Patent ID: 10138880

Abstract:
A vehicle inductor assembly includes an inductor, a thermal plate, an emitter, and a controller. The inductor is secured within a housing. The thermal plate supports the inductor and includes a channel having a flexible wall with actionable particles. The emitter is located adjacent the channel. The controller is programmed to activate the emitter to impart a force upon the particles to move the wall such that a cross-sectional area of the channel is adjusted to influence a flow rate of coolant flowing therethrough. The wall may be a membrane partially secured to an interior of the channel and include the actionable particles. The actionable particles may be one of dielectric and magnetic particles and the emitter may selectively output one of a voltage, an electric field, or a magnetic field to move the dielectric or magnetic particles such that the membrane moves to adjust the cross-sectional area of the channel to influence a flow rate of coolant flowing therethrough.