COOLING DEVICE

A cooling device for dissipating having a first hybrid cooling component through cooling fluid can be guided and has a heat sink of metal or of a metal alloy, which is rigid and connected in a fluid-tight manner to a base body of plastics material of the first hybrid cooling component and which is to be arranged on objects to be cooled, and having a second hybrid cooling component connected releasably to the first hybrid cooling component and through which cooling fluid can be guided, having a plurality of cooling component portions which are connected together in pairs in an articulated manner, having a heat sink of metal which is arranged on objects to be cooled and connected in a fluid-tight manner to a base body of plastics material of the second hybrid cooling component, wherein the two hybrid cooling components are positioned at a distance from one another.

The present invention relates to a (high-performance) cooling device for dissipating heat from objects to be cooled, such as, for example, from power electronics components. The invention relates further to a power electronics unit, in particular for an electric vehicle, having a plurality of power electronics components having such a cooling device.

Cooling devices for power electronics components, such as power electronics semiconductor modules, must be particularly efficient or powerful. In the case of such cooling devices having a heat sink of metal or of a metal alloy having a flat or planar heat absorption face which, when the cooling device is being used, in order to optimize the transfer of heat, is to be arranged as close as possible—optionally in direct contact or with the interposition of an intermediate layer of thermally conductive material, in particular thermally conductive paste—to a heat emission face (which, for example, is likewise planar) of the object to be cooled, the situation frequently arises that either the heat sink, or the planar heat absorption face thereof, must simultaneously be arranged on a plurality of objects to be cooled, the heat emission faces of which run in different planes owing to different height dimensions of the objects and/or different deformation of the components involved as a result of different materials, or the heat sink, or the heat absorption face thereof, must be arranged on a heat emission face of an individual object to be cooled that does not run in a planar manner throughout.

In both cases, this can result in relatively large gaps, which are disadvantageous for efficient heat transfer, in some regions between the heat emission face(s) of the object(s) to be cooled on the one hand and the planar heat absorption face of the heat sink on the other hand, which has a detrimental effect on the cooling capacity of the cooling device.

For this reason, thermally conductive pastes in comparatively large layer thicknesses are in some cases used in order to bridge the corresponding gaps, which are otherwise filled only with air, which has poor thermal conductivity. However, this solution is not optimal, inter alia because the thermally conductive pastes which can be used generally have a lower thermal conductivity than the metal/metal alloy of the heat sink.

Proceeding therefrom, the object of the present invention is to further develop a cooling device or a power electronics unit of the type mentioned at the beginning.

This object is achieved by a cooling device having the features of claim1and a power electronics unit having the features of claim32.

A cooling device according to the invention has a first (in particular elongate) hybrid cooling component through which cooling fluid can be guided and which has a heat sink, in particular a plate-like heat sink, of metal or of a metal alloy which in particular is rigid and is connected in a fluid-tight manner to a base body of plastics material of the first cooling component, and which is to be arranged on objects to be cooled. It further has a second (in particular elongate) hybrid cooling component which is connected in particular releasably to the first cooling component and through which cooling fluid can be guided, and which has a plurality of cooling component portions, preferably at least three cooling component portions, which are connected together (in pairs) in an articulated manner in particular by way of connecting joints. The cooling component portions each have a heat sink, preferably a plate-like heat sink, of metal or of a metal alloy which is to be arranged on objects to be cooled and which is connected in a fluid-tight manner to a base body of plastics material of the second cooling component, wherein the two hybrid cooling components are positioned at a distance from one another and are connected together in particular releasably with the formation of a holding space arranged between them for objects to be cooled.

By using two such different hybrid cooling components which have, inter alia, a holding space for objects to be cooled, such as, for example, for power electronics semiconductor modules, the objects to be cooled can on the one hand effectively be cooled from two sides. On the other hand, inter alia for the case where a plurality of objects to be cooled, the heat emission faces of which do not run exactly in the same plane, are to be cooled simultaneously by the hybrid cooling components, it is possible to compensate for the resulting height offset by means of the cooling component portions of the second hybrid cooling component that are connected together in an articulated manner. This is because this articulated connection correspondingly allows the individual cooling component portions likewise to be moved into different planes and individually adjusted or applied to the heat emission faces of different heights.

