Cooling device

Abstract

To improve water tightness in a case where a member of a cooling device molded by die casting is joined by laser welding.SOLUTION: A cooling device includes: a case molded by die casting; a cover which covers at least a part of an opening of the case and is molded by die casting; and a connection member which connects the case with the cover. The connection member is molded by a wrought material. The connection member and the cover are joined by a laser beam being radiated to the connection member. The connection member and the case are joined by irradiating the connection member with a laser beam.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Patent document 1 describes a heat sink that includes a plurality of heat dissipation members each having a linear base portion and a plurality of protrusions that protrude from the base portion and are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the base portion, and the base portions of adjacent heat dissipation members are in contact with each other, and the base portions of the plurality of heat dissipation members are laser welded to join the plurality of heat dissipation members together. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-48641 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Cooling systems are increasingly being required to have more complex structural specifications than before in order to improve installation ease and consolidate functions, and as a result, the use of die-cast parts is being considered for water-cooled cooling systems as well. However, die-cast materials sometimes retain gas compressed during casting. When such die-cast materials are laser welded, the gas inside the die-cast material can turn into bubbles, creating voids in the weld bead. This can lead to poor welding, which is a defect that appears both externally and internally at the weld, and can reduce the watertightness of the weld. An object of the present invention is to improve watertightness when die-cast cooling device components are joined by laser welding. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] A cooling device to which the present invention is applicable comprises a case molded by die-casting, a cover molded by die-casting and covering at least a portion of the opening of the case, and a connecting member connected to the case and the cover, wherein the connecting member is molded from an extruded material, the connecting member and the cover are joined by irradiating the connecting member with laser light, and the connecting member and the case are joined by irradiating the connecting member with laser light. Here, the case has a bottom, a side protruding from the bottom in a direction intersecting the bottom, and a flange protruding outward from the side, and the cover is placed on the side, and with the connecting member placed on the cover and the flange of the case, the connecting member and the cover are laser welded, and the connecting member and the flange may also be laser welded. Furthermore, the case may have a bottom and a first side protruding from the bottom in a direction intersecting the bottom, the cover may have a top and a second side protruding from the top in a direction intersecting the top, and may be fitted into the case so that the second side is positioned inside the first side, and with the connecting member placed on the second side of the cover and the first side of the case, the connecting member and the first side are laser welded together, and the connecting member and the second side are laser welded together. Furthermore, the case may have a bottom and a first side protruding from the bottom in a direction intersecting the bottom, the cover may have a top and a second side protruding from the top in a direction intersecting the top, and may be fitted into the case so that the second side is positioned inside the first side, and with the connecting member placed on the first side of the case, the connecting member and the first side are laser welded, and the connecting member and the side of the cover are laser welded. In addition, the case may have a bottom and a side protruding from the bottom in a direction intersecting the bottom, the cover may be placed on the side, and the connecting member may be positioned outside the overlapping portion of the cover and the case, and the connecting member and the cover may be laser welded, and the connecting member may be laser welded to the side of the case. In addition, the case may have a bottom and a side protruding from the bottom in a direction intersecting the bottom, the cover may be placed on the case so as to cover a portion of the opening of the case, and the connecting member may be placed on the case and the cover so as to cover a portion of the opening of the case, and the connecting member and the cover may be laser welded together, and the connecting member and the case may also be laser welded together. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] According to the present invention, watertightness can be improved when die-cast cooling device components are joined by laser welding. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 is an example of a diagram illustrating an example of a cooling device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] 2 is an example of an exploded view of the cooling device according to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a cross section taken along line III-III in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a welding point of the cooling device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is an example of an exploded view of a cooling device according to a second embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a view showing an example of a cross section taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 5 when the cooling device is assembled. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is an example of an exploded view of a cooling device according to a third embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the inside of a cover according to a third embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a cross section taken along line IX-IX in FIG. 7 when the cooling device is assembled. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is an example of an exploded view of a cooling device according to a fourth embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a cross section taken along line XI-XI in FIG. 10 when the cooling device is assembled. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is an example of an exploded view of a cooling device according to a fifth embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a cross section taken along line XIII-XIII in FIG. 12 when the cooling device is assembled. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. First Embodiment FIG. 1 is an example of a diagram showing an example of a cooling device 1 according to a first embodiment. The cooling device 1 according to the first embodiment includes a case 10 that contains a coolant, a cover 20 that covers the opening of the case 10, and a connecting member 30 that connects the case 10 and the cover 20. The cooling device 1 cools a heat generating element P attached to the outer surface of the cover 20 using a coolant flowing inside the case 10. The heat generating element P can be, for example, a system on a chip (SoC) mounted on a printed circuit board that constitutes an electronic control unit (ECU). The heat generating element P can also be, for example, a power semiconductor device such as an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT). The heat generating element P can also be, for example, an IGBT module in which an IGBT and a control circuit that controls the IGBT are packaged, or an intelligent power module in which the IGBT module and a self-protection function are packaged.

