Transformer core and transformer

Abstract

The invention relates to a transformer core with at least one additional leg. Said additional leg is used to form a leakage path. In order to optimize the installation space and for easier connection of the transformer windings, the transformer legs and the additional leakage path legs are not arranged along a common line.

Claims

1. A transformer with a transformer core (1), the transformer comprising: a first transformer leg (10) which has a first longitudinal axis (11); a second transformer leg (20) which has a second longitudinal axis (21); a first leakage path leg (30) which has a third longitudinal axis (31) a second leakage path leg (30) which has a fourth longitudinal axis (31); wherein the third longitudinal axis (31) and the fourth longitudinal axis (31) are each situated outside a first plane (A-A′) which is defined by the first longitudinal axis (11) and the second longitudinal axis (21) and wherein the third longitudinal axis (31) and the fourth longitudinal axis (31) define a second plane which runs parallel to the first plane (A-A′), a primary winding (61) disposed on the first transformer leg (10); and a secondary winding (62) disposed on the second transformer leg (20), wherein no winding is disposed on the first and second leakage path legs (30).

2. The transformer as claimed in claim 1, with: a first transformer yoke (41); and a second transformer yoke (42), the first transformer leg (10), the second transformer leg (20), the first leakage path leg (30), and the second leakage path leg (30) being arranged between the first transformer yoke (41) and the second transformer yoke (42).

3. The transformer as claimed in claim 2, the first transformer yoke (41), the first transformer leg (10), the second transformer leg (20), the first leakage path leg (30), and the second leakage path leg (30) being of contiguous configuration.

4. The transformer as claimed in claim 2, an air gap (50) being arranged between the second transformer yoke (42) and one of the first and second leakage path legs (30).

5. The transformer as claimed in claim 1, one of the first and second leakage path legs (30) comprising ferromagnetic powder grains.

6. The transformer as claimed in claim 5, wherein each of the first and second leakage path legs (30) comprises ferromagnetic powder grains.

7. The transformer as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a third leakage path leg (30) which has a fifth longitudinal axis (31), and a fourth leakage path leg (30) which has a sixth longitudinal axis (31).

8. The transformer as claimed in claim 7, wherein the fifth longitudinal axis (31) and the sixth longitudinal axis (31) define a third plane which runs parallel to the first plane (A-A′).

9. The transformer as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first plane (A-A′) is positioned between the second plane and the third plane.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further features and advantages of the present invention will be described in the following text on the basis of the figures, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a transformer core in accordance with one embodiment, and

(3) FIGS. 2 to 6 show diagrammatic illustrations of cross sections through transformer cores in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(4) FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic illustration of a perspective view of a transformer core 1 in accordance with one embodiment. The transformer core comprises a first transformer leg 10, a second transformer leg 20, a leakage path leg 30, and a first yoke 41 and a second yoke 42. As can be seen, the first transformer leg 10, the second transformer leg 20 and the leakage path leg 30 are arranged between the first transformer yoke 41 and the second transformer yoke 42. In particular, the upper end faces of the first transformer leg 10, the second transformer leg 20 and the leakage path leg 30 point in the direction of the upper, second transformer yoke 42. The lower end faces of the first transformer leg 10, the second transformer leg 20 and the leakage path leg 30 point in the direction of the lower, first transformer yoke 41.

(5) Here, the first transformer leg 10 has a longitudinal axis 11. Said longitudinal axis 11 can be, for example, an axis of symmetry which runs from the upper end face as far as the lower end face of the first transformer leg 10. Any desired other longitudinal axes, in particular longitudinal axes between the upper and the lower end face of the first transformer leg 10, are fundamentally possible, however. In an analogous manner, the second transformer leg 20 has a second longitudinal axis 21 which runs between the upper and the lower end face of the second transformer leg 20. The leakage path leg 30 likewise has a further longitudinal axis 31 which runs between the upper and the lower end face of the leakage path leg 30.

(6) In the case of the embodiment shown here according to FIG. 1, the first transformer leg 10, the second transformer leg 20 and the leakage path leg 30 in each case have an at least approximately square cross section perpendicularly with respect to the respective longitudinal axes. The present invention is not restricted, however, to square cross sections of this type. Rather, any desired shapes for the cross sections of the transformer legs 10, 20 and the leakage path leg 30 are possible. For example, rectangular, circular, oval or other cross sections are also possible.

(7) Here, the longitudinal axis 11 of the first transformer leg 10, the second longitudinal axis 21 of the second transformer leg 20 and the further longitudinal axis 31 of the leakage path leg 30 do not lie in a common alignment. In other words, the first longitudinal axis 11 of the first transformer leg 10 and the second longitudinal axis 21 of the second transformer leg 22 lie in a virtual plane, and the longitudinal axis 31 of the leakage path leg 30 lies here outside said virtual plane which is defined by way of the longitudinal axes 11, 21 of the first and second transformer legs 10, 20. In this way, an angled-away structure (here, for example, an L-shaped structure) is formed by way of the structure of the transformer core 1.

(8) In order to configure a transformer with the transformer core structure 1 which is shown here, for example, a first winding 61, for example a primary winding, can be arranged on the first transformer leg 10, and a second winding 62, for example a secondary winding, can be arranged on the second transformer leg 20. In this way, an inductive transmission of energy is possible between the winding on the first transformer leg 10 and the winding on the second transformer leg 20. A gap, for example an air gap 50, can be provided, in particular, on the leakage path leg 30 in order to adapt and set the leakage inductance of the transformer with the structure shown here of the transformer core 1. For example, said air gap 50 can be situated between the leakage path leg 30 and the upper, second transformer yoke 42. Moreover, however, any other desired positions of the air gap 50 in the region of the leakage path leg 30 are also fundamentally possible. In particular, the leakage inductance of the transformer can be adapted and varied by way of variation and adaptation of the dimensions of the air gap 50.

(9) FIG. 2 shows a diagrammatic illustration of a cross section through a transformer with a transformer core 1 in accordance with one embodiment. Here, the first and second transformer yoke 41, 42 from FIG. 1 are shown using dashed lines. A plane is defined by way of the first longitudinal axis 11 of the first transformer leg 10 and the second longitudinal axis 21 of the second transformer leg 20, which plane is shown in the cross section according to FIG. 2 by way of A-A′. Here, the longitudinal axis 31 of the leakage path leg 30 is situated away from said plane A-A′. For example, a further plane can be defined by way of the second longitudinal axis 21 of the second transformer leg 20 and the longitudinal axis 31 of the leakage path leg 30, which further plane is shown in the cross section according to FIG. 2 by way of B-B′. In particular, the planes according to A-A′ and the plane according to B-B′ can intersect at a right angle or at least approximately at a right angle.

(10) A first winding, in particular a primary winding of a transformer, can be provided, for example, on the first transformer leg 10, and a further winding, in particular a secondary winding of a transformer, can be provided, for example, on the second transformer leg 20. Here, on account of the angled-away geometry of the structure for the transformer core 1, the connections of the primary winding and the secondary winding are particularly readily accessible.

(11) FIG. 3 shows a diagrammatic illustration of a cross section through a transformer core 1 in accordance with a further embodiment. Said embodiment differs from the above-described embodiment according to FIG. 2 in that, in this case, the transformer core 1 has two leakage path legs 30. The two leakage path legs 30 in each case have a longitudinal axis 31 which lies outside the plane A-A′ which is defined by way of the first longitudinal axis 11 of the first transformer leg 10 and the second longitudinal axis 21 of the second transformer leg 20. In the embodiment which is shown here, the two longitudinal axes 31 of the leakage path legs 30 and the longitudinal axis 21 of the second transformer leg 20 lie in a common plane B-B′. This is to be understood, however, merely as an exemplary embodiment. Moreover, the transformer core 1 can also have any desired other configuration, in the case of which the longitudinal axes 31 of the leakage path legs 30 lie outside the plane A-A′ which is defined by way of the first longitudinal axis 11 of the first transformer leg 10 and the second longitudinal axis 21 of the second transformer leg 20.

(12) FIG. 4 shows a diagrammatic illustration of a further embodiment of a transformer core 1. In said embodiment, the transformer core 1 comprises four leakage path legs 30 with in each case one longitudinal axis 31. Here, the four leakage path legs 31 are arranged, for example, along a rectangle or square at the outer corners of the structure which is formed by way of the transformer core 1.

(13) FIG. 5 shows a diagrammatic illustration of a further embodiment for a transformer core 1. Here, the transformer core 1 has an elongate leakage path leg 30 which extends parallel to the plane A-A′ which is defined by way of the first longitudinal axis 11 of the first transformer leg 10 and the second longitudinal axis 21 of the second transformer leg 20, over the dimensions between the first transformer leg 10 and the second transformer leg 20. For example, a corresponding leakage path leg 30 can be provided on each side of the plane A-A′. Moreover, it is also possible, however, for only one leakage path leg 30 to be provided on one side, which leakage path leg 30 extends over the entire length between the first transformer leg 30 and the second transformer leg 20.

(14) Finally, FIG. 6 shows a further embodiment of a transformer core 1 with a leakage path leg 30. As shown here, the transformer core 1 does not necessarily have to have a square, right-angled or L-shaped structure with a right angle. It is fundamentally possible for the transformer core 1 according to the invention to provide at least one leakage path leg 30, the longitudinal axis 31 of which is situated away from the area which is defined by way of the longitudinal axes 11, 21 of the two transformer legs 10, 20.

(15) Any desired materials which are fundamentally suitable for the production of transformer cores are possible as material for the transformer legs 10, 20, the transformer yokes 41, 42 and the leakage path leg or legs 30. In particular, the individual legs and yokes can also be realized from laminations or lamination bundles. Here, a plurality of the components of transformer legs 10, 20, leakage path legs 30 and transformer yokes 41, 42 can also form a common module. For example, all of the components can be configured as a common module, with the exception of the first, upper transformer yoke 42. Moreover, it is also possible, for example, for the leakage path yoke or yokes 30 and the first transformer yoke 41 to be configured as a common module, and for the first and the second transformer legs 10, 20 and the second transformer yoke 42 to likewise be configured as a common module. Moreover, it goes without saying that any other desired combinations of components of the above-described transformer core 1 as a common structural element are also possible.

(16) As has already been described above, a gap 50, in particular an air gap, can be provided between the leakage path leg 30 and the first transformer yoke 41 and/or the second transformer yoke 42. Any desired suitable filling materials can also possibly be embedded into said air gap.

(17) Furthermore, it is also possible for the leakage path leg or legs 30 to be configured as a leakage path leg with a distributed air gap, that is to say for the leakage path leg to be configured from a material with ferromagnetic powder grains.

(18) In summary, the present invention relates to a transformer core with at least one additional leg. Said additional leg serves to configure a leakage path. In order to optimize the installation space and for easier connection of the transformer windings, the transformer legs and the additional leakage path leg are not arranged along a common line.