Importance

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Abstract

A method for cooling bus bars 12,14 in order to increase their current-carrying capacity while saving space and weight. The method comprises the steps of providing a housing having an interior wall; locating a distribution manifold 20 within the housing, the distribution manifold comprising a hollow bus bar 12,14; communicating to the manifold a supply of an evaporative coolant 18, 18'; and delivering the coolant 18, 18' outwardly under pressure so that upon exiting the manifold 20, the coolant 18, 18' undergoes a phase change from the liquid to the vapor state. Heat is extracted from the manifold 20 at least as quickly as heat is generated by the flow of current. The extraction of heat by the flow of coolant 18, 18' and evaporation maintains or lowers the temperature of the bus bar and enables a given size of bus bar to carry more current without a significant rise in temperature. The invention also includes an apparatus 10 for cooling bus bars 12,14 in an electrical circuit. The bus bars 12,14 are mounted in close proximity with each other, thereby saving space and weight in the electrical circuit and providing good electrical noise immunity.

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First Claim