Cooling member

Abstract

This cooling member is provided with: a flow path member that has a pair of plate materials disposed at an interval, and that forms a flow path through which a fluid flows between one of the plate materials and the other plate material; and a pool that is disposed on the upstream side of the flow path across the entire width of the flow path member between the flow path and an inflow port for the fluid, and in which the fluid is stored, the pool satisfying h < W and h < H, where h is the internal height of the flow path, H is the internal height of the pool, and W is the width dimension of the pool in the flow direction of the fluid.

Description

Cooling material

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a cooling member.

[0002] For example, the inverter device described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-346480 discloses a cooling member that cools the heat sink by flowing cooling water through a cooling water channel formed between the heat sink and a cooling water channel forming member.

[0003] In the inverter device of JP 11-346480 A, for example, cooling water flows in through a water inlet provided on one side of a cooling water channel formed between a recess in a cooling water channel forming member and a heat sink. The inverter device of JP 11-346480 A is configured so that the cooling water can circulate by discharging the cooling water after cooling the heat sink from a water inlet provided on the other side of the cooling water channel.

[0004] However, in some cases, the width of the recess in the cooling-water-channel-forming member in the direction perpendicular to the imaginary line connecting one water passage port and the other water passage port, i.e., the width of the cooling water channel, is wide. When the width of the cooling water channel is wide, the flow rate per unit time of the cooling water flowing from one water passage port to the other water passage port in the recess along the imaginary line connecting the one water passage port and the other water passage port in the shortest distance (i.e., the center of the width direction of the cooling-water-channel-forming member) is high. As a result, the flow rate per unit time decreases as the distance from the imaginary line increases in the direction perpendicular to the imaginary line.

[0005] Therefore, the cooling water, which is a fluid, does not flow uniformly in the cooling water passage, which is a flow path, across the width direction of the cooling water passage forming member.

[0006] In consideration of the above, the present disclosure has an object to make the flow of fluid in the flow passage of a cooling member uniform across the width direction.

[0007] The cooling member according to a first aspect includes a flow path member having a pair of plate members arranged at a distance from each other, forming a flow path through which a fluid flows between one of the plate members and the other of the plate members, and a pool arranged across the entire width of the flow path member on the upstream side of the flow path member between the flow path and an inlet for the fluid, for storing the fluid, wherein when the internal height of the flow path is h, the internal height of the pool is H, and the width dimension of the pool in the flow direction of the fluid is W, the relationships h<W and h<H are satisfied.

[0008] When a fluid flows into a pool disposed between the flow path and the fluid inlet on the upstream side of the flow path member through the inlet, the fluid is stored in the pool disposed across the entire width of the flow path member and then flows into the flow path of the flow path member. Here, by forming the pool so that h<W and h<H are satisfied, the fluid stored in the pool is diverted (in other words, dispersed) with increased uniformity across the width of the flow path (i.e., the direction perpendicular to the flow direction of the fluid flowing through the flow path) and flows into the flow path.

[0009] This makes it easier to make the cooling performance of the cooling member uniform across the entire width.

[0010] The cooling member according to the second aspect is the cooling member according to the first aspect, further comprising a pool, separate from the pool, that is arranged downstream of the flow path between the flow path and the fluid outlet.

[0011] In the cooling member according to the second aspect, a pool is also provided between the flow path and the fluid outlet on the downstream side of the flow path member. Therefore, compared to a case where a pool is not provided between the flow path and the fluid outlet on the downstream side of the flow path member, the resistance that the fluid that flows out of the flow path experiences on the downstream side is more easily uniform across the width. As a result, the fluid flowing in the flow path flows more uniformly across the entire width of the flow path.

[0012] A cooling member according to a third aspect is the cooling member according to the first or second aspect, wherein the plate material includes at least a metal plate.

[0013] By including a metal plate in the plate material, heat is more easily transferred than when no metal plate is included, and as a result, the plate material including a metal plate can more easily cool the object to be cooled.

[0014] The cooling member of the fourth aspect is the cooling member of the first or second aspect, which is provided with a heat sink made of a metal material so as to cover an opening formed in at least one of the plates, and the heat sink is exposed to the flow path.

[0015] In the cooling member according to the fourth aspect, a heat sink made of a metal material is provided to close an opening formed in the plate material. Because the heat sink is exposed to the flow path, the fluid in the flow path can efficiently cool the cooling target that is in contact with the outer surface of the heat sink.

[0016] The cooling member of the fifth aspect is a cooling member of any one of the first to fourth aspects, which comprises a plurality of partition plates extending in the flow direction of the fluid and spaced apart in a direction perpendicular to the flow direction, and the flow path is divided into a plurality of small flow paths by the plurality of partition plates.

[0017] By arranging multiple partition plates inside the flow path at intervals extending in the direction of fluid flow and perpendicular to the flow direction, and dividing the flow path into multiple small flow paths, the fluid in the flow path can flow from the upstream side to the downstream side with reduced turbulence.

[0018] A cooling member according to a sixth aspect is a cooling member according to any one of the cooling members according to the first to fifth aspects, wherein the flow path member comprises a rectangular frame that is arranged between one of the plate materials and the other of the plate materials and forms the flow path, and a columnar portion that is integrally connected to an end of the rectangular frame and includes the pool inside, one of the plate materials is joined to one face of the rectangular frame and one face of the columnar portion that is connected to one face of the rectangular frame, and the other plate material is joined to the other face of the rectangular frame, the internal height of the flow path formed between a frame piece that forms the pool side of the rectangular frame and one of the plate materials is formed lower than the internal height of the flow path inside the frame of the rectangular frame, and a protrusion that is joined to one of the plate materials is formed on the frame piece.

[0019] In the cooling member according to the sixth aspect, one plate is joined to a protrusion formed on the pool-side frame piece of the rectangular frame, so that the joining strength between the rectangular frame and the one plate can be increased compared to when no protrusion is provided. Also, the other plate can be joined to the entire other surface of the rectangular frame, including the pool-side frame piece.

[0020] As described above, according to the cooling member of the present disclosure, the flow of fluid within the flow passage of the cooling member can be made uniform across the width direction.

[0021] 1 is a perspective view showing a cooling member according to a first embodiment; FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a cooling member according to the first embodiment; FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of a cooling water channel; FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing an inlet portion; FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the inlet portion and the cooling water channel as viewed from the bottom side; FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the inlet portion and the cooling water channel as viewed from the bottom side; FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing an outlet portion; FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a cooling member according to a second embodiment; FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view showing a cooling member according to the second embodiment; FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a cooling member according to the second embodiment; FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing an upper frame as viewed from the bottom side; FIG. 12 is a plan view showing the upper frame; FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing the inlet portion of the cooling member used in the simulation.

[0022] First and second embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the following embodiments. When embodiments are described with reference to drawings in the present disclosure, the configuration of the embodiment is not limited to the configuration shown in the drawings. Furthermore, the sizes of components in each drawing are conceptual, and the relative size relationships between components are not limited to these.

[0023] In the following description of the drawings, like parts are denoted by like reference numerals. However, the drawings are schematic, and the relationship between thickness and planar dimensions, and the thickness ratio of each device and each component, differ from the actual ones. Therefore, specific thicknesses and dimensions should be determined by taking into consideration the following explanation. Furthermore, there are parts in which the dimensional relationships and ratios differ between the drawings. Furthermore, unless otherwise specified in the specification, the number of each component element of the present disclosure is not limited to one, and multiple elements may be present.

[0024] 1 to 7, a cooling member 10 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the entire cooling member 10 of the first embodiment, and Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the cooling member 10 of the first embodiment. In the drawings, the directions indicated by arrows L and R are referred to as the frame longitudinal direction, and the directions indicated by arrows F and B, which are orthogonal to the directions indicated by arrows L and R, are referred to as the frame width direction.

[0025] The cooling member 10 of the first embodiment is broadly composed of a frame 12, an upper cover 14, a lower cover 16, and a corrugated plate 18. The frame 12, the upper cover 14, and the lower cover 16 are examples of flow path members of the present disclosure. The lower cover 16 is an example of one of a pair of plate members of the present disclosure. The upper cover 14 is an example of the other of the pair of plate members of the present disclosure. The lower cover 16 and the upper cover 14 are arranged with a gap between them.

[0026] (Configuration of Frame and Corrugated Sheet) As shown in FIG. 2 , the frame 12 has an overall rectangular frame shape. The frame 12 is provided with a rectangular column-shaped inlet section 20 on the longitudinal side, i.e., the direction of arrow R in FIG. 2 , and a rectangular column-shaped outlet section 22 on the longitudinal side, i.e., the direction of arrow L. The inlet section 20 is an example of a column-shaped section in the present disclosure. The inlet section 20 is integrally connected to the end of the rectangular frame 24 on the direction of arrow R. The outlet section 22 is integrally connected to the end of the rectangular frame 24 on the direction of arrow L. The inlet section 20 and the outlet section 22 are integrally connected by the rectangular frame 24. Note that the frame 12 is formed of a synthetic resin, as an example.

