Cooling apparatus and cooling unit

Abstract

To provide a cooling apparatus and a cooling unit that are manufactured at low costs.SOLUTION: A cooling apparatus 1 has a housing 70 comprising: a first case 40 that has a plate-like base part 41, a side wall 42 projecting in a direction intersecting with a plate surface from its outer peripheral part, a flange 43 projecting outward from a tip end part on the side wall, and a plurality of fins 44 projecting from the side wall in the direction intersecting with the plate surface of the base part; and a second case 50 that has a plate-like base part 51, a side wall 52 projecting in the direction intersecting with the plate surface from its outer peripheral part, a flange 53 projecting outward from the tip end part on the side wall, and a plurality of fins 54 projecting beyond the side wall in the direction intersecting with the plate surface of the base part. The housing forms a space in which a cooling liquid circulates inside, wherein both flanges are bonded with each other by laser welding in a state where the two cases face each other so that one fin among the plurality of fins are arranged between the adjacent fins among the plurality of fins and both flanges are contacted.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cooling device and a cooling unit. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a device comprising a first substrate and a first convex substrate having a plurality of first convex portions protruding from the first substrate, and a second substrate and a second convex substrate having a plurality of second convex portions protruding from the second substrate, the first and second convex substrates being arranged opposite each other such that the first convex portions protrude toward the second substrate and the second convex portions protrude toward the first substrate, and at least one second convex portion is disposed between two adjacent first convex portions. The first and second convex substrates are joined and fixed by brazing. For example, Patent Document 2 discloses a heat generating device that includes a first fin member made of metal and including a first base plate and a plurality of first fins standing on the first base plate, and a second fin member made of metal and including a second base plate and a plurality of second fins standing on the second base plate, where the first fin member and the second fin member are combined so that the first fins and the second fins are interlocked with each other, and second flow paths are formed between adjacent first fins and second fins arranged at predetermined intervals, and the heat generating element mainly exchanges heat in the second flow path group. The first fins are brazed to the jacket body. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-294196 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-40778 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The cooling devices of Patent Documents 1 and 2 have room for further improvement in terms of low manufacturing cost. An object of the present invention is to provide a cooling device or the like that can be manufactured at low cost. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The present invention, which has been completed with the above object in mind, provides a first member having a plate-like first base portion, a first side wall protruding from an outer periphery of the first base portion in a direction intersecting with the plate surface, a first flange portion protruding outward from a tip end of the first side wall, and a plurality of first fins protruding from the first base portion beyond the first side wall in a direction intersecting with the plate surface; and a second member having a second flange portion formed on the second base portion and a plurality of second fins protruding beyond the second side wall in a direction intersecting the plate surface from the second base portion, wherein one second fin of the plurality of second fins is disposed between adjacent first fins of the plurality of first fins, and the first flange portion and the second flange portion are joined by laser welding in a state where the first member and the second member are opposed to each other so that the first flange portion and the second flange portion are in contact with each other. Here, two holes penetrating the plate surface may be formed in the first base portion of the first member, and on the side of the first base portion of the first member opposite to the side on which the second member is arranged, an inflow member that allows the refrigerant to flow into the space formed by the first member and the second member may be joined by laser welding to a portion corresponding to one of the two holes, and an outflow member that allows the refrigerant to flow out of the space may be joined by laser welding to a portion corresponding to the other of the two holes. Also, from another viewpoint, the present invention, which has been completed with the above object in mind, is a first member having a plate-like first base portion, a first side wall protruding from an outer periphery of the first base portion in a direction intersecting with the plate surface, a first flange portion protruding outward from a tip end of the first side wall, and a plurality of first fins protruding beyond the first side wall from the first base portion in a direction intersecting with the plate surface, and in which two holes penetrating the plate surface are formed in the first base portion; a plate-like second base portion, and a second side wall protruding from an outer periphery of the second base portion in a direction intersecting with the plate surface; a second member having a second flange portion protruding outward from a tip end portion of the second side wall and a plurality of second fins protruding from the second base portion beyond the second side wall in a direction intersecting the plate surface, wherein one second fin of the plurality of second fins is disposed between adjacent first fins of the plurality of first fins, and the first flange portion and the second flange portion are joined by laser welding in a state where the first member and the second member are opposed to each other so that the first flange portion and the second flange portion are in contact with each other; a third member having the first member, a plate-shaped third base portion, a third side wall protruding from an outer periphery of the third base portion in a direction intersecting with the plate surface, a third flange portion protruding outward from a tip end of the third side wall, and a plurality of third fins protruding beyond the third side wall from the third base portion in a direction intersecting with the plate surface, and two holes penetrating the plate surface are formed in the third base portion, wherein one third fin of the plurality of third fins is disposed between adjacent first fins of the plurality of first fins, and the first flange portion and the third fin a second cooling device in which the first flange portion and the third flange portion are joined by laser welding in a state in which the first member and the third member are opposed to each other so that the first flange portion and the third flange portion are in contact with each other; a first connecting member that connects the first member of the first cooling device to the third member of the second cooling device and has a first communication hole that connects one of the two holes in the first base portion to one of the two holes in the third base portion; and a first connecting member that connects the first member of the first cooling device to the third member of the second cooling device and has a first communication hole that connects one of the two holes in the first base portion to one of the two holes in the third base portion.a second connecting member having a second communication hole formed therein that communicates the other of the two holes in the first base portion with the other of the two holes in the third base portion. Here, the cooling system may include a third cooling device having the same structure as the second cooling device, a third connecting member that connects the first member of the second cooling device and the third member of the third cooling device, and has a third communicating hole formed therein that connects one of the two holes in the first base portion with one of the two holes in the third base portion, and a fourth connecting member that connects the first member of the second cooling device and the third member of the third cooling device, and has a fourth communicating hole formed therein that connects the other of the two holes in the first base portion with the other of the two holes in the third base portion. Furthermore, on the side of the first base portion of the first member of the third cooling device opposite to the side on which the third member is arranged, an inflow member that allows the refrigerant to flow into the space formed by the first member and the third member may be joined by laser welding to a portion corresponding to one of the two holes, and an outflow member that allows the refrigerant to flow out of the space may be joined by laser welding to a portion corresponding to the other of the two holes. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a cooler or the like that can be manufactured at low cost. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the appearance of a semiconductor device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of components that configure the cooling device according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 3] 3 is a view showing an example of a cross section of the housing according to the first embodiment taken along line III-III in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the appearance of a cooling unit according to a second embodiment. [Figure 5]FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the appearance of a cooling unit according to a third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. First Embodiment FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the appearance of a cooling device 1 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of components constituting the cooling device 1 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a cross section of the housing 70 of the cooling device 1 according to the first embodiment taken along line III-III in FIG.

[0009] (Cooling device 1) The cooling device 1 according to the first embodiment cools heat generated from a plurality of (six in the first embodiment) heat generating elements 10. In the cooling device 1, the heat generating elements 10 are stacked. An example of the heat generating elements 10 is a card-type power module. The heat generating elements 10 may also be other semiconductor elements, batteries, etc.

[0010] The cooling device 1 includes a housing 70 having a space formed therein through which a cooling liquid, which is an example of a refrigerant, flows, and includes an inlet joint 81 as an example of an inflow member that allows the cooling liquid to flow from the outside of the housing 70 into the internal space, and an outlet joint 82 as an example of an outflow member that allows the cooling liquid to flow from the internal space of the housing 70 to the outside. The housing 70 is a member having a roughly rectangular parallelepiped shape. In the following description, the longitudinal direction of the housing 70 may be simply referred to as the "longitudinal direction," and the lateral direction of the housing 70 may be simply referred to as the "lateral direction." The housing 70 is plate-shaped, and its size in the direction in which the heat generating element 10 and the cooling device 1 are stacked is smaller than its size in the longitudinal and lateral directions. The inlet joint 81 is disposed at one end in the longitudinal direction of the housing 70. The outlet joint 82 is disposed at the other end in the longitudinal direction of the housing 70. The housing 70, the inlet joint 81 and the outlet joint 82 may be made of, for example, aluminum or an aluminum alloy, or copper. Hereinafter, the direction in which the heat generating element 10 and the cooling device 1 are stacked may be simply referred to as the "stacking direction." In the stacking direction, the side where the inlet joint 81 and the outlet joint 82 are arranged (the upper side in FIG. 1) may be referred to as the "first side," and the side where the housing 70 is arranged (the lower side in FIG. 1) may be referred to as the "second side." Furthermore, the side where the inlet joint 81 is arranged in the longitudinal direction may be referred to as the "third side," and the side where the outlet joint 82 is arranged in the longitudinal direction may be referred to as the "fourth side." Furthermore, the rear side in the short direction relative to the plane of the paper in FIG. 1 may be referred to as the "fifth side," and the front side in the short direction may be referred to as the "sixth side."

[0011] (Housing 70) The housing 70 includes a concave first case 40 and a concave second case 50 joined together with the concave side of the first case 40 facing the concave side of the second case 50. The first case 40 is an example of a first member, and the second case 50 is an example of a second member. The base 41 is an example of a first base, and the fins 44 are an example of first fins. The base 51 is an example of a second base, and the fins 54 are an example of second fins.

[0012] (Case 1 40) In the first case 40, a first opening 47 that connects the inside of the housing 70 to the outside of the housing 70 is formed at a third end of the flat base portion 41 in the longitudinal direction, and a second opening 48 that connects the inside of the housing 70 to the outside is formed at a fourth end of the base portion 41 in the longitudinal direction. The first case 40 also has a side wall 42 that protrudes from the outer periphery of the base portion 41 in a direction intersecting the plate surface, a flange portion 43 that protrudes outward from the tip of the side wall 42, and a plurality of fins 44 that protrude from the base portion 41. The base portion 41 and the side wall 42 form a recess, and the flange portion 43 is formed around this recess.

[0013] Further, a plurality of fins 44 are provided on the inner surface 41a of the base portion 41 provided in the first case 40, which is the surface on the concave portion side, or in other words, the inner surface of the housing 70. Further, the outer surface 41b of the base portion 41, which is the surface on the convex portion side, or in other words, the outer surface of the housing 70, is flat for arranging the heating element 10.

