Automotive bridge assembly

Claim 2

A rectifier bridge assembly, comprising: a positive heat sink member having at least one aperture and one recessed region and being formed as a single unit with a first side and a second side; a negative heat sink member positioned under said aperture, and said negative heat sink being attached to the first side of said positive heat sink member and being insulated therefrom; a phase input plate having at least a pair of apertures, one of said apertures being in registration with said aperture carried by said positive heat sink member, the second of said apertures being in registration with said recessed region carried by said positive heat sink member, and said phase input plate being attached to the second side of said positive heat sink member and being insulated therefrom; a rectifying diode being positioned in each aperture carried by said phase input plate; and sealing means for individually holding each of said diodes in contact with its respective heat sink and for individually holding each of said diodes away from the other heat sink.

Claim 3

The rectifier bridge assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein: said recessed region of said positive heat sink is positioned substantially in the same plane as said negative heat sink.

Claim 4

The rectifier bridge assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein: said phase input plate carries an attachment lug formed from an integral portion of said phase input plate.

Claim 5

A rectifier bridge assembly comprising: a positive heat sink member carrying a plurality of apertures and a plurality of recessed regions, and being formed as a single unit with a first side and a second side, and one of said apertures being positioned adjacent one of said recessed regions; a plurality of negative heat sink members, and each of said negative heat sink members being mounted to a first side of said positive heat sink member and being positioned under one of said apertures carried by said positive heat sink member, and each of said negative heat sink members being insulated from said positive heat sink member; a plurality of phase input plates, and each of said plates carrying a pair of apertures, one of said apertures being in registration with one of said apertures carried by said positive heat sink member, the second of said apertures being in registration with an adjacent recessed region of said positive heat sink member, and said phase input plate being attached to the second side of said positive heat sink member and being insulated therefrom; a rectifying diode being positioned in each aperture carried by said phase input plate; and sealing means for individually holding each of said diodes in contact with its respective heat sink, and for individually holding each Of said diodes spaced from the other heat sink.

Claim 6

A rectifier bridge assembly comprising: a positive heat sink member carrying a plurality of apertures and a plurality of recessed regions, and being formed as a single unit with a first side and a second side, and one of said apertures being positioned adjacent one of said recessed regions; a plurality of negative heat sink members, and each of said negative heat sink members being mounted to a first side of said positive heat sink member and being positioned under one of said apertures carried by said positive heat sink member, and each of said negative heat sink members being insulated from said positive heat sink member; a plurality of phase input plates, and each of said plates carrying a pair of apertures, one of said apertures being in registration with one of said apertures carried by said positive heat sink member, the second of said apertures being in registration with an adjacent recessed region of said positive heat sink member, and said phase input plate being attached to the second side of said positive heat sink member and being insulated therefrom; a rectifying diode being positioned in each aperture carried by said phase input plate; and sealing means for individually holding each of said diodes in contact with its respective heat sink, and for individually holding each Of said diodes spaced from the other heat sink.

Claim 7

The rectifier bridge assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein: said recessed region of said positive heat sink is positioned substantially in the same plane as said negative heat sink.

Claim 8

The rectifier bridge assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein: said phase input plate carries an attachment lug formed from an integral portion of said phase input plate.

Claim 9

A rectifier assembly, comprising: a plurality of sets of devices, and one diode in each set conducting current for a first half of an alternating signal applied to said set, and a second diode in each set conducting current for a second half of an alternating signal applied to said set; a first heat sink plate supporting said one diode in each set; a second heat sink member supporting said second diode in each set of diodes; first insulating means separating said first heat sink from said second heat sink; phase input means receiving each set of diodes; second insulting means separating said first heat sink from said phase input means; and sealing means in operative relationship with said phase input means for individually holding each of said diodes in contact with its respective heat sink, and for individually holding each of said diodes spaced from the other heat sink.

Claim 10

A rectifier assembly, comprising: a plurality of sets of devices, and one diode in each set conducting current for a first half of an alternating signal applied to said set, and a second diode in each set conducting current for a second half of an alternating signal applied to said set; a first heat sink plate supporting said one diode in each set; a second heat sink member supporting said second diode in each set of diodes; first insulating means separating said first heat sink from said second heat sink; phase input means receiving each set of diodes; second insulting means separating said first heat sink from said phase input means; and sealing means in operative relationship with said phase input means for individually holding each of said diodes in contact with its respective heat sink, and for individually holding each of said diodes spaced from the other heat sink.

Claim 11

The rectifier assembly as recited in claim 7, and further including; means mounted on said phase input plate for reception of one phase of an alternating signal.

Claim 12

The rectifier assembly as recited in claim 7, wherein: said first heat sink plate is made of a single piece and said first heat sink being formed with a recessed portion for supporting said one diode, and being formed with an aperture for receiving each of said second diodes.

Claim 13

The rectifier assembly as recited in claim 7, wherein: said second heat sink is divided into a plurality of separate units.

Claim 14

The rectifier assembly as recited in claim 9, wherein: said recessed region of said positive heat sink is positioned substantially in the same plane as said negative heat sink.