Cooling device for structural component to be cooled in vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a cooling device (10) for a structural component (2) to be cooled in a vehicle, comprising at least two solid shells (12), each of which has a circumferential connecting region (12.1), and an expandable film core (14), which has a variable volume and is connected in a fluid-tight manner to the connecting regions (12.1) of the at least two solid shells (12), the invention relates to a cooling device (10) comprising at least two rigid shells (12), which are arranged in such a way that the at least two rigid shells (12) delimit a coolant channel (12.3), and wherein the expandable film core (14) is designed to vary the distance of the connecting regions (12.1) of the at least two rigid shells (12) by means of the variable volume thereof, whereby the height (H) of the cooling device (10) is varied between a minimum height (H1) and a maximum height (H2), and the height (H) of the cooling device (10) is varied between the minimum height (H1) and the maximum height (H2). The invention further relates to a rack (1) having at least one such cooling device (10) and to a method for mounting such a cooling device (10).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a cooling device for a component to be cooled in a vehicle. The invention also relates to a machine frame having at least one such cooling device and a method for installing such a cooling device. Background Art

[0002] Plastic bags are known from the field of battery cooling, through which a cooling fluid flows, so that they swell and lie against the component to be cooled or the subassembly to be cooled. In these plastic bags, the pressure that should be applied to the component to be cooled or the subassembly to provide a good thermal connection is generated only by the energy of the cooling fluid flowing through. Since this pressure in the vehicle is dependent on the coolant pump and other actuators located in the cooling circuit, the pressure generated is not constant or sufficiently high.

[0003] From DE 197 04 549 A1 a heat sink for electrical or electronic components is known which comprises a deformable casing which is at least partially filled with a heat transfer medium.

[0004] From EP 0 534 440 A1, a wiring substrate and a plurality of semiconductor elements mounted thereon are known, which wiring substrate is introduced into a flexible film in the form of a bag together with a coolant. The bag is then sealed and a heat transfer element is pressed against the outside of the flexible bag. The temperature difference between the surface of the semiconductor element and the outside of the flexible bag pressed against the heat transfer element causes convection, which serves to transfer the heat generated in the semiconductor element to the heat transfer element. Although the height of the semiconductor elements mounted on the substrate is different, the flexible bag can be deformed freely so that the flexible bag is always in close contact with the semiconductor element. Summary of the invention

[0005] The cooling device for a component to be cooled in a vehicle having the features of independent claim 1 has the advantage that the thermal pressing force of the cooling device on the component to be cooled and the related efficiency of the cooling device can be increased independently of the pressure of the coolant in the corresponding coolant channel by a volume change of an expandable membrane core. In addition, the cooling device acts as an expansion cooler, so that the component to be cooled does not have to move towards the cooling device. As a result, relative movements of the components can be avoided, so that an electrical connection can be achieved via a plug without an additional compensation function. Compensation elements in the electrical signal connection, which could hinder data transmission in high-speed signals, can therefore also be omitted.

[0006] An embodiment of the present invention provides a cooling device for a component to be cooled in a vehicle, the cooling device having at least two solid shells and an expandable membrane core, the shells each having a surrounding connection area, the membrane core having a variable volume and being fluid-tightly connected to the connection areas of the at least two solid shells, so that the at least two solid shells delimit a coolant channel. The expandable membrane core is designed to change the distance between the connection areas of the at least two solid shells by its variable volume, thereby changing the height of the cooling device between a minimum height and a maximum height.

[0007] Furthermore, a rack having a housing and a contact device is proposed, wherein the contact device has at least one slot. At least one component to be cooled is inserted into a corresponding slot. At least one such cooling device is arranged between at least one component to be cooled and the housing of the rack or between two components to be cooled.

