Abstract:
A power supply that is housed in a case is provided. Outlets of the power supply are provided external to the case such that the case can be closed during operation of the power supply. The case can provide protection for components of the power supply as well as provide a mobile system that can easily be transported. One or more cooling fans and passageways can further be provided to cool components of the power supply. Additionally, two or more independent power systems can be provided in the power supply to allow for redundancy.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application is based on and claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/742,661, filed Dec. 6, 2005, the contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Power supplies are used in a number of different applications. For example, power supplies can transfer power from a source to an end device. Current power supplies are used to transfer power from a vehicle battery to an end device. These power supplies can be prone to damage by various contaminants interfering with components of the power supply. Additionally, these power supplies can be difficult to use given a location of outlets as well as provide safety hazards during operation of devices that draw power from the power supply. 
     Furthermore, in military applications and in particular military vehicles, a power source can require a specialized connection. One such connection is referred to as the NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) slave connection found in military vehicles. The NATO slave connection includes a specialized connector and receptacle that were developed to become a standard for military vehicles across several NATO countries. Current NATO slave receptacles found in military vehicles are adapted to provide, in some instances, 24 volts of direct current from a battery. While connecting NATO compatible connectors/devices to the NATO slave receptacle can be straightforward, connecting other devices directly to a vehicle battery and providing power to these devices can be expensive and cumbersome. For example, a United States military vehicle would have to go through an expensive and time consuming modification process in addition to administrative constraints in modifying the vehicle. Additionally, the modification process can be prone to errors and subsequent damage to equipment. 
     The discussion above is merely provided for general background information and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     SUMMARY 
     A power supply that is housed in a case is provided. Outlets of the power supply are provided external to the case such that the case can be closed during operation of the power supply. The case can provide protection for components of the power supply as well as provide a mobile system that can easily be transported. One or more cooling fans and passageways can further be provided to cool components of the power supply. Additionally, two or more independent power systems can be provided in the power supply to allow for redundancy. 
     This Summary is provided to introduce some concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of components in a power supply. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of components of a power supply in a case. 
         FIG. 3  is a view of a top of a case housing a power supply. 
         FIG. 4  is a view of the case of  FIG. 3  with a cover open. 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of the case of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of the case of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 7  is a rear view of the case of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 8  is a bottom view of the case of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 9  is a view of the case of  FIG. 3  with a connector cable stored therein. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Concepts presented herein relate to a power supply that is provided in a light weight, compact and mobile package. The package can be rugged and durable to withstand harsh use in a number of different environmental conditions to protect interior components from contaminants (i.e. dirt, sand, rain, etc.) and external forces. Additionally, the power supply is easily transported, for example from one vehicle to another vehicle, with relative ease. Connection cables can be provided with the package to easily allow connection to a vehicle&#39;s battery. Electrical components of the power supply can make the power supply versatile and serve a variety of different mobile power requirements. Independent power systems can be provided to meet these mobile power requirements as well as provide redundancy. 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of components of a power supply  100 . As appreciated by those skilled in the art, one or more of the components of power supply  100  can be connected or otherwise electrically coupled through one or more binding or terminal strips. Suitable wire can be used to provide electrical connections among components of the supply. In one example, 16 gauge insulated wire is used. Power is provided to power supply  100  from a power source  102  through a cable and a connector to a receptacle  104 . In one example, power source  102  is a military vehicle battery that includes a NATO slave receptacle connection delivering 24 volts of direct current. Example vehicles that include a 24 volt direct current NATO slave cable adapter includes, but is not limited to, US Military 5 ton trucks and 2.5 ton tracks, Humvees, M-113 Armored Personnel Carriers, M2A1 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles, M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank and Stryker wheeled vehicles. When using a NATO slave adapter, receptacle  104  can be a NATO slave receptacle. 
