With Cooling Means Patents (Class 363/141)
  • Patent number: 5612615
    Abstract: A cryogenically cooled circuit, operating at temperatures at which inductors windings of the circuit exhibit superconducting characteristics, provides unique advantages in high performance, preferably high power circuits. Portions of the circuit (or the entire circuit), as opposed to, for example only the superconducting elements (i.e., inductor winding), are refrigerated to cryogenic temperatures. Advantages in the characteristics of not only the superconducting based components but also the diodes, and gating elements such as MOSFET's, yield a uniquely advantageous circuit enabling the operation of, for example, a switching power supplies, frequency converters, and motor speed controllers with increased performance and efficiency. Size, component count, and stability are benefits attained by cryogenically cooling the entire circuit configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Assignee: American Superconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Calman Gold, Carl J. Russo
  • Patent number: 5598328
    Abstract: A filter module for a frequency converter comprises a filter circuit housed in a casing adapted for connection to the converter. The filter module includes an input filter and an output filter so arranged that input terminals for connection to the AC line voltage and output terminals for connection to an electric motor are disposed on a common side of the casing and so that the connections between the frequency converter and the filter module are disposed on a side of the casing which in use faces the converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1997
    Assignee: Telemecanique
    Inventor: Christophe Dore
  • Patent number: 5521811
    Abstract: The present invention locates the primary winding of a transformer in a configuration where it substantially surrounds the secondary winding of the transformer in order to enhance the efficiency of the electromagnetic coupling. High magnetic permeability material surrounds portions of the primary winding of the transformer. The transformer is designed to efficiently operate at frequencies of approximately 50 kilohertz. In one preferred embodiment, the primary winding of the invention is formed of two U-shapes in which the parallel members of the U are substantially longer than the bottom portion of the U. The two U-shapes form a rectangular shape and the substantially parallel rectangular portions are surrounded by high magnetic permeability material to further enhance the electromagnetic coupling between the primary coil winding and the secondary coil winding. In another embodiment, the primary winding of the invention may be rectangular in shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1996
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventors: Alexander Levran, Joseph M. Nowosielski, Giao M. Ton-That, Ramamoorthy Rajagopalan
  • Patent number: 5508908
    Abstract: A motor control unit having a first semiconductor module circuit for converting an alternating current into a direct current, a second semiconductor module circuit consisting of switching elements for converting the direct current into an alternating current of optional voltage and frequency, and a control circuit for controlling the semiconductor module circuits. The unit has a case that is substantially rectangular in cross section, vertically high and laterally thin with respect to a perpendicular installation surface. Two heat sinks are disposed at the outside of the unit case at the back thereof and are thermally connected to a laminar heat plate that is disposed within the case and in contact with the heat dissipating installation surfaces of the semiconductor modules inside the unit case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1996
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsutomu Kazama, Satoshi Kondo
  • Patent number: 5499185
    Abstract: The inductive charge coupler carrying the transformer primary is supplied with coolant fluid. The inductive charge receptacle mounted on the automobile has interior cooling fluid passages and there is a duct to transfer the cooling fluid from the inductive charge coupler to the cooling fluid passages in the inductive charge receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1996
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventors: Herbert J. Tanzer, William Quon, John T. Hall
  • Patent number: 5497289
    Abstract: An inverter apparatus having a compact design and a changeable heat sink. The apparatus includes a power module formed in a case having pairs of parallel sides and containing the respective main circuit semiconductor devices for converting an alternating current input into a direct current and then further into an alternating current of variable frequency. The heat sink also has pairs of parallel sides and interfaces with the case in a plane whereon the projections of the sink and the case are coextensive. The apparatus also has a body with pairs of parallel sides that fasten to the case and constitute part of the enclosure of the inverter apparatus. The body, case, heat sink and associated circuit elements have alignment structures that permit easy and reliable disassembly and assembly of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1996
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Eiichi Sugishima, Naohiro Hirose, Wataru Ikeshita, Shinzo Tomonaga
  • Patent number: 5485350
    Abstract: A housing may hold a control device equipped with heat-producing components. A die-cast housing includes a side wall, a rear wall, a bottom, a cover, a front strut, a cooling element and an air guide device, a cover plate and a front cover. The cooling ribs of the cooling element run parallel to the rear wall, end in the plane of the side wall, and are covered with a bulkhead plate. The bottom and the cover are each provided with perforations for removing heat from the front housing half and openings through which connection lines may be passed. The front strut serves as a lateral frame part for the removable cover plate that covers a lateral access opening of the housing, and for the front cover which can close off the front-side opening of the housing. This results in a housing for a control device in book size format, where the number of assembly parts, the assembly effort and the assembly time are significantly reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1996
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Franz Hecht, Bernd Kurze, Mona Hentschel, Volker Schinn, Thomas Weichselbaum, Hans-Werner Kranz
  • Patent number: 5381330
    Abstract: A half-bridge arrangement for switching electrical powers, wherein at least two semiconductor switches (14, 21; 15, 20; 16, 19; 17, 18) forming a half-bridge (12a; 12b; 12c; 12d) are connected in series; each semiconductor switch (14, 21; 15, 20; 16, 19; 17, 18) is provided with a control input (G) which is connected to a driving circuit (23, 24); each first semiconductor switch (14; 15; 16; 17) is at a high voltage potential (V.sub.ss) with its source terminal (S); each second semiconductor switch (18; 19; 20; 21) is at a low voltage potential (V.sub.DD) with its drain terminal (D); the drain terminal (D) of each first semiconductor switch (14; 5; 16; 17) is connected with the source terminal (S) of each respective second semiconductor switch (18; 19; 20; 21) for providing an output terminal (A); and at least one capacitor assembly (30) is arranged between the high and the low voltage potential (V.sub.SS, V.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1995
    Assignee: Grundl & Hoffmann
    Inventors: Andreas Grundl, Bernhard Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 5337214
    Abstract: A bypass contactor usable in a solid state motor starter for shunting current around a fully-conducting solid state switching device comprising an electromagnetic contactor housed in a molded insulating enclosure having a plurality of bridging contacts movable into and out of engagement with a pair of stationary contacts to provide plural parallel current paths within the contactor, the stationary contacts having rigid terminal portions projecting externally of the insulating enclosure connectable to the heat sinks of the solid state motor starter in a preferred manner to suspend the contactor above the panel, permitting other components to be mounted below the bypass contacts. Alternate embodiments have the contactor mounted to the same support as the starter power pole component assembly and electrically connected thereto by rigid preformed connectors or flexible braided straps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Kurt L. Lindsey, Andrew R. Peret, Jerome K. Hastings, Richard G. Smith
  • Patent number: 5329440
    Abstract: This device for converting a very-low-amplitude steady voltage signal into an alternating voltage signal, of the type comprising a centre-tapped transformer (1) associated with a transistor (3,4) chopper (2), is characterised in that the transformer (1) and the transistors (3,4) are arranged in a housing (15) held at very low temperature and in which is arranged a material (20) for thermal insulation of the transistors (3,4) with respect to the rest of the housing so as to reduce temperature fluctuations and allow operation of these transistors by self-heating due to their drive current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1994
    Assignees: Framatome, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
    Inventors: Jacques Chaussy, Jean-Louis Bret, Bernard Picot, Jacques Meyer
  • Patent number: 5289363
    Abstract: A high density electronic module packaging system includes a cabinet for housing a plurality of modules. Disposed at the rear of the cabinet and forming a rear wall thereof is a cooling system housing that is used for cooling the modules contained in the cabinet Disposed within the cabinet are a plurality, e.g., four, cooling modules; a power distribution unit having a plurality, e.g., twelve, power converters; and a plurality, e.g., twenty-eight electronic modules. The number of cooling modules, power converters and electronic modules may be added or subtracted as needed or desired. The cooling modules flow cooling fluid to and/or from the power distribution unit and/or to the plurality of electronic modules. The power distribution unit supplies power to the plurality of electronic modules. The electronic modules may house one or more submodules such as storage devices (e.g., disk drives) or printed circuit boards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 22, 1994
    Assignee: Tandem Computers, Inc.
