Scalable computing rack power distribution unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9733682-B2
Application number	US-201314135095-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 19, 2013
Priority date	Dec 19, 2013
Publication date	Aug 15, 2017
Grant date	Aug 15, 2017

Abstract

A power distribution unit (PDU) with at least one power distribution module configured in a computing rack and an interchangeable adapter coupled to the power distribution module to provide power to the distribution module. The power distribution module includes multiple power receptacles for coupling to a plurality of devices disposed in the computing rack. The interchangeable adapter is electrically connectable to one of a plurality of different electrical power sources in which each electrical power source has a phase type configuration that differs from one another.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A power distribution unit (PDU) comprising:
at least two power distribution circuits for distributing electrical power to a plurality of devices deployed in a computing rack, each power distribution circuit comprising a plurality of power receptacles for coupling to the plurality of devices disposed in the computing rack; and
an interchangeable adapter coupled to the power distribution circuits to provide the electrical power to the power distribution circuits, the interchangeable adapter electrically connectable to one of a plurality of different electrical power sources in which each electrical power source has a phase type configuration including at least one of a three phase delta connection, the interchangeable adapter comprising a first connector that is removably connectable to a second connector of a first of the power distribution circuits, the interchangeable adapter providing the power to the first power distribution circuit through the first connector,
wherein each power distribution circuit comprises a housing with the second connector configured on a first side of the housing and a third connector configured on a second side of the housing in which the second side is opposite the first side of the housing so that the at least two power distribution circuits may be stacked upon each other, and
wherein when the first connector of the interchangeable adapter is connected to the second connector of a first power distribution circuit and the second connector of a second power distribution circuit is connected to the third connector of the first power distribution circuit, power from the interchangeable adapter may be provided to the second power distribution circuit through the first power distribution circuit.

2. The PDU of claim 1 , wherein the first connector comprises a plurality of first connector elements configured on at least one of its surfaces, the first connector elements configured to be electrically coupled to complementary second connector elements configured on an adapter interconnector, the adapter interconnector comprising a plurality of third connector elements that are configured to be electrically coupled to complementary fourth connector elements of the second connector configured on at least one surface of the second power distribution circuit.

3. The PDU of claim 2 , wherein the first connector elements of the first connector comprise a plurality of male pins and the complementary second connector elements of the adapter interconnector comprise a plurality of female receptacles.

4. The PDU of claim 1 , wherein the phase type configuration of another power source comprises at least one of a single phase configuration, and a three phase wye configuration.

5. The PDU of claim 1 , wherein the interchangeable adapter comprises a latch mechanism for releasably securing the interchangeable adapter to the first power distribution circuit.

6. The PDU of claim 1 , wherein the at least two power distribution circuits comprises three power distribution circuits.

7. The PDU of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the power distribution circuits comprises a processing device to monitor one or more sensors and transmit telemetry data associated with the monitored sensors.

8. The PDU of claim 1 , wherein the power distribution circuits and the interchangeable adapter are configured on a side of the computing rack.

9. The PDU of claim 1 , wherein the interchangeable adapter comprises a connector configured on a housing of the interchangeable adapter.

10. The PDU of claim 1 , wherein the interchangeable adapter comprises a connector coupled to the interchangeable adapter through a cable.

11. The PDU of claim 1 , further comprising an adapter interconnector coupled between the interchangeable adapter and the power distribution unit, the adapter interconnector comprising a processing device to monitor one or more sensors and transmit telemetry data associated with the monitored sensors.

12. A computing rack comprising:
an enclosure for housing a plurality of devices; and
a power distribution unit (PDU) comprising:
at least two power distribution circuits configured in the enclosure, each power distribution circuit comprising a plurality of power receptacles for distributing electrical power to the plurality of devices housed in the enclosure; and
an interchangeable adapter coupled to the power distribution circuits to provide power to the power distribution circuits, the interchangeable adapter electrically connectable to one of a plurality of different electrical power sources in which each electrical power source has a phase type configuration including at least one of a three phase delta connection, the interchangeable adapter comprising a first connector that is removably connectable to a second connector a first of the power distribution circuits, the interchangeable adapter providing the power to the power distribution circuit through the first connector,
wherein each power distribution circuit comprises a housing with the second connector configured on a first side of the housing and a third connector configured on a second side of the housing in which the second side is opposite the first side of the housing so that the at least two power distribution circuits may be stacked upon each other, and
wherein when the first connector of the interchangeable adapter is connected to the second connector of a first power distribution circuit and the second connector of a second power distribution circuit is connected to the third connector of the first power distribution circuit, power from the interchangeable adapter may be provided to the second power distribution circuit through the first power distribution circuit.

13. The computing rack of claim 12 , wherein the PDU comprises two PDUs each configured on opposing sidewalls of the enclosure.

14. The computing rack of claim 12 , wherein at least one of the power distribution circuits comprises a circuit breaker for each of multiple phases of the electrical power source.

15. The computing rack of claim 12 , wherein the first connector comprises a plurality of first receptacles configured on its surface, the first receptacles configured to be electrically coupled to complementary first male pins configured on an adapter interconnector, the adapter interconnector comprising a plurality of second receptacles on its upper surface, the second receptacles configured to be electrically coupled to complementary second male pins on the second connector.

16. The computing rack of claim 15 , wherein at least one of the power distribution circuits further comprising a plurality of third receptacles configured on a top surface of the one power distribution circuit, the third receptacles electrically coupled to the second connector of another power distribution circuit.

17. The computing rack of claim 12 , wherein the interchangeable adapter comprises a power source connector coupled to the interchangeable adapter using an electrical cable.

18. The computing rack of claim 12 , wherein the interchangeable adapter comprises a power source connector configured on a housing of the interchangeable adapter.

19. The computing rack of claim 12 , wherein the phase configuration of another electrical power source comprises at least one of a single phase configuration, and a three phase wye configuration.

Assignees

• Vce Co Llc
• Vce Ip Holding Co Llc

Inventors

• Butzer Daniel Joseph
• Tuck Mark Steven

Classifications

• H05K7/1492

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

• G06F1/189 Primary

  Power distribution · CPC title

• G06F1/26 Primary

  Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof (for memories G11C) · CPC title