Support structure for vehicle battery wire harness

Abstract

This prevents excessive load from being applied to the battery wiring harness. [Solution] The vehicle comprises a drive motor 11, a battery 13 that supplies power to the drive motor 11, a wire harness 2 that supplies power from the battery 13 to the drive motor 11, and a support member 3 that fixes the wire harness 2 to at least one of the battery 13, the drive motor 11, or another part of the vehicle 1, wherein the bending strength of the support member 3 against input in the vehicle width direction is set to be less than the tensile strength of the wire harness 2.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a support structure for a battery wire harness for a vehicle.

Background Art

[0002] As a support structure for this type of battery wire harness, there is known a structure in which a harness connected to a high-voltage battery and an electric compressor is routed from the high-voltage battery toward the transaxle side above the lower portion of a power control unit, then drawn out to one side with respect to the power control unit, inserted into the cross member through a hole formed at a position on one side of the center of the cross member in the vehicle width direction, passed through the inside of the cross member, drawn out from a hole formed at a position on the other side of the center of the cross member in the vehicle width direction, and connected to the electric compressor (Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Literature

Patent Literature

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problem to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the above conventional support structure for a battery wire harness, the harness connecting the transaxle, the power control unit, and the high-voltage battery is routed to be the shortest distance. Therefore, when a side collision occurs and the transaxle, the power control unit, and the high-voltage battery move in directions away from each other, there is a risk that an excessive load acts on the wire harness.

[0005] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a support structure for a vehicle battery wire harness that can suppress an excessive load from acting on the battery wire harness. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention provides a support structure for a battery wire harness in a vehicle comprising a battery that supplies power to a drive motor and a wire harness that supplies power from the battery to the drive motor. The present invention solves the above problem by setting the bending strength of the support member that fixes the wire harness to the battery, the drive motor, or at least one other part of the vehicle, against input in the vehicle width direction, to be less than the tensile strength of the wire harness. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress excessive load acting on the battery wire harness. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a bottom view of a vehicle showing one embodiment of the battery wire harness support structure according to the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a plan view showing one embodiment of a support structure for a battery wire harness according to the present invention. [Figure 3] This is a plan view showing the state in which the battery and the drive motor have moved relative to each other in the vehicle width direction from the state shown in Figure 2. [Figure 4] This is a perspective view (A) and a side view (B) showing one embodiment of the support member according to the present invention. [Figure 5] Figure 4 shows an example of a band used to secure a wire harness to the support member, with perspective view (A) and exploded perspective view (B) being shown. [Figure 6] (A) to (C) are perspective views showing other embodiments of the support member according to the present invention. [Figure 7] This is a plan view (A) showing yet another embodiment of the support member according to the present invention, and a perspective view (B) showing the band. [Figure 8]This is a plan view showing another embodiment of the support structure for a battery wire harness according to the present invention. [Figure 9] This is a side view illustrating the range of motion of the support member in Figure 8. [Figure 10] This is a plan view showing the state in which the battery and the drive motor have moved relative to the R side in the vehicle width direction, compared to the state shown in Figure 8. [Figure 11] (A) to (C) are perspective views showing yet another embodiment of the support member according to the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Hereinafter, examples of embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a bottom view of a vehicle showing one embodiment of the battery wire harness support structure according to the present invention. As shown in Figure 1, the vehicle 1 of this embodiment has a driving motor 11 as a motor-generator. Hereinafter, the present invention will be described using an electric vehicle that does not have an internal combustion engine and runs only on the driving motor 11 as an example of vehicle 1. However, the type of vehicle 1 according to the present invention is not particularly limited, and in addition to an electric vehicle that runs only on the driving motor 11, hybrid vehicles that are equipped with both an internal combustion engine and a driving motor 11 and use both as driving sources, and hybrid vehicles that use only the driving motor 11 as a driving source and use the internal combustion engine as a power source for power generation are also included in the vehicles of the present invention.

[0010] Vehicle 1 in this embodiment includes, as a support structure for the battery wire harness, a drive motor 11, a battery 13 that supplies power to the drive motor 11, an inverter 12 that converts DC current from the battery 13 into AC current and also converts AC current regenerated by the drive motor 11 into DC current, and a wire harness 2 that transmits and receives power between the battery 13, the inverter 12, and the drive motor 11.

[0011] In this embodiment, the drive motor 11 and inverter 12 are mounted in the front of the vehicle 1, for example, in the engine room (or motor room) 14, and are fixed to the vehicle body structure that constitutes the engine room 14. The battery 13 in this embodiment consists of cell modules housed in a battery case and is fixed to the exterior side (underside of the floor) of the floor panel 16 via a battery frame 15. Wire harnesses 2 are connected between the battery 13 and the inverter 12, and between the drive motor 11 and the inverter 12, in order to supply high-voltage power from the battery 13 to the drive motor 11 and to supply regenerative power from the drive motor 11 to the battery 13. The wire harness 2 in this embodiment has a wire section 21 in which the conductor is covered with an insulator, and connector sections 22 provided at both ends of the wire section 21. The connections are made by attaching the connector sections 22 of the wire harness 2 to the connector sections provided on the drive motor 11, inverter 12, and battery 13, respectively.

[0012] Figure 2 is a plan view showing one embodiment of the battery wire harness support structure according to the present invention. The left-right direction in the drawing corresponds to the front-rear direction of the vehicle 1, and the up-down direction in the drawing corresponds to the vehicle width direction of the vehicle 1. As described above, the battery 13 is fixed directly or indirectly to the vehicle body structure on the exterior side of the floor panel 16, and the drive motor 11 and inverter 12 are fixed directly or indirectly to the vehicle body structure in the engine room 14.

[0013] Then, one connector 22 of the wire harness 2 is connected to the connector 131 of the battery 13, and the other connector 22 of the wire harness 2 is connected to the connector 121 of the inverter 12. Note that the wire harness 2 connecting the drive motor 11 and the inverter 12 is not shown in Figure 2.

[0014] The vehicle 1 of the present embodiment has, as a support structure for a battery wire harness, a support member 3 that fixes the wire harness 2 to at least any one of the battery 13, the travel drive motor 11, or a portion of the vehicle 1 other than the battery 13 and the travel drive motor 11. These battery 13, travel drive motor 11, or the portion of the vehicle 1 other than the battery 13 and the travel drive motor 11 are also referred to as fixation targets of the support member 3. Examples of portions of the vehicle 1 other than the battery 13 and the travel drive motor 11 include an inverter 12, and vehicle body structures such as side members and cross members that constitute an underbody. The embodiment shown in FIG. 2 is one in which the casing or the like of the travel drive motor 11 is used as the fixation target of the support member 3.

[0015] FIG. 4 is a perspective view (A) and a side view (B) showing one embodiment of the support member 3 according to the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view (A) and an exploded perspective view (B) showing an example of a band 34 that fixes a wire portion 21 of the wire harness 2 to the support member 3 of FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4, the support member 3 of the present embodiment includes a first fixing portion 31 that fixes the support member 3 to a fixation target, and a second fixing portion 32 that fixes the wire portion 21 of the wire harness 2 to the support member 3. The first fixing portion 31 is fixed to the travel drive motor 11 by a fixing tool 33 such as a bolt, and the wire portion 21 is fixed to the second fixing portion 32. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the wire portion 21 is inserted through the band 34 and tightened, and the base end of the band 34 is fixed to the second fixing portion 32 of the support member 3 using a ratchet structure or the like.

[0016] In particular, in the support member 3 of the present embodiment, the bending strength of the support member 3 against an input in the vehicle width direction is set to be smaller than the tensile strength of the wire portion 21 of the wire harness 2. For example, as shown in FIG. 4(B), when a force F directed leftward in the vehicle width direction is input to the wire portion 21, if the force F exceeds the bending strength of the support member 3, the support member 3 starts to bend first as indicated by the arrow in the figure, and the wire portion 21 fastened by the band 34 follows the bending motion of the support member 3. Accordingly, no excessive tensile force acts on the wire portion 21. This is because the bending strength of the support member 3 against an input in that direction is set to be smaller than the tensile strength of the wire portion 21.

