Vehicle drive module having improved terminal design
First Claim
1. An electric drive for a vehicle at least partially propelled by an electric motor, the drive comprising:
- a vehicle drive train;
a power converter assembly operatively coupled to the drive train, the assembly comprising;
a thermal support;
a power converter circuit secured to the thermal support and cooled by the thermal support during operation; and
a terminal element physically supported on the thermal support and including an electrically insulating but thermally conducting body carrying conductors for transfer of power between the power converter circuit and external circuitry, the terminal element being configured to transfer heat from the conductors via heat transfer to the thermal support during operation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A terminal structure for vehicle drive power electronics circuits reduces the need for a DC bus and thereby the incidence of parasitic inductance. The structure is secured to a support that may receive one or more power electronic circuits. The support may aid in removing heat from the circuits through fluid circulating through the support. The support may form a shield from both external EMI/RFI and from interference generated by operation of the power electronic circuits. Features may be provided to permit and enhance connection of the circuitry to external circuitry, such as by direct contact between the terminal assembly and AC and DC circuit components. Modular units may be assembled that may be coupled to electronic circuitry via plug-in arrangements or through interface with a backplane or similar mounting and interconnecting structures.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. An electric drive for a vehicle at least partially propelled by an electric motor, the drive comprising:
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a vehicle drive train; a power converter assembly operatively coupled to the drive train, the assembly comprising; a thermal support; a power converter circuit secured to the thermal support and cooled by the thermal support during operation; and a terminal element physically supported on the thermal support and including an electrically insulating but thermally conducting body carrying conductors for transfer of power between the power converter circuit and external circuitry, the terminal element being configured to transfer heat from the conductors via heat transfer to the thermal support during operation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An electric drive for a vehicle at least partially propelled by an electric motor, the drive comprising:
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a vehicle drive train; a power converter assembly operatively coupled to the drive train, the assembly comprising; a thermal support having a first side, a second side opposite the first side, and an edge extending between the first and second sides; a terminal assembly disposed adjacent to the edge of the support, the terminal assembly including an electrically insulating but thermally conducting body, DC input terminals for receiving DC input power and AC output terminals for transmitting AC output power, the terminal assembly being configured to transfer heat from the terminals via heat transfer to the thermal support during operation; a power converter circuit supported on the first side of the support and coupled to the DC input terminals and to the AC output terminals of the terminal assembly; and an energy storage or conditioning circuit supported on the second side of the support and coupled to the DC input terminals and to the power converter circuit via the terminal assembly. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An electric drive for a vehicle at least partially propelled by an electric motor, the drive comprising:
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a vehicle drive train; a power converter assembly operatively coupled to the drive train, the assembly comprising; a thermal support having first and second sides and configured to receive and to circulate a coolant stream; a terminal assembly including an electrically insulating but thermally conducting body, DC input terminals for receiving DC input power and AC output terminals for transmitting AC output power; a control circuit; a drive circuit supported by the thermal support and coupled to the control circuit to receive control signals from the control circuit; a power converter circuit coupled to the drive circuit and to the DC and AC terminals, the inverter circuit being configured to convert the DC power to controlled frequency AC output power based upon the drive signals; and an energy storage or conditioning circuit coupled to the DC input terminals and to the power converter circuit via the terminal assembly; wherein the power converter circuit is supported on the first side of the thermal support and the energy storage or conditioning circuit is supported on the second side of the thermal support, whereby the coolant stream extracts heat from the terminal assembly, the support, and the energy storage or conditioning circuit during operation of the converter circuit. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification