Cooling device and control unit with such a cooling device

Abstract

The invention relates to a cooling device (135) for a control unit (100), comprising a pocket (140) with a moldable outer shell (145), wherein the pocket (140) is designed to receive and guide a pressurized cooling medium between an inlet (160) and an outlet (161), wherein a cooling element (175) is fastened to the outer shell (145), which cooling element has an inwardly directed cooling structure (180) that comes into contact with the cooling medium and an outwardly directed interface (185) for connecting the cooling element (175) to an electrical assembly (125, 130) of the control unit (100). The invention further relates to a control unit (100) with such a cooling device (135).

Description

The present invention relates to a cooling device for a control device. The invention further relates to a control device comprising at least one such cooling device.WO 2023 / 030588 A1 discloses a cooling device for cooling a component to be cooled, which cooling device comprises a cooling body which serves for receiving a cooling medium. The cooling body has an inlet and an outlet for the cooling medium. The cooling body is made at least partially of flexible material, so that the cooling body or a flexible part of the cooling body fits against the component to be cooled when the latter is filled with cooling medium and / or is flowed through by cooling medium.It is an object of the invention to provide a cooling device for a control unit which enables improved cooling of heat-generating components of a control unit. The invention achieves this object by means of the subject matter of the independent claims. Dependent claims represent preferred embodiments.A cooling device according to the invention for a control device comprises a pocket with a formable outer jacket, wherein the pocket is configured to receive and guide a cooling medium under pressure between an inlet and an outlet, wherein a cooling element is fastened to the outer jacket, which cooling element has an inwardly directed cooling structure coming into contact with cooling medium and an outwardly directed interface for connecting the cooling element to an electrical assembly of the control device.With such a cooling device, efficient thermal connection of heat-generating components can be realized, since the outer jacket is designed such that it can completely or almost completely cover a printed circuit board or the like of the electrical assembly. Direct cooling or heat dissipation can therefore take place. Due to the shapeable configuration of the outer jacket, the pocket of the cooling device can adapt to a printed circuit board, in particular to components of the electrical assembly to be cooled, in the assembled and filled state and thus realize effective cooling of components to be cooled.The inlet for introducing the cooling medium into the interior of the pocket and the outlet for discharging the cooling medium from the interior of the pocket are arranged on the outer jacket or fastened thereto or integrated therein. The inlet and the outlet can be connection elements, such as couplings, for receiving and connecting pipes, hoses or pipes carrying cooling medium.During the assembly of the cooling device, the latter is initially introduced into the control unit unfilled or only partially filled with cooling medium, preferably in such a way that the pocket is arranged at least partially spatially between stationary components, in particular two electrical assemblies of the control unit. The cooling element is then fastened via the interface at a predetermined location of the electrical assembly. Subsequently, a volume flow of cooling medium is conveyed through the inlet into the interior of the pocket until a predetermined fluid pressure is set, which allows the pocket to expand, so that the outer jacket fits tightly against the respective electrical assembly at predefined locations. The cooling medium absorbs heat from the respective electrical assembly and is subsequently led out of the interior of the pocket again at the outlet. The cooling medium can be processed and provided again at the inlet. A cooling circuit can thus be realized in order to optimally cool the components of the electrical assembly that are to be cooled.The term "formable" is understood to mean the properties that the outer jacket enables the pocket to be expanded substantially free of stress, in particular if the pocket is filled with cooling medium and subjected to a fluid pressure. In addition, the outer jacket can adapt to electrical components because of its shapeable configuration.By appropriate configuration of the interior of the pocket that conducts cooling medium, the flow direction of the cooling medium can be adapted to a desired cooling effect. Thus, cooling can be ensured with the cooling bodies even in the case of a low volume flow, i.e. with a low incoming pressure, which acts on the electrical assembly. A relief or collapsing of the pocket, with the consequence that the contact pressure surface on the electrical components of the control unit to be cooled is not reduced, is thus avoided.The pocket of the cooling device is designed such that it can maintain a permanent fluid pressure of the cooling medium of about 1 bar. The pocket of the cooling device may be designed such that it can maintain a fluid pressure of up to 2.5 bar.The pocket is to be understood as a cooling pocket or cooling bag which is configured for cooling electrical assemblies or parts of electrical assemblies of the control unit. The pocket can be used advantageously in control units with modular replaceable components and electrical assemblies, in particular replaceable printed circuit boards or printed circuit boards. In this case, when the pocket is filled with cooling medium and a fluid pressure is applied to the cooling medium, which fluid pressure inflates the pocket or allows it to expand outwards in the region of the elastic section of the outer jacket, it can adapt to a present topology or surface structure of the electrical assembly, and can thus realize good thermal properties or remove heat in a targeted manner. The cooling device is thus configured for use on different control units, in particular on different electrical assemblies having different topologies. The cooling device is likewise designed for use on control units with replaceable electrical assemblies, in particular printed circuit boards and printed circuit boards. The pocket is fluidly separated from an external atmosphere. Depending on the material, the pocket can have welded seams and / or adhesive connections.With respect to the cooling element, the phrase "directed inward" in the context of this invention means that the cooling body is directed toward the interior of the pocket, i.e. comes into contact with or is flowed around by cooling medium. The cooling body is designed in such a way that it can absorb heat from the electrical assembly or from a component to be cooled and emit it to the cooling medium. The cooling body has a cooler structure with a surface area that is as large as possible or a contact surface that comes into contact with cooling medium.The phrase "directed outwards" means that the interface for connecting the cooling element is provided and does not come into contact with cooling medium. The heat transfer between the electrical assembly and the cooling body takes place via the interface. The interface is configured to receive heat-generating components of the electrical assembly, and vice versa.The electrical assembly of the control unit comprises heat-generating components or is itself the heat-generating component, wherein the cooling element is arranged on the heat-generating component and thermally connected. The heat-generating component can be a chip, in particular a so-called SoC component (system on a chip), which can be arranged on a frame part or a printed circuit board or a printed circuit board of the electrical assembly of the control unit by suitable means. A heat-conducting material ("thermal interface material" or "TIM" for short) can be arranged between the cooling element and the heat-generating component in order to improve a heat transfer between the heat-generating component and the cooling body of the cooling element or a heat dissipation from the heat-generating component to the cooling body of the cooling element. The heat conducting material is made of a material with a low heat transfer resistance.The phrase "the cooling element is fastened to the outer jacket" means within the scope of the invention that the cooling element, which is substantially formed from a metallic material, is connected to the outer jacket in a materially bonded, force-fit and / or form-fit manner or is integrated therein. In any case, the cooling element is connected to the outer jacket or integrated therein in such a way that the cooling medium is prevented from emerging at the regions between the material of the outer jacket and the cooling element. Accordingly, sealing elements and / or a sealing material can be provided to improve the sealing effect. This applies equally to the connection points of the inlet and the outlet, respectively, which, according to the above explanations, are likewise fastened to the outer jacket or integrated therein.The interface of the cooling element comprises a flange or a bearing frame which can be connected to the electrical assembly of the control unit in a materially bonded, force-fit and / or form-fit manner. A force-fit connection provides, for example, that the cooling element is connected to the outer jacket by frictional engagement, for example as a result of a contact pressure force of the cooling element on the outer jacket of the pocket. This can be produced, for example, by a snap-fit or clip connection. A form-fit connection can be, for example, a screw connection between the cooling element and the outer jacket, which in particular prevents a transverse movement of the cooling element relative to the outer jacket. A cohesive connection is in particular an adhesive connection. A combination of the above-mentioned types of connection is of course also conceivable. This ensures reliable fastening of the metallic heat sink in the flexible outer jacket.When the cooling device is mounted in the control unit, the flange or the bearing frame is preferably connected to a frame of the control unit, a housing part of the electrical assembly or directly to a component of the electrical assembly.The flange or the bearing frame is preferably connected integrally to the cooling