EP2706623A1

EP2706623A1 - Plug connector of an uninterruptible power supply and UPS connector arrangement

Info

Publication number: EP2706623A1
Application number: EP13182697.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Francois Zanier
Original assignee: Eaton Industries France SAS
Current assignee: Eaton Industries France SAS
Priority date: 2012-09-05
Filing date: 2013-09-02
Publication date: 2014-03-12
Anticipated expiration: 2033-09-02
Also published as: GB201215803D0; GB2505645A; EP2706623B1

Abstract

Plug connector of an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), comprising a connector housing, and UPS connector arrangement, comprising at least one plug connector according and at least one connector socket adapted to receive the plug connector.

Description

The present invention disclosure refers to a plug connector of an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), comprising a connector housing, and to a UPS connector arrangement, comprising at least one plug connector according and at least one connector socket adapted to receive the plug connector.
For certain kinds of load devices driven by electric power, such as computers, semiconductor manufacturing lines, or medical devices, it is not acceptable to be stopped even for a moment, because of their functional and versatile importance. Such load devices are therefore provided with an uninterruptible power supply unit (abbreviated as UPS hereafter) between the power supply and the load devices so that emergency power is supplied to the latter during a predetermined period even when the power supply fails.
Certain parts comprised in a UPS, such as a battery, a cooling fan and the like, have a shorter service life compared to other parts. For maintaining normal operation of a UPS, it is necessary to regularly or, if it is required, check and replace certain parts with new ones, or to replace the complete UPS with new one.
During maintenance, an alternate UPS is used instead of the regularly used UPS which is disconnected from the load device. After the maintenance of the regularly used UPS is completed, the alternate UPS is replaced with the regularly used UPS again. However, as described above, some kinds of load devices, such as computers can not accept any stoppage, even for a moment. Thus, it is necessary to replace a part or whole of the UPS with a new one without stoppage of power supply to the load device even when replacing it with a new one. Hence, in order to avoid such stoppage, a maintenance bypass device (MBP) is connected between the power supply and the UPS so that it continues to supply power to the load device or devices during replacing the UPS with a new one.
According to US 2010/0187908 A1 , a maintenance bypass device capable of achieving safety and efficiency in replacing work of a UPS is provided. The maintenance bypass device is equipped between a power supply and a load device and in parallel with an uninterruptible power supply unit, and supplies power from the power supply to said load device when the uninterruptible power supply unit is being detached. In the maintenance bypass device, the connection portions of connecting wires connected to the uninterruptible power supply unit are disposed on a front panel disposed on the front side and are a connector type that enables the connection portions to be connected to and disconnected from the connection wires without using a tool.
It is desirable to shorten time for performing wire connections between the devices as to efficiently connect electric devices and/or disconnect them. However, regulations for operational safety have to be met as well. It is an object of this invention to provide a plug connector of an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) and a UPS connector arrangement, respectively, that meet operational safety requirements and allow for faster connection operations.
The objective is achieved by a plug connector according to claim 1 and a UPS connector arrangement comprising the plug connector. Preferred embodiments are described in the dependent claims.
The plug connector of an uninterruptible power supply comprises a connector housing. According to the invention, terminals of at least two UPS power connections and terminals of at least one UPS signal line are installed in the connector housing. This is a UPS specific connector with both signal and power built-in. As there is no way of changing the positions of the power connections or the signal line, the plug connector according to the invention allows safe connecting operations. Further, the time for connecting and disconnecting a module to the UPS via the plug connector according to the invention is shorter, as there is no need to connect the power lines and the signal lines one after another. Particularly, each UPS power connection comprises at least one phase conductor and a neutral line.
According to a preferred embodiment, the UPS power connections comprise a UPS power output and a UPS power input. The UPS is preferably designed for a power range near 6 kVA.
According to another preferred embodiment of the plug connector, the UPS power output terminals are protected by a first protective wall. The first protective wall advantageously surrounds only the UPS power output terminals. The power output terminals are advantageously protected from being touched in order to prevent an electric shock to the operator, if by accident or error, there is electric power on the output terminals during a connecting operation. Preferably, the UPS signal line terminals are protected by a second protective wall, advantageously surrounding the UPS signal line terminals, only.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the plug connector, the connector housing comprises two power connection cable collets, one for each of the UPS power connections. Preferably the connector housing comprises a signal line cable collet for the UPS signal line, as well. Furthermore preferable, the connector housing comprises two unloosable screws to fix the connector housing to a connector socket. Preferably, the connector housing is adapted to be connected to a connector socket of a maintenance bypass module.
A further object of the invention, by which the above objective is achieved, is a UPS connector arrangement, comprising at least one plug connector according to the invention and at least one connector socket adapted to receive the plug connector. The connector socket is preferably mounted in a housing of a maintenance bypass unit.
According to a preferred embodiment, the UPS connector arrangement comprises two power connection cables and one signal line cable, at least the power connection cables being connected to the UPS by hard wiring. It is an advantage, that the UPS side of the connector arrangement is permanently and internally fixed, because no connecting operations are necessary at the UPS.
According to another preferred embodiment of the UPS connector arrangement, the connector socket comprises recesses to accommodate first and/or second protective walls extending from the connector housing. Furthermore preferable, the connector socket comprises a third protective wall, which particularly surrounds socket terminals for the connection to the UPS power input connection terminals.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the UPS connector arrangement, the connector socket comprises screwed couplings for screws of the connector plug to provide a mechanical link.
The invention will further be described with respect to the embodiment shown in the drawing sheets.
In the Figures:

