converter

Abstract

The converter includes a housing and a heat dissipation passage disposed in the housing and having a flow path formed therein through which a refrigerant flows, the end of the heat dissipation passage having a shape that protrudes from the outer surface of the housing, a rotation prevention portion disposed at the end of the heat dissipation passage, and a protrusion formed on the outer surface of the rotation prevention portion that protrudes outward further than other areas.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present embodiment relates to a converter.

[0002] [Background technology]

[0003] The most common electrical systems in an automobile are the engine electrical systems (starting system, ignition system, charging system) and lighting systems. However, in recent years, as vehicles have become more electronically controlled, there has been a trend toward most systems, including the chassis electrical systems, being electric and electronic.

[0004] Various electrical equipment installed in automobiles, such as lamps, audio, heaters, and air conditioners, are powered by the battery when the vehicle is stopped, and by a generator when the vehicle is running; at these times, the generating capacity of the 14V power supply system is used as the normal power supply voltage.

[0005] Recently, with the development of the information technology industry, various new technologies (motor power steering, Internet, etc.) aimed at increasing the convenience of automobiles have been introduced into vehicles, and it is expected that the development of new technologies that allow the maximum use of current automobile systems will continue in the future.

[0006] Regardless of whether they are soft or hard types, hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) are equipped with a low voltage DC-DC converter to supply electrical loads (12V). Also, the DC-DC converter, which acts as a generator (alternator) in a general gasoline vehicle, steps down the high voltage of the main battery (usually a high voltage battery of 144V or more) and supplies 12V to the electrical loads.

[0007] A DC-DC converter is an electronic circuit device that converts a DC power source of one voltage into a DC power source of another voltage, and is used in a variety of fields, including automotive electrical equipment and television receivers.

[0008] The converter's exterior is formed by a housing. Many electronic components are arranged inside the housing. The electronic components generate heat when they are operated. Heat can cause overload of the electronic components, impairing their setting functions and inducing failure.

[0009] The converter includes a refrigerant flow path through which a refrigerant flows to dissipate heat from components. The refrigerant flow path is disposed within the housing and has a refrigerant inlet and a refrigerant outlet at both ends. A refrigerant supply part that supplies a refrigerant and a refrigerant recovery part that discharges the refrigerant that has flowed through the refrigerant flow path to the outside and recovers it are coupled to both ends of the refrigerant flow path.

[0010] Therefore, a structure for preventing any rotation is required in the connections between the refrigerant supply unit and the refrigerant inlet unit, and between the refrigerant recovery unit and the refrigerant discharge unit, that is, connections having different configurations.

[0011] Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0012] This embodiment aims to provide a converter that can prevent any rotation of components connected to the refrigerant flow path, firmly connect multiple components to each other, and enable smooth inflow and discharge of refrigerant.

[0013] [Means for solving the problem]

[0014] The converter of this embodiment includes a housing and a heat dissipation passage disposed in the housing and having a flow path formed therein through which a refrigerant flows, the end of the heat dissipation passage has a shape that protrudes from the outer surface of the housing, a rotation prevention portion is disposed at the end of the heat dissipation passage, and a protrusion that protrudes outward further than other areas is formed on the outer surface of the rotation prevention portion.

[0015] The protrusions may be provided in plurality and may be arranged opposite to each other.

[0016] A groove may be arranged on the outer surface of the rotation prevention portion, the groove being recessed inwardly relative to other areas.

[0017] A plurality of the grooves may be provided, each of the grooves being disposed on either side of the protrusion.

[0018] The rotation prevention portion may be formed to have a smaller cross-sectional area than other regions of the heat dissipation passage.

[0019] The anti-rotation portion may include a connecting pipe coupled thereto.

[0020] The connecting pipe may include a guide that protrudes outwardly relative to other regions, and the rotation prevention portion may be disposed inside the guide.

[0021] The rotation prevention portion and the heat dissipation passage may be integrally formed.

[0022] A sum of the circumferential lengths of the plurality of grooves may be greater than a circumferential length of the protrusion.

[0023] The heat dissipation passage may be integrally formed with the housing.

[0024] Effect of the Invention

[0025] In this embodiment, the rotation prevention structure is integrally formed at the end of the heat dissipation passage, so that a separate part for preventing rotation is not required, which has the advantage of improving production efficiency.

[0026] Also, by forming appropriate tolerances via multiple grooves on both ends of the protrusion, there is an advantage that it can be compatible with external configurations of various sizes.

[0027] [Brief description of the drawings]

[0028] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of a converter according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a converter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a view of FIG. 2 from a different angle.

[0031] [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the top surface of a housing according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the bottom surface of a housing according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] [Figure 6] 4 is an enlarged view of a refrigerant inlet or outlet area formed on a side surface of a housing according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG.

