Apparatus and method for holding a heat generating device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021305125-A1
Application number	US-202117209894-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 23, 2021
Priority date	Mar 24, 2020
Publication date	Sep 30, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

Systems, apparatuses, and methods are described for clamping a heat generating device such as a thyristor in place. The use of spring washers in various configurations is described. A spring washing washer may be used to apply force to a pad which in turn applies the force to a plate above a heat generating device. The plate above the heat generating device may apply downward pressure, which may force the heat generating device against a lower surface. Related systems, apparatuses, and methods are also described.

First claim

I claim:

1 . A method comprising:
disposing an electrically conductive pad above a heat generating device; compressing a spring washer, thereby applying pressure to the electrically conductive pad; and tightening a retaining bolt, thereby compressing the heat generating device between the electrically conductive pad and a fixed base plate.

2 . The method according to claim 1 wherein the heat generating device comprises a thyristor, wherein the the thyristor comprises a disk shaped thyristor.

3 . The method of claim 1 wherein the heat generating device comprises an insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT).

4 . The method according to claim 1 wherein the spring washer comprises an opposing pair of spring washers.

5 . The method of claim 1 wherein the spring washer is compressed by a clamping plate.

6 . The method of claim 5 wherein the clamping plate is aligned with the fixed base plate and with a holding plate.

7 . The method of claim 6 wherein the clamping plate is aligned by:
inserting a first bolt through a first hole in the clamping plate, a second hole in the holding plate and a third hole in the fixed base plate; and
inserting a second bolt through a fourth hole in the clamping plate, a fifth hole in the holding plate and a sixth hole in the fixed base plate.

8 . The method according to claim 7 wherein the third hole comprises a threaded hole, the first bolt comprises a threaded bolt, and inserting the first bolt in the third hole comprises screwing the thread of the first bolt into the third hole; and
wherein the sixth hole comprises a threaded hole, the second bolt comprises a threaded bolt, and inserting the second bolt in the sixth hole comprises screwing the thread of the second bolt into the sixth hole.

9 . The method according to claim 1 wherein the heat generating device comprises a holding plate.

10 . The method according to claim 1 wherein the fixed base plate is disposed beneath the electrically conductive pad.

11 . An apparatus comprising:
an electrically conductive pad disposed above a heat generating device; a spring washer, configured to be compressed, wherein compressing the spring washer applies pressure to the electrically conductive pad; and a retaining bolt configured to be tightened, wherein tightening the retaining bolt compresses the heat generating device between the electrically conductive pad and a fixed base plate.

12 . The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the heat generating device comprises one of a thyristor or a an insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT).

13 . The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the spring washer comprises an opposing pair of spring washers.

14 . The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the spring washer is compressed by a clamping plate.

15 . The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the clamping plate is aligned with the fixed base plate and with a holding plate.

16 . The apparatus of claim 15 wherein, to align the clamping plate is aligned with the fixed base plate and with the holding plate:
a first bolt is inserted through a first hole in the clamping plate, a second hole in the holding plate and a third hole in the fixed base plate; and
a second bolt is inserted through a fourth hole in the clamping plate, a fifth hole in the holding plate and a sixth hole in the fixed base plate.

17 . The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the third hole comprises a threaded hole, the first bolt comprises a threaded bolt, and the thread of the first bolt is screwed into the third hole in order to insert the first bolt into the third hole.

18 . The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the sixth hole comprises a threaded hole, the second bolt comprises a threaded bolt, and the thread of the second bolt is screwed into the sixth hole in order to insert the second bolt into the sixth hole.

19 . The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the heat generating device comprises a holding plate.

20 . The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the fixed base plate is disposed beneath the electrically conductive pad.

Assignees

• Solaredge Technologies Ltd

Inventors

• Kugman Tomer

Classifications

• H10W40/231

  characterised by their places of attachment or cooling paths · CPC title

• H10W40/60 Primary

  Securing means for detachable heating or cooling arrangements, e.g. clamps · CPC title

• H10W40/625

  Clamping parts not primarily conducting heat · CPC title

• H10W40/242

  comprising thermal conductors between chips and the and the arrangements for cooling, e.g. compliant heat-spreaders · CPC title

• H10W40/235

  attached to package parts · CPC title