According to the invention, it is consequently advantageously at least not (no longer) necessary to use thermally conductive paste with a large layer thickness to bridge in particular such large gaps, which ultimately results in a higher cooling capacity of the cooling device according to the invention compared to the solutions of the prior art. It will be appreciated, however, that, even in the case of the solution according to the invention, thermally conductive paste can continue to be used between the above-mentioned faces, in particular in order to compensate for relatively small tolerances which can result, for example, from the structure of the otherwise planar heat emission faces.

In a further concretization of this concept, the heat absorption face of each heat sink of each cooling component portion of the second hybrid cooling component, which when the cooling device is being used is to be arranged on the object to be cooled, can have a heat absorption surface which is formed in particular by the underside of the heat sink, wherein the heat absorption surfaces of the individual heat sinks can then be moved relative to one another into different planes if required. Based on adjacent cooling component portions of the second hybrid cooling component, the heat absorption surface of the heat sink of one cooling component portion can then of course correspondingly be moved relative to the heat absorption surface of the other cooling component portion.

It will be appreciated that the cooling device can have (but does not have to have) a plurality of pairs of cooling component portions which are each connected together in an articulated manner in that way.

For example, there could be provided at least three cooling component portions, or two pairs of cooling component portions, having a middle cooling component portion, which is connected in an articulated manner to a first outer cooling component portion to form a first pair on a first side (of the middle cooling component portion) and which is connected in an articulated manner to a second outer cooling component portion to form a second pair on a second side (of the middle cooling component portion).

As regards the or each connecting joint with which adjacent cooling component portions are connected in an articulated manner, said connecting joint can have two, in particular parallel axes of rotation which are spaced apart from one another, about which the two cooling component portions are movable, namely pivotable, relative to one another into the different planes.

Preferably, the heat sinks of the cooling component portions of the second hybrid cooling component can each be connected to a common (elongate) base body of plastics material which has flexible, in particular pliable, connecting portions configured as in particular flat hollow bodies which form the connecting joints between adjacent cooling component portions of the second hybrid cooling component and at the same time connect them together in a fluid-conducting manner, so that cooling medium is able to flow through them between the adjacent cooling component portions.

The common base body can have in the region of each cooling component portion a depression into which the heat sink of the corresponding cooling component portion is inserted at least partially, preferably completely apart from a lateral connecting edge of the heat sink which protrudes in particular perpendicularly from a main part of the heat sink which is of substantially quadrangular form and with which the common base body is connected in a fluid-tight manner, in particular by substance-to-substance bonding and/or by interlocking engagement.

As regards the holding space of the cooling device, it can be divided into a plurality of separate partial holding spaces for objects to be cooled by means of a frame part of the cooling device that is arranged between the two hybrid cooling components, consists in particular of plastics material and is preferably configured as an injection-molded part.

Each partial holding space can be delimited by lateral delimiting members of the frame part, in particular by a pair of transverse members situated opposite and at a distance from one another and by a pair of longitudinal members situated opposite and at a distance from one another.

Preferably, adjacent partial holding spaces can share the same transverse member or can be delimited on one side by the same transverse member arranged between the adjacent partial holding spaces, wherein each connecting joint of the second hybrid cooling component is arranged next to and at a (small) distance from such a transverse member without any lateral offset, in particular above said member.

In a further embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that each cooling component portion of the second hybrid cooling component has an associated partial holding space into which the cooling component portion, in particular the heat sink thereof, has been inserted at least partially and also fitted. This is effected in particular in such a manner that longitudinal members of the frame part that are situated opposite and at a distance from one another and that laterally delimit the partial holding space each run adjacent, in particular parallel, to associated longitudinal sides of the cooling component portion and limit or prevent any movements of the cooling component portion that run transverse thereto.

In addition or alternatively, transverse members of the frame part that are situated opposite and at a distance from one another and that laterally delimit the partial holding space can each run adjacent, in particular parallel, to associated transverse sides of the cooling component portion and limit or prevent any movements of the heat sink that run transverse thereto.

As regards the frame part configured in particular as an injection-molded part, it can be fastened preferably releasably to the first hybrid component, preferably to the heat sink of the first hybrid component, in particular by means of a screw connection.

Furthermore, it can have electrical contacting elements (of electrically conductive material (metal or metal alloy, optionally also coated)) connected thereto for contacting corresponding electrical contacting elements of (electronic) objects to be cooled and/or of other/further electronic components, such as, for example, PCB components.

The connection of the electrical contacting element can in particular be configured in such a manner that the contacting element is integrated non-releasably and fixedly into the frame part.

The contacting element can have one or more connecting portions which is/are (optionally each) preferably arranged at an end of the contacting element and which can be connected to an electrical contacting element of the object to be cooled or of the other/further electronic component.

As regards the integration of the contacting element into the frame part, it can preferably take place while leaving one or more such connecting portions of the contacting element free.

The contacting element can have in particular a first connecting portion, which in particular is arranged at one end thereof and has preferably been left free during integration into the injection-molded part, with which it can be connected to an electrical contacting element of an object to be cooled, and a second connecting portion, which in particular is arranged at another end of the contacting element and has preferably been left free during integration or embedding into the injection-molded part, with which the electrical contacting element can be electrically conductively connected to an electrical contacting element of another/further electronic component, preferably to a PCB component.

Moreover, the contacting element is preferably integrated non-releasably into the frame part in that it is overmolded at least in some regions by the injection-molded plastics material of the frame part, preferably while leaving the connecting portion(s) free.

Furthermore, the or each connecting portion of the contacting element can have a press-fit geometry. Alternatively, it could also be configured, for example, as a solder contact. For example, in such a manner that the connecting portion can be electrically connected by interlocking and/or frictional engagement and/or by substance-to-substance bonding to a matching electrical contacting element of an electronic component.

If it has, for example, a press-fit geometry, in that the connecting portion is inserted into a corresponding contacting hole of a PCB component. If it is configured as a solder contact, in that it is correspondingly soldered with the connecting portion of the matching electrical contacting element of the other electronic component.

As regards the frame part, it can moreover have at least one, preferably at least two, positioning aids, which in particular are integrally connected thereto or are formed from a single material with the frame part, for positioning an electronic component, in particular a PCB component.

Moreover, the cooling device according to the invention can further have a clamping device for clamping the first hybrid cooling component to the second hybrid cooling component, so that the heat sinks of the hybrid cooling components are each able to apply pressure forces, effected by the clamping device, to objects to be cooled which can be or are arranged between them.

The clamping device can comprise a spring component which is arranged on, and applies pressure forces in the direction of the first hybrid cooling component to, the face of each cooling component portion of the second hybrid cooling component that is situated opposite the face on which the heat sink of the cooling component portion is arranged. This spring component can be clamped to the first hybrid cooling component. In particular in that it is fastened, preferably releasably, to the frame part fastened to the first hybrid cooling component, preferably is screwed thereto.

The spring component can in turn have a plurality of spring elements (in particular spring arms). In particular at least two spring elements per cooling component portion, which are pressed or can be pressed in a resilient manner against the above-mentioned face of the cooling component portion of the second hybrid cooling component. This is preferably effected in such a manner that each spring element, in particular in each case a free end thereof, is pressed or can be pressed against a projection arranged on that face or against a protuberance arranged there.

Moreover, each heat sink of each hybrid cooling component, with the base body of the hybrid cooling component connected thereto fixedly and in a fluid-tight manner, in particular in a liquid-tight manner, can wholly or partially enclose or outwardly delimit a cooling fluid space or cooling fluid lines.

The or each heat sink of the first hybrid cooling component and/or the heat sinks of the second hybrid cooling component can further have cooling fluid line portions which are delimited by (in particular parallel) cooling fins and have been introduced (for example milled) into the heat sink.

The first hybrid cooling component can further have a plurality of cooling zones which are spatially separate from one another and are connected in a fluid-conducting manner to a feed of the cooling device, in particular a feed that is common to both the hybrid cooling components, in such a manner that cooling medium flows through the cooling zones of the first hybrid cooling component in parallel in a parallel flow when cooling medium is supplied to the cooling device by way of the feed of the cooling device.

Alternatively or in addition, it can be provided that the second hybrid cooling component has a plurality of cooling zones which are spatially separate from one another and are connected in a fluid-conducting manner to a or the feed of the cooling device, which feed is in particular common to both the hybrid cooling components, in such a manner that cooling medium flows through these cooling zones of the second hybrid cooling component in succession in a serial flow when cooling medium is supplied to the cooling device by way of the feed of the cooling device.