element. In particular, the flange or the bearing frame is integrally connected to the cooling structure of the cooling element. Preferably, the cooling structure is connected to the flange or the bearing frame via an elastically deformable section. Due to the elastically deformable portion, the cooling element can more evenly abut the electrical assembly.Preferably, the flange or the bearing frame is fixed, in particular clamped, between the outer jacket and the electrical assembly of the control unit in the assembled state. A predetermined height is defined by the flange or the abutment frame. The flange or the contact frame realizes an butt connection of the cooling element to the electrical assembly.A screw connection of the electrical assembly to the cooling element is preferred because of the secure fixing. The screw connection can be supplemented by a compression spring in order to enable uniform or homogeneous introduction and distribution of force. The compression spring can avoid an excessively strong tightening of the respective screw. Alternatively, a snap-fit closure with snap elements can be provided, which produces a positive connection during the mounting of the cooling element on the electrical assembly of the control unit, in particular by snapping in or out latching elements or by so-called clipping.In a further development of the invention, the cooling element further comprises a stiffening frame which is sealingly connected to the outer jacket. The stiffening frame is applied to the outer jacket inner surface and surrounds a recess of the outer jacket over its entire circumference. Preferably, the stiffening frame is connected to the outer jacket in a materially integral manner, in particular by an adhesive connection. The stiffening frame is configured such that the cooling structure, which protrudes inward, is passed through the stiffening frame. If the cooling element is fastened at the interface to the electrical component by a screw connection, the stiffening frame can have means for receiving the screws, for example internal threads.Preferably, the pocket is partially surrounded by a non-stretchable material. In other words, the outer jacket can partially react elastically or flexibly to the inherent weight and the fluid pressure of the cooling medium guided in the interior of the pocket, wherein the non-stretchable material contributes to improving the stiffness at other regions of the pocket. The non-stretchable material may be, for example, a non-stretchable glass fiber reinforced mesh or tape applied to the outer sheath such that extension of the outer sheath at predetermined locations is prevented. In this sense, the outer jacket of the pocket has an expandable and a non-expandable region. The location and the configuration of the non-stretchable material is essentially dependent on or limited by the spatial conditions of the control unit, in particular the available installation space between components of the control unit. The non-expandable region can be provided to improve the dimensional stability of the pocket, while the expandable region can be provided to compensate for overpressure or to optimally conform to the components to be cooled.Alternatively or additionally, at least one support structure is arranged within the pocket, which support structure extends through the interior of the pocket. The support structure can impart a certain shape or spatial structure to the pocket even if the cooling medium within the pocket is not subjected to fluid pressure. The supporting structure can be realized by arms, braces and / or frames. The supporting structure is arranged and configured in particular in such a way that a collapsing of the pocket, for example when the fluid pressure falls below a limit value, is prevented. The support structure can support opposing regions of the outer jacket or of the pocket walls against one another and position them in a predetermined manner with respect to one another.In one embodiment, the interior of the pocket is divided into at least two chambers, wherein the chambers are spatially separated from one another by pocket walls. Means for transferring cooling medium are provided between the chambers, so that although the chambers are spatially separated from one another, it nevertheless allows at least one possibility for transferring cooling medium from the one chamber into the other chamber. Of course, more than two chambers can also be provided. The chambers can be connected in series and / or in parallel according to requirements and can be connected to one another in a manner transmitting cooling medium. The pocket walls may further define a predetermined distance between the outer sides of the pocket. This has the advantage that the contact pressure on the blank and / or the shape of the expanded pocket can be defined.The pocket walls may be formed of the same material as the outer shell of the pocket. The pocket walls can be connected to the outer jacket of the pocket and / or to one another in a materially bonded manner, for example via welded seams or welded connections.If the pocket has two or more than two chambers, a cooling element can be arranged in one chamber, in a plurality of chambers or in all chambers. It is also conceivable for a plurality of cooling elements to be arranged in a chamber.Preferably, a pocket wall between a first chamber and a second chamber has at least one perforation for the passage of a predetermined quantity of cooling medium. The perforation allows a transfer of cooling medium from the first chamber into the downstream second chamber. The perforation can be introduced into the pocket wall in the form of a punching pattern, in particular in the form of punching lines or the like. Perforation is to be understood as perforation of the respective pocket wall. The perforation can be arranged at a location of the respective pocket wall which is as far away as possible from the cooling element or the cooling body of the cooling element. The perforation is designed and configured to set a desired pressure level within the chamber arranged upstream of the perforation. This can be realized by adjusting the number and diameter of the perforation or perforations. Depending on the shape and arrangement of the chambers, a fluid pressure difference and / or different flow directions and / or different flow speeds can thus be realized between two chambers.Preferably, the inlet for introducing the cooling medium into the interior of the pocket is fluidically connected in a first chamber, wherein the outlet for discharging the cooling medium from the interior of the pocket is fluidically connected in a second chamber different therefrom. Via the perforation, the cooling medium passes from the first chamber, which is supplied with cooling medium via the inlet, at least indirectly into the second chamber before it is supplied to the outlet. If more than two chambers are provided, further chambers can be provided or interposed between the first and second chambers, wherein the cooling medium first flows through or flows through at least the one further chamber before it reaches the second chamber, in which the cooling medium can be discharged via the outlet.Furthermore, preferably, a venting valve is arranged on the outer jacket of the pocket. The venting valve serves for venting, in particular when the pocket is first filled, so that the pocket can be completely filled with cooling medium and no regions which cannot be reached by cooling medium or are filled with cooling medium form within the pocket. In the case of a plurality of chambers, a plurality of venting or exhaust air valves can also be provided in order to realize reliable venting of the pocket, in particular of each chamber individually. The vent valve may be manually operable.Preferably, a surface of the outer jacket of the pocket facing away from the cooling medium has, at least in sections, a topology complementary to the electrical assembly or parts or sections of the electrical assembly. In other words, the outer surface of the pocket is designed such that it corresponds to the topology of a populated printed circuit board, in particular a printed circuit board designed as a PCB printed circuit board. Thus, even very small components of the electrical assembly can be cooled by thermal contact-connection, even if this is not absolutely necessary. The service life of the electrical assembly is thereby increased, wherein, for example, an SoC is surrounded by further cooled components of the electrical assembly. Alternatively or additionally, the outer jacket can be designed to be elastic at its flexible or expandable regions such that the outer jacket can adapt to virtually any desired topology, taking into account the fluid pressure in the interior of the pocket. As a result, shape and position tolerances of the control unit can be easily compensated.According to one exemplary embodiment, the outer jacket is formed from a material that is chemically resistant to the cooling medium. The cooling medium is, for example, a water / glycol mixture, in particular with a 50 / 50 mixing ratio. In order to avoid a reaction of the material of the outer jacket with the cooling medium, the outer jacket is formed from a corresponding material which avoids a reaction. Preferably, the outer jacket comprises aluminum. The outer jacket has a low heat transfer resistance.Alternatively or additionally, the outer jacket has a coating which is chemically resistant to the cooling medium on a side facing the interior. As a result, the outer jacket can be formed from a material which is advantageous for example for the elasticity, wherein the chemical resistance to the cooling medium is realized by a targeted coating with corresponding properties.The material of the outer jacket, in the case of a multilayer structure of the outer jacket, in particular the inner material coming into contact with the cooling medium and / or the coating of the outer jacket can comprise EPDM (ethylene-propylene-diene rubber), which is resistant to polar chemicals such as water and glycol.According to a further aspect of the invention, a control device comprises a frame structure having a first frame part on which at least one first electrical assembly is arranged, and at least one second frame part, spaced apart therefrom, on which at least one second electrical assembly is arranged, wherein a cooling device according to one of the preceding claims for cooling the electrical assemblies is arranged spatially between the first frame part and the second frame part. The control device can be provided