    Inventors: Joerg Ferchau, Victor Trujillo
  • Patent number: 5276587
    Abstract: An electrical device to be electrically mounted to a cooling mounting structure so that the electrical device is in intimate physical contact with the mounting structure for cooling the electrical device. The electrical device having a first pivot allowing contact for allowing the electrical device to be pivoted as it is mounted to the cooling mounting structure so that the electrical device is in intimate physical contact with the cooling mounting structure and for providing an electrical connection to the cooling mounting structure and the electrical device further having a second nonpivot allowing contact having a shape for providing electrical contact with the mounting structure when the electrical device is in intimate physical contact with the cooling mounting structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1994
    Assignee: Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Michael P. Ciaccio
  • Patent number: 5253613
    Abstract: A plurality of high power semiconductor devices are connected in circuit with at least one electric traction motor for controlling electric power to the motor. The semiconductor devices are each thermally connected between a pair of generally hollow heat sinks adapted for passing cooling air therethrough for extracting heat therefrom. An anode terminal of the devices is coupled to one of the heat sinks of a pair and a cathode terminal of the devices is connected to the other heat sink of the pair. Each of the heat sinks are mounted in a cantilever fashion to a common air plenum forming one wall of an electrical circuit area of a vehicle. The distal ends of the heat sinks of a pair are coupled together by an air flow conduit thus forming a continuous air passage through the pair of heat sinks which begins and ends at the surface containing the air supply plenum. One end of one of the pair of heat sinks, preferably the heat sink coupled to the cathode terminal, is connected to an exhaust conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1993
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ronald B. Bailey, Ronald F. Griebel
  • Patent number: 5245527
    Abstract: An ac drive controller including a phase assembly for each phase of a polyphase supply to a motor, each phase assembly including an invertor module and a corresponding filter module. The electrical interconnections between each filter module and each invertor module occur through electrically conductive clips and corresponding bus bars to which the electronic switching devices in the invertor are also connected. The filter and invertor module interconnections are located as close as possible to the points where the electronic switching devices are connected to the buses to minimize stray reactances while allowing for simplified assembly and servicing of the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1993
    Assignee: Siemens Electric Limited
    Inventors: David L. Duff, Nareshroy M. Patel
  • Patent number: 5237494
    Abstract: An apparatus for driving a plurality of motors at different variable speeds. The apparatus includes a rectifier for supplying direct current power to a dc bus circuit. A plurality of inverters are connected to the dc bus circuit and each inverter drives a respective motor. Each inverter is controlled by an individual controller connected thereto for controlling the frequency of the output of the inverter to thereby control the speed of the associated motor. The inverters are preferably mounted on a common heat sink to reduce electrical and mechanical complexity. The apparatus permits the rectifier and the dc bus circuit to be sized to handle a maximum rating of less than the sum total of maximum loads of each of the motors. The dc bus circuit also serves to distribute energy generated by a slowing motor, for example, to other motors driven from the bus circuit. A chopper resistor may be included and switched across the dc bus circuit to provide braking to the motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1993
    Assignee: Barmag AG
    Inventors: Uwe Baader, Gerhard Martens, Karl-Ludwig Rafflenbeul
  • Patent number: 5235491
    Abstract: Power supplies are known, in particular power supplies under primary clock-pulse control, that comprise a closed housing for the primary and secondary circuits, and a forced-air cooling means to cool the heat-producing components of the circuits. A power supply is proposed in which additionally there is a ventilation conduit in communication with the air outside the housing to serve as a cooling medium. The cooling means also comprises at least one cooling-unit element, on which the heat-producing components are mounted, and a portion of said element projects into the ventilation conduit and is electrically isolated by insulating means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1993
    Assignee: Bicc-Vero Electronics GmbH
    Inventor: Harald Weiss
  • Patent number: 5207613
    Abstract: A high density electronic module packaging system includes a cabinet for housing a plurality of modules. Disposed at the rear of the cabinet and forming a rear wall thereof is a cooling system housing that is used for cooling the modules contained in the cabinet. Disposed within the cabinet are a plurality, e.g., four, cooling modules; a power distribution unit having a plurality, e.g., twelve, power converters; and a plurality, e.g., twenty-eight electronic modules. The number of cooling modules, power converters and electronic modules may be added or subtracted as needed or desired. The cooling modules flow cooling fluid to and/or from the power distribution unit and/or to the plurality of electronic modules. The power distribution unit supplies power to the plurality of electronic modules. The electronic modules may house one or more submodules such as storage devices (e.g., disk drives) or printed circuit boards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1993
