DISCHARGE DEVICE FOR VEHICLE

• US 20120062029A1
• Filed: 09/12/2011
• Published: 03/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation), Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation), Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Suzuki, Shigeyuki, FUKUYAMA, Takaki, Kitano, Eiji
• Granted Patent: US 8,723,356 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/14 Boost converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/14 Synchronous machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/20 Inrush current reduction, i.e. avoiding high currents when connecting the battery
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0007 Measures or means for preventing or attenuating collisions
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0069 relating to the isolation, e.g. ground fault or leak current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/04 Cutting off the power supply under fault conditions protective devices and circuit arrangements in general H01H; H02H
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility

Abstract

A power control unit (PCU) case accommodates an electric circuit of a PCU that includes a first capacitor and is operated by a storage battery. In the electric circuit, a first bus bar is connected to a part in the vicinity of the anode of the first capacitor, and a second bus bar is connected to a part in the vicinity of the cathode of the first capacitor. A discharge mechanism is formed by connecting in series a switch activated by an explosive actuator and a discharging resistor. The discharge mechanism is integrally fixed to the PCU case. When a collision of the vehicle is detected, the discharge mechanism short-circuits the first bus bar and the second bus bar with each other through the activation of the switch. Accordingly, the discharge mechanism is connected in series with the first capacitor, so that the discharging resistor discharges the first capacitor.

Claims

1. A discharge device for use in a vehicle including:

an electric circuit activated by electricity supply from an electricity source;

at least one capacitor contained in the electric circuit, the capacitor having an anode and a cathode; and

a case for accommodating the electric circuit,

wherein, when an abnormality related to a collision of the vehicle is detected, the electricity supply from the electricity source to the electric circuit is stopped,

the discharge device comprising;

a discharge mechanism that discharges the at least one capacitor when the electricity supply from the electricity source to the electric circuit is stopped due to said abnormality;

a first bus bar connected to a part of the electric circuit that is in the vicinity of the anode of the at least one capacitor; and

a second bus bar connected to a part of the electric circuit that is in the vicinity of the cathode of the at least one capacitor,

wherein the discharge mechanism includes;

a switch activated by an explosive type actuator; and

a discharging resistor that is connected with the switch in series,

the discharge mechanism being integrated with the case, wherein, at the detection of the abnormality, the switch is activated to short-circuit the first bus bar and the second bus bar with each other, thereby connecting the discharge mechanism in parallel with the at least one capacitor, so that the at least one capacitor is discharged.

2. The discharge device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the discharge mechanism is integrally fixed to the case on an outer wall of the case.

3. The discharge device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the discharge mechanism is integrally fixed to the case inside the case.

4. The discharge device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

the switch includes a housing for accommodating the explosive type actuator,

the explosive type actuator includes:

a movable portion movably arranged in the housing; and

a gas generation portion arranged in the housing, the gas generating portion igniting and burning explosive in response to the detection of an abnormality, thereby generating combustion gas, and

the movable portion is pushed by the combustion gas generated by the gas generation portion, thereby activating the switch.

5. The discharge device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

the electricity source includes a storage battery,

the electric circuit includes a converter circuit for increasing the voltage of the storage battery, and

the at least one capacitor includes at least one of a first capacitor to which input voltage of the converter circuit is applied and a second capacitor to which an output voltage of the converter circuit is applied.

6. A vehicle comprising:

an electric circuit activated by electricity supply from an electricity source;

at least one capacitor contained in the electric circuit, the capacitor having an anode and a cathode;

a case for accommodating the electric circuit; and

a discharge device having a discharge mechanism;

wherein, when an abnormality related to a collision of the vehicle is detected, the electricity supply from the electricity source to the electric circuit is stopped and the at least one capacitor is discharged by the discharge mechanism,

the discharge device further including;

a first bus bar connected to a part of the electric circuit that is in the vicinity of the anode of the at least one capacitor; and

a second bus bar connected to a part of the electric circuit that is in the vicinity of the cathode of the at least one capacitor,

wherein the discharge mechanism includes;

a switch activated by an explosive type actuator; and

a discharging resistor that is connected with the switch in series,

the discharge mechanism being integrated with the case, wherein, at the detection of the abnormality, the switch is activated to short-circuit the first bus bar and the second bus bar with each other, thereby connecting the discharge mechanism in parallel with the at least one capacitor, so that the at least one capacitor is discharged.

7. The vehicle according to claim 6, wherein

the electricity source includes a storage battery,

the electric circuit includes a converter circuit for increasing the voltage of the storage battery, and

the at least one capacitor includes at least one of a first capacitor to which input voltage of the converter circuit is applied and a second capacitor to which an output voltage of the converter circuit is applied.

8. The vehicle according to claim 6, further comprising a collision sensor for detecting a collision of the vehicle.