Protector structure for electrical components

Abstract

This protector structure for an inverter 1, which is an example of an electrical component, includes a protector 3 that comprises a protecting part 31, an attachment part 32A, and an attachment part 32B. The protector 3 has a constricted part 33A between the protecting part 31 and the attachment part 32A, and a constricted part 33B between the protecting part 31 and the attachment part 32B.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a protector structure for an electrical component. [Background technology]

[0002] JP2014-076685A discloses a technique for attaching a protector to an area where damage is anticipated as a measure against damage due to a collision. Summary of the Invention

[0003] A strong protector can prevent loads from being input to potential damage areas during a collision with a colliding object. However, the stronger the protector, the less likely it is to deform. As a result, the collision load is concentrated on the protector's mounting portion, which could damage the electrical component case at the mounting portion.

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and has an object to suppress damage to the case of an electrical component due to a collision load applied through the mounting portion of a protector.

[0005] A protector structure for an electrical component according to one aspect of the present invention includes a protector having a flat plate-shaped protective portion that protects an electrical component, including a case, mounted on a vehicle from a collision with an object colliding in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and a plurality of mounting portions for attaching the protective portion to the electrical component, the protector being fixed to the electrical component with bolts with each mounting portion in surface contact with the electrical component. The protector has constricted portions between the protective portion and each mounting portion. The constricted portions are constricted relative to the protective portion and each mounting portion, and are formed to have lower strength than the protective portion and each mounting portion. The case has a receiving portion that is raised higher than the surrounding area at the portion facing the protective portion, and the receiving portion is composed of mesh-shaped ribs, and the size of the mesh-shaped squares is smaller than the size of the collision cross section of the collision portion of the colliding object. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0006] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a first external view of a protector structure for an inverter. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a second external view of the protector structure of the inverter. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of the protector. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of the protector. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a first diagram showing the arrangement of the protector and the collision object. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a second diagram showing the arrangement of the protector and the collision object. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the location of the center of gravity of the protector and the predetermined area. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the arrangement of the protrusions and the predetermined area. [Figure 9A] FIG. 9A is a first diagram of a first explanatory diagram for deformation of the protector. [Figure 9B] FIG. 9B is a second diagram of the first explanatory diagram for deformation of the protector. [Figure 10A] FIG. 10A is the first diagram of a second explanatory diagram for deformation of the protector. [Figure 10B] FIG. 10B is a second diagram of a second explanatory diagram for deformation of the protector. [Figure 10C] FIG. 10C is a third diagram of the second explanatory diagram for deformation of the protector. [Figure 11A] FIG. 11A is the first diagram of a third explanatory diagram for deformation of the protector. [Figure 11B] FIG. 11B is the second diagram of the third explanatory diagram for the deformation of the protector. [Figure 11C] FIG. 11C is a third diagram of a third explanatory diagram for deformation of the protector. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a first modified example of the protector. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a second modified example of the protector. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a third modified example of the protector. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a fourth modified example of the protector. [Figure 16]FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a fifth modified example of the protector. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a sixth modified example of the protector. [Figure 18] FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a seventh modified example of the protector. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0007] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0008] 1 and 2 are external views of the protector structure of the inverter 1. Fig. 3 is a schematic plan view of the protector 3. Fig. 4 is a schematic side view of the protector 3. Fig. 2 shows the protector structure with the protector 3 removed.

[0009] The protector structure includes an inverter 1, a motor 2, and a protector 3. The inverter 1 is an example of an electrical component and is disposed above the motor 2. A case 11 of the inverter 1 is fixed to a case 21 of the motor 2 by bolting, thereby forming an integrated structure of the inverter 1 and the motor 2.

[0010] The motor 2 constitutes the driving source of the vehicle. The motor 2 is housed in the motor room of the vehicle together with the inverter 1. The vehicle is a series hybrid vehicle that runs by driving the motor 2 using electricity generated by a generator using the power of the internal combustion engine.

[0011] The protector 3 is provided for the inverter 1. The protector 3 is made of a plate-like member and is provided from the inverter 1 to the motor 2. The protector 3 includes a protective portion 31, an attachment portion 32A and a constricted portion 33A, and an attachment portion 32B and a constricted portion 33B.

[0012] The protective portion 31 protects the inverter 1 from a collision with a colliding object. The colliding object is a vehicle part placed in the motor compartment, which in this embodiment is the master cylinder 4 described later. The protective portion 31 has a flat plate shape and constitutes the protector surface of the protector 3.