    Assignee: Tandem Computers Incorporated
    Inventors: Joerg Ferchau, Victor Trujillo
  • Patent number: 5204804
    Abstract: A power supply has a stack formed by a first bus plate, a gate take off (GTO) thyristor, a second bus plate, a bypass diode and a third bus plate all mounted to a heat sink by a single clamp, with the anode of the thyristor closest to the heat sink. Preferably, the bus plates are sized and of a material to provide local thermal storage. The heat sink then can be sized to handle only the average heat dissipation requirements, rather than the peak requirements, and the total power supply can be very compact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1993
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ronald B. Bailey, Stephen T. Radack
  • Patent number: 5184291
    Abstract: The inverter module according to the present invention includes a component support for supporting components attached thereto, an AC/DC converter attached to the support for converting input AC into DC, inverter switches attached to the support for inverting the DC into single-phase output AC, a switch controller attached to the support for controlling the inverter switches, and connectors for interconnecting the AC/DC converter, the inverter switches, and the switch controller so that input AC is converted to a single phase of output AC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1993
    Inventors: Lawrence E. Crowe, Mark W. Metzler
  • Patent number: 5172302
    Abstract: An ignition coil unit comprising within an electrically insulating casing (31) an ignition coil (A) and a packaged power switch circuit (E). The packaged power switch circuit (E), which comprises a plurality of electric and electronic components (F) hermetically sealed within a mold resin (G) to form a single compact unitary piece, is disposed within a power switch cavity (31d) of the casing (31). An aluminum heat dissipating plate (30) may be attached at its first end (30a) to said packaged power switch circuit (E) in a thermally conductive relationship and exposed at its second end (30b) to the exterior of said casing (31).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1992
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki K.K.
    Inventors: Masaaki Taruya, Mitsuru Koiwa, Nobuyuki Sawazaki
  • Patent number: 5170336
    Abstract: An improved DC to AC electrical inverter has a new and improved method and apparatus with forced air ventilation cooling that significantly increases sustainable AC power output. The methods include the steps of forcing an air flow out of the inverter enclosure and over an external heat sink, and forcing an air flow through a special power transformer between the windings and the core. The apparatus has at least one fan, an air outlet and structure for guiding and directing a forced air flow to and over an external heat sink for the power switches. A structure to continuously force cooling air through the power transformer is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1992
    Assignee: Dimensions Unlimited, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis L. Getter, Frederick D. Heavey
  • Patent number: 5164624
    Abstract: A power semiconductor bridge assembly for an alternator-fed DC power source, including positive and negative parallel spaced DC bus bars and a plurality of disk device phase modules disposed therebetween for interconnecting the bus bars with the alternator phase windings. The modules are mounted within the bus bars so as to facilitate their installation and removal. Each phase module includes a pair of disk-type power semiconductor devices separated by an inner heat sink which is connected to a motor phase winding, and sandwiched between first and second outer heat sinks. The semiconductor devices and various heat sinks are aligned along a mutual longitudinal axis which substantially coincides with a longitudinal axis of the bus bar cavity. The outer heat sinks are staggered or offset along a transverse axis of the cavity such that the first outer heat sink engages the positive DC bus bar, and the second outer heat sink engages the negative DC bus bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1992
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Prakash H. Desai, Robert W. Becker, Roger M. Boor, John E. Carter
  • Patent number: 5164893
    Abstract: With respect to their connection to snubber capacitors (C1, C2), a discharge resistor (12) connecting these snubber capacitors, and a link capacitor bank (3), inverter circuits with GTO thyristors (T1, T2) connected in series have parasitic leakage inductances which limit the level of the permissible link direct voltage. In order to reduce the leakage inductances, the snubber capacitors (C1, C2) are surrounded by effectively conducting capacitor covers (17). Sheet-metal shielding covers are fitted over the two ends of the discharge resistor (12). Parallel and series connected capacitors of the link capacitor bank (3) are connected to the positive/negative terminals (23, 24) of the GTO thyristors (T1, T2) in the middle of a heat sink connecting strainer (33), the supply leads being guided essentially parallel and the capacitors being arranged in opposite planes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1992
    Assignee: Asea Brown Boveri Ltd.
