GB2444752A

GB2444752A - Locking a power supply module in place whilst in use

Info

Publication number: GB2444752A
Application number: GB0625063A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Oren Azoulay; Micha Manassen; Haim Slotin
Original assignee: Motorola Inc
Current assignee: Motorola Solutions Inc
Priority date: 2006-12-15
Filing date: 2006-12-15
Publication date: 2008-06-18
Anticipated expiration: 2026-12-15
Also published as: GB0625063D0; GB2444752B

Abstract

An electrical supply module for fitting in a container housing equipment to be powered receives mains power from a connector 400. The module is held in place by a mechanical catch 109 which allows the module to be released by hand from the container. The connector has a projection 411 which interferes with the catch, so when the connector is plugged in the catch is prevented from being operated to release the module.

Description

AN ELECTRICAL POWER SUPPLY MODULE FOR USE IN

ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT

Field of the Invention

100011 The present invention relates generally to an electrical power supply module for use in electrical equipment. In particular, the invention relates to release of such a module from a container housing the electrical equipment.

Back2round 10002] Some electrically powered equipments arc constructed in the form of a cabinet or similar container which includes at least one module which can be individually removed from the cabinet to allow the module to bc serviced or repaired. Such a module may comprise a power supply module to which a cable for connection to an ac (alternating current) mains (main) electricity supply may be fitted. The power supply module may serve as a controller or adaptor which converts the voltage of the mains supply to a suitable voltage for use in the equipment, e.g. a lower voltage of about twelve (12) volts in a dc (direct current) supply.

100031 It can be dangerous, and in some situations illegal with regard to Health and Safety legislation, to supply or install a power supply module which is removable by hand from the equipment container whilst a live power supply cable is connected to the module. This is because there is a risk of electrocution of an operator removing the module if the person touches a conductor of the module to which the live power supply cable is connected.

Brief description of the drawin2s

100041 The accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views and which together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate various embodiments and to explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the present invention.

100051 In the accompanying drawings: 100061 FIG. 1 is an example of a container housing modular electrical equipment including a power supply module in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.

100071 FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of a power supply module embodying the invention for use in the container of FIG. I. 100081 FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view of part of the power supply module of FIG. 1 showing more detail of parts adapted to receive an electrical power supply connector.

100091 FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an electrical power supply connector for use in fitting to the module of FIG 3.

100101 FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the power supply module of FIG. 3 with the electrical power supply connector of FIG. 4 fitted to the module.

100111 FIG. 6 is an enlarged front view of part of the power supply module of FIG. 3 showing the power supply connector of FIG. 4 fitted to the module.

100121 FIG. 7 is a cross sectional side view of the part of the power supply module shown in FIG. 3 fitted to the container of FIG. 1.

100131 FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional side view of the part of the power supply module shown in FIG. 7 fitted to the container of FIG. 1, with the power supply connector of FIG. 4 fitted to the module.

100141 Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the accompanying drawings are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the drawings may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention.

Description of embodiments of the invention

100151 Before describing in detail embodiments that are in accordance with the present invention, it should be observed that the embodiments reside primarily in apparatus components related to an electrical power supply module for use in electrical equipment and mechanisms to release such a module from a container housing the electrical equipment. Accordingly, the apparatus components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the

benefit of the description herein.

100161 In this document, relational terms such as first and second, top and bottom, and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms "comprises," "comprising," or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that an apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by "comprises. . . a" does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the clement.

100171 FIG. I illustrates an example of electrical equipment in which embodiments of the invention may be applied. A container 101 houses electrical equipment including a power supply module 105 embodying the invention and various other modules 103.1, 103.2. . .103.n each housing parts of the equipment.

It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that various types of electrical equipment may be housed in the container 101. For example, the equipment may be SCADA (Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition) equipment useful in controlling and gathering operational data from an industrial plant such as a manufacturing plant.

100181 Each of the modules 103.1... 103.n and 105 is fitted in the container 101.

Each of the modules 103.1. ..103.n and 105 includes two snap-fit catches to allow the module to be held in the container 101 and released from the container 101.

The module 105 includes a first snap-fit catch 107 located at the top of the module 105. Similarly, each of the modules 103.1... 103-n includes a first snap-fit catch 107.1... 107.n respectively, located at the top of the module. Each of the first snap-fit catches 107 and 107.1... 1 07.n appears in an upper face 113 of the container 101 near its front edge. The module 105 also includes a second snap-fit catch 109 (not shown in FIG. 1 but shown in FIG. 7). Similarly, each of the modules 103.1. . .103.n includes a second snap-fit catch 109.1. . .1 09.n respectively.

Each of the second snap-fit catches 109 and 109.1.. .109.n is located at the bottom of each of the modules 105 and 103.1. . .103.n respectively and appears on a lower face of the container 101 whose side edge is indicated in FIG. 1 by reference numeral 111. Each of the second snap-fit catches 109 and 109.1. . .1 09.n appears in the lower face of the container 101 near its front edge (vertically beneath the location of the corresponding one of first snap-fit catches 107 and 107.1... l07.n of the module when the container 101 is mounted in an upright position).

[0019J The power supply module 105 may therefore be hand released from the container 101 by an authorized operator operating the catches 107 and 109.

However, there are restrictions on operation of the catch 109 as described later with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8.

100201 FIG. 2 illustrates the power supply module 105 removed from the container 101. The power supply module 105 has a front door 201 which may be opened by hand to show a front face 202 which may include various operational indicators 203. The power supply module 105 includes a body 205 which carries printed circuit boards bearing electrical circuits which contact other circuit boards (not shown) inside the container 101. The purpose of the power supply module may be to obtain ac (alternating current) electrical power from a mains (main) electricity supply and to convert the power to a dc (direct current) supply suitable for operating the equipment housed in the container 101, e.g. at a lower voltage.

For example, the power supply module 105 may receive a 120 volts or 220 volts ac supply and convert the supply to a 12 volts dc supply.

100211 The power supply module 105 is therefore adapted to receive a mains electrical power supply. FIG. 3 is a front view of part of the power supply module at its lower end, showing more detail of components mounted on the front face 202 of the power supply module 105. A housing 301 includes conducting pins 309 to contact corresponding sockets of an electrical power supply connector (shown in FIG. 4). The housing 301 is held firmly against the front face 202 by attachments 305. A slot 307 (described in more detail later with reference to FIG. 7) is located beneath the housing 301 behind a front plate 303.

2] FIG. 4 illustrates a connector 400 suitable for fitting to the front face 202 of the power supply module 105 to engage with the housing 301 and the slot 307.

The connector 400 has a body 401 and includes an insulated cable 402 fitted through an opening 413 to contact lands (not shown) inside the body 401. The cable 402 may be connected at its end remote from the body 401 to an output connector of a mains (main) supply source (not shown). The connector 400 includes projecting sockets 403 adapted to receive the pins 309 of the housing 301.

The connector 400 also includes, projecting from a lower face 409, a member 405 having a forward pointing projection 411 adapted to engage and occupy the slot 307 (FIG. 3) as described further later with reference to FIG. 8. An upwardly projecting portion 407 allows release of the connector 400 when fitted to the module 105 as described later with reference to FIG. 8.

100231 FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate the power supply module 105 with the connector 400 fitted to the housing 301 on the front face 202 of the module 105. In FIG. 6, the cable 402 is omitted for clarity. As seen in FIG. 6, the member 405 of the connector 400 is seen occupying the slot 307 (FIG.3).

100241 FIG. 7 illustrates a cross-section on the line 7-7 in FIG. 3 of a lower part of the power supply module 105 fitted to the container 101 without the connector 400 fitted to the module 105. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view on the line 8-8 in FIG. 6 of the same lower part of the power supply module 400 fitted to the container 101 with the connector 400 fitted to the module 105. The housing 301 includes a front rim 813 on its upper face. FIG. 7 shows the snap-fit catch 109 attached to an underside face of the power supply module 105 beneath the housing 301. The slot 307 is formed between a plate 810 on the underside face of the module 105 and a portion 804 of the snap-fit catch 109. The snap-fit catch 109 includes a projection 803 which engages a complementary projection 805 formed in a base plate 811 of the container 101.

