POWER INVERTER HAVING LIQUID COOLED CAPACITOR AND LOW INDUCTANCE BUS STRUCTURE
First Claim
1. A vehicular power inverter comprising:
- a housing having first and second openings therein and at least partially defining a cavity and a fluid passageway on first and second sides of the cavity;
first and second power modules connected to the housing on the respective first and second sides of the cavity; and
a capacitor assembly within the cavity such that when heat is generated by the first and second power modules and the capacitor assembly and a fluid flows into the first opening, through the fluid passageway, and out of the second opening, at least some of the heat is transferred from the first and second power modules and the capacitor assembly to the fluid and is removed through the second opening.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A power inverter is provided. The power inverter includes a housing having first and second openings therein and at least partially defining a cavity and a fluid passageway on first and second sides of the cavity. First and second power modules are connected to the housing on the respective first and second sides of the cavity. A capacitor assembly is within the cavity such that when heat is generated by the first and second power modules and the capacitor assembly and a fluid flows into the first opening, through the fluid passageway, and out of the second opening, at least some of the heat is transferred from the first and second power modules and the capacitor assembly to the fluid and is removed through the second opening.
68 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A vehicular power inverter comprising:
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a housing having first and second openings therein and at least partially defining a cavity and a fluid passageway on first and second sides of the cavity; first and second power modules connected to the housing on the respective first and second sides of the cavity; and a capacitor assembly within the cavity such that when heat is generated by the first and second power modules and the capacitor assembly and a fluid flows into the first opening, through the fluid passageway, and out of the second opening, at least some of the heat is transferred from the first and second power modules and the capacitor assembly to the fluid and is removed through the second opening. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An automotive power inverter comprising:
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a housing having first and second opposing sides, first and second opposing ends, and first and second openings therethrough and at least partially defining a cavity having first and second opposing sides and a fluid passageway having first and second portions on the respective first and second opposing sides of the cavity and adjacent to the respective first and second openings, the housing comprising a thermally conductive material; first and second power modules connected to the housing, the first power module being on the first side of the housing and the second power module being on the second side of the housing; a capacitor assembly within the cavity, the capacitor assembly having first and second opposing sides and first and second opposing ends and being positioned and shaped such that the first end of the capacitor assembly is adjacent to the first end of the housing, the first portion of the fluid passageway is between the first side of the housing and the first side of the capacitor assembly, the second portion is between the second side of the housing and the second side of the capacitor housing so that when heat is generated by the first and second power modules and the capacitor assembly and a fluid flows into the first opening, through the fluid passageway, and out of the second opening, at least some of the heat is transferred from the first and second power modules and the capacitor assembly to the fluid and is removed through the second opening. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An automobile comprising:
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a frame; an actuator connected to the frame; a power inverter coupled to the frame and the actuator, the power inverter comprising; a housing having first and second openings therein and at least partially defining a cavity and a fluid passageway on first and second sides of the cavity; first and second power modules connected to the housing on the respective first and second sides of the cavity; and a capacitor assembly within the cavity such that when heat is generated by the first and second power modules and the capacitor assembly and a fluid flows into the first opening, through the fluid passageway, and out of the second opening, at least some of the heat is transferred from the first and second power modules and the capacitor assembly to the fluid and is removed through the second opening; and a cooling system coupled to the frame, the cooling system having a radiator with a fluid therein, the radiator being in fluid communication with the actuator and the power inverter such that the fluid flows to and from the actuator and to the power inverter, into the first opening of the housing, through the fluid passageway, and out of the second opening, and back to the radiator such that heat generated by the actuator, the first and second power modules, and the capacitor assembly is transferred to the fluid and respectively removed from the actuator and the power inverter. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification