cooler
The cooler's innovative design with inclined and horizontal joint surfaces addresses manufacturing cost issues by preventing brazing material loss and eliminating the need for specialized welding, enhancing cost-effectiveness and efficiency.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-03-28
- Publication Date
- 2026-03-06
AI Technical Summary
The existing coolers for batteries face challenges in manufacturing costs due to the difficulty in brazing and welding the cooling plate to the upper covers, as the vertical surfaces require additional holders or specialized equipment, leading to increased expenses.
The cooler design features a cooling plate with partition walls and openings that are joined to lids with inclined or horizontal surfaces, reducing the likelihood of brazing material fallout and eliminating the need for specific welding orientations, thus lowering manufacturing costs.
This design reduces manufacturing costs by minimizing material loss during brazing and eliminating the need for specialized welding equipment, while maintaining effective refrigerant flow and sealing.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
[Technical Field]
[0001] One aspect of the present invention relates to a cooler for cooling a battery or the like. [Background technology]
[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a cooler for cooling batteries and the like. This cooler includes a flat cooling plate having a refrigerant passage along the longitudinal direction, and a pair of upper lids joined to the cooling plate and having a refrigerant inlet and a refrigerant outlet communicating with the refrigerant passage. A pair of cutouts are formed on both longitudinal ends of the cooling plate, opening the upper and longitudinal ends except for both widthwise wall portions. A pair of upper lids are joined to the pair of cutouts by brazing. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]
[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6494134 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]
[0004] The cooling plate of the cooler described in Patent Document 1 is formed in a flat shape by an upper piece, a lower piece, and a pair of side walls. The upper surface of the upper piece and both longitudinal end faces of the lower piece and the pair of side walls form the joining surfaces of the cooling plate to be joined to the pair of upper covers. However, while the upper surface of the upper piece is a horizontal surface, the longitudinal end faces of the lower piece and the pair of side walls are vertical surfaces. Therefore, when brazing the cooling plate to the pair of upper covers, the brazing filler metal is likely to fall off from the vertical longitudinal end faces of the lower piece and the pair of side walls. This necessitates a holder to hold the brazing filler metal, which increases manufacturing costs.
[0005] Here, it is also possible to join the cooling plate and the pair of upper lids by welding. However, the welding directions for the upper surface of the upper piece, which is a horizontal surface, and the welding directions for the lower piece and both longitudinal end faces of the pair of side walls, which are vertical surfaces, are perpendicular to each other. In other words, the upper surface of the upper piece, which is a horizontal surface, needs to be welded vertically, and the lower piece and both longitudinal end faces of the pair of side walls, which are vertical surfaces, need to be welded horizontally. This requires large welding equipment, which increases manufacturing costs.
[0006] Therefore, an object of one aspect of the present invention is to provide a cooler that can reduce manufacturing costs. [Means for solving the problem]
[0007] A cooler according to one aspect of the present invention is as follows.
[0008] [1] a cooling plate portion having a plurality of partition walls extending in a longitudinal direction and partitioning the refrigerant passage in a width direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction; and an opening that opens the refrigerant passage in a first longitudinal direction that is one of the longitudinal directions and a first height direction that is one of height directions perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and the width direction; and a lid portion joined to the cooling plate portion so as to close the opening in the cooling plate portion, wherein the joining surface of the cooling plate portion with the lid portion faces toward the first height direction rather than the longitudinal direction.
[0009] In the cooler [1], the opening of the cooling plate is closed by joining the lid to the cooling plate. Here, the opening opens the refrigerant passage in the first longitudinal direction and the first height direction, so the joining surface of the cooling plate has a portion that is displaced in the height direction. However, the joining surface of the cooling plate faces more toward the first height direction than the longitudinal direction. Therefore, when the cooling plate and the lid are joined by brazing, the brazing material is less likely to fall off from the joining surface. Furthermore, when the cooling plate and the lid are joined by welding, the welding direction does not need to be oriented in the longitudinal direction. This reduces manufacturing costs.
[0010] [2] The cooler according to [1], wherein the joint surface has an inclined surface that slopes in a second height direction opposite to the first height direction as it extends in the first longitudinal direction.
[0011] In the cooler [2], the joint surface has an inclined surface that faces in the second direction as it moves in the first longitudinal direction, so that in the portion of the joint surface that is displaced in the height direction, the joint surface can be oriented toward the first height direction rather than the longitudinal direction.
[0012] [3] The cooler according to [2], wherein the joint surface is formed by a horizontal surface extending in the longitudinal direction and the width direction and the inclined surface.
[0013] In the cooler [3], the joint surface is formed by a horizontal surface and an inclined surface, so that the joint surface can be oriented toward the first height direction rather than the longitudinal direction.
[0014] [4] The cooler according to any one of [1] to [3], wherein the joining surface does not have a vertical surface extending in the height direction.
[0015] In the cooler [4], the joining surfaces do not have vertical surfaces, so when the cooling plate portion and the lid portion are joined by brazing, the brazing material is less likely to fall off from the joining surfaces, and when the cooling plate portion and the lid portion are joined by welding, there is no need to orient the welding direction in the longitudinal direction.
[0016] [5] The cooling plate portion has a bottom wall portion extending in the longitudinal direction and the width direction, an upper wall portion extending in the longitudinal direction and the width direction and facing the bottom wall portion in the height direction, and a pair of side wall portions connected to the bottom wall portion and the upper wall portion and facing each other in the width direction, and the joining surfaces are formed on the bottom wall portion, the upper wall portion, and the pair of side wall portions. The cooler described in any one of [1] to [4].
[0017] In the cooler [5], the cooling plate portion has a bottom wall portion, an upper wall portion, and a pair of side wall portions, and the joining surfaces are formed on the bottom wall portion, the upper wall portion, and the pair of side wall portions, so that a refrigerant passage partitioned by a plurality of partition walls can be properly formed, and the opening that opens the refrigerant passage can be properly closed by the lid portion.
[0018] [6] The joint surface is formed by an upper wall upper surface, which is the surface of the upper wall portion opposite the bottom wall portion, an upper wall end surface, which is the end surface of the upper wall portion in the first longitudinal direction, side wall end surfaces, which are end surfaces of the pair of side wall portions in the first longitudinal direction, and a bottom wall upper surface, which is the surface of the bottom wall portion on the upper wall portion side, and the joint surface formed on the upper wall upper surface and the bottom wall upper surface is a horizontal plane extending in the longitudinal direction and the width direction, and the joint surface formed on the upper wall end surface and the side wall end surface is an inclined surface that extends in a second height direction opposite to the first height direction as it extends in the first longitudinal direction. [5] A cooler as described in
[0019] In the cooler [6], the joint surface is formed by a horizontal surface and an inclined surface, so that the joint surface can be oriented toward the first height direction rather than the longitudinal direction.
[0020] [7] The joint surface is formed by an upper wall upper surface, which is the surface of the upper wall portion opposite the bottom wall portion, an upper wall end surface, which is the end surface of the upper wall portion in the first longitudinal direction, side wall end surfaces, which are end surfaces of the pair of side wall portions in the first longitudinal direction, and a bottom wall end surface, which is the end surface of the bottom wall portion in the first longitudinal direction, and the joint surface formed on the upper wall upper surface is a horizontal plane extending in the longitudinal direction and the width direction, and the joint surfaces formed on the upper wall end surface, the side wall end surface, and the bottom wall end surface are inclined surfaces that extend in a second height direction opposite to the first height direction as they extend in the first longitudinal direction. [5] A cooler as described in
[0021] In the cooler [7], the joint surface is formed by a horizontal surface and an inclined surface, so that the joint surface can be oriented toward the first height direction rather than the longitudinal direction.
[0022] [8] A cooler described in any one of [1] to [7], wherein partition wall end faces, which are end faces in the first longitudinal direction of the plurality of partition walls, are formed at the same position as side wall end faces, which are end faces in the first longitudinal direction of the pair of side wall portions, when viewed from the width direction.
