JP7508833B2 - Electrical component support structure - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an electrical component support structure.

Vehicles such as electric vehicles are equipped with a battery pack that supplies power to a motor for driving, and the battery pack housing contains electrical control components and electrical power conversion components along with a battery module. Therefore, in order to reduce the size of the battery pack while still allowing for good cooling of the electrical components, it is necessary to improve the cooling efficiency between the electrical components. A conventional technology of this type is described in Patent Document 1. In Patent Document 1, when the battery monitoring device is attached to a horizontal surface with a bracket, the board having the low-voltage section of the battery monitoring device is positioned so that it overlaps with a passage section formed in the bracket through which air passes, as viewed from the normal direction of the board surface. As a result, the device described in Patent Document 1 preferentially and intensively removes heat from the high-voltage section by the air flow generated in the passage section.

Patent No. 6323327

However, in the conventional technology described in Patent Document 1, when an electrical component that generates a large amount of heat, such as an inverter, is placed adjacent to an electrical component such as a battery monitoring device, the heat generated by the electrical component that generates a large amount of heat is transferred to the other adjacent electrical components through the air, and there is a risk that the temperature of the electrical components will rise. This problem also occurs when placing other electrical components that generate less heat than the electrical component whose temperature rise is to be suppressed adjacent to the electrical component, and the amount of air supplied to the electrical component is less than the amount of air supplied to the other electrical components.

The present invention was made in light of the above-mentioned circumstances, and aims to provide an electrical component support structure that can improve the cooling efficiency of electrical components.

The present invention provides an electrical component support structure comprising: a mounting surface; a bracket having an attachment portion attached to the mounting surface; and a support portion supporting a first electrical component, wherein the first electrical component is supported on the mounting surface via the bracket, wherein the mounting surface and the first electrical component are arranged facing each other in a facing direction perpendicular to a vertical direction; a second electrical component is arranged adjacent to the first electrical component in an adjacent direction perpendicular to the vertical direction and the facing direction; and the bracket has a raised portion that rises in the facing direction along a first side surface of the first electrical component adjacent to the second electrical component and a second side surface extending in the adjacent direction, and a guide passage portion that, together with the raised portion, forms a guide passage that guides air flowing from the second electrical component in the adjacent direction to bypass below the first electrical component.

In this way, the present invention provides an electrical component support structure that can improve the cooling efficiency of electrical components.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a vehicle equipped with a battery pack having an electrical component support structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the battery pack shown in FIG. 1 taken along the line II-II. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the battery pack shown in FIG. 2 taken along the line III-III. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a vertical wall of a battery pack having an electrical component support structure according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a bottom view of a bracket and a battery controller of a battery pack having an electrical component support structure according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a front view of a bracket and a battery controller of a battery pack having an electrical component support structure according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a front view of a bracket of a battery pack having an electrical component support structure according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a bracket of a battery pack having an electrical component support structure according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a rear view of a bracket and a battery controller of a battery pack having an electrical component support structure according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a right side view of a bracket and a battery controller of a battery pack having an electrical component support structure according to a modified example of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a front view of a bracket and a battery controller of a battery pack having an electrical component support structure according to a modified example of the present invention.

The electrical component support structure according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a bracket having a mounting surface, a mounting portion attached to the mounting surface, and a support portion that supports a first electrical component, and the first electrical component is supported on the mounting surface via the bracket. A second electrical component is disposed adjacent to the first electrical component, and the bracket has a raised portion that rises in the facing direction in which the mounting surface and the first electrical component face each other along a first side surface of the first electrical component that is adjacent to the second electrical component and a second side surface that extends in the adjacent direction in which the second electrical component and the bracket are adjacent, and a guide passage portion that forms a guide passage together with the raised portion to guide the air flowing from the second electrical component in the adjacent direction so as to bypass the lower part of the first electrical component. As a result, the electrical component support structure according to one embodiment of the present invention can improve the cooling efficiency of the electrical components.

A battery pack having an electrical component support structure according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In Figs. 1 to 11, the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis indicate the front-rear, left-right, and up-down directions of the battery pack when installed in a vehicle. The front of the battery pack is the positive direction of the X-axis, the right of the battery pack is the positive direction of the Y-axis, and the top of the battery pack is the positive direction of the Z-axis. The arrows on the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis indicate the positive direction. In each drawing, parts hidden behind other members are indicated by dashed lines, and parts not hidden are indicated by solid lines.

Figures 1 to 11 are diagrams showing a battery pack having an electrical component support structure according to one embodiment of the present invention. In Figure 1, the battery pack 10 is housed in a recess 2B formed in a rear floor panel 2A behind a rear seat 2E of a vehicle body 2 of a vehicle 1. The rear floor panel 2A forms a luggage compartment together with a side panel 2C forming the side surface of the vehicle body 2 and a rear panel 2D forming the rear surface of the vehicle body.

In FIG. 3, the battery pack 10 includes a first electrical component 14, a second electrical component 13, and a cooling fan 12 that exchanges cooling air between the outside and inside of the battery pack 10. The first electrical component 14 is, for example, a battery controller that controls or monitors the charging and discharging of the battery module 11. The second electrical component 13 is, for example, an inverter that converts the power from the battery module 11.

In Figures 2 and 3, the battery pack 10 includes a battery case 20. The battery case 20 houses a first electrical component 14 and a second electrical component 13. The battery case 20 is made up of an upper case 21 on the upper side and a lower case 22 on the lower side.

In FIG. 2, four battery modules 11 are arranged in the vehicle width direction inside the battery case 20. Each battery module 11 is composed of a battery pack in which multiple cells are electrically connected. The four battery modules 11 are arranged close to the end (right end) side of the battery case 20 in the positive direction of the Y axis. Therefore, a space is formed in the area on the end (left end) side of the battery case 20 in the negative direction of the Y axis to arrange the first electrical component 14 and the second electrical component 13.

In FIG. 1, the cooling fan 12 is disposed on the upper surface of the corner (left end and rear end) of the battery case 20 in the negative direction of the X-axis and Y-axis. In this embodiment, the cooling fan 12 supplies air taken in from the outside of the battery case 20 to the inside of the battery case 20. The air supplied to the inside of the battery case 20 by the cooling fan 12 is distributed to the second electrical component 13 side and the upper surface side of each battery module 11 by branch ducts (not shown).

The air distributed to the second electrical component 13 and the battery module 11 is then exhausted from an exhaust port (not shown) provided in the battery case 20 or a gap in the battery case 20. Each battery module 11 has an air vent that penetrates in the vertical direction. Therefore, the air supplied to each battery module 11 from the branch duct passes through the internal space of each battery module 11 from the upper end of the air vent, then flows from the lower end of the air vent to the bottom side of the battery case 20, then flows along the bottom of the battery case 20 in the X-axis direction or Y-axis direction, and then is exhausted to the outside of the battery case 20 through the exhaust port or gap. In the process, a part of the air flowing from the lower end of each battery module 11 flows to the first electrical component 14 side. The cooling fan 12 may operate to exhaust the air taken in from inside the battery case 20 to the outside of the battery case 20. In this case, the air outside the battery case 20 is supplied into the battery case 20 through the exhaust port or gap.

In FIG. 3, the first electrical component 14 and the second electrical component 13 are arranged on the end (front end) side of the battery case 20 in the positive direction of the X-axis. The first electrical component 14 and the second electrical component 13 are arranged next to each other in the Y-axis direction.

The second electrical component 13 has a main body 13A and a heat dissipation section 13B provided at the bottom of the main body 13A. The heat dissipation section 13B is composed of multiple fins, and cools the main body 13A by exchanging heat with the air taken in from the branch duct. The air that passes through the heat dissipation section 13B of the second electrical component 13 hits the side wall of the battery case 20, and some of the air flows in the Y-axis direction toward the first electrical component 14. The amount of air supplied to the second electrical component 13 is greater than the amount of air supplied to the battery module 11.

In Figures 3 and 4, the battery pack 10 has a flat mounting surface 23 extending in the Z-axis and Y-axis directions near the front side wall.

The battery pack 10 includes a bracket 30, and the first electrical component 14 is supported on the mounting surface 23 via the bracket 30. The bracket 30 includes mounting portions 31A, 31B, and 31C that are attached to the mounting surface 23, and support portions 33A and 33B that support the first electrical component 14. The bracket 30 also includes a flat facing portion 36 between the support portions 33A and 33B that faces the first electrical component 14.

The facing portion 36 is provided with a recessed portion 32 that is recessed toward the mounting surface 23 in the X-axis direction. The recessed portion 32 is provided with an attachment portion 31C that is attached to the mounting surface 23. In this way, the bracket 30 is attached to the mounting surface 23 at the three attachment portions 31A, 31B, and 31C, and supports the first electrical component 14 at the two support portions 33A and 33B.

In Figures 2 and 3, the second electrical component 13 is disposed adjacent to the first electrical component 14. The second electrical component 13 generates more heat than the first electrical component 14. The second electrical component 13 is, for example, an inverter. The amount of heat generated by the battery module 11 is greater than the amount of heat generated by the first electrical component 14.

In FIG. 6, the first electrical component 14 has a first side surface 14D adjacent to the second electrical component 13, and a second side surface 14E extending in the adjacent direction (Y-axis direction) in which the second electrical component 13 and the bracket 30 are adjacent to each other.

In FIG. 6, the bracket 30 has a raised portion and a raised portion 34A as a first raised portion, and the raised portion 34A is raised along the first side surface 14D and the second side surface 14E in the facing direction (X-axis direction) in which the mounting surface 23 and the first electrical component 14 face each other.

In Figures 5, 7, and 8, the bracket 30 has a guide passage portion 35, which, together with the raised portion 34, forms a guide passage 38 that guides the air flowing from the second electrical component 13 in the adjacent direction so that it detours below the first electrical component 14. The raised portion 34A and the raised portion 34B, which serves as a second raised portion described below, together constitute the raised portion 34. In Figure 5, the arrow 51 indicates the path of the air passing through the guide passage portion 35.

In Figures 5, 7, and 8, the side of the second electrical component 13 in the adjacent direction (Y-axis direction) is one end, and the side opposite the second electrical component 13 in the adjacent direction is the other end. The bracket 30 has inclined portions 35A and 35B that are inclined from one end to the other end so as to gradually approach the mounting surface 23 in the facing direction.

In FIG. 7, the raised portion 34A has a fan-shaped portion 39 that rises so as to gradually widen the width W of the guide passage portion 35 upward in a fan-like shape downstream of the inclined portion 35B. Here, the width W of the guide passage portion 35 is in the Z-axis direction.

In FIG. 6, the first electrical component 14 has a main body 14A and legs 14B and 14C connected to supports 33A and 33B. The other end of the sectorial portion 39 is located outside the range facing the main body 14A in the facing direction (X-axis direction). In other words, the other end of the sectorial portion 39 in FIG. 6 (positive Y-axis direction) does not face the main body 14A in the facing direction, and is located outside the main body 14A.

In Figures 7 and 8, the inclined portion 35A has a first inclined portion 35A and an inclined portion 35B provided on the other end side of the first inclined portion 35A. The dimension of the inclined portion 35A in the facing direction is formed to be larger than the dimension of the inclined portion 35B in the facing direction. The fan-shaped portion 39 is disposed downstream of the first inclined portion 35A. Here, the dimension of the inclined portion 35A or the inclined portion 35B in the facing direction corresponds to the height difference (depth) of the inclined portion 35A or the inclined portion 35B in Figure 7.

In FIG. 5, a first space 37 is provided between the support parts 33A, 33B and the mounting surface 23. The first space 37 communicates with other spaces in the battery case 20, and cooling air flows through it. In FIG. 5, the arrow 52 indicates the path of the air passing through the first space 37.

In Figures 6, 7, and 8, the bracket 30 has a raised portion 34B as a second raised portion that rises from the mounting portions 31A, 31B, and 31C toward the passage portion. This raised portion 34B rises in a direction that intersects with the inclination direction of the raised portion 34A as the first raised portion.

In FIG. 9, of the support parts 33A and 33B, the support part 33B, which is the one-end support part provided on one end side of the raised part 34, has a fixing member 40 made of a bolt, nut, or the like disposed on the mounting surface 23 side. The first electrical component 14 is supported on the support parts 33A and 33B via the fixing member 40.

In the above embodiment, the second electrical component 13 is set to generate more heat than the first electrical component 14, but this is not limited to the above. For example, if the temperature of the air surrounding the second electrical component 13 is more likely to rise than the temperature of the air surrounding the first electrical component 14 due to the amount of air supplied to the first electrical component 14 being less than the amount of air supplied to the second electrical component 13, or the flow rate of the air supplied to the first electrical component 14 being faster than the flow rate of the air supplied to the second electrical component 13, an electrical component that generates the same amount of heat as the first electrical component 14 or a lower amount of heat than the first electrical component 14 may be used as the second electrical component 13.

As described above, in this embodiment, the second electrical component 13 is disposed adjacent to the first electrical component 14. The bracket 30 has a first side surface 14D adjacent to the second electrical component 13 among the sides of the first electrical component 14, a second side surface 14E extending in the adjacent direction (Y-axis direction) in which the second electrical component 13 and the bracket 30 are adjacent, and a raised portion 34A that rises in the facing direction (X-axis direction) in which the mounting surface 23 and the first electrical component 14 face each other. The bracket 30 also has a guide passage portion 35 that, together with the raised portion 34, forms a guide passage 38 that guides the air flowing from the second electrical component 13 in the adjacent direction so as to bypass the lower part of the first electrical component 14.

As a result, when the second electrical component 13 becomes hotter than the first electrical component 14, the hot air heated by the heat generated by the second electrical component 13 and flowing around the first electrical component 14 flows in an adjacent direction away from the second electrical component 13, bypassing the bottom of the first electrical component 14 and along the guide passage 38 formed by the lower edge 34C of the raised portion 34 of the bracket 30 and the side surface 35C of the guide passage portion 35, as shown by arrow 53 in FIG. 7. This makes it possible to suppress the temperature rise of the first electrical component 14. As a result, the cooling efficiency of the first electrical component 14 can be improved.

In addition, in this embodiment, when the side of the second electrical component 13 in the adjacent direction is defined as one end side, and the side opposite the second electrical component 13 in the adjacent direction is defined as the other end side, the bracket 30 has inclined portions 35A and 35B that are inclined from the one end side toward the other end side so as to gradually approach the mounting surface 23 side in the facing direction.

This allows the air around the second electrical component 13 that flows along the raised portion 34 to be gradually guided away from the first electrical component 14 along the inclined portions 35A and 35B from one end to the other end.

In addition, the amount of space through which the air around the second electrical component 13 can flow in the facing direction from the inclined portions 35A and 35B is increased, so the flow speed of the air around the second electrical component 13 flowing along the raised portion 34 can be increased, and convection of the air around the second electrical component 13 along the raised portion 34 can be suppressed.

As a result, more air around the second electrical component 13 can flow toward the first electrical component 14, preventing the temperature of the first electrical component 14 from rising.

In addition, in this embodiment, the raised portion 34A has a fan-shaped portion 39 that rises so as to gradually widen the width of the guide passage portion 35 upward in a fan-like shape downstream of the inclined portions 35A and 35B.

As a result, a portion of the air around the second electrical component 13 that has been guided to the inclined portion 35B along the raised portion 34A can be guided upward along the shape of the sectorial portion 39 as shown by arrow 53 in FIG. 7, while being guided to the other end side (the other end side on the Y axis) of the guide passage portion 35. In addition, as shown by arrow 60 in FIG. 8, the sectorial portion 39 can collect high-temperature air that has risen from below, guide it to the recessed portion 32 above the raised portion 34, and discharge it upward through the recessed portion 32. This can prevent high-temperature air from accumulating around the lower portion of the first electrical component 14.

