Electrical apparatus, cooling system therefor, and electric vehicle

• US 7,983,044 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2010
• Issued: 07/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Nishihara, Atsuo, Saito, Ryuichi, Nakamura, Takayoshi, Tamba, Akihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): PAPE, ZACHARY
• Application Number:
  US12/684,294
• Publication Number:
  US 20100139997A1
• Time in Patent Office: 557 Days
• Field of Search: 361/699, 361/701, 361/702, 165/80.4, 165/80.5, 165/104.33, 165/43, 174/15.1, 174/15.2, 174/252, 257/714, 180/65.4, 180/68.4, 180/65.1, 363/141
• US Class Current: 361/701
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00392 for electric vehicles having only electric drive means
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00428 electric
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/007 Physical arrangements or structures of drive train converters specially adapted for the propulsion motors of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/525 Temperature of converter or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/473 by flowing liquids H01L23/4332, H01L23/4338 take precedence
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/003 Constructional details, e.g. physical layout, assembly, wiring or busbar connections
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20927 Liquid coolant without phase change
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/88 Optimized components or subsystems, e.g. lighting, actively controlled glasses

Abstract

An inverter apparatus includes a liquid path in which cooling water flows, and in which the cooling water performs cooling at a cooling part located directly underneath the power circuit part of the inverter apparatus. The liquid path includes a first partial structure part formed between a feed pipe and the cooling part, and having a liquid path cross-sectional profile that is gradually reduced in the short-side direction of the cooling part and that is gradually enlarged in the long-side direction thereof; and a second partial structure part formed between the cooling part and a drain pipe, and having a liquid path cross-sectional profile that is gradually enlarged from the short-side of the cooling part and that is gradually reduced from the long-side thereof.

Claims

1. An inverter for an automobile comprising:

a metal case providing a fluid path in which cooling water flows; and

a semiconductor module fixed to said case;

wherein said semiconductor module comprises a plurality of semiconductor elements for converting from DC electric power to AC electric power and a metal base for carrying said plurality of semiconductor elements,

wherein said fluid path comprises an inlet, a cooling part, and an outlet,

wherein said cooling part of said fluid path has a quadrangle cross-sectional form perpendicular to the flow of cooling water, with a width that is larger than a depth,

wherein a fluid path between said inlet and said cooling part has a form that changes so that a depth thereof decreases gradually and a width thereof increases gradually along with the flow of the cooling water,

wherein said case forms an opening that connects to said cooling part of said fluid path,

wherein said metal base is formed larger than said opening of said case and closes said opening at an outer side of said case, and

wherein said case is formed so that, in a direction in alignment with the flow of cooling water, an end part of a top portion of said case is upstream from a termination part of reduction of the depth direction of the fluid path of said case.

2. An electric vehicle in which is installed the inverter for an automobile according to claim 1, comprising

a power source which is installed in said vehicle, and supplies said DC power;

a cooling device which is installed in said vehicle, and cools said cooling water; and

an electric pump which supplies said cooling water supplied from said cooling device to said inlet of said inverter for an automobile after an electric motor.

3. An inverter for an automobile according to claim 1,

wherein said metal base provides a longer side and a shorter side, and the metal base is fixed to said cooling part of said fluid path so as to have the longer side located along the flow of the cooling water, and

wherein said plurality of semiconductor elements are carried on said metal base so that a semiconductor element constituting a U-phase, a semiconductor element constituting a V-phase, and a semiconductor element constituting a W-phase are disposed in order along the longer side of said metal base.

4. An inverter for an automobile according to claim 1,

wherein said metal base has a cooling fin on one face, said plurality of semiconductor elements are carried on another face, and said fin projects into the fluid path from said opening of said case, and

wherein said fin is formed so that the projecting portion is located inside a projecting portion of said cooling part of said fluid path.