JP4986064B2 - Heating element cooling device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a heating element cooling device for cooling a heating element such as a semiconductor element.

  Such a heating element cooling device is used to cool a semiconductor element having a large amount of heat generation, such as a switching element used in an inverter that performs DC-AC conversion.

  A semiconductor element such as a switching element constituting an inverter easily generates heat because a large current flows. Therefore, in order to ensure the reliability of the inverter and extend the life, it is necessary to keep the semiconductor element below a predetermined temperature. For this reason, the cooling device which has the outstanding cooling capacity is required.

In response to such demands, a cooling device is known that includes a refrigerant chamber in which a refrigerant flows along a heat radiating surface provided so as to be able to conduct heat with the semiconductor element in order to cool the semiconductor element (for example, Patent Document 1). See).
In the cooling device described in Patent Document 1, a plurality of fins are arranged in parallel in the refrigerant chamber, and an inter-fin passage is formed between the adjacent fins. One end of each inter-fin passage communicates with a first header having substantially the same height as the fin, and the other end of each inter-fin passage communicates with a second header similar to the first header. is there. And the refrigerant | coolant supplied to the 1st header distributes and distribute | circulates to each channel | path between fins, and the refrigerant | coolant which flowed out from each channel | path between fins merges in a 2nd header. In the cooling device described in Patent Document 1, this configuration makes it possible to increase the heat radiation area for radiating heat to the refrigerant and increase the cooling capacity.

JP 2001-35981 A

  By the way, in a heating element cooling device for cooling a heating element such as a semiconductor element, it is possible to increase the cooling capacity if the heat radiation area is increased, but in order to cool the heating element more efficiently. It is preferable to distribute the refrigerant as uniformly as possible in the refrigerant chamber.

  In this regard, in the cooling device described in Patent Document 1, when the refrigerant is distributed from the first header to the inter-fin passages, for example, there is a large amount of refrigerant in the inter-fin passage close to the coolant supply location to the first header. On the other hand, there is a situation in which the refrigerant cannot be uniformly distributed to the inter-fin passages, for example, the refrigerant does not flow so much in the inter-fin passages separated from the refrigerant supply location. For this reason, the amount of the refrigerant flowing through the fin passages varies, and the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant chamber becomes non-uniform, and there is a problem that a good cooling capacity may not be exhibited.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive heating element cooling apparatus that can exhibit good cooling capacity and that has good manufacturability and is inexpensive.

In order to achieve this object, the heat generator cooling device according to the present invention is characterized in that a refrigerant chamber in which refrigerant flows along a cooling surface provided so as to be able to conduct heat with the heat generator, and at least one end thereof are opened. A tubular member having a slit-like opening formed along the longitudinal direction of the tubular member, and an inner surface shape matching the outer shape of the tubular member, and a holding chamber communicated with the refrigerant chamber. The tubular member is held in the holding chamber of the holding portion, and at least one end of the refrigerant chamber so that the slit-shaped opening communicates with the refrigerant chamber. The tubular member is inserted into the holding chamber from an opening provided on one end side of the holding portion, and a liquid-tight state is formed between the opening and the tubular member. In the point.

  Here, the slit-shaped opening may be formed as a single slit extending over substantially the entire longitudinal direction of the tubular member, or may be formed as a plurality of slits arranged along the longitudinal direction of the tubular member. May be.

  According to the above characteristic configuration, the tubular member having at least one open end is disposed along one end of the refrigerant chamber, and the slit-shaped opening formed in the tubular member communicates with the refrigerant chamber. The refrigerant can be caused to flow into the refrigerant chamber from one end portion of the tubular member through the slit-shaped opening. At this time, since the slit-like opening functions as a constricting part that regulates the flow of the refrigerant, the refrigerant flowing in from one end of the tubular member is distributed substantially evenly in the tubular member, and the slit-like opening Out of the entire area of the section toward the refrigerant chamber. And since the slit-shaped opening is formed along the longitudinal direction of the tubular member disposed along one end of the refrigerant chamber, the refrigerant is substantially uniformly distributed over the entire region in the direction along the one end of the refrigerant chamber. Can be introduced. Therefore, since the refrigerant | coolant which distribute | circulates a refrigerant | coolant room | chamber interior can be made substantially uniform, the heat generating body cooling device which exhibits favorable cooling capability can be provided.

Here, as described above, the slit-shaped opening is formed in the tubular member. Therefore, since the site | part which functions as an aperture | diaphragm | squeeze part can be formed, without performing a special process etc. with respect to the member which forms a refrigerant | coolant chamber, manufacturing cost can be restrained low. Moreover, since the slit-shaped opening is provided in the tubular member which is a member different from the member forming the refrigerant chamber, it is easy to change the tubular member to one having a different volume or a different size of the slit-shaped opening. The flow state of the refrigerant can be adjusted. As described above, it is possible to provide a heat generating device cooling apparatus that can exhibit a good cooling capacity and that has good productivity and is inexpensive. Further, according to this configuration, since the tubular member is held by the inner surface of the holding chamber, the positioning of the tubular member at the time of manufacture is easy, and the tubular member is held by the holding portion and is securely fixed. It is possible to appropriately maintain the circulation of the refrigerant in the refrigerant chamber. Furthermore, according to this configuration, since only the gap between the opening and the tubular member inserted from the opening needs to be sealed, the sealing area can be reduced. Thereby, reliability can be improved and reliability can be improved, and the cost for sealing can be kept low.

  Here, the tubular member is disposed along both ends of the refrigerant chamber, and the slit-shaped opening of the tubular member disposed at one end of the refrigerant chamber serves as a refrigerant inlet to the refrigerant chamber. It is preferable that the slit-like opening of the tubular member disposed at the other end of the refrigerant chamber serves as a refrigerant outlet from the refrigerant chamber.

  According to this configuration, the refrigerant that has flowed into the refrigerant chamber via the slit-shaped opening from one end of the tubular member disposed along the one end of the refrigerant chamber further flows along the other end of the refrigerant chamber. It flows out of the refrigerant chamber through a slit-like opening formed in the arranged tubular member. At this time, the slit-like opening formed in the tubular member disposed along the other end of the refrigerant chamber functions as a throttle portion that restricts the flow of the refrigerant in the same manner as described above. The refrigerant can flow out substantially uniformly. Therefore, since the refrigerant | coolant which distribute | circulates a refrigerant | coolant chamber can be made more uniform, the heat generating body cooling device which exhibits a further favorable cooling capability can be provided.

  Here, it is preferable that the tubular member has a flange portion and is fixed in a state where the flange portion is in contact with an end surface of the opening portion.

  According to this configuration, when the tubular member is inserted into the refrigerant chamber from the opening provided on the one end side of the holding portion, the tubular member can be easily and reliably fixed.

  Here, the tubular member is preferably a circular tube.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to use a round pipe that is widely used, so that the manufacturing cost can be kept low. Moreover, when sealing between a tubular member and an opening part, since general purpose sealing members, such as an O-ring, can be utilized, manufacturing cost can be held down also from this point. Furthermore, in the case where a holding portion having an inner-side holding chamber that matches the outer shape of the tubular member is provided, the holding chamber can be formed by round hole processing, so that the manufacturing cost can be kept low.

  Here, it is preferable that the tubular member is directly connected to a member constituting the refrigerant circulation path on the opened one end side.

  When the circulation path of the refrigerant supplied to the heating element cooling device is configured, a connection port for connecting these is provided between the flow path constituting the refrigerant circulation path and the heating element cooling device. According to this configuration, the tubular member can have the function of the connection port. Therefore, the number of parts can be reduced, and the manufacturing cost can be kept low.

  Here, it is preferable that the refrigerant chamber is provided with fins that form a refrigerant flow in a direction substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the tubular member.

  According to this structure, the refrigerant | coolant which distribute | circulates a refrigerant | coolant chamber is controlled so that it may distribute | circulate in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of a tubular member along a fin. Therefore, since the refrigerant that has flowed into the refrigerant chamber substantially uniformly from the entire slit-shaped opening of the tubular member forms a flow in a certain direction, it is possible to suppress the stagnation of the refrigerant in the refrigerant chamber. As a result, the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant chamber can be made more uniform. Moreover, when the said fin is provided in the cooling surface, a thermal radiation area can be enlarged and a cooling capability can be made more favorable.

  Here, a main body portion provided with the cooling surface, and a cover portion provided with an opposing surface facing the cooling surface and attached to the main body portion, and between the cooling surface and the opposing surface, the It is preferable that a refrigerant chamber is formed.

  According to this configuration, when the main body portion and the cover portion are attached, the refrigerant chamber is formed between the cooling surface provided in the main body portion and the opposing surface provided in the cover portion. Therefore, since the main body and the cover can be manufactured separately, each manufacturing, processing, and the like are facilitated. And since a refrigerant | coolant chamber can be formed by assembled | attaching these appropriately, as a result, a heat generating body cooling device can be manufactured simply.

  Here, it is preferable that heat radiation fins are integrally formed on the cooling surface of the main body.

  According to this configuration, since the heat radiating fins are integrally formed on the cooling surface, the heat from the heating element can be transferred to the heat radiating fins, and the heat radiating area of the cooling surface can be increased. Therefore, the cooling capacity can be further improved.

Another characteristic configuration of the heating element cooling device according to the present invention is formed in a refrigerant chamber through which a refrigerant flows along a cooling surface provided so as to be able to conduct heat with the heating element, and a hollow tube having at least one end opened. A tubular member having a plurality of hole-like openings disposed along the longitudinal direction thereof, a holding member having an inner surface shape that matches the outer shape of the tubular member and having a holding chamber communicated with the refrigerant chamber. And the tubular member is held in the holding chamber of the holding portion, and along the at least one end portion of the refrigerant chamber so that the hole-shaped opening communicates with the refrigerant chamber. The tubular member is inserted into the holding chamber from an opening provided on one end side of the holding part, and the liquid-tight state is formed between the opening and the tubular member. is there.

  According to this feature, the tubular member having at least one open end is disposed along one end of the refrigerant chamber, and the hole-shaped opening formed in the tubular member communicates with the refrigerant chamber. Can flow into the refrigerant chamber from one end of the tubular member through the hole-shaped opening. At this time, since the hole-shaped opening functions as a throttle part for restricting the flow of the refrigerant, the refrigerant flowing from one end of the tubular member is distributed substantially evenly in the tubular member. Out of the entire area of the section toward the refrigerant chamber. And since the plurality of hole-shaped openings are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the tubular member arranged along one end of the refrigerant chamber, the entire area in the direction along one end of the refrigerant chamber is substantially uniform. A refrigerant can be introduced. Therefore, since the refrigerant | coolant which distribute | circulates a refrigerant | coolant room | chamber interior can be made substantially uniform, the heat generating body cooling device which exhibits favorable cooling capability can be provided.

Here, as described above, the hole-shaped opening is formed in the tubular member. Therefore, since the site | part which functions as an aperture | diaphragm | squeeze part can be formed, without performing a special process etc. with respect to the member which forms a refrigerant | coolant chamber, manufacturing cost can be restrained low. In addition, since the hole-shaped opening is provided in the tubular member that is a member different from the member that forms the refrigerant chamber, the tubular member can be appropriately changed to one having a different volume or the number or size of the hole-shaped openings. It is possible to easily adjust the flow state of the refrigerant. As described above, it is possible to provide a heat generating device cooling apparatus that can exhibit a good cooling capacity and that has good productivity and is inexpensive. Further, according to this configuration, since the tubular member is held by the inner surface of the holding chamber, the positioning of the tubular member at the time of manufacture is easy, and the tubular member is held by the holding portion and is securely fixed. It is possible to appropriately maintain the circulation of the refrigerant in the refrigerant chamber. Furthermore, according to this configuration, since only the gap between the opening and the tubular member inserted from the opening needs to be sealed, the sealing area can be reduced. Thereby, reliability can be improved and reliability can be improved, and the cost for sealing can be kept low.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a heating element cooling device 1 according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, a case where the heating element cooling device 1 according to the present invention (hereinafter simply referred to as a cooling device 1) is applied to the cooling device 1 for cooling a module including a switching element constituting an inverter is taken as an example. Will be described. Here, the inverter converts, for example, a DC power supplied from a battery into an AC power (for a three-phase one, U phase, V phase, W phase) by a switching action and supplies it to each coil of the motor. The switching element module 3 includes a switching element such as an IGBT (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor) or a MOSFET, an accompanying circuit element, and a circuit board on which the switching element is arranged. A large current flows through the switching element module 3, and the switching element module 3 generates heat. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the switching element module 3 included in the inverter corresponds to the heating element in the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the cooling device 1 is connected to the refrigerant circulation path 4 via an inflow side port 5 and a discharge side port 6. The refrigerant circulation path 4 includes a refrigerant pump 52 as a pressure supply source, a heat exchanger 51, and flow paths 53, 54, and 55 connecting them. The discharge side flow path 53 of the refrigerant pump 52 as the starting point of the refrigerant circulation path 4 is connected to the inflow side port 5 on the inlet side of the cooling apparatus 1, and the outflow side port 6 on the outlet side of the cooling apparatus 1 is connected to the return flow path. 54 is connected to the inlet side of the heat exchanger 51, and the outlet side of the heat exchanger 51 is connected to the suction side flow path 55 of the refrigerant pump 52. In the refrigerant circuit 4, the refrigerant is sent out from the refrigerant pump 52, and then the cooling device 1 absorbs heat from the switching element module 3 to cool the heating element. The refrigerant that has absorbed heat and has reached a high temperature is sent to the heat exchanger 51 via the return flow path 54, cooled by heat radiation to the air, and returned to the refrigerant pump 52 to form a cycle. The circulation will be repeated. In this way, the cooling device 1 thermally protects the generating switching element module 3 by dissipating heat generated by the switching element module 3 of the inverter to the refrigerant.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the cooling device 1 includes a main body portion 10, a cover portion 20, and a tubular member 30. The main body 10 is formed integrally with the switching element module 3 and the heat sink 11. In the present embodiment, the switching element module 3 is fixed so as to be in contact with the heat sink 11, and heat conduction is possible between them. A cooling surface 12 is provided on the surface of the heat sink 11 opposite to the surface on which the switching element module 3 is fixed, and the refrigerant flows along the cooling surface 12 inside the cooling device 1. The switching element module 3 is cooled by exchanging heat with the refrigerant flowing along the cooling surface 12 via the heat sink 11. In order to perform such heat exchange, it is preferable that the heat sink 11 is made of a highly thermally conductive material such as copper or aluminum.

