Busbar-connected motor drive device

Abstract

The present invention comprises: a first enclosure accommodating a power conversion device; a first connector which is mounted on the first enclosure and which has a contact electrically connected to the power conversion device accommodated in the first enclosure; and a conductive busbar, wherein when a second enclosure, which functions similarly to the first enclosure and on which is mounted a second connector configured similarly to the first connector, is installed adjacently to the first enclosure, a busbar temporarily installed in the vicinity of the first connector is slid toward the second connector so that the contact of the first connector and the contact of the second connector are electrically connected by the busbar, thereby electrically connecting the power conversion device accommodated in the first enclosure to the power conversion device accommodated in the second enclosure.

Description

Busbar-connected motor drive device

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a bus bar-connected motor drive device.

[0002] A motor drive device that drives an AC motor includes a converter and an inverter as power conversion devices. The converter and inverter are connected via a DC link. The converter converts AC power supplied from an AC power source into DC power and outputs it. The inverter converts DC power into AC power for driving the motor and outputs it.

[0003] Since a relatively large current flows in the DC link between the converter and the inverter, bus bars made of metal, for example copper, brass or aluminum, are often used for the DC link connections.

[0004] JP 2014-207803 A JP 2000-164042 A

[0005] When preparing a motor drive device for operation, the DC output terminal of the converter and the DC input terminal of the inverter are electrically connected using a bus bar. There is a need for an easy-to-assemble motor drive device that uses bus bar connections.

[0006] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a motor drive device includes a first housing that houses a power conversion device, which is either a converter that converts AC power supplied from an AC power source into DC power or an inverter that converts DC power supplied from the converter into AC power for driving a motor; a first connector mounted on the first housing, the first connector having contacts electrically connected to the power conversion device housed in the first housing; and a conductive bus bar. When a second housing, on which a second connector configured similarly to the first connector is mounted and which has similar functions to the first housing, is placed adjacent to the first housing, the bus bar that has been temporarily installed near the first connector is slid toward the second connector, and the contacts of the first connector and the contacts of the second connector are electrically connected by the bus bar, thereby electrically connecting the power conversion device housed in the first housing to the power conversion device housed in the second housing.

[0007] FIG. 1 is a front view showing a state in which a bus bar is temporarily installed in a connector in a motor drive device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 2 is a side view showing a motor drive device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 3 is a front view showing a connector in a motor drive device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 4 is a side view showing a connector in a motor drive device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 5 is a perspective view (part 1) showing a connector in a motor drive device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 6 is a perspective view (part 3) showing a connector in a motor drive device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 7 is a perspective view (part 4) showing a connector in a motor drive device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 8 is an exploded view showing a connection relationship with contacts of a connector in a motor drive device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a bus bar in a motor drive device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 10 is a front view of a connector into which a bus bar is inserted in a motor drive device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 11 is a side view of a connector into which a bus bar is inserted in a motor drive device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 19 is a front view illustrating a state before bus bar connection of power conversion devices arranged in parallel in a motor drive device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 19 is a front view illustrating a state after bus bar connection of power conversion devices arranged in parallel in a motor drive device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 19 is a circuit diagram of the motor drive device shown in FIG. 15. FIG. 19 is a front view (part 1) illustrating the size relationship between housings and bus bars in a motor drive device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 19 is a front view (part 2) illustrating the size relationship between housings and bus bars in a motor drive device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 19 is a front view illustrating a state after bus bar connection is performed after three housings shown in FIG. 18 are arranged in parallel. FIG. 19 is a perspective view (part 1) of a protective cover in a motor drive device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 20 is a perspective view (part 3) of a protective cover in a motor drive device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 21 is a perspective view (part 1) of a connector to which a protective cover is attached in a motor drive device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG. 2 is a perspective view (part 2) of a connector to which a protective cover is attached in a motor drive device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 3 is a perspective view (part 1) showing a first guide groove and a second guide groove provided in a housing in a motor drive device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 4 is a perspective view (part 2) showing a first guide groove and a second guide groove provided in a housing in a motor drive device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 5 is a perspective view (part 1) showing a modified example of a second guide groove provided in a housing in a motor drive device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 6 is a front view showing a state in which a bus bar is temporarily installed near a connector in a case in which a motor drive device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a modified second guide groove; and FIG. 7 is a side view showing a state in which a bus bar is temporarily installed near a connector in a case in which a motor drive device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a modified second guide groove. 39 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state in which a bus bar is temporarily placed near a connector when the motor drive device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a second guide groove according to a modification; FIG. 39 is a front view showing a protective cover in a position where it can be removed from a housing when the motor drive device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a second guide groove according to a modification; FIG. 40 is a perspective view (part 1) illustrating a bus bar connection operation of the motor drive device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 41 is a perspective view (part 2) illustrating a bus bar connection operation of the motor drive device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 42 is a perspective view (part 3) illustrating a bus bar connection operation of the motor drive device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 43 is a perspective view (part 1) of a protective cover according to a first modification of the embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 44 is a perspective view (part 2) of a protective cover according to a first modification of the embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 45 is a perspective view of a housing according to a first modification of the embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 46 is a cross-sectional view of the housing shown in FIG. 38; FIG. 47 is a cross-sectional view showing the protective cover and the housing when the bus bar is temporarily placed near a connector in the first modification of the embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 48 is a perspective view of a protective cover according to a second modification of the embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 49 is a front view of a protective cover according to a second modification of the embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a housing according to a second modified example of the embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG. 1 is a front view showing a protective cover in a position removable from a housing when the motor drive device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is equipped with a protective cover according to a second modified example and a housing according to the second modified example. FIG. 2 is a perspective view (part 1) of a protective cover according to a third modified example of an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is a perspective view (part 3) of a protective cover according to a third modified example of an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the protective cover and the housing when the bus bar is temporarily installed near the connector in the third modified example of an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating an operation of releasing the bus bar connection of the motor drive device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0008] A busbar-connected motor drive device according to an embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, components having the same or similar functions will be assigned the same reference numerals. Duplicate descriptions of those components may be omitted. The scale of the drawings has been appropriately changed to facilitate understanding.

[0009] In the following description, a converter that converts AC power supplied from an AC power source into DC power and outputs it is also referred to as a “rectifier device,” “rectifier circuit,” “rectifier,” or “forward converter.” An inverter that converts DC power into AC power and outputs it is also referred to as an “inverter.” Because converters and inverters are both devices that perform power conversion operations, they are collectively referred to as a “power conversion device.” That is, a power conversion device refers to any of a converter alone, an inverter alone, and a converter and inverter integrated together. A “DC link” refers to a circuit portion that electrically connects the DC output terminal of a converter and the DC input terminal of an inverter, and is also referred to as a “DC link unit,” “DC link,” “DC link unit,” “DC bus,” or “DC intermediate circuit.” A “DC link connection” refers to the formation of a DC link between the DC output terminal of a converter and the DC input terminal of an inverter. A “DC output terminal” includes a “positive DC output terminal” and a “negative DC output terminal.” "DC input terminal" includes "positive DC input terminal" and "negative DC input terminal". Bus bar is also called "bus bar" or "short bar". "Bus bar connection" refers to electrically connecting power conversion devices using a bus bar. "Sheet metal" refers to metal formed into a thin, flat shape. "Electrically connecting" means "connecting so that electricity can flow". "Parallel installation" means aligning and arranging adjacent housings in a line. "Parallel installation direction" refers to the direction in which housings are lined up when multiple housings are arranged in a line.

[0010] <Overall configuration of a motor drive device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure> Fig. 1 is a front view showing a state in which a connector is temporarily installed in a housing of a motor drive device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 2 is a side view showing the motor drive device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In Fig. 2, bus bars are not shown.

[0011] A motor drive device 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a housing 11, a bus bar 12, and a connector 13. The motor drive device 1 also includes a converter, an inverter, a control board, sensors, communication equipment, a backup power supply, and other circuits. The motor drive device 1 may also include a display device and / or an input device.

[0012] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, when the busbar connection of the power conversion device has not yet been made, such as at the time of shipment of the motor drive device 1, the busbar 12 is temporarily installed near the connector 13 mounted on the housing 11 that houses the power conversion device. Then, when the motor drive device 1 is adapted to be operable according to the user's needs, the busbar connection is made by sliding the busbar 12 that was temporarily installed near the connector 13 mounted on the housing 11 toward the connector mounted on another housing adjacent to the housing 11.

[0013] In this disclosure, for the sake of simplicity, of the six faces of the housing 11, the face of the housing 11 on which the connector 13 is mounted is referred to as the "front face" of the motor drive device 1. In the examples shown in Figures 1 to 8, 10 to 15, and 17 to 42, for example, the face viewed from the negative Y-axis side to the positive Y-axis side on the XYZ coordinate axes is referred to as the "front face." For example, the front face of the motor drive device 1 is preferably the face that allows workers performing maintenance work and various operations to most easily and efficiently access the motor drive device 1.

[0014] The housing 11 houses a power conversion device, which is either a converter or an inverter. The housing 11 is made of a highly insulating (non-conductive) material. Examples of insulating materials include plastic, urethane, glass, porcelain, fine ceramics, vinyl, rubber, wood, and paper. The housing 11 may be provided with openings for passing wires, terminals, and the like.

[0015] Generally, a motor drive device 1 is provided with an inverter corresponding to a drive shaft. Furthermore, in order to reduce the cost and space occupied by the motor drive device 1, one converter is often connected to multiple inverters. Thus, the motor drive device 1 includes multiple power conversion devices. Each of the multiple power conversion devices is housed in a separate housing 11. Consequently, the motor drive device 1 includes multiple housings 11. The multiple housings 11 are arranged side by side adjacent to each other. In the following embodiment, the direction in which the multiple housings 11 are arranged side by side is set to the X-axis direction, as an example. All of the multiple housings 11 have the same function, but the width of each housing 11 in the X-axis direction may differ, for example.

[0016] In this disclosure, the terms "first housing" and "second housing" are used to clarify the positional relationship between adjacent housings 11. That is, when focusing on one housing 11, the housing 11 is defined as the "first housing," and another housing 11 that is adjacent to the first housing in the X-axis direction is defined as the "second housing." Furthermore, when focusing on the "other housing" that was the second housing, the "other housing" is defined as the "first housing," and a further housing 11 that is adjacent to the "other housing" in the X-axis direction is newly defined as the "second housing." The same applies when more housings are arranged side by side. This definition can be applied regardless of the number of housings 11 arranged side by side. In this disclosure, the terms "first housing" and "second housing" are used to indicate the "positional relationship between adjacent housings 11."

[0017] A conductive bus bar 12 is used to electrically connect a DC terminal of the power conversion device provided in the housing 11 to a DC link.

[0018] The DC power lines constituting the DC link include a positive power line having a positive potential and a negative power line having a negative potential. The bus bar 12 constituting the positive power line of the DC link is referred to as a positive bus bar 12P. The bus bar 12 constituting the negative power line of the DC link is referred to as a negative bus bar 12N. In this disclosure, the positive bus bar 12P and the negative bus bar 12N may be collectively referred to as bus bar 12. Therefore, the bus bar 12 refers to the positive bus bar 12P, the negative bus bar 12N, or both the positive bus bar 12P and the negative bus bar 12N. The positive bus bar 12P is used to electrically connect the positive DC terminal of the power conversion device (i.e., the positive DC output terminal of the converter and / or the positive DC input terminal of the inverter) to the positive power line of the DC link. The negative bus bar 12N is used to electrically connect the negative DC terminal of the power conversion device (i.e., the negative DC output terminal of the converter and / or the negative DC input terminal of the inverter) to the negative power line of the DC link. The positive bus bar 12P and the negative bus bar 12N have the same shape and structure.

[0019] Connectors 13 for electrically connecting adjacent power conversion devices arranged side by side are mounted on the surface of the housing 11, which corresponds to the "front" of the motor drive device 1. The connectors 13 are provided corresponding to the power conversion devices. The connectors 13 mounted on each of the multiple housings 11 have the same shape and structure.

[0020] In this disclosure, the terms "first connector" and "second connector" are used to clarify the positional relationship of the connectors 13 provided on adjacent housings 11. That is, when focusing on a connector 13 mounted on one housing 11, the connector 13 mounted on that housing 11 is defined as the "first connector," and the connector 13 mounted on a second housing arranged adjacent to that housing 11 in the X-axis direction is defined as the "second connector." Furthermore, when focusing on a second housing in which the second connector is mounted, the "second connector mounted on the second housing" is defined as the "first connector," and the connector 13 mounted on a further housing arranged adjacent to the "second housing" in the X-axis direction is newly defined as the "second connector." The same applies when more housings are arranged side by side. This definition can be applied regardless of the number of housings 11 arranged side by side. Thus, in this disclosure, the terms "first connector" and "second connector" are used to indicate "the positional relationship between the connectors 13 mounted on each of the adjacent housings 11."

[0021] The connector 13 has a plurality of contacts 31 electrically connected to the power conversion device housed in the housing 11. The plurality of contacts 31 are arranged in parallel in a direction substantially the same as the longitudinal direction of the inserted bus bar 12. When the motor drive device 1 is viewed from the front (i.e., viewed from the negative Y-axis direction), the contacts 31 of the connector 13 are exposed. The contacts 31 of the connector 13 are further electrically connected to DC terminals (not shown) of the power conversion device in the housing 11 in which the connector 13 is mounted. The connector 13 also has an insulating contact protector 32 that covers the contacts 31 so that the contacts 31 are exposed in the insertion / removal direction of the bus bar 12 relative to the connector 13 (the Y-axis direction).

[0022] The connector 13 into which the positive bus bar 12P used to connect the positive power line of the DC link can be inserted and removed is referred to as the positive connector 13P. The connector 13 into which the negative bus bar 12N used to connect the negative power line of the DC link can be inserted and removed is referred to as the negative connector 13N, which is a negative connector. Hereinafter, the positive connector 13P and the negative connector 13N may be collectively referred to as the connector 13. Therefore, the connector 13 may refer to the positive connector 13P, the negative connector 13N, or both the positive connector 13P and the negative connector 13N. The positive connector 13P and the negative connector 13N have the same shape and structure. The positive connector 13P is used to electrically connect the positive DC terminal of the power conversion device (i.e., the positive DC output terminal of the converter and / or the positive DC input terminal of the inverter) to the positive bus bar 12P. The negative connector 13N is used to electrically connect the negative DC terminal of the power conversion device (i.e., the negative DC output terminal of the converter and / or the negative DC input terminal of the inverter) to the negative bus bar 12N.

[0023] The motor drive device 1 has a mechanism in which a bus bar 12 temporarily installed near the first connector is slid toward the second connector, and the contacts 31 of the first connector and the contacts 31 of the second connector are electrically connected by the bus bar 12.

[0024] When the busbars of the power converters are not yet connected, such as at the time of shipment of the motor drive device 1, the busbars 12 are temporarily installed near the connectors 13 of each housing 11, as shown in FIG. 1 . The busbars 12 are slidable from the temporarily installed position along the direction in which the housings 11 are arranged side by side (the X-axis direction). When preparing the motor drive device 1 to be operable, first, a plurality of housings 11 each accommodating an inverter and a converter are arranged side by side. Then, the busbar 12 temporarily installed near a connector 13 (i.e., a first connector) is slid toward another adjacent connector 13 (i.e., a second connector) along the direction in which the housings 11 are arranged side by side, thereby electrically connecting the contacts 31 of each connector 13 via the busbar 12. This electrically connects the power converters housed in each housing 11.

[0025] When the bus bar of the power conversion device has not yet been connected, such as at the time of shipping the motor drive device 1, the bus bar 12 is temporarily installed near the connector 13 mounted on the housing 11, making it easy to carry out tasks such as inspection, shipping, transportation, and inventory management of the motor drive device 1.

[0026] <Configuration of connector according to embodiment of the present disclosure> Fig. 3 is a front view showing a connector in a motor drive device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 4 is a side view showing a connector in a motor drive device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figs. 5 to 8 are perspective views showing a connector in a motor drive device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 9 is an exploded view showing the connection relationship with the contacts of the connector in a motor drive device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0027] The connector 13 is a floating connector in which the busbar 12 moves relative to the connector 13 due to elastic deformation that occurs when the busbar 12 is inserted. The connector 13 has a plurality of elastically deformable contacts 31. When the motor drive device 1 is viewed from the front (i.e., from the negative Y-axis direction), the plurality of contacts 31 are exposed. When the busbar 12 is inserted, each of the plurality of contacts 31 elastically deforms to make physical and electrical contact with the busbar 12. The plurality of contacts 31 are arranged side by side in substantially the same direction as the longitudinal direction of the inserted busbar 12. Two rows of the juxtaposed contacts 31 are provided, and these two rows face each other. When the busbar 12 is inserted into the connector 13, the busbar 12 is sandwiched between the two rows of the elastically deformed plurality of contacts 31 while making physical and electrical contact with the busbar 12. Furthermore, corners of the contacts 31 may be chamfered to allow the busbar 12 to slide along the arrangement direction of the housing 11.

[0028] 9, the plurality of contacts 31 are electrically connected to one another and integrally molded in one connector 13. The plurality of contacts 31 are further electrically connected to DC terminals of the power conversion device (i.e., DC output terminals of the converter and / or DC input terminals of the inverter) in the housing 11 in which the connector 13 is mounted.

[0029] The connector 13 is provided with a contact protection part 32 to prevent electric shock caused by a human finger touching the contact 31 or to prevent current leakage caused by another conductive member touching the contact 31. The contact protection part 32 is made of a highly insulating material. Examples of insulating materials include plastic, urethane, glass, porcelain, fine ceramics, vinyl, rubber, wood, and paper.

[0030] The contact protection part 32 opens in the insertion / removal direction of the bus bar 12 relative to the connector 13 (the negative Y-axis direction), and covers the contact 31 so that the contact 31 is exposed in the insertion / removal direction of the bus bar 12 relative to the connector 13 (the negative Y-axis direction). The contact 31 is provided at a position recessed in the positive Y-axis direction from the end face of the opening of the contact protection part 32 that faces the insertion / removal direction of the bus bar 12 (the negative Y-axis direction).

[0031] The contact protection section 32 has a structure that prevents a human finger from coming into contact with the contacts 31 even if the human finger is inserted into the connector 13 from the insertion direction side (negative Y-axis direction) of the bus bar 12. For example, the width in the Z-axis direction (short side direction of the bus bar 12) of the opening of the contact protection section 32 facing the insertion / removal direction of the bus bar 12 (negative Y-axis direction) is set to be smaller than the thickness of a human finger and larger than the width of the bus bar 12 in the Z-axis direction.

[0032] <Configuration of Bus Bar According to Embodiment of Present Disclosure> FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a bus bar in a motor drive device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0033] A conductive bus bar 12 is used to electrically connect a DC terminal of a power conversion device provided in an adjacent housing 11 to a DC link. The bus bar 12 is made of a metal such as copper, brass, or aluminum. The bus bar 12 is, for example, a thin, substantially straight, rod-shaped metal sheet, and has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The bus bar 12 is manufactured, for example, by sheet metal processing.

[0034] The bus bar 12 can be inserted into and removed from the connector 13. The longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) of the bus bar 12 substantially coincides with the direction in which the multiple contacts 31 are arranged in the connector 13. The lateral direction (Y-axis direction) of the bus bar 12 substantially coincides with the direction in which the bus bar 12 is inserted into and removed from the connector 13. The length of the bus bar 12 in the Z-axis direction is shorter than the length of the bus bar 12 in the Y-axis direction. The length of the bus bar 12 in the Z-axis direction is, for example, approximately 3 mm. Note that the numerical values ​​given here are merely examples and other numerical values ​​may be used.

[0035] <Attachment of bus bar and connector according to an embodiment of the present disclosure>

[0036] 11, 12, and 13 are front and side views, respectively, of a connector into which a bus bar is inserted in a motor drive device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and a perspective view, respectively, of a connector into which a bus bar is inserted in a motor drive device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0037] When bus bar 12 is inserted into connector 13 from the negative direction of the Y-axis toward the positive direction of the Y-axis, the plurality of contacts 31 of connector 13, which is a floating connector, elastically deforms, and bus bar 12 is sandwiched between two rows of the plurality of contacts 31 while maintaining physical and electrical contact. Even if the insertion direction or insertion position of bus bar 12 is slightly misaligned with respect to connector 13, the elastic deformation of contacts 31 ensures stable physical and electrical contact between bus bar 12 and contacts 31.

[0038] 14 and 15 are front views illustrating a motor drive device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure in a state before and after bus bar connections of power conversion devices arranged in parallel, respectively.

[0039] In the examples shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 , two housings 11 are provided adjacent to each other along the X-axis direction. Hereinafter, the reference numerals of the two adjacent housings 11 may be separately designated as 11-1 and 11-2, and the housings 11-1 and 11-2 may be collectively designated as the housing 11. In the following description, as an example, the housing 11-1 houses a converter, and the housing 11-2 houses an inverter. The types of power conversion devices housed in the housings 11-1 and 11-2 do not limit this embodiment. For example, the housing 11-1 may house an inverter, and the housing 11-2 may house a converter. Furthermore, the number of adjacent housings 11 is not limited to two, and may be three or more.

[0040] A positive connector 13P and a negative connector 13N for connecting the DC output terminal of the converter in the housing 11-1 to a DC link are mounted on the surface of the housing 11-1, which corresponds to the "front" of the motor drive device 1. A positive connector 13P and a negative connector 13N for connecting the DC input terminal of the inverter in the housing 11-2 to a DC link are mounted on the surface of the housing 11-2, which corresponds to the "front" of the motor drive device 1.

[0041] The housings 11-1 and 11-2 are adjacent to each other and arranged side by side along the X-axis direction. The connectors 13 mounted on each of the housings 11-1 and 11-2 have the same shape and structure. The connectors 13 are mounted in a row on each of the housings 11-1 and 11-2 so that the rod-shaped bus bars 12 can be simultaneously inserted into the connectors 13 mounted on the housings 11-1 and 11-2. The mounting surfaces of the connectors 13 on each of the housings 11-1 and 11-2 form approximately the same plane when these housings 11 are mounted adjacent to each other. By positioning the mounting surfaces of the connectors 13 on each of the housings 11-1 and 11-2 so that they are approximately on the same plane and by mounting the connectors 13 so that the longitudinal directions of the connectors 13 are aligned in a row, the bus bars 12 can be simultaneously inserted into the connectors 13 provided on the housings 11-1 and 11-2. 14 and 15, the connectors 13 are mounted on each of the adjacent housings 11-1 and 11-2 so that the Y coordinate and Z coordinate values ​​of the connectors 13 mounted on each of the adjacent housings 11-1 and 11-2 are approximately the same in the XYZ coordinate system. Here, the case where there are two adjacent housings 11 has been described, but the same applies when there are three or more adjacent housings 11.

[0042] When preparing the motor drive device 1 for operation, first, a plurality of housings 11 each containing an inverter and a converter are arranged side by side, as shown in FIG.

[0043] When the busbar connections of the power conversion device have not yet been made, such as at the time of shipment of the motor drive device 1, the positive bus bar 12P is temporarily installed near the positive connector 13P provided on the housing 11-2, and the negative bus bar 12N is temporarily installed near the negative connector 13N provided on the housing 11-2, as shown in Figure 14.

[0044] There are two types of temporary installation. In the first type of temporary placement, the bus bar 12 is temporarily installed in a state where it is pre-inserted into the connector 13. In the second type of temporary placement, the bus bar 12 is temporarily installed in the vicinity of the connector 13 in a state where it is pre-removed from the connector 13.

[0045] The method for preparing the motor drive device 1 to be drivable differs depending on the form of the temporary arrangement. Specifically, the method is as follows.

[0046] When the bus bar 12 is temporarily arranged in the first configuration, in order to prepare the motor drive device 1 for operation, the bus bar 12 temporarily installed near the first connector mounted in the first housing is slid toward the second connector mounted in the second housing until it contacts both the first connector and the second connector, thereby electrically connecting the contacts 31 of the first connector and the contacts 31 of the second connector via the bus bar 12. More specifically, as shown in Fig. 15 , the positive bus bar 12P temporarily installed near the positive connector 13P (first connector) mounted in the housing 11-2 (first housing) is slid along the parallel arrangement direction (in the negative X-axis direction) toward the connector 13 (second connector) mounted in the housing 11-1 (second housing) adjacent to the housing 11-2 until it contacts both the two connectors 13 (first connector and second connector). This electrically connects the contacts 31 of the positive connectors 13P to each other via the positive bus bar 12P. The bus bar 12 electrically connects the positive DC output terminal of the converter housed in the housing 11-1 to the positive DC input terminal of the inverter housed in the housing 11-2. Similarly, the negative bus bar 12N, which was temporarily installed near the negative connector 13N (first connector) mounted in the housing 11-2 (first housing), is slid along the parallel arrangement direction (toward the negative X-axis direction) toward the connector 13 (second connector) mounted in the housing 11-1 (second housing) adjacent to the housing 11-2, until it contacts both the connectors 13 (first connector and second connector). This electrically connects the contacts 31 of the negative connectors 13N to each other via the negative bus bar 12N. The bus bar 12 electrically connects the negative DC output terminal of the converter housed in the housing 11-1 and the negative DC input terminal of the inverter housed in the housing 11-2.

[0047] When the busbar 12 is temporarily arranged in the second configuration, in preparation for driving the motor drive device 1, the busbar 12, which has been temporarily arranged near the first connector mounted on the first housing, is slid toward the second connector mounted on the second housing to a position that straddles both the first connector and the second connector (first slide). Next, the busbar 12 is slid toward the mounting surface of the connector 13 (first connector and second connector) on the housing 11 (first housing and second housing) (positive direction of the Y axis) to insert the busbar 12 into the connector 13 (first connector and second connector) (second slide). This electrically connects the contacts 31 of the first connector and the contacts 31 of the second connector via the busbar 12. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 15 , the positive busbar 12P, which was temporarily installed near the positive connector 13P (first connector) mounted on the housing 11-2 (first housing), is slid toward the connector 13 (second connector) mounted on the housing 11-1 (second housing) adjacent to the housing 11-2 along the parallel arrangement direction (in the negative direction of the X axis) until it straddles the two connectors 13 (both the first connector and the second connector). Then, the positive busbar 12P is slid toward the mounting surface of the positive connector 13P (first connector and second connector) on the housing 11 (first housing and second housing) (in the positive direction of the Y axis) to insert it into the positive connector 13P (first connector and second connector). This electrically connects the contacts 31 of each positive connector 13P via the positive busbar 12P. The positive DC output terminal of the converter housed in housing 11-1 and the positive DC input terminal of the inverter housed in housing 11-2 are electrically connected by bus bar 12. Similarly, negative bus bar 12N, which has been temporarily installed near negative connector 13N (first connector) mounted in housing 11-2 (first housing), is slid along the parallel installation direction (toward the negative X-axis direction) toward connector 13 (second connector) mounted in housing 11-1 (second housing) adjacent to housing 11-2, until it straddles the two connectors 13 (both the first connector and the second connector).Then, the negative bus bar 12N is slid in the direction (positive direction of the Y axis) toward the mounting surface of the negative connector 13N (first connector and second connector) on the housing 11 (first housing and second housing) of the negative connector 13N (first connector and second connector) and inserted into the negative connector 13N (first connector and second connector). This electrically connects the contacts 31 of each negative connector 13N via the negative bus bar 12N. The bus bar 12 electrically connects the negative DC output terminal of the converter housed in housing 11-1 and the negative DC input terminal of the inverter housed in housing 11-2.

[0048] FIG. 16 is a circuit diagram of the motor drive device shown in FIG.

[0049] In FIG. 15 , a positive bus bar 12P is inserted into a positive connector 13P mounted on a housing 11-1 housing the converter and a positive connector 13P mounted on a housing 11-2 housing the inverter. A negative bus bar 12N is inserted into a negative connector 13N mounted on a housing 11-1 housing the converter and a negative connector 13N mounted on a housing 11-2 housing the inverter. The converter housed in the housing 11-1 shown in FIG. 15 is indicated by reference numeral 200 in FIG. 16 . The inverter housed in the housing 11-2 shown in FIG. 15 is indicated by reference numeral 300 in FIG. 16 . By inserting the positive bus bar 12P and the negative bus bar 12N into the positive connector 13P and the negative connector 13N as shown in FIG. 15 , the DC output terminal of the converter 200 and the DC input terminal of the inverter 300 are connected via a DC link as shown in FIG. 16 .

