Reduced size power inverter suitable for a vehicle

• US 8,755,209 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2013
• Issued: 06/17/2014
• 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): Berhane, Adolf
• Assistant Examiner(s): Quddus, Nusrat
• Application Number:
  US13/926,716
• Publication Number:
  US 20130285585A1
• Time in Patent Office: 357 Days
• Field of Search: 180/41, 180/54.1, 361/676, 361/690, 361/704, 361/707, 361/710, 363/133, 363/132, 363/141, 363/307
• US Class Current: 363/141
• 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 for outputting AC current to a motor;

a control circuit board for controlling the motor;

a housing for installing the power module;

a base member for holding the control circuit board;

a cover;

an electric circuit different from the control circuit board; and

a harness connected to the electric circuit,

wherein the housing has a plurality of convex parts on an inner surface thereof,

the base member is supported by end surfaces of the convex parts,

the housing and the base member are made of aluminum,

the housing forms an opening which is closed by the cover,

the control circuit board is placed in a first space which is one of spaces separated by the base member,

the electric circuit is placed in a second space which is the other of spaces separated by the base member,

the base member is formed to look larger than the control circuit board when seen in a direction perpendicular to an opening surface defined by a rim of the opening,

the harness extends from the second space to the first space, and

the harness is placed to overlap the base member when seen in a direction perpendicular to the opening surface.

2. A power inverter, comprising:

a power module for outputting AC current to a motor;

a control circuit board for controlling the motor;

a housing for installing the power module; and

a base member for holding the control circuit board,

wherein the housing has a plurality of convex parts on an inner surface thereof,

the base member is supported by end surfaces of the convex parts,

the housing and the base member are made of aluminum, and

the base member forms a concave at a portion facing to a wiring layer of the control circuit board.

3. A power inverter, comprising:

a power module for outputting AC current to a motor;

a control circuit board for controlling the motor;

a housing for installing the power module;

a base member for holding the control circuit board;

an electric circuit different from the control circuit board; and

a harness connected to the electric circuit,

wherein the housing has a plurality of convex parts on an inner surface thereof,

the base member is supported by end surfaces of the convex parts,

the housing and the base member are made of aluminum, and

the base member has a guide portion for guiding the harness.

4. The power inverter according to claim 3, further comprising a cover,

wherein the housing forms an opening which is closed by the cover,

the base member is formed to look larger than the control circuit board when seen in a direction perpendicular to an opening surface defined by a rim of the opening,

the guide portion is placed on the base member outside the control circuit board when seen in a direction perpendicular to the opening surface.