Power supply strip for electronic equipment

• US 8,039,997 B2
• Filed: 02/04/2009
• Issued: 10/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baselayer Technology, LLC
• Original Assignee: Thermocabinet, LLC
• Inventors: Slessman, George
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming; Fritz M
• Application Number:
  US12/365,675
• Publication Number:
  US 20100194194A1
• Time in Patent Office: 986 Days
• Field of Search: 307/17, 307/42, 307/147, 439/86, 439/90, 439/110, 439/121, 174/99.R, 174/99.B, 361/648, 361/650, 361/637, 361/640, 361/826
• US Class Current: 307/147
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/261 PC controlled powerstrip
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/006 the coupling part being secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. duplex wall receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/14 Rails or bus-bars constructed so that the counterparts can be connected thereto at any point along their length supporting elements for lighting devices, displaceable along guiding elements and making electrical contact with conductors running along the guiding elements F21V21/35
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 27/02 for simultaneous co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/128 in plinths, channels, raceways or similar
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/16 structurally associated with support for line-connecting terminals within the box
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1492 having electrical distribution arrangements, e.g. power supply or data communications

Abstract

A power supply strip for electronic equipment including a power supply cable for connection to a power source, a housing connected to the power supply cable, and a plurality of conductor rails located within the housing. One or more power receptacle modules is insertable into the housing, each comprising at least one power receptacle. Each power receptacle module is connectable to selected conductor rails such that the or each power receptacle is configurable to provide a desired power supply configuration. With a three-phase power supply, the rails can be selectable between A-phase, B-phase, C-phase, Neutral and Ground.

Claims

1. A power supply strip for electronic equipment comprising:

a power supply cable for connection to a power source;

a housing connected to the power supply cable;

a plurality of conductor rails located within the housing; and

one or more power receptacle modules insertable into the housing, each power receptacle module comprising at least one power receptacle,

wherein each power receptacle module is connectable to selected conductor rails such that each of the one or more power receptacles is configurable to provide a desired power supply configuration, and

wherein the conductor rails comprise a generally V-shaped valley in a conductive resilient material, the valley comprising coating of a conductive material and the conductive resilient material being surrounded on at least three sides by an insulator.

2. The power supply strip according to claim 1, wherein the power supply cable is connectable to a three-phase power supply, and wherein five conductor rails are provided.

3. The power supply strip according to claim 2, wherein the five conductor rails are connected respectively to A-phase, B-phase, C-phase, Neutral and Ground wires in the power supply cable.

4. The power supply strip according to claim 3, wherein each power receptacle module comprises three power receptacles, and wherein the three power receptacles in one module are connectable to the A, N, G conductor rails, to the B, N, G conductor rails, and to the C, N, G conductor rails respectively.

5. The power supply strip according to claim 1, wherein the conductor rails extend the length of the housing.

6. The power supply strip according to claim 1, wherein the conductive coating is copper.

7. The power supply strip according to claim 1, wherein the at least one power supply receptacle is selected from the group consisting of L5-20, L5-20R, L5-15R, 5-20R, L6-20R, L6-30R and 5-15R receptacles.

8. The power supply strip according to claim 1, wherein at least one blank expansion module is provided that is insertable in the housing.

9. The power supply strip according to claim 1, wherein the housing defines at least one power module port for receiving a power receptacle module.

10. The power supply strip according to claim 9, wherein the power module port and power receptacle module comprise complementary guide rails to ease insertion of the power receptacle module into the power module port.

11. The power supply strip according to claim 1, wherein the power receptacle module comprises a plurality of male conductors that are connectable to the selected conductor rails.

12. The power supply strip according to claim 11, wherein wire connectors are provided that are attachable between the male conductors of the power receptacle module and the conductor rails.

13. The power supply strip according to claim 12, wherein the wire connectors have connection pins that are a pressure fit into the conductor rails.

14. The power supply strip according to claim 11, wherein the male conductors are a pressure fit into the conductor rails.

15. The power supply strip according to claim 1, wherein the housing is dimensioned so as to be rack mountable within a server cabinet.

16. A method of assembling a power supply strip comprising:

forming a plurality of conductor rails within a housing by, for each conductor rail;

forming a generally V-shaped valley in a conductive resilient material, the V-shaped valley comprising a coating of a conductive material;

surrounding the conductive resilient material on at least three sides by an insulator; and

connecting a power receptacle module comprising at least one power receptacle to one or more of the plurality of conductor rails within the housing.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the power receptacle module comprises three power receptacles and connecting the power receptacle module to one or more of the plurality of conductor rails comprises:

connecting a first connection pin, a second connection pin, and a third connection pin of a first power receptacle of the three power receptacles to a rail of the plurality of rails associated with A-phase power, a rail of the plurality of rails associated with Neutral, and a rail of the plurality of rails associated with Ground, respectively;

connecting a first connection pin, a second connection pin, and a third connection pin of a second power receptacle of the three power receptacles to a rail of the plurality of rails associated with B-phase power, the rail of the plurality of rails associated with Neutral, and the rail of the plurality of rails associated with Ground, respectively;

connecting a first connection pin, a second connection pin, and a third connection pin of a third power receptacle of the three power receptacles to a rail of the plurality of rails associated with C-phase power, the rail of the plurality of rails associated with Neutral, and the rail of the plurality of rails associated with Ground, respectively.

18. A method of assembling a power supply strip for electronic equipment comprising:

selecting a power receptacle module comprising at least one power receptacle based on one or more parameters associated with a piece of electronic equipment'"'"'s power requirement;

connecting the power receptacle module to one or more of a plurality of conductor rails within a housing, each conductor rail of the plurality of conductor rails comprising a generally V-shaped valley in a conductive resilient material, the valley comprising coating of a conductive material and the conductive resilient material being surrounded on at least three sides by an insulator.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the one or more parameters associated with the piece of electronic equipment'"'"'s power requirement are selected from the group consisting of voltage rating and amp rating.