JP2007200915A - Cooling fin and cooling device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cooling fin with which a cooling device can be miniaturized while deterioration of cooling performance is suppressed. <P>SOLUTION: An opening end side of a cooing fin 242 of a side is formed where an outlet 260 of cooling liquid arranged below a cooling fin 242 is cut and an opening end face 248. The outlet 260 is disposed in a position close to a cooling fin 242-side in accordance with a range which is cut. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a cooling fin and a cooling device used in a cooling device for a heating element, and more particularly to a cooling fin and a cooling device used in a cooling device for an electronic component.

  In recent years, the performance of electronic components such as thyristors and power transistors has been remarkably improved, and the amount of heat generated from the electronic components (heating elements) has increased correspondingly. On the other hand, for example, in an electric vehicle equipped with an induction motor and a direct current battery (this electric vehicle includes a hybrid vehicle and a fuel cell vehicle), power is converted by an inverter to supply electric power from the direct current battery to the induction motor. ing. As the rated output of the motor increases, the amount of heat generated by electronic components such as inverters also increases, and sufficient cooling measures are required.

  In vehicles, in particular, electronic components are required to be smaller and thinner, and cooling is required to quickly release large amounts of generated heat to the outside in order to maintain stable operation even under such requirements. Devices are becoming important. The following publications disclose cooling fins used in such an electronic component cooling apparatus.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-349324 (Patent Document 1) discloses a cooling fin that has a power semiconductor element, achieves a further high heat transfer coefficient of a direct water-cooled power semiconductor module structure that achieves low thermal resistance, and enhances a cooling effect. The technology is disclosed.

  The direct water-cooled power semiconductor module structure disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a power semiconductor element that switches at least current, and has a stripe-shaped cooling fin on the opposite surface of the power semiconductor element mounting surface. In the structure, the corner of the cross section substantially perpendicular to the fin longitudinal direction of the cooling fin has a chamfered portion. The shape of the cross-section substantially perpendicular to the fin longitudinal direction of the cooling fin is a trapezoid in which the width of the fin tip is smaller than the width of the fin base.

  According to the invention disclosed in Patent Document 1, a chamfered portion is provided at each corner having a cross section perpendicular to the fin longitudinal direction of the cooling fin. Thereby, it is difficult for the cooling water to collect in each corner, and the boundary layer is thinned to promote heat transfer. Furthermore, the shape of the cross section substantially perpendicular to the fin longitudinal direction is a trapezoid having a wide fin base and narrowing toward the tip. Thereby, the flow rate of the cooling water can be increased at the base of the fins that further contribute to heat transfer. In addition, since the cross-sectional area between the fins serving as cooling channels can be made the same as when the fin cross section is rectangular, an increase in average flow velocity, which is a main factor of pressure loss, can be suppressed. As a result, it is possible to achieve a further high heat transfer rate of the direct water-cooled power semiconductor module structure that has a power semiconductor element and achieves a low thermal resistance, thereby enhancing the cooling effect.

  Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-8264 (Patent Document 2) discloses a technique regarding a cooling fin that maintains the cooling performance as desired by suppressing the pressure loss of the cooling fluid even if the semiconductor device is downsized.

  The cooling device for an electronic component disclosed in Patent Document 2 includes a plurality of heat radiating members (cooling fins) extending in a direction away from the electronic component, and a cooling fluid passes between the heat radiating members. Thus, in the electronic component cooling apparatus that cools the electronic component, the length of the plurality of heat radiating members is formed to be shorter as the heat conduction temperature due to heat generation of the electronic component becomes lower.

According to the invention disclosed in Patent Document 2, the length of the plurality of heat dissipating members is shortened as the heat conduction temperature due to heat generation of the electronic component is lowered, so that the cooling fluid flows between the heat dissipating members. Pressure loss can be reduced. As a result, the flow velocity of the cooling fluid can be increased to reduce the thermal resistance between the cooling fluid and the heat radiating member, and the cooling performance can be maintained as desired even if the electronic component is downsized.
JP 2004-349324 A JP 2003-8264 A

  By the way, in a vehicle such as an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle, if the electronic device cooling device is large, a problem in mounting space may occur. For this reason, downsizing of the cooling device for electronic components is required as in the case of electronic components.

  However, the direct water-cooled power semiconductor module structure disclosed in Patent Document 1 does not disclose any cooling fins for enabling the power semiconductor cooling device to be miniaturized.

