Current sensor with cooling

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9943009-B2
Application number	US-201615214964-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 20, 2016
Priority date	Jul 20, 2016
Publication date	Apr 10, 2018
Grant date	Apr 10, 2018

Abstract

An electrical assembly includes a heat conducting housing. A conductor is supported by the housing and conducts electrical current. An electrical insulator member surrounds the conductor. A core surrounds the insulator member and the conductor so that current flowing through the conductor induces a magnetic field in the core. A transducer is coupled to the core for generating a signal representing current in the conductor. A thermal interface member engages the core and engages the housing. The interface member conducts or can conduct heat to the housing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electrical assembly comprising:
a circuit board comprising an upper side and lower side;
a first conductor on the upper side for conducting electrical current;
a second conductor on the lower side for conducting the electrical current;
a conductive sleeve having one end that engages the first conductor and another end that engages the second conductor;
an insulator member surrounding the conductor conductive sleeve;
a core surrounding the insulator member and the conductor so that current flowing through the conductive sleeve induces a magnetic field in the core;
a transducer coupled to the core for generating a signal representing current in the conductive sleeve;
a thermal interface member engaging the core; and
a housing supporting the insulator member, the housing engaging the thermal interface member so that the interface member conducts heat to the housing.

2. The electrical assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the core comprises an annular ring; and
the thermal interface member comprises a curved wall and a curved lip joined to an end of the curved wall.

3. The electrical assembly of claim 2 , wherein:
the curved wall has a concave surface which engages an outer surface of the core; and
the lip engages an end of the core.

4. The electrical assembly of claim 3 , wherein:
the curved wall has a convex surface which engages a portion of the housing; and
the lip engages the housing.

5. The electrical assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the core comprises an annular ring; and
the thermal interface member comprises a curved wall.

6. The electrical assembly of claim 5 , wherein:
the curved wall has a concave surface which engages an outer surface of the core.

7. The electrical assembly of claim 5 , wherein:
the curved wall has a convex surface which engages a portion of the housing.

8. The electrical assembly of claim 5 , wherein:
the thermal interface member comprises a curved lip which is joined to an end of the curved wall.

9. The electrical assembly of claim 8 , wherein:
the lip engages an end of the core, and the lip engages a portion of the housing.

10. The electrical assembly of claim 8 , wherein:
a recess is formed in the housing; and
the thermal interface member is received by the recess.

11. The electrical assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the transducer exposes a portion of the core for purposes of heat transfer.

12. The electrical assembly of claim 1 wherein the core comprises a ferric ring core or a ferrite ring.

13. An electrical assembly comprising:
a circuit board comprising an upper side and a lower side;
a first conductor strap for conducting electrical current;
a second conductor strap on the lower side for conducting the electrical current;
a conductive sleeve having one end that engages the first conductor strap and another end that engages the second conductor strap;
a housing supporting the conductive sleeve;
a core surrounding the conductive sleeve so that current flowing through the conductive sleeve induces a magnetic field in the core;
a transducer coupled to the core for generating a signal representing current in the conductive sleeve; and
a thermal interface member engaging the core, the housing engaging the thermal interface member so that the interface member conducts heat to the housing.

14. The electrical assembly of claim 13 , wherein:
a recess is formed in the housing; and
the thermal interface member is received by the recess.

15. The electrical assembly of claim 13 , wherein:
the core comprises an annular ring; and
the thermal interface member comprises a curved wall which engages a portion of the housing and which engages an outer surf of the core.

16. The electrical assembly of claim 13 , wherein:
an insulator member surrounding the conductor; and
the core surrounds the insulator member and the conductor.

17. The electrical assembly of claim 13 wherein the core comprises a ferric ring core or a ferrite ring.

18. An electrical assembly comprising:
a circuit board comprising an upper side and lower side;
a first conductor on the upper side for conducting electrical current;
a second conductor on the lower side for conducting the electrical current;
a conductive sleeve having one end that engages the first conductor and another end that engages the second conductor;
a housing supporting the conductive sleeve;
a core comprising an annular ring surrounding the conductive sleeve so that current flowing through the conductor induces a magnetic field in the core;
a transducer coupled to the core for generating a signal representing current in the conductor; and
a thermal interface member engaging the core, the thermal interface member comprises a curved wall and a curved lip joined to an end of the curved wall, and the housing engaging the thermal interface member so that the interface member conducts heat to the housing.

19. The electrical assembly of claim 18 , wherein:
an insulator member surrounding the conductor; and
the core surrounds the insulator member and the conductor.

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Schmit Christopher J

Classifications

• H05K7/2039 Primary

  characterised by the heat transfer by conduction from the heat generating element to a dissipating body (arrangements for increasing/decreasing heat-transfer, e.g. fins details, F28F13/00) · CPC title

• G01R15/183

  using transformers with a magnetic core · CPC title

• H05K7/209

  Heat transfer by conduction from internal heat source to heat radiating structure (H05K7/20909 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01R15/18

  using inductive devices, e.g. transformers · CPC title

• H01F27/08

  Cooling (heat-transfer elements F28F); Ventilating (structural details of casings H01F27/02) · CPC title