Power control unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9308877-B2
Application number	US-201114008061-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 31, 2011
Priority date	Mar 31, 2011
Publication date	Apr 12, 2016
Grant date	Apr 12, 2016

Abstract

A power control unit is mounted on a hybrid vehicle, and controls the electric power used for driving the vehicle. The power control unit includes a PCU case having a top cover where an opening is formed, a terminal block placed in the PCU case, and arranged opposite to the opening, and a substrate placed in the PCU case, and on which an electronic component is mounted. The terminal block includes a wall. The wall is arranged between the substrate and opening, and extends towards the top cover at a circumference of the aperture of the opening. By such a configuration, there is provided a power control unit having an intrusion of a foreign object suppressed while accomplishing reduction in size and cost.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A power control unit mounted on a vehicle for controlling electric power used for driving the vehicle, comprising:
a casing including a top where an opening is formed,
a terminal block placed in said casing, and arranged opposite to said opening, and
a substrate placed in said casing, and on which an electronic component is mounted,
said terminal block having a first wall arranged between said substrate and said opening, and extending towards said top at a circumference of an aperture of said opening,
said casing further including a rib-like section arranged between said substrate and said opening, and protruding from an inner edge of said top defining said opening towards inside said casing,
said first wall being provided to block a line of sight from outside said casing towards said substrate, through said opening and over said rib-like section,
said opening being formed to allow communication between the outer side of said casing and a space within said casing in which said substrate is placed,
said first wall being provided not to be in contact with said casing.

2. The power control unit according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a bus bar connected to said terminal block, and
a bolt fastening said bus bar to said terminal block,
wherein said opening is formed to allow access to said bolt from outside said casing through said opening.

3. The power control unit according to claim 1 , further comprising a bus bar connected to said terminal block, wherein
said terminal block further includes a joint into which a bolt for fastening said bus bar is inserted, and
when viewed from a direction of inserting the bolt relative to said joint, said bus bar extends from said joint at a side opposite to said substrate with said joint therebetween, and said first wall is arranged between said joint and said substrate.

4. The power control unit according to claim 3 , wherein, when viewed from a direction of inserting the bolt relative to said joint, said first wall is arranged at three of four sides around said joint, excluding a side corresponding to an extending direction of said bus bar.

5. A power control unit mounted on a vehicle for controlling electric power used for driving the vehicle, comprising:
a casing including a top where an opening is formed,
a terminal block placed in said casing, and arranged opposite to said opening, and
a substrate placed in said casing, and on which an electronic component is mounted,
said terminal block having a first wall arranged between said substrate and said opening, and extending towards said top at a circumference of an aperture of said opening,
said casing further including a rib-like section arranged between said substrate and said opening, and protruding from an inner edge of said top defining said opening towards inside said casing,
said first wall extending up to a position overlapping with said rib-like section in a height direction,
said opening being formed to allow communication between the outer side of said casing and a space within said casing in which said substrate is placed,
said opening penetrating said top in one direction from the outer side of said casing into a space within said casing in which said substrate is placed,
in viewing said opening in said one direction, said first wall being located hidden at the back side of said top.

6. A power control unit mounted on a vehicle for controlling electric power used for driving the vehicle, comprising:
a casing including a top where an opening is formed,
a terminal block placed in said casing, and arranged opposite to said opening, and
a substrate placed in said casing, and on which an electronic component is mounted,
said terminal block having a first wall arranged between said substrate and said opening, and extending towards said top at a circumference of an aperture of said opening,
said substrate being arranged at a side opposite to said top relative to said terminal block,
said terminal block further including a second wall extending in a direction opposite to said first wall, and in the direction where said substrate is not present,
said opening being formed to allow communication between the outer side of said casing and a space within said casing in which said substrate is placed,
said first wall and said second wall being provided not to be in contact with said casing.

7. A power control unit mounted on a vehicle for controlling electric power used for driving the vehicle, comprising:
a casing including a top where an opening is formed,
a terminal block placed in said casing, and arranged opposite to said opening,
a substrate placed in said casing, and on which an electronic component is mounted,
said terminal block having a first wall arranged between said substrate and said opening, and extending towards said top at a circumference of an aperture of said opening,
a bus bar connected to said terminal block, and
a power control unit constituent component placed in said casing, and having said bus bar connected,
wherein said power control unit constituent component includes a third wall arranged between said substrate and said opening, and extending towards said top at a circumference of an aperture of said opening, between said top and said bus bar.

Assignees

• Shiba Kenjiro
• Toyota Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Shiba Kenjiro

Classifications

• B60L15/2009

  for braking · CPC title

• B60L2240/421

  Speed · CPC title

• B60L2240/423

  Torque · CPC title

• Y02T10/642

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• Y02T10/7216

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic