Power distribution unit with cord storage cartridge

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10517188-B2
Application number	US-201615169940-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 1, 2016
Priority date	Jun 1, 2016
Publication date	Dec 24, 2019
Grant date	Dec 24, 2019

Abstract

Systems, methods, and devices are provided in which cord storage cartridges are removably connected to a power distribution unit (PDU). The cord storage cartridge may include a cartridge housing having at least one aperture, a PDU interface associated with the cartridge housing and configured to removably connect the cord storage device to a mateable interface of the PDU, and a power output cord having a proximal end in electrical communication with the PDU interface and a distal end coupled with an output connector that is configured to connect to electronic equipment. The power output cord may be stowed at least partially within the cartridge housing in a retracted state and moveable through the at least one aperture to an extended state at least partially external to the cartridge housing.

First claim

We claim:

1. A power distribution unit (PDU), comprising:
an elongate PDU housing substantially enclosing an interior and including one or more channels separated from and extending longitudinally along a lateral side of the interior, said one or more channels having a combined length at least half the length of the PDU housing;
a power input coupled with the PDU housing and connectable to an external power source;
at least one cord storage cartridge removably connected to the PDU and in electrical communication with the power input; and
a plurality of cartridge interfaces associated with the PDU housing each configured to removably connect the at least one cord storage cartridge to the PDU, wherein at least one of the plurality of cartridge interfaces includes one or more connectors extending toward the at least one cord storage cartridge.

2. The PDU of claim 1 , wherein the at least one cartridge interface is further configured to electrically interconnect the at least one cord storage cartridge to the power input.

3. The PDU of claim 2 , wherein the at least one cartridge interface comprises:
at least one first power connector in electrical communication with a first power line from the power input; and
at least one second power connector in electrical communication with a second power line from the power input.

4. The PDU of claim 3 , wherein the first power line is a first phase power line from the power input, and the second power line is a neutral line from the power input.

5. The PDU of claim 3 , wherein the power input is a polyphase power input, the first power line is a first phase power line from the polyphase power input, and the second power line is a second phase power line from the polyphase power input.

6. The PDU of claim 1 , wherein the at least one cartridge interface comprises:
at least one communication signal interface configured to receive at least one power-related parameter from the at least one cord storage cartridge.

7. The PDU of claim 6 , wherein the at least one communication signal interface comprises an electrical signal interface, an optical signal interface, a radio frequency signal interface, or a combination thereof.

8. The PDU of claim 6 , wherein the at least one cord storage cartridge comprises at least one sensing device configured to sense the at least one power-related parameter.

9. The PDU of claim 6 , further comprising:
at least one communications bus in communication with the at least one communication signal interface; and
at least one communications module in communication with the at least one communications bus and configured to report the at least one power-related parameter to a network.

10. The PDU of claim 1 , wherein the at least one cartridge interface comprises:
at least one control signal interface configured to provide control signals to the at least one cord storage cartridge.

11. The PDU of claim 10 , wherein the at least one control signal interface comprises an electrical signal interface, an optical signal interface, a radio frequency signal interface, or a combination thereof.

12. The PDU of claim 10 , wherein the control signals control the operation of the at least one cord storage cartridge.

13. The PDU of claim 10 , wherein the at least one cord storage cartridge comprises at least one relay and the control signals control the operation of the at least one relay.

14. The PDU of claim 1 , wherein the one or more channels comprises a sidewall having at least one alignment notch configured to guide the at least one cord storage cartridge into registration with the at least one cartridge interface.

15. The PDU of claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of cord storage cartridges disposed adjacent to each other along a substantial length of the PDU housing.

16. The PDU of claim 15 , wherein each of the plurality of cord storage cartridges comprises a power output cord having a proximal end in electrical communication with the power input and a distal end coupled with an output connector that is configured to connect to electronic equipment.

17. The PDU of claim 16 , wherein two or more of the plurality of cord storage cartridges comprise power output cords having different types of output connectors configured to connect to corresponding types of electronic equipment.

18. The PDU of claim 15 , wherein two or more of the plurality of cord storage cartridges are interchangeable.

19. The PDU of claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one cartridge attachment structure associated with the PDU housing; and
at least one PDU attachment mechanism associated with the at least one cord storage cartridge and configured to mateably engage with the at least one cartridge attachment structure.

20. The PDU of claim 19 , wherein the at least one cartridge attachment structure comprises a post and the at least one PDU attachment mechanism comprises a notch configured to receive the post.

21. A power distribution unit (PDU), comprising:
an elongate PDU housing substantially enclosing an interior and including one or more channels separated from and extending longitudinally along a lateral side of the interior, said one or more channels having a combined length at least half the length of the PDU housing;
a power input coupled with the PDU housing and connectable to an external power source;
a plurality of cord storage cartridges each disposed in the one or more channels and removably connected to the PDU and in electrical communication with the power input; and
a plurality of cartridge interfaces associated with the PDU housing and configured to removably connect the plurality of cord storage cartridges to the PDU, wherein at least one of the plurality of cartridge interfaces includes one or more connectors extending toward the at least one cord storage cartridge.

22. A power distribution unit (PDU), comprising:
an elongate PDU housing substantially enclosing an interior and including one or more channels separated from and extending longitudinally along a lateral side of the PDU housing interior, said one or more channels having a combined length at least half the length of the PDU housing;
a power input coupled with the PDU housing and connectable to an external power source; and
a plurality of interchangeable cord storage cartridges, each disposed in the channel and removably connected to the PDU and in electrical communication with the power input.

23. The PDU of claim 22 , further comprising a plurality of cartridge interfaces associated with the PDU housing and configured to removably connect the plurality of cord storage cartridges to the PDU.

24. The PDU of claim 22 , wherein the interior and the one or more channels share a common wall.

Assignees

• Server Tech Inc

Inventors

• Irons Travis
• Bhakta Vimal
• Macedo Jeff

Classifications

• H01R13/60

  Means for supporting coupling part when not engaged · CPC title

• H01R2103/00

  Two poles · CPC title

• H01R24/30

  with additional earth or shield contacts · CPC title

• H05K7/1492

  having electrical distribution arrangements, e.g. power supply or data communications · CPC title

• H05K7/1491 Primary

  having cable management arrangements (management of optical cables G02B6/444; in telecommunication cabinets H04Q1/06) · CPC title