the vehicle. In each drawing, FR and RR indicate the front and rear in the vehicle longitudinal direction, respectively, UP and DN indicate the upper and lower in the vehicle vertical direction, respectively, and LH and RH indicate the left and right in the vehicle width direction, respectively. In the following description, the left and right in the vehicle width direction, and the front, front side, rear, and rear side in the vehicle longitudinal direction will be simply referred to as the left, right, front, front side, rear, and rear side, respectively. In the following description, components having the same functions as those already described will be assigned the same reference numerals and will not be described again.

[0010] The vehicle cable routing structure of the embodiment is constructed in the rear of a vehicle. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the vehicle is equipped with a large-capacity high-power battery 2 below the floor 1. The high-power battery 2 is a battery pack large enough to occupy almost the entire lower part of the passenger compartment and includes multiple battery modules 3. Each battery module 3 houses multiple battery cells (not shown). The high-power battery 2 includes a housing having a substantially rectangular frame 4 formed from extruded aluminum. The top and bottom surfaces of the frame 4 are closed by an upper panel and a lower panel, respectively. The high-power battery 2 is fixed to the side sills (not shown) of the vehicle body via multiple brackets 5 attached to a pair of side members of the frame 4 extending in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle. The side sills are one of the skeletal structural members of the vehicle.

[0011] Note that "high voltage" here refers to high voltage (60V or higher), and high voltage systems require special electrical systems with dedicated ground wires rather than body ground. In vehicles, high voltage cables have orange cable covers, clearly distinguishing them from low voltage system (e.g., 12V) cables.

[0012] A first connection portion 8 and a second connection portion 9 for the charging cable 6 and the high-power cable 7 (described later) are provided on the upper panel at the rear of the high-power battery 2. Connectors provided at the ends of the charging cable 6 and the high-power cable 7 are connected to the first connection portion 8 and the second connection portion 9. The first connection portion 8 and the second connection portion 9 are located forward of a rear end surface 10 of the high-power battery 2. The rear end surface 10 of the high-power battery 2 is the outer surface of the rear sap member of the frame 4 described above. A plurality of brackets 11 are also attached to the rear sap member of the frame 4, and the high-power battery 2 is also fixed to a cross member 12 provided on the underside of the floor 1 via these brackets 11. The cross member 12 is also one of the vehicle frame structures and extends in the vehicle width direction.

[0013] The charging cable 6 electrically connects the high-power battery 2 to a charging port 14 attached to an outer panel 13 of the vehicle (see FIG. 3 ). In this embodiment, two charging cables 6 are provided. As illustrated in FIG. 3 , the charging port 14 is located above a wheelhouse 16 of the right rear wheel 15. The charging port 14 is protected by an openable and closable lid 17 when not in use. The charging port 14 is used to charge the high-power battery 2 from outside the vehicle. When a power supply cable of a vehicle power supply device is connected to the charging port 14, charging power is supplied to the high-power battery 2 from the first connection part 8 via the charging cable 6, thereby charging the high-power battery 2. During charging, current flows through the charging cable 6, making it a live line. However, when not charging, for example, when the vehicle is running, no current flows through the charging cable 6, making it a live line.

[0014] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 , the high-voltage cable 7 electrically connects the high-voltage battery 2 to high-voltage components 18 other than the high-voltage battery 2 that are mounted on the vehicle. The high-voltage components 18 are a DC / DCD converter and a DC / AC inverter. A high-voltage current flows through the high-voltage cable 7, and the high-voltage components 18 are live when the vehicle is in use. In this embodiment, the high-voltage components 18 are arranged along the wheel arch 19, inside the outer panel 13 that forms the arc-shaped wheel arch 19 of the wheel house 16. The cross-sectional outer diameter of each charging cable 6 is larger than the cross-sectional outer diameter of the high-voltage cable 7. The wheel house 16 is the space formed between the vehicle wheels (the right rear wheel 15 in this embodiment) and the outer panel 13 of the vehicle body, and is also referred to as a tire house.

