WO2013077473A1

WO2013077473A1 - Cable fixing for hybrid vehicle

Info

Publication number: WO2013077473A1
Application number: PCT/JP2012/081013
Authority: WO
Inventors: Morihiro Matsuda; Hirotaka Baba; Yoshihiro Maeda; Takatoshi ANDO
Original assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha; Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
Priority date: 2011-11-24
Filing date: 2012-11-22
Publication date: 2013-05-30
Also published as: JP2013111989A

Abstract

In a vehicle with a drive source unit mounted on the vehicle body via a mounting member and comprising an engine and two motors, an inverter unit directly mounted on the vehicle body and storing two inverters inside and two power cables (43,44) connecting the motors and the inverters, the power cables (43,44) are bound with a fixed member (82) and fixed to the drive source unit and are bound with a fixed member (92) and fixed to an inverter unit (49). The power cables are bound and integrated with tape (48) between the fixed members (82,92). Accordingly, relative displacement of the power cables between the fixed members can be inhibited.

Description

DESCRIPTION

Title of Invention

CABLE FIXING FOR HYBRID VEHICLE Technical Field

[oOOl] The present invention relates to a cable fixing structure . More specifically, this invention relates to a cable fixing structure of a vehicle in which a drive source unit mounted on the vehicle body via a mounting member inhibiting vibration transmission to the vehicle and storing a drive source including a first motor and a second motor inside; an inverter unit mounted directly on the vehicle body and storing a first inverter and a second inverter driving the first motor and secondmotor inside ; a first cable connecting the first motor and the first inverter; and a second cable connecting the second motor and the second inverter are stored in an in-vehicle device storing unit.

Background Art

[0002] One proposed structure of a cable fixing structure in a front engine rear drive motor vehicle (FR motor vehicle) includes a motor unit having two motors and stored in a center floor tunnel of the vehicle , and two inverters stored in an engine room of the vehicle and connected electrically to the two motors with each power cables, wherein two power cables are coupled with cable fixing clamps and fixed to a car body (for example, see PTL1) .

Citation List

Patent Literature

[ 0003 ] PTL1 : Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-253017

Summary of Invention [0004 ] In a vehicle mounted a motor unit including two motors and a unit including two motors and an engine on the vehicle body via a mount member like an engine mount to inhibit vibration transmission to the vehicle body and mounted an inverter unit including two inverters directly on the vehicle body, two cables connecting two motors and two inverters may interfere and rub with eachother andmaycause abrasion, or two cables may interfere and rub with other parts around and may be damaged and cause abrasion due to relative displacement of the movement of the inverter unit and the unit including a motor. The relative displacement is occurred by movement like vehicle vibration. These cable interferences are more likely to occur in the vehicle mounting a unit including a motor and an inverter unit in the same compartment because of the limited mounting space.

[0005] In the cable fixing structure of the invention, an obj ect of the invention is to effectively protect two cables from abrasion and so on.

[0006] The present invention accomplishes at least part of the demand mentioned above and the other relevant demands by the following configurations applied to the cable fixing structure .

[0007] In an aspect of the present invention is a cable fixing structure of a vehicle in which a drive source unit mounted on the vehicle body via a mounting member inhibiting vibration transmission to the vehicle and storing a drive source including a first motor and a second motor inside ; an inverter unit mounted directly on the vehicle body and storing a first inverter and a second inverter driving the first motor and secondmotor inside ; a first cable connecting the first motor and the first inverter; and a second cable connecting the second motor and the second inverter are stored in an in-vehicle device storing unit, the cable fixing structure including: a drive source side fixed member binding and fixing the first cable and the second cable to the drive source unit; an inverter side fixed member binding and fixing the first cable and the second cable to the inverter unit ; and an integrated member binding and integrating the first cable and the second cable between the drive source side fixed member and the inverter side fixed member.

[0008] The cable fixing structure according to an aspect of the present invention binds the first and second cables with the drive source side fixed member and fixes it to the drive source unit. The first cable connects the first motor and the first inverter, and the second cable connects the second motor and the second inverter . The cable fixing structure of the present invention binds the first and second cables with the inverter side fixed member and fixes it to the inverter unit. The first and second cables are bound and integrated with the integrated member between the drive source side fixed member and the inverter side fixed member. The first and second cables may interfere and rub with each other and cause abrasion or may interfere and rub with other parts around and be damaged and cause abrasion between the drive source side fixed member and the inverter side fixedmember . Since the drive source unit is mountedon the vehicle body via a mount member relative to the inverter unit mounted directly on the vehicle body, the relative displacement of the movement of the inverter unit occurred due to vehicle vibration and the unit including a motor. On the other hand, the cable fixing structure of the invention binds and integrates the first and second cables with the integrated member between the drive source side fixed member and the inverter side fixed member. This inhibits the relative displacement of the movement of the first and second cables between the drive source side fixedmember and the inverter side fixed member and ensures space between the first and second cables and other parts around by gathering the first and second cables . As a result , two cables are protected properly from abrasion and so on.

[0009] In the cable fixing structure of the present invention, the integrated member may be a member binding the first and second cables in a predetermined part where the first and second cables are easily interfered between the drive source side fixed member and the inverter side fixed member. Here, "the part where the first and second cables are easily interfered" includes a part where interference of the first and second cables with each other or other parts around occurs easily.

[OOIO] In one preferable application of the cable fixing structure according to the present invention, the drive source may include an engine and the in-vehicle device storing unit may be an engine room of the vehicle front.

Brief Description of Drawings

[oon]

[Fig.l] Fig. 1 schematically illustrates the configuration of a hybrid vehicle 20 applied a cable fixing structure in one embodiment of the invention;

[Fig.2] Fig. 2 is a schematic view illustrating an example of the appearance of the hybrid vehicle 20 and mounted apparatus for driving;

[Fig.3] Fig. 3 is a schematic view illustrating the structure of a drive source unit 29 mounted the power cables 43 and 44 on its back (back of the vehicle) ;

[Fig.4] Fig. 4 is a schematic view illustrating the structure of an inverter unit 49 mounted the power cables 43 and 44 on its back (back of the vehicle) ;

[Fig.5] Fig. 5 is a schematic view illustrating the fixed structure of the power cables 43 and 44 in the embodiment;

[Fig.6] Fig. 6 schematically illustrates the configuration of a hybrid vehicle 120 in another modified structure; and

[Fig.7] Fig. 7 schematically illustrates the configuration of an electrical vehicle 220 in another modified structure. Description of Embodiments

[0012] One mode of carrying out the present invention is described below as an embodiment.

[0013] Fig. 1 schematically illustrates the configuration of a hybrid vehicle 20 applied a cable fixing structure in one embodiment of the invention. Fig. 2 is a schematic view showing an example of the appearance of the hybrid vehicle 20 and mounted apparatus for driving. As illustrated in Fig.l, the hybrid vehicle 20 of the embodiment includes: an engine 22 constructed as an internal combustion engine outputting power by consuming a hydrocarbon fuel, for example, such as gasoline or light oil; an engine electronic control unit (hereafter referred to as engine ECU) 24 driving and controlling the engine 22 ; a planetary gear mechanism 30 including a career connected to a crankshaft 26 of the engine22 and a ring gear connected to a drive shaft 36 , which connects driving wheels 38a and 38b via a differential gear 37; for example, a motor MGl constructed as a synchronous generator-motor, whereof a rotor is connected to the sun gear of the planetary gear mechanism 30; for example, a motor MG2 constructed as a synchronous generator-motor, whereof a rotor is connected to the drive shaft 36; an inverter 41 connected via the motor MGl and a power cable 43 and driving the motor MGl by switching a plurality of switching element not shown; an inverter 42 connected via the motor MG2 and a power cable 44 and driving the motor MG2 by switching a plurality of switching elements not shown; a motor electronic control unit (hereafter referred to as motor ECU) 40 driving and controlling the motors MGl and MG2 by switching controlling a plurality of the switching elements of the inverters 41 and 42; for example, a battery 50 constructed as a lithium- ion secondary battery transmitting electric power to and from the motors MGl and MG2 via the inverters 41 and 42 connected with a power cable 54; a battery electronic control unit (hereafter referred to as battery ECU) 52 controlling a battery 50; and a hybrid electronic control unit (hereafter referred to as HVECU) 70 inputting signals from various sensors like an accelerator pedal position sensor and a brake pedal position sensor and controlling the whole operations of the vehicle by sending and receiving signals from the engine ECU 24, the motor ECU 40, and the battery ECU 52 by communication .

[0014] An integratedunit (Hereafter referred to as drive source unit) 29 stored in a chassis includes the engine 22, the motors MG1 and MG2 , and the planetary gear mechanism 30. An integrated unit (Hereafter referred to as inverter unit) 49 stored in a chassis includes the inverters 41 and 42.