[0014] Also, the side wall 42 provided in the first case 40 extends in a direction orthogonal to the plate surface from the outer peripheral portion of the base portion 41. Note that the side wall 42 does not have to extend in a direction orthogonal to the plate surface of the base portion 41, and may extend in a direction inclined with respect to the orthogonal direction.

[0015] Further, the flange portion 43 provided in the first case 40, for example, projects outward in a direction parallel to the plate surface of the base portion 41 from the tip of the side wall 42. In the flange portion 43, the surface continuous from the inner surface side of the side wall 42 is referred to as the inner surface 43a, and the surface continuous from the outer surface 42b of the side wall 42 is referred to as the outer surface 43b.

[0016] Also, the fins 44 provided in the first case 40 can be exemplified as being in a flat plate shape extending in the longitudinal direction. The fins 44 extend in a direction perpendicular to the inner surface 41a of the base portion 41 and project more than the side wall 42. As shown in FIG. 3, if the height of the side wall 42 is H1 and the height of the fin 44 is H2, then H1 < H2 ≦ 2 × H1. Here, the height of the side wall 42 is the length in the stacking direction with respect to the inner surface 41a of the base portion 41. Specifically, the height of the side wall 42 is the length in which the side wall 42 extends in the stacking direction with respect to the inner surface 41a of the base portion 41, and in the first embodiment, it is the length up to the inner surface 43a of the flange portion 43. Also, the height of the fin 44 is the length in which the fin 44 projects from the inner surface 41a of the base portion 41.

[0017] Furthermore, the arrangement of the multiple fins 44 provided on the first case 40 is designed together with the arrangement of the multiple fins 54 (described later) on the second case 50. More specifically, the multiple fins 44 are arranged so that, when the first case 40 and the second case 50 are combined to form the housing 70, one fin of the multiple fins 54 is arranged between adjacent fins of the multiple fins 44. As shown in FIG. 3, the fins 44 of the first embodiment are plate-shaped and have a thickness of D. The fins 44 have their plate surfaces arranged along the longitudinal direction and are arranged at intervals L1 in the lateral direction. Here, the interval between the fins 44 refers to the distance between the opposing faces of adjacent fins 44. In addition, in FIG. 3, the distance between the opposing faces of the fin 44 located on the fifth side in the lateral direction and the sidewall 42 on the fifth side in the lateral direction is L2, and the distance between the opposing faces of the fin 44 located on the sixth side in the lateral direction and the sidewall 42 on the sixth side in the lateral direction is L3. The lengths L2 and L3 are different, with L3 > L2.

[0018] The first opening 47 provided in the first case 40 is an elongated hole whose short side direction is the long side direction of the first case 40 and whose long side direction is the short side direction of the first case 40. The second opening 48 may have the same shape as the first opening 47, for example.

[0019] (Case 2 50) The second case 50 has side walls 52 that protrude from the outer periphery of the base portion 51 in a direction intersecting the plate surface, and flange portions 53 that protrude outward from the tips of the side walls 52. A recess is formed by the base portion 51 and the side walls 52, and the flange portions 53 are formed around this recess. The second case 50 also has a plurality of fins 54 extending from the base portion 51. Each of the plurality of fins 54 of the second case 50 is provided so as to fit between adjacent fins 44 of the first case 40 when the recess of the first case 40 and the recess of the second case 50 are faced to each other and the flange portions 43 and 53 are overlapped. The side walls 52 are an example of a second side wall, and the flange portions 53 are an example of a second flange portion.

[0020] In the first embodiment, the second case 50 has substantially the same shape as the first case 40, but does not have holes corresponding to the first opening 47 and the second opening 48 of the first case 40. Similar to the fins 44 of the first case 40, the fins 54 of the second case 50 have plate surfaces arranged along the longitudinal direction and are arranged at intervals L1 in the lateral direction. In FIG. 3 , the length between the opposing faces of the fin 54 located on the sixth side in the lateral direction and the sidewall 52 on the sixth side in the lateral direction is L2, and the length between the opposing faces of the fin 54 located on the fifth side in the lateral direction and the sidewall 52 on the fifth side in the lateral direction is L3. Since the tip of one of the fins 44 is located between adjacent fins 54, L1 > D. Furthermore, the tip of one of the multiple fins 44 is positioned on the side between the fin 54 and the side wall 52 where the length between the fin 54 and the side wall 52 is L3, i.e., the side where the distance between the fin 54 and the side wall 52 is longer, so L3>D+L2.

[0021] (Regarding the arrangement of the fins 44 and 54 inside the housing 70) Here, the arrangement of the fins 44 and 54 when the first case 40 and the second case 50 are combined will be described. As described above, the height of the sidewall 42 of the first case 40 and the height of the sidewall 52 of the second case 50 are H1. When the first case 40 and the second case 50 are combined, the height of the internal space of the housing 70 in the stacking direction is twice H1. The tips of the fins 44 and 54 are close to the inner surface 51 a of the base portion 51 or the inner surface 41 a of the base portion 41 that they face. In the first embodiment, the tips of the fins 44 and 54 do not contact the inner surface 41 a of the base portion 41 or the inner surface 51 a of the base portion 51. However, the height of the fins 44 and 54 may be the same as the height of the internal space of the housing 70 in the stacking direction, and the tips of the fins 44 and 54 may contact the inner surface 41 a of the base portion 41 or the inner surface 51 a of the base portion 51.

