For a more complete understanding of the present invention, including its features and advantages, reference is now made to the detailed description of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:
a;
While the making and using of various embodiments of the present invention are discussed in detail below, it should be appreciated that the present invention provides many applicable inventive concepts that may be embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specific embodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific ways to make and use the invention and do not delimit the scope of the invention.
Electrical power distribution, or busway systems, are used to distribute electrical power throughout buildings, particularly commercial or industrial type buildings where demand is high. One representative type of building is a server farm, where a group of networked servers are housed in one facility. Generally, a busway includes a number of busway sections which are connected to one another by busway joints or bridges. Typically, each busway section includes housing that encloses a plurality of busbars which may be phase busbars, neutral busbars, or ground busbars depending on the particular application. High-amp busways, generally utilizing larger busbars, are employed for applications requiring current capacity of approximately 600 amperes or higher. For applications requiring less current, typically 100 to 800 amperes, low-amp busways are employed. Lower current capacity requirements generally employ busbars which are smaller in width and/or height. Spacing between busbars generally varies according to the voltage.
The current busways are deficient in that the busways receive power from only a single electrical source, leaving the user to install multiple busways in an environment where plural power sources, perhaps of differing voltage or amperage, are desired at a single location.
Now referring to
The first plurality 20 of busbars 22 is configured to receive a first current 06 having a configured amperage, voltage, and waveform. The busbars 22 are preferably planar and disposed within a first busway housing 21 in a generally parallel and spaced apart relationship. Each busbar 22 is optionally coated with an insulative layer 24. The insulative layer 24 on each busbar 12 prevents electrical contact or arcing between the busbars 22. Each busbar 22 also presents a centerline 26 along its length. It should be noted that the centerline may be abstract in order to accommodate such configurations as hollow busbars in order to minimize “skin effect.” In the preferred embodiment, the first plurality 20 busbars 22 share a similar first centerline-to-centerline spacing 28. The first centerline-to-centerline spacing 28, thickness, width, and composition of the first plurality 20 of busbars 22 are configured according to the first power source 06. Where the first power source is of high amperage, the busbars 22 may have a higher thickness or width. The bars are preferably composed of copper or aluminum, but can be composed of other conducting material known in the art.
The proximal ends of the first plurality 20 of busbars 22 are shaped to receive the first power source 06. The distal region of the first plurality 20 of busbars 22 is configured to mate with bus bridges, bus plugs, appliances, or similar devices. The distal region of the busbars 22 includes conductive fingers 29 in order to facilitate mating and electrical communication with other devices. Additionally, the busbar 22 spacing may change in order to facilitate engagement with other devices.
The second plurality 30 of busbars 32 is similar to the first plurality 20 of busbars 22 and configured to receive a second current 08 having a second amperage, voltage, and/or waveform. The busbars 32 are also preferably planar and disposed within a second busway housing 31 in a generally parallel and spaced apart relationship. Each busbar 32 is optionally coated with an insulative layer 34 in order to prevent electrical contact or arcing between the busbars 32. Each busbar 32 also presents a centerline 36. In the preferred embodiment, the second plurality 30 of busbars 32 share a similar second centerline-to-centerline spacing 38. The second centerline-to-centerline spacing 38, thickness, width, and composition of the second plurality 30 of busbars 32 are configured according to the second power source 08. Where the second power source is of higher amperage, the busbars 32 have a higher thickness or width. The bars are also preferably composed of copper or aluminum.
The proximal ends of the second plurality 30 of busbars 32 are shaped to receive the second power source 08. The distal portions of the first plurality 30 of busbars 32 are configured to mate with bus bridges, bus plugs, appliances, or similar devices. The busbars 32 include conductive fingers 29 and 39 in order to facilitate mating and electrical communication with other devices. Additionally, the busbar 32 spacing may change in order to facilitate engagement with other devices.
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A similarly configured electrically isolated, but physically adjacent, second circuit adapted for receipt of a second power source 08 is provided. The second power source 08 is in electrical communication with the second plurality 30 of busbars 32. The second plurality can include a single segment of busbars 32 or can include multiple segments joined by a bus bridge or the like. The distal ends of the second plurality 30 of busbars 32 having the conductive fingers 39 are free to engage to an appliance 6264 or other component 6264.
Still referring to
The housings 21 and 31 are configured for adjacent placement.
