Equipment-rack power distribution system with cooling

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9219353-B2
Application number	US-201113293078-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 9, 2011
Priority date	Nov 9, 2010
Publication date	Dec 22, 2015
Grant date	Dec 22, 2015

Abstract

An equipment-rack power distribution system is described which includes a PDU housing, a power input penetrating the housing, a plurality of power outlets disposed on a surface of the housing, circuitry enclosed in the housing interconnecting the power input and the power outlets, one or more air inlets associated with the housing, one or more air outlets associated with the housing, and an air flow device in fluid communication with one or more of the air inlets and the air outlets. An environmental sensor may activate the air flow device upon detection of predetermined environmental conditions, such as a temperature that is above a defined limit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An equipment-rack power distribution system comprising:
a power distribution unit housing;
a power input penetrating the housing;
a plurality of power outlets disposed on a surface of the housing;
circuitry enclosed in the housing interconnecting the power input and the power outlets;
at least one air inlet associated with the housing;
at least one air outlet associated with the housing; and
an air flow device coupled in fluid communication with one or more of the at least one air inlet and the at least one air outlet,
wherein the air flow device comprises:
at least one fan and a conduit defining an air passage between the at least one fan and the housing; and
an equipment rack mounting bracket and a fan mounting fixture coupled with the equipment rack mounting bracket.

2. The system of claim 1 and further comprising a plurality of gaskets, the plurality of gaskets forming seals between the plurality of power outlets and the housing.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the housing is configured for vertical mounting in the equipment rack.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the air flow device is coupled to one or more of the at least one air inlet.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the at least one fan draws air from outside the equipment rack and urges the air into the housing.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one fan urges air into the housing.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the at least one fan draws air from outside the housing and urges the air through the housing to one or more of the at least one air outlet.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the air circulation flow device comprises a plurality of fans.

9. The system of claim 8 and further comprising a baffle pivotally disposed between one or more of the plurality of fans.

10. An equipment-rack power distribution system comprising:
a power distribution unit housing;
a power input penetrating the housing;
a plurality of power outlets disposed on a surface of the housing;
circuitry enclosed in the housing interconnecting the power input and the power outlets;
at least one air inlet associated with the housing;
at least one air outlet associated with the housing; and
an air flow device coupled in fluid communication with one or more of the at least one air inlet and the at least one air outlet, wherein the air flow device comprises:
a plurality of fans and a conduit defining an air passage between at least one of the plurality of fans and the housing; and
a baffle pivotally disposed between two or more of the plurality of fans, the baffle comprising first and second air plates, the first air plate disposed to receive air flowing from one of the plurality of fans and the second air plate disposed to receive air flowing from another one of the plurality of fans.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein, when the plurality of fans are activated, the flow of air from the plurality of fans urges the baffle into a predetermined position.

12. The system of claim 10 and further comprising a temperature sensor in electrical communication with the plurality of fans, the temperature sensor responsive to temperature in the power distribution unit housing to activate one or more of the plurality of fans.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the temperature sensor comprises one or more of a thermocouple and a thermostat.

14. The system of claim 10 and further comprising a plurality of gaskets, the plurality of gaskets forming seals between the power outlets and the housing.

15. The system of claim 10 wherein the housing is configured for vertical mounting in the equipment rack.

16. The system of claim 10 wherein the air flow device is coupled to one or more of the at least one air inlet.

17. The system of claim 10 wherein at least one of the plurality of fans draws air from outside the equipment rack and urges the air into the housing.

18. The system of claim 10 wherein at least one of the plurality of fans urges air into the housing.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein at least one of the plurality of fans draws air from outside the housing and urges the air through the housing to one or more of the at least one air outlet.

20. An equipment-rack power distribution system comprising:
a power distribution unit housing;
a power input penetrating the housing;
a plurality of power outlets disposed on a surface of the housing;
circuitry enclosed in the housing interconnecting the power input and the power outlets;
at least one air inlet associated with the housing;
at least one air outlet associated with the housing;
an air flow device coupled in fluid communication with one or more of the at least one air inlet and the at least one air outlet, wherein the air flow device comprises at least one fan and a conduit defining an air passage between the at least one fan and the housing; and
an environmental sensor coupled with the air flow device to activate the air flow device when a predetermined condition is sensed.

21. The system of claim 20 , wherein the environmental sensor comprises a temperature sensor.

22. The system of claim 20 and further comprising a plurality of gaskets, the plurality of gaskets forming seals between the power outlets and the housing.

23. The system of claim 20 wherein the housing is configured for vertical mounting in the equipment rack.

24. The system of claim 20 wherein the air flow device is coupled to one or more of the at least one air inlet.

25. The system of claim 20 wherein the at least one fan draws air from outside the equipment rack and urges the air into the housing.

26. The system of claim 20 wherein the at least one fan draws air from outside the housing and urges the air through the housing to one or more of the at least one air outlet.

27. An equipment-rack power distribution system comprising:
a power distribution unit housing;
a power input penetrating the housing;
a plurality of power outlets disposed on a surface of the housing;
circuitry enclosed in the housing interconnecting the power input and the power outlets;
at least one air inlet associated with the housing;
at least one air outlet associated with the housing; and
an air flow device coupled in fluid communication with one or more of the at least one air inlet and the at least one air outlet,
wherein the air flow device comprises at least one fan and a conduit defining an air passage between the at least one fan and the housing, the at least one fan being coupled to the conduit and the conduit being coupled to the at least one air outlet, the at least one fan drawing air through the at least one air outlet and through the conduit from the power distribution unit housing.

28. The system of claim 27 and further comprising a plurality of gaskets, the plurality of gaskets forming seals between the power outlets and the housing.

29. The system of claim 27 wherein the housing is configured for vertical mounting in the equipment rack.

Assignees

• Ewing Carrel W
• Ewing Brandon
• Murway Edi
• Server Tech Inc

Inventors

• Ewing Carrel W
• Ewing Brandon
• Murway Edi

Classifications

• H02B1/565 Primary

  for cabinets · CPC title