Coolant fitting promoting turbulent flow

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11689010-B2
Application number	US-202117448302-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 21, 2021
Priority date	Feb 22, 2019
Publication date	Jun 27, 2023
Grant date	Jun 27, 2023

Abstract

An integrated inverter assembly with turbulent flow and increased heat transfer includes an integrated coolant coupling port with a ribbed interior surface; a fluid connector having a chamfered lip and a fir tree circumferentially aligned with at least one O-ring on an outer body of the fluid connector; and a baffled hose configured to couple the integrated coolant coupling port with the fluid connector, wherein the baffled hose provides for compliance in a horizontal plane and a vertical plane.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An integrated inverter assembly with turbulent flow and increased heat transfer, comprising:
an integrated coolant coupling port with a ribbed interior surface;
a fluid connector having a chamfered lip and a fir tree circumferentially aligned with at least one O-ring on an inner body of the fluid connector; and
a baffled hose configured to couple the integrated coolant coupling port with the fluid connector, wherein the baffled hose provides for compliance in a horizontal plane and a vertical plane.

2. The integrated inverter assembly of claim 1 , further comprising,
a main cover and an opposing back cover; and
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; and
wherein at least one of a coolant inlet or a coolant outlet of the coolant channel comprises the fluid connector.

3. The integrated inverter assembly of claim 2 , wherein the main cover is coupled to the opposing back cover using a cure-in-place-gasket.

4. The integrated inverter assembly of claim 3 , wherein the cure-in-place-gasket is dispensed on the main cover.

5. The integrated inverter assembly of claim 3 , 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.

6. The integrated inverter assembly of claim 2 , wherein the coolant channel separating body is friction-stir welded to each of the main cover and the coolant channel.

7. The integrated inverter assembly of claim 2 , wherein the main cover is cast;
wherein the coolant channel separating body is forged; and
wherein the coolant channel cover is stamped.

8. The integrated inverter assembly of claim 2 , 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.

9. The integrated inverter assembly of claim 2 , 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.

10. The integrated inverter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the baffled hose is a rubber hose.

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

12. 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.

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

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

15. The integrated inverter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fir tree is circumferentially aligned with two O-rings on the inner body of the fluid connector.

16. A method of operating an inverter assembly to promote turbulent flow and increase heat transfer, comprising:
ribbing an interior surface of an integrated coolant coupling port of the inverter assembly;
chamfering a lip of a fluid connector configured to connect to the integrated coolant coupling port; and
transporting coolant through a baffled hose connecting the fluid connector to the integrated coolant coupling port.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising thermally coupling power electronics of the inverter assembly to a coolant channel disposed between a coolant channel cover and a coolant channel separating body of the inverter assembly.

18. The method of claim 16 , further comprising coupling a main cover of the inverter assembly to an opposing back cover using a cure-in-place-gasket.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the cure-in-place-gasket is dispensed on the main cover.

20. The method of claim 18 , 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.

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

• H02P29/68

  based on the temperature of a drive component or a semiconductor component · 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

• H02H1/0007

  concerning the detecting means (in general G01R or other subclasses of G01; reed switches H01H71/2445) · CPC title

• B60Y2200/92

  Hybrid vehicles · CPC title