As a result, compared to when the passage width on the downstream side of the guide passage section 35 is widened downward, the flow speed of the air around the second electrical component 13 flowing through the guide passage 38 can be increased while preventing the vertical dimension of the bracket 30 from increasing. This prevents the air around the second electrical component 13 from stagnating in the guide passage 38, and prevents the temperature of the first electrical component 14 from rising.

In this embodiment, the first electrical component 14 has a main body 14A and legs 14B and 14C that are connected to the supports 33A and 33B. The other end of the sector-shaped portion 39 is positioned outside the range that faces the main body 14A in the facing direction.

This allows the air flowing along the fan-shaped portion 39 to be guided in an adjacent direction away from the second electrical component 13.

In this embodiment, the dimension of the inclined portion 35A as the first inclined portion in the facing direction is larger than the dimension of the inclined portion 35B as the second inclined portion in the facing direction. Also, the fan-shaped portion 39 is disposed downstream of the inclined portion 35A.

This allows the high-temperature air flowing in from around the second electrical component 13 to be guided along the inclined portions 35A and 35B in a direction away from the second electrical component 13, and then prevents some of the air flowing around the second electrical component 13 along the fan-shaped portion 39 from being guided toward the first electrical component 14.

In addition, in this embodiment, a first space 37 is provided between the support portions 33A and 33B and the mounting surface 23.

This allows a portion of the hot air around the second electrical component 13 to be guided to the first space 37 between the bracket 30 and the mounting surface 23. The air guided to the first space 37 then flows behind the bracket 30 (the mounting surface 23 side) to the other end in the Y-axis direction and upward in the Z-axis direction (see arrow 57), as shown by arrows 55 and 56 in FIG. 7, before moving away from the first electrical component 14. This prevents hot air from being guided from the second electrical component 13 to the first electrical component 14 side of the bracket 30, and prevents the temperature of the first electrical component 14 from rising.

In addition, in this embodiment, the bracket 30 has a raised portion 34B that rises from the mounting portions 31A, 31B, and 31C toward the guide passage portion 35. The raised portion 34B rises in a direction that intersects with the inclination direction of the raised portion 34A.

As a result, the air (see arrow 58 in FIG. 7) that flows from the periphery of the second electrical component 13 along the lower edge 34C of the raised portion 34A and then separates downward from the raised portion 34A can be guided along the raised portion 34B in a direction away from the second electrical component 13 (the other end side in the Y-axis direction) (see arrow 54 in FIG. 7). This makes it possible to prevent the high-temperature air from accumulating in the guide passage 38, and to prevent the temperature of the first electrical component 14 from increasing. Here, the arrow 58 is a straight line along the lower edge 34C of the curved raised portion 34A on the left end side (the end side in the negative Y-axis direction), and indicates the direction in which the air that has separated from the lower edge 34C of the raised portion 34A will move. In addition, the air that has not separated from the lower edge 34C of the raised portion 34A flows along the surfaces of the two inclined portions 35A and 35B and the fan-shaped portion 39, as shown by the arrow 53.

In addition, the air around the second electrical component 13 that is guided from one end of the raised portion 34B can be guided along this raised portion 34B to the other end, preventing hot air from flowing toward the first electrical component 14.

In addition, in this embodiment, the first electrical component 14 is supported on the support portion 33B via a fixing member 40 arranged on the mounting surface 23 side of the support portion 33B serving as the one-end support portion.

As a result, the fixing member 40 closes the gap between the raised portion 34 and the mounting surface 23 at one end side of the raised portion 34. Therefore, the fixing member 40 can block the high-temperature air that attempts to flow from one end side of the raised portion 34 into the gap (space) between the raised portion 34 and the mounting surface 23, and the high-temperature air can be prevented from passing through the raised portion 34 and transferring heat from the raised portion 34 to the first electrical component 14.

