MECHANISMS TO RESET CIRCUIT BREAKERS

• US 20180240614A1
• Filed: 08/14/2015
• Published: 08/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2015
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Inventors: Stevens, Matthew E., Felcman, Chris F., Holloway, Scott Edwards
• Application Number:
  US15/752,287
• Publication Number:
  US 20180240614A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2231/002 Calculator, computer
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/28 using electromagnet for storing energy in a spring motor H01H3/30; for operating relays H01H45/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/54 Mechanisms for coupling or uncoupling operating parts, driving mechanisms, or contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 71/50 Manual reset mechanisms which may be also used for manual release
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 71/68 actuated by electromagnet
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1492 having electrical distribution arrangements, e.g. power supply or data communications
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/183 support rails therefor

Abstract

An example device in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure includes a housing, mountable to a power distribution unit (PDU) associated with at least one circuit breaker. The device also includes a mechanism coupled to the housing, movable between a first position and a second position to reset the at least one circuit breaker, in response to receiving a reset signal.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a housing, mountable to a power distribution unit (PDU) associated with at least one circuit breaker; and

a mechanism coupled to the housing, movable between a first position and a second position to reset the at least one circuit breaker, in response to receiving a reset signal.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the mechanism in the first position is not in contact with a reset switch of the at least one circuit breaker, such that the reset switch of the circuit breaker is free to trip unimpeded.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the mechanism includes a solenoid to actuate a slider including at least one rack gear corresponding to at least one pinion gear, wherein the at least one pinion gear includes a corresponding at least one extension to rotate with the at least one pinion gear to manipulate a reset switch of the at least one circuit breaker.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein the mechanism includes a plurality of pinion gears and corresponding plurality of extensions, and wherein the solenoid is to actuate the slider to simultaneously rotate the plurality of pinion gears via a corresponding plurality of rack gears of the slider.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein the solenoid is to actuate the slider with sufficient force to cause the plurality of extensions to manipulate a corresponding plurality of circuit breakers simultaneously.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the housing further includes a connector to receive the reset signal to power the mechanism.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising a power supply and remote switch to provide the reset signet to the mechanism.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the housing further includes thumbscrews for mounting to the PDU.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the housing is mountable horizontally to a horizontal PDU having a one-unit (1U) form-factor that is installable in a zero unit (0U) rack spacing between Radio Electronics Television Manufacturers Association (RETMA) rails along a side of a rack of a server.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the housing is mountable vertically to a vertical PDU form-factor.

11. A system comprising:

a power distribution unit (PDU) associated with at least one circuit breaker;

a housing mounted to the PDU; and

a mechanism coupled to the housing, movable between a first position and a second position to reset the at least one circuit breaker, in response to receiving a reset signal.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising a field-effect transistor (FET) disposed on a circuit board of the PDU, responsive to the reset signal to control actuation of the mechanism via a solenoid coupled to the housing.

13. The system of claim 11, further comprising a controller in the PDU to receive the reset signal via internet connection, wherein the controller is to detect whether the housing is mounted to or removed from the PDU.

14. A method, comprising:

receiving a reset signal to reset at least one tripped circuit breaker of a server power distribution unit (PDU); and

moving a mechanism, coupled to a housing mounted to the PDU, from a first position to a second position to reset the at least one circuit breaker, in response to receiving the reset signal.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the reset signal is generated remotely from the PDU.