Caterpillar Inc.

Keith Elliot Dixler

Jon Nathaniel Husser

Todd George Nakanishi

Thomas M Baker

Robert Roy Sychra

Jeffrey Joseph Speichinger

Paul Thomas Schmidt

Joseph M Huelsmann

Kyle A Halfacre

Allen Ben Chu

A heatsink or heat exchanger for one or more power modules of an inverter or a converter comprises a coolant flow channel, comprised of a plurality of coolant flow channel portions that form a switchback or serpentine flow path, and that is adapted to circulate coolant inside the heat exchanger or heatsink. One or more vents can be provided inside the heat exchanger or heatsink to pass air from one coolant flow channel portion to an adjacent coolant flow channel portion.

Heatsink configuration and arrangment for inverter and systems, components, and methods thereof

A heat sink assembly for a power module is provided. The assembly includes a main body having a first cooling circuit and a second cooling circuit. The first cooling circuit includes a first plurality of channels, at least one first end channel, at least one second end channel, a first inlet, and a first outlet. The first cooling circuit is adapted to provide a first flow of a coolant through the main body. The second cooling circuit includes a second plurality of passages, at least one first end passage, at least one second end passage, a second inlet, and a second outlet. The second cooling circuit is adapted to provide a second flow of the coolant through the main body. The first cooling circuit and second cooling circuit is adapted to provide a cross flow of the first flow and second flow through the main body respectively.

Heat sink assembly

A cold plate for a power circuit is disclosed. The power circuit includes a plurality of transistors and each of the plurality of transistors includes a plurality of dies. The cold plate includes a liquid cooling system that includes a plurality of cooling channels and each of the plurality of cooling channels is aligned with at least one die. The liquid cooling system includes a heat sink associated with each of the plurality of cooling channels. The cold plate further includes a plurality of heat pipes, wherein each of the plurality of heat pipes is aligned with at least one of the plurality of cooling channels and at least one die. Each heat pipe includes a wick lining an interior of the heat pipe, a vapor flow area, and a fluid.

Heatpipe imbedded coldplate enhancing IGBT heat spreading

A heat sink for power modules can be incorporated into a power module of a machine. In embodiments, an alloy is extruded to form a body with a plurality of divider webs integral thereto and defining a plurality of longitudinal passage segments inside the body. The body is machined to remove alternating end portions of the divider webs to define a fitting end turn area and a return end turn area disposed in opposing relationship with each other, thereby forming a serpentine fluid passage. A fitting end cap is welded to the body. A fluid inlet and a fluid outlet of the fitting end cap are respectively in fluid communication with a passage inlet and a passage outlet of the serpentine fluid passage.

Heat sink device for power modules of power converter assembly

A power converter assembly includes a housing and at least one transistor module. The housing has a liquid cooled heat transfer surface. The at least one transistor module is mounted directly to the liquid cooled heat transfer surface and positioned at least partially within the housing.

Power converter assembly having a housing

Assembling a power converter for a multiple phase electric drive propulsion system in a machine includes arranging a plurality of rectangular capacitor units of a capacitor subassembly for conditioning electrical power in the power converter in a first packaging arrangement. In the first packaging arrangement, major capacitor axes of each one of the capacitor units are co-linear with one another and minor capacitor axes of each one of the capacitor units are oriented parallel but not co-linear with one another. Assembling the power converter further includes arranging a plurality of IGBT modules of a transistor subassembly for power switching in the power converter in a second packaging arrangement. In the second packaging arrangement major module axes of each one of the IGBT modules are oriented parallel but not co-linear with one another and minor module axes of each one of the IGBT modules are co-linear with one another. The capacitor subassembly and the transistor subassembly are supported in the first packaging arrangement and in the second packaging arrangement for service in a power converter housing.

Growing community of inventors

Peoria, IL, United States of America

Keith Elliot Dixler