Thermal transfer mat for electrical or electronic apparatuses and process for producing it

0001The invention relates to a method for producing thermally conductive inlay mats for electrical and electronic equipment according to the preamble of claim 1 and thermally conductive inlay mats according to the preamble of claim 3 and operating devices for electric lamps with such inlay mats.

I.

State of the art

0002The published patent application EP 0986292 A2 discloses a thermally conductive inlay mat for electrical and electronic equipment, consisting of a modified hydrocarbon resin or consists of a silicone composite film. This inlay mats malleable, pliable and have a soft and sticky consistency. The Insertion mats are made of a potting compound, the poured into molds and subsequently under vacuum, and the supply of heat about eight hours is cured. The cost of this inlay mats are due to the time-consuming Production process and the large number of required molds for the inlay mats highly different dimensions.

II.

Summary of the Invention

0003It is the object of the invention to provide a simplified process for preparing thermally conductive Inlay mats for electrical and electronic equipment and similar provide inlay mats.

0004This object is achieved according to the features of claim 1 or 3 dissolved. Particularly advantageous embodiments of the invention are in the dependent Claims described.

0005According to the invention, the thermally conductive insert mats for electric and electronic Devices made of an electrically insulating, thermally conductive plastic produced by extrusion by an extruder. This process allows the Unlike the production method according to the prior art an economical Mass production of the inlay mats. The shape of the inlay mats by determines the shape of the exit orifice of the extruder and therefore without great expense to be adapted to the desired application. Especially are no longer required as molds in the manufacturing process according to the Prior art. To produce the thermally conductive inlay mats can all thermoplastic, thermally conductive plastics. particularly advantageous However, such plastics, which in addition to high thermal conductivity enable also a good electrical insulation. The inlay mats according to the therefore preferred embodiment are made of silicone.

0006According to the manufacturing method of the invention are according to the invention thermally conductive inlay mats designed as a plastic extruded profile. The inlay mats of the invention advantageously a flat bottom and provided with longitudinal grooves on top. The flat bottom allows an good thermal coupling to a housing wall of an electrical appliance, while the slats on the upper side, which bound the longitudinal grooves, different offset distances between the housing wall and the heat source , since the slats are flexible and pliable. The fins may be formed hollow be to increase the flexibility.

0007A preferred application for the thermally conductive inlay mats of the invention are Betriebsgräte for electric lamps. Having this control gear usually a housing and arranged within the housing electronic Components for the operation of lamps. To the generated from the electronic components be able to dissipate heat through the case better, is among the electronic Components and the housing at least one of the inlaid mats of the invention arranged. The electronic components of the operating device are preferably fixed on a mounting board, which, with a small distance from a housing wall for example, arranged to the bottom of the operating unit. An inventive Inlay mat is advantageous between the mounting board and the aforementioned Housing wall of the operating device arranged to provide a good thermal to obtain coupling between the electronic components and that housing wall. To further improve the heat dissipation, the means of the inlay mat formed thermally coupled to the mounting plate housing wall as a heat sink be, by example, consists of a metal sheet or a metal sheet is provided.

III.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments

0008The invention based on preferred embodiments is closer explained. Show it:<dl tsize="7"><dt>figure 1</dt><dd>A side view of a first embodiment of the invention inlay mat</dd><dt>figure 2</dt><dd>A side view of a second embodiment of the invention inlay mat</dd><dt>figure 3</dt><dd>A side view of a third embodiment of the invention inlay mat</dd><dt>figure 4</dt><dd>A cross section through an operating device for electric lamps</dd></dl>

0009In the figure, 1 is a first embodiment of the loading mat according to the invention shown schematically. This inlay mat 1 is made of silicone and has a Width B of 80 mm and a thickness H of 5 mm. The underside of the inlay mat 1 is flat, while its top surface with a plurality of longitudinal grooves 10 is provided, which have a depth of 4 mm. The longitudinal grooves 10 are laterally delimited by slats 11th The loading mat 1 is flexible and pliable.

00102 shows a second embodiment of the loading mat according to the invention in a schematic representation. This inlay mat 2 is made of silicone and has a width B of 80 mm and a thickness H of 5 mm. The underside of the Inlay mat 2 is planar while its top surface with a plurality of Longitudinal grooves 20 is provided, which have a depth of 4 mm. The longitudinal grooves 20 are laterally delimited by hollow slats 21st The inlay mat 2 is flexible and pliable.

0011In the figure 3 is a third embodiment of the invention Inlay Mat shown schematically. This inlay mat 3 is also made of silicone. The underside of the inlay mat 3 is flat, while its top with is provided a plurality of longitudinal grooves 30, which have a depth of 4 mm. The longitudinal grooves 30 are delimited laterally by fins 31st The thickness of the inlay mat 3 is 5 mm. At its two side edges 3, the inlay mat each a longitudinally extending, molded side wall 32 and 33, respectively. The Inlay Mat 3 is flexible and bendable. This inlay mat 3 enables thermal Coupling to the bottom and two side walls of the housing of an electric Unit as well as an electrical insulation of the components.

0012To produce the inlay mats described above is silicon, for example, Filled in the form of powder or granules in an extruder with heat supplied and homogenized by means of a screw and thereby to the shaping nozzle in the spray head the extruder transported. Extrusion or extrusion itself is a known method and is therefore to be explained here in detail. The shape of the Nozzle orifice in the extrusion head corresponds to the pictured in Figures 1 to 3 Profiles of inlay mats.

0013In the figure 4 a cross-section through an operating device for electric lamps shown schematically. The operating device has a substantially cuboid Housing having a bottom 40, two side walls 41, 42, a cover 43 and two end side walls (not shown). are within the housing fixed on a mounting board 44, electronic components arranged 45 to serve operation of one or more electric lamps. The mounting board 44 is arranged at a distance of about 5 mm above the bottom of the 40th In the space located between the bottom 40 and the mounting plate 44 in the Figure 1 ready to insert mat 1. The flat underside of the inlay mat 1 is on the floor 40, while provided with the longitudinal grooves 10 and slats 11 Top is in contact with the mounting board.