Inverter device

• US 5,091,823 A
• Filed: 05/28/1991
• Issued: 02/25/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Suzuki, Naoto, Baba, Shigeyuki, Kanbara, Takatsugu, Yanagida, Takehiko, Nandou, Kenji, Fujii, Hiroshi, Ibori, Satoshi, Asabuki, Hiroshi, Torii, Takuji, Hasegawa, Kengo
• Primary Examiner(s): Thompson, Gregory D.
• Application Number:
  US07/711,492
• Time in Patent Office: 273 Days
• Field of Search: 174/35 MS, 174/35 R, 361/383-395, 361/399, 361/424
• US Class Current: 361/697
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 5/44 using discharge tubes or semiconductor devices to convert the intermediate dc into ac
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/003 Constructional details, e.g. physical layout, assembly, wiring or busbar connections
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/14322 wherein the control and power circuits of a power converter are arranged within the same casing
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20918 the components being isolated from air flow, e.g. hollow heat sinks, wind tunnels or funnels
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20927 Liquid coolant without phase change
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 9/0022 of components mounted on printed circuit boards [PCB] shields integrated within component packages H01L23/552; shields integrated within PCB H05K1/0218

Abstract

In an inverter device comprising a main circuit section which switches a power at high speed, having a switching element and a smoothing condenser for smoothing the power supplied to the switching element, and a logic section for controlling the main circuit section, a shielding member is disposed between the main circuit section and the logical section. The shielding member includes a combination of a heat shielding member and an electromagnetic shielding member so as to protect the logic section from heat, electromagnetic noise, and vibration generated in the main circuit section for improving reliability of the inverter device.

Claims

1. An inverter device, comprising:

a housing;

a main circuit section including a heat generating element;

a logical circuit section disposed apart from said main circuit section;

a first chamber formed in said housing for enclosing said logical circuit section and having a totally enclosed structure for preventing foreign substances from entering therein;

a second chamber formed in said housing for enclosing said main circuit section and having a totally enclosed structure for preventing the foreign substances from entering therein; and

a cooling passage disposed between said first and second chambers for cooling said main circuit section and said logical circuit section, said cooling passage being provided independent of said first and second chambers, respectively.

2. An inverter device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cooling passage is provided with an air inlet port and an air outlet port, said inlet and outlet ports being formed to allow outside air to flow therein.

3. An inverter device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said air inlet port is provided on opposite side portions of one end of said cooling passage, and said air outlet port is provided on the other end of said cooling passage.

4. An inverter device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second chamber has heat-dissipating fins on an outer surface thereof facing to said cooling passage.

5. An inverter device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said heat-dissipating fins are provided with guides for directing the air stream toward the fins which are disposed so as to correspond to said heat generating element.

6. An inverter device according to claim 1, further comprising an electro-magnetic shielding member provided on at least a part of said cooling passage for preventing electro-magnetic noise from being transmitted to said logical circuit section.

7. An inverter device, as claimed in claim 6, wherein said electro-magnetic shielding member is provided on a same side of said cooling passage as said logical circuit section.

8. An inverter device, as claimed in claim 6, wherein said electro-magnetic shielding member is disposed so as to separate said cooling passage from said first chamber.

9. An inverter device as claimed in claim 6, wherein a heat shielding member is provided on a side opposite to said electro-magnetic shielding member in said cooling passage, and said electro-magnetic shielding member is disposed so as to form an air stratum between said heat shielding member.

21. An inverter device according to claim 1, further comprising a second cooling passage disposed along an outer surface of said second chamber on a side opposite to said cooling passage.

22. An inverter device as claimed in claim 21, wherein said cooling passage and said second cooling passage are disposed such that a portion of an air flow bypasses said second cooling passage through said cooling passage.

23. An inverter device as claimed in claim 21, further comprising a fan for supplying an air flow at least in said second cooling passage.

24. An inverter device as claimed in claim 21, wherein said cooling passage is provided with an air inlet port and an air outlet port being formed to allow outside air to flow therein.

25. An inverter device as claimed in claim 24, wherein said air inlet port is provided on opposite side portions of one end of said cooling passage, and said air outlet port is provided on the other end of said cooling passage.

26. An inverter device as claimed in claim 21, wherein said second chamber has heat-dissipating fins on an outer surface thereof facing to said cooling passage.

27. An inverter device as claimed in claim 26, wherein said heat-dissipating fins are provided with guides for directing an air stream toward fins which are disposed so as to correspond to said heat generating element.

28. An inverter device as claimed in claim 21, wherein said cooling passage is connected with said second cooling passage such that a branched portion of an air stream from said second cooling passage flows in said cooling passage.

29. An inverter device as claimed in claim 21, wherein said cooling passage has a communicating passage connecting said second cooling passage with said cooling passage, said communicating passage being formed to induce air from said cooling passage to flow to said second cooling passage.

10. An inverter device, comprising:

a housing;

a main circuit section including a heat generating element;

a logical circuit section disposed apart from said main circuit section;

a first chamber independently formed in said housing for enclosing said logical circuit section and having a totally enclosed structure for preventing foreign substances from entering therein;

a second chamber independently formed in said housing for enclosing said main circuit section and having a totally enclosed structure for preventing the foreign substances from entering therein, said first and second chambers being disposed so as to form a cooling passage therebetween.

11. An inverter device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said cooling passage provides for thermal insulation of said logical circuit section from said main circuit section.

12. An inverter device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said cooling passage is provided with an air inlet port and an air outlet port, said inlet and outlet ports being formed to allow outside air to flow therein.

13. An inverter device as claimed in claim 12, wherein said air inlet port is provided on opposite side portions of one end of said cooling passage, and said air outlet port is provided on the other end of said cooling passage.

