Abstract:
The present invention relates to a heat sink ( 1 ) with a main body ( 2 ) for accommodating at least one electronic structural element ( 5 ), and with a spring element ( 3 ) for pressing the structural element ( 5 ) against the main body ( 2 ), whereby the spring element ( 3 ) is held on the main body ( 2 ) by a connecting means. It is provided that the connecting means are configured as a push-on connection ( 15 ) and have a projection ( 7 ) on the main body ( 2 ) and a mounting opening ( 14 ) in the spring element ( 3 ) for the projection ( 7 ), whereby the opening edge ( 23 ) of the mounting opening ( 14 ) bears, at least in sections, against the lateral surface of the projection ( 7 ) under preload resulting from the intrinsic elasticity of the spring element ( 3 ) and/or the projection ( 7 ).

Description:
The present invention relates to a heat sink with a main body for accommodating at least one electronic structural element, and with a spring element for pressing the structural element against the main body, whereby the spring element is held on the main body by a connecting means. 
   BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
   Heat sinks of the type discussed here are known. They are used to absorb the heat dissipated from semiconductors in electronic circuits. To this end, the semiconductor is pressed onto a main body of the heat sink by a spring element. The spring element itself is held on the main body by latching into undercuts in the main body or being staked in a recess of the main body. Due to these previous means of fastening the spring element to the main body, the known heat sinks are relatively costly to manufacture. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In contrast to the related art, the heat sink according to the invention has the advantage that it is easier and more economical to manufacture. This is due to the fact that, given the configuration of the connecting means as a push-on connection having a projection on the main body, a main body shape is created that can be easily manufactured using an extrusion method (e.g., by joining). This is also due to the fact That, by configuring a mounting opening for the projection on The spring element, the opening edge of which bears, at least in sections, against the lateral surface of the projection under preload resulting from the intrinsic elasticity of the spring element and/or the projection, a spring element having a simple configuration can be provided. In terms of the push-on connection, an essential inventive idea is to utilize a property coming from the material of the spring element and/or the projection, namely the intrinsic elasticity, to produce the preload. Costly configurations of the spring element for producing a holding force on the projection can be avoided. 
   According to one embodiment of the present invention, configuration of the spring element is provided that is particularly simple and economical to manufacture. 
   According to one embodiment of the present invention, the advantage that the structural element is acted upon at a defined paint in a reproducible manner is created. 
   According to a further development, a heat sink is created, the spring element—for applying the preload, and in the state in which it acts on the structural element—of which has an elastic deflection located between the mounting opening and the contact point for the structural element. The state of acting upon the structural element is brought about by the mounting opening being pushed onto the projection and, in fact, to the point at which the elastic deflection in the spring element forms and is so great that the structural element is held on the main body by the bending force produced by the deflection. The spring element, which is configured as a leaf spring, functions quasi as a “bendable bar” along its longitudinal side, whereby the mounting opening is the fixing point of the “bendable bar”. The bending force resulting from the elastic deflection of the spring element is now used not only to hold the structural element on the main body, but also to apply the preload. In terms of the application, “preload” is understood to be the force that, In the pushed-on state, acts on the projection and the mounting opening, i.e., on the push-on connection, and holds this connection together via the oblique position of the spring element resulting from the deflection and the associated pressing of the opening edge against the lateral surface of the projection. 
   According to a further embodiment, it is provided that the diameter of the mounting opening is greater than the associated diameter of the projection. As a result in the pushed-on state, depending on how much greater is the diameter of the mounting opening, an oblique position or at least the tendency toward an oblique position of the mounting opening and/or the opening edge acts on the projection. As a result of the oblique position, at least two contact points of the opening edge with the lateral surface of the projection are formed: i.e., an upper contact point and a lower contact point, as viewed in the longitudinal direction of the projection. In the pushed-on state, the opening edge is brought to bear against the projection via the contact points, and this holds the push-on connection together. A holding effect in the push-on connection is therefore brought about by the larger diameter of the mounting opening. 
   In terms of the application, the “diameter of the projection” and the “diameter of the mounting opening” are also understood to mean configurations having cross sections that are circular or that have another shape. For the mounting opening and the projection to have a shape of this type, it is not necessary for the mounting opening and the projection to have identical cross-sectional configurations. 
   According to a further embodiment, a heat sink is created, with which the preload is generated using a different principle. For this principle, the mounting opening has a diameter that, before the spring element is installed, is smaller than or equal in size on at least one point on the circumference of the mounting opening (referred to hereinbelow as the “mounting opening circumference”) to the diameter of the projection at a point on the circumference of the projection (referred to hereinbelow as the “projection circumference”) associated with this point. In the installed, i.e., pushed-on, state, the mounting opening and the projection now form a compression joint, that is, the opening edge is held via the interference fit against the lateral surface of the projection. In the case of this principle, the preload therefore results from a tension force that comes from the interference fit. It can also happen, however, that the preload results from the tension force and the bending force produced by the elastic deflection. The effects of both principles therefore overlap. 
   According to another embodiment, it is provided that the edge region of the mounting opening is provided with indentations to form spring tabs. The spring tabs provide the advantage that the mounting opening—as a result of the pushing-on motion—can be spread further apart, so that a greater lower deviation of the diameter of the mounting opening In the pre-installed state can be created. Since, as a result of the pushing-on motion, the spring tabs are bent radially outwardly against the direction of insertion, the advantage is also created that the push-on connection is prevented from coming loose, i.e., there is a safeguard against it slipping back off. 
   At the points that bear against the lateral surface of the projection in the installed state, the mounting opening edge can exert a force on the projection that is so great that a plastic material deformation is produced at these points (which form a contact zone) of the projection, and the contact zone is therefore configured as a plastic material deformation zone. The material deformation zone can be formed by notches, which are produced by the spring tabs “digging in”. By way of the plastic material deformation zone, it is possible to prevent the push-on connection from coming loose or sliding off, due to the creation of a form-fit connection between the mounting opening and the projection. 
   Further advantageous configurations of the present invention result from the rest of the features, which are stated in the subclaims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention is explained below in greater detail in various exemplary embodiments with reference to the associated drawing. 
       FIG. 1  shows a side view of a heat sink with a projection and a spring element, before installation of the spring element; 
       FIG. 2  shows a side view of the heat sink according to  FIG. 1  during installation of the spring element; 
       FIG. 3  shows a side view of the heat sink according to  FIG. 1 , after installation of the spring element; 
       FIG. 4  shows a side view of the heat sink during installation of the spring element according to another exemplary embodiment; 
       FIG. 5  shows a side view of the heat sink according to  FIG. 4 , after installation of the spring element; 
       FIG. 6  shows a three-dimensional view of the heat sink before installation of the spring element, according to a further exemplary embodiment, and 
       FIG. 7  shows a three-dimensional view of the heat sink according to  FIG. 6 , after installation of the spring element. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1  shows, in a schematic representation, a heat sink  1  with a main body  2  and a spring element  3 , before installation of spring element  3 . Main body  2  has a receptacle  4  for accommodating an electronic structural element  5 . Receptacle  4  of main body  2  contains a stop  6  for positioning structural element  5 . Main body  2  further includes a projection  7  which extends, with its longitudinal side  8 , at an angle of 90° and/or at an angle of essentially 90° to a top side  9  of main body  2 . Spring element  3 , which is configured as a leaf spring in the form of a flat spring, has a first end region  10  and a second end region  11 , as viewed longitudinally. On its side  12  facing main body  2 , first end region  10  contains a contact point  13  for electronic structural element  5 . 
   In this exemplary embodiment, contact point  13  is configured as a projecting element opposite side  12  of spring element  3 . The projecting element can be formed via material deformation of first end region  10  using a joining method. It is also possible for the projecting element to be formed by a weld point or soldering point, or the like. 
   Second end region  11  has a mounting opening  14  for projection  7 . Mounting opening  14  is formed as a through-opening, whereby the sides of the through-opening toward side  12  of spring element  3  form an angle of 90° and/or essentially 90°. In this exemplary embodiment, diameter  16  of mounting opening  14  is greater than diameter  17  of projection  7 . 
   When spring element  3  is installed, as shown in  FIG. 2 , mounting opening  14  is pushed onto projection  7  in the direction of arrow  18 . In this exemplary embodiment, the act of “pushing on” can be carried out in simple fashion, since, given that diameter  16  of mounting opening  14  is greater than diameter  17  of projection  7 , play  19  exists as long as spring element  3  is held in a position that is essentially at a right angle to projection  7  while being pushed on. 
   As shown in  FIG. 3 , as a result of the continued pushing-on motion of spring element  3  in the direction of arrow  18 , contact point  13  comes to bear against top side  22  of structural element  5 , and spring element  3  deflects between contact point  13  and mounting opening  14 . As a result of the deflection, furthermore, mounting opening  14  becomes inclined relative to longitudinal extension  8  of projection  7 , so that opening edge  23  of mounting opening  14  clamps against lateral surface of projection  7 , at least in sections, that is, at least in one section. In this position of spring element  3 , mounting opening  14  and projection  8  are clamped with each other, whereby the spring element is simultaneously pressed via contact point  13  onto structural element  5  and holds it in its position. Mounting opening  14  and projection  7  therefore form, in this manner, a push-on connection  15  which holds spring element  3  against main body  2 . The preload in push-on connection  15  results from the deflection of spring element  3 . 
