APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SCALABLE POWER DISTRIBUTION

• US 20070291430A1
• Filed: 06/21/2007
• Published: 12/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Power Conversion Corporation (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: American Power Conversion Corporation (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Spitaels, James, Ziegler, William
• Granted Patent: US 7,619,868 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/79
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6666 with built-in overvoltage protection
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/003 the coupling part being secured only to wires or cables

Abstract

According to one aspect of the invention, a plug-in module is provided for installing in a power distribution assembly. In one embodiment, the plug-in module may include an overcurrent protection device, a power cable, which may include a first end coupled to the overcurrent protection device, and a second end coupled to the first end, one or more receptacle outlets attached to the second end and electrical contacts coupled to the overcurrent protection device and configured to couple the plug-in module to a plurality of stationary electrical conductors of the power distribution assembly.

Claims

1. A plug-in module for installing in a power distribution assembly, the plug-in module comprising:

an overcurrent protection device;

a power cable including;

a first end coupled to the overcurrent protection device; and

a second end coupled to the first end;

at least one receptacle outlet attached to the second end; and

electrical contacts coupled to the overcurrent protection device and configured to removably couple the plug-in module to a plurality of stationary electrical conductors of the power distribution assembly.

2. The plug-in module of claim 1, wherein the overcurrent protection device includes a circuit breaker.

3. The plug-in module of claim 1, further comprising a rack mountable power distribution unit attached to the second end, wherein the rack mountable power distribution unit includes the at least one receptacle outlet.

4. The plug-in module of claim 3, wherein the rack mountable power distribution unit includes a plurality of receptacle outlets.

5. The plug-in module of claim 4, wherein the rack mountable power distribution unit includes at least a first receptacle outlet having a first current rating and a second receptacle outlet having a second current rating.

6. The plug-in module of claim 4, wherein the plug-in module is configured to couple to a multi-phase power system including at least a first phase conductor and a second phase conductor, and wherein the rack mountable power distribution unit includes at least a first receptacle outlet configured to couple to the first phase conductor and a second receptacle outlet configured to couple to the second phase conductor.

7. The plug-in module of claim 6, wherein the plug-in module is further configured to couple to a third phase conductor, and wherein the first receptacle outlet is configured to couple to the first phase conductor and the third phase conductor, and wherein the second receptacle outlet is configured to couple to the second phase conductor and the third phase conductor.

8. The plug-in module of claim 6, wherein the rack mountable power distribution unit includes a display configured to display a magnitude of current in at least one of the first phase conductor and the second phase conductor.

9. The plug-in module of claim 8, wherein the rack mountable power distribution unit includes at least one current sensor configured to sense a current in one of the first phase conductor or the second phase conductor.

10. The plug-in module of claim 3, wherein the rack mountable power distribution unit includes a flange configured to engage a fastener located in an equipment rack.

11. The plug-in module of claim 10, wherein the flange includes a keyhole fastener.

12. The plug-in module of claim 1, further comprising a power strip attached to the second end, wherein the at least one receptacle outlet is included in the power strip.

13. The plug-in module of claim 1, wherein the power cable includes a third end coupled to the first end, and wherein the third end includes at least one receptacle outlet.

14. The plug-in module of claim 2, further comprising:

a housing defining at least one receptacle outlet cavity in which the at least one receptacle outlet is located.

15. The plug-in module of claim 14, wherein the at least one receptacle outlet includes an outlet configured to couple to an electrical connector employed to supply power to at least one server.

16. The plug-in module of claim 15, wherein the at least one server is a blade server.

17. The plug-in module of claim 15, wherein the housing includes a flange configured to secure the housing to a server equipment rack.

18. The plug-in module of claim 1, further comprising an electrical isolation device.

19. The plug-in module of claim 2, wherein the at least one receptacle outlet includes a receptacle outlet selected from the group consisting of:

an IEC 320 C19 receptacle outlet;

an IEC 320 C13 receptacle outlet; and

a NEMA L6-20 receptacle outlet.

20. A method of installing a power distribution system in a facility, the method comprising acts of:

obtaining a plurality of plug-in modules, each of the plug-in modules having a circuit breaker, a power cable having a first end electrically coupled to the circuit breaker, a second end electrically coupled to the first end, at least one receptacle outlet attached to the second end and electrical contacts coupled to the circuit breaker; and

installing at least one of the plurality of plug-in modules in a power distribution assembly by sliding at least one plug-in module into the power distribution assembly such that the electrical contacts of the at least one plug-in module are electrically coupled to electrical conductors in the power distribution assembly.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising an act of positioning the at least one receptacle near an equipment rack.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the at least one plug-in module includes a plurality of receptacle outlets, further comprising acts of:

reviewing a current draw of each of a plurality of phase conductors included in the power cable; and

connecting an electrical load to a selected one of the plurality of receptacle outlets based on the review.

23. The method of claim 20, further comprising an act of fastening the at least one receptacle outlet to an equipment rack.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising an act of fastening the at least one receptacle outlet to the equipment rack using a keyhole connector.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising an act of fastening the at least one receptacle outlet to the equipment rack using a magnet.