[0009] Hereinafter, the direction in which the heat generating element P is stacked in the cooling device 1 may be referred to as the "vertical direction," the heat generating element P side may be referred to as the "upper side," and the cooling device 1 side may be referred to as the "lower side." Furthermore, in the rectangular parallelepiped cooling device 1, the longitudinal direction of the rectangle perpendicular to the vertical direction may be simply referred to as the "longitudinal direction," and the lateral direction of the rectangle perpendicular to the vertical direction may be simply referred to as the "lateral direction." The cooling device 1 is provided with an inlet 14 that connects the inside and outside of the cooling device 1 and allows the coolant to flow into the inside, and an outlet 15 that allows the coolant to flow out to the outside. These inlet 14 and outlet 15 are provided on one side of the cooling device 1 in the longitudinal direction. The side on which the inlet 14 and outlet 15 are provided may be referred to as "one side" in the longitudinal direction, and the side opposite to this one side may be referred to as "the other side" in the longitudinal direction. Furthermore, when one side in the longitudinal direction is placed in front as shown in Figure 1, the right side may be referred to as the "right side" in the lateral direction, and the left side may be referred to as the "left side" in the lateral direction. Furthermore, when there is no need to distinguish between the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction, the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction may be collectively referred to as the "horizontal direction." In addition, in the cooling device 1, the inside that accommodates the cooling liquid may be referred to as the inside, and the outside of the cooling device 1 may be referred to as the outside.

[0010] (Case 10) FIG. 2 is an example of an exploded view of the cooling device 1 according to the first embodiment. The case 10 includes a flat bottom 11, side portions 12 protruding upward from the ends of the bottom 11 in a direction intersecting the bottom 11, and flange portions 13 protruding outward from the tips of the side portions 12. The case 10 also includes the inlet 14 and outlet 15 described above. The case 10 also includes a plurality of straightening plates 16 protruding upward in a direction intersecting the bottom 11.

[0011] The bottom 11 has a rectangular shape when viewed from above in the vertical direction. The side portion 12 is made up of four side walls 12E, 12F, 12G, and 12H that protrude upward in the vertical direction from the four sides of the end of the bottom portion 11. The side portion 12 has a predetermined thickness, and is formed with a side end face 12T, which is the end face of the tip of the side portion 12. The side end face 12T is formed to be a surface parallel to the plate surface of the bottom portion 11. In the case 10, the bottom portion 11 and the side portion 12 form a recess, and an opening that is open at the top is formed.

[0012] The flange portion 13 is disposed on the surface of the side end face 12T and is disposed on the outer side of the surface of this side end face 12T. The flange portion 13 protrudes outward from the surface of the side end face 12T. The flange portion 13 is a plate-shaped portion, and the thickness of this flange portion 13 is shown in FIG. 3 as a plate thickness D1. The flange portion 13 has an annular shape when viewed from above in the vertical direction. The outer periphery of the flange portion 13 when viewed from above in the vertical direction may be referred to as the flange outer periphery 13a, and the inner periphery of the flange portion 13 may be referred to as the flange inner periphery 13b.

[0013] The inlet 14 is a through-hole provided in the side wall 12E, and is provided on the right side of the side wall 12E in the short direction. Outlet 15 is a through-hole provided in side wall 12E. Outlet 15 is provided on the left side of side wall 12E in the short-side direction.

[0014] The plurality of straightening vanes 16 protrude from the bottom 11 in a direction perpendicular to the plate surface of the bottom 11. The straightening vanes 16 are positioned so that the cooling water flowing in from the inlet 14 flows to the outlet 15. The straightening vanes 16 are formed so that their tips are at the height of the side end surface 12T of the side portion 12. Here, "height" refers to the position in the up-down direction. In this embodiment, one of the plurality of straightening vanes 16, the straightening vane 16a, extends from the side wall 12E to the other side in the longitudinal direction, dividing the interior of the cooling device 1 into a right-side flow path and a left-side flow path. The straightening vane 16a extends to just before the side wall 12G opposite the side wall 12E, and the right-side flow path and the left-side flow path communicate at the other side in the longitudinal direction. The cooling water flowing in from the inlet 14 flows from one side of the right-side flow path to the other side, and then flows to the left-side flow path at the other side. The coolant then flows through the left flow path from the other side to the one side and flows out from the outlet 15.

[0015] The case 10 is integrally formed by die casting. The case 10 may be made of aluminum, copper, or the like.

[0016] (Cover 20) The cover 20 is a flat plate-shaped member and includes a cover main body 21 that covers the opening of the case 10, a cover welding portion 22 that is provided around the cover main body 21 and where welding is performed, and a mounting base 23 that serves as a base for mounting the heating element P (see FIG. 1).

[0017] The cover main body 21 has a thickness obtained by adding a thickness D2 (described later) of the connecting member 30 to a thickness D1 of the flange portion 13, and this thickness is shown as thickness D3 in Fig. 3. When viewed from above in the vertical direction, the cover main body 21 has a substantially rectangular shape, and the periphery of the rectangle is sometimes referred to as the cover main body outer periphery 21a.

[0018] The thickness of the cover weld 22 is thinner than the thickness D3 of the cover main body 21. The thickness of the cover weld 22 is the same as the thickness D1 of the flange 13. The outer periphery of the cover weld 22 as seen from above in the vertical direction is referred to as the weld outer periphery 22a. The weld outer periphery 22a is formed to fit into the flange inner periphery 13b.

[0019] The mounting base 23 is provided with a plurality of fins for promoting heat dissipation on the surface (inner surface) opposite to the side where the heat generating element P is attached. Examples of the shape of the plurality of fins include a cylindrical or rectangular columnar shape. Also, examples of the shape of the plurality of fins include a flat plate shape. Also, the shape of the fins is not limited to one, and the plurality of fins may be composed of fins of different shapes.

[0020] The cover 20 is integrally formed by die casting. The cover 20 may be made of aluminum, copper, or the like, but the same material as that used for the case 10 is used.

