Downsized power inverter and housing for a larger heat release value

• US 8,159,849 B2
• Filed: 05/02/2011
• Issued: 04/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi Astemo Ltd. (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Nakajima, Kenichiro, Hamada, Haruki, Suzuki, Hideyo
• Primary Examiner(s): Sterrett, Jeffrey
• Assistant Examiner(s): Quddus, Nusrat
• Application Number:
  US13/098,665
• Publication Number:
  US 20110205724A1
• Time in Patent Office: 351 Days
• Field of Search: 180/41, 180/54.1, 361/676, 361/690, 361/704, 361/707, 361/710, 363/131, 363/132, 363/141, 363/307
• US Class Current: 363/131
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/02 comprising more than one electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/003 with means for cooling the electrical propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/26 characterised by the motors or the generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/405 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/003 Constructional details, e.g. physical layout, assembly, wiring or busbar connections
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 27/06 using dc to ac converters or inverters H02P27/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20927 Liquid coolant without phase change
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

A power inverter comprises at least a box-shaped housing; and a power module, a smoothing capacitor, a base plate made of a flat plate, and a rotating electric machine control circuit board arranged in order in the housing. The base plate is arranged with the fringes fixed to the inner wall surfaces of the housing, and the smoothing capacitor and rotating electric machine control circuit board are fixed.

Claims

1. A power inverter, comprising:

a power module providing an inverter circuit for inverting DC current supplied from a DC power source to AC current;

a smoothing capacitor module for smoothing the DC current;

a DC bus bar for supplying the DC current to said power module;

an AC bus bar for supplying the AC current to a motor;

a housing for installing said power module and said smoothing capacitor module; and

a terminal box which is located facing a first side wall formed at said housing;

wherein said first side wall provides a first hole in which said DC bus bar penetrates, and a second hole in which said AC bus bar penetrates;

wherein a first wall of said terminal box facing the first side wall provides a third hole which faces the first hole and in which said DC bus bar penetrates, and a fourth hole which faces the second hole and in which said AC bus bar penetrates;

wherein a second wall of said terminal box which is different from the first wall of the terminal box provides a DC power terminal portion for connecting with a DC side cable which connects to the DC power source, and an AC power output portion for connecting with a motor side cable which connects to the motor;

wherein said terminal box provides a partition which separates a space in the terminal box;

wherein said third hole and said DC power terminal portion are formed at a side wall of said terminal box which forms a first space separated by said partition; and

wherein said fourth hole and said AC power output portion are formed at a side wall of said terminal box which forms a second space separated by said partition.

2. The power inverter according to claim 1,

wherein said terminal box provides a noise filter which connects to said DC bus bar in said space in said terminal box.

3. The power inverter according to claim 1,

wherein said terminal box provides a current sensor which proved a hole through which said AC bus bar penetrates in said space in said terminal box.