Search

EP-4310432-B1 - COOLING COMPONENT AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING THE SAME

EP4310432B1EP 4310432 B1EP4310432 B1EP 4310432B1EP-4310432-B1

Inventors

  • Heitbrink, Alexander
  • SIEWERT, GEORG

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20230705

Claims (6)

  1. Method for producing a cooling component, which has a cooling body (11) made of metal or a metal alloy, in particular aluminum, with which an object may be cooled, wherein the cooling body (11) has one or more, preferably parallel medium channels for the throughflow of cooling medium, and a connection part (12), which is connected to the cooling body (11) in a fluid-tight manner and via which the cooling medium can be supplied to the cooling body (11) and/or via which the cooling medium can be discharged from the cooling body (11), having the following measures: a) inserting a, in particular terminal ,connecting region of a/the prefabricated cooling body (11), which is, in particular, produced by profile extrusion and, in particular, manufactured in one piece, into a receiving space of a receptacle of a/the prefabricated, in particular injection molded, plastic connection part (12) for the cooling body (11) via a relative movement between the cooling body (11) and the connection part (12), so that each of a plurality of, in particular mutually parallel opposing connecting faces of a connecting region of the cooling body (11), each with three-dimensional nanostructures and/or microstructures incorporated, in particular, by physical and/or chemical nanostructuring or microstructuring methods, is opposite a respectively associated connecting face of the receptacle of the connection part (12), in particular a respectively associated connecting face which is arranged on an inner side of a wall of the receptacle, b) heating the connecting faces of the cooling body (11), in particular via induction, to a temperature which corresponds at least to a softening temperature or melting temperature of the plastic of the connection part (12), in particular before the connecting region of the cooling body (11) is inserted into the receiving space of the receptacle and/or while the connecting region is located in the receiving space, c) connecting all heated connecting faces of the cooling body (11) to the respectively opposing connecting face of the connection part (12) in a fluid-tight manner by pressing these mutually opposing connecting faces together while melting the connecting face of the connection part (12) through the heat of the connecting face of the cooling body (11).
  2. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that all connecting faces of the cooling body (11), or only a pair of connecting faces of the cooling body (11), which are, in particular, opposite one another at a spacing, is/are pressed together with the respectively opposing connecting face of the connection part (12) in that a pressing member presses the respective connecting face of the connection part (12) against the respectively opposing connecting face of the cooling body (11) in each case and/or all connecting faces of the cooling body (11) or only a pair of, in particular, opposing connecting faces of the cooling body is/are pressed together with the respectively opposing connecting face of the connection part (12) in that the spacing of mutually opposing connecting faces of the cooling body (11) is matched to a spacing of mutually opposing connecting faces of the connection part (12) so that, by heating these connecting faces of the cooling body (11) in an inserted state of the connecting region of the cooling body (11) in the receiving space of the connection part (12), a thermal expansion of the cooling body (11) material results in a press fit, in the course of which the respective connecting face of the cooling body (11) is pressed against the respectively opposing connecting face of the connection part (12).
  3. The method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cooling body is a profile body (11) having a first large-surface wall, a second large-surface wall, which is spaced therefrom and extends, in particular, parallel thereto, and two mutually spaced narrow side walls connecting the first and the second large-surface wall to one another, wherein the connecting faces of the cooling body (11) are (terminal) regions of outer sides of these profile body walls.
  4. The method as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that those connecting faces of the connection part (12) which are opposite the first large-surface wall or the second large-surface wall in each case are pressed against the respectively opposing connecting face of the cooling body (11) by a respective pressing member, and/or those connecting faces of the connection part (12) which are opposite a connecting face of one of the narrow side walls of the cooling body (11) in each case are connected to the respective connecting face of the cooling body (11) via the press fit.
  5. The method as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the connecting faces of all of these walls of the cooling body (11) are connected to the respectively opposing connecting face of the connection part (12) by a respective pressing member pressing the connecting face of the connection part against the respective wall.
  6. The method as claimed in claim 1-5, characterized in that the pressing of the respective connecting face of the connection part (12) against the respectively opposing connecting face of the cooling body (11) takes place by means of the respective pressing member in that this applies pressure to the wall of the receptacle on which the respective connecting face is arranged, in particular to the outer side of this wall.

Description

The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a cooling component with a cooling element, in particular an elongated, preferably coated, made of metal or a metal alloy, in particular aluminium, with which an object can be cooled, wherein the cooling element has one or more, preferably parallel, in particular elongated and/or straight medium channels for the flow of cooling medium, and with a connection part fluid-tightly connected to the cooling element, through which the cooling medium can be supplied to the cooling element and/or through which the cooling medium can be discharged from the cooling element. Cooling components used to dissipate heat from objects requiring cooling are also known as heat exchangers and are used in many areas of technology. Such cooling components are particularly important in the cooling of battery systems for electric vehicles, as well as power electronics components, busbars, and processor chips. These cooling components are typically part of a larger cooling system that ensures a continuous flow of cooling medium, such as water, through the component. The heat sinks, which during operation are usually in contact with the object to be cooled, or at least in its immediate vicinity, are often made of individual components of metal or a metal alloy (e.g., steel) that are elaborately welded or soldered together. The connecting part for supplying and/or discharging the cooling medium is often made of the same metal or metal alloy as the heat sink and is also elaborately welded or soldered to it. However, since such connecting parts are generally not intended for direct heat transfer from the object to be cooled to the cooling component, it would not actually be necessary to manufacture the connecting parts from highly thermally conductive metallic material. In fact, this is functionally even more advantageous. Rather counterproductive. DE 10 2016 125859 A1 reveals a flexible connection of a metallic extruded profile to a terminal body for use in cooling applications for electrical components. US 2014/090812 A1 Disclosing a heat exchanger with a first collection box and a second collection box, with at least one tube arranged between the two collection boxes, wherein a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet are provided, which are arranged individually on each of the collection boxes or on a single one of the collection boxes. The object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing a further developed cooling component mentioned above. This problem is solved by a manufacturing process having the features of claim 1. The inventive method produces a cooling component, wherein the connecting part is made of plastic (preferably designed as a plastic injection-molded part), and wherein, for connecting the connecting part to the cooling element, which is preferably made of aluminum, a first, in particular terminal, connecting area of the cooling element is inserted into the receiving space of a receptacle for the connecting part and is fluid-tightly connected to the receptacle there. This connecting area has several connecting surfaces, each with three-dimensional nano- and/or microstructures introduced, in particular by physical and/or chemical nano- or microstructuring processes. The connecting area of the cooling element is fluid-tightly connected to the receptacle by each connecting surface of the cooling element being opposite a corresponding connecting surface of the receptacle and being pressed together with it (by direct thermal joining). The inventive method for manufacturing such a cooling component comprises the following measures: a) Inserting a, or in particular the terminal, connection area of a prefabricated, in particular by profile extrusion, in particular manufactured or formed in one piece, heat sink into the receiving space of a receptacle of a prefabricated, in particular injection-molded, plastic connection part for the heat sink by means of relative movement between the heat sink and the connection part, such that each of several, in particular parallel, opposing connection surfaces of the connection area of the heat sink, with each three-dimensional nano- and/or microstructures introduced in particular by physical and/or chemical nano- or microstructuring processes, is opposite an associated connection surface of the receptacle of the connection part, in particular an associated connection surface which is arranged on an inner side of a wall of the receptacle. b) Heating the connecting surfaces of the heat sink, in particular by means of induction, to a temperature that is at least equal to the melting temperature of the plastic of the connecting part, in particular before the connecting area of the heat sink is inserted into the receiving space of the receiver and/or while the connecting area is in the receiving space, c) Fluid-tight connection of all heated connection surfaces of the heat sink with the respective opposite connection surface