  In the electronic component cooling device disclosed in Patent Document 2, the cooling device can be reduced in size. For example, when a cooling fluid supply port and a discharge port exist below the heat radiating member, cooling is performed. It is conceivable that air (bubbles) that has entered during replenishment or replacement of the working fluid rises from the supply port and the discharge port and accumulates between the heat radiating members, thereby deteriorating the cooling performance.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a cooling fin that can reduce the size of a cooling device while suppressing deterioration of cooling performance.

The cooling fin according to the first aspect of the present invention is a flat plate in which a surface having the largest area is joined to a housing containing a heating element so that the surface having the largest area is substantially horizontal, and an end on a side different from the joined side is opened. It is a cooling fin. Below the cooling fin, an opening of either a refrigerant supply port or a discharge port is provided,
The cooling fin is notched at a part of the open end on the opening side.

  According to the first invention, the cooling fin is joined to the housing containing the heating element so that the surface having the largest area is substantially horizontal and the end on the side different from the joined side is opened. It is a cooling fin. Below the cooling fin, an opening of either a refrigerant supply port or a discharge port is provided. In such a case, for example, the air that has entered the refrigerant passage or the like when the refrigerant is replaced rises from the opening, and enters and accumulates in the lower part of the cooling fin joined so that the surface having the largest area becomes substantially horizontal. End up. If air accumulates in the lower part of the cooling fin, the refrigerant cannot absorb the heat of the cooling fin, and the cooling performance deteriorates. Therefore, a part of the open end portion on the opening side of the cooling fin is cut away. Thereby, the area of the substantially horizontal surface on the opening side becomes smaller than in the case where a part of the open end on the opening side is not cut out, and it is difficult for air to enter the lower portion of the cooling fin. Furthermore, even if the opening is brought closer to the cooling fin side, the air rises through the notched portion of the open end on the opening side, so that accumulation of air is suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the size of the cooling device by suppressing the deterioration of the cooling performance due to the accumulation of air in the lower portion of the cooling fin and bringing the opening closer to the cooling fin side. At this time, the junction between the casing and the end face of the flat plate, which is close to the casing containing the heating element and has a high thermal conductivity, is not cut away. Therefore, even if the surface area of the cooling fin is reduced by cutting out a part of the end of the cooling fin, the influence on the cooling performance is small. As a result, it is possible to provide a cooling fin that enables downsizing of the cooling device while suppressing deterioration of the cooling performance.

  In the cooling fin according to the second invention, in addition to the configuration of the first invention, the notched end portion does not intersect with a vertical line extending vertically upward from the opening.

  According to 2nd invention, it does not cross | intersect the perpendicular line extended vertically upwards from the opening part. Therefore, the air rising from the opening rises through the notched portion of the open end on the opening side. Thereby, since the accumulation of the air to the lower part of a cooling fin is suppressed, the deterioration of cooling performance can be suppressed.

  In the cooling fin according to the third aspect of the invention, in addition to the configuration of the first or second aspect, the notched end portion is formed vertically when the casing is inclined by a predetermined angle. Do not intersect with the vertical line that extends upward.

  According to the third invention, the notched end portion does not intersect with a vertical line extending vertically upward from the opening when the casing is inclined by a predetermined angle. Therefore, even when the housing is inclined by a predetermined angle, the air rising from the opening rises through the notched portion of the open end on the opening side. Thereby, since the accumulation of the air to the lower part of a cooling fin is suppressed, the deterioration of cooling performance can be suppressed.

  In the cooling fin according to the fourth invention, in addition to the configuration of the third invention, the heating element is an electronic component mounted on the vehicle, and the predetermined angle is a maximum inclination angle allowed for the vehicle. Is an angle based on

  According to the fourth invention, the heating element is an electronic component mounted on the vehicle. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the size of the cooling device for an electronic component cooling device mounted on a vehicle that needs to be downsized due to a problem in mounting space. Further, the predetermined angle is an angle based on the maximum inclination angle allowed for the vehicle. As a result, even when the cooling device is tilted by an angle based on the maximum tilt angle allowed for the vehicle on which the electronic component is mounted, the accumulation of air in the lower portion of the cooling fin is suppressed, so that the cooling performance Can be further suppressed.

  In the cooling fin which concerns on 5th invention, in addition to the structure of any one of the 1st-4th invention, when the distance from the joined side becomes large, the notched edge part will be open | released edge part It is the shape greatly notched by the direction along.

  According to the fifth aspect of the invention, the notched end portion has a shape that is largely notched in the direction along the opened end portion as the distance from the joined side increases. For this reason, even when the air approaches the cooling fin and rises, the air rises through a portion that is largely cut out in the direction along the opened end. Thereby, the accumulation of air in the lower portion of the cooling fin is more easily suppressed.

  A cooling device according to a sixth aspect of the invention includes the cooling fin according to any one of the first to fifth aspects. As a result, it is possible to provide a cooling device that can be downsized while suppressing deterioration in cooling performance.

  A cooling device according to a seventh invention includes a plurality of cooling fins, and at least one of the plurality of cooling fins is a cooling fin according to any one of the first to fifth inventions.

  According to the seventh invention, at least one of the plurality of cooling fins is a cooling fin according to the configuration of the first to fifth inventions. Therefore, for example, by making only the cooling fin that is likely to accumulate air closest to the opening among the plurality of cooling fins into the cooling fin according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, Is suppressed. Thus, by cutting out only the open end portion of the cooling fin where air may accumulate, the cooling device can be reduced in size while suppressing deterioration in cooling performance. Furthermore, the deterioration of the cooling performance due to the reduction in the surface area of the cooling fins can be suppressed. Furthermore, it is possible to reduce the cost of providing a notch shape for the cooling fins that do not cause air to accumulate.

  A cooling device according to an eighth aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of cooling fins, and at least one of the plurality of cooling fins is a cooling fin according to any one of the first to fifth aspects of the invention. And it is provided so that it may approach an opening part rather than another cooling fin.

  According to the eighth invention, at least one of the plurality of cooling fins is a cooling fin according to the configuration of the first to fifth inventions. Therefore, for example, only the cooling fins that are likely to accumulate air closest to the opening among the plurality of cooling fins are used as the cooling fins according to any of the first to fourth aspects of the invention, so Is suppressed. Thus, by cutting out only the open end portion of the cooling fin where air may accumulate, the cooling device can be reduced in size while suppressing deterioration in cooling performance. Furthermore, the deterioration of the cooling performance due to the reduction in the surface area of the cooling fins can be suppressed. Furthermore, it is possible to reduce the cost of providing a notch shape for the cooling fins that do not cause air to accumulate. The cooling fins according to the configurations of the first to fifth inventions are provided so as to be closer to the opening than the other cooling fins. Thereby, the turbulent flow of the cooling liquid between the cooling fin and the opening is suppressed. Therefore, it can suppress that the flow of a cooling fluid is disturb | confused and the efficiency of heat transfer deteriorates.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated. In the present embodiment, a cooling fin used in a PCU (Power Control Unit) cooling device that is a power control unit that supplies power to an electric motor in a hybrid vehicle will be described. Vehicles to which this PCU cooling device can be applied are not limited to hybrid vehicles. For example, the PCU cooling device can be applied to an electric vehicle and a fuel cell vehicle that are also equipped with the PCU. Moreover, the cooling fin in this Embodiment is not limited to the cooling fin used for the cooling device of PCU.

<First Embodiment>
With reference to FIG. 1, a configuration of a vehicle on which a PCU cooling device 700 using cooling fins according to the present embodiment is mounted will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an engine room, a PCU 200, and a front transaxle 300 are provided in an engine room covered with a hood 400 of a vehicle 500.

  The output shaft of engine 100 is connected to the input shaft of front transaxle 300. Inside the front transaxle 300, a vehicle driving motor (not shown) is provided. The motor is driven based on electric power supplied via a PCU 200 from a battery (not shown). A power split mechanism (not shown) is provided inside the front transaxle 300. Thereby, the driving force of the engine and the driving force of the motor are switched, and the motor assists the driving force of the engine 100, or the driving force is generated only by the motor.

  The output shaft of the front transaxle 300 is connected to the tire 150 via a drive shaft (not shown). The vehicle 500 travels by the driving force transmitted from the front transaxle 300 to the tire 150.

  The PCU 200 includes electrical devices such as a boost converter that converts a voltage supplied from a battery into a high voltage, and an inverter unit that converts a high-voltage direct current into an alternating current for driving a motor. The PCU 200 is cooled with a coolant in order to suppress the temperature rise of these electric devices. A reserve tank 600 for storing a coolant is provided at the upper part of the PCU 200.

  With reference to FIG. 2, PCU cooling apparatus 700 according to the present embodiment will be described. The PCU cooling device 700 is mounted avoiding the region 410 in the engine room within a certain distance from the hood 400 from the viewpoint of pedestrian protection. The installation position of the PCU cooling device 700 is not limited to this. In FIG. 2, the left side of the page is the front of the vehicle, but the direction of the front of the vehicle is not limited to this.

  Around the PCU cooling device 700, many components such as the engine 100, the motor, and the PCU 200 are mounted. Due to the relationship with such peripheral components, the PCU cooling device 700 is provided with the coolant outlet 260 on the lower surface of the PCU cooling device 700. Note that as long as at least one of the coolant supply port 250 and the discharge port 260 is provided on the lower surface of the PCU cooling device 700, the position where the supply port 250 and the discharge port 260 are provided is not limited thereto.

  With reference to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, PCU cooling apparatus 700 and cooling fin portion 242 according to the present embodiment will be described. In FIG. 3, the left side of the page is the front of the vehicle, but the direction of the front of the vehicle is not limited to this. Further, it is sufficient that at least one of the coolant supply port 250 and the discharge port 260 is provided on the lower surface of the PCU cooling device 700, and the position where the supply port 250 and the discharge port 260 are provided is not limited thereto. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 in FIG.

  The PCU cooling device 700 includes a PCU 200, a reserve tank 600, and circulation hoses 710 and 720.

  The PCU 200 includes, for example, an IPM (Intelligent Power Module) 210 including six electronic components 212 that generate heat, a capacitor 220 that buffers electric charges from the battery, and a PCU case 230 that houses these.

  The reserve tank 600 is installed in the upper part of the PCU case 230, and one end of a replenishment path 270 for replenishing the inside of the PCU 200 with the coolant in the reserve tank 600 is connected to the lower surface of the reserve tank 600. A coolant 602 is stored in the reserve tank 600, and an upper portion thereof serves as an air portion 604.

  The circulation hose 710 is a hose for supplying circulating coolant to the inside of the heat sink part 240. The circulation hose 720 is a hose for discharging the coolant flowing inside the heat sink part 240 to the outside of the heat sink part 240.

  The PCU case 230 is an aluminum case for housing the IPM 210 and the capacitor 220. The PCU case 230 also functions as a component of the cooling device for the PCU 200. That is, the PCU case 230 includes a cooling fin portion 242 that improves the efficiency of heat exchange, a coolant supply port 250, a coolant discharge port 260, and a replenishment path 270. The PCU case 230 and the coolant cover 280 installed outside the PCU case 230 form a heat sink portion 240 that is a coolant passage.

  The cooling fin portion 242 is formed by processing a part of the back surface of the side wall of the PCU case 230 in which the IPM 210 is accommodated into a flat plate shape. The cooling fin portion 242 is bonded so that the direction along the opened end of the cooling fin portion 242 is the longitudinal direction and the surface having the largest area is substantially horizontal. The cooling fin portion 242 is formed with five pieces at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction with the end portion on the side different from the side joined to the side wall of the PCU case 230 being opened. The number of cooling fins is not limited to five.

  The supply port 250 is an opening provided on the side surface of the PCU case 230 located in the longitudinal direction of the cooling fin portion 242. Cooling water entering from the circulation hose 710 is supplied to the inside of the heat sink part 240 through the supply port 250. The position where the supply port 250 is provided is not limited to the side surface of the heat sink unit 240. For example, the supply port 250 may be provided on the side surface of the reserve tank 600 so that the coolant is supplied into the heat sink part 240 via the reserve tank 600 and the replenishment path 270.

  The discharge port 260 is provided on the lower surface of the heat sink part 240. The coolant that has absorbed the heat of the cooling fin portion 242 is discharged to the circulation hose 720 through the discharge port 260.

  The replenishment path 270 is a path for supplying the coolant from the reserve tank 600 into the heat sink 240 when the coolant is insufficient.

