Cooler, electrical component unit, and refrigeration apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing coolers require time and effort to place a refrigerant pipe, as they need a cover to protect thermally conductive grease, which increases cost and complexity, especially when the presser plate needs to be manually screwed and supported during installation.
Innovation Solution
A cooler with a rotatable presser plate and lock mechanism that can be easily attached to a heat transfer member, allowing the plate to switch between open and closed positions, eliminating the need for a separate cover and reducing manual handling during installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a cover is provided to protect thermally conductive grease, then the grease is protected from contact and removal, but the device complexity increases and cost is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The cover function is merged with the presser plate by making the presser plate rotatable. The presser plate serves both as a pressing element and as a protective cover when rotated to the closed position, eliminating the need for a separate cover component.
Solution Approach 2:
The presser plate is designed to perform multiple functions: pressing the refrigerant pipe against the groove during installation, and rotating to a closed position to protect the thermally conductive grease during transport and storage.
2Reliability
If a cover is provided to protect thermally conductive grease, then the grease is protected, but time and effort are required to remove the cover and place the refrigerant pipe
Solution Approach 1:
The presser plate is made rotatable rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically switch between open and closed positions. This enables easy access to the groove by simply rotating the plate, eliminating the time-consuming process of removing a separate cover.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the presser plate is fixed to the heat transfer plate, then the presser plate is stable, but time and effort are required to screw and support the presser plate manually
Solution Approach 1:
The presser plate is designed to rotate rather than being manually screwed into place. This dynamic attachment method reduces installation time and effort while maintaining stable fixation through the rotational mounting mechanism.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Facilitates the placement of the refrigerant pipe by protecting the thermally conductive grease during transport and simplifying the fixing process, reducing costs and effort by eliminating the need for a separate cover and manual support of the presser plate.
Implementation Method 1
thermally conductive grease is applied between the refrigerant pipe and the heat transfer plate to reduce the contact thermal resistance between the refrigerant pipe and the heat transfer plate
Implementation Method 2
A cooler has been conventionally used which is placed on a refrigerant pipe of a refrigerant circuit to cool a heat generating component, such as a power module, with refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant pipe
Data Source
AI summary
A cooler is placed on a power module to cool the power module with refrigerant through a refrigerant pipe, and includes a heat transfer plate having a groove into which a cooling pipe is fitted, and a presser plate configured to press the cooling pipe against the groove. The cooler includes a hinge mechanism configured to rotatably attach the presser plate to the heat transfer plate such that the presser plate is switched between an open position at which the groove is exposed and a closed position at which the presser plate covers the groove.