[0023] In the cooler [8], the partition wall end faces are formed at the same position as the side wall end faces when viewed in the width direction, so that the cooling plate portion can be easily manufactured.
[0024] [9] The cooler according to any one of [1] to [8], wherein partition wall end faces, which are end faces in the first longitudinal direction of the plurality of partition walls, are inclined surfaces that slope in a second height direction opposite to the first height direction as they move in the first longitudinal direction.
[0025] In the cooler [9], the partition wall end faces in the first longitudinal direction of the plurality of partition walls are inclined, so that the opening area of the partitioned refrigerant passages formed by the plurality of partition walls can be increased, thereby reducing the pressure loss of the refrigerant and preventing a sudden change in the pressure loss of the refrigerant due to the plurality of partition walls.
[0026]
[10] The cooler according to any one of [1] to [9], further comprising an attachment portion for attaching the cooler to an external device, the attachment portion being located on the opposite side of the refrigerant passage with respect to the joint surface.
[0027] In the cooler
[10] , the mounting portion is located on the opposite side of the refrigerant passage from the joining surface, which prevents the mounting portion from interfering with the sealing of the refrigerant passage and also prevents the shape of the joining surface from becoming complex. [Effects of the Invention]
[0028] According to one aspect of the present invention, manufacturing costs can be reduced. [Brief explanation of the drawings]
[0029] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the cooler of the first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II shown in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 4 is a side view showing an end portion of the cooler in a first longitudinal direction. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a side view showing an end portion of the cooler in a second longitudinal direction. [Figure 5] FIG. 4 is a plan view showing an end portion of the cooler in a first longitudinal direction. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing an end portion of the cooler in a second longitudinal direction. [Figure 7] 10 is a perspective view showing a state before joining a cooling plate portion and a lid portion at an end portion in a first longitudinal direction of the cooler. FIG. [Figure 8] 10 is a perspective view showing a state before joining a cooling plate portion and a lid portion at an end portion in a second longitudinal direction of the cooler. FIG. [Figure 9] 4 is a plan view showing the end portions of the cooling plate portion in the first longitudinal direction and the second longitudinal direction. FIG. [Figure 10]10 is a front view showing the end portions of the cooling plate portion in the first longitudinal direction and the second longitudinal direction. FIG. [Figure 11] 10 is a side view showing the end portions of the cooling plate portion in the first longitudinal direction and the second longitudinal direction. FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the end portions in the first longitudinal direction and the second longitudinal direction of a cooler of a second embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XIII-XIII shown in FIG. [Figure 14] 10 is a perspective view showing a state before joining a cooling plate portion and a lid portion at an end portion in a first longitudinal direction of the cooler. FIG. [Figure 15] 10 is a perspective view showing a state before joining a cooling plate portion and a lid portion at an end portion in a second longitudinal direction of the cooler. FIG. [Figure 16] 4 is a plan view showing the end portions of the cooling plate portion in the first longitudinal direction and the second longitudinal direction. FIG. [Figure 17] 10 is a front view showing the end portions of the cooling plate portion in the first longitudinal direction and the second longitudinal direction. FIG. [Figure 18] 10 is a side view showing the end portions of the cooling plate portion in the first longitudinal direction and the second longitudinal direction. FIG. [Figure 19] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a cooler according to a third embodiment. [Figure 20] 10 is a perspective view showing a state before joining a cooling plate portion and a lid portion at an end portion in a first longitudinal direction of the cooler. FIG. [Figure 21] 10 is a perspective view showing a state before joining a cooling plate portion and a lid portion at an end portion in a second longitudinal direction of the cooler. FIG. [Figure 22] FIG. 10 is a side view showing a cooler of a modified example. [Figure 23] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a cooler of a reference example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0030] Hereinafter, a cooler according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. The cooler according to this embodiment cools an object to be cooled. The object to be cooled is not particularly limited, and can be, for example, a battery mounted on a vehicle such as an electric vehicle. Note that the same or corresponding elements in each drawing are given the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations will be omitted.
[0031] [First embodiment] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a cooler according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. 1. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cooler 1 according to this embodiment is formed flat to increase the contact area with the object to be cooled. That is, the cooler 1 extends in a longitudinal direction L and a width direction W perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L, and is flattened in a height direction H perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L and the width direction W. The cooling plate portion 7 is formed longer in the longitudinal direction L than in the width direction W. One side of the longitudinal direction L is referred to as a first longitudinal direction L1, and the other side of the longitudinal direction L is referred to as a second longitudinal direction L2. The second longitudinal direction L2 is opposite to the first longitudinal direction L1. One side of the height direction H is referred to as a first height direction H1, and the other side of the height direction H is referred to as a second height direction H2. The second height direction H2 is opposite to the first height direction H1.
[0032] Fig. 3 is a side view showing an end portion of the cooler in a first longitudinal direction. Fig. 4 is a side view showing an end portion of the cooler in a second longitudinal direction. Fig. 5 is a plan view showing an end portion of the cooler in the first longitudinal direction. Fig. 6 is a plan view showing an end portion of the cooler in the second longitudinal direction. As shown in Figs. 1 to 6, the cooler 1 includes a refrigerant passage 2, a first port 3, a second port 4, a first mounting portion 5, and a second mounting portion 6.
[0033] The refrigerant passage 2 is a passage (space) through which a refrigerant flows to cool an object to be cooled. The first port 3 and the second port 4 are ports that are connected to the refrigerant passage 2 and that supply or discharge the refrigerant to the refrigerant passage 2. The first port 3 is located at an end of the cooler 1 in a first longitudinal direction L1. The second port 4 is located at an end of the cooler 1 in a second longitudinal direction L2. Therefore, the refrigerant is supplied to the refrigerant passage 2 from either the first port 3 or the second port 4, flows through the refrigerant passage 2 in the longitudinal direction L, and is discharged from the other of the first port 3 or the second port 4. When flowing through the refrigerant passage 2, the refrigerant absorbs heat from the cooler 1, thereby cooling the object to be cooled connected to the cooler 1.
[0034] The first mounting portion 5 and the second mounting portion 6 are portions for mounting the cooler 1 to an external device (not shown). The first mounting portion 5 is located at an end of the cooler 1 in a first longitudinal direction L1. The second mounting portion 6 is located at an end of the cooler 1 in a second longitudinal direction L2. The first mounting portion 5 and the second mounting portion 6 are, for example, through holes into which bolts (not shown) for mounting the cooler 1 to an external device are inserted. The external device may be a body to be cooled that is an object to be cooled by the cooler 1.
[0035] Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the end of the cooler in a first longitudinal direction in a state before the cooling plate part and the lid part are joined together. Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the end of the cooler in a second longitudinal direction in a state before the cooling plate part and the lid part are joined together. As shown in Figs. 1 to 8, the cooler 1 includes a cooling plate part 7, and a first lid part 8 and a second lid part 9 joined to the cooling plate part 7.
[0036] FIG. 9 is a plan view showing the ends of the cooling plate portion in the first longitudinal direction and the second longitudinal direction. FIG. 10 is a front view showing the ends of the cooling plate portion in the first longitudinal direction and the second longitudinal direction. FIG. 11 is a side view showing the ends of the cooling plate portion in the first longitudinal direction and the second longitudinal direction. Note that the reference numbers in parentheses in FIGS. 9 to 11 indicate the reference numbers of the ends of the cooling plate portion in the second longitudinal direction. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 11, the cooling plate portion 7 forms the main body of the cooler 1. The cooling plate portion 7 includes a bottom wall portion 71, an upper wall portion 72, a pair of side wall portions 73, 73, a plurality of partition walls 74, a first opening 75, and a second opening 76.