[0008] In addition, a method for installing a structural component to be cooled in such a rack is proposed. Here, the height of at least one such cooling device is set to a minimum height, and the structural component to be cooled is introduced between two cooling devices or between a cooling device and a housing of the rack and inserted into a corresponding slot of a contact device. Subsequently, the volume of the expandable membrane core of the corresponding at least one cooling device is changed so that the height of the corresponding at least one cooling device is increased, and the outer surfaces of the two solid shells of the corresponding at least one cooling device are pressed onto the inserted structural component to be cooled. This means that if the structural component to be cooled is introduced between the cooling device and the housing of the rack and inserted into the corresponding slot, only the volume of the expandable membrane core of the corresponding cooling device changes. If the structural component to be cooled is introduced between two cooling devices and inserted into the corresponding slot, the volume of the expandable membrane cores of the two corresponding cooling devices will change.

[0009] The rack is then understood to be a structure having a housing and a contact device with at least two slots. The structural component to be cooled, such as a control unit with a housing, can be inserted into at least two slots and electrically contacted accordingly. The advantage of this rack is the simple replaceability of the structural component to be cooled. The contact device is preferably implemented as a circuit board and further establishes a communication connection between the inserted structural components to be cooled and a power supply to the structural component. This geometric arrangement of the contact device relative to the structural component to be cooled in a 90-degree angle prevents movement parallel to the contact device, which is required in order to press the structural component to be cooled onto a conventional cooling device. In an embodiment of the cooling device according to the present invention, this parallel movement of the structural component to be cooled is not required, because a very good thermal contact between the cooling device and the structural component to be cooled can still be established by the adjustable height of the cooling device. Therefore, the embodiment of the cooling device according to the present invention can achieve an improvement in the cooling of the structural component to be cooled. In addition, the gap between the structural component to be cooled and the cooling device can be reduced, and the heat-conducting medium introduced into the gap can be squeezed to further improve the cooling of the structural component to be cooled. In addition, a force-locked connection can be provided, which can prevent the structural component to be cooled from loosening or moving during operation. In order to replace the structural component to be cooled, the height of at least one cooling device that squeezes the structural component to be cooled to be replaced is set to the minimum height. Subsequently, the structural component to be cooled can be pulled out from the corresponding slot and the rack.

[0010] The measures and developments listed in the dependent claims enable advantageous developments of the cooling device for a component to be cooled in a vehicle as specified in independent claim 1 and of the machine frame as specified in independent claim 9 .

[0011] It is particularly advantageous if at least two of the solid housings can each be designed as a shaped metal sheet with a projection which is delimited by a surrounding connection area. The at least two metal sheets are preferably designed to be identical in shape and can be shaped so that in the installed state, in the connection area with the expandable membrane core, a gap which is as small as possible is created, so that only a small amount of expansion medium is required to increase the height of the cooling device. The at least two metal sheets are shaped in the middle to have a cross section which is as large as possible, through which the coolant can flow. In this case, a cross section which is as large as possible is advantageous in order to reduce pressure losses in the coolant circuit.

[0012] In an advantageous embodiment of the cooling device, at least two solid shells can each have a smooth outer surface, which can be oriented toward the component to be cooled. Thus, the heat transfer between the cooling device and the component to be cooled can be improved.

[0013] In another advantageous embodiment of the cooling device, at least two solid housings can each have at least one vortex plate on the inside. This can further improve the heat transfer locally. At least one vortex plate can preferably have teeth, wherein the teeth of two vortex plates arranged opposite one another can be staggered.

[0014] In another advantageous design of the cooling device, the expandable membrane core can include at least two tear-resistant, flexurally elastic membrane parts, which are connected to each other in a fluid-tight manner in the connection area. In addition, the expandable membrane core can be filled with an expansion medium. Here, the volume change device can be implemented to change the volume of the expandable membrane core and thereby change the internal pressure and the pressure acting on the connection area of ​​at least two solid shells. This means that the expandable membrane core assumes the function of force generation, and the expansion of the cooling device or the change in the height of the cooling device can preferably be caused by the expansion medium under pressure. For this purpose, hydraulic oil can preferably be used as an expansion medium in the expandable membrane core. Preferably, the expandable membrane core includes two tear-resistant, but flexurally elastic and identically shaped membrane parts, which are connected to each other in a fluid-tight manner by a connection technology, such as ultrasonic welding. The membrane core is preferably constructed in an annular shape in order to generate a distribution of force to the structural component to be cooled that is as uniform as possible.

[0015] In another advantageous design of the cooling device, the volume changing device may include a cylinder and a screw with an internal thread, the cylinder being connected to the expandable membrane core in a fluid-tight manner, the screw being screwed into the internal thread and being implemented to change the position of the spring-loaded piston and thus change the volume of the expandable membrane core. Here, the expandable membrane core may have an opening on the side, and the volume changing device is either directly or placed on the opening by connection. Therefore, a closed volume is generated by the membrane portion and the volume changing device, which volume can change its shape by extrusion in the volume changing device and can simultaneously apply pressure to at least two shells. In addition, the material of the membrane portion should be selected so that the membrane portion can be connected to at least two shells in a fluid-tight manner, preferably pasted. Preferably, conventional materials from the packaging industry can be used to keep the cost investment very low. The expandable membrane core ensures that the thermal contact between the cooling device and the structural component to be cooled can be maintained even when there is no coolant pressure in the coolant circuit of the vehicle. The diameter and stroke of the piston are adapted to the volume of the membrane core. Pressure is generated here, which is transmitted to at least two shells in the form of force by an almost incompressible expansion medium. The corresponding shell presses the component to be cooled against the housing of the machine frame or a corresponding shell of another cooling device and brings about the fixing of the component to be cooled. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings and explained in more detail in the following description.In the drawings, the same reference numerals represent components or elements that perform the same or similar functions.

[0017] Figure 1 A schematic front view of an embodiment of a machine frame according to the invention is shown, which has an embodiment of a cooling device according to the invention for a component to be cooled in a vehicle,

[0018] Figure 2 Shows Figure 1 A schematic side sectional view of a machine frame according to the invention,

[0019] Figure 3 Shows Figure 1 and Figure 2 A schematic top view of a cooling device according to the invention for a component to be cooled in a vehicle,

[0020] Figure 4A Shows the minimum height Figure 3 A schematic cross-sectional view of the cooling device along the cutting line IV-IV,

[0021] Figure 4B Shows the maximum height Figure 3 A schematic cross-sectional view of the cooling device along the cutting line IV-IV,

[0022] Figure 5A Shows the minimum height Figure 3 A schematic cross-sectional view of a cooling device along the cutting line VV,

[0023] Figure 5B Shows the maximum height Figure 3 A schematic cross-sectional view of a cooling device along the cutting line VV,

[0024] Figure 6 Shows Figures 1 to 3 A schematic top view of an expandable membrane core of a cooling device according to the invention,

[0025] Figure 7 Shows Figures 1 to 3 A schematic cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a volume changing device of a cooling device according to the invention,

[0026] Figure 8 A method for mounting a structural component to be cooled on Figure 1 and Figure 2 A schematic flow chart of an embodiment of the method according to the invention in a rack. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] As from Figure 1 and Figure 2 As can be seen, the illustrated embodiment of the rack 1 according to the invention comprises a housing 1A and a contact device 8 having at least one slot 9. At least one component 2 to be cooled is inserted into the corresponding slot 9. In this case, at least one cooling device 10 according to the invention is arranged between at least one component 2 to be cooled and the housing 1A of the rack 1 or between two components 2 to be cooled.

[0028] In the embodiment shown, the contact device 8 has two slots 9, into which the components 2 to be cooled are inserted. Here, the first component 2A to be cooled is inserted into the first slot 9A, and the second component 2B to be cooled is inserted into the second slot 9B. The contact device 8 according to the invention is arranged between the two components 2 to be cooled. The two components 2 to be cooled are exemplarily implemented as control units and each include a housing 3 and a circuit board 4. In the embodiment shown, the electronic components 5A to be cooled are arranged as heat sources 5 on the circuit board 4. Obviously, a plurality of electronic components 5A to be cooled can also be arranged on each circuit board. The electronic components 5A are thermally coupled to the housing 3 of the corresponding component 2 to be cooled via a cooling element 6, wherein a heat conducting medium 7, such as a heat conducting paste, which can also be referred to as a TIM (thermal interface material), is introduced between the electronic components 5A to be cooled and the corresponding cooling element 6. The heat flow from the electronic components 5A via the cooling element 6 to the housing 3 of the corresponding component 2 to be cooled is indicated by arrows.