[0022] Of the multiple fins 44 of the first case 40, the fin 44 closest to the center in the short-side direction on the inner surface 41a of the base portion 41 is disposed a predetermined distance from point P, which is the center in the short-side direction of the base portion 41. Specifically, the fin 44 closest to the center in the short-side direction has a length W from the surface of the fin 44 closest to point P to point P, and is disposed such that the length W is (L1-D) / 4. As described above, in the first embodiment, the first case 40 and the second case 50 differ only in the presence or absence of the first opening 47 and the second opening 48. Therefore, in the second case 50, the fin 54 closest to the center in the short-side direction has a length W from the surface of the fin 54 closest to point P to point P, and is disposed such that the length W is (L1-D) / 4. In this case, the length of the interval between each of the multiple fins 44 and each of the adjacent fins 44 and 54 is 2W, i.e., (L1-D) / 2. Here, the distance between adjacent fins 44 and 54 refers to the length between the opposing surfaces of the fins 44 and 54. Note that the length W from the surface of the fin 44, 54 closest to the center in the short direction that is closest to point P to point P is not limited to (L1-D) / 4, and the length W from the surface of the fin 44, 54 closest to point P to point P may be changed as appropriate within the range of 0≦W≦(L1-D) / 2.

[0023] (Inlet joint 81, outlet joint 82) The inlet joint 81 and the outlet joint 82 shown in FIG. 2 have the same shape. Hereinafter, when there is no need to distinguish between the inlet joint 81 and the outlet joint 82, they may be referred to as joint 80. The joint 80 has a recess 84 that is recessed from a first side surface of the joint 80 in the stacking direction toward a second side surface, and a through hole 86 is provided within the recess 84. The shape of the through hole 86 in FIG. 2 when viewed in the stacking direction is the same as the shapes of the first opening 47 and the second opening 48 of the first case 40. The joint 80 also has a step portion 88 provided around the through hole 86. Therefore, when the joint 80 is viewed from the first side in the stacking direction, the step portion 88 can be seen within the recess 84.

[0024] <Method of manufacturing the cooling device 1> The first case 40 and the second case 50 are joined by laser welding in a state in which the inner surface 43a of the flange portion 43 and the inner surface 53a of the flange portion 53 are arranged so as to be in contact with each other. Laser welding is performed by irradiating the first case 40 or the second case 50 with laser light from the outside. The area irradiated with the laser light is the overlapping area between the flange portion 43 and the flange portion 53. The overlapping area between the flange portion 43 and the flange portion 53 is irradiated with laser light from the outside, for example, along the entire circumference of the flange portion 43 of the first case 40. Then, at the area irradiated with the laser light, both the first case 40 and the second case 50 melt to form a fused portion 91, and are welded.

[0025] Next, the inlet joint 81 and the outlet joint 82 are connected. First, the through hole 86 of the inlet joint 81 is aligned with the first opening 47 of the first case 40, and the periphery of the first opening 47 is aligned with the periphery of the through hole 86. Then, a laser beam is irradiated onto a step 88 provided around the through hole 86, thereby melting and welding the periphery of the first opening 47 of the first case 40 and the periphery of the through hole 86 of the inlet joint 81. Similarly, the second opening 48 of the first case 40 is welded to the periphery of the through hole 86 of the outlet joint 82, thereby joining the first case 40 and the outlet joint 82. Note that the above-described welding order is an example and can be changed as appropriate. For example, the outlet joint 82 may be connected to the first case 40, and then the inlet joint 81 may be connected to the first case 40. Alternatively, the inlet joint 81 and the outlet joint 82 may be connected to the first case 40, and then the first case 40 and the second case 50 may be connected.

[0026] <Function of Cooling Device 1> In the cooling device 1 manufactured as described above, the coolant that flows into the housing 70 from the inlet joint 81 travels in the longitudinal direction through flow paths formed between the fins 44 and 54, between the fins 44 and the side walls 42 of the first case 40 and the side walls 52 of the second case 50, and between the fins 54 and the side walls 42 of the first case 40 and the side walls 52 of the second case 50, and flows out of the housing 70 from the outlet joint 82. In this way, the heat-generating element 10 stacked in the cooling device 1 is cooled while the coolant flows inside the housing 70. Note that in the cooling device 1, the coolant flows from the inlet joint 81 to the outlet joint 82, so the longitudinal direction is the flow direction of the coolant.

