# US 12,184,128 B2 · Electric rotating machine apparatus and electric power steering apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,184,128 B2 - Document ID: US12184128B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/789,555 - Filed: 2020-01-16 - Published: 2023-02-02 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2020-01-16 - Assignees: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation - Applicants: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation - Inventors: Junya Suzuki; Akira Kimishima; Takahisa Kawaguchi; Takanori Ichikawa - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12184128B2 ## CPC - H02K 11/30: Structural association with control circuits or drive circuits - H02K 11/33: Drive circuits, e.g. power electronics (H02K11/38 takes precedence) - H02K 3/50: Fastening of winding heads, equalising connectors, or connections thereto - B62D 5/04: electrical, e.g. using an electric servo-motor connected to, or forming part of, the steering gear - H02K 2203/09: Machines characterised by wiring elements other than wires, e.g. bus rings, for connecting the winding terminations - H02K: DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES (dynamo-electric relays H01H53/00; conversion of DC or AC input power into surge output power {H03K3/53}) - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) ## Abstract An electric rotating machine apparatus includes an electric rotating machine having a windings and an output axle, a power module having a switching device connected with the winding, a bus bar that is held by a bus-bar holder and is included in a power-supply path to the power module, two or more smoothing capacitors connected with the bus bar, and a capacitor holder in which at a more outer side in the radial direction of the electric rotating machine than the bus-bar holder is, the two or more smoothing capacitors are arranged in the axial direction of the electric rotating machine, and that holds the two or more smoothing capacitors from the outer circumferential side of the electric rotating machine. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electric rotating machine apparatus comprising: an electric rotating machine having a winding and an output axle; a power module having a switching device connected with the winding; a bus bar that is held by a bus-bar holder and is included in a power-supply path to the power module; two or more smoothing capacitors connected with the bus bar; and a capacitor holder in which at a more outer side in a radial direction of the electric rotating machine than the bus-bar holder is, the two or more smoothing capacitors are arranged in an axial direction of the electric rotating machine, and that holds the two or more smoothing capacitors from an outer circumferential side of the electric rotating machine, wherein the capacitor holder includes: a pressing portion that is provided at a terminal side of the smoothing capacitor connected with the bus bar and to which the smoothing capacitor is pressed, and a snap fitting portion that is provided at a side opposite to the pressing portion side across the smoothing capacitor and that fixes the smoothing capacitor. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electric rotating machine apparatus according to claim 1, wherein respective center axes of the two or more smoothing capacitors each formed in the shape of a column are arranged along a circumferential direction of the electric rotating machine. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The electric rotating machine apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the capacitor holder is fixed to the bus-bar holder. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The electric rotating machine apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bus-bar holder has a fixing hole or a protruding portion in an end portion thereof, wherein the capacitor holder has a protruding portion or a fixing hole in an end portion thereof, and wherein the protruding portion is inserted into the fixing hole, so that the bus-bar holder and the capacitor holder are fixed to each other. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The electric rotating machine apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a terminal groove portion through which the terminal of the smoothing capacitor passes is provided in the pressing portion of the capacitor holder. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The electric rotating machine apparatus according to claim 1, wherein respective center axes of the two or more smoothing capacitors each formed in the shape of a column are arranged along the circumferential direction of the electric rotating machine, and wherein the capacitor holder includes a main body portion provided at a more radially outer side of the electric rotating machine than the smoothing capacitor is, the pressing portion that extends from the main body portion toward a radial-direction inner side of the electric rotating machine, at one axial-direction side of the smoothing capacitor, and the snap fitting portion that extends from the main body portion toward the radial-direction inner side of the electric rotating machine, at the other axial-direction side of the smoothing capacitor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The electric rotating machine apparatus according to claim 1, wherein respective center axes of the two or more smoothing capacitors each formed in the shape of a column are arranged along the circumferential direction of the electric rotating machine, wherein the pressing portion is provided at the one axial-direction side of the smoothing capacitor, wherein the snap fitting portion is provided at the other axial-direction side of the smoothing capacitor, and wherein the snap fitting portion includes two beam portions that each extend in the other axial-direction side of the smoothing capacitor, along a portion, at the radial-direction outer side of the electric rotating machine, in an outer circumferential surface of the smoothing capacitor, and then each extend, at the other axial-direction side of the smoothing capacitor, toward the radial-direction inner side of the electric rotating machine, avoiding the center axis of the smoothing capacitor, a connection portion that connects respective front ends of the two beam portions, and a hook portion provided in the connection portion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The electric rotating machine apparatus according to claim 7, wherein at a space between the two beam portions that each extend along the outer circumferential surface of the smoothing capacitor, the capacitor holder has a bearing portion that extends in the axial direction of the smoothing capacitor and supports the outer circumferential surface of the smoothing capacitor. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The electric rotating machine apparatus according to claim 7, wherein each of the two beam portions and the connection portion does not abut on the smoothing capacitor, but the hook portion abuts on and holds the smoothing capacitor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The electric rotating machine apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the hook portion of the capacitor holder is provided with a guide groove portion into which the end portion, at the anti-terminal side, of the smoothing capacitor is inserted in a sliding manner, at a time when the smoothing capacitor is mounted. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The electric rotating machine apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the bus-bar holder is provided with a recessed portion that houses the hook portion of the capacitor holder. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The electric rotating machine apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the capacitor holder is provided with a rib at the anti-smoothing capacitor side. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The electric rotating machine apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the two or more smoothing capacitors are assembled to the capacitor holder in such a way that the respective directions of the terminals thereof are the same. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The electric rotating machine apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the two or more smoothing capacitors are assembled to the capacitor holder in such a way that one group thereof are arranged with the respective terminals being oriented toward one side and the other group thereof are arranged with the respective terminals being oriented toward the other side. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The electric rotating machine apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the capacitor holder is fixed to the bus-bar holder through the intermediary of an adhesive. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The electric rotating machine apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the smoothing capacitor is fixed to at least one of the capacitor holder and the bus-bar holder through the intermediary of an adhesive. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) An electric power steering apparatus having the electric rotating machine apparatus according to claim 1.