Abstract:
The heat dissipation device is provided with a body portion, to which a heating element is thermally coupled. A coolant passage through which the coolant, which dissipates heat of the heating element, flows is provided in the body portion. A passage forming portion, which forms at least one of an inflow passage and an outflow passage, is molded integrally with the body portion.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The art of the present disclosure relates to a heat dissipation device with a coolant passage through which coolant, which dissipates heat of a heating element, flows. 
         [0002]    A heat exchanger disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2008-211147 is an example of the heat exchanger, which cools electronic parts such as a semiconductor device that generates heat when driven. 
         [0003]    The heat exchanger disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2008-211147 has a pair of plates. A recessed portion is formed in the entire portion of each plate except for peripheral edge portions thereof. A groove portion with a semicircular cross section, which communicates the recessed portion with the edge of each plate, is formed in a part of the peripheral portion of each of the pair of plates. The pair of plates is stacked such that the groove portions face each other, and an inlet-outlet pipe, through which the coolant flows, fits into the groove portions therebetween. The groove portions and the inlet-outlet pipe are brazed to each other. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    Reduction of the number of components of the heat exchanger is desired. 
         [0005]    An object of the present disclosure is to provide a heat dissipation device that reduces the number of components. 
         [0006]    To achieve the foregoing object, a heat dissipation device including a body portion thermally coupled with a heating element, an inflow passage, an outflow passage, and a flow passage forming portion formed integrally with the body portion is provided. The body portion includes therein a coolant passage through which coolant, which dissipates heat of the heating element, flows. The inflow passage admits the coolant into the coolant passage. The outflow passage allows the coolant to flow out of the coolant passage. The flow passage forming portion forms at least one of the inflow passage and the outflow passage. 
         [0007]    Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The invention, together with objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description of the presently preferred embodiments together with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating an inverter device according to an embodiment; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view illustrating a heat dissipation device according to an embodiment provided in the inverter device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3A  is a plan view illustrating the inverter device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3B  is a lateral view illustrating the inverter device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the inverter case of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5A  is an enlarged view illustrating a position determining pin in the heat dissipation device of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5B  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  5 B- 5 B of  FIG. 5A , illustrating the position determining pin; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 2 , illustrating the inverter case of  FIG. 2 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0017]    A heat dissipation device provided in an inverter device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 6 . 
         [0018]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , an inverter device  10  is configured such that electronic parts  12  such as a semiconductor device (a switching element and a diode) as a component of an inverter are accommodated in an inverter case  11 . 
         [0019]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a case body  13  of the inverter case  11  is provided with a rectangular bottom plate  14 , lateral walls  15   a  and  15   b,  and lateral walls  16   a  and  16   b . The lateral walls  15   a  and  15   b  are set up on a pair of shorter sides facing each other on the bottom plate  14 . The lateral walls  16   a  and  16   b  are set up on a pair of longer sides facing each other on the bottom plate  14 . A flange  17  is formed on the distal ends of the lateral walls  15   a,    15   b,    16   a,  and  16   b . The inverter case  11  is formed by attaching a top plate  18  to the flange  17 . A plurality of threaded portions  17   a,  into which bolts that are not illustrated are threaded for fixing the top plate  18  to a case body  13 , are formed in the flange  17 . A plurality of through-holes  18   a,  into which the bolts are inserted, is formed in a peripheral portion of the top plate  18 . Pillar-like support portions  19 , which extend vertically from the bottom plate  14 , are formed at a plurality of positions of the bottom plate  14 . A columnar pin  20 , which extends vertically from a distal end surface of each support portion  19 , is formed on the distal end surface of each support portion  19 . Each pin  20  is inserted into a corresponding recessed portion formed in the internal surface of the top plate  18 , which is not illustrated. The pins  20  are inserted into the corresponding recessed portions of the top plate  18  so that the position of the top plate  18  is determined, and the bolts inserted into the through-holes  18   a  are threaded into the threaded portions  17   a  so that the top plate  18  is fixed to the case body  13 . 
         [0020]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , a heat dissipation device  31  for cooling the electronic parts  12  accommodated in the inverter case  11  is formed on the bottom plate  14 . In the present embodiment, the heat dissipation device  31  is formed integrally with the case body  13 . Hereinafter, explanation will be made in detail. 
         [0021]    A case  33 , which is U-shaped in the plan view, is set up on the bottom plate  14 . A U-shaped recessed portion  32  is formed in the inside of the case  33 . The case  33  of the heat dissipation device  31  is formed on a part of the case body  13  (bottom plate  14 ), and the case body  13  serves as the case  33  of the heat dissipation device  31 . 
         [0022]    The recessed portion  32  is formed such that it extends from one of the pair of lateral walls  15   a  and  15   b  facing each other, namely the lateral wall  15   a  to the other one of the pair of lateral walls  15   a  and  15   b,  namely the lateral wall  15   b , and turns toward the lateral wall  15   a  before reaching the lateral wall  15   b.  A plurality of plate fins  34 , which extend vertically from the bottom plate  14 , are formed in the recessed portion  32 . The fins  34  extend in a direction in which the lateral walls  15   a  and  15   b  face each other. 
         [0023]    As shown in  FIG. 6 , the fins  34  are molded integrally with the case  33  of the heat dissipation device  31 . 
         [0024]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , threaded portions  35 , into which bolts B 1  are threaded, are formed at a plurality of positions of a peripheral portion of the recessed portion  32  in the bottom plate  14 . Further, pins  36 , which extend vertically from an outer surface of the bottom plate  14 , are formed at two positions of the peripheral portion of the recessed portion  32  in the bottom plate  14 . 
         [0025]    A plate lid member  37 , which covers the recessed portion  32 , is attached to the bottom plate  14 . A coolant passage  38 , through which coolant flows, is formed by the case  33  and the lid member  37 . A body portion  39  of the heat dissipation device  31  in the present embodiment is provided with the case  33  and the lid member  37 . 
         [0026]    Through-holes  40 , into which the bolts B 1  for fixing the lid member  37  to the bottom plate  14  are inserted, are formed at a plurality of positions of a peripheral portion of the lid member  37 . Further, through-holes  41 , into which the pins  36  are inserted, are formed at two positions of the peripheral portion of the lid member  37 . The lid member  37  is attached to the bottom plate  14  by inserting the pins  36  into the through-holes  41  formed in the lid member  37  and threading the bolts B 1  into the threaded portions  35 . Accordingly, the pins  36  serve as position determining pins for determining the position of the lid member  37  for the bottom plate  14 , namely the case  33 . 
         [0027]    As shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B , the pins  36 , which determine the position of the lid member  37  when the lid member  37  is attached to the case  33  of the heat dissipation device  31 , are molded integrally with the case  33  of the heat dissipation device  31 . Similarly, the position determining pins  20 , which determine the position of the top plate  18  when the top plate  18  is attached to the case body  13 , are molded integrally with the case body  13 . 
         [0028]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , a cylindrical inflow passage forming portion  42  as a flow passage forming portion is molded integrally with the lateral wall  15   a.  An inflow passage  51  is formed in the inflow passage forming portion  42 . The inflow passage  51  is in communication with an inlet of the coolant passage  38 . Similarly, an outflow passage forming portion  43  as a flow passage forming portion is molded integrally with the lateral wall  15   a.  An outflow passage  52  is formed in the outflow passage forming portion  43 . The outflow passage  52  is in communication with an outlet of the coolant passage  38 . 
         [0029]    As shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B , a coolant supply source is connected through a tubular member  44  such as a hose to the inflow passage forming portion  42  and the outflow passage forming portion  43 . The coolant supplied from the coolant supply source flows through the inflow passage  51  to the coolant passage  38 , and discharged through the outflow passage  52  from the coolant passage  38 . 
         [0030]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , the inflow passage forming portion  42  is molded integrally with the case  33  of the heat dissipation device  31 . Similarly, the outflow passage forming portion  43  is molded integrally with the case  33  (case body  13 ) of the heat dissipation device  31 . 
         [0031]    As described above, the case  33  of the heat dissipation device  31 , the inflow passage forming portion  42 , the outflow passage forming portion  43 , the pins  20  and  36 , and the fins  34  are integrally molded in the case body  13 . 
         [0032]    The case body  13  is an integrally molded cast. That is, the case body  13  is manufactured by flowing melted metal materials (such as aluminum) into a mold formed in accordance with the shape of the case body  13 , and solidifying the metal materials. The case body  13 , in which the case  33 , the inflow passage forming portion  42 , the outflow passage forming portion  43 , the pins  20  and  36 , and the fins  34  of the heat dissipation device  31  are integrally formed, is obtained by drawing out the case body  13  from the mold. The phrase “integrally molded” refers to a fact that the body portion  39 , the inflow passage forming portion  42 , and the outflow passage forming portion  43  of the heat dissipation device  31  are the same member. The phrase does not include a plurality of members integrally joined by a brazing material, for example. 
         [0033]    As shown in  FIG. 3A , the top of the coolant passage  38  corresponds to a mounting region for the electronic parts  12  as heat generators in the case  33 . The electronic parts  12  are mounted on the region. Each electronic part  12  is signally connected to a control board  45  accommodated in the case body  13 . The electronic parts  12  are controlled by the control board  45 , in which a control device is formed, which is not illustrated. 
         [0034]    Next, an operation of the heat dissipation device  31  according to the present embodiment will be described. 
         [0035]    When the electronic parts  12  generate heat and the coolant flows from the inflow passage  51  to the coolant passage  38 , the electronic parts  12  transfer heat to the coolant via the body portion  39 . The electronic parts  12  are cooled by the coolant. The coolant that has passed through the coolant passage  38  is discharged from the coolant passage  38  through the outflow passage  52 . 
         [0036]    The above described embodiment has the following advantages. 
         [0037]    (1) The case  33  of the heat dissipation device  31  is molded integrally with the inflow passage forming portion  42  and the outflow passage forming portion  43 . Accordingly, since the inflow passage forming portion  42  and the outflow passage forming portion  43  are formed simultaneously with the body portion  39  (case  33 ), it is not necessary to separately prepare a member for forming the inflow passage  51  and the outflow passage  52 . Therefore, the number of components of the heat dissipation device  31  is reduced. 
