System for detecting defective battery packs

• US 20040168818A1
• Filed: 03/03/2004
• Published: 09/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Powerware Corporation (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Powerware Corporation (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Layden, David, Edevold, Craig, Zahrte, Donald Sr., Winch, Cary
• Application Number:
  US10/792,525
• Publication Number:
  US 20040168818A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 174/50
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0031 using battery or load disconnect circuits H02J9/002 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/06 with automatic change-over , e.g. UPS systems

Abstract

An electrical cabinet for an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system includes universal slots that can receive power modules, battery packs, or chargers. The back plane of the slot has connector terminals for battery packs and power modules. The cabinet can be easily reconfigured as desired by changing the number of power modules chargers or battery packs installed. Circuitry is provided that indicates the capacity and operational readiness of the cabinet. This circuitry monitors the battery packs in each slot, and isolates any detected fault to a particular battery pack.

Claims

1. An electrical cabinet for configuring an uninterruptible power system, the cabinet comprising a plurality of receiving locations each adapted to receive either of a power module and a battery pack, each receiving location including at least one terminal connector comprising a first power connector adapted to electrically connect with the battery pack and a signal connector adapted to electrically connect with the power module.

2. The electrical cabinet of claim 1, wherein each receiving location includes a first terminal connector and a separate second terminal connector arranged in non-interfering locations.

3. The electrical cabinet of claim 1 wherein the signal connector and the power connector are arranged in a single terminal connector along a common strip.

4. The electrical cabinet of claim 3 wherein the power modules are adapted to connect to the power connector in addition to the signal connector.

5. The electrical cabinet of claim 1 further comprising partitions dividing the receiving locations into slots.

6. The electrical cabinet of claim 1 further comprising a user interface adapted to provide a status of each receiving location that is indicative of the use of the receiving location.

7. The electrical cabinet of claim 6 wherein each receiving location comprises sensing means indicating to the user interface the type of device positioned in the receiving location.

8. The electrical cabinet of claim 1 wherein each receiving location is adapted to receive at least two battery packs, and wherein each said receiving location includes a pair of said first terminal connectors, one first terminal connector for each different battery pack.

9. The electrical cabinet of claim 1 wherein each power module includes a fan, each receiving location including a vent arranged to be in close proximity to the fan of a power module positioned therein.

10. The electrical cabinet of claim 1, further comprising:

a support base;

support bars spaced apart in rectangular relationship extending vertically and parallel from the support base;

side panels extending vertically and generally parallel between different pairs of the four support posts; and

a plurality of shelves extending horizontally between the four support posts in spaced apart parallel relationship, the receiving locations being defined between adjacent shelves; and

a back panel associated with the receiving location, the back panel extending generally perpendicular to the shelves and transversely between the side panels and two of the support bars, the back panel supporting the at least one terminal connector.

11. The electrical cabinet of claim 10 wherein the shelves, the side panels, and the support bars are manufactured from sheet metal material, pairs of the support bars being connected and maintained in spaced relation by a web of sheet metal material.

12. The electrical cabinet of claim 1, wherein said plurality of receiving locations are also adapted to receive a battery charger, and wherein said first power connector and said signal connector are adapted to electrically connect with the battery charger.

13. An electrical cabinet for configuring an uninterruptible power system with battery packs and modules, comprising:

a support housing;

a plurality of universal bays defined in the support housing, each universal bay sized to receive either of a battery pack and a power module; and

at least one terminal connector for each universal bay, comprising a first power connector adapted to electrically connect with the battery pack and a signal connector adapted to electrically connect with the power module.

14. The electrical cabinet of claim 13, wherein each universal bay includes a first terminal connector and a separate second terminal connector arranged in non-interfering locations.

15. The electrical cabinet of claim 14 wherein the housing defines a guide surface for each universal bay adapted to guide the battery pack into electrical connection with the first power connector and guide the power module into electrical connection with the signal connector.

16. The electrical cabinet of claim 15 wherein each of the signal and power connectors include a guide mechanism which interacts with a corresponding guide mechanism on either of the battery pack and power module, wherein the guide surface is adapted to first locate the corresponding guide mechanisms for interaction, and then the respective corresponding guide mechanisms guide the battery packs and power modules into electrical connection with the power connectors and signal connectors, respectively.

17. The electrical cabinet of claim 13 wherein the signal connector and the power connector are arranged in a single terminal connector along a common strip.

18. The electrical cabinet of claim 17 wherein the power module is adapted to connect to the power connector in addition to the signal connector.

19. The electrical cabinet of claim 13 further comprising a user interface adapted to provide a status of each universal bay that is indicative of the use of the universal bay.

20. The electrical cabinet of claim 19 wherein each universal bay comprises a sensor means indicating to the user interface the type of device positioned in the universal bay.

21. The electrical cabinet of claim 13, wherein the support housing comprises:

a support base;

support bars spaced apart in rectangular relationship extending vertically and parallel from the support base;

side panels extending vertically and generally parallel between different pairs of the four support posts; and

a plurality of shelves extending horizontally between the four support posts in spaced apart parallel relationship, the universal bays being defined between adjacent shelves; and

a back panel associated with the universal bays, the back panel extending generally perpendicular to the shelves and transversely between the side panels and two of the support bars, the back panel supporting the at least one terminal connector.

22. The electrical cabinet of claim 21 wherein the shelves, the side panels, and the support bars are manufactured from sheet metal material, pairs of the support bars being connected and maintained in spaced relation by a web of sheet metal material.

23. The electrical cabinet of claim 22 wherein the back panel comprises a printed circuit board backplane.

24. The electrical cabinet of claim 13 wherein each battery pack is dimensioned to be about one half the size of a power module, such that each universal bay is adapted to receive either of two battery packs side by side and a power module.

25. The electrical cabinet of claim 13, wherein each universal bay is sized to additionally receive a battery charger, and wherein said at least one terminal connector for each universal bay is adapted to electrically connect to said battery charger.

26. A back panel for use in an electrical cabinet of a modular uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system, the UPS being capable of including any combination or exclusion of battery packs, power modules, and battery chargers within the capacity of the electrical cabinet, the electrical cabinet having a plurality of identical receiving locations capable of receiving any one of the power modules, battery packs, and battery chargers, the back panel comprising:

a backplane; and

a first terminal connector, said terminal connector comprising;

a power connector mounted on said backplane and adapted to electrically connect with the battery pack, the power module, and the battery charger; and

a signal connector mounted on said backplane and adapted to electrically connect with the power module and the battery charger.

27. The back panel of claim 26, wherein said backplane comprises a printed circuit board having power traces and signal traces included therein said power traces and signal traces being operably coupled to said power connector and said signal connector, respectively.

28. The back panel of claim 26, further comprising a second terminal connector positioned in a non-interfering relationship with said first terminal connector.

29. The back panel of claim 26, further comprising a guide member rigidly mounted on said backplane, said guide member adapted to receive flanges on the battery packs, power modules, and battery chargers to ensure proper positioning of the battery packs, power modules, and battery chargers for engagement with the terminal connector.

30. An uninterruptible power system (UPS), comprising:

an electrical cabinet having a plurality of universal receiving locations defined therein, said universal receiving locations being adapted to receive battery packs and power modules;

a power module positioned within one of said universal receiving locations; and

a battery pack positioned within another one of said universal receiving locations.

31. The UPS of claim 30, wherein said universal receiving locations are further adapted to receive battery chargers, the UPS further comprising a battery charger positioned within a third of said universal receiving locations.

32. The UPS of claim 30, wherein each of said universal receiving locations comprises a terminal connector having a power connector and a signal connector positioned to electrically connect with both the power module and the battery pack upon insertion thereof.