Cooler

Abstract

A cooler according to the present invention comprises: a cooling liquid passage extending in a longitudinal direction; a plurality of cooling plates each having a first opening where an end portion of the cooling liquid passage in a first longitudinal direction that is one direction in the longitudinal direction opens downward, which is one side in a height direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction, and a second opening where an end portion of the cooling liquid passage in a second longitudinal direction opposite to the first longitudinal direction opens downward, the plurality of cooling plates being adjacent to one other in a width direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction and the height direction; and a first communication lid that is joined to the plurality of cooling plates so as to span across the plurality of cooling plates and cover the second openings in the plurality of cooling plates, thereby forming a first cooling liquid communication passage that communicates with the second openings in the plurality of cooling plates.

Description

cooler

[0001] One aspect of the present invention relates to a cooler for cooling a heat generating body such as a battery.

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a cooler for cooling a heat-generating body such as a battery. The cooler includes a cooling plate made of an extruded material having a plurality of refrigerant passages partitioned by a plurality of partition walls, a first upper cover brazed to a first notch formed in one longitudinal end of the cooling plate, and a second upper cover brazed to a second notch formed in the other longitudinal end of the cooling plate. The first and second upper covers are formed with refrigerant inlets and refrigerant outlets communicating with the refrigerant passages.

[0003] Patent No. 6494134

[0004] In the cooler described in Patent Document 1, the cooling plate is manufactured by extrusion molding, but there is a limit to the width of the cooling plate that can be manufactured by extrusion molding, which makes it difficult to accommodate wide heat generating elements.

[0005] One approach is to arrange multiple coolers in the width direction and connect them with hoses or connectors. However, this can make the routing of the hoses or connectors complicated, and depending on the routing of the hoses or connectors, the cooling plate may become larger in both the longitudinal and vertical directions. For this reason, it is desirable to be able to accommodate wide heat-generating elements without using hoses or connectors.

[0006] An object of one aspect of the present invention is to provide a cooler that can accommodate a wide heat generating element.

[0007] [1] A cooler according to one aspect of the present invention has a coolant passage extending in a longitudinal direction, a first opening that opens an end of the coolant passage in a first longitudinal direction, which is one of the longitudinal directions, downward in one direction in a height direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and a second opening that opens an end of the coolant passage in a second longitudinal direction opposite the first longitudinal direction, downward, and includes a plurality of cooling plates that are adjacent to each other in a width direction perpendicular to the longitudinal and height directions, and a first communication lid that is joined to the plurality of cooling plates so as to span the plurality of cooling plates and cover the second openings of the plurality of cooling plates, thereby forming a first coolant communication passage that is connected to the second openings of the plurality of cooling plates.

[0008] In this cooler, when coolant is supplied to the coolant passage through either the first opening or the second opening in each of the multiple cooling plates, the coolant passes through the coolant passage and is discharged to the outside of each of the multiple cooling plates through the other of the first opening or the second opening. This allows heat exchange between the heat-generating element and the coolant in each of the multiple cooling plates, cooling the heat-generating element, and the cooling plate alone can cool the heat-generating element. In this cooler, the multiple cooling plates are adjacent to each other in the width direction, and a first communication cover is joined to the multiple cooling plates so as to straddle the multiple cooling plates and cover the second openings of the multiple cooling plates, thereby forming a first coolant communication passage that communicates with the second openings of the multiple cooling plates. This allows the cooler to accommodate wide heat-generating elements while preventing the coolant passage from becoming too large in the longitudinal direction. Furthermore, the width of the cooler can be further increased by adding cooling plates, allowing it to accommodate even wider heat-generating elements.

[0009] [2] In the cooler described in [1], the first communication lid may have a first inner lid portion having a plurality of cooling plate lid portions joined to each of the plurality of cooling plates so as to cover the second openings of each of the plurality of cooling plates, and having a third opening formed therein that communicates with the second openings of each of the plurality of cooling plates, and a first outer lid portion joined to the plurality of cooling plate lid portions so as to cover the third openings of the plurality of cooling plate lid portions, and forming a first lid inner communication passage that communicates with the three openings of the plurality of cooling plate lid portions.

[0010] In this cooler, by joining the first inner lid portion to the multiple cooling plates and joining the first outer lid portion to the first inner lid portion, the coolant passages of each of the multiple cooling plates are connected via the third openings and the first in-lid communicating passages of each of the multiple cooling-plate lid portions. In other words, the third openings and the first in-lid communicating passages of each of the multiple cooling-plate lid portions become first coolant communicating passages that communicate with the second openings of the multiple cooling plates. This makes it easy to form airtight first coolant communicating passages.

[0011] [3] In the cooler described in [1] or [2], each of the plurality of cooling plates has a cooling wall portion, a bottom wall portion arranged below the cooling wall portion and facing the cooling wall portion in the height direction, and a pair of side wall portions connected to the cooling wall portion and the bottom wall portion and facing each other in the width direction, and the first communication lid may be arranged below the cooling wall portions of the plurality of cooling plates.

[0012] In this cooler, each of the multiple cooling plates has a cooling wall portion, a bottom wall portion, and a pair of side walls, so that a coolant passage is formed in the cooling wall portion, the bottom wall portion, and the pair of side walls. Furthermore, because the first communication lid is disposed below the cooling wall portions of the multiple cooling plates, when a heat generating element is placed on the cooling wall portions of the multiple cooling plates, even if the first communication lid is broken, the coolant can be prevented from contacting the heat generating element.

[0013] [4] In the cooler described in [3], each of the plurality of cooling plates has a first notch in which the ends of the bottom wall portion and the pair of side wall portions in a first longitudinal direction are cut out, and a second notch in which the ends of the bottom wall portion and the pair of side wall portions in a second longitudinal direction are cut out, and the first opening may be formed by the first notch, and the second opening may be formed by the second notch.

[0014] In this cooler, the first opening is formed by a first notch formed by cutting out ends of the bottom wall and the pair of side wall portions in a first longitudinal direction, so that the coolant passage can be opened downward at the first opening, and the second opening is formed by a second notch formed by cutting out ends of the bottom wall and the pair of side wall portions in a second longitudinal direction, so that the coolant passage can be opened downward at the second opening.

[0015] [5] In the cooler described in [3] or [4], the tip of the bottom wall portion in the first longitudinal direction may be located on the second longitudinal direction side of the tip of the cooling wall portion in the first longitudinal direction, and the tip of the bottom wall portion in the second longitudinal direction may be located on the first longitudinal direction side of the tip of the cooling wall portion in the second longitudinal direction.

[0016] In this cooler, the tip of the bottom wall portion in the first longitudinal direction is located closer to the second longitudinal direction than the tip of the cooling wall portion in the first longitudinal direction, so that the end of the coolant passage in the first longitudinal direction can be opened downward. Also, the tip of the bottom wall portion in the second longitudinal direction is located closer to the first longitudinal direction than the tip of the cooling wall portion in the second longitudinal direction, so that the end of the coolant passage in the second longitudinal direction can be opened downward.

[0017] [6] In the cooler described in [5], the first opening may be formed by the bottom wall portion, end faces of the pair of side wall portions in the first longitudinal direction, and the cooling wall portion, and the end faces of the pair of side wall portions in the first longitudinal direction extend obliquely toward the first longitudinal direction from the tip of the bottom wall portion in the first longitudinal direction to the cooling wall portion, and the second opening may be formed by the bottom wall portion, end faces of the pair of side wall portions in the second longitudinal direction, and the cooling wall portion, and the end faces of the pair of side wall portions in the second longitudinal direction may extend obliquely toward the second longitudinal direction from the tip of the bottom wall portion in the second longitudinal direction to the cooling wall portion.

[0018] In this cooler, the end faces of the pair of side walls in the first longitudinal direction that form the first opening extend obliquely in the first longitudinal direction from the tip of the bottom wall in the first longitudinal direction to the cooling wall, and the end faces of the pair of side walls in the second longitudinal direction that form the second opening extend obliquely in the second longitudinal direction from the tip of the bottom wall in the second longitudinal direction to the cooling wall. Therefore, when joining the first communication lids to the multiple cooling plates by welding, the first communication lids can be welded to the multiple cooling plates from above. In other words, welding can be performed from one direction. This makes it easy to join the first communication lids to the multiple cooling plates.

[0019] [7] In the cooler described in any one of [4] to [6], each of the plurality of cooling plates may have a partition wall portion extending from the cooling wall portion to the bottom wall portion and partitioning the coolant passage in the width direction, and the coolant passage may have a partition area partitioned into a plurality of small passages by the partition wall portion, a first chamber area located between the partition area and the first opening and communicating with the plurality of small passages, and a second chamber area located between the partition area and the second opening and communicating with the plurality of small passages.

[0020] In this cooler, the coolant passage has a partition area partitioned by a partition wall into a plurality of small passages, a first chamber area located between the partition area and the first opening and communicating with the plurality of small passages, and a second chamber area located between the partition area and the second opening and communicating with the plurality of small passages. Therefore, the coolant supplied to the first opening is temporarily stored in the first chamber area and then distributed to the plurality of small passages, and the coolant flowing through the plurality of small passages is temporarily stored in the second chamber area and then supplied to the second opening. Furthermore, the coolant supplied to the second opening is temporarily stored in the second chamber area and then distributed to the plurality of small passages, and the coolant flowing through the plurality of small passages is temporarily stored in the first chamber area and then supplied to the first opening. Therefore, the difference in the flow rate of the coolant among the plurality of small passages can be reduced.

[0021] [8] In the cooler described in [7], each of the plurality of cooling plates may have a first opening side rib portion that protrudes downward from the cooling wall portion and extends from the partition wall portion to the first opening, and a second opening side rib portion that protrudes downward from the cooling wall portion and extends from the partition wall portion to the second opening.

[0022] In this cooler, each of the multiple cooling plates has a first opening side rib portion that protrudes downward from the cooling wall portion and extends from the partition wall portion to the first opening, and a second opening side rib portion that protrudes downward from the cooling wall portion and extends from the partition wall portion to the second opening, thereby increasing the rigidity of each of the multiple cooling plates in the first chamber region and the second chamber region.

[0023] [9] The cooler according to any one of [3] to [8] may further include an inlet end lid joined to a first cooling plate that is one of a plurality of cooling plates so as to cover a first opening of the first cooling plate, and an inlet port portion that serves as a supply port for the coolant, wherein the cooling wall portion of the first cooling plate has an inlet opening that opens an end of the coolant passage in the first longitudinal direction upward opposite to downward, and the inlet port portion may be joined to the cooling wall portion of the first cooling plate so as to be in communication with the inlet opening.

[0024] In this cooler, an inlet end cover is joined to the first cooling plate so as to cover the first opening of the first cooling plate, a cooling wall portion of the first cooling plate has an inlet opening that opens an end of the coolant passage in the first longitudinal direction upward, and an inlet port is joined to the cooling wall portion of the first cooling plate so as to be in communication with the inlet opening. This allows coolant to be supplied from the inlet port to the coolant passage of the first cooling plate. Furthermore, when heat generating elements are placed on the cooling wall portions of multiple cooling plates, an increase in the height of the heat generating elements and the cooler can be suppressed, thereby improving flexibility in placement.

[0025]

[10] The cooler described in [9] may further include an outlet side end lid joined to a second cooling plate that is one of the plurality of cooling plates so as to cover the first opening of the second cooling plate, and an outlet port portion that serves as a discharge port for the coolant, wherein the cooling wall portion of the second cooling plate has an outlet opening that opens the end of the coolant passage in the first longitudinal direction upward opposite to downward, and the outlet port portion may be joined to the cooling wall portion of the second cooling plate so as to be in communication with the outlet opening.

[0026] In this cooler, the outlet end cover is joined to the second cooling plate so as to cover the first opening of the second cooling plate, the cooling wall portion of the second cooling plate has an outlet opening that opens the end of the coolant passage in the first longitudinal direction upward, and the outlet port portion is joined to the cooling wall portion of the second cooling plate so as to be in communication with the outlet opening. Therefore, the coolant supplied to the coolant passage of the second cooling plate can be discharged from the outlet port portion. Furthermore, when heat generating elements are placed on the cooling wall portions of multiple cooling plates, an increase in the dimensions of the heat generating elements and the cooler in the height direction can be suppressed, thereby improving the degree of freedom in placement.

[0027]

[11] In the cooler according to

[10] , the second cooling plate may be adjacent to the first cooling plate in the width direction.

[0028] In this cooler, the second cooling plate is adjacent to the first cooling plate in the width direction, so when coolant is supplied to the inlet port, the coolant flows through the coolant passage of the first cooling plate in the second longitudinal direction, passes through the first coolant communication passage, flows through the coolant passage of the second cooling plate in the first longitudinal direction, and is discharged from the outlet port, thereby allowing the coolant to flow efficiently to multiple cooling plates.