[0027] 2 and 3, three corrugated sheets 18, all of which have the same configuration, are arranged inside the rectangular frame 24. In the first embodiment, as an example, an upper cover 14 is welded to the upper surface of the rectangular frame 24, and a lower cover 16 is welded to the lower surface of the rectangular frame 24, thereby closing the opening of the rectangular frame 24 with the corrugated sheets 18 arranged inside the frame.

[0028] In other words, the lower cover 16 is joined to the lower surface of the rectangular frame 24 in Fig. 3 and the lower surface of the inlet section 20 connected to the lower surface of the rectangular frame 24. The lower surface of the rectangular frame 24 in Fig. 3 is an example of one surface of the rectangular frame in the present disclosure. The lower surface of the inlet section 20 in Fig. 3 is an example of the lower surface of the inlet section in the present disclosure. The upper cover 14 is joined to the upper surface of the rectangular frame 24 in Fig. 3. The upper surface of the rectangular frame 24 in Fig. 3 is an example of the other surface of the rectangular frame in the present disclosure.

[0029] In the first embodiment, the top cover 14 and the bottom cover 16 are, for example, laminate sheets formed by overlapping a thermoplastic synthetic resin sheet and an aluminum sheet. Here, the aluminum sheet in the laminate sheet may be a metal plate. The top cover 14 and the bottom cover 16 may be sheets other than laminate sheets, i.e., plate materials, or metal sheets with excellent thermal conductivity, i.e., plates. The top cover 14 and the bottom cover 16 may also be bonded to the rectangular frame 24. By including a metal plate in the top cover 14 and the bottom cover 16, heat transfer becomes easier compared to when the metal plate is not included. As a result, the top cover 14 and the bottom cover 16, which are formed by including a metal plate, can more easily cool the cooling target. The top cover 14 and the bottom cover 16 do not need to include a metal plate as long as they are made of a material with good thermal conductivity.

[0030] In the first embodiment, the space surrounded by the rectangular frame 24, the upper cover 14, and the lower cover 16 is referred to as a cooling water flow path 26, which is an example of a flow path in the present disclosure. The frame 12, the upper cover 14, and the lower cover 16 form the cooling water flow path 26 through which a fluid flows between the lower cover 16 and the upper cover 14.

[0031] The corrugated plate 18 is formed with an uneven shape in the width direction of the frame 12 (i.e., the short direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction), and has a rectangular wave shape when viewed in the longitudinal direction. The corrugated plate 18 in the first embodiment is, for example, a laminate sheet made by overlapping a synthetic resin sheet and an aluminum sheet, but may be made of other materials. The corrugated plate 18 is an example of a partition plate of the present disclosure. By providing the corrugated plate 18 inside the cooling water flow path 26, the cooling water flow path 26 is divided into multiple small flow paths 26A. By arranging multiple corrugated plates 18 inside the cooling water flow path 26 at intervals in a direction perpendicular to the flow direction, and dividing the cooling water flow path 26 into multiple small flow paths, the cooling water in the cooling water flow path 26 can flow from the upstream side to the downstream side with reduced turbulence. The flow direction of the cooling water extends along the directions of arrows L and R in FIG. 1 .

[0032] 2, the inlet section 20 has a columnar shape with a rectangular cross section. The length of the inlet section 20 (in other words, the dimension in the frame width direction) is the same as the dimension in the frame width direction of the rectangular frame 24.

[0033] 4 and 5 , an inlet-side pool 28 having a rectangular cross section that is long in the vertical direction is provided inside the inlet section 20 along the longitudinal direction of the inlet section 20. The inlet-side pool 28 is included inside the inlet section 20.