[0021] (Connecting member 30) The connecting member 30 has an annular shape when viewed from above in the vertical direction. The outer periphery of this annular connecting member 30 may be referred to as the connecting portion outer periphery 30a, and the inner periphery thereof may be referred to as the connecting portion inner periphery 30b. The connecting portion inner periphery 30b is formed to fit into the cover body outer periphery 21a, and the connecting portion outer periphery 30a has the same shape as the flange outer periphery 13a. The connecting member 30 is a member having a predetermined thickness in the vertical direction, and the size of this thickness is shown in FIG. 3 as a plate thickness D2.

[0022] The connecting member 30 is formed from a wrought material. Here, a wrought material is a member formed by rolling, forging, drawing, extruding, or other processes using metal. The connecting member 30 can be made of aluminum, copper, or the like, but the same material as that used for the case 10 and the cover 20 is used.

[0023] (Assembling method) Next, the assembly procedure of the cooling device 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a cross section taken along line III-III in FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a welded portion of the cooling device 1 according to the first embodiment. First, the cover 20 is placed on top of the case 10 so as to close the opening of the case 10. More specifically, the cover 20 is placed so that the underside of the cover weld 22 of the cover 20 contacts the side end surface 12T of the side portion 12 of the case 10. At this time, the tip of the straightening plate 16 contacts the inner surface (the lower side in the up-down direction) of the cover 20. Furthermore, as described above, the outer periphery 22a of the weld is formed to fit into the inner periphery 13b of the flange portion 13, and the cover 20 fits into the flange portion 13.

[0024] As described above, the plate thickness D1 of the flange portion 13 and the plate thickness D1 of the cover weld portion 22 are equal. Therefore, the height of the upper surface of the flange portion 13 and the height of the upper surface of the cover weld portion 22 are aligned. Next, the connecting member 30 is placed on the cover 20 and the case 10. More specifically, the connecting member 30 is positioned so that the lower surface of the connecting member 30 is in contact with and straddles the upper surface of the flange portion 13 of the case 10 and the upper surface of the cover weld portion 22 of the cover 20. As described above, the cover main body outer periphery 21a and the connecting portion inner periphery 30b fit together, and the cover main body portion 21 fits into the connecting member 30.

[0025] In this state, the connecting member 30 and the cover 20 are laser-welded, and the connecting member 30 and the flange portion 13 of the case 10 are laser-welded. More specifically, a laser beam L is irradiated onto the area where the cover weld portion 22 of the cover 20 and the connecting member 30 are in contact. The laser beam L is emitted from a laser head 70, and is irradiated toward the connecting member 30 from above in the vertical direction. This laser beam L forms a molten portion Y2. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, laser welding is performed by moving the laser head 70 along the shape of the cover weld portion 22 while irradiating the connecting member 30 with the laser beam.

[0026] Similarly, a laser beam L is irradiated onto the contact point between the flange portion 13 of the case 10 and the connecting member 30. A molten zone Y1 is formed by this laser beam L. Laser welding is performed, for example, by moving a laser head 70 along the shape of the flange portion 13 while irradiating the connecting member 30 with laser beam, as shown in FIG.

[0027] The cooling device 1 configured as described above includes a case 10 formed by die-casting, a cover 20 formed by die-casting and covering the opening of the case 10, and a connecting member 30 connected to the case 10 and the cover 20. The connecting member 30 is formed from a wrought material, and the connecting member 30 and the cover 20 are joined by irradiating the connecting member 30 with a laser beam L, and the connecting member 30 and the case 10 are joined by irradiating the connecting member 30 with the laser beam L. In this manner, in the cooling device 1, the laser beam L is irradiated onto the connecting member 30, which is made of a wrought material. The connecting member 30 is formed from a wrought material, which contains less gas than a die-cast material and generates fewer bubbles when irradiated with the laser beam L, making welding defects less likely to occur. Therefore, the cooling device 1 according to the first embodiment has higher welding quality and higher watertightness than a die-cast material irradiated with a laser beam.

[0028] Furthermore, in the cooling device 1, the case 10 has a bottom 11, side portions 12 protruding from the bottom 11 in a direction intersecting the bottom 11, and flange portions 13 protruding outward from the side portions 12, and the cover 20 is placed on the side portions 12, and with the connecting member 30 placed on the cover 20 and the flange portions 13 of the case 10, the connecting member 30 and the cover 20 are laser welded together, and the connecting member 30 and the flange portions 13 are laser welded together. This allows the connecting member 30 to be joined to the case 10 and the cover 20 with high accuracy.

[0029] In this way, the case 10 and the cover 20 are formed by die casting. This allows the case 10 and the cover 20 to have complex shapes. For example, the rectifying plate 16 can be integrally formed with the case 10, and bosses for fastening can be integrally formed with the cover 20. By using die-cast materials in this way, the cooling device 1 can be required to have more complex structural specifications than before in order to improve installation ease and integrate functions. Furthermore, the plate thickness D1 of the flange portion 13 and the cover weld portion 22 and the plate thickness D2 of the connecting member 30 are designed to be thicknesses that do not allow the fusion zones Y1 and Y2 to penetrate through.

[0030] <Second embodiment> FIG. 5 is an example of an exploded view of the cooling device 2 according to the second embodiment. The cooling device 2 according to the second embodiment includes a case 210 that contains a coolant, a cover 220 that covers the opening of the case 210, and a connecting member 230 that connects the case 210 and the cover 220.

