CN112839481A

CN112839481A - Cooling assembly for electronic components of a motor vehicle and method for producing the same

Info

Publication number: CN112839481A
Application number: CN202011341496.0A
Authority: CN
Inventors: M·齐默曼; O·兰格; S·利克
Original assignee: Volkswagen AG
Current assignee: Volkswagen AG
Priority date: 2019-11-25
Filing date: 2020-11-25
Publication date: 2021-05-25
Also published as: CN112833698B; DE102020207966A1; CN112833698A; DE102020207947A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cooling assembly for electronic components of a motor vehicle and a method for manufacturing the same, in particular to a cooling assembly comprising: a base box with an inlet opening and an outlet opening, the base box being divided into two fluidly separated inlet longitudinal chambers containing the inlet opening and outlet longitudinal chambers containing the outlet opening, each extending over a substantial part of the base box length; a cover plate secured to the edge of the base box in a fluid-tight manner, said cover plate having an inlet opening in fluid contact with the inlet longitudinal chamber and an outlet opening in fluid contact with the outlet longitudinal chamber; a frame plate, which is connected to the cover plate in a fluid-tight manner and is penetrated by a frame opening, which encloses a flow opening pair consisting of the inflow opening and the outflow opening of the cover plate; and a contact plate covering the frame opening and fixed in a fluid-tight manner on the frame plate, to which the electronic component to be cooled is fixed or can be fixed on its upper side facing away from the frame opening.

Description

Cooling assembly for electronic components of a motor vehicle and method for producing the same

Technical Field

The invention relates to a cooling assembly for electronic components of a motor vehicle, comprising:

a base box with an inlet opening and an outlet opening, the base box being divided into two fluidly separated longitudinal chambers, i.e. into an inlet longitudinal chamber and an outlet longitudinal chamber, each extending over a substantial part of the base box length, wherein the inlet opening is arranged in the inlet longitudinal chamber and the outlet opening is arranged in the outlet longitudinal chamber;

a covering plate which is fastened to the edge of the basin in a fluid-tight manner and has at least one inflow opening in fluid contact with the inlet longitudinal chamber and at least one outflow opening in fluid contact with the outlet longitudinal chamber;

a frame plate connected to the cover plate in a fluid-tight and preferably material-tight manner, the frame plate being penetrated by at least one frame opening, which surrounds at least one flow opening pair consisting of an inflow opening and an outflow opening of the cover plate; and

a contact plate covering the at least one frame opening and fixed in a fluid-tight manner on the frame plate, on the upper side of which contact plate the at least one electronic component to be cooled is fixed or fixable in a heat-conducting contact.

Background

A cooling assembly of this type is described in german patent application DE 102019200142.4, which was unpublished until the filing date of the present application.

In power electronics of motor vehicles, in particular of all-electric or electric hybrid vehicles, high powers are handled. For this purpose, the electronic components used, for example so-called power modules, for example IGBTs, require a cooler for extracting the heat accumulated there. Such components are usually equipped with cooling structures, such as labyrinth-like cooling ribs, which are circulated by a coolant fluid, usually a liquid coolant. Such a cooling structure can be arranged directly on the electronic component and project into the coolant channel. However, it is also known to connect the electronic components in a planar manner to a contact plate which covers the opening of the coolant channel and to position the cooling structure within the coolant channel at the contact plate.

