Load balanced polyphase power distributing system
AssigneeThe Root Group, Inc.
InventorSteven G. Chapel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention is an apparatus and a method for connecting loads to a polyphase power distribution system in such a way that the loads on the individual phases of the system are balanced. The apparatus includes an equipment rack having multiple electrical equipment mounting positions and multiple electrical outlets wherein contiguous groups of mounting positions are adjacent to groups of outlets connected to different phases. The apparatus also provides for other groups of outlets adjacent to the mounting positions to be connected to different power sources for increased reliability when the equipment has redundant power supplies.
Claims17
A system for balancing loads in a polyphase power distribution system having N phases, comprising:
- a plurality of power strips, each of said strips comprising:
- N groups of electrical outlets, each of said outlets having a line socket;
- N conductors, each of said N conductors connected to all said line sockets in a different one of said N groups of outlets;
- and
- a power distribution assembly for manually connecting each of said N conductors in each of said strips to a different predetermined one of said N phases and for manually connecting corresponding conductors in different strips to different predetermined phases.
A method for balancing loads in a polyphase power distribution system having N phases, comprising the steps of:
- providing a plurality of power strips, each of said strips comprising:
- N groups of electrical outlets, each of said outlets having a line socket;
- and
- N conductors, each of said N conductors connected to all said line sockets in a different one of said N groups of outlets;
- providing a power distribution assembly for manually connecting each of said N conductors in each of said strips to a different predetermined one of said N phases and for manually connecting corresponding conductors in different said strips to different predetermined phases;
- providing each of said strips with a cable and plug for connecting to said assembly;
- providing said assembly with a plurality of receptacles for connecting said strips to said assembly;
- providing said power distribution assembly with a power input cable and a power input plug for connecting said assembly to a power source;
- connecting said N conductors in each power strip to said N phases by plugging each said plug into a different one of said plurality of receptacles;
- and
- plugging said power input plug into an external receptacle.
A system for balancing loads in a polyphase power distribution system having N phases, comprising:
- a plurality of power strips, each of said strips comprising:
- N groups of electrical outlets, each of said outlets having a line socket;
- N conductors, each of said N conductors connected to all said line sockets in a different one of said N groups of outlets;
- a cable and plug for connecting to a power distribution assembly;
- a power distribution assembly for manually connecting each of said N conductors in each of said strips to a different predetermined one of said N phases and for manually connecting corresponding conductors in different strips to different predetermined phases, said power distribution assembly comprising:
- a plurality of receptacles for receiving said plug from each of said strips and thereby connecting said plurality of power strips to said assembly;
- a power input cable and a power input plug for connecting said assembly to a power source;
- and
- an equipment rack having one or more of said power strips mounted on said rack and having a plurality of equipment-mounting positions, each of said groups of outlets occupying a corresponding location in each of said power strips and each said location being adjacent to a corresponding equipment-mounting position on said rack.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.