[0013] A receiving portion 13 that is raised higher than the surrounding area is provided in the portion of the case 11 that faces the protective portion 31. The receiving portion 13 is a portion that is raised higher than the wall surface of the case 11 on which the receiving portion 13 is provided. The receiving portion 13 is formed of a mesh-shaped rib. The case 11 may also be configured without the receiving portion 13.

[0014] Mounting portion 32A is attached to case 11. Mounting portion 32A is attached with a bolt, which is a fixing member. As shown in Fig. 4, mounting portion 32A has contact portion 321A with case 11, and is attached in a state where contact portion 321A is in surface contact with case 11.

[0015] Contact portion 321A is formed around the bolt hole and comes into surface contact with mounting portion 111 of case 11 shown in Fig. 2. Two contact portions 321A and two mounting portions 111 are provided.

[0016] The mounting portion 32A configured in this manner is attached to the case 11 in a state in which it is in at least partial surface contact with the case 11. Such mounting portion 32A is understood as a mounting portion because the constricted portion 33A, which is a low-strength portion, is interposed between the protective portion 31 and the mounting portion 32A.

[0017] The constricted portion 33A is provided between the protective portion 31 and the mounting portion 32A. The constricted portion 33A is constricted relative to the protective portion 31 and the mounting portion 32A. Therefore, the strength of the constricted portion 33A is lower than when the constricted portion 33A has the same width as the narrower of the protective portion 31 and the mounting portion 32A, that is, when the constricted portion 33A is not constricted relative to either the protective portion 31 or the mounting portion 32A. The width direction can be perpendicular to the thickness direction of the protector 3 and the extension direction of the constricted portion 33A.

[0018] In such a constricted portion 33A, the strength of the protective portion 31 against a collision of a colliding object is lower than that of the protective portion 31 and the attachment portion 32A. Therefore, when a colliding object collides with the protective portion 31, the protector 3 is likely to deform at the constricted portion 33A.

[0019] The constricted portion 33A has a constricted shape on both sides relative to the protective portion 31 and the mounting portion 32A. The constricted portion 33A is connected to the center of the mounting portion 32A, and is thereby connected to the mounting portion 32A at a position more inward in the width direction than the two contact portions 321A.

[0020] The protector 3 is configured so that one constricted portion 33A is connected to one mounting portion 32A. In this case, the strength of the constricted portion 33A can be adjusted by adjusting the width of one constricted portion 33A, making it easy to adjust the strength of the constricted portion 33A in the protector 3.

[0021] The mounting portion 32B is attached to the case 21 of the motor 2. The mounting portion 32B is attached with a bolt. As shown in FIG. 4, the mounting portion 32B has a contact portion 321B with the case 21, and is attached in a state in which the contact portion 321B is in surface contact with the case 21. The contact portion 321B is formed around the bolt hole, and is in surface contact with the mounting portion 211 of the case 21 shown in FIG. 2. One contact portion 321B and one mounting portion 211 are provided.

[0022] The constricted portion 33B is provided between the protective portion 31 and the mounting portion 32B. The constricted portion 33B is constricted relative to the protective portion 31 and the mounting portion 32B. As shown in FIG. 3, the constricted portion 33B has a one-sided constricted shape constricted on one side relative to the protective portion 31 and the mounting portion 32B. The contact portion 321B formed around the bolt hole is provided so as to overlap with an area on the outer side in the width direction than the width of the connection portion between the mounting portion 32B and the constricted portion 33B. Like the constricted portion 33A, the constricted portion 33B may have a bilateral constricted shape. The protector 3 is configured so that one constricted portion 33B is connected to one mounting portion 32B.

[0023] 3, corners 34A and 34B are formed in the protector 3 by the constricted shape. Corner 34A is formed at the connection position between protective portion 31 and constricted portion 33A, and at the connection position between constricted portion 33A and mounting portion 32A. Corner 34B is formed at the connection position between protective portion 31 and constricted portion 33B, and at the connection position between constricted portion 33B and mounting portion 32B.

[0024] Stress tends to concentrate at corners 34A and 34B. Therefore, corners 34A and 34B further reduce the strength of protector 3 against a collision of an object with protective portion 31. A total of four corners 34A are formed at the connection positions described above, and a total of three corners 34B are formed at the connection positions described above. Mounting portion 32A and mounting portion 32B constitute mounting portions for case 11 and case 21, which are members including case 11.

[0025] 5 and 6 are diagrams showing the arrangement of the protector 3 and the collision object. Fig. 5 shows the arrangement as seen from above, and Fig. 6 shows the arrangement as seen from the side.

[0026] As shown in Fig. 5, the master cylinder 4, which is the object to be hit, is provided behind the inverter 1. As shown in Fig. 6, the inverter 1 is provided at an angle toward the front of the vehicle, and in this state, the protruding portion 41, which is the part to be hit, is positioned so as to overlap with the inverter 1 when viewed along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

[0027] Therefore, if the inverter 1 moves rearward in the event of a vehicle collision, the protruding portion 41 may collide with the inverter 1. To protect the inverter 1 from such a collision with the protruding portion 41, the protector 3 is provided facing the protruding portion 41 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

[0028] The grid of the receiving portion 13 described above with reference to Figure 2 is set smaller than the size of the collision cross section of the protruding portion 41. The collision cross section is a cross section of a portion that may come into contact with the protective portion 31 during a collision, and is, for example, a longitudinal cross section (a cross section taken along a plane perpendicular to the extension direction of the protruding portion 41). The collision cross section may also be a cross section taken along a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Alternatively, the collision cross section may be a cross section taken along a plane connecting the rib ridges that form the grid of the receiving portion 13.

[0029] As a result, even if the receiving portion 13 is configured with mesh-shaped ribs, when a collision load is input from the protruding portion 41 to the receiving portion 13 via the protective portion 31, the load can be received by the strong ribs.

[0030] 7 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the location of the center of gravity G of protector 3 and region R. Region R is a region surrounded by the outer edge of the region formed by connecting the bases of constricted portions 33A and 33B connected to protective portion 31, that is, the connection bases of protective portion 31 with mounting portions 32A and 32B, and center of gravity G of protector 3 is located within region R.

[0031] Therefore, the collision load input to the protector 3 is transmitted in a well-balanced manner to the mounting portions 32A and 32B. As a result, the protector 3 is less likely to deform obliquely in response to the input load.

[0032] 8 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the arrangement of the protrusion 41 and the region R. The region R and the protrusion 41 overlap when viewed along the vehicle longitudinal direction. This makes it easier for the protrusion 41 to collide with the protection part 31 within the region R during a vehicle collision, and the collision load is transmitted to the mounting parts 32A and 32B in a balanced manner.

[0033] Next, the main effects of this embodiment will be described.

[0034] 9A and 9B are first explanatory diagrams of deformation of the protector 3. In Fig. 9A and Fig. 9B, a case where the case 11 does not include the receiving portion 13 will be described.

[0035] When a collision load is input to the protection portion 31 as shown by the white arrow in FIG. 9A, the input load is transmitted from the protection portion 31 to the attachment portions 32A and 32B.

[0036] The protector structure of the inverter 1 according to this embodiment includes a protector 3 having a protection portion 31 and mounting portions 32A and 32B. Protector 3 has a constricted portion 33A as a low-strength portion between protection portion 31 and mounting portion 32A, and also has a constricted portion 33B as a low-strength portion between protection portion 31 and mounting portion 32B.

[0037] 9B, protector 3 is deformed at constricted portions 33A and 33B, and protective portion 31 is pressed by the load and comes into contact with case 11. As a result, the load is also distributed to protective portion 31 and is not concentrated on mounting portions 32A and 32B. Therefore, with this configuration, damage to case 11 due to a collision load via mounting portion 32A can be suppressed.

[0038] In this embodiment, constricted portion 33A as a low strength portion is constricted relative to protective portion 31 and mounting portion 32A, and constricted portion 33B as a low strength portion is constricted relative to protective portion 31 and mounting portion 32B.

[0039] With this configuration, it is possible to achieve optimal load distribution of the collision load by adjusting the width of constricted portions 33A and 33B. Furthermore, with this configuration, protector 3 is more likely to deform due to corners 34A and 34B where stress concentration occurs, which helps to suppress damage to case 11 due to the collision load.

[0040] Figures 10A to 10C are second explanatory diagrams of deformation of protector 3. Figures 10A to 10C are views of protector 3 as viewed along arrow A shown in Figure 9A, with case 11 hidden behind case 21. Mounting portion 32A and constricted portion 33A are omitted from Figures 10A to 10C. Figures 10A to 10C describe a case where case 11 does not include receiving portion 13.

[0041] First, Fig. 10C will be described. Fig. 10C shows a comparative example. The comparative example shows a case where region R and protrusion 41 do not overlap when viewed along the vehicle longitudinal direction. In this case, during a vehicle collision, the load is likely to be input to a position outside region R in protective portion 31. When the load is input in this manner, protector 3 deforms obliquely, and protective portion 31 comes into uneven contact with case 11. As a result, the distribution of the load transmitted from protective portion 31 to case 11 becomes uneven.

