Programmable temperature controller for hazardous location enclosures

• US 9,798,333 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 10/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: DeCarr, Graig E., Barbuto, Samuel T., Manahan, Joseph Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Ruby, Travis
• Application Number:
  US13/842,019
• Publication Number:
  US 20140054025A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,684 Days
• Field of Search: 165287, 165244, 165247
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/00 Control of temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/19 characterised by the use of electric means G05D23/1393 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 using digital means
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20945 Thermal management, e.g. inverter temperature control

Abstract

An enclosure system that can include a hazardous location enclosure having at least one wall forming a cavity. The enclosure system can also include a temperature-sensitive component positioned within the cavity. The enclosure system can further include a measuring device configured to measure a temperature within the cavity of the hazardous location enclosure. The enclosure system can also include a climate control device configured to change the temperature within the cavity. The enclosure system can further include a controller operatively coupled to the climate control device and the measuring device, where the controller controls the climate control device to change the temperature within the cavity of the hazardous location enclosure.

Claims

1. A hazardous location enclosure system comprising:

a hazardous location enclosure comprising at least one wall forming a cavity, wherein the at least one wall is designed to contain an explosion that originates within the cavity, wherein the at least one wall forms at least one joint, wherein the at least one joint comprises at least two surfaces of the at least one wall that meet and provide a path, from the cavity to outside the hazardous location enclosure, wherein the at least one joint allows gases from within the cavity during the explosion to escape across the at least one joint of the enclosure and cool as the gases exit the cavity;

a temperature-sensitive component positioned within the cavity;

a measuring device that measures a temperature within the cavity of the hazardous location enclosure;

a climate control device configured to change the temperature within the cavity; and

a controller operatively coupled to the climate control device, the temperature-sensitive component, and the measuring device, wherein the controller operates the climate control device to change the temperature within the cavity of the hazardous location enclosure when the temperature, as measured by the measuring device, falls outside an operating range of temperatures,

wherein operating the climate control device brings the temperature within the operating range of temperatures and thereby reduces a risk of the explosion originating within the cavity of the hazardous location enclosure,

wherein the controller alters an operation of the temperature-sensitive component when the temperature within the cavity is outside the operating range of temperatures.

2. The enclosure system of claim 1, wherein the controller is positioned within the cavity.

3. The enclosure system of claim 1, wherein the climate control device comprises at least one selected from a group consisting of an air moving device, a heater, and a baffle.

4. The enclosure system of claim 1, wherein the climate control device is positioned within the cavity.

5. The enclosure system of claim 1, wherein the controller controls the climate control device when the temperature within the cavity of the hazardous location enclosure is at least −

40°

C. and less than 70°

C.

6. The enclosure system of claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a relay that provides a line voltage directly to the climate control device.

7. The enclosure system of claim 6, wherein the climate control device is a heater, and wherein the line voltage is approximately 480V alternating current.

8. The enclosure system of claim 1, wherein the controller controls the climate control device based on a usage history and a hysteresis-driven duty cycle of the climate control device and the temperature-sensitive component.

9. The enclosure system of claim 1, wherein the controller is programmable by a user.

10. The enclosure system of claim 1, further comprising:

a bypass switch that, when activated, bypasses the controller to prevent the controller from controlling the climate control device.

11. The enclosure system of claim 1, wherein the controller is also operatively coupled to the temperature-sensitive device.

12. The enclosure system of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one air intake filter assembly disposed in the at least one wall of the hazardous location enclosure, wherein the at least one air intake filter assembly allows ambient air to be drawn into the cavity by the climate control device, wherein the at least one air intake filter assembly forms the at least one joint with the at least one wall.

13. The enclosure system of claim 12, further comprising:

at least one exhaust air filter assembly disposed in the at least one wall of the hazardous location enclosure, wherein the at least one exhaust air filter assembly allows ambient air to be expelled from the cavity by the climate control device, wherein the at least one exhaust air filter assembly forms the at least one joint with the at least one wall.

14. The enclosure system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further coupled to the temperature-sensitive component, wherein the controller controls the temperature-sensitive component when the temperature within the cavity exceeds the temperature threshold value.

15. The enclosure system of claim 1, wherein the measuring device further measures a component temperature of the temperature-sensitive component, wherein the controller alters the operation of the temperature-sensitive component when the temperature-sensitive component exceeds a component temperature threshold value.

16. The enclosure system of claim 15, wherein the temperature-sensitive component is capable of causing the explosion that originates within the cavity when the temperature-sensitive component exceeds the component temperature threshold value.

17. A hazardous location enclosure system comprising:

a hazardous location enclosure comprising at least one wall forming a cavity, wherein the at least one wall is designed to contain an explosion that originates within the cavity, wherein the at least one wall forms at least one joint, wherein the at least one joint comprises at least two surfaces of the at least one wall that meet and provide a path, from the cavity to outside the hazardous location enclosure, wherein the at least one joint allows gases from within the cavity during the explosion to escape across the at least one joint of the enclosure and cool as the gases exit the cavity;

a temperature-sensitive component positioned within the cavity;

a measuring device that measures a temperature within the cavity of the hazardous location enclosure;

a climate control device configured to change the temperature within the cavity; and

a controller operatively coupled to the climate control device, the temperature-sensitive component, and the measuring device, wherein the controller operates the climate control device to change the temperature within the cavity of the hazardous location enclosure when the temperature, as measured by the measuring device, falls outside a safe operating range of temperatures for the temperature-sensitive device,

wherein operating the climate control device brings the temperature of the temperature-sensitive device within the safe operating range of temperatures.

18. The enclosure system of claim 17, wherein the controller alters an operation of the temperature-sensitive component when the temperature within the cavity is outside the safe operating range of temperatures.