Conductive member with cooling structure

Abstract

To provide a conductive member with a cooling structure which can reduce the weight and the size.SOLUTION: A conductive member 1 with a cooling structure includes: a conductor plate 11; a groove member 12 which extends along a partial shape 11a of the conductor plate 11, has a shape such that a flow channel groove 121 constituting a part of a coolant flow channel 1a flowing a coolant therein is provided, and is formed of an insulating resin; a metal cover 13 that is a metal cover constituting a coolant flow channel 1a by blocking a groove opening 121a of the flow channel groove 121, and with which the conductor plate 11 is overlapped; a pair of coolant inlet and outlet 14 provided on the metal cover 13, and a heat transfer material 15 which is sandwiched between the metal cover 13 and the conductor plate 15, and is brought into close contact with the metal cover 13 and the conductor plate 11.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a conductive member with a cooling structure that connects a component terminal of an electric / electronic component to an electrical connection target while cooling itself. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there is known a cooling structure that transfers heat from a conductive member that connects the component terminal of an electric / electronic component to an electrical connection target to the bottom wall of a device housing to dissipate the heat (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The cooling structure of Patent Document 1 transfers heat from a metallic conductive member to the bottom wall via an insulating member, preventing leakage current while dissipating the heat from the conductive member. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-127302 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Here, in a conductive component with a cooling structure that employs a cooling structure that dissipates heat through the bottom wall of the above-mentioned device housing, it is necessary to form the bottom wall so that it has sufficient thickness and width for such heat dissipation, which tends to make the component heavy and large.

[0005] Therefore, in view of the above-mentioned problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a conductive member with a cooling structure that can be made lighter and smaller. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, the conductive member with cooling structure comprises a conductor plate formed in a strip shape from a conductive metal, one end of which is connected to a component terminal of a specific electric / electronic component and the other end of which is connected to an electrical connection target of the electric / electronic component to conduct electricity, a groove member formed of an insulating resin, which extends along at least a portion of the length of the conductor plate and has a shape provided with a flow groove that constitutes a part of a refrigerant flow path through which a refrigerant flows, and a metal cover that constitutes the refrigerant flow path by blocking a groove opening of the flow groove in the groove member, the metal cover on which the conductor plate is overlaid, a pair of refrigerant inlets and outlets provided in at least one of the groove member and the metal cover to flow the refrigerant in the refrigerant flow path, and a heat transfer material sandwiched between the metal cover and the conductor plate and in close contact with the metal cover and the conductor plate. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the above-mentioned electrically conductive member with a cooling structure, it is possible to reduce the weight and size. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a conductive member with a cooling structure according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] 2 is an exploded perspective view of the conductive member with a cooling structure shown in FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line V11-V11 in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, one embodiment of a conductive member with a cooling structure will be described.

[0010] Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a conductive member with a cooling structure according to one embodiment, and Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the conductive member with a cooling structure shown in Fig. 1. Also, Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line V11-V11 in Fig. 1.

[0011] The conductive member 1 with a cooling structure in this embodiment is a member for connecting each of the component terminals E11 of the relay, which is the electric / electronic component E1, to an electrical connection target of the electric / electronic component E1. The electric / electronic component E1 is provided with a pair of component terminals E11, and a pair of conductive members 1 with a cooling structure are provided in one-to-one correspondence with the pair of component terminals E11. Each conductive member 1 with a cooling structure includes a conductor plate 11, a groove member 12, a metal cover 13, a pair of refrigerant inlets and outlets 14, and a heat transfer material 15.

[0012] The conductor plate 11 is formed in a strip shape from a conductive metal such as copper, one end of which is connected to a component terminal E11 of a relay serving as the electric / electronic component E1, and the other end of which is connected to an electrical connection target of the electric / electronic component E1 to form a bus bar for electrical connection. Both ends are connected by screws, and each end is provided with a screw through hole 111 through which a fastening screw passes.

[0013] The groove member 12 is a member formed of insulating resin, and has a shape in which a flow path groove 121 is provided that constitutes a part of the refrigerant flow path 1a through which the refrigerant flows, extending along the partial shape 11a of the conductor plate 11 except for both ends in the length direction D11. The groove member 12 has a central groove portion 122 along the partial shape 11a of the conductor plate 11, and a pair of protruding groove portions 123 that protrude from both ends of the central groove portion 122 in the width direction D12 of the conductor plate 11, and has a C-shaped groove shape in a plan view seen from the conductor plate 11 side. Both ends of the conductor plate 11 where the screw through holes 111 are provided are arranged to protrude from the central groove portion 122 of the groove member 12 in the length direction D11.