[0015] As illustrated in Fig.2, the engine room 21 of the vehicle front includes the drive source unit 29, the inverter unit 49, and the power cables 43 and 44. The drive source unit 29 is mounted on the vehicle body via a mount member 29a (for example, it is made of rubber) to inhibit vibration transmission to the vehicle body. The inverter unit 49 is mounted directly on the vehicle body (i.e. not via a mount member) above the vehicle of the drive source unit 29. Further, the battery 50 is mounted at the back of the rear sheet of the back of the vehicle not shown and connected with the inverters 41 and 42 in the inverter unit 49 and the power cable 54. This arrangement allows driving with an intermittent operation of the engine 22 by driving the motors MG1 and MG2 with electric power from the battery 50 and allows charging the battery 50 with electric power from the motor G2 while driving. Mounting the drive source unit 29 to the vehicle body (mounting) shall be done, for example, by mounting a sub- frame including a preset drive source unit 29 to the vehicle body via a plurality of mounting member 29a (shown only one mounting member in Fig.2)

[θθΐδ] Fig. 3 is a schematic view illustrating the structure of a drive source unit 29 mounted the power cables 43 and 44 on its back (back of the vehicle) . Fig. 4 is a schematic view illustrating the structure of an inverter unit 49 mounted the power cables 43 and 44 on its back (back of the vehicle) . Fig. 5 is a schematic view illustrating the fixed structure of the power cables 43 and 44 in the embodiment. In Fig.3, a part of the drive source unit 29 is illustrated. In Fig. 3 to 5, arrows showing up and down direction and back and forth direction show vertical up and down direction and back and forth direction of the vehicle, respectively. The power cables 43 and 44 are constructed as three cables , U, V, and phases, integrated and shielded electromagnetically with braided wire or so and coated with a protector like corrugated tubes. Connectors 43a and 44a are attached at the end of the power cables 43 and 44 of the drive source unit 29 side to connect to the motors MG1 and MG2 (see Fig. 3) . Connectors 43b and 44b are attached at the end of the power cables 43 and 44 of the inverter unit 49 side to connect to the inverters 41 and 44 (see Fig. 4) .

[0017] As illustrated in Fig.3, the two power cables 43 and 44 are integrated with the fixed member 82 such as a clamp (so called an eyeglasses clamp: a clamp formed like an eyeglasses) and fixed to a bracket 29b fixed to the drive source unit 29 with clamps (for example, bolts or pins) not shown at the drive source unit 29 side. Further the power cable 43 is fixed to the drive source unit 29 with the fixed member 83 at closer side to the drive source unit 29 (the motor MG1 side i . e . the connector 43a side) than the fixed member 82. The power cable 44 is fixed to the drive source unit 29 with the fixed member 84 at closer side to the drive source unit side (the motor MG2 side i.e. the connector 44a side) than the fixed member 82. As illustrated in Fig.4, the two power cables 43 and 44 are integrated with the fixed member 92 such .as a clamp (so called an eyeglasses clamp) and fixed to a bracket 49a fixed to the inverter unit 49 with clamps (for example, bolts or pins) not shown at the inverter unit 29 side. Further the two power cables 43 and 44 are fixed to the bracket 49a with the fixed member 93 at closer side to the inverter unit 49 (the inverters 41 and 42 side i.e. the connectors 43b and 44b side) than the fixed member 92. In the embodiment , the fixedmembers 82 and 92 integrating and fixing the two power cables 43 and 44 are attached to the protector forming an outer periphery of the power cables 43 and 44 (for example, the fixed members 82 and 92 are attached so as to fit to concavity and convexity of surface of the corrugated tubes) in order to control movement of the power cables 43 and 44 in a length direction and allow certain movement of the power cables 43 and 44 in a circumferential (rotation) direction.

[0018] Further, as illustrated in Fig. 3 and 5, the two power cables 43 and 44 are bound and integrated with each other with a tape 48 (for example, a tape made of resin and so on) between the fixed member 82 of the drive source unit 29 side and the fixed member 92 of the inverter unit 49 side. The two power cables 43 and 44 are not fixed to the drive source unit 29 and the inverter unit 49. In the embodiment , the tape 48 is rolledonapredetermined part and range of two power cables 43 and 44. The predetermined part and range are where interferences of the two power cables 43 and 44 with each other or other parts around (for example, plumbing or wiring) between the fixed member 82 and 92 without the tape 48 are easily to occur and determined by experiments .

