Patent Abstract:
A power supply strip for electronic equipment including a power supply cable for connection to a power source, a housing connected to the power supply cable, and a plurality of conductor rails located within the housing. One or more power receptacle modules is insertable into the housing, each comprising at least one power receptacle. Each power receptacle module is connectable to selected conductor rails such that the or each power receptacle is configurable to provide a desired power supply configuration. With a three-phase power supply, the rails can be selectable between A-phase, B-phase, C-phase, Neutral and Ground.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present application relates to power supply strips for electronic equipment, and particularly to a power supply system for use with servers and other computing equipment. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Data centers typically involve a large number of rack-mounted servers that are housed together in cabinets. Recent increases in processor speeds and reductions in the size of processors have meant that more processing power is provided by each server within a cabinet, and consequently the amount of power required to operate the server cabinets has increased dramatically. Additionally, power is typically needed for fans and other cooling equipment, due to the large amount of heat generated by the processors. A typical server cabinet in a data center contains 42 1U dual-power supply servers in each cabinet. Power demands for such a cabinet far exceed typical single-phase 120V 20 A power circuits, and thus three-phase power circuits must be used. 
     A problem arises when designing power supplies for server cabinets because the rated amperages of servers do not correlate with the amount of power that the device typically consumes. As an example, a device that is rated as 220 A, 220V and thus requires a power supply of 440 kW will typically not draw more than 2 kW. Most servers, and hence the cabinets that they are stacked within thus have a significantly overweighted power supply because the data center must dedicate the rated amount to the circuit. 
     It is desirable to be able to move the overweighting of the power supply circuit from each individual server to the cabinet itself. In this way, the distribution of power within the cabinet can be managed appropriately. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with one aspect of the exemplary embodiments, a power supply strip for electronic equipment including a power supply cable for connection to a power source, a housing connected to the power supply cable, and a plurality of conductor rails located within the housing. One or more power receptacle modules is insertable into the housing, each comprising at least one power receptacle. Each power receptacle module is connectable to selected conductor rails such that the or each power receptacle is configurable to provide a desired power supply configuration. With a three-phase power supply, the rails can be selectable between A-phase, B-phase, C-phase, Neutral and Ground. 
     In one arrangement, the power supply cable is connectable to a three-phase power supply, and wherein five conductor rails are provided. The five conductor rails can be connected respectively to A-phase, B-phase, C-phase, Neutral and Ground. Each power receptacle module can comprise three power receptacles, and wherein the three power receptacles in one module are connectable to the A, N, G conductor rails, to the B, N, G conductor rails, and to the C, N, G conductor rails respectively. 
     In another arrangement, a plurality of power receptacle modules are provided for insertion into the housing. The at least one power receptacle can be selectable and changeable by the user to provide differing power supplies for different pieces of electronic equipment. 
     The conductor rails can extend the length of the housing. In some arrangements, the conductor rails can comprise a generally V-shaped valley in a resilient material, the valley comprising coating of a conductive material and the resilient material being surrounded on at least three sides by an insulator. The resilient material may be conductive, and the conductive coating can be copper. 
     In some arrangements, a plurality of different power supply receptacles can be provided, which are selectable by a user to provide different power outputs. The power supply receptacles can be selected from the group including L5-20, L5-20R, L5-15R, 5-20R, L6-20R, L6-30R and 5-15R receptacles. 
     In various arrangements, at least one blank expansion module can be provided that is insertable in the housing. The housing can define at least one power module port for receiving a power receptacle module. The power module port and power receptacle module can comprise complementary guide rails to ease insertion of the power receptacle module into the power module port. 
     The power receptacle module can comprise a plurality of male conductors that are connectable to the selected conductor rails. In some arrangements, wire connectors can be provided, that are attachable between the male conductors of the power receptacle module and the conductor rails. The wire connectors can have connection pins that are a pressure fit into the conductor rails. Alternatively, the male conductors can be a direct pressure fit into the conductor rails. 
     The housing can be dimensioned so as to be rack mountable within a server cabinet so that the power strip can be used for powering servers and other equipment stored within the cabinet. 
     The above-described and other features and advantages of the present disclosure will be appreciated and understood by those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, drawings, and appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a power supply strip according to arrangements of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a top perspective view of a power module for the power supply strip of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom perspective view of a power module for the power supply strip of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is an end sectional view of an empty section of the power supply strip of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is an expanded close up view of one of the power supply rails shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is an end sectional view of a section of the power supply strip of  FIG. 1 , with a power module inserted therein. 
         FIG. 7  is a side sectional view of a section of the power supply strip of  FIG. 1 , with a power module inserted therein. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are described with respect to a power supply strip for electronic equipment. It should be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure can be applied to other types of power supply arrangements. 