The cooling assembly disclosed in the document mentioned at the outset, which forms a solution of this type, has a base box, the longitudinal chamber of which is milled out of a relatively thick metal plate. The cover sheet material brazed to the edge of the basin formed by the base box is a sheet material that is thinner, in particular spread apart, than the metal sheet, and that has two axially oriented through-slots at each cooling position, i.e. at each axial position that coincides with the axial position of the component to be cooled, wherein one of the through-slots that functions as an inflow opening provides a through-connection to the inlet longitudinal chamber and wherein the other through-slot that functions as an outflow opening provides a through-connection to the outlet longitudinal chamber. A relatively thick frame plate is brazed to the cover plate, which frame plate has a large, square through-opening at each cooling position, which through-opening encloses exactly one pair of flow openings, i.e. the inflow opening and the outflow opening, respectively, so that a plurality of upwardly open cooling chambers are created, which are all connected (i.e. via their respective pairs of flow openings) on the one hand to the inlet longitudinal chamber and on the other hand to the outlet longitudinal chamber. These cooling chambers are individually closed by cover-like contact plates. The contact plate is held in its position in a force-fitting manner by means of clamping elements which are screwed to the frame plate, wherein threaded fasteners are screwed into corresponding threaded holes in the frame plate which is designed for this purpose, as mentioned, to be relatively thick. The sealing is achieved by an elastic sealing ring which rests at the edge of the cooling chamber. The contact plates carry on their underside a cooling structure which projects into the cooling chamber. The contact sheet carries the component to be cooled on its upper side.

Disadvantageously, the known cooling assemblies are disadvantageous with respect to weight and production costs (material and operating time input) and are therefore uneconomical both with respect to their production and also when operated in a motor vehicle.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the present invention is to develop a cooling module of this type such that it is more economical both in terms of its production and in terms of its use in a motor vehicle.

The object is achieved in that the base box is designed as a tub which is formed from a sheet metal and has a longitudinal web which is inserted in a fluid-tight manner in a material-fitting manner and by means of which the tub is divided into an inlet longitudinal chamber and an outlet longitudinal chamber.

The base box according to the invention can be produced (preferably) by means of a simple deep-drawing method or by another sheet-metal modification method familiar to the person skilled in the art. The starting material is a sheet material which must be precisely thick enough to withstand the sheet material modification process without damage and to be able to form an independent, dimensionally stable basin. As explained, in the prior art, a material thickness is required which corresponds at least to the depth of the longitudinal cavity, which is milled out of a starting material. It is clear that the sheet metal trough according to the invention is considerably more suitable not only in terms of its manufacture but also in terms of its weight. However, difficulties arise during the drawing in the formation of the longitudinal webs which separate the two longitudinal chambers from one another. According to the invention, it is formed by a second element which is inserted into the integrally formed pot according to a preferred method described in more detail below and is connected to the pot in a material-fitting manner, in particular hard-welded, at a later point in time. In addition to process cost and weight savings, the construction of the base box in the manner according to the invention has the following advantages: the volume of the longitudinal chamber may be increased relative to the prior art when the outer dimensions are the same. This opens up the possibility of a larger cooling fluid flow and thus more efficient cooling.

In the rest, the cooling assembly according to the invention can be constructed as known from the prior art. In particular, it is possible to screw threaded fasteners (by means of which the clamping elements are screwed to fix the contact plate) into threaded holes of the frame plate. However, this presupposes a certain minimum thickness of the frame sheet, which is disadvantageous in terms of weight and material costs. In one embodiment of the invention, it is therefore provided that the frame plate and the cover plate are penetrated by a threaded bushing, which is connected over the entire surface (vollumf ä nglich) in a fluid-tight manner to the cover plate and/or the frame plate. This allows the thickness of the frame plate to be designed only for its main function, i.e. defining the height of the cooling chamber. In particular, it is not necessary, and a minimum thickness is maintained, which would be required for the configuration of the threaded bore to provide adequate retention for clamping a threaded fastener. The fluid tightness with respect to the longitudinal chamber in the base box is ensured by the connection of the threaded bushing along its periphery in cooperation with the material of the covering sheet, which is also penetrated by the threaded bushing. A material-fit connection with the frame sheet is also possible, but not necessarily functionally required. But here an improved mechanical retention of the threaded bushing is advantageous. In the case of a material-locking connection between the frame plate and the cover plate, the threaded bushing can alternatively also be connected to the frame plate in a material-locking manner.

Preferably, the threaded bushing extends up to the bottom of the base box. This corresponds to the maximum possible length of the threaded bushing and thus to the maximum possible retention of the clamping threaded fastener.

The threaded bushing can be connected to the bottom of the base housing in a fluid-tight material-fit manner. Any type of mechanical fixing of the threaded bushing to the base box is desirable in any case for stability reasons. However, it is even possible when the fluid-tight material connection is provided that the threaded bushing is provided with a through opening and nevertheless ensures the fluid-tightness of the longitudinal chamber in the base box. An alternative embodiment of the threaded bushing with the threaded blind hole is conceivable and thus does not require a connection with a fluid-tight material fit to the bottom of the base box; however, a through-hole is preferred in terms of manufacturing technology, in which no chips accumulate. For this purpose, it is preferably provided that the threaded bushings each have a threaded bore, i.e. a threaded through-opening, which is open on both sides.

The threaded bushings are expediently arranged in pairs laterally of each frame opening and extend beyond the frame plate, wherein a spacer plate fastened to the frame plate extends between the threaded bushings of each threaded bushing pair, which spacer plate ends flush with the upper edge of the associated threaded bushing. The spacer plate serves to compensate for the height of the contact plates (which rest on the frame plate for closing the frame opening), so that the flat clamping element (which is screwed to the spacer plate by means of the clamping screw-fastening screwed into the screw-bushing) can simultaneously fix the adjacent contact plates to the frame plate in a force-fitting manner. Alternatively to the spacer plates, angled clamping elements can also be used. The variant shown here as preferred, however, is subject to considerable simplicity in its production and assembly.

In order to provide the entire device, in particular the base box, with increased stability, it is preferably provided that a reinforcing profile is fastened to the bottom of the base box. These reinforcing profiles can be configured, for example, as U-shaped rails. Of course, it is also conceivable for the person skilled in the art to have a substantially known reinforcing recess, which is introduced into the base bottom in the context of the drawing process. However, the fastening of the separate reinforcing profile is particularly challenging, since a stable connection can be provided between the base of the base box and the covering plate by means of the separate reinforcing profile. This is particularly true when the reinforcing profile, as well as the longitudinal webs, are connected to the two mentioned boundary surfaces in a material-fit manner, for example, in the context of the method described below.

The threaded bushing preferably passes through a corresponding recess in the reinforcing profile. In this way, it is ensured that the threaded bushing is located in the region of maximum rigidity in the overall structure, wherein the direct fastening of the threaded bushing at the base of the base described above as a preferred version is maintained. Although an indirect fixation of the threaded bushing at the bottom of the base, i.e. indirectly via said reinforcement rail, is also conceivable. However, this would require an additional boundary layer with a material-fit connection, which would be less suitable in terms of minimizing the process costs.

It is to be noted that different functional elements which are connected to one another in a fluid-tight manner are generally designed as different structural elements within the scope of the above description. This is not necessarily the case, however, especially in the frame and cover sheets. In particular, the two metal sheets can be formed integrally with one another. The lower part of the composite board then takes on the function of a covering board, while the upper part fulfills the function of a framing board.

As is known from the prior art, it is preferably provided that in each frame opening an elastic sealing ring is arranged which bears in its entirety against the edge of the frame opening, is clamped between the cover plate on the one hand and the contact plate on the other hand and surrounds the associated pair of flow openings. The height of the sealing ring is preferably slightly greater than the thickness of the frame plate, so that the sealing ring is slightly compressed when the contact plate is pressed against it and exerts its sealing action both toward the covering plate and toward the contact plate. But preferably (additionally) at least with regard to the contact between the covering sheet and the frame sheet a seal is provided by a fluid-tight material-fit connection of the two sheets to one another. If the frame plate comprises a plurality of frame openings, these frame openings can be closed individually by in each case one contact plate. However, it is alternatively also conceivable to cover a plurality of frame openings with a common contact plate. The first-mentioned separate solution is preferred, however, because it enables a more reliable sealing and a simpler exchangeability of the electronic components fixed to the contact plate, in particular when the contact plate is fixed, preferably by means of one or more clips held by threaded fasteners screwed into threaded bushings, which clips fix the contact plate to the frame plate in a force-fitting manner.

The underside of the contact plate is preferably reinforced by means of a cooling structure. The cooling structure projects through an associated frame opening of the frame plate into the associated cooling chamber and exchanges heat there with a cooling fluid.