[0034] The inlet pool 28 not only allows cooling water, which is an example of a fluid, to pass through, but also serves as a space capable of storing the cooling water. The inlet pool 28 can also be referred to as a flow divider or buffer that improves uniformity.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 4 , a cooling water inlet pipe 30 communicating with an inlet-side pool 28 is connected to the upper side of the longitudinal center of the side surface of the inlet section 20 on the arrow R side. The cooling water inlet pipe 30 is an example of an inlet pipe in the present disclosure. The cooling water inlet pipe 30 communicates with the cooling water flow path 26. The cooling water inlet pipe 30 has an end opening 30A through which the cooling water flows in. The end opening 30A is an example of an inlet port in the present disclosure. The end opening 30A of the cooling water inlet pipe 30 on the arrow L side faces the inner wall 20A of the inlet section 20 on the arrow L side. The inlet-side pool 28 is disposed upstream of the cooling water flow path 26, between the cooling water flow path 26 and the end opening 30A, across the entire width of the flow path member formed by the frame 12, the upper cover 14, and the lower cover 16.

[0036] In the present embodiment, a case where the cylindrical cooling water inlet pipe 30 is attached to the prismatic inlet portion 20 is illustrated, but in the present disclosure, the shape of the member corresponding to the inlet pipe into which the fluid flows is not limited to this. In the present disclosure, for example, an inlet member having a prismatic shape and having holes, grooves, etc. formed therein through which the fluid flows may be used in a state where it is integrally attached to the prismatic inlet portion. Furthermore, an inlet that communicates with the fluid flow path and through which the fluid flows into the pool may be formed at the position where the prismatic inlet member opens to the inlet portion. In the present disclosure, the shape of the inlet member attached to the inlet portion is arbitrary.

[0037] 4 , the inlet-side pool 28 has a lower end, on the direction of arrow L, that communicates with the cooling water flow path 26 via the inlet-side narrow flow path 32. The internal height h1 of this inlet-side narrow flow path 32 is smaller than the internal height h0 of the cooling water flow path 26. In other words, the inlet-side narrow flow path 32 has a narrower vertical dimension (i.e., is thinner) than the cooling water flow path 26. As described above, in the first embodiment, the internal height of the inlet-side narrow flow path 32 is formed lower than the internal height of the cooling water flow path 26 inside the frame piece 24A of the rectangular frame 24.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 5 , the width dimension W1 of the inlet-side narrow channel 32 along the frame width direction, the width dimension W0 of the cooling water channel 26, and the length dimension L0 of the inlet-side pool 28 are preferably the same. This disclosure does not exclude the possibility of slight differences in the width dimension of the inlet-side narrow channel 32 along the frame width direction, the width dimension of the cooling water channel, and the length dimension of the inlet-side pool, such as when a small step is formed. In this embodiment, the width dimension W1 of the inlet-side narrow channel 32 along the frame width direction, the width dimension W0 of the cooling water channel 26, and the length dimension L0 of the inlet-side pool 28 are adjusted to be the same to improve uniformity. Furthermore, the diameter of the end opening 30A of the cooling water inlet pipe 30 is smaller than the length dimension L0 of the inlet-side pool 28.

[0039] 4, the internal height H of the inlet-side pool 28 is larger than the width W of the inlet-side pool 28, and the internal height h1 of the inlet-side narrow flow path 32 is set smaller than the internal height H and width W of the inlet-side pool 28. That is, when the internal height of the cooling water flow path 26 is h, the internal height of the inlet-side pool 28 is H, and the width of the inlet-side pool 28 in the cooling water flow direction is W, the inlet-side pool 28 satisfies h<W and h<H. This results in the inlet-side pool 28 having a large volume.

[0040] 4 to 6, in the inlet-side narrow flow path 32, a plurality of oval projections 34 projecting downward from the inlet section 20 and a frame piece 24A (i.e., an example of a frame piece of the present disclosure) that is part of the rectangular frame 24 are arranged at intervals along the longitudinal direction of the inlet section 20. The lower cover 16 is welded (i.e., fixed) to the tops of the projections 34 (i.e., the undersides of the projections 34 in FIG. 4). The projections 34 may be provided as needed or may not be present.

[0041] With the above configuration, when cooling water is introduced into the cooling water inlet pipe 30 , the cooling water flows into the cooling water flow path 26 via the inlet pool 28 and the inlet narrow flow path 32 .

[0042] 7, the outlet portion 22 has the same configuration (i.e., the same shape and dimensions) as the inlet portion 20. In other words, the cooling member 10 of the first embodiment has a bilaterally symmetrical shape.

[0043] An outlet-side pool 36 similar to the inlet-side pool 28 is provided separately from the inlet-side pool 28 inside the outlet section 22. A cooling water outlet pipe 38 communicating with the outlet-side pool 36 is connected to the side surface of the outlet section 22 in the direction of arrow L. The cooling water outlet pipe 38 is an example of an outlet pipe in the present disclosure. The cooling water outlet pipe 38 communicates with the cooling water flow path 26 and has an end opening 38A from which the cooling water flows out. The end opening 38A is an example of an outlet port in the present disclosure.