[0050] The converter 200 converts AC power supplied from the AC power source 100 into DC power and outputs the DC power to a DC link. The converter 200 is configured as a three-phase bridge circuit when three-phase AC power is supplied from the AC power source 100, and as a single-phase bridge circuit when single-phase AC power is supplied from the AC power source 100. Examples of the converter 200 include a diode rectifier, a 120-degree conduction rectifier, and a PWM switching control rectifier. For example, when the converter 200 is configured as a 120-degree conduction rectifier or a PWM switching control rectifier, the converter 200 is configured as a bridge circuit of switching elements and diodes connected in reverse parallel to the switching elements. The switching elements are controlled to be on and off in response to drive commands received from a higher-level control device (not shown), thereby performing bidirectional AC / DC power conversion. In this case, examples of the switching elements include field-effect transistors (FETs), insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs), thyristors, gate-to-gate (GTOs), and transistors, but other semiconductor elements may also be used. An AC reactor, an AC line filter, and the like may be provided on the AC input side of the converter 200, but these are not shown here.

[0051] The inverter 300 converts DC power in the DC link into AC power for driving the motor and outputs it to the motor 400. The inverter 300 may be configured to convert DC power into AC current, such as a PWM-controlled inverter with internal switching elements. The inverter 300 is configured as a three-phase bridge circuit when the motor 400 is a three-phase AC motor, and as a single-phase bridge circuit when the motor 400 is a single-phase motor. In the illustrated example, the motor 400 is a three-phase AC motor, so the inverter 300 is configured as a three-phase bridge circuit. When the inverter 300 is configured as a PWM-controlled inverter, it is configured as a bridge circuit of diodes and switching elements connected in antiparallel to the diodes. In this case, examples of the switching elements include FETs, IGBTs, thyristors, GTOs, and transistors, but other semiconductor elements may also be used. The inverter 300 converts DC power in the DC link into AC power for driving the motor and outputs it by PWM-controlled on / off operation of the internal switching elements based on commands from a host control device (not shown). The speed, torque, or rotor position of the motor 400 is controlled based on the AC power supplied from the inverter 300. Note that the inverter 300 can also convert the AC power regenerated by the motor 400 into DC power and return it to the DC link on the DC side by appropriately PWM-controlling the on / off operation of the switching elements.

[0052] A DC link capacitor is provided in the DC link connecting the DC output terminal of the converter 200 and the DC input terminal of the inverter 300, but is not shown in FIG. 16 . The DC link capacitor has the function of storing DC power used by the inverter 300 to generate AC power and the function of suppressing pulsation in the DC output of the converter 200. Examples of the DC link capacitor include an electrolytic capacitor and a film capacitor. The DC link capacitor is provided either inside the housing 11-1, inside the housing 11-2, or outside the housings 11-1 and 11-2.

[0053] <Size Relationship Between Bus Bar and Housing According to an Embodiment of the Present Disclosure> FIGS. 17 and 18 are front views showing the size relationship between the housing and the bus bar in a motor drive device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0054] 17 and 18 and the example shown in FIG. 19 described later, three housings 11 are arranged side by side adjacent to each other along the X-axis direction. Hereinafter, the reference numerals of the three adjacent housings 11 may be separately written as 11-1, 11-2, and 11-3, and the housings 11-1, 11-2, and 11-3 may be collectively written as housings 11. The width of housing 11-1 in the X-axis direction is LH1, the width of housing 11-2 in the X-axis direction is LH2, and the width of housing 11-3 in the X-axis direction is LH3.

[0055] Here, the center position of the connector 13 along the juxtaposition direction (X-axis direction) of the housings 11 is defined as the "mounting position of the connector 13." In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the connector 13 is mounted on each face of the housing 11 so that the distance from an end of the first housing on the mounting surface of the first connector along the juxtaposition direction (X-axis direction) to the mounting position of the first connector is approximately equal to the distance from an end of the second housing on the mounting surface of the second connector on the second housing along the juxtaposition direction (X-axis direction) to the mounting position of the second connector.

[0056] In the example shown in FIGS. 17 and 18 , connectors 13 (i.e., positive connector 13P and negative connector 13N) are mounted on each of the faces of housings 11-1, 11-2, and 11-3, which correspond to the "front" of motor drive device 1. The distance LC from the end of housing 11-1 on the mounting surface of connector 13 along the juxtaposition direction (X-axis direction) to the mounting position of connector 13, the distance LC from the end of housing 11-2 on the mounting surface of connector 13 along the juxtaposition direction (X-axis direction) to the mounting position of connector 13, and the distance LC from the end of housing 11-3 on the mounting surface of connector 13 along the juxtaposition direction (X-axis direction) to the mounting position of connector 13 are approximately equal. The above relationship holds for each of positive connector 13P and negative connector 13N.

[0057] The length of the bus bar 12 in the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) is set to be approximately equal to the width in the juxtaposition direction (X-axis direction) of the housing 11 having the connector 13 in which the bus bar 12 is temporarily installed. In the example shown in Figure 18, the length LB1 of the bus bar 12 temporarily installed near the connector 13 in the housing 11-1 in the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) is approximately equal to the width LH1 of the housing 11-1 in the juxtaposition direction (X-axis direction). The length LB2 of the bus bar 12 temporarily installed near the connector 13 in the housing 11-2 in the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) is approximately equal to the width LH2 of the housing 11-2 in the juxtaposition direction (X-axis direction). The length LB3 of the bus bar 12 temporarily installed near the connector 13 in the housing 11-3 in the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) is approximately equal to the width LH3 of the housing 11-3 in the juxtaposition direction (X-axis direction).

[0058] Fig. 19 is a front view illustrating the state after the three housings shown in Fig. 18 are arranged side by side and bus bar connections are made. For example, a converter is housed in housing 11-1, an inverter is housed in housing 11-2, and an inverter is housed in housing 11-3.

[0059] First, the housings 11-1, 11-2, and 11-3, each housing a power conversion device, are arranged side by side. Then, as shown in Fig. 19, the positive bus bar 12P, which was temporarily installed near the positive connector 13P mounted in the housing 11-1, is slid a distance LC in the negative direction of the X-axis. The positive bus bar 12P, which was temporarily installed near the positive connector 13P (first connector) mounted in the housing 11-2 (first housing), is slid a distance LC toward the positive connector 13P (second connector) mounted in the housing 11-1 (second housing) (in the negative direction of the X-axis) and inserted into the positive connector 13P mounted in the housing 11-2. The positive bus bar 12P, which was temporarily installed near the positive connector 13P (first connector) mounted on the housing 11-3 (first housing), is slid a distance LC toward the positive connector 13P (second connector) mounted on the housing 11-2 (second housing) (in the negative direction of the X axis) and inserted into the positive connector 13P mounted on the housing 11-2. This electrically connects the contacts 31 of the positive connectors 13P to each other via the positive bus bars 12P. This electrically connects the positive DC output terminal of the converter housed in the housing 11-1, the positive DC input terminal of the inverter housed in the housing 11-2, and the positive DC input terminal of the inverter housed in the housing 11-3.

[0060] Similarly, the negative bus bar 12N temporarily installed near the negative connector 13N mounted on the housing 11-1 is slid by a distance LC in the negative direction of the X axis. The negative bus bar 12N temporarily installed near the negative connector 13N (first connector) mounted on the housing 11-2 (first housing) is slid by the distance LC toward the negative connector 13N (second connector) mounted on the housing 11-1 (second housing) (in the negative direction of the X axis) and inserted into the negative connector 13N mounted on the housing 11-2. The negative busbar 12N, which was temporarily installed near the negative connector 13N (first connector) mounted on the housing 11-3 (first housing), is slid a distance LC toward the negative connector 13N (second connector) mounted on the housing 11-2 (second housing) (in the negative direction of the X axis) and inserted into the negative connector 13N mounted on the housing 11-2. This electrically connects the contacts 31 of the negative connectors 13N to each other via the negative busbars 12N. This electrically connects the negative DC output terminal of the converter housed in the housing 11-1, the negative DC input terminal of the inverter housed in the housing 11-2, and the negative DC input terminal of the inverter housed in the housing 11-3.

[0061] By mounting connectors 13 in each housing 11 and setting the longitudinal length of bus bars 12 so as to satisfy the above conditions, the bus bar connection procedure is standardized even if the widths of the multiple housings 11 are different, making it easy to prepare the motor drive device 1 for operation. Furthermore, since the number and model of power conversion devices (converters and inverters) installed in the motor drive device 1 vary depending on user needs, the number and width of the housings 11 that house the power converters also vary. By mounting connectors 13 in each housing 11 and setting the longitudinal length of bus bars 12 so as to satisfy the above conditions, scalability can be achieved to accommodate various numbers and widths of housings 11 arranged side by side.

[0062] <Configuration of Protective Cover According to Embodiment of Present Disclosure> FIGS. 20 to 22 are perspective views of a protective cover in a motor drive device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0063] The larger the exposed area of ​​the busbar 12 through which a large current flows, the greater the possibility of a person receiving an electric shock when coming into contact with the busbar 12, or of another conductive member coming into contact with the busbar 12 and causing a current leak. Furthermore, the busbar 12 inserted into the connector 13 may become dislodged due to vibration of the housing 11. Furthermore, since the busbar 12 is a thin, rod-shaped, approximately straight metal plate, handling the busbar 12 can be somewhat inconvenient. To eliminate these problems, it is preferable to attach a protective cover 14 to the busbar 12.

[0064] The protective cover 14 supports the positive bus bar 12P and the negative bus bar 12N so that the positive bus bar 12P and the negative bus bar 12N are inserted into the positive connector 13P and the negative bus bar 12N, respectively, simultaneously. The protective cover 14 is made of an insulating material (non-conductive material). Examples of insulating materials include plastic, urethane, glass, porcelain, fine ceramics, vinyl, rubber, wood, and paper.