     Referring to the drawings, an exemplary power supply strip for electronic equipment is illustrated. The strip  10  comprises a housing  12  connected to an electrical supply cable  14 . The housing  12  may be formed with a steel construction, or may be formed of any suitable material. The housing is preferably UL listed and sized to be rack mounted within a server cabinet, although any suitable size and shape may be employed. In certain arrangements, the housing  12  may be 4-5 feet long. The electrical supply cable  14  may be any suitable cable. In one arrangement, the cable may be a 5-wire 200% ground, 200% neutral #10 conductor flexible copper whip capable of carrying a three-phase power supply, and may for example be ¾ in width. Various amperage monitors  11  (typically one each for A, B, C phases, Neutral and Ground), an RJ-45 jack  13  and an optional 3-pole breaker  15  may be provided. 
     The housing  12  may be arranged to comprise a plurality of power module ports  16 . Each power module port  16  is sized to receive one power module  18 , which are illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3 . Each power module  18  can be sized to fit within a power module port  16  only one way, and may be screwed into place using screws  20  or any other suitable connection mechanism. Each power module  18  may have three three-prong receptacles  22 , although of course any suitable socket or receptacle arrangement may be used. In one arrangement, the receptacles  22  can be L5-20 receptacles. Available receptacles for each power module  18  may include L5-20R, L5-15R, 5-20R, L6-20R, L6-30R and 5-15R, which may be selectable by the user depending on the particular application. It will be appreciated that any type of receptacle arrangement can be provided for the power strip  10 , and that the selection of the particular power receptacle type that is used within each power module  18  may be made by the user to provide differing amp and voltage ratings to different pieces of electronic equipment, depending on the power requirements of that piece of equipment. For example, an L5-15R receptacle can provide 15 Amps, while an L6-30R receptacle can provide 30 Amps. All three receptacles  22  on one power module  18  may be the same type of receptacle, or they may be different receptacles. The power modules  18  may be supplied pre-wired with selected power receptacle types, and the user may simply select different power modules  18  that are appropriate for their requirements. Alternatively, the user may select the individual receptacles  22 . If the user does not need as many power modules  18  as there are power module ports  16 , one or more blank expansion modules (not shown) may be used to cover the power module port  16 . The blank expansion modules may simply be plates or may be the same general shape and size as the power modules  18 . 
     Underneath the power module  18 , three connection pins or male conductors  24  may be provided for each receptacle  22 . Typically, with a three-phase power supply, each of the three receptacles  22  on one power module will have a connection pin  26  for a different phase, as well as a connection for neutral and ground. For example, one of the receptacles can have connections for A-phase power, Neutral and Ground, the second receptacle can have connections for B-phase power, Neutral and Ground, and the third receptacle can have connections for C-phase power, Neutral and Ground. Guide rails  28  may be provided to help place the power module  18  within the power module port  16  of the housing  12 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , an end sectional view through the housing  12  is shown. Five conductor rails or raceways  30  are supplied in the bottom of the housing  12 , and run the entire length of the housing  12 . Each conductor rail  30  is connected to one of the A, B, C, N or G phases of the power supply cable  14 . Each conductor rail  30  comprises a conductor  32 , such as copper, arranged on the surface of a generally V-shaped valley in a resilient conductive material  34 . The rail  30  is surrounded (apart from the surface covered by the conductor  32 ) by an insulator  36 . It will be appreciated that the conductor  32 , resilient material  34  and insulator  36  may each be formed of any suitable material. 
     When one or more power modules  18  are connected into the housing  12 , as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , wire conductors  38  can be soldered  40  or otherwise connected between the connection pins  24  and connection pins  42  that are inserted into the rails  30 . The resilient material  34  in the rails  30  holds the connection pins  42  under tension in a pressure fit arrangement. In this way, the relevant A, B, C, N or G phase pin receptacle of each receptacle  22  of the power module  18  may be connected to the relevant power supply line. In an alternative arrangement (not shown), the connection pins  24  on the power module  18  can be arranged to fit directly in the rails  30 , in a pressure fit arrangement. In this arrangement, each connection pin  24  is placed at an appropriate location to align with a chosen rail  30  when the power module  18  is pushed into the housing  12 . This removes the need to use wire conductors  38 . 
     The power strip  10  of the present invention enables a user to match the power receptacle  22  or receptacle to the power supply needs of the individual piece of electronic equipment being supplied. This means that the user can manage the power supply within a cabinet, without the need to supply multiple power circuits to a single cabinet. 
     The illustrations of arrangements described herein are intended to provide a general understanding of the structure of various embodiments, and they are not intended to serve as a complete description of all the elements and features of apparatus and systems that might make use of the structures described herein. Many other arrangements will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. Other arrangements may be utilized and derived therefrom, such that structural and logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Figures are also merely representational and may not be drawn to scale. Certain proportions thereof may be exaggerated, while others may be minimized. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. 
     Thus, although specific arrangements have been illustrated and described herein, it should be appreciated that any arrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific arrangement shown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments and arrangements of the invention. Combinations of the above arrangements, and other arrangements not specifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. Therefore, it is intended that the disclosure not be limited to the particular arrangement(s) disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments and arrangements falling within the scope of the appended claims. 
     The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b), requiring an abstract that will allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8