Abstract: In a method for predicting deterioration of grease, the grease is applied between a semiconductor module and a cooler. The semiconductor module accommodates a semiconductor element. The method for predicting deterioration includes predicting deterioration of the grease after specified heat cycles by using: a variable G1/G2 that is acquired by dividing an initial storage modulus G1 of the grease by an initial loss modulus G2 of the grease at an expected maximum use temperature of the semiconductor element; and distortion dD of the grease at the time when the initial storage modulus G1 and the initial loss modulus G2 have the same value.

Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a stack in which a cooler and a semiconductor module are stacked, the semiconductor module housing a semiconductor element; a contact plate contacting the stack in a stacking direction of the semiconductor module and the cooler; and a spring contacting the contact plate and pressurizing the stack via the contact plate in the stacking direction, wherein the spring may contact a center portion of the contact plate in a direction perpendicular to the stacking direction, and a recess or a cavity may be provided at the center portion of the contact plate, the recess facing the stack.

Abstract: In a method for predicting deterioration of grease, the grease is applied between a semiconductor module and a cooler. The semiconductor module accommodates a semiconductor element. The method for predicting deterioration includes predicting deterioration of the grease after specified heat cycles by using: a variable G1/G2 that is acquired by dividing an initial storage modulus G1 of the grease by an initial loss modulus G2 of the grease at an expected maximum use temperature of the semiconductor element; and distortion dD of the grease at the time when the initial storage modulus G1 and the initial loss modulus G2 have the same value.

Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a stack in which a cooler and a semiconductor module are stacked, the semiconductor module housing a semiconductor element; a contact plate contacting the stack in a stacking direction of the semiconductor module and the cooler; and a spring contacting the contact plate and pressurizing the stack via the contact plate in the stacking direction, wherein the spring may contact a center portion of the contact plate in a direction perpendicular to the stacking direction, and a recess or a cavity may be provided at the center portion of the contact plate, the recess facing the stack.

Abstract: In the present invention, polishing lines 71f are connected to an outer circumferential high-pressure region, but are not connected to each area that is a low-pressure region. In this configuration, the polishing lines 71f are connected to the outer circumferential high-pressure region where there is high discharge pressure, so high-pressure brake fluid is introduced within the polishing lines 71f. Therefore, a pushback effect is obtained, wherein gear pumps 19 and 39 are pushed back on the basis of the high-pressure brake fluid pressure. Furthermore, the polishing lines 71f are connected to the outer circumferential high-pressure region but are not connected to each area that is a low-pressure region, so high-pressure can be maintained within the polishing lines 71f, and a reduction in the pushback effect can be prevented. Accordingly, a decrease in the loss torque reduction effect can be prevented, and the loss torque can be further reduced.

Abstract: A gear pump apparatus includes a gear pump and a sealing mechanism which includes an annular rubber member, an outer member, and an inner member. One of the outer member and a casing of the gear pump apparatus has a contact member located outside a portion of the outer member which contacts the gear pump in a radial direction of the gear pump. The contact member is placed to create a physical contact between the outer member and the casing to absorb a part of force by which the outer member is pressed against the gear pump. This results in a decrease in pressure acting on an area of contact between the outer member and the gear pump, which leads to a drop in resistance to sliding between the gear pump and the outer member, thus decreasing a loss of torque required for the pumping operation of the gear pump.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor module. The semiconductor module includes a package made of resin. The package contains a semiconductor element and a heat sink. The heat sink has a thermal conductive surface exposed on a part of one surface of the package. The semiconductor device includes an insulating plate, which is a part of a cooler, facing the thermal conductive surface of the heat sink and a resin surface around the thermal conductive surface, and pressed against the semiconductor module. At least a part of the thermal conductive surface comprises a recessed region recessed with respect to the resin surface. A solid heat transfer layer is interposed between the recessed region of the thermal conductive surface and the insulating plate, and is not interposed between the resin surface and the insulating plate.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor module. The semiconductor module includes a package made of resin. The package contains a semiconductor element and a heat sink. The heat sink has a thermal conductive surface exposed on a part of one surface of the package. The semiconductor device includes an insulating plate, which is a part of a cooler, facing the thermal conductive surface of the heat sink and a resin surface around the thermal conductive surface, and pressed against the semiconductor module. At least a part of the thermal conductive surface comprises a recessed region recessed with respect to the resin surface. A solid heat transfer layer is interposed between the recessed region of the thermal conductive surface and the insulating plate, and is not interposed between the resin surface and the insulating plate.

