Welding Type Power Supply With Wind Tunnel

• US 20160129517A1
• Filed: 11/07/2014
• Published: 05/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Altekruse, Kenneth C., Matiash, Nicholas A.
• Granted Patent: US 10,150,173 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/1006 Power supply
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/325 Devices for supplying or evacuating shielding gas

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing a welding type power is disclosed. It includes an outer housing having a wind tunnel within the outer housing. Air flows through the wind tunnel in an air flow direction. The width of the tunnel is less at one location than at another location. Electrical components receive power and provide a welding type output. A first group of those components require air flow for cooling, and are disposed at least partially in the wind tunnel. A second group of components are not disposed in the wind tunnel. The wind tunnel can also change direction.

Claims

1. A welding type power supply comprising:

an outer housing;

a wind tunnel, disposed within the outer housing, having an air flow direction, and a first cross direction perpendicular to the air flow direction, wherein a first width of the wind tunnel in the first cross direction at a first location in the air flow direction is less than a second width of the wind tunnel in the first cross direction at a second location in the air flow direction; and

electrical components disposed to receive power and provide a welding type output, wherein the electrical components include a first group of components that require air flow for cooling, and a second group of components;

wherein the first group of components are disposed at least partially in the wind tunnel and the second of components are not disposed in the wind tunnel.

2. The welding type power supply of claim 1, wherein the first group of components includes components that are attached to heat sinks disposed in a first portion of the wind tunnel having the first width in the first cross direction, and the first group of components further includes magnetic components disposed in a second portion of the wind tunnel having the second width in the first cross direction.

3. The welding type power supply of claim 1, wherein the wind tunnel has a height in a second cross direction perpendicular to the first cross direction and perpendicular to the air flow direction.

4. The welding type power supply of claim 3, wherein the height is constant through out the wind tunnel.

5. The welding type power supply of claim 1, wherein a first cross sectional area of the wind tunnel at the first location is less than a second cross sectional area at the second location.

6. The welding type power supply of claim 1, wherein the wind tunnel includes a transition portion where the width of the wind tunnel in the first cross direction changes in the transition portion, and the transition portion is located between the first location and the second location, in the air flow direction.

7. The welding type power supply of claim 1, further comprising a fan disposed at a first end of the wind tunnel.

8. The welding type power supply of claim 1, wherein the fan is closer to the first location than the second location.

9. The welding type power supply of claim 1, wherein at least some of the second group of components are cooled by natural convection.

10. A welding type power supply comprising:

an outer housing;

a wind tunnel, disposed within the outer housing, having a first portion with an air flow direction in a first direction, and a second portion with a second air flow direction, wherein the first air flow direction is not parallel to the second air flow direction; and

electrical components disposed to receive power and provide a welding type output, wherein the electrical components include a first group of components that require air flow for cooling, and a second group of components.

wherein the first group of components are disposed at least partially in the wind tunnel and the second of components are not disposed in the wind tunnel.

11. The welding type power supply of claim 10, wherein the first group of components includes components that are attached to heat sinks disposed in the first portion of the wind tunnel, and the first group of components further includes magnetic components that are disposed in the second portion of the wind tunnel.

12. The welding type power supply of claim 10, wherein the wind tunnel has a height in a first cross direction and perpendicular to the air flow direction.

13. The welding type power supply of claim 12, wherein the height is constant throughout the wind tunnel.

14. The welding type power supply of claim 10, wherein a first cross sectional area of the wind tunnel in the first portion is less than a second cross sectional area in the second potion.

15. The welding type power supply of claim 10, wherein the wind tunnel has a first width in a first cross direction perpendicular to the first air flow direction in the first portion, and a second width in a second cross direction perpendicular to the second air flow direction in the second portion, wherein the first width is less than the second width.

16. The welding type power supply of claim 10, further comprising a fan disposed at a first end of the wind tunnel.

17. The welding type power supply of claim 10, wherein the fan is closer to the first portion than the second portion.

18. The welding type power supply of claim 10, wherein at least some of the second group of components are cooled by natural convection.