[0044] In the present embodiment, a cylindrical cooling water outlet pipe 38 is attached to the prismatic outlet portion 22, but in the present disclosure, the shape of the member corresponding to the outlet pipe from which the fluid flows is not limited to this. In the present disclosure, for example, an outlet member having a prismatic shape and having holes, grooves, etc. formed therein through which the fluid flows may be attached integrally to the prismatic outlet portion. Furthermore, an outlet opening that communicates with the fluid flow path and through which the fluid flows out of the pool may be formed at the position where the prismatic outlet member opens to the outlet portion. In the present disclosure, the shape of the outlet member attached to the outlet portion is arbitrary.

[0045] The outlet-side pool 36 is disposed downstream of the cooling water flow path 26, between the cooling water flow path 26 and an end opening 38A of the cooling water outlet pipe 38. This allows the cooling water that has passed through the cooling water flow path 26 to flow into the outlet-side pool 36 and be discharged to the outside via the cooling water outlet pipe 38. The length of the outlet-side pool 36 is the same as the length L0 of the inlet-side pool 28. The diameter of the end opening 38A of the cooling water outlet pipe 38 is smaller than the length L0 of the outlet-side pool 36.

[0046] The outlet-side pool 36 has a lower end in the direction of arrow R that communicates with the cooling water flow path 26 via an outlet-side narrow flow path 40. In addition, a plurality of protrusions 42 similar to the protrusions 34 of the inlet portion 20 are arranged in the outlet-side narrow flow path 40.

[0047] (Operations and Effects) Next, a description will be given of the operations and effects of the cooling member 10 of the first embodiment. As an example, the cooling member 10 of the first embodiment is used by bringing the lower cover 16 into close contact with an object to be cooled (not shown).

[0048] When cooling water is introduced into the cooling water inlet pipe 30, the cooling water flows into the cooling water flow path 26 via the inlet pool 28 and the inlet narrow flow path 32. The cooling water is not limited to water, and liquids such as ethylene glycol (i.e., antifreeze) and long-life coolant (LLC) can also be used.

[0049] Here, the inlet pool 28 is a space with a large capacity that not only allows cooling water to pass through but also can store the cooling water. Therefore, when cooling water flows into the inlet pool 28 from the cooling water inlet pipe 30, the cooling water discharged from the end opening 30A of the cooling water inlet pipe 30 flows toward both longitudinal sides of the inlet pool 28, i.e., toward both sides in the frame width direction. Thereafter, the cooling water flowing toward both sides in the frame width direction flows into the inlet narrow flow passage 32 with increased uniformity across the frame width direction. The cooling water that has flowed into the inlet narrow flow passage 32 then flows into the cooling water flow passage 26.

[0050] In other words, the cooling water that flows from the cooling water inlet pipe 30 into the inlet pool 28, which is disposed across the entire width of the flow path member, can be diverted (in other words, dispersed) in the inlet pool 28 in a manner that is highly uniform along the longitudinal direction of the inlet pool 28. The diverted cooling water in a manner that is highly uniform can then be introduced into the cooling water flow path 26 via the inlet narrow flow path 32. Note that in the present disclosure, "storage" includes not only a state in which the cooling water is stationary in the pool due to the cooling water velocity being zero, but also a state in which the cooling water flows through the pool at a velocity.

[0051] This makes it possible to equalize the flow rate of cooling water per unit time between the center side of the cooling water flow path 26 in the frame width direction and both end sides in the frame width direction that sandwich the center side. In other words, the flow of cooling water in the cooling water flow path 26 can be made uniform across the width direction. This makes it possible to suppress differences in cooling performance depending on the location.

[0052] That is, the flow rate of the cooling water flowing in the direction of arrow L within the cooling water flow path 26 can be made more uniform along the frame width direction of the cooling water flow path 26. Therefore, uniform cooling is achieved across the frame width direction of the bottom cover 16, and as a result, the cooling target that is in contact with the bottom cover 16 can be cooled with reduced unevenness. This makes it easier to make the cooling performance of the cooling member 10 uniform across the entire width. As a result, the flow of cooling water within the cooling water flow path 26 can be made uniform across the width direction. Note that the top cover 14 may be used in close contact with the cooling target (not shown) to be cooled.

[0053] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the cooling water that has flowed through the cooling water flow passage 26 is discharged from the cooling water outlet pipe 38 via the outlet pool 36, which has a large volume similar to that of the inlet pool 28. Because the outlet pool 36 has a large volume, resistance to the cooling water flowing from the cooling water flow passage 26 into the outlet pool 36 is small, and the uniformity of the flow rate of the cooling water flowing into the outlet pool 36 across the entire width of the cooling water flow passage 26 can be improved. In other words, the resistance that the cooling water that flows out of the cooling water flow passage 26 encounters downstream can be made uniform across the width.

[0054] In the cooling member 10 of the first embodiment, the inlet pool 28 and the cooling water flow passage 26 are connected via the inlet narrow flow passage 32, and the cooling water flow passage 26 and the outlet pool 36 are connected via the outlet narrow flow passage 40. However, in the present disclosure, the inlet pool 28 and the cooling water flow passage 26 may be directly connected, and the cooling water flow passage 26 and the outlet pool 36 may be directly connected.

[0055] The cooling member of the present disclosure makes it easy to equalize the flow rate of cooling water per unit time between the center side in the frame width direction of the cooling water flow path 26 and both end sides in the frame width direction that sandwich the center side, even if the inlet-side narrow flow path 32 and the outlet-side narrow flow path 40 are not provided. In other words, variation in the flow rate of cooling water per unit time flowing through each small flow path 26A is suppressed, making it possible to equalize the flow rate of cooling water flowing through each small flow path 26A.

[0056] Furthermore, in the cooling member 10 of the first embodiment, the lower cover 16 is joined to the protrusion 34 formed on the pool-side frame piece 24A of the rectangular frame 24, and therefore the joining strength between the rectangular frame 24 and the lower cover 16 can be increased compared to when the protrusion 34 is not provided.

[0057] Second Embodiment Next, a cooling member 50 according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Figures 8 to 12. Note that the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0058] 8 and 9 , the cooling member 50 of the second embodiment is broadly configured to include a lower frame 52, an upper frame 54, and a heat sink 56. The lower frame 52 and the upper frame 54 are an example of a pair of plate members of the present disclosure. The heat sink 56 is exposed to the cooling water flow path 60. Therefore, the cooling water in the cooling water flow path 60 can efficiently cool the cooling target that is in contact with the outer surface of the heat sink 56.

[0059] 9, the lower frame 52 is formed in the shape of a thick plate that is rectangular in plan view, and has a shallow recess 58 that is rectangular in plan view formed on the upper surface. The lower frame 52 can be formed, for example, from a synthetic resin.

[0060] (Upper Frame) Like the lower frame 52, the upper frame 54 is formed as a thick plate having a rectangular shape in a plan view, and is overlapped and joined to the upper part of the lower frame 52. Note that, like the lower frame 52, the upper frame 54 can be formed of a synthetic resin, for example.

[0061] 10 , the opening of the recess 58 is closed by fixing the upper frame 54 to the upper surface of the lower frame 52. As a result, a cooling water flow path 60 is formed between the lower frame 52 and the upper frame 54.

[0062] As shown in FIG. 9, the upper frame 54 is provided with an inlet 62 on the side of the frame in the direction of arrow R in FIG. 9, which is the longitudinal direction of the frame, and an outlet 64 on the side of the frame in the direction of arrow L, which is the longitudinal direction.

[0063] 10 , an inlet-side pool 66 that extends in the frame width direction and has a rectangular cross section that is long in the vertical direction is provided inside the cooling member 50 on the side indicated by arrow R. The inlet-side pool 66 is formed by a recess 68 that is formed in the inlet section 62 and extends in the frame width direction, and a part of the recess 58 on the side indicated by arrow R.

[0064] As in the first embodiment, the inlet pool 66 not only allows the cooling water to pass through, but also serves as a space in which the cooling water can be stored, and can also be referred to as a diversion section or buffer that improves uniformity.

[0065] A cooling water inlet pipe 70 communicating with the inlet-side pool 66 is connected to the longitudinal center of the side surface of the inlet portion 62 on the arrow R direction side.

[0066] As shown in FIG. 10 , the inlet pool 66 has a lower end on the arrow L direction side that communicates with the cooling water flow path 60 .

