Rotationally Symmetric Bus Bar Assembly for Double-Sided Coldplates

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing bus bar designs for double-sided cold plate assemblies require separate parts for connecting power outputs from different sides, leading to increased manufacturing complexity, inventory requirements, and potential for higher contact resistance and inductance.

Innovation Solution

A rotationally symmetric bus bar design that can be used as either an upper or lower bus bar, allowing the same bus bar to connect outputs from both sides of the cold plate, reducing part count and facilitating simpler manufacturing and improved performance by increasing overlap and reducing resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate bus bars are used for upper and lower connections in a double-sided cold plate assembly, then the electrical connections can be established, but the manufacturing complexity and inventory requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical connection reliabilityVSAvoidbus bar part variety
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bus bar is designed with rotational symmetry so that the same component can be used for both upper and lower electrical connections by rotating it 180 degrees. This universal design eliminates the need for separate upper and lower bus bar parts, reducing manufacturing complexity and inventory requirements while maintaining reliable electrical connections on both sides of the cold plate assembly

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of manufacture

If separate bus bars are used for upper and lower connections, then manufacturing can be simplified, but contact resistance and inductance increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebus bar manufacturing simplicityVSAvoidelectrical contact performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The design merges the functionality of separate upper and lower bus bars into a single rotationally symmetric component. By using the same bus bar design for both connections, the overlap area between bus bar and connection point is maximized, which reduces contact resistance and inductance while maintaining manufacturing simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4266846A1Bus bar for double-sided coldplate
Publication Date: 2023.10.25 HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORP
  • EP4266846A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4266846A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4266846A1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

Disclosed herein is a novel bus bar design for use with double-sided cold plates. The bus bar has a rotational symmetry such that the same bus bar can be used, depending on its orientation, to connect on either side of the cold plate. Thus, two identically formed bus bar parts, with one of the parts rotated through 180 degrees relative to the other, can be interconnected to form a bus bar assembly. This can reduce unique part counts.