High-voltage connector

Abstract

To provide a high-pressure connector that can suppress a high-pressure cable connected to the high-pressure connector from being damaged, when a vehicle collides.SOLUTION: A high-pressure connector, which electrically connects an electric instrument loaded on a vehicle to a high-pressure cable, is constituted in a nearly L-shape of a first connector part extending in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle to oppose to an upper surface of the electric instrument and a second connector part extending in a height direction of the vehicle to oppose to a back side of the electric instrument, which is configured to extend the high-pressure cable downward from an end face at a lower side in a height direction of the second connector part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[[Technical Field]]

[0001] The present invention relates to a high-voltage connector. [[Background Art]]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a connector protection structure capable of absorbing impact from the vehicle front-rear direction and the upper vehicle side to a high-voltage connector provided on a side portion of a power unit of an electric vehicle. [[Prior Art Document]] [[Patent Document]]

[0003] [[Patent Document 1]] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2021-49943 [[Summary of the Invention]] [[Problem to be Solved by the Invention]]

[0004] In a conventional high-voltage connector, the high-voltage cable extends rearward. Therefore, when a vehicle collides, the portion under the neck of the high-voltage connector may interfere with interfering objects such as a brake device or a dash panel, which may cause damage to the high-voltage cable.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a high-voltage connector capable of suppressing damage to a high-voltage cable connected to the high-voltage connector when a vehicle collides. [[Means for Solving the Problem]]

[0006] To solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the objective, the high-voltage connector according to the present invention is a high-voltage connector for electrically connecting an electrical device mounted on a vehicle and a high-voltage cable, wherein the high-voltage connector is configured in a substantially L-shape by a first connector portion extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle and facing the upper surface of the electrical device, and a second connector portion extending in the height direction of the vehicle and facing the rear surface of the electrical device, and the high-voltage cable is configured to exit downward from the lower end face in the height direction of the second connector portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The high-voltage connector according to the present invention has the effect of suppressing damage to the high-voltage cable connected to the connector in the event of a vehicle collision. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Figure 1 shows an example of a high-voltage connector according to an embodiment being assembled to a PCU. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The following describes an embodiment of the high-voltage connector according to the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

[0010] Figure 1 shows an example of a high-voltage connector 3 according to the embodiment assembled to the PCU 1. The high-voltage connector 3 according to the embodiment is used to electrically connect the PCU (Power Control Unit) 1, which is an electrical device mounted on the vehicle, to the high-voltage cable 4. The high-voltage connector 3 is provided and electrically connected to the high-voltage cable 4 at one end of the high-voltage cable 4. The other end of the high-voltage cable 4 is electrically connected to the high-voltage battery, which is an energy storage device mounted on the vehicle. The vehicle includes a motor, which is a rotating electric machine, a PCU 1, which is a power control device that controls the power supplied from the high-voltage battery to the motor, and an engine compartment in which the motor and PCU 1 are arranged in the same space. In addition, in the hybrid vehicle according to the embodiment, a transaxle case 2 that houses the motor and transaxle is located inside the engine compartment.

[0011] The motor is a rotating electric machine capable of functioning as both an electric motor and a generator. The PCU1 consists of an inverter, a control board, and a case housing the inverter and the control board. The PCU1 is mounted on the upper surface of the transaxle case 2 and is configured as a single mechoelectric unit. Note that the electrical equipment is not limited to the PCU1, but may include, for example, an inverter. The transaxle is a power transmission device provided in the power transmission path between the motor and the drive wheels, and transmits the power output from the motor to the drive wheels. The transaxle is configured to include, for example, a transmission and a differential gear mechanism. The engine compartment is a space into which air can flow in from the front while the vehicle is in motion.

[0012] The high-voltage connector 3 is configured in a substantially L-shape by a first connector portion 3a that extends in the vehicle's longitudinal direction and faces the PCU's upper surface 1a, and a second connector portion 3b that extends in the vehicle's height direction and faces the PCU's rear surface 1b. The PCU's rear surface 1b is the rear surface of the PCU 1 in the vehicle's longitudinal direction. The front end of the first connector portion 3a in the vehicle's longitudinal direction is provided with a connector-side terminal that is electrically connected to a PCU-side terminal provided on the PCU's upper surface 1a. The rear end of the first connector portion 3a in the vehicle's longitudinal direction is integrally connected to the upper end of the second connector portion 3b in the height direction. A high-voltage cable 4, which is electrically connected to the connector-side terminal inside the high-voltage connector 3, protrudes downward in the height direction from the lower end surface of the second connector portion 3b in the height direction.

[0013] In the high-voltage connector 3 according to this embodiment, the first connector portion 3a is in contact with the top surface 1a of the PCU, and the second connector portion 3b is in contact with the back surface 1b of the PCU. However, at least one of the first connector portion 3a and the top surface 1a of the PCU, or the second connector portion 3b and the back surface 1b of the PCU, does not need to be in contact. In other words, the high-voltage connector 3 according to this embodiment only needs to be configured in a substantially L-shape such that the first connector portion 3a and the second connector portion 3b are aligned with the top surface 1a of the PCU and the back surface 1b of the PCU. In the high-voltage connector 3 according to this embodiment, the substantially L-shape aligned with the top surface 1a of the PCU and the back surface 1b of the PCU makes it easier to assemble the high-voltage connector 3 to the PCU 1 for electrically connecting the PCU-side terminals and the connector-side terminals.

[0014] Furthermore, in the high-voltage connector 3 according to this embodiment, the high-voltage cable 4 extends downward from the lower end face in the height direction of the second connector portion 3b. This makes it possible to avoid interference between the high-voltage cable 4 and rear components such as brake devices and dash panels, which are located at the rear of the vehicle, during a frontal collision. It also prevents the high-voltage cable 4 from being pinched between the PCU 1 and the rear components 5 during a frontal collision.

[0015] The high-voltage connector 3 according to this embodiment is designed to have sufficient strength to suppress damage to the portion of the high-voltage connector 3 that comes into contact with the interfering object 5 when the high-voltage connector 3 comes into contact with the interfering object 5 during a vehicle collision. For example, the high-voltage connector 3 is made of die-cast aluminum, and its strength is increased by increasing the thickness of the housing that makes up the high-voltage connector 3, or by providing reinforcing members such as ribs inside the housing.

[0016] As described above, in the high-voltage connector 3 according to this embodiment, it is possible to suppress damage to the high-voltage cable 4 connected to the high-voltage connector 3 by interference with interfering objects 5 such as the brake system or the dashboard panel during a vehicle collision. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0017] 1 PCU 2 transaxle cases 3. High-voltage connector 4 High-voltage cables 5. Interfering objects

Claims

[Claim 1] A high-voltage connector for electrically connecting electrical equipment mounted on a vehicle with a high-voltage cable, The high-voltage connector is configured in a substantially L-shape, comprising a first connector portion extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and facing the upper surface of the electrical equipment, and a second connector portion extending in the height direction of the vehicle and facing the rear surface of the electrical equipment. The front end of the first connector portion in the front-to-back direction is provided with a connector-side terminal that is electrically connected by mating with a terminal provided on the upper surface. A high-voltage connector characterized in that the high-voltage cable is routed downward from the lower end face in the height direction of the second connector portion.

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