Converter valve-pair arrangement

Claim 2

In a high voltage electric power converter including a plurality of high current electric valves interconnected to form first and second bridge circuits, said first bridge circuit being at a higher electrical potential relative to ground than said second bridge circuit, each of said bridge circuits comprising at least two valve-pairs, the improvement comprising: a first electrically insulative housing disposed upon a grounded base, said first housing enclosing a first one of the valve-pairs of said first bridge circuit and a first one of the valve-pairs of said second bridge circuit, said valve-pairs being arranged therein with the latter valve-pair physically interposed between the former valve-pair and the grounded base, and a second electrically insulative housing spaced apart from said first housing and disposed upon said base, said second housing enclosing a second one of the valve-pairs of said first bridge circuit and a second one of the valve-pairs of said second bridge circuit, said valve-pairs being arranged with the latter valvepair physically interposed between the former valve-pair and the grounded base, whereby the higher potential valve-pairs in each of the housings are insulated from the grounded base by the housing space occupied by the lower potential valve-pair.

Claim 3

The converter as specified in claim 1 wherein electrically insulative members are provided upon which said housings are disposed to insulate said housings from said grounded base.

Claim 4

The converter as specified in claim 1 wherein each of said valves comprises a plurality of electrically interconnected semiconductor rectifier devices.

Claim 5

In a high voltage electrical converter apparatus including a plurality of high current rectifier valves connected to form first and second three-phase double-way bridge circuits each having first, second and third valve-pairs whose respective A-C terminals are adapted to be connected to the different phases of a three-phase alternating voltage system, said first bridge circuit being at a higher electrical potential relative to ground than said second bridge circuit, the improvement comprising: a first electrically insulating housing, disposed upon a grounded base and enclosing a first valve-pairs of the respective first and second bridge circuits, with the first valve-pair of second bridge circuit being physically interposed between the first valve-pair of the first bridge circuit and said grounded base; a second housing, disposed upon said grounded base and spaced sufficiently from said first housing to provide insulation for the higher phase-to-phase voltage between said A-C terminals, said second housing enclosing the second valve-pairs of the respective first and second bridge circuits with a second valve-pair of the second bridge circuit being physically interposed between the second valve-pair of the first bridge circuit and said grounded base; and a third housing, disposed upon said grounded base and spaced sufficiently from said first and second housings to provide insulation for the highest phasE-to-phase voltage between said A-C terminals, said third housing enclosing the third valve-pairs of the respective first and second bridge circuits with the third valve-pair of the second bridge circuit being physically interposed between the third valve-pair of the first bridge circuit.

Claim 6

In a high voltage electrical converter apparatus including a plurality of high current rectifier valves connected to form first and second three-phase double-way bridge circuits each having first, second and third valve-pairs whose respective A-C terminals are adapted to be connected to the different phases of a three-phase alternating voltage system, said first bridge circuit being at a higher electrical potential relative to ground than said second bridge circuit, the improvement comprising: a first electrically insulating housing, disposed upon a grounded base and enclosing a first valve-pairs of the respective first and second bridge circuits, with the first valve-pair of second bridge circuit being physically interposed between the first valve-pair of the first bridge circuit and said grounded base; a second housing, disposed upon said grounded base and spaced sufficiently from said first housing to provide insulation for the higher phase-to-phase voltage between said A-C terminals, said second housing enclosing the second valve-pairs of the respective first and second bridge circuits with a second valve-pair of the second bridge circuit being physically interposed between the second valve-pair of the first bridge circuit and said grounded base; and a third housing, disposed upon said grounded base and spaced sufficiently from said first and second housings to provide insulation for the highest phasE-to-phase voltage between said A-C terminals, said third housing enclosing the third valve-pairs of the respective first and second bridge circuits with the third valve-pair of the second bridge circuit being physically interposed between the third valve-pair of the first bridge circuit.

Claim 7

The converter apparatus as specified in claim 4 wherein said valves comprise a plurality of interconnected semiconductor rectifier devices.