Fuse module with removable fuse carrier for fused electrical device

Abstract

Described herein are various embodiments of a fuse module with a fuse carrier for fused electrical devices. According to one exemplary embodiment, at least one fuse module can be mounted to a power distribution unit for receiving at least one power input and providing power to associated electronic equipment. The power distribution unit can have a housing with at least one fuse access passage and at least one power output displaced along the housing and electrically couplable to the at least one power input. The fuse module can be disposed at least partially within the at least one fuse access passage and be electrically couplable to the at least one power input and at least one power output. The fuse module can have at least one removably attachable fuse carrier that, when attached, electrically couples a fuse housed by the fuse carrier to the at least one power input and the at least one power output.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an axonometric view of a power distribution apparatus constructed in accordance with one specific exemplary implementation.

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an axonometric view of a back side of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the top panel of a housing of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of a side wall of the housing of the apparatus of FIG. 1 including fuse state indicators.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are a side view and a plan view of a back panel of the housing of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is an elevational view of the remaining side wall of the housing of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a partial detailed axonometric view of an embodiment including a device for holding power plugs in engagement with the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 10 and 11 are a partial plan view with the front panel removed and a partial elevational view of one exemplary embodiment of a fuse assembly included in the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 12 is an exploded partial perspective view showing another embodiment of a fuse assembly.

FIG. 13 is an elevational view of a removable fuse card of the fuse assembly shown in FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a plan view of the removable fuse card of FIG. 13 mounted within the housing shown in FIG. 12 with the front panel removed.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a fuse assembly associated with the apparatus of FIG. 1 and in which an element changes state to indicate a fuse condition.

FIG. 16 is an elevational view of the fuse assembly embodiment shown in FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of a fuse assembly in which an element changes state to indicate fuse conditions.

FIG. 18 is a plan view of the fuse assembly embodiment shown in FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram of a fuse condition indication circuit that can be used in selected embodiments.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 mounted in an electronic equipment rack.

FIG. 21 is a partial detailed view of FIG. 20.

FIG. 22 is a partial detailed view of FIG. 20 but showing an opposite side of the apparatus.

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 mounted within the confines of an electronic equipment rack having doors providing access to the apparatus and other components mountable in the rack.

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of one exemplary embodiment of a power distribution unit having a plurality of fuse modules with fuse carriers mounted to a housing of the power distribution unit.

FIG. 25 is a detailed perspective view of one of the plurality of fuse modules shown in FIG. 24 mounted to the housing of the power distribution unit.

FIG. 26 is a perspective view of an exemplary fuse carrier of one of the modules shown in FIG. 24.

FIG. 27 is an exploded perspective view of the fuse carrier of FIG. 26.

FIG. 28 is a frontal elevational view of the fuse carrier of FIG. 26 with a fuse carrier cover removed.

FIG. 29 is a side elevational view the fuse carrier of FIG. 26 with a fuse carrier cover removed.

FIG. 30 is a perspective view of a fuse module mounted to the housing of a power distribution unit as viewed from within and below the fuse module.

FIG. 31 is a side elevational view of the fuse module mounted to the housing of the power distribution unit as shown in FIG. 30.

FIG. 32 is a plan view of a fuse access passage formed in a power distribution unit housing.

FIG. 33 is a plan view of a fuse module with the fuse carrier removed mounted within the fuse access passage shown in FIG. 32.

FIG. 34 is a perspective view of one exemplary embodiment of a power distribution unit having a plurality of fuse modules mounted to a housing of the power distribution unit where each fuse module has two fuse carriers.

Claims

1. A power distribution unit for providing power to associated electronic equipment, the power distribution unit comprising: a power distribution unit housing having at least one fuse access passage defined in the housing, the power distribution unit housing being configured to receive at least one power input;at least one power output displaced along the power distribution housing and electrically couplable to the at least one power input; andat least one fuse module mounted to the housing and disposed at least partially within the at least one fuse access passage, the at least one fuse module being electrically couplable to the at least one power input and the at least one power output, wherein the at least one fuse module comprises at least one removably attachable fuse carrier that, when attached, electrically couples a fuse housed by the fuse carrier to the at least one power input and the at least one power output.

2. The power distribution unit of claim 1, wherein the fuse carrier comprises a fuse housing defining a substantially enclosed cavity, and wherein a fuse housed by the fuse carrier is positionable within the housing cavity.

3. The power distribution unit of claim 1, wherein the fuse carrier comprises at least first and second electrically conductive terminals where the first terminal is electrically coupled to a first end of a fuse housed by the fuse carrier and the second terminal is electrically coupled to a second end of a fuse housed by the fuse carrier.

4. The power distribution unit of claim 3, wherein the at least one fuse module comprises a printed circuit board disposed within the power distribution unit housing, the printed circuit board being in electrical power receiving communication with the at least one power input and electrical power transmitting communication with the at least one power outlet, and wherein the at least one fuse carrier is removably couplable to the printed circuit board to electrically couple the fuse housed by the fuse carrier to the at least one power input and the at least one power output via the printed circuit board.

5. The power distribution unit of claim 4, wherein the at least one fuse module comprises at least two receptacles mounted and electrically coupled to the printed circuit board, each of the at least two receptacles having a socket for receiving a respective one of the at least two electrically conductive terminals.