[0029]

[12] The cooler according to any one of [3] to [8] may further include a second communication lid that is joined to the plurality of cooling plates so as to straddle the plurality of cooling plates and cover the first openings of the plurality of cooling plates, thereby forming a second coolant communication passage that communicates with the coolant passages of the plurality of cooling plates.

[0030] In this cooler, the second communication lid is joined to the plurality of cooling plates so as to straddle the plurality of cooling plates and cover the first openings of the plurality of cooling plates, thereby forming a second coolant communication passage that communicates with the coolant passages of the plurality of cooling plates. As a result, the coolant passages of the plurality of cooling plates communicate with each other via the second coolant communication passage, and the coolant passages of the plurality of cooling plates can be formed as flow paths in which the coolant flows in parallel in the first longitudinal direction or the second longitudinal direction between the first coolant communication passage formed by the first communication lid and the second coolant communication passage formed by the second communication lid.

[0031]

[13] The cooler described in

[12] may further include an inlet port portion serving as a supply port for the coolant, and the cooling wall portion of a first cooling plate, which is one of the plurality of cooling plates, may have an inlet opening that opens an end of the coolant passage in the first longitudinal direction upward opposite to downward, and the inlet port portion may be joined to the cooling wall portion of the first cooling plate so as to be in communication with the inlet opening.

[0032] In this cooler, the cooling wall portion of the first cooling plate has an inlet opening that opens upward an end of the coolant passage in the first longitudinal direction, and the inlet port portion is joined to the cooling wall portion of the first cooling plate so as to be in communication with the inlet opening. This allows coolant to be supplied to the coolant passage of the first cooling plate through the inlet port portion, and coolant can be distributed and supplied from the coolant passage of the first cooling plate to the coolant passages of the multiple cooling plates through the second coolant communication passage.

[0033]

[14] The cooler described in

[13] may further include an outlet port portion that serves as an outlet for the coolant, and the cooling wall portion of the first cooling plate may have an outlet opening that opens an end of the coolant passage in the second longitudinal direction upward opposite to downward, and the outlet port portion may be joined to the cooling wall portion of the first cooling plate so as to be in communication with the outlet opening.

[0034] In this cooler, the cooling wall portion of the first cooling plate has outlet openings that open upward the ends of the coolant passages in the second longitudinal direction, and the outlet ports are joined to the cooling wall portion of the first cooling plate so as to be in communication with the outlet openings. Therefore, the coolant distributed and supplied from the second coolant communication passage to the coolant passages of the plurality of cooling plates can be joined through the first coolant communication passage and discharged from the outlet ports. Moreover, because the inlet openings and outlet openings are formed in the first cooling plate and the inlet port portions and outlet port portions are connected to the first cooling plate, the cooler can be configured simply.

[0035]

[15] The cooler described in

[13] may further include an outlet port portion serving as an outlet for the coolant, and the cooling wall portion of the second cooling plate, which is one of the plurality of cooling plates, may have an outlet opening that opens the end of the coolant passage in the second longitudinal direction upward opposite to downward, and the outlet port portion may be joined to the cooling wall portion of the second cooling plate so as to be in communication with the outlet opening.

[0036] In this cooler, the cooling wall portion of the second cooling plate has outlet openings that open upward the ends of the coolant passages in the second longitudinal direction, and the outlet ports are joined to the cooling wall portion of the second cooling plate so as to communicate with the outlet openings. Therefore, the coolant distributed and supplied from the second coolant communication passage to the coolant passages of the plurality of cooling plates can be joined through the first coolant communication passage and discharged from the outlet port. Moreover, the coolant flowing through each coolant passage of the plurality of cooling plates always passes through the first coolant communication passage formed by the first communication cover or the second coolant communication passage formed by the second communication cover, thereby making it possible to uniform the flow rate of the coolant flowing through each coolant passage of the plurality of cooling plates.

[0037]

[16] In the cooler described in any one of [3] to

[15] , the plurality of cooling plates may include a third cooling plate and a fourth cooling plate adjacent to the third cooling plate in the width direction, one of a pair of side walls of the third cooling plate is a first inner side wall arranged on the fourth cooling plate side, and the other is a first outer side wall arranged on the opposite side from the fourth cooling plate, one of the pair of side walls of the fourth cooling plate is a second inner side wall arranged on the third cooling plate side, and the other is a second outer side wall arranged on the opposite side from the third cooling plate, and either the first inner side wall or the second inner side wall may have a first convex portion protruding in the width direction, and the other of the first inner side wall or the second inner side wall may have a second convex portion protruding in the width direction and overlapping with the first convex portion in the height direction.

[0038] If the abutting surfaces of the first inner sidewall portion and the second inner sidewall portion in the width direction are welded together, the clearance accuracy in the width direction between the third cooling plate and the fourth cooling plate may be reduced due to the effects of thermal expansion caused by welding, etc. In this cooler, the first convex portion of one of the first inner sidewall portion and the second inner sidewall portion and the second convex portion of the other of the first inner sidewall portion and the second inner sidewall portion are overlapped in the height direction. This allows the first convex portion and the second convex portion to be joined in the height direction by laser welding, etc., thereby improving the clearance accuracy in the width direction between the third cooling plate and the fourth cooling plate.

[0039]

[17] In the cooler described in any one of [3] to

[15] , the plurality of cooling plates may include a third cooling plate and a fourth cooling plate adjacent to the third cooling plate in the width direction, one of a pair of side walls of the third cooling plate is a first inner side wall arranged on the fourth cooling plate side, and the other is a first outer side wall arranged on the opposite side from the fourth cooling plate, one of the pair of side walls of the fourth cooling plate is a second inner side wall arranged on the third cooling plate side, and the other is a second outer side wall arranged on the opposite side from the third cooling plate, and either the first inner side wall or the second inner side wall may have a convex portion protruding in the width direction, and the other of the first inner side wall or the second inner side wall may have a concave portion into which the convex portion is fitted.

[0040] In this cooler, by fitting the convex portion of either the first inner side wall portion or the second inner side wall portion into the concave portion of the other of the first inner side wall portion or the second inner side wall portion, the convex portion of either the first inner side wall portion or the second inner side wall portion is overlapped in the height direction with the other of the first inner side wall portion or the second inner side wall portion. This allows them to be joined by laser welding from above or below, thereby improving the clearance accuracy in the width direction between the third cooling plate and the fourth cooling plate.

[0041]

[18] In the cooler according to

[17] , the convex portion and the concave portion may be located at a central portion in the height direction of the first inner side wall portion and the second inner side wall portion.

[0042] In this cooler, the convex and concave portions are located at the center in the height direction of the first inner side wall portion and the second inner side wall portion, thereby preventing the first cooling plate and the second cooling plate from bending when the first cooling plate and the second cooling plate are extrusion molded.

[0043]

[19] In the cooler according to

[16] or

[17] , in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, the first inner side wall portion and the second inner side wall portion may be in a point-symmetric relationship, and the first outer side wall portion and the second outer side wall portion may be in a point-symmetric relationship.

[0044] In this cooler, the first and second inner sidewalls, and the first and second outer sidewalls are point-symmetric in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, so that the first and second cooling plates can be manufactured from a common extruded material, thereby reducing manufacturing costs.

[0045] According to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to accommodate a wide heating element.

[0046] 1 is a perspective view showing a cooler according to a first embodiment, as seen from below. FIG. 1 is a plan view of the cooler shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a front view of the cooler shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a bottom view of the cooler shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing ends of a first cooling plate and a second cooling plate in a first longitudinal direction, as seen from below. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing ends of a first cooling plate and a second cooling plate in a second longitudinal direction, as seen from below. FIG. 4 is an end view taken along line VII-VII shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII shown in FIG. 7. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IX-IX shown in FIG. 7. FIG. 7 is a bottom view showing ends of the cooler in the first longitudinal direction. FIG. 8 is an end view taken along line XI-XI shown in FIG. 10. FIG. 11 is a partially enlarged end view taken along line XI-XI shown in FIG. 10. FIG. 12 is a bottom view showing ends of the cooler in a second longitudinal direction. FIG. 13 is an end view taken along line XV-XV shown in FIG. 14. FIG. 14 is a partially enlarged end view taken along line XV-XV shown in FIG. 14. FIG. 15 is a side view showing an extrusion-molded material that will become a cooling plate. 22. It is a front view of the extrusion-molded material shown in FIG. 17. It is a front view showing a cut-out state of the extrusion-molded material shown in FIG. 18. It is a front view showing a cut-out state of the extrusion-molded material shown in FIG. 19. It is a plan view showing a cooler according to a second embodiment. It is a bottom view of the cooler shown in FIG. 21. It is a perspective view seen from below showing end portions of the first cooling plate and the second cooling plate in the first longitudinal direction. It is a perspective view seen from below showing end portions of the first cooling plate and the second cooling plate in the second longitudinal direction. It is an end view taken along line XXV-XXV shown in FIG. 22. It is an end view taken along line XXVI-XXVI shown in FIG. 22. It is a bottom view showing a cooler of a modified example. It is an end view of a cooler of another modified example in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. It is an end view of a cooler of another modified example in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. It is an end view of a cooler of another modified example in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. It is a plan view showing a cooler of another modified example. It is a bottom view of the cooler shown in FIG. 31. It is a plan view showing a cooler of another modified example. FIG. 34 is a bottom view of the cooler shown in FIG. 33.

[0047] Hereinafter, a cooler according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, the same or corresponding elements are designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.

[0048] [First embodiment] Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a cooler according to a first embodiment, as seen from below. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the cooler shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a front view of the cooler shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the cooler shown in Fig. 1. As shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the cooler 1 according to this embodiment is for cooling a heat-generating body B (see Fig. 3). The heat-generating body B to be cooled by the cooler 1 is placed on the cooler 1. In other words, the cooler 1 cools the heat-generating body B placed on the cooler 1. The heat-generating body B is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, a battery mounted on a vehicle such as an electric vehicle.

[0049] The cooler 1 is formed in a rectangular shape extending in a longitudinal direction L and a width direction W perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L, and is thinner in a height direction H perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L and the width direction W. One direction of the longitudinal direction L is referred to as a first longitudinal direction L1, and the other direction of the longitudinal direction L (the opposite direction to the first longitudinal direction L1) is referred to as a second longitudinal direction L2. One side of the height direction H is referred to as an upper side H1, and the other side of the height direction H (the opposite side of the upper side H1) is referred to as a lower side H2. The height direction H, upper side H1, and lower side H2 also refer to the height direction, upper side, and lower side of the cooler 1 when the cooler 1 is installed. The upper side H1 of the cooler 1 is the side of the heat generating element B relative to the cooler 1, and the lower side H2 of the cooler 1 is the opposite side of the heat generating element B relative to the cooler 1.

[0050] The cooler 1 includes a first cooling plate 10 (third cooling plate) and a second cooling plate 30 (fourth cooling plate) as multiple cooling plates, an end lid 50 joined to the first cooling plate 10 and the second cooling plate 30, a first communication lid 60 joined to the first cooling plate 10 and the second cooling plate 30, an inlet port 70 joined to the first cooling plate 10, and an outlet port 80 joined to the second cooling plate 30. These can be joined by welding such as laser welding, brazing, or the like.

[0051] (First Cooling Plate) Fig. 5 is a perspective view from below showing the ends of the first cooling plate and the second cooling plate in the first longitudinal direction. Fig. 6 is a perspective view from below showing the ends of the first cooling plate and the second cooling plate in the second longitudinal direction. Fig. 7 is an end view taken along line VII-VII in Fig. 2. Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in Fig. 7. As shown in Figs. 1 to 8, the first cooling plate 10 is formed in the shape of a rectangular plate that is thin in the height direction H and extends in the longitudinal direction L and width direction W. The first cooling plate 10 is formed so that it is longer in the longitudinal direction L than in the width direction W.

[0052] The first cooling plate 10 has a coolant passage 11 extending in the longitudinal direction L, a first opening 12 that opens an end of the coolant passage 11 in the first longitudinal direction L1 downward H2, and a second opening 13 that opens an end of the coolant passage 11 in the second longitudinal direction L2 downward H2. The coolant passage 11 is a passage (space) through which a coolant can flow. The first opening 12 and the second opening 13 are openings that open the coolant passage 11 to the outside of the first cooling plate 10.

[0053] The first cooling plate 10 also has a cooling wall portion 14, a bottom wall portion 15, a first inner side wall portion 16, a first outer side wall portion 17, a plurality of partition wall portions 18, a plurality of first opening side rib portions 19, and a plurality of second opening side rib portions 20.

[0054] The cooling wall portion 14 is a part of the top wall of the cooler 1, and is a portion on which the heat generating element B is placed. That is, in the first cooling plate 10, the heat generating element B is placed on the cooling wall portion 14. The cooling wall portion 14 is formed in a rectangular plate shape extending in the longitudinal direction L and the width direction W.

