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"Power Converter Apparatus"

Abstract: A power converter apparatus includes a plurality of switching devices (111-114) connected in series between a positive side D.C. power source (P) and a bus (31) for outputting A.C. power; a plurality of switching devices (111-114) connected in series between a negative side D.C. power source N and a bus (32) for outputting A.C. power; diode devices (121-122) connected in series between a neutral point D.C. power source (COM) and the switching devices; and insulating walls (101, 102, 201, 202, 203, 204) for preventing a short-circuit route owing to the conductive gas, arranged in the proximity of the switching devices.  The insulating walls are arranged between the switching devices and the fuses, between the switching devices and the diode modules, between the switching devices and the buses or among a plurality of switching devices.  Alternatively, the insulating walls cover the periphery of the switching devices.

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Notices, Deadlines & Correspondence

Patent Information

Application #
Filing Date
15 May 2012
Publication Number
49/2015
Publication Type
INA
Invention Field
ELECTRICAL
Status
Email
Parent Application
Patent Number
Legal Status
Grant Date
2017-12-04
Renewal Date

Applicants

HITACHI, LTD.
6-6, MARUNOUCHI 1-CHOME, CHIYODA-KU, TOKYO, JAPAN
HITACHI, LTD.
6-6, MARUNOUCHI 1-CHOME, CHIYODA-KU, TOKYO, JAPAN
HITACHI, LTD.
6-6, MARUNOUCHI 1-CHOME, CHIYODA-KU, TOKYO, JAPAN

Inventors

1. MIWA NAOKI
C/O HITACHI, LTD., INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY GROUP, 12TH FLOOR, MARUNOUCHI CENTER BUILDING, 6-1, MARUNOUCHI 1-CHOME, CHIYODA-KU, TOKYO 100-8220, JAPAN
2. MIWA NAOKI
C/O HITACHI, LTD., INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY GROUP, 12TH FLOOR, MARUNOUCHI CENTER BUILDING, 6-1, MARUNOUCHI 1-CHOME, CHIYODA-KU, TOKYO 100-8220, JAPAN
3. NAGATA HIROSHI
C/O HITACHI, LTD., INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY GROUP, 12TH FLOOR, MARUNOUCHI CENTER BUILDING, 6-1, MARUNOUCHI 1-CHOME, CHIYODA-KU, TOKYO 100-8220, JAPAN
4. NAGATA HIROSHI
C/O HITACHI, LTD., INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY GROUP, 12TH FLOOR, MARUNOUCHI CENTER BUILDING, 6-1, MARUNOUCHI 1-CHOME, CHIYODA-KU, TOKYO 100-8220, JAPAN

Specification

-1- BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a power converter apparatus using switching devices. Power converter apparatuses have gained a wide application in recent years to rotate A.C. motors at arbitrary rotating speeds. A power rectifier for normally converting an A.C. voltage to a D.C. voltage and a power inverter for inversely converting the D.C. voltage to the A.C. voltage are generally applied to the power converter apparatus and IGBT (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor) having a large capacity (high voltage and large current) and capable of switching at a high speed is employed in many case as a switching device (refer to JP-A-2010-178542, for example). SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION When the power converter apparatus is operated while an IGBT device of a main circuit is broken, however, the rupture of the broken IGBT device may invite scattering of internal members and generation of a conductive gas. When the conductive gas enwraps subsequently the IGBT devices and fuses, a short-circuit route having a potential exceeding a fuse rated voltage may develop. The power converter apparatuses of the prior art inclusive of the technology described in JP-A-2010-178542 cannot sufficiently cope with such a problem. In view of such a problem, the invention aims at providing a power converter apparatus which does not allow the short-circuit route to readily develop even when the broken IGBT undergoes rupture and the conductive gas is generated owning to the scatter of internal members. To accomplish this object, the power converter apparatus according to the invention employs the following construction. Namely, the invention provides a power converter apparatus that includes a plurality of switching devices connected in series between a positive side D.C. power source and a bus for outputting A.C. power; a plurality of switching devices connected in series between a negative side D.C. power source and a bus for outputting A.C. power; diode devices connected between a neutral point D.C. power source and the switching devices; and insulating walls for preventing the occurrence of a short-circuit route owing to a conductive gas, arranged in the proximity of the switching devices. -2- The invention can provide the power converter apparatus in which the short-circuit route does not readily occur even under the condition where the broken IGBT undergoes rupture and the conductive gas occurs owing to the scatter of the internal members. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a structural view showing a relation between a circuit of a power converter apparatus and an insulating wall in a first embodiment of the invention; FIG. 2 is a structural view showing a relation between a circuit of a power converter apparatus and an insulating wall in a second embodiment of the invention; FIGS. 3Ato 3C are perspective views each showing a plurality of structural surfaces when a main circuit of each phase is constituted into a cell unit in the power converter apparatus in the first embodiment of the invention; and FIGS. 4Ato 4C are perspective views each showing a plurality of structural surfaces when a main circuit of each phase is constituted into a cell unit in the power converter apparatus in the second embodiment of the invention. DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS The embodiments of the invention will be explained hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. (First Embodiment) FIG 1 is a structural view showing the relation between the circuits of the power converter apparatus and the insulating walls in the first embodiment of the invention. The power converter apparatus of the first embodiment is used for a large capacity power converter apparatus for driving a main engine A.C. motor applied to a steel rolling plant, for example. To begin with, the circuit construction of the power converter apparatus will be explained, followed then by the explanation of the insulating walls in the power converter apparatus.