The cooling zones of the first and of the second hybrid cooling component can preferably be configured and connected in a fluid-conducting manner to the feed, in particular the common feed, of the cooling device in such a manner that the cooling medium volume flow through the cooling zones of the first hybrid cooling component, through which cooling medium can flow in parallel, becomes greater from cooling zone to cooling zone as the distance of the cooling zone from the feed of the cooling device increases. This is in particular in order to compensate for a decreasing cooling capacity of the second hybrid cooling component from cooling zone to cooling zone—as the distance of the cooling zone of the second hybrid cooling component from the feed increases—due to the cooling medium serial flow in the second hybrid cooling component.

Moreover, each cooling component portion of the second hybrid cooling component can preferably have its own associated cooling zone, which is formed in particular by a region of the heat sink of the cooling component portion in which the heat sink has cooling fluid line portions introduced into the heat sink and delimited by (in particular parallel) cooling fins.

Each of the spatially separate cooling zones of the first hybrid cooling component can in turn be formed by a region of the heat sink thereof in which the heat sink has cooling fluid line portions introduced into the heat sink and delimited by (in particular parallel) cooling fins.

As regards the base body of the second hybrid cooling component, it can have fluid line portions of the second hybrid cooling component which are each closed in a fluid-tight manner on a side facing the holding space by the heat sink of the second hybrid cooling component.

The base body of the first hybrid cooling component can in turn have cooling fluid line portions of the first hybrid cooling component which are closed in a fluid-tight manner on a side facing the holding space by the heat sink of the first hybrid cooling component.

The base body of the first hybrid cooling component can additionally have fluid line portions of the first hybrid cooling component which are closed on the side remote from the holding space by a further, in particular plate-like, preferably rigid heat sink of metal or of a metal alloy which is connected in a fluid-tight manner to the base body. Preferably by such a further heat sink on which further objects to be cooled can be arranged or are arranged for cooling.

The feed of the cooling device and/or a drain of the cooling device, through which cooling medium is able to flow away after it has flowed through the cooling device, in particular through the cooling zones of the two hybrid cooling components, can further comprise a portion which is formed by the base body of the first hybrid cooling component (or is integrally connected to this base body).

The feed and/or the drain can be arranged on the side of the base body that is remote from the holding space.

As regards the or each base body of the first hybrid cooling component and/or the or each base body of the second hybrid cooling component, it is an injected-molded part of plastics material.

The cooling device11shown in the figures serves to dissipate heat from objects to be cooled12. The cooling device11is here part of a power electronics unit10, which has power electronics components, for example power electronics semiconductor modules, as objects to be cooled12. Such power electronics components are used inter alia in connection with batteries or rechargeable batteries of electric vehicles.

The cooling device11has a first, here lower, elongate hybrid cooling component13having an elongate, rigid heat sink16of metal (for example aluminum) or of a metal alloy, on which the objects to be cooled12are arranged or are seated and which cools, or absorbs heat from, the lower sides of the objects to be cooled12.

The rigid heat sink16is connected in a fluid-tight manner to a base body18, here an injection-molded base body, of plastics material and jointly delimits a plurality of cooling fluid lines19to the outside, or encloses them, so that fluid or a cooling medium, such as, for example, water, can be guided through the first hybrid cooling component13.

The cooling device11further has a second, here upper, elongate hybrid cooling component14, which has individual cooling component portions14a,14b,14cwhich are connected together in an articulated manner and each have rigid heat sinks17a,17b,17c, likewise of metal (optionally also aluminum) or of a metal alloy, which in turn cool the upper sides of the objects to be cooled12.

In a similar manner as in the case of the first hybrid cooling component13, each heat sink17a,17b,17cis connected in a fluid-tight manner to here a common (elongate), injection-molded base body20of plastics material. They correspondingly enclose one or more fluid lines19or jointly delimit them to the outside, so that fluid or cooling medium can also be guided through the upper hybrid cooling component14.

Both the heat sink16of the lower hybrid cooling component13and the heat sinks17a,17b,17cof the upper hybrid cooling component14are here configured as solid bodies.

The two hybrid cooling components13,14are additionally arranged at a distance from one another and releasably connected to one another, here fastened to one another by means of screws21.

This with the formation of a holding space15between the two hybrid cooling components13,14, or between the heat sink16of the lower hybrid cooling component13, in particular the (here planar) upper side thereof, and the heat sinks17a,17b,17cof the upper hybrid cooling component14, in particular the (here planar) lower sides thereof. The objects to be cooled12of the power electronics unit10are arranged in the holding space15in contact with these lower or upper sides.

The two hybrid cooling components13,14are referred to as “hybrid” in view of the materials used because they consist substantially of the very different materials metal/metal alloy on the one hand and plastics material on the other hand. The fluid-tight connection of these materials which is necessary according to the invention can be effected in a wide variety of ways, for example by substance-to-substance bonding after previous structuring of the connecting surface of the metal.

The cooling device11further has a medium inlet or feed22and a medium outlet or drain23.

The feed22serves as a common feed for both hybrid cooling components13,14, by way of which cooling medium or cooling fluid is accordingly supplied both to the lower hybrid cooling component13and to the upper hybrid cooling component14, which cooling fluid then flows through the two hybrid cooling components13and14when the cooling device11is in operation and in so doing dissipates (waste) heat, which the heat sinks16and17a,17b,17cabsorb from the objects to be cooled12.

Generally, the cooling fluid will be a cooling liquid. However, it will be appreciated that it is also within the scope of the invention to use a gaseous medium as the cooling fluid. The corresponding fluid-tight connections between the base body18or20and the heat sinks16and17a,17b,17cwould then have to be configured to be correspondingly gas-tight.

The articulated connection of the cooling component portions14a,14b,14cand indirectly of the heat sinks17a,17b,17cof the upper hybrid cooling component14takes place in a particular way. The cooling component portions14a,14b,14care connected together in an articulated manner in pairs, so that they are movable relative to one another. A first pair of cooling component portions14a,14bis connected together in an articulated manner by way of a first connecting joint24and a second pair of cooling component portions14b,14cby a second connecting joint25.

Each heat sink17a,17b,17cof the cooling component portions14a,14b,14chas a (here planar) lower side, which forms a (outer) flat or planar heat absorption surface26which, when the cooling device11is in operation, contacts, or is situated opposite and parallel to, an opposite, here likewise planar heat emission surface27, formed by the upper side thereof, of the object to be cooled12, wherein thermally conductive paste can optionally also be arranged between the heat absorption surface26and the heat emission surface27, the thermally conductive paste inter alia compensating for (remaining) slight unevenness of the surfaces26and/or27and thus establishing optimal thermal conduction between these surfaces.

The articulated connections of the cooling component portions14a,14b,14callow tolerances to be compensated for in a particular way when the cooling component portions14a,14b,14care in contact with or arranged on the objects to be cooled12, as will be explained in greater detail hereinbelow.

Specifically, it is thus possible, for example, to compensate for even relatively large differences in the height dimensions of the individual objects to be cooled12, compensation for which by means of thermally conductive paste, for example, would be (too) disadvantageous in view of optimized thermal conduction due to the necessary layer thicknesses.

In such a case of relatively large height differences (but also in other expedient cases), the individual planar heat absorption surfaces26of the cooling component portions14a,14b,14cor of the upper heat sinks17a,17b,17ccan be moved into different planes, so that, despite the fact that the heat emission surfaces27of the objects to be cooled12do not run in a common plane, the heat absorption surfaces are nevertheless situated directly opposite the associated (planar) heat emission surface27of the object to be cooled12, in each case at no distance or at the smallest possible distance therefrom.

The movability between the individual cooling component portions14a,14b,14c, or the individual heat sinks17a,17b,17c, which is necessary for this purpose is made possible, as has already been indicated above, by the connecting joints24and25.

If, for example, one of the objects to be cooled12has a greater height than the other two objects to be cooled12, its heat emission surface27runs in a different (higher) plane than the heat emission surfaces27of the other two objects to be cooled12.

In order to compensate for this, the second hybrid cooling component14is then deformed compared to a situation in which all the heat absorption surfaces26of the second hybrid cooling component14, or of the heat sinks17a,17b,17c, lie in a common plane, by application of pressure to the cooling component portion14a,14b,14cor indirectly to the heat sinks17a,17b,17c.

Specifically, these forces act on the individual heat sinks17a,17b,17cand in particular ensure a suitable relative movement between the heat sinks17a,17b,17cwhich compensates for the above-mentioned height difference. Thus, a corresponding orientation or movement of the individual heat sinks17a,17b,17cis made possible in such a manner that all the heat absorption surfaces26of the heat sinks17a,17b,17care then in contact with their associated or opposite upper heat emission surface27of their associated object to be cooled12.