Fig. 1 shows an uninterruptible power supply connected to a maintenance bypass device, coupled by a UPS connector arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 2 depicts the UPS connector arrangement of Fig. 1 in a disconnected state, illustrating an embodiment of the plug connector according to the invention and a connector socket in detail;
Fig. 3 illustrates the plug connector according to Fig. 2 in detail in a different perspective view.

In Fig. 1, an uninterruptible power supply 1 for a power range up to 6 kVA is illustrated in a perspective view, seen from the rear part of the UPS 1. Attached to the rear wall of the UPS 1, there is a maintenance bypass module 2, which is a device that allows the UPS 1 or an internal battery of the UPS 1 to be removed from a system (not shown), while still providing uninterruptible power to a load (not shown). The maintenance bypass module 2 is an advantageous supplement for the UPS 1. If maintenance needs to be performed on the system, the UPS 1 can be easily removed without requiring the load to be shut off. This is critical for any loads that cannot be interrupted.
The UPS 1 comprises two UPS power connections 15, 16 and a UPS signal line 12, which are connected to the maintenance bypass device 2, coupled by a UPS connector arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention. The UPS connector arrangement comprises a plug connector 10 with a connector housing 14, wherein terminals of the two UPS power connections 15, 16 and terminals of the UPS signal line 12 are installed in the connector housing 14. Each UPS power connection 15, 16 comprises at least one phase conductor and a neutral line. In the embodiment shown, the UPS power connections are a UPS power output 15 and a UPS power input 16. Further, the UPS connector arrangement comprises a connector socket 20 adapted to receive the plug connector 10, which connector socket 20 is mounted in a housing of the maintenance bypass unit 2. The plug connector 10 and the connector socket 20 are described in more detail with respect to Fig. 2.
Referring first to the plug connector 10, terminals 11 of the UPS power input 16 are visible, which extend from the connector housing 14, without protection, which is acceptable with regard to safety regulations, as the UPS power input 16 of the plug connector 10 cannot be energized from the UPS 1, even by accident. Further, the contact of every terminal 11 is located in a separate contact housing. The three contact housings are preferably stacked by connecting dovetails and provide a fingerproof and genderless design. The terminals of the UPS power output 15 are further protected by a first protective wall 17, which prevents the terminals from being touched and thus avoids the danger of an electric shock.
The terminals of the UPS signal line 12 are protected by a second protective wall 18. The signal line 12 comprises a signal cable with a known connector, like for example, an RJ11 connector, which is plugged to the UPS 1 via a female RJ11 connector on the UPS rear panel (Fig. 1). This permits the signal information exchange between maintenance bypass module 2 and UPS 1, to give to UPS 1 the information of maintenance bypass module 2 detection, and a detection about the mode of the maintenance bypass module 2, i.e. normal operation or bypass operation.
The connector housing 14 further comprises two unloosable screws 19 to fix the connector housing 14 to the connector socket 20. Due to the first and second protective walls 17, 18 and a third protective wall 22 on the connector socket 20, the plug connector 10 and the connector 20 are keyed to complement one another. Incorrect insertion is thus advantageously avoided. The UPS connector arrangement according to the invention comprises the plug connector 10 and the connector socket 20, which is adapted to receive the plug connector 10. The connector socket 20 comprises recesses 27, 28 to accommodate the first and/or second protective walls 17, 18 extending from the connector housing 14. The third protective wall 22 of the connector socket 20 surrounds socket terminals 21 for the connection to the UPS power input connection 16. The UPS connector arrangement may advantageously be fixed in the connected position by screws 19 of the connector plug 10, which fit into screwed couplings 29 of the connector socket 20 to provide a mechanical link.
In Fig. 3 the plug connector according to Fig. 2 is illustrated in detail in a different perspective view, showing the connector housing 14 from a rear side. The connector housing 14 comprises two power connection cable collets 141, one for each of the UPS power connections 15, 16 (Fig. 2), and further a smaller signal line cable collet 142 for the UPS signal line 12 (Fig. 2). The UPS power connections 15, 16 and the UPS signal line 12 have been omitted in Fig. 3 for better perceptibility.

List of References:

1: Uninterruptible power supply, UPS
2: Maintenance bypass module
10: Plug connector
11: Terminals
12: UPS signal line
14: Connector housing
141, 142: Power connection cable collets
15: UPS power connection, UPS power output
16: UPS power connection, UPS power input
17: First protective wall
18: Second protective wall
19: Unloosable screws
20: Connector socket
21: Socket terminals
22: Third protective wall
27, 28: Recesses
29: Screwed couplings

Claims

Plug connector (10) of an uninterruptible power supply (1), with a connector housing (14), characterised in that terminals (11) of at least two UPS power connections (15, 16) and terminals of at least one UPS signal line (12) are installed in the connector housing.
Plug connector according to claim 1, characterised in that each UPS power connection (15, 16) comprises at least one phase conductor and a neutral line.
Plug connector according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the UPS power connections comprise a UPS power output (15) and a UPS power input (16).
Plug connector according to claim 3, characterised in that the terminals of the UPS power output (15) are protected by a first protective wall (17).
Plug connector according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the terminals of the UPS signal line (12) are protected by a second protective wall (18).
Plug connector according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the connector housing (14) comprises two power connection cable collets (141), one for each of the UPS power connections (15, 16).
Plug connector according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the connector housing (14) comprises a signal line cable collet (142) for the UPS signal line (12).
Plug connector according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the connector housing (14) comprises two unloosable screws (19) to fix the connector housing to a connector socket (20).
Plug connector according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the connector housing (14) is adapted to be connected to a connector socket (20) of a maintenance bypass module (2).
UPS connector arrangement, comprising at least one plug connector (10) according to any one of the preceding claims and at least one connector socket (20) adapted to receive the plug connector (10).
UPS connector arrangement according to claim 10, characterised in that the connector socket (20) comprises recesses (27, 28) to accommodate first and/or second protective walls (17, 18) extending from the connector housing (14).
UPS connector arrangement according to any one of claims 10 or 11, characterised in that the connector socket (20) comprises a third protective wall (22) surrounding socket terminals (21) for the connection to the UPS power input connection (16).
UPS connector arrangement according to any one of claims 10 to 12, characterised in that the connector socket (20) comprises screwed couplings (29) for screws (19) of the connector plug (10) to provide a mechanical link.
UPS connector arrangement according to any one of claims 10 to 13, characterised in that the connector socket (20) is mounted in a housing of a maintenance bypass unit (2).