  The cover portion 20 is made of a metal material such as copper or aluminum, a resin material such as polyamide or polycarbonate, and is attached so as to face the cooling surface 12 of the heat sink 11 of the main body portion 10. In the present embodiment, the surface of the cover portion 20 that faces the cooling surface 12 of the main body portion 10 is opposed to the facing surface 22 that is spaced apart from the cooling surface 12 by a certain distance, and the cooling of the main body portion 10. The mounting surface 27 attached in contact with the mounting surface 16 on the outer periphery of the surface 12 is formed in a concave shape as a whole. In this way, the surface facing the cooling surface 12 is formed in a concave shape as a whole, whereby the refrigerant chamber 2 is formed between the cooling surface 12 and the facing surface 22 inside the cooling device 1. Through the heat sink 11, the refrigerant flows through the inside of the refrigerant chamber 2 along the cooling surface 12 provided to be able to conduct heat with the switching element module 3. The attachment surface 27 of the cover part 20 abuts on the attachment surface 16 of the main body part 10 at the outer periphery thereof and is fastened and fixed by bolts. A seal member (not shown) for sealing the refrigerant chamber 2 to the outside is appropriately provided between the mounting surface 16 of the main body 10 and the mounting surface 27 of the cover 20. .

  As shown in FIG. 5, the tubular member 30 is formed in a hollow tubular shape having an open end 33 at least at one end. In this embodiment, it is formed in a circular tube with both ends open. The tubular member 30 includes a slit-shaped opening 31 formed along the longitudinal direction. Here, as shown to Fig.5 (a), the slit-shaped opening part 31 is not restricted to what is formed as one slit covering the whole longitudinal direction of the tubular member 30, It shows to (b). Thus, what is formed as a plurality of slits arranged along the longitudinal direction of the tubular member 30 is also included. Note that “arranged along the longitudinal direction” means that the plurality of slit-shaped openings 31 are arranged in a substantially straight line, and is not necessarily arranged on a single straight line.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the refrigerant chamber 2 has a substantially rectangular shape in plan view, and one side of the two opposing sides is one end E1 and the other is the other end E2. Two tubular members 30 (30a, 30b) are arranged in parallel to each other along both ends E1, E2 of the refrigerant chamber 2. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the tubular member 30 (30a, 30b) is arranged so that the slit-shaped opening 31 communicates with the refrigerant chamber 2. Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, these tubular members 30a and 30b are directly connected to the discharge-side flow path 53 and the return flow path 54 constituting the refrigerant circulation path at the open end 33a on one side, respectively. Yes. In the cooling device 1 having such a configuration, the refrigerant sent out from the refrigerant pump 52 passes through the discharge-side flow channel 53 in the tubular member 30 a having the open end 33 a connected to the discharge-side flow channel 53. Through the open end 33a. Thereby, the tubular member 30 a also functions as the inflow side port 5. The refrigerant that has flowed into the tubular member 30 a further flows into the refrigerant chamber 2 through the slit-shaped opening 31. As described above, the slit-shaped opening 31 of the tubular member 30 a connected to the discharge-side flow path 53 and disposed at the one end E 1 of the refrigerant chamber 2 serves as a refrigerant inlet 37 to the refrigerant chamber 2. On the other hand, the slit-shaped opening 31 of the tubular member 30 b connected to the return flow path 54 and disposed at the other end E <b> 2 of the refrigerant chamber 2 serves as a refrigerant outlet 38 from the refrigerant chamber 2. The refrigerant that has flowed out from the refrigerant chamber 2 to the tubular member 30b through the slit-shaped opening 31 is discharged from the open end 33a side. That is, the tubular member 30 b whose open end 33 a is connected to the return flow path 54 also functions as the discharge side port 6.

  Thus, according to the cooling device 1 according to the present embodiment, the tubular member 30a having the open end 33a is arranged along the one end E1 of the refrigerant chamber 2, and the slit-shaped opening formed in the tubular member 30a. Since 31 communicates with the refrigerant chamber 2, the refrigerant can flow into the refrigerant chamber 2 from the one end E1 of the tubular member 30a through the slit-shaped opening 31. At this time, the slit-shaped opening 31 functions as a throttle portion that restricts the flow of the refrigerant. That is, since the slit-shaped opening 31 has a flow resistance larger than the flow resistance in the tubular member 30, the refrigerant flowing from the open end 33 of the tubular member 30a is distributed substantially evenly in the tubular member 30a. It flows out from the entire area of the slit-shaped opening 31 toward the refrigerant chamber 2. And since the slit-shaped opening part 31 is formed along the longitudinal direction of the tubular member 30a arrange | positioned along the one end part E1 of the refrigerant | coolant chamber 2, from the whole area | region of the slit-shaped opening part 31, one end of the refrigerant | coolant chamber 2 is provided. The refrigerant can be made to flow substantially uniformly over the entire region in the direction along the portion E1. Therefore, since the refrigerant | coolant which distribute | circulates the inside of the refrigerant | coolant chamber 2 can be made substantially uniform, the cooling device 1 which exhibits favorable cooling capability can be provided.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, the refrigerant | coolant which flowed into the refrigerant | coolant chamber 2 via the slit-shaped opening part 31 from the open end 33 of the tubular member 30a arrange | positioned along the one end part E1 of the refrigerant | coolant chamber 2 is further a refrigerant | coolant. The refrigerant flows out of the refrigerant chamber 2 through a slit-shaped opening 31 formed in the tubular member 30b disposed along the other end E2 of the chamber 2. At this time, the slit-like opening 31 formed in the tubular member 30b disposed along the other end E2 of the refrigerant chamber 2 functions as a throttle that restricts the flow of the refrigerant as described above. The refrigerant can flow out of the refrigerant chamber 2 substantially uniformly. Therefore, the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant chamber 2 from the one end E1 side to the other end E2 side is made more uniform in a direction substantially parallel to the tubular member 30, that is, in a direction orthogonal to the refrigerant flow direction. Therefore, it is possible to provide the cooling device 1 that exhibits even better cooling capacity.

  Here, as described above, the slit-shaped opening 31 is formed in the tubular member 30. Therefore, since the site | part which functions as an aperture | diaphragm | squeeze part can be formed, without performing the special process etc. with respect to the member which forms the refrigerant | coolant chamber 2, a manufacturing cost can be restrained low. Further, since the slit-shaped opening 31 is provided in the tubular member 30 which is a member different from the member forming the refrigerant chamber 2, the tubular member 30 is appropriately changed to one having a different volume or size of the slit-shaped opening 31. It is possible to easily adjust the flow state of the refrigerant. As described above, it is possible to provide the cooling device 1 that can exhibit a good cooling capacity and that has good manufacturability and is inexpensive.

  In the present embodiment, the cover part 20 includes a holding part 21 provided integrally therewith. Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, at both end portions E <b> 1 and E <b> 2 of the refrigerant chamber 2, the cover portion 20 is raised above the cooling device 1 (on the opposite side of the cover portion 20 from the main body portion 10). 23 is formed. The holding portion 21 is formed in the raised portion 23 and has a holding chamber 24 having an inner surface shape that matches the outer shape of the tubular member 30 so that the tubular member 30 is appropriately accommodated. In the present embodiment, the tubular member 30 is formed in a circular tube shape, and the outer shape thereof is a columnar shape. Therefore, the inner surface shape of the holding chamber 24 also has a corresponding columnar shape. The holding chamber 24 is provided with a communication opening that communicates with the refrigerant chamber 2. The communication opening is an opening that is wider than at least the longitudinal direction and the width direction of the slit-shaped opening 31. In this example, as shown in FIG. 3, only the inner surface shape of the holding chamber 24 above the plane parallel to the cooling surface 12 passing through the axial center of the tubular member 30 is cylindrical with respect to the cooling surface 12. On the lower side, two surfaces that are continuous from the inner surface on the upper side are formed substantially perpendicular to the cooling surface 12 over the entire longitudinal direction of the tubular member 30.

  As shown in FIG. 4, an opening 25 is provided on one end side of the holding portion 21. The opening 25 is provided on one side wall of the raised portion 23 in the direction along the longitudinal direction of the holding chamber 24 so as to penetrate the side wall of the cover portion 20 and open to the outside. The tubular member 30 is inserted from the opening 25 with the open end 33b side as an insertion side end, is held in the holding portion 21, and is disposed in the refrigerant chamber 2. At this time, the slit-like opening 31 of the tubular member 30 is held so as to be positioned below the plane parallel to the cooling surface 12 through the axial center of the tubular member 30 so as to communicate with the refrigerant chamber 12 with certainty. (See FIG. 3).

  Further, in the present embodiment, the opposite side of the holding portion 21 to the side where the opening 25 is provided is a recess 26 provided in the raised portion 23 so as to open to the refrigerant chamber 2 side. The tubular member 30 is held in the holding chamber 24 and supported by the opening 25 and the recess 26 and is fixed in the refrigerant chamber 2. Note that it is not necessary to completely prevent the refrigerant from leaking between the outer surface of the tubular member 30 and the inner surface of the recess 26, and the slit-shaped opening 31 is held by a gap that can reliably function as a throttle portion. It ’s fine.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the tubular member 30 is held in the holding portion 21 having the holding chamber 24 and the recessed portion 26 formed in the raised portion 23, and the tubular member 30 is arranged away from the cooling surface 12. Thus, the area of the cooling surface 12 in the refrigerant chamber 2 is ensured as large as possible, and the cooling capacity of the cooling device 1 is further improved. Further, since the tubular member 30 is securely fixed to the end of the refrigerant chamber 2 of the cooling device 1 by being held by the holding portion 21, it is possible to appropriately maintain the refrigerant flow in the refrigerant chamber 2. it can.

  In addition, in this embodiment, since the cylindrical round pipe currently used widely is utilized as the tubular member 30, when manufacturing the cooling device 1, material cost can be restrained low, The manufacturing cost Can be reduced. Further, since the inner shape of the holding chamber 24 is also formed in a columnar shape so as to match the outer shape of the tubular member 30, for example, processing is easier than in the case of forming the holding chamber 24 having a prismatic inner shape. It becomes.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG.4 and FIG.5, the tubular member 30 has the cyclic | annular convex part 34 which protrudes to a radial direction outer side in the outer peripheral surface at the side of the open end 33a. The opening 25 is formed with a step on the inner surface, and a seal member 41 is provided between the wall surface forming the step and the annular projection 34 to seal the gap between them. . Here, in this embodiment, since the tubular member 30 is circular, a highly versatile O-ring is employed as a sealing means. Thus, by making the space between the tubular member 30 and the opening 25 provided in the cover part 20 into a liquid-tight state by the sealing member 41, leakage of the refrigerant from the gap is prevented, and the cooling device 1 Reliability is improved. Furthermore, the flange part 35 is formed in the tubular member 30 by fixing the plate-shaped member 36 by brazing. The plate-like member 36 is provided with a bolt through hole, and a bolt inserted through the bolt through hole is fastened to a bolt hole provided on the side wall of the raised portion 23 of the cover portion 20 adjacent to the opening 25. In this way, the flange portion 35 is fixed in a state of being in contact with the end face of the opening portion 25, and the tubular member 30 is easily and reliably held by the holding portion 21.

  In addition, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, in the present embodiment, the cooling surface 12 provided on the heat sink 11 of the main body 10 is further provided with heat radiation fins 13. The heat radiating fins 13 are formed integrally by shaving and raising the cooling surface 12 of the heat sink 11, and a plurality of the radiating fins 13 are arranged in parallel from the cooling surface 12 toward the facing surface 22 of the cover portion 20. In this way, since the heat radiating fins 13 are integrally formed on the cooling surface 12, heat from the switching element module 3 can be transferred to the heat radiating fins 13. Since the area can be increased, the cooling capacity can be further improved.

  In the present embodiment, the radiating fins 13 are provided in the refrigerant chamber 2 in a direction substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the tubular member 30. As a result, the direction of the inter-fin passage 14 formed between the adjacent radiating fins 13 is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the tubular member 30. Therefore, the flow of the refrigerant in the direction substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the tubular member 30 is formed in the refrigerant chamber 12 by the heat radiating fins 13. Thereby, the refrigerant that has flowed into the refrigerant chamber 2 from the entire slit-shaped opening 31 of the tubular member 30 substantially uniformly forms a flow in a certain direction from the one end E1 side to the other end E2 side of the refrigerant chamber 2. It is possible to suppress the stagnation of the refrigerant in the refrigerant chamber 2. As a result, since the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant chamber 2 can be made more uniform, it is possible to provide the cooling device 1 that exhibits even better cooling capacity.

[Other Embodiments]
(1) In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the raised portion 23 is formed in the cover portion 20 and the tubular member 30 is housed in the raised portion 23 and is spaced apart from the cooling surface 12 has been described. However, the tubular member 30 includes a slit-shaped opening 31 formed along the longitudinal direction, and the slit-shaped opening 31 is disposed along the end of the refrigerant chamber 12 so as to communicate with the refrigerant chamber 12. If, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, the refrigerant chamber 2 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape without providing such a raised portion 23, and the tubular member 30 is disposed immediately above the cooling surface 12. good. In this way, the effective area of the cooling surface 12 in the refrigerant chamber 2 is somewhat reduced, but the moldability of the cover portion 20 can be improved.

(2) In the above embodiment, the example in which the cooling chamber 2 is formed by forming the facing surface 22 of the cover portion 20 facing the cooling surface 12 of the main body portion 10 in a concave shape has been described. However, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, the cooling chamber 2 may be formed by forming the cooling surface 12 of the main body 10 in a concave shape and forming the facing surface 22 of the cover portion 20 in a flat plate shape.

(3) In the above embodiment, the example in which the holding portion 21 having the holding chamber 24 is formed in the raised portion 23 formed in the cover portion 20 has been described. However, the holding chamber 24 and the holding portion 21 may be provided in the main body 10 as long as the tubular member 30 can be held so as to be disposed along the end of the refrigerant chamber 2. Similarly, if the tubular member 30 can be held so as to be disposed along the end of the refrigerant chamber 2, the holding chamber 24 is not necessarily required. For example, the holding portion 21 is configured only by the recess 26. Also good.

(4) In the above embodiment, an example is described in which the radiating fins 13 perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the tubular member 30 are provided inside the refrigerant chamber 2 on the cooling surface 12 provided on the heat sink 11 of the main body 10. did. However, if it is possible to form a refrigerant flow in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the tubular member 30 in the refrigerant chamber 12, as shown in FIG. You may make it provide the fin 15 for forming a flow.

(5) In the above-described embodiment, the tubular member 30 having both ends opened is used, and the open end 33b on one side thereof is inserted from the opening 25, and the outer surface of the tubular member 30 and the inner surface of the recess 26 An example in which the slit-shaped opening 31 is held by the holding unit 21 with a gap that allows the slit-shaped opening 31 to function as a throttle unit has been described. However, at least one end portion has an open end 33a so that the refrigerant can flow from the discharge side flow path 53 constituting the refrigerant circulation path 4 or the refrigerant can flow out to the return flow path 54. If so, the other end side of the open end 33a may be sealed.

(6) In the above embodiment, the example in which the flange 35 is formed by fixing the plate-like member 36 to the tubular member 30 has been described. However, the flange 35 may be formed integrally with the tubular member 30.

(7) In the above embodiment, the example in which the tubular member 30 is a round pipe having an outer shape is described. However, as long as it has a slit-like opening 31 formed along the longitudinal direction and is arranged along the end of the refrigerant chamber 12 so that the slit-like opening 31 communicates with the refrigerant chamber 12. Alternatively, a polygonal hollow pipe shape may be used.

(8) In the above-described embodiment, the tubular member 30 a that forms the refrigerant inlet 37 and the tubular member 30 b that forms the refrigerant outlet 38 are arranged so that the respective slit-shaped openings 31 communicate with the refrigerant chamber 2. The example arrange | positioned along the both ends E1 and E2 of the refrigerant | coolant chamber 2 was demonstrated, respectively. However, it is sufficient that the slit-shaped opening 31 of the tubular member 30a disposed along at least the one end E1 functions as the throttle portion and serves as the refrigerant inlet 37, and the tubular member 30b disposed along the other end E2. Is not necessarily required. Moreover, if the slit-shaped opening 31 of the tubular member 30b arranged along the other end E2 functions as the throttle portion and serves as the refrigerant outlet 38, the tubular member 30a arranged along the one end E1. Is not necessarily required.

(9) In the above embodiment, the example in which the tubular member 30 includes the slit-shaped opening 31 formed along the longitudinal direction thereof has been described. However, in the cooling device 1, when the refrigerant flows into the refrigerant chamber 2 from the hollow space side of the tubular member 30, or when the refrigerant flows out from the refrigerant chamber 2 to the hollow space side of the tubular member 30, the refrigerant is throttled. By functioning as a portion, the refrigerant can flow substantially uniformly from the entire region of the tubular member 30 toward the refrigerant chamber 2, or the refrigerant can be substantially uniformly directed from the entire region of the refrigerant chamber 2 toward the tubular member 30. As shown in FIG. 9, it is good also as a structure provided with the some hole-shaped opening part 32 arrange | positioned along the longitudinal direction. Note that “arranged along the longitudinal direction” means that the plurality of hole-shaped openings 32 are arranged in a substantially straight line, and is not necessarily arranged on a single straight line.

(10) In the above embodiment, the case where the cooling device 1 according to the present invention is applied to a cooling device for cooling a module including a switching element constituting an inverter has been described as an example. However, the object to which the cooling device 1 according to the present invention is applied is not limited to this, and a cooling device for cooling any heating element that needs to be cooled, such as other elements and circuit components, in addition to semiconductor elements. Can be applied to.

  The present invention can be suitably used for a heating element cooling device for cooling a heating element such as a semiconductor element.

The figure which shows the refrigerant | coolant circulation state of a heat generating body cooling device and the refrigerant | coolant which distribute | circulates this Top view of heating element cooling device III-III sectional view in FIG. IV-IV sectional view in FIG. Front view of tubular member according to this embodiment Sectional drawing of the heat generating body cooling device which concerns on another embodiment Sectional drawing of the heat generating body cooling device which concerns on another embodiment Sectional drawing of the heat generating body cooling device which concerns on another embodiment Front view of tubular member according to another embodiment

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Heat generating body cooling device 2 Refrigerant chamber 4 Refrigerant circulation path 10 Main body part 12 Cooling surface 13 Radiation fin 15 Fin 20 Cover part 21 Holding part 22 Opposing surface 24 Holding chamber 25 Opening part 30 Tubular member 31 Slit-like opening part 32 Hole-like opening Portion 33 Open End 37 Refrigerant Inlet 38 Refrigerant Outlet 41 Sealing Member

Claims (9)

A refrigerant chamber through which a refrigerant flows along a cooling surface provided to be capable of conducting heat with the heating element;
A tubular member having a slit-like opening formed at least at one end and formed along the longitudinal direction of the tubular member ;
A holding portion having an inner surface shape that matches the outer shape of the tubular member, and having a holding chamber communicated with the refrigerant chamber;
The tubular member is held in the holding chamber of the holding portion, and is disposed along at least one end of the refrigerant chamber so that the slit-shaped opening communicates with the refrigerant chamber .
The heating element cooling device in which the tubular member is inserted into the holding chamber from an opening provided on one end side of the holding portion, and a liquid-tight state is formed between the opening and the tubular member . The tubular members are respectively disposed along both end portions of the refrigerant chamber,
The slit-like opening of the tubular member arranged at one end of the refrigerant chamber serves as a refrigerant inlet to the refrigerant chamber, and the slit-like opening of the tubular member arranged at the other end of the refrigerant chamber The heating element cooling device according to claim 1, wherein is a refrigerant outlet from the refrigerant chamber. The heating element cooling device according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the tubular member has a flange, and the flange is fixed in a state where the flange is in contact with an end surface of the opening. The heating element cooling device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the tubular member is a circular tube. The heating element cooling device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the tubular member is directly connected to a member constituting the refrigerant circulation path on the opened one end side. The heating element cooling device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein the refrigerant chamber is provided with fins that form a refrigerant flow in a direction substantially orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the tubular member. A main body provided with the cooling surface;
A facing surface facing the cooling surface, and a cover portion attached to the main body portion,
The heating element cooling device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , wherein the refrigerant chamber is formed between the cooling surface and the facing surface. The heating element cooling device according to claim 7 , wherein heat radiation fins are integrally formed on the cooling surface of the main body. A refrigerant chamber through which a refrigerant flows along a cooling surface provided to be capable of conducting heat with the heating element;
A tubular member having a plurality of hole-like openings formed in a hollow tubular shape having at least one open end and arranged along the longitudinal direction ;
A holding portion having an inner surface shape that matches the outer shape of the tubular member, and having a holding chamber communicated with the refrigerant chamber;
The tubular member is held along the at least one end of the refrigerant chamber so that the hole-shaped opening communicates with the refrigerant chamber while being held in the holding chamber of the holding portion .
The heating element cooling device in which the tubular member is inserted into the holding chamber from an opening provided on one end side of the holding portion, and a liquid-tight state is formed between the opening and the tubular member .

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