Power converter assembly having a housing

• US 8,441,827 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2010
• Issued: 05/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Baker, Thomas M., Sychra, Robert R., Dixler, Keith E., Husser, Jon N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Berhane, Adolf
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, EMILY P
• Application Number:
  US12/721,889
• Publication Number:
  US 20100232111A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,160 Days
• Field of Search: 361/699, 361/689, 361/698, 361/704, 361/707, 361/711, 361/715, 363/141
• US Class Current: 363/141
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20927 Liquid coolant without phase change

Abstract

A power converter assembly includes a housing and at least one transistor module. The housing has a liquid cooled heat transfer surface. The at least one transistor module is mounted directly to the liquid cooled heat transfer surface and positioned at least partially within the housing.

Claims

1. A power converter assembly comprising:

a housing having a liquid cooled heat transfer surface, at least one fluid cooling passage positioned opposite the liquid cooled heat transfer surface, and at least one divider positioned in the at least one fluid cooling passage;

at least one transistor module mounted directly to the liquid cooled heat transfer surface and positioned at least partially within the housing, wherein the at least one transistor module is secured to at least a portion of the at least one divider;

a bridge mounted to the heat transfer surface and positioned over the at least one transistor module;

a control board mounted to the bridge and in communication with the at least one transistor module; and

at least one transistor drive board positioned between the bridge and the at least one transistor module,

wherein the control board is in communication with the at least one transistor module through the at least one transistor drive board.

2. The power converter assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one capacitor mounted to the housing and positioned at least partially within the housing.

3. The power converter assembly of claim 1, wherein the control board is mounted to a first surface of the bridge and the at least one transistor drive board is positioned adjacent a second surface of the bridge opposite the first surface.

4. The power converter assembly of claim 1, further comprising a connector assembly mounted to the control board and extending through an opening in the housing.

5. The power converter assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing has at least one divider positioned in the at least one fluid cooling passage, and the bridge is secured to at least a portion of the at least one divider.

6. The power converter assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one fluid cooling passage is U-shaped.

7. The power converter assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a cover mounted to a periphery of the housing.

8. The power converter assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a fluid cooling passage cover mounted to the housing and fluidly sealing the at least one fluid cooling passage.

9. The power converter assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing is monolithic.

10. The power converter assembly of claim 2, wherein the housing has at least one well and the at least one capacitor is positioned within the at least one well.

11. The power converter assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of transistor modules mounted directly to the liquid cooled heat transfer surface and positioned at least partially within the housing;

wherein the bridge is positioned over the plurality of transistor modules.

12. A machine comprising:

an engine;

an electrical generator coupled to the engine;

a power converter in communication with the electrical generator and having a housing with a liquid cooled heat transfer surface and at least one transistor module mounted directly to the liquid cooled heat transfer surface and positioned at least partially within the housing, the housing having at least one fluid cooling passage positioned opposite the liquid cooled heat transfer surface and at least one divider positioned in the at least one fluid cooling passage, the at least one transistor module being secured to at least a portion of the at least one divider;

at least one electric propulsion motor in communication with the power converter;

a bridge mounted to the heat transfer surface and positioned over the at least one transistor module;

a control board mounted to the bridge and in communication with the at least one transistor module; and

at least one transistor drive board positioned between the bridge and the at least one transistor module,

wherein the control board is in communication with the at least one transistor module through the at least one transistor drive board.

13. A power converter assembly comprising:

a housing having a liquid cooled heat transfer surface;

at least one cooling fluid passage positioned opposite the liquid cooled heat transfer surface;

at least one divider positioned in the at least one cooling fluid passage;

at least one transistor module mounted directly to the liquid cooled heat transfer surface and positioned at least partially within the housing;

a bridge mounted to the heat transfer surface and positioned over the at least one transistor module;

a control board mounted to the bridge and in communication with the at least one transistor module; and

at least one transistor drive board positioned between the bridge and the at least one transistor module,

wherein the control board is in communication with the at least one transistor module through the at least one transistor drive board.