Heat sink load spring assembly

• US 5,225,965 A
• Filed: 04/24/1992
• Issued: 07/06/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Chrysler Corporation (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Chrysler Corporation (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Oden, Gerald K., Bailey, Terry G., Choat, Robert T., Betterton, Joseph T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thompson, Gregory D.
• Application Number:
  US07/874,249
• Time in Patent Office: 438 Days
• Field of Search: 165/80.3, 165/185, 174/16.3, 267/158-164, 267/181, 357/79, 357/81, 361/383, 361/386-389, 361/395, 361/399, 361/417-420, 361/427
• US Class Current: 361/704
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/4093 Snap-on arrangements, e.g. clips
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00

Abstract

A load spring for heat sink assemblies has elongated body with a plurality of fingers and a wedge member positioning the spring with respect to a wall of a heat sink housing. The fingers apply a force onto the electrical components to clamp the electrical components against the heat sink housing to provide heat dissipation from the electrical components to the housing.

Claims

1. A load spring assembly for a heat sink assembly including a heat sink housing comprising:

an elongated body member;

one or more biasing members extending from said body member, said one or more biasing members adapted for contacting electrical components to be secured in the heat sink assembly; and

wedge means adapted for securing the load spring assembly to the heat sink housing, said wedge means being adapted to be received within an aperture formed in the load spring assembly and to abut a portion of the heat sink housing to position the load spring assembly with respect to the heat sink housing.

2. The load spring according to claim 1 wherein said one or more biasing members each include a portion for contacting the electrical components.

3. The load spring assembly according to claim 1 wherein said wedge means adapted for contacting a wall of the heat sink housing to position the load spring on the heat sink housing and provide a retaining force in said biasing members.

4. A load spring assembly for a heat sink assembly including a heat sink housing comprising:

an elongated body member having one or more apertures;

a plurality of fingers extending from said body members, said plurality of fingers including a portion adapted for contacting electrical components to maintain the electrical components abutted against the heat sink housing; and

one or more wedge members, said one or more wedge members adapted to move through said one or more apertures to engage a wall of the heat sink housing for positioning the load spring with respect to the heat sink housing and to load said fingers to apply a clamping force on the electrical components.

5. The load spring assembly according to claim 4 wherein said plurality of fingers each have a free extending end adapted to contact a carrier member.

6. The load spring assembly according to claim 4 wherein one or more members extend from an opposing side of said plurality of fingers on said body member, said one or more members providing a contact surface for said one or more wedge members.

7. A load spring assembly for a heat sink assembly including a heat sink housing comprising:

an elongated body member having a first and second edge portion;

a plurality of fingers extending from said first edge portion of said body member and at least one arm member extending from the second edge portion, said fingers having a portion extending inward adapted for contacting electrical components for maintaining the electrical components in contact with the heat sink housing; and

one or more wedge members for retaining said load spring assembly in position on the heat sink housing, said one or more wedge members adapted to abut between a wall of the heat sink housing and said at least one arm member.

8. The load spring assembly according to claim 7 wherein said at least one wedge member includes a plurality of extending legs.

9. The load spring assembly according to claim 8 wherein said at least one arm member includes a plurality of apertures for receiving said extending legs.

10. The load spring assembly according to claim 8 wherein said extending legs include an angled portion and a rounded tip.