[0037] The bottom wall portion 71 forms the bottom wall of the cooler 1 and is the portion that comes into contact with the object to be cooled. The bottom wall portion 71 is formed as a substantially flat plate extending in the longitudinal direction L and the width direction W. A part of the first mounting portion 5 is formed at an end portion of the bottom wall portion 71 in the first longitudinal direction L1, and a part of the second mounting portion 6 is formed at an end portion of the bottom wall portion 71 in the second longitudinal direction L2.
[0038] The upper wall portion 72 is a portion that forms the upper wall of the cooler 1. The upper wall portion 72 is formed in a generally flat plate shape extending in the longitudinal direction L and the width direction W. The upper wall portion 72 is disposed so as to face the bottom wall portion 71 in the height direction H.
[0039] The pair of side wall portions 73, 73 constitute a pair of side walls of the cooler 1. The pair of side wall portions 73, 73 are formed in a generally flat plate shape extending in the longitudinal direction L and the height direction H. The pair of side wall portions 73, 73 are arranged to face each other in the width direction W, and are connected to both end portions in the width direction W of the bottom wall portion 71 and the upper wall portion 72.
[0040] The multiple partition walls 74 extend in the longitudinal direction L and partition the refrigerant passage 2 in the width direction W. That is, the multiple partition walls 74 extending in the longitudinal direction L are arranged in the width direction W. Each of the multiple partition walls 74 is formed in a generally flat plate shape extending in the longitudinal direction L and the height direction H, and is connected to a bottom wall portion 71 and an upper wall portion 72. In the cooling plate portion 7, the refrigerant passage 2 is partitioned into multiple partition refrigerant passages 21 by the multiple partition walls 74. The multiple partition refrigerant passages 21 extend in the longitudinal direction L and are arranged in the width direction W. Of the multiple partition refrigerant passages 21, the partition refrigerant passages 21 located at both ends in the width direction W are formed by the bottom wall portion 71, the upper wall portion 72, the side wall portion 73, and the partition wall 74, and the other partition refrigerant passages 21 are formed by the bottom wall portion 71, the upper wall portion 72, and pairs of adjacent partition walls 74.
[0041] 7 to 11, the first opening 75 opens the refrigerant passage 2 in the first longitudinal direction L1 and the first height direction H1 at an end of the cooling plate 7 in the first longitudinal direction L1. The second opening 76 opens the refrigerant passage 2 in the second longitudinal direction L2 and the first height direction H1 at an end of the cooling plate 7 in the second longitudinal direction L2. The first opening 75 and the second opening 76 are formed by the bottom wall 71, the top wall 72, and the pair of side wall portions 73, 73. The first opening 75 and the second opening 76 are formed, for example, by cutting out the top wall 72, the pair of side wall portions 73, 73, and the multiple partition walls 74.
[0042] At the first opening 75, the tip of the upper wall portion 72 in the first longitudinal direction L1 is located closer to the second longitudinal direction L2 than the tip of the bottom wall portion 71 in the first longitudinal direction L1, so that the refrigerant passage 2 is open in the first height direction H1. Furthermore, at the first opening 75, the cooling plate portion 7 is not provided on the first longitudinal direction L1 side of the refrigerant passage 2, so that the refrigerant passage 2 is open in the first longitudinal direction L1.
[0043] At the second opening 76, the tip of the upper wall portion 72 in the second longitudinal direction L2 is located closer to the first longitudinal direction L1 than the tip of the bottom wall portion 71 in the second longitudinal direction L2, so that the refrigerant passage 2 is open in the first height direction H1. Furthermore, at the second opening 76, the cooling plate portion 7 is not provided on the second longitudinal direction L2 side of the refrigerant passage 2, so that the refrigerant passage 2 is open in the second longitudinal direction L2.
[0044] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, 5, 7, and 9 to 11, the first cover 8 is joined to the cooling plate 7 so as to close the first opening 75. The portion where the cooling plate 7 and the first cover 8 are joined is referred to as a first joint A. At the first joint A, a first joint surface 77 of the cooling plate 7 is joined to a joint surface 81 of the first cover 8. The first joint surface 77 is the joint surface of the cooling plate 7 with the first cover 8 and does not include the surface that is not joined to the first cover 8. The joint surface 81 is the joint surface of the first cover 8 with the cooling plate 7 and does not include the surface that is not joined to the cooling plate 7. The joining of the first cover 8 to the cooling plate 7 is not particularly limited, and can be performed by, for example, brazing, welding, or the like. In the drawings, the first joint A, the first joint surface 77, and the joint surface 81 are indicated by finely hatched dots.
[0045] The first cover 8 has the above-described first port 3 and a chamber forming portion 82. The chamber forming portion 82 forms a first chamber 22 disposed between the first port 3 and the plurality of partition refrigerant passages 21. The first chamber 22 is a space located on the first longitudinal direction L1 side of the plurality of partition refrigerant passages 21, and communicates with the plurality of partition refrigerant passages 21 and the first port 3. The first chamber 22 forms a part of the refrigerant passage 2, and distributes or merges the refrigerant between the first port 3 and the plurality of partition refrigerant passages 21.
[0046] A part of the first mounting portion 5 is formed at an end portion in the first longitudinal direction L1 of the first lid portion 8. The first mounting portion 5 is formed by the overlapping portions of the bottom wall portion 71 of the cooling plate portion 7 and the first lid portion 8.
[0047] The bonding surface 81 of the first lid portion 8 surrounds the chamber forming portion 82 to close the first opening 75. The bonding surface 81 has a shape that corresponds to the first bonding surface 77 of the cooling plate portion 7, that is, a shape that follows the first bonding surface 77 of the cooling plate portion 7.
[0048] The first bonding surface 77 of the cooling plate 7 surrounds the first opening 75 to close the first opening 75. The first bonding surface 77 is formed on an upper-wall upper surface 72c, which is the surface of the upper wall 72 opposite the bottom wall 71 (on the first height direction H1 side), a first upper-wall end surface 72a, which is the end surface of the upper wall 72 in the first longitudinal direction L1, first side-wall end surfaces 73a, 73a, which are end surfaces of the pair of side wall portions 73, 73 in the first longitudinal direction L1, and a bottom-wall upper surface 71a, which is the surface of the bottom wall 71 on the upper wall 72 side (on the first height direction H1 side). The first bonding surface 77 is formed by a horizontal surface extending in the longitudinal direction L and the width direction W and an inclined surface that slopes in the first longitudinal direction L1 and then in the second height direction H2, and does not have a vertical surface extending in the height direction H. For this reason, the first joint surface 77 faces more toward the first height direction H1 (toward the upper wall portion 72 relative to the bottom wall portion 71) than in the longitudinal direction L. That is, the entire first joint surface 77 surrounding the first opening 75 faces more toward the first height direction H1 than in the longitudinal direction L. Furthermore, the first joint surface 77 faces more toward the first height direction H1 than in the longitudinal direction L, and surrounds the first opening 75 as viewed from the first height direction H1 (surrounding the entire periphery of the first opening 75 as viewed from the first height direction H1). Note that the inclined surface is not limited to an inclined surface that extends in a plane, and may be an inclined surface that is inclined while bending at one or more points, or may be an inclined surface that is inclined while curving.
[0049] Specifically, the top-wall upper surface 72c and the bottom-wall upper surface 71a are horizontal surfaces extending in the longitudinal direction L and the width direction W. The first top-wall end surface 72a is an inclined surface that slopes toward the second height direction H2 as it extends in the first longitudinal direction L1. The first side-wall end surfaces 73a, 73a are connected to the first top-wall end surface 72a and the bottom-wall upper surface 71a and are inclined surfaces that slope toward the second height direction H2 as it extends in the first longitudinal direction L1. The inclination angle of the first top-wall end surface 72a and the inclination angle of the first side-wall end surfaces 73a, 73a can be the same. In this case, the first top-wall end surface 72a and the first side-wall end surfaces 73a, 73a are flush with each other.
[0050] First partition wall end faces 74a, which are end faces in the first longitudinal direction L1 of the multiple partition walls 74, are inclined surfaces that slope in the second height direction H2 as they extend in the first longitudinal direction L1. The first partition wall end faces 74a are formed at the same position as the first side wall end faces 73a, 73a when viewed from the width direction W. In other words, the inclination angle of the first partition wall end faces 74a is the same as the inclination angle of the first side wall end faces 73a, 73a.
[0051] The first joining surface 77 of the cooling plate portion 7 is formed by the upper wall upper surface 72c which is a horizontal surface, the first upper wall end surface 72a which is an inclined surface, the first side wall end surfaces 73a, 73a which are inclined surfaces, and the bottom wall upper surface 71a which is a horizontal surface.
[0052] The first joint portion A (first joint surface 77 and joint surface 81) may be formed at any position on the top wall upper surface 72c, the first upper wall end surface 72a, the first side wall end surfaces 73a, 73a, and the bottom wall upper surface 71a, but is preferably formed so that the first mounting portion 5 is located on the opposite side of the refrigerant passage 2 from the first joint portion A. In this case, the first joint portion A may be formed at a position spaced apart from the first mounting portion 5, or may be formed at a position surrounding a portion of the first mounting portion 5. The drawings show, as an example, a case where the first joint portion A is formed at a position surrounding a portion of the first mounting portion 5.
[0053] As shown in Figures 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 to 11, the second lid portion 9 is joined to the cooling plate portion 7 so as to close the second opening 76. The portion where the cooling plate portion 7 and the second lid portion 9 are joined is referred to as the second joint portion B. The cooling plate portion 7 and the second lid portion 9 are joined at the second joint portion B. At the second joint portion B, a second joint surface 78 of the cooling plate portion 7 is joined to a joint surface 91 of the second lid portion 9. The second joint surface 78 is the joint surface of the cooling plate portion 7 with the second lid portion 9 and does not include the surface that is not joined to the second lid portion 9. The joint surface 91 is the joint surface of the second lid portion 9 with the cooling plate portion 7 and does not include the surface that is not joined to the cooling plate portion 7. The joining of the second lid portion 9 to the cooling plate portion 7 is not particularly limited, and can be performed by, for example, brazing, welding, or the like. In the drawings, the second joint portion B, the second joint surface 78, and the joint surface 91 are indicated by finely hatched dots.
[0054] The second cover 9 has the second port 4 described above and a chamber forming portion 92. The chamber forming portion 92 forms a second chamber 23 disposed between the second port 4 and the plurality of partition refrigerant passages 21. The second chamber 23 is a space located on the second longitudinal direction L2 side of the plurality of partition refrigerant passages 21, and communicates with the plurality of partition refrigerant passages 21 and the second port 4. The second chamber 23 forms a part of the refrigerant passage 2, and distributes or merges the refrigerant between the second port 4 and the plurality of partition refrigerant passages 21.
[0055] A part of the second mounting portion 6 is formed at an end portion in the second longitudinal direction L2 of the second lid portion 9. The second mounting portion 6 is formed by the overlapping portions of the bottom wall portion 71 of the cooling plate portion 7 and the second lid portion 9.
[0056] The bonding surface 91 of the second lid portion 9 surrounds the chamber forming portion 92 to close the second opening 76. The bonding surface 91 has a shape that corresponds to the second bonding surface 78 of the cooling plate portion 7, that is, a shape that follows the second bonding surface 78 of the cooling plate portion 7.
[0057] The second bonding surface 78 of the cooling plate 7 surrounds the second opening 76 to close it. The second bonding surface 78 is formed on the upper wall upper surface 72c, the second upper wall end surface 72b, which is the end surface of the upper wall portion 72 in the second longitudinal direction L2, the second side wall end surfaces 73b, 73b, which are the end surfaces of the pair of side wall portions 73, 73 in the second longitudinal direction L2, and the bottom wall upper surface 71a. The second bonding surface 78 is formed by a horizontal surface extending in the longitudinal direction L and the width direction W and an inclined surface that slopes toward the second height direction H2 as it extends toward the second longitudinal direction L2, and does not have a vertical surface extending in the height direction H. Therefore, the second bonding surface 78 faces more toward the first height direction H1 than the longitudinal direction L. In other words, the entire second bonding surface 78 surrounding the second opening 76 faces more toward the first height direction H1 than the longitudinal direction L. In addition, the second joining surface 78 faces toward the first height direction H1 rather than the longitudinal direction L and goes around the second opening 76 when viewed from the first height direction H1 (surrounding the entire circumference of the second opening 76 when viewed from the first height direction H1).
[0058] Specifically, the top-wall upper surface 72c and the bottom-wall upper surface 71a are horizontal surfaces extending in the longitudinal direction L and the width direction W. The second top-wall end surface 72b is an inclined surface that slopes toward the second height direction H2 as it extends in the second longitudinal direction L2. The second side-wall end surfaces 73b, 73b are connected to the second top-wall end surface 72b and the bottom-wall upper surface 71a and are inclined surfaces that slope toward the second height direction H2 as it extends in the second longitudinal direction L2. The inclination angle of the second top-wall end surface 72b and the inclination angle of the second side-wall end surfaces 73b, 73b may be the same. In this case, the second top-wall end surface 72b and the second side-wall end surfaces 73b, 73b are flush with each other.
[0059] Second partition wall end faces 74b, which are end faces in the second longitudinal direction L2 of the multiple partition walls 74, are inclined surfaces that slope in the second height direction H2 as they extend in the second longitudinal direction L2. The second partition wall end faces 74b are formed at the same position as the second side wall end faces 73b, 73b when viewed from the width direction W. In other words, the inclination angle of the second partition wall end faces 74b is the same as the inclination angle of the second side wall end faces 73b, 73b.
[0060] The second joining surface 78 of the cooling plate portion 7 is formed on the upper wall upper surface 72c which is a horizontal surface, the second upper wall end surface 72b which is an inclined surface, the second side wall end surfaces 73b, 73b which are inclined surfaces, and the bottom wall upper surface 71a which is a horizontal surface.
[0061] The second joint portion B (second joint surface 78 and joint surface 91) may be formed at any position on the top wall upper surface 72c, the second top wall end surface 72b, the second side wall end surfaces 73b, 73b, and the bottom wall upper surface 71a, but is preferably formed so that the second mounting portion 6 is located on the opposite side of the refrigerant passage 2 from the second joint portion B. In this case, the second joint portion B may be formed at a position spaced apart from the second mounting portion 6, or at a position surrounding a portion of the second mounting portion 6. The drawings show, as an example, a case where the second joint portion B is formed at a position surrounding a portion of the second mounting portion 6.
[0062] As described above, in the cooler 1 according to this embodiment, the first opening 75 and the second opening 76 of the cooling plate 7 are blocked by joining the first cover 8 and the second cover 9 to the cooling plate 7. Here, the first opening 75 opens the refrigerant passage 2 in the first longitudinal direction L1 and the first height direction H1, so that the first joining surface 77 of the cooling plate 7 has a portion that is displaced in the height direction H. Furthermore, the second opening 76 opens the refrigerant passage 2 in the second longitudinal direction L2 and the first height direction H1, so that the second joining surface 78 of the cooling plate 7 has a portion that is displaced in the height direction H. However, the first joining surface 77 and the second joining surface 78 of the cooling plate 7 face closer to the first height direction H1 than to the longitudinal direction L. Therefore, when the cooling plate 7, the first cover 8, and the second cover 9 are joined by brazing, the brazing material is less likely to fall off from the first joining surface 77 and the second joining surface 78. Furthermore, when the cooling plate portion 7 and the first and second lid portions 8 and 9 are joined by welding, it is not necessary to orient the welding direction in the longitudinal direction L. This allows for a reduction in manufacturing costs.
