Power Supply Cooling System
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A cooling system for a power supply of a welding or plasma cutting system, comprising:
- a heat sink having a base and a plurality of fins extending from the base, each fin having an outer fin edge, the plurality of fins forming at least one channel between adjacent fins, the at least one channel having a central portion and an end portion, the end portion corresponding to an end of the heat sink;
a panel disposed along the outer fin edges of the adjacent fins to at least partially enclose the at least one channel, the panel extending from the central portion to at least a midpoint of the end portion; and
a fan aligned with the heat sink that directs a gas flow to the central portion, at least a portion of the gas flow exiting the at least one channel at the end portion.
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Abstract
An improved cooling system for a power supply of a welding or plasma cutting system. The cooling systems includes a heat sink with a panel forming a plurality of enclosed channels. The cooling system also includes a passage defined by walls, and a passage in a heat sink between an inlet port and outlet port. The channels and passages extend from a central portion of the power supply to an end, and a majority of the airflow passing through the power supply is directed through the channels and passages. The method includes step of directing a majority of the airflow through the cooling system via the channels or passages.
39 Citations
39 Claims
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1. A cooling system for a power supply of a welding or plasma cutting system, comprising:
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a heat sink having a base and a plurality of fins extending from the base, each fin having an outer fin edge, the plurality of fins forming at least one channel between adjacent fins, the at least one channel having a central portion and an end portion, the end portion corresponding to an end of the heat sink; a panel disposed along the outer fin edges of the adjacent fins to at least partially enclose the at least one channel, the panel extending from the central portion to at least a midpoint of the end portion; and a fan aligned with the heat sink that directs a gas flow to the central portion, at least a portion of the gas flow exiting the at least one channel at the end portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of cooling a power supply of a welding or plasma cutting system, comprising:
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forming a heat sink in the power supply, the heat sink having a base and a plurality of fins extending from the base with each fin having an outer fin edge, the plurality of fins forming at least one channel between adjacent fins, the at least one channel having a central portion and an end portion including an end of the heat sink; positioning a panel along the outer fin edges of the adjacent fins to at least partially enclose the at least one channel, the panel extending from the central portion to at least a midpoint of the end portion; and directing a gas flow via a fan to the central portion, at least a portion of the gas flow exiting the at least one channel disposed at the end portion.
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16. A cooling system for a power supply of a welding or plasma cutting system, comprising:
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at least one gas passage enclosed by one or more walls and extending through the power supply from an approximate middle portion of the power supply to at least one side of the power supply, the at least one gas passage having a central portion disposed at the middle portion and having an end portion disposed near the at least one side; and a fan directing a gas flow to a passage located in or formed by the at least one gas passage disposed at the central portion, wherein gas entering the passage entrance is directed through the at least one gas passage to an exit passage disposed at the end portion of the at least one gas passage. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method of cooling a power supply of a welding or plasma cutting system, comprising:
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forming in the power supply at least one gas passage enclosed by one or more walls and extending through the power supply from an approximate middle portion of the power supply towards at least one side of the power supply, the at least one gas passage having a central portion disposed at the middle portion and having an end portion disposed near the at least one side; and directing a gas flow to a passage entrance of the at least one gas passage at the central portion, wherein gas entering the passage entrance is directed through the at least one gas passage to a passage exit of the at least one gas passage at the end portion.
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27. A cooling system for a power supply of a welding or plasma cutting system, comprising:
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a fan that directs a gas flow through an inlet port disposed in an inlet side of the power supply; and one or more gas outlet ports disposed in one or more adjacent sides of the power supply, the one or more adjacent sides adjacent to the inlet side, at least a portion of the gas flow exiting the power supply through the one or more gas outlet ports, wherein a majority of the gas flow passes through at least one heat sink passage disposed in a heat sink, the at least one heat sink passage being enclosed by at least one wall within the heat sink for a majority of a length of the at least one heat sink passage. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A method of cooling a power supply of a welding or plasma cutting system, comprising:
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disposing a gas inlet port in an inlet side of the power supply; directing a gas flow using a fan through the gas inlet port into the power supply; and directing at least a portion of the gas flow through and out of the power supply via one or more gas outlet ports in one or more adjacent sides of the power supply, the one or more adjacent sides adjacent to the inlet side, wherein a majority of the gas flow passes through at least one heat sink passage disposed in a heat sink, the at least one heat sink passage being enclosed by at least one wall for a majority of a length of the at least one heat sink passage.
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Specification