COOLED ELECTRIC ASSEMBLY

• US 20130192798A1
• Filed: 01/25/2013
• Published: 08/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Sharaf, Nadir, Pavlovic, Slobodan, Anglin, Aric
• Granted Patent: US 9,255,741 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 165/104.33
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/02 in which the medium condenses and evaporates, e.g. heat pipes heat pipes used in solar heat collectors F24S10/95; in radiators F28D1/0226; in nuclear reactors G21C15/257
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 7/00 Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary tubular conduit assemblies for both heat-exchange media, the media being in contact with different sides of a conduit wall
• CPC Class Codes: H01C 1/08 Cooling, heating or ventilating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01C 1/082 using forced fluid flow

Abstract

A cooled electric assembly includes a box that defines an interior space. An electrical conductor is located within the interior space. A cooling tube is attached to the box. A thermal conductor is located at least partially within the interior space and is in thermal contact with the electrical conductor and in thermal contact with the cooling tube.

Claims

1. A cooled electric assembly comprising:

a box that defines an interior space;

an electrical conductor located within the interior space;

a cooling tube attached to the box; and

a thermal conductor in thermal contact with the electrical conductor and in thermal contact with the cooling tube;

characterized in that at least a portion of the cooling tube is located within the interior space of the box, and portion of the cooling tube within the box is a seamless tube.

2. The cooled electric assembly of claim 1, wherein the thermal conductor is in thermal contact with the cooling tube at limited, discrete positions.

3. The cooled electric assembly of claim 1, further comprising

a second electrical conductor located within the interior space;

and

a second thermal conductor located at least partially within the interior space and in thermal contact with the second electrical conductor and in thermal contact with the cooling tube.

4. The cooled electric assembly of claim 1, wherein the distribution box is molded around portions of the cooling tube.

5. The cooled electric assembly of claim 4, wherein a liquid coolant is passed through the cooling tube.

6. The cooled electric assembly of claim 1, wherein the cooling tube extends between a pipe inlet that is located outside the interior space and a pipe outlet that is located outside the interior space.

7. The cooled electric assembly of claim 6, wherein the cooling tube is a seamless tube between the pipe inlet and the pipe outlet.

8. The cooled electric assembly of claim 7, wherein the cooling tube has a relatively constant-cross-section between the pipe inlet and the pipe outlet.

9. The cooled electric assembly of claim 8, further comprising a resistor within the interior space of the box and attached to the cooling tube, the resistor being included in an electric circuit.

10. The cooled electric assembly of claim 9, wherein the distribution box is molded around portions of the cooling tube.

11. The cooled electric assembly of claim 7, wherein the distribution box is molded around portions of the cooling tube.

12. The cooled electric assembly of claim 11, further comprising a resistor within the interior space of the box and attached to the cooling tube, the resistor being included in an electric circuit.

13. The cooled electric assembly of claim 7, wherein the thermal conductor is in thermal contact with the cooling tube at limited, discrete positions.

14. The cooled electric assembly of claim 1, further comprising a resistor within the interior space of the box and attached to the cooling tube, the resistor being included in an electric circuit.

15. The cooled electric assembly of claim 14, wherein the thermal conductor is in thermal contact with the cooling tube at limited, discrete positions.

16. A cooled electric assembly comprising:

a box that defines an interior space;

an electrical conductor located within the interior space;

a seamless cooling tube attached to the box and extending between a pipe inlet that is located outside the interior space and a pipe outlet that is located outside the interior space, wherein at least a portion of the cooling tube is located within the interior space of the box;

a thermal conductor in thermal contact with the electrical conductor and in thermal contact with the cooling tube; and

a resistor within the interior space of the box and attached to the cooling tube, the resistor being included in an electric circuit.