  With reference to FIG. 5 (A), the cooling fin part 242 and the discharge port 260 are demonstrated. The cooling fin portion 242 is provided at a position corresponding to the IPM 210 on the inner surface portion 236 on the back surface side of the outer surface portion 234 of the side wall 232 of the PCU case 230 with which the IPM 210 including the electronic component 212 and the heat sink 214 comes into contact. The joint portion 244 between the end surface portion 246 of the cooling fin portion 242 on the side where the discharge port 260 is provided and the side wall 232 of the PCU case 230 is provided at a position separated from the IPM 210 by a predetermined distance P.

  The open end side of the cooling fin portion 242 on the side where the discharge port 260 is provided is cut leaving a predetermined distance Q from the joint portion 244 to form an open end surface portion 248. The direction along the open end of the cooling fin portion 242 increases as the distance from the joint portion 244 increases so that the open end surface portion 248 does not intersect with a vertical line extending vertically upward from the discharge port 260 ( It is formed by being largely cut in the direction of the arrow in FIG. In addition, if the open end side of the cooling fin part 242 is cut, the open end surface part 248 is not limited to such a shape. For example, as shown in FIG. 5B, the open end surface portion 248 may intersect with a vertical line extending vertically upward from the discharge port 260. Further, as shown in FIG. 5C, a portion where the distance from the joint portion 244 is larger than the predetermined distance Q may be cut by a predetermined distance P in the longitudinal direction of the cooling fin 242. Furthermore, the open end surface portion 248 is not limited to being formed by cutting the cooling fin portion 242.

  The discharge port 260 is provided on the lower surface of the heat sink portion 240 that is outside the end surface portion 246 and the open end surface portion 248 in the longitudinal direction of the cooling fin portion 242. A part of the discharge port 260 is disposed on the lower surface of the heat sink portion 240 on the inner side in the longitudinal direction from the joint portion 244 so as to correspond to the range where the open end side of the cooling fin portion 242 is cut.

  An operation of PCU cooling apparatus 700 provided with cooling fin portion 242 according to the present embodiment based on the above structure will be described.

  When the driver causes the vehicle 500 to travel, the electronic component 212 inside the IPM 210 generates heat, and the generated heat is transmitted to the side wall 232 of the PCU case 230 via the heat sink 214. The transferred heat is transferred to the cooling fin portion 242 through the inner surface portion 236 of the side wall 232. Further, the coolant starts to circulate between the radiator (not shown) and the PCU 200 by an electric water pump (not shown) separate from the coolant of the engine 100. The coolant circulated from the circulation hose 710 flows into the heat sink 240 from the supply port 250. The heat sink part 240 is cooled by absorbing the heat of the cooling fin part 242 when the coolant flows through the heat sink part 240. As a result, the IPM 210 installed on the side wall 232 of the PCU case 230 is cooled. The coolant that has absorbed the heat flows out from the discharge port 260 provided on the lower surface of the heat sink portion 240 to the circulation hose 720 and releases heat to the outside air via the radiator.

  When the coolant is replaced, air may enter the coolant circulation path. The air that has entered the circulation path of the coolant tends to flow out of the heat sink 240 from the discharge port 260 together with the flow of the coolant. However, since air has a specific gravity lighter than that of the cooling water, the air rises from the outlet 260 so as to flow backward with respect to the flow of the cooling liquid. Since the cooling fin portion 242 has a surface having the largest area substantially horizontally, it is conceivable that the raised air enters the lower portion of the cooling fin portion 242 and accumulates. If air accumulates in the lower portion of the cooling fin portion 242, the cooling liquid cannot absorb the heat of the cooling fin portion 242, and the cooling performance deteriorates.

  The discharge port 260 is provided on the lower surface of the heat sink portion 240 that is outside the end surface portion 246 of the cooling fin 242 and the open end surface portion 248 in the longitudinal direction of the cooling fin portion 242. Therefore, when the air rises in the vertical direction, it does not enter the lower portion of the cooling fin portion 242 but rises in the replenishment path 270 and reaches the air portion 604 in the reserve tank 600.

  However, when the air rises so as to approach the cooling fin portion 242 due to the influence of the flow of the coolant, the air may enter the lower portion of the cooling fin portion 242 and accumulate. Therefore, the open end surface portion 248 of the cooling fin portion 242 on the side where the discharge port 260 is provided is largely cut in the direction along the open end portion of the cooling fin portion 242 as the distance from the joint portion 244 increases. It is formed. As a result, the air that has risen so as to approach the cooling fin portion 242 rises in a portion that is largely cut in the direction along the opened end of the cooling fin portion 242, and therefore enters the lower portion of the cooling fin portion 242. It becomes difficult and the accumulation of air is suppressed.

