Vehicle power supply system

A vehicle power supply system includes a power supply connector having a power supply port which is provided within a trunk room and electrically connected to a DC power source, and an inverter device which is provided separately from a fuel cell automobile (an electrically driven vehicle) and is disposed within the trunk room, wherein the trunk room is provided therein with an inverter installation space where the inverter device may be installed at a position which does not overlap with the power supply port when viewed from a forward and rearward direction of the vehicle, and the invert device is provided with a connection cable which is drawn from a side surface thereof and of which a front end portion has a connector portion connected to the power supply port.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-012168, filed on Jan. 24, 2012, and Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-012169, filed on Jan. 24, 2012, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a vehicle power supply system which supplies electrical power from a DC (Direct Current) power source of an electrically driven vehicle to an external AC (Alternating Current) device.

Description of Related Art

In the past, a vehicle power supply system has been proposed which uses a DC power source such as a battery or a fuel cell mounted in an electrically driven vehicle such as an electric vehicle or a fuel cell automobile and supplies electric power to a home electric appliance (for example, see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2006-325392).

A power supply system (a vehicle power supply system) disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2006-325392 includes a vehicle having means for supplying electric power to the outside of the vehicle, a stationary fuel cell system having an inverter for DC/AC conversion, a loading device to which the electric power is supplied from the stationary fuel cell system, and a system power source which supplies the electric power to the stationary fuel cell system. This power supply system connects the vehicle and the stationary fuel cell system and supplies the electric power from the DC power source of the vehicle via the inverter of the stationary fuel cell system to the loading device, during a power failure of the system power source.

SUMMARY

However, in a technique disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2006-325392, the inverter to convert DC power into AC power is provided within the stationary fuel cell system. For this reason, a location, which is able to supply the electric power from the storage battery of the vehicle to the outside, is restricted to the vicinity of an installation location of the stationary fuel cell system, thereby being inconvenient for a user.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle power supply system capable of supplying electric power to the outside at any location without being subject to a restriction of a power supply location.

In addition, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2006-325392 does not disclose a specific vehicle configuration, and thus there is still a need to think about practical use. In particular, in a case where the electrically driven vehicle is provided with the functionality capable of supplying the AC power into which the DC power is converted using the external inverter, there is a need to lay out a DC power supply circuit up to a power supply port compared to a vehicle without supplying the electric power. Accordingly, there is a need to consider a protective structure for the power supply circuit.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is also to provide an electrically driven vehicle capable of protecting a DC power supply circuit to connect a DC power source mounted in a vehicle body to a separate inverter device without occupying an effective space on the vehicle.

In order to achieve the above objects by solving the problems, the present invention adopts the following aspects.

(1) In an aspect according to the present invention, a vehicle power supply system which converts electric power into AC (Alternating Current) power from a DC (Direct Current) power source mounted in an electrically driven vehicle and supplies the AC power to an external AC device of the electrically driven vehicle, the vehicle power supply system includes a trunk room which is provided in the electrically driven vehicle; a power supply connector having a power supply port which is provided within the trunk room and electrically connected to the DC power source; and an inverter device which is provided separately from the electrically driven vehicle and is disposed within the trunk room to convert the electric power into the AC power from the DC power source, wherein the trunk room is provided therein with an inverter installation space where the inverter device may be installed at a position which does not overlap with the power supply port when viewed from a forward and rearward direction of the electrically driven vehicle, and the inverter device is provided with a connection cable which is drawn from a side surface thereof and of which a front end portion has a connector portion connected to the power supply port.

(2) In the aspect according to the above (1), the power supply port may be formed rearward and downward of the electrically driven vehicle, and when the inverter device is installed in the inverter installation space within the trunk room, the connection cable may extend upward from below of a side surface on which the power supply port is disposed among side surfaces of the inverter device.

(3) In the aspect according to the above (1), the vehicle power supply system may further include a pair of rear wheel housings which covers the outsides of left and right rear wheels; a gas tank which is disposed between the pair of rear wheel housings, supported by vehicle body frames outside the lower side of a vehicle interior, and disposed at a front side of a vehicle body of the trunk room; a tank partition panel which is lifted upward toward the front side of the vehicle body from a bottom wall of the trunk room and partitions the gas tank from the vehicle interior side; and a contactor which performs connection or cut-off of the electric power between the DC power source and the power supply connector, wherein a recessed portion which is opened upward may be provided between the lifting portion of the tank partition panel and one of the pair of rear wheel housings, and the contactor may be disposed within the recessed portion.

(4) In the aspect according to the above (3), the gas tank may be attached to the vehicle body frames through a rectangular frame-shaped sub-frame which surrounds the outside of the gas tank, and the contactor may be provided at a region which overlaps in a forward and rearward direction of the vehicle body with respect to the sub-frame attached to the vehicle body frames.

(5) In the aspect according to the above (3) or (4), the power supply connector may be connected to the contactor by a flexible cable, and is disposed at a position which is spaced apart from the contactor in the trunk room to the rear side of the vehicle body.

(6) In the aspect according to any one of the above (3) to (5), a bracket, which is coupled to left and right side walls and a bottom wall of the recessed portion, may be provided at the rear side of the vehicle body of the contactor in the recessed portion, and the power supply connector may be fixed within the recessed portion through the bracket.

(7) In the aspect according to any one of the above (3) to (6), the contactor may be provided at a position which overlaps with a side frame, in an upward and downward direction of the vehicle body, extending in the forward and rearward direction of the vehicle body among the vehicle body frames.

(8) In the aspect according to the above (3), the electrically driven vehicle may be a fuel cell vehicle includes a hydrogen tank as the gas tank and a fuel cell which generates electric power using a hydrogen gas filled in the hydrogen tank as a fuel and that drives using the generated electric power by the fuel cell.

