Cooling arrangement for electrical components arranged in a housing of a soft starter, and a soft starter

• US 7,773,369 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2008
• Issued: 08/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Reichenbach, Norbert, Dornauer, Marco
• Primary Examiner(s): DATSKOVSKIY, MICHAIL V
• Application Number:
  US12/007,864
• Publication Number:
  US 20080180886A1
• Time in Patent Office: 937 Days
• Field of Search: 361 23- 34, 361/103, 361/147, 361/605, 361641-647, 361690-697, 361/717, 361/778, 324/117, 324/117.H, 324/207.2, 324/207.14, 454/184, 165/80.2, 165/80.3, 165/104.33, 165/104.34, 165121-126, 165/185, 318/376, 318/370, 318778-790, 318/430, 318/432, 318/138, 318/254, 318/439, 318/471, 318/400.22, 318/400.37
• US Class Current: 361/676
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 1/04 Means for controlling progress of starting sequence in dependence upon time or upon current, speed, or other motor parameter
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20172 Fan mounting or fan specifications
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20909 Forced ventilation, e.g. on heat dissipaters coupled to components

Abstract

A cooling arrangement is disclosed for electrical components which are arranged in a housing of a soft starter which in particular may be designed for operation of an electric motor. In at least one embodiment, the cooling arrangement includes at least one fan arranged inclined in an opening in a housing wall such that the rotation axis of the fan is at an angle to the normal to the housing wall.

Claims

1. A cooling arrangement for electrical components arranged in a housing of a soft starter, comprising:

at least one fan, arranged inclined in an opening in a housing wall of the housing such that a rotation axis of the fan is at an angle to a normal to the housing wall.

2. The cooling arrangement as claim 1, wherein the electrical components to be cooled include a switching point, and wherein the switching point is designed to interrupt an electric current.

10. The cooling arrangement of claim 1, designed for operation of an electric motor.

3. A soft starter comprising:

a housing;

a plurality of electrical components within the housing as heat sources;

at least one cooling arrangement to cool the plurality of electrical components; and

at least one fan, arranged inclined in an opening in a housing wall of the housing such that a rotation axis of the at least one fan is at an angle to a normal to the housing wall.

4. The soft starter as claimed in claim 3, wherein the electrical components to be cooled, as a potential appliance-internal heat source, comprise at least one switching point designed to interrupt an electric current.

5. The soft starter as claimed in claim 4, wherein the at least one fan is located at a distance from the at least one switching point.

6. The soft starter as claimed in claim 4, wherein the rotation axis is directed at or is at an angle to the at least one switching point.

7. The soft starter as claimed in claim 3, wherein the soft starter has at least one current path including a surface, and wherein the rotation axis is selected such that the at least one fan produces a fluid flow along the surface during operation.

8. The soft starter as claimed in claim 7, wherein the surface is essentially flat.

9. The soft starter as claimed in claim 3, wherein the soft starter includes at least one semiconductor power section, a control section and at least one bridging section without an arc quenching chamber, wherein the bridging section includes the plurality of electrical components to be cooled and which act as a potential appliance-internal heat source during operation.

11. The soft starter as claimed in claim 5, wherein the rotation axis is directed at or is at an angle to the at least one switching point.

12. The soft starter as claimed in claim 7, wherein the soft starter includes at least one semiconductor power section, a control section and at least one bridging section without an arc quenching chamber, wherein the bridging section includes the plurality of electrical components to be cooled and which act as a potential appliance-internal heat source during operation.

13. The soft starter as claimed in claim 8, wherein the soft starter includes at least one semiconductor power section, a control section and at least one bridging section without an arc quenching chamber, wherein the bridging section includes the plurality of electrical components to be cooled and which act as a potential appliance-internal heat source during operation.