Vehicle power supply system

• US 20070114083A1
• Filed: 01/19/2007
• Published: 05/24/2007
• 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 8,011,467 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/68.500
• 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 by fixing the inverter unit to an attachment member for mounting the battery to a vehicle main body.

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

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

4. A vehicle power supply system according to claim 1, wherein the inverter unit is fixed to a housing for holding the battery.

5. A vehicle power supply system according to claim 1, wherein a housing of the inverter unit has also a function of a housing for holding the battery.

6. 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.

7. A vehicle power supply system according to claim 1, wherein a housing for holding the battery is provided with a cooling function member.

8. A vehicle power supply system according to claim 7, wherein a cooling medium for cooling the battery is identical to a cooling medium for cooling the inverter unit.