Apparatus for mounting and-or cooling electrical devices

Claim 2

A mounting and cooling arrangement comprising a number of circuit components including at least one heat-producing electrical device, an electrically conductive mounting member, means for securing said device to said mounting member in thermally and electrically conductive relation, a base structure supporting said components, said structure including a supporting portion for said mounting member, said supporting portion being shaped complementarily with a juxtaposed surface of said mounting member and coextending therewith, the area of said juxtaposed surface being several times larger than that area of the device which is contacted by said mounting member, a thin electrically insulating coating interposed between and substantially coextending with said mounting member surface and said supporting portion, said coating being adhered to at least one of said mounting member surface and said supporting portion, said mounting member surface and said supporting portion being sized to obtain a low overall thermal impedance therebetween and to dissipate heat across said coating at a relatively lowtemperature differential between said mounting member and said supporting portion, said base structure being sIzed to dissipate substantially all of the heat transferred thereto without the use of auxiliary cooling means, a fuse element electrically connected between said device and another of said components, said fuse element having a relatively heavy strap flushly engaged with said mounting member for transferring heat from said fuse element to said mounting member to obviate premature self-destruct of said fuse element.

Claim 3

A mounting and cooling arrangement comprising a number of circuit components including at least one heat-producing electrical device, an electrically conductive mounting member having a substantially uniform thickness, means for securing said device to said mounting member in thermally and electrically conductive relation, said securing means including means for establishing a compressive metal-to-metal contact between said device and said mounting member in avoidance of any appreciable thermal drop therebetween, a base structure of substantially uniform thickness supporting said components, said structure including a supporting portion for said mounting member, said metal-to-metal contact means being spaced from said supporting portion and being disposed to avoid warpage of said mounting member and of said base structure, said supporting portion being shaped complementarily with a juxtaposed surface of said mounting member and at least coextending therewith, the area of said juxtaposed surface being several times larger than the adjacent area of said device, a thin electrically insulating coating interposed between and substantially coextending with said mounting member surface and the adjacent surface of said supporting portion, said thin coating being closely fitted against said mounting surface and said supporting portion surface and being adhered to at least one of said surfaces, an additional coating completely covering the remaining exposed surfaces of said base structure so that all surfaces of said base structure are completely and electrically isolated, said thin coating having a substantially high thermal and electrical unit impedance, said mounting member and said supporting portion being extended in generally parallel relation to an extent sufficient to obtain a low overall thermal impedance therebetween and to dissipate heat across said coating at a relatively low-temperature differential between said mounting member and said supporting portion, and said base structure being extended in directions substantially parallel to said mounting member to dissipate substantially all of the heat transferred to said base structure without the use of auxiliary cooling or heat-dissipating means.

Claim 4

A mounting and cooling arrangement comprising a number of circuit components including at least one heat-producing electrical device, an electrically conductive mounting member having a substantially uniform thickness, means for securing said device to said mounting member in thermally and electrically conductive relation, said securing means including means for establishing a compressive metal-to-metal contact between said device and said mounting member in avoidance of any appreciable thermal drop therebetween, a base structure of substantially uniform thickness supporting said components, said structure including a supporting portion for said mounting member, said metal-to-metal contact means being spaced from said supporting portion and being disposed to avoid warpage of said mounting member and of said base structure, said supporting portion being shaped complementarily with a juxtaposed surface of said mounting member and at least coextending therewith, the area of said juxtaposed surface being several times larger than the adjacent area of said device, a thin electrically insulating coating interposed between and substantially coextending with said mounting member surface and the adjacent surface of said supporting portion, said thin coating being closely fitted against said mounting surface and said supporting portion surface and being adhered to at least one of said surfaces, an additional coating completely covering the remaining exposed surfaces of said base structure so that all surfaces of said base structure are completely and electrically isolated, said thin coating having a substantially high thermal and electrical unit impedance, said mounting member and said supporting portion being extended in generally parallel relation to an extent sufficient to obtain a low overall thermal impedance therebetween and to dissipate heat across said coating at a relatively low-temperature differential between said mounting member and said supporting portion, and said base structure being extended in directions substantially parallel to said mounting member to dissipate substantially all of the heat transferred to said base structure without the use of auxiliary cooling or heat-dissipating means.

Claim 5

The combination according to claim 2 wherein at least said additional coating is medium to dark in color and of a matte finish to facilitate radiational heat transfer from the remaining portions of said supporting structure.

Claim 6

The combination according to claim 2 wherein said coating is adhesive and resilient upon initial engagement of said mounting member with said supporting portion so that said mounting member is adhered to said supporting portion in completely contiguous relation.