ELECTRIC POWER CONVERTER

• US 20150029663A1
• Filed: 07/23/2014
• Published: 01/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: TAGEI, Hisato
• Granted Patent: US 10,201,118 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/690
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20127 Natural convection
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/2089 for power electronics, e.g. for inverters for controlling motor

Abstract

The electric power converter has a transformer having a primary coil and a secondary coil, a first circuit section connected to the primary coil side of the transformer, a second circuit section connected to the secondary coil side of the transformer, and a case that accommodates the transformer, the first circuit section, and the second circuit section inside and has a lower opening and an upper opening. An air passage communicated with an exterior of the case is formed inside the case in a vertical direction between the lower opening and the upper opening. At least one of the transformer, the first circuit section, or the second circuit sections is disposed in the air passage.

Claims

1. An electric power converter comprising:

a transformer having a primary coil and a secondary coil;

a first circuit section connected to the primary coil side of the transformer;

a second circuit section connected to the secondary coil side of the transformer; and

a case that accommodates the transformer, the first circuit section, and the second circuit section inside and has a lower opening and an upper opening;

wherein,

an air passage communicated with an exterior of the case is formed inside the case in a vertical direction between the lower opening and the upper opening; and

at least one of the transformer, the first circuit section, or the second circuit sections is disposed in the air passage.

2. The electric power converter according to claim 1, wherein,

all horizontal circumferences of the air passage are surrounded.

3. The electric power converter according to claim 2, wherein,

the case is composed of a base plate where the transformer, the first circuit section, and the second circuit section are mounted, and a cover fixed to the base plate and the cover covering the transformer, the first circuit section, and the second circuit section;

and

the all horizontal circumferences of the air passage are surrounded by a part of the base plate and a part of the cover.

4. The electric power converter according to claim 1, wherein,

the transformer is disposed in the air passage.

5. The electric power converter according to claim 4, wherein,

parts of passage walls surrounding the air passage are constituted to function also as a positioner that positions the transformer.

6. The electric power converter according to claim 4, wherein,

the transformer, the first circuit section, and the second circuit section are disposed in the air passage.

7. The electric power converter according to claim 1, wherein,

there is provided a circuit board that has a control circuit for controlling at least one of the first circuit section or the second circuit section;

and

the circuit board is disposed in the air passage.

8. The electric power converter according to claim 1, wherein,

a lower wall part and an upper wall part are disposed in a lower end and an upper end of the air passage, respectively;

a plurality of holes are provided in the lower wall part and the upper wall part, respectively; and

the lower opening and the upper opening are constituted by the plurality of holes, respectively.

9. The electric power converter according to claim 3, wherein,

a lower end and an upper end of the air passage are blocked by the lower wall part and the upper wall part of the case, respectively;

and

the lower opening and the upper opening are opened toward a horizontal direction in the lower end and the upper end of the cover on a surface opposite to the base plate.

10. The electric power converter according to claim 3, wherein,

a lower projecting plate and an upper projecting plate mounted on the mounting surface are formed in the lower end and the upper end of the base plate, respectively;

the lower projecting plate and the upper projecting plate have gaps between the cover, respectively; and

each gap is configured to the lower opening and the upper opening, respectively.