The present disclosure generally relates to the field of power distribution units, and more particularly to a power distribution box for a rack power distribution unit.
Conventional systems employ remote power panels (RPPs), also referred to as floor power distribution units (PDUs), to distribute power to rack power distribution units (rPDUs) within a data center. The RPPs are used to divide the power from an input power source into different circuits using a breaker panel and may be coupled to the rPDUs using PDU whips. The PDU whips may be used to electrically couple the RPP to the rPDUs within the data center. One end of the whip (e.g., the tail of the whip) is hardwired on-site by an electrician into a breaker on the RPP. The other end of the whip contains an outlet to couple to the rPDU. The rPDUs are used to distribute power within a computer cabinet to individual pieces of information technology (IT) equipment.
The hardwiring of the tail of the PDU whip, using an electrician, increases the installation time, the cost of installation, and the cost of materials. Further, working on the data center floor requires the electrician to obtain site access, which is often difficult to obtain. As such, it would be advantageous to provide a system or apparatus to remedy the shortcomings of the conventional approaches identified above.
Accordingly, the present disclosure is directed to a power distribution box (PDB). The power distribution box may include a housing, one or more outlets, one or more outlet plugs, one or more circuit breakers, and at least one PDU whip.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not necessarily restrictive of the present disclosure. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate subject matter of the disclosure. Together, the descriptions and the drawings serve to explain the principles of the disclosure.
The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figures. The use of the same reference numbers in different instances in the description and the figures may indicate similar or identical items. Various embodiments or examples (“examples”) of the present disclosure are disclosed in the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. The drawings are not necessarily to scale. In general, operations of disclosed processes may be performed in an arbitrary order, unless otherwise provided in the claims. In the drawings:
Reference will now be made in detail to the subject matter disclosed, which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Conventional systems employ remote power panels (RPPs), also referred to as floor power distribution units (PDUs), to distribute power to rack power distribution units (rPDUs) within a data center. The RPPs are used to divide the power from an input power source into different circuits using a breaker panel and may be coupled to the rPDUs using PDU whips. The PDU whips may be used to electrically couple the RPP to the rPDUs within the data center. One end of the whip (e.g., the tail of the whip) is hardwired on-site by an electrician into a breaker on the RPP. The other end of the whip contains an outlet to couple to the rPDU. The rPDUs are used to distribute power within a computer cabinet to individual pieces of information technology (IT) equipment.
The hardwiring of the tail of the PDU whip, using an electrician, increases the installation time, the cost of installation, and the cost of materials. Further, working on the data center floor requires the electrician to obtain site access, which is often difficult to obtain. As such, it would be advantageous to provide a system or apparatus to remedy the shortcomings of the conventional approaches identified above.
Accordingly, the present disclosure is directed to a power distribution box. More particularly, the present disclosure is directed to a power distribution box that simplifies installation and scalability of power distribution units (PDUs) to rack PDUs (rPDUs) by replacing conventional power panels. Specifically, the present disclosure is directed to a power distribution box including at least one PDU whip configured to couple to a portion of the rPDU. In this regard, the power distribution box is able to distribute power to multiple rPDUs using the PDU whip without the need for an electrician, thereby simplifying on-site installation and reducing costs.
The power distribution box 100 may include a housing 102 (or outer chassis 102) including one or more panels 104. For example, the housing 102 may include at least a front panel 104, a back panel 104, one or more side panels 104, a top panel 104, and a rear panel 104. The one or more panels 104 may define a cavity 106 configured to house one or more components of the power distribution box 100, as discussed further herein.
Referring to
The one or more circuit breakers 108 may be configured to couple to an infrastructure device (e.g., cooling or monitoring system). For example, as shown in
The one or more circuit breakers 108 may be further configured to couple to one or more rack PDUs (rPDUs). The one or more rPDUs may include one or more universal PDUs (UPDUs). A UPDU may refer to a rack power distribution unit that includes a universal input and detachable facility side cable that allows a single model to be installed globally. In one example, the rPDU may be a VERTIV™ GEIST™ Switched Rack Power Distribution Unit, a product of the assignee of the present application. In another example, a UPDU may be a VERTIV™ GEIST™ Universal Power Distribution Unit, a product of the assignee of the present application. Referring once again to
The one or more circuit breakers 108 may include one or more user input devices 114 (e.g., toggles, levers, buttons, or the like) for switching behavior. The one or more circuit breakers 108 may further include one or more visual status indicators 116 to easily identify the circuit status. For example, the one or more circuit breakers 108 may include one or more LED status indicators 116.