The embodiment according to the invention of the cooling device allows a particularly simple and cost-effective production method which is a separate component of the invention. In particular, the manufacturing method comprises the following steps:

-providing a base box with an inlet opening and an outlet opening, the base box being configured as a tub modified from a sheet material;

-inserting a longitudinal tab into the base box such that it divides the basin into an inlet longitudinal chamber in which the inlet opening is arranged and an outlet longitudinal chamber in which the outlet opening is arranged;

placing the covering plate and the frame plate arranged thereon on the edge of the basin and on the upper edge of the longitudinal web standing with its lower edge on the bottom of the base box;

-inserting a threaded bushing into the corresponding through openings of the covering and frame panels, so that the threaded bushing stands with its lower end on the bottom of the foundation box;

clamping the above-mentioned elements so that they form a group of elements which are connected in a force-fitting manner,

the set is heated to above the melting temperature of the hard solder, the contact surfaces between the base of the base box and the threaded bushing, the contact surfaces between the base of the base box and the lower edge of the longitudinal web, the contact surfaces between the edge of the pot and the covering plate, the contact surfaces between the outer periphery of the threaded bushing and the inner periphery of the corresponding through-opening of the covering plate and/or the frame plate, the contact surfaces between the upper edge of the longitudinal web and the covering plate, and the contact surfaces between the lateral edges of the longitudinal web and the edge of the pot being coated at least (and preferably) on one side with the hard solder.

The individual elements can be simply assembled in the stated order, wherein gravity forces a temporary relative fixing. The braze coating mentioned for the selected contact surfaces can be applied on one side. For economic reasons, the number of faces to be hard-clad is to be minimized overall. The active clamping of the coated components ensures their temporary relative fixing even when they are transported to other assembly stations and even when they change dimensions due to temperature fluctuations. The component stack thus clamped is then heated in an oven, so that the hard solder melts at the mentioned contact surfaces and provides a fluid-tight material-fit connection there. To complete the cooling device, only the sealing ring described above then has to be inserted into the frame opening, and the contact plate, which is reinforced or can be reinforced afterwards by the electronic component to be cooled, is placed in such a way as to cover the frame opening and is fixed by means of the clamping part to be screwed on.

As already mentioned above, the frame plate and the covering plate can (preferably) be designed as separate elements or can however also be designed in one piece. In the first-mentioned case, it is recommended: the contact surfaces between the covering plate and the frame plate are also coated at least on one side with hard solder, in order to provide a fluid-tight material-fit connection here as well. However, in principle, a sufficient sealing and fixing can also be achieved by a material-fit connection between the outer periphery of the threaded bushing and the inner periphery of the corresponding through-openings in the cover plate and the frame plate.

As such an element with a minimal support surface with respect to its longitudinal and lateral extension, the longitudinal webs can cause assembly problems when being inserted into the base box. In a further development of the method according to the invention, it is therefore provided that the longitudinal webs, when inserted into the base box, engage with longitudinal projections at their ends into corresponding receiving slots in the lateral sides of the base box. It goes without saying that, in the heated range, a fluid-tight material-fit connection must also be produced at the contact surfaces, and a corresponding hard-soldering coating must be provided.

In the embodiment with the reinforcing profile explained above, provision is preferably made for the reinforcing profile to be placed on the base of the base box in each of the longitudinal chambers before the covering plate is placed on the edge of the base box, and for the covering plate to be additionally placed on the upper edge of the reinforcing profile when the covering plate is placed, wherein the contact surfaces between the reinforcing profile and the base of the base box on the one hand and the reinforcing profile and the covering plate on the other hand are coated at least (and preferably) on one side with hard solder. The function and advantages of the produced material-fit connection have already been explained above in the description of the reinforcing profile.