[0055] The bottom wall portion 15 is a portion that forms the bottom wall of the first cooling plate 10. The bottom wall portion 15 is disposed below the cooling wall portion 14 at a position H2 (on the opposite side of the cooling wall portion 14 from the heating element B) and faces the cooling wall portion 14 in the height direction H. The bottom wall portion 15 is formed in the shape of a rectangular plate that extends in the longitudinal direction L and width direction W, similar to the cooling wall portion 14.

[0056] The first inner sidewall 16 and the first outer sidewall 17 are portions that form a pair of side walls of the first cooling plate 10. The first inner sidewall 16 and the first outer sidewall 17 are connected to the cooling wall 14 and the bottom wall 15 and face each other in the width direction W. That is, the first inner sidewall 16 and the first outer sidewall 17 are a pair of sidewalls that are connected to the cooling wall 14 and the bottom wall 15 and face each other in the width direction W. The first inner sidewall 16 is the sidewall of the pair of sidewalls that is located on the second cooling plate 30 side, and the first outer sidewall 17 is the sidewall of the pair of sidewalls that is located on the opposite side from the second cooling plate 30. The first inner sidewall 16 and the first outer sidewall 17 are formed in an elongated plate shape that extends in the longitudinal direction L and the height direction H. The first inner side wall portion 16 and the first outer side wall portion 17 are connected at their opposite ends in the height direction H to the opposite ends in the width direction W of the cooling wall portion 14 and the bottom wall portion 15 .

[0057] The first inner sidewall portion 16 has a first convex portion 16c that protrudes in the width direction W. The first convex portion 16c is a portion that overlaps with the second cooling plate 30 in the height direction H. The first convex portion 16c is formed in a lower half of the first inner sidewall portion 16 on the lower H2 side in the height direction H, and extends over the entire area of ​​the first inner sidewall portion 16 in the longitudinal direction L. In other words, the first convex portion 16c has a rectangular cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L, and extends from a lower end that is the tip of the first inner sidewall portion 16 on the lower H2 side to the center of the first inner sidewall portion 16 in the height direction H.

[0058] In the first cooling plate 10, a coolant passage 11 is formed by the cooling wall portion 14, the bottom wall portion 15, the first inner sidewall portion 16, and the first outer sidewall portion 17. That is, the internal space of the first cooling plate 10 surrounded by the cooling wall portion 14, the bottom wall portion 15, the first inner sidewall portion 16, and the first outer sidewall portion 17 forms the coolant passage 11. In addition, in the first cooling plate 10, a first opening 12 and a second opening 13 that open the coolant passage 11 to the outside of the first cooling plate 10 are formed by the cooling wall portion 14, the bottom wall portion 15, the first inner sidewall portion 16, and the first outer sidewall portion 17. The coolant passage 11 extends in the longitudinal direction L from the first opening 12 to the second opening 13, penetrating the first cooling plate 10 in the longitudinal direction L.

[0059] The first cooling plate 10 has first notches 21 (see FIG. 8 ) formed by cutting out ends of the bottom wall portion 15, the first inner side wall portion 16, and the first outer side wall portion 17 in the first longitudinal direction L1, and second notches 22 (see FIG. 8 ) formed by cutting out ends of the bottom wall portion 15, the first inner side wall portion 16, and the first outer side wall portion 17 in the second longitudinal direction L2. The first opening 12 is formed by the first notch 21, and the second opening 13 is formed by the second notch 22.

[0060] At the end of the first cooling plate 10 in the first longitudinal direction L1, no wall is provided on the first longitudinal direction L1 side of the coolant passage 11, so that the coolant passage 11 is open in the first longitudinal direction L1. Also, at the end of the first cooling plate 10 in the first longitudinal direction L1, the tip of the bottom wall portion 15 in the first longitudinal direction L1 is located closer to the second longitudinal direction L2 than the tip of the cooling wall portion 14 in the first longitudinal direction L1, so that the coolant passage 11 is open downward H2. In other words, at the end of the first cooling plate 10 in the first longitudinal direction L1, the cooling wall portion 14 is provided but the bottom wall portion 15 is not provided, so that the coolant passage 11 is open downward H2.

[0061] An end face 16a of the first inner side wall portion 16 in the first longitudinal direction L1 and an end face 17a of the first outer side wall portion 17 in the first longitudinal direction L1 extend obliquely toward the first longitudinal direction L1 from a tip of the bottom wall portion 15 in the first longitudinal direction L1 to the cooling wall portion 14. The first opening 12 is formed by the bottom wall portion 15, the end face 16a of the first inner side wall portion 16 in the first longitudinal direction L1, the end face 17a of the first outer side wall portion 17 in the first longitudinal direction L1, and the cooling wall portion 14. The first notch 21 described above is formed by the bottom wall portion 15, the end face 16a of the first inner side wall portion 16 in the first longitudinal direction L1, and the end face 17a of the first outer side wall portion 17 in the first longitudinal direction L1.

[0062] At the end of the first cooling plate 10 in the second longitudinal direction L2, no wall is provided on the second longitudinal direction L2 side of the coolant passage 11, so that the coolant passage 11 is open in the second longitudinal direction L2. Also, at the end of the first cooling plate 10 in the second longitudinal direction L2, the tip of the bottom wall portion 15 in the second longitudinal direction L2 is located closer to the first longitudinal direction L1 than the tip of the cooling wall portion 14 in the second longitudinal direction L2, so that the coolant passage 11 is open downward H2. In other words, at the end of the first cooling plate 10 in the second longitudinal direction L2, the cooling wall portion 14 is provided but the bottom wall portion 15 is not provided, so that the coolant passage 11 is open downward H2.

[0063] The end face 16b of the first inner side wall portion 16 in the second longitudinal direction L2 and the end face 17b of the first outer side wall portion 17 in the second longitudinal direction L2 extend obliquely toward the second longitudinal direction L2 from the tip of the bottom wall portion 15 in the second longitudinal direction L2 to the cooling wall portion 14. The second opening 13 is formed by the bottom wall portion 15, the end face 16b of the first inner side wall portion 16 in the second longitudinal direction L2, the end face 17b of the first outer side wall portion 17 in the second longitudinal direction L2, and the cooling wall portion 14. The second notch 22 described above is formed by the bottom wall portion 15, the end face 16b of the first inner side wall portion 16 in the second longitudinal direction L2, and the end face 17b of the first outer side wall portion 17 in the second longitudinal direction L2.

[0064] The plurality of partition walls 18 extend in the longitudinal direction L and partition the coolant passage 11 in the width direction W. That is, the plurality of partition walls 18 extending in the longitudinal direction L are arranged in the width direction W. Each of the plurality of partition walls 18 extends across the entire area of ​​the bottom wall 15 in the longitudinal direction L and is connected to the cooling wall 14 and the bottom wall 15 at both ends in the height direction H. Each of the plurality of partition walls 18 is formed in the shape of a long, narrow plate extending in the longitudinal direction L and the height direction H. In the first cooling plate 10, the coolant passage 11 is partitioned (divided) into a plurality of small passages 11 a by the plurality of partition walls 18. The plurality of small passages 11 a extend in the longitudinal direction L and are arranged in the width direction W. Of the multiple small passages 11a, the small passage 11a located at the end on the second cooling plate 30 side is formed by the cooling wall portion 14, the bottom wall portion 15, the first inner side wall portion 16, and the partition wall portion 18, the small passage 11a located at the end opposite the second cooling plate 30 is formed by the cooling wall portion 14, the bottom wall portion 15, the first outer side wall portion 17, and the partition wall portion 18, and the other small passages 11a are formed by the cooling wall portion 14, the bottom wall portion 15, and a pair of adjacent partition wall portions 18.

[0065] The coolant passage 11 is composed of a partitioned region 11b partitioned into a plurality of small passages 11a by a plurality of partition walls 18, a first chamber region 11c located between the partitioned region 11b and the first opening 12 and to which the plurality of small passages 11a are connected, and a second chamber region 11d located between the partitioned region 11b and the second opening 13 and to which the plurality of small passages 11a are connected. The coolant passage 11 is the region where the cooling wall 14 and the bottom wall 15 face each other, i.e., the region where the bottom wall 15 is provided below the cooling wall 14 at H2. The first chamber region 11c is the region adjacent to the partitioned region 11b on the first opening 12 side. The first chamber region 11c is the region where the bottom wall 15 is not provided below the cooling wall 14 at H2 and where the coolant passage 11 is not partitioned (divided) into a plurality of small passages 11a by a plurality of partition walls 18. The second chamber region 11d is a region adjacent to the partition region 11b on the side of the second opening 13. The second chamber region 11d is a region where the bottom wall 15 is not provided below the cooling wall 14 at H2, and the coolant passage 11 is not partitioned (divided) into a plurality of small passages 11a by a plurality of partition walls 18.

[0066] An inlet opening 23 is formed at an end of the cooling wall portion 14 in the first longitudinal direction L1, opening the end of the coolant passage 11 in the first longitudinal direction L1 upward H1. The inlet opening 23 is an opening for supplying coolant to the coolant passage 11, and opens to the first chamber region 11 c.

[0067] The multiple first opening-side ribs 19 are provided in the first chamber region 11c and reinforce the first cooling plate 10 in the first chamber region 11c. Each of the multiple first opening-side ribs 19 protrudes downward H2 from the cooling wall 14 and extends in the longitudinal direction L from each of the multiple partition wall portions 18 to the first opening 12. Note that the multiple first opening-side ribs 19 are not formed above the inlet opening 23 so as not to block the inlet opening 23. In other words, the multiple first opening-side ribs 19 are discontinued above the inlet opening 23. The protruding height of the multiple first opening-side ribs 19 in the height direction H is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, 75% or less of the distance between the cooling wall 14 and the bottom wall 15 in the height direction H.

[0068] The second opening-side ribs 20 are provided in the second chamber region 11 d and serve to reinforce the first cooling plate 10 in the second chamber region 11 d. Each of the second opening-side ribs 20 protrudes downward H2 from the cooling wall 14 and extends in the longitudinal direction L from each of the partition walls 18 to the second opening 13. The protruding height of the second opening-side ribs 20 in the height direction H is not particularly limited, but may be the same as the protruding height of the first opening-side ribs 19 in the height direction H, for example.

[0069] (Second Cooling Plate) Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IX-IX shown in Fig. 7. As shown in Figs. 1 to 7 and 9, the second cooling plate 30 is adjacent to the first cooling plate 10 in the width direction W. The second cooling plate 30 is basically the same as the first cooling plate 10, and differs from the first cooling plate 10 only in the portions corresponding to the first inner side wall portion 16 and the first outer side wall portion 17 of the first cooling plate 10.

[0070] The second cooling plate 30 has a coolant passage 31 extending in the longitudinal direction L, a first opening 32 that opens an end of the coolant passage 31 in the second longitudinal direction L2 downward H2, and a second opening 33 that opens an end of the coolant passage 31 in the second longitudinal direction L2 downward H2. The coolant passage 31, the first opening 32, and the second opening 33 are similar to the coolant passage 11, the first opening 12, and the second opening 13 of the first cooling plate 10.

[0071] The second cooling plate 30 also has a cooling wall portion 34, a bottom wall portion 35, a second inner side wall portion 36, a second outer side wall portion 37, a plurality of partition wall portions 38, a plurality of first opening-side ribs 39, and a plurality of second opening-side ribs 40. The cooling wall portion 34, the bottom wall portion 35, the plurality of partition wall portions 38, the plurality of first opening-side ribs 39, and the plurality of second opening-side ribs 40 are similar to the cooling wall portion 14, the bottom wall portion 15, the plurality of partition wall portions 18, the plurality of first opening-side ribs 19, and the plurality of second opening-side ribs 20 of the first cooling plate 10.

[0072] The second inner side wall portion 36 and the second outer side wall portion 37 are portions that form a pair of side walls of the second cooling plate 30. The second inner side wall portion 36 and the second outer side wall portion 37 are connected to the cooling wall portion 34 and the bottom wall portion 35 and face each other in the width direction W. That is, the second inner side wall portion 36 and the second outer side wall portion 37 are a pair of side walls that are connected to the cooling wall portion 34 and the bottom wall portion 35 and face each other in the width direction W. The second inner side wall portion 36 is the side wall portion of the pair of side walls that is arranged on the first cooling plate 10 side, and the second outer side wall portion 37 is the side wall portion of the pair of side walls that is arranged on the opposite side from the first cooling plate 10. The second inner side wall portion 36 and the second outer side wall portion 37 are formed in an elongated plate shape extending in the longitudinal direction L and the height direction H. The second inner side wall portion 36 and the second outer side wall portion 37 are connected at their opposite ends in the height direction H to the opposite ends in the width direction W of the cooling wall portion 34 and the bottom wall portion 35 .

