Vehicle power supply system

• US 20040251858A1
• Filed: 03/26/2004
• Published: 12/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Asao, Yoshihito, Kitamura, Yutaka
• Granted Patent: US 7,485,983 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 318/139
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/04 of the electric storage means for propulsion exchanging batteries for electric propulsion of vehicles B60L53/80; for auxiliary purposes only B60R16/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/26 characterised by the motors or the generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/28 characterised by the electric energy storing means, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0046 relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/64 Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/26 by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/03 for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems or for circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/625 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6556 Solid parts with flow channel passages or pipes for heat exchange closed pipes H01M10/6552
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6567 Liquids
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6568 characterised by flow circuits, e.g. loops, located externally to the cells or cell casings
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/667 the system being an electronic component, e.g. a CPU, an inverter or a capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/202 Casings or frames around the primary casing of a single cell or a single battery
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/244 Secondary casings; Racks; Suspension devices; Carrying devices; Holders characterised by their mounting method
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/249 specially adapted for aircraft or vehicles, e.g. cars or trains constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles B60L50/64
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/003 Constructional details, e.g. physical layout, assembly, wiring or busbar connections
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

In a vehicle power supply system including a battery, an inverter unit for converting DC electric power of the battery into AC electric power and supplying it to a rotating electric machine to drive it, an AC wiring line for connecting the rotating electric machine and the inverter unit, and a DC wiring line for connecting the inverter unit and the battery, the inverter unit is placed in a vicinity of the battery so that the DC wiring line becomes shorter than the AC wiring line. By this, a voltage drop due to the DC wiring line is reduced, and a torque characteristic of the rotating electric machine can be improved.

Claims

1. A vehicle power supply system comprising:

a battery;

an inverter unit for converting DC electric power of the battery into AC electric power and supplying it to a rotating electric machine to drive it;

an AC wiring line for connecting the rotating electric machine and the inverter unit; and

a DC wiring line for connecting the inverter unit and the battery,

wherein the inverter unit is placed in a vicinity of the battery so that the DC wiring line becomes shorter than the AC wiring line.

3. A vehicle power supply system according to claim 1, wherein the inverter unit is integrally fixed to an upper end face of the battery.

5. A vehicle power supply system according to claim 1, wherein the inverter unit is integrally fixed to a side of the battery.

9. A vehicle power supply system according to claim 1, wherein an electric connection body for electrically connecting the battery and the inverter unit is a metal plate.

11. A vehicle power supply system according to claim 9, wherein the inverter unit is held and fixed to the battery by the electric connection body for electrically connecting the battery and the inverter unit.

2. A vehicle power supply system comprising:

a battery;

an inverter unit for converting DC electric power of the battery into AC electric power and supplying it to a rotating electric machine to drive it;

an AC wiring line for connecting the rotating electric machine and the inverter unit; and

a DC wiring line for connecting the inverter unit and the battery,

wherein the inverter unit is placed in a vicinity of the battery by fixing the inverter unit to an attachment member for mounting the battery to a vehicle main body.

4. A vehicle power supply system according to claim 2, wherein the inverter unit is integrally fixed to an upper end face of the battery.

6. A vehicle power supply system according to claim 2, wherein the inverter unit is integrally fixed to a side of the battery.

7. A vehicle power supply system according to claim 2, wherein the inverter unit is fixed to a housing for holding the battery.

8. A vehicle power supply system according to claim 2, wherein a housing of the inverter unit has also a function of a housing for holding the battery.

10. A vehicle power supply system according to claim 2, wherein an electric connection body for electrically connecting the battery and the inverter unit is a metal plate.

12. A vehicle power supply system according to claim 10, wherein the inverter unit is held and fixed to the battery by the electric connection body for electrically connecting the battery and the inverter unit.

13. A vehicle power supply system according to claim 2, wherein a housing for holding the battery is provided with a cooling function member.

14. A vehicle power supply system according to claim 13, wherein a cooling medium for cooling the battery is identical to a cooling medium for cooling the inverter unit.