Patent ID: 12245394

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the invention. Wherever possible, same or similar reference numerals are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts or steps. The drawings are in simplified form and are not to precise scale. The word ‘couple’ and similar terms do not necessarily denote direct and immediate connections, but also include connections through intermediate elements or devices. For purposes of convenience and clarity only, directional (up/down etc.) or motional (forward/back, etc.) terms may be used with respect to the drawings. These and similar directional terms should not be construed to limit the scope in any manner. It will also be understood that other embodiments may be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention, and that the detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and that elements may be differently positioned, or otherwise noted as in the appended claims without requirements of the written description being required thereto.

According toFIGS.1and2, a power converter arrangement has a housing1. The housing1can be made, for example, from a plastic (in particular an impact-resistant plastic) or from metal (for example, steel or aluminum). The housing1is completely closed when in operation. However, the housing1is illustrated inFIGS.1and2without a cover in order to be able to provide a view of the interior of the housing1.

An electronic power converter2is arranged in the housing1. In order to supply and emit the electrical load currents, the housing1can have passage openings3via which corresponding cables (not illustrated) can pass into the interior of the housing1and be connected there. The housing1can have a pre-assembled plug connection4for supplying control signals and emitting sensor signals.

The power converter2comprises power semiconductors, for example IGBTs or MOSFETs. The power semiconductors are not illustrated in the Figures. A power loss occurs during operation of the power converter2, essentially in accordance with the product of the forward voltage of a semiconductor switch and the load current conducted by the power semiconductor. It is entirely possible for the power loss to be in the region of 100 W or more. The power converter2therefore heats up. In order to keep the heating of the power converter2within an acceptable range, a cooling duct5is arranged inside the housing1. A cooling liquid6, by means of which the power converter2is cooled, flows in the cooling duct5. The cooling liquid6can in particular be water or water-based.

The cooling duct5has a connection7via which the cooling liquid6is supplied to the cooling duct5. The cooling duct5furthermore has a connection8via which the cooling liquid6is discharged from the cooling duct5. The housing1in turn has two mating connections9,10. One mating connection9is connected to the connection7and the other mating connection is connected to the connection8.

The structure and operating principle of the connections7,8and the mating connections9,10will be explained below in particular in conjunction withFIG.3for the connection7and the mating connection9. Similar explanations apply for the connection8and the mating connection10.

According toFIG.3, the connection7and the mating connection9have sealing surfaces11,12. A sealing device100, via which the interior of the housing1and the cooling duct5is sealed liquidtightly, is arranged in the region of the sealing surfaces11,12. The configuration of the sealing device (and also of the corresponding sealing device for the connection8and the mating connection10) is the core subject-matter of the present invention.

According toFIG.3, the sealing device100has two sealing rings13,14. The sealing rings13,14can be designed, for example, as O-rings. The two sealing rings13,14are spaced apart from each other geometrically. Generally, the sealing ring13is arranged closer to the cooling duct5and the sealing ring14closer to the interior of the housing1. The sealing ring13seals the cooling duct5liquidtightly in the region of the sealing surfaces11,12. Similarly, the sealing ring14seals the housing1liquidtightly in the region of the sealing surfaces11,12.

According toFIG.3, an annular groove15is introduced into the sealing surface12in the region between the sealing rings13,14. The annular groove15could, however, equally also be introduced into the sealing surface11. It would also be possible to introduce an annular groove in each case into both sealing surfaces11,12, which together form a resulting annular groove. Irrespective of the specific configuration, an outflow duct16is, however, introduced into the housing1and leads off from the annular groove15and opens out on the outside of the housing1. The outflow duct16can be designed, for example, as a bore. It can, however, also be introduced into the housing1in a different fashion.

The cooling liquid6has a direction of flow17at the transition from the connection7to the mating connection9. In the embodiment according toFIGS.1to3, the sealing surfaces11,12are oriented parallel or at least essentially parallel to the direction of flow17. “Essentially parallel” is a deviation of no more than 15°. Usually the deviation, if present at all, is even 10° or less, in particular 5° or less. According toFIG.3, the sealing surfaces11,12run cylindrically around the direction of flow17.

FIG.4shows an alternative embodiment to that inFIG.3. The difference consists essentially in that the sealing surfaces11,12are not oriented parallel or at least essentially parallel to the direction of flow17and instead are oriented orthogonally or at least essentially orthogonally to the direction of flow17. As above, the term “essentially orthogonally” means a deviation of no more than 15°. Usually the deviation, if present at all, is even 10° or less, in particular 5° or less. According toFIG.4, the sealing surfaces11,12are plane surfaces which are oriented exactly orthogonally to the direction of flow17. Otherwise, the explanations ofFIGS.1to3apply.

In the embodiment according toFIG.4, the sealing rings11,12lie within the same plane. Alternatively, according to the illustration inFIG.5, it is possible that the sealing rings11,12lie in different planes. Otherwise, the explanations ofFIG.4apply.

It is possible that (at least) one sensor device is arranged inside the housing1. For example, a sensor signal which is characteristic for the humidity in the interior of the housing1can be detected by means of the sensor device, if present. It is generally sufficient for detecting the humidity if a single sensor device is present, wherein the sensor device can be arranged as required and wherever possible. Alternatively, or additionally, for example, penetration of the cooling liquid6into the housing1can be detected by means of the sensor device. A separate sensor device is arranged in each case preferably in the region of the connections7,8for detecting the penetration of the cooling liquid6into the housing1. The sensor signal of the sensor device can, in particular via the already mentioned preassembled plug connection4, be passed to the outside and tapped there.

The present invention has many advantages. The most important one is that the whole construction is simple, cost-effective and reliable and also offers a high degree of operational safety in continuous operation.

The above description serves only to explain the present invention. However, the scope of protection of the present invention is to be determined only by the attached claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

1housing2power converter3passage openings4plug connection5cooling duct6cooling liquid7,8connections9,10mating connections11,12sealing surfaces13,14sealing rings15annular groove16outflow duct17direction of flow

Also, the inventors intend that only those claims which use the specific and exact phrase “means for” are intended to be interpreted under 35 USC 112. The structure herein is noted and well supported in the entire disclosure. Moreover, no limitations from the specification are intended to be read into any claims, unless those limitations are expressly included in the claims.

Having described at least one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, it will be apparent to those skills that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various modifications and variations can be made in the presently disclosed system without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present disclosure cover modifications and variations of this disclosure provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.