High-voltage components

Abstract

The high-voltage component (1) comprises at least a housing (2) and a high-voltage terminal (3) arranged in the housing (2). The housing (2) has a cover element (4) closing an opening (5) in the housing (2), the high-voltage terminal (3) being accessible from the outside only through the opening (5). The cover element (4) is connected in a detachable manner to the housing (2) via a number of connection elements (6, 7). A non-detachable first connection (9) and a second connection (10) are arranged in the housing (2). A cable (8) runs from the first connection (9) outside the housing (2) at least partially beyond the cover element (4) to the second connection (10), so that at least one first connection element (6) is covered by the cable (8) and is therefore inaccessible from the outside.

Description

Technical Field

[0007] , ,

[0001] The present invention relates to a high-voltage component having at least a housing and a high-voltage terminal disposed in the housing. The high-voltage component is particularly used in the automotive field, and examples of the high-voltage component include an electric motor, a traction drive, and the like.

[0002] High voltage is particularly defined as a voltage exceeding 60 volts (DC) or exceeding 30 volts (AC) in the field of automobiles. Therefore, low voltage includes voltages up to 60 volts (DC) or up to 30 volts (AC).

[0003] Such high-voltage components need to be protected in a special way because the risk of human injury is higher. In particular, means of protection should be taken to protect electrical workers from electric shock.

[0004] Removing the cover used to close the opening on the housing of the high-voltage component, for example, cutting or connecting between the high-voltage bus bar of the inverter and each high-voltage terminal of the stator of the electric motor, there is a risk of electric shock at high voltage during maintenance or repair.

[0005] Technical solutions are needed to avoid electric shock, such as discharging the high voltage in the inverter before opening the cover. Conventional solutions include, for example, providing an additional contact switch on the cover that can detect when the cover is opened, but this involves a risk of failure and is also expensive.

[0006] When handling electrical components, especially high-voltage components, there are certain needs to improve safety.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0008] A high-voltage component having the features of claim 1 contributes to solving these problems. Further effective developments are subject to the dependent claims. The features individually listed in the claims can be combined with each other in a technically meaningful manner and may be supplemented by explanatory facts provided in detail in the specification and / or drawings. This illustrates further embodiments of the present invention.

[0009] We propose a high-voltage component comprising at least a housing and high-voltage terminals (Hochspannungsanschluss) located within the housing. The housing has a cover element that closes an opening in the housing and high-voltage terminals that are accessible only from the outside (i.e., by a person from outside the housing) through the opening. The cover element is detachably connected to the housing via a plurality of (first and second) connection elements. A cable extends from a non-detachable first connection located on the housing to a second connection located on the housing, outside the housing, at least partially beyond the cover element, so that at least one of the first connection elements is covered by the cable and inaccessible from the outside. At the second connection, the cable is electrically conductive and connected to the high-voltage component. Disconnecting the second connection discharges the high-voltage component.

[0010] Voltages exceeding 60 volts are applied to the high-voltage terminals.

[0011] In particular, the cover element is connected to the housing via several connecting elements (screws, clips, pins, etc.). Each of these connecting elements can be attached and detached from the outside. Specifically, the cover element can only be removed from the housing after all connecting elements have been removed. Once at least one first connecting element (or all first connecting elements) is covered by a cable, it becomes inaccessible from the outside. In other words, the first connecting element can only be removed when the cable is out of this position. Specifically, the cover element can only be moved after at least one first connecting element has been removed (or after all first connecting elements have been removed), resulting in the opening being at least partially exposed.

[0012] When a cable is connected to a high-voltage component via a second connection, the connection element that is covered by the cable and inaccessible from the outside is specifically distinguished as the first connection element.

[0013] When a cable is connected to a high-voltage component by a second connection, each connection element that is not covered by the cable and is therefore always or independently accessible from the outside is specifically distinguished as a second connection element. In addition to at least one first connection element, a cover element may also be connected to the housing by at least one second connection element. Thus, each second connection element can be removed always or independently of the cable, thereby allowing the cover element to remain covering the opening and preventing external access to the high-voltage terminals if at least one first connection element has not yet been removed.

[0014] In particular, the cable extends from a non-removable first connection located on the housing to a second connection located on the housing, outside the housing, at least partially through a cover element. The cable is electrically conductively connected to a high-voltage component at the second connection via a plug connection or the like. After the second connection (and possibly other fasteners / connections) is removed, the cable can move, in particular, around the pivot point realized by the first connection. As a result, at least one of the first connection elements becomes accessible from the outside. Since the high-voltage component discharges when the second connection is removed, the cover element can be safely opened after the second connection is removed.

