Protective case for an industrial controller

• US 5,202,815 A
• Filed: 10/30/1991
• Issued: 04/13/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Merlin Gerin
• Original Assignee: Merlin Gerin
• Inventors: Jean, Robert, Dalban, Bernard, Le Boennec, Andre
• Primary Examiner(s): Tolin, Gerald P.
• Application Number:
  US07/784,871
• Time in Patent Office: 531 Days
• Field of Search: 174/35 R, 174/52.1, 174/138 G, 439/607, 439/608, 439/485, 439/620, 248/500, 248/503, 361/91, 361/331, 361/380, 361/384, 361/395, 361/417, 361/419, 361/420, 361/424
• US Class Current: 361/695
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1467 PLC mounted in a cabinet or chassis
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20145 Means for directing air flow, e.g. ducts, deflectors, plenum or guides

Abstract

A protective case with an electronic device, including an assembly which includes a support cradle fixed to and supporting the electronic device, a sealed metal housing enclosing the assembly, the support cradle being fixed to the sealed metal housing via mechanical dampers to isolate the assembly from external disturbances including shocks, wherein a gap is formed between the assembly and the sealed metal housing, and a fan fixed to the cradle for generation of air flow in the gap to promote convection heat transfer from the electronic device to the sealed metal housing.

Claims

1. A protective sealed metal housing with an electronic device, comprising:

an assembly including a support cradle fixed to and supporting the electronic device;

the sealed metal housing enclosing said assembly, said support cradle being fixed to said sealed metal housing via mechanical dampers to isolate said assembly from external disturbances including shocks, wherein a gap is formed between the assembly and the sealed metal housing; and

a fan fixed to said cradle for generation of air flow in said gap to promote convection heat transfer from said electronic device to said sealed metal housing.

2. The protective housing of claim 1, further comprising an electrical connector sealed to said sealed metal housing, wherein said electrical connector is electrically connected by wiring to a connecting terminal of said electronic device, and wherein said electrical connector comprises electrical filters to prevent electrical disturbances to be transmitted to the electronic device.

3. The protective housing of claim 1, wherein the sealed metal housing is parallelipipedic in shape and comprises a removable cover, said mechanical dampers being fixed to said support cradle with bolts to allow removal of said assembly from said sealed metal housing after removing said removable cover.

4. The protective housing of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is housed by a box which is fixed to said cradle by bolts, and wherein said cradle substantially conforms to an outer shape of said box.