Watertight plate and power supply device including the same

• US 7,095,613 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2004
• Issued: 08/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TDK Corporation
• Original Assignee: TDK Corporation
• Inventors: Tsuchiya, Takahiro, Yakuwa, Atsushi
• Primary Examiner(s): THOMPSON, GREGORY D
• Application Number:
  US10/806,125
• Publication Number:
  US 20040190244A1
• Time in Patent Office: 882 Days
• Field of Search: 361/699, 361/728
• US Class Current: 361/699
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/061 sealed by a gasket held between a removable cover and a body, e.g. O-ring, packing
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1432 specially adapted for power drive units or power converters
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/14322 wherein the control and power circuits of a power converter are arranged within the same casing
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20927 Liquid coolant without phase change

Abstract

Provided are a watertight plate where a resin is prevented from leaking and a power supply device including the same. In a base plate (watertight plate) of the present invention, when demarcating a channel by allowing a channel sidewall to contact with a cover plate, a resin is applied onto a second step portion of the channel sidewall to improve watertightness of the channel. The second step portion is closer to the channel and lower than a first step portion, which is a step portion in contact with the cover plate. Therefore, the movement of the resin applied onto the second step portion is prohibited by an edge surface of the step portion higher than the second step portion. Moreover, a resin lump of the resin applied onto the second step portion is housed within a third step portion which is closer to the channel and lower than the second step portion.

Claims

1. A watertight plate including a unitary channel sidewall which is in contact with a cover plate to demarcate a channel,

wherein, on the unitary channel sidewall at least three steps are formed, including:

a first step portion in contact with the cover plate;

a second step portion which is closer to the channel and lower than the first step portion and is applied with a sealing resin; and

a third step portion which is closer to the channel and lower than the second step portion and within which a resin lump of the sealing resin is housed.

4. The watertight plate of claim 1, wherein the cover plate is in direct contact with the first step portion.

5. The watertight plate of claim 1, wherein the sealing resin contacts the cover plate only above the second step portion and the third step portion.

6. The watertight plate of claim 1, wherein a top surface of the first step portion, a top surface of the second step portion, and a top surface of the third step portion are substantially parallel to each other.

7. The watertight plate of claim 1, wherein the channel accommodates a flow of fluid and the resin lump prevents the fluid from contacting an area between the first step portion and the cover plate.

2. A power supply device including a watertight plate with electronic parts including a switching element, a transformer and a rectifier mounted thereon, said watertight plate having a unitary channel sidewall in contact with a cover plate and demarcating a channel through which a coolant flows for cooling said electronic parts,

wherein, on the channel sidewall, at least three steps are formed, including:

a first step portion in contact with the cover plate;

a second step portion which is closer to the channel and lower than the first step portion and is applied with a sealing resin; and

a third step portion which is closer to the channel and lower than the second step portion and within which a resin lump of the sealing resin is housed.

8. The power supply device of claim 2, wherein the cover plate is in direct contact with the first step portion.

9. The power supply device of claim 2, wherein the sealing resin contacts the cover plate only above the second step portion and the third step portion.

10. The power supply device of claim 2, wherein a top surface of the first step portion, a top surface of the second step portion, and a top surface of the third step portion are substantially parallel to each other.

11. The power supply device of claim 2, wherein the channel accommodates a flow of fluid and the resin lump prevents the fluid from contacting an area between the first step portion and the cover plate.

3. A power supply device including a watertight plate with electronic parts including a switching element, a transformer and a rectifier mounted thereon, said watertight plate having a unitary channel sidewall in contact with a cover plate and demarcating a channel through which a coolant flows for cooling said electronic parts,

wherein, on the unitary channel sidewall, at least three steps are formed, including:

a first step portion in contact with the cover plate;

a second step portion which is closer to the channel and lower than the first step portion and is applied with a sealing resin; and

a third step portion which is closer to the channel and lower than the second step portion and within which a resin lump of the sealing resin is housed; and

the channel is demarcated when the sealing resin is applied onto the second step portion of the watertight plate and the cover plate is brought into contact with the first step portion of the watertight plate.

12. The power supply device of claim 3, wherein the cover plate is in direct contact with the first step portion.

13. The power supply device of claim 3, wherein the sealing resin contacts the cover plate only above the second step portion and the third step portion.

14. The power supply device of claim 3, wherein a top surface of the first step portion, a top surface of the second step portion, and a top surface of the third step portion are substantially parallel to each other.

15. The power supply device of claim 3, wherein the channel accommodates a flow of fluid and the resin lump prevents the fluid from contacting an area between the first step portion and the cover plate.