[0063] Moreover, in this cooler 1, the first bonding surface 77 has an inclined surface that slopes toward the second height direction H2 as it extends toward the first longitudinal direction L1, so that the first bonding surface 77 can be oriented more toward the first height direction H1 than the first longitudinal direction L1 at a portion where the first bonding surface 77 displaces in the height direction H. Moreover, the second bonding surface 78 has an inclined surface that slopes toward the second height direction H2 as it extends toward the second longitudinal direction L2, so that the second bonding surface 78 can be oriented more toward the first height direction H1 than the second longitudinal direction L2 at a portion where the second bonding surface 78 displaces in the height direction H.
[0064] Furthermore, in this cooler 1, the first joining surface 77 and the second joining surface 78 are formed by a horizontal surface and an inclined surface, so that the second joining surface 78 can be oriented toward the first height direction H1 rather than the second longitudinal direction L2.
[0065] Furthermore, in this cooler 1, the first joining surface 77 and the second joining surface 78 do not have vertical surfaces, so when the cooling plate portion 7 and the first lid portion 8 and the second lid portion 9 are joined by brazing, the brazing material is less likely to fall off from the first joining surface 77 and the second joining surface 78, and when the cooling plate portion 7 and the first lid portion 8 and the second lid portion 9 are joined by welding, it is not necessary to orient the welding direction in the longitudinal direction L.
[0066] Furthermore, in this cooler 1, the cooling plate portion 7 has a bottom wall portion 71, an upper wall portion 72, and a pair of side wall portions 73, 73, and the first joining surface 77 and the second joining surface 78 are formed on the bottom wall portion 71, the upper wall portion 72, and the pair of side wall portions 73, 73, so that the refrigerant passage 2 partitioned by the multiple partition walls 74 can be properly formed, and the first opening 75 and the second opening 76 that open the refrigerant passage 2 can be properly blocked by the first lid portion 8 and the second lid portion 9.
[0067] In the cooler 1, a first bonding surface 77 is formed on the top-wall upper surface 72c, the first top-wall end surface 72a, the pair of first side-wall end surfaces 73a, 73a, and the bottom-wall upper surface 71a, and a second bonding surface 78 is formed on the top-wall upper surface 72c, the second top-wall end surface 72b, the pair of second side-wall end surfaces 73b, 73b, and the bottom-wall upper surface 71a. The first bonding surface 77 and the second bonding surface 78 formed on the top-wall upper surface 72c and the bottom-wall upper surface 71a are horizontal surfaces extending in the longitudinal direction L and the width direction W, and the first bonding surface 77 formed on the first top-wall end surface 72a and the pair of first side-wall end surfaces 73a, 73a and the second bonding surface 78 formed on the second top-wall end surface 72b and the pair of second side-wall end surfaces 73b, 73b are inclined surfaces extending in the first longitudinal direction L1 and in the second height direction H2. Therefore, the first joint surface 77 and the second joint surface 78 can be oriented toward the first height direction H1 rather than the second longitudinal direction L2.
[0068] In addition, in this cooler 1, the first partition wall end face 74a is formed at the same position as the first side wall end faces 73a, 73a when viewed from the width direction W, and the second partition wall end face 74b is formed at the same position as the second side wall end faces 73b, 73b when viewed from the width direction W. This makes it possible to easily manufacture the cooling plate portion 7.
[0069] In addition, in this cooler 1, the first partition wall end surface 74a and the second partition wall end surface 74b are inclined surfaces, so that the opening area of the partitioned refrigerant passages 21 formed by the refrigerant passage 2 being partitioned by the plurality of partition walls 74 can be increased. This reduces the pressure loss of the refrigerant. In addition, it is possible to prevent the pressure loss of the refrigerant from suddenly changing due to the plurality of partition walls 74.
[0070] Moreover, in this cooler 1, the first mounting portion 5 is located on the opposite side of the refrigerant passage 2 from the first joint surface 77, and the second mounting portion 6 is located on the opposite side of the refrigerant passage 2 from the second joint surface 78. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the first mounting portion 5 and the second mounting portion 6 from interfering with the sealing of the refrigerant passage 2, and it is also possible to prevent the shapes of the first joint surface 77 and the second joint surface 78 from becoming complicated.
[0071] [Second embodiment] Next, a second embodiment will be described. The second embodiment is basically the same as the first embodiment. Therefore, in the following description, only the differences from the first embodiment will be described, and the same description as the first embodiment will be omitted.
[0072] FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing end portions in the first longitudinal direction and the second longitudinal direction of a cooler of the second embodiment. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XIII-XIII in FIG. 12. FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing an end portion in the first longitudinal direction of the cooler before joining the cooling plate portion and the lid portion. FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing an end portion in the second longitudinal direction of the cooler before joining the cooling plate portion and the lid portion. As shown in FIGS. 12 to 15, a cooler 101 of the second embodiment includes a refrigerant passage 2, a first port 3, a second port 4, a first mounting portion 105, and a second mounting portion 106. The first mounting portion 105 and the second mounting portion 106 correspond to the first mounting portion 5 and the second mounting portion 6 of the first embodiment. The cooler 101 also includes a cooling plate portion 107, and a first lid portion 108 and a second lid portion 109 joined to the cooling plate portion 107. The cooling plate portion 107, the first lid portion 108, and the second lid portion 109 correspond to the cooling plate portion 7, the first lid portion 8, and the second lid portion 9 of the first embodiment.
[0073] Fig. 16 is a plan view showing the ends of the cooling plate portion in the first longitudinal direction and the second longitudinal direction. Fig. 17 is a front view showing the ends of the cooling plate portion in the first longitudinal direction and the second longitudinal direction. Fig. 18 is a side view showing the ends of the cooling plate portion in the first longitudinal direction and the second longitudinal direction. Note that the reference numbers in parentheses in Figs. 16 to 18 indicate the reference numbers of the ends of the cooling plate portion in the second longitudinal direction. As shown in Figs. 12 to 18, the cooling plate portion 107 includes a bottom wall portion 171, an upper wall portion 172, a pair of side wall portions 173, 173, a plurality of partition walls 174, a first opening 175, and a second opening 176. The bottom wall portion 171, the upper wall portion 172, the pair of side wall portions 173, 173, the multiple partition walls 174, the first opening 175, and the second opening 176 correspond to the bottom wall portion 71, the upper wall portion 72, the pair of side wall portions 73, 73, the multiple partition walls 74, the first opening 75, and the second opening 76 of the first embodiment.
[0074] The first mounting portion 105 is formed only on the first lid portion 108, and is not formed on the cooling plate portion 107. In addition, the second mounting portion 106 is formed only on the second lid portion 109, and is not formed on the cooling plate portion 107.
[0075] Similar to the first opening 75 of the first embodiment, the first opening 175 opens the refrigerant passage 2 in the first longitudinal direction L1 and the first height direction H1 at an end of the cooling plate portion 107 in the first longitudinal direction L1. Similar to the second opening 76 of the first embodiment, the second opening 176 opens the refrigerant passage 2 in the second longitudinal direction L2 and the first height direction H1 at an end of the cooling plate portion 107 in the second longitudinal direction L2.
[0076] As shown in FIGS. 12 to 14 and 16 to 18 , the first lid portion 108 is joined to the cooling plate portion 107 so as to close the first opening 175. The portion where the cooling plate portion 107 and the first lid portion 108 are joined is referred to as a first joint portion A1. At the first joint portion A1, a first joint surface 177 of the cooling plate portion 107 is joined to a joint surface 181 of the first lid portion 108. The first joint surface 177 is the joint surface of the cooling plate portion 107 with the first lid portion 108 and does not include the surface that is not joined to the first lid portion 108. The joint surface 181 is the joint surface of the first lid portion 108 with the cooling plate portion 107 and does not include the surface that is not joined to the cooling plate portion 107. The joining of the first lid portion 108 to the cooling plate portion 107 is not particularly limited, and can be performed by brazing, welding, or the like, for example.
[0077] The first cover portion 108 has the above-described first port 3 and the chamber forming portion 82. A first attachment portion 105 is formed at the end of the first cover portion 108 in the first longitudinal direction L1. The bonding surface 181 of the first lid portion 108 surrounds the chamber forming portion 82 to close the first opening 175. The bonding surface 181 has a shape that corresponds to the shape of the first bonding surface 77 of the cooling plate portion 107, that is, a shape that follows the shape of the first bonding surface 177 of the cooling plate portion 107.
[0078] The first bonding surface 177 of the cooling plate portion 107 surrounds the first opening 175 to close the first opening 175. The first bonding surface 177 is formed on an upper-wall upper surface 172c, which is the surface of the upper wall portion 172 opposite the bottom wall portion 71 (on the first height direction H1 side), a first upper-wall end surface 172a, which is the end surface of the upper wall portion 172 in the first longitudinal direction L1, first side-wall end surfaces 173a, 173a, which are end surfaces of the pair of side wall portions 173, 173 in the first longitudinal direction L1, and a first bottom-wall end surface 171b, which is the end surface of the bottom wall portion 171 in the first longitudinal direction L1. The first bonding surface 177 is formed by a horizontal surface extending in the longitudinal direction L and the width direction W and an inclined surface that slopes toward the second height direction H2 as it extends toward the first longitudinal direction L1, and does not have a vertical surface extending in the height direction H. For this reason, the first joint surface 177 faces more toward the first height direction H1 (the upper wall portion 172 side relative to the bottom wall portion 171) than in the longitudinal direction L. That is, the entire first joint surface 177 surrounding the first opening 175 faces more toward the first height direction H1 than in the longitudinal direction L. Furthermore, the first joint surface 177 faces more toward the first height direction H1 than in the longitudinal direction L, and goes all the way around the first opening 175 as seen from the first height direction H1 (surrounding the entire periphery of the first opening 175 as seen from the first height direction H1). Note that the inclined surface is not limited to an inclined surface that extends in a plane, and may be an inclined surface that is inclined while bending at one or more points, or may be an inclined surface that is inclined while curving.
[0079] Specifically, the upper wall upper surface 172c is a horizontal surface extending in the longitudinal direction L and the width direction W. The first upper wall end surface 172a is an inclined surface that slopes toward the second height direction H2 as it extends in the first longitudinal direction L1. The first side wall end surfaces 173a, 173a are connected to the first upper wall end surface 172a and the first bottom wall end surface 171b and are inclined toward the second height direction H2 as it extends in the first longitudinal direction L1. The first bottom wall end surface 171b is an inclined surface that slopes toward the second height direction H2 as it extends in the first longitudinal direction L1. The inclination angles of the first upper wall end surface 172a, the first side wall end surfaces 173a, 173a, and the first bottom wall end surface 171b may be the same. In this case, the first upper wall end surface 172a, the first side wall end surfaces 173a, 173a, and the first bottom wall end surface 171b are flush with each other.
[0080] First partition wall end faces 174a, which are end faces in the first longitudinal direction L1 of the multiple partition walls 174, are vertical faces extending in the height direction H. When viewed from the width direction W, the first partition wall end faces 174a are located closer to the second longitudinal direction L2 than the first side wall end faces 73a, 73a.
[0081] The first joining surface 177 of the cooling plate portion 107 is formed by the upper wall upper surface 172c which is a horizontal surface, the first upper wall end surface 172a which is an inclined surface, the first side wall end surfaces 173a, 173a which are inclined surfaces, and the first bottom wall end surface 171b which is an inclined surface.
[0082] As shown in FIGS. 12, 13, and 15 to 18, the second lid portion 109 is joined to the cooling plate portion 107 so as to close the second opening 176. The portion where the cooling plate portion 107 and the second lid portion 109 are joined is referred to as a second joint portion B1. The cooling plate portion 107 and the second lid portion 109 are joined at the second joint portion B1. At the second joint portion B1, a second joint surface 178 of the cooling plate portion 107 and a joint surface 191 of the second lid portion 109 are joined. The second joint surface 178 is the joint surface of the cooling plate portion 107 with the second lid portion 109 and does not include the surface that is not joined to the second lid portion 109. The joint surface 191 is the joint surface of the second lid portion 109 with the cooling plate portion 107 and does not include the surface that is not joined to the cooling plate portion 107. The joining of the second lid portion 109 to the cooling plate portion 107 is not particularly limited, but can be performed by brazing, welding, or the like, for example.
[0083] The second cover portion 109 has the above-mentioned second port 4 and the chamber forming portion 92. A second attachment portion 106 is formed at the end portion of the second cover portion 109 in the second longitudinal direction L2.
[0084] The bonding surface 191 of the second lid portion 109 surrounds the chamber forming portion 92 to close the second opening 176. The bonding surface 191 has a shape that corresponds to the second bonding surface 178 of the cooling plate portion 107, that is, a shape that follows the second bonding surface 178 of the cooling plate portion 107.
[0085] The second bonding surface 178 of the cooling plate 107 surrounds the second opening 176 to close the second opening 176. The second bonding surface 178 of the cooling plate 107 is formed on the upper wall upper surface 172c, the second upper wall end surface 172b, which is the end surface of the upper wall 172 in the second longitudinal direction L2, the second side wall end surfaces 173b, 173b, which are the end surfaces of the pair of side wall portions 173, 173 in the second longitudinal direction L2, and the second bottom wall end surface 171c, which is the end surface of the bottom wall portion 171 in the second longitudinal direction L2. The second bonding surface 178 is formed by a horizontal surface extending in the longitudinal direction L and the width direction W and an inclined surface that slopes toward the second height direction H2 as it extends toward the second longitudinal direction L2, and does not have a vertical surface extending in the height direction H. Therefore, the second bonding surface 178 faces more toward the first height direction H1 than the longitudinal direction L. That is, the entire second joint surface 178 surrounding the second opening 176 faces more toward the first height direction H1 than the longitudinal direction L. Furthermore, the second joint surface 178 faces more toward the first height direction H1 than the longitudinal direction L, and goes all the way around the second opening 176 when viewed from the first height direction H1 (surrounding the entire periphery of the second opening 176 when viewed from the first height direction H1).
[0086] Specifically, the upper wall upper surface 172c is a horizontal surface extending in the longitudinal direction L and the width direction W. The second upper wall end surface 172b is an inclined surface that slopes toward the second height direction H2 as it extends in the second longitudinal direction L2. The second side wall end surfaces 173b, 173b are connected to the second upper wall end surface 172b and the second bottom wall end surface 171c and are inclined toward the second height direction H2 as it extends in the second longitudinal direction L2. The second bottom wall end surface 171c is an inclined surface that slopes toward the second height direction H2 as it extends in the first longitudinal direction L1. The inclination angles of the second upper wall end surface 172b, the second side wall end surfaces 173b, 173b, and the second bottom wall end surface 171c may be the same. In this case, the second upper wall end surface 172b, the second side wall end surfaces 173b, 173b, and the second bottom wall end surface 171c are flush with each other.
[0087] Second partition wall end faces 174b, which are end faces in the second longitudinal direction L2 of the multiple partition walls 174, are vertical faces extending in the height direction H. When viewed from the width direction W, the second partition wall end faces 174b are located closer to the first longitudinal direction L1 than the pair of second side wall end faces 73b, 73b.
[0088] The second joining surface 178 of the cooling plate portion 107 is formed by the upper wall upper surface 172c which is a horizontal surface, the second upper wall end surface 172b which is an inclined surface, the second side wall end surfaces 173b, 173b which are inclined surfaces, and the second bottom wall end surface 171c which is an inclined surface.