    Inventors: Hansueli Luscher, Herbert Stemmler
  • Patent number: 5132896
    Abstract: An inverter unit for driving a motor with multi-phased currents, each of the phases being derived from a.c. input voltages that are applied to respective input terminals, rectified and smoothed by capacitors before being applied to parallel-connected switching elements to develop each of the phased a.c. outputs. The capacitors may be connected in series and/or in parallel together with the switching elements. In order to reduce the effect of the distributed inductance contributed by the conductors used to connect the capacitances and switches, and thus the need for large snubber capacitances to compensate for the distributed inductances, the connectors are given a geometry and an orientation that causes the inductances to be minimized. Specifically, the conductors are of a bus-plate form, having a large area for improving heat dissipation, and an orientation so that the magnitude and direction of currents flowing through the bus-plates tend to minimize the effect of the distributed inductances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1992
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki K.K.
    Inventors: Yuji Nishizawa, Masakatsu Daijo, Osamu Harada
  • Patent number: 5130918
    Abstract: This invention relates to an electronic power switch in the form of a half bridge circuit for switchable outputs greater than 1 kW, having a series circuit of two power semiconductor groups between two direct current connections. At least one power semiconductor group comprises a parallel circuit of a plurality of the same kind of individual power semiconductors of smaller current load ability. All power semiconductors of both groups are fastened on a common printed circuit board and the power semiconductors are used in the switching operation. By means of a special structure of the printed circuit board, cooling bars and power semiconductors, a power switch with a clearly reduced leakage inductance is obtained, which can be designed in a space saving manner as a fully, as well as, semi-controlled half bridge circuit for very high currents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1992
    Assignee: Rehm Schweisstechnik GmbH u. Co.
    Inventor: Wolfgang Schuster
  • Patent number: 5072332
    Abstract: A heat-dissipating structure for a switching power supply characterized in that the respective portions of the power supply lines on the hot side and the cold side connected respectively to the output terminals after a switching element are formed by plate conductors, and connected to said power supply lines, and that the heat generating circuit elements placed at the top, thereunder the plate conductor on one side, a heat conductive insulator, the plate conductor on the other side, and another heat conductive insulator are sequentially overlaid and fixed on a box member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1991
    Assignee: Toko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shigeo Abe
  • Patent number: 5057970
    Abstract: An electronic power component circuit comprising low level electronic control circuits mounted on a platform over electronic power circuits constituted as a hybrid circuit, in which the low level electronic control circuits are also constituted as a hybrid circuit, being formed on a substrate of aluminum nitride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1991
    Assignee: GEC Alsthom SA
    Inventor: Jacques Chave
  • Patent number: 5053920
    Abstract: A three-dimensional integrated power distribution and regulation apparatus for providing regulated power to a plurality of chips mounted on a module. The apparatus has a busbar mounted on the module, this busbar receiving high voltage power as an input. A plurality of power regulators are mounted on the busbar and are electrically coupled to this busbar. The power regulators are point-of-load regulators that receive high voltage power as an input and produce regulated power to the busbar. The busbar is electrically coupled to the chips and provides the chips with the regulated power. Heat and losses are reduced since the power regulators are mounted on the module, close to the chips themselves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1991
    Assignee: Digital Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Donald T. Staffiere, Harvey S. Friedman
  • Patent number: 5027255
    Abstract: A high performance, high current, miniaturized low voltage power supply is disclosed which employs a thick copper-ceramic film primary board, a direct bonded copper secondary, flexible printed circuit power inductors, the power supply has high power leadless chip carriers, hybrid rectifier packages and various electrical circuits including application specific integrated circuits for control, a turn on protection and current sharing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1991
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Co.
