1. A power inverter that fixes a connector, in which a DC-side connector and an AC-side connector are mechanically combined, to a casing, the power inverter comprising:
a power semiconductor module that converts a DC current into an AC current;
a DC terminal that delivers the DC current to the power semiconductor module;
an AC terminal that delivers the AC current to an electrical motor; and
the casing that houses the power semiconductor module, wherein
the DC terminal and the AC terminal are arranged on one side face of the casing,
the one side face of the casing forms a rectangular shape that is configured by a side formed in a widthwise direction and a side formed in a longitudinal direction,
the DC terminal is configured by a positive-side DC terminal and a negative-side DC terminal,
the AC terminal is configured by a U-phase side terminal, a V-phase side terminal, and a W-phase side terminal,
the positive-side DC terminal and the negative-side DC terminal are arranged to be aligned along one side, which is formed in the widthwise direction, of the one side face of the casing, and
the U-phase side terminal, the V-phase side terminal, and the W-phase side terminal are arranged to be aligned along one side, which is formed in the longitudinal direction, of the one side face of the casing.
2. The power inverter according to claim 1, wherein one of the U-phase side terminal, the V-phase side terminal, and the W-phase side terminal is arranged to be closer to the other side, which is formed in the longitudinal direction, of the one side face of the casing than the other two terminals.
3. The power inverter according to claim 1, further comprising a first support member that supports the AC terminal, wherein
the casing forms a first opening portion on the one side face, and
the first support member closes the first opening portion from an inner wall side of the casing and is supported by the inner wall of the casing.
4. The power inverter according to claim 3, wherein
the casing includes a first wall that protrudes from an edge of the first opening portion toward an outside of the casing, and
the AC-side connector of the connectors passes through a space surrounded by the first wall and is connected to the AC terminal supported by the first support member.
5. The power inverter according to claim 3, further comprising a second support member that supports the DC terminal, wherein
the casing forms a second opening portion on the one side face, and
the second support member closes the second opening portion from the inner wall side of the casing and is supported by the inner wall of the casing.
6. The power inverter according to claim 5, wherein
the casing includes a second wall that protrudes from an edge of the second opening portion toward the outside of the casing, and
the DC-side connector of the connectors passes through a space surrounded by the second wall and is connected to the DC terminal supported by the second support member.
7. The power inverter according to claim 5, further comprising:
a control circuit board that controls driving of the power semiconductor module; and
a connection detecting circuit that detects a state in which the connector is electrically disconnected from the DC terminal and the AC terminal, wherein
the connection detecting circuit is connected to at least one of the first support member and the second support member, and
the control circuit board suppresses or stops the driving of the power semiconductor module based on a signal transmitted from the connection detecting circuit.
8. The power inverter according to claim 3, wherein
the first support member includes a first protruded portion that protrudes toward the outside of the casing, and
the first support member is fixed to the inner wall of the casing in a state in which the first protruded portion is brought into contact with an inner circumference portion of the first opening portion of the casing.
9. The power inverter according to claim 1, further comprising a first support member that supports the AC terminal, wherein
the casing forms a first opening portion on the one side face,
the first support member is supported by the inner wall side of the casing at a position facing the first opening portion, and
the first support member includes a terminal covering portion that protrudes toward the outside of the casing and is configured to cover a distal end portion of the AC terminal.
10. The power inverter according to claim 1, further comprising:
a control circuit board that controls driving of the power semiconductor module;
an AC busbar that delivers the AC current flowing between the power semiconductor module and the AC terminal;
a first support member that supports the AC terminal; and
a metal plate that fixes the first support member to the casing by sandwiching the first support member between the casing and the metal plate, wherein
the casing forms a first opening portion on the one side face,
the first support member is supported by the inner wall side of the casing at a position facing the first opening portion, and
the metal plate is formed to cover at least a part of a face of the AC busbar disposed on a side on which the control circuit board is arranged.
11. The power inverter according to claim 2, further comprising a first support member that supports the AC terminal, wherein
the casing forms a first opening portion on the one side face, and
the first support member closes the first opening portion from an inner wall side of the casing and is supported by the inner wall of the casing.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An abnormality diagnosis apparatus for diagnosing abnormality of a recirculating liquid cooling system for an internal combustion engine, wherein the cooling system includes a radiator, a circulation line system, which circulates liquid coolant through the internal combustion engine and the radiator and includes a bypass fluid line that bypasses the radiator, a flow rate control means for controlling a bypass flow rate of liquid coolant flowing through the bypass fluid line, and a coolant temperature sensor, which measures coolant temperature in the circulation line system, the abnormality diagnosis apparatus comprising:
a coolant temperature control means for controlling the coolant temperature in the circulation line system by controlling the flow rate control means; and
an abnormality diagnosis means for diagnosing the flow rate control means to determine whether an abnormality exists based on behavior of the measured coolant temperature, which is measured through the coolant temperature sensor during a warm-up period of the internal combustion engine.