[0073] The second inner sidewall 36 has a second convex portion 36c protruding in the width direction W. The second convex portion 36c is a portion that overlaps the first convex portion 16c of the first cooling plate 10 in the height direction H. The second convex portion 36c is formed in an upper half (H1 side) of the second inner sidewall 36 in the height direction H and extends over the entire area of ​​the second inner sidewall 36 in the longitudinal direction L. That is, the second convex portion 36c has a rectangular cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L and extends from the upper end, which is the tip of the second inner sidewall 36 on the upper H1 side, to the center of the second inner sidewall 36 in the height direction H. The second inner sidewall 36 is joined to the first inner sidewall 16 with the first convex portion 16c and the second convex portion 36c overlapping in the height direction H. The first inner sidewall 16 and the second inner sidewall 36 can be joined by, for example, welding such as laser welding, brazing, or the like. When the first inner side wall portion 16 and the second inner side wall portion 36 are joined by laser welding, this can be done, for example, by irradiating a laser from the upper H1 side or the lower H2 side to the first convex portion 16c and the second convex portion 36c that are overlapped in the height direction H. As a result, the surfaces of the first convex portion 16c and the second convex portion 36c that face each other in the height direction H are welded to each other.

[0074] In a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L, the first inner sidewall 16 and the second inner sidewall 36 are in a point-symmetric relationship, and the first outer sidewall 17 and the second outer sidewall 37 are in a point-symmetric relationship. In other words, in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L, the shapes of the first inner sidewall 16 and the first outer sidewall 17 of the first cooling plate 10 are the same as the shapes of the second inner sidewall 36 and the second outer sidewall 37 of the second cooling plate 30 when the second cooling plate 30 is rotated 180 degrees around an axis extending in the longitudinal direction L.

[0075] In the second cooling plate 30, similar to the first cooling plate 10, a coolant passage 31 is formed by the cooling wall portion 34, the bottom wall portion 35, the second inner side wall portion 36, and the second outer side wall portion 37. In the second cooling plate 30, similar to the first cooling plate 10, a first opening 32 and a second opening 33 that open the coolant passage 31 to the outside of the second cooling plate 30 are formed by the cooling wall portion 34, the bottom wall portion 35, the second inner side wall portion 36, and the second outer side wall portion 37. The coolant passage 31 extends in the longitudinal direction L from the first opening 32 to the second opening 33, penetrating the second cooling plate 30 in the longitudinal direction L.

[0076] The second cooling plate 30 has a first notch 41 (see FIG. 9 ) formed by cutting out ends of the bottom wall portion 35, the second inner side wall portion 36, and the second outer side wall portion 37 in the first longitudinal direction L1, and a second notch 42 (see FIG. 9 ) formed by cutting out ends of the bottom wall portion 35, the second inner side wall portion 36, and the second outer side wall portion 37 in the second longitudinal direction L2. The first opening 32 is formed by the first notch 41, and the second opening 33 is formed by the second notch 42.

[0077] At the end of the second cooling plate 30 in the first longitudinal direction L1, no wall is provided on the first longitudinal direction L1 side of the coolant passage 31, so that the coolant passage 31 is open in the first longitudinal direction L1. Also, at the end of the second cooling plate 30 in the first longitudinal direction L1, the tip of the bottom wall portion 35 in the first longitudinal direction L1 is located closer to the second longitudinal direction L2 than the tip of the cooling wall portion 34 in the first longitudinal direction L1, so that the coolant passage 31 is open downward H2. In other words, at the end of the second cooling plate 30 in the first longitudinal direction L1, the cooling wall portion 34 is provided but the bottom wall portion 35 is not provided, so that the coolant passage 31 is open downward H2.

[0078] An end face 36a of the second inner side wall portion 36 in the first longitudinal direction L1 and an end face 37a of the second outer side wall portion 37 in the first longitudinal direction L1 extend obliquely toward the first longitudinal direction L1 from a tip of the bottom wall portion 35 in the first longitudinal direction L1 to the cooling wall portion 34. The first opening 32 is formed by the bottom wall portion 35, the end face 36a of the second inner side wall portion 36 in the first longitudinal direction L1, the end face 37a of the second outer side wall portion 37 in the first longitudinal direction L1, and the cooling wall portion 34. The first notch 41 described above is formed by the bottom wall portion 35, the end face 36a of the second inner side wall portion 36 in the first longitudinal direction L1, and the end face 37a of the second outer side wall portion 37 in the first longitudinal direction L1.

[0079] At the end of the second cooling plate 30 in the second longitudinal direction L2, no wall is provided on the second longitudinal direction L2 side of the coolant passage 31, so that the coolant passage 31 is open in the second longitudinal direction L2. Also, at the end of the second cooling plate 30 in the second longitudinal direction L2, the tip of the bottom wall portion 35 in the second longitudinal direction L2 is located closer to the first longitudinal direction L1 than the tip of the cooling wall portion 34 in the second longitudinal direction L2, so that the coolant passage 31 is open downward H2. In other words, at the end of the second cooling plate 30 in the second longitudinal direction L2, the cooling wall portion 34 is provided but the bottom wall portion 35 is not provided, so that the coolant passage 31 is open downward H2.

[0080] The end face 36b of the second inner side wall portion 36 in the second longitudinal direction L2 and the end face 37b of the second outer side wall portion 37 in the second longitudinal direction L2 extend obliquely toward the second longitudinal direction L2 from the tip of the bottom wall portion 35 in the second longitudinal direction L2 to the cooling wall portion 34. The second opening 33 is formed by the bottom wall portion 35, the end face 36b of the second inner side wall portion 36 in the second longitudinal direction L2, the end face 37b of the second outer side wall portion 37 in the second longitudinal direction L2, and the cooling wall portion 34. The second notch 42 described above is formed by the bottom wall portion 35, the end face 36b of the second inner side wall portion 36 in the second longitudinal direction L2, and the end face 37b of the second outer side wall portion 37 in the second longitudinal direction L2.

[0081] The partition walls 38 extend in the longitudinal direction L and partition the coolant passage 31 in the width direction W. In the second cooling plate 30, the coolant passage 31 is partitioned (divided) into a plurality of small passages 31 a by the partition walls 38. The partition walls 38 and the small passages 31 a are similar to the partition walls 18 and the small passages 11 a of the first cooling plate 10.

[0082] The coolant passage 31 is composed of a partitioned region 31b partitioned into a plurality of small passages 31a by a plurality of partition walls 38, a first chamber region 31c located between the partitioned region 31b and the first opening 32 and connected to the plurality of small passages 31a, and a second chamber region 31d located between the partitioned region 31b and the second opening 33 and connected to the plurality of small passages 31a. The partitioned region 31b, the first chamber region 31c, and the second chamber region 31d are similar to the partitioned region 11b, the first chamber region 11c, and the second chamber region 11d of the first cooling plate 10.

[0083] An outlet opening 43 is formed at an end of the cooling wall portion 34 in the first longitudinal direction L1, opening the end of the coolant passage 11 in the first longitudinal direction L1 upward H1. The outlet opening 43 is an opening for discharging the coolant from the coolant passage 31, and opens to the first chamber region 31c.

[0084] The multiple first opening-side ribs 39 are provided in the first chamber region 31c and reinforce the second cooling plate 30 in the first chamber region 31c. Each of the multiple first opening-side ribs 39 protrudes downward H2 from the cooling wall 34 and extends in the longitudinal direction L from each of the multiple partition wall portions 38 to the first opening 32. Note that the multiple first opening-side ribs 39 are not formed above the outlet opening 43 so as not to block the outlet opening 43. In other words, the multiple first opening-side ribs 39 are discontinued above the outlet opening 43. The protruding height of the multiple first opening-side ribs 39 in the height direction H is not particularly limited, but may be the same as the protruding height of the multiple first opening-side ribs 19 in the height direction H, for example.

[0085] The second opening-side ribs 40 are provided in the second chamber region 31d and serve to reinforce the second cooling plate 30 in the second chamber region 31d. Each of the second opening-side ribs 40 protrudes downward H2 from the cooling wall 34 and extends in the longitudinal direction L from each of the partition walls 38 to the second opening 33. The protruding height of the first opening-side ribs 39 in the height direction H is not particularly limited, but may be the same as the protruding height of the second opening-side ribs 20 in the height direction H, for example.

[0086] (Terminal Cover) FIG. 10 is a bottom view showing an end of the cooler in the first longitudinal direction. FIG. 11 is an end view taken along line XI-XI in FIG. 10. FIG. 12 is a partially enlarged end view taken along line XI-XI in FIG. 10. FIG. 13 is a partially enlarged end view taken along line XI-XI in FIG. 10. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 13, the terminal cover 50 is joined to the first cooling plate 10 and the second cooling plate 30 so as to straddle the first cooling plate 10 and the second cooling plate 30 and cover the first opening 12 and the first opening 32. Therefore, the terminal cover 50 serves as both an inlet cover joined to the first cooling plate 10 so as to cover the first opening 12 and an outlet cover joined to the second cooling plate 30 so as to cover the first opening 32. By joining the end cover 50 to the first cooling plate 10 and the second cooling plate 30, the lower side H2 of the first chamber region 11c is closed, and the lower side H2 of the first chamber region 31c is also closed. As a result, the first chamber region 11c is open only to the inlet opening 23 and the plurality of small passages 11a, so that the coolant supplied from the inlet opening 23 is temporarily stored in the first chamber region 11c and then distributed and supplied to the plurality of small passages 11a. Furthermore, since the first chamber region 31c is open only to the outlet opening 43 and the plurality of small passages 31a, the coolant discharged from the plurality of small passages 31a is temporarily collected in the first chamber region 31c and then discharged from the outlet opening 43.

[0087] (First Communication Lid) FIG. 14 is a bottom view showing an end of the cooler in the second longitudinal direction. FIG. 15 is an end view taken along line XV-XV in FIG. 14. FIG. 16 is a partially enlarged end view taken along line XV-XV in FIG. 14. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 9 and 14 to 16, the first communication lid 60 is joined to the first cooling plate 10 and the second cooling plate 30 so as to straddle the first cooling plate 10 and the second cooling plate 30 and cover the second openings 13 and 33. By joining the first communication lid 60 to the first cooling plate 10 and the second cooling plate 30, a first coolant communication passage 61 is formed that communicates with the second openings 13 and 33. The first coolant communication passage 61 is a passage that is open only to the second openings 13 and 33.

[0088] The first communication lid 60 comprises a first inner lid portion 62 joined to the first cooling plate 10 and the second cooling plate 30 so as to straddle the first cooling plate 10 and the second cooling plate 30 and cover the second opening 13 and the second opening 33, and a first outer lid portion 63 joined to the first inner lid portion 62.

[0089] The first inner lid portion 62 has a cooling plate lid portion 64 joined to the first cooling plate 10 so as to cover the second opening 13 of the first cooling plate 10, and a cooling plate lid portion 65 joined to the second cooling plate 30 so as to cover the second opening 33 of the second cooling plate 30. A third opening 66 communicating with the second opening 13 of the first cooling plate 10 is formed in the cooling plate lid portion 64. A third opening 67 communicating with the second opening 33 of the second cooling plate 30 is formed in the cooling plate lid portion 65.

[0090] The first outer lid part 63 is joined to the first inner lid part 62 so as to cover the third opening 66 of the cooling plate lid part 64 and the third opening 67 of the cooling plate lid part 65. By joining the first outer lid part 63 to the first inner lid part 62, a first lid internal communication passage 68 is formed which communicates with the third opening 66 of the cooling plate lid part 64 and the third opening 67 of the cooling plate lid part 65. The first lid internal communication passage 68 is formed between the first inner lid part 62 and the first outer lid part 63.

[0091] The third opening 66, the first in-lid communicating passage 68, and the third opening 67 form a first coolant communication passage 61 that communicates with the second opening 13 and the second opening 33. The third opening 66 is open only to the coolant passage 11 and the first coolant communication passage 61, the first coolant communication passage 61 is open only to the third opening 66 and the third opening 67, and the third opening 67 is open only to the coolant passage 31 and the first coolant communication passage 61. Therefore, the coolant supplied from the coolant passage 11 to the second opening 13 passes through the third opening 66, the first in-lid communicating passage 68, and the third opening 67, and is discharged from the second opening 33 to the coolant passage 31.

[0092] (Inlet Port) The inlet port 70 is a portion that serves as a supply port for the coolant. The inlet port 70 is joined to the cooling wall 14 so as to be in communication with the inlet opening 23. The inlet port 70 extends upward H1 from the cooling wall 14 and then extends in the first longitudinal direction L1. The inlet port 70 is formed in a cylindrical (tubular) shape, and can be connected to a pipe such as a tube for supplying the coolant.

[0093] (Outlet Port) The outlet port 80 is a portion that serves as an outlet for the coolant. The outlet port 80 is joined to the cooling wall 34 so as to be in communication with the outlet opening 43. The outlet port 80 extends upward H1 from the cooling wall 34 and then extends in the first longitudinal direction L1. The outlet port 80 is formed in a cylindrical (tubular) shape, and can be connected to a pipe such as a tube for discharging the coolant.

[0094] Here, an example of a manufacturing method for the first cooling plate 10 and the second cooling plate 30 will be described with reference to Figs. 17 to 20. Fig. 17 is a side view showing an extrusion material that will become the cooling plate. Fig. 18 is a front view of the extrusion material shown in Fig. 17. Fig. 19 is a front view showing the extrusion material shown in Fig. 18 in a cut-out state. Fig. 20 is a front view showing the extrusion material shown in Fig. 19 in a cut-out state.

[0095] First, as shown in Figures 17 and 18, two extrusion molding materials 90 that serve as the bases for the first cooling plate 10 and the second cooling plate 30 are produced by extrusion molding. The extrusion molding material 90 includes a rectangular plate-shaped first wall portion 94, a rectangular plate-shaped second wall portion 95 that is located below the first wall portion 94 at a position H2 and faces the first wall portion 94 in the height direction H, a third wall portion 96 and a fourth wall portion 97 that are connected to the first wall portion 94 and the second wall portion 95 and face each other in the width direction W, and a plurality of rectangular plate-shaped partition wall portions 98 that extend from the first wall portion 94 to the second wall portion 95 and partition the space between the third wall portion 96 and the fourth wall portion 97 in the width direction W. The third wall portion 96 has a protrusion 96a that protrudes in the width direction W. The protrusion 96a is formed on an upper half (H1) or a lower half (H2) of the third wall portion 96 in the height direction H, and extends the entire area of ​​the third wall portion 96 in the longitudinal direction L.

[0096] 19 , for one of the extrusions 90, both ends in the longitudinal direction L of the second wall portion 95, the third wall portion 96, the fourth wall portion 97, and the plurality of partition wall portions 98 are diagonally cut out. For the other extrusion 90, the extrusion 90 is inverted so that the first wall portion 94 and the second wall portion 95 are reversed, and then both ends in the longitudinal direction L of the second wall portion 95, the third wall portion 96, the fourth wall portion 97, and the plurality of partition wall portions 98 are diagonally cut out. These notches can be formed by cutting using a cutting tool such as an end mill, for example.

[0097] 20 , for each of the two extrusions 90, a plurality of partition wall portions 98 are further cut out in the height direction H from the obliquely cut-out portions. These cut-out portions can be formed by cutting using a cutting tool such as an end mill. As a result, one of the extrusions 90 becomes either the first cooling plate 10 or the second cooling plate 30, and the other extrusion 90 becomes the other of the first cooling plate 10 or the second cooling plate 30.

[0098] As described above, in the cooler 1 according to this embodiment, when coolant is supplied to the coolant passage 11 from either the first opening 12 or the second opening 13 in the first cooling plate 10, the coolant passes through the coolant passage 11 and is discharged to the outside of the first cooling plate from the other of the first opening 12 or the second opening 13. This causes heat exchange between the heat-generating element B and the coolant in the first cooling plate 10, thereby cooling the heat-generating element B. Furthermore, when coolant is supplied to the coolant passage 31 from either the first opening 32 or the second opening 33 in the second cooling plate 30, the coolant passes through the coolant passage 31 and is discharged to the outside of the second cooling plate 30 from the other of the first opening 32 or the second opening 33. This causes heat exchange between the heat-generating element B and the coolant in the second cooling plate 30, thereby cooling the heat-generating element B. Therefore, the heat-generating element B can be cooled by either the first cooling plate 10 or the second cooling plate 30 alone. In this cooler 1, the first cooling plate 10 and the second cooling plate 30 are adjacent to each other in the width direction W, and the first communication lid 60 is joined to the first cooling plate 10 and the second cooling plate 30 so as to straddle the first cooling plate 10 and the second cooling plate 30 and cover the second openings 13 and 33, thereby forming a first coolant communication passage 61 that communicates with the second openings 13 and 33. As a result, the coolant passage 11 and the coolant passage 31 communicate with each other via the first coolant communication passage 61, and it is possible to accommodate a wide heat-generating body B while preventing the cooler from becoming too large in the longitudinal direction. Moreover, by adding cooling plates similar to the first cooling plate 10 or the second cooling plate 30 and lids similar to the first communication lid 60, the width of the cooler 1 can be further increased, and therefore it can accommodate an even wider heat-generating body B.

[0099] Furthermore, in this cooler 1, the second cooling plate 30 is adjacent to the first cooling plate 10 in the width direction W, so when coolant is supplied to the inlet port 70, the coolant flows through the coolant passages 11 of the first cooling plate 10 in the second longitudinal direction L2, passes through the first coolant communication passages 61, flows through the coolant passages 31 of the second cooling plate 30 in the first longitudinal direction L1, and is discharged from the outlet port 80. This allows the coolant to flow efficiently through the first cooling plate 10 and the second cooling plate 30.

[0100] Furthermore, in this cooler 1, by joining the first inner lid portion 62 to the first cooling plate 10 and the second cooling plate 30 and joining the first outer lid portion 63 to the first inner lid portion 62, the coolant passage 11 and the coolant passage 31 are communicated with each other via the third opening 66, the third opening 67, and the first in-lid communicating passage 68. In other words, the coolant passage 11 and the coolant passage 31 become the first coolant communicating passage 61 that communicates with the second opening 13 and the second opening 33. Therefore, an airtight first coolant communicating passage 61 can be easily formed.

[0101] In this cooler 1, the first cooling plate 10 has a cooling wall portion 14, a bottom wall portion 15, a first inner side wall portion 16, and a first outer side wall portion 17, and therefore a coolant passage 11 is formed in the cooling wall portion 14, the bottom wall portion 15, the first inner side wall portion 16, and the first outer side wall portion 17. In addition, the second cooling plate 30 has a cooling wall portion 34, a bottom wall portion 35, a second inner side wall portion 36, and a second outer side wall portion 37, and therefore a coolant passage 31 is formed in the cooling wall portion 34, the bottom wall portion 35, the second inner side wall portion 36, and the second outer side wall portion 37. Furthermore, the first communication lid 60 is disposed below the cooling wall portions 14 and 34 at a position H2 below the cooling wall portions 14 and 34, and therefore, when the heat generating body B is placed on the cooling wall portions 14 and 34, even if the first communication lid 60 is broken, the coolant can be prevented from splashing on the heat generating body B.

[0102] Furthermore, in this cooler 1, the first opening 12 is formed by a first notch 21 formed by cutting out ends of the bottom wall portion 15, the first inner sidewall portion 16, and the first outer sidewall portion 17 in the first longitudinal direction, so that the coolant passage 11 can be opened downward H2 at the first opening 12. Furthermore, the second opening 13 is formed by a second notch 22 formed by cutting out ends of the bottom wall portion 15, the first inner sidewall portion 16, and the first outer sidewall portion 17 in the second longitudinal direction L2, so that the coolant passage 11 can be opened downward H2 at the second opening 13. Furthermore, the first opening 32 is formed by a first notch 41 formed by cutting out ends of the bottom wall portion 35, the second inner sidewall portion 36, and the second outer sidewall portion 37 in the first longitudinal direction L1, so that the coolant passage 31 can be opened downward H2 at the first opening 32. Furthermore, since the second opening 33 is formed by a second notch 42 in which the ends in the second longitudinal direction L2 of the bottom wall portion 35, the second inner side wall portion 36, and the second outer side wall portion 37 are cut out, the coolant passage 31 can be opened downward H2 at the second opening 33.

[0103] In addition, in this cooler 1, the tip of the bottom wall portion 15 in the first longitudinal direction L1 is located closer to the second longitudinal direction L2 than the tip of the cooling wall portion 14 in the first longitudinal direction L1, so that the end of the coolant passage 11 in the first longitudinal direction L1 can be opened downward H2. In addition, the tip of the bottom wall portion 15 in the second longitudinal direction L2 is located closer to the first longitudinal direction L1 than the tip of the cooling wall portion 14 in the second longitudinal direction L2, so that the end of the coolant passage 11 in the second longitudinal direction L2 can be opened downward H2. In addition, the tip of the bottom wall portion 35 in the first longitudinal direction L1 is located closer to the second longitudinal direction L2 than the tip of the cooling wall portion 34 in the first longitudinal direction L1, so that the end of the coolant passage 31 in the first longitudinal direction L1 can be opened downward H2. Furthermore, since the tip of the bottom wall portion 35 in the second longitudinal direction L2 is located closer to the first longitudinal direction L1 than the tip of the cooling wall portion 34 in the second longitudinal direction L2, the end of the coolant passage 31 in the second longitudinal direction L2 can be opened downward H2.

[0104] In addition, in this cooler 1, an end face 16a of the first inner side wall portion 16 in the first longitudinal direction L1 and an end face 17a of the first outer side wall portion 17 in the first longitudinal direction L1, which form the first opening 12, extend from the tip of the bottom wall portion 15 in the first longitudinal direction L1 to the cooling wall portion 14 while being inclined toward the first longitudinal direction L1, and an end face 16b of the first inner side wall portion 16 in the second longitudinal direction L2 and an end face 17b of the first outer side wall portion 17 in the second longitudinal direction L2, which form the second opening 13, are inclined toward the second longitudinal direction L2 from the tip of the bottom wall portion 15 in the second longitudinal direction L2 to the cooling wall portion 14. An end face 36 a of the second inner side wall portion 36 in the first longitudinal direction L1 and an end face 37 a of the second outer side wall portion 37 in the first longitudinal direction L1, which form the first opening 32, extend at an incline toward the first longitudinal direction L1 from the tip of the bottom wall portion 35 in the first longitudinal direction L1 to the cooling wall portion 34, and an end face 36 b of the second inner side wall portion 36 in the second longitudinal direction L2 and an end face 37 b of the second outer side wall portion 37 in the second longitudinal direction L2, which form the second opening 33, extend at an incline toward the second longitudinal direction L2 from the tip of the bottom wall portion 35 in the second longitudinal direction L2 to the cooling wall portion 34. Therefore, when joining the terminal cover 50 and the first communication cover 60 to the first cooling plate 10 and the second cooling plate 30 by welding, the terminal cover 50 and the first communication cover 60 can be welded to the first cooling plate 10 and the second cooling plate 30 from above. That is, welding can be performed from one direction. This makes it possible to easily join the terminal cover 50 and the first communication cover 60 to the first cooling plate 10 and the second cooling plate 30.

[0105] Furthermore, in this cooler 1, the coolant passage 11 has a partitioned region 11b partitioned into a plurality of small passages 11a by a plurality of partition walls 18, a first chamber region 11c located between the partitioned region 11b and the first opening 12 and to which the plurality of small passages 11a communicate, and a second chamber region 11d located between the partitioned region 11b and the second opening 13 and to which the plurality of small passages 11a communicate, so that the coolant supplied to the first opening 12 is temporarily stored in the first chamber region 11c and then distributed and supplied to the plurality of small passages 11a, and the coolant flowing through the plurality of small passages 11a is temporarily stored in the second chamber region 11d and then supplied to the second opening 13. This makes it possible to reduce the difference in the flow rate of the coolant among the plurality of small passages 11a. Furthermore, the coolant passage 31 has a partitioned region 31b partitioned into a plurality of small passages 31a by a plurality of partition walls 38, a first chamber region 31c located between the partitioned region 31b and the first opening 32 and to which the plurality of small passages 31a are connected, and a second chamber region 31d located between the partitioned region 31b and the second opening 33 and to which the plurality of small passages 31a are connected, so that the coolant supplied from the second opening 33 is temporarily stored in the second chamber region 31d and then distributed and supplied to the plurality of small passages, and the coolant flowing through the plurality of small passages 31a is temporarily stored in the first chamber region 31c and then supplied to the first opening 32. This makes it possible to reduce the difference in the flow rate of the coolant among the plurality of small passages 31a.

[0106] Furthermore, in this cooler 1, the first cooling plate 10 has a plurality of first opening-side ribs 19 that protrude downward H2 from the cooling wall 14 and extend from each of the plurality of partition wall portions 18 to the first opening 12, and a plurality of second opening-side ribs 20 that protrude downward H2 from the cooling wall 14 and extend from each of the plurality of partition wall portions 18 to the second opening 13, thereby increasing the rigidity of the first cooling plate 10 in the first chamber region 11 c and the second chamber region 11 d. Furthermore, the second cooling plate 30 has a first opening-side rib 39 that protrudes downward H2 from the cooling wall 34 and extends from each of the plurality of partition wall portions 38 to the first opening 32, and a second opening-side rib 40 that protrudes downward H2 from the cooling wall 34 and extends from each of the plurality of partition wall portions 38 to 33, thereby increasing the rigidity of the second cooling plate 30 in the first chamber region 31 c and the second chamber region 31 d.

