Modular power distribution system and method

• US 20040130218A1
• Filed: 01/08/2003
• Published: 07/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Locke, Gary J.
• Application Number:
  US10/338,357
• Publication Number:
  US 20040130218A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/147
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/00 Installations of electric cables or lines or protective tubing therefor in or on buildings, equivalent structures or vehicles installations of bus-bars H02G5/00; overhead installations H02G7/00; installations in or on the ground H02G9/00

Abstract

A system distributes power. The system includes a hub for providing a specific power criteria and a trunk for transferring power from the hub a power consuming device. A first branch, a second branch, and a third branch transfer power from the trunk. The system has a first condition wherein the first branch transfers power to a first pass-thru receptacle, a second pass thru receptacle, and a first sub-branch. The first sub-branch includes a first twig and a second twig. The second twig powers the power consuming device. The second branch, in the first condition, transfers power to a third pass-thru receptacle and a fourth non-pass-thru receptacle. The third branch, in the first condition, transfers power to a first switch and a fifth pass-thru receptacle. The first switch controls power to a second sub-branch. The system further has a second condition for modularly augmenting the first condition by adding a fourth branch, a fifth branch, and a sixth branch. The system is converted from the first condition to the second condition by a common source of components.

Claims

1. A system for distributing power, said system comprising:

a hub for providing a specific power criteria;

a first trunk for transferring power from said hub to at least one power consuming device;

a first branch for transferring power from said first trunk;

a second branch for transferring power from said first trunk; and

a third branch for transferring power from said first trunk;

said system having a first condition wherein said first branch transfers power to a first pass-thru receptacle, a second pass thru receptacle, and a first sub-branch, said first sub-branch comprising a first twig and a second twig,

said system further having a second condition for modularly augmenting said first condition by adding a fourth branch, a fifth branch, and a sixth branch,

said system being converted from said first condition to said second condition by a common source of components.

2. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein

said second branch, in said first condition, transfers power to a third pass-thru receptacle and a fourth non-pass-thru receptacle;

and

said third branch, in said first condition, transfers power to a first switch and a fifth pass-thru receptacle, said first switch controlling power to a second sub-branch.

3. The system as set forth in claim 2 wherein:

said fourth branch transfers power to a sixth pass-thru receptacle and a third sub-branch; and

said fifth branch transfers power to a second switch and a fourth sub-branch.

4. The system as set forth in claim 3 further including a second trunk for transferring power from said hub to at least one other power consuming device.

5. The system as set forth in claim 4 further including a seventh branch for transferring power from said second trunk, an eighth branch for transferring power from said second trunk, and a ninth branch for transferring power from said second trunk.

6. The system as set forth in claim 5 wherein said system has a third condition wherein said seventh branch transfers power to a seventh pass-thru receptacle, an eighth pass-thru receptacle, and a fifth sub-branch, said fifth sub-branch comprising a third twig and a fourth twig.

7. The system as set forth in claim 6 wherein said eighth branch, in said third condition, transfers power to a ninth pass-thru receptacle and a tenth non-pass-thru receptacle.

8. The system as set forth in claim 7 wherein said ninth branch, in said third condition, transfers power to a third switch and an eleventh pass-thru receptacle, said third switch controlling power to a fifth sub-branch.

9. The system as set forth in claim 8 wherein said system further has a fourth condition for modularly augmenting said third condition by adding a tenth branch, an eleventh branch, and a twelfth branch.

10. The system as set forth in claim 9 wherein said tenth branch transfers power to a twelfth pass-thru receptacle and a sixth sub-branch.

11. The system as set forth in claim 10 wherein said eleventh branch transfers power to a fourth switch and a seventh sub-branch.

12. The system as set forth in claim 11 wherein said system is converted from said third condition to said fourth condition by a common source of components.

13. The system as set forth in claim 12 wherein said system is converted from said second condition to said third condition by a common source of components.

14. A method for distributing power, said method comprising the steps of:

providing hub with a specific power criteria;

transferring power from the hub through a first trunk to at least one power consuming device;

transferring power from the first trunk to a first branch;

transferring power from the first trunk to a second branch;

transferring power from the first trunk to a third branch;

providing a first condition wherein the first branch transfers power to a first pass-thru receptacle, a second pass thru receptacle, and a first sub-branch, the first sub-branch comprising a first twig and a second twig;

transferring power to a third pass-thru receptacle and a fourth non-pass-thru receptacle by the second branch in the first condition;

transferring power to a first switch and a fifth pass-thru receptacle, said first switch controlling power to a second sub-branch by the third branch in the first condition;

providing a second condition for modularly augmenting the first condition by adding a fourth branch, a fifth branch, and a sixth branch;

transferring power to a sixth pass-thru receptacle and a third sub-branch by the fourth branch;

transferring power to a second switch and a fourth sub-branch by the fifth branch; and

converting from the first condition to the second condition by a common source of components.

15. The method as set forth in claim 14 further including the step of transferring power from the hub to at least one other power consuming device by a second trunk.

16. The method as set forth in claim 15 further including the steps of:

transferring power from the second trunk by a seventh branch,

transferring power from the second trunk by an eighth branch; and

transferring power from the second trunk by a ninth branch.

17. The method as set forth in claim 16 further including the step of providing a third condition wherein the seventh branch transfers power to a seventh pass-thru receptacle, an eighth pass-thru receptacle, and a fifth sub-branch, the fifth sub-branch comprising a third twig and a fourth twig.

18. The system as set forth in claim 17 further including the step of providing a fourth condition for modularly augmenting the third condition by adding a tenth branch, an eleventh branch, and a twelfth branch.

19. The method as set forth in claim 18 further including the step of converting from the third condition to the fourth condition by a common source of components.

20. A system for distributing power, said system comprising:

a hub for providing a specific power criteria;

N trunks for transferring power from said hub to at least one power consuming device, N being at least three;

a first branch for transferring power from one of said trunks;

a second branch for transferring power from one of said trunks; and

a third branch for transferring power from one of said trunks;

said system having a first condition wherein said first branch transfers power to a first pass-thru receptacle, a second pass thru receptacle, and a first sub-branch, said first sub-branch comprising a first twig and a second twig,

said system further having a second condition for modularly augmenting said first condition by adding a fourth branch, a fifth branch, and a sixth branch,

said system being converted from said first condition to said second condition by a common source of components.