High-voltage equipment housing and high-voltage connector

• US 20050032404A1
• Filed: 09/22/2003
• Published: 02/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Industries Corporation (Toyota Motor Corporation), Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Kaneko, Masaaki, Kawai, Tatsuya, Inagaki, Masami, Furuta, Norifumi
• Granted Patent: US 7,508,097 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/157
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/003 to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/34 Cabin temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0069 relating to the isolation, e.g. ground fault or leak current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/04 Cutting off the power supply under fault conditions protective devices and circuit arrangements in general H01H; H02H
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/40 for controlling a combination of batteries and fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/518 for holding or embracing several coupling parts, e.g. frames
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/641 by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/713 the switch being a safety switch
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/26 for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

A PCU having an inverter and the like includes a connector electrically connecting the PCU and external equipment located outside the PCU, a safety bar attaching the connector for preventing the connector from being touched, and an ECU detecting that an interlock circuit is opened via an interlock signal line in response to detachment of the safety bar to shut off supply of electric power to the PCU.

Claims

1. A high-voltage equipment housing holding high-voltage equipment therein, comprising:

connection means for making an electrical connection between external equipment located outside said high-voltage equipment housing and said high-voltage equipment;

attaching means for attaching said connection means to prevent a mechanical connection of said connection means from being released by said connection means only; and

changing means for changing a state of the electrical connection between said high-voltage equipment and said external equipment by means of said connection means to a disconnected state in response to detachment of said attaching means.

2. The high-voltage equipment housing according to claim 1, wherein

said changing means includes an interlock circuit attached to said attaching means and a circuit changing said state of the electrical connection to said disconnected state when said interlock circuit opens in response to detachment of said attaching means.

3. The high-voltage equipment housing according to claim 1, further comprising:

an upper lid for preventing said high-voltage equipment from being touched; and

prevention means connected to said attaching means for preventing said upper lid from being attached/detached by said upper lid only.

4. The high-voltage equipment housing according to claim 2, further comprising:

an upper lid for preventing said high-voltage equipment from being touched; and

prevention means connected to said attaching means for preventing said upper lid from being attached/detached by said upper lid only.

5. The high-voltage equipment housing according to claim 1, further comprising holding means for mounting said high-voltage equipment housing on a vehicle.

6. The high-voltage equipment housing according to claim 2, further comprising holding means for mounting said high-voltage equipment housing on a vehicle.

7. The high-voltage equipment housing according to claim 3, further comprising holding means for mounting said high-voltage equipment housing on a vehicle.

8. The high-voltage equipment housing according to claim 4, further comprising holding means for mounting said high-voltage equipment housing on a vehicle.

9. The high-voltage equipment housing according to claim 1, wherein

said connection means is placed at a position touchable by a hand of a person.

10. A high-voltage connector making an electrical connection between high-voltage equipment and another equipment different from said high-voltage equipment, comprising:

connection means for mechanically establishing said electrical connection; and

changing means for changing a state of the electrical connection between said high-voltage equipment and said another equipment to a disconnected state in response to release of the mechanical connection by means of said connection means.

11. The high-voltage connector according to claim 10, wherein

said changing means includes an interlock circuit attached to said connector and a circuit changing said state of the electrical connection to said disconnected state when said interlock circuit opens in response to release of the mechanical connection by said connection means.

12. The high-voltage connector according to claim 10, wherein

said connection means is placed at a position touchable by a hand of a person.

13. A high-voltage equipment housing holding high-voltage equipment therein, comprising:

a connection unit making an electrical connection between external equipment located outside said high-voltage equipment housing and said high-voltage equipment;

an attaching unit attaching said connection unit to prevent a mechanical connection of said connection unit from being released by said connection unit only; and

a changing unit changing a state of the electrical connection between said high-voltage equipment and said external equipment by means of said connection unit to a disconnected state in response to detachment of said attaching unit.

14. The high-voltage equipment housing according to claim 13, wherein

said changing unit includes an interlock circuit attached to said attaching unit and a circuit changing said state of the electrical connection to said disconnected state when said interlock circuit opens in response to detachment of said attaching unit.

15. The high-voltage equipment housing according to claim 13, further comprising:

an upper lid for preventing said high-voltage equipment from being touched; and

a prevention unit connected to said attaching unit to prevent said upper lid from being attached/detached by said upper lid only.

16. The high-voltage equipment housing according to claim 14, further comprising:

an upper lid for preventing said high-voltage equipment from being touched; and

a prevention unit connected to said attaching unit to prevent said upper lid from being attached/detached by said upper lid only.

17. The high-voltage equipment housing according to claim 13, further comprising a holding unit for mounting said high-voltage equipment housing on a vehicle.

18. The high-voltage equipment housing according to claim 14, further comprising a holding unit for mounting said high-voltage equipment housing on a vehicle.

19. The high-voltage equipment housing according to claim 15, further comprising a holding unit for mounting said high-voltage equipment housing on a vehicle.

20. The high-voltage equipment housing according to claim 16, further comprising a holding unit for mounting said high-voltage equipment housing on a vehicle.

21. The high-voltage equipment housing according to claim 13, wherein

said connection unit is placed at a position touchable by a hand of a person.

22. A high-voltage connector making an electrical connection between high-voltage equipment and another equipment different from said high-voltage equipment, comprising:

a connection unit mechanically establishing said electrical connection; and

a changing unit changing a state of the electrical connection between said high-voltage equipment and said another equipment to a disconnected state in response to release of the mechanical connection by means of said connection unit.

23. The high-voltage connector according to claim 22, wherein said changing unit includes an interlock circuit attached to said connector and a circuit changing said state of the electrical connection to said disconnected state when said interlock circuit opens in response to release of the mechanical connection by said connection unit.

24. The high-voltage connector according to claim 22, wherein

said connection unit is placed at a position touchable by a hand of a person.