Testing methods for electrical equipment

Abstract

This invention provides a method for testing electrical equipment that simplifies testing equipment, shortens the time required for testing, and efficiently obtains test results. [Solution] The method for testing electrical equipment comprises the steps of: calculating the amount of pressure change inside the electrical equipment as a test specimen in response to a predetermined temperature change; connecting a pressure changing means for changing the internal pressure of the test specimen to the test specimen; and changing the internal pressure of the test specimen from a first pressure to a second pressure using the pressure changing means and confirming the state of the test specimen.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This technology relates to a method for testing electrical equipment.

Background Art

[0002] Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 63-298022 (Patent Document 1) discloses a shower test apparatus that sprays water from around an automobile body to inspect water-wetted areas.

[0003] When inspecting the airtightness of a specimen, etc., changing the temperature of the specimen in a thermostat has been conventionally carried out.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] When testing a large specimen, it is necessary to prepare a large thermostat to change the temperature of the specimen, and the test equipment becomes large or complicated. Also, in a large specimen, the time required to change the temperature tends to be long.

[0006] The object of this technology is to provide a method for testing electrical equipment in which the test equipment is simplified, the time required for the test is shortened, and the test results can be obtained efficiently.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] This technology provides the following method for testing electrical equipment.

[0008] [1] A method for testing electrical equipment, comprising the steps of: calculating the amount of change in internal pressure corresponding to a predetermined temperature change in electrical equipment as a test specimen; connecting a pressure changing means for changing the internal pressure of the test specimen to the test specimen; and changing the internal pressure of the test specimen from a first pressure to a second pressure using the pressure changing means and confirming the state of the test specimen.

[0009] [2] The method for testing electrical equipment according to [1], wherein the test specimen includes a secondary battery pack or an electrical component connected to a secondary battery.

[0010] [3] The method for testing electrical equipment according to [1] or [2], further comprising the step of spraying a foreign substance toward the test specimen.

[0011] [4] The method for testing electrical equipment according to any one of items [1] to [3], wherein the pressure changing means includes a positive / negative pump or a pressure controller.

[0012] [5] The method for testing electrical equipment according to any one of [1] to [4], wherein the step of connecting the pressure changing means to the specimen includes providing a hole in the specimen and connecting the pressure changing means to the hole.

[0013] [6] The method for testing electrical equipment according to any one of [1] to [4], wherein the step of connecting the pressure changing means to the specimen includes removing a component connected to a hole in the specimen and connecting the pressure changing means to the hole.

[0014] [7] A method for testing electrical equipment according to any one of [1] to [6], wherein changing the internal pressure of the test specimen from the first pressure to the second pressure by the pressure changing means includes repeatedly changing the internal pressure of the test specimen a predetermined number of times.

[0015] [8] The method for testing electrical equipment according to any one of [1] to [7], wherein changing the internal pressure of the test specimen from the first pressure to the second pressure by the pressure changing means includes changing the internal pressure of the test specimen from the first pressure to the second pressure over a predetermined period of time. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] This technology allows for the simulation of ambient temperature changes by altering the internal pressure of a test specimen, thus simplifying equipment, saving space, and reducing costs. Furthermore, since the time required to change the pressure is shorter compared to the time required to change the temperature of a large test specimen, the testing time is reduced, and test results can be obtained more efficiently. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0017] [Figure 1] This figure shows the implementation status of the test method for electrical equipment according to the embodiment. [Figure 2] This figure shows the implementation status of the test method for electrical equipment related to the comparative example. [Figure 3] This is a flowchart illustrating the test method for electrical equipment according to the embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0018] Embodiments of this technology are described below. Note that the same or corresponding parts may be denoted by the same reference numerals, and their descriptions may not be repeated.

[0019] In the embodiments described below, when referring to the number, quantity, etc., unless otherwise specified, the scope of this technology is not necessarily limited to that number, quantity, etc. Also, in the embodiments described below, each component is not necessarily essential to this technology unless otherwise specified. Furthermore, this technology is not necessarily limited to achieving all of the effects and advantages mentioned in these embodiments.

[0020] In this specification, the descriptions of "comprise", "include", and "have" are in an open-ended form. That is, when a certain component is included, other components outside of that component may or may not be included.

[0021] Also, in this specification, when geometric terms and terms representing positional and directional relationships, such as "parallel", "orthogonal", "diagonal 45°", "coaxial", "along", etc., are used, these terms allow for manufacturing errors or slight variations. When terms representing relative positional relationships such as "upper side" and "lower side" are used in this specification, these terms are used to indicate the relative positional relationship in one state, and depending on the installation direction of each mechanism (such as inverting the entire mechanism up and down, etc.), the relative positional relationship can be inverted or rotated at an arbitrary angle.

