Arrangement structure of high-voltage component mounted on vehicle

Abstract

An arrangement structure (S) of a high-voltage component (11) mounted on a vehicle comprises: the liquid-cooled high-voltage component (11) disposed in a vehicle cabin (1); and a panel material (21) attached to a vehicle body floor (2) and covering the high-voltage component (11) from above. The high-voltage component (11) is fixed to and supported by a lower surface (21A) of the panel material (21).

Description

Layout of high-voltage components mounted on a vehicle

[0001] The present invention relates to an arrangement structure of high-voltage components mounted on a vehicle.

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a structure that includes a mounting bracket for mounting and protecting high-voltage components below a floor panel.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2022-150715

[0004] However, the structure disclosed in Patent Document 1 requires a mounting bracket having an outer shell structure including upper, lower, inner, and outer walls to mount the high-voltage components. When high-voltage components are placed inside the vehicle cabin, a simpler mounting structure for the high-voltage components is often required. On the other hand, it is necessary to prevent the weight of the occupant from being applied to the high-voltage components and surrounding components.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an arrangement structure for high-voltage components mounted on a vehicle that has a simpler configuration and can prevent excessive force from being applied to the high-voltage components due to the weight of an occupant.

[0006] A vehicle-mounted high-voltage component arrangement structure according to one aspect of the present invention includes liquid-cooled high-voltage components arranged in the vehicle interior, and a panel material attached to the vehicle body floor to cover the high-voltage components from above. The high-voltage components are fixed to and supported by the underside of the panel material.

[0007] According to the above-described arrangement structure of high-voltage components mounted on a vehicle, it is possible to prevent excessive force from being applied to the high-voltage components due to the weight of an occupant.

[0008] Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the arrangement of high-voltage components mounted on a vehicle according to an embodiment. Fig. 2 is a side view showing the arrangement of high-voltage components mounted on a vehicle according to an embodiment. Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a state before a second bracket, other high-voltage components, and a harness are attached to Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a plan view showing the arrangement of high-voltage components mounted on a vehicle according to an embodiment.

[0009] Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, an example will be described in which a high-voltage component arrangement structure S mounted on a vehicle according to an embodiment is applied to a vehicle that runs using an electric motor as a power source, such as an electric vehicle. In each figure, FW and BW indicate the front and rear in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, respectively, UP indicates the upper side in the vertical direction of the vehicle, and LH and RH indicate the left and right sides in the width direction of the vehicle, respectively. In the following description, the front, front side, rear side, and rear side in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the upper side, upper side, lower side, and lower side in the vertical direction of the vehicle, and the left side, left side, right side, and right side in the width direction of the vehicle will be simply referred to as the front side, front side, rear side, rear side, upper side, upper side, lower side, lower side, left side, left side, right, and right side, respectively. Furthermore, components having the same functions as those already described will be designated by the same reference numerals, and their description will be omitted.

[0010] As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the arrangement structure S includes a high-voltage component 11 and a panel material 21. The high-voltage component 11 is disposed within the vehicle interior 1 and is fixed to the underside 21A of the panel material 21. The panel material 21 is attached to the vehicle body floor 2. In the following description, the components that make up the floor of the vehicle body (floor panel, cross member, floor tunnel, etc.) are defined as the vehicle body floor 2. The space above the components that make up the vehicle body floor 2 is defined as the vehicle interior 1.

[0011] The high-voltage component 11 is, for example, a DC-DC converter. The DC-DC converter 11 (hereinafter referred to as the converter 11) converts the DC voltage of the high-voltage battery BT and supplies the converted voltage. The converter 11 generates heat due to switching and is therefore water-cooled with coolant. The converter 11 is disposed within the vehicle interior 1 and is covered from above by a panel material 21. That is, the panel material 21 covers substantially the entire converter 11 when viewed from above. The converter 11 is disposed between the panel material 21 and the vehicle body floor 2 in the vertical direction of the vehicle and is fixed and supported by the underside 21A of the panel material 21 (see FIG. 2 ). The converter 11 is fixed to the panel material 21 at fixing points 11A provided at the front and rear of the converter 11 with bolts or the like. Note that "high voltage" refers to a voltage of 60 V or higher. A "high-voltage component" requires a dedicated ground circuit rather than a body earth. Furthermore, "covering" and "covered" mean that the shapes of the objects overlap when viewed from above, and are not limited to the case where the objects underneath are not visible due to the overlapping. For example, the panel material 21 may cover almost the entire converter 11, but may have a hole in the panel material 21 so that the converter 11 underneath can be seen through the hole when viewed from above. The same applies to the following descriptions of "covering" and "covered," etc.