[0031] The case 210 includes a bottom 211 and a first side 212 protruding from the bottom 211 in a direction intersecting the bottom 211. The case 210 also includes an inlet 214, an outlet 215, and a plurality of straightening plates 216. The first side portion 212 is made up of four side walls 212E, 212F, 212G, and 212H that protrude from the four sides of the rectangular bottom portion 211 in directions perpendicular to the plate surface of the bottom portion 211. The first side portion 212 has a predetermined thickness, and is formed with a first side end surface 212T that is the end surface of the tip of the first side portion 212. The first side end surface 212T is formed so as to be a surface parallel to the plate surface of the bottom portion 211. When the first side portion 212 is viewed from above in the vertical direction, the outer periphery may be referred to as a first side outer periphery 212a, and the inner periphery may be referred to as a first side inner periphery 212b. Case 210 has a recess formed by bottom 211 and first side 212, and an opening that is open at the top.

[0032] The current plate 216 protrudes in a direction perpendicular to the plate surface of the bottom portion 211, and is formed so that its tip is at the same height as the first side end surface 212T of the first side portion 212.

[0033] The case 210 is integrally formed by die casting. Examples of the material of the case 210 include aluminum and copper.

[0034] The cover 220 includes a top portion 221 and a second side portion 222 that protrudes from the top portion 221 in a direction intersecting the top portion 221 . Top 221 is a flat plate-like portion, and the outer periphery of top 221 is smaller than the opening of case 210. When top 221 is viewed from above in the vertical direction, it has a substantially rectangular shape, and this side may be referred to as top outer periphery 221a. The second side portion 222 includes a second side flange portion 222C extending outward from the top portion 221, and a second side main body 222D protruding from the second side flange portion 222C in a direction intersecting with the top portion 221. The second side flange 222C extends outward from the peripheral edge of the top 221, and the outer end of the second side flange 222C may be referred to as the second side outer periphery 222a. The second side outer periphery 222a is formed to fit into the first side inner periphery 212b.

[0035] The second side body 222D extends downward in the up-down direction from the outer end of the second side flange 222C. In addition, the second side body 222D is partially cut away on one side in the longitudinal direction so as not to impede the inflow and outflow of the coolant.

[0036] The cover 220 is integrally formed by die casting. The material of the cover 220 can be, for example, aluminum or copper, but the same material as that used for the case 210 is used.

[0037] The connecting member 230 has an annular shape when viewed from above and below. The outer periphery of this annular connecting member 230 may be referred to as a connecting portion outer periphery 230a, and the inner periphery thereof may be referred to as a connecting portion inner periphery 230b. The connecting portion inner periphery 230b is formed to fit into the top outer periphery 221a. The connecting portion outer periphery 230a has the same shape as the first side outer periphery 212a of the first side portion 212.

[0038] The connecting member 230 is formed from a wrought material. The connecting member 230 may be made of aluminum, copper, or the like, but the same material as the case 210 and the cover 220 is used.

[0039] (Assembling method) Next, a method for assembling the cooling device 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a cross section taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 5 when the cooling device 2 is assembled. First, the case 210 and the cover 220 are combined. As described above, the second side outer periphery 222a is formed to be fitted into the first side inner periphery 212b, and the second side 222 of the cover 220 is fitted into the case 210 so that it is positioned inside the first side 212 of the case 210. The inside of the top 221 contacts the tips of the plurality of current plates 216 of the case 210 , and the cover 220 is supported by the case 210 .

[0040] The connecting member 230 is disposed across the first side end surface 212T, which is the end surface of the first side portion 212 of the case 210, and the second side portion 222 of the cover 220. With the connecting member 230 placed on the cover 220 and the case 210, a laser is irradiated onto the connecting member 230 side, and the connecting member 230 and the first side 212 of the case 210 are welded together by creating a molten zone Y1, and a laser is irradiated onto the connecting member 230 side, and the connecting member 230 and the second side 222 of the cover 220 are welded together by creating a molten zone Y2.

[0041] The cooling device 2 configured as described above includes a case 210 formed by die-casting, a cover 220 formed by die-casting and covering the opening of the case 210, and a connecting member 230 connected to the case 210 and the cover 220, the connecting member 230 being formed from a wrought material, and the connecting member 230 and the cover 220 being joined by irradiating the connecting member 230 with a laser beam, and the connecting member 230 and the case 210 being joined by irradiating the connecting member 230 with a laser beam. The cooling device 2 is manufactured without irradiating a laser beam to a die-cast material. Therefore, the cooling device 2 according to the second embodiment has higher welding quality and is more watertight than when a die-cast material is irradiated with a laser beam.

[0042] In the cooling device 2 configured as described above, the case 210 has a bottom 211 and a first side 212 protruding from the bottom 211 in a direction intersecting the bottom 211, and the cover 220 has a top 221 and a second side 222 protruding from the top 221 in a direction intersecting the top 221. The cover 220 is fitted into the case 210 such that the second side 222 is positioned inside the first side 212, and with the connecting member 230 placed on the second side 222 of the cover 220 and the first side 212 of the case 210, the connecting member 230 and the first side 212 are laser welded together, and the connecting member 230 and the second side 222 are laser welded together. This allows the cooling device 2 according to the second embodiment to join the connecting member 230 to the case 210 and the cover 220 with high accuracy.

[0043] In this way, the case 210 and the cover 220 are formed by die casting. This allows the case 210 and the cover 220 to have complex shapes. For example, the rectifying plate 216 can be integrally formed with the case 210, and bosses for fastening and the like can be integrally formed with the cover 220. By using die-cast materials in this way, it is possible to require the cooling device 2 to have more complex structural specifications than before in order to improve installation ease and integrate functions.

[0044] <Third embodiment> FIG. 7 is an example of an exploded view of the cooling device 3 according to the third embodiment. The cooling device 3 according to the third embodiment includes a case 310 that contains a coolant, a cover 320 that covers the opening of the case 310, and a connecting member 330 that connects the case 310 and the cover 320.

[0045] (Case 310) The case 310 includes a bottom 311 and a first side 312 that protrudes from the bottom 311 in a direction intersecting the bottom 311. The case 310 also includes a plurality of rectifying plates 316. The bottom portion 311 is a plate-like portion and has a rectangular shape. The first side portion 312 is made up of four side walls that protrude from the four sides of the rectangular bottom portion 311 in directions perpendicular to the plate surface of the bottom portion 311. The first side portion 312 has a predetermined thickness and forms a first side end surface 312T, which is the end surface of the tip of the first side portion 312. The first side end surface 312T is configured to be a surface parallel to the plate surface of the bottom portion 311. When viewed from above in the vertical direction, the outer periphery of the first side portion 312 may be referred to as a first side outer periphery 312a, and the inner periphery of the first side portion 312 may be referred to as a first side inner periphery 312b. Case 310 has a recess formed by bottom 311 and first side 312, and an opening that is open at the top. The plurality of rectifying plates 316 each protrude in a direction perpendicular to the plate surface of the bottom portion 311. The height of the rectifying plates 316 is lowered at a position facing the mounting base 323 of the cover 320.

[0046] Case 310 is integrally formed by die casting and may be made of aluminum, copper, or the like.

[0047] (Cover 320) The cover 320 will now be described with reference to FIG. 8 in addition to FIG. FIG. 8 is an example of a diagram showing the inside of a cover 320 according to the third embodiment. Cover 320 includes top portion 321 and second side portion 322 protruding from top portion 321 in a direction intersecting top portion 321. Cover 320 also includes mounting base 323 serving as a base for mounting heating element P, inlet 324 connecting the inside and outside of cooling device 3 to allow coolant to flow into the inside, and outlet 325 for allowing coolant to flow out to the outside. The cover 320 also includes a partition 326 that protrudes from the top 321 in a direction that intersects with the top 321. The cover 320 also includes a plurality of fins 327 for dissipating heat.

[0048] The top portion 321 is a plate-like portion and has a rectangular shape. The outer periphery of this top 321 when viewed from above in the up-down direction may be referred to as top outer periphery 321a. This top outer periphery 321a is formed so as to be fitted into first side inner periphery 312b. The second side portion 322 is made up of four side walls that protrude from the four sides of the rectangular top portion 321 in directions perpendicular to the plate surface of the top portion 321. Inlet 324 is provided in top 321, on one side in the longitudinal direction in Fig. 7. Inlet 324 communicates between the inside and outside of cooling device 3. Outlet 325 is provided in top 321, on one side in the longitudinal direction in Fig. 7. Inlet 324 is provided on the right side of outlet 325 in the short direction.

[0049] The partition 326 is disposed along the longitudinal direction and is provided between the inlet 324 and the outlet 325. The partition 326 forms a flow path through which the coolant that flows in from the inlet 324 flows and flows out from the outlet 325. A plurality of fins 327 are provided on the back side (inner surface) of mounting base 323 provided on the outside of cover 320, and protrude perpendicularly to the plate surface of top portion 321. In the example shown in FIG. 8, fins 327 are cylindrical. However, the shape of fins 327 is not particularly limited, and may be other shapes such as a rectangular pillar or a plate. As described above, the height of current plate 316 of case 310 is lowered at a position facing mounting base 323 of cover 320, and fins 327 are disposed in the lowered portion of current plate 316.

[0050] Cover 320 is integrally formed by die casting. The material of cover 320 can be, for example, aluminum or copper, but the same material as that used for case 310 is used.

[0051] (Connecting member 330) The connecting member 330 is an annular member having an L-shaped cross section. The horizontal bar of the L shape is referred to as an L-lower portion 331, and the vertical bar of the L shape is referred to as an L-upper portion 332. When viewed from above in the vertical direction, the L-shaped lower part 331 has a shape that matches the shape of the first side end surface 312T. When viewed from above in the vertical direction, the outer periphery of the L-shaped lower part 331 may be referred to as L-shaped lower part outer periphery 331a, and the inner periphery of the L-shaped lower part 331 may be referred to as L-shaped lower part inner periphery 331b. Furthermore, the L-shaped upper portion 332 protrudes perpendicularly from the L-shaped lower portion 331. The L-shaped upper portion 332 is provided on the L-shaped lower portion 331 on the side of the L-shaped lower inner periphery 331b. The connecting member 330 is made of a wrought material. The connecting member 330 may be made of aluminum, copper, or the like, but the same material as the case 310 and the cover 320 is used.

[0052] (Assembling method) Next, a method for assembling the cooling device 3 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a cross section taken along line IX-IX in FIG. 7 when the cooling device 3 is assembled. First, the case 310 and the cover 320 are combined. As described above, the top outer periphery 321a is formed to be fitted into the first side inner periphery 312b, and the second side 322 is fitted into the case 310 so as to be positioned inside the first side 312b. Then, the connecting member 330 is placed on the first side portion 312 of the case 310. More specifically, the L-shaped lower portion 331 of the connecting member 330 is brought into contact with the first side portion end surface 312T, and the inside of the L-shaped upper portion 332 is brought into contact with the outside of the second side portion 322. In this state, a laser beam is irradiated onto the L-shaped lower part 331 from above in the vertical direction, and a fusion zone Y1 is generated, thereby welding the connecting member 330 and the case 310. Furthermore, a laser beam is irradiated onto the L-shaped upper part 332 from the horizontal direction (from the left side in the short direction in FIG. 9), and a fusion zone Y2 is generated, thereby welding the connecting member 330 and the cover 320.

