THERMAL MANAGEMENT OF HIGH POWER INDUCTORS

• US 20200135378A1
• Filed: 10/31/2018
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Joshi, Ashutosh, Pal, Debabrata, Metzler, Mark W., Downing, Richard L., Shepard, Charles Patrick
• Granted Patent: US 11,348,717 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/025 Constructional details relating to cooling
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/10 Liquid cooling
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/12 Oil cooling
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/16 Water cooling
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/2823 Wires H01F27/2866 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/2895 Windings disposed upon ring cores
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 37/00 Fixed inductances not covered by group H01F17/00

Abstract

An inductor assembly includes a housing including a base, a sidewall, and an insert. The base and the sidewall define a cavity and the insert being positioned within the cavity. A core assembly is positioned within the cavity. The core assembly includes a core and a plurality of windings wrapped about the core and disposed between the sidewall and the insert. A flow path is formed in the housing for receiving a coolant to remove heat from the core assembly.

Claims

1. An inductor assembly comprising:

a housing including a base, a sidewall, and an insert, wherein the base and the sidewall define a cavity, the insert being positioned within the cavity;

a core assembly within the cavity, wherein the core assembly includes a core and a plurality of windings wrapped about the core and disposed between the sidewall and the insert; and

a flow path formed in the housing for receiving a coolant to remove heat from the core assembly.

2. The inductor assembly of claim 1, wherein the flow path includes at least one first channel, the at least one first channel extending within a plane defined by the base.

3. The inductor assembly of claim 2, wherein the at least one first channel is aligned with one of the plurality of windings.

4. The inductor assembly of claim 2, wherein the at least one first channel has an arcuate contour.

5. The inductor assembly of claim 2, wherein a radius of the at least is equal to an outer diameter of the core.

6. The inductor assembly of claim 2, wherein a portion of the at least one first channel extends at an angle to the base.

7. The inductor assembly of claim 6, wherein the portion of the at least one first channel is formed in the sidewall.

8. The inductor assembly of claim 2, wherein the flow path includes at least one second channel arranged in fluid communication with the at least one first channel, wherein a portion of the at least one second channel extending at an angle into the base.

9. The inductor assembly of claim 8, wherein the at least one second channel is formed in the insert.

10. The inductor assembly of claim 8, wherein the at least one second channel includes an angular section having an apex opposite the base.

11. The inductor assembly of claim 10, wherein the at least one second channel includes a plurality of angular sections arranged in series.

12. The inductor assembly of claim 8, wherein the at least one second channel includes a plurality of vertical sections fluidly coupled by a plurality of planar sections.

13. The inductor assembly of claim 1, further comprising a base cover affixed to the base of the housing.

14. The inductor assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing of the inductor assembly further comprises another sidewall and another insert, the base and the another sidewall defined another cavity, the another insert being positioned within the another cavity, another core assembly being receivable within the another cavity.

15. The inductor assembly of claim 14, wherein the flow path includes a first flow path for removing heat from the core positioned within cavity and a second flow path for removing heat from the core positioned within the another cavity.

16. The inductor assembly of claim 15, wherein the flow path further comprises an inlet and an outlet, both the first flow path and the second flow path being arranged in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet.

17. The inductor assembly of claim 15, wherein the first flow path and the second flow path are symmetrical.

18. The inductor assembly of claim 15, wherein flow path additionally includes a bypass flow path arranged in parallel with the first flow path and the second flow path.