Documents

Orders

Section Controller Decision Date

Application Documents

# Name Date
1 1499-del-2012-Correspondence-Others-(13-07-2012).pdf 2012-07-13
2 1499-del-2012-GPA-(27-08-2012).pdf 2012-08-27
3 1499-del-2012-Form-1-(27-08-2012).pdf 2012-08-27
4 1499-del-2012-Correspondence-others-(27-08-2012).pdf 2012-08-27
5 1499-del-2012-Correspondence Others-(27-11-2012).pdf 2012-11-27
6 1499-del-2012-1499-del-2012-Form-3-(27-11-2012).pdf 2012-11-27
7 1499-del-2012-1499-del-2012-Correspondence Others-(27-11-2012).pdf 2012-11-27
8 1499-del-2012-Form-5.pdf 2013-05-28
9 1499-del-2012-Form-3.pdf 2013-05-28
10 1499-del-2012-Form-2.pdf 2013-05-28
11 1499-del-2012-Form-18.pdf 2013-05-28
12 1499-del-2012-Form-1.pdf 2013-05-28
13 1499-del-2012-Drawings.pdf 2013-05-28
14 1499-del-2012-Description (Complete).pdf 2013-05-28
15 1499-del-2012-Correspondence-Others.pdf 2013-05-28
16 1499-del-2012-Claims.pdf 2013-05-28
17 1499-del-2012-Abstract.pdf 2013-05-28
18 1499-DEL-2012-FER.pdf 2017-03-29
19 Information under section 8(2) [14-06-2017(online)].pdf 2017-06-14
20 Form 3 [14-06-2017(online)].pdf 2017-06-14
21 Form 26 [28-06-2017(online)].pdf_265.pdf 2017-06-28
22 Form 26 [28-06-2017(online)].pdf 2017-06-28
23 Certified copy of translation [28-06-2017(online)].pdf 2017-06-28
24 Petition Under Rule 137 [29-06-2017(online)].pdf 2017-06-29
25 Other Document [29-06-2017(online)].pdf 2017-06-29
26 Marked Copy [29-06-2017(online)].pdf 2017-06-29
27 Form 13 [29-06-2017(online)].pdf 2017-06-29
28 Examination Report Reply Recieved [29-06-2017(online)].pdf 2017-06-29
29 Description(Complete) [29-06-2017(online)].pdf_550.pdf 2017-06-29
30 Description(Complete) [29-06-2017(online)].pdf_549.pdf 2017-06-29
31 Description(Complete) [29-06-2017(online)].pdf_424.pdf 2017-06-29
32 Description(Complete) [29-06-2017(online)].pdf 2017-06-29
33 Claims [29-06-2017(online)].pdf 2017-06-29
34 Abstract [29-06-2017(online)].pdf 2017-06-29
35 1499-DEL-2012-Power of Attorney-030717.pdf 2017-07-07
36 1499-DEL-2012-Correspondence-030717.pdf 2017-07-07
37 1499-DEL-2012-HearingNoticeLetter.pdf 2017-11-14
38 1499-DEL-2012-Written submissions and relevant documents (MANDATORY) [29-11-2017(online)].pdf 2017-11-29
39 1499-DEL-2012-FORM-26 [29-11-2017(online)].pdf 2017-11-29
40 1499-DEL-2012-PatentCertificate04-12-2017.pdf 2017-12-04
41 1499-DEL-2012-IntimationOfGrant04-12-2017.pdf 2017-12-04
42 1499-DEL-2012-Power of Attorney-061217.pdf 2017-12-11
43 1499-DEL-2012-Correspondence-061217.pdf 2017-12-11
44 1499-DEL-2012-RELEVANT DOCUMENTS [19-03-2018(online)].pdf 2018-03-19
45 1499-DEL-2012-RELEVANT DOCUMENTS [05-03-2019(online)].pdf 2019-03-05
46 1499-DEL-2012-RELEVANT DOCUMENTS [11-03-2020(online)].pdf 2020-03-11
47 1499-DEL-2012-RELEVANT DOCUMENTS [17-08-2021(online)].pdf 2021-08-17
48 1499-DEL-2012-RELEVANT DOCUMENTS [10-09-2022(online)].pdf 2022-09-10

Search Strategy

1 search1499_23-03-2017.pdf

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