Assemblies for selectable mounting of power input cables and related systems and methods

• US 9,590,371 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2014
• Issued: 03/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Eaton Corp. (Wisconsin) (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Yan, Jun, Davis, Scott Jason
• Primary Examiner(s): Riyami, Abdullah
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, THANG H
• Application Number:
  US14/230,514
• Publication Number:
  US 20150280379A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,072 Days
• Field of Search: 439/652, 439/654, 439/650, 439/651, 439/218, 439/653, 439/370
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6273 comprising two latching arms
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 27/00 Coupling parts adapted for co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts for dissimilar contact members H01R13/35; supported only by co-operation with a counterpart H01R31/00; with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/90
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/02 Intermediate parts for distributing energy to two or more circuits in parallel, e.g. splitter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/92
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1457 Power distribution arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49169 Assembling electrical component directly to terminal or elongated conductor

Abstract

An electrical device assembly includes an electrical device and a power input member. The electrical device includes an end portion having a cavity with a mounting surface at a distal portion of the cavity. The power input member includes a body and a power input cable extending from the body. The body has a plurality of faces including first and second mounting faces. The cavity is sized and configured to receive the power input member body: in a first position with the first mounting face facing the mounting surface and with the power input cable extending away from the electrical device in a first direction; and in a second position with the second mounting face facing the mounting surface and with the power input cable extending away from the electrical device in a second direction that is different from the first direction.

Claims

1. An electrical device assembly comprising:

an electrical device including an elongated housing defining a longitudinal axis, the housing including a front portion and first and second opposite end portions, the first end portion having a cavity bounded by first and second opposite sidewalls with a mounting surface at a distal portion of the cavity;

a power input member including a body and a power input cable attached to and extending from the body, the body having a plurality of faces including first and second mounting faces, first and second opposite side faces, and a cable face from which the power input cable extends;

wherein the cavity is sized and configured to receive the power input member body;

in a first position with the first mounting face facing the mounting surface, with the first and second side faces facing the first and second sidewalls, respectively, with the cable face facing generally parallel to the longitudinal axis, and with the power input cable extending away from the electrical device in a first direction that is generally parallel to the longitudinal axis; and

in a second position with the second mounting face facing the mounting surface, with the first and second side faces facing the first and second sidewalls, respectively, with the cable face facing generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and with the power input cable extending away from the electrical device in a second direction that is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

2. The electrical device assembly of claim 1, wherein the mounting surface of the electrical device and the first and second mounting faces of the power input member body each includes one or more electrical engagement features.

3. The electrical device assembly of claim 2, wherein:

in the first position, the electrical engagement features of the first mounting face and the mounting surface engage one another; and

in the second position, the electrical engagement features of the second mounting face and the mounting surface engage one another.

4. The electrical device assembly of claim 2, wherein the electrical engagement features of the mounting surface comprise a plurality of prongs extending from the mounting surface, and wherein the electrical engagement features of the each of the first and second mounting faces comprise a plurality of receptacles configured to receive the plurality of prongs.

5. The electrical device assembly of claim 1, wherein the electrical device includes a pair of locking mechanisms extending into the cavity at a proximal portion of the cavity, wherein each of the first and second side faces of the power input member body includes first and second locking mechanisms, and wherein:

in the first position, the locking mechanisms of the electrical device engage the first locking mechanisms of the power input member body; and

in the second position, the locking mechanisms of the electrical device engage the second locking mechanisms of the power input member body.

6. The electrical device assembly of claim 5, wherein the locking mechanisms of the electrical device comprise resilient tabs, and wherein the first and second locking mechanisms of the power input member body comprise recesses that are sized and configured to receive the tabs.

7. The electrical device assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second mounting faces are disposed about 90 degrees relative to one another.

8. The electrical device assembly of claim 1, wherein the cable face of the power input member body is opposite the second mounting face of the power input member body.

9. The electrical device assembly of claim 1, further comprising a power input receiving member mounted to the first end portion of the electrical device and defining the cavity.

10. The electrical device assembly of claim 9, wherein the power input receiving member is releasably mounted to the electrical device.

11. The electrical device assembly of claim 1, wherein the electrical device is a power distribution unit (PDU).

12. The electrical device assembly of claim 11, wherein the PDU front portion includes a plurality of outlets, and wherein:

in the first position, the power input cable extends away from the end portion in the first direction; and

in the second position, the power input cable extends away from the front portion in the second direction.

13. The electrical device assembly of claim 11 in combination with an equipment rack with the PDU mounted to the rack.

14. The electrical device assembly of claim 5, wherein:

the first locking mechanism of the first side face is at an interface between the first side face and a face opposite the first mounting face;

the second locking mechanism of the first side face is at an interface between the first side face and the cable face;

the first locking mechanism of the second side face is at an interface between the second side face and the face opposite the first mounting face; and

the second locking mechanism of the second side face is at an interface between the second side face and the cable face.

15. A power input member comprising:

a block-shaped body having a plurality of faces including first and second mounting faces; and

a power input cable attached to and extending away from the body;

wherein the body is sized and configured to be selectably mounted in a cavity of an electrical device comprising an elongated housing including an end portion having the cavity with a mounting surface at a distal portion of the cavity;

(i) in a first position with the first mounting face facing the mounting surface at the distal portion of the cavity and the power input cable extending away from the electrical device in a first direction; and

(ii) in a second position with the second mounting face facing the mounting surface at the distal portion of the cavity and the power input cable extending away from the electrical device in a second direction that is different than the first direction.

16. The power input member of claim 15, wherein the power input cable is attached to and extends away from a cable face of the body that is opposite the second mounting face of the body.

17. The power input member of claim 16, wherein the first and second mounting faces are disposed about 90 degrees relative to one another.

18. A method for mounting a power input cable to an electrical device, the method comprising:

providing a power input member comprising;

a single-piece block-shaped body having a plurality of faces including first and second mounting faces; and

a power input cable attached to and extending away from body;

providing an electrical device comprising an elongated housing including an end portion having a cavity with a mounting surface at a distal portion of the cavity, wherein the cavity is sized and configured so that the power input member body can be selectably mounted in the cavity in a first position with the first mounting face facing the mounting surface at the distal portion of the cavity and the power input cable extending away from the electrical device in a first direction and in a second position with the second mounting face facing the mounting surface at the distal portion of the cavity and the power input cable extending away from the electrical device in a second direction that is different than the first direction; and

selectably mounting the body of the power input member in the cavity of the electrical device in either the first position or the second position.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein an angle between the first and second directions is about 90 degrees.

20. An electrical device comprising:

an elongated housing comprising a front and first and second opposite ends; and

a cavity at the first end of the housing and bounded by first and second opposite sidewalls;

wherein the cavity is sized and configured to;

receive a first power input member having a body with first and second opposite side faces of the first power input member body facing the first and second sidewalls, respectively, and with a cable face of the first power input member body substantially flush with the first end of the housing such that a power input cable attached to the first power input member body and extending from a cable face of the first power input member body extends away from the electrical device in a first direction; and

receive a second power input member having a body with first and second opposite side faces of the second power input member body facing the first and second sidewalls, respectively, and with a cable face of the second power input member body substantially flush with the front of the housing such that a power input cable attached to the second power input member body and extending from a cable face of the second power input member body extends away from the electrical device in a second direction, wherein an angle between the first and second directions is about 90 degrees.