[0042] 10A and 10B show the case of this embodiment. In this embodiment, the center of gravity G of the protector 3 is located within the region R. Furthermore, the region R and the protrusion 41 overlap when viewed along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. With this configuration, the load input into the region R can be transmitted to the mounting portions 32A and 32B in a balanced manner.

[0043] 10B, the protective part 31 does not lose its posture significantly, but is pushed by the input load and comes into contact with the case 11. As a result, the load transmitted from the protective part 31 to the case 11 is distributed uniformly, and the concentration of the collision load on the mounting part 32A can be more appropriately prevented.

[0044] 11A to 11C are third explanatory diagrams of deformation of the protector 3. Figures 11A and 11B show a case where a load is input into the region R of the protection part 31 during a vehicle collision.

[0045] 11A and 11B, case 11 has receiving portion 13. With this configuration, the input load is transmitted in a balanced manner to mounting portion 32A and mounting portion 32B, and is also distributed to receiving portion 13. Therefore, in this case as well, the load transmitted to case 11 can be uniformly distributed.

[0046] 11C shows a case where the collision load is input to a position outside the region R of the protective part 31. In this case, similar to the case of FIG. 10C, the protector 3 deforms obliquely in response to the input load. However, if the case 11 has the receiving part 13, the protective part 31 abuts against the receiving part 13 before tilting significantly.

[0047] Therefore, with this configuration, even if the collision load is input to a position outside the region R of the protective portion 31, the load transmitted to the case 11 can be distributed uniformly.

[0048] In this embodiment, the receiving portion 13 is configured by a mesh-shaped rib. The size of the mesh-shaped squares is set smaller than the size of the vertical cross section of the protruding portion 41.

[0049] According to this configuration, the load transmitted from the protective portion 31 is received by the strong ribs, so that the load transmitted to the case 11 can be distributed evenly and the weight can be reduced.

[0050] The protector 3 may be configured as follows.

[0051] Fig. 12 is a diagram showing a first modified example of protector 3. As shown in Fig. 12, protector 3 may have thin portions 35A and 35B instead of constricted portions 33A and 33B. Thin portions 35A and 35B are examples of low-rigidity portions, and are set to be thinner than protective portion 31 and mounting portions 32A and 32B, thereby having lower strength than these portions. Even when protector 3 is configured in this manner, damage to case 11 due to a collision load via mounting portion 32A can be suppressed.

[0052] Fig. 13 is a diagram showing a second modified example of protector 3. As shown in Fig. 13, protector 3 may have bent portions 36A and 36B instead of constricted portions 33A and 33B. Bent portions 36A and 36B are examples of low-rigidity portions, and by having a bent shape, they are set to have lower strength than protective portion 31 and mounting portions 32A and 32B. Even when protector 3 is configured in this manner, damage to case 11 due to a collision load via mounting portion 32A can be suppressed.

[0053] 14 is a diagram showing a third modified example of the protector 3. In this example, two constricted portions 33A are provided between the protective portion 31 and the mounting portion 32A, and no constricted portion 33B is provided between the protective portion 31 and the mounting portion 32B. The constricted portions 33A are connected to both ends of the mounting portion 32A, and the portion between the two constricted portions 33A is hollow. Each of the constricted portions 33A has a one-sided constriction shape relative to the mounting portion 32A.

[0054] Mounting portion 32A extends in the width direction and extends at both ends opposite constricted portion 33A, with a bolt hole provided in each extended portion. Protector 3 has contact portions 321A on the back surface of each extended portion, and constricted portion 33A is connected to both ends of mounting portion 32A, thereby connecting to mounting portion 32A at positions in the width direction where two contact portions 321A are provided. Even in this type of protector 3, constricted portion 33A can form a low-strength portion.

[0055] In this case, a band-shaped region is formed by connecting the bases of constricted portion 33A and mounting portion 32B, and region R is defined as the region surrounded by the outer edge of the region formed by connecting these bases. Therefore, region R is defined by the outer boundary of this band-shaped region.

[0056] Therefore, in this case, region R is defined as the region surrounded by the outer edge of the region formed by connecting the bases of the two constricted portions 33A and the mounting portion 32B connected to the protective portion 31, that is, the connection bases of the protective portion 31 with the mounting portions 32A and 32B.

