SYNTHETIC MODULAR HOUSING WITH EMBEDDED COOLING BODY

Abstract

The invention relates to a module housing made of plastic, in particular a thermosetting polymer, with an embedded cooling element and at least one screw sleeve, which has a collar with an exposed mounting surface with which the module housing can be mounted on a support functioning as an external heat sink. The cooling element and the at least one screw sleeve form a monolithic element with which heat can be conducted from the cooling element to the support via at least the mounting surface.

Claims

1. A module housing made of plastic with an embedded cooling element (1) and at least one embedded screw sleeve (2), which has a collar with an exposed mounting surface (211) with which the module housing can be mounted on a support (3) functioning as an external heat sink, characterized in that the cooling element (1) and the at least one screw sleeve (2) form a monolithic element (0), with which heat is conducted from the cooling element to the support (3) via at least the mounting surface.

2. The module housing made of plastic with an embedded cooling element according to claim 1, characterized in that there is precisely one screw sleeve (2), and the mounting surface (211) is raised in relation to the cooling element (1) such that when the module housing is mounted on the support (2), only the mounting surface (211) bears thereon.

3. The module housing made of plastic with an embedded cooling element according to claim 1, characterized in that the screw sleeve (2) is completely connected to the cooling element (1) over the height (h) of the cooling element along the cylindrical axis (20) of the screw sleeve, and the cross section of the monolithic connection between the cooling element (1) and the screw sleeve (2) is optimized for thermal discharge along the height of the cooling element (1).

4. The module housing made of plastic with an embedded cooling element according to claim 1, characterized in that the screw sleeve is connected over its width with the cooling element (1), which corresponds to at least the outer diameter (d) of the screw sleeve, and the cross section of the monolithic connection between the cooling element (1) and the screw sleeve (2) is optimized for thermal discharge along the width of the cooling element (1).

5. The module housing made of plastic with an embedded cooling element according to claim 1, characterized in that the mounting surface (211) is circular.

6. The module housing made of plastic with an embedded cooling element according to claim 5, characterized in that the mounting surface (211) has an outer diameter that is at least twice the size of the inner diameter of the mounting surface (211).

7. The module housing made of plastic with an embedded cooling element according to claim 1, characterized in that the plastic is a thermosetting polymer.

8. An electrical assembly comprising a module housing according to any of the preceding claims.

9. A motor vehicle that has a control comprising an electrical assembly that has a module housing according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The invention shall be explained below in greater detail in reference to drawings of an exemplary embodiment. Therein:

[0021] FIGS. 1a and 1b show a top view and a cutaway view of a module housing according to the prior art; and

[0022] FIGS. 2a to 2c show a top view, cutaway view, and perspective illustration of a module housing according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] As in the prior art, shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b, a module housing according to the invention is also made of plastic, preferably a thermosetting polymer. A cooling element 1 and at least one screw sleeve 2 are embedded therein. In the prior art, thermal discharge from the cooling element 1 takes place directly via an exposed base surface of the cooling element (thermal interface), and the at least one screw sleeve 2 only functions as a mechanical interface, while the at least one screw sleeve 2 in a module housing according to the invention functions as both a mechanical and a thermal interface. The at least one screw sleeve 2 is connected to the cooling element 1 for this, thus forming a monolithic element 0.

[0024] According to the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 2a-2c, the monolithic element has precisely one screw sleeve 2, which has a collar 21 with an exposed mounting surface 211 that bears on a support 3 serving as an external heat sink when the module housing is mounted thereon. In this exemplary embodiment, the mounting surface 211 is an integral component of a planar base surface, which extends over the entire monolithic element 0.

[0025] When the module housing is mounted on a support 3 which has a bearing surface 31 facing the module housing that is limited to the size of the mounting surface, as shown in the drawings, heat is drawn off through thermal conduction, while force is only exerted thereto via the mounting surface 211. It is also advantageous that only the mounting surface needs to be subjected to a finishing process to ensure that it is even. With a larger bearing surface 31 on the support 3, up to the same size as the base surface of the monolithic element 0 (not shown in the drawings), heat is discharged through thermal conduction over the entire base surface, which requires, however, that the base surface and the bearing surface 31 are extremely flat. In order to press the entire base surface evenly against the bearing surface 31 on the support, there can also be one or two more screw sleeves 2 in the monolithic element.

TABLE-US-00001 Reference Symbols 0 monolithic element 1 cooling element 2 screw sleeve 20 cylindrical axis 21 collar 211 mounting surface 22 cylindrical axis 3 support 31 bearing surface h height of the cooling element d outer diameter of the screw sleeve