JP2017139935A - Power converter - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a power conversion device capable of suppressing stress at an electrical connection between an external connector and a control circuit board when removing a cover from a case housing a semiconductor module. A power conversion apparatus includes a semiconductor module including a semiconductor element, a control circuit board that is electrically connected to the semiconductor module, a case that accommodates the semiconductor module, and the case. Projecting from the housing 2 to the outside in a state of being interposed between the cover 5 and the case 3 for connection between the housing 2 having the cover 5 and the vehicle control unit 50 which is an external device. And an external connector 30 that is integrated with the control circuit board 20 and is electrically connected to the control circuit board 20, and the external connector 30 is fixed to the cover 5 that is a fixed body by a fastening member. Yes. [Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a power conversion device including a control circuit board electrically connected to a semiconductor module.

  Vehicles such as electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles are equipped with a power conversion device that performs power conversion between DC power and AC power. For example, in the following Patent Document 1, a semiconductor module incorporating a semiconductor element, a control circuit board that controls the semiconductor module, and a connection path that electrically connects the control circuit board and an external device are provided. And a power conversion device provided with an external connector. A semiconductor module and a plurality of electronic components associated therewith are accommodated in a case. By inserting the plug of the external device into the cylinder of the external connector, it becomes possible to transmit a signal between the control circuit board and the external device. Patent Document 1 below discloses a connector with a board in which the external connector and the control circuit board are integrated. Such a board-attached connector can shorten the connection path between the external connector and the control circuit board, and is effective in reducing the size of the power converter.

JP2012-139041A

  When assembling the above power conversion device, first, the board-attached connector is assembled to the cover using a substantially U-shaped notch provided in the cover. In this case, the sealing material is applied to the outer peripheral surface of the external connector, and the control circuit board is fixed to the cover. Thereby, the cover with a connector in which the connector with a substrate is assembled to the cover is formed. Thereafter, the cover with connector and the case are fastened and fixed by fastening bolts at the respective flange portions. At this time, the cover-side sealing surface constituted by both the opposing surface of the external connector and the flange surface of the cover is bonded to the flange surface of the case via the sealing material in a state where the sealing material is applied.

  By the way, in said power converter device, the maintenance operation | work which removes a cover (cover with a connector) from a case, and inspects and replaces the semiconductor module and electronic component which are accommodated in the case is performed. At this time, the external connector is only bonded to the cover by a sealing material, and the external connector is pulled from the case when the cover is removed from the case. Thereby, the electrical connection part between an external connector and a control circuit board receives a stress. And once this connection part receives stress, the problem that a connector with a board | substrate cannot be used continuously after a maintenance work may arise.

  This invention is made in view of this subject, and suppresses that the electrical connection part between an external connector and a control circuit board receives stress, when removing a cover from the case which accommodates a semiconductor module. An object of the present invention is to provide a power converter that can be used.

One embodiment of the present invention provides:
A semiconductor module (10) containing a semiconductor element (11);
A control circuit board (20) electrically connected to the semiconductor module;
A housing (2) having a case (3) for housing the semiconductor module and a cover (5) covering the case;
It is configured to project outward from the container in a state of being interposed between the cover and the case for connection to an external device (50), and is integrated with the control circuit board and the control An external connector (30) electrically connected to the circuit board;
With
The said external connector exists in the power converter device (1) currently fixed to the to-be-fixed body (5, 3) which is any one of the said cover and the said case by the fastening member (25).

  According to the power conversion device, when removing the cover from the case, the external connector is removed in a state of being fixed to the fixed body, which is the cover or the case, using the fastening force of the fastening member. That is, the external connector is removed from the case together with the cover and the control circuit board when fixed to the cover, or is integrated with the case and control circuit board when fixed to the case. And removed from the cover. At this time, since the external connector and the control circuit board move integrally, the electrical connection between the external connector and the control circuit board is not easily subjected to stress.

As described above, according to the above aspect, when the cover is removed from the case for housing the semiconductor module, it is possible to suppress the electrical connection portion between the external connector and the control circuit board from being subjected to stress.
In addition, the code | symbol in the parenthesis described in the means to solve a claim and a subject shows the correspondence with the specific means as described in embodiment mentioned later, and limits the technical scope of this invention. It is not a thing.

Sectional drawing which shows schematic structure of the power converter device of Embodiment 1. FIG. The perspective view of the cover with a connector in the power converter device in FIG. The side view of the cover with a connector in FIG. The disassembled perspective view of the cover with a connector in FIG. The perspective view which looked at the cover with a connector in FIG. 2 from the flange surface side. The side view of the cover with a connector in the power converter device of Embodiment 2. FIG. The side view of the case with a connector in the power converter device of Embodiment 3. FIG. The side view of the case with a connector in the power converter device of Embodiment 4. FIG.

  Hereinafter, a plurality of embodiments according to a power conversion device will be described with reference to the drawings.

  In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same element in several embodiment. In the drawings of this specification, unless otherwise specified, the first direction that is the longitudinal direction of the semiconductor module is indicated by an arrow X, the second direction that is the width direction of the semiconductor module is indicated by an arrow Y, and the first direction and A third direction orthogonal to both of the second directions is indicated by an arrow Z.

(Embodiment 1)
As shown in FIG. 1, the power conversion device 1 of this embodiment includes a plurality of electronic components including a semiconductor module 10 and a control circuit board 20. The plurality of electronic components are accommodated in an internal space partitioned by the container 2. The power conversion device 1 is mounted on, for example, an electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, or the like, and is used as an inverter that converts DC power supply power into AC power necessary for driving a drive motor.

  The container 2 includes a case 3, a cover 5 that covers one opening 3 a of the case 3, and a cover 9 that covers the other opening 3 b of the case 3. The case 3 includes a partition wall 3 c that partitions the internal space in the third direction Z. The covers 5 and 9 are removed from the case 3 at the time of maintenance work for inspecting or replacing a plurality of electronic components accommodated in the container 2. Both the case 3 and the covers 5 and 9 constituting the container 2 are made of an aluminum-based material mainly composed of aluminum.

  The semiconductor module 10 includes a semiconductor element 11 such as an IGBT that converts DC power into AC power. The semiconductor module 10 includes a plurality of control terminals 12 and power terminals (not shown). The semiconductor module 10 incorporates a cooler (not shown) for cooling the semiconductor element 11.

  The control circuit board 20 is a high-voltage control circuit board (also referred to as “electronic circuit board”) having a drive circuit for switching the semiconductor module 10. For this purpose, the control circuit board 20 is electrically connected to the plurality of control terminals 12 of the semiconductor module 10. The plurality of control terminals 12 extend from the semiconductor module 10 to the control circuit board 20 through an opening 3 d provided in the partition wall 3 c of the case 3.

  The external connector (hereinafter also simply referred to as “connector”) 30 has a function of electrically connecting the control circuit board 20 and a vehicle-side vehicle control unit (ECU) 50 that is an external device. The connector 30 is configured to protrude from the housing 2 to the outside of the housing 2 in a state of being interposed between the cover 5 and the case 3 for connection with the vehicle control unit 50. The connector 30 is electrically connected to the control circuit board 20 via the terminal 22 and is configured such that the plug 51 is detachable.

  One end 22a of the terminal 22 is held by the connector 30, and the other end 22b is connected to the control circuit board 20 by solder. The plug 51 is electrically connected to the vehicle control unit 50 via the conductive member 52. When the plug 51 is attached to the connector 30, the terminal 22 and the conductive member 52 are electrically connected to form a transmission path capable of transmitting signals between the control circuit board 20 and the vehicle control unit 50.

  The connector 30 is integrated with the control circuit board 20. Accordingly, the connector 30 forms a board connector 30a in which the control circuit board 20 is integrated. The board-attached connector 30a is effective for shortening the connection path between the connector 30 and the control circuit board 20 and reducing the size of the power converter 1. The control circuit board 20 of the board-attached connector 30 a is fastened and fixed to the boss 5 a erected from the cover inner surface of the cover 5 by fastening bolts 24.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the board connector 30 a including the connector 30 is fixed to the cover 5. Thereby, the cover 5 forms the cover with connector 8 in which the connector with substrate 30a is integrated. And this cover 8 with a connector joins the flange surface 6a of the flange part 6 with the flange surface 4a of the flange part 4 of the case 3, and is fastened and fixed with the case 3 by a fastening bolt (illustration omitted). It is configured. At this time, a sealing material is applied to the flange surface 6a of the flange portion 6, and the flange surface 6a of the flange portion 6 and the flange surface 4a of the flange portion 4 are bonded and sealed by the sealing material. As this sealing material, it is preferable to use a silicon-based sealing material that has room temperature curability and becomes a rubber elastic body after curing.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a cutout portion 7 is provided at a position where a part of the flange portion 6 of the cover 5 is divided in order to fix the board-attached connector 30 a. The notch 7 has a concave opening 7a into which the connector 30 is fitted. Further, a stay 40 as a sandwiching member is prepared. The stay 40 is fastened and fixed to the cover 5 as a fixed body by a fastening bolt 25 as a fastening member in a state where the connector 30 fitted in the opening 7 a of the notch 7 is sandwiched between the stay 40 and the cover 5. It is configured. That is, the connector 30 of the board-attached connector 30 a is configured to be fixed to the cover 5 by the fastening bolt 25 via the stay 40. Thereby, the cover 8 with a connector in which the connector 30a with the board and the cover 5 are integrated is formed.

  The connector 30 includes a fixed piece 31, an engaging piece 32, and a holder portion 33. The fixed piece 31, the engaging piece 32, and the holder portion 33 are integrated, and all are made of an insulating resin material.

  The fixing piece 31 is formed in a flat plate shape in order to fix the connector 30 to the control circuit board 20 with solder. For this reason, the connector 30 is fixed and integrated with the control circuit board 20 at the fixed piece 31. The engagement piece 32 is a flat plate-like portion that can be engaged with the engagement groove 7 c provided on the inner wall surface 7 b of the notch 7. The engaging piece 32 is configured such that the plate thickness in the first direction X is the same as or slightly smaller than the groove width of the engaging groove 7c. For this reason, when the connector 30 is inserted into the opening 7 a of the notch portion 7, the outer peripheral portion of the engagement piece 32 is engaged while sliding in the engagement groove 7 c of the notch portion 7. At this time, it is preferable that the sealing material is applied between the engagement piece 32 and the engagement groove 7c. The holder portion 33 has a cylindrical shape that can accommodate the plug 51. After the terminal 22 has penetrated the fixed piece 31 and the engaging piece 32, its one end 22 a is disposed in the cylinder of the holder portion 33.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the stay 40 includes an extended surface 41 and an extended surface 43 that extend in parallel to each other, and an extended surface 42 that is provided in a step shape with respect to the extended surface 41. And. The extending surface 41 is configured to support the fixing piece 31 of the connector 30 when the stay 40 is fixed. The extending surface 42 is configured to support the outer peripheral portion of the engaging piece 32 of the connector 30 when the stay 40 is fixed. The extending surface 43 is configured to be flush with the flange surface 6 a of the cover 5 in a state where the connector 30 is sandwiched between the stay 40 and the cutout portion 7 of the cover 5. Accordingly, the extending surface 43 has a flat seal surface S (a region hatched in FIG. 5) joined to the flange surface 4a of the case 3 (the other member with respect to the cover 5) together with the flange surface 6a of the cover 5. Form.

  The stay 40 includes extending pieces 44 that extend in the first direction X along the extending surfaces 41 from both ends in the second direction Y, respectively. The extension piece 44 has an insertion hole 44a into which the male screw shaft 25a of the fastening bolt 25 is inserted. The insertion hole 44 a is formed through the extending piece 44 in the third direction Z. The fastening bolt 25 is configured such that the male screw shaft 25a inserted into the insertion hole 44a of the extension piece 44 is screwed into the boss portion 5b on the cover 5 side. Thereby, the stay 40 is fastened and fixed to the cover 5 at the extending piece 44 as a fastened portion. The extending piece 44 of the stay 40 is provided at a position away from the extending surface 43. That is, in this embodiment, the fastening point by the fastening bolt 25 is not provided on the extended surface 43.

  Next, the effect of the power converter device 1 of Embodiment 1 is demonstrated.

  According to the power conversion device 1 described above, when removing the cover 5 from the case 3 during the maintenance operation, the connector 30 is removed while being fixed to the cover 5 using the fastening force of the fastening bolts 25. That is, the connector 30 is removed from the case 3 together with the cover 5 and the control circuit board 20. At this time, while the sealing material applied to the sealing surface S composed of the extending surface 43 of the stay 40 and the flange surface 6a is peeled off, the connector 30 firmly fixed to the cover 5 by the fastening bolt 25 is the control circuit board. 20 and move together. In this case, the load in the direction of pulling the connector 30 away from the control circuit board 20 is unlikely to act on the connector 30. For this reason, the electrical connection between the connector 30 and the control circuit board 20 (typically, the other end 22b of the terminal 22 connected to the control circuit board 20 by solder) is less susceptible to stress. As a result, the board connector 30a in which the control circuit board 20 and the connector 30 are integrated can be used continuously after the maintenance work.

  In particular, since the power conversion apparatus 1 employs a structure in which the connector 30 is sandwiched between the cover 5 and the stay 40, the stay 40 is connected to the connector 30 from the case 3 side when the cover 5 is removed from the case 3. Demonstrates the function to relieve the tensile load that reaches. For this reason, it can suppress more reliably that the electrical connection part between the connector 30 and the control circuit board 20 receives stress.

  Further, according to the power conversion device 1 described above, the extending surface 43 of the stay 40 is flush with the flange surface 6 a of the cover 5 to form a flat sealing surface S, and therefore, the sealing material is applied to the sealing surface S. It is easy to do, and the sealing performance and joining performance by a sealing material can be improved.

  Furthermore, according to the power conversion device 1 described above, by providing the extending piece 44 of the stay 40 at a position away from the extending surface 43, a desired seal width in the first direction X of the sealing surface S (in FIG. 5). The seal width D) can be ensured.

(Embodiment 2)
As shown in FIG. 6, the power conversion device 101 of the second embodiment is different from the power conversion device 1 of the first embodiment in that it does not include a member such as the stay 40.
Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

  In the power conversion device 101, the connector 30 of the board-attached connector 30a is configured to be fastened and fixed directly to the cover 5 as a fixed body by fastening bolts 25. Thereby, the connector-attached cover 108 in which the connector 30a with the board and the cover 5 are integrated is formed. At this time, the engaging piece 32 of the connector 30 is provided with an extending surface 32 a that is flush with the flange surface 6 a of the cover 5. Accordingly, the extending surface 32 a is configured to form a flat seal surface S joined to the flange surface 4 a of the case 3 together with the flange surface 6 a of the cover 5.

According to the power converter 101 described above, when the cover 5 is removed from the case 3 during the maintenance operation, the sealing material applied to the sealing surface S composed of the extending surface 32a of the connector 30 and the flange surface 6a is peeled off. On the other hand, the connector 30 firmly fixed to the cover 5 by the fastening bolt 25 moves integrally with the control circuit board 20. In this case, the load in the direction of pulling the connector 30 away from the control circuit board 20 is unlikely to act on the connector 30. For this reason, the electrical connection between the connector 30 and the control circuit board 20 is not easily subjected to stress.
Further, since the extending surface 32a of the connector 30 is flush with the flange surface 6a of the cover 5 to form a flat sealing surface S, the sealing material can be easily applied to the sealing surface S, and the sealing performance by the sealing material can be improved. In addition, bondability can be improved.
Further, by omitting members such as the stay 40, the number of parts can be reduced.
In addition, the same effects as those of the first embodiment are obtained.

(Embodiment 3)
As shown in FIG. 7, the power conversion device 201 according to the third embodiment is different from the power conversion device 1 according to the first embodiment in that the board-attached connector 30 a including the connector 30 is fixed to the case 3. .
Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

  In this power conversion device 201, a notch portion 7 is provided at a position where a part of the flange portion 4 of the case 3 is divided in order to fix the connector with substrate 30a. The stay 40 is configured to be fastened and fixed to the case 3 at the extension piece 44 by the fastening bolt 25 with the connector 30 fitted in the opening 7a of the notch 7 interposed between the stay 40 and the case 3. ing. That is, the connector 30 of the board connector 30 a is configured to be fixed to the case 3, which is a fixed body, via the stay 40 by the fastening bolt 25. Thereby, the connector-attached case 203 in which the connector 30a with the board and the case 3 are integrated is formed.

  The extending surface 43 of the stay 40 is flush with the flange surface 4 a of the case 3 in a state where the connector 30 is sandwiched between the stay 40 and the cutout portion 7 of the case 3. Accordingly, the extending surface 43 is configured to form a flat seal surface S joined to the flange surface 6a of the cover 5 (the other member with respect to the case 3) together with the flange surface 4a of the case 3.

According to the power conversion device 201 described above, when the cover 5 is removed from the case 3 during the maintenance operation, the sealing material applied to the sealing surface S composed of the extending surface 43 of the stay 40 and the flange surface 4a is peeled off. On the other hand, the control circuit board 20 moves integrally with the connector 30 firmly fixed to the case 3 by the fastening bolts 25. In this case, the load in the direction of pulling the connector 30 away from the control circuit board 20 is unlikely to act on the connector 30. For this reason, the electrical connection between the connector 30 and the control circuit board 20 is not easily subjected to stress.
Further, since the extending surface 43 of the stay 40 is flush with the flange surface 4a of the case 3 to form a flat sealing surface S, the sealing material can be easily applied to the sealing surface S and the sealing performance by the sealing material can be improved. In addition, bondability can be improved.
In addition, the same effects as those of the first embodiment are obtained.

(Embodiment 4)
As illustrated in FIG. 8, the power conversion device 301 according to the fourth embodiment is different from the power conversion device 201 according to the third embodiment in that it does not include a member such as the stay 40.
Other configurations are the same as those of the third embodiment.

  In the power conversion device 301, the connector 30 of the board-attached connector 30a is configured to be directly fastened and fixed to the case 3 which is a fixed body by the fastening bolt 25. As a result, the connector-equipped case 303 in which the board-equipped connector 30a and the case 3 are integrated is formed. At this time, the engaging piece 32 of the connector 30 is provided with an extending surface 32 a that is flush with the flange surface 4 a of the case 3. Therefore, the extending surface 32 a is configured to form a flat seal surface S that is joined to the flange surface 6 a of the cover 5 together with the flange surface 4 a of the case 3.

According to the power conversion device 301 described above, when the cover 5 is removed from the case 3 during the maintenance operation, the sealing material applied to the sealing surface S composed of the extending surface 32a of the connector 30 and the flange surface 4a is peeled off. On the other hand, the connector 30 firmly fixed to the case 3 by the fastening bolt 25 moves integrally with the control circuit board 20. In this case, the load in the direction of pulling the connector 30 away from the control circuit board 20 is unlikely to act on the connector 30.
For this reason, the electrical connection between the connector 30 and the control circuit board 20 is not easily subjected to stress.
Further, since the extending surface 32a of the connector 30 is flush with the flange surface 4a of the case 3 to form a flat sealing surface S, the sealing material can be easily applied to the sealing surface S, and the sealing performance by the sealing material can be improved. In addition, bondability can be improved.
Further, by omitting members such as the stay 40, the number of parts can be reduced.
In addition, the same operational effects as those of the third embodiment are obtained.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described exemplary embodiments, and various applications and modifications can be considered without departing from the object of the present invention. For example, the following embodiments applying the above-described embodiment can be implemented.

  In the first and second embodiments, the flat seal surface S is formed by the extending surface 43 of the stay 40 or the extending surface 32a of the connector 30 and the flange surface 6a of the cover 5, and in the third and fourth embodiments described above. The case where the flat sealing surface S is formed by the extending surface 43 of the stay 40 or the extending surface 32a of the connector 30 and the flange surface 4a of the case 3 has been illustrated, but the sealing surface S is stepped as necessary. May be configured.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the fastening fixing point by the fastening bolt 25 is not provided on the seal surface S (the extended surface 43 of the stay 40 or the extended surface 32a of the connector 30) is illustrated. When the width can be secured, a configuration in which a fastening point by the fastening bolt 25 is provided on the seal surface S can also be adopted.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,101,201,301 Power converter 2 Container 3 Case 4a Flange surface 5 Cover 6a Flange surface 7 Notch 7a Opening 10 Semiconductor module 11 Semiconductor element 20 Control circuit board 25 Fastening bolt (fastening member)
25a Male screw shaft 30 External connector 40 Stay (pinching member)
43 Extension surface 44 Extension piece (fastened part)
44a Insertion hole 50 Vehicle control unit (external device)
S Seal surface

Claims (4)

A semiconductor module (10) containing a semiconductor element (11);
A control circuit board (20) electrically connected to the semiconductor module;
A housing (2) having a case (3) for housing the semiconductor module and a cover (5) covering the case;
It is configured to project outward from the container in a state of being interposed between the cover and the case for connection to an external device (50), and is integrated with the control circuit board and the control An external connector (30) electrically connected to the circuit board;
With
The said external connector is a power converter device (1, 101, 201, 301) fixed to the to-be-fixed body (5, 3) which is any one of the said cover and the said case by the fastening member (25).   A clamping member (40) fastened and fixed to the fixed body by the fastening member in a state where the external connector is sandwiched between the fixed body and the fixed body, and the external connector is connected to the fixed body via the clamping member. The power converter according to claim 1, wherein the power converter is fixed to a fixed body.   The fixed body includes a cutout portion (7) having an opening (7a) into which the external connector is fitted, and the sandwiching member cuts the external connector fitted into the opening of the cutout portion. An extended surface (43) that is flush with the flange surface (6a, 4a) of the fixed body in a state of being sandwiched between the fixed portion and the extended surface together with the flange surface of the fixed body. The cover and the case are configured so as to form a seal surface (S) to be joined to the flange surface (4a, 6a) of the other member (3, 5) with respect to the fixed body. The power converter described.   The said pinching member is provided with the to-be-fastened part (44) which has the insertion hole (44a) in which the external thread axis | shaft (25a) of the said fastening member is inserted, The said to-be-fastened part is provided in the position remove | deviated from the said extension surface. The power converter according to claim 3.

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