for an engine control of a motor vehicle.The respective frame part can be part of the associated electrical assembly. A first printed circuit board or printed circuit board with an electrical component can be arranged on the first frame part. A second printed circuit board or printed circuit board with a plurality of electrical components can be arranged on the second frame part. The respective printed circuit board can be a PCB printed circuit board. A PCB (Printed Circuit Board) is an electrical circuit made of an insulating material on which conductive traces are mounted. A printed circuit board serves to mechanically attach and electrically connect electronic components to each other. Components such as sensors, resistors, capacitors, transistors and / or integrated circuits can be mounted on a printed circuit board in order to realize an electronic circuit. Conductor tracks on the printed circuit board enable the electrical flux between the components and produce the connection to other printed circuit boards or components.The cooling device can be arranged spatially between the electrical assemblies or can be positioned during assembly, wherein after the connection of the cooling element to the respective electrical assembly, a specific expansion of the pocket or of the outer jacket of the pocket takes place by applying a fluid pressure within the pocket, such that the outer jacket bears against the electrical assemblies, preferably fits tightly. Thus, not only is a cooling of the heat-generating component to which the cooling element is connected, but also a cooling of the further components of the respective electrical assembly takes place via the outer jacket, which can transfer heat to the cooling medium guided within the pocket.The above definitions and statements regarding technical effects, advantages and advantageous embodiments of the cooling device according to the invention also apply analogously to the control device according to the invention according to the second aspect of the invention, and vice versa. It is understood that the features mentioned above and those still to be explained below can be used not only in the respectively specified combination, but also in other combinations or alone, without departing from the scope of the present invention.If elements are designated with the aid of a numbering, i.e. for example "first component", "second component" and "third component", this numbering is provided purely for differentiation in the designation and does not represent a dependence of the elements on one another or a obligatory sequence of the elements. This means in particular that a device does not have to have a "first component" in order to be able to have a "second component". The device can also comprise a "first component" and a "third component", but without necessarily having a "second component".The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying figures, in which: FIG. 1 shows a highly schematic longitudinal sectional illustration of a control unit according to the invention according to a first embodiment; FIG. 2 shows a highly schematic longitudinal sectional illustration of the control unit according to the invention according to a second embodiment; FIG. 3 shows a highly schematic cross-sectional illustration of the control unit according to the invention according to FIG. 2 ; FIG. 4 shows a view of an interface for connecting a cooling element to an electrical assembly of the control unit and a plurality of cross-sectional representations of the interface for illustrating different connection variants; and FIG. 5 shows a detailed sectional illustration of the interface according to FIG. 4 according to an embodiment variant.wherein identical or similar components are provided with the same reference number.FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal section of a control device 100 according to the invention (in English "Electronic Control Unit" or ECU for short) for an engine control, for example for a motor vehicle, which is not shown here. The control device 100 comprises a frame structure 105, which in the present case comprises a first frame part 110, a second frame part 115 arranged parallel to and spaced apart from it, and an intermediate part 120 transversely connecting the frame parts 110, 115.The first frame part 110 is part of a first electrical assembly 125 in the form of a PCB printed circuit board, comprising a plurality of electrical components - not shown in more detail. The second frame part 115 is part of a second electrical assembly 130, which is likewise designed in the form of a PCB printed circuit board. The frame parts 110, 115 can be a coherent, separately manageable component with the associated PCB printed circuit board.Spatially between the first frame part 110 and the second frame part 115 a cooling device 135 is arranged in order to cool the electrical assemblies 125, 130, in particular the components of the PCB printed circuit boards. In this exemplary embodiment, the cooling device 135 is arranged vertically between the substantially horizontally oriented frame parts 110, 115.The cooling device 135 according to the invention comprises a pocket 140 with a partially flexible or expandable outer jacket 145 which is partially inflexible or non-expandable and which