DC to AC inverter with improved forced air cooling method and apparatus

• US 5,170,336 A
• Filed: 08/21/1991
• Issued: 12/08/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Airpax Dimensions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dimensions Unlimited, Inc.
• Inventors: Getter, Dennis L., Heavey, Frederick D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stephan, Steven L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Peckman, Kristine
• Application Number:
  US07/751,602
• Time in Patent Office: 475 Days
• Field of Search: 363/141, 361/383, 361/384, 165/80.3, 165/104.33, 165/122, 336/60
• US Class Current: 363/141
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/003 Constructional details, e.g. physical layout, assembly, wiring or busbar connections
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20909 Forced ventilation, e.g. on heat dissipaters coupled to components

Abstract

An improved DC to AC electrical inverter has a new and improved method and apparatus with forced air ventilation cooling that significantly increases sustainable AC power output. The methods include the steps of forcing an air flow out of the inverter enclosure and over an external heat sink, and forcing an air flow through a special power transformer between the windings and the core. The apparatus has at least one fan, an air outlet and structure for guiding and directing a forced air flow to and over an external heat sink for the power switches. A structure to continuously force cooling air through the power transformer is also provided.

Claims

1. A DC to AC inverter having improved structure for cooling itself and increasing power output, comprising:

(a) an enclosure with a cooling air inlet aperture;

(b) means within the enclosure for inverting DC electricity to AC electricity, said inverting means including power current switches;

(c) a finned heat sink in thermally conductive relationship with said switches;

(d) a cooling air fan connected to the cooling air inlet aperture wherein the cooling air fan moves cooling air through the cooling air inlet aperture;

(e) at least one cooling air outlet through said enclosure;

(f) air guiding means enclosing said cooling air outlet, said air guiding means extending from said air outlet to said heat sink and having means for directing a fan forced air through said finned heat sink;

(g) a power transformer within said enclosure and electronically connected to said switches;

(h) a cooling air passageway through the interior of a transformer metal core; and

(i) a transformer cooling air port to allow air to flow through said transformer cooling air passageway.

2. The inverter of claim 1, in which said air guiding means guides air to both said air outlet and said air port.

3. A DC to AC inverter having improved structure for cooling itself and increasing power output, comprising:

(a) an enclosure with a cooling air inlet aperture;

(b) means within the enclosure for inverting DC electricity to AC electricity, said inverting means including power current switches;

(c) a finned heat sink in thermally conductive relationship with said switches;

(d) a cooling air fan connected to the cooling air inlet aperture wherein the cooling air fan moves cooling air through the cooling air inlet aperture;

(e) at least one cooling air outlet through said enclosure;

(f) air guiding means enclosing said cooling air outlet, said air guiding means extending from said air outlet to said heat sink and having means for directing a fan forced air through said finned heat sink; and

(g) a second fan positioned to draw air from said enclosure and to expel air from said guiding means, said first and second fans being operatively connected in parallel, said fans being provided their air through said cooling air inlet aperture.

4. The inverter of claim 3, in which said fan is in said guiding means.

5. The invention of claim 3 further comprising a power transformer within and mounted to said enclosure wherein the power transformer has a transformer metal core and within the metal core there is a cooling air passageway into which the cooling air may pass to cool the power transformer.

6. The inverter of claim 5 further comprising at least one air outlet slot through said enclosure wherein the at least one air outlet slot is adjacent to said transformer and disposed to allow cooling air to exit the enclosure.

7. A DC to AC inverter having improved structure for cooling itself and increasing power output, comprising:

(a) an enclosure with a cooling air inlet aperture;

(b) means within the enclosure for inverting DC electricity to AC electricity, said inverting means including power current switches;

(c) a finned heat sink in thermally conductive relationship with said switches;

(d) a cooling air fan connected to the cooling air inlet aperture wherein the cooling air fan moves cooling air through the cooling air inlet aperture;

(e) at least one cooling air outlet through said enclosure;

(f) air guiding means enclosing said cooling air outlet, said air guiding means extending from said air outlet to said heat sink and having means for directing a fan forced air flow through said finned heat sink; and

(g) a U-section base attached to the inverter wherein said air guiding means is mounted within said U-section base.

8. A DC to AC inverter having improved structure for cooling itself and increasing power output, comprising:

(a) an enclosure with a cooling air inlet aperture and a floor;

(b) means within the enclosure for inverting DC electricity to AC electricity, said inverting means including power current switches;

(c) a finned heat sink in thermally conductive relationship with said switches;

(d) a cooling air fan connected to the cooling air inlet aperture wherein the cooling air fan moves cooling air through the cooling air inlet aperture;

(e) at least one cooling air outlet through said enclosure; and

(f) air guiding means enclosing said cooling air outlet, said air guiding means extending from said air outlet to said heat sink and having means for directing a fan forced air flow through said finned heat sink, and wherein said guiding means is at a level below the level of the floor of said enclosure, so that any water into the guiding means will not drain into the enclosure.

9. A DC to AC inverter having improved structure for cooling and increasing power output, comprising:

(a) an enclosure with a cooling air inlet aperture;

(b) means within the enclosure for inverting DC electricity to AC electricity, said inverting means including a power transformer having a metal core and windings about a portion of the core;

(c) a cooling air fan connected to the cooling air inlet aperture wherein the cooling air fan moves cooling air through the cooling air inlet aperture;

(d) means effectively sealing one end of said core to said enclosure, the other end of said core being open within the enclosure; and

(e) a transformer cooling air passageway between said core and said windings, said passageway extending through said enclosure, so that said fan forces at least part of its air flow through the inside of said transformer core and directly past the windings.

10. The inverter of claim 9, in which said passageway extends to at least one transformer cooling air outlet on the outside of said enclosure.

11. The inverter of claim 10, in which said outlet is in a cooling air passageway between legs of an inverted U-section base of said inverter.

12. The inverter of claim 9, in which said fan is operative in a duct on the outside of said enclosure, said duct being in communication with said transformer passageway, and including a second fan in said enclosure for moving a turbulent air flow about the outside of the transformer.

13. The inverter of claim 12, including means in said duct for directing a cooling air flow over a heat sink in conductive thermal exchange with inverter power switches, said switches being within the enclosure and said heat sink being outside of the enclosure.

14. In the inverting of DC electricity to AC electricity, a method of cooling a DC to AC inverter comprising the steps of:

a) drawing a flow of ambient air into an enclosure of the inverter;

b) turbulently moving the air within the enclosure and over internal electrical componentry of the inverter;

c) exhausting at least a portion of the moving air from the inside to the outside of the enclosure; and

d) directing the exhausted air over an external heat sink in direct thermal exchange relationship with at least part of the internal electrical componentry and wherein the air is exhausted downwardly and directed upwardly.

15. In the inverting of DC electricity to AC electricity, a method of cooling a DC to AC inverter comprising the steps of:

a) drawing a flow of ambient air into an enclosure of the inverter;

b) turbulently moving the air within the enclosure and over internal electrical componentry of the inverter;

c) exhausting at least a portion of the moving air from the inside to the outside of the enclosure;

d) directing the exhausted air over an external heat sink in direct thermal exchange relationship with at least part of the internal electrical componentry; and

e) directing a portion of the moving air through the inside of a power transformer and through a transformer cooling air aperture through the enclosure.

16. In the inverting of DC electricity to AC electricity, a method of cooling a DC to AC inverter comprising the steps of:

a) drawing a flow of ambient air into an enclosure of the inverter;

b) turbulently moving the air within the enclosure and over internal electrical componentry of the inverter;

c) exhausting at least a portion of the moving air from the inside to the outside of the enclosure;

d) directing the exhausted air over an external heat sink in direct thermal exchange relationship with at least part of the internal electrical componentry, and wherein said portion of moving air is at first drawn from said enclosure and then forced through said aperture and through said transformer and back into said enclosure.

17. In the inverting of DC electricity to AC electricity, a method of cooling a DC to AC inverter comprising the steps of:

a) drawing a flow of ambient air into an enclosure of the inverter;

b) turbulently moving the air within the enclosure and over internal electrical componentry of the inverter; and

c) directing at least a portion of the air through a primary power supply transformer wherein the primary power supply transformer includes a transformer core and a winding coil and wherein the portion of air is directed in between the transformer core and wire winding.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of directing at least a portion of the air directs the air out of the enclosure.

19. The method of claim 18, including the further steps of withdrawing the air portion from the enclosure, and pushing the withdrawn air portion through the transformer and back into the enclosure.

e) directing a portion of the moving air through the inside of a power transformer and through a transformer cooling air aperture through the enclosure.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein the DC to AC inverter further comprises power current switches having external heat sinks and wherein the step of directing at least a portion of the air directs the air out of the enclosure and over said heat sinks.