JP3302561B2 - Electronic module cooling system - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cooling system for cooling an electronic module such as a transmitting module, a receiving module, and a transmitting / receiving module. More particularly, the present invention relates to a cooling system formed in a housing for passing a cooling medium and a male and female wiring connector. A refrigerant circulation path for allowing the refrigerant to pass through the electronic module mounted on the housing,
The present invention relates to a cooling system for an electronic module that cools each electronic module with a refrigerant introduced from a refrigerant passage into a refrigerant circulation path.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A cooling system for an electronic module in which a plurality of electronic modules are incorporated in a single support having a refrigerant passage and a refrigerant is introduced from the refrigerant passage for each electronic module is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-146800. Is disclosed. In this conventional cooling system, a coupler for introducing refrigerant and a coupler for discharging refrigerant are provided for each electronic module in a refrigerant circulation path, and at the same time as coupling of the male and female connectors, these couplers are provided on the housing side. Joined.

[0003]

In the above-mentioned conventional cooling system, since a coupler for introducing refrigerant and a coupler for discharging refrigerant are provided for each electronic module, it is necessary to individually mount each electronic module on a support. was there. As a result, the work of mounting the electronic modules on the support one by one was troublesome.

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a cooling system for an electronic module in which a plurality of electronic modules can be easily mounted on a housing.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a refrigerant passage formed in a housing through which a refrigerant passes, and a plurality of electronic circuits mounted on the housing through male and female wiring connectors. A cooling circuit for allowing the refrigerant to pass through the module, and a cooling system for an electronic module that cools each electronic module by a refrigerant introduced from the cooling medium path into the cooling medium circulation path. The plurality of electronic modules are fixed and integrated with each other by using the housing.
A cooling system for an electronic module, wherein the cooling system constitutes a connector unit to be mounted on the electronic module.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the features of the first aspect, the housing is provided with at least one pair of first refrigerant couplers communicating with the refrigerant passage, and the connecting member is provided with the refrigerant circulation. A second refrigerant coupler is provided which is connected to the first refrigerant coupler and is connected to the road, and the first and second refrigerant couplers are positioned by coupling the male and female wiring connectors.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the features of the first aspect, the housing is provided with at least one pair of first refrigerant couplers communicating with the refrigerant passage, and the connecting member is provided with the refrigerant circulation. A second refrigerant coupler is provided which is connected to the first refrigerant coupler and is connected to the road, and the male and female wiring connectors are positioned by coupling the first and second refrigerant couplers.

Further, a fourth invention provides the second or third invention.
In addition to the features of the present invention, at least one of the male and female wiring connectors is provided with a position error absorbing means for absorbing a positional shift between the male and female wiring connectors when the first and second refrigerant couplers are coupled. It is characterized by.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the features of any of the second to fourth aspects, the housing is provided with guide means for guiding the mounting of the connecting unit. It is characterized in that the connection of the male and female wiring connectors and the connection of the first and second refrigerant couplers are supported.

[0010]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 schematically shows a configuration of a cooling system for an electronic module according to a first embodiment of the present invention. A plurality (two in this case) of electronic modules 10
Is mounted on the housing 11. The connector wall 11a of the housing 11 is provided with two wiring connectors 12 of either male or female, and a cooling pipe 13 extending from both sides of the wiring connectors 12 and serving as a refrigerant passage through which the refrigerant passes. Cooling pipe 13
Is connected to a refrigerant system path (not shown) to which a pump (not shown), a heat exchanger (not shown), and a refrigerant tank (not shown) are connected. A first refrigerant coupler 14 is provided at an end of each cooling pipe 13.

The connector unit UN is constructed by integrating two electronic modules 10 using a connection fitting 15 as a connection member. The electronic module 10 is provided with one of male and female wiring connectors 16 that can be simultaneously connected with the wiring connector 12 on the housing 11 side. 2
The electronic module 10 has a wiring connector 12 on the electronic module 10 side and a wiring connector 12 on the housing 11 side.
Are arranged between the two cooling pipes 13. The electronic module 10 may be, for example, any of a transmission module, a reception module, and a transmission / reception module.

The connecting bracket 15 is provided with two electronic modules 1
The two are joined so as to sandwich 0. As shown in FIG. 2, the connection fitting 15 is configured to extend through the electronic module 10.
It is fixed to each other by a pair of long bolts 30. Inside the connection fitting 15, a refrigerant circulation path 32 that allows the refrigerant to pass through the two electronic modules 10 in cooperation with the plurality of refrigerant circulation paths 31 formed in the electronic module 10 is formed. Each refrigerant circulation path 32 is provided with a second refrigerant coupler 18. When these second refrigerant couplers 18 are coupled to the first refrigerant coupler 14 on the housing 11 side, the first refrigerant coupler 14, one second refrigerant coupler 18, one Through the refrigerant circulation path 32, the refrigerant circulation path 31, the other refrigerant circulation path 32, the other second refrigerant coupler 18, and the other first refrigerant coupler 14, a refrigerant passage reaching the cooling pipe 13 is formed. The refrigerant circulates through the refrigerant passage by the action of the pump. The positioning of the first and second refrigerant couplers 14 and 18 is automatically performed by coupling the wiring connectors 12 and 16.

In mounting the connector unit UN on the housing 11, the wiring connectors 12, 16 are positioned in advance and the connector unit UN is mounted on the housing 1.
If it is pushed into 1, the coupling between the first and second refrigerant couplers 14 and 18 is achieved simultaneously with the coupling between the wiring connectors 12 and 16. On the contrary, the wiring connector 12,
16 may be achieved. In addition, the coupling of the first and second refrigerant couplers 14 and 18 forms a support structure by cooperation of the cooling pipe 13 and the connection fitting 15, and the support structure allows the wiring connectors 12 and 16 to connect the electronic components to the housing 11. It is possible to reinforce the support of the module 10, that is, the link unit UN.

As shown in FIG. 3, if an elastic material is applied to the cooling pipe 13, the displacement of the coupling position of the first and second refrigerant couplers 14 and 18 along the axial direction of the cooling pipe 13 is absorbed. can do. That is, the cooling pipe 1 is attached to the support fitting 20 as a support means fixed to the housing.
The first refrigerant coupler 14 is supported so as to be slidable in the axial direction 3, and the cooling pipe 13 is elastically deformed when the first refrigerant coupler 14 moves. Male and female wiring connectors 1
At least one of 2 and 16 may be provided with a position error absorbing means for absorbing a displacement between the male and female wiring connectors 12 and 16 when the first and second refrigerant couplers 14 and 18 are connected. For example, if one of the male and female wiring connectors 12 and 16 is movably mounted in the direction along the surface of the connector wall 11a of the housing 11 using a floating structure, the first and second refrigerant couplers 14 and 18 can be combined. The position error of the wiring connectors 12, 16 in the direction along the surface of the connector wall 11a can be absorbed. In this case, either the wiring connector on the housing 11 side or the wiring unit UN side may have a floating structure.

Further, as shown in FIG.
If the connecting member 15 is connected to the housing 11 by the screw 33, the support of the connecting unit UN to the housing 11 can be strengthened.

Further, the housing 11 is provided with guide means for guiding the mounting of the coupling unit UN, and the guide means couples the male and female wiring connectors 12 and 16 and the first and second refrigerant couplers 14 and 18. May be combined. For example, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, guide grooves 21 corresponding to both end shapes of the connector unit UN may be provided in the housing 11 to guide the connector unit UN, and as shown in FIG. A slidable guide rail 22 may be provided on 11. In FIG. 6, the cooling pipe 1
The support member 23 fixed to the housing 11 along 3
The guide rail 22 is supported so as to be slidable in the mounting direction of the connector unit UN. On the other hand, on the connecting unit UN side, a ridge 24 slidable on the guide rail 22 is formed on the connection fitting 15, and slides between the ridge 24 and the guide rail 22 and between the guide rail 22 and the support member 23. The mounting of the coupling unit UN is guided through the sliding between them.

[Second Embodiment] FIG. 7 shows an overall configuration of a cooling system for an electronic module according to a second embodiment. In the second embodiment, a refrigerant passage in the housing 11
Two or more pairs (in this case, two pairs) of the first and second refrigerant couplers 14 between the refrigerant circulation passages in the coupling unit UN,
18 are provided. As shown in FIG.
3a and 13b are made of an elastic material, and the first and second
The displacement of the coupling position of the refrigerant couplers 14 and 18 is absorbed. At the tip of the short cooling pipe 13a, the first refrigerant coupler 14 is slidably supported by the first support fitting 20a. The long cooling pipe 13b penetrates the first support fitting 20a, and at the tip thereof, the first refrigerant coupler 14 is slidably supported by the second support fitting 20b. The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[Third Embodiment] FIG. 8 is an overall configuration diagram of an electronic module cooling system according to a third embodiment.
In the third embodiment, the cooling pipe 13 is provided on the outer surface of the housing 11, and the second refrigerant coupler 18 of the connection fitting 15 is arranged outside the housing 11 when the connection unit UN is mounted on the housing 11. . As shown in FIG. 9, since the connection fitting 15 passes through a slit 25 provided in the housing 11, the mounting of the connection unit UN is guided by the slit 25. In addition,
The same components as those in the first and second embodiments described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Fourth Embodiment FIG. 10 shows a connecting unit UN used in a cooling system according to a fourth embodiment. In this connector unit UN, a plurality of electronic modules 10 may be provided on both surfaces of the cooling plate 15a of the connector 15. Note that the same components as those of the above-described first to third embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0021]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of electronic modules can be mounted on the housing at the same time by forming the connecting unit using the connecting members. As a result, the efficiency of the mounting operation can be improved. In addition, a refrigerant path can be formed using the refrigerant circulation path of the connecting member.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the first and second refrigerant couplers and the male and female wiring connectors can be simultaneously connected by a single mounting operation common to a plurality of electronic modules. Work can be made more efficient.

Further, according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to easily combine the first and second refrigerant couplers when mounting the connector unit.

Further, according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to easily combine the first and second refrigerant couplers when the connector unit is mounted.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an overall configuration of a cooling system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional plan view of a cooling system showing a modification of the cooling pipe.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a specific example of the guide means from the direction of arrow 4 in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing another specific example of the guide means as in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional plan view showing still another specific example of the guide means.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional plan view illustrating an overall configuration of a cooling system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional plan view illustrating an overall configuration of a cooling system according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional view along the line 9-9 in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an overall configuration of a connected unit applied to a cooling system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Electronic module, 11 Housing, 12 One wiring connector, 13, 13a, 13b Cooling piping as a refrigerant passage, 14 First refrigerant coupler, 15 Connection metal fitting as a connecting member, 16 Other wiring connector, 1
8 second refrigerant coupler, 21 guide groove as guide means, 22 guide rail as guide means, 31, 32
Refrigerant circuit.

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A refrigerant passage formed in a housing for passing a refrigerant, and a refrigerant circulation passage for passing the refrigerant to a plurality of electronic modules mounted on the housing through male and female wiring connectors, wherein the refrigerant circulates from the refrigerant passage. In a cooling system for an electronic module that cools each electronic module by a refrigerant introduced into a path, using a connecting member in which the refrigerant circulation path is formed, the plurality of electronic modules are fixed and integrated with each other ,
A cooling system for an electronic module, comprising a connector unit to be mounted on a housing . 2. The housing is provided with at least one pair of first refrigerant couplers communicating with the refrigerant passage. The connecting member communicates with the refrigerant circulation path and has a first refrigerant coupler.
A second refrigerant coupler coupled to the refrigerant coupler is provided, and the first and second refrigerant couplers are coupled by male and female wiring connectors.
The cooling system for an electronic module according to claim 1, wherein positioning of the refrigerant couplers is performed. 3. The housing is provided with at least one pair of first refrigerant couplers communicating with the refrigerant passage, and the connecting member is connected to the refrigerant circulation path with the first refrigerant coupler.
The electronic module according to claim 1, wherein a second refrigerant coupler coupled to the refrigerant coupler is provided, and the male and female wiring connectors are positioned by coupling the first and second refrigerant couplers. Cooling system. 4. A method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said male and female wiring connectors is provided with a position error absorbing means for absorbing a positional deviation between said male and female wiring connectors when the first and second refrigerant couplers are coupled. Claim 2
Or a cooling system for an electronic module according to item 3. 5. The housing is provided with guide means for guiding the mounting of the connector unit, and the guide means assists the coupling of the male and female wiring connectors and the coupling of the first and second refrigerant couplers. The cooling system for an electronic module according to claim 2, wherein: