Power distribution apparatus comprising relay devices for controlling current flow along power paths of the power distribution apparatus

• US 6,232,675 B1
• Filed: 11/14/1998
• Issued: 05/15/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Small, Kenneth T
• Primary Examiner(s): FLEMING, FRITZ M
• Application Number:
  US09/191,761
• Time in Patent Office: 913 Days
• Field of Search: 307/30, 307/36, 307/38, 307/52, 307/114, 307/140, 315/361, 361/56, 361/91, 361/93, 361/111, 361/119
• US Class Current: 307/30
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 47/001 Functional circuits, e.g. logic, sequencing, interlocking circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 11/00 Emergency protective circuit arrangements for preventing the switching-on in case an undesired electric working condition might result
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/00 Circuit arrangements for ac mains or ac distribution networks

Abstract

A power distribution apparatus which utilizes relay devices to control the flow of power along power paths from an input terminal to one or more output terminals electrically coupled to the power paths. For each power path provided in the power distribution apparatus, the power distribution apparatus comprises one relay device and one or more output terminals associated with each power path. In operation, the relay device associated with each power path controls the flow of current from the input terminal to the output terminals electrically coupled to the power path. A switching assembly is electrically coupled to the power distribution apparatus for controlling the relay devices. When the switching assembly is activated, the relay devices are switched on and current is allowed to flow from the input terminal to the output terminals. When the switching assembly is deactivated, the relay devices are switched off and current is prevented from flowing from the input terminal to the output terminals. Preferably, the power distribution apparatus comprises a controller which controls the operation of the power distribution apparatus. When the switching assembly is activated and deactivated, the controller causes the relay devices to be closed and opened, respectively. Preferably, the controller switches the relay devices on and off in accordance with a predetermined timing sequence such that a time delay occurs from the time that one relay device is turned on or off before another relay device is switched on or off in the power distribution apparatus.

Claims

1. A power distribution apparatus comprising:

an input terminal for coupling a power source to the power distribution apparatus;

a plurality of output terminals for coupling electrical devices to the power distribution apparatus, each output terminal having a power path associated therewith, wherein the power distribution apparatus comprises at least a first power path and a second power path, the first power path electrically coupling the input terminal to at least one output terminal electrically coupled to the first power path, the second power path electrically coupling the input terminal to at least one output terminal electrically coupled to the second power path;

a first relay device disposed along the first power path at a location between the input terminal and said at least one output terminal electrically coupled to the first power path, wherein the first relay device controls current flow along the first power path from the input terminal to said at least one output terminal electrically coupled to the first power path to thereby control the flow of current from the input terminal to said at least one output terminal electrically coupled to the first power path;

a second relay device disposed along the second power path at a location between the input terminal and said at least one output terminal electrically coupled to the second power path, wherein the second relay device controls current flow along the second power path from the input terminal to said at least one output terminal electrically coupled to the second power path to thereby control the flow of current from the input terminal to said at least one output terminal electrically coupled to the second power path; and

a controller in communication with the first and second relay devices, the controller receiving input from a switching assembly, the controller interpreting the input from the switching assembly to determine whether the first and second relay device are to be switched on or off, wherein if the controller determines that the first and second relay devices are to be switched on, the controller causes the first and second relay devices to be switched on in sequence, wherein the first relay device is turned on by the controller first in the sequence, and wherein a delay period of a predetermined length of time elapses after the first relay device is switched on before the second relay device is switched on by the controller.

2. The power distribution apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second relay devices are remotely controlled by the switching assembly, the switching assembly being in communication with the controller of the power distribution apparatus.

3. The power distribution apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first and second power paths are electrically isolated from one another.

4. The power distribution apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a first circuit breaker disposed in the first power path between the input terminal and the first relay device and a second circuit breaker disposed in the second power path between the input terminal and the second relay device.

