Integrated power cell bypass assembly and power supply including same

• US 7,568,931 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2007
• Issued: 08/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Innomotics GmbH
• Original Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Hammond, Peter Willard
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KHIEM M
• Application Number:
  US11/861,608
• Publication Number:
  US 20080088186A1
• Time in Patent Office: 678 Days
• Field of Search: 439/248, 439/263, 439/500, 439/504, 307/10.1, 307/10.7, 307/11
• US Class Current: 439/263
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 29/02 with tappings on coil or winding; with provision for rearrangement or interconnection of windings
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/325 with means for allowing continuous operation despite a fault, i.e. fault tolerant converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/49 Combination of the output voltage waveforms of a plurality of converters

Abstract

A bypass assembly. The bypass assembly includes a plurality of movable terminals configured to mate with fixed terminals of a power cell of a power supply. At least one of the movable terminals and its corresponding fixed terminal collectively form a contact when the at least one of the movable terminals and the corresponding fixed terminal are mated.

Claims

1. A bypass assembly, comprising:

a plurality of movable terminals configured to mate with fixed terminals of a power cell of a power supply,

wherein at least one of the movable terminals and its corresponding fixed terminal collectively form a contact when the at least one of the movable terminals and the corresponding fixed terminal are mated, and

wherein the bypass assembly is configured to disconnect at least one of plurality of movable terminals from its corresponding fixed terminal to bypass at least a portion of the power cell.

2. The bypass assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one movable terminal comprises a jaw-like receptacle.

3. The bypass assembly of claim 2, wherein the jaw-like receptacle comprises at least one of the following:

a first jaw member; and

a second jaw member.

4. The bypass assembly of claim 1, further comprising a switching device connected between two of the movable terminals.

5. The bypass assembly of claim 4, wherein:

a first of the two movable terminals is configured for connection to a secondary winding of a transformer; and

a second of the two movable terminals is configured for connection to another power cell of the power supply.

6. The bypass assembly of claim 4, wherein each of the two movable terminals are configured for connection to another power cell of the power supply.

7. The bypass assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a first switching de ice connected between two of the movable terminals; and

a second switching device connected between one of the two movable terminals and another of the movable terminals.

8. The bypass assembly of claim 7, wherein:

a first of the two movable terminals is configured for connection to a secondary winding of a transformer;

a second of the two movable terminals is configured for connection to another power cell of the power supply; and

the another of the movable terminals is configured for connection to the another power cell of the power supply.

9. A power supply, comprising:

at least one power cell comprising a plurality of fixed terminals; and

at least one of the bypass assembly comprising a plurality of movable terminals configured to mate with the fixed terminals of the at least one power cell,

wherein at least one of the movable terminals and its corresponding fixed terminal collectively form a contact when the at least one of the movable terminals and the corresponding fixed terminal are mated, and

wherein the bypass assembly is configured to disconnect at least one of plurality of movable terminals from its corresponding fixed terminal to bypass at least a portion of the power cell.

10. The power supply of claim 9, wherein the at least one movable terminal comprises a jaw-like receptacle.

11. The power supply of claim 10, wherein the jaw-like receptacle comprises at least one of the following:

a first jaw member; and

a second jaw member.

12. The power supply of claim 9, further comprising a switching device connected between two of the movable terminals.

13. The power supply of claim 12, wherein:

a first of the two movable terminals is configured for connection to a secondary winding of a transformer; and

a second of the two movable terminals is configured for connection to another power cell of the power supply.

14. The power supply of claim 12, wherein each of the two movable terminals are configured for connection to another power cell of the power supply.

15. The power supply of claim 9, further comprising:

a first switching device connected between two of the movable terminals; and

a second switching device connected between one of the two movable terminals and another of the movable terminals.

16. The bypass assembly of claim 15, wherein:

a first of the two movable terminals is configured for connection to a secondary winding of a transformer;

a second of the two movable terminals is configured for connection to another power cell of the power supply; and

the another of the movable terminals is configured for connection to the another power cell of the power supply.

17. The power supply of claim 9, wherein the power supply is a drive.