[0067] The internal height dimension H of the inlet-side pool 66 is larger than the width dimension W of the inlet-side pool 66, and is set smaller than the internal height dimension h0 of the cooling water flow path 60. In addition, as shown in Figures 11 and 12, the length dimension L0 of the inlet-side pool 66 along the frame width direction is the same as the width dimension W0 of the cooling water flow path 60 along the frame width direction. This results in the inlet-side pool 66 having a large volume.

[0068] A rectangular opening 72 is formed in the center of the upper frame 54. A heat sink 56 made of a metal material is fitted into this opening 72. The heat sink of the present disclosure may be constructed to contain at least a metal material. The heat sink 56 closes the opening 72 formed in the upper frame 54, thereby fixing the upper frame 54 and the heat sink 56 in a watertight manner. A plurality of protrusions 56A are formed on the underside of the heat sink 56, protruding toward the cooling water flow path 60. The protrusions can also be called fins.

[0069] 8 to 12, the outlet portion 64 has the same configuration as the inlet portion 62, and the cooling member 50 has a bilaterally symmetrical shape, so a description of the outlet portion 64 will be omitted. A cooling water outlet pipe 74 is connected to the side surface of the outlet portion 64.

[0070] (Operations and Effects) Next, a description will be given of the operations and effects of the cooling member 50 of the second embodiment. As an example, the cooling member 50 of the second embodiment is used by bringing the outer surface of the heat sink 56 into close contact with a target (not shown) to be cooled.

[0071] When cooling water is introduced into the cooling water inlet pipe 70 , the cooling water flows into the cooling water flow path 60 via the inlet pool 66 .

[0072] Here, the inlet pool 66 is a space having a large capacity that not only allows the cooling water to pass through but also allows the cooling water to be stored therein. Therefore, when the cooling water flows into the inlet pool 66 from the cooling water inlet pipe 70, the cooling water discharged from the end of the cooling water inlet pipe 70 flows toward both sides in the longitudinal direction of the inlet pool 66, and then flows into the cooling water flow path 60 with improved uniformity across the frame width direction.

[0073] In other words, the cooling water that flows from the cooling water inlet pipe 70 into the inlet pool 66 can be diverted in the inlet pool 66 with increased uniformity along the longitudinal direction of the inlet pool 66. Furthermore, the diverted cooling water with increased uniformity can be introduced into the cooling water flow path 60.

[0074] This makes it easy to make the flow rate of the cooling water per unit time uniform between the center side in the frame width direction of the cooling water flow path 60 and both end sides in the frame width direction that sandwich the center side. Also, the heat sink 56 can be cooled with improved uniformity across the frame width direction. Therefore, the cooling target that is in contact with the heat sink 56 can be cooled with reduced unevenness.

[0075] [Test Example] In order to confirm the effects of the present disclosure, a simulation was performed on the flow rate of cooling water flowing through the cooling water channel in the cooling members of Examples 1 and 2 as examples of the present disclosure and in each of the cooling members of Comparative Examples 1 to 4.

[0076] 13, the cooling member 100 used in the simulation has substantially the same configuration as that of the first embodiment described above, but the inlet pool 28 and the cooling water flow path 26 are directly connected, and the outlet pool 36 and the cooling water flow path 26 are directly connected. In other words, the cooling member 100 has a bilaterally symmetrical shape.

[0077] Table 1 below shows the length, internal height, and width of the inlet-side pool of the cooling members of Examples 1 and 2 and Comparative Examples 1, 2 to 4, as well as the internal height and width of the cooling water flow path, the state of the cooling water flowing inside the cooling water flow path when cooling water is supplied to the cooling water inlet pipe, and the pressure loss of the cooling member.

[0078]

[0079] The simulation results show that the cooling members according to the examples of the present disclosure suppress unevenness in the flow rate in the cooling water channels compared to the comparative example, and further suppress pressure loss.

[0080] The pressure loss of the cooling member is smaller in Example 2 than in Example 1. This is thought to be because the width of the inlet side pool in Example 2 is larger than in Example 1, and the cross-sectional area of ​​the pool is larger, making it easier for the fluid to flow through the pool.

[0081] The results of the simulation show that the ratio W / H is preferably set to 6 / 8.5 or more. Although there is no particular upper limit to the ratio W / H, as the ratio W / H increases, the height of the inlet increases.

[0082] Moreover, from the viewpoint of pressure loss, the ratio W / h0 is preferably equal to or greater than 2, and more preferably equal to or greater than 3. There is no particular upper limit to the ratio W / h0, but as the ratio W / h0 increases, the width of the inlet portion increases.

