IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,191,066
Granted Patent B2
US 12,191,066 · App. 17/145,064 · Granted Jan 7, 2025

Compact power inductor

Inventors: Lihua Chen (Farmington Hills, MI); Baoming Ge (Okemos, MI); Fan Wang (Novi, MI)
Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
H01F27/28H01F27/022H01F27/08H01F27/24
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,191,066
App. No.
17/145,064
Granted
Jan 7, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A closed ferromagnetic housing has a pair of access ports and a center ferromagnetic post extending from and between opposite ends thereof. At least one conductor, contained within and completely surrounded by the closed ferromagnetic housing, is wound around the center ferromagnetic post such that the closed ferromagnetic housing, center ferromagnetic post, and at least one conductor form an inductor in which the ferromagnetic housing and the center ferromagnetic post define a core of the inductor and the at least one conductor defines a coil of the inductor. The access ports are configured to permit flow of coolant into the closed ferromagnetic housing and around the center ferromagnetic post to cool the at least one conductor.

Claims (14)

1. A power system comprising:

a closed ferromagnetic housing having a pair of fluid access ports and a center ferromagnetic post extending from and between opposite ends thereof; and

at least one conductor, contained within and completely surrounded by the closed ferromagnetic housing, wound around the center ferromagnetic post such that the closed ferromagnetic housing, center ferromagnetic post, and at least one conductor form an inductor in which the ferromagnetic housing and the center ferromagnetic post define a core of the inductor and the at least one conductor defines a coil of the inductor.

2. The power system of claim 1 , wherein the closed ferromagnetic housing further defines a wall around the center ferromagnetic post and wherein the wall has a gapped portion filled with a non-ferromagnetic material separating upper and lower sections of the wall.

3. The power system of claim 1 , wherein the closed ferromagnetic housing has no more than six sides.

4. The power system of claim 1 , wherein the closed ferromagnetic housing has a cuboid shape.

5. The power system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid access ports are disposed on a same end of the closed ferromagnetic housing.

6. The power system of claim 1 , wherein the center ferromagnetic post and the at least one conductor define a gap therebetween.

7. The power system of claim 1 , wherein the closed ferromagnetic housing and the at least one conductor define a gap therebetween.

8. A power component comprising:

an inductor including a ferromagnetic container and a coil disposed therein, wherein the ferromagnetic container defines a wall around the coil and access ports configured to permit flow of coolant into and out of the ferromagnetic container, and around the coil, and wherein the wall has a gapped portion around a perimeter thereof filled with a non-ferromagnetic material separating upper and lower sections of the wall.

9. The power component of claim 8 , wherein the ferromagnetic container has a center post extending from and between opposite ends thereof.

10. The power component of claim 9 , wherein the coil is wound around the center post.

11. The power component of claim 8 , wherein the ferromagnetic container has a cuboid shape.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 9, 2021
From: CHEN, LIHUA; GE, BAOMING; WANG, FAN
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 055879/0421 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220223331A1 · Jul 14, 2022
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Cited By (1)
US 12,683,058