[0029] As from Figures 1 to 7 As can be seen, the illustrated embodiment of the cooling device 10 according to the invention for a component 2 to be cooled in a vehicle comprises at least two solid shells 12, each of which has a surrounding connection area 12.1, and an expandable membrane core 14, which has a variable volume and is connected to the connection areas 12.1 of the at least two solid shells 12 in a fluid-tight manner, so that the at least two solid shells 12 delimit a coolant channel 12.3. The expandable membrane core 14 changes the distance between the connection areas 12.1 of the at least two solid shells 12 by its variable volume, thereby making the height H of the cooling device 10 Figure 4A and 5A The minimum height H1 shown is Figure 4B and 5B The maximum height H2 shown varies between.

[0030] In the exemplary embodiment shown, the cooling device 10 comprises two identically shaped solid housings 12. The two solid housings 12 are designed as shaped metal sheets with a projection which is delimited by a surrounding connection area 12.1. Figure 3As can be seen, the two housings 12 form a U-shaped coolant channel 12.3, in which the coolant 11 is guided from a coolant opening 12.3 implemented as a coolant inlet 12.3A to a coolant opening 12.3 implemented as a coolant outlet 12.3B. The cooling device 10 can be connected to the coolant circuit of the vehicle via the coolant inlet 12.3A and the coolant outlet 12.3B. Of course, the coolant channel 12.3 can also have other suitable shapes, such as an I-shape or an L-shape.

[0031] In the illustrated embodiment of the cooling device 10, the two solid housings 12 each have a smooth outer surface, which is respectively facing one of the components 2 to be cooled. Figure 1 and Figure 2 As can also be seen in the figure, the outer surface of the first housing 12A at the top in the figure faces the first component 2A to be cooled, and the outer surface of the second housing 12B at the bottom in the figure faces the second component 2B to be cooled. In addition, a heat conducting medium 18, such as a heat conducting paste, is introduced between the component 2 to be cooled and the cooling device 10.

[0032] As from Figures 1 to 7 As can be seen further, in the embodiment shown, the expandable membrane core 14 comprises two tear-resistant, flexurally elastic membrane parts 14A, 14B of identical shape, which are connected to each other in a fluid-tight manner at the connection area 14.1 by a super welded connection. The expandable membrane core 14 is filled with hydraulic oil as an expansion medium 15. In addition, the volume change device 16 changes the volume of the expandable membrane core 14 and thereby changes the internal pressure and the pressure acting on the connection area 12.1 of the two solid housings 12. In the embodiment shown, the volume change device 16 comprises a cylinder 16.1 with an internal thread and a screw 16.2 screwed into the internal thread, the cylinder being connected to the expandable membrane core 14 in a fluid-tight manner. The position of the spring-loaded piston 16.3 can be changed by means of the screw 16.2, and thus the volume of the expandable membrane core 14 can be changed. The piston is sealed relative to the inner wall of the cylinder 16.1 by at least one seal 16.4 and supported on a helical spring 16.5 inserted on the threaded shaft of the screw 16.2. The expandable membrane core 14 thus assumes the function of generating force and causes an expansion of the cooling device 10 or a change in the height H of the cooling device 10 via the expansion medium 11 under pressure. In the illustrated embodiment, the membrane core 14 has an outer ring 14.2 and a central web 14.3 in order to generate the most uniform possible distribution of the force on the component 2 to be cooled.

[0033] The two membrane parts 14A, 14B and the volume change device 16 generate a closed volume, which changes its shape due to the compression in the volume change device 16 and simultaneously exerts pressure on the two shells 12. In the embodiment shown, the expandable membrane core 14 has a shape that is as flat as possible in order to be able to use as little expansion medium 11 as possible and still be able to generate an internal pressure in the direction of the structural component 2 to be cooled. Figure 1 and Figure 2 , main force vectors indicated by double arrows in . Furthermore, in the illustrated embodiment, the material of the membrane parts 14A, 14B is selected so that they can be adhered to the two housings 12 in a fluid-tight manner. The expandable membrane core 14 ensures that the thermal contact between the cooling device 10 and the structural component 2 to be cooled can be maintained even in the absence of coolant pressure in the coolant circuit of the vehicle. In addition, the pressure can be simply increased by the volume changing device 16, so that a thinner and harder heat-conducting medium 18 can be used in the gap between the cooling device 10 and the corresponding structural component 2 to be cooled, which heat-conducting medium simultaneously further improves the heat conduction. The volume changing device 16 serves as a reservoir for the expansion medium 15 located in the membrane core 14. When installing or removing the structural component 2 to be cooled, the screws 16.2 of the volume changing device 16 can be almost completely turned out, so that the membrane core 14 is loose and the structural component 2 to be cooled does not receive any force through the cooling device 10. Figure 4A and 5AThis relaxed state of the expandable membrane core 14 is shown. After the structural component 2 to be cooled is installed, the screw 16.2 can be turned in. The expansion medium 15 is squeezed out of the cylinder 16.1 and pressed into the expandable membrane core 14 by the upstream sealed piston 16.3. The diameter and stroke of the piston 16.3 are adapted to the volume of the membrane core 14. A pressure is generated here, which is transmitted to the two shells 12 in the form of force through the almost incompressible expansion medium 15. Here, in the embodiment shown, the first shell 12A squeezes the corresponding first structural component 2A to be cooled against the housing 1A of the frame 1, and the second shell 12B squeezes the corresponding second structural component 2B to be cooled against the housing 1A of the frame 1. This results in the fixing of the structural component 2 to be cooled. In addition, by causing the coolant 11 to flow through the cooling device 10, another force component is also caused, which additionally increases the pressure of the cooling device 10 on the structural component 2 to be cooled. The cooling device 10 is thus pressed optimally onto the component 2 to be cooled and can dissipate waste heat of the electronic components 5A of the component 2 to be cooled via the coolant 11. A helical spring 16.5 is arranged between the piston 16.3 and the screw 16.2, which guides the piston 16.3 in a manner that dampens pressure fluctuations. In addition to the property of being able to compensate for pressure fluctuations in the expansion medium 15 caused by impacts, the helical spring 16.5 can also maintain pressure if the volume of the membrane core 14 increases minimally, for example due to aging.

[0034] Especially from Figure 5A and 5B As can also be seen in FIG. 1 , the two solid housings 12 each have at least one vortex plate 12.4 on the inside, which is preferably welded to the housing 12 designed as a formed metal sheet. Here, the first vortex plate 12.4A of the solid first housing 12A and the second vortex plate 12.4B of the solid second housing 12B each have teeth. Figure 5A As can be further seen in FIG. 1 , the teeth of the first swirl plate 12 . 4A and of the second swirl plate 12 . 4B arranged opposite are arranged such that they can be staggered with respect to one another when the cooling device 10 has its minimum height H1 .

[0035] As from Figure 8As can be seen, the illustrated embodiment of the method 100 according to the invention for installing a structural component 2 to be cooled in a rack 1 according to the invention comprises a step S100, in which the height H of at least one cooling device 10 according to the invention is set to a minimum height H1. In step S110, the structural component 2 to be cooled is introduced between two cooling devices 10 or between a cooling device 10 and the housing 1A of the rack 1 and inserted into the corresponding slot 9 of the contact device 8. Subsequently, in step S120, the volume of the expandable membrane core 14 of the corresponding cooling device 10 is changed, so that the height H of the corresponding cooling device 10 is increased and the outer surfaces of at least two solid shells 12 of the corresponding cooling device 10 are pressed onto the inserted structural component 2 to be cooled or the housing 1A of the rack 1.

[0036] In the illustrated embodiment of the rack 1, in step S110, the cooling device 10 is set to Figure 4A and 5A The minimum height H1 shown. In step S110, the first structural component 2A to be cooled is introduced between the cooling device 10 and the housing 1A of the rack 1 and inserted into the corresponding first slot 9A of the contact device 8, and the second structural component 2B to be cooled is introduced between the cooling device 10 and the housing 1A of the rack 1 and inserted into the corresponding second slot 9B of the contact device 8. In step S120, the volume of the expandable membrane core 14 of the cooling device 10 is changed, so that the height H of the cooling device 10 is increased and the outer surface of the solid first shell 12A of the cooling device 10 is pressed onto the inserted first structural component 2 to be cooled and the outer surface of the solid second shell 12A of the cooling device 10 is pressed onto the inserted second structural component 2B to be cooled. As a result, the two structural components 2 to be cooled are fixed between the housing 1A of the rack 1 and the cooling device 10.