It is noted that placement of the circuit breakers 108 (e.g., single-pole breaker 110, three-pole breakers 112, or the like) in the front area of the power distribution box 100 (e.g., on the front panel 104) may allow easy monitoring by a data center employee when the power distribution box 100 is mounted within a rack (as discussed further herein with respect to
Referring to
The power distribution box 100 may further include one or more output plugs 120 coupled to one or more portions of the one or more panels 104 of the housing 102. For example, the one or more output plugs 120 may be coupled to one or more portions of the back panel 104 of the housing 102. For instance, the power distribution box 100 may include four output plugs 120 coupled to the back panel 104 of the housing.
The one or more output plugs 120 may be configured to couple to one or more power distribution unit (PDU) whips 122. For example, the one or more output plugs 120 may be coupled to the PDU whips 122 via one or more fastening methods such as, but not limited to, bolts, adhesives (e.g., glue or tape), or the like. By way of another example, the one or more output plugs 120 may include a connecting member configured to couple to the PDU whip 122. In this example, each PDU whip 122 may include a connecting member on a proximal end of the PDU whip (similar to the connecting member 123 on the distal end, as shown in
The power distribution box 100 may include at least one PDU whip 122 coupled to an output plug of the one or more output plugs 120. For example, as shown in
Referring to
Referring to
Each PDU whip 122 may couple to the one or more output plugs 120 of the power distribution box 100, such that each PDU whip 122 may connect to a corresponding circuit breaker 112 for the UPDU via the set of wires 128 of the breaker 112 (e.g., the at least first wire, second wire, and third wire). In some embodiments, as shown in
The power distribution box 100 may further include one or more grounding wires 132. The one or more grounding wires 132 may be configured to ground the separate pieces of metal together. For example, the power distribution box 100 may include one or more grounding wires 132 coupled to one or more portions of the cavity 106 to ground the separate pieces of the metal cavity together. By way of another example, the power distribution box 100 may include one or more grounding wires 132 coupled to the PDU whips 122 and a metal portion of the cavity 106.
Referring to
In another instance, the one or more distribution blocks 134 may couple to the one or more circuit breakers 110 for the infrastructure device using a wire 138 of the set of wires 138. In this regard, a distribution block 134 of the one or more distribution blocks 134 may couple to the single pole of the circuit breaker 110 via a single wire 138.
By way of another example, the one or more distribution blocks 134 may couple to one or more PDU whips 122. For instance, as shown in
The power distribution box 100 may be configured to couple to one or more adjacent power distribution boxes to form a daisy-chain 200 of power distribution boxes 100. For example, as shown in
The one or more distribution blocks 134 of the power distribution box 100 may be configured to distribute electrical power from a single input source (e.g., a main power input) to several devices in the branched circuit (e.g., the daisy-chained PDBs 200). For example, the one or more distribution blocks 134 may couple to one or more daisy chain wires 202. Referring to
Each power distribution box 100 may include one or more openings 204 for the main power input conductors 206 and daisy chain wires 202 to pass through, such that the power distribution boxes 100 are configured for daisy chain capability (e.g., connecting a plurality of power distribution boxes together in a daisy-chain configuration 200). Referring to
The power distribution box 100 configured in the daisy-chain configuration 200 may include one or more input power sources. For example, the power distribution box 100 may include a single input power source coupled to the power distribution box via a first input conductor 206. By way of another example, the power distribution box 100 may include two input power sources coupled to the power distribution box 100 via two input conductors 206.
Referring to
Referring to
Each PDU whip 122 may include a connecting member 123 (on the distal end of the whip 122) configured to couple to a UPDU connecting cable 300 (e.g., a facility side cable (FSC) as shown in
In some embodiments, each PDU whip 122 may couple to an external connecting member configured to couple to the UPDU. For example, one end of the PDU whip may be configured to couple to a connecting member and the other end of the PDU whip may be coupled to one or more components of the power distribution box 100.
In some embodiments, each PDU whip 122 may include a connecting member configured to directly couple to the UPDU. For example, the connecting member of the PDU whip may be configured to couple to a complementary plug on the UPDU.
Although embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to coupling the power distribution box 100 to one or more UPDUs, it is noted that the power distribution box 100 may be configured to couple to any suitable rack power distribution unit (rPDU) using any corresponding connecting member and/or adaptor.
Referring to
By way of another example, the one or more output plugs 120 of the PDU whips 122 may be color coded to match the one or more color codes of the one or more circuit breakers 112, such that the UPDUs may be easily matched to the corresponding breaker. In one instance, a first output plug may be color coded a first color to match the first circuit breaker color that is color coded the first color. In another instance, a second output plug may be color coded a second color to match the second circuit breaker color that is color coded the second color. In another instance, a third output plug may be color coded a third color to match the third circuit breaker color that is color coded the third color. In another instance, a fourth output plug may be color coded a fourth color to match the fourth circuit breaker color that is color coded the fourth color.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
It is noted herein that the power distribution box 100 may operate in compliance with both U.S. and EMEA standards. For example, the power distribution box 100 may be configured to receive both WYE (EMEA) and Delta (A) (U.S.) input power.
