U.S. patent application number 12/227942 was filed with the patent office on 2010-09-09 for vehicle electric compressor.
This patent application is currently assigned to MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.. Invention is credited to Noriaki Arashi, Yuki Ichise, Manabu Suzuki, Takayuki Watanabe, Ichiro Yogo.
Application Number | 20100226800 12/227942 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40511402 |
Filed Date | 2010-09-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100226800 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ichise; Yuki ; et
al. |
September 9, 2010 |
Vehicle Electric Compressor
Abstract
Provided is a vehicle electric compressor in which damage, such
as damage to the function of an inverter unit or a high-voltage
cable, is less likely to occur even when an external force is
applied. A vehicle electric compressor (10) in which a compressing
mechanism for compressing and discharging intake fluid and an
electric motor for driving the compressing mechanism are
accommodated in a housing (11), and an inverter unit (14) for
rotational control of an electric motor is disposed on the outside
of the housing (11), wherein a cover member (20) for protecting the
inverter unit (14) from an external force is provided on the
outside of the inverter unit (14).
Inventors: |
Ichise; Yuki; (Aichi-ken,
JP) ; Watanabe; Takayuki; (Aichi-ken, JP) ;
Suzuki; Manabu; (Aichi-ken, JP) ; Yogo; Ichiro;
(Aichi-ken, JP) ; Arashi; Noriaki; (Aichi-ken,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WESTERMAN, HATTORI, DANIELS & ADRIAN, LLP
1250 CONNECTICUT AVENUE, NW, SUITE 700
WASHINGTON
DC
20036
US
|
Assignee: |
MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES,
LTD.
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
40511402 |
Appl. No.: |
12/227942 |
Filed: |
September 25, 2008 |
PCT Filed: |
September 25, 2008 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2008/067324 |
371 Date: |
December 3, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
417/410.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F04B 53/16 20130101;
B60H 1/00978 20130101; B60H 2001/00621 20130101; F04B 35/04
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
417/410.5 |
International
Class: |
F04B 35/04 20060101
F04B035/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 28, 2007 |
JP |
2007-255277 |
Claims
1. A vehicle electric compressor in which a compressing mechanism
for compressing and discharging intake fluid and an electric motor
for driving the compressing mechanism are accommodated in a
housing, and an inverter unit for rotational control of the
electric motor is disposed on the outside of the housing, wherein a
cover member for protecting the inverter unit from an external
force is provided on the outside of the inverter unit.
2. A vehicle electric compressor according to claim 1, wherein the
cover member has a protection portion for a high-voltage cable that
is connected to the inverter unit.
3. A vehicle electric compressor in which a compressing mechanism
for compressing and discharging intake fluid and an electric motor
for driving the compressing mechanism are accommodated in a
housing, and an inverter unit for rotational control of the
electric motor is disposed on the outside of the housing, wherein a
leg protruding from the housing is provided for secure mounting,
and a stress concentration portion is provided at boss at an end of
the leg.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle electric
compressor used for a vehicle air conditioner.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] With conventional vehicles, such as cars, vehicle air
conditioners are widely used for providing a comfortable interior
environment for vehicle cabins by performing air conditioning. Such
vehicle air conditioners require compressors for circulating
refrigerants.
[0003] Recently, electric cars and hybrid cars have been developed,
and inverter-controlled vehicle electric compressors are used for
the vehicle air conditioners provided in such vehicles.
[0004] Some vehicle electric compressors using inverter control are
configured such that a scroll compressing mechanism and an electric
motor are accommodated in a housing, and an inverter unit for
rotational control of the electric motor is disposed outside the
housing. With such a vehicle electric compressor, in order to
enhance cooling efficiency and to reduce the size of an inverter
circuit, a technique in which heat-generating components of the
inverter circuit are separately placed at corner spaces in a
circuit case in such a manner as to cover an end of the housing has
been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0005] In addition, with the electric compressors used for vehicle
air conditioners, in order to protect a motor driving circuit from
an externally applied impact, a technique for disposing the motor
driving circuit at a portion opposing an object to be attached in a
compressor housing is disclosed (for example, see Patent Document
2).
[0006] Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application,
Publication No. 2006-274971 (see FIGS. 1 and 2)
[0007] Patent Document 2: The Publication of Japanese Patent No.
