Abstract: A motor drive configured to be connected to an external device is provided. The motor drive includes an outer housing, a power module housed within the outer housing, and a control module housed within the outer housing and in communication with the power module. The motor drive also includes a communications port disposed on the outer housing and in communication with the control module. The communications port supports dual-role power in which the motor drive powers the external device when the external device is of a first type and the motor drive receives power from the external device when the external device is of a second type.

Abstract: A cart is provided four extracting modular components from enclosures, and for inserting such components into enclosures. The cart may be specifically adapted for components of certain sizes and configurations. It may be used, for example, for extracting power electronic modular components from an electrical enclosure. The cart includes a support structure and an upright structure on which a carriage is movable. The carriage has elements that can extend below the modular component, to secure to the modular component, and to raise the modular component for extraction. Some or all of the interconnected elements of the cart may be foldable and collapsible for ease of storage and transport.

Abstract: An electrical bus assembly includes a frame and a plurality of bus bar carriers connected to the frame. The bus bars are supported by the bus bar carriers in parallel spaced-apart relation. A first retainer cap is secured to a first one of the plurality of bus bar carriers located adjacent a first end of the frame. A second retainer cap is secured to a second one of the plurality of bus bar carriers located adjacent a second end of the frame. The first and second retainer caps limit axial movement of the bus bars relative to the plurality of carriers sufficiently to prevent escape of the bus bars from the carriers. A bus bar connector is also disclosed for supplying power to or from the bus bars. An electrical bus system includes a first and second bus bar assemblies and a jumper connector assembly.

Abstract: A cart is provided four extracting modular components from enclosures, and for inserting such components into enclosures. The cart may be specifically adapted for components of certain sizes and configurations. It may be used, for example, for extracting power electronic modular components from an electrical enclosure. The cart includes a support structure and an upright structure on which a carriage is movable. The carriage has elements that can extend below the modular component, to secure to the modular component, and to raise the modular component for extraction. Some or all of the interconnected elements of the cart may be foldable and collapsible for ease of storage and transport.

Abstract: An electrical bus assembly includes a frame and a plurality of bus bar carriers connected to the frame. The bus bars are supported by the bus bar carriers in parallel spaced-apart relation. A first retainer cap is secured to a first one of the plurality of bus bar carriers located adjacent a first end of the frame. A second retainer cap is secured to a second one of the plurality of bus bar carriers located adjacent a second end of the frame. The first and second retainer caps limit axial movement of the bus bars relative to the plurality of carriers sufficiently to prevent escape of the bus bars from the carriers. A bus bar connector is also disclosed for supplying power to or from the bus bars. An electrical bus system includes a first and second bus bar assemblies and a jumper connector assembly.

Abstract: Power converter modules and parallel conversion systems are presented in which the modules are provided in a rollable enclosure having AC and DC electrical connections, and an interior including a switching circuit with switching devices individually connected between a corresponding AC node and a corresponding DC node for operation as either a rectifier or an inverter and an internal filter circuit with inductors individually connected between a corresponding AC node of the switching circuit and a corresponding AC electrical connection, with a built-in blower or fan to cool the filter circuit during operation.

Abstract: An electrical bus assembly includes a frame and a plurality of bus bar carriers connected to the frame. The bus bars are supported by the bus bar carriers in parallel spaced-apart relation. A first retainer cap is secured to a first one of the plurality of bus bar carriers located adjacent a first end of the frame. A second retainer cap is secured to a second one of the plurality of bus bar carriers located adjacent a second end of the frame. The first and second retainer caps limit axial movement of the bus bars relative to the plurality of carriers sufficiently to prevent escape of the bus bars from the carriers. A bus bar connector is also disclosed for supplying power to or from the bus bars. An electrical bus system includes a first and second bus bar assemblies and a jumper connector assembly.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for pre-charging the DC bus on a motor drive. Pre-charging techniques involve pre-charge circuitry including a manual switch, an automatic switch, and pre-charge control circuitry to switch the automatic switch between pre-charge and pre-charge bypass modes in response to an initialized pre-charge operation, input voltage sags, and so forth. In some embodiments, the pre-charge operation may be initialized by switching the manual switch closed. In some embodiments, the pre-charge operation may also be initialized by a detected voltage sag on the DC bus. The pre-charge circuitry may also be configured to disconnect to isolate a motor drive from the common DC bus under certain fault conditions.

Abstract: A motor drive unit including an enclosure, a bus bar supported by the enclosure, at least one modular power unit, and a flexible connector for electrically coupling the modular power unit with the bus bar. The flexible connector includes mating male and female connector portions each mounted to a respective one of the bus bar and the modular power unit, the connector portion mounted to the modular power unit being supported by a housing mounted to the modular power unit for movement relative thereto.

Abstract: The present invention provides a power converter mounting system including a flange that cooperates with a power converter and an enclosure. The flange includes a through hole that cooperates with an opening in the enclosure to permit the power converter to extend therethrough. A number of fasteners connect to the flange and overhang a portion of the power converter. The fasteners are configured to be manipulated from a front side of the power converter. An outer perimeter of the flange extends beyond the opening in the enclosure. The flange is secured to the enclosure with a number of fasteners that are also operable from the front side of the power converter. The power converter mounting assembly is configured to secure a power converter to an enclosure so as to satisfy a variety of sealing requirements as well as allowing convenient servicing of the power converter system.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for pre-charging the DC bus on a motor drive. Pre-charging techniques involve pre-charge circuitry including a manual switch, an automatic switch, and pre-charge control circuitry to switch the automatic switch between pre-charge and pre-charge bypass modes in response to an initialized pre-charge operation, input voltage sags, and so forth. In some embodiments, the pre-charge operation may be initialized by switching the manual switch closed. In some embodiments, the pre-charge operation may also be initialized by a detected voltage sag on the DC bus. The pre-charge circuitry may also be configured to disconnect to isolate a motor drive from the common DC bus under certain fault conditions.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to tuning the flow of cooling air across converter and inverter heat sinks in a motor drive system. More specifically, present techniques relate to motor drive duct systems including heat sinks with separate, sequential heat sink fin sections disposed in a common cooling air path and having different geometries to optimize the flow of cooling air across and between fins of the separate heat sink fin sections. For example, the heat sink fin sections may have different fin lengths, fin heights, fin counts, fin pitch (e.g., distance between adjacent fins), and so forth. Each of these different geometric characteristics may be tuned to ensure that temperatures and temperature gradients across the heat sinks are maintained within acceptable ranges.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for pre-charging the DC bus on a motor drive. Pre-charging techniques involve pre-charge circuitry including a manual switch, an automatic switch, and pre-charge control circuitry to switch the automatic switch between pre-charge and pre-charge bypass modes in response to an initialized pre-charge operation, input voltage sags, and so forth. In some embodiments, the pre-charge operation may be initialized by switching the manual switch closed. In some embodiments, the pre-charge operation may also be initialized by a detected voltage sag on the DC bus. The pre-charge circuitry may also be configured to disconnect to isolate a motor drive from the common DC bus under certain fault conditions.

Abstract: A motor drive unit including an enclosure, a bus bar supported by the enclosure, at least one modular power unit, and a flexible connector for electrically coupling the modular power unit with the bus bar. The flexible connector includes mating male and female connector portions each mounted to a respective one of the bus bar and the modular power unit, the connector portion mounted to the modular power unit being supported by a housing mounted to the modular power unit for movement relative thereto.

Abstract: Power converter modules and parallel conversion systems are presented in which the modules are provided in a rollable enclosure having AC and DC electrical connections, and an interior including a switching circuit with switching devices individually connected between a corresponding AC node and a corresponding DC node for operation as either a rectifier or an inverter and an internal filter circuit with inductors individually connected between a corresponding AC node of the switching circuit and a corresponding AC electrical connection, with a built-in blower or fan to cool the filter circuit during operation.

Abstract: AC pre-charging techniques are provided for pre-charging the DC bus on a motor drive. AC pre-charging techniques involve pre-charge circuitry including a manual switch, an automatic switch, and pre-charge control circuitry to switch the automatic switch between pre-charge and pre-charge bypass modes in response to an initialized pre-charge operation, input voltage sags, etc. In some embodiments, the pre-charge operation may be initialized by switching the manual switch closed. In some embodiments, the pre-charge operation may also be initialized by a detected voltage sag on the DC bus. The pre-charge circuitry may also be configured to disconnect a motor drive from the AC power supply under certain fault conditions.

Abstract: An electrical bus assembly includes a frame and a plurality of bus bar carriers connected to the frame. The bus bars are supported by the bus bar carriers in parallel spaced-apart relation. A first retainer cap is secured to a first one of the plurality of bus bar carriers located adjacent a first end of the frame. A second retainer cap is secured to a second one of the plurality of bus bar carriers located adjacent a second end of the frame. The first and second retainer caps limit axial movement of the bus bars relative to the plurality of carriers sufficiently to prevent escape of the bus bars from the carriers. A bus bar connector is also disclosed for supplying power to or from the bus bars. An electrical bus system includes a first and second bus bar assemblies and a jumper connector assembly.

Abstract: AC pre-charging techniques are provided for pre-charging the DC bus on a motor drive. AC pre-charging techniques involve pre-charge circuitry including a manual switch, an automatic switch, and pre-charge control circuitry to switch the automatic switch between pre-charge and pre-charge bypass modes in response to an initialized pre-charge operation, input voltage sags, etc. In some embodiments, the pre-charge operation may be initialized by switching the manual switch closed. In some embodiments, the pre-charge operation may also be initialized by a detected voltage sag on the DC bus. The pre-charge circuitry may also be configured to disconnect a motor drive from the AC power supply under certain fault conditions.