Drawings

Further details and advantages of the invention emerge from the following description and the drawings. In the drawings:

figure 1 shows a perspective view of three power modules of a motor vehicle cooled by means of a cooling assembly according to the invention,

figure 2 shows the assembly of figure 1 in an exploded view,

figure 3 shows a perspective view of the lower region of the assembly of figures 1 and 2,

figure 4 shows a perspective view of the upper region of the assembly of figures 1 and 2 in an orientation turned 180,

figure 5 shows the assembly of figure 3 in an exploded view,

FIG. 6 illustrates the assembly of FIG. 3 in a cross-section taken along section line VI-VI, an

Fig. 7 shows the assembly of fig. 3 in a section along section line VII-VII.

Detailed Description

The same reference numbers in the drawings identify the same or similar elements.

Fig. 1 to 7 show, in various views and in various stages of construction, an exemplary embodiment of an assembly of three electronic power modules of a motor vehicle drive to be cooled and a cooling assembly according to the invention.

Fig. 1 shows a general assembly, the construction of which can be explained more easily by means of an exploded and sectional view of the remaining figures. The illustrated embodiments should therefore be described with common reference to all of the figures. Reference to individual figures means particularly good visibility to the details just discussed in the figures in particular.

The illustrated assembly includes a base box 10. The base box is trough-shaped and has a trough bottom or base box bottom 101 and a trough edge or base box edge 102. Two openings, namely an inlet opening 103 and an outlet opening 104, are arranged in the basin bottom 101. The openings 103,104 are adjacent to the narrow sides of the substantially rectangularly shaped chassis box 10. The basin formed by the base box 10 is completely penetrated in its longitudinal direction by a longitudinal web 12 which divides the basin into two longitudinal chambers, namely an inlet longitudinal chamber 14 and an outlet longitudinal chamber 16. The inlet opening 103 opens into the inlet longitudinal chamber 14. The outlet opening 104 opens into the outlet longitudinal chamber 16. The longitudinal projections 121 at the two ends of the longitudinal webs 12 engage in corresponding receiving slots 105 in the narrow sides of the bowl rim 102, so that the longitudinal webs 12 can be inserted into the base box 10 in a temporarily stable manner even without further fixing. The lower edge of the longitudinal web 12 stands on the bottom 101 of the basin over its entire length. The upper edge of the longitudinal web extends horizontally in the same manner as the upper edge of the basin edge 102.

Furthermore, two U-shaped reinforcing profiles 18 are arranged on the trough bottom 101, the upper edges of which also extend horizontally in the same manner as the trough edge 102 or the upper edges of the longitudinal webs 12. The reinforcing section bar 18 has a recess 183 on the bottom side, which will be discussed in more detail below.

At the upper edge of the trough edge 102 and at the upper edges of the longitudinal webs 12 and of the reinforcing profiles 18, there is a covering sheet 20, which consists of a thin-walled metal sheet. In the cover plate 20, there are arranged a plurality of pairs of longitudinal slots in three positions (which in the completely assembled assembly correspond to the cooling position, i.e. the position of the power module 22 to be cooled), of which one longitudinal slot, i.e. the inlet opening 201, opens into the inlet chamber 14 in the completely assembled state, and of which the other longitudinal slot, i.e. the outlet opening 202, opens into the outlet chamber 16 in the completely assembled state. Between each two pairs 201/202 of flow openings and between the end pairs 201/202 of flow openings and the narrow sides of the covering plate 20, pairs of circular through-openings 203 are arranged, the function of which will be discussed in more detail below.

On the cover plate 20, a frame plate 22 is arranged, which has three frame openings 221 corresponding to the cooling positions, which in the completely assembled state, as can be seen in particular in fig. 2 and 3, each surround a pair of flow openings 201,202, i.e. in this case completely surround a pair of flow openings. Furthermore, the frame plate 22 has circular through-openings 223 which spatially correspond to the circular through-openings 203 of the covering plate 20 and the through-openings 183 in the reinforcing profile 18.

Rod-shaped spacer plates 24, the significance of which is discussed in more detail below, are present on the frame plates 22 between the circular through-openings 223, respectively.

