Assembly for test apparatus with cooling and venting assemblies

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9455608-B2
Application number	US-201313839833-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 15, 2013
Priority date	May 20, 2012
Publication date	Sep 27, 2016
Grant date	Sep 27, 2016

Abstract

A testing apparatus includes a crosshead and a head assembly. The head assembly includes a head cover having an interior volume. An electric actuator, controls and other electric components are located within the interior volume, wherein the motor, controls and other electric components generates heat when energized. A divider within the interior volume separates a first volume from a second volume. The first volume includes the heat generating electric motor, controls and electric components and the second volume contains substantially no heat generating components. The head assembly includes at least one fan within the second volume that draws cool air from outside the head cover and forces the cool air through the second volume and into the first volume to remove heat.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A head assembly for a testing apparatus having a crosshead, the head assembly comprising:
a head cover having an interior volume;
an electric linear actuator within the interior volume, wherein the electric linear actuator generates heat when energized;
electric components within the interior volume wherein the control and electric components generate heat when energized;
a divider within the interior volume that separates a first volume from a second volume, wherein the first volume includes the heat generating electric linear actuator and the heat generating electric components and the second volume contains substantially no heat generating components;
at least one fan within the second volume wherein the at least one fan draws cool air from outside the head cover and forces the cool air through the second volume and into the first volume wherein the cool air removes heat generated by the electric actuator and the electric components; and
a flow conduit attached to the divider and opening to the second volume, the electric linear actuator arranged with respect to the flow conduit such that air from the at least one fan flows through the flow conduit and over the electric linear actuator.

2. The head assembly of claim 1 wherein the at least one fan is secured to the flow conduit to draw air into the second volume.

3. The head assembly of claim 2 and wherein the at least one fan comprises two fans attached to the flow conduit at opposite portions thereof.

4. The head assembly of claim 2 and further comprising:
a substantially horizontal flow divider secured to the flow conduit and between an upper edge of the at least one fan and a lower edge of the at least one fan; and
a substantially vertical flow divider secured to the flow conduit and between a left edge of the at least one fan and a right edge of the at least one fan wherein the substantially vertical flow divider intersects the substantially horizontal flow divider wherein the substantially horizontal flow divider and the substantially vertical flow divider prevent channeling of the air and provide a more equal distribution of air into the flow conduit.

5. The head assembly of claim 2 and further comprising at least one arcuate flow diverter attached to the flow conduit wherein the at least one arcuate flow diverter is located proximate the at least one fan and directs air from the second volume to the first volume.

6. The head assembly of claim 2 and further comprising:
a first arcuate flow diverter attached to the flow conduit wherein the first arcuate flow diverter is located proximate a first side edge of the least one fan and directs air from the second volume to the first volume; and
a second arcuate flow diverter attached to the flow conduit wherein the second arcuate flow diverter is a mirror image of the first arcuate flow diverter and is located proximate a second side edge of the at least one fan and directs air from the second volume to the first volume.

7. The head assembly of claim 1 and wherein the electric linear actuator comprises a stator and an armature, wherein the armature is controllably movable relative to the stator that includes a plurality of coils that are energizable to provide a magnetic field pattern and that generate heat when energized.

8. A head assembly for a testing apparatus having a crosshead, the head assembly comprising:
a head cover having an interior volume;
an electric linear actuator within the interior volume, wherein the electric linear actuator generates heat when energized;
electric components within the interior volume wherein the electric components generate heat when energized;
a divider within the interior volume that separates a first volume from a second volume, wherein the first volume includes the heat generating electric linear actuator and the second volume contains substantially no heat generating components, the divider having a surface with an aperture to provide a gap between the surface defining the aperture and the electric linear actuator;
at least one fan within the second volume wherein the at least one fan draws cool air from outside the head cover and forces the cool air through the second volume and into the first volume wherein the cool air removes heat generated by the electric linear actuator; and
a duct assembly extending from the divider proximate the surface having the aperture wherein the duct assembly is positioned proximate the electric linear actuator to create a channel between the duct assembly and the electric linear actuator such that air is forced from the second volume, through the aperture and through the channel to provide cooling to the electric linear actuator.

9. The head assembly of claim 8 and wherein the divider is positioned proximate a bottom end of the electric actuator.

10. A testing apparatus comprising:
a base;
spaced apart left and right support posts coupled to the base;
a crosshead slidably attached to the spaced apart left and right support posts wherein the crosshead is securable in a selected location;
a head cover attached to the crosshead and having an interior volume;
an electric linear actuator within the interior volume, wherein the electric linear actuator generates heat when energized;
electric components within the interior volume wherein the electric components generate heat when energized;
a divider within the interior volume that separates a first volume from a second volume, wherein the first volume includes the heat generating electric linear actuator and the heat generating electric components and the second volume contains substantially no heat generating components;
at least one fan within the second volume wherein the at least one fan draws cool air from outside the head cover and forces the cool air through the second volume and into the first volume wherein the cool air removes heat generated by the electric linear actuator and the electric components; and
a flow conduit attached to the divider and opening to the second volume, the electric linear actuator arranged with respect to the flow conduit such that air from the at least one fan flows through the flow conduit and over the electric linear actuator.

11. The testing apparatus of claim 10 wherein the at least one fan is secured to the flow conduit to draw air into the second volume.

12. The testing apparatus of claim 11 and wherein the flow conduit is secured to the crosshead with a plurality of fasteners.

13. The testing apparatus of claim 11 and wherein the at least one fan comprises two fans attached to the flow conduit at opposite portions thereof.

14. The testing apparatus of claim 11 and further comprising:
a substantially horizontal flow divider secured to the flow conduit and between an upper edge of the at least one fan and a lower edge of the at least one fan; and
a substantially vertical flow divider secured to the flow conduit and between a left edge of the at least one fan and a right edge of the at least one fan wherein the substantially vertical flow divider intersects the substantially horizontal flow divider wherein the substantially horizontal flow divider and the substantially vertical flow divider prevent channeling of the air and provide a more equal distribution of air into the flow conduit.

15. The testing apparatus of claim 11 and further comprising at least one arcuate flow diverter attached to the flow conduit wherein the at least one arcuate flow diverter is located proximate the at least one fan and directs air from the second volume to the first volume.

16. The testing appar

Assignees

• Mts System Corp

Inventors

• Schulz Bradley Dean
• Kuhlmann Tyler B
• Krueger Paul M
• Taylor Richard Leo

Classifications

• H02K41/031 Primary

  of the permanent magnet type · CPC title

• H02K9/04 Primary

  having means for generating a flow of cooling medium · CPC title

• G01R31/343

  in operation · CPC title

• H02K15/16

  Centring rotors within the stators · CPC title