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EP-4309475-B1 - POTTING BOAT HEAT SINK

EP4309475B1EP 4309475 B1EP4309475 B1EP 4309475B1EP-4309475-B1

Inventors

  • BUILES ZAPATA, Mauricio
  • BARTLETT, Timothy, J.
  • MCLACHLAN, Kevin, A.
  • VAN HOORN, Andrew, D.
  • ERTL, Daniel, R.
  • MANTYCH, Nicholas, C.

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20220315

Claims (15)

  1. A potting boat (18, 18') adapted to receive a printed circuit board (22), the potting boat comprising: a base plate (46) and a plurality of sidewalls (54a, 54b, 54c, 54d) projecting from the base plate; a plurality of cooling fins (60) formed on one of the sidewalls; characterized in that the cooling fins extend laterally outward from one of the sidewalls; a recessed portion (70a) in a first sidewall (54a) of the plurality of sidewalls, the recessed portion extending laterally inward; and an arm (74) having a first end (74a) fixed to the first sidewall and an opposite, second end (74b) not connected with the first sidewall, the arm at least partially overlying the recessed portion to define a void (V) within which electrical wires (W) connected to the printed circuit board are retained proximate the first sidewall.
  2. The potting boat (18, 18') of claim 1, wherein the cooling fins (60) are formed on the first sidewall (54a).
  3. The potting boat (18, 18') of claim 2, further comprising a second plurality of cooling fins (60) formed on a second sidewall (54c) of the plurality of sidewalls (54a, 54b, 54c, 54d), wherein the second sidewall is located opposite the first sidewall (54a).
  4. The potting boat (18) of claim 2, wherein the recessed portion (70a) in the first sidewall (54a) is a first recessed portion, and wherein the potting boat further comprises a second recessed portion (70b) extending laterally inward from another sidewall (54b) of the plurality of sidewalls (54a, 54b, 54c, 54d).
  5. The potting boat (18) of claim 4, wherein the second recessed portion (70b) is located in a second sidewall (54b) that is adjacent the first sidewall (54a), and wherein the second sidewall is devoid of cooling fins (60).
  6. The potting boat (18) of claim 1, wherein the arm (74) includes an inwardly projecting finger (78) at the second end (74b).
  7. The potting boat (18) of claim 6, wherein a gap (G2) between the finger (78) and the first sidewall (54a) is less than a height of the void (V).
  8. The potting boat (18, 18') of claim 1, wherein the base plate (46) defines a closed end (50) of the potting boat and the sidewalls (54a, 54b, 54c, 54d) terminate at an open end (58) of the potting boat, and wherein the potting boat further comprises an intermediate surface (66) extending from the closed end to an intermediate position between the open end and the closed end.
  9. The potting boat (18, 18') of claim 8, wherein the base plate (46) includes holes (82) that extend through at least a portion thereof, the holes being configured to receive fasteners (86) to secure the printed circuit board (22) within the potting boat, and wherein the holes extend through at least a portion of the intermediate surface (66).
  10. The potting boat (18, 18') of claim 8, wherein the intermediate surface (66) includes an edge that is at least one of chamfered or rounded.
  11. The potting boat (18, 18') of claim 1, wherein the base plate (46) includes holes (82) that extend through at least a portion thereof, the holes being configured to receive fasteners (86) to secure the printed circuit board (22) within the potting boat.
  12. The potting boat (18') of claim 1, wherein the arm (74) is tapered between the first end (74a) and the second end (74b) thereof.
  13. The potting boat (18') of claim 12, wherein the taper is formed on the interior of the arm (74) such that a width of the void (V) between the recessed portion (70a) and the arm increases along the length of the arm from the first end (74a) toward the second end (74b).
  14. A power tool comprising: an electric motor (14) configured to provide torque to a rotating component (38) in the power tool when activated; a printed circuit board (22) including a plurality of heat-generating electrical components; the potting boat (18, 18') according to claim 1 in which the printed circuit board is received, wherein the electrical wires are routed through the void and over the first sidewall to connect with the printed circuit board.
  15. The power tool of claim 14, wherein the printed circuit board (22) includes field effect transistors (30) operable to direct electrical current from a power source (26) toward the motor (14); or wherein the cooling fins (60) are formed on the first sidewall (54a); or wherein the cooling fins (60) are formed on the first sidewall (54a), and further comprising a second plurality of cooling fins (60) formed on a second sidewall (54c) of the plurality of sidewalls (54a, 54b, 54c, 54d), wherein the second sidewall is located opposite the first sidewall (54a); or wherein the cooling fins (60) are formed on the first sidewall (54a), and wherein the recessed portion (70a) in the first sidewall is a first recessed portion, and wherein the potting boat further comprises a second recessed portion (70b) extending laterally inward from another sidewall (54b) of the plurality of sidewalls (54a, 54b, 54c, 54d); or wherein the arm (74) includes an inwardly projecting finger (78) at the second end (74b), and wherein a gap (G2) between the finger and the first sidewall (54a) is less than a height of the void (V); or further comprising an outer housing (12) within which the potting boat (18, 18') and the printed circuit board (22) are received.