Power inverter
View Patent ↗In a power inverter, a coolant passage is fixed to a chassis to cool the chassis; the chassis is divided into a first region and a second region by providing the coolant passage in the chassis; a power module is provided in the first region as fixed to the coolant passage; a capacitor module is provided in the second region; and the DC terminal of the capacitor module is directly connected to the DC terminal of the power module.
1. A power inverter comprising:
a power module converting a direct current to an alternating current;
a capacitor module smoothing the direct current;
a chassis providing a coolant passage;
an upper case that is fixed to the chassis; and
a lower case that is fixed to the chassis, wherein:
the coolant passage is disposed between the power module and the capacitor module;
the upper case forms a first space for accommodating the power module between the upper case and the coolant passage;
the lower case forms a second space for accommodating the capacitor module between the lower case and the coolant passage;
the chassis provides a through-hole, adjacent to the coolant passage, connecting the first space and the second space;
the capacitor module comprises a capacitor cell, a positive busbar connecting to a first electrode of the capacitor cell, a negative busbar connecting to a second electrode of the capacitor cell, a capacitor positive terminal extending from the second space and connecting the positive busbar to the power module through the through-hole, a capacitor negative terminal extending from the second space and connecting the negative busbar to the power module through the through-hole, and a protecting member for protecting the capacitor positive terminal and the capacitor negative terminal; and
the protecting member extends from the second space to the through-hole.
2. A power inverter according to claim 1 , wherein:
the power module has a positive terminal that extends to an area facing the through-hole and a negative terminal that extends to an area facing the through-hole;
a tip of the capacitor positive terminal is directly connected to the positive terminal;
a tip of the capacitor negative terminal is directly connected to the negative terminal.
3. A power inverter according to claim 2 , wherein:
the positive terminal, the negative terminal, the capacitor positive terminal and the capacitor negative terminal are provided respectively in a plural;
the plurality of positive terminal are connected to the plurality of capacitor positive terminal; and
the plurality of negative terminal are connected to the plurality of capacitor negative terminal.
4. A power inverter according to claim 1 , wherein:
the chassis provides an opening connected to the coolant passage;
the power module comprises a metal plate providing a fin, wherein
the metal plate covers the opening with the fin extending to the coolant passage.
5. A power inverter according to claim 1 , wherein:
the capacitor module comprises a case accommodating the capacitor cell, wherein
the protecting member and the case is formed integrally.
6. A power inverter comprising:
a power module converting a direct current to an alternating current;
a capacitor module smoothing the direct current;
a chassis providing a coolant passage;
an upper case that is fixed to the chassis; and
a lower case that is fixed to the chassis, wherein:
the coolant passage is disposed between the power module and the capacitor module;
the upper case forms a first space for accommodating the power module between the upper case and the coolant passage;
the lower case forms a second space for accommodating the capacitor module between the lower case and the coolant passage;
the chassis provides a through-hole, adjacent to the coolant passage, connecting the first space and the second space;
the capacitor module comprises a capacitor cell, a positive busbar connecting to a first electrode of the capacitor cell, a negative busbar connecting to a second electrode of the capacitor cell, a capacitor positive terminal extending from the second space and connecting the positive busbar to the power module through the through-hole, and a capacitor negative terminal extending from the second space and connecting the negative busbar to the power module through the through-hole, wherein
the capacitor positive terminal and the capacitor negative terminal are surrounded by a shield; and
the shield extends to the through-hole.
7. A power inverter according to claim 6 , wherein:
the power module has a positive terminal that extends to an area facing the through-hole and a negative terminal that extends to an area facing the through-hole;
a tip of the capacitor positive terminal is directly connected to the positive terminal;
a tip of the capacitor negative terminal is directly connected to the negative terminal.
8. A power inverter according to claim 7 , wherein:
the positive terminal, the negative terminal, the capacitor positive terminal and the capacitor negative terminal are provided respectively in a plural;
the plurality of positive terminal are connected to the plurality of capacitor positive terminal; and
the plurality of negative terminal are connected to the plurality of capacitor negative terminal.
9. A power inverter according to claim 6 , wherein:
the chassis provides an opening connected to the coolant passage;
the power module comprises a metal plate providing a fin, wherein
the metal plate covers the opening with the fin extending to the coolant passage.
10. A power inverter according to claim 6 , wherein:
the capacitor module comprises a case accommodating the capacitor cell, wherein
the shield and the case is formed integrally.
11. A power inverter comprising:
a power module converting a direct current to an alternating current;
a capacitor module smoothing the direct current;
a chassis providing a coolant passage;
an upper case that is fixed to the chassis; and
a lower case that is fixed to the chassis, wherein:
the coolant passage is disposed between the power module and the capacitor module;
the upper case forms a first space for accommodating the power module between the upper case and the coolant passage;
the lower case forms a second space for accommodating the capacitor module between the lower case and the coolant passage;
the chassis provides a through-hole, adjacent to the coolant passage, connecting the first space and the second space;
the capacitor module comprises a capacitor cell, a positive busbar connecting to a first electrode of the capacitor cell, a negative busbar connecting to a second electrode of the capacitor cell, a capacitor positive terminal extending from the second space and connecting the positive busbar to the power module through the through-hole, a capacitor negative terminal extending from the second space and connecting the negative busbar to the power module through the through-hole, and a terminal cover covering the capacitor positive terminal and the capacitor negative terminal; and
the terminal cover extends to the through-hole.
12. A power inverter according to claim 11 , wherein:
the power module has a positive terminal that extends to an area facing the through-hole and a negative terminal that extends to an area facing the through-hole;
a tip of the capacitor positive terminal is directly connected to the positive terminal;
a tip of the capacitor negative terminal is directly connected to the negative terminal.
13. A power inverter according to claim 12 , wherein:
the positive terminal, the negative terminal, the capacitor positive terminal and the capacitor negative terminal are provided respectively in a plural;
the plurality of positive terminal are connected to the plurality of capacitor positive terminal; and
the plurality of negative terminal are connected to the plurality of capacitor negative terminal.
14. A power inverter according to claim 11 , wherein:
the chassis provides an opening connected to the coolant passage;
the power module comprises a metal plate providing a fin, wherein
the metal plate covers the opening with the fin extending to the coolant passage.
15. A power inverter according to claim 11 , wherein:
the capacitor module comprises a case accommodating the capacitor cell, wherein
the terminal cover and the case is formed integrally.
16. A power inverter according to claim 5 , wherein:
the case is made of a metal material.
17. A power inverter according to claim 10 , wherein:
the case is made of a metal material.
18. A power inverter according to claim 15 , wherein:
the case is made of a metal material.