is described in more detail below.The interior of the pocket 140 is divided into a plurality of chambers, of which three chambers 150, 151, 152 are shown here by way of example. The chambers 150, 151, 152 are spatially separated from one another by pocket walls 155. Of course, more than three chambers 150, 151, 152 can also be provided.The pocket 140 is configured to receive and guide a cooling medium under fluid pressure between an inlet 160 and an outlet 161, wherein the inlet 160 is configured in this example to introduce the cooling medium into the first chamber 150, and wherein the outlet 161 is configured to discharge the cooling medium from the second chamber 151. In other words, the first chamber 150 is directly fluidically connected to the inlet 160 and the second chamber 151 is directly fluidically connected to the outlet 161. The third chamber 152 may be arranged as an intermediate chamber in the flow direction between the first and second chambers 150, 151. In the case of more than three chambers, these are also fluidically connected in such a way that a cooling medium fed to the inlet 160 reaches the outlet 161 via the chambers. For this purpose, the chambers can be connected in series and / or in parallel, depending on requirements.In order to allow a transition of the cooling medium from one chamber into the next chamber, the pocket walls 155 have perforations 165, here shown by way of example and purely by way of example in a pocket wall 155 between the first and second chambers 150, 151. By means of the perforation 165, a predetermined quantity of cooling medium is passed through from one chamber, here the first chamber 150, in the direction of the arrow into the next chamber, here the second chamber 151. The perforation 165 is designed in such a way that a desired pressure level is established in particular within the first chamber 150 and can differ from the pressure level within the second chamber 151.The pocket 140, after being connected to a fluid supply, is substantially sealed from the external atmosphere. In order to avoid air chamber formation, in particular when the pocket is initially filled, venting valves 170 are arranged on the outer jacket 145 of the pocket 140, here one venting valve 170 each per chamber 150, 151, 152.The cooling device 135 further comprises cooling elements, of which a metallic first cooling element 175 and a metallic second cooling element 176 are shown in FIG. 1. Of course, more than two cooling elements 175, 176 can also be provided. Each cooling element 175, 176 has an inwardly directed cooling structure 180 coming into contact with cooling medium and an outwardly directed interface 185 for connecting the cooling element 175, 176 to the associated electrical assembly 125, 130 or a component to be cooled of the respective electrical assembly 125, 130.The outer jacket 145 of the pocket 140 is designed in the present case such that a surface 190 or outer jacket surface of the outer jacket 145 facing away from the cooling medium has, at least in sections, a topology complementary to the respective electrical assembly 125, 130 or parts or sections of the respective electrical assembly 125, 130, in order to realize a contact surface which is as large as possible between the outer jacket 145 and the respective electrical assembly 125, 130.The cooling medium can be, for example, a water-glycol mixture. In order to avoid damage to the pocket 140, in particular to the outer jacket 145 and the pocket walls 155, the outer jacket 145 and the pocket walls 155 are formed from a material which is chemically resistant to the cooling medium. Alternatively or additionally, the outer jacket 145 and the pocket walls 155 have a chemically resistant coating on a side facing the interior or on the surfaces coming into contact with the cooling medium.FIGS. 2 and 3 show an alternative embodiment of the control unit 100. In this exemplary embodiment, the cooling device 135 is arranged horizontally between two substantially vertically oriented frame parts 110, 115 of the frame structure 105. The pocket 140 is formed substantially symmetrically over the height. The pocket 140 is connected between the frame parts 110, 115 and is connected or fastened to the first electrical assembly 125 via a first cooling element 200 and to the second electrical assembly 130 via a second and third cooling element 201, 202. The configuration of the chambers within the pocket 140 can be realized analogously to FIG. 1 or adapted to the spatial conditions and to the requirements of the cooling device. In the present case, only some of the pocket walls 155 spatially separating the chambers are illustrated, and a set of perforations 165 is illustrated by way of example in FIG. 3.According to FIGS. 2 and 3, a non-stretchable material 205 is arranged on the pocket 140 in the lower region. The non-stretchable material 205 may be a glass fiber reinforced tape horizontally surrounding the pocket 140 from the outside. The non-stretchable material 205 prevents expansion of the pocket 140 in the lower region, for example, when the pocket 140 tends to expand due to the dead weight of the person guided therein, which in turn may result in damage or destruction of the electrical assemblies 125, 130. The pocket 140 therefore has in part a moldable, in particular