  Further, the discharge port 260 is disposed at a position close to the cooling fin portion 242 side in correspondence with the cut range. Even if it arrange | positions in this way, as shown to FIG. 6 (A), the distance of the horizontal direction from the peripheral edge of the discharge port 260 is so large that the open end surface part 248 of the cooling fin part 242 is large from the junction part 244. Since it is cut so as to be larger, the accumulation of air is suppressed as compared with the case where it is not cut ((B) in FIG. 6). Thereby, the PCU cooling device 700 can be reduced in size while suppressing deterioration of the cooling performance due to the accumulation of air in the lower portion of the cooling fin portion 242.

  The open end side of the cooling fin portion 242 on the side where the discharge port 260 is provided is cut leaving a predetermined distance Q from the joint portion 244. That is, the end surface portion 246 on the side close to the side wall 232 of the PCU case 230 that is close to the IPM 210 and easily transmits heat is not cut. Therefore, even if the surface area of the cooling fin portion 242 is reduced by cutting the open end side of the cooling fin portion 242, it is considered that the influence on the cooling performance is small. Thereby, the deterioration of the cooling performance by cutting the open end side of the cooling fin part 242 is also suppressed.

  As described above, according to the cooling fin according to the present embodiment, since the air rising from the discharge port rises in the cut portion of the cooling fin, it is difficult to enter the lower portion of the cooling fin, and the accumulation of air is suppressed. Is done. In addition, even if the discharge port is arranged at a position close to the cooling fin side corresponding to the cut range, the open end side of the cooling fin is cut in the direction along the open end of the cooling fin. Therefore, accumulation of air is suppressed. Thereby, a PCU cooling device can be reduced in size, suppressing deterioration of cooling performance.

<Second Embodiment>
Hereinafter, a second embodiment will be described. In the following description, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated.

  With reference to FIG. 7, PCU cooling apparatus 1700 in which the cooling fin according to the present embodiment is used will be described. In FIG. 7, the left side of the page is the front of the vehicle, but the direction of the front of the vehicle is not limited to this. In addition, as long as at least one of the coolant supply port 250 and the discharge port 1260 is provided on the lower surface of the PCU cooling device 1700, the position where the supply port 250 and the discharge port 1260 are provided is not limited thereto.

  The PCU cooling device 1700 includes a PCU 1200, a reserve tank 600, and circulation hoses 710 and 720.

  The PCU case 1230 has a first cooling fin portion 1242, a second cooling fin portion 2242, and a third cooling fin portion 3242. Three first cooling fin portions 1242, one second cooling fin portion 2242 and three third cooling fin portions 3242, one each between the first cooling fin portions 1242, of the inner surface portion 1236 of the side wall 1232 of the PCU case 1230. A part is formed by processing into a flat plate shape. In addition, the number of each cooling fin part is not limited to these.

  The first cooling fin portion 1242, the second cooling fin portion 2242, and the third cooling fin portion 3242 each have an area such that the direction along the opened end is the longitudinal direction, and the length in the longitudinal direction is different. The largest surface is joined so as to be substantially horizontal. The cooling fin portion 242 is open at an end on a side different from the side joined to the side wall of the PCU case 230. The second cooling fin portion 2242 and the third cooling fin portion 3242 are formed longer than the first cooling fin portion 1242 so as to approach the discharge port 1260 side.

  The discharge port 1260 is provided on the lower surface on the rear side of the vehicle 500 that is located on the outer side in the longitudinal direction of the third cooling fin portion 3242 and above the general lower surface of the heat sink portion 240. The position where the discharge port 1260 is provided is not limited to the lower surface on the rear side of the vehicle 500. For example, the position where the discharge port 1260 is provided may be the lower surface on the front side of the vehicle 500.

  The first cooling fin portion 1242, the second cooling fin portion 2242, the third cooling fin portion 3242 and the discharge port 1260 will be described with reference to FIGS. 8, FIG. 9, and FIG. 10 are an 8-8 sectional view, a 9-9 sectional view, and a 10-10 sectional view in FIG. 7, respectively.

  In the first cooling fin portion 1242, a joint portion 1244 between the end surface portion 1246 on the side where the discharge port 1260 is provided and the side wall 1232 of the PCU case 1230 is provided at a position at a distance L (1) in the longitudinal direction from the discharge port 1260. It is done.