[0014] The metal cover 13 is a cover made of a metal such as copper that configures the refrigerant flow path 1a by closing the groove opening 121a of the C-shaped flow path groove 121 in the groove member 12, and is a member on which the conductor plate 11 is placed. The metal cover 13 has a C-shaped plate shape in a plan view seen from the conductor plate 11 side, and includes a central cover portion 131 that closes the central groove portion 122, and a pair of protruding cover portions 132 that protrude from both ends of the central cover portion 131 and close a pair of protruding groove portions 123 one-to-one.

[0015] Here, in this embodiment, the groove member 12 has a recessed shape in the form of a step in which the central cover portion 131 of the metal cover 13 can be fitted in the groove opening 121a, at a portion of the opening edge 121a-1 excluding the pair of protruding groove portions 123. The protruding opening edge 121a-2 of the protruding groove portion 123 is contoured in substantially the same shape as the protruding cover portion 132 so that the protruding cover portion 132 is simply overlapped. The protruding cover portion 132 protrudes from a slit in the peripheral rib 121a-3 that forms a high position in the step in the portion of the opening edge 121a-1 and overlaps with the protruding opening edge 121a-2. The periphery of the metal cover 13 is joined to the portion of the opening edge 121a-1 and the pair of protruding opening edges 121a-2 by an adhesive having watertight performance. This joining forms a watertight joint 13a as shown in FIG. 3.

[0016] In this embodiment, three bead shapes extending in the length direction D11 of the conductor plate 11 are formed in the central cover portion 131 of the metal cover 13. As a result, the surface of the central cover portion 131 of the metal cover 13 on the refrigerant flow path side is a flow path side uneven surface 131a on which a plurality of convex portions 131a-1 (three in this embodiment) protruding toward the inside of the refrigerant flow path 1a are provided. Correspondingly, the surface of the central cover portion 131 on the conductor plate 11 side is a conductor side uneven surface 131b corresponding to the flow path side uneven surface 131a.

[0017] The pair of refrigerant inlets and outlets 14 are provided in at least one of the groove member 12 and the metal cover 13, and in this embodiment, only in the metal cover 13, in order to allow the refrigerant to flow through the refrigerant flow path 1a. Specifically, the pair of refrigerant inlets and outlets 14 are cylindrical protrusions provided in a one-to-one correspondence with a pair of protruding cover portions 132 of the metal cover 13.

[0018] In this embodiment, water, which is a conductive fluid, is used as the refrigerant. In addition, the flow path side uneven surface 131a of the metal cover 13 facing the inside of the refrigerant flow path 1a is subjected to an insulating treatment, for example, by coating with an insulating paint.

[0019] The heat transfer material 15 is a flexible sheet-like member sandwiched between the metal cover 13 and the conductor plate 11 and in close contact with the metal cover 13 and the conductor plate 11. As an example of the heat transfer material 15, for example, a heat transfer sheet of Tflex SF600 Series (registered trademark) by Laird Corporation can be used. As shown in FIG. 3, the heat transfer material 15 is sandwiched between the conductor side uneven surface 131b of the central cover portion 131 of the metal cover 13 and the conductor plate 11 and in close contact with the conductor side uneven surface 131b and the conductor plate 11. The conductor plate 11 is overlapped on the edge of the peripheral rib 121a-3 surrounding the central cover portion 131 in the groove member 12, with the heat transfer material 15 sandwiched between the conductor side uneven surface 131b of the metal cover 13 in a slightly crushed state. The edge of the peripheral rib 121a-3 and the conductor plate 11 are joined by an adhesive having watertight performance to form a watertight joint 111b.

[0020] According to the conductive member with cooling structure 1 of the embodiment described above, heat generated in the electric / electronic component E1 and transferred to the conductive plate 11 is cooled by being transferred to the refrigerant in the refrigerant flow path 1a via the metal cover 13 and the heat transfer material 15. According to this configuration, cooling is performed by the refrigerant, and the metal cover 13 only serves to transfer heat to the refrigerant, so that the metal cover 13, which tends to be heavy, can be of a minimum necessary size, thereby making it possible to reduce weight and size. In addition, in terms of forming the refrigerant flow path 1a by combining the lightweight groove member 12 made of resin with the metal cover 13, it is possible to achieve sufficient weight reduction and size reduction compared to the case of using a heavy object such as a metal cooling plate having a sufficient thickness and width for heat dissipation.

[0021] In this embodiment, a part of the opening edge 121a-1 of the groove opening 121a of the groove member 12 has a stepped recessed shape into which the metal cover 13 can be fitted. The conductive plate 11 is joined to the peripheral portion of the groove opening 121a in a state in which the conductive plate 11 is overlapped with the metal cover 13 with the heat transfer material 15 sandwiched therebetween. According to this configuration, the metal cover 13 is fitted into a part of the opening edge 121a-1 of the groove opening 121a, and therefore the size of the metal cover 13 can be suppressed to approximately the same as that of the groove opening 121a, thereby enabling further weight reduction and miniaturization.