5. The power distribution apparatus of claim 3, further comprising:

a coupling assembly which enables said power distribution apparatus to be coupled to a second power distribution apparatus and which allows the second power distribution apparatus to be controlled by said switch assembly.

6. The power distribution apparatus of claim 3, wherein the switching assembly can be disconnected from the controller without affecting operation of the power distribution apparatus.

7. The power distribution apparatus of claim 3, wherein the input terminal is electrically coupled to the controller, and wherein the controller comprises input circuitry having a high impedance, wherein the high impedance of the input circuitry protects the controller from over voltage transients occurring at the input terminal of the power distribution apparatus.

8. The power distribution apparatus of claim 3, wherein the input terminal is electrically coupled to the controller at a controller interface comprised by the controller, and wherein the controller interface comprises input circuitry having a high impedance, wherein the high impedance of the input circuitry protects the controller from over voltage transients occurring at the input terminal of the power distribution apparatus.

9. The power distribution apparatus of claim 8, wherein the input circuitry generates a relatively low current which is utilized by the controller to switch the relay devices off and on.

10. The power distribution apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:

a third power path having a plurality of output terminals electrically coupled thereto for coupling electrical devices to the power distribution apparatus, the third power path providing a current path from the input terminal to the output terminals electrically coupled to the third power path; and

a third relay device disposed along the third power path at a location between the input terminal and said at least one output terminal electrically coupled to the third power path, wherein the third relay device controls current flow along the third power path from the input terminal to said at least one output terminal electrically coupled to the third power path to thereby control the flow of current from the input terminal to said at least one output terminal electrically coupled to the third power path.

11. The power distribution apparatus of claim 10, wherein the switching assembly controls the switching on and off of the third relay device to thereby control the flow of current from the input terminal to the output terminals electrically coupled to the third power path, the third relay device being in communication with the controller, the controller interpreting the input from the switching assembly to determine whether the third relay device is to be switched on or off, wherein when the controller determines that the first, second and third relay devices are to be switched off, the controller switches the first, second and third relay devices off, and wherein when the controller determines that the first, second and third relay devices are to be switched on, the controller switches the first, second and third relay devices on, thereby allowing current to flow from the input terminal along the first, second and third power paths to the output terminals electrically coupled to the first, second and third power paths.

12. The power distribution apparatus of claim 11, wherein if the controller determines that the first, second and third relay devices are to be switched on, the controller causes the first, second and third relay devices to be switched on in sequence, wherein the first relay device is turned on by the controller first in the sequence, and wherein a delay period of a predetermined length of time elapses after the first relay device is switched on before the second relay device is switched on by the controller, and wherein a delay period of a predetermined length of time elapses after the second relay device is switched on before the third relay device is switched on by the controller.

13. The power distribution apparatus of claim 12, wherein the power distribution apparatus is a three-phase power distribution apparatus and wherein the first, second and third power paths are 120 degrees out of phase from one another.

14. The power distribution apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a coupling assembly, wherein the coupling assembly enables the power distribution apparatus to be electrically coupled to a second power distribution apparatus and which allows the second power distribution apparatus to be controlled by said switch assembly.

15. The power distribution apparatus of claim 12, wherein the switching assembly can be disconnected from the controller without affecting operation of the power distribution apparatus.

16. The power distribution apparatus of claim 12, wherein the input terminal is electrically coupled to the controller at a controller interface comprised by the controller, and wherein the controller interface comprises input circuitry having a high impedance, wherein the high impedance of the input circuitry protects the controller from over voltage transients occurring at the input terminal of the power distribution apparatus.

17. The power distribution apparatus of claim 12, wherein the input circuitry generates a relatively low current which is utilized by the controller to switch the relay devices off and on.

18. The power distribution apparatus of claim 12, wherein the controller comprises a high-voltage control interface, the switching assembly being coupled to the controller at the high-voltage control interface, the high-voltage control interface comprising an impendace limiting network which protects the switching assembly against short circuits which may occur in the controller.