A bracket having the same function as bracket 30 may be provided integrally with first electrical component 14 itself. In other words, bracket 30 may not only be configured as a separate component as in this embodiment, but may also be configured integrally with other components such as first electrical component 14.

The location of the battery pack 10 where the bracket 30 is placed is not limited to the front side of the battery pack 10 as illustrated in this embodiment, but may be any of the left and right side, rear, top, or bottom. In other words, the mounting surface 23 may be placed on any of the left, right, front, or back side or the upper limit surface of the battery pack 10.

Also, as in the modified example shown in Figures 10 and 11, the first electrical component 14 may be arranged so as to overlap the raised portion 34A in the Y-axis direction and the Z-axis direction. In Figures 10 and 11, the first electrical component 14 is arranged on the facing portion 36 of the bracket 30 so as to overlap the raised portion 34A in the negative Y-axis direction (left) and the negative Z-axis direction (downward). This has the effect that the air on the side of the second electrical component 13 that has climbed up onto the first raised portion 34A is less likely to remain at the lower end of the first electrical component 14.

Although an embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed, it is apparent that modifications may be made by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention. All such modifications and equivalents are intended to be included in the following claims.

1...vehicle, 13...second electrical component, 13A...main body, 13B...heat dissipation section, 14...first electrical component, 14A...main body, 14B, 14C...leg, 14D...first side, 14E...second side, 23...mounting surface, 30...bracket, 31A, 31B...mounting section, 33A...support section, 33B...support section (one end support section), 34A...raised section (first raised section), 34B...raised section (second raised section), 35...guide passage section, 35A...inclined section (first inclined section), 35B...inclined section (second inclined section), 37...first space, 38...guide passage, 39...fan-shaped section, 40...fixing member

Claims (8)

A mounting surface;
a bracket having an attachment portion attached to the attachment surface and a support portion supporting the first electrical component,
The first electrical component is supported on the mounting surface via the bracket,
the mounting surface and the first electrical component are disposed facing each other in a facing direction perpendicular to a vertical direction, and a second electrical component is disposed adjacent to the first electrical component in an adjacent direction perpendicular to the vertical direction and the facing direction ,
The bracket is
a protruding portion protruding in the facing direction along a first side surface of the first electric component adjacent to the second electric component and a second side surface extending in the adjacent direction, the first side surface being protruding in the facing direction;
a guide passage portion which, together with the raised portion, forms a guide passage that guides air flowing from the second electrical component in the adjacent direction so as to bypass below the first electrical component. When the side of the second electrical component in the adjacent direction is defined as one end side, and the side opposite to the second electrical component in the adjacent direction is defined as the other end side,
The bracket is
2. The electrical component support structure according to claim 1, further comprising an inclined portion that is inclined from the one end side toward the other end side so as to gradually approach the mounting surface side in the facing direction. 3. The electrical component support structure according to claim 2, wherein the raised portion has a sector-shaped portion that rises upward so as to gradually widen the width of the guide passage portion in a sector shape on the other end side of the inclined portion. The first electrical component has a main body and a leg connected to the support,
4. The electrical component support structure according to claim 3, wherein the other end of the fan-shaped portion is disposed at a position not facing the main body in the facing direction. The inclined portion has a first inclined portion and a second inclined portion provided closer to the other end than the first inclined portion,
A dimension of the first inclined portion in the facing direction is larger than a dimension of the second inclined portion in the facing direction,
5. The electrical component support structure according to claim 3, wherein the fan-shaped portion is disposed closer to the other end than the first inclined portion. The electrical component support structure according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a first space that is open to the outside is provided between the support portion and the mounting surface. When the raised portion is a first raised portion,
the bracket has a second protruding portion protruding from the mounting portion toward the guide passage portion,
The electrical component support structure according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the second raised portion is raised in the facing direction. the support portion has a one-end support portion provided on the second electric component side in the adjoining direction of the protruding portion,
The electrical component support structure according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the first electrical component is supported on the support portion via a fixing member arranged on the mounting surface side of the one end side support portion.

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