    Inventors: Dan B. Zeitlin, John B. Branthover, Brian H. Smith, Andrew J. Piloto, Theresa M. Lengel, Robert R. Carlson, Jr., Lanson Y. Shum, Paul D. Hodges, Jr., Denise B. Harris
  • Patent number: 5021925
    Abstract: An electrical isolator device which comprises at least one heat sink (steel plate), and a non-conductive housing which partially encases the heat sink, such that at least one surface of the heat sink is in contact with the non-conductive housing; whereby the surfaces of the heat sink which are not in contact with the non-conductive housing are exposed to the atmosphere to allow dissipation of heat therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1991
    Assignee: Nuarms, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas F. Soboleski
  • Patent number: 5016139
    Abstract: An electronic power supply which employs energy storage capacitors has an enclosure defining a housing including a base and a cover. The capacitors are resiliently supported within the enclosure on a carrier. Integral receivers extend from the underside of the top of the cover in registration with the carrier and engage the capacitors to clamp the capacitors in a fixed position within the housing. The housing exterior includes a thermal radiator consisting of multiple fins which extend outwardly from the receivers for dissipating heat generated in the capacitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1991
    Assignee: Whelen Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James L. Stopa, Stephen C. Bibbiani
  • Patent number: 5014181
    Abstract: A magnetic amplifier package (1) comprises a diode rectifier (6) and a plurality of saturable reactors in the form of toroids (2) having cores (3), gate windings (4) and control windings (5). The diode rectifier and the saturable reactors are located within a housing (7) of the package. The housing has an inlet (18) and outlet (19) for cooling fluid and a passage (20) within the housing for circulating coolant between the inlet and the outlet for cooling both the diode rectifier and the saturable reactors. The magnetic amplifier package is compact, lightweight and efficiently cooled to facilitate its use in aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1991
    Assignee: Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Kyle Anderson, Merle L. Bennett
  • Patent number: 5003452
    Abstract: In an electrical device for supplying x-ray tubes, the primary and secondary windings of the transformer are wound on circular coil forms which are adapted to fit within two half-shells. The half-shells are constituted by a recessed annular structure in which capacitors are housed. The output terminals of the secondary windings are placed on one side in order to be connected to the capacitors and to diodes over very short distances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1991
    Assignee: General Electric CGR S.A.
    Inventors: Jacques Sireul, Hans Jedlitschka
  • Patent number: 4992925
    Abstract: A converter with an intermediate d.c. circuit includes power components grouped together in a plurality of modules. Bus bars are provided to which the modules are connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1991
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Helmut Meyer
  • Patent number: 4979090
    Abstract: Prior power converters have utilized discrete components mounted on circuit boards of different design. Failure of one or more of the components requires the components to be separately tested to determine which is faulty. The faulty component or the board containing same must then be replaced. This results in significant down time for the inverter and can require stocking of a large number of specialized boards. In order to overcome these problems, an inverter is assembled using a series of circuit boards of standardized type. Each circuit board includes separate layers which interconnect components mounted thereon together with a heat exchanger which cools high power components. When a malfunction of a component occurs, the entire board may be replaced so that inverter down time is minimized. Also, the use of standardized boards reduces stocking requirements and inventory costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 18, 1990
    Assignee: Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: John Huss, Richard J. Hoppe, Lawrence E. Crowe, Thomas Sutrina, Eric D. Lakin
  • Patent number: 4975824
    Abstract: Prior power converters have utilized discrete components mounted on circuit boards of different design. Failure of one or more of the components requires the components to be separately tested to determine which is faulty. The faulty component or the board containing same must then be replaced. This results in significant down time for the inverter and can require stocking of a large number of specialized boards. In order to overcome these problems, an inverter is assembled using a series of circuit boards of standardized type. Each circuit board includes separate layers which interconnect components mounted thereon together with a heat exchanger which cools high power components. When a malfunction of a component occurs, the entire board may be replaced so that inverter down time is minimized. Also, the use of standardized boards reduces stocking requirements and inventory costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1990
    Assignee: Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: John Huss, Richard J. Hoppe, Lawrence E. Crowe, Thomas Sutrina, Eric D. Lakin
  • Patent number: 4975825
    Abstract: A power converter comprises a plurality of modular circuit boards assembled in a stacked relationship. The circuit boards include heat exchangers which are interconnected and cooling fluid is provided thereto to remove heat generated by high power devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1990
    Assignee: Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: John Huss, Richard J. Hoppe, Lawrence E. Crowe, Thomas Sutrina, Eric D. Lakin
  • Patent number: 4965710
    Abstract: A power module contains IGBT die along with integrated circuit driver chips and opto isolators or isolation transformers within the same module housing. Output terminals are provided which can be interfaced directly to control logic or microprocessors for operating the module. The IGBTs may have current-sensing electrodes to simplify current measurement and control functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 23, 1990
    Assignee: International Rectifier Corporation
    Inventors: Brian R. Pelly, Ajit Dubhashi, Peter R. Ewer
  • Patent number: 4952829
    Abstract: In a rectifier supporting device for (three-phase) generators which is intended particularly for motor vehicles, buses and the like, cooling plates carrying the rectifier diodes are constructed as heat sinks following the circular shape of an end shield of the generator and segment-like cut out portion for a brush holder of the generator. Each of the heat sinks is supported at an axial distance from, but coaxial with, a circuit board arranged between the two heat sinks. The circuit board has a shape corresponding to that of the heat sinks and provides electric connections to the diode head wires and stator wires.In an advantageous construction of the circuit board, sheathe-like guides extend downward until adjacent to the stator phase windings and receive the stator wires guided up toward the circuit board in an insulated passage through the facing three-phase generator housing parts and heat sink areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 28, 1990
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Franz Armbruster, Hartmut Buck, Henning Fasterding, Wenzel Pubrl, Stefan Renner, Karl-Heinz Koplin
  • Patent number: 4943890
    Abstract: A solid state motor starter assembly having controlled semiconductors mounted between heat sink members. Electrical power to the assembly can be connected an disconnected by an electrically operated solenoid that actuates a movable contact into engagement with a stationary contact mounted on the incoming heat sink. To reduce the heat generated in the semiconductor device during steady state full voltage operation, a shunting current path is established between the adjacent heat sinks by an electrically operated solenoid which moves a movable contact bar to engage stationary contact surfaces mounted directly on the heat sinks. Electrically joining the incoming line heat sink to the outgoing heat sink provides a low resistance parallel current path around the semiconductor thereby reducing the heat generated in the assembly during full voltage operation. The above contacts and solenoids can be directly mounted to a heat sink assembly thereby providing the benefits of unitized construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 24, 1990
    Assignee: Benshaw, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert W. Schaltenbrand, Brian Seman, Donald Shepherd
  • Patent number: 4937705
    Abstract: A U-shaped or O-shaped metal strap (20, 30-32, 34) is attached in a belt-like manner around the insulating housing (2, 2') of a DC speed control switch to provide an external heat sink for a FET (22, 36) attached to the heat sink. Bosses (2f, 2h, 2g) on the switch housing project into holes (20e, 20b-32b, 34h, 34g) in the heat sink to position the heat sink on the housing. Formed terminal conductors on the FET plug into press-in terminations on the switch. A pair of mirror image battery clips (16) are trapped against opposite sides of the switch housing by the heat sink and an interposed insulator (18), the clips having cooperatively aligned depending legs (16e) forming battery terminal clips, and formed prongs (16c) that plug into press-in wire terminations on the switch. Holes (16d) in body portions of the battery clips surround bosses (2e) on the sides of the switch housing to interlock the clips against lateral movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 26, 1990
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Earl T. Piber
  • Patent number: 4937730
    Abstract: A constant voltage power supply that includes an enclosure and a transformer positioned within the enclosure. The transformer has a primary winding and first and second sets of secondary windings mounted and magnetically coupled to each other all on a single magnetic core structure. The primary winding is connected by primary circuitry to a source of electrical power. First secondary circuitry is connected to the first secondary winding set for supplying electrical power at regulated constant voltage. Second secondary circuitry is connected to the second secondary winding set for supplying auxiliary power at unregulated voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 26, 1990
    Assignee: Daykin Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Mark J. Marcie, John P. Williams, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4935864
    Abstract: A localized cooling apparatus is provided for individually cooling integrated circuit chips mounted on a circuit board for insertion into a computer backplane. The cooling apparatus consists of a circuit board occupying a first slot and having an integrated circuit chip mounted thereon, the performance of which is known to improve by cooling, a heat removal assembly consisting of a heat sink attached to a card edge portion and occupying an adjacent second slot, and a thermoelectric cooler intimately bonded to both the chip and heat removal assembly. A controller provides power via the connector of the second slot to the thermoelectric cooler and stabilizes the temperature of the chip to a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1990
    Assignee: Digital Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: William L. Schmidt, Richard E. Olson, Dennis J. Solley
  • Patent number: 4928138
    Abstract: A power supply in accordance with the present invention includes a chassis (26) associated with the power supply; a voltage source (12) providing an output voltage varying at a fundamental frequency and having a noise component changing as a function of time at a frequency above the fundamental frequency; a filter (41) including an inductance (44) in series with the voltage source for attenuating the noise component and outputting the fundamental frequency; and a cooling apparatus (42) thermally and capacitively coupled to the inductor for conducting heat from the inductor and shunting the noise component to the chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1990
    Assignee: Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Derek N. Walton, Richard J. Hoppe
  • Patent number: 4908734
    Abstract: A control unit according to the invention has a plastic case (v) housing only power components (v), such as transistors for an inverter, among components constituting a control circuit. Other circuit components such as resistors are mounted on a printed circuit board, and the case and circuit board are secured to each other by fasteners allowing the case to be made light in weight. Screws for mounting the power components to the case are of the same size, and so are the energizing terminals. This makes possible automated assembly by robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 13, 1990
    Assignee: Fanuc Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiki Fujioka
  • Patent number: 4908757
    Abstract: The invention relates to a static frequency converter in a housing, especially a frequency converter controlling and/or adjusting the performance data of an electromotor. The housing is shaped as a pressure-resistant casing sealed toward the ambient and at least partially provided with a filler serving as a heat conductor for the dissipation of heat to the surface of the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 13, 1990
    Assignee: Grundfos International A/S
    Inventors: Niels D. Jensen, Jorgen Christensen
  • Patent number: 4897763
    Abstract: The electrical elements to be cooled (111-138) is a low-ohmic high-power source are connected via cooling channels (60-63, 66, 77, 70-72, 76-80) in the electrical conductors (9, 211, 311, 10, 215, 315, . . . ) as parallel cooling circulations to a cooling medium distributor (8). The entire mechanical design of the circuit arrangement is sandwich-like and constitutes an electrodynamically stable and space-saving arrangement without additional fittings between the elements to be cooled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1990
    Assignee: H.A. Schlatter AG.
    Inventor: Emil Denzler
  • Patent number: 4896062
    Abstract: A rectifier assembly for use in the rotor of an electrical generator is provided with a plurality of generally disc-shaped diode packages arranged in a stack along a common axis. Radial bus bars are positioned between the diode packages and extend radially beyond the diode stack. Electrically and thermally conductive through bolts extend between a pair of end members on opposite ends of the diode stack and are electrically connected to the radial bus bars. Each of the through bolts includes a longitudinal opening for receiving cooling fluid. Selected ones of the through bolts are held in tension between the end members, thereby axially compressing the diode and radial bus bar stack. Spring terminals are provided for electrically connecting the through bolts to an external circuit and the entire assembly is conveniently packaged as a plug in module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1990
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventor: David D. Pollard
  • Patent number: 4890050
    Abstract: An automotive alternator includes a thermal switch located in a rear chamber of the alternator enclosed by the housing rear wall and circumferential intermediate wall and the stator and rotor. The thermal switch is mounted on the heat-sinking collector tab of a power transistor in the regulator. In high power, low idling conditions with poor interior ventilation, the thermal switch senses heat produced from the rectifier diodes, rotor, stator and regulator to cut-off generation in over temperature conditions. Rings are furnished on the rectifier diode posts to conduct more heat from the diode body and the stator is potted with a special double dip and bake procedure with a thin viscosity two-part epoxy material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1989
    Assignee: Vanguard Products Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel A. Mackevich
  • Patent number: 4888678
    Abstract: A socket adaptor is provided for use with light bulbs in either 110 V or 220 V circuits. The device includes a housing having first and second ends for placement into a light bulb socket and retaining of a light bulb respectively. The interior of the housing may include a circuit board with a rectifier fastened thereto. The circuit board may also have a thermistor and a bridge rectifier fastened thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1989
    Inventor: Shaam P. Sundhar