[0017] FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a state where the battery 13 and the travel drive motor 11 have relatively moved in the vehicle width direction from the state shown in FIG. 2. Here, the state where the battery 13 has moved leftward (downward in the drawing) as indicated by the hollow arrow is shown by a solid line, and the state before the movement is shown by a two-dot chain line. When an input F in the vehicle width direction such as a side collision acts on the vehicle 1, the battery 13, the inverter 12 and the travel drive motor 11 may be relatively separated from each other. In this case, as shown in FIG. 3, the wire harness 2 connecting the battery 13 and the inverter 12 is pulled, so there is a risk that an excessive load acts on the wire portion 21 and the connector portion 22.

[0018] However, in the support structure for a battery wire harness according to the present embodiment, the support member 3, which has one end fastening the wire portion 21 and the other end fixed to the travel drive motor 11, starts to bend first as shown in FIG. 3 in accordance with the relative separating movement between the battery 13 and the inverter 12 as well as the travel drive motor 11, and the wire portion 21 fastened by the band 34 follows the bending motion of the support member 3. Accordingly, the action of excessive tensile force on the wire portion 21 and the connector portion 22 can be suppressed.

[0019] Figures 6(A) to 6(C) are perspective views showing other embodiments of the support member 3 according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the support member 3 bends before excessive tensile force acts on the wire portion 21 of the wire harness 2 in response to input in the vehicle width direction. At this time, it is more preferable to have a weak point 35 between the first fixing portion 31 fixed to the drive motor 11 and the second fixing portion 32 to which the wire portion 21 of the wire harness 2 is fixed. The support member 3 shown in Figure 6(A) is an example in which a notch in the flange is used as the weak point 35, the support member 3 shown in Figure 6(B) is an example in which a notch in the flat plate-shaped member body is used as the weak point 35, and the support member 3 shown in Figure 6(C) is an example in which an opening in the member body is used as the weak point 35.

[0020] By providing a weak point 35 in the support member 3, it becomes easier to identify the deformation mode, ensuring the durability and fatigue strength of the support member 3 under normal conditions, while simultaneously allowing for adjustment of the bending strength during impact.

[0021] Figure 7 is a plan view (A) showing yet another embodiment of the support member 3 according to the present invention, and a perspective view (B) showing the band 34. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the support member 3 is fixed to the object with one first fixing part 31, but in order to ensure the durability and fatigue strength of the support member 3 under normal conditions, the support member 3 may be fixed to the object at two points.

[0022] Specifically, the support member 3 shown in Figure 7(A) has two first fixing parts 31A and 31B and one second fixing part 32. One of the first fixing parts 31A is fixed to the drive motor 11 by a fastener 33A, such as a bolt. The other first fixing part 31B is fixed to the drive motor 11 by a fastener 33B, such as a clip. A second fixing part 32 is provided between the two first fixing parts 31A and 31B, and the wire part 21 is inserted through and tightened in a band 34 shown in Figure 7(B), and the base end of the band 34 is inserted into and fixed in a through hole in the second fixing part 32 of the support member 3.

[0023] Furthermore, by using different fasteners 33A and 33B for each of the two first fixing parts 31A and 31B, the fixing strength of one of the two first fixing parts 31B is set to be less than the fixing strength of the other first fixing part 31A. In addition, the fixing strength of one of the first fixing parts 31B, which is fixed by a fastener 33B such as a clip, is set to be less than the bending strength of the support member 3 against input in the vehicle width direction. Moreover, similar to the support member 3 shown in Figure 2, the bending strength of the support member 3 against input in the vehicle width direction is set to be less than the tensile strength of the wire portion 21 of the wire harness 2.

[0024] Due to this strength relationship, for example, as shown in Figure 7(B), if a force F directed to the left in the vehicle width direction is applied to the wire section 21, and this force F exceeds the fixing strength of one of the first fixing sections 31B, the fixing device (clip) 33B of one of the first fixing sections 31B will first come loose, then the support member 3 will begin to bend, and the wire section 21, which is tightened by the band 34, will follow the bending movement of the support member 3. As a result, excessive tensile force will not be applied to the wire section 21. This is because the bending strength of the support member 3 against input in that direction is set to be less than the tensile strength of the wire section 21.

