Electrical pack with separate control and power modules

• US 9,363,917 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2009
• Issued: 06/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Safran Electronics & Defense
• Original Assignee: Sagem Defense Securite SA (Safran SA)
• Inventors: Merlet, Etienne, Besold, Jean-Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Courtney
• Assistant Examiner(s): FENG, ZHENGFU J
• Application Number:
  US13/142,215
• Publication Number:
  US 20120020030A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,360 Days
• Field of Search: 361/799, 361/796, 361/686, 361/684, 361/737, 439/625, 439/629, 439/636
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/10 Plug-in assemblages of components , e.g. IC sockets
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/14 Mounting supporting structure in casing or on frame or rack
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1432 specially adapted for power drive units or power converters
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/14324 comprising modular units, e.g. DIN rail mounted units
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20 Modifications to facilitate cooling, ventilating, or heating

Abstract

An electrical housing includes power components grouped together in power modules and control components grouped together in a control module that is separate from the power modules.

Claims

1. An electrical pack comprising:

power components; and

control components distributed in modules, wherein the power components are grouped together in at least one power module while the control components are grouped together in at least one control module that is separate from said at least one power module, and wherein the at least one control module includes a support plate made of a metal that is a good conductor of heat and that is associated with an electrically insulating component carrier plate carrying control components and electrical connection circuits, the component carrier plate being spaced apart from the support plate, the control module being protected by the support plate against heating coming from the at least one power module that is adjacent to the control module, wherein the at least one control module includes a perforated cover made of a metal that is a good conductor of heat having an edge surrounding the control component.

2. The electrical pack according to claim 1, wherein the at least one power module includes a support plate made of a metal that is a good conductor of heat and associated with another component carrier plate carrying power components and electrical connection circuits of the power components, the another component carrier plate being spaced apart from the support plate.

3. The electrical pack according to claim 2, wherein the at least one power module include intermediate plates in the form of frames made of a metal that is a good conductor of heat and providing a mechanical and thermal connection between the another component carrier plate and the adjacent support plates.

4. The electrical pack according to claim 3, wherein the intermediate plate surrounds the power components while being spaced apart therefrom.

5. The electrical pack according to claim 3, wherein the intermediate plate includes a portion in relief in direct contact with the adjacent support plate.

6. The electrical pack according to claim 5, wherein the another component carrier plate is sandwiched between two of said intermediate plates.

7. The electrical pack according to claim 1, comprising an assembly of a plurality of power modules adjacent to one another and associated with one of the at least one control module located at one end of the assembly.

8. The electrical pack according to claim 2, wherein the support plate of the power module is identical to the support plate of the control module.

9. The electrical pack according to claim 3, wherein the support plate of a power module includes fastener tabs that are arranged to be masked by the intermediate plates of a following module in an assembly of modules.

10. The electrical pack according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of identical power modules and one control module.

11. The electrical pack according to claim 1, comprising a set of power modules and a set of control modules that are disposed in a stack, in which a last module at one of the ends of the stack is one of the control modules.

12. The electrical pack according to claim 1, wherein the at least one control module does not directly contact said at least one power module.

13. An electrical pack comprising:

power components; and

control components distributed in modules, wherein the power components are grouped together in at least one power module while the control components are grouped together in at least one control module that is separate from said at least one power module, and wherein the at least one control module includes a support plate made of a metal that is a good conductor of heat and that is associated with an electrically insulating component carrier plate carrying control components and electrical connection circuits, the component carrier plate being spaced apart from the support plate, the control module being protected by the support plate against heating coming from the at least one power module that is adjacent to the control module, wherein the at least one control module includes a perforated cover made of a metal that is a good conductor of heat having an edge surrounding the control component, and wherein the perforated cover encloses the control component and has an outer surface with at least one tab serving to fasten it to the immediately adjacent power module.