Thermal bridge for an electrical component

A thermal bridge comprising:

• an upper bridge assembly including a plurality of upper plates arranged in an upper plate stack, each of the upper plates having a front end and a rear end, each of the upper plates having sides between the front end and the rear end of a corresponding one of the upper plates, each of the upper plates having an inner end and an outer end, the upper plates including upper bridge plates and upper spacer plates, the upper bridge plates having upper overlapping regions;
• a lower bridge assembly including a plurality of lower plates arranged in a lower plate stack, each of the lower plates having a front end and a rear end, each of the lower plates having sides between the front end and the rear end of a corresponding one of the lower plates, each of the lower plates having an inner end and an outer end, the lower plates including lower bridge plates and lower spacer plates, the lower bridge plates having lower overlapping regions, the lower plates configured to face and thermally couple to an electrical component, the lower spacer plates being aligned with the upper bridge plates and the lower bridge plates being aligned with the upper spacer plates such that the lower overlapping regions overlap with the upper overlapping regions, the sides of the lower bridge plates thermally interfacing with the sides of the upper bridge plates;
• a spring element positioned between the upper bridge assembly and the lower bridge assembly, the spring element including an upper spring member engaging each of the upper plates to bias the upper plates in a first biasing direction away from the lower plates, the spring element including a lower spring member engaging each of the lower plates to bias the lower plates in a second biasing direction away from the upper plates;
• and
• an internal bridge frame having connecting elements extending internally through the upper plates and the lower plates to hold the upper plates in the upper plate stack and to hold the lower plates in the lower plate stack.

A thermal bridge comprising:

• an upper bridge assembly including a plurality of upper plates arranged in an upper plate stack, each of the upper plates having a front end and a rear end, each of the upper plates having sides between the front end and the rear end of a corresponding one of the upper plates, each of the upper plates having an inner end and an outer end, each of the upper plates having an upper thermal interface, the upper plates being independently movable relative to each other such that the upper thermal interface is conformable to a heat transfer device;
• a lower bridge assembly including a plurality of lower plates arranged in a lower plate stack, each of the lower plates having a front end and a rear end, each of the lower plates having sides between the front end and the rear end of a corresponding one of the lower plates, each of the lower plates having an inner end and an outer end, the sides of the lower plates facing the sides of the upper plates to thermally interface the lower plates with the upper plates, each of the lower plates having a lower thermal interface, the lower plates being independently movable relative to each other such that the lower thermal interface is conformable to an electrical component;
• a first cap plate coupled to a first side of the upper plate stack and the lower plate stack;
• a second cap plate coupled to a second side of the upper plate stack and the lower plate stack;
• a spring element positioned between the upper bridge assembly and the lower bridge assembly, the spring element including an upper spring member engaging each of the upper plates to bias the upper plates in a first biasing direction away from the lower plates, the spring element including a lower spring member engaging each of the lower plates to bias the lower plates in a second biasing direction away from the upper plates;
• and
• an internal bridge frame having connecting elements extending between the first cap plate and the second cap plate, the connecting elements holding the upper plates in the upper plate stack and the lower plates in the lower plate stack;
• wherein the internal bridge frame extends internally through the lower plates such that the front ends, the rear ends and the lower thermal interface are unobstructed at the bottom of the lower bridge assembly, the lower plates transferring heat from the electrical component to the upper plates, and wherein the internal bridge frame extends internally through the upper plates such that the front ends, the rear ends and the upper thermal interface are unobstructed at the top of the upper bridge assembly, the upper plates transferring the heat from the lower plates to the heat transfer device.