In accordance with the aspect of the above (1), since the power supply port and the inverter installation space are provided within the trunk room, the inverter device which is separate from the electrically driven vehicle may move to any location by being loaded into the trunk room and supply the electric power to the external AC device of the electrically driven vehicle. Accordingly, the vehicle power supply system may supply the electric power to the outside at any location without being subject to a restriction of a power supply location.

In addition, since the inverter installation space in the trunk room is provided so that the inverter device may be installed at a position which does not overlap with the power supply port when viewed from the forward and rearward direction of the vehicle, the inverter device may be compactly disposed within the trunk room during power supply and a connection operation of the connector portion of the inverter device to the power supply port may be easily performed.

In the case of the above (2), since the connection cable of the inverter device extends upward from below of the side surface on which the power supply port is disposed, the connector portion may be connected to the power supply port facing downward without forcibly bending the connection cable. Furthermore, since the elastic restoring force of the connection cable acts upward against gravity acting on the connector portion of the front end portion of the connection cable during connection between the power supply port and the connector portion of the connection cable, the connector portion may be fitted to the power supply port by a small force using the elastic restoring force of the connection cable. Accordingly, it may be possible to improve operability during the connection between the power supply port and the connector portion. In addition, since the connection cable of the inverter device extends from the side surface on which the power supply port is disposed, the overall length of the connection cable may be set to be shortened. In particular, in a case of adopting the connection cable having a large diameter for high-voltage and large-current so as to correspond to high-voltage and large-current, a large force is additionally required to bend the connection cable and the cost per unit length of the connection cable increases. Therefore, the aspect according to the present invention is particularly suitable for the vehicle power supply system which supplies high electric power to the outside using the connection cable having a large diameter to handle a high voltage and a large current.

In the case of the above (3), the gas tank is disposed between the pair of rear wheel housings, the gas tank is partitioned from the vehicle interior side by the tank partition panel which is lifted upward toward the front side of the vehicle body from the bottom wall of the trunk room, the recessed portion which is opened upward is provided between the lifting portion of the tank partition panel and one rear wheel housing, and the power supply contactor is disposed within the recessed portion. Therefore, the contactor may be disposed by effectively using the dead space which may be defined between the end portion of the gas tank and the rear wheel housing. Furthermore, the contactor handling the DC power and the gas tank handling the high-pressure gas may be securely partitioned.

In the case of the above (4), the contactor is disposed at a region which overlaps in the forward and rearward direction of the vehicle body with respect to the sub-frame which surrounds the outside of the gas tank. Therefore, the periphery of the gas tank may be protected by the sub-frame, and the front and rear of the contactor may also be securely protected by the sub-frame.

In the case of the above (5), the power supply connector is connected to the contactor by the flexible cable and is disposed at a position spaced apart from the contactor in the trunk room to the rear side of the vehicle body. Therefore, even when a large load is input to the power supply connector portion from rearward of the vehicle body, the large load may be prevented in advance from being transferred to the contactor from the power supply connector. Thus, in accordance with the present invention, the contactor may be further securely protected.

In the case of the above (6), since the bracket, which is coupled to the left and right side walls and the bottom wall of the recessed portion, is provided at the rear side of the vehicle body of the contactor in the recessed portion, and the power supply connector may be fixed within the recessed portion through the bracket, the power supply connector to which a large load is applied during the connection or connection release (insertion or extraction) of the inverter device may have high stiffness to be supported at the vehicle body side.

In the case of the above (7), the contactor is disposed at a portion right above the side frame extending in the forward and rearward direction of the vehicle body among the vehicle body frames (at a position which overlaps with the side frame in the upward and downward direction of the vehicle body). Therefore, the support portion of the contactor may securely have enhanced stiffness by the side frame, and the contactor may be securely protected.

In the case of the above (8), due to the fuel cell vehicle which drives by the fuel cell using the hydrogen gas as a fuel, the hydrogen tank side handling the hydrogen gas and the contactor side may be securely partitioned, and thus the hydrogen gas may be securely prevented from infiltrating into the vehicle interior side.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

First Embodiment

Hereinafter, a fuel cell automobile (an electrically driven vehicle, a fuel cell vehicle) according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, directions such as “forward, rearward, left, and right directions” are the same as the directions in the vehicle unless indicated otherwise. Also, a central arrow FR, an arrow LH, and an arrow UP respectively refer to the forward direction, the left direction, and the upward direction of the vehicle, in the drawings.

FIG. 1is a side view illustrating a fuel cell automobile1(an electrically driven vehicle, a fuel cell vehicle) according to the embodiment. InFIG. 1, reference numerals16and17are a front seat and a rear seat in a vehicle interior, respectively.

FIG. 2is a top view illustrating the fuel cell automobile1.

As shown inFIG. 1, the fuel cell automobile1is to mount a fuel cell stack2(hereinafter, referred to as “a fuel cell2”), which generates electric power by an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen, beneath the floor of a vehicle body. The fuel cell automobile1is driven by driving a drive motor3with the electric power generated by the fuel cell2.

The fuel cell automobile1includes a power supply port31awhich is electrically connected to the fuel cell2(a DC power source) within a rear trunk room50of the vehicle. An inverter device35, which is provided separately from the fuel cell automobile1, may be mounted within the trunk room50.

The inverter device35is electrically connected to the power supply port31aof the fuel cell automobile1, and thus the fuel cell automobile1and the inverter device35configure a vehicle power supply system30which converts DC power of the fuel cell2into AC power and supplies the AC power to an external AC device. The vehicle power supply system30will be described in detail later.

The fuel cell2is a known solid PEMFC (Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell) which is made by laminating a plurality of unit fuel cells (unit cells). By supplying a hydrogen gas as a fuel gas to an anode side of the fuel cell and supplying air containing oxygen as an oxidant gas to a cathode side of the fuel cell, the fuel cell2generates electric power together with the generation of water by electrochemical reaction.

In the fuel cell automobile1, left and right main frames18and18of the vehicle are coupled with a front sub-frame5, a center sub-frame7, and a rear sub-frame12. Each of the front sub-frame5, the center sub-frame7, and the rear sub-frame12is a frame unit formed in a substantially rectangular frame shape by a plurality of beam materials when viewed from the top.

In the front of the vehicle interior, the front sub-frame5supports a drive motor3which is a drive source of the vehicle and a compressor4which compresses the air supplied to the cathode side of the fuel cell2. A radiator10to cool cooling water which circulates through the fuel cell2and the like is disposed in front of the drive motor3and the compressor4.

The center sub-frame7supports the fuel cell2and auxiliary devices6of the fuel cell2at the lower surface side (the outside of the vehicle interior) of a floor panel8of an intermediate portion of the vehicle body in the forward and rearward direction thereof. The auxiliary devices6for the fuel cell2are an auxiliary hydrogen supply device such as a regulator or an ejector and an auxiliary air discharge device such as a humidifier or a dilution box.

The rear sub-frame12mainly supports a battery11to accumulate regenerative electric power from the drive motor3during the deceleration of the fuel cell automobile1and a hydrogen tank9(a gas tank) to supply the hydrogen to the fuel cell2at the lower surface side (the outside of the vehicle interior) of a rear floor panel13of a rear portion of the vehicle body.

As shown inFIG. 2, in the drive motor3supported by the front sub-frame5(seeFIG. 1), the drive and regeneration of the drive motor3are controlled by a PDU (Power Drive Unit)15depending on driving conditions of the vehicle, electric energy from the fuel cell2and the battery11, or the like. Since the PDU15includes an inverter made of a switching element such as a transistor or a FET (Field Effect Transistor), the PDU15converts the DC power from the battery11or the fuel cell2into desired AC power.

The fuel cell2supported by the center sub-frame7(seeFIG. 1) is electrically connected to a main contactor box20disposed frontward of the fuel cell2. In addition, the battery11supported by the rear sub-frame12is electrically connected to the main contactor box20through high-voltage cables21ato21f, a junction box19, and a DC/DC converter14. Furthermore, the main contactor box20is electrically connected to the PDU15through high-voltage cables22aand22b. Accordingly, the fuel cell2and the battery11are electrically connected to the PDU15.

The junction box19is electrically connected to a power supply contactor box34to be described later and the power supply port31athrough high-voltage cables23aand23b. The junction box19divides the electric power of the fuel cell2and supplies the divided electric power to the power supply contactor box34and the power supply port31a.

The DC/DC converter14performs voltage regulation between the PDU15, the fuel cell2, and the battery11depending on the driving conditions of the vehicle, the electric energy of the fuel cell2and the battery11, or the like.

The main contactor box20turns ON/OFF a contactor (not shown) in the main contactor box20as necessary, thereby allowing the fuel cell2and the battery11to be electrically connected to or cut off from the PDU15.

The PDU15or the DC/DC converter14, the main contactor box20, and the like are connected to an ECU (Electrical Control Unit) which is not shown and controls an overall operation of this fuel cell system. The ECU performs the electric power generation control in the fuel cell2or the regenerative electric power control in the drive motor3by controlling the drive of each component based on a throttle opening signal, a brake signal, a vehicle speed signal, and so on.

The hydrogen tank9supported by the rear sub-frame12has a substantially cylindrical shape, and axial end surfaces thereof9aand9ahave a spherical shape. The hydrogen tank9is inside the main frames18and18in the vehicle width direction when viewed from the top so that the axis of the hydrogen tank9faces in the left and right direction of the fuel cell automobile1, and is disposed within the limits surrounded by the rear sub-frame12. Accordingly, the hydrogen tank9has high stiffness in the vicinity thereof, thereby being protected even when an impact is applied to the fuel cell automobile1.

FIG. 3is a view illustrating the trunk room50. InFIG. 3, the hydrogen tank9, which is disposed at the lower surface side (the outside of the vehicle interior) of the rear floor panel13, is indicated by the line of alternating one long dash and two short dashes.

As shown inFIG. 3, the trunk room50provided rearward of the vehicle is formed in a bathtub shape having a bottom. The bottom51is integrally formed with the rear floor panel13covering the hydrogen tank9. The bottom51of the trunk room50is provided with an inverter installation space51ainto which the inverter device35(seeFIG. 1) provided separately from the fuel cell automobile1may be installed. That is, similarly to a conventional vehicle, a user's load may be stored and the inverter device35(seeFIG. 1) may be installed in the trunk room50.

The rear floor panel13is inside (at the right inFIG. 3) more than a wheel housing52covering a rear wheel25(seeFIG. 1) in the vehicle width direction when viewed from the outside of the trunk room50, and is formed to cover the hydrogen tank9along an external shape thereof.

Since the axial end surface9aof the hydrogen tank9has a spherical shape, an upper side region of the axial end surface9aof the hydrogen tank9(the axial end surface9aof the LH side of the hydrogen tank9in the embodiment) and the wheel housing52are spaced apart from each other in a state of having a relatively large space therebetween. The rear floor panel13is formed along the axial end surface9aof the hydrogen tank9, and thus a recessed portion55which is recessed downward is formed between the wheel housing52and the axial end surface9aof the hydrogen tank9.

The recessed portion55is formed by a right surface52aof the wheel housing52, a left surface13aof the rear floor panel13, and a bottom panel56. The recessed portion55is inside the main frames18and18(seeFIG. 2) in the vehicle width direction when viewed from the top and within the limits of the rear sub-frame12(seeFIG. 2). The recessed portion55is formed outside (at the LH side in the embodiment) more than the inverter installation space51ain the vehicle width direction.

The bottom panel56of the recessed portion55is integrally formed with the rear floor panel13. The bottom panel56may also be integrally formed with the wheel housing52, or may also be formed separately from the wheel housing52and the rear floor panel13.

[Vehicle Power Supply System and Power Supply Port]

The vehicle power supply system30is provided and the power supply port31awhich is connected to a connector portion38(seeFIG. 5) of the inverter device35is disposed within the recessed portion55. The power supply port31ais formed at a power supply connector31. The power supply connector31is a so-called high-voltage connector which has a female type terminal made of metal such as copper inside a cylindrical-shaped housing made of an insulator such as resin for example. The power supply port31ais provided with a fitting detection mechanism such as a microswitch (not shown) for example, and thus the fitting between the power supply port31aand the connector portion38(seeFIG. 5) of the inverter device35may be detected.

The power supply connector31is attached within the recessed portion55by a bracket58made of a plate material so that the power supply port31afaces rearward and downward of the fuel cell automobile1. Specifically, the power supply connector31is fixed to an attachment seat surface58aof the bracket58, which faces rearward and downward of the fuel cell automobile1, by, for example, a bolt (not shown). In addition, the bracket58is fixed to the right surface52aof the wheel housing52, the left surface13aof the rear floor panel13, and the bottom panel56, which form the recessed portion55, by, for example, welding. Thereby, the power supply connector31is strongly fixed within the recessed portion55in a state in which the power supply port31afaces rearward and downward of the fuel cell automobile1. Accordingly, the power supply connector31may sufficiently take an insertion and extraction load during insertion or extraction of the connector portion38(seeFIG. 5) of the inverter device35which is a high-voltage connector. Therefore, the inverter device35may be securely connected to or cut off from the power supply port31a.

The power supply port31ais electrically connected to the power supply contactor box34through high-voltage cables33aand33b. The power supply contactor box34is fixed within the recessed portion55through a bracket (not shown). As shown inFIG. 2, the power supply contactor box34is electrically connected to the fuel cell2through the high-voltage cables23aand23b, the junction box19, or the like. Consequently, the power supply port31ais electrically connected to the fuel cell2.

The power supply contactor box34turns ON/OFF a contactor (not shown) in the power supply contactor box34as necessary, thereby allowing the fuel cell2to be electrically connected to or cut off from the power supply port31a. Specifically, when the fitting detection mechanism of the power supply port31adetects connection between the power supply port31aand the connector portion38(seeFIG. 5) of the inverter device35, the power supply contactor box34turns ON the contactor to electrically connect the fuel cell2and the power supply port31a. Thereby, the DC power is supplied from the fuel cell2to the inverter device35. In addition, in a normal state in which the power supply port31ais not connected to the connector portion38of the inverter device35, the power supply contactor box34turns OFF the contactor to electrically cut off the fuel cell2and the power supply port31a.

As described above, the recessed portion55is formed inside the main frames18and18(seeFIG. 2) in the vehicle width direction when viewed from the top and within the limits of the rear sub-frame12(seeFIG. 2). Accordingly, the power supply port31aand the power supply contactor box34within the recessed portion55are also disposed inside the main frames18and18(seeFIG. 2) in the vehicle width direction and within the limits of the rear sub-frame12(seeFIG. 2). Therefore, the power supply port31aand the power supply contactor box34have stiffness in the vicinity thereof, thereby being protected even when an impact is applied to the fuel cell automobile1.

In addition, the recessed portion55is formed outside (at the LH side) more than the inverter installation space51ain the vehicle width direction. Accordingly, the power supply port31aand the power supply contactor box34within the recessed portion55are also disposed outside (at the LH side) more than the inverter installation space51ain the vehicle width direction. Thereby, when the inverter device35(seeFIG. 2) is installed in the inverter installation space51a, the power supply port31ais disposed outside (at the LH side) more than the inverter device35in the vehicle width direction. That is, the inverter device35is installed within the trunk room50so as not to overlap with the power supply port31awhen viewed from the forward and rearward direction of the fuel cell automobile1.

FIG. 4is a view illustrating the trunk room50when a trunk carpet53is laid. InFIG. 4, the recessed portion55, the power supply port31a, and the power supply contactor box34are indicated by the line of alternating one long dash and two short dashes.

FIG. 5is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A ofFIG. 4. InFIG. 5, an opened lid53a, the inverter device35, and the connector portion38are indicated by the line of alternating one long dash and two short dashes.

As shown inFIG. 4, when the trunk carpet53, which mainly covers the rear floor panel13, is laid within the trunk room50, the power supply port31aand the power supply contactor box34are disposed so as not to be exposed to the outside from the trunk carpet53.

The trunk carpet53is formed with the openable and closable lid53aat a position corresponding to the recessed portion55. As shown inFIG. 5, the power supply port31ais generally closed by the lid53a. When being connected to the connector portion38of the inverter device35, the power supply port31ais exposed by opening the lid53a.

[Vehicle Power Supply System and Inverter Device]

FIG. 6is a perspective view illustrating an external appearance when the inverter device35is installed.FIG. 6shows a state in which the connector portion38of the inverter device35and the power supply port31aare not connected to each other. In addition, the trunk carpet53is not shown.

The inverter device35includes a switching element such as a transistor or a FET therein, and converts the DC power supplied from the fuel cell2into the AC power.

As shown inFIG. 6, the inverter device35is provided separately from the fuel cell automobile1, and is formed to be movable separately from the fuel cell automobile1. The inverter device35has a substantially box shape and is formed to a size which may be disposed in the inverter installation space51aformed on the bottom51in the trunk room50.

The inverter device35is installed in the inverter installation space51awithin the trunk room50when in use. In addition, since the inverter device35is formed separately from the fuel cell automobile1, the trunk room50may be effectively utilized by unloading the inverter device35from the trunk room50of the fuel cell automobile1when does not in use.

