# US 12,589,645 B2 · Electric apparatus

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- Number: US 12,589,645 B2
- Document ID: US12589645B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/181,191
- Filed: 2023-03-09
- Published: 2023-09-28
- Granted: 2026-03-31
- Earliest claimed: 2022-03-25
- Assignees: Suzuki Motor Corporation
- Applicants: Suzuki Motor Corporation
- Inventors: Kazutoshi Usa
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12589645B2

## CPC

- B60K 1/00: Arrangement or mounting of electrical propulsion units (B60K7/00 takes precedence; arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion B60K6/00)
- B60K 11/06: with air cooling
- B60K 1/04: of the electric storage means for propulsion
- B60K 11/08: Air inlets for cooling; Shutters or blinds therefor
- B60K 2001/003: {with means for cooling the electrical propulsion units}
- B60K 2001/005: {the electric storage means}
- B60K 2001/006: {the electric motors}
- B60Y 2200/124: Buggies, Quads
- B60Y 2400/61: Arrangements of controllers for electric machines, e.g. inverters
- B60Y 2410/10: Housings
- B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
- B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY

## Abstract

An electric apparatus installed in an electric vehicle, the electric apparatus includes a plurality of electrical devices including an electrical drive system, and an accommodation case accommodating the plurality of electrical devices. An intake port and a discharge port for cooling air are formed at an upper surface of the accommodation case, and a cooling fan is provided at the intake port or the discharge port.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An electric apparatus installed in an electric vehicle, the electric apparatus comprising:
a plurality of electrical devices including an electrical drive system; and
an accommodation case accommodating the plurality of electrical devices,
wherein an intake port and a discharge port for cooling air are formed at an upper surface of the accommodation case, and a cooling fan is provided at the intake port or the discharge port,
wherein the plurality of electrical devices include an electric motor configured to drive the electric vehicle to travel, a battery configured to supply electric power to the electric motor, and an inverter configured to rotationally drive the electric motor,
wherein the battery is installed with a gap between the battery and a front wall of the accommodation case, and gaps between the battery and a pair of side walls of the accommodation case,
wherein the intake port overlaps the battery in a plan view,
wherein an intake duct is connected to the intake port,
wherein a downstream side of the intake duct is inclined forward as approaching the upper surface of the accommodation case,
wherein the gap between the battery and one side wall of the accommodation case is larger than the gap between the battery and another side wall of the accommodation case, and
wherein the inverter is installed near a side of the one side wall of the accommodation case.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The electric apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the intake port is formed at a position deviated to the side of the one side wall with respect to a center line of the accommodation case extending in a front-rear direction.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The electric apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the inverter is installed with a gap between the inverter and a rear wall of the accommodation case, and a gap between the inverter and the side wall of the accommodation case.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The electric apparatus according to claim 3,
wherein at least a part of the discharge port overlaps the inverter in a plan view.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The electric apparatus according to claim 4,
wherein a discharge duct is connected to the discharge port, and
wherein an upstream side of the discharge duct is inclined forward as receding from the upper surface of the accommodation case.

### Claim 6

An electric apparatus installed in an electric vehicle, the electric apparatus comprising:
a plurality of electrical devices including an electrical drive system; and
an accommodation case accommodating the plurality of electrical devices,
wherein an intake port and a discharge port for cooling air are formed at an upper surface of the accommodation case, and a cooling fan is provided at the intake port or the discharge port,
wherein the plurality of electrical devices include an electric motor configured to drive the electric vehicle to travel, a battery configured to supply electric power to the electric motor, and an inverter configured to rotationally drive the electric motor,
wherein the inverter is installed with a gap between the inverter and a rear wall of the accommodation case, and a gap between the inverter and the side wall of the accommodation case,
wherein at least a part of the discharge port overlaps the inverter in a plan view,
wherein a discharge duct is connected to the discharge port, and
wherein an upstream side of the discharge duct is inclined forward as receding from the upper surface of the accommodation case.