[0019] In the vehicle like the hybrid vehicle 20 of the embodiment mounted the drive source unit 29 including two motors MGl and MG2 via the mounting member 29a on the vehicle body and mounted the inverter unit 49 including the two inverters 41 and 42 to the vehicle body directly, the relative displacement of the movement of the both units occurs due to vehicle vibration. Therefore, the two power cables 43 and 44 are needed to be routed with enough space so that the two power cables 43 and 44 are allowed to move freely in a measure. The two power cables are routed, between the drive source unit 29 and the inverter unit 49 in order to connect the motors G1 and MG2 with the inverters

41 and 42. On the other hand, each mounting space of the engine room 21 of the hybrid vehicle 20 is limited because there are a lot of devices and plumbing or wiring like cables need to be mounted. Further, each mounting space of the engine room 21 of the hybrid vehicle 20 is limited because the power cables 43 and 44 for high voltage and three-phase are relatively thick . Therefore, too much space for routing of the power cables 43 and 44 may cause abrasion and damage to the two power cables 43 and 44 due to interference of the power cable 43 and 44 with each other or other parts around. In the embodiment; on the other hand, the two power cables 43 and 44 are bound and integrated with the tape 48 in the air between the fixed member 82 of the drive source unit 29 side and the fixed member 92 of the inverter unit 49 side . This allows the two cables 43 and 44 to be integrated and move freely in a measure , inhibits the relative displacement between the two power cables 43 and 44, and ensures space from other parts around by gathering the two power cables 43 and 44 together. As a result, the two cables 43 and 44 are protected properly from abrasion and so on.

[0020] According to the cable fixing structure of the power cables 43 and 44 applied to the hybridvehicle 20 in the embodiment as described above, in the vehicle whereof the engine room 21 includes the drive source unit 29, the inverter unit 49, and the two power cables 43 and 44. The drive source unit 29 stores the engine 22 and the motors MG1 and MG2 inside and is mounted on the vehicle bodyvia a mounting member 29a to inhibit vibration transmission to the vehicle. The inverter unit 49 is mounted directly on the vehicle body and stores the inverters 41 and

42 driving the first and second motors MG1 and MG2 inside. The two power cables 43 and 44 connect the motors G1 and G2 to the inverters 41 and 42, respectively. The two power cables 43 and 44 are bound with fixed member 82 and fixed to the drive source unit 29 and bound with fixed member 92 and fixed to the inverter unit 49. The power cables 43 and 44 are bound and integrated with tape 48 between the fixed member 82 and 92. Accordingly, the relative displacement of the movement of the power cables 43 and 44 between the fixed member 82 and 92 can be inhibited and the space between otherparts around is broadened by binding the two power cables 43 and 44 together. As a result, the two cables 43 and 44 are protected properly from abrasion and so on.

[002l] In the fixing structure of the power cables 43 and 44 applied to the hybrid vehicle 20 of the embodiment, the two power cables 43 and 44 are bound with tape 48 and integrated between the fixed member 82 and the fixed member 92, but the two power cables 43 and 44 may be bound and integrated with a clamp (so called an eyeglasses clamp and so on) .

[0022] In the fixing structure of the power cables 43 and 44 applied to the hybrid vehicle 20 of the embodiment, the power cables 43 and 44 are fixed to the drive source unit 29 with the fixed members 83 and 84, respectively, but the fixed members 83 and 84 may be omitted. Further, the power cables 43 and 44 are integrated with the fixed member 93 and fixed to the inverter unit 49, but the fixed member 93 may be omitted.

[0023] In the fixing structure of the power cables 43 and 44 applied to the hybrid vehicle 20 of the embodiment, two power cables 43 and 44 are bound and fixed but other cables may also be bound and fixed with the power cables 43 and 44.

[0024] In the hybrid vehicle 20 of the embodiment, the drive source unit 29 and the inverter unit 49 are stored with the power cables 43 and 44 connecting the drive source unit 29 and the inverter unit 49 in the engine room 21 of the vehicle front, but the drive source unit 29 and the inverter unit 49 may be stored with the power cables 43 and 44 connecting the drive source unit 29 and the inverter unit 49 in other space as long as it is stored in an in-vehicle device storing unit.

[0025] In the hybrid vehicle 20 of the embodiment, the power from the motor MG2 is outputted to the drive shaft 36, but the power from the motor MG2 may be outputted to the different axel (an axel connected to wheels 39a and 39b in Fig. 5) from the axel connected to the drive shaft 36 (an axel connected to drive wheels 38aand38b) as a hybridvehicle 120 of a modified structure shown in Fig. 5. In this case, the drive source unit 29 includes the engine 22 and the motors MGl and MG2 , and the inverter unit 49 includes the inverters 41 and 42 in the same manner as the embodiment .

[0026] In the embodiment, the present invention is applied to the hybrid vehicle 20 including the engine 22 and the two motors MGl and G2 , but the present inventionmaybe applied to an electric vehicle including two motors and omitting an engine . For example , an electric vehicle 220 of a modified structure in Fig. 7, the power from the motor MGl may be outputted to the drive shaft 36 connected to drive wheels 38a and 38b. The power from the motor MG2 maybe outputted to the different axel (an axel connected to wheels 39a and 39b in Fig. 7) from the axel connected to the drive wheels 38a and 38b. In this case, the drive source unit 29 includes the motors MGl and MG2 , and the inverter unit 49 includes the inverters 41 and 42.

[0027] The above embodiment describes the hybrid vehicle 20 as one application of the invention. The technique of the invention is, however, not restricted to motor vehicles but may be actualizedby vehicles other than motor vehicles (for example, trains and so on) .

[0028] The correlation between the principal elements of the embodiments and modification examples, and the principal elements of the invention described in the "Summary of the Invention" section will now be described. That is, in the above described embodiment and modification examples, the motors MG1 and MG2 in the embodiment correspond to the 'first and second motors ¹ , the drive source unit 29 in the embodiment corresponds to the 'drive source unit', the inverters 41 and 42 in the embodiment correspond to the ' first and second inverters ' , the inverter unit 49 in the embodiment corresponds to the ' inverter unit' , the power cables 43 and 44 in the embodiment correspond to the 'first and second cables', the fixed member 82 in the embodiment corresponds to the 'drive source side fixed member ' , the fixedmember 92 in the embodiment corresponds to the 'inverter side fixed member ' , and the tape 48 in the embodiment corresponds to the 'integrated member'. Further, the engine 22 in the embodiment corresponds to the 'engine'.

[0029] The "first and second motors" are not limited to the motors constructed as the synchronous generator-motor, but may be of any other type such as an induction motor.

The "drive source unit" is not limited to the drive source unit 29, but may be of any other type such as a drive source unit that does not have the engine 22 as long as it is mounted on the vehicle body via a mounting member inhibiting vibration transmission to the vehicle and stores a drive source including a first and secondmotors inside. The " first and second inverters" are not limited to the inverters driving the motors MG1 and MG2 , but may be of any other type as long as it drives the first and second motors . The " inverter unit " is not limited to the inverter unit 49, but may be of any other type as long as it is mounted directly on the vehicle body and stores the first and second inverter driving the first and second motors inside. The "first and second cables" are not limited to round power cables 43 and 44, but may be of any other type such as flat power cables as long as it connects the first and second motors to the first and second inverters , respectively. The "drive source side fixed member" and "inverter side fixed member" are not limited to the clamps, but may be of any other type as long as it binds the first and second cables and fixes them to the drive source unit or the inverter unit. The "integrated member" is not limited to the tape 48, but may be of any other type such as clamps as long as it binds and integrates the first and second cables between the drive source side fixed member and the inverter side fixed member. Further, the "engine" is not limited to the engine 22 outputting power by consuming a hydrocarbon fuel, but may be of any other type such as a hydrogen engine .

[0030] The above mapping of the primary elements in the embodiment and its modified examples to the primary constituents in the claims of the invention is not restrictive in any sense but is only illustrative for concretely describing the modes of carrying out the invention. Namely the embodiment and its modified examples discussed above are to be considered in all aspects as illustrative and not restrictive.

[0031] The embodiment discussed above is to be considered in all aspects as illustrative and not restrictive. There may be many other modifications , changes, and alterations without departing from the scope or spirit of the main characteristics of the present invention .

Industrial Applicability

[0032] The technique of the invention is preferably applied to the manufacturing industries of vehicles.

Claims

[Claim l]

A cable fixing structure of a vehicle in which a drive source unit mounted on the vehicle body via a mounting member inhibiting vibration transmission to the vehicle and storing a drive source including a first motor and a second motor inside ; an inverter unit mounted directly on the vehicle body and storing a first inverter and a second inverter driving the first motor and the second motor inside; a first cable connecting the first motor and the first inverter; and a second cable connecting the second motor and the second inverter are stored in an in-vehicle device storing unit, the cable fixing structure comprising: a drive source side fixed member binding and fixing the first cable and the second cable to the drive source unit; an inverter side fixed member binding and fixing the first cable and the second cable to the inverter unit; and

an integrated member binding and integrating the first cable and the second cable between the drive source side fixed member and the inverter side fixed member.

[Claim 2]

The cable fixing structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein the integrated member is a member binding the first and second cables in a predetermined part where the first and second cables are easily interfered between the drive source side fixed member and the inverter side fixed member.

[Claim 3]

The cable fixing structure in accordance in accordance with claim 1 or 2 , wherein the drive source comprises an engine and the in-vehicle device storing unit is an engine room of the vehicle front .