[0065] The protective cover 14 has a protrusion 21, a latch 23, a grip 24, and a bus bar support 25. The protrusion 21, the latch 23, the grip 24, and the bus bar support 25 are integrally formed.

[0066] The protective cover 14 opens in the insertion direction of the bus bar 12 into the connector 13 (positive direction of the Y axis), and covers the bus bar 12 so that the bus bar 12 is not exposed in the removal direction of the bus bar 12 from the connector 13 (negative direction of the Y axis). The protective cover 14 also has wall surfaces parallel to the insertion / removal direction of the bus bar 12. The protective cover 14 prevents electric shock caused by a person touching the bus bar 12 and electric leakage caused by other conductive members coming into contact with the bus bar 12.

[0067] At least one protrusion 21 that protrudes outward from the wall surface is formed on at least one of the two wall surfaces of the protective cover 14 that are aligned in the juxtaposition direction (X-axis direction) of the housing 11. The protrusion 21 is used when sliding the protective cover 14 in the juxtaposition direction (X-axis direction) of the housing 11. In consideration of the protective cover 14 sliding along the juxtaposition direction of the housing 11, the corners of the protrusion 21 may be chamfered.

[0068] The latch portion 23 is used to secure the protective cover 14 to the connector 13 .

[0069] The gripping portions 24 are used to improve the ease of inserting and removing the bus bar 12 into and from the connector 13. An operator can hold the protective cover 14 by grasping the two gripping portions 24 with their fingers.

[0070] The bus bar support portion 25 is used to support the positive bus bar 12P and the negative bus bar 12N.

[0071] <Lock portion provided in connector according to embodiment of the present disclosure> FIGS. 23 and 24 are perspective views of a connector to which a protective cover is attached in a motor drive device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0072] In order to attach the protective cover 14 to the connector 13 via the latch portions 23 of the protective cover 14, the connector 13 is provided with lock portions 41. The lock portions 41 are configured to engage with the latch portions 23 of the protective cover 14 when the contacts 31 of two adjacent connectors 13 (first connector and second connector) are in a position where they are electrically connected to the bus bar 12. In consideration of the engagement and release of the protective cover 14 and the connector 13, the corners of the latch portions 23 may be chamfered.

[0073] <First guide groove and second guide groove provided in the housing according to an embodiment of the present disclosure> Figures 25 and 26 are perspective views showing the first guide groove and second guide groove provided in the housing of a motor drive device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0074] To allow the protective cover 14 to slide in the juxtaposition direction (X-axis direction) of the housings 11, a first guide groove 42 is provided in the housings 11. The first guide groove 42 is formed along the juxtaposition direction (X-axis direction) of the housings 11 near the mounting positions of the connectors 13 (first connector and second connector) of two adjacent housings 11 (first housing and second housing). The first guide groove 42 holds the protrusion 21 of the protective cover 14 slidably along the juxtaposition direction (X-axis direction) of the housings 11. As the protrusion 21 of the protective cover 14 slides along the first guide groove 42, the bus bar 12 supported by the protective cover 14 slides without contacting the contacts 31 of the connectors 13 (first connector and second connector).

[0075] The starting point of the first guide groove 42 is set at a position where the bus bar 12 is temporarily installed near the connector 13 (first connector), which makes it easy to position the bus bar 12 when the bus bar 12 is temporarily installed near the connector 13 (first connector).

[0076] The end point of the first guide groove 42 is set at a position where the busbar 12 can be simultaneously inserted into two adjacent connectors 13 (the first connector and the second connector). This makes it easy to position the busbar 12 when connecting the busbars, and also ensures stable physical and electrical contact between the busbar 12 and the contacts 31 of the connectors 13.

[0077] As shown in Figures 25 and 26, the second guide groove 43 is connected to the first guide groove 42, and a portion of the wall of the housing 11 is formed as a notch that opens only toward the positive side of the Y axis. The second guide groove 43 slidably holds the protrusion 21 of the protective cover 14 along the insertion direction of the busbar 12 (the positive direction of the Y axis). Considering that the protrusion 21 of the protective cover 14 slides along the first guide groove 42 and the second guide groove 43, the corners of the first guide groove 42 and the second guide groove 43 may be chamfered. When the protrusion 21 of the protective cover 14 is positioned in the second guide groove 43, the busbar 12 can be inserted into the connector 13 mounted on the housing 11 by grasping the gripping portion 24 of the protective cover 14 with a human finger and pushing the protective cover 14 in the positive direction of the Y axis. This causes the busbar 12 to be sandwiched between two rows of elastically deformed contacts 31 while maintaining physical and electrical contact. However, because the second guide groove 43 is not open in the removal direction of the bus bar 12 (the negative Y-axis direction), the protective cover 14 cannot be removed from the housing 11. For example, when it is desired to remove the power conversion device housed in the housing 11 from the motor drive device 1 for maintenance or the like, it is necessary to grasp the gripping portion 24 of the protective cover 14 with one's fingers and slide the protective cover 14 in the positive X-axis direction to return the protective cover 14 to the position where it was temporarily installed.

[0078] 27 and 28 are perspective views showing modified second guide grooves provided in the housing of the motor drive device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 29 is a front view showing a state in which a bus bar is temporarily installed near a connector when the motor drive device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure includes a modified second guide groove. FIG. 30 is a side view showing a state in which a bus bar is temporarily installed near a connector when the motor drive device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure includes a modified second guide groove. FIG. 31 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state in which a bus bar is temporarily installed near a connector when the motor drive device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure includes a modified second guide groove. FIG. 32 is a front view showing a protective cover in a position removable from the housing when the motor drive device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure includes a modified second guide groove.

[0079] To allow the protective cover 14 to slide in the juxtaposition direction (X-axis direction) of the housings 11, a first guide groove 42 is provided in the housings 11. The first guide groove 42 is formed along the juxtaposition direction (X-axis direction) of the housings 11 near the mounting positions of the connectors 13 (first connector and second connector) of two adjacent housings 11 (first housing and second housing). The first guide groove 42 holds the protrusion 21 of the protective cover 14 slidably along the juxtaposition direction (X-axis direction) of the housings 11. As the protrusion 21 of the protective cover 14 slides along the first guide groove 42, the bus bar 12 supported by the protective cover 14 slides without contacting the contacts 31 of the connectors 13 (first connector and second connector).

[0080] 29 to 31 show a state in which the bus bar 12 has been removed and temporarily installed near one connector 13 (first connector) at a stage when the bus bar connections of the power conversion device have not yet been made, such as at the time of shipment of the motor drive device 1. The starting point of the first guide groove 42 is set at a position where the bus bar 12 will be temporarily installed near the connector 13 (first connector). This makes it easy to position the bus bar 12 when it is temporarily installed near the connector 13 (first connector).

[0081] The end point of the first guide groove 42 is set at a position where the busbar 12 can be simultaneously inserted into two adjacent connectors 13 (the first connector and the second connector). This makes it easy to position the busbar 12 when connecting the busbars, and also ensures stable physical and electrical contact between the busbar 12 and the contacts 31 of the connectors 13.

[0082] Furthermore, to enable the protective cover 14 to be removed from the housing 11, a modified second guide groove 43 is formed in the housing 11. As shown in Figures 27 and 28, the second guide groove 43 is connected to the first guide groove 42, and a portion of the wall surface of the housing 11 is formed as a notch that opens to both the positive side and the negative side of the Y axis. The second guide groove 43 holds the protrusion 21 of the protective cover 14 slidably along the insertion / removal direction of the bus bar 12 (the positive direction and the negative direction of the Y axis). Considering that the protrusion 21 of the protective cover 14 slides along the first guide groove 42 and the modified second guide groove 43, the corners of the first guide groove 42 and the modified second guide groove 43 may be chamfered. 32 , when the protrusions 21 of the protective cover 14 are positioned in the second guide grooves 43, the busbar 12 can be inserted into the connector 13 mounted on the housing 11 by grasping the gripping portions 24 of the protective cover 14 with human fingers and pushing the protective cover 14 in the positive direction of the Y axis, whereby the busbar 12 is sandwiched in physical and electrical contact between the two rows of the elastically deformed plurality of contacts 31. Also, as shown in FIG. 32 , when the protrusions 21 of the protective cover 14 are positioned in the second guide grooves 43, the protective cover 14 supporting the busbar 12 can be removed from the housing 11 by grasping the gripping portions 24 of the protective cover 14 with human fingers and pulling the protective cover 14 out in the negative direction of the Y axis.

[0083] <Busbar Connection Work of Motor Drive Device According to Embodiment of the Present Disclosure> FIGS. 33 to 35 are perspective views illustrating the busbar connection work of the motor drive device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0084] As shown in FIG. 33 , when the busbars of the power conversion device 1 have not yet been connected, such as at the time of shipment of the motor drive device 1, the busbar 12 is temporarily installed in a pre-disconnected state near the connector 13 (first connector) mounted on the housing 11-2. An operator grasps the gripping portion 24 of the protective cover 14 and slides the protective cover 14 toward the connector 13 (second connector) mounted on the housing 11-1 along the parallel arrangement direction of the housings 11-1 and 11-2 (the negative X-axis direction), as shown in FIG. 34 . This moves the busbar 12 to a position where it straddles the connector 13 (first connector) mounted on the housing 11-2 and the connector 13 (second connector) mounted on the housing 11-1. Then, the operator grasps the gripping portion 24 of the protective cover 14 and pushes it toward the mounting surfaces of the connectors 13 on the housings 11-1 and 11-2 (the positive Y-axis direction), as shown in FIG. 35 . As a result, the bus bar 12 is inserted into both the connector 13 mounted on the housing 11-1 and the connector 13 mounted on the housing 11-2, and the bus bar 12 is sandwiched in physical and electrical contact between the two rows of the elastically deformed contacts 31. As a result, the DC terminal of the power conversion device housed in the housing 11-1 and the DC terminal of the power conversion device housed in the housing 11-2 are electrically connected.