     Power is provided from receptacle  104  to a circuit breaker  106 . The circuit breaker can be rated to any suitable level such as 10 amp, 15 amp, 20 amp, etc. From circuit breaker  106 , power is provided to a switch  108 , which can provide an on/off setting for power supply  100 . Switch  108  selectively provides power to fan  110 , an indicator  112 , a set of binding posts  114 , a switch  116  and a fuse  117 , which leads to an inverter  118 . Fan  110  provides a cooling mechanism for power supply  100  and indicator  112  indicates whether or not power is flowing through switch  108 . Indicator  112  can be a light emitting diode (LED). Fuse  117  can be a resectable or non-resettable fuse. 
     Binding posts  114  supply current to a device connected thereto through wires that can connect to the binding post  114 , for example through bare wires. Inverter  118  converts direct current from switch  108  to alternating current that is provided to one or more alternating current outlets  120 . One suitable inverter is a 300 watt 24 VDC to 120 VAC Pure Sine Wave Inverter available from Lind Electronics of Minneapolis, Minn., although other inverters rated to various specifications can be used. In one example, outlets  120  include a standard 120 volt alternating current outlet. If desired, a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlet can be used. Other AC output voltages can also be provided such as 100 volts, 110 volts, 115 volts, 220 volts, 230 volts, 240 volts, etc. A ground terminal on AC outlet  120  can further be wired through inverter  118  to a ground connection  121 . 
     Switch  116  controls power flow to an indicator  122  and a circuit breaker  124 . Indicator  122  indicates whether or not power is flowing through switch  116 . For example, indicator  122  can be a light emitting diode (LED). Circuit breaker  124  provides power to a voltage reducer  126 , which reduces voltage provided from switch  116 . Circuit breaker  124  can be rated to any suitable level such as 10 amp, 15 amp, 20 amp, etc. In one embodiment, voltage reducer  126  can transform 24 volts of direct current to 12 volts of direct current. One example voltage reducer is a 24 volt to 12 volt voltage reducer that delivers 180 watts of power available from Palco Electronics, Inc. of Southgate, Mich. Other reducers with various specifications can also be used. Power passing through voltage reducer  126  is provided to one or more direct current outlets  128  and a set of binding posts  130 . Direct current outlets can be standard cigarette lighter plugs providing 12 volts of direct current and binding posts  130  can provide 12 volts of direct current to devices connected thereto. 
     In order to provide a portable and rugged power supply, components of the power supply  100  can be positioned within a case  140  as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . One example case is a Pelican case available from Pelican Products, Inc. of Torrance, Calif. Case  140  includes an upper portion or cover  142  and a lower portion or base  144 . Upper portion  142  is a cover that is connected to lower portion  144  through a hinge (not shown) and can open and close case  140 . When cover  142  is lifted away from base  144  to open case  140 , an operator has access to several of the components of power supply  100 . When the upper portion  142  closes case  140 , power supply  100  remains operational with access to receptacle  104  and outlets  120  and  128 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , receptacle  104  is positioned to receive a connector external to case  140 . For example, power source  102  having a NATO Slave Receptacle  145  and connected to a NATO power plug  147  through a cable  146  and connector  148  that is connected to receptacle  104 . NATO power plug  147  is available from Lind Electronics of Minneapolis, Minn. Connector  148  can be an Amphenol® Radsok® output available from Digi-Key Corporation of Thief River Falls, Minn., In this case, receptacle  104  can be an Amphenol® Radsok® input power receptacle available from Digi-Key Corporation. 
     Positioned within case  140  is a mounting plate  150 . Mounting plate  150  can be made of aluminum and adapted to be secured to base  144  such that an operator has access to components mounted above plate  150  when case  140  is open. A cable from receptacle  104  can be wired to a terminal or binding strip  152  that is provided and mounted to plate  150  such that components of power supply  100  can be connected thereto. Components that are also mounted to plate  150  include circuit breaker  106 , switch  108 , indicator  112 , binding posts  114 , switch  116 , indicator  122 , circuit breaker  124 , voltage reducer  126  and binding posts  130 . AC outlets  120  are positioned in case  140  such to allow access to outlets  120  from an outside of case  140 . Similarly, DC outlets  128  are provided with access to the outside of case  140 . Inverter  118  can be mounted to base  144 . 