The inverter device35is provided, at a plurality of positions (three positions in the embodiment) of an upper portion thereof, with grasp portions36(36ato36c) having a rectangular frame shape. In addition, the inverter device35is provided, at a lower portion thereof, with a pair of wheels37and37. The wheels37and37of the inverter device35are placed on the ground and the grasp portions36are grasped to be drawn, and thereby the inverter device35may be easily moved.

In addition, the inverter device35may be easily loaded into the trunk room50by grasping the grasp portions36and lifting the inverter device35.

The inverter device35is provided with a connection cable41which is formed by bundling a plurality of cables. When the inverter device35is installed in the inverter installation space51a, the connection cable41extends upward from below of a side surface39a(a side surface of the LH side in the embodiment) on which the power supply port31ais disposed among a plurality of side surfaces of the inverter device35.

The connector portion38is formed at a front end portion of the connection cable41. The connector portion38is configured by a fitting portion38awhich may be fitted to the power supply port31ain the trunk room50, and a grip portion38bwhich is provided at the base end side of the connection cable41more than the fitting portion38a, thereby being formed in a substantially L-shape so that the fitting portion38afaces the front of the vehicle.

The fitting portion38ais a so-called high-voltage connector which has a male type terminal made of metal such as copper inside a cylindrical-shaped housing made of an insulator such as resin for example. The inverter device35is electrically connected to the power supply port31aby fitting the fitting portion38ato the power supply port31a.

Accordingly, the inverter device35is electrically connected to the fuel cell2through the power supply contactor box34, the high-voltage cables23aand23b, or the like (seeFIG. 2).

The grip portion38bis integrally formed with the fitting portion38a. The grip portion38bis formed, on a surface thereof, with irregularities so as to be easily grasped by a user. Accordingly, the grip portion38bmay sufficiently give an insertion and extraction load during the connector portion38of the inverter device35being inserted into or extracted from the power supply connector31which is a high-voltage connector.

Therefore, the inverter device35may be securely connected to or cut off from the power supply port31a.

The connector portion38is attachable and detachable with respect to a clamp portion42which is provided upward of the side surface39aof the inverter device35. The connector portion38is attached to the clamp portion42during transport of the inverter device35, and thereby the connection cable41and the connector portion38are suppressed from swing during the transport to prevent damage thereto.

An AC power output portion43is formed on a side surface39bwhich faces the rear of the fuel cell automobile1among the plural side surfaces of the inverter device35. The AC power output portion43is connected with an external AC device (not shown) to which the AC power output from the inverter device35is supplied.

FIG. 7is a view when viewed from the rear of the vehicle when the inverter device35is installed.FIG. 7shows a state in which the connector portion38of the inverter device35and the power supply port31aare connected to each other.

As shown inFIG. 7, the inverter device35is installed inside more than the power supply port31ain the vehicle width direction when viewed from the rear of the vehicle. The connection cable41of the inverter device35extends upward from below of the side surface39aon which the power supply port31ais disposed, and is thus connected to the power supply port31afacing downward without forcibly bending the connection cable41.

In addition, the inverter device35is installed so as not to overlap with the power supply port31awhen viewed from the rear of the vehicle. Accordingly, when a user connects the connector portion38of the inverter device35to the power supply port31a, a connection operation may be easily achieved without interference with the inverter device35itself.

Furthermore, since the AC power output portion43is disposed to face rearward of the vehicle when the inverter device35is installed, the AC power output portion43may be easily connected to the external AC device (not shown).

In accordance with the embodiment as described above, since the power supply port31aand the inverter installation space51aare provided within the trunk room50, the inverter device35which is separate from the fuel cell automobile1may be moved to any location by being loaded into the trunk room50and supply the electric power to the external AC device of the fuel cell automobile1. Accordingly, the vehicle power supply system30of the embodiment may supply electric power to the outside at any location without being subject to a restriction of a power supply location.

In addition, since the inverter installation space51ain the trunk room50is provided so that the inverter device35may be installed at a position which does not overlap with the power supply port31awhen viewed from the forward and rearward direction of the vehicle, the inverter device35may be compactly disposed within the trunk room50during power supply and a connection operation of the connector portion38of the inverter device35to the power supply port31amay be easily performed.

In addition, since the connection cable41of the inverter device35extends upward from below of the side surface39aon which the power supply port31ais disposed, the connector portion38may be connected to correspond to the power supply port31afacing downward without the connection cable41being forcibly bent. Furthermore, since the elastic restoring force of the connection cable41acts upward against gravity acting on the connector portion38of the front end portion of the connection cable41during connection between the power supply port31aand the connector portion38of the connection cable41, the connector portion38may be fitted to power supply port31aby a small force using the elastic restoring force of the connection cable41. Accordingly, it may be possible to improve operability during the connection between the power supply port31aand the connector portion38. In addition, since the connection cable41of the inverter device35extends from the side surface39aon which the power supply port31ais disposed, the overall length of the connection cable41may be set to be shortened. In particular, in a case of adopting the connection cable41having a large diameter for high-voltage and large-current so as to correspond to high-voltage and large-current, a large force is additionally required to bend the connection cable41and the cost per unit length of the connection cable41increases. Therefore, the present invention is particularly suitable for the vehicle power supply system30which supplies high electric power to the outside using the connection cable41which has a large diameter to handle a high voltage and a large current.

Second Embodiment

Hereinafter, an electrically driven vehicle according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, directions such as “forward, rearward, left, and right directions” are the same as the directions in the vehicle unless indicated otherwise. Also, a central arrow FR, an arrow LH, and an arrow UP respectively refer to the forward direction, left direction, and upward direction of the vehicle, in the drawings.

The electrically driven vehicle according to the embodiment is a fuel cell automobile (a fuel cell vehicle)101using a fuel cell102as a main power source for driving the vehicle.

FIGS. 8 and 9are a side view and a top view schematically illustrating a configuration of the fuel cell automobile101. In more detail,FIG. 8is a side view schematically illustrating the whole vehicle which shows a cross-section of an only rear portion of a vehicle body taken along portion A-A ofFIG. 9, andFIG. 9is a top view schematically illustrating the whole vehicle when viewing the only rear portion of the vehicle body from above of a floor. In the drawings, reference symbols Wf and Wr are a front wheel and a rear wheel of the fuel cell automobile101, and reference numerals116and117are a front seat and a rear seat in a cabin C.

The fuel cell automobile101includes the fuel cell102(a fuel cell stack or a DC power source) mounted thereon, which generates electric power by an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen, beneath a floor tunnel of the vehicle body. The fuel cell automobile101drives a drive motor103with the electric power generated by the fuel cell102.

The fuel cell102is a known solid PEMFC (Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell) which is made by laminating a plurality of unit fuel cells (unit cells). By supplying hydrogen gas as a fuel gas to an anode side thereof and supplying air containing oxygen as an oxidant gas to a cathode side thereof, the fuel cell102generates electric power by electrochemical reaction.

In addition, the fuel cell automobile101is provided with a motor room M/R which stores the drive motor103at the front of the cabin C where passengers board as shown inFIG. 8, and is provided with a trunk room T/R to store a load at the rear of the cabin C.

A pair of front side frames160extending in the forward and rearward direction of the vehicle body is disposed at both sides in the motor room M/R in the vehicle width direction. The drive motor103, a compressor104to supply compressed air to the cathode side of the fuel cell102, a suspension device of the front side, and the like are attached to both front side frames160through a front sub-frame (not shown).

In the drawings, reference numeral110is a radiator which is disposed in front of the motor room M/R and cools cooling water circulating through the fuel cell102and the like.

Rear side frames161(side frames or vehicle body frames) extending in the forward and rearward direction of the vehicle body are disposed at both lower sides of the trunk room T/R. The front side frames160and the rear side frames161disposed at the same left and right sides in the vehicle width direction are connected by side sills162disposed downward of side portions of the cabin C. In addition, a pair of floor frames163extending in the forward and rearward direction of the vehicle body is disposed inside the left and right side sills162in the vehicle width direction. These floor frames163are coupled to the left and right side sills162through a cross member164extending in the vehicle width direction. The fuel cell102is supported by a center sub-frame (not shown) attached to the left and right floor frames163.

The vehicle frames of the fuel cell automobile101according to the embodiment are configured by the front side frames160, the rear side frames161, the side sills162, the floor frames163, the cross member164, and the like.

In addition, a battery111(a DC power source), which accumulates regenerative electric power from the drive motor103during the deceleration of the fuel cell automobile101and supplies the electric power to each component of the vehicle as necessary, is mounted beneath the floor below the rear seat117of the cabin C.

A hydrogen tank109(a gas tank) to supply the hydrogen gas to the fuel cell102is disposed in a space beneath the floor which is between the cabin C and the trunk room T/R at the rear side of a mounting position of the battery111. The hydrogen tank109has a substantially cylindrical shape, and both axial end portions thereof have a spherical shape. The hydrogen tank109is mounted to the fuel cell automobile101so that the center axis direction of the hydrogen tank is along the vehicle width direction.

The hydrogen tank109is attached to the left and right rear side frames161through a rear sub-frame112(sub-frame). The rear sub-frame112is formed in a rectangular frame shape to surround the outside of the hydrogen tank109. Left and right side frame portions112aof the rear sub-frame112along the forward and rearward direction of the vehicle body are coupled to lower surfaces of the corresponding rear side frames161.

Incidentally, as shown inFIG. 9, the battery111and a power supply portion of the fuel cell102are connected to the drive motor103through a main contactor120to perform the connection or cut-off of the electric power. In the drive motor103, the drive and regeneration of the drive motor103are controlled by a PDU (Power Drive Unit)115depending on driving conditions of the vehicle, electric energy from the fuel cell102and the battery111, or the like. Since the PDU115includes an inverter made of a switching element such as a transistor or a FET (Field Effect Transistor), the PDU115converts the DC power from the battery111or the fuel cell102into desired AC power.

In addition, a DC/DC converter114for power conversion is interposed between the fuel cell102and the battery111. In the middle of a power passage which connects the DC/DC converter114and the battery111, high-voltage cables123aand123bfor supplying the electric power to the outside are divided and connected through a junction box119.

The high-voltage cables123aand123bare connected with a power supply connector131through a power supply contactor134(a contactor). The power supply connector131is a component to which a separate inverter device135from the vehicle is connected, and is disposed at a position facing the inside of the trunk room T/R. The inverter device135is a device which converts the electric power into AC power from a DC power source (the fuel cell102or the battery111) of the fuel cell automobile101. The inverter device135may supply electric power to an external AC device by being connected to the power supply connector131, as necessary.

FIGS. 10 and 11are perspective views illustrating the inside of the trunk room T/R when viewed from the rear side of the vehicle body.FIG. 10shows a state of removing a trunk carpet153in the trunk room T/R, andFIG. 11shows a state of laying the trunk carpet153in the trunk room T/R.

The trunk room T/R is formed in a bathtub shape at the rear side of the cabin C, and may load onto a bottom wall151of the trunk room. In addition, an inverter installation space151ain which the inverter device135may be installed is provided at a center of the bottom wall151of the trunk room T/R in the vehicle width direction.

As shown inFIG. 9, the above-mentioned hydrogen tank109is disposed between a pair of rear wheel housings152covering the outsides of the left and right rear wheels Wr. The hydrogen tank109has a substantially cylindrical shape having a large diameter, and has an upper surface which is located upward more than a floor surface in the cabin C or an upper surface of the bottom wall151in the trunk room T/R in a state of being mounted to the vehicle body.