Moreover, by connecting the lower and upper hybrid cooling components13,14together, (counter) pressure forces of the heat sink16of the lower hybrid cooling component14at the same time act on lower heat emission surfaces28of the objects to be cooled12, which are situated opposite the upper heat emission surfaces27, so that a or the (upper) heat absorption surface30of the lower hybrid cooling component13and the opposite lower heat emission surface28of the object to be cooled12are optimally in tight/close contact with one another for heat transfer.

The connecting joints24,25are here formed by intermediate portions of the plastics base body20which are arranged between adjacent cooling component portions14a,14b,14cand with which each heat sink17a,17b,17cis connected in a fluid-tight manner. The connecting joints24,25are here connecting or intermediate portions configured as flexible, in particular pliable, and flat hollow bodies surrounding a cooling fluid line portion, which here are part of the base body20(in each case formed of one material therewith or integrally connected thereto), which connect the adjacent cooling component portions14a,14b,14cof the second hybrid cooling component14together in a correspondingly fluid-conducting manner, so that cooling medium is able to flow through them between the adjacent cooling component portions14a,14b,14c.

The connecting joints24,25or intermediate portions have a smaller height or thickness than the regions of the base body20that together with the respective heat sink17a,17b,17cform the cooling component portions14a,14b,14c.

The forces with which the cooling component portions14a,14b,14c, or the heat sinks17a,17b,17cthereof, are each pressed in the direction of the upper heat emission surfaces27of the objects to be cooled12, or the heat sink16presses the heat absorption surface30of the lower hybrid cooling component13in the direction of the lower heat emission surfaces28of the objects to be cooled12, are applied by a clamping device29, as will be explained in greater detail hereinbelow.

Firstly, as regards the above-mentioned holding space15of the cooling device11in which the objects to be cooled12are seated, it is divided in the longitudinal direction, here by a frame part31which is arranged between the two hybrid cooling components13,14and is here configured as an injection-molded plastics component, into a plurality of separate partial holding spaces15a,15b,15cfor the objects to be cooled12. An object to be cooled12is seated in an associated partial holding space15a,15bor15c. Each cooling component portion14a,14b,14cof the upper hybrid cooling component14, in particular the respective heat sink17a,17b,17cthereof, is inserted at least partially into the associated partial holding space15a,15b,15cand is fitted therein in an accurately fitting manner.

Each partial holding space15a,15b,15cis delimited by lateral delimiting members32of the frame part31, each of which is arranged, at only a small distance, laterally (outside) and next to the corresponding longitudinal side or transverse side of the associated cooling component portion14a,14b,14c.

The delimiting members32of each partial holding space15a,15b,15care a pair of transverse members32asituated opposite and at a distance from one another and a pair of longitudinal members32bsituated opposite and at a distance from one another.

Adjacent partial holding spaces15a,15b,15cshare the same transverse member32aor are delimited on one side by the same transverse member32aarranged between the adjacent partial holding spaces15a,15b,15c, wherein each connecting joint of the upper hybrid cooling component14is here arranged directly above the respective transverse member32aat a slight distance therefrom and without any lateral offset relative thereto.

The longitudinal members32bof the frame part31, which are situated opposite and at a distance from one another and laterally delimit the respective partial holding space15a,15b,15c, each run adjacent and parallel to associated longitudinal sides of the respective associated cooling component portion14a,14b,14cand limit or prevent any movements of the respective cooling component portion14a,14b,14cthat run transverse thereto.

The transverse members32aof the frame part31, which are situated opposite and at a distance from one another and laterally delimit the respective partial holding space15a,15b,15c, in turn each run adjacent and parallel to associated transverse sides of the respective cooling component portion14a,14b,14cand limit or prevent any movements of the cooling component portion14a,14b,14cthat run transverse thereto.

The frame part31is, moreover, releasably fastened to the lower hybrid cooling component13by means of screws21, which are screwed into the heat sink16thereof.

The frame part31further has (shown only inFIG.6) electrical contacting elements43of metal which are connected thereto or fastened thereto.

The contacting elements43are here fixedly integrated into the frame part31configured as an injection-molded part in that they are overmolded in some regions by the injection-molded plastics material thereof with the formation of a connection, in particular a substance-to-substance connection, thereof (they form insert parts in the injection molding process of the frame part).

