Device for distributing energy between a plurality of electronic modules with possibility of shedding

• US 6,472,774 B1
• Filed: 01/04/2001
• Issued: 10/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Thomson-Csf Sextant
• Original Assignee: Thomson-Csf Sextant
• Inventors: Bedouet, Bernard
• Primary Examiner(s): FLEMING, FRITZ M
• Application Number:
  US09/720,243
• Time in Patent Office: 663 Days
• Field of Search: 307/29, 307/31-35, 307/38-41, 361/191
• US Class Current: 307/31
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/14 Balancing the load in a network
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/44 for aircrafts
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 4/00 Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks not specified as ac or dc

Abstract

This device allows secure electrical supply of several electronic modules able to be brought together in the same electronic rack and having several levels of criticality. It includes an electrical supply line (13) attached on the one hand to at least one electrical energy distribution network (20) and on the other hand to the various electronic modules (M1, M2, . . . Mn) by way of breaker relays (I1, I2, . . . , In) and means for managing the load sheddings instigating the commands for opening and closing the breaker relays (I1, I2, . . . , In) as a function of the load shedding control signals received. The means for managing the load sheddings are composed of a network partitioning load shedding commands (21) attached to the controls of the breaker relays (I1, I2, . . , In) by way of diode-type switches (S1, S2, . . . , Sn) and of a system of straps (22, 220) guaranteeing them great ability of adaptation to the changes of configuration of the equipment of the rack.

Claims

1. Device for partitioning electrical energy between a plurality of electronic modules (M1, M2, . . . , Mn) disposed in an electronic rack (1), with possibility of several levels of load shedding, comprising an electrical supply line (13) attached on the one hand to at least one electrical energy distribution network (20) and on the other hand to the various electronic modules (M1, M2, . . . , Mn) by way of breaker relays (I1, I2, . . . , In) and means for managing the load sheddings (16) instigating the commands for opening and closing the breaker relays (I1, I2, . . . , In) as a function of load shedding control signals (D1, D2, D3) applied to the electrical energy partitioning device and corresponding to the desired level of load shedding, the said electrical energy partitioning device being characterized in that the means for managing the load sheddings (16) comprise:

a network partitioning load shedding commands (21) with several parallel electrical conductors (210, 211, 212), equal in number to that of the desired levels of load shedding, each attached to a load shedding control input corresponding to a particular level of load shedding,

diode-type switches (S1, S2, . . . , Sn) carrying out an “

or”

-type logic function, equal in number to that of the breaker relays (I1, I2, . . . , In), each having an output attached to the control input of a breaker relay (I1, I2 or In) and inputs equal in number to that of the levels of load shedding, and

a tag strip (22) interposed between the inputs of the diode-type switches (S1, S2, . . . , Sn) and the parallel conductors (210, 211, 212) of the network partitioning load shedding commands (21), making it possible to establish, with the aid of straps (220), connections between the inputs of each diode-type switch (S1, S2, . . . , Sn) and the electrical conductors (210, 211, 212) of the network partitioning load shedding commands (21) as a function of the load shedding levels allocated to the electronic module or modules (M1, M2, . . . , Mn) supplied by way of the breaker relay (I1, I2, . . . , In) whose control input is driven by the relevant diode-type switch (S1, S2, Sn).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it further includes electronic amplifying circuits (A1, A2, A3) which are interposed at input ahead of each of the conductors (210, 211, 212) of the network partitioning load shedding commands (21) and which operate in the disabled or saturated state in such a way as to pass or not pass a current through the diodes of the switches (S1, S2, . . . , Sn) connected to their outputs by way of the conductors (210, 211, 212) of the network partitioning load shedding commands (21) and wired straps (220) of the tag strip (22), and thus to control the open or closed states of the breaker relays (I1, I2, . . . , In) disposed on the supply lines of the electronic modules (M1, M2, . . . , Mn).

3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that, the electronic amplifying circuits (A1, A2, A3) interposed at input ahead of the conductors (210, 211, 212) of the network for partitioning load shedding commands (21) are equipped with a contact relay (35) interposed on their output making it possible to subject the execution of a load shedding command to an additional condition such as the noting of a low electric voltage on the electrical energy distribution network or networks (20) at the input of the rack (1).

4. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the electronic amplifying circuits (A1, A2, A3) interposed at input, ahead of the conductors (210, 211, 212) of the network for partitioning load shedding commands (21) are equipped with a contact relay (36) connecting their output to earth or to the potential of a bias source in such a way as to force the generation of a load shedding command in the presence of an additional condition such as the noting of an overly large electric current consumed by the rack (1).

5. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the electronic amplifying circuits (A1, A2, A3) interposed at input ahead of each of the conductors (210, 211, 212) of the network for partitioning load shedding commands (21) include at least one transistor-based amplifier stage.

6. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the electronic amplifying circuits (A1, A2, A3) interposed at input, ahead of each of the conductors (210, 211, 212) of the network for partitioning load shedding commands (21) include two transistor-based amplifier stages (30, 31).

7. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the electronic amplifying circuits (A1, A2, A3) interposed at input, ahead of each of the conductors (210, 211, 212) of the network for partitioning load shedding commands (21) include at least one transistor-based amplifier stage (30) mounted in common emitter mode.

8. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the electronic amplifying circuits (A1, A2, A3) interposed at input, ahead of each of the conductors (210, 211, 212) of the network for partitioning load shedding commands (21) have their inputs referred back when quiescent by a resistive circuit (32) to a bias voltage urging them to a disabled or saturated state corresponding to an absence of load shedding command (D1, D2, D3).

9. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the electronic amplifying circuits (A1, A2, A3) interposed at input, ahead of each of the conductors (210, 211, 212) of the network for partitioning load shedding commands (21) include at input a contact relay (33) open when quiescent, ordered to close by a load shedding command (D1, D2 or D3) imposing a bias voltage on their inputs causing them to leave their quiescent state.

10. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it is made in the form of a so-called “

supply”

module (40) which plugs into the electronic rack (1) in the same way as the other electronic modules (M1, M2, . . . , Mn) and which exhibits on its front edge (45), accessible from outside the rack (1), a plug-in submodule (48) to which some or all of the straps (220) of the tag strip (22) are dropped.

11. Device according to claim 1, implemented with electronic modules (M1, M2, . . . , Mn) to be supplied provided with identifying means specifying their levels of criticality, characterized in that it includes an automaton analyzing the consistency between the load shedding levels assigned to the electronic modules (M1, M2, . . . , Mn) such as they result from the configuration adopted for the straps (220) of the tag strip (22) and the levels of criticality of the electronic modules such as they ensue from the information provided by their identifying means.

12. Device according to claim 11, characterized in that it includes a consistency indicator light (50) controlled by the consistency analysis automaton.

13. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that the consistency indicator light (50) is placed on the front edge of the supply module, visible from outside the rack.

14. Device according to claims 10 characterized in that the consistency indicator light (50) is mounted on the front edge of the plug-in submodule (48).

15. Device according to claim 12, characterized in that the consistency indicator light is placed on the front edge of the supply module, visible from outside the rack.

16. Device according to claim 12, characterized in that the consistency indicator light is mounted on the front edge of the plug-in submodule.