Patent ID: 8028744

Claim:
A heat sink system with reduced airborne debris clogging, for cooling power electronics, the heat sink system comprising: a heat sink having a plurality of fins; a housing configured to direct air flow around the side of the heat sink and then through the fins of the heat sink at a back of the heat sink; an inlet airway passage formed between a wall of the housing and said side of the finned heat sink to allow air to pass within the housing, wherein said side of the heat sink comprises at least one of said plurality of fins disposed directly in contact with the inlet airway passage; and a transition seal between the heat sink and the inlet airway passage, said transition seal including a sloped portion having a radius of curvature and a slot proximate the inlet airway passage; said plurality of fins include an outer fin at an outer end of the heat sink, said outer fin having a radius of curvature to match the radius of curvature of the sloped portion and having a thickness to fit into the slot.