Capacitor assembly with integral cooling apparatus
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A capacitor assembly, comprising:
- first and second spaced thermally conductive members each having a channel for passage of a fluid coolant;
a capacitor having first and second electrodes; and
first and second means for establishing thermal paths between the capacitor and the fluid coolant in the channels of the first and second members, respectively, the first and second establishing means being electrically conductive and in electrical contact with the first and second electrodes of the capacitor, respectively.
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Abstract
Prior capacitor assemblies used in high power applications have been difficult to mount on circuit boards and have generated large amounts of heat which leads to operational difficulties. In order to overcome these problems, a capacitor assembly includes first and second spaced thermally conductive members each having a channel therethrough for passage of a fluid coolant and a capacitor having first and second electrodes. Thermal paths are established between the capacitor and the fluid coolant in the channels of the first and second members so that heat developed by the capacitor is carried away during operation.
103 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A capacitor assembly, comprising:
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first and second spaced thermally conductive members each having a channel for passage of a fluid coolant; a capacitor having first and second electrodes; and first and second means for establishing thermal paths between the capacitor and the fluid coolant in the channels of the first and second members, respectively, the first and second establishing means being electrically conductive and in electrical contact with the first and second electrodes of the capacitor, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A capacitor assembly comprising:
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a pair of substantially parallel, spaced-apart, thermally conductive bus bars having a plurality of corresponding spaced-apart parallel slots on facing sides thereof, each bus bar also having an interior channel therethrough; a plurality of capacitors each having opposing electrode ends, the capacitors being disposed between the pair of bus bars whereby the electrode ends of each capacitor are positioned within corresponding slots; and means for providing cooling fluid to the channels of the bus bars for cooling the capacitors. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A capacitor assembly for securing capacitors to a printed circuit board, comprising;
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a pair of substantially parallel, spaced-apart bus bars having a plurality of corresponding spaced-apart slots on facing sides thereof and each having a channel therethrough wherein heat exchange fins are disposed in each channel; a plurality of ceramic capacitors having opposing electrode ends wherein the capacitors are disposed between the bus bars and the electrode ends are positioned within the corresponding slots; solder fixing the capacitor ends within the slots; and means for supplying cooling fluid to the channels of the bus bars so that heat is removed from the capacitors through portions of the bus bars. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A bus bar comprising:
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a main member having a channel therethrough and adapted to receive cooling fluid therein; and a thermally conductive capacitor mounting member adjacent the main member including a pair of flanges defining a slot therebetween wherein a ceramic capacitor may be received in such slot and capable of conducting heat away from the capacitor when the capacitor is received in such slot and when cooling fluid is flowing in the channel. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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Specification