[0012] The converter 11 may be disposed at a distance from the vehicle floor 2 (see FIG. 2 ). That is, a gap may be provided between the underside of the converter 11 and the surface of the vehicle floor 2. A catalyst may be disposed below the vehicle floor 2. The catalyst may become hot due to the passage of exhaust gas from the engine, and the surrounding area of ​​the vehicle floor 2 where the catalyst is disposed may also become hot. When the converter 11 is disposed at a distance from the vehicle floor 2, an air layer with low thermal conductivity is interposed between the underside of the converter 11 and the surface of the vehicle floor 2, thereby suppressing the influence of heat transfer from the vehicle floor 2 to the converter 11. Furthermore, even if coolant from the converter 11 leaks and accumulates on the vehicle floor 2, the converter 11 is prevented from being submerged in the coolant because the converter 11 is disposed at a distance from the vehicle floor 2. Therefore, in this case, the housing of the converter 11 does not need to be waterproof.

[0013] The converter 11 may have a high-power input connection 12 as a first connection part and a water piping connection 13 as a second connection part (see FIG. 3 ). The high-power input connection 12 and the water piping connection 13 are arranged with their upper sides covered by a panel material 21. This prevents the weight of an occupant from being input from above to the high-power input connection 12 and the water piping connection 13.

[0014] The high-voltage input connection portion 12 is provided on the right side surface of the converter 11 and extends to the right. A harness H1 extending from a junction box 31 (described later) is connected to the high-voltage input connection portion 12. The water pipe connection portions 13, 13 are provided in two locations, on the left and right sides of the front portion of the converter 11, and extend forward. Water pipes 13A, 13B for flowing water to cool the converter 11 are connected to the water pipe connection portions 13, 13, respectively (see FIG. 3 ).

[0015] The water pipe 13A connected to the right water pipe connection portion 13 is curved to the right and arranged to extend parallel to the vehicle floor 2. Furthermore, the right water pipe 13A is curved downward at a predetermined position and has a penetration portion 14A that passes through the vehicle floor 2 (see FIG. 3). The water pipe 13B connected to the left water pipe connection portion 13 is curved to the left and arranged to extend parallel to the vehicle floor 2. Furthermore, the left water pipe 13B is curved downward at a predetermined position and has a penetration portion 14B that passes through the vehicle floor 2 (see FIG. 3). The penetration portions 14A and 14B are each connected to a cooling water circulation path.

[0016] The panel material 21 is a plate-shaped support member and is disposed above the vehicle floor 2. As illustrated in Fig. 1 , the panel material 21 may be attached to a floor panel 3 and a cross member 4, which are components that constitute the vehicle floor 2. The panel material 21 may be composed of a first bracket 22 and a second bracket 23 (see Fig. 1 ).

[0017] The first bracket 22 has a lower surface 21A, an upper surface 21B, and legs 22A and 22B (see FIGS. 1 and 2 ). The converter 11 is fixed to and supported on the lower surface 21A. A junction box 31, another high-voltage component, is placed on the upper surface 21B. The legs 22A are provided at the left and right ends of the front portion of the first bracket 22. The legs 22A extend laterally and downward from the left and right ends of the front portion of the first bracket 22 and are fixed to the floor panel 3 with bolts or the like. The legs 22B are provided at three spaced locations on the rear portion of the first bracket 22. The legs 22B extend rearward and downward from the rear portion of the first bracket 22 and are fixed to the upper surface of the cross member 4. The positions and number of the legs 22A and 22B, and the positions at which they are fixed to the vehicle floor 2, are not limited to those described above. For example, at least a portion of the legs 22A, 22B may be fixed to a floor tunnel, a front dash panel, left and right side members, or the like.

[0018] The first bracket 22 covers the high-power input connection 12 and the right-side water pipe connection 13 of the converter 11 from above. That is, in a top view, the housing of the first bracket 22 entirely covers the high-power input connection 12 and the right-side water pipe connection 13. An opening 22C is provided in the right-side portion of the front of the first bracket 22 (see FIG. 3 ). The opening 22C is formed by cutting out a rounded rectangle from the front edge of the first bracket 22 toward the rear in the right-side portion of the front of the first bracket 22. The opening 22C is located directly above the through-hole 14A. That is, in a top view, the through-hole 14A is not covered by the housing of the first bracket 22. The first bracket 22 also covers substantially the entire right-side water pipe 13A from above, excluding the through-hole 14A.

