The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 08, 2025
Filed:
Nov. 14, 2022
Vacon Oy, Vaasa, FI;
Ari Ristimäki, Laihia, FI;
Juha Norrena, Mustasaari, FI;
Tuomas Yli-Rahnasto, Vaasa, FI;
Pekka Hemminki, Laihia, FI;
Jani Matti Perkiö, Tampere, FI;
VACON OY, Vaasa, FI;
Abstract
The invention is directed at an electric power converter, such as an electric motor drive for driving an electric motor. The converter includes a cooling system with a heat sink for dissipating thermal energy generated by the converter and with coolant flow means for cooling the heat sink, first measuring means for measuring the coolant inlet temperature, second measuring means for measuring the heat sink temperature, estimating means for estimating the thermal energy transferred to the heat sink, wherein the converter is provided for estimating the thermal resistance of the heat sink based on the measured temperatures and the estimated thermal energy transferred to the heat sink, for comparing the estimated thermal resistance to reference values and for outputting a signal, if the difference between the estimated thermal resistance and the reference values exceeds a threshold value. The invention is also directed at a method for operating the electric power converter.