AUTOMOTIVE INVERTER ASSEMBLY

• US 20100128437A1
• Filed: 10/06/2009
• Published: 05/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: C.R.F. Societa Consortile Per Azioni
• Original Assignee: C.R.F. Societa Consortile Per Azioni
• Inventors: PIZZATO, Andrea, GROPPO, Ricardo, CATONA, Giuseppe
• Granted Patent: US 8,072,758 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/703
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20927 Liquid coolant without phase change

Abstract

In an embodiment, an automotive inverter assembly has at least one component for cooling. The inverter assembly has a supporting body for supporting the at least one component. The supporting body defines at least part of a volume through which flows a cooling fluid coupled thermally with the at least one component for cooling.

Claims

1. An automotive inverter assembly, comprising:

at least one component for cooling, said at least one component including;

a supporting body for supporting said at least one component, said supporting body defines at least part of a volume through which a cooling fluid that is coupled thermally with said at least one component for cooling can flow.

2. The automotive inverter assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said supporting body comprises a first and a second wall opposite each other and defining said at least part of said volume.

3. The automotive inverter assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein said supporting body comprises a number of fins facing inwards of said volume so as to be flowed over by said fluid.

4. The automotive inverter assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein said fins are carried by at least one of said first and second walls.

5. The automotive inverter assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein said supporting body comprises deflecting means for directing said fluid, flowing inside said volume, onto said fins.

6. The automotive inverter assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein said deflecting means comprise at least one partition interposed between said first and said second wall.

7. The automotive inverter assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein said fins form at least two groups welded to each other;

and said deflecting means comprise a weld interposed between the two said groups of fins.

8. The automotive inverter assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein at least one of said first or said second walls comprises a through seat engaged hermetically by said at least one component for cooling.

9. The automotive inverter assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein said at least one component for cooling faces at least partly inwards of said volume so as to be flowed over by said fluid.

10. The automotive inverter assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein said at least one component is fitted integrally with a number of said fins, which face inwards of said volume so as to be flowed over by said fluid.

11. The automotive inverter assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein at least one of said first or said second walls comprises, on the opposite side to said volume, at least one dead seat engaged at least partly by said at least one component for cooling.

12. The automotive inverter assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first and said second wall are connected releasably and hermetically to each other along respective peripheries.

13. The automotive inverter assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first and said second wall are integral with each other.

14. The automotive inverter assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein said supporting body comprises a number of lateral walls crosswise to said first and second walls;

and at least one half-casing connected releasably to said lateral walls and defining, with one of said first and second walls and with said lateral walls, a volume housing said at least one component.

15. The automotive inverter assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one component comprises at least one electronic component.

16. The automotive inverter assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one component comprises an IGBT module.

17. A vehicle propulsion system, comprising:

at least a traction electric machine; and

an automotive inverter assembly as claimed in claim 1 and for powering said electric machine.

18. The propulsion system as claimed in claim 17, further comprising a voltage generator chargeable by connection to an electric mains and for powering said inverter assembly.

19. A hybrid vehicle, comprising a propulsion system as claimed in claim 18.