Electric vehicle

Abstract

An electric vehicle disclosed by the present specification, includes an inverter arranged outside frame members in a vehicle width direction, in a front compartment. An inner side of the inverter in the vehicle width direction is fixed to one of the frame members. An outer side of the inverter in the vehicle width direction is fixed to a cabin outer plate. Furthermore, a fixation strength of the inner side of the inverter is lower than a fixation strength of the outer side of the inverter.

Claims

1. An electric vehicle comprising: a traction motor; two frame members that extend in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle; an inverter configured to supply an alternating-current electric power to the traction motor, the inverter being arranged outside the two frame members, in a vehicle width direction, in a front compartment of the vehicle; a cabin outer plate fixed to an outer side of the inverter in the vehicle width direction; and a bracket configured to fix an inner side of the inverter in the vehicle width direction to one of the two frame members, wherein the bracket includes a through-hole configured to receive a first bolt for fixing the bracket to a top portion of the one of the two frame members, and a slit configured to receive a second bolt for fixing the bracket to a bottom portion of the inverter, such that a fixation strength of the inner side of the inverter is lower than a fixation strength of the outer side of the inverter.

2. The electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the inverter is located above the two frame members.

3. The electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the inverter is arranged on a fender apron.

4. The electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the inverter is arranged behind a center of the front compartment in the longitudinal direction.

5. The electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the slit opens rearwards with respect to a front-rear direction of the vehicle.

6. An electric vehicle comprising: a traction motor; two frame members that extend in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle; an inverter configured to supply an alternating-current electric power to the traction motor, the inverter being arranged outside the two frame members, in a vehicle width direction, in a front compartment of the vehicle; a cabin outer plate fixed to an inner side of the inverter in the vehicle width direction and an outer side of the inverter in the vehicle width direction; and a bracket configured to fix the cabin outer plate to a top portion of one of the two frame members inside the inverter in the vehicle width direction, wherein the bracket includes a through-hole configured to receive a first bolt for fixing the bracket to a top portion of the cabin outer plate, and a slit configured to receive a second bolt for fixing the bracket to a bottom portion of the inverter, such that a fixation strength of the outer side of the inverter in the vehicle width direction is higher than a fixation strength of the inner side of the inverter or a fixation strength between the cabin outer plate and the one of the two frame members.

7. The electric vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the inverter is located above the two frame members.

8. The electric vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the inverter is arranged on a fender apron.

9. The electric vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the inverter is arranged behind a center of the front compartment in the longitudinal direction.

10. The electric vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the slit opens rearwards with respect to a front-rear direction of the vehicle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a plan view of an electric vehicle according to the first embodiment of the invention.

(2) FIG. 2 is a lateral view of the electric vehicle.

(3) FIG. 3 is a front view of the electric vehicle.

(4) FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a location where a side member and an inverter are fixed to each other.

(5) FIG. 5 is a plan view showing an exemplary movement of the inverter upon reception of an impact diagonally from in front.

(6) FIG. 6 is a lateral view of an electric vehicle according to the second embodiment of the invention.

(7) FIG. 7 is a front view of the electric vehicle according to the second embodiment of the invention.

(8) FIG. 8 is a front view of an electric vehicle according to the third embodiment of the invention.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(9) Some preferred features of the art described in the embodiments of the invention will be listed below as to an attaching structure of an inverter.

(10) (1) The inverter is located above a frame member.

(11) (2) The inverter is arranged on a fender apron.

(12) (3) The inverter is arranged behind a center of a front compartment in a longitudinal direction.

EMBODIMENTS

First Embodiment

(13) FIGS. 1 to 3 are plan, lateral and front views showing the electric vehicle according to the first embodiment of the invention, respectively. Incidentally, a relationship among frame members of the vehicle, a cabin outer plate, and the inverter will be described herein, so the diagrammatic representation and description of other components will be arbitrarily omitted.

(14) A front compartment 31 of an electric vehicle 2 is mounted with a traction motor 6 and an inverter 4. The inverter 4 converts a direct-current electric power of a battery 35, which is arranged in a luggage space in a rear part of the vehicle, into an alternating-current electric power, and supplies this alternating-current electric power to the motor 6. A large alternating current is supplied from the inverter 4 to the motor 6, so the inverter 4 is arranged close to the motor 6 with a view to reducing the transmission loss in electric power. Therefore, both the motor 6 and the inverter 4 are mounted in the front compartment.

(15) The electric vehicle 2 has a frame structure. Two side members 3 are main components of a frame (frame members). The two side members 3 mainly impart a structural strength to the electric vehicle 2. The two side members 3 extend parallel to a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and are coupled to each other by a plurality of cross members 21 that extend in a vehicle width direction. The motor 6 is arranged between the two side members 3. The motor 6 is fixed to the cross members 21. The motor 6 is arranged between the two high-strength side members 3. In the event of a collision of the vehicle, the side members 3 protect the motor 6.

(16) The inverter 4 is arranged outside the side members 3 in the vehicle width direction instead of being arranged between the two side members 3. It should be noted, however, that the inverter 4 is fixed to one of the side members 3 via a bracket 7 by bolts 13 and 14. The bracket 7 is a clasp for attaching the inverter 4 to the side member 3, and is made from a metal plate.

(17) Besides, the inverter 4 is also fixed to a cabin outer plate 5. The cabin outer plate 5 is a structure that defines a cabin (a boarding space 32), and is mainly made from a metal plate. Incidentally, a reference numeral 33 in the drawings denotes a seat in which a passenger is seated. The seat 33 is arranged in the cabin space 32.

(18) As well shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the inverter 4 is fixed to the side member 3 via the bracket 7 inside in the vehicle width direction, and is fixed to the cabin outer plate 5 outside in the vehicle width direction. Incidentally, a straight line CL indicates a vehicle center in the vehicle width direction in FIG. 3. Accordingly, the inside in the vehicle width direction means a side that is closer to a centerline CL than the side members 3, and the outside in the vehicle width direction means a side that is further away from the centerline CL than the side members 3. Besides, in FIG. 3, the cabin outer plate 5 is depicted only in the vicinity of the inverter 4, and the other part of the cabin outer plate 5 is not shown.

(19) The bracket 7 is structured such that the inverter 4 is disengaged when a load of a predetermined magnitude is applied thereto. It should be noted herein that “the load of the predetermined magnitude” is a value lower than a fixation strength between the cabin outer plate 5 and the inverter 4. Besides, the fixation strength of the bracket 7 is adjusted such that the inverter 4 is disengaged from the side member 3 when an assumed collision impact is applied thereto. Conversely, the fixation strength between the cabin outer plate 5 and the inverter 4 is adjusted such that the assumed collision impact can be tolerated.

(20) FIG. 4 shows an exemplary structure of the bracket 7. It should be noted that the depiction is vertically inversed in FIG. 4 (see a coordinate system in the drawing). The bracket 7 has a through-hole 7a and a slit 7b. The bracket 7 is fixed to the side member 3 through the through-hole 7a by the bolt 13. On the other hand, the bracket 7 is fixed to the inverter 4 through the slit 7b by the bolt 14. A negative direction in an X-axis of FIG. 4 is equivalent to a backward direction with respect to the vehicle. The slit 7b opens backward with respect to the vehicle. Therefore, when the load of the predetermined magnitude is applied to the inverter 4 backward with respect to the vehicle (in a direction indicated by an arrow A in FIG. 4), the inverter 4 is disengaged from the bracket 7, namely, from the side member 3.

(21) Advantages of the aforementioned structure of the bracket 7 will be described. FIG. 5 is a plan view of the same electric vehicle 2 as in FIG. 1. An arrow denoted by a reference symbol F represents an impact that the electric vehicle 2 receives from right in front. Thick lines indicate deformation of the cabin outer plate 5 upon reception of an impact, and the movement of the inverter 4. Upon receiving an impact from right in front, a front-right portion of the cabin outer plate 5 bends leftward and backward. The outer side of the inverter 4 is fixed to the cabin outer plate 5, and the inner side of the inverter 4 is fixed to the side member 3. However, when the collision load applied backward exceeds the predetermined magnitude, the inverter 4 is disengaged from the bracket 7 to be freed from the side member 3. Therefore, the inverter 4 moves leftward and backward as the cabin outer plate 5 is deformed. Incidentally, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the inverter 4 is located above the side members 3. Accordingly, the inverter 4 can move leftward and backward without interfering with the side members 3. Upon receiving an impact, the inverter 4 is released from being fixed to the side member 3, and moves backward. The received impact is mitigated through the movement of the inverter 4.

(22) In the aforementioned structure, the inverter 4 is arranged outside the two side members 3. Therefore, other important devices can be arranged in a space between the side members 3. The electric vehicle 2 according to the embodiment of the invention is advantageous in that the degree of freedom in laying out the devices in the front compartment is high.

Second Embodiment

(23) Next, the electric vehicle according to the second embodiment of the invention will be described. FIG. 6 is a lateral view showing an electric vehicle 102 according to the second embodiment of the invention. FIG. 7 is a front view showing the electric vehicle 102. The diagrammatic representation of a motor is also omitted in FIGS. 6 and 7. The electric vehicle 102 according to this second embodiment of the invention is an example in which the aforementioned attaching structure of the inverter is applied to a large-sized vehicle such as a pickup truck. In the case of a large-sized vehicle, the space of the front compartment 31 is high, and the space above front wheels is wide. In such a case, it is appropriate that the inverter 4 be arranged behind the center of the front compartment 31 in the longitudinal direction. A reference symbol L in FIG. 6 denotes the length of the front compartment 31 in the longitudinal direction. The inverter 4 is arranged in a posterior half range (a range indicated by L/2 in the drawing) of the front compartment 31. By arranging the inverter 4 behind in the front compartment, the impact received by the inverter 4 in the event of a collision of the vehicle can be reduced.

(24) Besides, when there is a space above the front wheels, it is appropriate that the inverter 4 be fixed to an upper portion of a fender apron 105a. The fender apron 105a constitutes part of a cabin outer plate 105, and is a location to which a front fender 108 is attached.

Third Embodiment

(25) Next, the electric vehicle according to the third embodiment of the invention will be described. FIG. 8 is a front view showing an electric vehicle 202 according to the third embodiment of the invention. The third embodiment of the invention is a modification example of the fixing structure of the inverter in the electric vehicle 2 according to the first embodiment of the invention. An inner side of the inverter 4 in the vehicle width direction, and an outer side of the inverter 4 in the vehicle width direction are fixed to a cabin outer plate 205. More specifically, the inner side of the inverter 4 and the outer side of the inverter 4 are fixed to the cabin outer plate 205 via brackets 207 by the bolts 14. The brackets are clasps for fixing an object. In this case, the brackets 207 are clasps for fixing the inverter 4 to the cabin outer plate 205.

(26) The cabin outer plate 205 is fixed to the side member 3 by the bolt 13, inside the inverter 4 in the vehicle width direction (on a side close to the centerline CL). Then, the fixation strength between the cabin outer plate 205 and the side member 3 is lower than the fixation strength of the outer side of the inverter 4 in the vehicle width direction. The fixation strength of the outer side of the inverter 4 in the vehicle width direction is adjusted such that an assumed collision impact can be tolerated. The fixation strength between the cabin outer plate 205 and the side member 3 is adjusted such that the cabin outer plate 205 and the side member 3 are disengaged from each other when the assumed collision impact is applied thereto.

(27) The same effect as in the electric vehicles according to the first and second embodiments of the invention is obtained from the structure of the third embodiment of the invention as well. That is, when the inverter 4 receives an impact, the cabin outer plate 205 and the side member 3 are released from being fixed to each other, so the inverter 4 is freed from the side member. As a result, the inverter 4 moves backward in accordance with the impact. The received impact is mitigated through the movement of the inverter 4.

(28) Incidentally, in the third embodiment of the invention, the fixation strength between the cabin outer plate 205 and the side member 3 is lower than the fixation strength of the outer side of the inverter 4 in the vehicle width direction. The same advantage is also obtained by making the fixation strength of the inner side of the inverter 4 in the vehicle width direction lower than the fixation strength of the outer side of the inverter 4 in the vehicle width direction, instead of establishing such a relationship between the fixation strengths.

(29) In order to realize different fixation strengths, the bracket 7 exemplified in the first embodiment of the invention may be used. Different fixation strengths can also be realized by changing the diameters of the bolts for fixing the inverter. Concretely, a small-diameter bolt may be used to fix the outer side of the inverter in the vehicle width direction, and a large-diameter bolt may be utilized to fix the inner side of the inverter in the vehicle width direction, or to fix the cabin outer plate 205 and the side member 3 to each other.

(30) The points to remember about the art described in the embodiments of the invention will be mentioned. The side members 3 extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle are equivalent to an example of the frame members.

(31) The representative and nonrestrictive concrete examples of the invention have been described in detail with reference to the drawings. This detailed description is simply intended to inform those skilled in the art of the details for carrying out preferred examples of the invention, and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Besides, the disclosed additional features and inventions can be used separately from or in combination with other features and inventions, in order to provide a further improved electric vehicle.

(32) Besides, the features and combinations of processes disclosed in the aforementioned detailed description are not indispensable in the broadest sense in carrying out the invention, but are described for the sole purpose of explaining the representative concrete examples of the invention in particular. Furthermore, various features of the aforementioned representative concrete examples and various features of what is described in the independent and dependent claims are not required to be combined with one another as in the concrete examples described herein or according to the sequence of enumeration in providing additional and effective embodiments of the invention.

(33) All the features described in the present specification and/or the claims are intended to be disclosed individually and independently of one another as limitations on the contents disclosed at the time of the filing of the application and the specific matters described in the claims, separately from the configurations of the features described in the embodiments of the invention and/or the claims. Furthermore, all the numerical ranges and groups or aggregations are described as limitations on the contents disclosed at the time of the filing of the application and the specific matters described in the claims, with the intention of disclosing intermediate configurations thereof.

(34) Although the concrete examples of the invention have been described above in detail, these are nothing more than exemplifications, and should not limit the claims. The art described in the claims includes those obtained by modifying and altering the concrete examples exemplified above in various manners. The technical elements described in the present specification or the drawings are technically useful alone or in various combinations, and should not be limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of the filing of the application. Besides, the art exemplified in the present specification or the drawings can achieve a plurality of objects at the same time, and is technically useful by achieving one of the objects itself.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(35) 2, 102, 202 ELECTRIC VEHICLE 3 SIDE MEMBER 4 INVERTER 5, 105, 205 CABIN OUTER PLATE 6 MOTOR 7, 207 BRACKET 7a THROUGH-HOLE 7b SLIT 21 CROSS MEMBER 31 FRONT COMPARTMENT 32 CABIN SPACE 105a FENDER APRON 108 FRONT FENDER CL CENTERLINE