POWER SUPPLY CHASSIS

• US 20140376186A1
• Filed: 06/24/2013
• Published: 12/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Sigl, Dennis R.
• Granted Patent: US 9,289,844 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/695
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/1043 characterised by the electric circuit B23K9/1012 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/173 and of a consumable electrode
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/32 Accessories earthing connections H01R
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20145 Means for directing air flow, e.g. ducts, deflectors, plenum or guides
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20172 Fan mounting or fan specifications

Abstract

A welding power supply includes a housing and a one-piece chassis. The one-piece chassis is coupled to the housing and configured to be enclosed within the housing. Moreover, the one-piece chassis is configured to be selectively removable from the housing and the one-piece chassis is configured to have multiple components coupled thereto. The components include one or more transformers, a fan blade, one or more rectifiers, one or more inductors, and control circuitry.

Claims

1. A welding power supply comprising:

a housing; and

a one-piece chassis coupled to the housing and configured to be enclosed within the housing, wherein the one-piece chassis is configured to be selectively removable from the housing, and wherein the one-piece chassis is configured to have a plurality of components coupled thereto, and the plurality of components comprise one or more transformers, a fan blade, one or more rectifiers, one or more inductors, and control circuitry.

2. The welding power supply of claim 1, wherein the one-piece chassis comprises a fan shroud configured to circumscribe the fan blade, and a fan mount configured to facilitate mounting of the fan blade directly to the one-piece chassis.

3. The welding power supply of claim 1, wherein the one-piece chassis is coupled to the housing using a plurality of fasteners.

4. The welding power supply of claim 3, wherein the plurality of fasteners comprises four fasteners.

5. The welding power supply of claim 1, wherein the one-piece chassis comprises plastic.

6. The welding power supply of claim 1, wherein the one-piece chassis comprises a plurality of mounting bosses for coupling the one-piece chassis to the housing.

7. The welding power supply of claim 1, wherein the one-piece chassis comprises a fan shroud configured to direct air toward the fan blade.

8. A welding power supply comprising:

a housing having a panel;

a plurality of electronic components;

a fan configured to direct air across the plurality of electronic components and toward the panel;

a first air flow path across the plurality of electronic components and between the fan and the panel;

a second air flow path across the plurality of electronic components and between the fan and the panel; and

a third air flow path across the plurality of electronic components and between the fan and the panel.

9. The welding power supply of claim 8, wherein the first air flow path, the second air flow path, and the third air flow path are substantially parallel.

10. The welding power supply of claim 8, wherein the plurality of electronic components, a chassis, or some combination thereof, form a first baffle between the first air flow path and the second air flow path, and the plurality of electronic components, the chassis, or some combination thereof, form a second baffle between the second air flow path and the third air flow path.

11. The welding power supply of claim 8, wherein the plurality of electronic components and a chassis form a first layer having a first top side and a first bottom side, and a second layer having a second top side and a second bottom side.

12. The welding power supply of claim 11, wherein the first air flow path is configured to flow adjacent to the first top side of the first layer, the second air flow path is configured to flow between the first bottom side of the first layer and the second top side of the second layer, and the third air flow path is configured to flow adjacent to the second bottom side of the second layer.

13. A welding power supply comprising:

a one-piece chassis configured to be coupled to a housing and to be enclosed within the housing, wherein the one-piece chassis comprises a fan mount integrally formed thereon for mounting a fan blade, and wherein the one-piece chassis comprises mounting structures for mounting one or more transformers, one or more rectifiers, one or more inductors, and control circuitry.

14. The welding power supply of claim 13, wherein the one-piece chassis comprises plastic.

15. The welding power supply of claim 13, wherein the one-piece chassis is manufactured via injection molding.

16. The welding power supply of claim 13, comprising the fan blade and fan motor coupled to the fan mount.

17. A welding power supply comprising:

a one-piece chassis configured to be coupled to a housing and to be enclosed within the housing, wherein the one-piece chassis comprises a fan shroud integrally formed thereon and configured to circumscribe a fan blade, and wherein the one-piece chassis comprises mounting structures for mounting one or more transformers, one or more rectifiers, one or more inductors, and control circuitry.

18. The welding power supply of claim 17, wherein the one-piece chassis comprises a polymeric material.

19. The welding power supply of claim 17, wherein the one-piece chassis comprises a fan mount to enable mounting of the fan directly to the one-piece chassis.

20. The welding power supply of claim 17, comprising the fan blade, the one or more transformers, the one or more rectifiers, the one or more inductors, and the control circuitry mounted to the one-piece chassis.