Power module assembly and manifold

• US 10,206,314 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2017
• Issued: 02/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Lei, Guangyin, Degner, Michael W., Wang, Tienli, Jih, Edward Chan-Jiun
• Primary Examiner(s): Pape, Zachary
• Application Number:
  US15/810,612
• Publication Number:
  US 20180070481A1
• Time in Patent Office: 456 Days
• Field of Search: 361699, 361702, 165 804- 805, 16510433, 257714, 174 151, 174547
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 9/0043 the plates having openings therein for circulation of at least one heat-exchange medium from one conduit to another
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 9/0246 Arrangements for connecting header boxes with flow lines
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/52 Cooling of switch parts cooling of contacts H01H1/62
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/473 by flowing liquids H01L23/4332, H01L23/4338 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20927 Liquid coolant without phase change
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

A vehicle power module assembly including a stacked array of module frames, a manifold, and a pair of endplates is provided. The stacked array of module frames may each define a passthrough in registration with other of the passthroughs to define a manifold cavity, a power stage cavity, and a plurality of outlets open to the respective passthroughs and oriented relative to the power stage cavities to deliver coolant therebetween. The manifold may be disposed within the manifold cavity and defines a manifold inlet open to an inlet chamber and manifold ports for alignment with the plurality of outlets. One of the endplates may define an inlet open to the manifold inlet and another one of the endplates may define an outlet open to a manifold outlet. The inlets, outlets, and ports are arranged with one another to provide a coolant path between the endplate inlet and endplate outlet.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a power inverter electrically connected between a traction battery and an electric machine and having power stages;

a power module assembly supporting the inverter and having frames to support the stages and each defining a passthrough forming a manifold cavity;

a manifold defining inlet and outlet chambers; and

thermal plates supported by the frames between the stages to fluidly connect the inlet and outlet chambers.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a pair of endplates disposed on either side of the frames to retain the frames therebetween, wherein one of the endplates defines an inlet open to the inlet chamber.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a pair of endplates disposed on either side of the frames to retain the frames therebetween, wherein one of the endplates defines an outlet open to the outlet chamber.