The bus way system 10 provides load access from a power source 0608 alternate to the conductive fingers 29 and 39. The alternate structures can include sockets, bus plugs, or other means known in the art. A bus plug generally includes an electrical box containing a protective device, such as a circuit breaker or a fuse, and a switch. Referring specifically to
The bus plug 40 includes a rear surface having at least one mechanical connector 46, which provides for removably, mechanically attaching the bus plug 40 to the busway 10. The depicted mechanical connector 46 includes a pair of opposing tabs 48 spaced apart about the width of the corresponding busbar 22 and 32 extending distally from the rear surface of bus plug 40. A tensioner not shown provides biasing force for the tabs to maintain contact with a busbar 22 and 32 in order to allow for flow of electrical current from the busbar 22 and 32 to a load from the bus plug 40. Further, the tensioner not shown provides registration with the busbars 22 and 32. Thus the mechanical connectors 46 of the bus plug 40 can be aligned with the busbars 22 and 32 through the window not shown and slidably engaged to the busbars 22 and 32 in order to draw load from them. Referring specifically to
Now referring specifically to
The current embodiment includes a second plurality 30 of busbars 32 configured to receive a second current 08 having a second amperage, voltage, and/or waveform. The busbars 32 are also preferably planar and disposed within a second busway housing 31 in a generally parallel and spaced apart relationship. Each busbar 32 is optionally coated with an insulative layer 34 in order to prevent electrical contact or arcing between the busbars 32. Each busbar 32 also presents a centerline 36. In the exemplary embodiment, the second plurality 30 of busbars 32 share a similar second centerline-to-centerline spacing 38. The second centerline-to-centerline spacing 38, thickness, width, and composition of the second plurality 30 of busbars 32 are configured according to the second power source 08. Where the second power source is of higher amperage, the busbars 32 have a higher thickness or width. The bars are also preferably composed of copper or aluminum, but can be composed of other conductors known in the art.
The proximal ends of the second plurality 30 of busbars 32 are shaped to receive the second power source 08 or additional multiple power busway. The distal portions of the second plurality 30 of busbars 32 are configured to mate with additional multiple power busway, bus bridges, bus plugs, appliances, or similar devices. The busbars 32 include conductive fingers 29 and 39 in order to facilitate mating and electrical communication with other devices. Additionally, the busbar 32 spacing may change in order to facilitate engagement with other devices.
Housing 31 bounds the plurality 30 of busbars 32, presenting a barrier to external contact and optionally presenting a magnetic barrier. Housing 31 preferably includes a plurality of generally planar members although they may be shaped as required for a particular use. In these embodiments, housing 31 includes a generally planar top member 51, a generally planar bottom member 53, a generally planar first sidewall member 55, and a generally planar second sidewall member 57. The top member 51, bottom member 53, first sidewall member 55 and second sidewall member 57 are joined lengthwise to define an enclosed space wherein the pluralities 30 of busbars 32 may be enclosed. The members 51, 53, 55 and 57 may be joined in different configurations. For example, the members 51, 53, 55 and 57 can be extruded, welded, snap fit, hingedly joined, slidably joined, removably joined, mechanically fastened, or other methods of joinder. The members 51, 53, 55 and 57 are preferably composed of non-magnetic, heat dissipating material such as aluminum. One exemplary configuration is composed of aluminum and includes top member 51, sidewall member 55, and bottom member 53 extruded as a unitary member in a U-shaped configuration with the sidewall member 57 hingedly joined, operable as a replaceable cover. Additional disclosures of housing configurations are well known in the art. In the exemplary configuration of the current embodiment, a lip 18 extends outwardly from a housing member 51, 53, 55, or 57 lengthwise. The lip 18 is dimensioned to fill a portion of the interior of the channel 01 of the provided single source busway 05, facilitating slidable placement of the lip 18 through the channel 01. In this state, this embodiment is adjacent to the provided single source busway 05 with the housing member 51, 53, 55, or 57 abutting the face 07.
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Referring specifically to
The splitter plate 80 includes a second plurality 92 of conductor plates 93 and at least one insulating layer 94. The number of conductor plates 93 in the plurality equals that in the second plurality of conductive fingers of the provided multiple power busway system. The depicted configuration includes two conductor plates 93 with an insulating layer 94 disposed between them. Again, the exemplary height of the “sandwiched” layers is slightly less than the centerline-to-centerline spacing 38 of the second plurality of conductive fingers. The exemplary conductor plates 93 also include beveled edges. The sandwiched layers 9394 and 93 are secured with fasteners 86 as disclosed above.
The splitter plate 80 further includes a spacer 88 operable to maintain the relative position of the first plurality 82 of conductor plates 83 to the second plurality 92 of conductors plates 93 while electrically isolating them. The depicted spacer 88 is a planar member composed of rigid, insulative material spanning the first and second pluralities 82 and 92. In the depicted configuration, the insulating layers 84 and 94 and spacer 88 are unitary.
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Although this invention has been described with reference to an illustrative embodiment, this description is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Various modifications and combinations of the illustrative embodiments as well as other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to the description. It is therefore intended that the appended claims accomplish any such modifications or embodiments.