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority to co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/210,094 filed on June 14, 2021, and co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/161,277 filed on March 15, 2021, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to power tools, and more particularly to power tools having potting boat heat sinks. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Potting boats are typically used to dissipate heat from printed circuit board assemblies in power tools. Such potting boats are made of thermally conductive material to accumulate heat generated by the electrical components for subsequent discharge from the potting boat. US 2016/020676 A1 discloses an electric power tool which houses a motor and a controller for controlling drive of the motor, the controller has a circuit board on which electric components are mounted and a heat radiation member which radiates heat of the electric components. EP 2062700 A2 discloses a power tool housing assembly including a base housing segment and a cover housing segment generally symmetrical to the base housing segment, each housing segment comprises a plurality of assembly bosses defining a respective plurality of apertures accessible from an exterior of the housing assembly, the base housing segment further comprising at least one intermediate fastening boss defining an aperture accessible from an interior of the housing assembly; and a field case having at least one cooperating assembly fastening boss configured for attaching the field case to an interior of the base housing segment, the field case, base housing segment, and cover housing segment cooperate to form a housing assembly that includes an end cap and a mid-handle grip integrally connected via a bridge section and having a longitudinal parting line. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention is defined by the claims. The disclosure provides, in one aspect, a potting boat adapted to receive a printed circuit board. The potting boat comprises a base plate and a plurality of walls projecting from the base plate. The potting boat further comprises a plurality of cooling fins formed on one of the sidewalls, the cooling fins extending laterally outward from the one of the sidewalls. The potting boat further comprises a recessed portion in a first sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls, extending laterally inwardly. The potting boat further comprises an arm having a first end fixed to the first sidewall and an opposite, second end not connected with the first sidewall, the arm at least partially overlying the recessed portion to define a void within which the electrical wires are connected to the printed circuit board are retained proximate the first sidewall. The disclosure provides, in another independent aspect, a power tool comprising an electric motor configured to provide torque to a rotating component in the power tool when activated, a printed circuit board including a plurality of heat-generating electrical components, and a potting boat in which the printed circuit board is received. The potting boat comprises a comprises a plurality of cooling fins formed on one of the sidewalls, the cooling fins extending laterally outward from the one of the sidewalls. The potting boat further comprises a recessed portion in a first sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls, extending laterally inwardly. The potting boat further comprises an arm having a first end fixed to the first sidewall and an opposite, second end not connected with the first sidewall, the arm at least partially overlying the recessed portion to define a void within which the electrical wires are connected to the printed circuit board are retained proximate the first sidewall. The electrical wires are routed through the void and over the first sidewall to connect with the printed circuit board. Other features and aspects of the disclosure will become apparent by consideration of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view of a power tool including a potting boat.FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view of an electronics unit of the power tool of FIG. 1.FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the potting boat of FIG. 1.FIG. 4 is a side view of the potting boat of FIG. 3.FIG. 5 is another side view of the potting boat of FIG. 3.FIG. 6 is a top view of the potting boat of FIG. 3.FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the potting boat of FIG. 3.FIG. 8 is a front view of the potting boat of FIG. 3.FIG. 9 is a rear view of the potting boat of FIG. 3.FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the potting boat of FIG. 3 with a printed circuit board mounted therein.FIG. 11 is a front view of the potting boat and printed circuit board of FIG. 10.FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an alternate potting boat for use in the power tool of FIG. 1. Before any aspects of the disclosure are explained in detail, it