Load driving device including first and second electric power lines between power supply and electric power conversion device

• US 8,264,098 B2
• Filed: 02/04/2008
• Issued: 09/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Yoshinaga, Fumitaka, Takamatsu, Naoyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Barnie, Rexford
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fauth, Justen
• Application Number:
  US12/514,934
• Publication Number:
  US 20100066166A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,681 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 307/9.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0046 relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0053 relating to fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/10 for monitoring or controlling batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/30 for monitoring or controlling fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0215 Protecting, fastening and routing means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

In a hybrid vehicle, rocker outer reinforcements serving as vehicle side frame members in a vehicle width direction extend in a vehicle front-rear direction. An electric power cable is provided such that a portion thereof along the vehicle front-rear direction is placed along an inner side surface of the rocker outer reinforcement in the vehicle width direction. An electric power cable is provided such that a portion thereof along the vehicle front-rear direction is placed along an inner side surface of the rocker outer reinforcement in the vehicle width direction. Further, each of the electric power cables is placed in a space portion formed between the rocker outer reinforcement and a center body pillar serving as an energy absorbing member absorbing energy in the event of a side collision of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A load driving device driving an electric load mounted to a vehicle, comprising:

a power supply;

an electric power conversion device configured to include a switching element and converting electric power between DC power from said power supply and AC power driving said electric load through switching control of said switching element; and

first and second electric power lines forming an electric power supply path between said power supply and said electric power conversion device,

wherein said first electric power line is placed between one electrode of said power supply and said electric power conversion device, and at least a portion along a vehicle front-rear direction of said first electric power line is placed at one side end portion in a vehicle width direction, and

said second electric power line is placed between the other electrode of said power supply and said electric power conversion device, and at least a portion along said vehicle front-rear direction of said second electric power line is placed at the other side end portion in said vehicle width direction.

2. The load driving device according to claim 1, wherein said at least a portion of each of said first and second electric power lines is placed in a space portion formed in a vehicle frame member to extend in said vehicle front-rear direction.

3. The load driving device according to claim 2, wherein said space portion is a gap portion formed between said vehicle frame member and an energy absorbing member absorbing energy in the event of a collision of said vehicle.

4. The load driving device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second electric power lines is placed such that said at least a portion thereof is spirally wound around a vehicle frame member.

5. The load driving device according to claim 1, wherein

said electric load is a motor (M1) for driving a vehicle, and

said power supply and said electric power conversion device are mounted to be separated in a vehicle front-rear direction.

6. The load driving device according to claim 1, wherein the electric power conversion device is configured to boost DC voltage from the power source and convert the boosted DC voltage into an AC voltage.

7. The load driving device according to claim 6, wherein the electric power conversion device is further configured to convert an AC voltage from a motor generator into a DC voltage to charge the power source.

8. The load driving device according to claim 1, wherein said electric load is a motor power output device that transmits power to the vehicle'"'"'s wheels.

9. The load driving device according to claim 1, wherein the electric power conversion device is provided at a front of the vehicle, and the power supply is provided at a rear of the vehicle.

10. The load driving device according to claim 9, wherein the power supply is provided at a rear of the vehicle'"'"'s seats.

11. A load driving device driving an electric load mounted to a vehicle, comprising:

a power supply;

an electric power conversion device configured to include a switching element and converting electric power between DC power from said power supply and AC power driving said electric load through switching control of said switching element; and

first and second electric power lines forming an electric power supply path between said power supply and said electric power conversion device,

wherein said first electric power line is placed between one electrode of said power supply and said electric power conversion device, and at least a portion along a vehicle front-rear direction of said first electric power line is placed at one side end portion in a vehicle vertical direction, and

said second electric power line is placed between the other electrode of said power supply and said electric power conversion device, and at least a portion along said vehicle front-rear direction of said second electric power line is placed at the other side end portion in said vehicle vertical direction.

12. The load driving device according to claim 11, wherein said at least a portion of each of said first and second electric power lines is placed in a space portion formed in a vehicle frame member to extend in said vehicle front-rear direction.

13. The load driving device according to claim 12, wherein said space portion is a gap portion formed between said vehicle frame member and an energy absorbing member absorbing energy in the event of a collision of said vehicle.

14. The load driving device according to claim 11, wherein at least one of said first and second electric power lines is placed such that said at least a portion thereof is spirally wound around a vehicle frame member.

15. The load driving device according to claim 11, wherein the electric power conversion device is configured to boost DC voltage from the power source and convert the boosted DC voltage into an AC voltage.

16. The load driving device according to claim 15, wherein the electric power conversion device is further configured to convert an AC voltage from a motor generator into a DC voltage to charge the power source.

17. The load driving device according to claim 11, wherein said electric load is a motor power output device that transmits power to the vehicle'"'"'s wheels.

18. The load driving device according to claim 11, wherein the electric power conversion device is provided at a front of the vehicle, and the power supply is provided at a rear of the vehicle.

19. The load driving device according to claim 18, wherein the power supply is provided at a rear of the vehicle'"'"'s seats.

20. A load driving device, comprising:

a power supply;

an electric power conversion device configured to include a switching element and converting electric power between DC power from said power supply and AC power driving an electric load through switching control of said switching element; and

first and second electric power lines forming an electric power supply path between said power supply and said electric power conversion device,

wherein said first electric power line is placed between one electrode of said power supply and said electric power conversion device,

said second electric power line is placed between the other electrode of said power supply and said electric power conversion device, and

at least one of said first and second electric power lines is placed such that at least a portion thereof along a longitudinal direction is spirally placed, wherein

said electric load is a motor (M1) for driving a vehicle,

said power supply and said electric power conversion device are mounted to be separated in a vehicle front-rear direction, and

at least one of said first and second electric power lines is placed such that at least a portion thereof along said vehicle front-rear direction is spirally wound around a vehicle frame member.

21. The load driving device according to claim 20, wherein said first electric power line and said second electric power line are placed such that said at least a portion of said first electric power line and said at least a portion of said second electric power line are wound around said vehicle frame member in common, in winding directions opposite to each other.

22. The load driving device according to claim 20, wherein the electric power conversion device is configured to boost DC voltage from the power source and convert the boosted DC voltage into an AC voltage.

23. The load driving device according to claim 22, wherein the electric power conversion device is further configured to convert an AC voltage from a motor generator into a DC voltage to charge the power source.