CONTACT SYSTEM HAVING RELIABLE INSULATION

Abstract

A contact system includes a support body, a heat sink configured to contact the support body in an electrically insulated and/or heat-conducting manner, and an electrically insulating layer arranged between the heat sink and the support body. The heat sink has a first surface which is embodied substantially as a flat area and formed with a recess in a region intended for contacting a periphery of a contact area of the support body. The recess forms an unbroken track on the first surface of the heat sink. The contact area of the support body is located on the heat sink in such a way that the recess extends completely along the periphery of the contact area. The insulating layer between the heat sink and the support body is configured to cover the recess in such a way that a dosed channel is formed by the recess and the insulating layer.

Claims

1.-15. (canceled)

16. A contact system, comprising: a support body; a heat sink configured to contact the support body in an electrically insulated and/or heat-conducting manner, said heat sink having a first surface which is embodied substantially as a flat area and formed with a recess in a region intended for contacting a periphery of a contact area of the support body, said recess forming an unbroken track on the first surface of the heat sink, wherein the contact area of the support body is located on the heat sink in such a way that the recess extends completely along the periphery of the contact area; and an electrically insulating layer arranged between the heat sink and the support body and configured to cover the recess in such a way that a dosed channel is formed by the recess and the insulating layer.

17. The contact system of claim 16, wherein the heat sink includes a plurality of said recess to form corresponding unbroken tracks.

18. The contact system of claim 16, wherein the recess has a cross section of rectangular or rounded configuration.

19. The contact system of claim 16, wherein a transition zone between the recess and a flat part of the first surface is chamfered.

20. The contact system of claim 16, wherein the electrically insulating layer is thermally conductive.

21. The contact system of claim 16, wherein the electrically insulating layer is formed by a film.

22. The contact system of claim 16, further comprising a gel-type material arranged in the recess.

23. The contact system of claim 16, wherein the support body is formed by a current bar.

24. The contact system of claim 16, further comprising multiple current bars, and a plurality of said recess to form corresponding unbroken tracks, wherein a number of recesses corresponds to a number of current bars.

25. The contact system of claim 16, wherein the number of current bars is three.

26. The contact system of claim 16, further comprising a fastening device configured to connect the support body to the heat sink in a manner which does not allow movement.

27. A method for producing a contact system, said method comprising: arranging an insulating layer on a heat sink so as to cover a recess in the heat sink and to form a closed channel by the recess and the insulating layer; and positioning a support body on the heat sink in such a way that the insulating layer is arranged between the heat sink and the support body and an entire periphery of a contact area of the support body with the heat sink extends along the recess of the heat sink.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the heat sink includes a plurality of said recess to form corresponding unbroken tracks.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the recess has a cross section of rectangular or rounded configuration.

30. The method of claim 27, further comprising chamfering a transition zone between the recess and a flat part of the heat sink.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein the electrically insulating layer is thermally conductive.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein the electrically insulating layer is formed by a film.

33. The method of claim 27, further comprising arranging a gel-type material in the recess.

34. The method of claim 27, wherein the support body is formed by a current bar.

35. The method of claim 27, further comprising connecting the support body to the heat sink in a manner which does not allow movement.

Description

[0035] The invention is described and explained in greater detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the figures, in which:

[0036] FIG. 1 shows a contact system according to the prior art,

[0037] FIG. 2 shows a detail view of the previously cited contact system,

[0038] FIG. 3, FIG. 4 show exemplary embodiments of a contact system with proposed recess, and

[0039] FIG. 5 shows an unbroken track of a recess.

[0040] FIG. 1 shows the cross section of a contact system 3. The contact system comprises a heat sink 1 and a support body 2 with a reliable insulation in the form of an insulating layer 4. The insulating layer 4 is located between the heat sink 1 and the support body 2. For this, the heat sink 1 has a first surface 10 which is intended for the contacting with the support body 2. The support body 2 has a contact area 21 which is intended for the contacting with the first surface 10 of the heat sink 1.

[0041] For the sake of clarity, elements for ensuring a lasting contact between heat sink 1 and support body 2 have been omitted. This can be realized by means of for example a screw connection, a spring connection, a clamping connection, etc. These can be referred to generally as fastening devices. The support body 2 can take the form of for example a semiconductor module or a current bar. In the case of a contact system 3 comprising heat sink 1 and current bar, for example, it must also be ensured that there are no equalizing currents between heat sink 1 and support body 2 as a result of different electrical potentials. Heat sink 1 and support body 2 are therefore electrically insulated from each other by means of the insulating layer 4. Unwanted equalizing currents between these bodies 1, 2 are prevented thereby.

[0042] The contact system 3 therefore has a three-layer structure comprising the heat sink 1 with a first electrical potential, an insulating layer 4, and a support body 2 which carries a second electrical potential, the first and the second electrical potentials generally differing from each other. The structure of this exemplary embodiment serves to cool a current bar via a heat sink 1 for example. The current bar forms the support body 2 in this case.

[0043] FIG. 2 is a detail view of the circular region shown in FIG. 1 on the left-hand side of the periphery of the support body 2. In order to avoid repetition, reference is made to the description of FIG. 1 and to the reference signs assigned there. It can be seen from the support body 2 in this case that it has a geometric flaw, for example a burr 5, which projects from the regular geometry of the structural element. This flaw could penetrate the insulating layer 4 completely when the support body 2 is pressed or pushed onto the heat sink 1, resulting in an electrical contact between heat sink 1 and support body 2 and therefore an unwanted electrical connection of the potentials that must be separated. Alternatively, it could penetrate the insulating layer 4 only partially, as a result of which the contact, for example due to effects of settling or partial discharge, might only occur after a time delay and might not be reliably identifiable in tests.

[0044] The effect of the flaw is particularly critical if the insulating layer 4 is very thin and/or soft, which applies in the case of for example limited structural space or the need for thermal penetration.

[0045] FIG. 3 shows an exemplary embodiment of the proposed contact system 3 in cross section. In order to avoid repetition, reference is made to the description of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 and to the reference signs assigned there. In this exemplary embodiment, recesses 11 have been introduced into the first surface 10 of the heat sink 1. These counteract geometric flaws that are present, for example a burr 5 of the support body 1.

[0046] The support body 2 ideally has chamfered edges as per its specification for protecting the insulating layer 4 against damage. In the illustration according to FIG. 3, the right-hand edge of the support body 2 at the transition zone to the contact area 21 is designed as a beveled edge and the left-hand edge of the support body 2 at the transition zone to the contact area 21 as rounded edges. This does not however provide reliable protection against projecting parts of the support body 2, The risk of damage is therefore reduced but not eliminated.

[0047] Therefore, in order to improve the contact system 3 in terms of contacting with electrical insulation, one or more recesses are provided on the first surface 10 of the heat sink 1, These are able to accommodate projecting geometric flaws such as for example a burr 5, without pressure being exerted on the intermediate insulating layer 4, This offers reliable protection for the insulating layer 4, because the recesses 11 allow the insulating layer 4 to withdraw into a hollow space of the recess 11 if burrs 5 or other protruding geometric flaws are placed thereon. The force effect on the insulating layer 4 is significantly reduced thereby and prevents the insulating layer 4 from being damaged or even penetrated by the support body 2. The hollow space is formed by means of a material recess, designated recess 11, in the heat sink 1. In the case of a contact system 3, this is advantageously located at the edge of the contact area 21 of the support body 1. It can have a rectangular cross section in particular, as illustrated in the left-hand recess 11. Alternatively or additionally, it is also possible for the recess 11 to have a rounded cross section, in particular at the transition zone to the first surface 10. Furthermore, cross sections which are shaped differently are also possible and effective for the recess 11.

[0048] The insulating layer 4 can overlap the hollow space completely as illustrated, but can also overlap the hollow space only partially.

[0049] Furthermore, FIG. 4 shows the cross section of a further exemplary embodiment having an oval cross section of the recess 11. In order to avoid repetition in the explanation for FIG. 4, reference is made to the description of FIGS. 1 to 3 and to the reference signs assigned there. The heat sink 1 advantageously has a chamfered edge, in particular on that side which is overhung by support body 2. This again reduces the load on the insulating layer 4. Particularly in the case in which the insulating layer 4 actually overlaps the entire recess 11, it has proven advantageous to additionally likewise embody the edge on the opposite side of the recess as a chamfered edge. The chamfered edge prevents the heat sink 1 from penetrating into the insulating layer.

[0050] FIG. 5 shows a further heat sink 1 with recesses 11. By virtue of the perspective illustration, the unbroken tracks of the recesses 11 can be seen, Two separate recesses 11 are provided in the left-hand part of the heat sink 1, allowing two support bodies 2 to be contacted. The support bodies 2 in this case have a contact area which is for example rectangular and overlaps parts of the recess 11 when contacted, A recess in the form of a figure-8 is shown in the right-hand part of the heat sink 1. The different sections of the recess can have different widths in this case. In particular, the central path of the recess can be wider in the figure-8-shaped embodiment. This allows greater flexibility in the utilization of the heat sink. The track in the figure-8-shaped embodiment of the recess 11 is likewise an unbroken track. For example, two support bodies 2 can be contacted at this recess 11. The recess is then used by both support bodies 2 at the central path of the recess 11. It is alternatively also possible respectively to contact a large support body 2 which uses only the outer part of the recess 11. This type of recess 11 is particularly flexible, since different embodiments of the support body 2 can be connected to the heat sink 1 while making full use of the cited advantages.

[0051] In summary, the invention relates to a heat sink for contacting with a support body in an electrically insulated and/or heat-conducting manner, said heat sink having a first surface. For improved contacting, it is proposed that the first surface should have at least one recess, said recess being located in a region of the first surface, which region is intended for contacting with the periphery of a contact area of the support body, said recess forming an unbroken track on the first surface, and said first surface being embodied substantially as a flat area. The invention further relates to a contact system having such a heat sink and a support body, a contact area of the support body being located on the heat sink in such a way that the recess of the heat sink extends completely along the periphery of the contact area. The invention further relates to a method for producing such a contact system, the support body being positioned on the heat sink in such a way that the entire periphery of the contact area of the support body extends along the recess of the heat sink.