[0085] <Configuration of protective cover and housing according to first modified example of embodiment of the present disclosure> Figures 36 and 37 are perspective views of a protective cover according to a first modified example of the embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 38 is a perspective view of a housing according to a first modified example of the embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 39 is a cross-sectional view of the housing shown in Figure 38. Figure 40 is a cross-sectional view showing the protective cover and the housing when the bus bar is temporarily installed near the connector in the first modified example of the embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0086] 36 and 37 , in the first modified example, notches 22 are formed in the wall surface of the protective cover 14 along the arrangement direction (X-axis direction) of the housing 11 at positions that sandwich the protrusions 21 along the arrangement direction. By providing the notches 22, the flexibility of the portion of the protective cover 14 that includes the protrusions 21 is further improved.

[0087] 38 to 40 , in the first modified example, a recess 44 configured to fit with the protrusion 21 of the protective cover 14 shown in FIGS. 36 and 37 is provided in the first guide groove 42 of the housing 11. As described above, when the busbars of the power conversion device have not yet been connected, such as at the time of shipment of the motor drive device 1, the busbar 12 is temporarily installed near the connector 13 (first connector) provided in the housing 11 (first housing). The recess 44 is formed in the first guide groove 42 so as to engage with the protrusion 21 of the protective cover 14 when the busbar 12 is temporarily installed near the connector 13 (first connector). Therefore, when the busbar 12 is temporarily installed near the connector 13 (first connector), the protective cover 14 is firmly fixed to the housing 11, thereby preventing the protective cover 14 from coming off the housing 11. When performing bus bar connection work to prepare the motor drive device 1 for operation, the worker simply grasps the protrusion 21 of the protective cover 14 with his or her fingers to release the engagement between the protrusion 21 and the recess 44, and slides the protective cover 14 toward the connector 13 (second connector) mounted on the housing 11-1. In consideration of the engagement and release between the protrusion 21 and the recess 44, the corners of the protrusion 21 may be chamfered.

[0088] <Configuration of protective cover and housing according to a second modified example of the embodiment of the present disclosure> Fig. 41 is a perspective view of a protective cover according to a second modified example of the embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 42 is a front view of a protective cover according to a second modified example of the embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 43 is a perspective view of a housing according to a second modified example of the embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 44 is a front view showing the protective cover in a position where it can be removed from the housing when a motor drive device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes the protective cover according to the second modified example and the housing according to the second modified example.

[0089] In the second modified example, at least one protrusion 21 protruding outward from the wall surface is formed on each of two wall surfaces of the protective cover 14 along the juxtaposition direction (X-axis direction) of the housing 11. However, as shown in FIGS. 41 and 42 , the position of the protrusion 21 on one wall surface of the protective cover 14 and the position of the protrusion 21 on the other wall surface of the protective cover 14 are not symmetrical with respect to an axis along the juxtaposition direction (X-axis direction) of the housing 11 that is exactly midway between the two wall surfaces of the protective cover 14. In the example shown in FIGS. 41 and 42 , as an example, one protrusion 21 protruding outward from the wall surface is formed on each of the two wall surfaces of the protective cover 14 along the juxtaposition direction (X-axis direction) of the housing 11. Note that the number of protrusions 21 is merely an example, and other numbers may be used.

[0090] In a second modified example, a plurality of second guide grooves 43 are provided corresponding to the plurality of protrusions 21 provided on the protective cover 14. In the example shown in FIG. 43 , two second guide grooves 43 are provided corresponding to the two protrusions 21 provided on two wall surfaces of the protective cover 14. The second guide grooves 43 are connected to the first guide grooves 42, and a portion of the wall surface of the housing 11 is formed as a notch that opens on the negative Y-axis side. The second guide grooves 43 hold the protrusions 21 of the protective cover 14 slidably along the insertion / removal direction (Y-axis direction) of the bus bar 12. Furthermore, when the bus bar 12 is temporarily installed near the connector 13 (first connector), the second guide grooves 43 are engaged with the protrusions 21, thereby preventing rotational movement of the protective cover 14 about the Z-axis, improving installation. The greater the number of protrusions 21 and the corresponding second guide grooves 43, the more likely it is that the protective cover 14 will rotate about the Z axis. As shown in Figure 44, when the protrusions 21 of the protective cover 14 are positioned in the second guide grooves 43, the protective cover 14 supporting the bus bars 12 can be removed from the housing 11 by grasping the gripping portions 24 of the protective cover 14 with human fingers and pulling the protective cover 14 in the negative Y-axis direction. Considering that the protrusions 21 slide along the first guide grooves 42 and the second guide grooves 43, the corners of the first guide grooves 42 and the second guide grooves 43 may be chamfered.

[0091] <Configuration of protective cover and housing according to a third modified example of the embodiment of the present disclosure> Figures 45 to 47 are perspective views of a protective cover according to a third modified example of the embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 48 is a perspective view of a housing according to a third modified example of the embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 49 is a cross-sectional view showing the protective cover and the housing when the bus bar is temporarily installed near the connector in the third modified example of the embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0092] The third modified example is a combination of the first modified example and the second modified example.

[0093] That is, at least one protrusion protruding outward from the wall surface is formed on each of the two wall surfaces of the protective cover 14 along the juxtaposition direction (X-axis direction) of the housing 11. In the example shown in FIGS. 45 to 47, as an example, one of the two wall surfaces of the protective cover 14 along the juxtaposition direction (X-axis direction) of the housing 11 is formed with one protrusion 21-1 protruding outward from the wall surface, and one protrusion 21-2 and one protrusion 21-3 protruding outward from the wall surface are formed on the other wall surface. In consideration of the fact that the protrusions 21-1, 21-2, and 21-3 slide along the first guide groove 42 and the second guide grooves 43-1, 43-2, and 43-3, the corners of the protrusions 21-1, 21-2, and 21-3 may be chamfered. Note that the number of protrusions 21-1, 21-2, and 21-3 shown in FIGS. 45 to 47 is merely an example, and other numbers may also be used.

[0094] Furthermore, notches 22 are formed on both sides of each of the protrusions 21-1 and 21-2 along the juxtaposition direction (X-axis direction). This further improves the flexibility of the portion including the protrusion 21 with the notches 22 on both sides. However, as shown in FIGS. 45 to 47 , the position of the protrusion 21-1 having the notches 22 on both sides and the position of the protrusion 21-2 having the notches 22 on both sides are arranged symmetrically with respect to an axis along the juxtaposition direction (X-axis direction) of the housing 11, which is located exactly midway between the two wall surfaces of the protective cover 14. This makes it easier for a human finger to grasp the protrusions 21-1 and 21-2.

[0095] It is necessary that the protrusion 21-3 does not interfere with the recess 44-2 provided in the housing 11 when the bus bar 12 is temporarily installed near the connector 13 (first connector). For this reason, the amount by which the protrusion 21-3 protrudes outward from the wall surface of the protective cover 14 is made smaller than the amount by which the protrusion 21-2 protrudes outward from the wall surface of the protective cover 14.

[0096] 48, in the third modified example, recesses 44-1 and 44-2 configured to fit with the protrusions 21-1 and 21-2 having the notches 22 on both sides shown in FIGS. 45 to 47 are provided in the first guide groove 42 of the housing 11. The recess 44-1 is formed in the first guide groove 42 so as to engage with the protrusion 21-1 of the protective cover 14 when the bus bar 12 is temporarily installed near the connector 13 (first connector). The recess 44-2 is formed in the first guide groove 42 so as to engage with the protrusion 21-2 of the protective cover 14 when the bus bar 12 is temporarily installed near the connector 13 (first connector).

[0097] 49, when the bus bar 12 is temporarily installed near the connector 13 (first connector), the protrusion 21-1 fits into the recess 44-1 and the protrusion 21-2 fits into the recess 44-2. This firmly fixes the protective cover 14 to the housing 11, preventing the protective cover 14 from coming off the housing 11 when the bus bar 12 is temporarily installed near the connector 13 (first connector).

[0098] In the third modified example, a plurality of second guide grooves 43-1, 43-2, and 43-3 are provided corresponding to a plurality of protrusions 21 provided on the protective cover 14. In the example shown in FIG. 48, three second guide grooves 43-1, 43-2, and 43-3 are provided corresponding to the three protrusions 21-1, 21-2, and 21-3 provided on the protective cover 14. The second guide grooves 43-1, 43-2, and 43-3 are connected to the first guide groove 42, and a portion of the wall surface of the housing 11 is formed as a notch that opens on the negative Y-axis side. The second guide grooves 43-1, 43-2, and 43-3 hold the protrusions 21 of the protective cover 14 slidably along the insertion / removal direction of the bus bar 12 (the Y-axis direction). Considering that the protrusions 21-1, 21-2, and 21-3 slide along the first guide groove 42 and the second guide grooves 43-1, 43-2, and 43-3, the corners of the first guide groove 42 and the second guide grooves 43-1, 43-2, and 43-3 may be chamfered.

[0099] When the bus bar 12 is temporarily installed near the connector 13 (first connector), the protrusions 21-1 and 21-2 are fitted into the second guide grooves 43-1 and 43-2, respectively, and the protrusion 21-3 is not located in a position that is line-symmetrical to the protrusion 21-1, so that rotational movement of the protective cover 14 about the Z axis can be prevented, improving installation. The more protrusions 21 and the corresponding second guide grooves 43 are increased, the more likely it is that rotational movement of the protective cover 14 about the Z axis can be reduced.

