Vehicle with high voltage line

• US 20050205316A1
• Filed: 03/03/2005
• Published: 09/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamafuji, Takahiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,484,581 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/68.500
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0007 Measures or means for preventing or attenuating collisions
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/04 Arrangement of batteries

Abstract

As a framework member 50 of a vehicle deforms, a bracket attached to the framework member 50 also deforms. An inverter 20 which is attached to the framework member 50 via a bracket 60 also deforms. Thus, following the deformation of the framework member 50 of the vehicle, the bracket 60 and the inverter 20 deform accordingly to result in a rather small amount of relative deformation among the framework member 50, the bracket 60, and the inverter 20. In addition, a high voltage line 40 attached to the bracket 60 also deforms following the deformation of the bracket 60. Therefore, even in the event of an accident, the high voltage line 40 can be secured in a space reserved between framework member 50 and inverter 20, which significantly reduces the possibility of disconnection of the high voltage line 40.

Claims

1. A vehicle, comprising:

a high voltage unit for supplying a drive signal to a motor, and

a high voltage line coupled to the high voltage unit,

wherein the high voltage unit is attached to a framework member of the vehicle by a fastening member and the high voltage line is also attached by the same fastening member.

2. A vehicle according to claim 1,

wherein the high voltage unit is attached to the framework member located forward of the high voltage unit in an engine room provided in the front part of the vehicle, and

the high voltage line extends towards the rear part of the vehicle in a direction the vehicle travels from the joint of the fastening member.

3. A vehicle according to claim 1,

wherein the high voltage line electrically connects the high voltage unit to a battery via a relay which shuts down the electrical connection when a car crash occurs.

4. A vehicle according to claim 1,

wherein the high voltage line electrically connects the high voltage unit to a motor.

5. A vehicle according to claim 1,

wherein the high voltage line electrically connects the high voltage unit to a compressor of an air conditioner.

6. A vehicle according to claim 2,

wherein the high voltage line electrically connects the high voltage unit to a battery via a relay which shuts down the electrical connection when a car crash occurs.

7. A vehicle according to claim 2,

wherein the high voltage line electrically connects the high voltage unit to a motor.

8. A vehicle according to claim 2,

wherein the high voltage line electrically connects the high voltage unit to a compressor of an air conditioner.

9. A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle is an electric vehicle utilizing a motor as the motive power source.

10. A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle is a hybrid vehicle utilizing both a motor and an engine as the motive power source.

11. A vehicle, comprising

an inverter for supplying a drive signal to a motor, and

a high voltage line coupled to the inverter,

wherein the inverter is attached to a framework member of the vehicle by a bracket and the high voltage line is also attached by the same bracket.

12. A vehicle according to claim 11,

wherein the inverter is attached to the framework member located forward of the inverter in an engine room provided in the front part of the vehicle, and

the high voltage line extends towards the rear part of the vehicle in a direction the vehicle travels from the joint of the bracket.

13. A vehicle according to claim 11,

wherein the high voltage line electrically connects the inverter to a battery via a relay which shuts down the electrical connection when a car crash occurs.

14. A vehicle according to claim 11,

wherein the high voltage line electrically connects the high voltage unit to a motor.

15. A vehicle according to claim 11,

wherein the high voltage line electrically connects the high voltage unit to a compressor of an air conditioner.

16. A vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the vehicle is an electric vehicle utilizing a motor as the motive power source.

17. A vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the vehicle is a hybrid vehicle utilizing a motor and an engine as the motive power source.