Abstract: A gear pump apparatus is equipped with a pump and a sealing mechanism which is made up of an outer member, an inner member, and a rubber member fit between the outer and inner members. The inner member has a pressure-exerted surface to which pressure, as produced by contact of the rubber member with the inner member arising from application of discharge pressure of the pump, is applied. The pressure-exerted surface has a flange which creates thrust to move the inner member away from the gear pump, thereby bringing the inner member against an inner wall of a pump casing to develop a hermetical seal between a high-pressure region and a low-pressure region within the pump casing. This eliminates the leakage of pressure and ensures torque required for a pumping operation of the pump.

Abstract: A rotary pump has a linear groove formed on an end surface of a second side plate of an outer rotor. Thereby, it becomes possible to generate a force for pushing back the outer rotor to a sealing member side, and thus it becomes possible to reduce load applied to the second side plate. As a result, contact resistance between the outer rotor and the second side plate becomes smaller, and smoother pumping operation becomes possible. Further, since the force for pushing back the outer rotor to the first sealing member side is generated in the linear groove, it is possible to reduce an amount of decrease in a contacting area with the outer rotor and the second side plate, thereby reducing an amount of wear of the outer rotor and the second side plate.

Abstract: A gear pump apparatus includes a gear pump and a sealing mechanism which includes an annular rubber member, an outer member, and an inner member. One of the outer member and a casing of the gear pump apparatus has a contact member located outside a portion of the outer member which contacts the gear pump in a radial direction of the gear pump. The contact member is placed to create a physical contact between the outer member and the casing to absorb a part of force by which the outer member is pressed against the gear pump. This results in a decrease in pressure acting on an area of contact between the outer member and the gear pump, which leads to a drop in resistance to sliding between the gear pump and the outer member, thus decreasing a loss of torque required for the pumping operation of the gear pump.

Abstract: A rotating pump includes an outer rotor and an inner rotor. The inner and outer rotors are rotated by a drive shaft between a first side plate and a second side plate to pump put fluid. The first side plate faces the inner and outer rotors and has a first surface and a second surface. The first surface is inclined to an axial direction of the drive shaft to create a wedge-shaped gap between itself and one of the inner and outer rotor. The second surface extends more parallel to a direction perpendicular to the axis direction of the drive shaft than the first surface does. The geometric configurations of the first and second surfaces serve to minimize the leakage of the brake fluid without sacrificing a reduction in resistance to sliding motion of the inner rotor and the outer rotor on the second side plate.

Abstract: A gear pump apparatus is equipped with a pump and a sealing mechanism which is made up of an outer member, an inner member, and a rubber member fit between the outer and inner members. The inner member has a pressure-exerted surface to which pressure, as produced by contact of the rubber member with the inner member arising from application of discharge pressure of the pump, is applied. The pressure-exerted surface has a flange which creates thrust to move the inner member away from the gear pump, thereby bringing the inner member against an inner wall of a pump casing to develop a hermetical seal between a high-pressure region and a low-pressure region within the pump casing. This eliminates the leakage of pressure and ensures torque required for a pumping operation of the pump.

Abstract: A rotor includes a rotor core and permanent magnets each of which is received in a corresponding slot of the rotor core with its magnetization direction being oblique to a radial direction of the rotor core. Each of the permanent magnets has a first corner portion positioned radially outermost and a second corner portion positioned radially innermost. For each of the permanent magnets, there are formed first and second gaps respectively between the first corner portion and the inner surface of the corresponding slot and between the second corner portion and the inner surface of the corresponding slot in a reference direction of the permanent magnet. The rotor core also has, for each of the permanent magnets, supporting portions each of which abuts and thereby supports, in the reference direction, a predetermined portion of the permanent magnet which is positioned away from both the first and second corner portions.