expandable, region which is provided in the region of the electrical assemblies 125, 130, so that the outer jacket 140 can conform to the assemblies 125, 130. In addition, the pocket 140 partially has a non-expandable region that is more rigid than the flexible region and prevents undesired expansion of the pocket 140 in a targeted manner.Furthermore, a supporting structure 300 in the form of a rod-shaped component is arranged within the pocket 140, which supporting structure extends through the interior of the pocket 140 and at least vertically stiffens the pocket 140. The support structure 300 can prevent undesired collapsing of the pocket 140, for example for transport or assembly purposes. The supporting structure 300 is indicated in FIG. 3.FIGS. 4 and 5 show the connection point between one of the cooling elements of the cooling device 135 in detail and in different connection variants (see options a) to d)). The cooling element is provided here with the reference symbol 400, wherein the statements made in this regard can be applied analogously to any of the aforementioned cooling elements.On the left-hand side of FIG. 4, the exemplary cooling element 400 is viewed from the interior of the pocket 140, that is to say is illustrated from the inside, wherein the rib-shaped cooling structure 180 of the cooling element 400 can be seen. Around a recess 405 of the outer jacket 145, through which the cooling body 180 is axially guided, a stiffening frame 410 is arranged, which is sealingly connected to the outer jacket 145. The sealing takes place according to FIG. 5, which shows the example according to FIG. 4 a) in detail, via an adhesive layer 500 which is arranged between the stiffening frame 410 and the outer jacket 145.According to FIG. 4 in conjunction with FIG. 5, the respective electrical assembly 125, 130 comprises a chip 415 in the form of a system-on-a-chip assembly (SoC), which is thermally conductively connected to the cooling structure 180 at the interface 185 by means of a heat-conducting material 505 according to FIG. 5. The interface 185 of the cooling element 400 further comprises an abutment frame 420 which comes to bear flat against the frame part 110, 115. In the present case, the cooling element 400 is screwed to the frame part 110, 115, wherein screws 425 are provided which are screwed into the stiffening frame 410 from a side of the frame part 110, 115 facing away from the pocket 140, through the frame part 110, 115, the bearing frame 425 of the cooling element 400 and the outer jacket 145 of the pocket 140. According to FIG. 5, the stiffening frame 410 has an internal thread 510 complementary to the respective screw 425. The bearing frame 420 is thus fixed in the assembled state between the outer jacket 145 and the frame part 110, 115 of the electrical assembly 125, 130 of the control unit 100. The cooling element 400 is therefore connected to the electrical assembly 125, 130 in a force-fit and form-fit manner. In order to make a contact pressure force of the cooling element 400 on the electrical assembly 125, 130, in particular the respective frame part 110, 115, more homogeneous, the cooling structure 180 of the cooling element 400 according to FIG. 5 is connected to the bearing frame 420 via an elastically deformable section 515.According to FIG. 5, a noble metal coating 520, for example in the form of a gold coating, is provided on the side of the frame part 110, 115 facing away from the pocket 140 in the region of the respective screw 425. This refinement is applied radially around the screw 425 and in order to avoid contact corrosion during assembly of the control unit, in particular during tightening of the screw 425.The variant according to FIG. 4 b) differs from the first variant a) of FIG. 4 in that the screw 425 is merely screwed into the bearing frame 420. The sealing effect between the stiffening frame 410 and the outer jacket 145 of the pocket 140 can thus be further improved. In addition, the stiffening frame 410 is of more stable design.The variant according to FIG. 4 c) differs from the first variant b) of FIG. 4 in that the screw 425 has an additional compression spring 430 in order to make a contact pressure force of the cooling element 400 on the respective electrical assembly 125, 130 more uniform and to avoid possible undesired stresses within the respective frame part 110, 115. In addition, the compression spring 430 prevents the screw 425 from being tightened too strongly.The variant according to FIG. 4 d) differs from the first variant b) of FIG. 4 in that instead of screws, snap-fit closures are provided, each comprising a plurality of snap-fit elements 435 with latching arms 440. The snap elements 435 are fixed to the bearing frame 420 and, when the cooling element 400 is mounted, are guided axially through openings on the respective frame part 110, 115 until the latching arms 440 on the opposite side of the respective frame part 110, 115 expand outwards and prevent a return of the snap arms 435 in the opposite direction.The direction of action of the tightening force F of the screw 425 or of the snap fasteners, respectively, with which the cooling element 400 is tightened onto the electrical assembly 125, 130, is shown by the arrow in the options a) to d) of FIG. 4.Reference numerals denote reference