[0022] In this embodiment, the surface of the metal cover 13 on the refrigerant flow path 1a side is the flow path side uneven surface 131a. With this configuration, by providing the flow path side uneven surface 131a on the metal cover 13, the contact area with the refrigerant is increased, thereby improving the cooling efficiency.

[0023] In this embodiment, the surface of the metal cover 13 facing the conductor plate 11 is the conductor-side uneven surface 131b, and the heat transfer material 15 is sandwiched between the conductor-side uneven surface 131b and the conductor plate 11 and is in close contact with both. According to this configuration, by providing the conductor-side uneven surface 131b on the metal cover 13, the contact area with the heat transfer material 15 is increased, thereby improving the cooling efficiency.

[0024] In this embodiment, the pair of refrigerant inlets and outlets 14 are cylindrical protrusions provided one-to-one on the pair of protruding cover parts 132 of the metal cover 13. With this configuration, the refrigerant inlets and outlets 14 are provided on the protruding cover parts 132 of the metal cover 13 that are separated from the conductive plate 11, so that the central cover part 131 that overlaps with the conductive plate 11 can sufficiently contribute to heat transfer to the refrigerant, thereby improving the cooling efficiency. Furthermore, by forming the refrigerant inlets and outlets 14 as cylindrical protrusions, it is possible to connect them to flow paths of other shapes, such as pipe shapes, and the degree of freedom in connecting the flow paths can be improved.

[0025] In this embodiment, the refrigerant is water, which is a conductive fluid, and an insulating treatment against the refrigerant is applied to the flow path side uneven surface 131a of the metal cover 13 facing the inside of the refrigerant flow path 1a. With this configuration, even if the metal cover 13 should come into contact with the conductor plate 11, the insulating treatment applied to the metal cover 13 can reliably prevent a situation in which the conductor plate 11 is short-circuited to other components via the refrigerant.

[0026] The above-described embodiment merely shows a representative form of the conductive member with a cooling structure. The conductive member with a cooling structure is not limited to this embodiment and can be modified in various ways.

[0027] For example, in the above-described embodiment, the conductive member with a cooling structure 1 for connecting each of a pair of component terminals E11 in a relay, which is an electric / electronic component E1, to an electrical connection target is illustrated as an example of the conductive member with a cooling structure. However, the conductive member with a cooling structure is not limited to this, and the electric / electronic component to be connected may be an electric component other than a relay, or may be another electronic component.

[0028] In the above-described embodiment, as an example of the conductive member with a cooling structure, a liquid-cooled conductive member 1 with a cooling structure in which water, which is a conductive liquid, flows in the coolant flow path 1a is exemplified. However, the conductive member with a cooling structure is not limited to this, and the coolant may be a non-conductive liquid or an air-cooling gas. When a non-conductive liquid or an air-cooling gas is used as the coolant, insulation treatment is not required on the inner surface of the metal cover that divides the coolant flow path. However, as described above, when water, which is a conductive fluid, is used as the coolant, insulation treatment is performed on the flow path side uneven surface 131a, which is the inner surface of the metal cover 13, to reliably prevent a short circuit between the conductive plate 11 and other components via the coolant.

[0029] In the above-described embodiment, as an example of the conductive member with a cooling structure, a conductive member with a cooling structure 1 in which the groove member 12 extends along a partial shape 11a excluding both ends of the conductive plate 11 is exemplified. However, the conductive member with a cooling structure is not limited to this, and may be one in which the groove member is formed along the entire length of a strip-shaped conductive plate.

[0030] In the above-described embodiment, the conductive member with a cooling structure 1 in which both of the pair of refrigerant inlets and outlets 14 are provided in the metal cover 13 is exemplified as an example of the conductive member with a cooling structure. However, the conductive member with a cooling structure is not limited to this, and one of the refrigerant inlets and outlets may be provided in one of the groove member and the metal cover, and the other of the refrigerant inlets and outlets may be provided in the other member. Alternatively, both of the pair of refrigerant inlets and outlets may be provided in the groove member.

[0031] In the above-described embodiment, as an example of the conductive member with a cooling structure, a conductive member with a cooling structure 1 is illustrated in which a part of the opening edge 121a-1 of the groove opening 121a of the groove member 12 has a stepped recessed shape into which the metal cover 13 can be fitted. However, the conductive member with a cooling structure is not limited to this, and a metal cover wider than the groove opening may simply be overlapped and joined to the groove opening without providing a stepped recess or the like in the groove opening of the groove member. However, as described above, by providing a stepped recess on a part of the opening edge 121a-1 of the groove opening 121a to fit the metal cover 13, the conductive member with a cooling structure 1 can be made even lighter and smaller. In the above-described embodiment, the stepped recess for fitting the metal cover 13 is provided only on a part of the opening edge 121a-1 of the groove opening 121a, but the location where the recess is formed is not limited to this, and the recess may be provided over the entire circumference of the opening edge.

