Cooling device for an electric component

Abstract

A cooling device has a cooling element ( 3 ) and a pressing device ( 4 ) which presses the component ( 1 ) against the cooling element ( 3 ). The pressing device ( 4 ) is resilient and is connected to the cooling element in a positive fit in order to produce fixing means which fix the component ( 1 ) to the cooling element in a reliable manner, the fixing means being easy to produce and compact.

1 . A cooling device for an electric component comprising a cooling element and a flexible pressure-exerting device which presses the component onto the cooling element in a force-locking manner.  
   
   
       2 . The cooling device as claimed in  claim 1 , 
 wherein the pressure-exerting device has a resilient element which is pressed into an opening in the cooling element.    
   
   
       3 . The cooling device as claimed in  claim 2 , 
 wherein the resilient element is a slotted sleeve.    
   
   
       4 . The cooling device as claimed in  claim 1 , 
 wherein the connection between the pressure-exerting device and the cooling element is safeguarded using a lock.    
   
   
       5 . The cooling device as claimed in  claim 4 , 
 wherein the lock is a barb.    
   
   
       6 . The cooling device as claimed in  claim 1 , 
 wherein the pressure-exerting device has a resilient clip which can be used to press the component onto the cooling element and which has a resilient element at both ends.    
   
   
       7 . A cooling device for an electric component comprising a cooling element and a flexible pressure-exerting device which presses the component onto the cooling element in a force-locking manner, wherein 
 the pressure-exerting device has a slotted sleeve which is pressed into an opening in the cooling element.    
   
   
       8 . The cooling device as claimed in  claim 7 , 
 wherein    the connection between the pressure-exerting device and the cooling element is safeguarded using a lock.    
   
   
       9 . The cooling device as claimed in  claim 8 , 
 wherein the lock is a barb.    
   
   
       10 . The cooling device as claimed in  claim 7 , 
 wherein the pressure-exerting device has a resilient clip which can be used to press the component onto the cooling element and which has a resilient element at both ends.    
   
   
       11 . A cooling device for an electric component comprising a means for cooling the electric component and a means for flexibly exerting pressure on the electric component to press the electric component onto the cooling element in a force-locking manner.  
   
   
       12 . The cooling device as claimed in  claim 11 , 
 wherein the means for exerting pressure has a resilient element which is pressed into an opening in the means for cooling.    
   
   
       13 . The cooling device as claimed in  claim 12 , 
 wherein the resilient element is a slotted sleeve.    
   
   
       14 . The cooling device as claimed in  claim 11 , 
 wherein the connection between the means for exerting pressure and the means for cooling is safeguarded using a lock.    
   
   
       15 . The cooling device as claimed in  claim 14 , 
 wherein the lock is a barb.    
   
   
       16 . The cooling device as claimed in  claim 11 , 
 wherein the means for exerting pressure has a resilient clip which can be used to press the component onto the means for cooling and which has a resilient element at both ends.    
   
   
       17 . A method of cooling an electric component comprising the steps of: 
 providing a cooling element;    arranging an electric component on the cooling element; and    exerting pressure by means of a flexible device onto the cooling element in a force-locking manner to press the component onto the cooling element.    
   
   
       18 . The method as claimed in  claim 17 , 
 further comprising the step of pressing a resilient element into an opening in the cooling element.    
   
   
       19 . The method as claimed in  claim 18 , 
 wherein the resilient element is a slotted sleeve.    
   
   
       20 . The method as claimed in  claim 17 , 
 further comprising the step of safeguarding a connection between a pressure-exerting device and the cooling element by a lock.    
   
   
       21 . The method as claimed in  claim 20 , 
 wherein the lock is a barb.    
   
   
       22 . The method as claimed in  claim 17 , 
 further comprising the step of using a resilient clip to press the component onto the cooling element wherein the resilient clip has a resilient element at both ends.