[0053] The cooling device 3 configured as described above includes a case 310 formed by die-casting, a cover 320 formed by die-casting and covering the opening of the case 310, and a connecting member 330 connected to the case 310 and the cover 320, the connecting member 330 being formed from a wrought material, and the connecting member 330 and the cover 320 being joined by irradiating the connecting member 330 with a laser beam, and the connecting member 330 and the case 310 being joined by irradiating the connecting member 330 with a laser beam. The cooling device 3 is manufactured without irradiating a laser beam to a die-cast material. Therefore, the cooling device 3 according to the third embodiment has higher welding quality and is more watertight than when a die-cast material is irradiated with a laser beam.

[0054] Furthermore, in the cooling device 3, the case 310 has a bottom 311 and a first side 312 protruding from the bottom 311 in a direction intersecting the bottom 311, and the cover 320 has a top 321 and a second side 322 protruding from the top 321 in a direction intersecting the top 321, and is fitted into the case 310 so that the second side 322 is positioned inside the first side 312. With the connecting member 330 placed on the first side 312 of the case 310, the connecting member 330 and the first side 312 are laser welded together, and the connecting member 330 and the side surface of the cover 320 are laser welded together. As a result, the cooling device 3 according to the third embodiment can join the connecting member 330 to the case 310 and the cover 320 with high accuracy.

[0055] In this way, the case 310 and the cover 320 are formed by die casting. This allows the case 310 and the cover 320 to have complex shapes. For example, the rectifying plate 316 can be integrally formed in the case 310, and the fins 327 provided on the inner surface of the mounting base 323, the bosses for fastening, and the like can be integrally formed in the cover 320. By using die-cast materials in this way, it is possible to require the cooling device 3 to have more complex structural specifications than before in order to improve installation ease and integrate functions.

[0056] <Fourth embodiment> FIG. 10 is an example of an exploded view of the cooling device 4 according to the fourth embodiment. The cooling device 4 includes a case 410 that contains a cooling liquid, a cover 420 that covers the opening of the case 410, and a connecting member 430 that connects the case 410 and the cover 420.

[0057] (Case 410) The case 410 includes a bottom 411 and side portions 412 protruding from the bottom 411 in a direction intersecting the bottom 411. The bottom 411 and side portions 412 form a recess in the case 410, and an opening portion that is open at the top is formed. The case 410 also includes an inlet 414 that connects the inside and outside of the cooling device 4 and allows the coolant to flow into the inside, and an outlet 415 that connects the inside and outside of the cooling device 1 and allows the coolant to flow out to the outside. The case 410 also includes a plurality of rectifying plates 416 that protrude upward in a direction intersecting the bottom 411. These plurality of rectifying plates 416 have a shape similar to that of the rectifying plates 16 of the case 10 of the cooling device 1 according to the first embodiment described above.

[0058] Case 410 is integrally formed by die casting and may be made of aluminum, copper, or the like.

[0059] (Cover 420) Cover 420 is a flat member that covers the opening of case 410. Cover 420 includes mounting base 423 for mounting heating element P (see FIG. 1). The outer periphery of cover 420 has the same shape as the outer periphery of side end surface 412T, which is the end surface at the tip of side portion 412.

[0060] Cover 420 is integrally formed by die casting. The material of cover 420 can be, for example, aluminum or copper, but the same material as that used for case 410 is used.

[0061] (Connecting member 430) When viewed from above in the vertical direction, connecting member 430 has an annular shape. When viewed from above in the vertical direction, the outer periphery of connecting member 430 is sometimes referred to as connecting member outer periphery 430a, and the inner periphery is sometimes referred to as connecting member inner periphery 430b. Connecting member inner periphery 430b is formed to fit into the outer periphery of case 410 and the outer periphery of cover 420. The connecting member 430 has a predetermined length in the vertical direction, which is a length that allows laser welding to be performed at least at two different positions in the vertical direction.

[0062] The connecting member 430 is formed from a wrought material. Here, the wrought material is a member formed by rolling, forging, drawing, extruding, or the like of a metal. The connecting member 430 may be made of aluminum, copper, or the like, but the same material as that used for the case 410 and the cover 420 is used.

[0063] (Assembling method) Next, a method for assembling the cooling device 4 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 is a view showing an example of a cross section taken along line XI-XI in FIG. 10 when the cooling device 4 is assembled. First, the cover 420 is placed on the side portion 412. More specifically, the inner surface of the cover 420 is placed in contact with the side end surface 412T of the side portion 412, and the two are overlapped. The connecting member 430 is placed outside this overlapping portion. In this state, a laser beam is irradiated onto the connecting member 430 from the horizontal direction, welding the case 410 and the connecting member 430, and welding the cover 420 and the connecting member 430. More specifically, the laser beam is irradiated onto two different positions in the vertical direction of the connecting member 430, and a molten portion Y2 is formed on the upper side of the two different positions, welding the connecting member 430 and the cover 420. Furthermore, a molten portion Y1 is formed on the lower side of the two different positions, welding the connecting member 430 and the case 410.