[0015] A vehicle component 20 is disposed adjacent to the rear of the high-voltage battery 2. The vehicle component 20 is a component mounted on a vehicle. In this embodiment, the vehicle component 20 is a suspension member 20. The suspension member 20 is also a skeletal structural member. The suspension member 20 has a configuration in which arms extend outward from the four corners of a substantially rectangular frame. The left and right side members of this frame extending in the vehicle's fore-and-aft direction are each formed of a pair of members that are convexly curved upward and downward. An electric powertrain unit 21 is mounted inside the rectangular frame of this suspension member 20. A drive shaft (not shown) extends from the electric powertrain unit 21 to the rear wheels 15, and the drive shaft passes between the pair of convexly curved members of the side members of the suspension member 20.

[0016] The suspension member 20 has arms extending outward from its four corners, and the ends of the arms are attached via bushings 22 to the lower part of a rear side member (not shown) extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction. More specifically, the two front bushings 22 are attached to a connecting portion that continuously connects the rear end of the side sill to the front end of the rear side member. The rear side member, including this connecting portion, is also a framework structural member. The cross member 12 described above is provided to connect this pair of connecting portions. The electric powertrain unit 21 of this embodiment is configured by integrating a motor 21A and an inverter unit 21B, which are housed in a single housing. The electric powertrain unit 21 also integrates a reducer that reduces the output of the motor 21A. The inverter unit 21B of the electric powertrain unit 21 overlaps the cross member 12 in the vertical direction.

[0017] As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, a routing space S is formed between the high-power battery 2 and the suspension member 20. More specifically, the routing space S is formed between the suspension member 20 and a bulge portion that bulges upward from the upper panel of the high-power battery 2. The charging cable 6 and the high-power cable 7 are routed in the vehicle width direction within the routing space S. Here, within the routing space S, the charging cable 6 is disposed closer to the suspension member 20 than the high-power cable 7. The charging cable 6 overlaps with the suspension member 20 in the vertical direction. Within a routing section L (see Figure 1) of the charging cable 6 and the high-power cable 7 in the vehicle width direction, the cross-sectional center of the high-power cable 7 is offset in the vertical direction from the cross-sectional center of the charging cable 6, as shown in Figure 2.

[0018] The charging cable 6 and the high-voltage cable 7 are bent rearward as they emerge from the routing space S between the high-voltage battery 2 and the suspension member 20, and are routed in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle along the outer panel 13. The charging cable 6 extends to a charging port 14, and the high-voltage cable 7 extends to a high-voltage component 18 located behind the right rear wheel 15. The above-mentioned cross member 12 attached to the vehicle floor 1 extends in the vehicle width direction above the routing space S. Here, as shown in FIG. 2 , the distance D1 between the electric powertrain unit 21 (inverter section 21B) and the cross member 12 is formed to be smaller than the distance D2 between the suspension member 20 and the charging cable 6.

[0019] The effects of the vehicle cable routing structure according to the embodiment will be described.

[0020] (1) The vehicle cable routing structure according to the embodiment includes a high-power battery 2 mounted on a vehicle, a high-power component 18 other than the high-power battery 2, a charging cable 6, a high-power cable 7, and a vehicle component (framework structural member: suspension member) 20. The charging cable 6 electrically connects a charging port 14 attached to an outer panel 13 of the vehicle to the high-power battery 2. The high-power cable 7 electrically connects the high-power component 18 to the high-power battery 2. The vehicle component (framework structural member: suspension member) 20 is disposed behind the high-power battery 2. The charging cable 6 and the high-power cable 7 are routed in the vehicle width direction within a routing space S formed between the high-power battery 2 and the vehicle component (framework structural member: suspension member) 20. Within the routing space S, the charging cable 6 is disposed closer to the vehicle component (framework structural member: suspension member) 20 than the high-power cable 7.

[0021] Therefore, with the above-described vehicle cable routing structure, cables including high-power cable 7 (charging cable 6 and high-power cable 7) can be efficiently routed within routing space S, which is narrow in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle. During a rear-end collision of the vehicle, vehicle parts (skeletal structural members: suspension members) 20 move toward high-power battery 2 as the rear of the vehicle body collapses. At this time, vehicle parts (skeletal structural members: suspension members) 20 interfere with charging cable 6 before high-power cable 7 does. However, because charging cable 6 is inactive except when high-power battery 2 is being charged externally using charging port 14, high-power cable 7 is protected by charging cable 6.

[0022] Although the above wiring structure is constructed at the rear of the vehicle, it may also be constructed at the front of the vehicle. In this case, the vehicle components (framework structural members: suspension members) are located in front of the high-voltage battery 2. In this case, the power receiving port is attached to the outer panel of the vehicle near the front wheel housing. In this case, too, cables including the high-voltage cable 7 (charging cable 6 and high-voltage cable 7) can be efficiently routed within the narrow routing space S in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle. In the event of a frontal collision, the high-voltage cable 7 is protected by the charging cable 6.

[0023] (2) In the vehicle cable routing structure according to the embodiment, the vehicle component 20 is a vehicle skeletal structural member (suspension member) 20. The charging cable 6 overlaps with the skeletal structural member (suspension member) 20 in the vertical direction. Therefore, in the event of a rear-end collision, the skeletal structural member (suspension member) 20 more reliably interferes with the charging cable 6, protecting the high-power cable 7. Furthermore, within routing section L in the vehicle width direction of the charging cable 6 and the high-power cable 7, the cross-sectional center of the high-power cable 7 is positioned higher than the cross-sectional center of one of the charging cables 6 and lower than the cross-sectional center of the other charging cable 6. The charging cable 6 is pushed forward by the skeletal structural member (suspension member) 20 in the event of a vehicle collision, and is offset upward or downward relative to the high-power cable 7. This prevents interference between the charging cable 6 and the high-power cable 7, thereby more appropriately protecting the high-power cable 7.

[0024] In the above embodiment, two charging cables 6 are provided, one of which is positioned higher than the high-voltage cable 7 and the other is positioned lower than the high-voltage cable 7. When a single charging cable 6 is used, it may be positioned higher or lower than the high-voltage cable 7. In this case, the same effect is achieved. However, in the embodiment, two charging cables 6 are provided, one of which is positioned higher than the high-voltage cable 7 and the other is positioned lower than the high-voltage cable 7, and the two charging cables 6 can better protect the high-voltage cable 7.

[0025] (3) Furthermore, in the vehicle cable routing structure according to the embodiment, the charging port 14 is disposed above the wheel house 16. The high-voltage components 18 are disposed inside the outer panel 13 that forms the wheel arch 19 of the wheel house 16. The charging cable 6 and the high-voltage cable 7 are routed from the routing space S along the outer panel 13 in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle. This allows the charging cable 6 and the high-voltage cable 7 that exit the routing space S to be routed efficiently. In particular, locating the charging port 14 above the wheel house 16 makes it easier for the user to use the charging port 14 and enables the length of the charging cable 6 to be minimized while being routed.

[0026] (4) Furthermore, the vehicle cable routing structure according to the embodiment further includes a cross member 12 extending in the vehicle width direction above the routing space S. The cross member 12 is attached to the floor 1. The framework structural member 20 is a suspension member 20 disposed behind the high-power battery 2. An electric powertrain unit 21 that drives the rear wheels 15 of the vehicle is mounted on the suspension member 20. In the vehicle longitudinal direction, a distance D1 between the electric powertrain unit 21 and the cross member 12 is smaller than a distance D2 between the suspension member 20 and the charging cable 6. Therefore, during a rear-end collision of the vehicle, the electric powertrain unit 21 interferes with the cross member 12 before the suspension member 20 interferes with the charging cable 6. The interference between the electric powertrain unit 21 and the cross member 12 prevents further forward movement of the suspension member 20 on which the electric powertrain unit 21 is mounted, thereby protecting not only the high-power cable 7 but also the charging cable 6.

[0027] Furthermore, when the vehicle is stopped and high-power battery 2 is being charged externally using charging port 14, charging cable 6 becomes a live line. Even if a rear-end collision occurs while the high-power battery 2 is being charged externally while the vehicle is stopped, not only high-power cable 7 but also charging cable 6 are protected as described above.

[0028] (5) Furthermore, in the vehicle cable routing structure according to the embodiment, the first connection portion 8 of the charging cable 6 connected to the high-power battery 2 is located forward of the rear end surface 10 of the high-power battery 2. Similarly, the second connection portion 9 of the high-power cable 7 connected to the high-power battery 2 is also located forward of the rear end surface 10. The cross-sectional outer diameters of the charging cable 6 and the high-power cable 7 tend to be large to reduce resistance, making these cables difficult to bend. By adopting the above-described configuration, the above-described routing section L extends in the vehicle width direction, and excess length for bending the cable can be secured in a section closer to the high-power battery 2 than the routing section L. This excess length allows the cable routing direction to be changed. Furthermore, a large bending radius can be secured in this excess length, preventing unnecessary loads from being applied to the cable.

[0029] (6) Furthermore, in the vehicle cable routing structure according to the embodiment, the cross-sectional outer diameter of the charging cable 6 is larger than the cross-sectional outer diameter of the high-power cable 7. Therefore, in terms of not only the arrangement of the two cables but also the difference in cross-sectional size between the two cables, the charging cable 6 is more likely to bear load than the high-power cable 7.

[0030] The above-described embodiments are merely examples described to facilitate understanding of the invention. The technical scope of the invention is not limited to the specific technical matters disclosed in the above-described embodiments, but also includes various modifications, changes, alternative technologies, etc. that can be easily derived therefrom. [Explanation of symbols]

[0031] 1st floor 2 High-power battery 6 charging cables 7 High-voltage cables 8 First connection (of charging cable 6 to high-voltage battery 2) 9 Second connection (of high-voltage cable 7 to high-voltage battery 2) 10 (High-power battery 2) rear end surface 12 Cross member 13 Outer Panel 14 Charging port 16 Wheelhouse 18 High-voltage parts 19 Wheel arch 20 Suspension member (vehicle part: frame structural member) 21 Electric powertrain unit D1 (distance between cross member 12 and electric powertrain unit 21) D2 (distance between the charging cable 6 and the suspension member 20) L (the wiring section of the charging cable 6 and the high-voltage cable 7 in the vehicle width direction) S Wiring space

Claims

1. A high-voltage battery installed in the vehicle, a charging cable electrically connecting a charging port attached to an outer panel of the vehicle and the high-voltage battery; a high-voltage component other than the high-voltage battery mounted on the vehicle; a high-voltage cable electrically connecting the high-voltage component and the high-voltage battery; a vehicle component disposed in front of or behind the high-power battery; the charging cable and the high-voltage cable are routed in a vehicle width direction within a routing space formed between the high-voltage battery and the vehicle component, A vehicle cable routing structure, wherein the charging cable is arranged closer to the vehicle component than the high-voltage cable within the routing space.

2. the vehicle component is a frame structural member of the vehicle, the charging cable overlaps with the skeletal structural member in the vertical direction, 2. The vehicle cable routing structure according to claim 1, wherein a cross-sectional center of the high-voltage cable is positioned higher or lower than a cross-sectional center of the charging cable within a routing section of the charging cable and the high-voltage cable in the vehicle width direction.

3. The charging port is disposed above a wheelhouse, the high-voltage component is disposed inside the outer panel that forms the wheel arch of the wheelhouse, The vehicle cable routing structure according to claim 2 , wherein the charging cable and the high-voltage cable are routed from the routing space along the outer panel in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

4. A cross member is further provided on a floor of the vehicle, the cross member extending in the vehicle width direction above the wiring space, the frame structural member is a suspension member disposed behind the high-voltage battery, an electric powertrain unit that drives rear wheels of the vehicle is mounted on the suspension member; 4. The vehicle cable routing structure according to claim 3, wherein a distance between the electric powertrain unit and the cross member in the vehicle longitudinal direction is shorter than a distance between the suspension member and the charging cable.

5. 5. The vehicle cable routing structure according to claim 4, wherein a first connection portion of the charging cable to the high-power battery, which is provided on the high-power battery, and a second connection portion of the high-power cable to the high-power battery, which is provided on the high-power battery, are positioned forward of a rear end surface of the high-power battery.

6. The vehicle cable routing structure according to claim 5 , wherein the charging cable has a cross-sectional outer diameter larger than the cross-sectional outer diameter of the high-voltage cable.

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