[0107] In this cooler 1, the terminal cover 50 is joined to the first cooling plate 10 so as to cover the first opening 12, the cooling wall 14 has an inlet opening 23 that opens the end of the coolant passage 11 in the first longitudinal direction L1 upward H1, and the inlet port 70 is joined to the cooling wall 14 so as to be in communication with the inlet opening 23. Therefore, the coolant can be supplied to the coolant passage 11 through the inlet port 70. When the heat generating body B is placed on the cooling wall 14, it is possible to suppress an increase in the dimensions of the heat generating body B and the cooler 1 in the height direction, thereby improving the degree of freedom in placement.

[0108] In this cooler 1, the terminal cover 50 is joined to the second cooling plate 30 so as to cover the second opening 33, the cooling wall portion 34 has an outlet opening 43 that opens the end of the coolant passage 31 in the first longitudinal direction L1 upward H1, and the outlet port portion 80 is joined to the cooling wall portion 34 so as to be in communication with the outlet opening 43. Therefore, the coolant supplied to the coolant passage 31 can be discharged from the outlet port portion 80. When the heat generating body B is placed on the cooling wall portion 34, it is possible to suppress an increase in the dimensions of the heat generating body B and the cooler 1 in the height direction, thereby improving the degree of freedom in placement.

[0109] Here, if the abutting surfaces of the first inner sidewall portion 16 and the second inner sidewall portion 36 in the width direction W are welded to each other, there is a possibility that the clearance accuracy in the width direction W between the first cooling plate 10 and the second cooling plate 30 will decrease due to the influence of thermal expansion caused by welding, etc. However, in this cooler 1, the first convex portion 16c of the first inner sidewall portion 16 and the second convex portion 36c of the second inner sidewall portion 36 are overlapped in the height direction H. This allows the first convex portion 16c and the second convex portion 36c to be joined in the height direction H by laser welding or the like, thereby improving the clearance accuracy in the width direction W between the first cooling plate 10 and the second cooling plate 30.

[0110] Furthermore, in this cooler 1, the first inner sidewall portion 16 and the second inner sidewall portion 36, and the first outer sidewall portion 17 and the second outer sidewall portion 37 are each in a point-symmetric relationship in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L, so that the first cooling plate 10 and the second cooling plate 30 can be produced from a common extruded material 90. This reduces manufacturing costs.

[0111] 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.

[0112] Fig. 21 is a plan view showing a cooler according to a second embodiment. Fig. 22 is a bottom view of the cooler shown in Fig. 21. As shown in Figs. 21 and 22, a cooler 101 according to this embodiment includes a first cooling plate 110 (third cooling plate) and a second cooling plate 130 (fourth cooling plate) as multiple cooling plates, a first communication lid 60 joined to the first cooling plate 110 and the second cooling plate 130, a second communication lid 150 joined to the first cooling plate 110 and the second cooling plate 30, an inlet port 70 joined to the first cooling plate 110, and an outlet port 80 joined to the first cooling plate 110. These components can be joined by welding such as laser welding, brazing, or the like.

[0113] (First Cooling Plate) FIG. 23 is a perspective view from below showing the ends of the first cooling plate and the second cooling plate in the first longitudinal direction. FIG. 24 is a perspective view from below showing the ends of the first cooling plate and the second cooling plate in the second longitudinal direction. As shown in FIGS. 21 to 24 , the first cooling plate 110 is basically similar to the first cooling plate 10 of the first embodiment, and differs from the first cooling plate 10 of the first embodiment only in that it has outlet openings 124 corresponding to the outlet openings 43 (see FIG. 5 ) formed in the second cooling plate 30 of the first embodiment. That is, in the first cooling plate 110, the inlet openings 23 that open the ends of the coolant passages 11 in the first longitudinal direction L1 upward H1 are formed at the ends of the cooling wall portion 14 in the first longitudinal direction L1, and the outlet openings 124 that open the ends of the coolant passages 11 in the second longitudinal direction L2 upward H1 are formed at the ends of the cooling wall portion 14 in the second longitudinal direction L2.

[0114] (Second Cooling Plate) The second cooling plate 130 is basically the same as the second cooling plate 30 of the first embodiment, and differs from the second cooling plate 30 of the first embodiment only in that the second cooling plate 130 does not have the outlet openings 43 (see FIG. 5 ). That is, in the second cooling plate 130, no openings that open the ends of the coolant passages 11 upward H1 are formed in either the end of the cooling wall portion 34 in the first longitudinal direction L1 or the end of the cooling wall portion 34 in the second longitudinal direction L2.

[0115] (Second Communication Lid) Figure 25 is an end view taken along line XXV-XXV shown in Figure 22. As shown in Figures 21 to 23 and 25, the second communication lid 150 has a configuration similar to the first communication lid 60 of the first embodiment. The second communication lid 150 is joined to the first cooling plate 110 and the second cooling plate 130 so as to straddle the first cooling plate 110 and the second cooling plate 130 and cover the first opening 12 of the first cooling plate 110 and the first opening 32 of the second cooling plate 130. By joining the second communication lid 150 to the first cooling plate 110 and the second cooling plate 130, a second coolant communication passage 151 is formed that communicates with the first opening 12 of the first cooling plate 110 and the first opening 32 of the second cooling plate 130. The second coolant communication passage 151 is a passage that is open only to the first opening 12 of the first cooling plate 110 and the first opening 32 of the second cooling plate 130.

[0116] The second communication lid 150 comprises a second inner lid portion 152 joined to the first cooling plate 110 and the second cooling plate 130 so as to straddle the first cooling plate 110 and the second cooling plate 130 and cover the first opening 12 of the first cooling plate 110 and the first opening 32 of the second cooling plate 130, and a second outer lid portion 153 joined to the second inner lid portion 152.

[0117] The second inner lid portion 152 has a cooling plate lid portion 154 joined to the first cooling plate 110 so as to cover the first opening 12 of the first cooling plate 110, and a cooling plate lid portion 155 joined to the second cooling plate 130 so as to cover the first opening 32 of the second cooling plate 130. A third opening 156 communicating with the first opening 12 of the first cooling plate 110 is formed in the cooling plate lid portion 154. A third opening 157 communicating with the first opening 32 of the second cooling plate 130 is formed in the cooling plate lid portion 155.

[0118] The second outer lid portion 153 is joined to the second inner lid portion 152 so as to cover the third opening 156 of the cooling plate lid portion 154 and the third opening 157 of the cooling plate lid portion 155. By joining the second outer lid portion 153 to the second inner lid portion 152, a second lid intra-communicating passage 158 is formed which communicates with the third opening 156 of the cooling plate lid portion 154 and the third opening 157 of the cooling plate lid portion 155. The second lid intra-communicating passage 158 is formed between the second inner lid portion 152 and the second outer lid portion 153.

[0119] The third opening 156, the second in-lid communication passage 158, and the third opening 157 form a second coolant communication passage 151 that communicates with the first opening 12 of the first cooling plate 110 and the first opening 32 of the second cooling plate 130. The third opening 156 is open only to the coolant passage 11 of the first cooling plate 110 and the second coolant communication passage 151, the second coolant communication passage 151 is open only to the third opening 156 and the third opening 157, and the third opening 157 is open only to the coolant passage 31 of the second cooling plate 130 and the second coolant communication passage 151.

[0120] Therefore, the coolant supplied from the inlet opening 23 of the first cooling plate 110 to the coolant passage 11 of the first cooling plate 110 is also distributed and supplied to the coolant passage 31 of the second cooling plate 130 through the second coolant communication passage 151 (third opening 156, second internal lid communication passage 158, and third opening 157).

[0121] (First Communication Lid) Figure 26 is an end view taken along line XXVI-XXVI in Figure 22. As shown in Figures 21, 22, 24, and 26, the first communication lid 60 is the same as that in the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, the first communication lid 60 is joined to the first cooling plate 110 and the second cooling plate 130 so as to straddle the first cooling plate 110 and the second cooling plate 130 and cover the second opening 13 of the first cooling plate 110 and the second opening 33 of the second cooling plate 130. By joining the first communication lid 60 to the first cooling plate 110 and the second cooling plate 130, a first coolant communication passage 61 is formed that communicates with the second opening 13 of the first cooling plate 110 and the second opening 33 of the second cooling plate 130. The first coolant communication passage 61 is a passage that is open only to the second opening 13 of the first cooling plate 110 and the second opening 13 of the second cooling plate 130.

[0122] Therefore, the cooling liquid supplied to the cooling liquid passage 11 of the first cooling plate 110 is discharged from the outlet opening 124 of the first cooling plate 110, and the cooling liquid supplied to the cooling liquid passage 31 of the second cooling plate 130 is supplied to the cooling liquid passage 11 of the first cooling plate 110 through the first cooling liquid connecting passage 61 (third opening 66, first internal lid connecting passage 68, and third opening 67), and then discharged from the outlet opening 124 of the first cooling plate 110.

[0123] (Inlet Port) The inlet port 70 is similar to that in the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, the inlet port 70 is joined to the cooling wall 14 of the first cooling plate 110 so as to be in communication with the inlet opening 23 of the first cooling plate 110. The inlet port 70 extends upward H1 from the cooling wall 14 of the first cooling plate 110 and extends to the opposite side from the second cooling plate 130 in the width direction W.

[0124] (Outlet Port Portion) The outlet port portion 80 is similar to that in the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, the outlet port portion 80 is joined to the cooling wall portion 34 of the first cooling plate 110 so as to be in communication with the outlet opening 124 of the first cooling plate 110. The outlet port portion 80 extends upward H1 from the cooling wall portion 34 of the first cooling plate 110, and extends to the opposite side from the second cooling plate 130 in the width direction W.

[0125] As described above, in the cooler 101 of this embodiment, the second communication lid 150 is joined to the first cooling plate 110 and the second cooling plate 130 so as to straddle the first cooling plate 110 and the second cooling plate 130 and cover the first opening 12 of the first cooling plate 110 and the first opening 32 of the second cooling plate 130, thereby forming a second cooling liquid communication passage 151 that is connected to the cooling liquid passage 11 of the first cooling plate 110 and the cooling liquid passage 31 of the second cooling plate 130. As a result, the cooling liquid passage 11 of the first cooling plate 110 and the cooling liquid passage 31 of the second cooling plate 130 are connected to each other via the second cooling liquid communication passage 151, and therefore the cooling liquid passage 11 of the first cooling plate 110 and the cooling liquid passage 31 of the second cooling plate 130 can be made into a flow path that flows in parallel in the first longitudinal direction L1 or the second longitudinal direction L2 between the first cooling liquid communication passage 61 formed by the first communication lid 60 and the second cooling liquid communication passage 151 formed by the second communication lid 150.

[0126] Moreover, in this cooler 101, the cooling wall portion 14 of the first cooling plate 110 has an inlet opening 23 that opens the end of the coolant passage 11 in the first longitudinal direction L1 upward H1, and the inlet port portion 70 is joined to the cooling wall portion 14 of the first cooling plate 110 so as to be in communication with the inlet opening 23. Therefore, the coolant can be supplied to the coolant passage 11 of the first cooling plate 110 through the inlet port portion 70, and the coolant can be distributed and supplied from the coolant passage 11 of the first cooling plate 110 to the coolant passage 31 of the second cooling plate 130 through the second coolant communication passage 151.

[0127] Moreover, in this cooler 101, the cooling wall portion 14 of the first cooling plate 110 has outlet openings 124 that open upward the ends of the coolant passages 11 in the second longitudinal direction L2, and the outlet port portions 80 are joined to the cooling wall portion 14 of the first cooling plate 110 so as to be in communication with the outlet openings 124. Therefore, the coolant distributed and supplied from the second coolant communication passages 151 to the coolant passages 31 of the second cooling plate 130 can be made to merge with the coolant supplied to the coolant passages 11 of the first cooling plate 110 through the first coolant communication passages 61, and can be discharged from the outlet port portions 80. Moreover, since the inlet openings 23 and the outlet openings 124 are formed in the first cooling plate 110, and the inlet port portions 70 and outlet port portions 80 are connected to the first cooling plate 110, the cooler 101 can be configured simply.

[0128] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments.

[0129] For example, in the above embodiment, the cooler is described as having two cooling plates adjacent to each other in the width direction, but the cooler may also be one having three or more cooling plates adjacent to each other in the width direction.

[0130] Fig. 27 is a front view showing a modified cooler. The cooler 201 shown in Fig. 27 is configured with a first cooling plate 210A, a second cooling plate 210B, and a third cooling plate 210C adjacent to each other in the width direction W. The first cooling plate 210A is, for example, the first cooling plate 10 of the above embodiment. The second cooling plate 210B and the third cooling plate 210C are, for example, plates corresponding to the first cooling plate 10 or the second cooling plate 30 of the above embodiment. An inlet side terminal lid 50A and an inlet port portion 70 are joined to the end of the first cooling plate 210A in the first longitudinal direction L1, a first communication lid 60 is joined to the end of the first cooling plate 210A and the second cooling plate 210B in the second longitudinal direction L2, a first communication lid 60 is joined to the end of the second cooling plate 210B and the third cooling plate 210C in the first longitudinal direction L1, and an outlet side terminal lid 50B and an outlet port portion 80 are joined to the end of the third cooling plate 210C in the second longitudinal direction L2.

[0131] The inlet-side terminal cover 50A corresponds to the portion of the terminal cover 50 of the cooler 1 according to the above embodiment that is joined to the first cooling plate 10, and the outlet-side terminal cover 50B corresponds to the portion of the terminal cover 50 of the cooler 1 according to the above embodiment that is joined to the second cooling plate 30. The first communication cover 60 joined to the first cooling plate 210A and the second cooling plate 210B is, for example, the first communication cover 60 of the above embodiment. The first communication cover 60 joined to the second cooling plate 210B and the third cooling plate 210C is, for example, a cover similar to the first communication cover 60 of the above embodiment. An inlet opening 23 similar to that of the above embodiment is formed at the end of the first cooling plate 210A in the first longitudinal direction L1, and the inlet port portion 70 is in communication with the inlet opening 23. An outlet opening 243 corresponding to the outlet opening 43 of the cooler 1 according to the above embodiment is formed at an end of the third cooling plate 210C in the second longitudinal direction L2, and the outlet port portion 80 is communicated with the outlet opening 243. Note that the second cooling plate 210B disposed at the center in the width direction W does not have openings corresponding to the inlet opening 23 and the outlet opening 43.

[0132] In this cooler 201, when cooling liquid is supplied to the inlet port portion 70, the cooling liquid flows through the cooling liquid passage in the first cooling plate 210A in the second longitudinal direction L2, passes through the first cooling liquid communication passage in the first communication lid 60 to be supplied to the cooling liquid passage in the second cooling plate 210B, flows through the cooling liquid passage in the second cooling plate 210B in the first longitudinal direction L1, passes through the first cooling liquid communication passage in the first communication lid 60 to be supplied to the cooling liquid passage in the third cooling plate 210C, flows through the cooling liquid passage in the third cooling plate 210C in the second longitudinal direction L2, and is discharged from the outlet port portion 80.

[0133] The shape of the side wall of the cooling plate is not particularly limited, and can be, for example, the shapes shown in Figures 28 to 30. Figures 28 to 30 are end views of coolers of other modified examples in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and correspond to line XXVIII-XXVIII shown in Figure 27. The coolers shown in Figures 28 to 30 are configured with three cooling plates adjacent to each other in the width direction, similar to cooler 201 shown in Figure 27.

[0134] 28 , a pair of side walls 316A, 317A of a first cooling plate 310A have convex portions 316Aa, 317Aa protruding in the width direction W, a pair of side walls 316B, 317B of a second cooling plate 310B have convex portions 316Ba, 317Ba protruding in the width direction W, and a pair of side walls 316C, 317C of a third cooling plate 310C have convex portions 316Ca, 317Ca protruding in the width direction W. The convex portions 316Aa, 317Aa are formed at the same position in the height direction H of the first cooling plate 310A, the convex portions 316Ba, 317Ba are formed at the same position in the height direction H of the second cooling plate 310B, and the convex portions 316Ca, 317Ca are formed at the same position in the height direction H of the third cooling plate 310C. The protrusions 317Aa of the first cooling plate 310A and the protrusions 316Ba of the second cooling plate 310B are laser welded from the upper H1 side or the lower H2 side while overlapping in the height direction H. The protrusions 317Ba of the second cooling plate 310B and the protrusions 316Ca of the third cooling plate 310C are laser welded from the upper H1 side or the lower H2 side while overlapping in the height direction H.

[0135] In this way, in the cooler 101, a pair of protrusions formed on a pair of side wall portions of each cooling plate are formed at the same position in the height direction H of each cooling plate, thereby preventing each cooling plate from bending when extrusion molding each cooling plate.

[0136] 29 , of a pair of side walls 416A, 417A of a first cooling plate 410A, the side wall 417A on the second cooling plate 410B side has a convex portion 417Aa protruding in the width direction W, the pair of side walls 416B, 417B of the second cooling plate 410B have convex portions 416Ba, 417Ba protruding in the width direction W, and of a pair of side walls 416C, 417C of a third cooling plate 410C, the side wall 416C on the second cooling plate 410B side has a convex portion 416Ca protruding in the width direction W. The convex portion 417Aa of the first cooling plate 410A and the convex portion 416Ba of the second cooling plate 410B are overlapped in the height direction H and laser-welded from the upper H1 side or the lower H2 side. Furthermore, the convex portion 417Ba of the second cooling plate 410B and the convex portion 416Ca of the third cooling plate 410C are overlapped in the height direction H and laser-welded from the upper H1 side or the lower H2 side.

[0137] 30 , a pair of side walls 516A, 517A of a first cooling plate 510A have recesses 516Aa, 517Aa recessed in the width direction W at their centers in the height direction H, a pair of side walls 516B, 517B of a second cooling plate 510B have protrusions 516Ba, 517Ba protruding in the width direction W at their centers in the height direction H, and a pair of side walls 516C, 517C of a third cooling plate 510C have recesses 516Ca, 517Ca recessed in the width direction W at their centers in the height direction H. The protrusions 516Ba of the second cooling plate 510B are fitted into the recesses 517Aa of the first cooling plate 510A, and the protrusions 517Ba of the second cooling plate 510B are fitted into the recesses 516Ca of the third cooling plate 510C.

[0138] In this way, in the cooler 501, the convex portions 516Ba, 517Ba of the second cooling plate 510B and the convex portion 517Ba of the second cooling plate 510B are overlapped with the first cooling plate 510A and the third cooling plate 510C in the height direction H. This allows them to be joined by laser welding from the upper H1 side or the lower H2 side, thereby improving the clearance accuracy in the width direction W between the first cooling plate 510A and the second cooling plate 510B and the clearance accuracy in the width direction W between the second cooling plate 510B and the third cooling plate 510C.

[0139] Furthermore, in the cooler 501, the recesses 516Aa, 517Aa of the first cooling plate 510A, the protrusions 516Ba, 517Ba of the second cooling plate 510B, and the recesses 516Ca, 517Ca of the third cooling plate 510C are located in the center in the height direction H, so that the first cooling plate 510A, the second cooling plate 510B, and the third cooling plate 510C can be prevented from bending when the first cooling plate 510A, the second cooling plate 510B, and the third cooling plate 510C are extrusion-molded.

[0140] Fig. 31 is a plan view showing a cooler of another modified example. Fig. 32 is a bottom view of the cooler shown in Fig. 31. The cooler 601 shown in Figs. 31 and 32 is configured with a first cooling plate 610A, a second cooling plate 610B, and a third cooling plate 610C adjacent to each other in the width direction W. The first cooling plate 610A is, for example, the first cooling plate 10 of the above embodiment. The second cooling plate 610B and the third cooling plate 610C are, for example, plates corresponding to the first cooling plate 10 or the second cooling plate 30 of the above embodiment. A second communication lid 650 is joined to ends of the first cooling plate 610A, the second cooling plate 610B, and the third cooling plate 610C in the first longitudinal direction L1, and a first communication lid 660 is joined to ends of the first cooling plate 610A, the second cooling plate 610B, and the third cooling plate 610C in the second longitudinal direction L2. In addition, an inlet port portion 70 is joined to the end of the first cooling plate 610A in the first longitudinal direction L1, and an outlet port portion 80 is joined to the end of the first cooling plate 610A in the second longitudinal direction L2.

[0141] The second communication lid 650 is the second communication lid 150 of the second embodiment, but longer in the width direction W. The second communication lid 650 is joined to the first cooling plate 610A, the second cooling plate 610B, and the third cooling plate 610C so as to straddle the first cooling plate 610A, the second cooling plate 610B, and the third cooling plate 610C and cover a first opening (not shown) of the first cooling plate 610A, the first opening (not shown) of the second cooling plate 610B, and the first opening (not shown) of the third cooling plate 610C. By joining the second communication lid 650 to the first cooling plate 610A, the second cooling plate 610B, and the third cooling plate 610C, a second coolant communication passage 651 is formed that communicates with the first opening of the first cooling plate 610A, the first opening of the second cooling plate 610B, and the first opening of the third cooling plate 610C. The second coolant communication passage 651 is a passage that is open only to the first opening of the first cooling plate 610A, the first opening of the second cooling plate 610B, and the first opening of the third cooling plate 610C.

[0142] An inlet opening 23 similar to that of the second embodiment is formed at an end of the first cooling plate 610A in the first longitudinal direction L1, and the inlet port 70 is joined to the first cooling plate 610A so as to communicate with the inlet opening 23. An outlet opening 124 similar to that of the second embodiment is formed at an end of the first cooling plate 610A in the second longitudinal direction L2, and the outlet port 80 is joined to the first cooling plate 610A so as to communicate with the outlet opening 124. Note that openings corresponding to the inlet opening 23 and the outlet opening 124 are not formed in the second cooling plate 610B and the third cooling plate 610C.

[0143] In this cooler 601, when coolant is supplied to the inlet port portion 70, the coolant is supplied to the coolant passages of the first cooling plate 610A and is distributed from the coolant passages of the first cooling plate 610A to the coolant passages of the second cooling plate 610B and the third cooling plate 610C through the second coolant communication passages 651. These coolants flow in the second longitudinal direction L2 through the coolant passages of the first cooling plate 610A, the second cooling plate 610B, and the third cooling plate 610C. The cooling liquid flowing through the cooling liquid passage of the first cooling plate 610A is discharged directly from the outlet port portion 80, and the cooling liquid flowing through the cooling liquid passage of the second cooling plate 610B and the cooling liquid passage of the third cooling plate 610C is supplied to the cooling liquid passage of the first cooling plate 610A through the first cooling liquid connecting passage 661, merges with the cooling liquid flowing through the cooling liquid passage of the first cooling plate 610A, and is discharged from the outlet port portion 80.

[0144] Furthermore, in a cooler such as the cooler 601 shown in Figures 31 and 32 in which three or more cooling plates are adjacent to each other in the width direction and liquid flows in parallel in the same direction through the cooling liquid passages of each cooling plate, the cooling plate to which the inlet opening is formed and the inlet port portion is joined may be different cooling plates, as in the cooler shown in Figures 33 and 34.

[0145] Fig. 33 is a plan view showing another modified example of a cooler. Fig. 34 is a bottom view of the cooler shown in Fig. 33. The cooler 701 shown in Figs. 33 and 34 is basically similar to the cooler 601 shown in Figs. 31 and 32 , except for the cooling plates in which the inlet openings and the outlet openings are formed. The cooler 701 is configured with a first cooling plate 710A, a second cooling plate 710B, and a third cooling plate 710C adjacent to each other in the width direction W. Second communication lids 650 are joined to the ends of the first cooling plate 710A, the second cooling plate 710B, and the third cooling plate 710C in the first longitudinal direction L1, and first communication lids 660 are joined to the ends of the first cooling plate 710A, the second cooling plate 710B, and the third cooling plate 710C in the second longitudinal direction L2.

[0146] An inlet opening 23 is formed at an end of the first cooling plate 710A in the first longitudinal direction L1, and the inlet port 70 is joined to the first cooling plate 710A so as to communicate with the inlet opening 23. An outlet opening 724 corresponding to the outlet opening 124 is formed at an end of the third cooling plate 710C in the second longitudinal direction L2, and the outlet port 80 is joined to the third cooling plate 710C so as to communicate with the outlet opening 724. No openings corresponding to the inlet opening 23 and the outlet opening 124 are formed at the end of the first cooling plate 710A in the second longitudinal direction L2, the second cooling plate 710B, or the end of the third cooling plate 710C in the first longitudinal direction L1.

[0147] In this cooler 701, when coolant is supplied to the inlet port portion 70, the coolant is supplied to the coolant passages of the first cooling plate 710A and is distributed from the coolant passages of the first cooling plate 710A to the coolant passages of the second cooling plate 710B and the third cooling plate 710C through the second coolant communication passages 651. These coolants flow in the second longitudinal direction L2 through the coolant passages of the first cooling plate 710A, the second cooling plate 710B, and the third cooling plate 710C. The cooling liquid flowing through the cooling liquid passage of the third cooling plate 710C is discharged directly from the outlet port portion 80, and the cooling liquid flowing through the cooling liquid passage of the first cooling plate 710A and the cooling liquid passage of the second cooling plate 710B is supplied to the cooling liquid passage of the third cooling plate 710C through the first cooling liquid connecting passage 661, merges with the cooling liquid flowing through the cooling liquid passage of the third cooling plate 710C, and is discharged from the outlet port portion 80.

[0148] In this way, in the cooler 701, the coolant flowing through each of the coolant passages of the first cooling plate 710A, the second cooling plate 710B, and the third cooling plate 710C always passes through the first coolant communication passage 661 formed by the first communication lid 660 or the second coolant communication passage 651 formed by the second communication lid 650. This makes it possible to make the flow rate of the coolant flowing through each of the coolant passages of the first cooling plate 710A, the second cooling plate 710B, and the third cooling plate 710C uniform.

[0149] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, each of the multiple cooling plates is described as having a first opening side rib portion and a second opening side rib portion, but it may also be that the cooling plates do not have a first opening side rib portion and a second opening side rib portion.

[0150] 1...cooler, 10...first cooling plate (third cooling plate), 11...coolant passage, 11a...small passage, 11b...compartment area, 11c...first chamber area, 11d...second chamber area, 12...first opening, 13...second opening, 14...cooling wall portion, 15...bottom wall portion, 16...first inner side wall portion, 16a...end face, 16b...end face, 16c...first convex portion, 17...first outer side wall portion, 17a...end face, 17b...end face, 18...compartment wall portion, 19...first opening side rib portion, 20...second opening side rib portion, 21...first first notch, 22...second notch, 23...inlet opening, 30...second cooling plate (fourth cooling plate 31...coolant passage, 31a...small passage, 31b...compartment area, 31c...first chamber area, 31d...second chamber area, 32...first opening, 33...second opening, 34...cooling wall portion, 35...bottom wall portion, 36...second inner side wall portion, 36a...end face, 36b...end face, 36c...second convex portion, 37...second outer side wall portion, 37a...end face, 37b...end face, 38...compartment wall portion, 39...first opening side rib portion, 40...second opening side rib portion, 41...first notch, 42...second notch, 43...outlet opening, 50...terminal lid, 50A...inlet side terminal lid, 50B...outlet side terminal lid, 60...first communication lid, 61 ...first coolant communication passage, 62...first inner lid portion, 63...first outer lid portion, 64...cooling plate lid portion, 65...cooling plate lid portion, 66...third opening, 67...third opening, 68...first lid inner communication passage, 70...inlet port portion, 80...outlet port portion, 90...extruded material, 94...first wall portion, 95...second wall portion, 96...third wall portion, 96a...convex portion, 97...fourth wall portion, 98...partition wall portion, 101...cooler, 110...first cooling plate (third cooling plate), 124...outlet opening, 130...second cooling plate (fourth cooling plate), 150...second communication lid, 151...second coolant communication passage, 152 ...second inner lid portion, 153...second outer lid portion, 154...cooling plate lid portion, 155...cooling plate lid portion, 156...third opening, 157...third opening, 158...second lid internal communication passage, 201...cooler, 210A...first cooling plate, 210B...second cooling plate, 210C...third cooling plate, 243...outlet opening, 301...cooler, 310A...first cooling plate, 310B...second cooling plate, 310C...third cooling plate, 316A...side wall portion, 316Aa...convex portion, 316B...side wall portion, 316Ba...convex portion, 316C...side wall portion, 316Ca...convex portion, 317A...side wall portion,317Aa...convex portion, 317B...side wall portion, 317Ba...convex portion, 317C...side wall portion, 317Ca...convex portion, 401...cooler, 410A...first cooling plate, 410B...second cooling plate, 410C...third cooling plate, 416A...side wall portion, 416B...side wall portion, 416Ba...convex portion, 416C...side wall portion, 416Ca...convex portion , 417A...side wall portion, 417Aa...convex portion, 417B...side wall portion, 417Ba...convex portion, 417C...side wall portion, 501...cooler, 510A...first cooling plate, 510B...second cooling plate, 510C...third cooling plate, 516A...side wall portion, 516Aa...concave portion, 516B...side wall portion, 516Ba...convex portion, 516C...side wall portion , 516Ca...recess, 517A...side wall, 517Aa...recess, 517B...side wall, 517Ba...convex, 517C...side wall, 517Ca...recess, 601...cooler, 610A...first cooling plate, 610B...second cooling plate, 610C...third cooling plate, 650...second communication lid, 651...second coolant communication passage, 660...first communication lid, 661...first coolant communication passage, 701...cooler, 710A...first cooling plate, 710B...second cooling plate, 710C...third cooling plate, 724...outlet opening, B...heat generating element, H...height direction, H1...upper, H2...lower, L...longitudinal direction, L1...first longitudinal direction, L2...second longitudinal direction, W...width direction.

Claims

1. A cooler comprising: a plurality of cooling plates each having a cooling liquid passage extending in a longitudinal direction, a first opening that opens an end of the cooling liquid passage in a first longitudinal direction, which is one of the longitudinal directions, downward in one direction in a height direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and a second opening that opens an end of the cooling liquid passage in a second longitudinal direction opposite to the first longitudinal direction, the cooling liquid passage being adjacent to each other in a width direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and the height direction; and a first communication cover that is joined to the plurality of cooling plates so as to span the plurality of cooling plates and cover the second openings of the plurality of cooling plates, thereby forming a first cooling liquid communication passage that is connected to the second openings of the plurality of cooling plates.

2. The cooler described in claim 1, wherein the first communication lid comprises: a first inner lid portion having a plurality of cooling plate lid portions joined to each of the plurality of cooling plates so as to cover the second opening of each of the plurality of cooling plates, and having a third opening formed therein that communicates with the second opening of each of the plurality of cooling plates; and a first outer lid portion joined to the plurality of cooling plate lid portions so as to cover the third openings of the plurality of cooling plate lid portions, and forming a first lid inner communication passage that communicates with the three openings of the plurality of cooling plate lid portions.

3. A cooler as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein each of the plurality of cooling plates has a cooling wall portion, a bottom wall portion arranged below the cooling wall portion and facing the cooling wall portion in the height direction, and a pair of side wall portions connected to the cooling wall portion and the bottom wall portion and facing each other in the width direction, and the first communication lid is arranged below the cooling wall portions of the plurality of cooling plates.

4. A cooler as described in claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of cooling plates has a first notch formed by cutting out ends of the bottom wall portion and the pair of side wall portions in the first longitudinal direction, and a second notch formed by cutting out ends of the bottom wall portion and the pair of side wall portions in the second longitudinal direction, the first opening being formed by the first notch, and the second opening being formed by the second notch.

5. A cooler as described in claim 3 or 4, wherein an end of the bottom wall portion in the first longitudinal direction is located on the second longitudinal direction side of an end of the cooling wall portion in the first longitudinal direction, and an end of the bottom wall portion in the second longitudinal direction is located on the first longitudinal direction side of an end of the cooling wall portion in the second longitudinal direction.

6. A cooler as described in claim 5, wherein the first opening is formed by the bottom wall portion, end faces of the pair of side wall portions in the first longitudinal direction, and the cooling wall portion, and the end faces of the pair of side wall portions in the first longitudinal direction extend at an incline toward the first longitudinal direction from a tip of the bottom wall portion in the first longitudinal direction to the cooling wall portion; and the second opening is formed by the bottom wall portion, end faces of the pair of side wall portions in the second longitudinal direction, and the cooling wall portion, and the end faces of the pair of side wall portions in the second longitudinal direction extend at an incline toward the second longitudinal direction from a tip of the bottom wall portion in the second longitudinal direction to the cooling wall portion.

7. A cooler as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein each of the plurality of cooling plates has a partition wall portion extending from the cooling wall portion to the bottom wall portion and partitioning the cooling liquid passage in the width direction, and the cooling liquid passage has a partition area partitioned by the partition wall portion into a plurality of small passages, a first chamber area located between the partition area and the first opening and with which the plurality of small passages are connected, and a second chamber area located between the partition area and the second opening and with which the plurality of small passages are connected.

8. A cooler as described in claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of cooling plates has a first opening side rib portion protruding downward from the cooling wall portion and extending from the partition wall portion to the first opening, and a second opening side rib portion protruding downward from the cooling wall portion and extending from the partition wall portion to the second opening.

9. A cooler as described in any one of claims 3 to 8, further comprising: an inlet side end cover joined to a first cooling plate so as to cover the first opening of the first cooling plate, which is one of the plurality of cooling plates; and an inlet port portion serving as a coolant supply port, wherein the cooling wall portion of the first cooling plate has an inlet opening that opens an end of the coolant passage in the first longitudinal direction in an upward direction opposite to the downward direction, and the inlet port portion is joined to the cooling wall portion of the first cooling plate so as to be connected to the inlet opening.

10. A cooler as described in claim 9, further comprising an outlet side end cover joined to a second cooling plate, which is one of the plurality of cooling plates, so as to cover the first opening of the second cooling plate, and an outlet port portion serving as an outlet for the cooling liquid, wherein the cooling wall portion of the second cooling plate has an outlet opening that opens an end of the cooling liquid passage in the first longitudinal direction in an upward direction opposite to the downward direction, and the outlet port portion is joined to the cooling wall portion of the second cooling plate so as to be connected to the outlet opening.

11. The cooler according to claim 10, wherein the second cooling plate is adjacent to the first cooling plate in the width direction.

12. A cooler as described in any one of claims 3 to 8, further comprising a second communication cover joined to the plurality of cooling plates so as to straddle the plurality of cooling plates and cover the first openings of the plurality of cooling plates, thereby forming a second cooling liquid communication passage that communicates with the cooling liquid passages of the plurality of cooling plates.

13. A cooler as described in claim 12, further comprising an inlet port portion serving as a supply port for coolant, wherein the cooling wall portion of a first cooling plate which is one of the plurality of cooling plates has an inlet opening which opens an end of the coolant passage in the first longitudinal direction in an upward direction opposite to the downward direction, and the inlet port portion is joined to the cooling wall portion of the first cooling plate so as to be connected to the inlet opening.

14. A cooler as described in claim 13, further comprising an outlet port portion which serves as an outlet for the cooling liquid, the cooling wall portion of the first cooling plate having an outlet opening which opens an end of the cooling liquid passage in the second longitudinal direction in an upward direction opposite to the downward direction, and the outlet port portion being joined to the cooling wall portion of the first cooling plate so as to be connected to the outlet opening.

15. A cooler as described in claim 13, further comprising an outlet port portion which serves as an outlet for the cooling liquid, wherein the cooling wall portion of a second cooling plate which is one of the plurality of cooling plates has an outlet opening which opens an end of the cooling liquid passage in the second longitudinal direction in an upward direction opposite to the downward direction, and the outlet port portion is joined to the cooling wall portion of the second cooling plate so as to be connected to the outlet opening.

16. A cooler as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 15, wherein the multiple cooling plates include a third cooling plate and a fourth cooling plate adjacent to the third cooling plate in the width direction, one of the pair of side wall portions of the third cooling plate is a first inner side wall portion arranged on the fourth cooling plate side, and the other is a first outer side wall portion arranged on the opposite side to the fourth cooling plate, one of the pair of side wall portions of the fourth cooling plate is a second inner side wall portion arranged on the third cooling plate side, and the other is a second outer side wall portion arranged on the opposite side to the third cooling plate, either the first inner side wall portion or the second inner side wall portion has a first convex portion protruding in the width direction, and the other of the first inner side wall portion or the second inner side wall portion has a second convex portion protruding in the width direction and overlapping with the first convex portion in the height direction.

17. A cooler as described in any one of claims 3 to 15, wherein the multiple cooling plates include a third cooling plate and a fourth cooling plate adjacent to the third cooling plate in the width direction, one of the pair of side wall portions of the third cooling plate is a first inner side wall portion arranged on the fourth cooling plate side, and the other is a first outer side wall portion arranged on the opposite side to the fourth cooling plate, one of the pair of side wall portions of the fourth cooling plate is a second inner side wall portion arranged on the third cooling plate side, and the other is a second outer side wall portion arranged on the opposite side to the third cooling plate, either the first inner side wall portion or the second inner side wall portion has a convex portion protruding in the width direction, and the other of the first inner side wall portion or the second inner side wall portion has a concave portion into which the convex portion is fitted.

18. The cooler according to claim 17, wherein the convex portion and the concave portion are located at central portions in the height direction of the first inner side wall portion and the second inner side wall portion.

19. A cooler as described in claim 16 or 17, wherein, in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, the first inner side wall portion and the second inner side wall portion are in a point-symmetric relationship, and the first outer side wall portion and the second outer side wall portion are in a point-symmetric relationship.

Images