IP Library Granted Patent US 11,486,613
Granted Patent B2
US 11,486,613 · App. 16/330,579 · Granted Nov 1, 2022

Power converter and air-conditioning apparatus employing the same

Inventors: Kenta Yuasa (Tokyo, JP); Yoshihiro Taniguchi (Tokyo, JP); Yoshikazu Nozuki (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
F25B31/02H02P27/06H02P2201/03
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,486,613
App. No.
16/330,579
Granted
Nov 1, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A power converter includes a first substrate on which a module including a switching element is mounted, a second substrate on which a smoothing capacitor is mounted, and a terminal block connecting the first substrate and the second substrate, with the first and second substrates located to face each other. The terminal block includes a current path over which at least one of current flowing from the module to the smoothing capacitor and current flowing from the smoothing capacitor to the module flows.

Claims (32)

1. A power converter comprising:

a first substrate on which a module including a switching element is mounted;

a second substrate on which a smoothing capacitor is mounted; and

a plurality of terminal blocks each connecting the first substrate and the second substrate, with the first substrate and the second substrate located to face each other, each of the terminal blocks including a current path over which at least one of current flowing from the module to the smoothing capacitor and current flowing from the smoothing capacitor to the module flows, the plurality of terminal blocks including

a first terminal block having a greater support capacity in a first direction than a support capacity in a second direction different from the first direction, and

a second terminal block having a greater support capacity in the second direction than a support capacity in the first direction.

2. The power converter of claim 1 , wherein the first direction is a direction of gravity.

3. A power converter comprising:

a first substrate on which a module including a switching element is mounted;

a second substrate on which a smoothing capacitor is mounted; and

a plurality of terminal blocks each connecting the first substrate and the second substrate, with the first substrate and the second substrate located to face each other, each of the terminal blocks including a current path over which at least one of current flowing from the module to the smoothing capacitor and current flowing from the smoothing capacitor to the module flows,

the plurality of terminal blocks being oriented on the first substrate to have a greater support capacity in a first direction than a support capacity in any of directions other than the first direction.

4. An air-conditioning apparatus comprising:

a power converter comprising

a first substrate on which a module including a switching element is mounted;

a second substrate on which a smoothing capacitor is mounted; and

a terminal block connecting the first substrate and the second substrate, with the first and second substrates located to face each other, the terminal block including a current path over which at least one of current flowing from the module to the smoothing capacitor and current flowing from the smoothing capacitor to the module flows, the terminal block being soldered to the first substrate, and screwed on the second substrate;

a compressor which is supplied with power from the power converter; and

a refrigerant circuit including the compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator, which are connected by refrigerant pipes.

5. The air-conditioning apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the second substrate has a hole extending therethrough.

6. The air-conditioning apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the switching element is formed in a wide bandgap semiconductor.

7. The air-conditioning apparatus of claim 4 , further comprising:

a control box including the power converter,

wherein the first substrate is attached to the control box such that a substrate surface of the first substrate is parallel to a direction of gravity.

8. The air-conditioning apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the terminal block is formed by bending a plate-shaped conductor.

9. An air-conditioning apparatus comprising:

a power converter comprising:

a first substrate on which a module including a switching element is mounted;

a second substrate on which a smoothing capacitor is mounted; and

a terminal block connecting the first substrate and the second substrate, with the first substrate and the second substrate located to face each other, the terminal block including a current path over which at least one of current flowing from the module to the smoothing capacitor and current flowing from the smoothing capacitor to the module flows, the terminal block is formed by bending a plate-shaped conductor;

a compressor which is supplied with power from the power converter; and

a refrigerant circuit including the compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator, which are connected by refrigerant pipes.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 5, 2019
From: YUASA, KENTA; TANIGUCHI, YOSHIHIRO; NOZUKI, YOSHIKAZU
To: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 048506/0599 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20200083820A1 · Mar 12, 2020
Cited By (1)
US 12,408,311