HOUSING FOR A CONVERTER, OUTPUT STAGE OF A CONVERTER HAVING SUCH A HOUSING, CONVERTER, AND AIRCRAFT HAVING A CONVERTER

Abstract

A housing is provided for an output stage with power semiconductors of a modular converter. The housing includes a stretchable hood arranged on the base plate. The housing further includes a metallic lattice formed in or on the hood and forming a Faraday cage, wherein the hood is configured to be stretchable so as to enlarge the volume enclosed by the hood in the event of an explosion of a power semiconductor as a result of the explosion energy, without destroying the hood. An output stage, a converter, and an aircraft are also provided.

Claims

1. A housing for an output stage having power semiconductors of a modular converter, the housing comprising: a base plate; a stretchable hood arranged on the base plate; and a metallic lattice formed in or on the hood and forming a Faraday cage, wherein the hood is configured to be stretchable so as to enlarge a volume enclosed by the hood in event of an explosion of a power semiconductor as a result of an explosion energy, without destroying the hood.

2. The housing of claim 1, wherein the base plate is a heat sink.

3. The housing of claim 2, wherein the hood has a rectangular prism shape in an unstretched state.

4. The housing of claim 3, wherein the lattice comprises titanium or a highly ductile aluminum.

5. The housing of claim 4, wherein the hood comprises a textile-reinforced composite material.

6. The housing of claim 5, further comprising: an insulating oil that fills the hood.

7. An output stage of a modular converter, the output stage comprising: a housing having: a base plate; a stretchable hood arranged on the base plate; and a metallic lattice formed in or on the hood and forming a Faraday cage, wherein the hood is configured to be stretchable so as to enlarge a volume enclosed by the hood in event of an explosion of a power semiconductor as a result of an explosion energy, without destroying the hood; and power semiconductors arranged on the base plate of the housing.

8. A converter comprising: an output stage having: a housing comprising a base plate, a stretchable hood arranged on the base plate, a metallic lattice formed in or on the hood and forming a Faraday cage, wherein the hood is configured to be stretchable so as to enlarge a volume enclosed by the hood in event of an explosion of a power semiconductor as a result of an explosion energy, without destroying the hood; and power semiconductors arranged on the base plate of the housing.

9. An aircraft comprising: an electric motor as a drive; and a converter configured to supply the electric motor with electrical energy, the converter comprising an output stage having: a housing comprising a base plate, a stretchable hood arranged on the base plate, a metallic lattice formed in or on the hood and forming a Faraday cage, wherein the hood is configured to be stretchable so as to enlarge a volume enclosed by the hood in event of an explosion of a power semiconductor as a result of an explosion energy, without destroying the hood; and power semiconductors arranged on the base plate of the housing.

10. The housing of claim 1, wherein the hood has a rectangular prism shape in an unstretched state.

11. The housing of claim 1, wherein the lattice comprises titanium or a highly ductile aluminum.

12. The housing of claim 1, wherein the hood comprises a textile-reinforced composite material.

13. The housing of claim 1, further comprising: an insulating oil that fills the hood.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] Further special features and advantages of the disclosure will become clear from the following explanations of an exemplary embodiment with reference to schematic drawings.

[0022] FIG. 1 depicts an example of a housing for an output stage.

[0023] FIG. 2 depicts an example of an expanded housing for an output stage.

[0024] FIG. 3 depicts an example of an output stage of a modular converter.

[0025] FIG. 4 depicts an example of a modular converter.

[0026] FIG. 5 depicts an example of an aircraft having a modular converter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] According to the disclosure, the output stage of a converter has a flexible, stretchable housing made of non-metal, which is encased in a Faraday metal cage (e.g., lattice) for grounding and shielding and which is stable to such an extent that it withstands an exploding plasma and prevents the non-metallic housing from bursting.

[0028] This expansion binds and absorbs energy, as does the expanding volume, and thus weakens the power of the explosion. The metal used for the supporting cage structure is not too rigid or brittle.

[0029] FIG. 1 shows the housing 1 of an output stage of a modular converter. The housing has a base plate 4 made of aluminum, for example. On the base plate 4 is seated a hood or shell 2 made of a stretchable material, for example, a textile-reinforced composite material, in which or on which a metallic, cage-like lattice 3 is formed. The lattice 3 acts as a Faraday cage and may absorb energy by expansion. The housing 1 is filled with an insulating oil 5 that fills the shell 2. The shell 2 is formed in the shape of a rectangular prism and in the event of a change in volume caused by an explosion of power semiconductors it may assume a hemispherical shape.

[0030] FIG. 2 shows the housing 1 according to FIG. 1 after the volume change (e.g., after an explosion of a power semiconductor). The hemispherical shape of the stretchable shell 2 increases the volume-to-surface-area ratio. The lattice 3 absorbs the explosion energy by changing its shape. The explosion of power semiconductors, which may be arranged on the base plate, does not therefore result in a rupture of the housing 1, but only to a permanent deformation of the housing.

[0031] FIG. 3 shows an output stage 7 of a modular converter having a housing 1 according to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, wherein the power semiconductors 6 are arranged on the base plate 4 and insulated from the latter. The housing 1 is filled with an insulating oil 5 or another insulating material.

[0032] FIG. 4 shows a modular converter 8 with an output stage 7 according to FIG. 3, which is supplied by a link circuit 12.

[0033] FIG. 5 shows an electrically powered aircraft 9, the propeller 11 of which is driven by an electric motor 10. The electric motor 10 is supplied with electrical energy by the converter 8. The converter 8 is designed according to FIG. 1 to FIG. 4.

[0034] Although the disclosure has been described and illustrated more specifically in detail by the exemplary embodiments, the disclosure is not restricted by the disclosed examples and other variations may be derived therefrom by a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of protection of the disclosure. It is therefore intended that the foregoing description be regarded as illustrative rather than limiting, and that it be understood that all equivalents and/or combinations of embodiments are intended to be included in this description.

[0035] It is to be understood that the elements and features recited in the appended claims may be combined in different ways to produce new claims that likewise fall within the scope of the present disclosure. Thus, whereas the dependent claims appended below depend from only a single independent or dependent claim, it is to be understood that these dependent claims may, alternatively, be made to depend in the alternative from any preceding or following claim, whether independent or dependent, and that such new combinations are to be understood as forming a part of the present specification.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

1 Housing

2 Hood or Shell

3 Lattice

[0036] 4 Base plate

5 Insulating oil

[0037] 6 Power semiconductor
7 Output stage

8 Converter

9 Aircraft

[0038] 10 Electric motor

11 Propeller

[0039] 12 Link circuit