US-20260128634-A1 - ELECTRIC MOTOR DRIVE AND ENCLOSURE FOR AN ELECTRIC MOTOR DRIVE

Abstract

The present invention pertains to an electric motor drive including a housing with a cooling portion and a cable connection portion, a connection frame connected to the housing and a cover for covering the cable connection portion. According to the invention, the cover is connected to the housing and the frame for at least partially covering the cable connection portion. The invention is also directed at an enclosure for an electric motor drive.

Inventors

• Anders Lorenzen

Assignees

• DANFOSS POWER ELECTRONICS A/S

Dates

Publication Date

20260507

Application Date

20251023

Priority Date

20241106

Claims (10)

1. 1 . An electric motor drive comprising a housing with a cooling portion and a cable connection portion, a connection frame connected to the housing and a cover for covering the cable connection portion, wherein the cover is connected to the housing and the frame for at least partially covering the cable connection portion.
2. 2 . The electric motor drive according to claim 1 , wherein a cover gasket is provided between the cover and the housing and/or that a frame gasket is provided at the frame.
3. 3 . The electric motor drive according to claim 1 , wherein the cooling portion and the cable connection portion face in the same direction.
4. 4 . The electric motor drive according to claim 1 , wherein the cooling portion, the cable connection portion and the cover are arranged on the same side of the frame.
5. 5 . The electric motor drive according to claim 1 , wherein a part of the drive's components is arranged opposite the cooling portion with respect to the frame.
6. 6 . The electric motor drive according to claim 1 , wherein the cover is screwed and/or snap fitted to the housing and/or the frame.
7. 7 . The electric motor drive according to claim 1 , wherein the outer perimeter of the housing is smaller than the outer perimeter of the frame, in particular that the width and length of the housing are smaller than the width and length of the frame.
8. 8 . The electric motor drive according to claim 1 , wherein the frame is provided for connecting the electric motor drive to a surface, wherein the cover and the frame are connected by screws which are oriented in parallel to each other.
9. 9 . The electric motor drive according to claim 1 , wherein the cooling portion of the housing is sealed to class IP 55 or higher according to IEC/EN 60 529 and/or that the cooling portion of the housing is sealed to class NEMA 12 or higher according to UL50E.
10. 10 . An enclosure for an electric motor drive according to claim 1 .

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claims foreign priority benefits under 35 U.S.C. § 119 from German Patent Application No. 102024132402.3, filed Nov. 6, 2024, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention pertains to an electric motor drive comprising a housing with a cooling portion and a cable connection portion, a connection frame connected to the housing and a cover for covering the cable connection portion. According to the invention, the cover is connected to the housing and the frame for at least partially covering the cable connection portion. The invention is also directed at an enclosure for an electric motor drive. BACKGROUND Electric motor drives may be installed in environments which may be hazardous to the safe operation of the drive. During installation of the drive, portions of the drive may have to be opened such that the drive is exposed to risks such as moisture and/or dirt entering the drive. Special precautions may have to be taken to avoid these risks, thereby complicating the installation of the drive. SUMMARY The aim of the present invention is to overcome this problem by providing an improved electric motor drive which maintains a high IP class even when the drive is installed in hazardous environments. This aim is achieved by an electric motor drive according to claim 1 and an enclosure for an electric motor drive according to claim 10. Preferable embodiments of the invention are subject to the dependent claims. According to claim, 1, an electric motor drive is provided, comprising a housing with a cooling portion and a cable connection portion, a connection frame connected to the housing and a cover for covering the cable connection portion. According to the invention, the cover is connected to the housing and the frame for at least partially covering the cable connection portion. The cooling portion may comprise an airduct inlet and/or outlet with cooling fins and preferably a cooling fan. The cover may be arranged such that it covers the cable connection portion against a part of the environment of the drive, which is particularly hazardous or dirty, i.e. the area close to the cooling portion, which is typically exposed to increased airflow with associated dirt and moisture hazards. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a cover gasket is provided between the cover and the housing and/or a frame gasket is provided at the frame. The cover gasket further improves the protection of the inside of the drive against the intrusion of external substances into the drive. The cover gasket may be arranged in a plane perpendicular to a plane in which the frame is oriented. In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the cooling portion and the cable connection portion face in the same direction. The cooling portion and the cable connection portion may comprise openings, which are directed in the same direction. The openings may be provided on the same side of the housing 1. In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the cooling portion, the cable connection portion and the cover are arranged on the same side of the frame. The frame may comprise a planar structure with a wider outer perimeter than the outer perimeter of the housing. The frame may be provided for connecting the drive to a structure, such as an air duct. The frame may be arranged around the entire housing. In another preferred embodiment of the invention, a part of the drive's components is arranged opposite the cooling portion with respect to the frame. Most components of the drive may be provided on the same side of the frame as the cooling portion, such that most components of the drive may be positioned within an e.g. air duct accommodating the drive. In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the cover is screwed and/or snap fitted to the housing and/or the frame. The cover may comprise preferably two holes for screwing in screws, wherein the holes may be oriented perpendicular to a plane of the frame. The frame may comprise two or more corresponding holes, for receiving the screws holding the cover. In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the outer perimeter of the housing is smaller than the outer perimeter of the frame, in particular the width and length of the housing are smaller than the width and length of the frame. The frame can hence be used to connect the housing to e.g. an air duct wall from the side of the housing and by using e.g. screws. In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the frame is provided for connecting the electric motor drive to a surface, wherein the cover and the frame are connectable by screws which are oriented in parallel to each other. The surface to which the drive is connected may be a flat surface of an air duct. In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the cooling portion of the housing is sealed to class IP 55 or higher according to IEC/EN 60 52