100251 Without the connector 400 fitted to the power supply module 105, as shown in FIG. 7, the snap-fit catch 109 may be operated by an operator depressing the portion 804 upwardly by the use of a finger or thumb. The portion 804 is thereby moved toward the plate 810 thereby narrowing the slot 307, causing the projection 803 to be correspondingly pushed downward away from the plate 811 and thereby released from the projection 805 of the base plate 811 of the container 101. Thus, the power supply module 105 when fitted in the container 101 without the connector 400 fitted to the module 105 may be removed by a user operating the snap-fit catch 109, and also the snap-fit catch 107 which is similar to the snap-fit catch 109, to release the module 105 and then by withdrawing the module 105 from the container 101.

100261 When the connector 400 is fitted to the power supply module 105 as shown in FIG. 8, the forward pointing projection 411 of the member 405 of the connector 400 occupies and blocks a front part of the slot 307 thereby preventing movement of the portion 804 toward the plate 810. Thus, the projection 411 of the member 405 locks the snap-fit catch 109 to prevent operation of the snap-fit catch 109. The connector 400 is held in position on the housing 301 by a member 807 having a tang or hook engaging the rim 813 of the housing 301 in a snap-fit action.

100271 Thus, in accordance with embodiments of the invention, the power supply module 105 cannot be removed from the container 101 when the connector 400 is fitted to the module 105 because the snap-fit catch 109 cannot be operated when the connector 400 is fitted. The connector 400 thus acts as a safety connector preventing improper release of the snap-fit catch 109.

100281 When, for example following a period of operation, it is desired to remove the power supply module 105 from the container 101, for example to service or repair the module 105, the following procedure is undertaken. Firstly, the mains power supply to the connector 400 is switched off. The door 201 is opened to expose the front face 202 of the module 105. The connector 400 is then removed from the module 105. This is achieved by an operator pressing downwardly on the projecting portion 407, which causes the tanged member 807 to be released from the rim 813, and then withdrawing the connector 400. The catches 107 and 109 of the power supply module 105 are then operated and the module 105 is withdrawn from the container 101.

100291 Thus, in the embodiments of the invention described above the serious risk of an operator being electrocuted in the course of removing the power supply module 105 from the container 101 is beneficially eliminated because the source of the electrical power supply to the module 105 has to be removed by removing the connector 400 from the module 105 before it is possible to release and remove the power supply module 105 from the container 101.

100301 In the foregoing specification, specific embodiments of the present invention have been described. 1-lowever, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the claims below.

Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of present invention. The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any clement(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all the claims. The invention is defmed solely by the appended claims including any amendments made during the pendency of this application and all equivalents of those claims as issued.

Claims

Claims 1. An electrical supply module for fitting in a container

housing equipment to be powered by an electrical power supply delivered through the module, the module being adapted to receive a connector to supply electrical power to the module in use, the module including a mechanical catch which allows the module to be released by hand from the container by operation of the catch, wherein the module is adapted to receive the connector in a manner which prevents operation of the catch to release the module.
2. A module according to claim 1 wherein the catch includes a member operable to release the module from the container by depression of the member and the module is adapted to receive the connector by a member of the connector blocking depression of the member of the catch.
3. A module according to claim 2 wherein the member of the catch when operated is depressed into a space which includes a slot, and the slot is narrowed by depression of the member of the catch.
4. A module according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the catch comprises a projection adapted to engage a complementary projection on the container.
5. A module according to claim 3 or claim 4 including an electrical power supply connector fitted to the module in a manner such that the connector prevents operation of the catch of the module to release the module from the container.
6. A module according to claim 5 wherein the catch includes a member operable to release the module from the container by depression of the member of the catch into an adjacent space and the connector is fitted to the module in a manner such that a member of the connector blocks at least part of the space.
7. A module according to claim 5 or claim 6 wherein the connector is connected to a cable adapted to be connected to an electrical power supply source.
8. A module according to any one of claims 5 to 7 wherein the module includes a housing adapted to receive the connector and a slot beneath the housing providing a space into which a member of the catch is movable when depressed, and the member of the connector comprises a forward pointing projection which engages the slot by the connector being pushed onto the housing.
9. A module according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the module is operable to convert an alternating current electrical supply into a direct current electrical supply of lower voltage.
10. A module according to any one of the preceding claims and substantially as herein described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings.
11. A container housing electrical equipment and an electrical supply module adapted to be fitted in the container to power equipment in the container by an electrical power supply delivered though the module, wherein the module is a module according to any one of the preceding claims and the catch of the module is engaged by a member of the container provided on a base of the container.