Rotatable attachment of an inverter control system to a transmission

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11267512-B2
Application number	US-201916689670-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 20, 2019
Priority date	Nov 20, 2018
Publication date	Mar 8, 2022
Grant date	Mar 8, 2022

Abstract

A hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) includes an inverter control system connected to a transmission such that the connection secures the inverter control system to the transmission during operation while allowing limited pivoting or rotating of the inverter control system relative to the transmission during a frontal collision to modify the translational motion and reduce or avoid loading of rigid objects or components between the inverter control system and the vehicle cabin or occupant compartment. Positioning of an electric cable conduit or connector near or adjacent to the pivot or rotational axis reduces translational force on the conductors to reduce or avoid damage during a frontal collision.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electrified vehicle comprising:
a transmission including a traction motor powered by a traction battery; and
an inverter control system configured to control power supplied from the traction battery to the traction motor and connected atop the transmission at least at a first point and a second point, the second point displaced both laterally and longitudinally from the first point such that the inverter control system rotates about the first point in response to a longitudinal collision force exceeding a threshold force acting on the inverter control system.

2. The electrified vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a brake booster longitudinally spaced from the inverter control system and partially laterally overlapping an edge portion of the inverter control system.

3. The electrified vehicle of claim 2 wherein the second attachment point of the inverter control system comprises an elongated slot configured such that rotation of the inverter control system moves the edge portion so that the edge portion does not partially laterally overlap the brake booster when the inverter control system is translated longitudinally toward the brake booster.

4. The electrified vehicle of claim 3 wherein the inverter control system comprises a plurality of attachment points to connect the inverter control system atop the transmission, and wherein each of the plurality of attachment points comprises a slot.

5. The electrified vehicle of claim 4 wherein the slot comprises an arcuate slot.

6. The electrified vehicle of claim 4 wherein the slot comprises a wedge-shape slot.

7. The electrified vehicle of claim 1 wherein the inverter control system comprises one or more fastening means each arranged within a recess in an upper surface of the inverter control system, wherein at least one recess is configured as a slot having a longitudinal axis for guided movement of an associated one of the fastening means.

8. The electrified vehicle of claim 7 wherein each recess is configured such that rotation of the inverter control system causes a corresponding displacement of at least a portion of the inverter control system in a lateral direction transverse to a vehicle longitudinal axis.

9. The electrified vehicle of claim 8 further comprising an electrical conduit extending through the inverter control system adjacent to the first point.

10. The electrified vehicle of claim 9 further comprising a power supply cable extending through the electrical conduit and electrically connecting the inverter control system and the traction motor of the transmission.

11. A vehicle comprising:
a transmission including an electric machine powered by a traction battery; and
an inverter control system configured to control power supplied from the traction battery to the electric machine and connected atop the transmission;
a brake booster positioned at least partially between the inverter control system and an occupant cabin; and
connecting means for connecting the inverter control system to the transmission and allowing limited rotation of the inverter control system relative to the transmission about a pivot point and a guide point during a vehicle frontal collision such that a leading edge of the inverter control system laterally overlapping relative to the brake booster prior to the vehicle frontal collision is laterally displaced to a non-overlapping lateral position by a longitudinal force from the vehicle frontal collision.

12. The vehicle of claim 11 wherein the connecting means comprises at least one recess in a top surface of the inverter control system having an elongated slot.

13. The vehicle of claim 12 further comprising at least one cable duct disposed adjacent to the pivot point and configured to house electrical conductors extending therethrough that provide power from the inverter control system to the electric machine of the transmission.

14. The vehicle of claim 13 wherein the elongated slot comprises an arcuate slot.

15. The vehicle of claim 13 wherein the elongated slot comprises a conical opening.

16. A vehicle having an engine compartment and an occupant compartment, the vehicle comprising:
an engine disposed within the engine compartment;
a transmission including a traction motor powered by a traction battery and disposed within the engine compartment;
an inverter control system configured to control power provided to the traction motor from the traction battery and disposed within the engine compartment;
a brake booster disposed within the engine compartment longitudinally between a portion of the inverter control system and the occupant compartment; and
connecting means for securing the inverter control system to the transmission and allowing rotation of the inverter control system relative to the transmission around a pivot point in response to a longitudinal collision force to displace the portion of the inverter control system laterally away from the brake booster, wherein the rotation is limited by a guiding point of the connecting means.

17. The vehicle of claim 16 wherein the connecting means comprises at least one bolt, a circular recess in a top surface of the inverter control system corresponding to the pivot point, and an elongated recess in the top surface of the inverter control system corresponding to the guiding point.

18. The vehicle of claim 17 wherein the guiding point is one of a plurality of guiding points each having a corresponding elongated recess in the top surface of the inverter control system.

19. The vehicle of claim 17 wherein the elongated recess comprises an arcuate recess.

20. The vehicle of claim 17 wherein the inverter control system comprises an electrical cable conduit disposed adjacent the pivot point.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Sawatzki Marius
• Meckenstock Daniel
• Spurling Michael

Classifications

• H02K47/02

  AC/DC converters or vice versa · CPC title

• B62D21/09

  Means for mounting load bearing surfaces · CPC title

• B60L3/0007 Primary

  Measures or means for preventing or attenuating collisions · CPC title

• B62D21/152 Primary

  Front or rear frames · CPC title

• B60L58/10

  for monitoring or controlling batteries · CPC title