Vehicle and drive circuit unit

• US 10,457,133 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2018
• Issued: 10/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Tomokage, Ryoji, Shimada, Masahiro, Goto, Seiichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Tulsidas C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Quigley, Thomas K
• Application Number:
  US16/029,740
• Publication Number:
  US 20190016208A1
• Time in Patent Office: 477 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/405 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/92 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 11/0094 Structural association with other electrical or electronic devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 11/33 Drive circuits, e.g. power electronics H02K11/38 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 2211/03 Machines characterised by circuit boards, e.g. pcb
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/225 Terminal boxes or connection arrangements specially adapted for submersible motors H02K5/132
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/006 Structural association of a motor or generator with the drive train of a motor vehicle

Abstract

In a drive circuit unit of a vehicle, a first terminal is electrically connected to a drive circuit that performs power conversion, and configured to input or output electric power with respect to the exterior of the drive circuit unit via a first cable. A front protruding portion is formed by extending a portion of a front side surface of the drive circuit unit in a forward direction in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The first terminal is disposed on the front protruding portion in an upwardly facing manner, at a more rearward position than a front end of the front protruding portion.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a motor;

a power source; and

a drive circuit unit configured to convert electric power from the power source and supply the converted electric power to the motor;

the drive circuit unit including;

a drive circuit configured to perform power conversion;

a first terminal electrically connected to the drive circuit, and which is configured to input or output electric power with respect to an exterior of the drive circuit unit via a first cable; and

a front protruding portion formed by extending a portion of a front side surface of the drive circuit unit in a forward direction in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle;

wherein the first terminal is disposed on the front protruding portion in an upwardly facing manner, at a more rearward position than a front end of the front protruding portion.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the drive circuit unit further includes:

a case in which the drive circuit is accommodated; and

a heat sink fixed to the case, and arranged along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle; and

wherein the front protruding portion is configured as a portion of the heat sink, the portion thereof being positioned in front of the case.

3. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein:

a fastening part, in which a fastening member is disposed, is formed on the front protruding portion, the fastening member being configured to fasten the drive circuit unit to a motor housing; and

the first terminal is disposed at a more rearward position than the front end of the front protruding portion and to one side of the fastening part.

4. The vehicle according to claim 3, wherein:

the drive circuit unit further includes a second terminal connected electrically to the drive circuit, and which is configured to input or output electric power with respect to an exterior of the drive circuit unit via a second cable;

the fastening part is formed at an end of the front protruding portion in a vehicle widthwise direction; and

the second terminal is disposed in an upwardly facing manner on a rear side of the fastening part.

5. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein:

the drive circuit unit is fixed to a motor housing in which the motor is accommodated; and

the front end of the front protruding portion is positioned on a more rearward side than a front end of the motor housing.

6. The vehicle according to claim 4, wherein:

the drive circuit includes a DC/DC converter configured to step down a voltage from the power source;

the first cable connects an output side of the DC/DC converter to a low voltage system via the first terminal; and

the second cable connects the second terminal and the power source to each other.

7. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the drive circuit unit is inclined so as to be positioned at a downward orientation heading toward a front side of the vehicle.

8. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein:

the motor and the drive circuit unit are arranged inside a motor room provided on a front side of the vehicle; and

the motor room is arranged between a vehicle cabin, a bonnet, and a motor frame.

9. A drive circuit unit configured to convert electric power from a power source and supply the converted electric power to a motor, the drive circuit unit comprising:

a drive circuit configured to perform power conversion;

a first terminal electrically connected to the drive circuit, and which is configured to input or output electric power with respect to an exterior of the drive circuit unit via a first cable; and

a front protruding portion formed by extending a portion of a front side surface of the drive circuit unit in a forward direction along a front-rear direction of a vehicle equipped with drive circuit unit;

wherein the first terminal is disposed on the front protruding portion in an upwardly facing manner, at a more rearward position than a front end of the front protruding portion.