Method and apparatus for modular power distribution

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10721834-B2
Application number	US-201716074825-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 1, 2017
Priority date	Mar 4, 2016
Publication date	Jul 21, 2020
Grant date	Jul 21, 2020

Abstract

A method and apparatus for modular power distribution includes an end module and at least one switching module having a switching module electrical power interface configured to electrically connect to at least one of the end module electrical power interface or another switching module electrical power interface, and having at least one of a switching element, an input/output connector, a switching module communication interface, or a bus bar connector, wherein the modules are physically secured.

First claim

What we claim is:

1. A modular power distribution apparatus comprising:
a first end module and a second end module, at least one of the first or second end modules having at least one of an end module communication interface, a power supply, or a processor; and
at least one switching module having a first switching module electrical power interface and a second switching module electrical power interface, the first switching module electrical power interface and the second switching module electrical power interface configured to electrically connect to another switching module electrical power interface, and having at least one of a switching element, an input/output connector, a switching module communication interface, or a bus bar connector;
wherein the first end module, second end module, and the at least one switching module have an attachment interface configured to physically secure the at least one switching module to and between the first end module and the second end module or to another switching module, with the at least one of the first or second end modules communicatively connected to the at least one switching module, and at least one of the switching element, input/output connector, the switching module communication interface, or the bus bar connector being selectively connected to at least one of the first end module, the second end module, or another switching module; and
wherein each of the first end module, second end module, and the at least one switching module are arranged in parallel with each other when physically secured, the parallel arrangement defining a set of parallel planes, and wherein each of the first end module, second end module, and the at least one switching module define a common footprint dimension at the set of parallel planes; and
wherein the first switching module electrical power interfaces are disposed in a first row, and a subset of them are electrically connected to each other via a first bus connector, and wherein the second switching module electrical power interfaces are disposed in a second row parallel to the first row, and a subset of them are electrically connected to each other via a second bus connector.

2. The modular power distribution apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first end module has an end module electrical power interface and at least one of a communication interface or a processor and the second end module is a physical cover.

3. The modular power distribution apparatus of claim 1 wherein the attachment interface includes a set of attachment points, and the set of attachment points among the first end module, the second end module, and the at least one switching module are in registry.

4. The modular power distribution apparatus of claim 1 comprising at least one switching element, and wherein the switching element is a solid state power controller.

5. The modular power distribution apparatus of claim 1 wherein the attachment interface includes at least one of a locating pin or a seal.

6. The modular power distribution apparatus of claim 1 comprising a plurality of switching modules electrically connected serially between the first end module and the second end module, wherein at least one switching module has an input, at least one other switching module has an output, and at least two of the at least one switching modules are electrically connected to one another by way of a first bus connector but not electrically connected by way of a second bus connector to at least one of the first end module, the second end module, or another switching module.

7. The modular power distribution apparatus of claim 6 wherein the at least two switching modules includes a non-polar switch so as to provide bi-direction switching.

8. The modular power distribution apparatus of claim 6 wherein the direct electrical connection by way of the bus connector forms an electronic distribution bus.

9. A modular power distribution apparatus comprising:
at least one first end module and at least one second end module, at least one of the first and second end modules having at least one of an end module communication interface or a processor; and
a plurality of switching modules, each of the plurality of switching modules having a first switching module electrical power interface associated with a first bus connector and a second switching module electrical power interface associated with a second bus connector, each of the first and second switching module electrical power interfaces configured to electrically connect to at least another respective first switching module electrical power interface or second switching module electrical power interface, and having at least one of a switching element, an input/output connector, a switching module communication interface, or a bus bar connector, and wherein the electrical connections between the plurality of switching modules by way of the first bus connector and second bus connector forms an electronic distribution bus;
wherein the first end module, the second end module, and the at least one switching module have an attachment interface configured to physically secure the at least one switching module to at least one of the first or second end modules, between the first end module and the second end module, or to another switching module, in one or more axes, with the at least one of the switching element, input/output connector, switching module communication interface, or bus bar connector being selectively connected to at least one of the first end module, the second end module, or another switching module, and wherein the switching module communication interface is keyed to provide a known assembly orientation between adjacently-attached first end module, the at least one switching modules, and the second end module to define a common control interface between the first end module, the at least one switching modules, and the second end module.

10. The modular power distribution apparatus of claim 9 wherein at least one of the first end modules has a communication interface or a processor and at least one of the second end modules is a physical cover.

11. The modular power distribution apparatus of claim 9 wherein the attachment interface includes a set of attachment points, and the set of attachment points among the at least one first end module, at least one second end module, and at least one switching module are in registry.

12. The modular power distribution apparatus of claim 9 wherein the switching element is a solid state power controller.

13. The modular power distribution apparatus of claim 9 wherein the attachment interface includes at least one of a locating pin or a seal.

14. The modular power distribution apparatus of claim 9 wherein the plurality of switching modules are electrically connected serially or in parallel between the at least one first end module and the at least one second end module, wherein at least one switching module has an input, at least one other switching module has an output, and at least two of the at least one switching modules are electrically connected to one another by way of the first bus connector but not electrically connected by way of the second bus connector to at least one of the first end modules, the second end modules, or another switching module in more than one axis.

15. The modular power distribution apparatus of claim 9 wherein at least two of the at least one switching modules includes a non-polar switch so as to provide bi-direction switching.

16. A method of distributing power in an aircraft, the method comprising;
connecting at least one first

Assignees

• Ge Aviat Systems Ltd

Inventors

• Collins John Oliver
• Handy Peter James
• Mayes Julian Peter

Classifications

• B64D35/08

  characterised by the transmission being driven by a plurality of power plants (for hybrid-electric power plants B64D35/022) · CPC title

• H05K5/30

  Side-by-side or stacked arrangements · CPC title

• H05K7/1457 Primary

  Power distribution arrangements · CPC title

• B60R16/0238

  Electrical distribution centers · CPC title

• H05K5/0247

  Electrical details of casings, e.g. terminals, passages for cables or wiring · CPC title