[0019] The second bracket 23 is attached to the right side of the first bracket 22 at a fixing point 23A with a bolt or the like (see FIG. 3 ). Therefore, the second bracket 23 is detachable from the first bracket 22. The second bracket 23 is positioned so as to cover the opening 22C of the first bracket 22. Therefore, the second bracket 23 is positioned above the through-hole 14A. That is, in a top view, the through-hole 14A is covered by the housing of the second bracket 23. In other words, when the second bracket 23 is detached from the first bracket 22, the through-hole 14A is positioned so as to face upward through the opening 22C. This allows, for example, removal of the water pipe 13A, which can be easily performed by removing the second bracket 23. The positions and number of the fixing points 23A are not limited to those described above. The first bracket 22 may cover substantially the entire left water pipe 13B from above. Furthermore, the left portion of the front of the first bracket 22 may have an opening positioned directly above the through-hole 14B. There may be a third bracket positioned to cover the opening.

[0020] The junction box 31 is placed on the upper surface 21B of the first bracket 22 and is fixed to the upper surface 21B at fixing points 31A at the four corners with bolts or the like (see FIG. 3). The junction box 31 supplies, distributes, and switches the voltage of power from the high-voltage battery BT. The high-voltage battery BT is located behind the cross member 4. A harness H2 extending from the high-voltage battery BT is connected to the rear side of the junction box 31. Furthermore, the junction box 31 and the converter 11 are connected by a harness H1. That is, the harness H1 connected to the rear side of the junction box 31 extends to the right parallel to the vehicle floor 2 and connects to the high-voltage input connection portion 12 (see FIGS. 2 to 4). The harnesses H1 and H2 are high-voltage harnesses that connect high-voltage components together. The high-voltage harness is colored orange to distinguish it from other wiring.

[0021] By placing the junction box 31 on the upper surface 21B, the entire panel material 21 is reinforced. For example, because the highly rigid junction box 31 is fixed to the panel material 21, the entire panel material 21 is less likely to bend in the event of an input from above. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the strength of the panel material 21 and make the panel material 21 lighter. Furthermore, by placing the junction box 31 on the upper surface 21B, the distance to the converter 11 fixed to the lower surface 21A is shortened, and the length of the large-diameter harness H1 routed between these components can be shortened.

[0022] The converter 11 and the junction box 31 may be arranged to partially overlap the center console 32 in a top view (see FIG. 4 ). That is, the width of the converter 11 and the junction box 31 may partially overlap the width of the center console 32 in the vehicle longitudinal direction or vehicle width direction. As illustrated in FIG. 4 , the right end 32R of the center console 32 is arranged between the left and right ends of the converter 11 and the junction box 31 in the vehicle width direction. Furthermore, the rear end edge 33 of the center console 32 is arranged between the front and rear ends of the converter 11 and the junction box 31 in the vehicle longitudinal direction. These arrangements are not limited to the above. For example, the rear end edge 33 of the center console 32 may be arranged between the front and rear ends of the converter 11 and the junction box 31, and the left end 32L of the center console 32 may be arranged between the left and right ends of the converter 11 and the junction box 31. Furthermore, the center console 32 may cover the entire converter 11 and the junction box 31 when viewed from above.

[0023] By disposing the center console 32 above the converter 11 and the junction box 31, it is possible to prevent the weight of the occupant from being input from above to the panel material 21. Therefore, the greater the overlapping portion between the converter 11 and the junction box 31 and the center console 32 in a top view, the more the weight of the occupant can be prevented from being input to the panel material 21. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the strength of the panel material 21 and make the panel material 21 lighter.

[0024] The effects of the high-voltage component arrangement structure S according to the embodiment will be described.

[0025] (1) The arrangement structure S includes a converter 11, which is a liquid-cooled high-voltage component disposed within the vehicle interior 1, and a panel material 21 attached to the vehicle body floor 2 and covering the converter 11 from above. The converter 11 is fixed to and supported by the lower surface 21A of the panel material 21. This prevents the weight of an occupant from being input from above to the converter 11. This prevents excessive force from being applied to the converter 11, thereby preventing the occupant from stepping on the harness H1 connected to the converter 11, electric shock, and liquid leakage from the converter 11.

[0026] (2) In the arrangement structure S, the converter 11 is arranged at a distance from the vehicle floor 2 located below the converter 11. This makes it possible to suppress the influence of heat transfer from the vehicle floor 2 to the converter 11. Furthermore, even if liquid leaks from the converter 11 and accumulates on the vehicle floor 2, it is possible to prevent the converter 11 from being submerged in the liquid.

