Apparatus for a welding machine having a cooling assembly mounted to a mid-plane baffle for improved cooling within the welding machine

• US 7,326,879 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2005
• Issued: 02/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Werba, David A., Andersen, Bryan P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaw; Clifford C.
• Application Number:
  US11/275,152
• Publication Number:
  US 20060081577A1
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: 219/130.1, 219/130.31, 219/130.32, 219/130.33, 219/130.5, 219/137.PS, 219/136, 361/692, 361/693, 361/694, 361/695, 361/696, 361/697
• US Class Current: 219/130.1
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 37/003 Cooling means
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/10 Other electric circuits therefor; Protective circuits; Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/1006 Power supply
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/32 Accessories earthing connections H01R
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20909 Forced ventilation, e.g. on heat dissipaters coupled to components

Abstract

A mid-plane baffle or plate having a fan mounted thereto to dissipate heat within a welding machine is provided. By centrally positioning a baffle and mounting a circulating fan thereto, cooling efficiency is improved thereby enabling more direct cooling of the internal components of the welding machine. The baffle also reduces the critical volume of the welding machine and allows the fan to operate more efficiently and pull an increased amount of cooler ambient air through the machine which creates a greater cooling effect during the cooling cycle of the machine. The baffle placement also improves welding start performance by operating as a barrier between the high frequency/high voltage components and the PC board (control electronics) of the welding machine. The baffle also improves flexibility of component placement within the welding machine.

Claims

1. A welder comprising:

an enclosure;

a baffle positioned within the enclosure and constructed to partition a cavity defined by the enclosure;

an opening formed through the baffle;

a fan disposed in the opening, the fan fluidly connected between a first chamber having an air temperature that is at least above an ambient air temperature and a second chamber having an air temperature that is above the air temperature of the first chamber;

a bypass formed through the baffle and constructed to fluidly connect the first chamber and the second chamber; and

a first set of electrical devices positioned in the first chamber and a second set of electrical devices positioned in the second chamber.

2. The welder of claim 1 further comprising an electrical connection passing through the bypass and constructed to electrically connect at least one of the first set of electrical devices to at least one of the second set of electrical devices.

3. The welder of claim 1 further comprising a sectioning plate configured to divide the second chamber into a first volume and a second volume.

4. The welder of claim 3 wherein the sectioning plate further comprising a passage formed therethrough, the passage constructed to allow fluid communication between the first volume and the second volume of the second chamber.

5. The welder of claim 4 wherein the baffle fluidly isolates the second volume from the first chamber.

6. The welder of claim 3 further comprising a transformer assembly positioned in the second volume and configured to generate a welding-type power.

7. A welding-type device comprising:

a housing having a cavity defined by a plurality of side panels, a base, and a cover;

a baffle disposed within the cavity and constructed to divide the cavity into a first chamber having a weld power conditioning electrical component positioned therein and a second chamber having another weld power conditioning electrical component positioned therein;

a first opening in the baffle constructed to receive a fan thereover; and

a second opening in the baffle constructed to fluidly connect the first chamber and the second chamber.

8. The welding-type device of claim 7 further comprising a passage formed through the cover of the housing, the passage constructed to fluidly connect the first chamber to atmosphere.

9. The welding-type device of claim 7 further comprising a partition plate disposed in the second chamber and extending between the base and the baffle to isolate a portion of the second chamber from direct fluid communication with the first chamber.

10. The welding-type device of claim 9 further comprising a hole formed through the partition plate and oriented so that the portion of the second chamber isolated from direct fluid communication with the first chamber is fluidly connected to the second chamber.

11. The welding-type device of claim 7 further comprising an electrical connection passing between the first chamber and the second chamber via the second opening.

12. The welding-type device of claim 7 wherein a perimeter of the baffle extends to each of the plurality of sides and is generally equidistant from the base and the cover.

13. The welding-type device of claim 7 wherein the weld power conditioning electrical component disposed in the second chamber is at least one of a transformer assembly, a rectifier assembly, a heat sink, and a stabilizer assembly.

14. A method of controlling the temperature of a welding-type device comprising the steps of:

drawing a flow of air into a housing of a welding-type device with a fan;

passing the drawn flow of air over at least one electrical component prior to passing the drawn flow of air through the fan;

passing the flow of air through the fan and over at least one electrical device; and

bypassing the fan and fluidly connecting the flow of air on opposite sides of the fan within the housing.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of discharging a first portion of the flow of air through the fan from the housing and recirculating a second portion of the flow of air through the fan via the fluid connection between opposite sides of the fan.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of generating a weld power with the at least one electrical device.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of maintaining a pressure equilibrium on opposite sides of the fan.

18. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of passing an electrical connection through a passage which maintains the fluid connection between opposite side of the fan.

19. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of only allowing fluid exchange between the drawn flow of air and the flow of air passed through the fan via the fluid connection.

20. A welder comprising:

an enclosure;

a baffle positioned within the enclosure and constructed to partition a cavity defined by the enclosure;

an opening formed through the baffle;

a fan disposed in the opening, the fan fluidly connected between a first chamber having an air temperature that is at least above an ambient air temperature and a second chamber having an air temperature that is above the air temperature of the first chamber;

a bypass formed through the baffle and constructed to fluidly connect the first chamber and the second chamber; and

a sectioning plate configured to divide the second chamber into a first volume and a second volume;

wherein the sectioning plate further comprises a passage formed therethrough, the passage constructed to allow fluid communication between the first volume and the second volume of the second chamber, and wherein the baffle fluidly isolates the second volume from the first chamber.