In the embodiment, the bottom wall151in the trunk room T/R is integrally formed with a rear floor panel113installed within the cabin C. However, the rear floor panel113is curved in an arc shape at the upper side of the vehicle body so as to straddle over the hydrogen tank109in a position where the hydrogen tank109is disposed. A portion which is curved upward of the rear floor panel113is lifted up toward the front side of the vehicle body from the bottom wall151of the trunk room T/R, thereby configuring a tank partition panel which partitions the hydrogen tank109from the vehicle interior side. Hereinafter, the curved portion is referred to as a partition panel portion113A.

Although the embodiment has been described as an example where the tank partition panel is integrally formed with the rear floor panel113, the tank partition panel may also be configured by a separate panel from the rear floor panel113or may be further formed by partially welding a separate panel to the rear floor panel113.

A bent portion140is provided at an edge of one side (the left side in the proceeding direction of the vehicle) in the vehicle width direction in the partition panel portion113A of the rear floor panel113so as to be further depressed with respect to a general outer surface form having an arc shape of the partition panel portion113A. A recessed portion141is formed which is opened upward by the bent portion140and a side wall152aof one rear wheel housing152.

FIG. 12is a perspective view of the fuel cell automobile101indicated by arrow C when broken at portion B ofFIG. 8.

As shown inFIG. 12, a bottom wall140aof the bent portion140configuring the recessed portion141is disposed at a portion right above one rear side frame161(at a position which overlaps with the associated rear side frame161in the upward and downward direction of the vehicle body), and is joined to the side wall152aof the rear wheel housing152adjacent to the upper surface of the rear side frame161. The recessed portion141formed in this way is regarded as a groove shape defined substantially along the forward and rearward direction of the vehicle body when viewed from the top (substantially along the rear side frame161).

As shown inFIGS. 10 and 12, a region in which the groove-shaped recessed portion141is formed is a distorted region interposed between the side wall152aof one rear wheel housing152and the spherical-shaped portion of the axial end portion of the hydrogen tank109. Also, the region is a portion likely to be a dead space in which it is difficult to arrange the component and the like. In the fuel cell automobile101, the groove-shaped recessed portion141is provided between the side wall152aof one rear wheel housing152and the spherical-shaped portion of the axial end portion of the hydrogen tank109, and thus the component may be arranged at an upper side of the recessed portion141.

The power supply contactor134is disposed almost at the center within the recessed portion141in the forward and rearward direction of the vehicle body. In the power supply contactor134, a contactor functional component is received in a casing134ahaving a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and the casing134ais fastened and fixed on the bottom of the recessed portion141(the bottom wall140aof the bent portion140) through a bracket and the like. The high-voltage cables123aand123bdrawn from the casing134aof the power supply contactor134pass through a side wall140bof the partition panel portion113A of the recessed portion141and are drawn downward of the rear floor panel113. As shown inFIG. 8, the high-voltage cables123aand123bdrawn downward of the rear floor panel113is guided along inside the left and right floor frames163in the vehicle width direction and is connected to the battery111or the fuel cell102through the junction box119.

Grommets142are attached to penetration portions of the high-voltage cables123aand123bof the partition panel portion113A, and thus the airtightness of the penetration portions is ensured. Accordingly, the power supply contactor134disposed on the recessed portion141is isolated while retaining an airtight state with respect to the hydrogen tank109disposed downward (at the outside of the vehicle) of the rear floor panel113.

In addition, as shown inFIGS. 8 and 9, the power supply contactor134is disposed at a region which overlaps with the rear sub-frame112having a rectangular frame shape in the forward and rearward direction of the vehicle body, that is, at a region in a range of the front and rear width of the rear sub-frame112in the recessed portion141.

FIG. 13is a perspective view illustrating the inside of the trunk room T/R when the inverter device135is disposed in the trunk room T/R.

As shown inFIGS. 10 and 13, the power supply connector131is attached through a bracket143made of metal at a position which is spaced apart by a predetermined distance from the power supply contactor134in the recessed portion141to the rear side of the vehicle body. The power supply connector131has a power supply port131ato which a connector portion138of the inverter device135to be described later is fitted and connected. The power supply connector131is a so-called high-voltage connector which has a female type terminal made of metal such as copper inside a cylindrical-shaped housing made of an insulator such as resin. The power supply port131ais provided with a fitting detection mechanism such as a microswitch (not shown), for example, and thus a fitting between the power supply port131aand the connector portion138of the inverter device135may be detected.

As shown inFIG. 10, the power supply connector131and the power supply contactor134are connected by flexible connection cables (cables)144aand144b. The power supply contactor134allows the connection with the DC power source to be held in an OFF state when the connector portion138of the inverter device135in not inserted into the power supply port131aof the power supply connector131. On the other hand, the power supply contactor134allows the connection with the DC power source to be changed to an ON state when the fitting detection mechanism detects the connector portion138being connected to the power supply port131a.

In the bracket143, joining flange portions143bare provided at both a lateral area and a lower area of a base wall143ato which the power supply connector131is directly attached. These flange portions143bare partially fixed to the bottom wall140aand the side wall140bof the bent portion140of the partition panel portion113A and the side wall152aand an upper wall152bof one rear wheel housing152by welding and the like. That is, the bracket143is coupled to the left and right side walls140band152band the bottom wall140aof the recessed portion141.

In addition, when being laid in the trunk room T/R, the trunk carpet153shown inFIG. 11almost completely covers the upper side and the rear side of the recessed portion141and conceals the power supply contactor134, the power supply connector131, or the like in the recessed portion141from the outside. An openable and closable lid portion153ais provided at a position corresponding to the rear side of the recessed portion141of the trunk carpet153(at a position facing the power supply port131aof the power supply connector131). The power supply port131ais generally closed by the lid portion153a. When being connected to the connector portion138of the inverter device135, the power supply port131ais exposed to the outside by lifting up the lid portion153a.