[0027] As described above, the first case 40 has a plate-shaped base portion 41, side walls 42 protruding from the outer periphery of the base portion 41 in a direction intersecting the plate surface, flange portions 43 protruding outward from the tips of the side walls 42, and a plurality of fins 44 protruding from the base portion 41 beyond the side walls 42 in a direction intersecting the plate surface; and the second case 50 has a plate-shaped base portion 51, side walls 52 protruding from the outer periphery of the base portion 51 in a direction intersecting the plate surface, flange portions 53 protruding outward from the tips of the side walls 52, and a plurality of fins 54 protruding from the base portion 51 beyond the side walls 52 in a direction intersecting the plate surface, and the first case 40 and the second case 50 are opposed to each other such that one fin 54 of the plurality of fins 44 is arranged between adjacent fins 44 of the plurality of fins 44 and the flange portions 43 and 53 are in contact with each other, and the flange portions 43 and 53 are joined by laser welding.

[0028] The first case 40 and the second case 50 of the first embodiment have the same shape except for the presence or absence of the first opening 47 and the second opening 48. Therefore, the first case 40 is manufactured by adding the process of opening the first opening 47 and the second opening 48 to the second case 50. This allows the manufacturing process for the first case 40 and the second case 50 to be the same except for the process of opening the first opening 47 and the second opening 48. Therefore, the manufacturing cost can be lower than when the first case 40 and the second case 50 have different shapes.

[0029] Furthermore, for example, if the height of both fins 44, 54 is H and the tips of the fins 44, 54 are arranged to face each other and contact each other, dimensional accuracy between the first case 40 and the second case 50 is required when welding the first case 40 and the second case 50. Therefore, the first embodiment can be manufactured more easily than a configuration in which the tips of the fins 44 of the first case 40 and the fins 54 of the second case 50 contact each other.

[0030] As described above, the first case 40 and the second case 50 are joined by laser welding the flange portions 43 and 53. The flange portions 43 and 53 are not located on the plate surfaces of the base portions 41 and 51 on which the heating element 10 is disposed, and therefore the molten zones 91 generated in the flange portions 43 and 53 do not appear on the surface on which the heating element 10 is disposed. Furthermore, the laser beam is irradiated from one direction to one of the flange portions 43 and 53, i.e., the laser beam is irradiated without changing the orientation of the laser head that emits the laser beam. In contrast, for example, when irradiating the laser beam all the way around the boundary between the flange portions 43 and 53, it may be necessary to change the orientation of the laser head. The first embodiment allows for easier welding than when welding is performed while changing the orientation of the laser head. Furthermore, the fins 44 and fins 54 may be wavy with portions inclined in the longitudinal direction, or may be cylindrical or rectangular prism-shaped, as long as fins 54 are arranged between fins 44 and fins 44 are arranged between fins 54.

[0031] <Second embodiment> The cooling unit 2 according to the second embodiment represents a cooling unit having two cooling devices corresponding to the cooling device 1 according to the first embodiment. Hereinafter, the cooling device arranged on the first side may be referred to as the second cooling device 22, and the cooling device arranged on the second side may be referred to as the first cooling device 21. Below, differences between the first cooling device 21 and the second cooling device 22 and the cooling device 1 according to the first embodiment will be described, and the same components will be designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0032] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the appearance of the cooling unit 2 according to the second embodiment. A plurality of heat generating elements 10 to be cooled by the cooling unit 2 are attached to the cooling unit 2. In the second embodiment, for example, three heat generating elements 10 are attached to each of the first side and the second side in the stacking direction of the first cooling device 21, and three heat generating elements 10 are attached to each of the first side and the second side in the stacking direction of the second cooling device 22. Note that the number and arrangement of the attached heat generating elements 10 are not limited to this, and for example, a configuration may be adopted in which heat generating elements 10 are attached only to the first side in the stacking direction of the first cooling device 21, and heat generating elements 10 are attached only to the first side in the stacking direction of the second cooling device 22.

[0033] The first cooling device 21 includes a housing 70 having a space formed therein through which a coolant flows. The housing 70 includes a first case 40 and a second case 50. The first cooling device 21 also includes two connecting members 90 for connecting to the second cooling device 22. The connecting members 90 are provided at the first opening 47 (see FIG. 2) and the second opening 48 (see FIG. 2) of the first case 40.

[0034] The connecting member 90 has a cylindrical shape extending in the stacking direction. An example of the inner shape of the connecting member 90 is the shape of the first opening 47 and the second opening 48 formed in the first case 40. An example of the material of the connecting member 90 is an aluminum material such as aluminum or an aluminum alloy, or copper. An example of the outer shape of the connecting member 90 is a polygonal columnar shape such as a cylinder or a hexagonal column. An example of the length of the connecting member 90 in the stacking direction is a length longer than the length of the heating element 10 in the stacking direction. An example of the first case 40 and the connecting member 90 are joined by laser welding or brazing.

[0035] The second cooling device 22 includes a housing 71 having a space formed therein through which the coolant flows. The housing 71 includes a first case 40 and a third case 60. The third case 60 is an example of a third member. The third case 60 can be exemplified as having the same shape as the first case 40. In other words, the third case 60 is the second case 50 provided with a first opening 47 and a second opening 48. The base portion 41 of the third case 60 is an example of a third base portion, the side wall 42 of the third case 60 is an example of a third side wall, and the flange portion 43 of the third case 60 is an example of a third flange portion. Furthermore, the fins 44 of the third case 60 are an example of third fins.