Finally, a threaded bushing 26, i.e. a cylindrical sleeve with an axial thread-through recess in this case, is provided, which, as can be seen in particular in the sectional view of fig. 7, engages in a circular through opening 203,223, passes through the through opening 183 of the reinforcing profile 18 and rests on the pot bottom 101. The upper edge of the threaded bushing is aligned with the upper side of the spacer plate 24.

As can be seen in particular in fig. 2 and 6, an elastic sealing ring is inserted into the frame opening 221, the height of which in the uncompressed state is slightly greater than the thickness of the frame sheet material 22 and which rests over the entire surface at the edge of the respectively associated frame opening 221.

In particular, the sealing ring 28, which is clearly visible in fig. 2 and 6, is inserted into the frame opening 221, said sealing ring resting on the entire surface at the edge of the respectively associated frame opening 221. The sealing ring 28 is preferably made of an elastic material and is slightly higher in its height (in the unloaded state) than the height of the frame plate 221.

A contact plate 30, which can be seen particularly clearly in fig. 4 and 6, is arranged on the frame sheet 22 in such a way as to cover the frame opening 221. The underside of the contact plate 30 facing the frame opening 221 is reinforced with a labyrinth-like cooling structure 301. The electronic component 32 to be cooled is fixed, in particular soldered or sintered, on the upper side of the cooling structure under thermal contact.

As can be seen in particular in fig. 1 and 2, the contact plate 30 together with the electronic component 32 is fixed via a clamping element 34, which is screwed onto the spacer plate 24 by means of a threaded fastener 36, wherein the threaded fastener 36 is screwed into the threaded bushing 26. The clamping elements 34 project laterally beyond the spacer sheet 24 and at the same time overlap the contact plate 30, so that a force-fitting press connection is produced between the underside of the contact plate 30 and the frame sheet 22 when the threaded fastener 36 is tightened. Here, the sealing ring 28 is also compressed vertically, so that a fluid-tight sealing structure results.

The preferred manufacturing method for the above described assembly is discussed below.

The contact plate 30 is provided with electronic components 32, for example by means of a soldering or sintering process. The connection must ensure good thermal contact and stable mechanical fixation. But the details are not the technical solution of the present invention. Likewise, the particular profile of the cooling structure 301 on the underside of the contact plate 30 is not currently important.

The cooling assembly according to fig. 3 (without the contact plate 30) is manufactured independently of the provision of the contact plate 30 and the electronic component 301. This is achieved firstly by a purely superimposed layer of the individual elements, as is shown in the exploded view of fig. 5. It is to be noted here that a specific contact surface (preferably on one side) between the individual elements is provided with a braze coating. Particularly preferably, the following surfaces are provided with the braze cladding: the upper surface of the base box 10, i.e. in particular the upper surface of the bowl floor 101 and the inner and upper edges of the bowl rim 102, the inner wall section comprising the receiving slot 105, the upper edge of the longitudinal web 12 and the reinforcing profile 18, and the upper side of the covering panel 20, the inner edge comprising the circular through-opening 203.

As shown in fig. 5, the longitudinal webs 12 are inserted into the basin of the base box 10, wherein in particular the longitudinal projections 121 thereof hang into the receiving slots 105. As shown in fig. 5, the reinforcing profile 18 is also inserted into the basin of the base box 10. The covering and frame plates are then placed so that their circular through openings 203,223 and the recesses 183 of the reinforcing profiles 18 are aligned with one another. The threaded bushing 26 is then inserted, so that it passes through the circular through-opening 223,203 and the recess 183 of the reinforcing profile 18, stands on the bottom 101 of the basin, below, and projects above beyond the frame plate 22. Then, a spacer plate 24 is inserted between each of the two threaded bushings, the shape of the spacer plate, which is slotted at both ends and bears against the threaded bushings 26, ensuring the transverse fixing.

The overall assembly is then clamped in the vertical direction, which can be achieved by pressing two jaws, not shown in the figures, which act on the spacer plate 24 from above on the one hand (and on the threaded bushing 26 flush with the spacer plate) and on the other hand from below against the basin bottom 101. The contact surface of the trough bottom 101/the lower edge of the threaded bushing 26, the trough bottom 101/the underside of the reinforcing profile 18, the trough bottom 101/the lower edge of the longitudinal webs 12, the upper edge of the trough edge 102/the underside of the cover plate 20, the upper edge of the reinforcing profile 18/the underside of the cover plate 20, the upper edge of the longitudinal webs 12/the underside of the cover plate 20, the upper side of the cover plate 20/the underside of the frame plate 22 and the upper side of the spacer plate 24/the frame plate 22 are subjected to a compressive force by this clamping. Furthermore, each of these contact surfaces is hard-coated at least on one side. However, additional hard-coated contact surfaces which are not exposed to compressive forces during clamping are present between the outer circumference of the threaded bushing 26 and the inner edge of the circular through-opening 203 in the cover plate and/or

frame plate

20 or 22 and between the lateral edges of the longitudinal webs 12 and the inner wall of the pot edge 102.

In this state, the entire assembly is heated to above the melting temperature of the braze cladding, so that a fluid-tight material-fit connection is obtained at the mentioned contact surfaces.

The device according to fig. 3 is produced from individual elements which are connected to one another in a non-releasable manner.

The sealing ring 28 is then inserted into the frame opening 221, the contact plate 30 is placed in a fluid-tight manner covering the frame opening 221, and is finally fastened in an exchangeable manner by means of the screwed-on clamping element 34.

Of course, the embodiments discussed in the specific description and shown in the figures constitute only illustrative examples of the invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art, with the benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate numerous modifications possible. In particular, the covering sheet and the frame sheet can also be formed in one piece, wherein it is conceivable for the combined element to be formed as a deep-drawn component and to have a pot-shaped recess in the cooling position, which forms the cooling space and through which the flow openings pass at its bottom and/or its sides.

List of reference numerals

10 base box

101 basin/base box bottom

102 basin/base box edge

103 into the opening

104 discharge opening

105 accommodating slit

12 longitudinal tab

12112 longitudinal projection

14 into the chamber

16 discharge chamber

18 reinforced section bar

18318 through opening

20 covering plate

201 inflow opening

202 outflow opening

20320 circular through opening

22 frame plate

221 frame opening

22322 circular through openings

24-space plate

26 screw thread bush

28 sealing ring

30 contact plate

301 cooling structure

32 electronic component

34 clamping part

36-thread fastener

Claims

1. Cooling assembly for an electronic component (32) of a motor vehicle, the cooling assembly comprising:

-a base box (10) with an inlet opening (103) and an outlet opening (104), which is divided into two fluidly separated longitudinal chambers (14,16) each extending over a substantial part of the base box length, i.e. into an inlet longitudinal chamber (14) and an outlet longitudinal chamber (16), wherein the inlet opening (103) is arranged in the inlet longitudinal chamber (14) and the outlet opening (104) is arranged in the outlet longitudinal chamber (16);

-a cover sheet (20) secured fluid-tightly to the edge (102) of the basin, with at least one inflow opening (201) in fluid contact with the inlet longitudinal chamber (14) and at least one outflow opening (202) in fluid contact with the outlet longitudinal chamber (16);

-a frame panel (22) which is connected fluid-tightly to the cover panel (20), said frame panel being penetrated by at least one frame opening (221) which encloses at least one flow opening pair (201/202) consisting of an inflow opening (201) and an outflow opening (202) of the cover panel (20); and

-a contact plate (30) covering at least one frame opening (221) and fixed in a fluid-tight manner on the frame plate (22), at least one electronic component (32) to be cooled being fixed or fixable in a thermally conductive contact on an upper side of the contact plate facing away from the frame opening (221),

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the base box (10) is designed as a trough formed from sheet metal and having a longitudinal web (12) embedded in a fluid-tight manner and being joined to one another by means of a material connection, by means of which the trough is divided into the inlet longitudinal chamber (14) and the outlet longitudinal chamber (16).

2. The cooling assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the frame plate (22) and the cover plate (20) are penetrated by a threaded bushing (26) which is connected in a material-tight manner over the entire area of the cover plate (20) and/or the frame plate (22).