3804589 (see FIG. 3)
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
[0008] With a vehicle electric compressor installed in a vehicle
air conditioner, because an inverter unit is integrally formed
therewith, and fuses are not provided in the vehicle or in the
compressor, when an external force is applied in the event of, for
example, a vehicle collision, the function of the inverter unit may
be damaged due to damage to, for example, inverter components or
high-voltage cables, which is undesirable.
[0009] The present invention has been conceived in light of the
circumstances described above, and an object thereof is to provide
a vehicle electric compressor in which an inverter unit and a
high-voltage cable are less likely to be damaged even when an
external force is applied.
[0010] To solve the problems described above, the present invention
employs the following solutions.
[0011] A first aspect of a vehicle electric compressor according to
the present invention is a vehicle electric compressor in which a
compressing mechanism for compressing and discharging intake fluid
and an electric motor for driving the compressing mechanism are
accommodated in a housing, and an inverter unit for rotational
control of the electric motor is disposed on the outside of the
housing, wherein a cover member for protecting the inverter unit
from an external force is provided on the outside of the inverter
unit.
[0012] According to such a vehicle electric compressor, because the
cover member for protecting the inverter unit from the external
force is provided on the outside of the inverter unit, the inverter
unit can be protected from an external force applied when, for
example, a vehicle collision occurs, thus preventing damage.
[0013] In the first aspect described above, the cover member
preferably has a protection portion for a high-voltage cable that
is connected to the inverter unit. Accordingly, the high-voltage
cable can be protected from an external force applied when, for
example, a vehicle collision occurs, thus preventing cable
breakage.
[0014] A vehicle electric compressor according to a second aspect
of the present invention is a vehicle electric compressor in which
a compressing mechanism for compressing and discharging intake
fluid and an electric motor for driving the compressing mechanism
are accommodated in a housing, and an inverter unit for rotational
control of the electric motor is disposed on the outside of the
housing, wherein a leg protruding from the housing is provided for
secure mounting, and a stress concentration portion is provided at
a boss at an end of the leg.
[0015] According to such a vehicle electric compressor, because the
leg protruding from the housing is provided for secure mounting,
and the stress concentration portion is provided at the boss at the
end of the leg, if an external force is applied when, for example,
a vehicle collision occurs, the stress concentration portion of the
boss can be made to break before the base of the leg protruding
from the housing.
[0016] According to the present invention described above, because
the cover member for protecting the inverter unit from an external
force is provided, the inverter unit can be protected from an
external force applied when, for example, a vehicle collision
occurs, thus preventing damage. In addition, by providing the
protection portion of the high-voltage cable on the cover member,
the high-voltage cable can be protected from an external force
applied when, for example, a vehicle collision occurs, thus
preventing cable breakage.
[0017] Accordingly, even when an external force is applied in the
event of, for example, a vehicle collision, it is possible to
prevent the function of the inverter unit being degraded due to
damage to, for example, the inverter unit or the high-voltage
cable, or to prevent secondary damage due to, for example, the
inverter unit or the high-voltage cable.
[0018] Furthermore, because the leg, which protrudes from the
housing and which is used for secure mounting, is provided with the
stress concentration portion at the boss at the end thereof, if an
external force is applied when, for example, a vehicle collision
occurs, the stress concentration portion of the boss can be made to
break before the base of the leg protruding from the housing.
Accordingly, when the leg disposed close to the inverter unit is
broken at the base thereof, it is possible to reduce and prevent
the risk of damage due to collision of the damaged leg with the
inverter unit.
[0019] In this way, according to the present invention described
above, even when an external force is applied, because damage, such
as damage to the function of the inverter unit and the high-voltage
cable, is less likely to occur, a notable advantage is afforded in
that it is possible to provide a vehicle electric compressor with
improved reliability.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0020] FIG. 1 is a side view showing a first embodiment of a
vehicle electric compressor according to the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an external schematic
example of a vehicle electric compressor.
[0022] FIG. 3 is a side view showing a modification of the vehicle
electric compressor shown in FIG. 1.
[0023] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a stress concentration
portion provided at a boss at an end of a leg, as a second
embodiment of a vehicle electric compressor according to the
present invention.
[0024] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a first modification of
the stress concentration portion shown in FIG. 4.
[0025] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a second modification
of the stress concentration portion shown in FIG. 4.
EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE SIGNS
[0026] 10: vehicle electric compressor (compressor) [0027] 11:
housing [0028] 12: compression unit [0029] 13: motor unit [0030]
14: inverter unit [0031] 15, 16, 17: leg [0032] 20, 20A: cover
member [0033] 21: cable protection portion [0034] 30: high-voltage
cable [0035] 40, 40A, 40B: stress concentration portion [0036] 41:
through-hole [0037] 42: notch [0038] 43: step
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0039] An embodiment of a vehicle electric compressor according to
the present invention will be described below with reference to the
drawings.
[0040] In a first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a vehicle
electric compressor (hereinafter, referred to as "compressor") 10,
which is a horizontal sealed type, accommodates a compressing
mechanism (not shown) and an electric motor (not shown) inside a
housing 11. The compressing mechanism in this case is, for example,
a scroll compressing mechanism; however, it is not particularly
limited thereto. The compressor 10 shown in FIG. 2 illustrates the
state before attaching a cover member 20 shown in FIG. 1.
[0041] The housing 11 is a hollow member formed by, for example,
aluminum die-casting, in which a compression unit 12 accommodating
the compressing mechanism and a motor unit 13 accommodating the
electric motor are integrated.
[0042] In addition, an inverter unit 14 for rotational control of
the electric motor is disposed in the housing 11. The inverter unit
14 accommodates components, such as a control board and a
heat-generating component (not shown), in a storage casing 14a
provided above the housing 11, in particular, above the motor unit
13 close to the electric motor. In addition, the storage casing
14a, formed by aluminum die-casting, is integrated with the housing
11, and a lid (not shown) is removably attached to an opening
provided on an upper surface thereof.
[0043] In addition, legs 15, 16, and 17 for securing the compressor
10 at predetermined positions are provided on the housing 11 so as
to protrude from the surfaces of the housing. In the example shown
in the drawing, two legs 15 and 16 that are made to protrude at the
lower surface side of the housing 11 at the front and rear thereof,
and one leg 17 that is made to protrude at an adjacent position in
front of the inverter unit 14 above the housing 11 are provided;
however, it is not limited thereto.
[0044] The above-described compressor 10 has the cover member 20
that is provided on the outside of the inverter unit 14 to protect
the inverter unit 14 from an external force. The cover member 20 is
a member formed by bending, for example, a steel plate, and is
attached in close contact with the entirety or substantially the
entirety of the outer surface of the storage casing 14a with, for
example, a bolt (not shown) in such a manner as to cover a corner
peripheral of the front end side of the inverter unit 14
(compression unit 12 side).
[0045] In addition, the region for attaching the cover member 20 to
protect the inverter unit 14 may be appropriately changed so as to
minimize it from the viewpoint of, for example, weight reduction of
the vehicle, considering the influence of external forces which
vary according to the circumstances around the area where the
compressor 10 is disposed (structure, placement of devices,
etc.).
[0046] The cover member 20 shown in FIG. 1 is provided to cope
with, for example, damage received by the inverter unit 14 due to
interference with the leg 17 protruding at the compression unit 12
side.
[0047] In particular, because the cover member 20 is attached in
close contact with the storage casing 14a, the mechanical
characteristics of the materials of the storage casing 14a, formed
by aluminum die-casting, and the cover member 20, formed of a steel
plate, complement each other, making it possible to increase the
strength against the external force. Accordingly, even when an
external force generated in the event of, for example, a vehicle
collision is received, it is possible to prevent damage by
protecting the inverter unit 14 because the cover member 20 is
attached. In other words, by attaching the cover member 20, it is
possible to increase the strength of the inverter unit 14 against
an external force; therefore, the reliability and the safety of the
inverter unit 14 can be increased.
[0048] In addition, as a modification of the above-described cover
member 20, for example, like a cover member 20A shown in FIG. 3, a
cable protection portion 21 for protecting a high-voltage cable 30
connected to the inverter unit 14 from an external force may be
provided. The cable protection portion 21 is provided such that the
above-described cover member 20 is extended along either side of
the housing 11 to surround the area around the high-voltage cable
30 connected at the bottom of the housing 11 and a connecting unit
31 thereof.
[0049] By employing the cover member 20A provided with such a cable
protection portion 21, even when an external force generated in the
event of, for example, a vehicle collision is received, the
inverter unit 14 and the high-voltage cable 30 connected to the
inverter unit 14 can be protected from the external force to
prevent damage or breakage. In other words, by attaching the cover
member 20A, it is possible to increase the strength of the inverter
unit 14 against the external force, and moreover, to prevent the
external force from directly acting on the high-voltage cable 30
and the connecting unit 31 by means of the cable protection portion
21. Accordingly, the reliability and the safety of the inverter
unit 14 can be improved.
