Electrical switch assembly
AssigneeDefond Components Limited
InventorChiu Keung Loong
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electrical switch assembly for an electrical appliance having an electrical load such as a motor, includes a housing with an opening, switch terminals, and an on/off mechanical switching module. The switch assembly includes an electronic control module operable with a semiconductor switching device to control operation of the load, and a heat sink in thermal contact with the switching device for dissipating heat. The heat sink is electrically conductive and is in electrical circuit connection with a first terminal of the switching device and one of the switch terminals. The heat sink closes the opening and forms part of the housing.
Claims22
An electrical switch assembly for an electrical appliance including an electrical load, comprising:
- a housing that is substantially cuboidal and has a plurality of sides and external walls, including a first external wall having an aperture occupying almost all of the side of the housing that includes the first external wall;
- a plurality of switch terminals comprising two input terminals for connection to a power source and two output terminals for connection to the electrical load;
- a mechanical switching module located within the housing, in a first housing part of the housing, and comprising at least one fixed contact and a moving contact supported in the housing for movement between a first position in contact with the at least one fixed contact, to electrically connect the electrical load for operation, and a second position, out of contact with the at least one fixed contact, to electrically disconnect the electrical load;
- an electronic control module located within the housing, in a second housing part of the housing, and comprising a semiconductor switching device to control the operation of the electrical load;
- and
- a heat sink located within the housing, in the second housing part of the housing, in thermal contact with the semiconductor switching device for dissipating heat from the semiconductor switching device, wherein
- the heat sink is electrically conductive and is electrically connected to a first terminal of the semiconductor switching device and one of the switch terminals of the plurality of switch terminals, and
- the heat sink closes and is exposed by the aperture in the first external wall and is thereby a major part of a side of the housing.
An electrical switch assembly for an electrical appliance including an electrical load, comprising:
- a housing including a first housing part, a second housing part, and a partition interposed between the first and second housing parts, wherein
- the partition has opposed first and second sides respectively facing and including latching members,
- the first housing part includes latching members engaging the latching members on the first side of the partition, and the partition and the first housing part, together, define a first compartment of the housing, and
- the second housing part includes latching members engaging the latching members on the second side of the partition, and the partition and the second housing part, together, define a second compartment of the housing;
- a plurality of switch terminals comprising two input terminals for connection to a power source and two output terminals for connection to the electrical load;
- a mechanical switching module located within the first compartment of the housing and comprising at least one fixed contact and a moving contact supported in the housing for movement between a first position in contact with the at least one fixed contact, to electrically connect the electrical load for operation, and a second position, out of contact with the at least one fixed contact, to electrically disconnect the electrical load;
- an electronic control module located within the second compartment of the housing and comprising a semiconductor switching device to control the operation of the electrical load;
- and
- a heat sink located within the second compartment of the housing and in thermal contact with the semiconductor switching device for dissipating heat from the semiconductor switching device, wherein the heat sink is electrically conductive and is electrically connected to a first terminal of the semiconductor switching device and one of the switch terminals of the plurality of switch terminals.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.