[0034] [Figure 7] 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a connection between a connecting pipe and a refrigerant supplying part, and a connection between a connecting pipe and a refrigerant collecting part according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG.

[0035] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0036] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0037] However, the technical concept of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described, but may be embodied in various different forms, and one or more of the components of the embodiments may be selectively combined or substituted within the scope of the technical concept of the present invention.

[0038] Furthermore, terms (including technical and scientific terms) used in the embodiments of the present invention may be interpreted in a meaning that can be commonly understood by a person having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention belongs, unless clearly defined and described otherwise, and commonly used terms, such as terms defined in a dictionary, may be interpreted in light of the contextual meaning of the relevant art.

[0039] In addition, the terms used in the embodiments of the present invention are intended to describe the embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention. In this specification, the singular form can include the plural form unless otherwise specified in the phrase, and when it is described as "A and (and) at least one (or more) of B and C", it can include one or more of all possible combinations of A, B, and C.

[0040] Additionally, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), (b), etc. may be used to describe components of embodiments of the present invention.

[0041] Such terms are used merely to distinguish a component from other components, and do not limit the essence, order, or sequence of the components.

[0042] Furthermore, when a component is described as being "coupled," "coupled," or "connected" to another component, it includes not only cases where the component is directly coupled, coupled, or connected to the other component, but also cases where the component is "coupled," "coupled," or "connected" by another component between the component and the other component.

[0043] In addition, when described as being formed or disposed "above (above) or below (below)" each component, "above (above)" or "below (below)" includes not only the case where two components are in direct contact with each other, but also the case where one or more other components are formed or disposed between the two components. In addition, when described as "above (above) or below (below)," it can include not only the upper direction but also the lower direction based on one component.

[0044] FIG. 1 is an oblique view showing the appearance of a converter according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an exploded oblique view of a converter according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a view showing FIG. 2 from a different angle, FIG. 4 is an oblique view showing the top surface of a housing according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is an oblique view showing the bottom surface of a housing according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a refrigerant inlet or outlet area formed on the side of a housing according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is an exploded oblique view for explaining the connection between a connecting tube and a refrigerant supply portion, and a connecting tube and a refrigerant recovery portion according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0045] 1 to 7, the converter 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention may have an outer shape formed by a housing 100. The housing 100 may be made of a metal material. A space 102 may be formed in the housing 100 in which at least one component for driving the converter 10 is disposed. The space 102 may be disposed on an upper surface of the housing 100.

[0046] A refrigerant flow path 112 may be formed on the lower surface of the housing 100. The refrigerant flow path 112 may include a space through which a refrigerant flows. The refrigerant flow path 112 has a flow path of the refrigerant defined from one end to the other end, and may include a plurality of regions having different cross-sectional areas. At least a portion of the refrigerant flow path 112 may open downward to the housing 100.

[0047] The housing 100 may include a heat dissipation passage in which the refrigerant passage 112 is formed. The heat dissipation passage may include a first heat dissipation passage 110 and a second heat dissipation passage 120.

[0048] In detail, the first heat dissipation passage 110 and the second heat dissipation passage 120 protruding from both ends of the first heat dissipation passage 110 may be disposed on the lower surface of the housing 100. The refrigerant flow passage 112 may be disposed in a space within the first heat dissipation passage 110 and a space within the second heat dissipation passage 120, respectively.

[0049] The first heat dissipation passage 110 may have a rectangular pipe shape and a lower surface thereof may open downward to the housing 100. The first heat dissipation passage 110 may have a region that is bent at least once. The first heat dissipation passage 110 may have a cross section formed in an approximately inverted U shape.

[0050] A heat dissipation cover 190 for covering a flow path 112 in the first heat dissipation passage 110 may be disposed on a lower surface of the housing 100. A seal member (not shown) may be disposed between the heat dissipation cover 190 and the first heat dissipation passage 110. The cross-sectional shape of the heat dissipation cover 190 may correspond to the cross-sectional shape of the first heat dissipation passage 110.

[0051] The second heat dissipation passage 120 may have a region that protrudes from both ends of the first heat dissipation passage 110 and at least a portion of which protrudes outward from a side surface of the housing 100. The second heat dissipation passage 120 may have a pipe shape with a circular cross section, and the flow path 112 may be formed inside. The cross-sectional area of ​​the second heat dissipation passage 120 may be smaller than the cross-sectional area of ​​the first heat dissipation passage 110. The cross-sectional area of ​​the flow path 112 formed in the first heat dissipation passage 110 may be larger than the cross-sectional area of ​​the flow path 112 formed in the second heat dissipation passage 120.

