Abstract:
A solar power inverter having a sealing means includes: a main case having an opening on a front surface thereof, the opening open and closed by a main cover; an auxiliary case coupled to one side surface of the main case, and having an opening on a front surface thereof, the opening open and closed by an auxiliary cover; and a gasket interposed between the main case and the auxiliary case, wherein the main case and the auxiliary case are coupled to each other by coupling bolts which pass through the main case, the gasket and the auxiliary case.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119(a), this application claims the benefit of earlier filing date and right of priority to Korean Utility Model Application No. 20-2012-0002178, filed on Mar. 19, 2012, the contents of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention The present disclosure relates to a solar power inverter with a sealing means, and particularly, to a solar power inverter used in a solar power generating system and having a sealing means. 
         [0003]    2. Background of the Invention A solar power generating system serves to generate power using a solar power panel or a solar power panel array. Here, a current generated from the solar power panel or the solar power panel array is a direct current (DC). The DC needs to be converted into a general alternating current (AC), so as to be supplied to homes, companies, etc. 
         [0004]    A solar power inverter is used to convert the DC generated from the solar power panel or the solar power panel array, into an AC. Generally, the solar power inverter includes a main case having inverter circuitry mounted therein, and an auxiliary case where various types of wires, etc. are accommodated. The auxiliary case is coupled to the main case. 
         [0005]    Generally, the solar power generating system is used in an exposed state to the outdoor such as the desert or the plain. Therefore, the solar power generating system should be sealed so as not to be influenced by meteorological environments such as rain, wind or snow. Especially, in a case where snow or rain permeates contact parts of the main case and the auxiliary case, the main case and the auxiliary case may corrode, or may have their inner insulated states destroyed. In order to solve such problems, various types of sealing means have been used.  FIG. 1  is a sectional view schematically showing a sealing means for a solar power inverter in accordance with the conventional art. 
         [0006]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the solar power inverter includes a main case  10 , and an auxiliary case  20  disposed below the main case  10 . Sealing means  30  are coupled along flanges  22  protruding from the surface of the auxiliary case  20 . The sealing means  30  has a sealing portion  32  disposed on the bottom surface of the main case  10 , and a fixing portion  34  fixed to the flange  22  by contacting a plurality of protrusions formed on the surface of the flange  22 . 
         [0007]    The main case  10  and the auxiliary case  20  are coupled to each other by an additional coupling means. Under such configuration, dust or moisture is prevented from being introduced into the solar power inverter as the sealing portion  32  is pressure-welded to the surface of the main case  10 . 
         [0008]    However, the conventional sealing means has the following problems. 
         [0009]    Firstly, the sealing means should be cut to correspond to the length of the flange of the auxiliary case, and then should be bonded to the main case  10 . In this case, the bonding process is not easy, and water leakage may occur due to a weak bonded part if the sealing means is used for a long time. Further, if the flange has a quadrangular shape, the sealing means is not smoothly transformed at the corners. This may cause part of the sealing means not to contact the main case, resulting in lowering of a sealing performance. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    Therefore, an aspect of the detailed description is to provide a solar power inverter capable of being easily installed, and capable of having a sealing means for effectively sealing a gap between a main case and an auxiliary case. 
         [0011]    To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of this specification, as embodied and broadly described herein, there is provided a solar power inverter having a sealing means, comprising: a main case having an opening on a front surface thereof, the opening open and closed by a main cover; an auxiliary case coupled to one side surface of the main case, and having an opening on a front surface thereof, the opening open and closed by an auxiliary cover; and a gasket interposed between the main case and the auxiliary case, wherein the main case and the auxiliary case are coupled to each other by coupling bolts which pass through the main case, the gasket and the auxiliary case. 
         [0012]    In the present invention, side surfaces of the main case and the auxiliary case where no openings are formed, may be disposed to face each other. Then, the two cases may be coupled to each other by bolts in a state where the gasket is interposed therebetween. This can allow the main case and the auxiliary case to be stably coupled to each other, and can effectively prevent dust or moisture from being introduced into the solar power inverter while the gasket is compressed by a bolt coupling force. The openings may serve as entrances through which items to be accommodated in the main case and the auxiliary case are introduced. However, in some cases, the openings may also serve as spaces to which a user&#39;s hand and tools are introduced. 
         [0013]    The gasket may be formed of a silicon material, and may be configured to contact edges of the side surfaces of the main case and the auxiliary case, the side surfaces facing each other. 
         [0014]    One of the main cover and the auxiliary cover may extend to the contact surfaces of the main case and the auxiliary case. The covers may serve as an additional sealing means by partially blocking the contact surfaces. 
         [0015]    Part of the contact surfaces of the main case and the auxiliary case may be blocked by the main cover. A flange may protrude from a side wall on an outer circumference of the main case. The main cover may be coupled to the flange, and disposed so that the end of the main cover can contact the surface of the auxiliary case. As the end of the main cover contacts the surface of the auxiliary case, an exposed area among the contact surfaces can be reduced. This can reduce dust or moisture from being introduced into the solar power inverter. 
         [0016]    The present invention may have the following advantages. 
         [0017]    Firstly, in a state where the gasket compressed by coupling bolts is disposed between contact surfaces between the main case and the auxiliary case, sealing may be performed as the two cases are coupled to each other. This can simplify the assembly operation, and can enhance a sealing performance. 
         [0018]    Further, since part of the contact surfaces may be blocked by the main cover or the auxiliary cover, an exposed area among the contact surfaces can be minimized. This can reduce dust or moisture from being introduced into the solar power inverter. 
         [0019]    Further scope of applicability of the present application will become more apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the detailed description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]    The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
           [0021]    In the drawings: 
           [0022]      FIG. 1  is a sectional view schematically showing a sealing means for a solar power inverter in accordance with the conventional art; 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a solar power inverter according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  is a side sectional view of the solar power inverter of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  is a side sectional view showing part of the solar power inverter of  FIG. 3  in an enlarged manner; and 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  is a disassembled perspective view of the solar power inverter of  FIG. 2 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0027]    Description will now be given in detail of the exemplary embodiments, with reference to the accompanying drawings. For the sake of brief description with reference to the drawings, the same or equivalent components will be provided with the same reference numbers, and description thereof will not be repeated. 
         [0028]    Hereinafter, an embodiment of a solar power inverter according to the present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the attached drawings. 
         [0029]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a solar power inverter according to an embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 3  is a side sectional view of the solar power inverter of  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 4  is a side sectional view showing part of the solar power inverter of  FIG. 3  in an enlarged manner, and  FIG. 5  is a disassembled perspective view of the solar power inverter of  FIG. 2 . 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 to 5 , the solar power inverter  100  includes a main case  110  and an auxiliary case  120  coupled to a lower end of the main case  110 . Circuitry related to the solar power inverter is mounted in the main case  110 , and various types of wires or pipes are accommodated in the auxiliary case  120 . 
         [0031]    As the inverter circuitry or wires accommodated in the main case  110  or the auxiliary case  120 , may be used the existing circuitry or wires. Therefore, detailed explanations thereof will be omitted. A type of items to be accommodated in the main case  110  or the auxiliary case  120  can be arbitrarily determined by those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is not limited by a type of the items. 
         [0032]    A heat sink  130  serving as a cooling means, is mounted to a rear surface of the main case  110 . Generally, it is required that a solar power generating system should be installed at a place exposed to direct sunlight. It is also required that heat generated while the inverter circuitry operates should be properly cooled. The heat sink  130  serves to radiate, to the outside, heat generated from the inside of the main case  110 . In some cases, may be used a cooling fan or a vapor compression type air conditioning system, rather than the heat sink. 
         [0033]    Openings through which the items are introduced are formed on the front surfaces of the main case  110  and the auxiliary case  120 . A main cover  112  and an auxiliary cover  122  for covering the openings are installed on the front surfaces of the main case  110  and the auxiliary case  120  respectively. On the front surface of the main cover  112 , a manipulation panel  114  is installed to display an operation state of the solar power inverter, and to manipulate functions of the solar power inverter. 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , flanges  110   a  and  120   a  protrude from side walls on outer circumferences of the main case  110  and the auxiliary case  120 . The flange  110   a  of the main case  110  protrudes from four surfaces of the main case  110 , whereas the flange  120   a  of the auxiliary case  120  protrudes from three surfaces except for one surface facing the main case  110 . 
         [0035]    The flanges  110   a  and  120   a  provide positions for coupling the covers  112  and  122  to the main case  110  and the auxiliary case  120 . More specifically, the covers  112  and  122  are provided with bending portions  112   a  and  122   a  on the outer circumferences thereof. As the bending portions  112   a  and  122   a  are coupled to the flanges  110   a  and  120   a  by bolts  116  and  124 , the covers  112  and  122  are fixed to the main case  110  and the auxiliary case  120 . 
         [0036]    The flange  110   a  of the main case  110 , and the bending portion  112   a  of the main cover  112  extend up to the front surface of the auxiliary case  120 . Especially, the end of the bending portion  112   a  comes in contact with the front surface of the auxiliary case  120 . As a result, part of the main cover  112  among contact surfaces of the main case  110  and the auxiliary case  120 , is blocked by the main cover  112 . 
         [0037]    A gasket  140  is interposed between the contact surfaces of the main case  110  and the auxiliary case  120 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the gasket  140  has a hollow central portion so that only the edges of the contact surfaces can be covered. The gasket  140  is also provided with a plurality of through holes  140   a  for inserting coupling bolts  142  thereinto. More specifically, the coupling bolts  142  are inserted towards the main case  110  from the inside of the auxiliary case  120 . For this, coupling holes  110   b  for coupling the coupling bolts  142  are formed at the main case  110 . Further, coupling holes are formed at the auxiliary case  120  in correspondence to the coupling holes  110   b.    
         [0038]    The gasket  140  is formed of a flexible material such as silicon, and is disposed between the main case  110  and the auxiliary case  120  in a pressure-welded state by a coupling force of the coupling bolts  142 . Accordingly, dust or moisture is effectively prevented from being introduced into the contact surfaces from the outside. 
         [0039]    At least the front surface of the contact surfaces is blocked by the main cover  112 . This can reduce an area where dust or moisture is introduced, and thus can enhance a sealing performance. Alternatively, the contact surfaces can be entirely blocked. However, in this case, the entire structure may become complicated, and the assembly operation may be difficult. Further, since the solar power inverter is generally mounted on the wall surface, the rear surface among the contact surfaces is blocked by the wall surface. Therefore, in the preferred embodiment, only the front surface of the contact surfaces is blocked for a simplified structure and an effective sealing performance. 
         [0040]    The foregoing embodiments and advantages are merely exemplary and are not to be considered as limiting the present disclosure. The present teachings can be readily applied to other types of apparatuses. This description is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit the scope of the claims. Many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The features, structures, methods, and other characteristics of the exemplary embodiments described herein may be combined in various ways to obtain additional and/or alternative exemplary embodiments. 
         [0041]    As the present features may be embodied in several forms without departing from the characteristics thereof, it should also be understood that the above-described embodiments are not limited by any of the details of the foregoing description, unless otherwise specified, but rather should be considered broadly within its scope as defined in the appended claims, and therefore all changes and modifications that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims, or equivalents of such metes and bounds are therefore intended to be embraced by the appended claims.