Abstract: A rotary pump includes a first side plate and a second side plate between which an outer rotor and an inner rotor are arranged. The second side plate has a concave portion on a surface adjacent to a maximum gap portion relative to a drive shaft. The concave portion is located in an outer teeth passing section which is defined between a line on which a teeth tip of an outer teeth part of the inner rotor passes in response to rotation of the inner rotor and a line on which a teeth bottom of the outer teeth part of the inner rotor passes in response to rotation of the inner rotor. The concave portion communicates with one of a plurality of gap portions while the inner rotor is rotated.

Abstract: A rotating pump includes an outer rotor and an inner rotor. The inner and outer rotors are rotated by a drive shaft between a first side plate and a second side plate to pump put fluid. The first side plate faces the inner and outer rotors and has a first surface and a second surface. The first surface is inclined to an axial direction of the drive shaft to create a wedge-shaped gap between itself and one of the inner and outer rotor. The second surface extends more parallel to a direction perpendicular to the axis direction of the drive shaft than the first surface does. The geometric configurations of the first and second surfaces serve to minimize the leakage of the brake fluid without sacrificing a reduction in resistance to sliding motion of the inner rotor and the outer rotor on the second side plate.

Abstract: A rotary pump has a linear groove formed on an end surface of a second side plate of an outer rotor. Thereby, it becomes possible to generate a force for pushing back the outer rotor to a sealing member side, and thus it becomes possible to reduce load applied to the second side plate. As a result, contact resistance between the outer rotor and the second side plate becomes smaller, and smoother pumping operation becomes possible. Further, since the force for pushing back the outer rotor to the first sealing member side is generated in the linear groove, it is possible to reduce an amount of decrease in a contacting area with the outer rotor and the second side plate, thereby reducing an amount of wear of the outer rotor and the second side plate.

Abstract: In a rotary electric machine, a stator coil includes in-slot portions each contained in a corresponding one of slots of a stator core. The stator coil includes turn portions each connecting one end of a corresponding one of the in-slot portions projecting from one axial end of the stator core with one end of a corresponding alternative one of the in-slot portions projecting the one axial end of the stator core. The turn portions provide an end portion of the stator coil. A coolant guide is placed to cover a circumferential outer part of the end portion of the stator coil from radially outside thereof and provided with holes therethrough. The coolant guide guides a coolant therealong in a circumferential direction of the end portion of the stator coil while guiding, through the holes, a part of the coolant to the end portion of the stator coil.

Abstract: An electric rotating machine includes a rotor, a stator in which a coil is so wound as to have an coil end, and a coolant supply pipe. The coolant supply pipe lies with a length thereof extending substantially parallel to an axis of rotation of the rotor and is disposed above the stator in a direction of gravitational force. The coolant supply pipe has a first and a second coolant outlet through which coolant is to be emitted to the coil end. The first and the second coolant outlets are so oriented as to direct streams of the coolant to a first area and a second area of the coil end which are different in location from each other. This enables the coolant to be emitted to almost the whole of the coil end even when the electric rotating machine is titled in a direction in which the rotor turns.

Abstract: An electric rotating machine is provided which includes a stator in which a coil is so wound as to have an coil end and a coolant channel. The coolant channel has defined therein a flow path through which coolant flows and a flow separator disposed in the flow path and a first and a second coolant outlet. The flow separator works to separate a flow of the coolant into at least a first and a second coolant streams. The first coolant outlet communicates with the first coolant stream, while the second coolant outlet communicates with the second coolant stream. The first and second coolant outlets drain the coolant to different portions of the coil end, thereby cooling almost the whole of the coil end even when the electric rotating machine is tilted undesirably.