[0015] In particular, the cable itself or the cable guide attached to the cable has high deformation resistance or has a length that precisely matches the distance between the first and second connections. As a result, when the cable is connected to the high-voltage components at the second connection, it is at least impossible for the cable to deform to the extent that at least one of the first connection elements becomes accessible from the outside.

[0016] By disconnecting the second connection, an electrical circuit, particularly one located within the pin header of a plug connection, is severed, thereby discharging high-voltage terminals accessible through an opening (such as an inverter).

[0017] In particular, the cover element can only be moved after at least one first connecting element has been removed, thereby making the high-voltage terminals accessible from outside the housing through the opening.

[0018] In particular, at least two first connection elements are covered by the cable. This ensures that the cover element cannot rotate around one of the first connection elements, for example, after all second connection elements have been removed.

[0019] In particular, the cable is connected to the housing in a detachable manner between the first connection and the second connection via at least one first fastening member. The first fastening member can be a screw, clip, pin connection, etc. In particular, the first fastening member may be similar to the connection element; that is, it may have a screw, clip, or pin.

[0020] In particular, the first clamping member serves to further secure the cable to the housing, thereby ensuring that at least one of the first connection elements is not accessible from the outside.

[0021] In particular, at least one first connecting element is accessible from the outside only after the second connection and at least one first fastening member have been removed.

[0022] In particular, the cable is placed, at least partially, within a cable guide having a predetermined bending rigidity or predetermined deformation resistance. The cable is also secured via the cable guide to at least one first clamping member. The cable guide, in particular, stiffens the cable. As a result, it is ensured that the cable cannot be deformed in such a manner that at least one first connecting element becomes accessible from the outside unless the second connection is removed.

[0023] In particular, the second connection is a plug connection. Specifically, the cable has a plug at this end, which can be connected to a plug receptacle on the housing to form a plug connection. Specifically, the (safe) circuit is closed by the plug connection. Therefore, by removing the second connection or plug connection, the circuit is disconnected. For example, this discharges high-voltage terminals accessible through openings (such as those in an inverter) in the pin header of the plug connection.

[0024] In particular, the cable is a low-voltage connection, and the second connection is a low-voltage terminal. Therefore, disconnecting the second connection does not pose a risk of electric shock (life-threatening).

[0025] A voltage up to 60 volts (DC) or up to 30 volts (AC) is applied to the low voltage terminal.

[0026] In particular, at least one (or each) first connection element has at least one screw. Alternatively, the aforementioned (each) second connection element has at least one screw.

[0027] In particular, the high voltage component is a traction drive, and the high voltage terminal has an electrically conductive connection between the inverter and the stator of the traction drive. However, the described high voltage component may further have other electrical components having at least one covered high voltage terminal and one low voltage terminal (in the second connection).

[0028] In particular, the high voltage component comprises an inverter for transmitting a high voltage and a traction drive connected thereto. When the inverter is discharged, the high voltage cannot remain at the high voltage terminal.

[0029] In particular, in the claims and the descriptions repeating these claims, the indefinite articles (“ein”, “eine”, “einer”, “eines”) are not intended to be used as numerals and should be understood as such. Accordingly, the terms and components introduced correspondingly are intended to be understood as being present at least once, but in particular may also be present several times.

[0030] To avoid any doubt, the ordinal numbers used herein ("first," "second," etc.) are used primarily to distinguish several similar objects, numbers, or processes, and not in any particular way to define any dependencies or order of these objects, numbers, or processes. Where dependencies or order are necessary, this will be explicitly stated herein or will become apparent to a person skilled in the art by examining the configurations actually described. Where a component may occur one or more times ("at least one"), the description relating to one of those components may, but not necessarily, apply equally to all or some of these components. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0031] The present invention and its technical background will be described in more detail below with reference to the attached figures. It should be noted that the embodiments described in detail are not intended to limit the present invention. Unless otherwise stated, it is also possible to extract some of the technical features described in the figures and combine them with other components and the knowledge herein. In particular, it should be noted that the figures and especially the proportions shown are for illustrative purposes only. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0032] Each figure shows the following: [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of an exploded view of high-voltage components. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a top view of the high-voltage component shown. [Figure 3] Figure 2 is a perspective side view of a high-voltage component. [Figure 4] Figures 1 to 3 are perspective views of high-voltage components from above, showing a partial cross-section along the IV-IV cutting line in Figure 2. [Figure 5] Figures 1 to 4 show perspective side views of the high-voltage components after the second connection and the first and second fastening members have been removed. [Figure 6]This is a portion of the side view shown in Figure 5, along the VI-VI cutting line in Figure 2. [Figure 7] Figures 5 and 6 are top views of a high-voltage component equipped with a spiraled cable and an exposed cover element.

[0033] Figure 1 shows an exploded view and perspective view of the high-voltage component 1. Figure 2 shows a top view of the high-voltage component 1 shown in Figure 1. Figure 3 shows a perspective side view of the high-voltage component 1 according to Figure 2. Figure 4 is a top perspective view of the high-voltage component 1 according to Figures 1 to 3, showing a partial cross section along the IV-IV cutting line according to Figure 2. Figure 5 shows a perspective side view of the high-voltage component 1 according to Figures 1 to 4 after the second connection, the first fastening member 11, and the second fastening member 13 have been removed. Figure 6 shows a part of the side view of Figure 5 along the VI-VI cutting line according to Figure 2. Figure 7 shows a top view of the high-voltage component 1 with the spiraled cable 8 and exposed cover element 4 according to Figures 5 and 6. Figures 1 to 7 will be described collectively below.

[0034] The top view, side view, and top view can be understood from Figures 1 and 2. The top view is a diagram aligned with the direction of disassembly in the exploded view of Figure 1. The side view is a diagram of high-voltage component 1 viewed from the right or left, as shown in Figure 2. The top view is a diagram of high-voltage component 1 viewed from above, as shown in Figure 2.

[0035] High-voltage component 1 has a housing 2 and high-voltage terminals 3 located inside it (details not shown). The housing 2 has a cover element 4 that closes an opening 5 of the housing 2, thereby allowing human access to the high-voltage terminals 3 only from the outside (i.e., from outside the housing 2) through the opening 5. The cover element 4 is detachably connected to the housing 3 via a plurality of (first and second) connecting elements 6, 7. The cable 8 extends from a non-detachable first connection 9 located on the housing 2 to a second connection 10 located on the housing 2, outside the housing 2, at least partially beyond the cover element 4. This prevents the three first connecting elements 6 from being accessed from the outside by being covered by the cable 8. The cable 8 is electrically conductively connected to the high-voltage component 1 at the second connection 10. Disconnecting the second connection 10 discharges the high-voltage component 1.

[0036] High-voltage component 1 is an automotive traction drive, and high-voltage terminal 3 has an electrically conductive connection between the inverter and the stator of the traction drive (details not shown). The inverter transmits a high voltage. When the inverter discharges, the high voltage cannot remain at high-voltage terminal 3.

[0037] The cover element 4 is connected to the housing 2 via six connecting elements 6 and 7 designed as screws. Each of the connecting elements 6 and 7 can be attached and detached from the outside. The cover element 4 can only be removed from the housing 2 after all the connecting elements 6 and 7 have been removed. When the three first connecting elements 6 are covered by the cable 8, they become inaccessible from the outside (see Figures 2 and 4). In other words, the first connecting elements 6 can only be removed when the cable 8 is out of this position (see Figures 5, 6, and 7). The cover element 4 can only be moved after the three first connecting elements 6 have been removed, thereby exposing the opening 5.

[0038] The second connection elements 7 are the connection elements 6 and 7 that are not covered by the cable 8 when the cable 8 is connected to the high-voltage component 1 at the second connection 10 (see Figures 2 to 4), meaning they are always accessible from the outside, or independently of the cable 8. In addition to the three first connection elements 6, the cover element 4 is also connected to the housing 2 by the three second connection elements 7. Thus, each second connection element 7 can be removed always, or independently of the cable 8, so that if the three first connection elements 6 are not yet removed, the cover element 4 can continue to cover the opening 5, thereby preventing external access to the high-voltage terminal 3.

[0039] Cable 8 extends from a non-removable first connection 9 located on the housing 2 to a second connection 10 located on the housing 2, at least partially through the cover element 4 on the outside of the housing 2. Cable 8 is electrically conductively connected to the high-voltage component 1 at the second connection 10 via a plug connection (see Figures 1 to 3). After the second connection 10 and the first and second clamping members 11 and 13 are removed, cable 8 can move around the pivot point realized by the first connection 9. As a result, the three first connection elements 6 become accessible from the outside. By removing the second connection 10, the high-voltage component 1 discharges, so after the second connection 10 is removed, the cover element 4 can be safely opened.

[0040] The cable 8 itself and the cable guide 12 attached to the cable 8 have high deformation resistance or have a length that precisely matches the distance between the first connection 9 and the second connection 10. As a result, when the cable 8 is connected to the high-voltage component 1 at the second connection 10, it is impossible for the cable 8 to deform to the extent that each of the first connection elements 6 becomes accessible from the outside.

[0041] By disconnecting the second connection 10, the electrical circuit provided within the pin header of the plug connection is disconnected, thereby discharging the high-voltage terminal 3 accessible through the opening 5.