2. An abnormality diagnosis apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the flow rate control means includes at least one of a valve and a pump inserted in the circulation line system.
3. An abnormality diagnosis apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the abnormality diagnosis means determines the existence of the abnormality of the flow rate control means based on one of:
an amount of change in the measured coolant temperature measured through the coolant temperature sensor; and
a rate of change in the measured coolant temperature measured through the coolant temperature sensor.
4. An abnormality diagnosis apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the abnormality diagnosis means sets an abnormality diagnosis condition, which is used to determine the existence of the abnormality of the flow rate control means, based on:
a parameter, which relates to an amount of heat generated by the internal combustion engine; and
a parameter, which relates to an amount of heat released from the coolant.
5. An abnormality diagnosis apparatus as in claim 4, wherein:
the abnormality diagnosis means determines an estimated coolant temperature of the coolant in the circulation line system based on:
the parameter, which relates to the amount of heat generated by the internal combustion engine; and
the parameter, which relates to the amount of heat released from the coolant; and
the abnormality diagnosis means determines the existence of the abnormality of the flow rate control means through comparison of the estimated coolant temperature and the measured coolant temperature measured through the coolant temperature sensor.
6. An abnormality diagnosis apparatus for diagnosing abnormality of a cooling system for an internal combustion engine, wherein the cooling system includes a radiator, a circulation line system, which circulates coolant through the internal combustion engine and the radiator and includes a bypass fluid line that bypasses the radiator, a flow rate control means for controlling a bypass flow rate of the coolant flowing through the bypass fluid line, and a coolant temperature sensor, which measures a coolant temperature of the coolant in the circulation line system, the abnormality diagnosis apparatus comprising:
a coolant temperature control means for controlling the coolant temperature of the coolant in the circulation line system, by controlling the flow rate control means; and
an abnormality diagnosis means for diagnosing the flow rate control means to determine whether abnormality of the flow rate control means exists based on behavior of the measured coolant temperature, which is measured through the coolant temperature sensor during a warm-up period of the internal combustion engine;
wherein the abnormality diagnosis means corrects an abnormality diagnosis condition, which is used to determine the existence of the abnormality of the flow rate control means, based on one of:
the bypass flow rate; and
a bypass flow rate parameter, which correlates with the bypass flow rate.
7. An abnormality diagnosis apparatus as in claim 6, wherein the abnormality diagnosis means uses a controlled variable of the flow rate control means as the bypass flow rate parameter.
8. An abnormality diagnosis apparatus for diagnosing abnormality of a cooling system for an internal combustion engine, wherein the cooling system includes a radiator, a circulation line system, which circulates coolant through the internal combustion engine and the radiator and includes a bypass fluid line that bypasses the radiator, a flow rate control means for controlling a bypass flow rate of the coolant flowing through the bypass fluid line, and a coolant temperature sensor, which measures a coolant temperature of the coolant in the circulation line system, the abnormality diagnosis apparatus comprising:
a coolant temperature control means for controlling the coolant temperature of the coolant in the circulation line system by controlling the flow rate control means; and
an abnormality diagnosis means for diagnosing the flow rate control means to determine whether abnormality of the flow rate control means exists based on behavior of the measured coolant temperature, which is measured through the coolant temperature sensor during a warm-up period of the internal combustion engine;
wherein when the abnormality diagnosis means diagnoses the flow rate control means, the coolant temperature control means controls the flow rate control means in such a manner that the flow rate control means stops flow of the coolant to the radiator and sets the bypass flow rate of the coolant to a level less than the bypass flow rate set for a period after the warm-up period of the internal combustion engine.
9. An abnormality diagnosis apparatus as in claim 8, wherein when the abnormality diagnosis means diagnoses the flow rate control means, the coolant temperature control means sets the bypass flow rate of the coolant to a level that prevents seizing of the internal combustion engine.