[0022] In this specification, "battery" is not limited to lithium-ion batteries, and may include other batteries such as nickel-metal hydride batteries and sodium-ion batteries. In this specification, "battery" does not necessarily have to be rectangular, and may also include batteries of other shapes such as cylindrical, pouch-type, and blade-type. Also, "battery" can be mounted in hybrid electric vehicles (HEV), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV), and battery electric vehicles (BEV), etc. However, the use of "battery" is not limited to in-vehicle applications.

[0023] Figure 1 is a diagram showing the implementation status of the test method for an electrical device according to this embodiment. As shown in Figure 1, in the test method for an electrical device according to this embodiment, a pressure change means 20 is connected to the test specimen 10. The pressure change means 20 is connected to the connection portion 11 in the test specimen 10. Also, a watering device 30 for watering towards the test specimen 10 is provided.

[0024] The test specimen 10 includes electrical equipment. Examples of electrical equipment include, for example, a secondary battery pack or electrical components connected to a secondary battery. Examples of electrical components connected to a secondary battery include a junction box (JB), a battery management system (BMS), an electronic control unit (ECU), a DC-DC converter, and an inverter.

[0025] The test specimen 10 (electrical equipment) has a housing. The housing is sealed or semi-sealed (with a breathing hole). In this embodiment, as described later, by changing the internal pressure of the test specimen 10, it is possible to simulate a test that reproduces changes in ambient temperature.

[0026] The pressure changing means 20 can be connected to any position on the test specimen 10, including the upper, side, and lower sides. Examples of the pressure changing means 20 include positive / negative pressure pumps and pressure controllers. The test specimen 10 may have an inspection hole and the pressure changing means 20 connected to that hole, or it may be connected to an existing hole in the test specimen 10's housing (for example, a connector hole).

[0027] The airtightness of the test specimen 10 can be tested by spraying water onto the test specimen 10 from a water spraying device 30 located above the test specimen 10 and checking whether or not water has entered the housing of the test specimen 10. In other words, the water spraying device 30 sprays water, which is a foreign substance, onto the test specimen 10. Here, instead of water, other foreign substances such as salt water or dust may be sprayed onto the test specimen 10. The water spraying device 30 may be located on the side or bottom of the test specimen 10.

[0028] Figure 2 shows the implementation status of the test method for electrical equipment related to the comparative example. As shown in Figure 2, in the test method for electrical equipment related to the comparative example, the test specimen 10A is placed inside a constant temperature chamber 40A. In addition, a water spraying device 30A is provided inside the constant temperature chamber 40A to spray water towards the test specimen 10A. By changing the temperature inside the constant temperature chamber 40A, it is possible to perform tests that reproduce changes in ambient temperature.

[0029] In the example shown in Figure 2, when testing a large specimen 10A, a large constant-temperature chamber 40A is required to change the temperature of specimen 10A. As a result, the testing equipment becomes larger and more complex. Furthermore, in a large specimen 10A, each individual component or part has its own heat capacity, and the time required to change the overall temperature tends to be longer.

[0030] Furthermore, with the increasing size of electrical equipment (batteries), including electric packs, there is a growing need for large 40A constant temperature chambers to conduct tests on changes in ambient temperature. This tends to increase the space, time, and cost required for testing.

[0031] In contrast, in the electrical equipment testing method according to this embodiment, as shown in Figure 1, a pressure changing means 20 is connected to the test specimen 10, and by changing the pressure inside the test specimen 10, ambient temperature changes can be simulated. Therefore, there is no need to prepare a large constant temperature chamber 40A, and the testing equipment can be simplified, saving space and reducing costs. Furthermore, even with a large test specimen 10, the time required to change the pressure inside is short, thus shortening the time required for testing and allowing for efficient acquisition of test results.

[0032] Figure 3 is a flowchart of the test method according to this embodiment. As shown in Figure 3, the test method for electrical equipment according to this embodiment includes the steps of: calculating the amount of internal pressure change corresponding to a predetermined temperature change in the test specimen 10 (S10); connecting a pressure changing means 20 for changing the internal pressure of the test specimen 10 to the test specimen 10 (S20); changing the internal pressure of the test specimen 10 from a first pressure to a second pressure using the pressure changing means 20 (S30); and confirming the state of the test specimen 10 after changing the pressure (S40).

