Cooling device high voltage electrical unit for motor of vehicle, and hybrid vehicle

• US 7,079,379 B2
• Filed: 11/23/2004
• Issued: 07/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Hasegawa, Kunio, Ohtsuka, Hiroshi, Fuchibe, Koshiro, Sato, Hiromitsu, Matsuoka, Toshiyuki, Yamaguchi, Hiroo, Hasegawa, Osamu
• Primary Examiner(s): DATSKOVSKIY, MICHAIL V
• Application Number:
  US10/994,374
• Publication Number:
  US 20050111167A1
• Time in Patent Office: 602 Days
• Field of Search: 361/600, 361/641, 361/643, 361/676, 361/679, 361694-695, 180/68.1, 180/68.2, 180/68.3, 180/68.5, 180/65.2, 180/65.3, 180/65.1, 180/311, 180/312, 180/313, 429/61, 429/99, 429/100, 429/101, 429/120, 429/148, 429/151, 429/156, 429/159, 429/163, 320/104, 320/112, 320/138, 320/150, 320/153, 622/592, 621/86, 622/44, 622/39, 624/08, 624/09
• US Class Current: 361/676
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/003 Component temperature regulation using an air flow
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/007 Physical arrangements or structures of drive train converters specially adapted for the propulsion motors of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/625 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6563 with forced flow, e.g. by blowers
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20909 Forced ventilation, e.g. on heat dissipaters coupled to components
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility

Abstract

A cooling device for a high voltage electrical unit for a motor of a vehicle, includes: an inverter for controlling the motor that drives the vehicle; an electrical energy storing device for supplying electrical energy to the motor via the inverter; a downverter for decreasing source voltage of the electrical energy storing device, the downverter, the inverter, and the electrical energy storing device disposed under a seat of the vehicle in a concentrated manner; a fan, disposed under the seat, for moving cooling air to the electrical energy storing device and the inverter; an air inlet disposed under the seat and at an end of the seat as viewed in a width direction of the vehicle; and an air outlet disposed under the seat and at the other end of the seat as viewed in a width direction of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A cooling device for a high voltage electrical unit for a motor of a vehicle, comprising:

an inverter for controlling the motor that drives the vehicle;

an electrical energy storing device for supplying electrical energy to the motor via the inverter;

a downverter for decreasing source voltage of the electrical energy storing device, the downverter, the inverter, and the electrical energy storing device disposed under a seat of the vehicle in a concentrated manner;

a fan, disposed under the seat, for moving cooling air to the electrical energy storing device and the inverter;

an air inlet disposed under the seat and at an end of the seat as viewed in a width direction of the vehicle; and

an air outlet disposed under the seat and at the other end of the seat as viewed in a width direction of the vehicle.

2. A cooling device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first heat sink fixed to the inverter; and

a second heat sink fixed to the downverter, and disposed so as to oppose the first heat sink,

wherein the electrical energy storing device is disposed upstream of a cooling air flow, and the inverter and the downverter are disposed downstream of the cooling air flow.

3. A cooling device according to claim 2,

wherein the electrical energy storing device comprises modules which comprise electrical energy storing modules which are disposed in parallel while having gaps therebetween, and each of which comprises cells connected in series, and air flow apertures disposed above and below the modules, and

wherein the cooling device further comprises an air flow duct for allowing cooling air to flow from one of the air flow apertures to the first heat sink and the second heat sink, and the air flow duct is formed by connecting an upper duct and a lower duct.

4. A cooling device according to claim 1, wherein the electrical energy storing device, the inverter, the downverter, and the fan are integrally fixed to a single loop-shaped frame.

5. A cooling device according to claim 4,

wherein the electrical energy storing device comprises:

air flow aperture panels which are disposed at an upper portion and lower portion thereof;

modules which comprise electrical energy storing modules which are disposed in parallel while having gaps therebetween, and each of which comprises cells connected in series; and

side retaining panels which retain side surfaces of the modules, and

wherein the air flow aperture panels and the side retaining panels are fixed to the frame by co-tightening.

6. A cooling device according to claim 4,wherein the frame comprises a first fixing portion by which the frame is fixed to body of the vehicle, and a second fixing portion by which the electrical energy storing device, the inverter, the downverter, and the fan are fixed to the frame.

7. A cooling device according to claim 4, further comprising:

a first heat sink fixed to the inverter; and

a second heat sink fixed to the downverter, and disposed so as to oppose the first heat sink,

wherein the frame is routed through a position under the electrical energy storing device, side positions of the first heat sink and the second heat sink, and a position under the fan.

8. A cooling device according to claim 1, wherein terminals of the downverter and terminals of the electrical energy storing device are disposed close to each other, and the terminals are connected to each other via a plate-shaped conductive member.

9. A hybrid vehicle which is driven by transmitting at least one of driving powers of an engine and a motor to driving wheels, the hybrid vehicle comprising:

a fuel tank, disposed under a front seat of the hybrid vehicle, for storing fuel to be supplied to the engine; and

the cooling device for a high voltage electrical unit for a motor of a vehicle according to claim 1, which is disposed under a rear seat of the hybrid vehicle.