Adjustable scalable rack power system and method

• US 8,867,193 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2012
• Issued: 10/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Schneider Electric IT Corporation (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Schneider Electric IT Corporation (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Rasmussen, Neil, Simonelli, James, McNally, John, Brill, Kenneth G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Datskovskiy, Michail V
• Application Number:
  US13/361,155
• Publication Number:
  US 20130003263A1
• Time in Patent Office: 995 Days
• Field of Search: 361/601, 361/605, 361622-627, 361/611, 361/637, 361/650, 361/679.01, 361825-829, 174/50, 174/59, 174/60, 174/17.R, 174/112, 174/68.3, 174/48, 174/100, 174/135, 174/72.A, 174/65.R, 174/98.R, 174/99.R, 174/484, 174/491, 174/494, 174/500, 174/503, 211/4.02, 211/24, 211/26, 211/189, 211/191, 211/162, 211/182, 211/133.5, 211/126.9, 248/49, 248/68.1, 248/51, 248/58, 248/73, 312/223.2, 312/223.3, 312/265.1, 312/265.3, 312/257.1, 312/265.5, 312/265.4
• US Class Current: 361/601
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/189 Power distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1492 having electrical distribution arrangements, e.g. power supply or data communications
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1497 Rooms for data centers; Shipping containers therefor

Abstract

Systems and method for installing computer equipment and power distribution equipment in facilities is provided. In one aspect, the present invention provides a power distribution rack, and uninterruptible power supply rack and a plurality of equipment racks. A plurality of power cables are run from the power distribution rack to each of the plurality of equipment racks using power cable tracks located on the roofs of the equipment racks.

Claims

1. An adaptable power and mounting system for equipment, the system comprising:

a plurality of equipment racks, each one of the equipment racks having at least a first power input to receive power to power equipment contained in each of the equipment racks; and

a first power distribution rack that provides power to the equipment racks, the first power distribution rack including a power distribution panel and a plurality of output power cables, each having a first end coupled to the power distribution panel and a second end having a mating connector that mates with a mating connector of the first power input of at least one of the plurality of equipment racks.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of equipment racks and the first power distribution rack are designed to be installed in a facility in a predetermined arrangement, whereby each rack is at a predetermined distance from the power distribution rack, wherein each of the plurality of cables mates with a respective one of the plurality of equipment racks, and each one of the plurality of cables has a length based on the predetermined distance between the power distribution rack and the respective one of the plurality of equipment racks for the one of the plurality of cables.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first power distribution rack further includes:

main power input to receive input power having a first voltage value from a first power source; and

a transfomer coupled to the main power input and to each of the plurality of output power cables to provide output power having a second voltage, lower than the first voltage, to the plurality of output power cables.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of equipment racks has a second power input, and wherein the system further comprises a second power distribution rack that provides power to the plurality of equipment racks, the second power distribution rack including a power distribution panel and a plurality of output power cables, each having a first end coupled to the power distribution panel of the second power distribution rack and a second end having a mating connector that mates with the second power input of one of the plurality of equipment racks.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the second power distribution rack further includes:

a main power input to receive input power having a first voltage value from a second power source; and

a transfomer coupled to the main power input and to each of the output power cables of the second power distribution rack to provide output power having a second voltage, lower than the first voltage, to the plurality of output power cables of the second power distribution rack.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the plurality of equipment racks are arranged in a type of row having a first end and a second end, with the first power distribution rack being adjacent the first end of the row and the second power distribution rack being adjacent the second end of the row.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of equipment racks includes at least one receptacle unit having a plurality of power outlets to provide power to equipment in the racks.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein at least one of the receptacle units in one of the equipment racks has a power cord having a connector that functions as the power input for the one of the plurality of equipment racks.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein at least one of the receptacle units in one of the plurality of equipment racks is removably mounted to the one of the equipment racks using a snap fit.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the power provided to at least one of the plurality of equipment racks from the first power distribution rack is three phase power, and wherein the outlets of a receptacle unit in the one of the plurality of equipment racks are arranged in at least three groups with at least one outlet in each group being constructed to provide single phase power from one of the three phases of the input power.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the power provided to at least one of the plurality of equipment racks from the first power distribution rack is three phase power, and wherein the outlets of a receptacle unit in the one of the plurality of equipment racks are arranged in at least four groups with at least one group being constructed to provide three phase power, and at least one group being constructed to provide single phase power.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the receptacle unit in at least one of the plurality of equipment racks has an over current device that interrupts power to at least one outlet upon detection of an over current condition.

13. The system of claim 2, wherein each one of the plurality of power cables includes a label that indicates the respective equipment rack for the one of the power cables.

14. The system of claim 7, further comprising a first communications network, and wherein a plurality of the receptacle units and the power distribution rack include a communications circuit coupled to the first communications network.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising a consolidator unit having a first communications circuit coupled to the first communication network to communicate with the plurality of receptacle units and the power distribution rack to receive status information.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the consolidator unit further includes a second communications circuit to communicate with a second communications network.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the first communications network is a power line carrier based network, and wherein the second communications network is an Internet protocol based network.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein each one of the plurality of equipment racks has a roof section with a power cable track mounted on the roof section, wherein the power cable track is constructed and arranged to contain a portion of at least one of the plurality of power cables to route the one of the power cables from the power distribution rack to one of the plurality of equipment racks.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the roof section has an opening to allow a power cable to pass from the power cable track to within the rack or from within the rack to the roof of the rack.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the power cable track of a first one of the plurality of equipment racks is constructed and arranged to mate with the power cable track of an adjacent second one of the plurality of equipment racks to form a continuous power cable track across the roof sections of the first one of the plurality of equipment racks and the second one of the plurality of equipment racks.