[0100] When performing bus bar connection work to prepare the motor drive device 1 for operation, the worker grasps and bends the protrusions 21-1 and 21-2 of the protective cover 14 with their fingers, thereby disengaging the protrusions 21-1 from the recesses 44-1 and disengaging the protrusions 21-2 from the recesses 44-2. Then, the worker slides the protective cover 14 toward the connector 13 (second connector) mounted on the housing 11-1. While the protective cover 14 is sliding, the protrusions 21-1, 21-2, and 21-3 slide along the first guide grooves 42. When the busbar 12 has moved to a position spanning the connector 13 (first connector) mounted on the housing 11-2 and the connector 13 (second connector) mounted on the housing 11-1, the worker grasps the gripping portion 24 of the protective cover 14 and pushes it in a direction toward the mounting surfaces of the connector 13 on the housings 11-1 and 11-2 (the positive direction of the Y axis). This causes the busbar 12 to be inserted into both the connector 13 mounted on the housing 11-1 and the connector 13 mounted on the housing 11-2, and the busbar 12 is sandwiched between the two rows of the elastically deformed contacts 31 while making physical and electrical contact. As a result, the DC terminals of the power conversion devices housed in the housings 11-1 and 11-2 are electrically connected to each other.

[0101] <Operation of Disconnecting Bus Bars in a Motor Drive Device According to an Embodiment of the Present Disclosure> FIG. 50 is a perspective view illustrating an operation of disconnecting bus bars in a motor drive device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0102] For example, when it is desired to remove the power conversion device housed in housing 11-2 from motor drive device 1 for maintenance or the like, protective cover 14 mounted across housings 11-1 and 11-2 and protective cover 14 mounted across housings 11-2 and 11-3 are pulled out in the negative Y-axis direction when protrusion 21 is positioned in second guide groove 43. This removes bus bar 12 from connector 13 mounted on housing 11-2, allowing housing 11-2 to be removed from motor drive device 1.

[0103] Advantages of the Embodiments of the Present Disclosure According to the embodiments of the present disclosure, it is possible to realize a motor drive device that is bus bar connected and easy to assemble.

[0104] Because a relatively large current flows through the power elements of the power conversion devices (converters and inverters) in a motor drive device, bus bars are often used to electrically connect the power conversion devices to a DC link. Conventionally, a DC link has been constructed by providing a terminal block for each power conversion device and fastening the bus bars to the terminal blocks with screws. However, the time-consuming and labor-intensive process of tightening and loosening the screws increases the time and cost required to prepare the motor drive device for operation. Furthermore, considering the ease of tightening and loosening the screws, the terminal blocks must be enlarged, resulting in a problem of an increased size of the motor drive device.

[0105] In contrast, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, connectors are mounted on housings that house power converters. The mounting surfaces of the connectors on adjacent housings are arranged to be substantially flush with each other, and the longitudinal directions of the connectors are aligned, for example. Then, a bus bar temporarily installed near a connector (first connector) is slid toward another adjacent connector (second connector) along the juxtaposition direction of the housings, electrically connecting the contacts of the connectors via the bus bar. This allows the power converters housed in each housing to be easily electrically connected via the bus bar connection. Because the power converters can be electrically connected simply by sliding the bus bar, the process of preparing the motor drive device for operation is simplified, reducing work time and costs. Furthermore, the embodiment of the present disclosure does not use a bulky terminal block, allowing the motor drive device to be miniaturized. Furthermore, according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, when the bus bar of the power conversion device has not yet been connected, such as at the time of shipment of the motor drive device, the bus bar is temporarily installed near the connector 13 mounted on the housing, which makes it easy to perform tasks such as inspection, shipping, transportation, and inventory management of the motor drive device.

[0106] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the connector is configured as a floating connector having contacts that make physical and electrical contact with the bus bar while elastically deforming when the bus bar is inserted, thereby ensuring more reliable physical and electrical contact between the bus bar and the connector contacts even if the insertion direction or position of the bus bar is slightly misaligned with respect to the connector.

[0107] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the connector may be provided with a contact protection part, which can prevent a human finger from coming into contact with the connector contacts and causing an electric shock, or prevent other conductive members from coming into contact with the connector contacts and causing a current leak.

[0108] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the connectors are mounted on each surface of the housings such that the distance from an end of the first housing on the mounting surface of the first connector to the mounting position of the first connector along the juxtaposition direction (X-axis direction) is approximately equal to the distance from an end of the second housing on the mounting surface of the second connector on the second housing along the juxtaposition direction (X-axis direction) to the mounting position of the second connector. The length of the bus bar in the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) is set to be approximately equal to the width of the housing having the connector on which the bus bar is temporarily installed in the juxtaposition direction (X-axis direction). This allows the bus bar connection procedure to be standardized even if the widths of multiple housings are different, simplifying the process of preparing a motor drive device for operation and reducing work time and costs. Furthermore, scalability can be achieved to accommodate various numbers of housings arranged side by side.

[0109] According to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the protective cover attached to the bus bar can prevent electric shock caused by a person touching the bus bar and electric leakage caused by another conductive member touching the bus bar. Furthermore, the protective cover can ensure that the positive bus bar and the negative bus bar are inserted into the positive connector and the negative connector at the same time, which makes it easier to assemble the motor drive device and reduces assembly time and assembly costs.

[0110] Furthermore, according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the grip portion provided on the protective cover makes it easier for workers to handle the protective cover.

[0111] Furthermore, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the protrusion provided on the protective cover and the first guide groove provided on the housing facilitate sliding of the busbar required for busbar installation, thereby facilitating assembly of the motor drive device. Furthermore, the start point of the first guide groove is set at a position where the busbar will be temporarily installed near the first connector. This facilitates positioning of the busbar when temporarily installing the busbar near the first connector. Furthermore, the end point of the first guide groove is set at a position where the busbar can be slid and inserted into the first connector and the second connector simultaneously. This facilitates positioning of the busbar when connecting the busbar to prepare the motor drive device for operation, and also ensures stable physical and electrical contact between the busbar and the connector contacts.

[0112] Furthermore, according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the latch portion provided on the protective cover and the lock portion provided on the connector can stably fix the housing and the protective cover.

[0113] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a wall surface of the protective cover along the arrangement direction (X-axis direction) may have a notch formed at a position that sandwiches the protrusion, and the first guide groove may have a recess that engages with the protrusion of the protective cover when the bus bar is temporarily installed near the first connector. This allows the protective cover to be firmly fixed to the housing when the bus bar is temporarily installed near the first connector, thereby preventing the protective cover from coming off the housing.

[0114] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the protective cover may be provided with a plurality of protrusions, and the housing may be provided with a plurality of second guide grooves that fit with the protrusions. This prevents the protective cover from rotating about the Z-axis when the bus bar is temporarily installed near the first connector.

[0115] Although the present disclosure has been described in detail above, the present disclosure is not limited to the individual embodiments and individual variations described above. Various additions, substitutions, modifications, partial deletions, etc. are possible for these embodiments and variations within the scope of the gist of the present disclosure, or within the scope of the gist of the present disclosure derived from the content of the claims and their equivalents. These embodiments and variations can also be implemented in combination. For example, in the above-described embodiments and variations, the order of each operation and the order of each process are shown as examples and are not limited to these. The same applies when numerical values ​​or mathematical formulas are used in the description of the above-described embodiments and variations.

[0116] <Supplementary Notes> The following supplementary notes are further disclosed regarding the above-described embodiment and modifications.

[0117] (Note 1) The power converter includes first housings 11, 11-1, 11-2, and 11-3 that house a power conversion device including at least one of a converter 200 that converts AC power supplied from an AC power supply 100 into DC power and an inverter 300 that converts the DC power supplied from the converter 200 into AC power for driving a motor; a first connector 13 mounted on the first housings 11, 11-1, 11-2, and 11-3, the first connector 13 having a contact 31 that is electrically connected to the power conversion device housed in the first housings 11, 11-1, 11-2, and 11-3; and a conductive bus bar 12. When second housings 11, 11-1, 11-2, and 11-3, which are equipped with second connectors 13 configured similarly to first connectors 13 and have similar functions to first housings 11, 11-1, 11-2, and 11-3, are arranged adjacent to first housings 11, 11-1, 11-2, and 11-3, bus bars 12 temporarily installed near first connectors 13 are slid toward second connectors 13, and contacts 31 of first connectors 13 are electrically connected by bus bars 12, thereby electrically connecting the power conversion devices housed in first housings 11, 11-1, 11-2, and 11-3 to the power conversion devices housed in second housings 11, 11-1, 11-2, and 11-3 (Appendix 2). Motor drive device 1 described in Appendix 1, wherein, when second housings 11, 11-1, 11-2, and 11-3 are arranged side by side adjacent to first housings 11, 11-1, 11-2, and 11-3, bus bar 12, which has been temporarily installed in a state where it has been removed from first connector 13 near first connector 13, is slid in the direction of first housings 11, 11-1, 11-2, and 11-3 and second juxtaposition toward second connector 13, and is further slid in a direction toward the mounting surfaces of first connector 13 and second connector 13 on first housings 11, 11-1, 11-2, and 11-3 and second housings 11, 11-1, 11-2, and 11-3, and is inserted into first connector 13 and second connector 13, thereby electrically connecting contacts 31 of first connector 13 and contacts 31 of second connector 13 by bus bar 12.(Supplementary Note 3) A distance from an end of the first housing 11, 11-1, 11-2, and 11-3 on the mounting surface of the first connector 13 on the first housing 11, 11-1, 11-2, and 11-3 to a mounting position of the first connector 13 along the juxtaposition direction of the first housing 11, 11-1, 11-2, and 11-3 and the second housing 11, 11-1, 11-2, and 11-3 is approximately equal to a distance from an end of the second housing 11, 11-1, 11-2, and 11-3 on the mounting surface of the second connector 13 on the second housing 11, 11-1, 11-2, and 11-3 along the juxtaposition direction to a mounting position of the second connector 13, The motor drive device 1 according to Supplementary Note 1 or 2, wherein the length of the bus bar 12 in the longitudinal direction is approximately equal to the width of the first housings 11, 11-1, 11-2, and 11-3 along the parallel arrangement direction. (Supplementary Note 4) The motor drive device 1 according to Supplementary Note 1 or 2, wherein the bus bar 12 includes a positive bus bar 12P for electrically connecting the power conversion device to a positive potential and a negative bus bar 12N for electrically connecting the power conversion device to a negative potential, and each of the first connector 13 and the second connector 13 includes a positive connector 13P into which the positive bus bar 12P can be inserted and removed, and a negative connector 13N into which the negative bus bar 12N can be inserted and removed. (Appendix 5) The motor drive device 1 according to Appendix 4, further comprising an insulating protective cover 14 that supports the positive bus bar 12P and the negative bus bar 12N so that the positive bus bar 12P is inserted into the positive connector 13P and the negative bus bar 12N is inserted into the negative connector 13N simultaneously, and the protective cover 14 covers the positive bus bar 12P and the negative bus bar 12N so that the positive bus bar 12P and the negative bus bar 12N are not exposed in the direction of insertion and removal of the positive bus bar 12P and the negative bus bar 12N into the positive connector 13P and the negative connector 13N.(Appendix 6) The motor drive device 1 described in Appendix 5, wherein at least one protrusion 21 protruding outward from the wall surface is formed on at least one of two wall surfaces of the protective cover 14 aligned in the juxtaposition direction of the first housings 11, 11-1, 11-2, and 11-3 and the second housings 11, 11-1, 11-2, and 11-3, and wherein first guide grooves 42 that slidably hold the protrusion 21 along the juxtaposition direction are formed near the mounting positions of the positive connector 13P and the negative connector 13N for each of the first housings 11, 11-1, 11-2, and 11-3 and the second housings 11, 11-1, 11-2, and 11-3. (Supplementary Note 7) The motor drive device 1 according to Supplementary Note 6, wherein notches 22 are formed in the wall surface of the protective cover 14 along the juxtaposition direction at positions sandwiching the protrusions 21 along the juxtaposition direction, and wherein recesses 44 configured to fit with the protrusions 21 when the bus bar 12 is temporarily installed near the first connector 13 are formed in the first guide grooves 42. (Supplementary Note 8) The motor drive device 1 according to Supplementary Note 6, wherein second guide grooves 43 that slidably hold the protrusions 21 along the insertion / removal direction are formed in each of the first housings 11, 11-1, 11-2, and 11-3 and the second housings 11, 11-1, 11-2, and 11-3. (Supplementary Note 9) The motor drive device 1 according to Supplementary Note 8, wherein the bus bar 12 can be removed from the first connector 13 and the second connector 13 when the protrusions 21 are positioned in the second guide grooves 43. (Appendix 10) The motor drive device 1 described in Appendix 6, wherein the first housings 11, 11-1, 11-2, and 11-3 and the second housings 11, 11-1, 11-2, and 11-3 each have a second guide groove 43 formed therein, the second guide groove 43 slidably holding the protrusion 21 along the insertion direction of the bus bar 12 into the first connector 13 and the second connector 13 when the bus bar 12 is in a position where it can be electrically connected to the contacts 31 of the first connector 13 and the contacts 31 of the second connector 13.(Supplementary Note 11) The motor drive device 1 according to Supplementary Note 5, wherein the protective cover 14 is formed with latch portions 23, and the first connector 13 and the second connector 13 are formed with lock portions 41 configured to engage with the latch portions 23 when the bus bar 12 is in a position to be electrically connected to the contacts 31 of the first connector 13 and the contacts 31 of the second connector 13. (Supplementary Note 12) The motor drive device 1 according to Supplementary Note 5, wherein the protective cover 14 is formed with grip portions 24 used to grip the protective cover 14. (Appendix 13) The motor drive device 1 described in Appendix 5 is configured such that the protective cover 14 is formed with a gripping portion 24 used to grip the protective cover 14 and a latch portion 23 that elastically deforms when the protective cover 14 is gripped via the gripping portion 24, and the first connector 13 and the second connector 13 are formed with a locking portion 41 that is configured to engage with the latch portion 23 when the bus bar 12 is in a position to be connected to the first connector 13 and the second connector 13 and the electrical contacts 31.

[0118] 1 Motor drive device 11, 11-1, 11-2, 11-3 Housing 12 Bus bar 12N Negative side bus bar 12P Positive side bus bar 13 Connector 13N Negative side connector 13P Positive side connector 14 Protective cover 21, 21-1, 21-2, 21-3 Projection portion 22 Notch portion 23 Latch portion 24 Grip portion 25 Bus bar support portion 31 Contact 32 Contact protection portion 41 Lock portion 42 First guide groove 43, 43-1, 43-1, 43-3 Second guide groove 44, 44-1, 44-2 Recess 100 AC power supply 200 Converter 300 Inverter 400 Motor

Claims

1. A motor driving device comprising: a first housing that houses a power conversion device including at least one of a converter that converts AC power supplied from an AC power source into DC power and an inverter that converts the DC power supplied from the converter into AC power for driving a motor; a first connector mounted on the first housing, the first connector having a contact electrically connected to the power conversion device housed in the first housing; and a conductive bus bar. When a second connector configured in the same manner as the first connector is mounted and a second housing having the same function as the first housing is arranged adjacent to and parallel with the first housing, the bus bar temporarily installed near the first connector slides toward the second connector, and the contacts of the first connector and the contacts of the second connector are electrically connected by the bus bar, so that the power conversion device housed in the first housing is electrically connected to the power conversion device housed in the second housing.

2. The motor driving device according to claim 1, wherein when the second housing is arranged adjacent to and parallel with the first housing, the bus bar temporarily installed in a state of being removed from the first connector near the first connector slides in the direction of the first housing and the second parallel arrangement direction toward the second connector, and further slides in the direction toward the mounting surfaces of the first connector and the second connector on the first housing and the second housing, and is inserted into the first connector and the second connector, so that the contacts of the first connector and the contacts of the second connector are electrically connected by the bus bar.

3. The motor driving device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the distance from the end of the first housing to the mounting position of the first connector along the parallel arrangement direction of the first housing and the second housing on the mounting surface of the first connector on the first housing is substantially equal to the distance from the end of the second housing to the mounting position of the second connector along the parallel arrangement direction on the mounting surface of the second connector on the second housing, and the longitudinal length of the bus bar is substantially equal to the width of the first housing along the parallel arrangement direction.

4. The bus bar includes a positive-side bus bar for electrically connecting the power conversion device to a positive potential and a negative-side bus bar for electrically connecting the power conversion device to a negative potential. Each of the first connector and the second connector includes a positive-side connector that can be inserted into and removed from the positive-side bus bar and a negative-side connector that can be inserted into and removed from the negative-side bus bar. The motor drive device according to claim 1 or 2.

5. The motor drive device according to claim 4, further comprising an insulating protective cover that supports the positive-side bus bar and the negative-side bus bar such that insertion of the positive-side bus bar into the positive-side connector and insertion of the negative-side bus bar into the negative-side connector are simultaneous. The protective cover covers the positive-side bus bar and the negative-side bus bar so that the positive-side bus bar and the negative-side bus bar are not exposed in the insertion and removal directions of the positive-side bus bar and the negative-side bus bar with respect to the positive-side connector and the negative-side connector.

6. At least one protrusion protruding outward from the wall surface is formed on at least one of the two wall surfaces of the protective cover along the juxtaposition direction of the first housing and the second housing. A first guide groove is formed in the vicinity of the mounting positions of the positive-side connector and the negative-side connector for each of the first housing and the second housing to slidably hold the protrusion along the juxtaposition direction. The motor drive device according to claim 5.

7. A notch is formed in the wall surface of the protective cover along the juxtaposition direction at a position sandwiching the protrusion along the juxtaposition direction. A recess configured to fit with the protrusion when the bus bar is temporarily installed in the vicinity of the first connector is formed in the first guide groove. The motor drive device according to claim 6.

8. A second guide groove for slidably holding the protrusion along the insertion and removal direction is formed in each of the first housing and the second housing. The motor drive device according to claim 6.

9. When the protrusion is located in the second guide groove, the bus bar can be removed from the first connector and the second connector. The motor drive device according to claim 8.

10. In each of the first housing and the second housing, when the bus bar is at a position where it can be electrically connected to the contact points of the first connector and the contact points of the second connector, a second guide groove is formed to slidably hold the protruding portion along the insertion direction of the bus bar with respect to the first connector and the second connector. The motor driving device according to claim 6.

11. A latch portion is formed on the protective cover, and a lock portion configured to engage with the latch portion when the bus bar is at a position where it is electrically connected to the contact points of the first connector and the contact points of the second connector is formed on the first connector and the second connector. The motor driving device according to claim 5.

12. A gripping portion used for gripping the protective cover is formed on the protective cover. The motor driving device according to claim 5.

13. A gripping portion used for gripping the protective cover and a latch portion that elastically deforms when the protective cover is gripped via the gripping portion are formed on the protective cover, and a lock portion configured to engage with the latch portion when the bus bar is at a position where it is electrically connected to the contact points of the first connector and the second connector is formed on the first connector and the second connector. The motor driving device according to claim 5.

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