Conveyor drive unit and conveyor

Abstract

The invention relates to a conveyor drive unit (1) for driving a conveyor drive motor and a conveyor. The conveyor drive unit comprises a main circuit board (4), a ground plate (2) having a gap, and a housing enclosing the ground plate (2) and the main circuit board (4), wherein the main circuit board (4) comprises power components, at least power transistors of the drive unit (1), a drive circuit for the power transistors, and a heat sink adapted to cool the power transistors, wherein the ground plate (2) is adapted to divide an interior of the housing into two parts on opposite sides of the ground plate (2), wherein the main circuit board (4) is attached to one side of the ground plate (2) such that the heat sink of the power transistors extends through the gap to the other side of the ground plate (2).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a conveyor drive unit for driving a conveyor drive motor. Background Technology

[0002] Conveyors, such as elevators, escalators, or moving walkways, are driven by a conveyor drive that provides the required instantaneous amount of driving torque or propulsive force to operate the conveyor under various operating conditions. The conveyor drive has a conveyor drive motor, i.e., an electric motor, such as an induction motor or a permanent magnet motor. The drive operates by utilizing a conveyor drive unit (e.g., a frequency converter) to supply electricity to the windings of the conveyor drive motor. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This invention represents a compact and space-saving conveyor drive unit that can be easily integrated into conveyors within a built environment. The conveyor drive unit also exhibits good EMC characteristics, thereby meeting the EMC regulations required for conveyor operation.

[0004] Elevator drive units, escalator drive units, and moving walkway drive units are exemplary embodiments of conveyor drive units. Attached Figure Description

[0005] Embodiments of the present invention will now be discussed with reference to the following figures:

[0006] Figure 1 This describes the mechanical structure of the conveyor drive unit of the present invention. Figure 1 An exploded view and a tilted top view of the conveyor drive unit are shown.

[0007] Figure 2 Will Figure 1 The driving unit is represented as... Figure 1 A top view tilted in the opposite direction.

[0008] Figure 3 This indicates that front panel 14 is installed. Figure 2 The drive unit.

[0009] Figure 1 , 2 3 and 4 are drawn to scale.

[0010] Throughout the accompanying figures, the same reference numerals are used for similar items. Detailed Implementation

[0011] The conveyor drive unit disclosed in the exemplary embodiments provides an economical, flat design that is advantageous for conveyors, particularly machine-room-less elevators. The flat drive unit is easy to install in narrow spaces within the elevator shaft, such as near the shaft wall or outside the elevator car track.

[0012] Figure 1-3 The conveyor drive unit is configured to drive the conveyor drive. The conveyor drive includes the necessary components for operating the corresponding conveyor, such as an electric motor, a pulley for an elevator, or a drive gear for the annular belt of an escalator or moving walkway.

[0013] The conveyor drive unit 1 includes a main circuit board 4 and a conveyor motion control board (not shown) attached to the top of the main circuit board 4. Alternatively, the control components of the conveyor motion control board can be mounted on the main circuit board 4. The main circuit board 4 includes power components, at least IGBT-power transistors or MOSFET-power transistors, forming the rectifier bridge and motor inverter bridge topology of the frequency converter. The main circuit board 4 also includes drive circuitry, such as IGBT drivers or MOSFET drivers for the power transistors, and DC link capacitors for the frequency converter. By switching these power transistors, a voltage of variable frequency and amplitude can be generated for the conveyor drive motor. The switching references of the transistors are calculated in the conveyor motion control board so that the conveyor movement, such as elevator car movement, follows a desired motion profile.

[0014] Ground plane 2 is installed inside the housing of conveyor drive unit 1, thus dividing the interior of the housing into two distinct parts. Line filter board 5 and backup battery control board 3 are attached to ground plane 2 on the side opposite to the main circuit board 4 and conveyor motion control board.

[0015] The grounding plate 2 is made of metal, preferably by casting. The grounding plate 2 includes side profiles 9 extending vertically from opposite edges. The side profiles 9 form the side surfaces of the housing, while the front panel 14 and back panel 7 form the front and rear surfaces of the housing, respectively. In this way, a compact housing with at least IP23 environmental protection is achieved.

[0016] The line filter board 5 and the backup battery control board 3 are housed in the same housing. It includes filtering components, such as inductors and capacitors for filtering the line current of the frequency converter.

[0017] Some interface components (isolators) and filtering components (capacitors, such as the Y capacitors in a switching power supply) on the main circuit board are electrically connected to ground plane 2. The conveyor motion control board and the line filter board 5 are also electrically connected to ground plane 2. This grounding scheme can prevent or reduce circulating current and common-mode interference, improving the EMC characteristics of the conveyor drive unit.

[0018] The front panel 14 and rear panel 7 of the housing can be made of plastic or metal, for example by casting.

[0019] External cables, such as power cables and motor cables, are connected to the drive unit 1 via plug connector 13.

[0020] Furthermore, the ground plane 2 includes a gap. The main circuit board 4 includes a heat sink suitable for cooling the power transistors. The main circuit board 4 is attached to one side of the ground plane 2 such that the heat sink of the power transistors extends through the gap to the other side of the ground plane 2. The fan unit 10, including at least one, preferably two, fan, provides convective cooling to components of the main circuit board 4, the line filter board 5, the backup battery control board 3, and the conveyor motion control board. A diffuser plate is used to divide the airflow from the fan unit 10 into two parts, directed towards opposite sides of the ground plane 2, thereby achieving convective cooling to components on both sides of the ground plane 2.

[0021] The plug connector 13 and the fan unit 10 are introduced into the bottom of the drive unit 1 through the interface unit 12.

[0022] The specific examples provided in the description above should not be construed as limiting the applicability and / or interpretation of the appended claims. Unless otherwise expressly stated, the list and groups of examples provided in the description above are not exhaustive.

Claims

1. Conveyor drive unit (1) for driving a conveyor drive motor, the conveyor drive unit comprising: - a main circuit board (4), - a ground plate (2), and - a housing enclosing the ground plate (2) and the main circuit board (4), wherein the main circuit board (4) comprises: - power components, at least power transistors of the drive unit (1), - a drive circuit for the power transistors, and - a heat sink adapted to cool the power transistors, wherein the ground plate has a gap, wherein the ground plate (2) is adapted to divide the interior of the housing into two parts at opposite sides of the ground plate (2), wherein the main circuit board (4) is attached to one side of the ground plate (2) such that the heat sink of the power transistors extends through the gap to the other side of the ground plate (2), wherein the ground plate (2) comprises a side profile (9) extending perpendicularly from opposite edges of the ground plate to form side surfaces of the housing. The power components of the main circuit board (4) comprise DC link capacitors of the drive unit (1).

2. The conveyor drive unit of claim 1, wherein, 3. Conveyor drive unit according to claim 1 or 2, comprising: - a fan unit (10) for cooling the power components, and - a diffuser plate adapted to divide an airflow from the fan unit (10) into two parts directed towards opposite sides of the ground plate (2).

4. Conveyor drive unit according to any of the preceding claims, comprising: - a backup battery control board (3) attached to the ground plate (2) on a side opposite to the main circuit board (4).

5. Conveyor drive unit according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a line filter board (5) attached to the ground plate (2) on a side opposite to the main circuit board (4). The housing is made by casting.

6. Conveyor drive unit according to any of the preceding claims, wherein, The housing is made of plastic and the ground plate (2) is made of metal.

7. Conveyor drive unit according to any of the preceding claims, wherein, The main circuit board (4) is electrically connected to the ground plate (2).

8. Conveyor drive unit according to any of the preceding claims, wherein, The ground plate (2) is made by casting.

9. Conveyor drive unit according to any of the preceding claims, wherein, The conveyor comprises a conveyor drive unit according to any of the preceding claims.

10. A conveyor comprising a conveyor drive motor, wherein, ​

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