[0057] The protector 3 can be configured so that the center of gravity G is located within this region R, and the location of the region R and the protrusion 41 can be the same as in this embodiment. These also apply to the modified examples described below.

[0058] 15 is a diagram showing a fourth modified example of the protector 3. In this example, the mounting portion 32A has an inverted T-shape. The central extension of the mounting portion 32A extends in the direction opposite to the constricted portion 33A. Bolt holes are provided in the central extension of the mounting portion 32A, but not in the extensions on either side.

[0059] In this example, mounting portion 32A has contact portions 321A with case 11 at both extensions on both sides in the width direction, in addition to an extension portion in the width direction at the center that is fixed with a bolt. Constricted portion 33A is connected to mounting portion 32A at a position that is more inward in the width direction than the two contact portions 321A on both sides, thereby forming a constricted shape on both sides of mounting portion 32A. Even in this type of protector 3, constricted portions 33A can form low-strength portions.

[0060] 16 is a diagram showing a fifth modified example of the protector 3. In this example, a constricted portion 33B is provided between the protective portion 31 and the mounting portion 32B, and no constricted portion 33A is provided between the protective portion 31 and the mounting portion 32A. The constricted portion 33B has a one-sided constricted shape relative to the mounting portion 32B. The protector 3 has a contact portion 321B on the entire one side (back side) of the mounting portion 32B, and the contact portion 321B is provided so as to overlap with an area that is outward in the width direction from the width of the connection portion between the mounting portion 32B and the constricted portion 33B. Even in this type of protector 3, the constricted portion 33B can form a low-strength portion.

[0061] 17 is a diagram showing a sixth modified example of the protector 3. In this example, a constricted portion 33A is provided between the protective portion 31 and the mounting portion 32A, and no constricted portion 33B is provided between the protective portion 31 and the mounting portion 32B. The mounting portion 32A extends in the width direction and extends at both ends opposite the constricted portion 33A, with a bolt hole provided in each extended portion. The protector 3 has contact portions 321A on the back surface of each extended portion, and the constricted portion 33A is connected to the center of the mounting portion 32A, thereby connecting to the mounting portion 32A at a position more inward in the width direction than the two contact portions 321A. Even in this type of protector 3, the constricted portions 33A can form low-strength portions.

[0062] 18 is a diagram showing a seventh modified example of protector 3. In this example, mounting portion 32A is connected to the top and one side of protective portion 31 via constricted portion 33A. Constricted portion 33A has a one-sided constricted shape relative to mounting portion 32A, and constricted portion 33B has a one-sided constricted shape relative to mounting portion 32B. Protector 3 has contact portion 321A on the entire back surface of mounting portion 32A, and contact portion 321B on the entire back surface of mounting portion 32B. Even in this type of protector 3, constricted portions 33A and 33B can form low-strength portions.

[0063] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the above embodiments merely illustrate some of the application examples of the present invention, and it is not intended that the technical scope of the present invention be limited to the specific configurations of the above embodiments.

[0064] For example, in the above-described embodiment, the inverter 1 constitutes the electrical component. However, the electrical component may be a DC-DC converter, a charging port, a junction box having a function of distributing a high-voltage path, or the like.

Claims

1. a protective portion having a flat plate shape that protects the electric components including the case mounted on the vehicle from a collision with an object in the front-rear direction of the vehicle; a plurality of attachment portions for attaching the protection portion to the electrical component; Equipped with a protector structure for an electrical component, the protector being fixed to the electrical component by bolts with each mounting portion being in surface contact with the electrical component, The protector has a constricted portion between the protective portion and each of the mounting portions, the constricted portion is constricted relative to the protective portion and each of the mounting portions, and is formed to have a strength lower than that of the protective portion and each of the mounting portions; the case has a receiving portion that is raised higher than the surrounding area at a portion facing the protection portion, The receiving portion is configured by a mesh-shaped rib, The size of the mesh-shaped squares is smaller than the size of the collision cross section of the collision portion of the collision object. Protector structure for electrical components.

2. 2. The protector structure for an electrical component according to claim 1, The center of gravity of the protector is located within an area surrounded by an outer edge of an area formed by connecting the connection bases of the protective portion and the plurality of mounting portions. Protector structure for electrical components.

3. 2. The protector structure for an electrical component according to claim 1, a region of the protective portion surrounded by an outer edge of a region formed by connecting the connection bases of the protective portion and the plurality of mounting portions and a collision portion of the collision object overlaps with the collision portion when viewed along the vehicle longitudinal direction; Protector structure for electrical components.

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