   Another exemplary embodiment of heat sink  1  is shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . Parts that correspond with parts in the exemplary embodiment in the previous figures are labeled with the same reference numerals. The exemplary embodiment in  FIGS. 4 and 5  differs from the exemplary embodiment in  FIGS. 1 through 3  in that, before spring element  3  is installed, diameter  16  of mounting opening  14  is smaller than diameter  17  of projection  7 , based on at least one circumferential section. Furthermore, projection  7  has a leading bevel  26 , so that diameter  17  of projection  7  on end face  27  of free end  24  is smaller than diameter  16  of mounting opening  14 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 4 , spring element  3  is placed on leading bevel  26  with opening edge  23  of mounting opening  14 . As a result of a push-on motion in the direction of arrow  18 , mounting opening  14  is pushed onto projection  7 , whereby an elastic deformation forms in edge region  28  of mounting opening  14 , and mounting opening  14  widens. Mounting opening  14  is pushed onto projection  7  until contact point  13  comes in contact with structural element  5  and a deflection of spring element  3  is induced that is so great that an amount of contact pressure is produced which is sufficient to press structural element  5  against main body  2 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . Due to the elastic deformation of mounting opening  14  in the circumferential section, which was smaller than diameter  17  of projection  7  before installation of spring element  3 , the push-on motion brings about an interference fit between mounting opening  14  and projection  7  as a result of the elastic deformation, the interference fit resulting in the preload in push-on connection  15  in this exemplary embodiment. A push-on connection is therefore created which holds spring element  3  in the state in which it is acting upon structural element  5  using a simple frictional connection and which is secured against coming loose due to the preload, i.e., it has a quasi self-arresting function. 
   Due to the push-on motion, deformations on lateral surface  20  of projection  7  can occur in addition to the elastic deformations on the mounting opening  14 . When the deformation forces are high, this deformation can have an elastic component and a plastic component. A plastic deformation of this type can result from opening edge  23  pressing into the sections adjacent to the lateral surface  20  of projection  7 . It can also have resulted from a “bead formation” caused by opening edge  23  as a result of the push-on motion on projection  7 . 
     FIGS. 6 and 7  show heat sink  1  in a further exemplary embodiment, whereby, in  FIG. 6 , heat sink  1  is shown before installation of spring element  3 , and, in  FIG. 7 , heat sink  1  is shown after installation of spring element  3 . Parts that correspond to the parts in the exemplary embodiments in the previous  FIGS. 1 through 5  are labeled with the same reference numerals. 
   Projection  7  is configured as a circular cylindrical peg and is fastened to main body  2  in an integral manner. Main body  2  has two receptacles  4  for accommodating two structural elements  5 . Accordingly, spring element  3  has two contact points  13  and  13 ′, so that one contact point  13 ,  13 ′ each is allocatable to each structural element  5 , whereby more than two structural elements can be allocated to the spring element. Contact points  13 ,  13 ′ each form one end of spring element  3 , which is a symmetrically configured component relative to its transverse axis  34 . 
   Spring element  3  further has a center part  29  in which mounting opening  14  is located. Center part  29  is joined with the particular contact point  13 ,  13 ′ via an intermediate part  30  and  30 ′. The particular contact point  13 ,  13 ′ is located on the particular intermediate part  30 ,  30 ′ and, in turn, the particular intermediate part  30 ,  30 ′ is located on center part  29 , each in a predetermined angular position such that spring element  3 , in the state in which it acts on structural element  5 , presses on top side  9  of structural element  5  only via contact point  13 ,  13 ′, as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
   Mounting opening  14 , which has a circular cross section in this exemplary embodiment, has a plurality of indentations  32  for forming spring tabs  31  in edge region  28 . As shown in the exemplary embodiment according to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , diameter  16  of mounting opening  14  is smaller than the diameter of circular cylindrical peg  7  before spring element  3  is installed. As a result of the push-on motion, spring tabs  31  are bent radially outwardly, opposite the push-on direction in accordance with arrow  18 , so that a self-arresting push-on connection is created as a result, i.e., the push-on connection is “blocked” from coming loose on its own, due to the deformed spring tabs. 
   With this exemplary embodiment, it is also possible, of course, that, depending on the configuration, the push-on connection functions not only in a non-positive manner, but also in a form-locked manner, e.g., by spring tabs  31  digging into circular cylindrical peg  7 , with the formation of notches, therefore plastically deforming said circular cylindrical peg in the digging-in region.