Abstract:
A switchboard copper busbar heat dissipating device for dissipating heat from a copper busbar inside a switchboard includes a thermally-conductive electrically-insulating plate having a first surface connected to the copper busbar and a second surface; at least one heat pipe having a first end connecting to the second surface of the thermally-conductive electrically-insulating plate and a second end protruding out of the switchboard; and a plurality of cooling fins connected to the second end of the heat pipe and disposed outside the switchboard. Hence, the switchboard copper busbar heat dissipating device is conducive to miniaturization of a switchboard, enhancement of efficiency of heat dissipation of the switchboard, compliance with the Ingress Protection (IP) Ratings of the switchboard (regarding waterproofing and dust-proofing thereof), and avoiding a waste of energy.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to heat dissipating devices, and more particularly, to a switchboard copper busbar heat dissipating device for use in dissipating heat from a copper busbar of a switchboard. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    A conventional switchboard dissipates heat from a switchboard&#39;s interior by convection, using an overhead cooler or a tray-view cooler. Specifically speaking, an inlet fan and an exhaust fan are disposed at the lower half and the upper half of the switchboard, respectively. Cool air outside the switchboard is guided into the switchboard by the inlet fan to enable heat exchange between the heat inside the switchboard and the incoming cool air. The exhaust fan expels the heat-carrying air to thereby achieve heat dissipation and enables the influx of cool air via the inlet fan. 
         [0003]    However, it is only when the conventional switchboard has a spacious interior for convection to take place therein that the conventional switchboard can function well, regardless of whether the conventional switchboard is equipped with an overhead cooler or a tray-view cooler. 
         [0004]    Furthermore, just because the overhead cooler and the tray-view cooler are capable of heat dissipation, it does not mean that cooling can be effectuated instantly. The reasons are: first, the internal temperature of the switchboard is ever-increasing; second, heat dissipation carried out by the overhead cooler and the tray-view cooler slows down at a high ambient temperature. Furthermore, an overly high temperature at the interior of the switchboard is likely to cause an overheat failure, breakdown, or short circuit to the switchboard. 
         [0005]    As mentioned before, cool air outside the switchboard is guided into the switchboard by the inlet fan. If the switchboard is installed in a workplace which is humid or dusty, moisture or dust is likely to be admitted into the switchboard to cause a breakdown or short circuit to the switchboard or cause the switchboard to rust. 
         [0006]    Furthermore, due to the unsatisfactory performance of the overhead cooler and the tray-view cooler in terms of heat dissipation, a large amount of energy is required to cool down the switchboard, thereby resulting in a waste of energy. 
         [0007]    Accordingly, it is imperative to provide a switchboard copper busbar heat dissipating device conducive to miniaturization of a switchboard, enhancement of efficiency of heat dissipation of the switchboard, compliance with the Ingress Protection (IP) Ratings of the switchboard (regarding waterproofing and dust-proofing thereof), and avoiding a waste of energy. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    In view of the aforesaid drawbacks of the prior art, it is an objective of the present invention to provide a switchboard copper busbar heat dissipating device. 
         [0009]    In order to achieve the above and other objectives, the present invention provides a switchboard copper busbar heat dissipating device, adapted to dissipate heat from a copper busbar inside a switchboard, comprising: a thermally-conductive electrically-insulating plate having a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface connects to the copper busbar; at least a heat pipe having a first end and a second end, the first end connecting to a second surface of the thermally-conductive electrically-insulating plate, and the second end protruding out of the switchboard; and a plurality of cooling fins connected to the second end of the heat pipe and disposed outside the switchboard. 
         [0010]    The switchboard copper busbar heat dissipating device further comprises a cooling fan disposed outside the switchboard and corresponding in position to the cooling fins. 
         [0011]    The switchboard copper busbar heat dissipating device further comprises an air current speed controller electrically connected to the cooling fan and adapted to control the cooling fan in accordance with a temperature of the heat pipe, wherein the temperature of the heat pipe is sensed by a temperature sensing element. The air current speed controller is a pulse-width modulation (PWM) controller. 
         [0012]    The switchboard copper busbar heat dissipating device further comprises an energy converting-storing assembly corresponding in position to the cooling fins and adapted to convert heat energy released from the cooling fins into electrical energy and store the electrical energy. 
