Patent ID: 7791884
Filing Date: 2010-09-07
Classification: H05K

Abstract:
1. An air cooled switching unit for a motor drive, said switching unit comprising: a plurality electrical switches; a plurality of heat pipe assemblies, each heat pipe assembly comprising: wherein each of said switches is abutted with an evaporator of at least one of said heat pipe assemblies for conduction of both electrical power and heat between said switch and said evaporator; and, wherein each heat pipe assembly further comprises an electrically conductive base abutted with the evaporator, said air cooled switching unit further comprising a plurality of power lugs each connected to a base of a respective one of said heat pipe assemblies for input or output of electrical power to said base and said evaporator plate abutted with said base; said switching unit further comprising: a clamp assembly for compressing each of said electrical switches and evaporators together for ensuring maximum electrical and thermal conduction between each switch and evaporator abutted therewith, said clamp assembly comprising first and second end plates located on opposite ends of an abutted series of said switches and evaporators, said end plates connected by a plurality of connecting rods that extend therebetween, said clamp assembly further comprising an adjustable clamp connected to one of said end plates and adapted to exert a clamping force on said base of an adjacent one of said heat pipe assemblies, wherein said first and second end plates each comprise projecting arms arranged in an X-shape, and wherein said connecting rods extend between and interconnect respective distal ends of aligned arms.