Apparatus and method for distributing electrical power from a plurality of power sources among a plurality of electrical conductors

Abstract

An apparatus for distributing electrical power from a plurality of power sources among a plurality of electrical conductors includes: (a) A plurality of power supply bus structures. Each respective power supply bus structure is coupled with at least one respective power source and presents a respective plurality of first electrical connection structures arranged in a respective first spaced array. (b) Each respective electrical conductor presents a respective plurality of second electrical connection structures arranged in a respective second spaced array. (c) At least one electrical bridging unit coupling a respective first electrical connection structure and a respective second electrical connection structure to establish electrical connection between a selected respective power supply bus structure and a selected respective electrical conductor.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the apparatus of the present invention configured for operation as a dual voltage distribution system.

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of the apparatus of the present invention configured for operation as a battery power input distribution system.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the apparatus of the present invention configured with sliding access panels for ensuring proper line-up of load devices.

FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view of the apparatus of the present invention configured for operation as a multiple voltage distribution system.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating the method of the present invention.

Claims

1. An apparatus for distributing electrical power from a plurality of power sources among a plurality of electrical conductors; the apparatus comprising: (a) a plurality of power supply bus structures; each respective power supply bus structure of said plurality of power supply bus structures being coupled with at least one respective power source of said plurality of power sources and being generally oriented about a respective first longitudinal axis of a plurality of first longitudinal axes; said plurality of first longitudinal axes being generally parallel; each said respective power supply bus structure presenting a respective plurality of first electrical connection structures arranged in a respective first spaced array generally along a respective said first longitudinal axis;(b) each respective electrical conductor of said plurality of electrical conductors being generally oriented about a respective second longitudinal axis of a plurality of second longitudinal axes; said plurality of second longitudinal axes being generally parallel and generally perpendicular with said plurality of first longitudinal axes; each said respective electrical conductor presenting a respective plurality of second electrical connection structures arranged in a respective second spaced array generally along a respective said second longitudinal axis; and(c) at least one electrical bridging unit; a respective electrical bridging unit of said at least one electrical bridging unit cooperating with a respective first electrical connection structure and a respective second electrical connection structure to establish electrical connection between a selected said respective power supply bus structure and a selected said respective electrical conductor; said respective electrical bridging unit, said respective first electrical connection structure and said respective second electrical connection structure being oriented generally along a selected said respective second longitudinal axis.

2. An apparatus for distributing electrical power from a plurality of power sources among a plurality of electrical conductors as recited in claim 1 wherein said respective plurality of second electrical connection structures are arranged generally along a respective said first longitudinal axis with a first inter-structure spacing, and said respective plurality of second electrical connection structures are arranged generally along said respective second longitudinal axis with a second inter-structure spacing.

3. An apparatus for distributing electrical power from a plurality of power sources among a plurality of electrical conductors as recited in claim 2 wherein said first inter-structure spacing and said second inter-structure spacing are substantially similar along each respective said second longitudinal axis.

4. An apparatus for distributing electrical power from a plurality of power sources among a plurality of electrical conductors as recited in claim 2 wherein said first inter-structure spacing and said second inter-structure spacing are not substantially similar along at least two said respective second longitudinal axes.

5. An apparatus for distributing electrical power from a plurality of power sources among a plurality of electrical conductors as recited in claim 1 wherein said each said respective plurality of first electrical connection structures are arranged generally along a respective said second longitudinal axis having a first structural shape, and each said respective plurality of second electrical connection structures are arranged generally along said respective second longitudinal axis having a second structural shape; said first structural shape and said second structural shape being substantially similar.

6. An apparatus for distributing electrical power from a plurality of power sources among a plurality of electrical conductors as recited in claim 5 wherein said first structural shape and said second structural shape are substantially similar along each respective said second longitudinal axis.

7. An apparatus for distributing electrical power from a plurality of power sources among a plurality of electrical conductors as recited in claim 5 wherein said first structural shape and said second structural shape are not substantially similar along at least two said respective second longitudinal axes.

8. An apparatus for distributing electrical power from a plurality of power sources among a plurality of electrical conductors as recited in claim 1 wherein each said respective plurality of first electrical connection structures are first apertures arranged generally along a respective said second longitudinal axis with a first inter-aperture spacing, each said respective plurality of second electrical connection structures are second apertures arranged generally along said respective second longitudinal axis with a second inter-aperture spacing, and said electrical bridging unit effects connection along said respective second longitudinal axis between a respective said first aperture and a respective said second aperture by a first pin structure proportioned for an electrically conductive fit within said first aperture and a second pin structure proportioned for an electrically conductive fit within said second aperture; said first pin structure and said second pin structure being electrically common.

9. An apparatus for distributing electrical power from a plurality of power sources among a plurality of electrical conductors as recited in claim 8 wherein said first inter-aperture spacing and said second inter-aperture spacing are substantially similar along each said respective second longitudinal axis.

10. An apparatus for distributing electrical power from a plurality of power sources among a plurality of electrical conductors as recited in claim 8 wherein said first inter-aperture spacing and said second inter-aperture spacing are not substantially similar along at least two said respective second longitudinal axes.

11. An apparatus for distributing electrical power from a plurality of power sources among a plurality of electrical conductors; the apparatus comprising: (a) a plurality of power supply bus structures; each respective power supply bus structure of said plurality of power supply bus structures being coupled with at least one respective power source of said plurality of power sources and presenting a respective plurality of first electrical connection structures arranged in a respective first spaced array;(b) each respective electrical conductor of said plurality of electrical conductors presenting a respective plurality of second electrical connection structures arranged in a respective second spaced array; and(c) at least one electrical bridging unit; a respective electrical bridging unit of said at least one electrical bridging unit coupling a respective first electrical connection structure and a respective second electrical connection structure to establish electrical connection between a selected said respective power supply bus structure and a selected said respective electrical conductor.

12. An apparatus for distributing electrical power from a plurality of power sources among a plurality of electrical conductors as recited in claim 11 wherein a respective plurality of said first electrical connection structures are arranged generally along a respective axis with a respective first inter-structure spacing, and a respective plurality of said second electrical connection structures are arranged generally along said respective axis with a second inter-structure spacing.

13. An apparatus for distributing electrical power from a plurality of power sources among a plurality of electrical conductors as recited in claim 12 wherein said first inter-structure spacing and said second inter-structure spacing are substantially similar along each respective said axis.

14. An apparatus for distributing electrical power from a plurality of power sources among a plurality of electrical conductors as recited in claim 12 wherein selected first electrical connection structures of at least one said respective plurality of first electrical connection structures have a first structural shape, and selected said respective second electrical connection structures oriented co-axially with said selected first electrical connection structures have a second structural shape.

15. An apparatus for distributing electrical power from a plurality of power sources among a plurality of electrical conductors as recited in claim 14 wherein said first structural shape and said second structural shape are substantially similar along each respective said axis.

16. An apparatus for distributing electrical power from a plurality of power sources among a plurality of electrical conductors as recited in claim 11 wherein selected said respective first electrical connection structures are first apertures arranged according to a first inter-aperture spacing, selected said respective second electrical connection structures are second apertures arranged according to a second inter-aperture spacing, and said electrical bridging unit effects connection between a respective said first aperture and a respective said second aperture by a first pin structure proportioned for an electrically conductive fit within said first aperture and a second pin structure proportioned for an electrically conductive fit within said second aperture; said first pin structure and said-second pin structure being electrically common.

17. An apparatus for distributing electrical power from a plurality of power sources among a plurality of electrical conductors as recited in claim 16 wherein said first electrical connection structures and said second electrical connection structures are arrayed along a plurality of generally parallel axes; said first inter-aperture spacing and said second inter-aperture spacing being substantially similar along each respective axis of said plurality of axes.

18. A method for distributing electrical power from a plurality of power sources among a plurality of electrical conductors; the method comprising the steps of: (a) in no particular order: (1) providing a plurality of power supply bus structures; each respective power supply bus structure of said plurality of power supply bus structures being coupled with at least one respective power source of said plurality of power sources and presenting a respective plurality of first electrical connection structures arranged in a respective first spaced array;(2) configuring each respective electrical conductor of said plurality of electrical conductors to present a respective plurality of second electrical connection structures arranged in a respective second spaced array; and(3) providing at least one electrical bridging unit; and(b) orienting a respective electrical bridging unit of said at least one electrical bridging unit to effect electrical coupling between a respective first electrical connection structure and a respective second electrical connection structure to establish electrical connection between a selected said respective power supply bus structure and a selected said respective electrical conductor.

19. A method for distributing electrical power from a plurality of power sources among a plurality of electrical conductors as recited in claim 18 wherein a respective plurality of said first electrical connection structures are arranged generally along a respective axis with a respective first inter-structure spacing, and a respective plurality of said second electrical connection structures are arranged generally along said respective axis with a second inter-structure spacing.

20. A method for distributing electrical power from a plurality of power sources among a plurality of electrical conductors as recited in claim 18 wherein selected first electrical connection structures of at least one said respective plurality of first electrical connection structures have a first structural shape, and selected said respective second electrical connection structures oriented co-axially with said selected first electrical connection structures have a second structural shape.