Integrated power electronics cooling housing

• US 6,404,628 B1
• Filed: 07/21/2000
• Issued: 06/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Ward, Terence G., Nagashima, James M., Downer, Scott D.
• Primary Examiner(s): TOLIN, GERALD P
• Application Number:
  US09/621,379
• Time in Patent Office: 690 Days
• Field of Search: 174/15.1, 174/15.4, 174/252, 174/59, 174/60, 174/52.2, 174/52.3, 174/52.4, 257/714, 165/80.3, 165/185, 165/80.4, 165/104.33, 361/679, 361/688, 361/689, 361/699, 361/702-704, 361/707, 361/710, 361/717-722, 361/690
• US Class Current: 361/690
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20927 Liquid coolant without phase change

Abstract

A power electronics cooling housing for use in a power electronics system. The power electronics cooling housing has a body with a coolant cavity formed in one surface and a capacitor bus assembly potting cavity formed in an opposite surface. A bus bar passthrough opening is formed through the body. The bus bar passthrough opening provides an opening from the coolant cavity and the capacitor bus assembly potting cavity. A coolant inlet manifold having a coolant cavity inlet and a coolant outlet manifold having a coolant cavity outlet are formed in the body that are coupled to respective ends of the coolant cavity. An environmental sealing gasket surrounds the coolant cavity.

Claims

1. A power electronics cooling housing comprising:

a body having a coolant cavity formed in one surface and having a capacitor bus assembly potting cavity formed in an opposite surface and a capacitor bus assembly potting located in the capacitor bus assembly potting cavity;

a bus bar passthrough opening formed through the body and a bus bar located in the bus bar passthrough;

a coolant inlet manifold having a coolant cavity inlet and a coolant outlet manifold having a coolant cavity outlet formed in the body that are coupled to respective ends of the coolant cavity; and

an environmental sealing gasket surrounding the coolant cavity.

2. The housing recited in claim 1 wherein the body comprises dielectric material.

3. The housing recited in claim 1 wherein the body comprises plastic.

4. The housing recited in claim 1 wherein the coolant cavity comprises a U-shaped coolant cavity.

5. The housing recited in claim 1 wherein a portion of the body provides a connector housing having a metallized surface that provides electrical shielding for a connector.

6. The housing recited in claim 1 further comprising a circuit board mounting surface on selected sides of the body.

7. A power electronics cooling housing comprising:

a body having a coolant cavity formed in one surface and having a capacitor bus assembly potting cavity formed in an opposite surface;

a bus bar passthrough opening formed through the body to provide a passage between the coolant cavity and the capacitor bus assembly potting cavity;

a coolant inlet manifold having a coolant cavity inlet and a coolant outlet manifold having a coolant cavity outlet formed in the body that are coupled to respective ends of the coolant cavity; and

an environmental sealing gasket surrounding the coolant cavity.

8. The housing recited in claim 7 wherein the body comprises dielectric material.

9. The housing recited in claim 7 wherein the body comprises plastic.

10. The housing recited in claim 7 wherein the coolant cavity comprises a U-shaped coolant cavity.

11. The housing recited in claim 7 wherein a portion of the body provides a connector housing having a metallized surface that provides electrical shielding for a connector.

12. The housing recited in claim 7 further comprising a circuit board mounting surface on selected sides of the body.

13. A power system for use in an electric vehicle comprising:

power electronics for distribution of power in the electric vehicle;

an electronics cooling housing including a body having a U-shaped coolant cavity formed in one surface and having a capacitor bus assembly potting cavity formed in an opposite surface;

a bus bar passthrough opening formed through the body;

a coolant inlet manifold having a coolant cavity inlet and a coolant outlet manifold having a coolant cavity outlet formed in the body that are coupled to respective ends of the U-shaped coolant cavity; and

an environmental sealing gasket surrounding the coolant cavity.

14. The housing recited in claim 13 wherein the body comprises dielectric material.

15. The housing recited in claim 13 wherein the body comprises plastic.

16. The housing recited in claim 13 wherein a portion of the body provides a connector housing having a metallized surface that provides electrical shielding for a connector.

17. The housing recited in claim 13 further comprising a circuit board mounting surface on selected sides of the body.