SWITCHING POWER SUPPLY

• US 20110261531A1
• Filed: 04/27/2011
• Published: 10/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: HIRASHIMA, Shigeo
• Granted Patent: US 8,817,468 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/689
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/003 Constructional details, e.g. physical layout, assembly, wiring or busbar connections
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20927 Liquid coolant without phase change

Abstract

A switching power supply has electronic parts that configure a switching circuit. The electronic parts are accommodated in a casing. A seat member is formed unitarily with the casing on which the electronic parts are mounted. A coolant channel is formed through the seat member so as to be open at least at two positions of an outer wall surface of the casing. Coolant that flows through the coolant channel cools the electronic parts mounted on the seat member.

Claims

1. A switching power supply comprising:

electronic parts that configure a switching circuit;

a casing that accommodates the electronic parts;

a seat member formed unitarily with the casing on which the electronic parts are mounted; and

a coolant channel formed through the seat member so as to be open at least at two positions of an outer wall surface of the casing;

wherein, coolant that flows through the coolant channel cools the electronic parts mounted on the seat member.

2. The switching power supply according to claim 1, wherein

the coolant channel includes a primary channel formed through the seat member, and

a secondary channel extended in a direction of intersecting the primary channel for connection thereto, and the connection is established at a position between end portions of the primary channel, with one end of the secondary channel being open in an outer wall surface of the casing,

and wherein one end portion of the end portions of the primary channel is provided with a stopper so that the coolant flows from the other end portion to the secondary channel through the primary channel.

3. The switching power supply according to claim 1, wherein

the coolant channel includes a primary channel formed through the seat member, and

a pair of secondary channels extended in a direction of intersecting the primary channel for connection thereto, and the connection is established at a position between end portions of the primary channel, with one end of the secondary channel being open in an outer wall surface of the casing,

and wherein each of the end portions of the primary channel is provided with a stopper so that the coolant flows from one of the secondary channel to the other one of the secondary channel through the primary channel.

4. The switching power supply according to claim 3, wherein

the pair of secondary channels are extended in the same direction,

the primary channel has a first side face on a side to which the pair of secondary channels are connected, the first side face residing between the pair of secondary channels, and a second side face residing on an opposite side of the first side face with reference to the secondary channel on a downstream side,

the first side face coincides with the second side face regarding the position in a direction in which the secondary channels are extended.

5. The switching power supply according to claim 2, wherein

a cross-sectional area of the secondary channel, which is perpendicular to a direction of flow of the coolant, is made smaller than that of the primary channel.

6. The switching power supply according to claim 2, wherein

the seat member has major surfaces on both sides thereof with an interposition of the coolant channel,

different electronic parts are mounted on the major surfaces, and

the electronic part mounted on one of the major surface of the seat member configures a switching circuit, while the electronic part mounted on the other one of the major surface of the seat member configures another switching circuit.

7. The switching power supply according to claim 1, wherein

the switching power supply further comprises:

a protective cover that covers the casing, and

a weakly cooled area formed unitarily with the casing for mounting the electronic parts,

and wherein amount of heat generated by the electronic parts mounted on the seat member is larger that of the electronic parts mounted on the weakly cooled area, and

a distance from the seat member to the protective cover is shorter that a distance from the weakly cooled area to the protective cover.