Load balanced polyphase power distributing system

• US 6,628,009 B1
• Filed: 10/06/2000
• Issued: 09/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Root Group Incorporated
• Original Assignee: The Root Group Incorporated
• Inventors: Chapel, Steven G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sircus, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): POLK, SHARON A
• Application Number:
  US09/680,670
• Time in Patent Office: 1,089 Days
• Field of Search: 307/13, 307/18, 307/14, 307/52, 307/53, 307/32, 307/34, 361/604, 361/622, 361/627, 361/826
• US Class Current: 307/14
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/26 Arrangements for eliminating or reducing asymmetry in polyphase networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 40/50 Arrangements for eliminating or reducing asymmetry in polyphase networks

Abstract

The invention is an apparatus and a method for connecting loads to a polyphase power distribution system in such a way that the loads on the individual phases of the system are balanced. The apparatus includes an equipment rack having multiple electrical equipment mounting positions and multiple electrical outlets wherein contiguous groups of mounting positions are adjacent to groups of outlets connected to different phases. The apparatus also provides for other groups of outlets adjacent to the mounting positions to be connected to different power sources for increased reliability when the equipment has redundant power supplies.

Claims

1. A system for balancing loads in a polyphase power distribution system having N phases, comprising:

a plurality of power strips, each of said strips comprising;

N groups of electrical outlets, each of said outlets having a line socket;

N conductors, each of said N conductors connected to all said line sockets in a different one of said N groups of outlets; and

a power distribution assembly for manually connecting each of said N conductors in each of said strips to a different predetermined one of said N phases and for manually connecting corresponding conductors in different strips to different predetermined phases.

2. A system as in claim 1 wherein each of said power strips comprises a cable and plug for connecting to said power distribution assembly.

3. A system as in claim 1 wherein said power distribution assembly comprises a plurality of receptacles for connecting said power strips to said assembly.

4. A system as in claim 1 wherein said power distribution assembly comprises a power input cable and a power input plug for connecting said assembly to a power source.

5. A system as in claim 1 further comprising an equipment rack having one or more of said power strips mounted on said rack.

6. A system as in claim 5 wherein said rack comprises a plurality of equipment-mounting positions and wherein each of said groups of outlets occupies a corresponding location in each of said power strips and wherein each said location is adjacent to a corresponding equipment-mounting position on said rack.

7. A system as in claim 1 further comprising an equipment rack having two or more of said power strips mounted on said rack wherein each of said two or more power strips is connected via said assembly to a different power source.

8. A system as in claim 7 wherein said rack comprises a plurality of equipment-mounting positions and wherein each of said groups of outlets occupies a corresponding location in each of said power strips and wherein each said location is adjacent to a corresponding equipment-mounting position on said rack.

9. A system as in claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of power strips comprises a cable and plug for connecting to said power distribution assembly and wherein said power distribution assembly comprises a plurality of receptacles for receiving said plug from each of said plurality of power strips.

10. A system as in claim 1 wherein said power distribution assembly comprises a circuit breaker for each said conductor in each of said plurality of power strips.

11. A system as in claim 1 wherein said power distribution assembly comprises a circuit breaker for each of said N phases.

12. A system as in claim 1 wherein each of said N conductors, within each of said plurality of power strips, which is connected to the same one of said N phases is connected in parallel to that phase within said power distribution assembly.

13. A method for balancing loads in a polyphase power distribution system having N phases, comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of power strips, each of said strips comprising;

N groups of electrical outlets, each of said outlets having a line socket; and

N conductors, each of said N conductors connected to all said line sockets in a different one of said N groups of outlets;

providing a power distribution assembly for manually connecting each of said N conductors in each of said strips to a different predetermined one of said N phases and for manually connecting corresponding conductors in different said strips to different predetermined phases;

providing each of said strips with a cable and plug for connecting to said assembly;

providing said assembly with a plurality of receptacles for connecting said strips to said assembly;

providing said power distribution assembly with a power input cable and a power input plug for connecting said assembly to a power source;

connecting said N conductors in each power strip to said N phases by plugging each said plug into a different one of said plurality of receptacles; and

plugging said power input plug into an external receptacle.

14. A method for balancing loads as in claim 13 further comprising the steps of:

providing one or more equipment racks having a total of two or more of said plurality of power strips mounted on said racks; and

connecting each of said two or more of said plurality of power strips to said power distribution assembly in such a way that said N conductors from each of said two or more power strips are connected to different phases than corresponding said N conductors from each other power strip.

15. A system as in claim 14 further comprising the step of connecting via said assembly each of said two or more of said plurality of power strips to a different power source.

16. A system for balancing loads in a polyphase power distribution system having N phases, comprising:

a plurality of power strips, each of said strips comprising;

N groups of electrical outlets, each of said outlets having a line socket;

N conductors, each of said N conductors connected to all said line sockets in a different one of said N groups of outlets;

a cable and plug for connecting to a power distribution assembly;

a power distribution assembly for manually connecting each of said N conductors in each of said strips to a different predetermined one of said N phases and for manually connecting corresponding conductors in different strips to different predetermined phases, said power distribution assembly comprising;

a plurality of receptacles for receiving said plug from each of said strips and thereby connecting said plurality of power strips to said assembly;

a power input cable and a power input plug for connecting said assembly to a power source; and

an equipment rack having one or more of said power strips mounted on said rack and having a plurality of equipment-mounting positions, each of said groups of outlets occupying a corresponding location in each of said power strips and each said location being adjacent to a corresponding equipment-mounting position on said rack.

17. A system as in claim 16 wherein said equipment rack has two or more of said strips mounted on said rack and wherein each of said two or more strips is connected via said assembly to a different power source.