Vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10071699-B2
Application number	US-201614993575-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 12, 2016
Priority date	Jan 13, 2015
Publication date	Sep 11, 2018
Grant date	Sep 11, 2018

Abstract

A vehicle includes a power control unit having at least one of an inverter and a converter, a drive motor that produces torque for running the vehicle when electric power is supplied from the power control unit to the drive motor, a vehicle body kept insulated from a road surface, a case main body in which the power control unit is housed, a member that is connected to the case main body where the member is insulated from the case main body, or in a condition in which electric resistance is large, and a static eliminator that neutralizes and eliminates positive charges on the member and lowers a positive potential of the member, by self-discharge for producing negative air ions in outside air according to the positive potential of the member that is electrostatically charged.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle including a vehicle body that is kept insulated from a road surface, comprising:
a power control unit;
a drive motor configured to produce torque for running the vehicle when electric power is supplied from the power control unit to the drive motor;
a case main body in which the power control unit is housed;
a member that is connected to the case main body; and
a static eliminator configured to neutralize and eliminate positive charges on the member and to lower a positive potential of the member, by self-discharge for producing negative air ions in air outside the member according to the positive potential of the member that is electrostatically charged,
wherein the static eliminator is a self-discharge-type static eliminator ionizing the air,
wherein the static eliminator has electric conductivity,
wherein the member is a lid configured to close the case main body; and the static eliminator is attached to an outer surface of the lid, and
the lid is configured to make the case main body in a sealed condition such that air in the case main body circulates by convection, said convection caused by an operation of the power control unit.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the member is formed of a resin material.

3. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the static eliminator is attached to a central portion of the member.

4. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the static eliminator comprises a sheet formed of a material having electric conductivity and wherein the static eliminator is formed of a conductive polymer, such as polyaniline, polypyrrole, or polythiophene, or conductive plastic.

5. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the power control unit and the member are arranged such that air flows between an inner surface of the member and the power control unit.

6. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the static eliminator is a coat of painting on the lid.

7. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the static eliminator is plating on the lid.

8. A vehicle including a vehicle body that is kept insulated from a road surface, comprising:
a power supply of a drive motor;
a fixed frame connected to the vehicle body such that the power supply is mounted on the fixed frame;
a cover member connected to the fixed frame such that the power supply is surrounded by the cover member, wherein said cover member is formed of a resin material;
a blower configured to force air between the power supply and the cover member; and
a static eliminator configured to neutralize and eliminate said positive charges on a connecting portion between the fixed frame and the cover member, and to lower a positive potential of the connecting portions, by self-discharge for producing negative air ions in air outside the cover member according to the positive potential of the connecting portions which is electrostatically charged,
wherein the static eliminator is a self-discharge-type static eliminator ionizing the air, and
wherein the static eliminator has electric conductivity,
wherein the static eliminator is provided at a downstream side of the blower in a flowing direction of the air forced to flow.

9. The vehicle according to claim 8 , wherein the cover member and the power supply are arranged such that air flows between an inner surface of the cover member and the power supply.

10. The vehicle according to claim 8 , wherein the static eliminator comprises a sheet formed of a material having electric conductivity and wherein the static eliminator is formed of a conductive polymer, such as polyaniline, polypyrrole, or polythiophene, or conductive plastic.

Assignees

• Toyota Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Tanahashi Toshio
• Kanehara Yoji
• Yamada Koshi
• Oshiro Yuta

Classifications

• B60L1/003 Primary

  to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors · CPC title

• B62B3/002

  characterised by a rectangular shape, involving sidewalls or racks · CPC title

• B62B3/16 Primary

  vertically stackable · CPC title

• B62B2202/12

  Boxes, Crates · CPC title

• B60L7/14

  for vehicles propelled by AC motors · CPC title