Granted Patent B2

US 8,570,132 · App. 12/606,803 · Granted Oct 29, 2013

Abstract

Claims (15)

1. A power electronics assembly comprising:

a housing defining at least one cavity and having a fluid passageway extending through the cavity, the fluid passageway having first and second portions extending through respective first and second opposing sides of the at least one cavity, wherein the housing comprises first and second side walls each comprising inner surfaces and outer surfaces, the inner surfaces having a recessed formed thereon, the first and second portions of the fluid passageway being formed within the respective first and second side walls; and

a plurality of inductors housed within the at least one cavity of the housing such that the first and second portions of the fluid passageway are on first and second opposing sides of each of the plurality of inductors, wherein the fluid passageway also extends around the plurality of inductors within the cavity, wherein each of the plurality of inductors comprises a conductive winding arranged such that when current flows through the conductive winding, heat generated therein is conducted from the first side of the respective inductor to the first portion of the fluid passageway and from the second side of the respective inductor to the second portion of the fluid passageway, wherein each of the plurality of inductors comprises a ferromagnetic core and the conductive winding of each of the plurality of inductors is wrapped around the respective ferromagnetic core, and wherein the conductive winding of each of the plurality of inductors is at least partially located within the recesses on the inner surfaces of the first and second side walls.

2. The power electronics assembly of claim 1 , wherein the outer surfaces of the first and second side walls each have a plurality of alternating raised and recessed formations formed thereon.

3. The power electronics assembly of claim 2 , wherein the first and second sidewalls of the housing each comprise a cover plate coupled to the outer surface thereof, and wherein the first and second portions of the fluid passageway are formed between the outer surfaces of the first and second side walls and the cover plates.

4. The power electronics assembly of claim 1 , further comprises a power module comprising a power switching device that is electrically connected to one of the inductors and that is coupled to the outer surface of the second side wall such the second portion of the fluid passageway extends between the second sides of the inductors and the power module.

5. The power electronics assembly of claim 4 , wherein the power switching device of the power module is electrically connected to one of the inductors.

6. An automotive power converter assembly comprising:

a housing made out of metal, the housing comprising first and second side walls and defining a plurality of inductor cavities and a fluid passageway extending through the cavities, the fluid passageway having first and second portions extending through the respective first and second side walls on respective first and second opposing sides of the plurality of inductor cavities, wherein the first and second side walls of the housing each comprise inner surfaces having a recess formed thereon;

a plurality of inductors, each of the inductors housed within a respective one of the plurality of inductor cavities of the housing such that the first and second portions of the fluid passageway are on first and second opposing sides of each of the plurality of inductors, wherein the fluid passageway extends around the inductors within the cavities, wherein each of the plurality of inductors comprises a conductive winding arranged such that when current flows through the conductive winding, heat generated therein is conducted from the first side of the respective inductor to the first portion of the fluid passageway and from the second side of the respective inductor to the second portion of the fluid passageway, and wherein the conductive winding of each of the plurality of inductors is at least partially located within the recesses on the inner surfaces of the first and second side walls; and

a power module coupled to the housing and arranged such that the fluid passageway extends between the power module and the plurality of inductors, the power module comprising a power switching device electrically connected to one of the plurality of inductors.

7. A power electronics assembly comprising:

a housing defining at least one cavity and having a fluid passageway extending through the cavity, the fluid passageway having first and second portions extending through respective first and second opposing sides of the at least one cavity, wherein the housing comprises first and second side walls each comprising inner surfaces and outer surfaces, the outer surfaces each having a plurality of alternating raised and recessed formations formed thereon, the first and second portions of the fluid passageway being formed within the respective first and second side walls; and

a plurality of inductors housed within the at least one cavity of the housing such that the first and second portions of the fluid passageway are on first and second opposing sides of each of the plurality of inductors, wherein the fluid passageway also extends around the plurality of inductors within the cavity, wherein each of the plurality of inductors comprises a conductive winding arranged such that when current flows through the conductive winding, heat generated therein is conducted from the first side of the respective inductor to the first portion of the fluid passageway and from the second side of the respective inductor to the second portion of the fluid passageway, wherein each of the plurality of inductors comprises a ferromagnetic core and the conductive winding of each of the plurality of inductors is wrapped around the respective ferromagnetic core.

8. The power electronics assembly of claim 7 , wherein the first and second sidewalls of the housing each comprise a cover plate coupled to the outer surface thereof, and wherein the first and second portions of the fluid passageway are formed between the outer surfaces of the first and second side walls and the cover plates.

Assignments (8)