10. A cooling system for an internal combustion engine, the cooling system comprising:
a radiator;
a circulation line system, which circulates liquid coolant through the internal combustion engine and the radiator and includes a bypass fluid line that bypasses the radiator;
a flow rate control means for controlling a bypass flow rate of the liquid coolant flowing through the bypass fluid line, wherein the flow rate control means continuously changes the bypass flow rate of the coolant;
a coolant temperature sensor, which measures a coolant temperature of the coolant in the circulation line system;
a coolant temperature control means for controlling the coolant temperature of the coolant in the circulation line system by controlling the flow rate control means; and
an abnormality diagnosis means for diagnosing the flow rate control means to determine whether abnormality of the flow rate control means exists based on behavior of the measured coolant temperature, which is measured through the coolant temperature sensor during a warm-up period of the internal combustion engine.
11. A cooling system as in claim 10, wherein the flow rate control means includes at least one of a valve and a pump inserted in the circulation line system.
12. A cooling system as in claim 10, wherein the coolant temperature sensor is positioned between the internal combustion engine and the radiator.
13. A cooling system as in claim 10, wherein the abnormality diagnosis means determines the existence of the abnormality of the flow rate control means based on one of:
an amount of change in the measured coolant temperature measured through the coolant temperature sensor; and
a rate of change in the measured coolant temperature measured through the coolant temperature sensor.
14. A cooling system as in claim 10, wherein the flow rate control means is a control valve that has a continuously variable degree of opening.
15. A method for diagnosing abnormality of a recirculating liquid cooling system for an internal combustion engine, wherein the cooling system includes a radiator, a circulation line system which circulates liquid coolant through the internal combustion engine, radiator and a bypass fluid line that bypasses the radiator and a coolant temperature sensor, said method comprising:
controlling coolant temperature by controlling flow rate of liquid through said bypass fluid line; and
determining whether an abnormality exists based on behavior of the measured coolant temperature, measured by the coolant temperature sensor during a warm-up period of the internal combustion engine.
16. A method as in claim 15 wherein the control of bypass flow rate utilizes at least one of a valve and a pump disposed in the circulation line system.
17. A method as in claim 15 wherein the abnormality determination is based on one of:
change in the measured coolant temperature and
rate of change in the measured coolant temperature.
18. A method as in claim 15 wherein an abnormality diagnosis condition is set and used to determine the existence of the abnormality based on:
a first parameter which relates to heat generated by the internal combustion engine; and
a second parameter which relates to heat released from the coolant.
19. A method as in claim 18 wherein:
an estimated coolant temperature of the coolant in the circulation line system is estimated based on the first parameter and the second parameter; and
existence of the abnormality is determined using a comparison of estimated coolant temperature and measured coolant temperature.
20. A method as in claim 15
wherein an abnormality diagnosis condition is corrected before being used to determine the existence of the abnormality based at least on one of:
the bypass flow rate; and
a bypass flow rate parameter which correlates with the bypass flow rate.
21. A method as in claim 20 wherein a controlled variable related to the controlled flow rate is used as the bypass flow rate parameter.
22. A method as in claim 15
wherein, when the abnormality is being diagnosed, flow rate is controlled such that the flow of coolant to the radiator is stopped and bypass flow rate is set to a level less than that set for use after the warm-up period of the internal combustion engine.
23. A method as in claim 22 wherein, when the abnormality is being diagnosed, the bypass flow rate of coolant is set to a level that prevents seizing of the internal combustion engine.
24. A method for operating a recirculating liquid cooling system for an internal combustion engine, said method comprising:
circulating liquid coolant through the internal combustion engine and a circulation line system including a radiator and a bypass fluid line that bypasses the radiator;
controlling a variable flow rate of liquid coolant flowing through the bypass fluid line;
measuring coolant temperature;
controlling the coolant temperature by variably controlling the bypass flow rate; and
determining whether abnormality of flow rate control exists based on behavior of the coolant temperature during a warm-up period of the internal combustion engine.
25. A method as in claim 24 wherein variable control of flow rate includes use of at least one of a valve and a pump disposed in the circulation line system.
26. A method as in claim 24 wherein the coolant temperature sensor is positioned between the internal combustion engine and the radiator.
27. A method as in claim 24 wherein the determination of an abnormality is based on at least one of:
change in the measured coolant temperature; and
rate of change in the measured coolant temperature.
28. A method as in claim 24 wherein variable flow rate control is achieved using a control valve that has a continuously variable degree of opening.