         [0038]    (2) The pins  36 , which determine the position of the lid member  37  attached to the case  33  of the heat dissipation device  31 , are molded integrally with the case  33  of the heat dissipation device  31 . Accordingly, it is not necessary to prepare the position determining pins  36  separately from the case  33 . Therefore, the number of components of the heat dissipation device  31  is reduced. 
         [0039]    (3) The fins  34 , which protrude in the inside of the coolant passage  38 , are molded integrally with the case  33  of the heat dissipation device  31 . Accordingly, it is not necessary to prepare the fins  34  separately from the case  33 . Therefore, the number of components of the heat dissipation device  31  is reduced. 
         [0040]    (4) The case body  13  is manufactured by casting. Since the casting is a method in which the melted metal materials are flowed into the mold, it excels in mass production of the case body  13 . 
         [0041]    (5) The pins  20 , which determine the position of the top plate  18  attached to the case body  13 , are molded integrally with the case body  13 . Accordingly, it is not necessary to prepare the pins  20  separately from the case body  13  so that the number of components is reduced. 
         [0042]    (6) For example, as in the heat exchanger disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2008-211147, when the heat dissipation device is configured by brazing the inlet-outlet pipe on between the pair of plates, a sealing member is intervened at an interface between the inlet-outlet pipe and the pair of plates to ensure the sealing property between the inlet-outlet pipe and the pair of plates. In the heat dissipation device  31  of the present embodiment, since the case  33  of the heat dissipation device  31  is molded integrally with the inflow passage forming portion  42  and the outflow passage forming portion  43 , the interface between the case  33 , and the inflow passage forming portion  42  and the outflow passage forming portion  43  is absent. Accordingly, it is not necessary to provide a sealing member. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a sealing member between the case  33  of the heat dissipation device  31 , and the inflow passage forming portion  42  and the outflow passage forming portion  43  to ensure the sealing property therebetween so that the number of components is reduced. 
         [0043]    (7) As in the heat exchanger disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2008-211147, when the inlet-outlet pipe is brazed to the pair of plates, positional shifting of the inlet-outlet pipe may be caused in the steps of arranging the inlet-outlet pipe on the recessed portion of the pair of plates, and melting the brazing material after the inlet-outlet pipe is arranged on the recessed portion of the pair of plates. When the brazing is performed in the state where the positional shifting of the inlet-outlet pipe is caused, inferior joint is likely to be caused so that the joint reliability of the heat exchanger is reduced. In the heat dissipation device  31  of the present embodiment, because the inflow passage forming portion  42  and the outflow passage forming portion  43  are molded integrally with the case  33 , the positional shifting of the inflow passage forming portion  42  and the outflow passage forming portion  43  is not caused. 
         [0044]    (8) Since it is not necessary to braze the inlet-outlet pipe to the plates unlike the heat exchanger disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2008-211147, the step of brazing the inflow passage forming portion  42  and the outflow passage forming portion  43  is omitted. 
         [0045]    (9) When the pins  20  are not integrally molded, the pins are press fit into the holes formed in the support portions  19  to be provided in the case body  13 . In the heat dissipation device  31  of the present embodiment, since the pins  20  are molded integrally with the case body  13 , the step of press fitting the pins becomes unnecessary. 
         [0046]    The embodiment may be modified as follows. 
         [0047]    In the embodiment, the heat dissipation device  31  molded integrally with the case body  13  of the inverter case  11  is used as the heat dissipation device  31 . The heat dissipation device  31  is not limited to this. The body portion  39  of the heat dissipation device  31 , the inflow passage forming portion  42 , and the outflow passage forming portion  43  may be integrally molded. It is not necessary to mold these elements integrally with other members such as the case body  13 . 
         [0048]    The case body  13  (the case  33  of the heat dissipation device  31 , the inflow passage forming portion  42 , and the outflow passage forming portion  43 ) may be articles manufactured by cutting. In this case, unlike the case of casting, it is not necessary to draw out the case body  13  from the mold. Accordingly, the case body  13  is manufactured even if the case body  13  includes a complicated shape. For example, the inflow passage forming portion  42  and the outflow passage forming portion  43  may be of a flexed shape. 
         [0049]    The case body  13  (the case  33  of the heat dissipation device  31 , the inflow passage forming portion  42 , and the outflow passage forming portion  43 ) may be a forging manufactured by forging. 
         [0050]    Only one of the inflow passage forming portion  42  and the outflow passage forming portion  43  may be molded integrally with the case  33  of the heat dissipation device  31 . 
         [0051]    It is not necessary to mold the position determining pins  36  integrally with the case body  13 . 
         [0052]    It is not necessary to mold the fins  34  integrally with the case body  13 . 
         [0053]    The fins  34  may be molded integrally with the lid member  37 . 
         [0054]    Therefore, the present examples and embodiments are to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein, but may be modified within the scope and equivalence of the appended claims.