[0036] In the second embodiment, a connecting member 90 for connecting to the first cooling device 21 is provided at the first opening 47 and the second opening 48 of the third case 60 of the housing 71. Also, an inlet joint 81 for allowing coolant to flow in from the outside and an outlet joint 82 for allowing coolant to flow out to the outside are provided at the first opening 47 and the second opening 48 of the first case 40 of the housing 71.

[0037] The first cooling device 21 and the second cooling device 22 of the cooling unit 2 are connected by connecting a connecting member 90 provided on the first cooling device 21 with a connecting member 90 provided on the second cooling device 22. For example, the connecting members 90 may be connected to each other by laser welding, brazing, or the like. Here, the two connecting members 90 provided on the third side in the longitudinal direction of FIG. 4 and connecting the first cooling device 21 and the second cooling device 22 are an example of a first connecting member, and the hollow inside the cylindrical shape of the connecting member 90 is an example of a first communicating hole. The two connecting members 90 provided on the fourth side in the longitudinal direction of FIG. 4 and connecting the first cooling device 21 and the second cooling device 22 are an example of a second connecting member, and the hollow inside the cylindrical shape of the connecting member 90 is an example of a second communicating hole.

[0038] <Function of Cooling Unit 2> In the cooling unit 2 manufactured as described above, the cooling liquid that flows from the inlet joint 81 into the housing 71 of the second cooling device 22 branches, one branch flows through the space within the housing 71 of the second cooling device 22, and the other branch flows from the first opening 47 on the second side in the stacking direction of the second cooling device 22 through the connecting member 90 into the housing 70 of the first cooling device 21. The coolant in the second cooling device 22 flows longitudinally through the flow paths formed between the fins 44 and between the fins 44 and the side wall 42 of the first case 40, and flows out of the housing 71 through the outlet joint 82. Furthermore, the coolant in the housing 70 of the first cooling device 21 flows in the longitudinal direction through flow paths formed between the fins 44 and 54, between the fins 44 and the side walls 42 of the first case 40 and the side walls 52 of the second case 50, and between the fins 54 and the side walls 42 of the first case 40 and the side walls 52 of the second case 50, and flows out to the fourth side of the second cooling device 22 via the connecting member 90. In this way, while the coolant flows inside the housings 70, 71, the multiple heat generating elements 10 stacked in the first cooling device 21 and the second cooling device 22 are cooled.

[0039] As described above, the first case 40 has a plate-shaped base portion 41, side walls 42 protruding from the outer periphery of the base portion 41 in a direction intersecting the plate surface, flange portions 43 protruding outward from the tip ends of the side walls 42, and a plurality of fins 44 protruding beyond the side walls 42 from the base portion 41 in a direction intersecting the plate surface, and the first opening 47 and the second opening 48 penetrating the plate surface are formed in the base portion 41; and a second case (50) having a flange (53) extending from a base (51) beyond a side wall (52) in a direction intersecting the plate surface, wherein the flange (43) and the flange (53) are joined by laser welding in a state where the first case (40) and the second case (50) are opposed to each other such that one fin (54) of the plurality of fins (44) is disposed between adjacent fins (44) of the plurality of fins (44) and the flange (43) and the flange (53) are in contact with each other. The third case 60 has side walls 42 that protrude from the outer periphery in a direction intersecting the plate surface, flanges 43 that protrude outward from the tips of the side walls 42, and a plurality of fins 44 that protrude from a base 41 beyond the side walls 42 in a direction intersecting the plate surface, and the base 41 has two holes that penetrate the plate surface. One of the plurality of fins 44 of the third case 60 is disposed between adjacent fins 44 of the plurality of fins 44 of the first case 40, and the flanges 43 of the first case 40 and the flanges 43 of the third case 60 are connected. The first case 40 of the first cooling device 21 and the third case 60 of the second cooling device 22 are connected by laser welding to the flange portion 43 of the first case 40 and the flange portion 43 of the third case 60 in a state where the first case 40 and the third case 60 are opposed to each other so as to be in contact with each other, and a connecting member 90 having a cavity formed therein that communicates the first opening 47 in the base portion 41 of the first case 40 and the first opening 47 of the third case 60 is connected to the first case 40 of the first cooling device 21 and the third case 60 of the second cooling device 22,and a connecting member 90 having a cavity formed therein that connects the second opening 48 in the base portion 41 of the first case 40 and the second opening 48 in the base portion 41 of the third case 60.

[0040] The cooling unit 2 in the second embodiment includes a first cooling device 21 and a second cooling device 22. The housing 70 of the first cooling device 21 includes a first case 40 and a second case 50, and the housing 71 of the second cooling device 22 can also be said to include two first cases 40. As described above, the first case 40 and the second case 50 have the same shape except for the presence or absence of the first opening 47 and the second opening 48. Therefore, the first case 40 is manufactured by adding a process to the second case 50 to open the first opening 47 and the second opening 48. This allows the manufacturing process for the first case 40 and the second case 50 to be the same except for the processes of opening the first opening 47 and the second opening 48. Therefore, a two-layer cooling unit can be manufactured more inexpensively than when the first case 40 and the second case 50 have different shapes.

[0041] <Third embodiment> The cooling unit 3 according to the third embodiment has a three-layer structure in which a third cooling device 23 is added to the upper layer of the cooling unit 2 according to the second embodiment. Below, differences between the cooling unit 3 and the cooling unit 2 will be explained, and the same parts will be given the same reference numerals and detailed explanations thereof will be omitted.

[0042] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the appearance of the cooling unit 3 according to the third embodiment. A plurality of heat generating elements 10 to be cooled by the cooling unit 3 are attached to the cooling unit 3. In the third embodiment, for example, three heat generating elements 10 are attached to each of the first and second sides in the stacking direction of the first cooling device 21, three heat generating elements 10 are attached to each of the first and second sides in the stacking direction of the second cooling device 22, and three heat generating elements 10 are attached to each of the first and second sides in the stacking direction of the third cooling device 23. Note that the number and arrangement of the attached heat generating elements 10 are not limited to this.

[0043] The third cooling device 23 includes a housing 71, which is provided with an inlet joint 81, an outlet joint 82, and two connecting members 90. Specifically, as described above, the housing 71 includes two first cases 40, and the inlet joint 81 is provided in the first opening 47 of one of the first cases 40, and the outlet joint 82 is provided in the second opening 48. Furthermore, the connecting members 90 are provided in the first opening 47 (see FIG. 2) and the second opening 48 (see FIG. 2) of the other first case 40 (third case 60), respectively.

[0044] The cooling unit 3 is configured such that the cooling unit 2 has connecting members 90 instead of the inlet joint 81 and the outlet joint 82, and the third cooling device 23 is connected to the connecting members 90. Here, the two connecting members 90 provided on the third side in the longitudinal direction of FIG. 5 and connecting the second cooling device 22 and the third cooling device 23 are an example of third connecting members, and the hollow inside the cylindrical shape of the connecting members 90 is an example of third communicating holes. Furthermore, the two connecting members 90 provided on the fourth side in the longitudinal direction of FIG. 5 and connecting the second cooling device 22 and the third cooling device 23 are an example of fourth connecting members, and the hollow inside the cylindrical shape of the connecting members 90 is an example of fourth communicating holes.

[0045] <Function of Cooling Unit 3> In the cooling unit 3 configured as described above, the coolant that flows into the inlet joint 81 of the third cooling device 23 flows into the housing 71. Then, a portion of the coolant that flows into the housing 71 travels longitudinally within the housing 71 and flows out from the outlet joint 82. In addition, a portion of the coolant that flows into the housing 71 of the third cooling device 23 passes through the connecting member 90 provided on the second side of the housing 71 and flows into the housing 71 of the second cooling device 22.

[0046] A portion of the cooling liquid that has flowed into the housing 71 of the second cooling device 22 travels longitudinally within the housing 71, flows out through the connecting member 90 provided on the first side of the housing 71, and flows into the housing 71 of the third cooling device 23. In addition, a portion of the cooling liquid that has flowed into the housing 71 of the second cooling device 22 flows into the housing 70 of the first cooling device 21 through the connecting member 90 provided on the second side of the housing 71.

[0047] The cooling liquid that flows into the housing 70 of the first cooling device 21 flows longitudinally within the housing 70, flows out through the connecting member 90 provided on the first side of the housing 70, and flows into the housing 71 of the third cooling device 23.

[0048] In this way, while the coolant flows through the housing 71 of the third cooling device 23, it cools the heat generating elements 10 provided on both sides of the housing 71. Also, while the coolant flows through the housing 71 of the second cooling device 22, it cools the heat generating elements 10 provided on both sides of the housing 71. Also, while the coolant flows through the housing 70 of the first cooling device 21, it cools the heat generating elements 10 provided on both sides of the housing 70.

[0049] In the third embodiment, the cooling unit 3 is described in which three cooling devices are stacked, but a second cooling device 22 may be further added, and four or more cooling devices may be stacked.

[0050] As described above, the cooling unit 3 of the third embodiment includes the third cooling device 23 having the same structure as the second cooling device 22, the connecting member 90 that connects the first case 40 of the second cooling device 22 and the third case 60 of the third cooling device 23 and has a cavity formed therein that communicates between the first opening 47 in the base portion 41 of the first case 40 and the first opening 47 in the base portion 41 of the third case 60, and the connecting member 90 that connects the first case 40 of the second cooling device 22 and the third case 60 of the third cooling device 23 and has a cavity formed therein that communicates between the second opening 48 in the base portion 41 of the first case and the second opening 48 in the base portion 41 of the third case 60. As described above, the first case 40 and the second case 50 have the same shape except for the presence or absence of the first opening 47 and the second opening 48. Therefore, the first case 40 is manufactured by adding a process of opening the first opening 47 and the second opening 48 to the second case 50. This allows the manufacturing process for the first case 40 and the second case 50 to be the same except for the processes of opening the first opening 47 and the second opening 48. Therefore, a multi-layer cooling unit with three or more layers can be manufactured more inexpensively than when the shapes of the first case 40 and the second case 50 are different except for the shapes of the first opening 47 and the second opening 48.

