Direct cooled switching module for electric vehicle propulsion system
First Claim
1. Apparatus for cooling a switching circuit for an electric vehicle, wherein the switching circuit has at least two switching elements connected in series, the apparatus comprising:
- a first heat sink having two thermally-conductive planar members forming a passage therebetween for channeling cooling fluid, an inlet port in communication with the passage, and an outlet port in communication with the passage;
a second heat sink having two thermally-conductive planar members forming a passage therebetween for channeling cooling fluid, an inlet port in communication with the passage, and an outlet port in communication with the passage;
means for mounting at least one switching element to the first heat sink and means for mounting at least one switching element to the second heat sink;
means for connecting the switching element attached to the first heat sink in series with the switching element attached to the second heat sink; and
means, coupled to the inlet and outlet ports of the first and second heat sinks, for circulating cooling fluid through the passages of the first and second heat sinks to cool the switching elements.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for cooling a switching circuit for an electric vehicle, wherein the switching circuit has at least two switching elements connected in series, includes first and second heat sinks, each having two thermally-conductive planar members forming a passage therebetween for channeling cooling fluid, an inlet port in communication with the passage, and an outlet port in communication with the passage, and a substrate for mounting at least one switching element to each of the first and second heat sinks. An ac terminal connects the switching element attached to the first heat sink in series with the switching element attached to the second heat sink, and inlet and outlet manifolds, coupled to the inlet and outlet ports of the first and second heat sinks, circulate cooling fluid through the passages of the first and second heat sinks to cool the switching elements.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. Apparatus for cooling a switching circuit for an electric vehicle, wherein the switching circuit has at least two switching elements connected in series, the apparatus comprising:
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a first heat sink having two thermally-conductive planar members forming a passage therebetween for channeling cooling fluid, an inlet port in communication with the passage, and an outlet port in communication with the passage; a second heat sink having two thermally-conductive planar members forming a passage therebetween for channeling cooling fluid, an inlet port in communication with the passage, and an outlet port in communication with the passage; means for mounting at least one switching element to the first heat sink and means for mounting at least one switching element to the second heat sink; means for connecting the switching element attached to the first heat sink in series with the switching element attached to the second heat sink; and means, coupled to the inlet and outlet ports of the first and second heat sinks, for circulating cooling fluid through the passages of the first and second heat sinks to cool the switching elements. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A fluid-cooled switching module for an electric vehicle, comprising:
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upper and lower mounting assemblies, each mounting assembly including; a heat sink having a top surface, two thermally-conductive planar members forming a passage therebetween for channeling cooling fluid, an inlet port in communication with the passage, and an outlet port in communication with the passage; a first conductive member laminated to the top surface of the heat sink with a dielectric material; a second conductive member laminated to the first conductive member with a dielectric material; a plurality of thermally-conductive substrates attached to the top surface of the heat sink; and a plurality of transistors attached to the heat sink via the plurality of substrates, each transistor having a collector connected to the first conductive member and an emitter connected to the second conductive member; a drive current terminal connecting the second conductive member of the lower mounting assembly with the first conductive member of the upper mounting assembly; a bus bar connecting the first conductive member of the lower mounting assembly to a positive voltage source; a negative terminal connecting the second conductive member of the upper mounting assembly to a common ground member; and means, communicating with the inlet and outlet ports of the heat sinks of the upper and lower mounting assemblies, for circulating cooling fluid through the heat sinks. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A fluid-cooled switching module assembly for an electric vehicle, comprising:
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a pair of switching modules, each switching module comprising; upper and lower heat sinks, each heat sink having a passage for channeling cooling fluid, an inlet port in communication with the passage, and an outlet port in communication with the passage; at least one switching element attached to the upper heat sink and at least one switching element attached to the lower heat sink; a drive terminal connecting the switching element attached to the upper heat sink in series with the switching element attached to the lower heat sink; and means for joining the upper heat sink with the lower heat sink in a spaced, parallel relationship; means, communicating with the inlet and outlet ports of the heat sinks of the pair of switching modules, for circulating cooling fluid through the heat sinks; and means for joining the pair of switching modules in an opposed, parallel relationship so that the lower heat sink of one of the modules faces the lower heat sink of the other module. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification