Coolant connector having a chamfered lip and fir tree axially aligned with at least one o-ring

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11670937-B2
Application number	US-202117448297-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 21, 2021
Priority date	Feb 22, 2019
Publication date	Jun 6, 2023
Grant date	Jun 6, 2023

Abstract

A fluid connector for coolant includes a chamfered lip and a fir tree circumferentially aligned with at least one O-ring on an outer body of the fluid connector. The fluid connector is configured to receive an end piece. The end piece has a standard SAEJ2044 end form. The fluid connector utilizes a housing to form a ribbing and support a seal. An integrated inverter assembly includes a main cover and an opposing back cover; a coolant channel disposed between a coolant channel cover and a coolant channel separating body; wherein power electronics of the integrated inverter assembly are thermally coupled to the coolant channel; wherein at least one of a coolant inlet or a coolant outlet of the coolant channel comprises a fluid connector; and wherein the fluid connector comprises a chamfered lip on an end of the fluid connector.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An integrated inverter assembly, comprising:
a main cover and an opposing back cover;
a coolant channel disposed between a coolant channel cover and a coolant channel separating body;
wherein power electronics of the integrated inverter assembly are thermally coupled to the coolant channel;
wherein at least one of a coolant inlet or a coolant outlet of the coolant channel comprises a fluid connector; and
wherein the fluid connector comprises a chamfered lip on an end of the fluid connector.

2. The integrated inverter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fluid connector further comprises a fir tree hose coupling on an outer housing wall of the fluid connector; and
wherein the fir tree hose coupling is circumferentially aligned with at least one O-ring on an inner portion of the fluid connector.

3. The integrated inverter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the coolant channel separating body further comprises an integrated hose nipple configured to couple with the fluid connector.

4. The integrated inverter assembly of claim 3 , further comprising a hose configured to couple to the integrated hose nipple at a first end, and to the fluid connector at a second end.

5. The integrated inverter assembly of claim 4 , wherein the hose comprises a baffled hose.

6. The integrated inverter assembly of claim 4 , wherein the hose comprises a flexible rubber hose.

7. The integrated inverter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fluid connector lacks a locking element.

8. The integrated inverter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fluid connector comprises at least one rib along an inner circumference of an end of the fluid connector.

9. The integrated inverter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the main cover is coupled to the opposing back cover using a cure-in-place-gasket.

10. The integrated inverter assembly of claim 9 , wherein the cure-in-place-gasket is dispensed on the main cover.

11. The integrated inverter assembly of claim 9 , wherein at least one of the main cover and the opposing back cover comprises a ledge having a selected height such that the cure-in-place-gasket has a selected compression when the main cover is coupled to the opposing back cover.

12. The integrated inverter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the coolant channel separating body is friction-stir welded to each of the main cover and the coolant channel.

13. The integrated inverter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the main cover is cast;
wherein the coolant channel separating body is forged; and
wherein the coolant channel cover is stamped.

14. The integrated inverter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the coolant channel is disposed on a first side of the coolant channel separating body, and wherein a second coolant channel is disposed on a second side of the coolant channel separating body.

15. The integrated inverter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the main cover defines a plurality of coupling threaded bores, and wherein the opposing back cover defines a corresponding plurality of coupling threaded bores.

16. The integrated inverter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fluid connector is configured to receive an end piece having a standard SAEJ2044 end form.

17. The integrated inverter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the chamfered lip is sized to allow for mis-alignment.

18. An integrated inverter assembly, comprising:
a main cover and an opposing back cover;
a coolant channel disposed between a coolant channel cover and a coolant channel separating body;
wherein at least one of a coolant inlet or a coolant outlet of the coolant channel comprises a fluid connector, the fluid connector further comprises a fir tree hose coupling on an outer housing wall of the fluid connector;
wherein the fir tree hose coupling is circumferentially aligned with at least one O-ring on an inner portion of the fluid connector; and
wherein the fluid connector comprises a chamfered lip on an end of the fluid connector.

19. The integrated inverter assembly of claim 18 , wherein power electronics of the integrated inverter assembly are thermally coupled to the coolant channel.

20. The integrated inverter assembly of claim 18 , wherein the fluid connector comprises at least one rib along an inner circumference of an end of the fluid connector.

21. The integrated inverter assembly of claim 18 , wherein the coolant channel separating body further comprises an integrated hose nipple configured to couple with the fluid connector with a baffled hose.

22. The integrated inverter assembly of claim 18 , wherein the chamfered lip is sized to allow for mis-alignment.

Assignees

• Eaton Intelligent Power Ltd

Inventors

• Dukaric Dennis
• Haylock Matt
• Griffiths Justin Keith

Classifications

• H02M7/003

  Constructional details, e.g. physical layout, assembly, wiring or busbar connections · CPC title

• H01H85/47

  Means for cooling · CPC title

• H01H9/443

  using permanent magnets · CPC title

• H01H50/546

  for contactors having bridging contacts · CPC title

• H01H89/00

  Combinations of two or more different basic types of electric switches, relays, selectors and emergency protective devices, not covered by any single one of the other main groups of this subclass · CPC title