     Additionally,  FIG. 2  illustrates that fan  110  is spaced apart from mounting plate  150  to allow airflow through fan  110  by standoffs  153 . Case  140  is also provided with a plurality of openings  154 ,  155 ,  156  and  157  to allow airflow in and out of case  140 . For example, air can be drawn into case  140  through opening  154  by fan  110 . Air is drawn under fan  110  and out opening  155 . Inverter  118  also includes a fan  158 , which can draw air from outside case  140  through opening  156  and out opening  157 . Also coupled to case  140  is a bottom plate  159  spaced apart from case  140  by standoffs  160 . Standoffs  160  allow a plurality of airflow passages in multiple directions into case  140 . Bottom plate  159  also includes a plurality of feet  161 , which can be rubber molded nuts that provide a stable surface for case  140 . Rubber molded feet are available from Poly Products of Gauraipada, Vasai at www.polyproducts.com. 
       FIGS. 3-9  illustrate an exemplary power supply positioned within a case as discussed above. As illustrated, case  140  includes cover  142  and base  144  connected by hinges  200 . Cover  142  includes clips  202  adapted to secure cover  142  to base  144 . Additionally, base  144  includes a handle  204  that can be used to carry power supply  100 . Cover  142  also includes openings  205  that allow wires connected to binding posts  114  and  130  to go into case  140  such that power can be drawn from posts  114  and  130  while case  140  is closed. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , mounting plate  150  is provided in and secured to base  144 . Mounted to mounting plate  150 , for access by an operator, are switches  108  and  116 , binding posts  114  and  130  and circuit breakers  106  and  126 . Indicators  112  and  122  can also be mounted to plate  150  to be viewed by the operator. When case  140  is open, the operator can easily turn on/off switches  108  and  116 , connect devices to binding posts  114  and  130  as well as reset circuit breakers  106  and  124 . Circuit breakers  106  and  124  from outside can be so called “pop-up” fuses available from Digi-Key Corporation. Fan  110  is also mounted to mounting plate  150  and is spaced apart therefrom by standoffs  153 . 
       FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6  illustrate opposite sides of case  140 .  FIG. 5  illustrates DC outlets  128  that are accessible from outside of case  140 . Furthermore, caps  206  can be provided to prevent unwanted contaminants from reaching DC outlets  128 . Additionally, receptacle  104  is accessible from an outside of case  140 . If desired, a suitable dust cap  208  can be provided to protect receptacle  104 .  FIG. 6  illustrates AC outlets  120  positioned on the outside of case  140 . If desired, suitable covers can also be provided to protect contaminants from reaching outlets  120 A and  120 B. It is worth noting that outlet  120 B is a GFCI outlet and that outlets  120 A and  120 B are of opposite orientation. Providing outlets  120 A and  120 B in an opposite orientation allow for devices that have large power supplies to be connected to the outlets without other power supplies interfering therewith. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a back side of case  140  that includes openings  157  for a fan on inverter  118  and an access opening  212  to provide access to fuse  117  of inverter  118 . Opening  212  allows an operator to replace or reset fuse  117 .  FIG. 8  is a bottom view of case  140  that shows air flow passages provided by standoffs  160  to reach opening  156  in case  140 . Additionally, ground connection  121  is positioned between ribs  213 . Ground connection  121  can be a jack allowing a wire to be connected thereto to a ground connection of inverter  118  and AC outlets  120 A and  120 B.  FIG. 9  is another view of case  140  in which cable  146  is stored in the case  140 . Cable  146  includes connector  148  for connecting to receptacle  104  as well as connector  147  for connecting to a NATO slave power receptacle. In this manner, cable  146  can be easily transported with case  140  and used to connect supply  100  to a power source such as a NATO slave receptacle  145  in an efficient manner. 
     Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims in not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.