The present invention relates to a power circuit interrupting device that electrically connects and disconnects a power circuit of a hybrid motor vehicle, an electric motor vehicle, etc.
Upon carrying out a maintenance work of a hybrid motor vehicle, an electric motor vehicle, etc., a power circuit must be brought into interruption by a manual operation in order to ensure safe of a maintenance worker. Such a power circuit interrupting device as described in the following Patent Literature 1 is known. The device as described in Patent Literature 1 includes a pair of fixed electrodes and a fuse which are disposed in a casing, a moveable electrode capable of being coupled to the fixed electrodes to establish electrical connection between the fixed electrodes and being uncoupled from the fixed electrodes to interrupt the electrical connection therebetween, and a coupling/uncoupling operation handle provided with the moveable electrode. The device is constructed such that a conduction path is accommodated within the casing when an electrical continuity is established, and therefore, the device is excellent in view of safety.
However, in the device described in the Patent Literature 1, the fuse is disposed within the casing. Due to this construction, in order to carry out a continuity test for the fuse, it is necessary to uncouple the moveable electrode from the fixed electrodes, loosen screws, and open the casing to thereby expose the fuse outside. Accordingly, it takes a long time for performing the test procedure.
Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application Unexamined Publication No. 9-265874
A power circuit interrupting device according the present invention includes a first housing including a pair of fixed electrodes and a fuse, and a second housing including a moveable electrode, the moveable electrode interrupting electrical connection between the fixed electrodes when the second housing is uncoupled from the first housing, and establishing the electrical connection between the fixed electrodes when the second housing is coupled with the first housing. The first housing has an opening provided for carrying out a continuity test for the fuse. The opening is covered with the second housing in a condition that continuity of a circuit is allowed.
In the device according to the present invention, it is possible to carry out a continuity test for the fuse without exposing a whole portion of the fuse. Therefore, the device can serve to reduce a time for performing the test procedure. Further, in order to carry out the continuity test, the second housing having the moveable electrode must be uncoupled from the first housing, whereby the device can serve to keep safety. In addition, since the opening for the continuity test is covered with the second housing in a normal condition in which continuity of the power circuit is allowed, a foreign material such as dust can be prevented from entering into the device.
a) is a perspective view of a whole construction of the SDSW according to the embodiment, and
a) is a plan view of a first housing according to the embodiment, and
a) is a sectional view as viewed from a left side of the SDSW according to the embodiment, and
a) is a plan view of a dedicated cap for a continuity test, and
In the following, an embodiment of the present invention is explained by referring to
SDSW 1 includes first housing 3 including a pair of fixed electrodes and fuse 5, and second housing 4 including a moveable electrode that is uncoupled from the fixed electrodes to disconnect the fixed electrodes from each other or coupled with the fixed electrodes to connect the fixed electrodes with each other. A work of a continuity test can be safely performed by interrupting the electrical connection between batteries by uncoupling the moveable electrode from the fixed electrodes through second housing 4 or establishing the electrical connection between batteries by coupling the moveable electrode with the fixed electrodes through second housing 4.
In a condition that continuity of the circuit is allowed, electric current from the batteries flows to an inverter and a DC/DC converter through a main relay.
a is a perspective view of SDSW 1 as a whole according to the embodiment. SDSW 1 is fixed to battery pack 2 through bolts inserted into bolt holes 6 which are formed at four corners of first housing 3. Thus, SDSW 1 is formed integrally with battery pack 2, and configured to a box shape. In SDSW 1, when second housing 4 is coupled to peripheral wall portion 8 that projects outwardly from a base portion of first housing 3, the electrodes of first housing 3 and the electrode of second housing 4 are connected with each other to thereby allow continuity of the power circuit.
b is a front view of SDSW 1 as viewed from a forward direction. Seal 7 is provided in a connecting portion between SDSW 1 and battery pack 2, and prevents a foreign material such as dust, water, etc. from entering into battery pack 2. Fuse 5 is arranged within a box-shaped space formed by SDSW 1 and battery pack 2.
a is a plan view of first housing 3 according to the embodiment as viewed from an upper side. In a condition that continuity of the power circuit is allowed, an inside of peripheral wall portion 8 is covered with second housing 4. Disposed on the inside of peripheral wall portion 8 are a pair of fixed electrodes 9, 10 and openings 11 (11a, 11b) for a continuity test of fuse 5 that has terminals at both ends thereof. The continuity test is carried out by inserting probes into openings 11 and contacting the probes with conductive portions at the both ends of fuse 5. That is, the continuity test can be carried out without removing SDSW 1 from battery pack 2 to thereby expose a whole portion of the fuse outside. Accordingly, a time for performing the test procedure can be reduced. If openings 11 are disposed on an outside of peripheral wall portion 8, the continuity test can be carried out even in the condition that continuity of the power circuit is allowed. Therefore, safety of a worker of the continuity test can be not always ensured. In this embodiment, since openings 11 cannot be exposed outside unless second housing 4 is detached, it is possible to surely comply with such a maintenance procedure that the continuity test is carried out after continuity of the power circuit must be interrupted.
Further, since openings 11 are covered with second housing 4 in the condition that continuity of the power circuit is allowed, entrance of a foreign material such as dust, etc. into battery pack 2 can be prevented even though a dedicated cover is not provided for openings 11.
As shown in
b is a diagram showing arrangement of the pair of fixed electrodes 9, 10 and fuse 5 within first housing 3 according to this embodiment. Fuse terminal 17a of fuse 5 is connected with a wire through bolt 12, and then connected with a forward battery. One fixed electrode terminal 9 is connected with a wire through conductor 15 and bolt 13, and then connected with a rightward battery. The other fixed electrode terminal 10 is connected with fuse terminal 17b through conductor 16 and bolt 14. Accordingly, the continuity test can be carried out by using fixed electrode terminal 10 and opening 11a. However, since fixed electrode terminal 9 and fixed electrode terminal 10 are not distinguishable in appearance from each other, there is a possibility of carrying out an erroneous test using fixed electrode terminal 9 and opening 11a. In order to solve this problem, in this embodiment, opening 11b for the continuity test is further provided so as to prevent fixed electrode terminals 9, 10 from being used in the continuity test. As a result, it is possible to surely prevent the erroneous test.
In a case where fixed electrodes each having an elongated shape are used, the present invention may be embodied as shown in
a is a sectional view of first housing 3, taken along lines A-A show in
Further, in a case where only one fuse cap 20a of the pair of fuse caps 20 is formed as a conductor, there is a possibility that fuse 5 is connected in a reverse direction upon assembling the apparatus and thereby the continuity test cannot be carried out. To avoid such a problem, in this embodiment, fuse cap 20b on the side of fuse terminal 17b is also formed as a conductor, and opening 11b associated with fuse cap 20b is provided.
b is a sectional view of first housing 3, taken along line B-B shown in
As a result, it is possible to carry out the continuity test in a stable condition.
As shown in
Although in the above-described embodiment, the procedure of carrying out the continuity test in such a state that second housing 4 is detached to expose fixed electrode terminals 9, 10, is explained, dedicated cap 25 capable of being inserted into peripheral wall portion 8 after detaching second housing 4 may be used in order to completely prohibit use of fixed electrode terminals 9, 10 for the continuity test.
a is a plan view of dedicated cap 25 to be mounted to peripheral wall portion 8, when viewed from an upper side of dedicated cap 25.
Further, although in the above-described embodiment, seal 19 is provided in second housing 4, seal 19 may be provided on the side of peripheral wall portion 8. Even in such a case, same effects as those in the above-described embodiment can be obtained.
In addition, in a case where SDSW 1 is arranged in a position in which SDSW 1 is prevented from contacting with water, the seal can be omitted. Further, peripheral wall portion 8 can be provided with a vent hole that has such a size as to prevent insertion of probe 22.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2010-260694 | Nov 2010 | JP | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/JP2011/072982 | 10/5/2011 | WO | 00 | 5/21/2013 |