[0089] As described above, in the cooler 101 according to this embodiment, the first joining surface 177 is formed on the upper wall upper surface 172c, the first upper wall end surface 172a, the pair of first side wall end surfaces 173a, 173a, and the first bottom wall end surface 171b, and the second joining surface 178 is formed on the upper wall upper surface 172c, the second upper wall end surface 172b, the pair of second side wall end surfaces 173b, 173b, and the second bottom wall end surface 171c. The first and second bonding surfaces 177 and 178 formed on the upper wall upper surface 172c are horizontal surfaces extending in the longitudinal direction L and the width direction W. The first bonding surface 177 formed on the first upper wall end surface 172a, the pair of first side wall end surfaces 173a, 173a, and the first bottom wall end surface 171b, and the second bonding surface 178 formed on the second upper wall end surface 172b, the pair of second side wall end surfaces 173b, 173b, and the second bottom wall end surface 171c are inclined surfaces extending in the first longitudinal direction L1 and then in the second height direction H2. Therefore, the first and second bonding surfaces 177 and 178 can be oriented closer to the first height direction H1 than to the second longitudinal direction L2.
[0090] [Third embodiment] Next, a third embodiment will be described. The third embodiment is basically the same as the first embodiment. Therefore, in the following description, only the differences from the first embodiment will be described, and the same description as the first embodiment will be omitted.
[0091] Fig. 19 is a perspective view showing a cooler of a third embodiment. Fig. 20 is a perspective view showing an end portion in a first longitudinal direction of the cooler in a state before the cooling plate portion and the lid portion are joined. Fig. 21 is a perspective view showing an end portion in a second longitudinal direction of the cooler in a state before the cooling plate portion and the lid portion are joined. As shown in Figs. 19 to 21 , a cooler 201 of the third embodiment includes a refrigerant passage 2, a first port 3, a second port 4, a first mounting portion 5, and a second mounting portion 6. The cooler 201 also includes a cooling plate portion 207, and a first lid portion 208 and a second lid portion 209 joined to the cooling plate portion 207. The cooling plate portion 207, the first lid portion 208, and the second lid portion 209 correspond to the cooling plate portion 7, the first lid portion 8, and the second lid portion 9 of the first embodiment.
[0092] The cooling plate portion 207 includes a bottom wall portion 71 , an upper wall portion 72 , a pair of side wall portions 73 , 73 , a plurality of partition walls 74 , a first opening 75 , a second opening 76 , and a separation wall 279 .
[0093] The separation wall 279 extends in the longitudinal direction L and separates the refrigerant passage 2 into a first refrigerant passage 2A and a second refrigerant passage 2B in the width direction W. The separation wall 279 is located at the center of the cooling plate portion 207 in the width direction W. Like the multiple partition walls 74, the separation wall 279 is formed in a generally flat plate shape extending in the longitudinal direction L and the height direction H, and is connected to the bottom wall portion 71 and the upper wall portion 72. Of the first openings 75, the opening on the first longitudinal direction L1 side of the first refrigerant passage 2A is referred to as a first separation opening 75A, and the opening on the second longitudinal direction L2 side of the second refrigerant passage 2B is referred to as a second separation opening 75B.
[0094] A first separating wall end face 279a, which is an end face of the separating wall 279 in the first longitudinal direction L1, is inclined toward the second height direction H2 as it extends in the first longitudinal direction L1. Furthermore, the first separating wall end face 279a is formed at the same position as the first side wall end faces 73a, 73a when viewed from the width direction W. That is, the inclination angle of the first separating wall end face 279a is the same as the inclination angle of the first side wall end faces 73a, 73a. A second separating wall end face (not shown), which is an end face of the separating wall 279 in the second longitudinal direction L2, is inclined toward the second height direction H2 as it extends in the second longitudinal direction L2. Furthermore, the second separating wall end face is formed at the same position as the second side wall end faces 73b, 73b when viewed from the width direction W. That is, the inclination angle of the second separating wall end face is the same as the inclination angle of the second side wall end faces 73b, 73b.
[0095] The multiple partition walls 74 are arranged in the width direction W in each of the first refrigerant passage 2A and the second refrigerant passage 2B, which are separated in the width direction W by the separation wall 279. Of the multiple partition refrigerant passages 21 arranged in the first refrigerant passage 2A and the second refrigerant passage 2B, the partition refrigerant passage 21 located at the end on the separation wall 279 side (the partition refrigerant passage 21 adjacent to the separation wall 279) is formed by the bottom wall portion 71, the upper wall portion 72, the partition wall 74, and the separation wall 279.
[0096] The first lid portion 208 is joined to the cooling plate portion 207 so as to close the first opening 75. The portion where the cooling plate portion 207 and the first lid portion 208 are joined is referred to as a first joint portion A2. At the first joint portion A2, a first joint surface 277 of the cooling plate portion 207 and a joint surface 281 of the first lid portion 208 are joined. The first joint surface 277 is the joint surface of the cooling plate portion 207 with the first lid portion 208 and does not include the surface that is not joined to the first lid portion 208. The joint surface 281 is the joint surface of the first lid portion 208 with the cooling plate portion 207 and does not include the surface that is not joined to the cooling plate portion 207. The joining of the first lid portion 208 to the cooling plate portion 207 is not particularly limited, and can be performed by brazing, welding, or the like, for example.
[0097] The first cover portion 208 has the above-mentioned first port 3 , the above-mentioned second port 4 , a first chamber forming portion 282 , a second chamber forming portion 283 , and a refrigerant passage separating portion 284 .
[0098] The first port 3 is provided in the first chamber forming portion 282, and the second port 4 is provided in the second chamber forming portion 283. The first chamber forming portion 282 forms a first chamber 222a located between the first port 3 and the first refrigerant passage 2A. The first chamber 222a is located on the first longitudinal direction L1 side of the first refrigerant passage 2A and is a space that communicates with the plurality of partitioned refrigerant passages 21 arranged in the first refrigerant passage 2A and is also in communication with the first port 3. The second chamber forming portion 283 forms a second chamber 222b located between the second port 4 and the second refrigerant passage 2B. The second chamber 222b is located on the first longitudinal direction L1 side of the second refrigerant passage 2B and is also in communication with the plurality of partitioned refrigerant passages 21 arranged in the second refrigerant passage 2B and is also in communication with the second port 4. The refrigerant passage separation portion 284 is joined to the cooling plate portion 207 at the first joint A2, thereby separating the first chamber 222a and the second chamber 222b.
[0099] The first bonding surface 277 of the cooling plate portion 207 surrounds the first opening 75 to close the first opening 75, and also surrounds the first separation opening 75A and the second separation opening 75B. The first bonding surface 277 is formed on the upper wall upper surface 72c, the first upper wall end surface 72a, the first side wall end surfaces 73a, 73a, the bottom wall upper surface 71a, and the first separation wall end surface 279a. The first bonding surface 277 is formed by a horizontal surface extending in the longitudinal direction L and the width direction W and an inclined surface that slopes toward the second height direction H2 as it extends toward the first longitudinal direction L1, and does not have a vertical surface extending in the height direction H. Therefore, the first bonding surface 277 faces more toward the first height direction H1 than the longitudinal direction L (the upper wall portion 72 side relative to the bottom wall portion 71). That is, all of the first bonding surfaces 277 that surround the first opening 75 and surround each of the first and second separation openings 75A and 75B face toward the first height direction H1 rather than the longitudinal direction L. Furthermore, the first bonding surfaces 277 face toward the first height direction H1 rather than the longitudinal direction L, and surround the first opening 75 as well as each of the first and second separation openings 75A and 75B when viewed from the first height direction H1 (surrounding the entire periphery of the first opening 75 as well as each of the first and second separation openings 75A and 75B when viewed from the first height direction H1).
[0100] Specifically, the first separating wall end surface 279a is connected to the first upper-wall end surface 72a and the bottom-wall upper surface 71a and forms an inclined surface that slopes in the second height direction H2 as it extends in the first longitudinal direction L1. The inclination angles of the first upper-wall end surface 72a, the first side-wall end surfaces 73a, and the first separating wall end surface 279a may be the same. In this case, the first upper-wall end surface 72a, the first side-wall end surfaces 73a, and the first separating wall end surface 279a are flush with each other.