14. An inverter device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said second chamber has heat-dissipating fins formed on an outer surface thereof and facing to said cooling passage.

15. An inverter device as claimed in claim 14, wherein said heat-dissipating fins are provided with guides for directing an air stream toward fins which are disposed so as to correspond to said heat generating element.

16. An inverter device as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a fan for supplying an air flow in said cooling passage.

17. An inverter device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said cooling passage is provided with a heat insulating member disposed so as to face said main circuit section for insulating heat from said heat-generating element.

18. An inverter device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said cooling passage is formed to allow a flow of a coolant therein.

19. An inverter device according to claim 10, further comprising an electro-magnetic shielding member disposed on one side of said cooling passage.

20. An inverter device as claimed in claim 19, wherein said cooling passage is provided with a heat insulating member disposed on a side opposite to said electro-magnetic shielding member in said cooling passage for shielding heat from said heat generating element.

30. An inverter device, comprising:

a housing;

a main circuit section including a heat generating element and a smoothing capacitor;

a logical circuit section disposed apart from said main circuit section;

a first chamber formed in said housing for enclosing said logical circuit section and having a totally enclosed structure for preventing foreign substances from entering therein;

a second chamber formed in said housing for enclosing said main circuit section and having a totally enclosed structure for preventing the foreign substances from entering therein;

a cooling passage disposed between said first and second chambers for cooling said main circuit section and said logic circuit section, said cooling passage being provided independent of said first and second chambers, respectively; and

a second cooling passage being disposed along an outer surface of said second chamber on a side opposite to said cooling passage, wherein said smoothing capacitor is disposed so as to partially protrude into said second cooling passage.

31. An inverter device as claimed in claim 30, wherein said second chamber has heat-dissipating fins, at least one of said heat-dissipating fins having a bent section formed so as to guide an air flow to a portion of said smoothing capacitor which faces said second cooling passage.

32. An inverter device as claimed in claim 30, wherein said smoothing capacitor is vertically disposed and protrudes through a bottom of said second chamber, said bottom of said second chamber being disposed on a horizontal plane.

33. An inverter device as claimed in claim 30, wherein said smoothing capacitor is horizontally disposed and protrudes through a vertical extending portion formed in said second chamber.

34. An inverter device as claimed in claim 30, wherein said smoothing capacitor is comprised of capacitors connected in parallel so as to increase a surface area thereof.

35. An inverter device, comprising:

a housing;

a main circuit section including a heat generating element and a smoothing capacitor;

a logical circuit section disposed apart from said main circuit section;

a first chamber formed in said housing for enclosing said logical circuit section and having a totally enclosed structure for preventing foreign substances from entering therein;

a second chamber formed in said housing for enclosing said main circuit section and having a totally enclosed structure for preventing the foreign substances from entering therein; and

a cooling passage disposed between said first and second chambers for cooling said main circuit section and said logic circuit section, said cooling passage being provided independent of said first and second chambers, respectively, and said smoothing capacitor being disposed so as to partially protrude into said cooling passage.

36. An inverter device as claimed in claim 35, wherein said smoothing capacitor is vertically disposed in said second chamber so as to protrude into said cooling passage, said cooling passage being disposed on a horizontal plane with respect to said smoothing capacitor.

37. An inverter device as claimed in claim 35, wherein said smoothing capacitor is horizontally disposed in said second chamber so as to protrude into said cooling passage, said cooling passage being disposed on a vertical plane with respect to said smoothing capacitor.

38. An inverter device, comprising:

a housing;

a main circuit section including a heat generating element and a smoothing capacitor;

a logical circuit section disposed apart from said main circuit section;

a first chamber independently formed in said housing for enclosing said logical circuit section and having a totally enclosed structure for preventing foreign substances from entering therein;

a second chamber independently formed in said housing for enclosing said main circuit section and having a totally enclosed structure for preventing the foreign substances from entering therein, said first chamber and said second chamber being disposed so as to form a cooling passage therebetween in order to provide for thermal insulation of said logical circuit section from said main circuit section; and

a second cooling passage disposed along an outer surface of said second chamber on a side of said second chamber opposite to said cooling passage.

39. An inverter device, according to claim 38, wherein said main circuit section further includes a smoothing capacitor, said smoothing capacitor being disposed so as to partially protrude into said cooling passage.

40. An inverter device, comprising:

a housing;

a main circuit section including a heat generating element and a smoothing capacitor;

a logical circuit section disposed apart from said main circuit section;

a first chamber formed in said housing for enclosing said logical circuit section and having a totally enclosed structure for preventing foreign substances from entering therein;

a second chamber formed in said housing for enclosing said main circuit section and having a totally enclosed structure for preventing the foreign substances from entering therein;

a cooling passage disposed between said first and second chambers for cooling said main circuit section and said logic circuit section, said cooling passage being provided independent of said first and second chambers, respectively;

an electro-magnetic shielding member provided on at least a part of said cooling passage for preventing electro-magnetic noise from said main circuit section from being transmitted to said logical circuit section; and

a second cooling passage disposed along an outer surface of said second chamber on a side of said second cooling passage, said smoothing capacitor being disposed so as to partially protrude into said second cooling passage.

41. An inverter device, comprising:

a housing having an enclosure for preventing foreign substances from entering therein;

a main circuit section disposed in said housing on a bottom of said housing and including a heat generating element and a smoothing capacitor;

a logical circuit section disposed apart from said main circuit section in said housing;

an electro-magnetic shield member disposed between said main circuit section and said logical circuit section for preventing electro-magnetic noise from said main circuit section from being transmitted to said logical circuit section;

a cooling passage disposed along an outer bottom surface of said housing, said smoothing capacitor being disposed so as to partially protrude into said cooling passage and having terminals which are disposed at a side of said electro-magnetic shielding member at which said main circuit section is disposed.