The inverter device135shown inFIG. 13is entirely formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape. The inverter device135is provided, at a plurality of positions of an upper portion thereof, with grasp portions136a,136band136chaving a rectangular frame shape whiling being provided, at a lower portion thereof, with a pair of wheels137. The pair of wheels137of the inverter device135is placed on the ground and the grasp portions136a,136band136care grasped to be drawn by a worker, and thereby the inverter device135may be easily moved to any location.

The inverter device135is provided, at one side thereof, with a connection cable127which is formed by bundling a plurality of cables. The connector portion138is provided at a front end portion of the connection cable127. The connector portion138includes a fitting portion138awhich may be fitted to the power supply connector131(the power supply port131a) in the trunk room T/R, and a grip portion138bwhich is formed at the connection cable127side more than the fitting portion138a. The connector portion138may be attached and detached with respect to the power supply connector131in the trunk room T/R by a passenger grasping the grip portion138band guiding the connection cable127.

In addition, an AC power output portion128to connect a connection plug of an AC device (not shown) is provided on a side surface which faces the rear of the vehicle body when the inverter device135is installed within the trunk room T/R.

As described above, in the fuel cell automobile101of the embodiment, since the power supply connector131to connect the inverter device135to the DC power source (the fuel cell102or the battery111) of the vehicle is provided within the trunk room T/R, the fuel cell automobile101may supply the electric power to an external AC device at any location by loading the portable inverter device135into the trunk room T/R.

In the fuel cell automobile101, the hydrogen tank109having a spherical shape at the end portion thereof is disposed between the left and right rear wheel housings152, the hydrogen tank109is partitioned from the vehicle interior side by the partition panel portion113A of the rear floor panel113which is lifted up toward the front side of the vehicle body from the bottom wall151of the trunk room T/R, the groove-shaped recessed portion141which is opened upward is provided between the lifting portion of the partition panel portion113A and one rear wheel housing152, and the power supply contactor134is disposed within the recessed portion141. Therefore, the power supply contactor134may be disposed inside the vehicle interior (at the upper side of the rear floor panel113) by effectively using the dead space which may be defined between the spherical-shaped end portion of the hydrogen tank109and the rear wheel housing152.

Accordingly, in the fuel cell automobile101, the power supply contactor134handling the high-tension power and the hydrogen tank109handling the high-pressure gas may be securely partitioned by the partition panel portion113A of the rear floor panel113, and it may be possible to prevent an issue in which the power supply contactor134presses the space in the trunk room T/R or the cabin C.

In the fuel cell automobile101, the rectangular frame-shaped rear sub-frame112which surrounds the outside of the hydrogen tank109is fixed to the left and right rear side frames161, and the power supply contactor134is disposed at a region which overlaps in the forward and rearward direction of the vehicle body with respect to the rear sub-frame112in the recessed portion141. Therefore, the periphery of the hydrogen tank109may be protected by the rear sub-frame112having high stiffness, and the front and rear of the power supply contactor134may also be securely protected by the same rear sub-frame112.

In the fuel cell automobile101, the power supply connector131is disposed at a position spaced apart from the power supply contactor134to the rear side of the vehicle body and is connected to the power supply contactor134by the flexible connection cables144aand144b. Therefore, even when a large load is input to the power supply connector131portion from the rear side of the vehicle body, it may be possible to avoid the load facing in the direction of the power supply contactor134from the power supply connector131by the connection cables144aand144b.

Accordingly, in the fuel cell automobile101, the power supply contactor134may be further securely protected with respect to an impact load input from rearward of the vehicle body.

Furthermore, in the fuel cell automobile101, since the power supply connector131is coupled to the bottom wall140aof the recessed portion141and the left and right side walls152aand140bthrough the bracket143, the power supply connector131to which a large load is applied during the insertion or extraction of the connector portion138of the inverter device135may be supported at the vehicle body side with high stiffness.

In the fuel cell automobile101of the embodiment, the power supply contactor134is coupled to the portion right above one rear side frame161(at the position which overlaps with the associated rear side frame161in the upward and downward direction of the vehicle body) through the rear floor panel113. Therefore, the support portion of the power supply contactor134may securely have enhanced stiffness by the rear side frames161, and the power supply contactor134may be securely protected from the external force even by one rear side frame161.

The above-mentioned embodiment has been described with respect to the fuel cell automobile101mounting the hydrogen tank109. However, if the electrically driven vehicle mounts the gas tank, the fuel cell may not need to be necessarily used.

However, in the above-mentioned fuel cell automobile101which mounts the fuel cell102using the hydrogen gas as a fuel, since the power supply contactor134handling the high-tension power and the hydrogen tank109handling the hydrogen gas are securely partitioned from the outside of the vehicle interior by the partition panel portion113A, the hydrogen gas may be securely prevented from infiltrating into the vehicle interior side.

Meanwhile, the present invention is not limited only to the above embodiments, and various modifications and variations can be made based on the design requirement and the like without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.

Although the above embodiments have been exemplarily described with respect to the fuel cell automobile driven using the fuel cell as a power source as an example of the electrically driven vehicle to which the present invention is applied, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the present invention may also be widely applied to a vehicle mounting a DC power source such as an electric vehicle driven using a battery as a power source, or a so-called hybrid vehicle driven using a battery and an internal combustion engine as a power source.

In addition, although the inverter device of the above embodiments includes the grasp portions having a rectangular frame shape at the upper portion thereof and the pair of wheels at the lower portion thereof, the shape of the inverter device is not limited thereto.

In addition, in the above embodiments, although the fitting detection mechanism such as a microswitch is provided at the power supply port, the fitting detection mechanism is not limited to the microswitch. For example, terminals are respectively provided at the power supply port in the trunk room and the connector portion of the inverter device and a fitting detection connector is formed, and thus the fitting between the power supply port in the trunk room and the connector portion of the inverter device may also be electrically detected.