numerals100 Control device 105 Frame structure 110 First frame part 115 Second frame part 120 Intermediate part 125 First electrical assembly 130 Second electrical assembly 135 Cooling device 140 Pocket 145 Outer jacket of the pocket 150 First chamber 151 Second chamber 152 Third chamber 155 Pocket wall 160 Inlet 161 Outlet 165 Perforation 170 Vent valve 175 First cooling element 176 Second cooling element 180 Cooling structure 185 Interface 190 Surface of the outer jacket 200 First cooling element 201 Second cooling element 202 Third cooling element 205 Non-extensible material 300 Supporting structure 400 Cooling element 405 Recess of the outer jacket 410 Stiffening frame 415 Chip 420 Abutment frame 425 Screw 430 Compression spring 435 Snap element 440 Snap arm 500 Adhesive layer 505 Heat conducting material 510 Internal thread 515 Elastic portion of the cooling element 520 Noble metal coating F Tightening force of the screwReferences included in the specificationThis list of documents cited by the applicant has been produced in an automated manner and is only included for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent application or utility model application. The DPMA does not take any adhesion for any faults or omissions.Patent Literature citedWO 2023 / 030588 A1

[0002]

Claims

Cooling device (135) for a control device (100), comprising a pocket (140) having a moldable outer jacket (145), wherein the pocket (140) is configured to receive and guide a cooling medium under pressure between an inlet (160) and an outlet (161), wherein a cooling element (175) is fastened to the outer jacket (145), said cooling element having an inwardly directed cooling structure (180) coming into contact with cooling medium and an outwardly directed interface (185) for connecting the cooling element (175) to an electrical assembly (125, 130) of the control device (100).Cooling device (135) according to Claim 1, wherein the interface (185) of the cooling element (175) comprises a flange or a bearing frame (420) which is connected to the electrical assembly (125, 130) of the control unit (100) in a materially bonded, force-fit and / or form-fit manner.Cooling device (135) according to Claim 2, wherein the flange or the bearing frame (420) is fixed between the outer casing (145) and the electrical assembly (125, 130) of the control unit (100) in the assembled state.The cooling device (135) of claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the cooling structure (180) is connected to the flange or the abutment frame (420) via an elastically deformable portion (515).The cooling device (135) of any preceding claim, wherein the cooling element (175) further comprises a stiffening frame (410) sealingly connected to the outer shell (145).The cooling device (135) of any preceding claim, wherein the pocket (140) is partially surrounded by a non-stretchable material.Cooling device (135) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one support structure (210) is arranged within the pocket (140), which support structure extends through the interior space of the pocket (140).Cooling device (135) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the interior space of the pocket (140) is divided into at least two chambers (150, 151), wherein the chambers (150, 151) are spatially separated from one another by pocket walls (155).Cooling device (135) according to claim 8, wherein a pocket wall (155) between a first chamber (150) and a second chamber (151) has at least one perforation (165) for the passage of a predetermined amount of cooling medium.The cooling device (135) of claim 9, wherein the inlet (160) for introducing the cooling medium into the interior of the pocket (140) is fluidly connected in a first chamber (150), and wherein the outlet (161) for discharging the cooling medium from the interior of the pocket (140) is fluidly connected in a second chamber (151) different therefrom.Cooling device (135) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a venting valve (170) is furthermore arranged on the outer jacket (145) of the pocket (140).Cooling device (135) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the outer jacket (145) is formed from a material which is chemically resistant to the cooling medium.Cooling device (135) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the outer jacket (145) has a coating which is chemically resistant to the cooling medium on a side facing the interior.Cooling device (135) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a surface (190) of the outer jacket (145) of the pocket (140) facing away from the cooling medium has at least in sections a topology complementary to the electrical assembly (125, 130) or parts or sections of the electrical assembly (125, 130).Control device (100) comprising a frame structure (105) having a first frame part (110) on which at least one first electrical assembly (125) is arranged, and at least one second frame part (115), spaced apart therefrom, on which at least one second electrical assembly (130) is arranged, wherein a cooling device (135) according to one of the preceding claims for cooling the electrical assemblies (125, 130) is arranged spatially between the first frame part (110) and the second frame part (115).

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