[0064] The cooling device 4 configured as described above includes a case 410 formed by die-casting, a cover 420 formed by die-casting and covering the opening of the case 410, and a connecting member 430 connected to the case 410 and the cover 420, the connecting member 430 being formed from a wrought material, and the connecting member 430 and the cover 420 being joined by irradiating the connecting member 430 with a laser beam, and the connecting member 430 and the case 410 being joined by irradiating the connecting member 430 with a laser beam. The cooling device 4 is manufactured without irradiating a laser beam to a die-cast material. Therefore, the cooling device 4 according to the fourth embodiment has higher welding quality and is more watertight than when a die-cast material is irradiated with a laser beam.

[0065] In the cooling device 4 configured as above, the case 410 has a bottom 411 and side portions 412 protruding from the bottom 411 in a direction intersecting the bottom 411, the cover 420 is placed on the side portions 412, and with the connecting member 430 positioned outside the overlapping portion of the cover 420 and the case 410, the connecting member 430 and the cover 420 are laser welded together, and the connecting member 430 and the side portions 412 of the case 410 are laser welded together. As a result, the cooling device 4 according to the fourth embodiment can join the connecting member 30 to the case 10 and the cover 20 with high accuracy.

[0066] In this way, the case 410 and the cover 420 are formed by die casting. This allows the case 410 and the cover 420 to have complex shapes. For example, the rectifying plate 416 can be integrally formed with the case 410, and bosses for fastening can be integrally formed with the cover 420. By using die-cast materials in this way, it is possible to require the cooling device 4 to have more complex structural specifications than before in order to improve installation ease and integrate functions.

[0067] <Fifth embodiment> FIG. 12 is an example of an exploded view of the cooling device 5 according to the fifth embodiment. The cooling device 5 includes a case 510 that contains a cooling liquid, a cover 520 that covers a part of the opening of the case 510, and a connecting member 530 that connects the case 510 and the cover 520.

[0068] (Case 510) Case 510 includes bottom 511 and side portions 512 protruding from bottom 511 in a direction intersecting bottom 511. Case 510 also includes a plurality of rectifying plates 516 protruding upward in a direction intersecting bottom 511. Case 510 also includes cover placement portion 517 on which cover 20 is placed.

[0069] The side portion 512 is made up of four side walls 512E, 512F, 512G, and 512H that protrude from the four sides of the end of the bottom portion 511 in directions perpendicular to the plate surface of the bottom portion 511. The side portion 512 has a predetermined thickness, and is formed with a side end surface 512T that is the end surface of the tip of the side portion 512. The side end surface 512T is formed so as to be a surface parallel to the plate surface of the bottom portion 511. When the case 510 is viewed from above in the vertical direction, the outer periphery of the side portion 512 may be referred to as an outer side surface 512a, and the inner periphery thereof may be referred to as an inner side surface 512b. Case 510 has a recess formed by bottom 511 and side 512, and an opening that is open at the top.

[0070] The plurality of rectifying plates 516 protrude from the bottom 511 in a direction perpendicular to the plate surface of the bottom 511. The rectifying plates 516 are arranged so that cooling water flowing in from an inlet 524 (described later) flows to an outlet 525 (described later). The rectifying plates 516 are formed so that their tips are at the same height as the side end surfaces 512T of the side portions 512. In this embodiment, one of the plurality of rectifying plates 516, ie, a rectifying plate 516a, extends from the side wall 512E to the other side in the longitudinal direction, dividing the interior of the cooling device 1 into a right-side flow path and a left-side flow path. The rectifying plate 516a extends to near the center in the longitudinal direction, and the right-side flow path and the left-side flow path communicate with each other on the other side in the longitudinal direction. The rectifying plate 516 can be, for example, flat, as shown in FIG. 12 .

[0071] The cover arrangement portion 517 is provided on one side in the longitudinal direction in FIG. 12 and protrudes in a direction perpendicular to the plate surface of the bottom portion 511. The cover arrangement portion 517 is lower than the side portion 512 by a distance D4 shown in FIG. 13. The cover arrangement portion 517 may constitute a part of the flow path. Also, a part of the rectifying plate 516 may function as the cover arrangement portion 517.

[0072] Case 510 is integrally formed by die casting, and may be made of aluminum, copper, or the like.

[0073] (Cover 520) Cover 520 includes cover main body 521 and cover welding portion 522, which is provided around cover main body 521 and serves as a portion where welding is performed. Cover 520 also includes inlet 524, which connects the inside and outside of cooling device 5 and allows the coolant to flow into the inside, and outlet 525, which connects the inside and outside of cooling device 1 and allows the coolant to flow out to the outside. The cover main body 521 has a generally rectangular shape when viewed from above. The outer periphery of this rectangular shape may be referred to as a cover main body outer periphery 521a. The cover main body 521 is provided with an inlet 524 and an outlet 525. Cover weld 522 has a thickness thinner than cover main body 521. The thickness of cover weld 522 is shown as thickness D4 in Fig. 13. The outer periphery of cover weld 522 when viewed from above in the vertical direction may be referred to as weld periphery 522a.

[0074] Cover 520 is integrally formed by die casting. The material of cover 520 can be, for example, aluminum or copper, but the same material as that of case 510 is used.

[0075] (Connecting member 530) The connecting member 530 is a plate-like member, and its thickness is shown as plate thickness D5 in FIG. 13. The connecting member 530 has an opening 531 that is an opening provided on one side in the longitudinal direction. The shape of the opening 531 when viewed from above in the up-down direction may be referred to as the connecting portion inner periphery 530b. The connecting portion inner periphery 530b is formed to fit into the cover main body outer periphery 521a of the cover 520. In addition, the outer periphery of the connecting member 530 has the same shape as the side outer periphery 512a of the case 510.