3. The cooling assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that the threaded bushing (26) extends up to the bottom of the base box (10).

4. A cooling assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that the threaded bushing (26) is connected with a fluid-tight material fit with the bottom of the base box (10).

5. A cooling assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that the threaded bushings (26) each have one threaded hole which is open at both ends.

6. A cooling assembly according to any one of claims 2-5, characterized in that the threaded bushings (26) are arranged in pairs laterally of each frame opening (221) and extend beyond the frame plate (22), wherein a spacer plate (24) fixed to the frame plate (22) extends between the threaded bushings (26) of each pair of threaded bushings, which spacer plate ends flush with the upper edge of the threaded bushings (26).

7. A cooling assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a reinforcing section bar (18) is fixed at the bottom (101) of the base box.

8. The cooling assembly according to claim 7 and any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that a void corresponding to the threaded bushing (26) passes in the reinforcing section bar (18).

9. The cooling assembly of any preceding claim wherein the cover sheet and the frame sheet are constructed in one piece.

10. The cooling assembly according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the cover sheet (20) and the frame sheet (22) are constructed as separate sheets, in particular as mutually brazed sheets.

11. A cooling assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that in each frame opening (221) there is arranged an elastic sealing ring (28) which bears over the entire surface at the edge of the frame opening, is clamped between the cover plate (20) on the one hand and the contact plate (30) on the other hand and surrounds the associated pair of flow openings (201/202).

12. The cooling assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact plate (30) is fixed force-fittingly on the frame plate (22) by means of one or more clamping pieces (34) held by threaded fasteners (36) screwed into the threaded bushings (26).

13. A method for manufacturing a cooling device, the method comprising the steps of:

-providing a base box (10) with an inlet opening (103) and an outlet opening (104), the base box being configured as a tub modified from sheet material;

-embedding a longitudinal tab (12) into the base box (10) such that it divides the basin into an inlet longitudinal chamber (14) in which the inlet opening (103) is arranged and an outlet longitudinal chamber (16) in which the outlet opening (104) is arranged;

-placing a covering sheet (20) and a frame sheet (22) arranged thereon onto the edge (102) of the basin and onto the upper edge of a longitudinal web (12) standing with its lower edge on the bottom (101) of the base box (10);

-inserting a threaded bushing (26) in the corresponding through openings (203, 323) of the cover sheet (20) and the frame sheet (22), so that the threaded bushing stands with its lower end on the bottom (101) of the base box (10);

clamping the above-mentioned elements (10,12,20,22,26) so that they form a group of elements (10,12,20,22,26) which are connected in a force-fitting manner,

-heating the set up above the melting temperature of the hard solder, the contact surface between the bottom (103) of the base box (10) and the threaded bushing (26), the contact surface between the bottom (103) of the base box (10) and the longitudinal tab (12), the contact surface between the edge (101) of the tub and the cover sheet (20), the contact surface between the threaded bushing (26) and the inner peripheral edge of the corresponding through opening (203,223) of the cover sheet (20) and/or the frame sheet (22), the contact surface between the longitudinal tab (12) and the cover sheet (20) and the contact surface between the longitudinal tab (12) and the edge (103) of the tub being coated at least on one side with the hard solder.

14. Method according to claim 13, characterized in that the longitudinal tabs (12) when inserted into the base box (10) are inserted with longitudinal projections (121) at their ends into corresponding receiving slots (105) in the lateral sides of the edge (102) of the base box (10).

15. Method according to one of claims 13 to 14, characterized in that a reinforcing profile (18) is placed on the bottom (101) of the base box (10) in each of the longitudinal chambers (14,16) before the cover plate (20) is placed on the edge (102) of the base box (10) and in that the cover plate (20) is additionally placed on the upper edge of the reinforcing profile (18) when the cover plate (20) is placed, wherein the contact surfaces between the reinforcing profile (18) and the bottom (102) of the base box (10) on the one hand and between the reinforcing profile (18) and the cover plate (20) on the other hand are coated with hard solder at least on one side.