[0037] In an embodiment not shown, the contact device 8 has more than two slots 9, so that more than two components 2 to be cooled can be inserted into the rack 1. Therefore, the component 2 to be cooled can be arranged between two cooling devices 10 according to the present invention. In addition, when heat should be conducted away from the upper side and the lower side of the component 2 to be cooled, the cooling device 10 can also be arranged between the component 2 to be cooled and the housing 1A of the rack 1.

Claims

1. A cooling device (10) for a component (2) to be cooled in a vehicle, the cooling device comprising at least two solid shells (12) and an expandable membrane core (14), the shells each having a surrounding connection area (12.1), the expandable membrane core (14) having a variable volume and being fluid-tightly connected to the connection areas (12.1) of the at least two solid shells (12), so that the at least two solid shells (12) delimit a coolant channel (12.3), wherein: The expandable membrane core (14) is designed to change the distance between the connection areas (12.1) of the at least two solid shells (12) by its variable volume, thereby changing the height (H) of the cooling device (10) between a minimum height (H1) and a maximum height (H2).

2. The cooling device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that: The at least two solid housings (12) are each designed as a shaped metal sheet (12A) having a projection which is delimited by the circumferential connecting region (12.1).

3. The cooling device (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that: The at least two solid shells (12) each have a smooth outer surface which can be directed toward the component (2) to be cooled.

4. The cooling device (10) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that: The at least two solid housings (12) each have at least one swirl plate (12.4) on the inside.

5. The cooling device (10) according to claim 4, characterized in that: The at least one swirl plate (12.4) has teeth, wherein the teeth of two swirl plates (12.4) arranged opposite one another can be staggered.

6. The cooling device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The expandable membrane core (14) comprises at least two tear-resistant, flexurally elastic membrane parts (14A, 14B), which are connected to one another in a fluid-tight manner in a connecting region (14.1).

7. The cooling device (10) according to claim 6, characterized in that The expandable membrane core (14) is filled with an expansion medium (15), wherein a volume changing device (16) is implemented to change the volume of the expandable membrane core (14) and thereby change the internal pressure and the pressure acting on the connection area (12.1) of the at least two solid shells (12).

8. The cooling device (10) according to claim 7, characterized in that The volume changing device (16) comprises a cylinder (16.1) with an internal thread, and a screw (16.2), wherein the cylinder is fluid-tightly connected to the expandable membrane core (14), and the screw is screwed into the internal thread and is used to change the position of the spring-loaded piston (16.3) and thus change the volume of the expandable membrane core (14).

9. A frame (1) comprising a housing (1A) and a contact device (8), the contact device having at least one slot (9), wherein: At least one structural component (2) to be cooled is inserted into a corresponding slot (9), wherein at least one cooling device (10) constructed according to any one of claims 1 to 8 is arranged between at least one structural component (2) to be cooled and the housing (1A) of the rack (1) or between two structural components (2) to be cooled.

10. The frame (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that A heat transfer medium (7) is introduced between the component (2) to be cooled and the at least one cooling device (10).

11. A method (100) for installing a structural component to be cooled in a rack (1) configured according to claim 9 or 10, wherein: The height (H) of at least one cooling device (10) implemented according to any one of claims 1 to 8 is set to a minimum height (H1), and the structural component (2) to be cooled is introduced between two cooling devices (10) or between a cooling device and the shell (1A) of the rack (1) and inserted into a corresponding slot (9) of the contact device (8), wherein the volume of the expandable membrane core (14) of the corresponding cooling device (10) is subsequently changed so that the height (H) of the corresponding cooling device (10) is increased, and the outer surfaces of at least two solid shells (12) of the corresponding cooling device (10) are pressed onto the inserted structural component to be cooled or the shell (1A) of the rack (1).

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