         [0013]    As regards the switchboard copper busbar heat dissipating device, the thermally-conductive electrically-insulating plate is highly capable of thermal conduction and electrical insulation, wherein the thermally-conductive electrically-insulating plate is a ceramic heat-dissipating plate. 
         [0014]    As regards the switchboard copper busbar heat dissipating device, the heat pipe is a sintered powder heat pipe, a mesh heat pipe, or a grooved heat pipe. 
         [0015]    In conclusion, the present invention provides a switchboard copper busbar heat dissipating device conducive to miniaturization of a switchboard, enhancement of efficiency of heat dissipation of the switchboard, compliance with the Ingress Protection (IP) Ratings of the switchboard (regarding waterproofing and dust-proofing thereof), and avoiding a waste of energy. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    Objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention are hereunder illustrated with specific embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of a switchboard copper busbar heat dissipating device according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the switchboard copper busbar heat dissipating device according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the switchboard copper busbar heat dissipating device according to the second embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the switchboard copper busbar heat dissipating device according to the third embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0021]    Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , there are shown a cross-sectional view and a perspective view of a switchboard copper busbar heat dissipating device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, respectively. The switchboard copper busbar heat dissipating device dissipates heat from a copper busbar  3  in a switchboard&#39;s interior  2  of a switchboard  1 . The switchboard copper busbar heat dissipating device essentially comprises a thermally-conductive electrically-insulating plate  10 , at least one heat pipe  20 , and a plurality of cooling fins  30 . Referring to  FIG. 1 , at least one copper busbar  3  is disposed in the switchboard&#39;s interior  2  of the switchboard  1 , but the present invention is not limited thereto, as it is also feasible for the copper busbar  3  to be replaced with an aluminum busbar. 
         [0022]    The thermally-conductive electrically-insulating plate  10  has a first surface  11  and a second surface  12 . The first surface  11  is connected to the copper busbar  3  by means of a clamping element (not shown) or a fastening element (not shown). Preferably, the thermally-conductive electrically-insulating plate  10  is highly capable of thermal conduction and electrical insulation, and is provided in the form of a ceramic heat-dissipating plate, for example. The heat pipe  20  has a first end  21  and a second end  22 . The first end  21  is connected to the second surface  12  of the thermally-conductive electrically-insulating plate  10  by means of a clamping element (not shown), or by locking or welding. The second end  22  lies outside the switchboard  1 . The heat pipe  20  is a sintered powder heat pipe, a mesh heat pipe, or a grooved heat pipe. The cooling fins  30  are connected to the second end  22  of the heat pipe  20  and lie outside the switchboard  1 . Referring to  FIG. 2 , the efficiency of heat dissipation effectuated by the heat pipe  20  increases with the quantity thereof. 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the temperature of the copper busbar  3  of the switchboard&#39;s interior  2  is ever-increasing while the switchboard  1  is operating, and heat generated from the copper busbar  3  in the switchboard&#39;s interior  2  is transferred by the thermally-conductive electrically-insulating plate  10  to the heat pipe  20  and then to the cooling fins  30  by thermal conduction. Eventually, the heat is removed from the switchboard  1  by the cooling fins  30 . 
         [0024]    In conclusion, the present invention is advantageously characterized in that: the switchboard&#39;s interior  2  of the switchboard  1  is effective in effectuating heat dissipation continuously even though it can be less spacious than its conventional counterpart, and thus the switchboard  1  of the present invention can be miniaturized; Furthermore, the heat from the copper busbar  3  is directly removed from the switchboard  1  by thermal conduction, thereby dispensing with an inlet fan and an exhaust fan and dispensing with the need to supply additional electrical power required to start a heat dissipating device, and thereby saving energy. Furthermore, the aforesaid thermal conduction renders instant heat dissipation feasible and attains cooling quicker than convection, and thus is effective in enhancing the efficiency of the heat dissipation of the switchboard. Furthermore, the switchboard copper busbar heat dissipating device of the present invention prevents moisture and dust from being admitted into the switchboard&#39;s interior even when the switchboard is operating in a humid or dusty environment, such as a mine, a desert, or an electrostatic zone, thereby complying with the Ingress Protection (IP) Ratings of the switchboard (regarding waterproofing and dust-proofing thereof), and protecting the switchboard against a short circuit, breakdown, rusting, and damage. 
         [0025]    The switchboard  1  can come in various forms, such as a high-voltage switchboard and a low-voltage switchboard. Preferably, if the switchboard  1  is a low-voltage switchboard, the thermally-conductive electrically-insulating plate  10  will be a highly thermally-conductive and electrically-insulating plate to thereby preclude a short circuit. 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a cross-sectional view of the switchboard copper busbar heat dissipating device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The switchboard copper busbar heat dissipating device in the second embodiment is substantially identical to the switchboard copper busbar heat dissipating device in the first embodiment. However, unlike the switchboard copper busbar heat dissipating device in the first embodiment, the switchboard copper busbar heat dissipating device in the second embodiment further comprises a cooling fan  40  disposed outside the switchboard  1  and corresponding in position to the cooling fins  30  to speed up the heat dissipation effectuated by the cooling fins  30 . 
         [0027]    Furthermore, the switchboard copper busbar heat dissipating device further comprises an air current speed controller  50  electrically connected to the cooling fan  40 . The air current speed controller  50  controls the rotation speed of the cooling fan  40  in accordance with the temperature of the heat pipe  20 . The temperature of the heat pipe  20  is sensed by a temperature sensing element  51 . Depending on the temperature thus sensed, the temperature sensing element  51  drives the air current speed controller  50  to control the rotation speed of the cooling fan  40 . Specifically speaking, the air current speed controller  50  increases the rotation speed of the cooling fan  40  in response to an increase in the temperature of the heat pipe  20  so as to speed up the heat dissipation taking place at the cooling fins  30 , and decreases the rotation speed of the cooling fan  40  in response to a decrease in the temperature of the heat pipe  20  so as to save energy. The air current speed controller  50  is a pulse-width modulation (PWM) controller. 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , there is shown a cross-sectional view of the switchboard copper busbar heat dissipating device according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The switchboard copper busbar heat dissipating device in the third embodiment is substantially identical to the switchboard copper busbar heat dissipating device in the first embodiment. However, unlike the switchboard copper busbar heat dissipating device in the first embodiment, the switchboard copper busbar heat dissipating device in the third embodiment further comprises an energy converting-storing assembly  60  which includes a heat exchange element  61  and an energy storage element  62 . The heat exchange element  61  corresponds in position to the cooling fins  30  so as to convert the heat energy released from the cooling fins  30  into electrical energy. Then, the resultant electrical energy is transferred, by a conventional means of transfer, from the heat exchange element  61  to the energy storage element  62  and then stored in the energy storage element  62 . The electrical energy stored in the energy storage element  62  is accessible by users for use in supplying electric power to the other devices and apparatuses. Hence, the present invention is effective in achieving heat recycling, environmental protection, and energy saving. 
         [0029]    In conclusion, the switchboard copper busbar heat dissipating device of the present invention is conducive to miniaturization, delivery, and installation of the switchboard. Furthermore, the switchboard copper busbar heat dissipating device of the present invention is advantageously characterized in that the heat from the copper busbar is removed from the switchboard by thermal conduction, thereby dispensing the need to supply additional electrical power for starting a heat dissipating device and thus saving energy. Furthermore, the aforesaid thermal conduction renders instant heat dissipation feasible and attains cooling quicker than convection, and thus is effective in enhancing the efficiency of the heat dissipation of the switchboard. Furthermore, the switchboard copper busbar heat dissipating device of the present invention prevents moisture and dust from being admitted into the switchboard&#39;s interior even when the switchboard is operating in a humid or dusty environment, thereby complying with the Ingress Protection (IP) Ratings of the switchboard (regarding waterproofing and dust-proofing thereof), and protecting the switchboard against a short circuit, breakdown, rusting, and damage. 
         [0030]    The present invention is disclosed above by preferred embodiments. However, persons skilled in the art should understand that the preferred embodiments are illustrative of the present invention only, but should not be interpreted as restrictive of the scope of the present invention. Hence, all equivalent modifications and replacements made to the aforesaid embodiments should fall within the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the legal protection for the present invention should be defined by the appended claims.