[0051] In the first to third embodiments described above, the inlet joint 81 and the outlet joint 82 are provided in the cooling device on the top layer, but the shapes of the inlet joint 81 and the outlet joint 82 are not limited to the shapes described in the embodiments. For example, the shape of one or both of the inlet joint 81 and the outlet joint 82 may be the same shape as the shape of the connecting member 90. [Explanation of symbols]

[0052] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...cooling device, 2...cooling unit, 3...cooling unit, 21...first cooling device, 22...second cooling device, 23...third cooling device, 40...first case, 41, 51...base portion, 42, 52...side wall, 43, 53...flange, 44, 54...fin, 47...first opening, 48...second opening, 50...second case, 60...third case, 70, 71...housing, 80...joint, 81...inlet joint, 82...outlet joint, 90...connecting member

Claims

1. a first member having a plate-like first base portion, a first side wall protruding from an outer periphery of the first base portion in a direction intersecting with a plate surface, a first flange portion protruding outward from a tip end of the first side wall, and a plurality of first fins protruding beyond the first side wall from the first base portion in a direction intersecting with the plate surface; a second member having a plate-like second base portion, a second side wall protruding from an outer periphery of the second base portion in a direction intersecting with the plate surface, a second flange portion protruding outward from a tip end of the second side wall, and a plurality of second fins protruding beyond the second side wall from the second base portion in a direction intersecting with the plate surface; Equipped with a cooling device in which a second fin of the plurality of second fins is disposed between adjacent first fins of the plurality of first fins, and the first flange portion and the second flange portion are joined by laser welding in a state in which the first member and the second member are opposed to each other so that the first flange portion and the second flange portion are in contact with each other.

2. Two holes are formed in the first base portion of the first member, the holes penetrating a plate surface of the first base portion, 2. The cooling device according to claim 1, wherein an inflow member that allows refrigerant to flow into a space formed by the first member and the second member is joined by laser welding to a portion corresponding to one of the two holes on the side of the first base portion of the first member opposite to the side on which the second member is arranged, and an outflow member that allows refrigerant to flow out of the space is joined by laser welding to a portion corresponding to the other of the two holes.

3. a first member having a plate-like first base portion, a first sidewall protruding from an outer periphery of the first base portion in a direction intersecting with the plate surface, a first flange portion protruding outward from a tip of the first sidewall, and a plurality of first fins protruding beyond the first sidewall from the first base portion in a direction intersecting with the plate surface, and in which two holes penetrating the plate surface are formed in the first base portion; a plate-like second base portion, a second sidewall protruding from an outer periphery of the second base portion in a direction intersecting with the plate surface, and a first flange portion protruding outward from a tip of the second sidewall a second member having a second flange portion protruding outward from the second side wall and a plurality of second fins protruding from the second base portion beyond the second side wall in a direction intersecting the plate surface, wherein one second fin of the plurality of second fins is disposed between adjacent first fins of the plurality of first fins, and the first flange portion and the second flange portion are joined by laser welding in a state in which the first member and the second member are opposed to each other so that the first flange portion and the second flange portion are in contact with each other; a third member having the first member, a plate-shaped third base portion, a third sidewall protruding from an outer periphery of the third base portion in a direction intersecting with the plate surface, a third flange portion protruding outward from a tip of the third sidewall, and a plurality of third fins protruding from the third base portion beyond the third sidewall in a direction intersecting with the plate surface, and two holes penetrating the plate surface are formed in the third base portion, wherein one third fin of the plurality of third fins is disposed between adjacent first fins of the plurality of first fins, and the first flange portion and the third flange portion are joined by laser welding in a state in which the first member and the third member are opposed to each other so that the first flange portion and the third flange portion are in contact with each other; a first connecting member that connects the first member of the first cooling device and the third member of the second cooling device, and that has a first communication hole formed therein that communicates one of the two holes in the first base portion with one of the two holes in the third base portion; a second connecting member that connects the first member of the first cooling device and the third member of the second cooling device, and that has a second communication hole formed therein that communicates the other of the two holes in the first base portion with the other of the two holes in the third base portion; A cooling unit comprising:

4. A third cooling device having the same structure as the second cooling device; a third connecting member that connects the first member of the second cooling device and the third member of the third cooling device, and that has a third communication hole formed therein that connects one of the two holes in the first base portion and one of the two holes in the third base portion; a fourth connecting member that connects the first member of the second cooling device and the third member of the third cooling device, and that has a fourth communication hole formed therein that connects the other of the two holes in the first base portion and the other of the two holes in the third base portion; The cooling unit of claim 3 comprising:

5. an inflow member for causing a refrigerant to flow into a space formed by the first member and the third member is joined by laser welding to a portion corresponding to one of the two holes on the side opposite to the side on which the third member is arranged in the first base portion of the first member of the third cooling device, and an outflow member for causing the refrigerant to flow out of the space is joined by laser welding to a portion corresponding to the other of the two holes.

5. The cooling unit of claim 4.

Images