Rotating rectifier assembly with inner mounted diodes

• US 20060163957A1
• Filed: 01/27/2005
• Published: 07/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Johnsen, Tyrone Arthur
• Granted Patent: US 7,166,943 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 310/68.D
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 24/72 Detachable connecting means consisting of mechanical auxiliary parts connecting the device, e.g. pressure contacts using springs or clips
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 25/11 the devices being of a type provided for in group H01L29/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/01005 Boron [B]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/01006 Carbon [C]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/01033 Arsenic [As]
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 11/042 Rectifiers associated with rotating parts, e.g. rotor cores or rotary shafts
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/06 using discharge tubes without control electrode or semiconductor devices without control electrode

Abstract

The present invention is a rectifier assembly, which has a first support and a second support. The supports have either a ring or plate shape. Each support has an inner peripheral surface with inwardly facing diode mounting surfaces. A diode is mounted to each of the inwardly facing diode mounting surfaces. Phase connectors connect one diode from the first support with one diode from the second support. The supports are received within an electrically insulated housing. The diodes are connected to the supports such that when assembled, each diode is perpendicular to a central axis that extends along a length the electrically insulated housing. During operation of the rectifier assembly, both supports rotate about the axis.

Claims

1. A rectifier assembly comprising:

a first support having a first outer peripheral surface and a first inner peripheral surface;

a first plurality of diodes mounted to said first inner peripheral surface;

a second support having a second outer peripheral surface and a second inner peripheral surface;

a second plurality of diodes mounted to said second inner peripheral surface; and

a plurality of phase connectors with each phase connector connecting one of said first plurality of diodes to one of said second plurality of diodes, wherein said plurality of phase connectors apply a compressive force to said first plurality of diodes and said second plurality of diodes when said first support and said second support are rotating.

2. The rectifier assembly of claim 1, wherein a positive output terminal is connected to said first support and a negative output terminal is connected to said second support.

3. The rectifier assembly of claim 1, wherein said first plurality of diodes and said second plurality of diodes are mounted in compression.

4. The rectifier assembly of claim 1, wherein said first plurality of diodes are soldered to said first support and said second plurality of diodes are soldered to said second support.

5. The rectifier assembly of claim 1, wherein said first support and said second support are heat sinks.

6. The rectifier assembly of claim 1, wherein said first support and said second support are rings axially spaced from one another.

7. The rectifier assembly of claim 1, wherein said first support and said second support are plates wherein said first inner peripheral surface and said second inner peripheral surface are facing each other.

8. The rectifier assembly of claim 1, wherein said first inner peripheral surface and said second inner peripheral surface each have three diode mounting locations.

9. The rectifier assembly of claim 8, wherein said first plurality of diodes comprises three diodes with one of said three diodes being mounted to one of said three diode mounting locations on said first inner peripheral surface and wherein said second plurality of diodes comprises three diodes with one of said three diodes being mounted to one of said three diode mounting locations on said second inner peripheral surface.

10. The rectifier assembly of claim 9, wherein said plurality of phase connectors comprises three phase connectors with one of said three phase connectors connecting one diode of said first plurality of diodes with one diode of said second plurality of diodes.

11. The rectifier assembly of claim 1, wherein said first support and said second support are received within an electrically insulated housing.

12. The rectifier assembly of claim 1, wherein said first support and said second support each have cylindrical outer surfaces.

13. The rectifier assembly of claim 12, wherein said first support and said second support rotate about an axis defined by a center of said cylindrical outer surfaces.

14. The rectifier assembly of claim 13, wherein said first and second inner peripheral surfaces are arranged radially about said axis such that said first plurality of diodes and said second plurality of diodes are perpendicular to said axis.

21. The rectifier assembly of claim 1, wherein said first support and said second support rotate about a common axis, and wherein each of said plurality of phase connectors comprises a body portion extending in a direction that is generally parallel to said common axis.

22. The rectifier assembly of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of phase connector comprises a first portion having a planar surface applying a compressive force on one of said first plurality of diodes and a second portion having a planar surface applying a compressive force on one of said second plurality of diodes when said first support and said second support are rotating.

15. A rectifier assembly comprising:

a first support having a first outer peripheral surface and a first inner peripheral surface, wherein said first inner peripheral surface includes three diode mounting locations;

a first set of three diodes with one diode mounted at each diode mounting location on said first inner peripheral surface;

a second support having a second outer peripheral surface and a second inner peripheral surface, wherein said second inner peripheral surface includes three diode mounting locations;

a second set of three diodes with one diode mounted at each diode mounting location on said second inner peripheral surface;

three phase connectors with each of said three phase connectors being connected to one diode of said first set of three diodes and one diode of said second set of three diodes;

a positive output terminal connected to said first support;

a negative output terminal connected to said second support; and

a housing for receiving said first and said second supports, wherein said three phase connectors apply a compressive force to said first set of three diodes and said second set of three diodes when said first support and said second support are rotating.

16. The rectifier assembly of claim 15, wherein said first and second sets of three diodes are mounted in compression.

17. The rectifier assembly of claim 15, wherein said first and second supports are heat sinks.

23. The rectifier assembly of claim 15, wherein said first support and said second support are rings axially spaced from one another.

24. The rectifier assembly of claim 15, wherein said first support and said second support rotate about a common axis and, wherein each of said three phase connectors comprises a body portion extending in a direction that is generally parallel to said common axis.

25. The rectifier assembly of claim 24, wherein said first support and said second support rotate about a common axis and said first inner peripheral surface and said second inner peripheral surface are generally parallel to and facing each other across said common axis.

26. The rectifier assembly of claim 15, wherein each of said three phase connectors comprises a first portion having a planar surface applying a compressive force on one of said first set of three diodes and a second portion having a planar surface applying a compressive force on one of said second set of three diodes when said first support and said second support are rotating.

18-20. -20. (canceled)