[0083] [Other Embodiments] One embodiment of the present disclosure has been described above, but the present disclosure is not limited to the above, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure.

[0084] The cooling members 10 of the first embodiment and the cooling members 50 of the second embodiment may be connected in series or in parallel, and in this case, the functions and effects of each cooling member can be obtained in the same manner as in the first or second embodiment.

[0085] The cooling member 10 of the first embodiment and the cooling member 50 of the second embodiment have a bilaterally symmetrical shape in the direction of cooling water flow, such as the bilaterally symmetrical cooling member 50 in FIG. 12 . Furthermore, an inlet-side pool 28 is provided on the inlet side of the cooling water, and an outlet-side pool 36 is provided on the outlet side of the cooling water. However, in the present disclosure, it is sufficient to provide at least the inlet-side pool 28 on the inlet side of the cooling water, and the outlet-side pool 36 may be provided as needed. The outlet-side pool 36 does not necessarily have to be provided on the outlet side of the cooling water. Incidentally, providing the outlet-side pool 36 on the outlet side of the cooling water can further uniformize the flow of cooling water within the flow path compared to not providing the outlet-side pool 36. Without the outlet-side pool, the uniformity of the cooling water flow may be slightly inferior compared to when the outlet-side pool is provided, but this does not pose a problem in practical use.

[0086] Furthermore, in the cooling member 10 of the first embodiment, the inlet-side pool 28 is provided on the inlet side of the cooling water, and the outlet-side pool 36 is provided on the outlet side of the cooling water, thereby achieving a bilaterally symmetrical shape in the direction of the cooling water flow. This eliminates limitations on the directionality during use, making the cooling member 10 easy to use. Note that the cooling member 50 of the second embodiment also has a bilaterally symmetrical shape, so there is no limitations on the directionality during use, making the cooling member 50 easy to use.

[0087] The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-127408, filed on August 3, 2023, is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In addition, all documents, patent applications, and technical standards described herein are incorporated herein by reference to the same extent as if each individual document, patent application, and technical standard was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

[0088] REFERENCE SIGNS 10 Cooling member 12 Frame (flow path member) 14 Upper cover (other plate material, flow path member) 16 Lower cover (one plate material, flow path member) 18 Corrugated plate (partition plate) 20 Inlet portion (columnar portion) 24 Rectangular frame 24A Frame piece 26 Cooling water flow path (flow path) 26A Small flow path 28 Inlet side pool (pool) 30A End opening (inlet) 34 Protrusion 38A End opening (outlet) 50 Cooling member 52 Lower frame (plate material) 54 Upper frame (plate material) 56 Heat sink 60 Cooling water flow path (flow path) 66 Inlet side pool 72 Opening

Claims

1. A cooling member comprising: a flow path member having a pair of plate materials arranged with a gap between them, forming a flow path through which a fluid flows between one of the plate materials and the other of the plate materials; and a pool which is arranged across the entire width of the flow path member on the upstream side of the flow path, between the flow path and an inlet for the fluid, for storing the fluid, wherein when the internal height of the flow path is h, the internal height of the pool is H, and the width dimension of the pool in the flow direction of the fluid is W, the relations h<W and h<H are satisfied.

2. The cooling member according to claim 1, further comprising a pool disposed downstream of said flow path between said flow path and an outlet for said fluid, separate from said pool.

3. The cooling member according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the plate material is configured to include at least a metal plate.

4. The cooling member according to claim 1, further comprising a heat sink made of a metal material so as to cover an opening formed in at least one of said plates, said heat sink being exposed to said flow path.

5. The cooling member according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of partition plates extending in the direction of flow of the fluid and spaced apart in a direction perpendicular to the direction of flow, the flow path being divided into a plurality of small flow paths by the plurality of partition plates.

6. The cooling member according to claim 1, wherein the flow path member comprises a rectangular frame disposed between one of the plate materials and the other of the plate materials and forming the flow path, and a columnar portion integrally connected to an end of the rectangular frame and including the pool inside, one of the plate materials is joined to one face of the rectangular frame and one face of the columnar portion connected to one face of the rectangular frame, and the other of the plate materials is joined to the other face of the rectangular frame, the internal height of the flow path formed between a frame piece constituting the pool side of the rectangular frame and one of the plate materials is formed lower than the internal height of the flow path inside the frame of the rectangular frame, and a protrusion joined to one of the plate materials is formed on the frame piece.

Images