[0076] The connecting member 530 is formed from a wrought material. The connecting member 530 may be made of aluminum, copper, or the like, but the same material as that of the case 510 and the cover 520 is used.

[0077] (Assembling method) FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a cross section taken along line XIII-XIII in FIG. 12 when the cooling device 5 is assembled. The cover 520 is placed on the case 510 so as to cover a part of the opening of the case 510. More specifically, the cover 520 is placed on the cover placement portion 517 of the case 510. Then, connecting member 530 is placed on case 510 and cover 520 so as to cover a portion of the opening of case 510. More specifically, the vicinity of the outer periphery of connecting member 530 contacts side end surface 512T of case 510. In addition, the vicinity of opening 531 of connecting member 530 contacts cover weld 522. In this state, laser light is irradiated from above in the vertical direction to join the case 510 and the connecting member 530, and to join the cover 520 and the connecting member 530.

[0078] The cooling device 5 configured as described above includes a case 510 formed by die-casting, a cover 520 formed by die-casting and covering a portion of the opening of the case 510, and a connecting member 530 connected to the case 510 and the cover 520, the connecting member 530 being formed from a wrought material, and the connecting member 530 and the cover 520 being joined by irradiating the connecting member 530 with a laser beam, and the connecting member 530 and the case 510 being joined by irradiating the connecting member 530 with a laser beam. The cooling device 5 is manufactured without irradiating a laser beam onto a die-cast material. Therefore, the cooling device 5 according to the fifth embodiment has higher welding quality and is more watertight than when a die-cast material is irradiated with a laser beam.

[0079] Furthermore, in the cooling device 5, the case 510 has a bottom 511 and a side 512 protruding from the bottom 511 in a direction intersecting the bottom 511, the cover 520 is placed on the case 510 so as to cover a part of the opening of the case 510, and the connecting member 530 is placed on the case 510 and the cover 520 so as to cover a part of the opening of the case 510, and in this state, the connecting member 530 and the cover 520 are laser welded together, and the connecting member 530 and the case 510 are laser welded together. As a result, the cooling device 5 according to the fifth embodiment can join the connecting member 530 to the case 510 and the cover 520 with high accuracy.

[0080] In this way, the case 510 and the cover 520 are formed by die casting. This allows the case 510 and the cover 520 to have complex shapes. For example, the rectifying plate 516 can be integrally formed in the case 510, and the inlet 524 and the outlet 525 can be integrally formed in the cover 520. By using die-cast materials in this way, it is possible to require the cooling device 5 to have more complex structural specifications than before in order to improve installation ease and integrate functions. Furthermore, the plate thickness D4 of the cover welded portion 522 and the plate thickness D5 of the connecting member 530 are designed to be thicknesses that do not allow the fusion zone Y2 to penetrate through. [Explanation of symbols]

[0081] 1...cooling device, 2...cooling device, 3...cooling device, 4...cooling device, 5...cooling device, 10...case, 11...bottom, 12...side, 13...flange portion, 20...cover, 30...connecting member, 210...case, 211...bottom, 212...first side, 220...cover, 221...top, 222...second side, 222C...second side flange portion, 222D...second side main body, 222a...second Two side outer periphery, 230...connecting member, 310...case, 311...bottom, 312...first side, 321...top, 322...second side, 330...connecting member, 410...case, 411...bottom, 412...side, 420...cover, 430...connecting member, 510...case, 511...bottom, 512...side, 517...cover placement portion, 520...cover, 530...connecting member, 531...opening

Claims

1. A die-cast case and a cover that covers at least a portion of the opening of the case and is formed by die casting; a connecting member connected to the case and the cover; Equipped with The connecting member is formed of an extruded material, and the connecting member and the cover are joined by irradiating the connecting member with a laser beam, and the connecting member and the case are joined by irradiating the connecting member with a laser beam. Cooling device.

2. the case has a bottom, a side portion protruding from the bottom in a direction intersecting the bottom, and a flange portion protruding outward from the side portion, the cover rests on the side; With the connecting member placed on the cover and the flange portion of the case, the connecting member and the cover are laser welded together, and the connecting member and the flange portion are laser welded together. The cooling device of claim 1 .

3. the case has a bottom and a first side protruding from the bottom in a direction intersecting the bottom, the cover has a top and a second side protruding from the top in a direction intersecting the top, and is fitted into the case so that the second side is positioned inside the first side; With the connecting member placed on the second side portion of the cover and the first side portion of the case, the connecting member and the first side portion are laser welded together, and the connecting member and the second side portion are laser welded together. The cooling device of claim 1 .

4. the case has a bottom and a first side protruding from the bottom in a direction intersecting the bottom, the cover has a top and a second side protruding from the top in a direction intersecting the top, and is fitted into the case so that the second side is positioned inside the first side; With the connecting member placed on the first side portion of the case, the connecting member and the first side portion are laser welded together, and the connecting member and the side surface of the cover are laser welded together. The cooling device of claim 1 .

5. the case has a bottom and a side protruding from the bottom in a direction intersecting the bottom, the cover rests on the side; With the connecting member disposed outside the overlapping portion between the cover and the case, the connecting member and the cover are laser welded together, and the connecting member and the side portion of the case are laser welded together. The cooling device of claim 1 .

6. the case has a bottom and a side protruding from the bottom in a direction intersecting the bottom, the cover is placed on the case so as to cover a part of the opening of the case, In a state where the connecting member is placed on the case and the cover so as to cover a part of the opening of the case, the connecting member and the cover are laser welded together, and the connecting member and the case are laser welded together. The cooling device of claim 1 .

Images