[0025] Figure 8 is a plan view showing another embodiment of the battery wire harness support structure according to the present invention, and Figure 9 is a side view illustrating the range of motion of the support member 3 in Figure 8. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, only one support member 3 is shown, but a single wire harness 2 may be supported using multiple support members 3, and these multiple support members 3 may be fixed to the object to be fixed.

[0026] When a single wire harness 2 is supported by multiple support members 3, although not particularly limited, the support members 3 include a first support member 3A facing the battery 13 and provided on the drive motor 11 (or other vehicle), and a second support member 3B facing the drive motor 11 (or other vehicle) and provided on the battery 13, and it is preferable that the first fixing portion 31 of the first support member 3A and the first fixing portion 31 of the second support member 3B are arranged on the same side in the vehicle width direction relative to the first support member 3A and the second fixing portion 32 of the second support member 3B.

[0027] As shown in Figure 9, the support member 8 of this embodiment has a range of motion due to buckling deformation that bends in the R1 direction and a range of motion due to tensile deformation that bends in the R2 direction. However, the range of motion is larger when buckling deformation bends in the R1 direction, and a longer travel distance for the wire section 21 can be secured. When a force in the vehicle width direction, such as a side collision, is applied and the battery 13 and the drive motor 11 move relative to the L side in the vehicle width direction, as explained in Figure 3, the first support member 3A fixed to the drive motor 11 buckles in the R1 direction as shown in Figure 9, thereby securing a longer travel distance for the wire section 21. In this case, the second support member 3B undergoes tensile deformation in the R2 direction as shown in Figure 9.

[0028] In contrast, when a force in the vehicle width direction, such as a side collision, is applied and the battery 13 and the drive motor 11 move relative to the R side in the vehicle width direction, as shown in Figure 10, the second support member 3B fixed to the battery 13 buckles in the R1 direction shown in Figure 9, thereby ensuring a longer travel distance for the wire portion 21. In this case, the first support member 3A undergoes tensile deformation in the R2 direction shown in Figure 9. Thus, the battery wire harness support structure of this embodiment can suppress excessive tensile force from acting on the wire portion 21 and the connector portion 22 in either the left or right direction in the vehicle width direction.

[0029] Figures 11(A) to 11(C) are perspective views showing yet another embodiment of the support member 3 according to the present invention. In the support member 3 shown in Figure 4, the area between the first fixing portion 31 at one end and the second fixing portion 32 at the other end is formed in a flat plate shape, and there are two extendable portions 36 that are bent to extend in response to input in the vehicle width direction, but the support member 3 may be provided with three or more extendable portions 36. In the support member 3 shown in Figure 11(A), three extendable portions 36 are provided at the base of the first fixing portion 31, and three extendable portions 36 are provided at the base of the second fixing portion 32. If the spacing between the extendable portions 36, which are made by bending a plate material as in this example, is shortened, they also function as weak points 35.

[0030] In the support member 3 shown in Figure 11(B), one extension portion 36 is provided at the base of the first fixing portion 31 and the base of the second fixing portion 32, and two extension portions 36 are provided between the first fixing portion 31 and the second fixing portion 32, for a total of four extension portions 36. The support member 3 shown in Figure 11(C) has the same overall shape and the same number of extension portions 36, but differs in that it is made by joining three plate materials. Thus, the support member 3 of the present invention is not limited to being made of a single part, but may be made of multiple parts.

[0031] As described above, the battery wire harness support structure of the vehicle in this embodiment comprises a drive motor 11, a battery 13 that supplies power to the drive motor 11, a wire harness 2 that supplies power from the battery 13 to the drive motor 11, and a support member 3 that fixes the wire harness 2 to at least one of the battery 13, the drive motor 11, or the vehicle 1 other than these. Since the bending strength of the support member 3 against input in the vehicle width direction is set to be less than the tensile strength of the wire harness 2, when an input F in the vehicle width direction, such as a side collision, acts on the vehicle 1 and the battery 13, inverter 12, and drive motor 11 move relatively apart, the support member 3 begins to bend first in accordance with this separation movement, and the wire portion 21, which is tightened by the band 34, follows the bending movement of the support member 3. This makes it possible to suppress excessive tensile force acting on the wire portion 21 and the connector portion 22.

