Patent ID: 8154372
Filing Date: 2012-04-10
Classification: H01F

Abstract:
1. An inductor assembly comprising: a toroidal magnetic inductor core divided into a plurality of arcuate sections; an electrically insulating material filling a plurality of discrete gaps between each of the arcuate sections; wiring wrapped around the magnetic inductor core; and a two-part electrically and thermally conducting container having a toroidal shape generally corresponding to the wire-wrapped toroidal inductor core, the container entirely surrounding the wire-wrapped toroidal inductor core on a top, a bottom, an inside diameter, and an outside diameter of the core and defining a continuous electrically and thermally conductive path between an upper part and a lower part of the container adjacent at least one of the inside diameter and the outside diameter; wherein the container shields the wire-wrapped core from external electromagnetic interference, acts as a heat sink for heat generated by the inductor assembly, and reduces core losses by preferentially encouraging eddy current flow within the container relative to the wire-wrapped core, the continuous electrically and thermally conducting path surrounding the wire-wrapped core providing a low resistance path for eddy current flow, the eddy current flow within the container producing magnetic flux to counter stray magnetic flux around the inductor core caused by the plurality of gaps.