[0033] Step (S20) of connecting a pressure changing means 20, which changes the internal pressure of the test specimen 10, to the test specimen 10, includes, in one example, making a hole in the test specimen 10 (creating a new hole) and connecting the pressure changing means 20 to the hole. In another example, step (S20) includes removing a component such as a connector connected to a hole (existing hole) in the test specimen 10 and connecting the pressure changing means 20 to the hole.

[0034] The foreign matter may be sprayed towards the test specimen 10 at the same time as the step (S30) in which the pressure inside the test specimen 10 is changed from a first pressure to a second pressure by the pressure changing means 20, or the foreign matter may be sprayed before or after the step (S30) in which the pressure inside the test specimen 10 is changed.

[0035] As shown in Figure 3, the steps of changing the internal pressure of the test specimen 10 from a first pressure to a second pressure using the pressure changing means 20 (S30), and checking the state of the test specimen 10 after changing the internal pressure of the test specimen 10 (S40), may be repeated a predetermined number of times.

[0036] In addition, in step (S30) of changing the internal pressure of the test specimen 10 from a first pressure to a second pressure using the pressure changing means 20, the pressure can be changed over a predetermined period of time.

[0037] Furthermore, the operation of step (S30) in which the pressure inside the test specimen 10 is changed from a first pressure to a second pressure by the pressure changing means 20, the foreign matter ejection operation, the repetition of these operations, and the setting of the time required for these operations can be programmed and executed, for example, by setting them in a programmable controller that can instruct these operations to be executed.

[0038] The following describes specific examples of the test. As an example, in a state where the temperature of the test specimen 10 (electrical component) has risen due to rising daytime temperatures, self-heating, or the influence of heat from surrounding components, the temperature inside the test specimen 10 drops rapidly due to sudden rainfall or water exposure from car washing, causing the air to contract and creating negative pressure inside the test specimen 10. In this scenario, a test can be conducted to reproduce water ingress from component joints and other areas.

[0039] For example, in the case of automotive parts, a test can be conducted in which a differential pressure of approximately 56 kPa is generated by a temperature change from approximately 150°C to approximately 0°C.

[0040] Furthermore, the change in internal pressure corresponding to a predetermined temperature change in the test specimen 10 can be calculated based on Boyle's Law and Charles's Law (PV / T = constant [P: pressure, V: volume, T: temperature]).

[0041] Considering the product lifecycle of the test specimen 10, the test may be repeated. For example, it is conceivable that a test simulating temperature changes between approximately -45°C and 140°C may be repeated between approximately 2,000 and 23,000 times (maximum 25 years × 300 days / year × 3 times / day).

[0042] While embodiments of the present technology have been described above, the embodiments disclosed herein should be considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the present technology is defined by the claims, and all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims are intended to be included. [Explanation of symbols]

[0043] 10,10A Test specimen, 11 Connection part, 20 Pressure changing means, 30,30A Spraying device, 40A Constant temperature bath.

Claims

1. The steps include: calculating the amount of internal pressure change corresponding to a predetermined temperature change in an electrical device used as a test specimen; The steps include connecting a pressure changing means for changing the internal pressure of the test specimen to the test specimen, A method for testing electrical equipment, comprising the steps of changing the internal pressure of the test specimen from a first pressure to a second pressure using the pressure changing means, and confirming the state of the test specimen.

2. The method for testing electrical equipment according to claim 1, wherein the test specimen includes a secondary battery pack or an electrical component connected to a secondary battery.

3. The method for testing electrical equipment according to claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising the step of spraying a foreign substance toward the test specimen.

4. The method for testing electrical equipment according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the pressure changing means includes a positive / negative pressure pump or a pressure controller.

5. The step of connecting the pressure changing means to the specimen is: The test specimen is provided with holes, A method for testing electrical equipment according to claim 1 or claim 2, comprising connecting the pressure changing means to the hole.

6. The step of connecting the pressure changing means to the specimen is: Removing the component connected to the hole in the specimen, A method for testing electrical equipment according to claim 1 or claim 2, comprising connecting the pressure changing means to the hole.

7. The method for testing electrical equipment according to claim 1 or 2, wherein changing the internal pressure of the test specimen from the first pressure to the second pressure using the pressure changing means includes repeatedly changing the internal pressure of the test specimen a predetermined number of times.

8. The method for testing electrical equipment according to claim 1 or 2, wherein changing the internal pressure of the test specimen from the first pressure to the second pressure using the pressure changing means includes changing the internal pressure of the test specimen from the first pressure to the second pressure over a predetermined period of time.

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