[0050] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be
described based on FIG. 4.
[0051] In this embodiment, for example, a stress concentration
portion 40 is provided at a boss 17a at an end of the leg 17 used
for secure mounting. The boss 17a in this case is a portion in
which is formed a through-hole 17b through which passes a
rod-shaped supporting member (not shown), such as a bolt or a pin,
for securing the compressor 10 to a predetermined position of a
vehicle body.
[0052] The stress concentration portion 40 shown in FIG. 4 is
provided, at an appropriate position of the boss 17a, with a
through-hole 41 reaching the through-hole 17b. With such a stress
concentration portion 40, when the external force is applied to the
compressor 10, the boss 17a is made to break first before the base
of the leg 17. More specifically, when the external force is
applied to the compressor 10, before the base of the leg 17 is
broken and separated from the housing 11, the boss 17a, provided
with the stress concentration portion 40 to reduce the breaking
strength, is broken and released from being securely supported by
the rod-shaped supporting member. In other words, in the compressor
10 that receives the external force, because the boss 17a provided
with the stress concentration portion 40 is broken before the base
is broken and is released from being securely supported, the leg 17
moves together with the compressor 10 and the inverter unit 14;
therefore, it is possible to prevent the leg 17, which is broken
first, from colliding with the inverter unit 14 and causing
damage.
[0053] In addition to the through-hole 41 provided in the boss 17a,
the modifications described below can be applied to the
above-described stress concentration portion 40.
[0054] A stress concentration portion 40A of a first modification
shown in FIG. 5 has a notch 42 in an axial direction in an outer
circumferential surface of the boss 17a. As a result, because a
thin-walled portion is formed in the boss 17a by the notch 42,
stress concentration of the external force occurs at the notch 42,
resulting in the notch 42 being easily broken.
[0055] A stress concentration portion 40B of a second modification
shown in FIG. 6 has a step 43 formed by cutting out the boss 17a to
form a thin-walled portion where stress concentration occurs.
[0056] In this way, the through-hole 41 is formed in the boss 17a
at the end of the leg 17 that is used for secure mounting and that
protrudes from the housing 11, or the stress concentration portions
40, 40A, and 40B in which the thin-walled portion is formed by the
notch 42 or the step 43 are provided. Accordingly, when an external
force is applied in the event of, for example, a vehicle collision,
it is possible to break the stress concentration portions 40, 40A,
and 40B of the boss 17a before the base of the leg 17 protruding
from the housing 11 is broken.
[0057] The above-described stress concentration portions 40, 40A,
and 40B are not limited to the leg 17; they are also applied to the
legs 15 and 16 provided below the housing 11.
[0058] Furthermore, regarding the formation of the stress
concentration portions 40, 40A, and 40B, in addition to the
modifications shown in the drawings, various modifications are
possible, such as a combination of the through-hole and the
thin-walled portion.
[0059] In this way, by providing the cover member 20 for protecting
the inverter unit 14 from an external force, the inverter unit 14
can be protected from an external force applied when, for example,
a vehicle collision occurs, thus preventing damage. In addition,
when using the cover member 20A provided with the protection
portion 21 for the high-voltage cable 30, the high-voltage cable 30
can be protected from an external force applied when, for example,
a vehicle collision occurs, thus preventing cable breakage.
Accordingly, even when an external force is applied in the event
of, for example, a vehicle collision, it is possible to prevent the
function of the inverter unit being degraded due to damage to, for
example, the inverter unit 14 or the high-voltage cable 30, or to
prevent secondary damage due to damage to, for example, the
inverter unit 14 or the high-voltage cable 30.
[0060] Moreover, because the leg 17 or the like, which protrudes
from the housing 11 and which is used for secure mounting, is
provided with the stress concentration portion 40, 40A, or 40B at
the boss 17a at the end portion side, if an external force is
applied when, for example, a vehicle collision occurs, the stress
concentration portion 40, 40A, or 40B of the boss 17a can be made
to break before the base of the leg 17 protruding from the housing
11. Accordingly, when the leg 17 disposed close to the inverter
unit 14 is broken at the base thereof, it is possible to reduce and
prevent the risk of damage due to a collision of the damaged leg 17
with the inverter unit 14.
[0061] The present invention is not restricted to the embodiment
described above. Suitable modifications can be made so long as they
do not depart from the spirit of the present invention.
* * * * *