[0042] The cover element 4 can only be moved after the three first connecting elements 6 (and the second connecting element 7) have been removed, thereby making the high-voltage terminal 3 accessible from the outside of the housing 2 through the opening 5.

[0043] The cable 8 is connected to the housing 2 in a detachable manner between the first connection 9 and the second connection 10 via the first fastening member 11 and the second fastening member 13. The first fastening member 11 and the second fastening member 13 are each designed as screw connections.

[0044] The first fastening member 11 and the second fastening member 13 serve to further secure the cable 8 to the housing 2, thereby ensuring that each of the first connection elements 6 is inaccessible from the outside.

[0045] The first connecting element 6 is accessible from the outside only after the second connection 10, the first fastening member 11, and the second fastening member 13 have been removed.

[0046] The cable 8 is placed, at least partially, within a cable guide 12 having a predetermined bending rigidity or predetermined deformation resistance. The cable 8 is also attached to the first clamping member 11 and the second clamping member 13 via the cable guide 12. Alternatively, the cable guide is attached to the housing 2 via the first clamping member 11 and the second clamping member 13. The cable guide 12 further stiffens the cable 8. As a result, it is ensured that the cable 8 cannot be deformed in such a way that the three first connecting elements 6 become accessible from the outside unless the second connection 10 is removed.

[0047] The second connection 10 is designed as a plug connection. Cable 8 has a plug 14 at this end, which is connectable to a plug receptacle 15 on housing 2 to form a plug connection or the second connection 10. The (safe) circuit is closed by the plug connection. Therefore, the circuit is broken by removing the second connection 10 or the plug connection. For example, this discharges the high-voltage terminal 3 accessible through the opening 5 in the pin header of the plug connection.

[0048] Cable 8 is a low-voltage connection, and the second connection 10 is a low-voltage terminal. Therefore, disconnecting the second connection 10 does not pose a risk of electric shock (life-threatening). [Explanation of Symbols]

[0049] 1. High-voltage components 2 Housing 3 High-voltage terminals 4 Cover elements 5 aperture 6. First connection element 7. Second connection element 8 Cables 9. First connection 10. Second connection 11 First fastening member 12 Cable Guides 13 Second fastening member 14 plugs 15 Plug receiver

Claims

1. High-voltage component (1), Housing (2), High-voltage terminals (3) located inside the housing (2) and It has at least the following features: The housing (2) has a cover element (4) that closes the opening (5) of the housing (2), The high-voltage terminal (3) is accessible from the outside only through the opening (5), The cover element (4) is connected to the housing (2) in a detachable manner via a plurality of connecting elements (6, 7). The housing (2) is provided with a non-removable first connection (9) and a second connection (10). The cable (8) extends from the first connection (9) to the second connection (10) outside the housing (2), at least partially beyond the cover element (4), As a result, at least one first connection element (6) is covered by the cable (8), making it inaccessible from the outside. The cable (8) is connected to the high-voltage component (1) in the second connection (10) with electrical conductivity. By disconnecting the second connection (10), the high-voltage component (1) is discharged. High-voltage component (1).

2. The high-voltage component (1) according to claim 1, The cover element (4) can only be moved after the at least one first connecting element (6) has been removed, thereby making the high-voltage terminal (3) accessible from the outside of the housing (2) through the opening (5). High-voltage component (1).

3. A high-voltage component (1) according to claim 1 or 2, At least two first connecting elements (6) are covered by the cable (8), High-voltage component (1).

4. A high-voltage component (1) according to claim 1 or 2, The cable (8) is connected to the housing (2) in a detachable manner between the first connection (9) and the second connection (10) via at least one first fastening member (11). High-voltage component (1).

5. The high-voltage component (1) according to claim 4, The at least one first connecting element (6) is accessible from the outside only after the second connection (10) and the at least one first fastening member (6) have been removed. High-voltage component (1).

6. The high-voltage component (1) according to claim 4, The cable (8) is at least partially placed within a cable guide (12) having a predetermined bending rigidity. The cable (8) is fixed to at least one of the first fastening members (11) via the cable guide (12). High-voltage component (1).

7. A high-voltage component (1) according to claim 1 or 2, The second connection (10) is a plug connection. High-voltage component (1).

8. A high-voltage component (1) according to claim 1 or 2, The cable (8) is a low-voltage connection, The second connection (10) is a low-voltage connection. High-voltage component (1).

9. A high-voltage component (1) according to claim 1 or 2, The at least one first connecting element (6) has at least one screw, High-voltage component (1).

10. A high-voltage component (1) according to claim 1 or 2, The aforementioned high-voltage component (1) is a traction drive, The high-voltage terminal (3) has an electrically conductive connection between the inverter and the stator of the traction drive. High-voltage component (1).

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