  In the second cooling fin portion 2242, the joining portion 2244 between the end surface portion 2246 on the side where the discharge port 1260 is provided and the side wall 1232 of the PCU case 1230 is separated from the discharge port 1260 in the longitudinal direction L (2) (<L ( 1)). The open end side on the side where the discharge port 1260 is provided is cut leaving a predetermined distance Q from the joint portion 2244 to form an open end surface portion 2248. The open end surface portion 2248 is formed such that the distance in the horizontal direction from the periphery of the discharge port 1260 increases as the distance from the joint portion 2244 increases. Note that the shape of the open end surface portion 2248 is not limited to this. Further, the open end surface portion 2248 of the second cooling fin portion 2242 is not limited to being formed by cutting the cooling fin portion 2242.

  In the third cooling fin portion 3242, the joint portion 3244 between the end surface portion 3246 on the side where the discharge port 1260 is provided and the side wall 1232 of the PCU case 1230 is separated from the discharge port 1260 in the longitudinal direction L (3) (<L ( 2)). The open end side on the side where the discharge port 1260 is provided is cut leaving a predetermined distance Q from the joint 3244 to form an open end surface portion 3248. The open end surface portion 3248 is formed such that the distance in the horizontal direction from the periphery of the discharge port 1260 increases as the distance from the joint portion 3244 increases. Note that the shape of the open end surface portion 3248 is not limited to this. Further, the open end surface portion 3248 of the third cooling fin portion 3242 is not limited to being formed by cutting the cooling fin portion 3242.

  The longitudinal distances L (2) and L (3) from the discharge port 1260 are inclined in the clockwise direction in FIG. 7 by the maximum inclination angle A allowed in the vehicle on which the PCU cooling device 1700 is mounted in FIG. In this case, the end surface portion 2246 of the second cooling fin portion 2242 and the end surface portion 3246 of the third cooling fin portion 3242 are determined so as not to intersect with a vertical line extending vertically upward from the discharge port 1260.

  The operation of PCU cooling apparatus 1700 provided with second cooling fin portion 2242 and third cooling fin portion 3242 according to the present embodiment based on the above structure will be described.

  The second cooling fin portion 2242 and the third cooling fin portion 3242 are formed longer than the first cooling fin portion 1242 so as to approach the discharge port 1260 side. Thereby, the turbulent flow of the coolant up to the discharge port 1260 is suppressed. Therefore, it can suppress that the flow of a cooling fluid is disturb | confused and the efficiency of heat transfer deteriorates.

  By the way, the air that has entered the circulation path of the coolant when the coolant is replaced rises from the discharge port 1260 so as to flow backward to the coolant flow. When the vehicle 500 is traveling on a flat ground, the second cooling fin portion 2242 and the third cooling fin portion 3242 do not exist vertically above the discharge port 1260, so that the air is in the second cooling fin portion 2242 and the third cooling fin portion. Without going into the lower part of 3242, it rises in the replenishment path 270 and reaches the air part 604 in the reserve tank 600.

  However, in FIG. 7, when vehicle 500 travels on an uphill road (in FIG. 7, when the right side of the page is ahead of vehicle 500, vehicle 500 travels on a downhill road), PCU cooling device 1700 together with vehicle 500 includes Inclined in the clockwise direction in FIG. When the PCU cooling device 1700 is inclined by the maximum inclination angle A allowed for the vehicle 500, as shown in FIG. 7, it faces the end surface portion 2246 of the second cooling fin portion 2242 and the end surface portion 3246 of the third cooling fin portion 3242. Air rises. Since the second cooling fin portion 2242 and the third cooling fin portion 3242 are provided with the surface having the largest area substantially horizontally, air enters and accumulates below the second cooling fin portion 2242 and the third cooling fin portion 3242. It is possible. Here, even when the end surface portion 2246 of the second cooling fin portion 2242 and the end surface portion 3246 of the third cooling fin portion 3242 are inclined by the maximum inclination angle A, they are extended vertically upward from the discharge port 1260. Do not cross the vertical line. Further, the open end sides of the second cooling fin portion 2242 and the third cooling fin portion 3242 are cut so that the distance in the horizontal direction from the peripheral edge of the discharge port 1260 is increased, so that the end surfaces of the second cooling fin portion 2242 are cut. A portion 2246 and an end surface portion 3246 of the third cooling fin portion 3242 are formed.

  Thereby, it becomes difficult for air to enter the lower portions of the second cooling fin portion 2242 and the third cooling fin portion 3242, and the accumulation of air is suppressed. Furthermore, even if the discharge port 1260 is disposed at a position close to the second cooling fin portion 2242 and the third cooling fin portion 3242 so as to correspond to the cut range, the open end surface portion 2248 and the open end surface portion 3248 are not provided. Since the distance from the periphery of the discharge port 1260 increases as the distance from the joint 2244 and the joint 3244 increases, the accumulation of air is suppressed. Thus, even when the vehicle 500 is inclined by the maximum inclination angle A, the PCU cooling device 1700 can be downsized while suppressing the deterioration of the cooling performance.

  Further, the end portions of the first cooling fins 1242 where there is no possibility of air accumulation are not cut out. Thereby, the deterioration of the cooling performance by the surface area of a cooling fin becoming small can be suppressed. Further, it is possible to reduce the cost of providing a notch shape for the cooling fins that are unlikely to accumulate air.

  As mentioned above, according to the cooling fin which concerns on this Embodiment, since some cooling fins are formed long so that it may approach a discharge port, turbulent flow of a cooling fluid can be suppressed. Further, since the open end on the discharge port side of the cooling fin that is formed long so as to approach the discharge port, where air may accumulate, is cut so that the horizontal distance from the periphery of the discharge port is increased, the fin The discharge port can be brought closer to the cooling fin side while suppressing the accumulation of air in the lower part.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

1 is a perspective view of a vehicle on which a cooling device using a cooling fin according to a first embodiment is mounted. It is sectional drawing of the side surface direction of the vehicle by which the cooling device using the cooling fin which concerns on 1st Embodiment is mounted. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the component of the cooling device in which the cooling fin which concerns on 1st Embodiment is used. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the component of the cooling device in which the cooling fin which concerns on 1st Embodiment is used. It is sectional drawing of the cooling fin which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the cooling fin which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the component of the cooling device in which the cooling fin which concerns on 2nd Embodiment is used. It is sectional drawing of the cooling fin which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the cooling fin which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the cooling fin which concerns on 2nd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  100 engine, 150 tire, 200, 1200 PCU, 210 IPM, 212 electronic component, 214 heat sink, 220 capacitor, 230, 1230 PCU case, 232, 1232 side wall, 234 outer surface portion, 236, 1236 inner surface portion, 240 heat sink portion, 242 Cooling fin part, 244, 1244, 2244, 3244 Joint part, 246, 1246, 2246, 3246 End face part, 248, 2248, 3248 Open end face part, 250 Supply port, 260, 1260 Discharge port, 270 Replenishment passage, 280 Liquid cover, 300 Front transaxle, 400 Hood, 410 Engine room area, 500 vehicle, 600 reserve tank, 602 Coolant, 604 Air section, 700, 1700 PCU cooling device, 710, 72 Circulation hose.

Claims (8)

It is a flat cooling fin that is joined to a housing containing a heating element so that the surface with the largest area is substantially horizontal, and the end on the side different from the joined side is opened,
Below the cooling fin, an opening of either a refrigerant supply port or a discharge port is provided,
A cooling fin in which a part of the opened end on the opening side is cut out.   The cooling fin according to claim 1, wherein the notched end portion does not intersect with a vertical line extending vertically upward from the opening.   3. The cooling according to claim 1, wherein the notched end portion does not intersect a vertical line extending vertically upward from the opening when the housing is inclined by a predetermined angle. fin. The heating element is an electronic component mounted on a vehicle,
The cooling fin according to claim 3, wherein the predetermined angle is an angle based on a maximum inclination angle allowed for the vehicle.   5. The cutout end portion according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the cutout end portion has a shape that is greatly cutout in a direction along the open end portion when the distance from the joined side increases. Cooling fins.   The cooling device provided with the cooling fin in any one of Claims 1-5. A cooling device comprising a plurality of cooling fins,
The cooling device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of cooling fins is the cooling fin according to claim 1. A cooling device comprising a plurality of cooling fins,
At least one cooling fin of the plurality of cooling fins is the cooling fin according to any one of claims 1 to 5, and is provided closer to the opening than other cooling fins. Cooling system.

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