[0101] The first joint surface 277 of the cooling plate portion 207 is formed on the upper wall upper surface 72c which is a horizontal surface, the first upper wall end surface 72a which is an inclined surface, the first side wall end surfaces 73a, 73a which are inclined surfaces, the bottom wall upper surface 71a which is a horizontal surface, and the first separation wall end surface 279a which is an inclined surface. Therefore, by joining the cooling plate portion 207 and the first lid portion 208 at the first joint portion A2, a first chamber 222a and a second chamber 222b which are separated from each other are formed.
[0102] The second lid portion 209 is joined to the cooling plate portion 207 so as to close the second opening 76. The portion where the cooling plate portion 207 and the second lid portion 209 are joined is referred to as a second joint portion B2. The cooling plate portion 207 and the second lid portion 209 are joined at a second joint portion B. At the second joint portion B, a second joint surface 78 of the cooling plate portion 207 and a joint surface 91 of the second lid portion 209 are joined. The second joint portion B, the second joint surface 78, and the joint surface 91 are the same as those in the first embodiment. The joining of the second lid portion 209 to the cooling plate portion 207 is not particularly limited, and can be performed by brazing, welding, or the like, for example.
[0103] The second cover portion 209 has a chamber forming portion 292, and does not have either the first port 3 or the second port 4 described above. The chamber forming portion 292 forms a communication chamber 223 that communicates between the first refrigerant passage 2A and the second refrigerant passage 2B. The communication chamber 223 is located on the second longitudinal direction L2 side of the first refrigerant passage 2A and the second refrigerant passage 2B, and is a space that communicates with the multiple partition refrigerant passages 21 formed in the first refrigerant passage 2A and the multiple partition refrigerant passages 21 formed in the second refrigerant passage 2B.
[0104] As described above, in the cooler 201 according to this embodiment, the separation wall 279 separates the refrigerant passage 2 into the first refrigerant passage 2A and the second refrigerant passage 2B in the width direction W, and the first chamber 222a and the second chamber 222b are separated by the first joint portion A2 between the cooling plate portion 207 and the first lid portion 208, so that the first port 3 and the second port 4 can be arranged in the same direction in the longitudinal direction L. Furthermore, the supply direction and discharge direction of the refrigerant to the cooler 201 can be aligned in the same direction. This allows the cooler 201 to be installed even in a location where the refrigerant can be supplied and discharged only from one side.
[0105] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments.
[0106] For example, in the above-described embodiment and the second embodiment, the first side wall end faces 173a, 173a, which are end faces in the first longitudinal direction L1 of the pair of side wall portions 173, 173, have been described as inclined surfaces, but as in a cooler 301 shown in Fig. 22 , a first bottom wall end face 371a, which is an end face in the first longitudinal direction L1 of a bottom wall portion 371 of a cooling plate 307, may be formed by an inclined surface that extends in the second height direction H2 as it extends in the first longitudinal direction L1, and a vertical surface that extends in the height direction H. In this case, the first lid portion 308 is joined to the inclined surface of the first bottom wall end face 371a.
[0107] In the above embodiment, the first port 3 and the second port 4 are described as extending in the first height direction H1, but the extending direction of the first port 3 and the second port 4 is not particularly limited. As a reference example, in a cooler 401 shown in Fig. 23, the first port 403 and the second port (not shown) extend along the longitudinal direction L, which is the same direction as the extending direction of the partition refrigerant passage (not shown). [Explanation of symbols]
[0108] 1...cooler, 2...refrigerant passage, 2A...first refrigerant passage, 2B...second refrigerant passage, 3...first port, 4...second port, 5...first mounting portion, 6...second mounting portion, 7...cooling plate portion, 8...first lid portion, 9...second lid portion, 21...compartment refrigerant passage, 22...first chamber, 23...second chamber, 71...bottom wall portion, 71a...bottom wall upper surface, 72...upper wall portion, 72a...first upper wall end surface, 72b...second upper wall end surface, 72c...upper wall upper surface, 73...side wall portion, 73a...first side wall end surface, 73b...second side wall end surface, 74...compartment wall, 74a...first partition wall end surface, 74b ...second partition wall end surface, 75...first opening, 75A...first separation opening, 75B...second separation opening, 76...second opening, 77...first joining surface, 78...second joining surface, 81...joining surface, 82...chamber forming portion, 91...joining surface, 92...chamber forming portion, 101...cooler, 105...first mounting portion, 106...second mounting portion, 107...cooling plate portion, 108...first lid portion, 109...second lid portion, 171...bottom wall portion, 171b...first bottom wall end surface, 171c...second bottom wall end surface, 172...upper wall portion, 172a...first upper wall end surface, 172b...second upper wall end surface, 17 2c...upper wall upper surface, 173...side wall portion, 173a...first side wall end surface, 173b...second side wall end surface, 174...compartment wall, 174a...first partition wall end surface, 174b...second partition wall end surface, 175...first opening, 176...second opening, 177...first joining surface, 178...second joining surface, 181...joining surface, 191...joining surface, 201...cooler, 207...cooling plate portion, 208...first lid portion, 209...second lid portion, 222a...first chamber, 222b...second chamber, 223...communicating chamber, 277...first joining surface, 279...separation wall, 279a...second One separation wall end surface, 281...joint surface, 282...first chamber forming portion, 283...second chamber forming portion, 284...refrigerant passage separation portion, 292...chamber forming portion, 301...cooler, 371...bottom wall portion, 371a...first bottom wall end surface, 401...cooler, 403...first port, A...first joint portion, A1...first joint portion, A2...first joint portion, B...second joint portion, B1...second joint portion, B2...second joint portion, H...height direction, H1...first height direction, H2...second height direction, L...longitudinal direction, L1...first longitudinal direction, L2...second longitudinal direction, W...width direction.
Claims
1. A cooler having a refrigerant passage, a cooling plate portion including a plurality of partition walls extending in a longitudinal direction and partitioning the refrigerant passage in a width direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and openings that open the refrigerant passage in a first longitudinal direction that is one of the longitudinal directions and a first height direction that is one of height directions perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and the width direction; a lid portion joined to the cooling plate portion so as to close the opening of the cooling plate portion; a mounting portion for mounting the cooler to an external device, a joining surface of the cooling plate portion with the lid portion facing toward the first height direction rather than the longitudinal direction, the joint surface is formed by a horizontal surface extending in the longitudinal direction and the width direction, and an inclined surface extending in a second height direction opposite to the first height direction as it extends in the first longitudinal direction, the attachment portion is located at an end of the cooler on the opposite side of the refrigerant passage from the joint surface, and is a through hole formed in a portion where the lid portion and the cooling plate portion are overlapped with each other. cooler.
2. The mounting portion has a first mounting portion located at an end of the cooler in the first longitudinal direction, and a second mounting portion located at an end of the cooler in a second longitudinal direction that is opposite to the first longitudinal direction, the first mounting portion is open in the first longitudinal direction, The second mounting portion is open in the second longitudinal direction. The cooler of claim 1 .
3. The joining surface does not have a vertical surface extending in the height direction. The cooler of claim 1 .
4. The cooling plate portion is a bottom wall portion extending in the longitudinal direction and the width direction; an upper wall portion extending in the longitudinal direction and the width direction and facing the bottom wall portion in the height direction; a pair of side wall portions connected to the bottom wall portion and the top wall portion and facing each other in the width direction, the attachment portion is formed at a portion where the lid portion and the bottom wall portion are superimposed on each other, The joining surfaces are formed on the bottom wall portion, the top wall portion, and the pair of side wall portions. The cooler of claim 1 .
5. partition wall end faces, which are end faces in the first longitudinal direction of the plurality of partition walls, are formed at the same positions as side wall end faces, which are end faces in the first longitudinal direction of the pair of side wall portions, when viewed from the width direction. The cooler of claim 4.
6. Partition wall end surfaces, which are end surfaces in the first longitudinal direction of the plurality of partition walls, are inclined surfaces that extend in a second height direction opposite to the first height direction as they extend in the first longitudinal direction. The cooler of claim 1 .
Citation Information
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