Apparatus for a welding machine having a cooling assembly mounted to a mid-plane baffle for improved cooling within the welding machine
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Accused Products
Abstract
A mid-plane baffle or plate having a fan mounted thereto to dissipate heat within a welding machine is provided. By centrally positioning a baffle and mounting a circulating fan thereto, cooling efficiency is improved thereby enabling more direct cooling of the internal components of the welding machine. The baffle also reduces the critical volume of the welding machine and allows the fan to operate more efficiently and pull an increased amount of cooler ambient air through the machine which creates a greater cooling effect during the cooling cycle of the machine. The baffle placement also improves welding start performance by operating as a barrier between the high frequency/high voltage components and the PC board (control electronics) of the welding machine. The baffle also improves flexibility of component placement within the welding machine.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1-17. -17. Canceled.
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18. A cooling assembly kit for retrofitting a welding apparatus, the kit comprising:
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a baffle plate having a bore configured to generally bisect an internal volume of the welding apparatus to form a first volume and a second volume; and
a fan assembly attachable to the baffle plate through the bore to circulate air in the first and the second volumes. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. A welding apparatus comprising:
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a housing defined by a first and a second panel, a base plate, and a top cover plate; and
a baffle extending from the first panel to the second panel, the baffle being disposed within the housing to define a top compartment and a bottom compartment within the housing and having a plurality of orifices to enable a pressure equilibrium between the top compartment and the bottom compartment. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A welding machine comprising:
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a front panel and a back panel;
a base plate and a top plate connecting the front panel and the back panel to form a housing;
a cross plate parallel to the base plate and the top plate such that the cross plate defines a first volume and a second volume within the housing; and
a plurality of air passages formed in the cross plate to reduce a pressure differential between the first volume and the second volume. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method of manufacturing a welding machine with improved cooling efficiency, the method comprising the steps of:
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connecting a first panel and a second panel to opposite ends of a base plate;
connecting a baffle plate having a number of air passages perpendicular to the base plate wherein the baffle plate generally bisects a height of each panel to form a first volume and a second volume and the number of air passages are constructed to support a pressure equalization between the first and the second volumes; and
connecting a cover plate between the first panel and the second panel. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification