Battery exchange apparatus and method for uninterruptible power supply

• US 20050029984A1
• Filed: 08/08/2003
• Published: 02/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Power Conversion Corporation (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: American Power Conversion Corporation (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Cheng, Szu-Che, Hsueh, Fu-Yung, Chu, Sheng-Hung
• Granted Patent: US 7,573,232 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/107
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/062 for AC powered loads

Abstract

An uninterruptible power supply comprises an input to receive input power from a power source, an output to provide power to a load from at least one of the input power and the battery, a battery having a plurality of terminals, an upper housing portion having a plurality of receptacle plugs, the receptacle plugs having battery connectors positioned therein, and a lower housing portion constructed and arranged to hold the battery in one of two positions. The first position is an activated position wherein the terminals on the battery match with the battery connectors of the upper housing. The second position is an inactive position wherein the terminals on the battery do not match with the battery connectors of the upper housing.

Claims

1. An uninterruptible power supply comprising:

an input to receive input power from a power source;

an output to provide power to a load from at least one of the input power and the battery;

a battery having a plurality of terminals;

an upper housing portion having a plurality of receptacle plugs, the receptacle plugs having battery connectors positioned therein; and

a lower housing portion constructed and arranged to hold the battery in one of two positions;

(1) an activated position wherein the terminals on the battery match with the battery connectors of the upper housing;

(2) an inactive position wherein the terminals on the battery do not match with the battery connectors of the upper housing.

2. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 1 further comprising one or more cavities defined by the housing for receiving the plurality of terminals of the battery.

3. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 1 further comprising a printed circuit board disposed between the upper housing portion and the lower housing portion, wherein the battery connectors are mounted on the printed circuit board.

4. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 3 wherein the battery connectors include j-shaped members mounted to the upper housing.

5. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 4 wherein the plurality of terminals include j-shaped members mounted to the battery.

6. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 5 wherein the j-shaped members mounted to the upper housing slide into contact with the j-shaped members mounted to the battery.

7. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 6 wherein the j-shaped members mounted to the battery are angled in the direction of motion of the battery when the battery is inserted into the lower housing.

8. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 7 further comprising one or more cavities defined by the upper housing for receiving the j-shaped members mounted to the battery.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the one or more cavities for receiving the j-shaped members mounted to the battery is positioned to receive the j-shaped members when the battery is inserted in a second position, and wherein in the second position, the j-shaped members mounted to the upper housing are disposed remotely from the j-shaped members mounted to the battery.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the second position of the battery includes rotating the battery 180 degrees from the first position of the battery.

11. The system of claim 10 further comprising one or more cavities are defined in a bottom surface of the lower housing and receive the j-shaped members mounted to the battery when the battery is inverted prior to insertion into the lower housing.

12. The system of claim 11 further comprising means for indicating an operating status of the battery when the battery is connected to the uninterruptible power supply.

13. An uninterruptible power supply comprising:

an upper housing portion having plugs;

a lower housing portion that couples to the upper housing portion;

a printed circuit board positioned below the upper housing portion and above the lower housing portion, the printed circuit board having connectors extending below the planar surface of the printed circuit board; and

a battery, removably secured in the lower housing portion, the battery having contacts to mate with the connectors on the printed circuit board to self align in a first position of contact.

14. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 13 wherein the connectors include j-shaped members mounted to the upper housing.

15. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 14 wherein the contacts include j-shaped members mounted to the battery.

16. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 15 wherein the j-shaped members mounted to the upper housing slide into contact with the j-shaped members mounted to the battery.

17. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 16 wherein the j-shaped members mounted to the battery are angled in the direction of motion of the battery when the battery is inserted into the lower housing.

18. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 17 further comprising one or more cavities defined by the upper housing for receiving the j-shaped members mounted to the battery.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the one or more cavities for receiving the j-shaped members mounted to the battery is positioned to receive the j-shaped members when the battery is inserted in a second position, and wherein in the second position, the j-shaped members mounted to the upper housing are disposed remotely from the j-shaped members mounted to the battery.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the second position of the battery includes rotating the battery 180 degrees from the first position of the battery.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the one or more cavities are defined in a bottom surface of the lower housing and receive the j-shaped members mounted to the battery when the battery is inverted prior to insertion into the lower housing.

22. The system of claim 21 further comprising an indicator to indicate an operating status of the battery when the battery is connected to the uninterruptible power supply.

23. An uninterruptible power supply comprising:

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

a housing having a battery compartment, wherein the battery compartment includes a plurality of battery connectors in a plug receptacle;

a battery positionable in a first position in the battery compartment, the battery including a plurality of terminals;

an output to provide power to a load from at least one of the input power and the battery,

wherein the battery terminals and battery connectors self-align within the plug receptacle upon insertion of the battery to the first position in the in the battery compartment.

24. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 23 further comprising a printed circuit board disposed in the housing, wherein the connectors are mounted on the printed circuit board.

25. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 24 wherein the connectors include curved portions to contact the battery terminals.

26. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 25 wherein the terminals include curved portions that correspond with the curved connectors to complete connection.

27. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 26 wherein the housing further defines a cavity to receive the battery terminals.

28. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 27 wherein the battery is disposed in a second position in the housing, and wherein the connectors are disposed remotely from the terminals when the battery is in the second position.

29. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 28 wherein the second position of the battery in the housing is a 180-degree rotation from the first position of the battery.

30. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 27 wherein the cavity is positioned on an internal surface of a door that attaches to the bottom of the housing, and wherein the door is configured to enclose the battery in the housing.

31. A method of inserting a battery into a housing having a compartment in an uninterruptible power supply comprising:

aligning battery terminals in a position that corresponds to a position of battery connectors in a first position in the compartment of the housing, wherein the battery terminals are positioned in plug receptors attached to a side of the battery;

inserting the battery into the compartment of the housing when the terminals and connectors are aligned; and

completing connection between the terminals and the connectors by guiding the connectors to a position in alignment with the plug receptacle and sliding the terminals into self-aligning contact with the connectors upon insertion of the battery into the compartment of the housing in an insertion direction.

32. The method of claim 31 further comprising moving the battery in the housing in a direction orthogonal to the direction of insertion of the battery into the housing to complete connectivity between the connectors and the terminals.

33. The method of claim 32 further comprising indicating a status of the battery when the battery is inserted into the housing of the uninterruptible power supply and connection is complete.

34. The method of claim 33 further comprising storing the battery in the housing by aligning the terminals in a second position wherein in the second position, the terminals are disposed remotely from the connectors in the housing.

35. The method of claim 34 further comprising storing the battery in the housing by rotating the battery 180 degrees prior to inserting the battery into the housing.

36. The method of claim 35 further comprising storing the battery in the housing by inverting the battery prior to inserting the battery into the housing.