[0052] The second heat dissipation passage 120 may include a 2-1 heat dissipation passage 122 disposed at one end of the first heat dissipation passage 110 and a 2-2 heat dissipation passage 124 disposed at the other end of the first heat dissipation passage 110. Therefore, the refrigerant flowing into the flow path 112 through the 2-1 heat dissipation passage 122 may circulate through the first heat dissipation passage 110 and be discharged to the outside through the 2-2 heat dissipation passage 124. The 2-1 heat dissipation passage 122 may be named a refrigerant inlet passage, and the 2-2 heat dissipation passage 124 may be named a refrigerant outlet passage.

[0053] The first heat dissipation passage 110 and the second heat dissipation passage 120 may have an area that at least partially overlaps with a component disposed in the space within the housing 100 .

[0054] The first heat dissipation passage 110 and the second heat dissipation passage 120 may be integrally formed with the housing 100 .

[0055] A cover 200 may be coupled to an upper surface of the housing 100. The cover 200 may be disposed to cover the space 102. The cover 200 may be screwed to the housing 100. A seal member (not shown) may be disposed between the cover 200 and the housing 100 to prevent external foreign matter from entering the space 102.

[0056] At least one electronic component may be disposed in the space 102. As an example, a printed circuit board 300 may be disposed in the space 102. The printed circuit board 300 may be formed in a plate shape, and at least one component may be disposed on an upper surface or a lower surface. The printed circuit board 300 may be disposed such that at least a portion of the printed circuit board 300 vertically overlaps with the first heat dissipation passage 110 or the second heat dissipation passage 120. The electronic component may generate heat when driven.

[0057] A connector 360 may be disposed on an outer surface of the housing 100. At least a portion of the connector 360 may be coupled to an upper surface of the housing 100. The connector 360 may include a bracket 361, a plurality of pins 362 disposed to protrude upward from an upper surface of the bracket 361, and partitions 364 that partition the plurality of pins 362 from each other.

[0058] One end of the pins 362 may protrude upward from an upper surface of the bracket 361, and the other end may extend into the housing 100 through a space in the bracket 361 to be connected to the printed circuit board 300. External terminals may be coupled to the pins 362, whereby high voltage power may be provided to the converter 10, low voltage power converted within the converter 10 may be provided to the external terminal, and a ground structure of a ground region between components within the converter 10 and other components may be realized.

[0059] In addition, the converter 10 may further include a signal terminal for transmitting and receiving an electrical signal between the converter 10 and another component.

[0060] As described above, at least a portion of the second heat dissipation passage 120 may be disposed on the outer surface of the housing 100. An end of the second heat dissipation passage 120 may be disposed on the outer surface of the housing 100. A hole (not shown) penetrating from the inner surface to the outer surface may be formed in a side surface of the housing 100, and the second heat dissipation passage 120 may be disposed to penetrate the hole.

[0061] In summary, it can be understood that a heat dissipation passage is disposed on the side surface of the housing 100, protruding outward from other regions and having the flow passage 112 formed on the inside.

[0062] Anti-rotation parts 150 may be formed at both ends of the heat dissipation passage protruding to the outside of the housing 100. The anti-rotation parts 150 may be formed to have a smaller cross-sectional area than the heat dissipation passage, i.e., the second heat dissipation passage 120. The anti-rotation parts 150 may have a circular cross-sectional shape. The anti-rotation parts 150 may be formed integrally with the heat dissipation passage.

[0063] The rotation prevention part 150 may include a protrusion 153. The protrusion 153 may have a shape that protrudes outward from the outer circumferential surface of the rotation prevention part 150 more than other regions. A radial length from the center of the flow passage 112 to the outer surface of the rotation prevention part 150 may be formed to be smaller than a radial length from the center of the flow passage 112 to the outer surface of the protrusion 153.

[0064] The protrusion 153 may have a rectangular cross-sectional shape. With respect to the flow direction of the refrigerant, the length of the protrusion 153 may correspond to the length of the rotation prevention portion 150. A plurality of the protrusions 153 may be provided and arranged opposite to each other. For example, in a side view of the housing 100, one of the plurality of protrusions 153 may be arranged at the 12 o'clock direction and another at the 6 o'clock direction.

[0065] The rotation prevention portion 150 may include a groove 155. The groove 155 may be recessed inward from an outer surface of the rotation prevention portion 150. A bottom surface of the groove 155 may be disposed to have a step with respect to the outer surface of the rotation prevention portion 150 in the radial direction.

[0066] A plurality of grooves 155 may be provided, and may be disposed on both sides of a single protruding portion 153. The plurality of grooves 155 may be disposed opposite each other with respect to the protruding portion 153. The sum of the circumferential lengths of the plurality of grooves 155 may be greater than the circumferential length of the protruding portion 153.

[0067] A spigot 180 may be connected to both ends of the heat dissipation passage. The spigot 180 may be formed in a pipe shape. The spigot 180 may be made of the same material as the housing 100, or may be made of a different material from the material of the housing 100.

[0068] The connecting pipe 180 may include a circular body 182 and a guide 184 formed on an outer surface of the body 182. One end of the body 182 may be connected to the heat dissipation passage, and the other end may be connected to a refrigerant providing part 510 (see FIG. 7) or a refrigerant collecting part 520, which will be described later. The body 182 may have a pipe shape such that a space through which the refrigerant flows is formed therein.

[0069] The guide 184 may be disposed between one end and the other end of the body 182 and may have a shape that protrudes outward from other regions. The guide 184 may have a ring-shaped cross section and may be formed to have a cross-sectional area larger than that of the body 182. The rotation prevention part 150 may be disposed inside the guide 184.

[0070] A refrigerant providing unit 510 or a refrigerant collecting unit 520 may be coupled to the connecting pipe 180. The refrigerant providing unit 510 is coupled to the connecting pipe 180 disposed at one end of the heat dissipation passage and may provide a refrigerant to the passage 112 in the heat dissipation passage. The refrigerant collecting unit 520 is coupled to the connecting pipe 180 disposed at the other end of the heat dissipation passage and may collect the refrigerant discharged from the passage 112 in the heat dissipation passage.

[0071] The refrigerant providing part 510 and the refrigerant collecting part 520 each include a hole that receives the rotation preventing part 150, and a groove to which the protrusion 153 is coupled may be formed on an inner surface of the hole. Thus, the engagement between the protrusion 153 and the groove can prevent the refrigerant providing part 510 and the refrigerant collecting part 520 from arbitrarily rotating in a state of being coupled to the heat dissipation passage.

[0072] In addition, there is an advantage that compatibility with external configurations of various sizes can be achieved by forming a tolerance with the protrusion 153 in the circumferential direction via the groove 155 formed on the outer surface of the rotation prevention portion 150. That is, since the bottom surface of the groove 155 is formed with a step in the radial direction with respect to the outer surface of the rotation prevention portion 150, there is an advantage that it is possible to accommodate the occurrence of a tolerance in the width direction of the protrusion 153.

[0073] Although it has been described above that all components constituting the embodiments of the present invention are combined or operated in combination, the present invention is not necessarily limited to such an embodiment. That is, all components may be selectively combined and operated in one or more combinations within the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, the terms "comprise", "comprise", "have" and the like described above mean that the relevant components may be present, unless otherwise specified, and therefore should be interpreted as including other components, not excluding other components. All terms, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention belongs, unless otherwise defined. Terms commonly used, such as terms defined in a dictionary, should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with the contextual meaning of the relevant art, and should not be interpreted as idealized or overly formal unless expressly defined in the present invention.

[0074] The above description is merely an illustrative example of the technical concept of the present invention, and various modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the essential characteristics of the present invention, if one has ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention belongs. Therefore, the embodiments disclosed in the present invention are for illustration purposes, not for limiting the technical concept of the present invention, and the scope of the technical concept of the present invention is not limited by such embodiments. The scope of protection of the present invention should be interpreted according to the appended claims, and all technical concepts within the scope equivalent thereto should be interpreted as being included in the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. Housing and a heat dissipation passage disposed in the housing, the heat dissipation passage having a flow path through which a refrigerant flows therein; an end of the heat dissipation passage has a shape protruding from an outer surface of the housing; A rotation prevention portion is disposed at an end of the heat dissipation passage, A converter, wherein a protrusion that protrudes outward further than other regions is formed on an outer surface of the rotation prevention portion.

2. The converter according to claim 1 , wherein the protrusions are provided in a plurality of parts and are arranged opposite to each other.

3. The converter according to claim 1 , wherein a groove is provided on an outer surface of the rotation prevention portion, the groove being recessed inwardly relative to other areas.

4. The converter according to claim 3 , wherein a plurality of the grooves are provided, and the grooves are disposed on both sides of the protrusion.

5. The converter according to claim 1 , wherein the rotation prevention portion is formed to have a cross-sectional area smaller than other areas of the heat dissipation passage.

6. The converter of claim 1 including a manifold coupled to the anti-rotation portion.

7. the connecting pipe includes a guide that protrudes outward from other regions, The converter of claim 6 , wherein the anti-rotation portion is disposed inside the guide.

8. The converter according to claim 1 , wherein the rotation prevention portion and the heat dissipation passage are integrally formed.

9. The converter of claim 4 , wherein a sum of the circumferential lengths of the plurality of grooves is greater than a circumferential length of the protrusion.

10. The converter of claim 1 , wherein the heat dissipation passage is integrally formed with the housing.

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