In a general sense, those skilled in the art will recognize that the various aspects described herein which can be implemented, individually and/or collectively, by a wide range of hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof can be viewed as being composed of various types of “electrical circuitry.” Consequently, as used herein “electrical circuitry” includes, but is not limited to, electrical circuitry having at least one discrete electrical circuit, electrical circuitry having at least one integrated circuit, electrical circuitry having at least one application specific integrated circuit, electrical circuitry forming a general purpose computing device configured by a computer program (e.g., a general purpose computer configured by a computer program which at least partially carries out processes and/or devices described herein, or a microprocessor configured by a computer program which at least partially carries out processes and/or devices described herein), electrical circuitry forming a memory device (e.g., forms of random access memory), and/or electrical circuitry forming a communications device (e.g., a modem, communications switch, or optical-electrical equipment). Those having skill in the art will recognize that the subject matter described herein may be implemented in an analog or digital fashion or some combination thereof.
The herein described subject matter sometimes illustrates different components contained within, or connected with, different other components. It is to be understood that such depicted architectures are merely exemplary, and that in fact many other architectures can be implemented which achieve the same functionality. In a conceptual sense, any arrangement of components to achieve the same functionality is effectively “associated” such that the desired functionality is achieved. Hence, any two components herein combined to achieve a particular functionality can be seen as “associated with” each other such that the desired functionality is achieved, irrespective of architectures or intermedial components. Likewise, any two components so associated can also be viewed as being “operably connected”, or “operably coupled”, to each other to achieve the desired functionality, and any two components capable of being so associated can also be viewed as being “operably couplable” to each other to achieve the desired functionality. Specific examples of operably couplable include but are not limited to physically mateable and/or physically interacting components and/or wirelessly interactable and/or wirelessly interacting components and/or logically interacting and/or logically interactable components.
While particular aspects of the present subject matter described herein have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that, based upon the teachings herein, changes and modifications may be made without departing from the subject matter described herein and its broader aspects and, therefore, the appended claims are to encompass within their scope all such changes and modifications as are within the true spirit and scope of the subject matter described herein. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the invention is defined by the appended claims.
The present application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119 of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/129,035 filed Dec. 22, 2020, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
5821636 | Baker | Oct 1998 | A |
7646109 | Belady et al. | Jan 2010 | B2 |
7719835 | Schluter | May 2010 | B1 |
7759575 | Jones | Jul 2010 | B2 |
7830043 | Michael | Nov 2010 | B1 |
8341837 | Braunstein | Jan 2013 | B2 |
8867193 | Rasmussen et al. | Oct 2014 | B2 |
8876548 | Doorhy | Nov 2014 | B2 |
9166382 | Ewing | Oct 2015 | B2 |
9287688 | Ewing | Mar 2016 | B2 |
9466954 | Stevens et al. | Oct 2016 | B1 |
9733682 | Butzer | Aug 2017 | B2 |
10154610 | Wilson | Dec 2018 | B2 |
10209727 | Chapel | Feb 2019 | B2 |
10296278 | Kuo | May 2019 | B2 |
11387658 | Bonilla | Jul 2022 | B2 |
11664665 | Bonilla | May 2023 | B2 |
20020057543 | Carteau et al. | May 2002 | A1 |
20060146581 | Murphy | Jul 2006 | A1 |
20150084419 | Wishman et al. | Mar 2015 | A1 |
20180269662 | Song et al. | Sep 2018 | A1 |
20180352663 | Hall et al. | Dec 2018 | A1 |
20190361474 | Chapel et al. | Nov 2019 | A1 |
20190379167 | Li et al. | Dec 2019 | A1 |
20200036184 | Witkoe et al. | Jan 2020 | A1 |
20200278732 | Horvath | Sep 2020 | A1 |
Entry |
---|
APB Symmetra PX 20kw, 208V, may be configured with pre-installed whips, retrieved from http://www.customnetworks.net/apc-symmetra-px-20kw-208v/. |
ISX20K20H, may be configured with pre-installed whips, retrieved from https://www.apc.com/shop/my/en/products/InfraStruXure-20kW-400V/P-ISX20K20H?isCurrentSite=true. |
Z-PDS, “The Evolution of Power Distribution to the Rack”, https://www.zonit.com/uploads/docs/Z-PDS_Product_Sheet_05.16.21.pdf; https://www.zonit.com/zpds/. |
Search Report and Written Opinion in International Application No. PCT/US2021/64876 dated Mar. 17, 2022, 10 pages. |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20220200250 A1 | Jun 2022 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
63129035 | Dec 2020 | US |