Battery connect/disconnect for an uninterruptible power supply

• US 20030201672A1
• Filed: 04/30/2002
• Published: 10/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Power Conversion Corporation (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: American Power Conversion Corporation (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: McKenna, Brian, Goodfellow, Joseph, Stranberg, John D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,057,308 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/66
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/06 with automatic change-over , e.g. UPS systems

Abstract

An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) is provided that can alleviate difficulties in shipping electronic devices containing batteries, such as UPS devices by providing a battery connect/disconnect assembly that can connect and disconnect an internal battery from outside the chassis of the UPS. The UPS comprises an input, output, DC voltage source, electrical circuit, chassis, and connect/disconnect assembly. The input receives input power from an input power source, and the output provides output power to a load. The DC voltage source provides DC power and has first and second terminals. The electrical circuit is operably coupled to the DC voltage source and is capable of receiving the input power and providing the output power. The chassis houses at least the DC voltage source and the electrical circuit. The connect/disconnect assembly is operably coupled to the DC voltage source and is constructed and arranged to be operable from outside the chassis. The connect/disconnect assembly has a first state wherein the DC voltage source is operably coupled to the electrical circuit and a second state wherein the DC voltage source is operably disconnected from the electrical circuit.

Claims

1. An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) that provides power to a load, the UPS comprising:

an input to receive input power from an input power source;

an output that provides output power to a load;

a DC voltage source that provides DC power, the DC voltage source having first and second terminals;

an electrical circuit operably coupled to the DC voltage source, the electrical circuit capable of receiving the input power and providing the output power;

a chassis for housing at least the DC voltage source and the electrical circuit; and

a connect/disconnect assembly operably coupled to the DC voltage source and constructed and arranged to be operable from outside the chassis, the connect/disconnect assembly having a first state wherein the DC voltage source is operably coupled to the electrical circuit and a second state wherein the DC voltage source is operably disconnected from to the electrical circuit.

2. The UPS of claim 1 wherein the connect/disconnect assembly comprises

a first connect/disconnect terminal operably connected to the electrical circuit;

a second connect/disconnect terminal that is electrically isolated from the first connect disconnect/terminal when the connect/disconnect assembly is in the second state, the second connect/disconnect terminal being operably connected to the second terminal of the DC voltage source; and

a shunt having a first position and a second position, the shunt comprising an electrically conductive material and operable to make an electrical connection between the first and second connect/disconnect terminals when in the first position and to not make an electrical connection between the first and second connect/disconnect terminals when in the second position.

3. The UPS of claim 2 wherein the shunt is disposed within a first insulating structure.

4. The UPS of claim 2 wherein at least one of the first and second connect/disconnect terminals is disposed within a second electrically insulating structure.

5. The UPS of claim 3 wherein at least one of the first and second connect/disconnect terminals is disposed within a second electrically insulating structure and wherein the first and second insulating structures are constructed and arranged to mate with each other.

6. The UPS of claim 5 wherein the first and second insulating structures are at least partially attached to one other in both the first and second shunt positions.

7. The UPS of claim 2 wherein the shunt is located outside of the chassis when in the second position.

8. The UPS of claim 2 wherein at least one of the first and second connect/disconnect terminals is located within the chassis.

9. The UPS of claim 1 wherein the chassis has at least one panel and wherein at least a portion of the battery connect/disconnect assembly is attached to the panel.

10. The UPS of claim 1 wherein the connect/disconnect assembly comprises:

a housing sized to attach to a respective housing opening on the chassis, the housing constructed and arranged to hold a first terminal operably connected to the electrical circuit and a second terminal operably connected to the DC voltage source; and

a plug constructed and arranged to mate with the housing, the plug having a conductor capable of making an electrical connection between the first terminal of the housing and the second terminal of the housing when the plug is mated to the housing;

whereby in the first state the connect/disconnect assembly the plug is connected to the housing and in the second state the plug is disconnected from the housing.

11. The UPS of claim 10 wherein at least one of the housing and plug comprises a dielectric.

12. The UPS of claim 10 further comprising a tether capable of attaching the plug to the housing when the connect/disconnect assembly is in the second state.

13. The UPS of claim 10 wherein at least one of the first and second terminals is attached to the housing.

14. The UPS of claim 10 wherein at least one of the first and second terminals is formed within the housing.

15. An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) that provides power to a load, the UPS comprising:

an input to receive power from an input power source;

an output that provides output power to a load;

a DC voltage source that provides DC power, the DC voltage source having first and second terminals;

an electrical circuit operably coupled to the DC voltage source, the electrical circuit capable of receiving the input power and providing the output power;

a chassis for housing at least the DC voltage source and the electrical circuit; and

means for operably connecting the second terminal of the DC voltage source to the electrical circuit and disconnecting the second terminal of the DC voltage source from the electrical circuit.

16. The UPS of claim 15 wherein at least a portion of the means for operably connecting and disconnecting is located outside the chassis.

17. The UPS of claim 15 wherein at least a portion of the means for operably connecting and disconnecting is located on the chassis.

18. The UPS of claim 15 wherein the means for operably connecting and disconnecting is at least partially operable from outside the chassis.

19. The UPS of claim 15 wherein the means for operably connecting and disconnecting is entirely operable from outside the chassis.

20. The UPS of claim 15 wherein the means for operably connecting and disconnecting is operable without requiring access to any components within the chassis.

21. In a UPS contained within a chassis, the UPS comprising a DC voltage source having first and second source terminals and an electrical circuit having first and second circuit terminals that receive energy from the DC voltage source, a method of connecting and disconnecting the DC voltage source from the electrical circuit from outside the chassis, comprising:

coupling the first source terminal to a first receptacle terminal in a receptacle attached to the chassis, the receptacle having a first receptacle terminal and a second receptacle terminal, each receptacle terminal being accessible from outside the chassis;

coupling the first circuit terminal to the second receptacle terminal;

coupling the second source terminal to the second circuit terminal; and

isolating the first receptacle terminal from the second receptacle terminal;

whereby the DC voltage source is disconnected from the electrical circuit when the first receptacle terminal is isolated from the second receptacle terminal.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

coupling the first receptacle terminal to the second receptacle terminal, the coupling done by providing a conductor located external to the chassis, the conductor constructed and arranged to electrically couple the first receptacle terminal to the second receptacle terminal;

whereby the DC voltage source is connected to the electrical circuit when the first receptacle terminal is coupled to the second receptacle terminal..

23. The method of claim 21 further wherein the receptacle comprises a first structure formed at least in part from electrically insulating material.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising:

installing the conductor in a second structure formed at least in part from electrically insulating material, the second structure constructed and arranged to mate with the first structure.

25. The method of claim 24 further comprising:

connecting the first structure to the second structure, the connecting done by installing a tether to one of the first and second structures, the tether constructed and arranged to attach to the other of the first and second structures when the first and second structures are installed to the chassis.