Connecting portions43aand43barranged at opposite (free) ends are not overmolded, or are left free.

The (upper) connecting portions43acan, for example as shown, be configured as press-fit portions or can have a press-fit geometry, so that they can each be electrically conductively connected in a simple manner to a contacting element (not shown) of a further electronic component.

For example, the power electronics unit10can have a circuit board or PCB (not shown), with which the objects to be cooled12(power electronics semiconductor modules) are each electrically connected (both for control functions and for the power supply).

For this purpose, each connecting portion43acan then be inserted or pressed into a corresponding contacting hole (with a corresponding metallic contact) of the circuit board or PCB.

Alternatively, the (upper) connecting portions43acould, however, also be configured as solder contacts, so that they would correspondingly be soldered to the circuit board.

Each of the lower connecting portions43bcan then be electrically conductively connected to one of the contacting elements41of the corresponding object to be cooled12, for example can be welded thereto.

As soon as/because the frame part31has been fixed to the cooling device11, or here to the upper heat sink16of the lower hybrid cooling component13, the contacting elements43are accordingly fixedly fixed in position in all directions. According to the invention, therefore, during mounting of the power electronics unit10, the objects to be cooled12can already be positioned during the above-described welding process inside the partial holding spaces15a-cof the frame part31, which has already been fixed to the lower hybrid cooling component13, and there can largely be fixed, or at least limited in terms of any movements, in two movement directions by the delimiting members32, so that welding can be carried out accurately in terms of position.

Moreover, the frame part31further has two positioning aids44, formed from one material therewith or integrally connected thereto and here extending upward, which can engage into matching guide holes of the PCB, for example, during mounting of the power electronics unit10in order thus also to ensure exact positioning of the PCB relative to the other components.

The positioning aids44are here each configured as an (upwardly extending) elongate positioning element or positioning pin.

As has already been mentioned above, the lower hybrid cooling component13is clamped to the upper hybrid cooling component14by the clamping device29, so that the heat sinks16,17a,17b,17cof the hybrid cooling components13,14each apply pressure forces effected by the clamping device29to the objects to be cooled12which are arranged between them, namely in the holding space15.

The clamping device29comprises a flat spring component33having individual spring elements, or here spring arms34, which here forms the uppermost, or an external, component of the cooling device11and is arranged (externally) on the (outer) face of each cooling component portion14a,14b,14cof the upper hybrid cooling component14and applies pressure forces thereto in the direction of the lower hybrid cooling component13. This spring component33is clamped to the lower hybrid cooling component13, which here likewise forms part of the clamping device29, in that it is in turn screwed to the frame part31screwed to the lower hybrid cooling component13.

The spring component33can in turn have a plurality of spring arms34each having a free end. Here there are three spring arms34per cooling component portion14a,14b,14c, which are pressed resiliently against the above-mentioned (outer) face of the cooling component portion14a,14b,14cof the upper hybrid component14. This is effected in such a manner that, inter alia, each free end of each spring arm34presses against a projection arranged on that side, or against a protuberance35arranged there.

As has already been indicated above, each heat sink16,17a,17b,17cof each hybrid cooling component13,14, together with the respective base body18or20of the respective hybrid cooling component13or14that is fixedly connected thereto in a fluid-tight manner, completely surrounds a cooling fluid chamber or delimits said chamber at least partially to the outside or forms therewith cooling fluid lines19of the cooling device11.

The heat sink16of the lower hybrid cooling component13and the heat sinks17a,17b,17cof the upper hybrid cooling component14each have cooling fluid line portions19aor19b, delimited by parallel cooling fins36and introduced into the heat sinks16,17a,17b,17c, of the cooling fluid lines19of the cooling device11.

In a particular manner, during operation, starting from the common feed22for the two hybrid cooling components13,14, the flow of cooling medium takes place through the lower and the upper hybrid cooling components13,14, specifically through the lower hybrid cooling component13in a parallel flow and through the upper hybrid cooling component14in a serial flow.

For this purpose, the lower hybrid cooling component13has three cooling zones37which are spatially separate from one another and follow one another in the longitudinal direction and which are so configured and connected in a fluid-conducting manner to the common feed22that cooling medium supplied by way of the feed22flows through the cooling zones37in succession in a serial flow. Each of these three cooling zones37is formed by a separate region of the heat sink16, in which the heat sink has the cooling fluid line portions19aintroduced into the heat sink16and delimited by the cooling fins36.