[0032] Furthermore, in the battery wire harness support structure of this embodiment, the support member 3 has a weak point 35 between the first fixing part 31, which is fixed to the battery 13, the driving motor 11, or the vehicle 1 other than these, and the second fixing part 32 to which the wire harness 2 is fixed. This makes it easy to identify the deformation mode, ensuring the durability and fatigue strength of the support member 3 under normal conditions, while simultaneously allowing adjustment of the bending strength during a collision.

[0033] Furthermore, in the battery wire harness support structure of this embodiment, the support member 3 is fixed to the battery 13, the drive motor 11, or the vehicle 1 other than these at two locations. The fixing strength of one of the two first fixing parts 31A, 31B is set to be smaller than the fixing strength of the other first fixing part 31A, and also smaller than the bending strength of the support member 3 against input in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, when a force F in the vehicle width direction is applied to the wire harness 2, if the force F exceeds the fixing strength of one of the first fixing parts 31B, the fixing device (clip) 33B of one of the first fixing parts 31B will come loose first, then the support member 3 will begin to bend, and the wire portion 21, which is tightened by the band 34, will follow the bending movement of the support member 3. As a result, excessive tensile force will not be applied to the wire harness 2.

[0034] Furthermore, in the battery wire harness support structure of this embodiment, the support member 3 includes a first support member 3A facing the battery 13 and provided on the drive motor 11 or other vehicle 1, and a second support member 3B facing the drive motor 11 or other vehicle 1 and provided on the battery 13. The first fixing portion 31 of the first support member 3A to the drive motor 11 or other vehicle 1 and the first fixing portion 31 of the second support member 3B to the battery 13 are arranged on the same side in the vehicle width direction relative to the second fixing portion 32 of the first support member 3A and the second support member 3B to the wire harness 2. Therefore, it is possible to suppress excessive tensile force acting on the wire portion 21 and the connector portion 22 with respect to inputs on either the left or right in the vehicle width direction.

[0035] Furthermore, in the battery wire harness support structure of this embodiment, the support member 3 has three or more extendable portions 36 that are bent to extend in response to input in the vehicle width direction, so that it can follow the relative separation movement between the battery 13, the inverter 12, and the drive motor 11 over a longer distance. As a result, it is possible to suppress excessive tensile force acting on the wire portion 21 and the connector portion 22. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0036] 1…Vehicle 11…Motor for driving the vehicle 12…Inverter 121... Connector part 13…Battery 131... Connector part 14…Engine Room 15…Battery frame 16…Floor panel 2…Wire harness 21... Wire section 22... Connector part 3…Support member 31,31A,31B...1st fixed part 32…Second fixed part 33…Fixing tool 34…band 35…Vulnerable parts 36...Extension part

Claims

1. Motor for propulsion, A battery that supplies power to the aforementioned drive motor, A wire harness that supplies power from the battery to the drive motor, The vehicle is provided with a support member for securing the wire harness to at least one of the battery, the drive motor, or other parts thereof. A support structure for a battery wire harness in a vehicle, wherein the bending strength of the support member against input in the vehicle width direction is set to be less than the tensile strength of the wire harness.

2. The support structure for a battery wire harness of a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the support member has a weak portion between a first fixing portion that is fixed to the battery, the drive motor, or another part of the vehicle, and a second fixing portion to which the wire harness is fixed.

3. The support member is fixed to the battery, the drive motor, or the vehicle at two points. The support structure for a battery wire harness of a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the fixing strength of one of the two fixing parts is set to be less than the fixing strength of the other fixing part, and also less than the bending strength of the support member against input in the vehicle width direction.

4. The aforementioned support member is Facing the battery, a first support member provided on the drive motor or other parts of the vehicle, It includes a second support member provided on the battery, facing the aforementioned drive motor or other vehicle, The support structure for a battery wire harness of a vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the fixing portion of the first support member to the drive motor or other vehicle and the fixing portion of the second support member to the battery are arranged on the same side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the fixing portions of the first support member and the second support member to the wire harness.

5. The support structure for a battery wire harness of a vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the support member has three or more extendable portions that are bent so as to be extendable in response to an input in the vehicle width direction.

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