Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical... – For electronic systems and devices
Patent
1997-11-26
1999-06-01
Thompson, Gregory
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...
For electronic systems and devices
257726, 361690, 361710, 361715, H05K 720
Patent
active
059093587
ABSTRACT:
The present invention involves a heat sink clip which engages a slot of a heat sink to press a power component into a heat sink of an electronic module, such as a power converter circuit for a vehicle. A power converter module for a vehicle comprises a casing having at least one heat sink with a plurality of fins, power converter circuitry disposed within the casing and including at least one power component; and a clip for pressing the power component into the heat sink. The clip has a first end engaging a slot of the casing and a second end extending from the first end with a resilient biasing that presses the power component into thermal contact with the heat sink. The casing slot includes a lip which retains the clip within the slot, and a sloped surface which facilitates entry of the clip. The clip has a generally L-shaped configuration for engaging the slot, with a corner that abuts a lip of the casing slot to retain the corner within the slot. The clip also includes an end flange for engaging the slot in an interference fit. A thermally conductive, electrically insulating layer is disposed between the power component and the heat sink, and the clip includes an articulated portion extending beyond said power component so that only the clip second end contacts the power component. The clip is made of a metallic material.
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Thompson Gregory
Todd Engineering Sales, Inc.
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