[0027] (3) In the arrangement structure S, the panel material 21 has a first bracket 22 attached to the vehicle floor 2 and a second bracket 23 attached to the first bracket 22. The converter 11 has a high-voltage input connection 12, which is a first connection portion to which the harness H1 is connected, and multiple water pipe connection portions 13, 13, which are multiple second connection portions. Water pipes 13A, 13B, which are multiple pipes for flowing a liquid that cools the converter 11, are connected to the water pipe connection portions 13, 13, respectively. The water pipes 13A, 13B have multiple penetration portions 14A, 14B that penetrate the vehicle floor 2, respectively. The first bracket 22 covers the high-voltage input connection 12 and the water pipe connection portions 13, 13 from above. When the second bracket 23 is detached from the first bracket 22, the penetration portion 14A, which is at least one of the multiple penetration portions 14A, 14B, faces upward. This allows easy installation and removal of one of the water pipes 13A by removing the second bracket 23. Furthermore, by attaching the second bracket 23 to the first bracket 22 after the installation is complete, the through-hole 14A is covered by the housing of the second bracket 23. This prevents the weight of the occupant from being input to the through-hole 14A, thereby preventing liquid leakage. Furthermore, the first bracket 22 prevents the weight of the occupant from being input from above to the high-voltage input connection portion 12 and the water pipe connections 13, 13. This prevents the occupant from stepping on the harness H1, resulting in electric shock, and prevents liquid from leaking from the converter 11.

[0028] (4) In the layout structure S, a junction box 31, which is another high-voltage component, is placed on the upper surface 21B of the panel material 21. This reinforces the panel material 21, making the entire panel material 21 less likely to bend. This allows the strength of the panel material 21 to be reduced, making it possible to reduce the weight of the panel material 21. Furthermore, the distance between the converter 11, which is fixed to the lower surface 21A of the panel material 21, and the junction box 31 is shortened, making it possible to shorten the length of the harness H1 routed between these components.

[0029] (5) In the layout structure S, at least a portion of the converter 11, which is a high-voltage component, and the junction box 31, which is another high-voltage component, are arranged to overlap the center console 32 in a plan view. This makes it possible to prevent the load of the occupant from being input from above to the panel material 21. This allows the strength of the panel material 21 to be reduced, making it possible to reduce the weight of the panel material 21.

[0030] The above-described embodiments are merely examples described to facilitate understanding of the invention. The technical scope of the invention is not limited to the specific technical matters disclosed in the above-described embodiments, but also includes various modifications, changes, alternative technologies, etc. that can be easily derived therefrom.

[0031] In the above embodiment, a DC-DC converter and a junction box are used as high-voltage components, but the present invention can of course also be applied to cases where the high-voltage component is an inverter or the like.

[0032] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vehicle compartment 2 Vehicle body floor 11 Converter (high voltage component) 12 High voltage input connection portion (first connection portion) 13, 13 Water pipe connection portion (second connection portion) 13A, 13B Water pipe (piping) 14A, 14B Penetration portion 21 Panel material 21A Underside 21B Upper surface 22 First bracket 23 Second bracket 31 Junction box (other high voltage component) 32 Center console H1 Harness S Arrangement structure

Claims

1. Liquid-cooled high-voltage components located inside the vehicle cabin, A panel material that is attached to the vehicle floor and covers the high-voltage components from above, Equipped with, The high-voltage component is fixed and supported on the lower surface of the panel material. The arrangement structure for high-voltage components, wherein the high-voltage component has a pipe connection portion to which a pipe for flowing a liquid that cools the high-voltage component is connected, and the pipe connection portion is covered from above by the panel material.

2. The arrangement structure for high-voltage components according to claim 1, wherein the high-voltage component is arranged at a distance from the vehicle body floor located below the high-voltage component.

3. The panel material has a first bracket attached to the vehicle body floor and a second bracket attached to the first bracket. The high-voltage component has a first connection part to which the harness is connected, and a plurality of the aforementioned pipe connection parts. The plurality of pipes connected to the plurality of pipe connection points each have a plurality of penetrations that penetrate the vehicle body floor, The first bracket covers the upper part of the first connection part and the plurality of pipe connection parts. The arrangement structure for high-voltage components according to claim 2, wherein, when the second bracket is removed from the first bracket, at least one of the plurality of through-holes is arranged to face upward.

4. The arrangement structure for high-voltage components according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein other high-voltage components are placed on the upper surface of the panel material.

5. The arrangement structure for high-voltage components according to claim 4, wherein at least a portion of the high-voltage component and the other high-voltage components are arranged to overlap with the center console in a plan view.