[0032] In the above embodiment, the metal cover 13 having the flow path side uneven surface 131a on the side of the refrigerant flow path 1a is exemplified as an example of the metal cover. However, the metal cover is not limited to this, and the surface on the side of the refrigerant flow path may be a flat surface. However, as described above, the metal cover 13 having the flow path side uneven surface 131a increases the contact area with the refrigerant, thereby improving the cooling efficiency.

[0033] In the above embodiment, as an example of the metal cover, metal cover 13 is exemplified, in which the surface on the conductor plate 11 side is conductor side uneven surface 131b, and heat transfer material 15 is in close contact with this conductor side uneven surface 131b. However, the metal cover is not limited to this, and may be one in which the surface on the conductor plate side is a flat surface. However, as described above, metal cover 13 having conductor side uneven surface 131b increases the contact area with heat transfer material 15, thereby improving cooling efficiency.

[0034] In the above embodiment, as an example of the refrigerant inlet / outlet, the refrigerant inlet / outlet is a cylindrical protrusion provided on the protruding cover portion 132 of the metal cover 13 that is separated from the conductive plate 11. However, the refrigerant inlet / outlet is not limited to this, and may be provided so as to penetrate the conductive plate at a portion overlapping the conductive plate, and may have a shape other than a cylindrical protrusion, such as a square tube. However, as described above, by providing the refrigerant inlet / outlet 14 as a cylindrical protrusion on the protruding cover portion 132 that is separated from the conductive plate 11, the cooling efficiency can be improved, and by making the refrigerant inlet / outlet 14 a cylindrical protrusion, the degree of freedom regarding the flow path connection can be improved. [Explanation of symbols]

[0035] 1. Conductive material with cooling structure 1a Coolant flow path 11 Conductor plate 11a Partial shape 11b,13a Water tight joint 12 Groove member 13 Metal cover 14 Refrigerant inlet / outlet 15 Heat Transfer Materials 111 Screw through hole 121 Flow channel 121a Groove opening 121a-1 Opening edge 121a-2 Protruding opening edge 121a-3 Peripheral ribs 122 Central groove part 123 Protruding groove part 131 Center cover part 131a Flow passage side uneven surface 131a-1 Convex part 131b Conductor side uneven surface 132 Protruding cover part D11 Length direction D12 Width direction E1 Electrical and electronic components E11 Component terminal

Claims

1. a conductor plate formed in a strip shape from a conductive metal, one end of which is connected to a component terminal of a predetermined electric / electronic component and the other end of which is connected to an electrical connection target of the electric / electronic component to conduct electricity; a groove member formed of an insulating resin and having a shape in which a flow path groove is provided that extends along at least a portion of the shape of the conductor plate in the length direction and constitutes a part of a refrigerant flow path through which a refrigerant flows; a metal cover that configures the refrigerant flow passage by closing a groove opening of the flow passage groove in the groove member, the metal cover being overlaid with the conductive plate; a pair of refrigerant inlets and outlets provided in at least one of the groove member and the metal cover for allowing the refrigerant to flow through the refrigerant flow path; a heat transfer material sandwiched between the metal cover and the conductive plate and in close contact with the metal cover and the conductive plate; A conductive member with a cooling structure comprising:

2. the groove member has at least a part of an opening edge of the groove opening that is recessed in a stepped shape into which the metal cover can be fitted, 2. The conductive member with cooling structure according to claim 1, wherein the conductive plate is joined to the peripheral portion of the groove opening of the groove member in a state in which the conductive plate is overlapped on the metal cover with the heat transfer material sandwiched therebetween.

3. The electrically conductive member with a cooling structure according to claim 1 , wherein the metal cover has an uneven surface on the side of the coolant flow path.

4. the metal cover has an uneven surface on the conductive plate side, 2. The conductive member with a cooling structure according to claim 1, wherein the heat transfer material is sandwiched between the uneven surface on the conductive plate side and the conductive plate and is in close contact with the uneven surface on the conductive plate side and the conductive plate.

5. The flow channel in the groove member has a pair of protruding groove portions that protrude away from the conductive plate, 2. The conductive member with a cooling structure according to claim 1, wherein the pair of coolant inlets and outlets are cylindrical projections provided in a one-to-one correspondence with a pair of protruding cover portions that close the pair of protruding groove portions of the metal cover.

6. the refrigerant is an electrically conductive fluid; 2. The electrically conductive member with a cooling structure according to claim 1, wherein the metal cover has a surface facing an inside of the coolant flow path that is insulated from the coolant.

Images