6. The power distribution unit of claim 1, wherein when attached, the fuse carrier extends from an interior of the housing, through the fuse access passage, to an exterior of the housing.

7. The power distribution unit of claim 6, wherein the at least one fuse module comprises a mounting plate covering at least a portion of the fuse access passage, the mounting plate having a fuse carrier access opening through which the fuse carrier is extendable.

8. The power distribution unit of claim 1, wherein the at least one fuse module comprises at least two fuse carriers.

9. The power distribution unit of claim 8, wherein the at least two fuse carriers comprise a first fuse carrier and a second fuse carrier, and the at least one power output comprises at least first and second power output, wherein, when attached, the first fuse carrier electrically couples a fuse housed by the first fuse carrier to the at least one power input and the first power output, and, when attached, the second fuse carrier electrically couples a fuse housed by the second fuse carrier to the at least one power input and the second power output.

10. The power distribution unit of claim 1, further comprising at least one fuse condition indicator in electrical communication with a fuse housed by the fuse carrier when the fuse carrier is attached.

11. The power distribution unit of claim 1, wherein the fuse is a cartridge-type fuse.

12. The power distribution unit of claim 11, wherein the fuse is rated for branch circuit protection in a power distribution system.

13. The power distribution unit of claim 1, wherein the power distribution unit housing has a plurality of fuse access passages, the at least one power output comprises a plurality of power outputs, and the at least one fuse module comprises a plurality of fuse modules.

14. The power distribution unit of claim 1, wherein, when attached, the at least one removably attachable fuse carrier is accessible from outside the power distribution unit housing.

15. The power distribution unit of claim 1, wherein the at least one removably attachable fuse carrier is removable from the power distribution unit without disassembly of the power distribution unit housing.

16. The power distribution unit of claim 1, wherein the at least one power output comprises a plurality of power outputs.

17. The power distribution unit of claim 16, wherein at least two of the plurality of power outputs are interconnected to form a ganged outlet module.

18. A method for providing overcurrent protection in a power distribution unit capable of receiving at least one power input and having at least one power output for providing power to associated electronic equipment, the power distribution unit having a housing with at least one fuse access passage penetrating the housing, the method comprising: mounting at least one fuse module at least partially within the fuse access passage of the power distribution unit housing, the fuse module comprising a printed circuit board having at least two terminal sockets mounted thereon;electrically connecting a first of the at least two terminal sockets on the printed circuit board to the at least one power input and electrically connecting a second of the at least two terminal sockets on the printed circuit board to the at least one power output; andremovably attaching a fuse carrier to the at least two terminal sockets to electrically couple a fuse enclosed within the fuse carrier to the at least one power input and the at least one power output.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the fuse carrier comprises a first fuse carrier enclosing a first fuse, the method further comprising: determining the status of the first fuse enclosed within the first fuse carrier;if the first fuse is in an inoperable state, detaching the first fuse carrier from the at least two terminal sockets; andremovably attaching a second fuse carrier to the at least two terminal sockets to electrically couple a second fuse enclosed within the second fuse carrier to the at least one power input and the at least one power output.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein detaching the first fuse carrier comprises manually grasping the first fuse carrier and pulling the first fuse carrier out of engagement with the at least two terminal sockets.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein determining the status of the first fuse comprises visually inspecting a fuse condition indicator in electronic communication with the first fuse.

22. An electronic equipment rack assembly, comprising: an electronic equipment rack for housing electronic equipment;a power distribution unit mounted to the electronic equipment rack, the power distribution unit being in power receiving communication with at least one power source and having at least one power outlet capable of being in power supplying communication with electronic equipment, the power distribution unit comprising a housing having at least one fuse access passage; andat least one fuse module mounted to the power distribution unit housing and disposed at least partially within the at least one fuse access passage, the at least one fuse module being electrically coupled to the at least one power source and electrically couplable to the plurality of power outlets, wherein the at least one fuse module comprises at least one removably attachable fuse carrier that, when attached, electrically couples a fuse housed by the fuse carrier to the at least one power source and the plurality of power outlets.

23. The power distribution unit of claim 22, wherein the power distribution unit housing has a plurality of fuse access passages, the at least one power outlet comprises a plurality of power outlets, and the at least one fuse module comprises a plurality of fuse modules.

24. A fuse module for use with a fused electrical device for receiving at least one power input and having at least one electrical component, the fuse module comprising: a printed circuit board mountable to the fused electrical device and having at least a first power input circuit electrically couplable to at least one power input of a fused electrical device and a second outlet circuit electrically couplable to at least one electrical component of said fused electrical device;at least first and second receptacles mounted to the printed circuit board, the first receptacle being electrically coupled to the first power input circuit and the second receptacle being electrically coupled to the second outlet circuit; anda fuse carrier comprising a housing and at least first and second terminals extending from the housing, the housing defining a fuse storage compartment substantially enclosing a fuse, the first terminal having a fuse connecting end electrically coupled to a first end of the fuse and a receptacle connecting end generally opposite the fuse connecting end, and the second terminal having a fuse connecting end electrically coupled to a second end of the fuse generally opposite the first end of the fuse and a receptacle connecting end generally opposite the fuse connecting end;wherein the fuse carrier is removably attached to the first and second receptacles to electrically couple the fuse to the at least one power input and the at least one electrical component of the fused electrical device by inserting the first and second terminals into a respective one of the first and second receptacles.