The upper hybrid cooling component14(also) has three cooling zones38which are spatially separate from one another and follow one another in the longitudinal direction, but which are so configured and connected in a fluid-conducting manner to the feed22that the cooling medium supplied by way of the feed22flows through these cooling zones38in parallel in a parallel flow. Each of these cooling zones38is formed by a cooling component portion14a,14b,14cof the upper hybrid cooling component14. In particular in each case by a region of the heat sink17a,17b,17cof the cooling component portion14a,14b,14cin which the heat sink has the cooling fluid line portions19bintroduced into the heat sink17a,17b,17cand delimited by the parallel cooling fins36.

The cooling zones37,38of the hybrid cooling components13,14are further configured to be connected in a fluid-conducting manner to the feed22in such a manner that the cooling medium volume flow through the cooling zones37of the lower hybrid cooling component13, through which cooling medium flows in parallel, becomes larger from cooling zone37to cooling zone37as the distance of the cooling zone37from the feed22increases.

This is primarily in order to compensate for a decreasing cooling capacity of the second hybrid cooling component14from cooling zone38to cooling zone38—as the distance of the cooling zone38of the second hybrid cooling component14from the feed22increases—due to the cooling medium serial flow in the upper hybrid cooling component14.

As regards the base body20of the upper hybrid cooling component14, said base body further has cooling fluid line portions19c(these are integrated into or formed by the base body20) of the cooling fluid lines19, which extend to a (lower) face facing the holding space15, where they are closed in a fluid-tight manner to the bottom by the respective heat sink17a,17b,17cwhile each being connected to the cooling fluid line portions19b, delimited by the cooling fins36, of the respective heat sink17a,17b,17c.

The base body18of the lower hybrid cooling component13in turn has cooling fluid line portions19dwhich are integrated therein or formed thereby and which extend to the (upper) face facing the holding space15, where they are closed in a fluid-tight manner to the top by the heat sink16while each being connected to the cooling fluid line portions19a, delimited by the cooling fins36, of the heat sink16.

Finally, cooling fluid line portions19eend at the face of the base body18that is remote from the holding space15, where they are connected to cooling fluid line portions19fof a further plate-like, rigid heat sink39of metal or a metal alloy which is connected in a fluid-tight manner to the base body18, and which are closed to the bottom by this further heat sink39. Additional objects to be cooled can be arranged on this further heat sink39if required.

As regards the feed22and the drain23of the cooling device11, these are arranged on the side of the base body18that is remote from the holding space15. They here comprise connecting portions42aformed by the base body18(each formed of the same material as the base body or integrally connected thereto) and separate connecting parts42binserted into the connecting portions42a.

All the described features of the exemplary embodiments explained above with reference to the drawings are moreover to be understood only by way of example and do not constitute any limitation of the invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

10power electronics unit11cooling device12objects to be cooled13lower hybrid cooling component14upper hybrid cooling component14a-ccooling component portions15holding space15a-cpartial holding spaces16upper heat sink of lower hybrid cooling component17a-cheat sink of upper hybrid cooling component18base body of lower hybrid cooling component19cooling fluid lines19acooling fluid line portions of heat sink of lower hybrid cooling component19bcooling fluid line portions of heat sink of upper hybrid cooling component19ccooling fluid line portions of base body of upper hybrid cooling component19dcooling fluid line portions of base body of lower hybrid cooling component19ecooling fluid line portions of base body of lower hybrid cooling component20base body of upper hybrid cooling component21screws22feed23drain24first connecting joint25second connecting joint26heat absorption surfaces of second hybrid cooling component27upper heat emission surface of the objects to be cooled28lower heat emission surface of the objects to be cooled29clamping device30upper heat absorption surface of first hybrid cooling component31frame part32delimiting members32atransverse members32blongitudinal members33spring component34spring arms35protuberance36cooling fins37cooling zones of lower hybrid cooling component38cooling zones of upper hybrid cooling component39lower (further) heat sink of lower hybrid cooling component41contacting elements of the objects to be cooled42aconnecting portions feed/drain42bconnecting parts43contacting elements frame part43aconnecting portion contacting element frame part43bconnecting portion contacting element frame part44positioning aids