Modular bus bar and switch assembly for traction inverter
First Claim
1. A modular bus bar and switch assembly for converting DC power to AC power in an electrical power system, the assembly comprising:
- a plurality of electronic switching devices;
a plurality of heat sinks, each heat sink adapted to remove heat from a respective one of the electronic switching devices;
at least one DC link capacitor;
an interconnecting bus bar; and
a plurality of extension bus bars, the extension bus bars each coupling the interconnecting bus bar to a respective one of the electronic switching devices or the at least one DC link capacitor, whereineach one of the electronic switching devices and its respective heat sink are removable without removal of the interconnecting bus bar or any other of the electronic switching devices, andan area between the conductors of the interconnecting bus bar and the extension bus bars which is minimized so that an inductance between each one of the electronic switching device and the at least one DC link capacitor is low.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrical power system includes an inverter having a plurality of insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) and capacitors for converting DC power to AC power and at least one power bus bar including an interconnecting bus bar and a plurality of extension bus bars. The area between the conductors of the interconnecting bus bar and the extension bus bars is minimized to reduce the inductance between the IGBTs and the capacitors. The extension bus bars are each coupled to the interconnecting bus bar and a respective one of the IGBTs and capacitors. An IGBT can be removed from the inverter without removing the interconnecting bus bar or any other IGBT. The capacitors can be positioned at ninety degree angles with respect to the interconnecting bus bar. In one embodiment, the IGBTs are additionally positioned at ninety degree angles with respect to the interconnecting bus bar. In an alternate embodiment, the IGBTs are positioned parallel with respect to the interconnecting bus bar.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A modular bus bar and switch assembly for converting DC power to AC power in an electrical power system, the assembly comprising:
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a plurality of electronic switching devices; a plurality of heat sinks, each heat sink adapted to remove heat from a respective one of the electronic switching devices; at least one DC link capacitor; an interconnecting bus bar; and a plurality of extension bus bars, the extension bus bars each coupling the interconnecting bus bar to a respective one of the electronic switching devices or the at least one DC link capacitor, wherein each one of the electronic switching devices and its respective heat sink are removable without removal of the interconnecting bus bar or any other of the electronic switching devices, and an area between the conductors of the interconnecting bus bar and the extension bus bars which is minimized so that an inductance between each one of the electronic switching device and the at least one DC link capacitor is low. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An alternating current (AC) electric powered vehicle comprising:
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a plurality of AC electric motors each coupled in driving relationship to a respective pair of a plurality of pairs of wheels on the vehicle; an inverter mounted in the vehicle, the inverter including a plurality electronic switching devices arranged for receiving DC electric power and for inverting the DC electric power to AC electric power for application to the AC electric motors, a plurality of heat sinks, each heat sink adapted to remove heat from a respective one of the electronic switching devices; an interconnecting bus bar and a plurality of extension bus modules, the extension bus bars each coupling the interconnecting bus bar to a respective one of the electronic switching devices, wherein one of the electronic switching devicesand its respective heat sink are removable without removal of any other of the electronic switching devicesor the interconnecting bus bar. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of fabricating an inverter for converting DC power to AC power in an electrical power system, the method comprising:
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providing six substantially identical assemblies each including an extension bus bar, an electronic switching device attached to the extension bus bar, and a heat sink attached to the electronic switching device and adapted to remove heat from a respective one of the electronic switching devices; providing at least one DC link capacitor;
attached to an additional extension bus bar;coupling each extension bus bar to an interconnecting bus bar in a manner such that each extension bus bar is removable without removal of any other extension bus bar. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification