Polyphase power distribution and monitoring apparatus

• US 9,190,842 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2013
• Issued: 11/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Server Technology Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Original Assignee: Server Technology Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Inventors: Ewing, Carrel W., Cleveland, Andrew J., Maskaly, James P.
• Primary Examiner(s): AMAYA, CARLOS DAVID
• Application Number:
  US14/029,484
• Publication Number:
  US 20140015317A1
• Time in Patent Office: 791 Days
• Field of Search: 307/11, 307/13, 307/14, 307/27
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/003 the coupling part being secured only to wires or cables
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/00 Installations of electric cables or lines or protective tubing therefor in or on buildings, equivalent structures or vehicles installations of bus-bars H02G5/00; overhead installations H02G7/00; installations in or on the ground H02G9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/00 Circuit arrangements for ac mains or ac distribution networks

Abstract

A polyphase power distribution and monitoring apparatus having sets of outputs for each phase of power and monitors for each phase of power disposed in the housing. Each monitor provides a visible display of current for an associated phase of power and an audible alarm for each phase of power if the current exceeds a predetermined value or falls below a predetermined value. In three-phase wye power systems, the apparatus preferably includes a neutral line monitor, including a neutral line current display and audio alarm, for the neutral line of the wye power circuit. The apparatus preferably is lightweight, elongated, portable, and mountable to the side of an electronic equipment rack. It may also include additional power monitoring systems such as network power monitoring tools for remotely monitoring the apparatus.

Claims

1. A polyphase alternating current power distribution apparatus connectable to one or more electrical loads in an electrical equipment rack comprising, in combination:

a vertical rack-mountable housing;

a polyphase power input disposed in the vertical rack-mountable housing;

a plurality of power outputs disposed on a face of the vertical rack-mountable housing, with at least one power output being in power supply communication with a first phase of the polyphase power input and at least a second power output being in power supply communication with a second phase of the polyphase power input; and

a display system disposed on the face of the vertical rack-mountable housing comprising;

a first phase power display section; and

a second phase power display section;

the display system being configured to visibly report first phase power information on the first phase power display section while visibly reporting second phase power information on the second phase power display section.

2. The polyphase alternating current power distribution apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first phase power display section comprises a first phase current visual display, and the second phase power display section comprises a second phase current visual display, wherein the apparatus further comprises:

a plurality of current determination circuits disposed in the vertical rack-mountable housing with;

(i) a first current determination circuit associated with the display system and the first phase of the polyphase power input; and

(ii) a second current determination circuit associated with the display system and the second phase of the polyphase power unit.

3. The polyphase alternating current power distribution apparatus of claim 1 wherein (i) the plurality of power outputs includes at least a third power output in power supply communication with a third phase of the polyphase power input;

and (ii) the display system further comprises a third phase power display section.

4. The polyphase alternating current power distribution apparatus of claim 2 wherein (i) the plurality of power outputs includes at least a third power output in power supply communication with a third phase of the polyphase power input;

(ii) the display system further comprises a third phase power display section; and

(iii) the plurality of current determination circuits includes a third current determination circuit associated with the third phase power display section and the third phase of the polyphase power unit.

5. The polyphase alternating current power distribution apparatus of claim 1 wherein the polyphase power input includes a neutral line and the display system further comprises a neutral power display section.

6. The polyphase alternating current power distribution apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first phase power display section comprises a first phase current visual display, the second phase power display section comprises a second phase current visual display, and the neutral power display section comprises a neutral current visual display, and wherein the apparatus further comprises:

a plurality of current determination circuits disposed in the vertical rack-mountable housing with;

(i) a first current determination circuit associated with the display system and the first phase of the polyphase power input;

(ii) a second current determination circuit associated with the display system and the second phase of the polyphase power input; and

(iii) a third current determination circuit associated with the display system and the neutral line of the polyphase power unit.

7. The polyphase alternating current power distribution apparatus of claim 3 wherein the display system is configured to visibly report third phase power information on the third phase power display section while visibly reporting the first phase power information on the first phase power display section and the second phase power information on the second phase power display section.

8. The polyphase alternating current power distribution apparatus of claim 5 wherein the display system is configured to visibly report neutral power information on the neutral power display section while visibly reporting the first phase power information on the first phase power display section and the second phase power information on the second phase power display section.

9. The polyphase alternating current power distribution apparatus of claim 1 wherein the display system is configured to visibly report the first phase power information on the first phase power display section only while visibly reporting the second phase power information on the second phase power display section.

10. The polyphase alternating current power distribution apparatus of claim 3 wherein the display system is configured to visibly report third phase power information on the third phase power display section only while visibly reporting the first phase power information on the first phase power display section and the second phase power information on the second phase power display section.

11. The polyphase alternating current power distribution apparatus of claim 5 wherein the display system is configured to visibly report neutral power information on the neutral power display section only while visibly reporting the first phase power information on the first phase power display section and the second phase power information on the second phase power display section.

12. The polyphase alternating current power distribution apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first phase power information corresponds to a first numerical value and the second phase power information corresponds to a second numerical value.

13. The polyphase alternating current power distribution apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first numerical value is a first power value and the second numerical value is a second power value.

14. The polyphase alternating current power distribution apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first numerical value is a first current value and the second numerical value is a second current value.

15. The polyphase alternating current power distribution apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a sensory alarm, wherein the sensory alarm emits a sensory stimulation based at least in part on one or more of the first phase power information and the second phase power information.

16. The polyphase alternating current power distribution apparatus of claim 15, wherein the sensory alarm comprises an audible alarm.

17. A fully integrated electrical power distribution plugstrip connectable to one or more electrical loads in a vertical electrical equipment rack within a data center, the electrical power distribution plugstrip comprising in combination:

A. a unitary vertical strip enclosure having a thickness and a length longer than a width of the enclosure;

B. a polyphase power input penetrating said vertical strip enclosure;

C. a plurality of power outputs disposed along a face of said length of said strip enclosure, each among the plurality of power outputs being connectable to a corresponding one of said one or more electrical loads, with at least one power output being in power supply communication with a first phase of the polyphase power input and at least a second power output being in power supply communication with a second phase of the polyphase power unit;

D. a plurality of power control relays disposed in said vertical strip enclosure, each among said plurality of power control relays being connected to said polyphase power input and in independent power controlling communication with one or more corresponding power outputs among said plurality of power outputs;

E. a plurality of current sensing devices that provide quantified current information based on sensed electrical current, each current sensing device comprising at least one sensor and associated circuitry, disposed in the vertical strip enclosure, with at least;

(i) a first current sensing device sensing electrical current associated with the first phase of the polyphase power input; and

(ii) a second current sensing device sensing electrical current associated with the second phase of the polyphase power input;

F. a numerical current display system disposed on said vertical strip enclosure that receives and displays said quantified current information, the current display system comprising;

(i) a first phase current display section; and

(ii) a second phase current display section, the display system being configured to visibly report first phase current information on the first phase current display section while visibly reporting second phase current information on the second phase current display section; and

G. a current-related information reporting system disposed in said vertical strip enclosure comprising a network interface controller directly connectable to a separate communications network distal from the electrical power distribution plugstrip, and that (i)receives said quantified measured current information, and (ii) communicates said quantified measured current information to a remote system through the separate communications network.

18. The electrical power plugstrip of claim 17, further comprising at least one microprocessor in power controlling communication with a plurality of relay boards, each of said relay boards comprising at least one of said plurality of power control relays in power controlling communication with at least an associated one of said plurality of power outputs.

19. The electrical power plugstrip of claim 18 wherein one or more of said relay boards comprises:

a plurality of power control relays each associated with one of said power outputs; and

two or more of the current sensing devices each associated with one said power outputs.

20. The electrical power plugstrip of claim 19, wherein said plurality of current sensing devices comprise hall effect current sensors.

21. The electrical power plugstrip of claim 18, further comprising an inter-IC control bus coupled with each of said relay boards.

22. The electrical power plugstrip of claim 17, further comprising a network agent using SNMP protocols and procedures.

23. The electrical power plugstrip of claim 17, wherein the network interface controller comprises a CAT-5 connector.

24. The electrical power plugstrip of claim 17, further comprising a personality module that provides at least one of a hypertext transfer protocol browser interface and a terminal-server interface.

25. The electrical power plugstrip of claim 24 wherein the personality module is removable from the electrical power plugstrip.

26. The electrical power plugstrip of claim 25 wherein a second personality module is interchangeable with the personality module.